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Coming out of the powder room, which was down a short hall near the garage, I heard men’s voices carry through the home’s open plan layout.
“You make it seem easy.” That was Mav’s deep voice. “Just lift and toss. It’s a hell of a lot harder than it looks.”
I set my hand on the log wall and listened.
“Practice,” Daniel replied, as if anyone could pick up a log and fling it. “Helps I chop down trees for a living.”
“Did,” Deek reminded, slapping him on the back. “Now you toss wood for fun. And prize money.”
“We should add it to the fire workout.” Mac. The town fire chief wasn’t nearly as big as Daniel or Mav, but he could hold his own when it came to muscle and strength. “I bet you’re eager to get the hell out of Hunter Valley.”
“Can’t wait,” Daniel replied, his voice full of eagerness. Maybe relief. “I’ve been ready for years. Hell, I’ve always wanted to go.”
“A kid can derail your plans. You quit college for Danny and stayed here instead of roaming the world like you wanted,” Mac said.
“Sure did.”
“Time wasn’t wasted. You made an impressive business,” Mav praised.
“And Danny’s a good kid,” Mac added. “Smart. Even took up being a wildland firefighter like me.”
Daniel laughed. “Yeah, that conversation you had with him about playing with matches really went sideways.”
“He’s grown,” Mac told him. “A man. It’s cool you can go start your life.”
“Hell yeah.”
“Scotland for a few months, then what?” Mav wondered.
There was a pause. “Not sure. Like you said, I raised my kid. I grew my business. Sure, family’s everything, but it’s time I did my thing. All I know is my life here’s done. Want another beer?”
I heard the fridge open.
“What about–” Mav asked.
The slider opened. “Hey, this baby’s sitting on my bladder. Bathroom?” Lindy asked.
“Just around there,” Daniel told her and I assumed he was pointing in my direction, although it was clear the guys didn’t know I was overhearing.
“Better get these beers out to the others,” Mav said.
Heavy footsteps cut across the house to the sliding doors.
Maverick barely knew me. Hadn’t grown up here. Didn’t know the years of image work I’d done to seem shy and meek and sweet. To hide myself. Obviously, Mac bought into the wholelittle Melly Harwoodthing.
It was what I wanted. No men. No relationships. Especially with an older man who only wanted a little fun. Daniel was older and while he hadn’t said those words, that was all that was between us.A good time.He was having a good time with me, just like Creepy Carl wanted to all those years ago.
Have sex, have fun, then toss me aside for someone else. In Daniel’s case, to finally start his life. My mom never taught me to keep a man or create a relationship or a life with one, only to spread my legs for a little pleasure. Then find another who could give me a little more.
What I had with Daniel wasn’t a Creepy Carl situation. Daniel gave me more orgasms than he’d had himself. He saw to my needs, listened. Watched. Gave. He respected my boundaries, even reminded me of them.
Yet hearing him say his life here in Hunter Valley was done, hurt. It only reinforced what I already knew and perhaps ignored in my two days of sexual bliss. He wasn’t staying. Hislifewasn’t here which meant I wasn’t part of it. We were having sex as we agreed. Really good, insane sex, but that was it. He and his talented hands, skilled mouth, and incredible dick were going to Scotland.
No matter how I felt for him, which that little kitchen conversation made me realize, was more than just attraction. Ilikedhim.
And I shouldn’t. It was dangerous. Because everyone left. My dad. My mom. Sure, my grandmother was the only solid and true family I had, but she wasn’t around most of the time either. With Daniel, I’d known he was leaving and jumped him anyway. Did that make me stupid? I thought not, but that was when I didn’t feel something for him.
Shit.
