Still smirking, Carol picked up her menu and scanned the contents. “The scallops and salad,” she said decisively. “So you thanked him politely for the sex and ordered him to leave.”
Yvonne took a sip of white wine. “When he tried to talk to me before he left, I told him I’d ring when I felt the urge for more bedroom gymnastics.”
Carol leaned forward, her eyes big and bright. “You didn’t.”
“I also told him I’d ordered some new sex toys and some wonder cream that’s meant to do interesting things to a woman’s libido. I told him to make sure he got plenty of rest.” A gurgle of amusement rang out. “You should have seen the look on his face.”
“No!”
“Then, I turned my attention back to the historical costume drama and ignored him until he left.”
“Has he contacted you since?”
“No, but the agricultural day is tomorrow. I’m assuming he’ll still take me and the boys.”
“And if he doesn’t turn up?”
“I’ll take the boys myself and grab my best friend to help me control my two excited sons when they want to head in opposite directions.”
“Deal,” Carol said. “What’s your next move?”
“I want to keep him off-balance. I really did order some sex toys, so if he doesn’t take us to the show, I’ll give him a call in a couple of days and invite him over to help me test out my purchases.”
Carol cackled and dabbed at her eyes again. “I need to find a man, too, one that performs on demand.”
“Anyone in mind?”
“Not really. The new vet seems nice, but he already has a welcome party of single females in the surgery. My cousin works as receptionist-nurse and she said the domestic pets in Clare have mysteriously developed rare diseases and require immediate treatment. They’ve never been so busy.”
“Maybe someone interesting will arrive with the film crew doing the reality show about the Shakespeare sextuplets.”
“One can but hope,” Carol said in a prim tone.
Nolan spent the rest of the week mustering sheep and moving the flock down from the hill paddocks to prepare for early lambs. The weather forecast was good, which made him happy. While he arrived home dog-tired, he spent his nights twisting and turning, his mind replaying the last time he’d seen Yvonne.
He fed his three dogs, checked their water and walked to the house. He pushed open the rear door and pulled off his boots before he entered the kitchen.
She’d thanked him for the sex and dismissed him.
Now, the night before the start of their date, he wasn’t sure what to do. Did he turn up at Yvonne’s place as discussed?
Thanked him for sex.His snort echoed through the kitchen.
Samuel Penrith, his father, glanced up from where he sat and rose. “Didn’t think you’d ever finish. Want a beer and a shower before you eat?”
“A couple of the yearling heifers got out on the road.” Nolan shrugged. “They didn’t want to go back into their paddock.” Nolan opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. “I’ll grab a quick shower. I can smell myself and it isn’t pretty.”
In the bathroom, he stripped off his dirty clothes and stuffed them into a hamper. He’d need to put on a load of laundry later tonight.
The water took long minutes to run hot, but Nolan didn’t bother waiting. He took a quick sip of beer, set the can aside and stepped into the shower. Cold water cascaded over his shoulders and down his back, the temperature gradually heating and relieving some of the fatigue in his muscles.
Talk about a surprise. She’d mentioned next time and added a spiel about sex toys. He had to admit his mind hadn’t heard much past the sex toys. A woman couldn’t expect a man to process conversations when she lobbed verbal bombs. And kinky ones at that. He really liked that about Yvonne—sexually, she was a fireball.
Blood crowded his cock, and he ignored his erection. He grabbed the soap and started to wash with brisk, economical movements, thoughts of Yvonne swirling through his mind.
On Sunday, he’d go and pick up her and the boys, just as they’d arranged earlier. Yeah, he’d proceed as he’d planned and play the day by ear. He’d get her in private at some stage during the day and demand answers.
God, why would she thank him for sex anyway? They’d had sex before—quite a lot of it before he’d participated in the reality show. She’d never thanked him. He hadn’t given polite appreciation either. They’d had mutual respect, exhausting each other while they’d burned up the sheets. A couple of times they’d both fallen asleep and the boys had almost caught them together.
