“Well, okay then,” Meredith replied.
The exchange was just what we needed to break the odd tension that had formed. Yes, I was doing things out of my normal order and I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t feel my actions warranted such scrutiny and worry from the people who knew me best. I felt like I needed to shake things up a bit and food choices were safer than bedpartners.
Talk turned to normal things like dates, clients, and weekend plans. Daniella brought our food and we all made the best of a sad evening, because life went on regardless of loss. Going to pay final respects at a viewing drove home just how fragile life was, so it was good to be reminded of the blessings we had in our lives. Each and every person at that table enriched my life and I felt lucky to know them.
That night as I lay in bed alone, listening to the wind whipping through the barren trees, I couldn’t help but remember the last time someone was murdered in our sleepy town and the scary ramifications it had on my life.
The morning of Georgia’s burial was as frigid as the forecasters said it would be. I stood atop the hill in the Sugar Grove cemetery with only a handful of people. I had canceled my appointments for the day, which was something I had never done in all the years I had been styling hair.
I wasn’t surprised to see Georgia’s longtime attorney and housekeeper at the cemetery, but Nadine’s arrival shocked me. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen; she looked legitimately devastated. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of her being there so I steered clear of her, hoping to avoid any kind of drama. Apparently, Nadine was of a different mind because she sought me out as soon as the graveside service was completed. By that time, I felt as if I had been frozen into a popsicle and just wanted to go home.
“Josh, wait,” she called out after me. I stopped and let her catch up to me. “Look, I just want you to know that I’m very sorry about what happened with Georgia. She deserved better than what she got.” I wasn’t sure what she was apologizing for – sleeping with Georgia’s husband or the hateful things she said the day she died – nor could I figure out why she was apologizing to me. “I’m sorry for everything,” Nadine said, as if she could read my mind. “I don’t like myself very much right now.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what to say to her. She looked sincere, but would she be saying any of it if Georgia was alive? She sure as hell didn’t look sorry when she was doing her damned best to verbally eviscerate Georgia in my salon, nor did she look sorry when she was rolling all over the floor trying to scratch her eyes out. All of it just made me sad and I didn’t have the energy to dole out forgiveness, even if I had the ability to give it out. I wasn’t the one she should be apologizing to, but for some reason she thought I was the next best thing.
“I’m not quite sure what you expect of me, Nadine,” I said honestly, but without animosity. “I can’t give you the absolution you’re seeking.”
“I think I’m just looking for someone to listen,” she said sadly. Nadine had always put on such a happy face for the town, but between the night of the viewing and the morning at the cemetery, I was starting to believe it had all been an act. “I don’t really have any friends, Josh.”
I did feel sorry for her then because I couldn’t imagine my life without my friends, especially Meredith and Chaz. We had been through so much together and came out on the other side stronger than before because we always had one another. Regardless of the mistakes she had made, I wouldn’t wish loneliness and misery on her or anyone.
“Never mind. It’s not your problem, Josh. I’m sorry for dumping this on you.” Nadine spun around and walked off before I could respond.
I blew out a frustrated breath and headed for my car. I felt anxious and restless as I drove away from the cemetery. I didn’t want to go back to the salon because I wanted some quiet and time to regroup. I briefly thought about going to Gabe’s and stomped that notion down as soon as it formed. I decided to enter the back door of my salon and take the back stairs up to my living quarters so I could avoid the salon clients. My staff would see my car parked behind the house, but they’d respect my privacy.
I curled up on the couch with Diva, my Siamese cat, whose personality matched her name perfectly. Normally, Diva was all about herself. She must have sensed my somber mood because she tucked herself beneath my chin and purred in what seemed like an attempt to comfort me. Diva’s ministrations worked too. The chill that had permeated my body disappeared and I could feel myself relax on the couch until I eventually fell asleep.
My ringing phone woke me up. I was disoriented because it had grown dark while I napped on the couch with Diva and I momentarily forgot what day it was. I looked at the caller ID and was shocked to see who was calling me. I debated on letting it go to voicemail for about two seconds before I answered it.
“Hello?”
“How are you doing?” Gabe’s deep voice warmed parts of me that no amount of purring from a cat could affect.
“I’m doing okay,” I replied.Was I?
“You feel like having company?” I heard the slight hesitation in his voice, as if he wasn’t sure how well his question would be received.
I knew what happened almost every single time that we were alone together. Was that what I wanted right then? “Yes,” I said answering both of our questions.
“Good,” he said, his voice deepening because he also knew what would happen. “Come down and let me in.”
“You’re here now?” I stood up and ran my free hand through my hair in an attempt to smooth it into place.
“Yes. Come down here and let me in. I’m freezing my nuts off,” he groused.
“Give me a few minutes,” I said and then hung up. I flipped on a few lights on my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I rushed through my routine so that I didn’t keep him waiting long. It was freezing outside and I didn’t want his balls to freeze. I was pretty fond of them, even if I was unsure of the man they were attached to.
“It’s about time,” he said when I opened the door to him. “What the hell took so long?”
I grabbed him by the coat and pulled him into me, pressing my lips against his. Gabe parted his cold lips and I slid my tongue inside to explore his warm mouth in a languid kiss. For once, I didn’t want to rush him into bed. I wanted to take my time and get to know his body better. Hell, I hadn’t even wrapped my lips around his big cock yet; a mistake I planned to rectify immediately.
“Minty fresh,” Gabe said, when our kiss ended. “You’re forgiven for making me wait.”
“Come upstairs with me and I’ll show you other things I can do with my minty fresh mouth.” I laughed when Gabe growled playfully. I needed to be careful or else I’d start liking the detective and the things he made me feel.
THERE WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELYdifferent about him when he took my hand and led me up the stairs to his living space. He almost seemed happy to see me and that wasn’t something I associated with Josh. There was a flirty lightness to him that I had never seen before and it was a welcome change over the sadness I saw etched on his face at the funeral home. My desire to drive away his sadness may have overridden my common sense.
Of course, my dick was solely focused on what he planned to do with his mouth. I adored his mouth, and not just the sheer beauty of his full lips and the oral delights they offered. It was his smart, snarky words that held my attention or the vulnerability that he accidentally let slide out on occasion. He was a mystery that I longed to solve, but I wasn’t sure the end result would make me happy. I could wind up falling for a guy who might never feel the same.
