Page 22 of Groomed For Love


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“Just two minutes, Naomi. Please?” I beg her.

Moose scratches at the back door, sensing the mood and wanting to come in.

Not now, buddy. Not right now.

“I overheard your phone call, okay?” she says angrily, her voice getting louder and more upset with each word.

“I’m no eavesdropper, Parker but that didn’t even sound like you… Calling me a kid as well, like I’m just some street urchin you deal with every day, is that what you do? Pick up young girls in trouble and have your way with them?” she asks, her eyes widening.

It’s my turn to feel hurt I guess. I’ve never had anyone say anything so untrue, so hurtful. And coming from her it cuts like a knife.

“You know that’s not true, Naomi,” I tell her calmly. Motioning my hand toward the table. “let’s just settle down and talk a minute, huh?” I suggest.

Really wanting to explain it all to her. Realizing that maybe Naomi is as emotionally reactive as my own mother.

Oh boy.

I remember, my dad always telling me to find a woman with some fire if I could help it. A passionate woman.

“There’s a trade-off for all those sparks, boy. When you fight, and you will… You’ll need to keep your gloves up because there’s nothing like a passionate woman.”

I never knew what he meant, but in a way seeing Naomi so wound up, even though it’s all a misunderstanding. I guess it makes me love her even more.

Feeling myself grinning at the thought, I rub my shoulder. Something I guess I always do whenever I think about my dad, my ex-partner on the force.

Before I even dreamed of having Moose by my side.

“What’s so funny?” Naomi says sharply. “And what’s wrong with your shoulder, are you okay?” she adds, softening and moving over towards me before reminding herself she’s angry and stopping in her tracks.

“Just remembering something my old man once told me,” I confess. “Now, will you just listen to me?” I ask her again.

She folds her arms across her chest and looks up at the ceiling, which is as good as I’m gonna get right now, so I take it.

“My Mom’s old, Naomi. I have to explain things to her in very simple terms otherwise she can’t keep up…”

Naomi shrugs, waiting for my reasons for talking about her the way I did.

“I was supposed to spend the weekend at her place and I haven’t visited in over six months,” I continue. “So… she’s pretty mad that I upped and left to come back to town when I heard Moose wasn’t with who he was supposed to be with,” I add.

Naomi’s eyes narrow again, and I can tell she’s replaying the worst of everything in her mind.

The ‘just a kid’ comment.

I heave a sigh, slumping down into a seat.

“It’s a lot to explain, but Ma is old school. If I suddenly went up there to introduce you and she had no warning about how much younger you are than me, she’d probably have a heart attack,” I tell her straight up.

Naomi looks confused.

“Introduce me?” she asks. “Why would you want me to meet your mom?” she asks, hopefully getting a few ideas from the look I give her. When I crease a guilty smile in her direction.

“Because I want you to stay, Naomi. Not just now while we’re talking, but always. I want you to come live with me.” I tell her, going out on a limb but I have to.

It’s the truth.

I know already that I can’t live without her, so I may as well live with her.

Even if we do fight sometimes.

She presses her fingers to her temples and sways a little.

“Whoa,” she says to herself. “Just… Whoa. Hold up a second,” she adds, turning her attention to me.

“I’m trying to be mad at you for calling me a kid and you’re asking me to move in… Telling me you called me that to prep your mom so she didn’t keel over when she finds out you’re shacked up with someone half your age?” she asks almost sarcastically.

I frown in agreement, nodding my head.

“That’s about the size of it. And my Brooklyn accent? It always comes out when I talk to her, it’s the only language she speaks,” I shrug.

There’s a split second of relief in her eyes, and the tiniest hint of her lip about to curl into a smile. But it’s short-lived.

“This is happening way too fast,” she says suddenly, her face creasing with worry all over again.

I did want to take it slow, but she’s kinda forced my hand here.

I don’t think it’s moving fast enough, but I figured she’d need a few days before I sprung the move in with me idea.

Every cell in my body wants to get up, go over to her and take her in my arms.

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