Lia turns and closes the door, engaging the lock in a loud thump that echoes in the quiet of night. I slip down the rest of the stairs and get inside my waiting car. I back out of the parking spot and give one final glance up to her apartment. Her small shadow stands in the dimly lit window, her hand touches the glass. It’s one of the many images from this evening that I will take to bed with me tonight.
I head towards home with thoughts of Lia front and center in my brain. Her laughter throughout dinner. The way the moonlight glowed off of her skin. The feel of her silky body. The sounds of her coming while lying on my t-shirt. Her snuggled against my chest while she slept. Her goodbye kiss just before she watched me go.
Yeah, I’ll be definitely thinking about beautiful Lia tonight.
After I take a very cold shower, that is.
Chapter Six
Lia
Come Friday, I’ve spent the better part of my free time hanging out with Nate. We text while he’s at work, in between his duties at the fire station, while waiting for a call. We talk when he’s driving home and I’m setting up the kitchen for the morning shift. We even had dinner on Wednesday night when he brought over submarine sandwiches and my favorite guacamole dip from the local deli.
It’s almost noon when Erin blows into the bakery, bags of food in hand.
“Hey, girl,” she says with a friendly smile.
“Hi. What are you doing?” I ask as I wipe the glass display case down with a wet rag.
“Well, it wasn’t that long ago that I was the new girl in town. So, I thought I’d bring by some lunch and chat,” she says as she heads back to the table in the corner that the family uses as their table.
I throw the rag up on the back counter and follow the spitfire little redhead towards the table. “I’m sure Avery would be okay with me taking a few minutes,” I politely reply.
“Don’t you worry about Avery. She knows I’m bringing lunch. She’s on her way back from the bank,” Erin says.
“Well, if you’re sure she won’t mind,” I mumble as I slowly pull out the chair in front of me. I feel like I’m doing something majorly wrong. Sitting on the job.
“Josselyn was going to try to get away too, but she called a bit ago and said they had a major materials shipment mix-up. So, she was sorting out the drama,” she replies with a smile as she lays the chicken salad sandwiches out in front of us. Josselyn started working in the office for the family construction company a few months back.
“So, how are you adjusting to Rivers Edge?” she asks casually as she drop a straw into her cup of lemonade.
“Good. I like it here,” I tell her. I don’t get attached to the area I’m in. I try not to even pay that close attention to whatever small town or big city I’m in. I’m just stopping by, on my way through. But, Rivers Edge holds something special here and his name is Nate.
“What else do you like? Something in the form of a hot, six foot, beefcake of fireman?” she asks with an ornery smile.
“Nate is very nice,” I say in a small voice. I hate being put on the spot. Don’t draw attention.
“Nice,” she snorts. “Nice as in has a great ass when he’s walking through the bedroom naked?”
“Please, dear God, tell me that you are not talking about one of my brothers,” Avery says as she walks through the back room and towards our table.
“I was just trying to get the goods from Lia on Nate. I bet he has a great ass,” Erin says casually. “Jake’s ass is magnificent and they are brothers.”
“Blah, blah, blah, blah,” Avery says as she stuffs her fingers into her ears.
“Seriously, Lia. Have you seen that man’s back?” Erin asks as she fans herself.
“You mean with the big tattoo across it? His muscles make me want to massage his back…with my tongue,” I reply with a giggle. Giggle! Who would have thought I would turn into a total starry-eyed schoolgirl when I talk – and think – about Nate.
“Yes! Jake has a couple of tattoos and, frankly, it makes him hotter,” she says before taking a bite of her sandwich. “I want to bite his chest every time he removes his shirt.”
“Oh my God, kill me now,” Avery mumbles as she inhales her sandwich.
“Oh, don’t be like that. You have your own hot piece of man-meat waiting for you at home,” Erin says with a wink.
“Yes. Yes, I do,” she replies with a big grin.
“I’m surprised you’re not pregnant again,” Erin says before stuffing more chips in her mouth. Seriously, where is she putting all of this food?
“Ryder’s only five months old. We want to wait just a little bit before adding another baby,” she says with a far off, happy look on her face.