Karl would have the scoop. He always did, then got excited if she ever wanted to talk about those things.
“It’s been a quiet weekend,” Karl said. “But I heard Becky and Sean are having issues.”
She was trying to figure out who those two people were. “The building to the right or left?” she asked.
“Left. Middle townhouse. They were outside fighting on Saturday over her parents’ coming to visit. Anytime you don’t want to see another person’s family, that is cause for issues.”
“You might be right,” she said, nodding. She hoped Clay was done. She didn’t want to gossip about other people. It made her wonder what Karl might say about her to people around here.
“Are you sure I can’t get you a coffee?” Karl asked. “I’m dying for a cup with one of these cookies.”
“I’m good,” she said. “I need to get back to Clay before he leaves. I just took the cookies out of the freezer so I’d wait an hour to eat them or you might chip a tooth. Unless you want to pop them in the microwave.”
“I’d enjoy them either way,” Karl said, his crooked teeth flashing with his big grin. His smiles and questions never bothered her like they seemed to now. Maybe she was just sick of everyone being in her business more than anything else.
She opened his back door and walked down the stairs slowly, giving Clay some more time, knowing Karl would stand out there and watch her. He’d do it until she was in her house, waving at her to make sure she was safely inside.
Something he always did.
By the time she got to her back door, she saw Clay in the kitchen with a drink, so she waved to Karl and opened her door.
“All done?”
“Yep. I was about to set up some flares. It took you long enough.”
“Hey, I wanted to give you enough time. And it’s hard to get away from Karl. He told me about who was fighting with whom in the area.”
“He’s a busybody,” he said.
She moved into Clay’s arms. “I don’t want to talk about my neighbor. I want a hug from you.”
He held her for a minute. Not warm and welcoming, but it still brought her comfort.
The days of being with an affectionate man were long gone if she saw a future with Clay. She did.
She wanted one.
She didn’t need the pats on the hand, flowers to arrive at work, or even a romantic dinner.
A man who fixed her window, set up security, and gave her crazy exhausting orgasms was the way to go.
He returned her hug for a second, then his arms dropped.
“I should get back. I checked upstairs and everything seemed fine. All the windows were locked, nothing appeared out of place, but you should go check before I leave.”
So much for getting him to stay for dinner and talking about their days.
She went up the stairs with him on her heels.
Her arts and crafts room looked the same. She popped her head into her bathroom, nothing out of place there.
He followed her into her bedroom. Everything was fine here too.
She moved back into his arms. “Before you leave me, can you give me something to think about tonight?”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I know you’re not slow. But I also know that once you go back home and I’m here, it’s going to be until the weekend before I see you again.”
