by Lauren Dane
The dinner was a nice way to exorcise the demons of the evening. Being with family washed that all away.
Back at home they’d just gotten out of Matt’s truck when she saw her father lurking near the garage.
“I’ll be in in a moment, I just need to get something from my car.”
“I’ll get it for you, Venus. What is it?”
“I need to be alone for a few minutes, okay? Please?”
“Honey…”
“I’ll be fine. I just need to let this all go.”
“You have three minutes and I’m coming back outside if you don’t come in.”
“I’ve lived here alone for the last several years. I can handle the driveway, thank you.”
He smiled at her acerbic tone and headed inside.
She waited until he was gone before she charged over to the other side of the garage where her father stood.
“What? What are you doing here?”
“A fine way to greet your father.” He stank of liquor and she fingered the pepper spray in her hand.
“Get the hell out of here. I have no money. I gave you all my cash. I told you, go away.”
“Now that your boyfriend is living here, you should have more money coming in.”
“I’m not letting him pay rent! What do you think I am? Her?”
“Don’t you talk about your mother that way, girl,” he slurred and moved forward but her anger over that evening spurred her on.
“Stop confusing her sins with mine. I have no more money to give you. If you push me too far and go through with your threats there’ll be no more cash so shut up and go away until after payday.”
She spun and stomped back into the house, triumph warring with fear.
She locked up and turned to see Matt leaning against the kitchen counter, looking at her speculatively.
“Who were you talking to?”
“Myself.”
She bustled past him and took another look at his knuckles. “You really hit him hard. You’re going to be sore tomorrow, it’s bruising already.”
“It was worth it. I don’t scrap as much as I once did. When I was younger, my knuckles were nice and hard from duking it out with my brothers all the time. God, we used to be such a mess! Marc rarely got into the physical stuff but he used to work us all, set us up. He’s a wily one.”
Tate laughed. “Mindfucking. He and Liv really are perfect for each other. I used to think he was softer, more laid back but he’s a lot more intense than he appears to be.”
Matt nodded. “You’re very observant. I don’t think he understood that himself until he and Liv got together.”
“Like you didn’t realize how hard you worked until you got together with me? Or that you rode yourself too hard and thought you were shallow because a lot of things came easy?”
He started a moment and took a deep breath. She’d hit home with that one. Good. He needed some introspection too.
“Let’s go to bed. Taking her hand, he drew her to their room and slowly undressed her before they settled into bed. She lay quietly, waiting as he stroked fingertips up and down her back while he thought about what she’d said.
“Most things have come easy for me. Do come easy I should say. Then I get bored and lose interest. I usually only stick with stuff that challenges me. Firefighting is one of them. It’s a physical challenge every day and a mental one too. You have to be on your toes when you’re at a fire or you’ll get hurt. Hell, even if you’re on your toes you can get hurt. But it’s exhilarating, that work I have to put into it.”
She stayed quiet as he processed. He liked that about her. She let him work through stuff without interrupting even though she had all that energy.
“And women? Well okay, that’s been easy too. And so I suppose people have looked at me and thought I was a happy bachelor. I have been at times but really what I wanted was a woman who engaged me, challenged me, made me dig and work and be a better person and I never found that. Until that day I walked into the salon and you choked when you saw me.”
He chuckled as he felt the heat of her blush against his skin. “I walked in there and there was this laughter. Feminine laughter, drew me right to you and your sisters. Pretty women, all of you. But I couldn’t take my eyes from you. You were like this golden, shiny thing in the midst of my gray life. And you choked and got all embarrassed and then you teased me. When I teased you back you blushed. You are real, Tate.
“And I couldn’t stop thinking about you and we started our lunches and I had to work to get to know you, to get past your defenses and every day I work because you make it worth my effort. Working to make a relationship is meaningful with the right person. It’s not just something I do because I’m not quite bored enough to find something else. I wake up each day excited to work with you, looking forward to whatever new experiences we’ll have, wondering what memories we’ll create. I love you.”
She snuggled close and kissed his chest. “I love you too. I was afraid at first. We’re different. But you’re everything a man should be and I’m so damned happy. You make me feel safe with you. That’s not something I’ve felt a lot in my life. Excited, thrilled, desired, cherished, loved and safe.”
He needed to hear that. It touched him deeply, soothed him. “You looked at me and saw past all the stuff most people see. That’s…I don’t even know if I have the words to express how much that means. I watched my brothers find the women of their hearts and I saw how that made them into better men, whole men but I didn’t quite understand the process until it happened to me. You complete me because you love me. You know me, Tate. I’d do anything for you.”
“Good, you can make me come.”
He laughed, rolling her on top of him. “If people only knew the sex goddess who lurked behind those innocent-looking blue eyes of yours. Well, I’d have to beat them off with a stick.”
“Mmm hmm. Put your money where your dick is then, bub.”
And so he did.
Tate was finally a part of something bigger than just her small universe with her siblings. When Liv went into labor some days after Homecoming and baby Lise came into the world, Tate was a part of it. Lise wasn’t just the baby of someone she knew, Lise was a member of her extended family and she had to admit, seeing Matt hold the tiny baby made her heart sing.
Petal lost some of its unfriendly feel as Tate realized she had more there than she’d given credit for. She had friends other than her sisters for the first time. She had lunch with Maggie and Cassie, she visited at Liv’s, checking in on her and the baby. She went on shopping excursions with Polly. The past was letting go or maybe, it was the other way around and Tate was letting go.
In any case, the only real dark spot was her father. His unrelenting presence in her life and the increasing weight of the secret she kept.
Halloween came and Matt began to suspect something was wrong. Tate was tightly strung, more than usual and she’d even let him pay for half the mortgage that month.
He’d confronted her about it but she denied there was a problem. She’d come home late a few times in the last few weeks, clearly upset and he had a feeling it had something to do with the things people had said around town.
It had died down a bit as they’d been seen more regularly and the Chases had so obviously taken Tate and her siblings into their family, making it clear they believed in her.
Fury rode him when he thought about her being talked to badly by people who didn’t know what a remarkable person she was. If people couldn’t look at Tate and see how much she cared about him, about her siblings, they didn’t have eyes and they sure didn’t if they couldn’t see the way Matt looked at her right back.
They’d added on another bathroom adjoining the master bedroom, and another bedroom was being built to the other side of the kitchen. He found he loved coming home from work and making the place theirs. He also loved walking across the street from the station on the days he got off when she did, to come home with her.
/> Waking up with Tate nestled against him was the best feeling he’d ever had.
The weekend before Thanksgiving was the Harvest Dance at the Grange. A community fundraiser for the local food pantry and it happened to be one event Tate looked forward to.
Matt came home with a big white box and several smaller boxes, tossing them on the bed. “Just a little something, Venus.”
She grinned. Still uncomfortable taking presents from him, it got a little easier each time and it made him happy to do for her and her happy because who didn’t like presents?
He hopped on the bed and watched as she tore into the box and gasped, pulling out a beautiful deep blue dress.
“Matt, this is gorgeous.”
“I thought it would look dead sexy on you. Will you wear it tonight? There are shoes and a purse in the other boxes. Anne helped me with them to be sure they matched and all.”
“Yes. I was just trying to figure out what to wear and now I have the perfect thing.”
How she loved watching him there, on the bed. On their bed, eyes lazily taking her in but she knew he paid attention to everything she did. It made her feel wildly sexy, the way he devoured her with his gaze.
They’d begun to make a life together in her little house. It was theirs now, getting bigger every day. The chaos of the constant construction was worth it to see the space grow into a home for them.
Having him there made her happier than she’d ever been, than she’d ever hoped to be. At first, she expected him to grow disillusioned or impatient with her family and other commitments but he didn’t. He made room in his life for what was important to her and she found herself eager to do so for him.
Those times when they babysat for her nieces and nephew or Nicholas and baby Lise, she allowed herself to see their future as parents together. She wanted that with him very much.
Her father was a menace in her life, yes, but she’d do anything to protect this precious thing from his poison, from his evil, nasty darkness. She’d protect Matt because he meant everything to her and his family was too good to be sullied by the stain of her father. And she’d protect her own family too. At least he didn’t physically scare her anymore although despite not wanting to care, she wished he’d get help. His drinking continued and in the periods right after her mother ran off again, he got worse. She wanted him to get better, wanted a chance to mend things but she knew it would never happen. So she held what was truly precious close and would protect it with her dying breath.
Matt watched her as she got ready. Hard didn’t begin to describe the state of his cock by the time she’d blotted her lips and turned.
“Man, you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmured, putting his hands at her waist. So perfect. She was soft and sweet, curvy, feminine. Her breasts were showcased quite nicely at the neck of the dress and the skirt was full, coming to her knees. The shoes were sinfully high and whatever she’d done with her hair and makeup made her look glamorously pretty.
She blushed and he grinned. “Thank you. You do too. I love it when you dress up. I can’t complain about you in jeans but in a suit? I’m not so sure I even want to leave just now.”
“We could stay here. We could play senior prom. This could be the hotel room and we only have a few hours until you have to be home.”
She burst out laughing and hugged him. “I love you.”
“That means we have to go to the Grange doesn’t it?” He pouted and she nodded.
“But only for a few hours. Lise is with Susan and William along with Nicholas. I’m absolutely sure Maggie and Liv won’t want to stay too long. We’ll make our exit when they do.”
“Oh, good plan.” He kissed her neck and twirled her. “Perfect. The dress is perfect for dancing.”
“It’s a swing dress, it’s made for dancing. Good choice, Matt. Thank you for thinking of me.”
Once at the Grange, they checked in at the table but quickly headed out to the dance floor. He loved dancing with her. She was so good at it, people often stopped to watch her. And with her heels she fit him nicely, soft against the hard wall of his chest. Perfect.
“Look at them. Goodness sakes, there’s love for you.” Polly squeezed Edward’s hand.
“She looks lovely tonight. In love too. I think moving in was a good choice. I know you want them married and having babies already but she’s had a rough road to get to this point. She can see every day how much he loves her. How she fits into his life and his family. And people round town are starting to notice too.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Chase, how are you tonight?” Melanie appeared at their table and Polly turned a narrow eyed gaze on her.
“Better once you move yourself away from my sight.”
Edward smiled. “Now, lamb, I’m sure Miss Deeds here is only going to tell us she’s been powerfully wrong about our Tate and how she’s sorry she’s been spreading such lies about her all over town.”
“No, Mr. Chase, can’t you see? She’s a bad, bad person! She’s had Matt move in to pay for her house. She’s making it bigger on his dime. She’s just using him. I loved him, I hate seeing you all taken in by her this way. She’s a gold digger plain and simple.”
Polly snorted and Maggie tossed a crouton at Melanie’s head. “Hit the road, Melanie. You’re an idiot plain and simple. Suck it up, Matt chose Tate. He broke up with you long before he found Tate. If you don’t shut your mouth now, you’re looking at a tableful of trouble. I promised to hold Liv’s hair back when you got out of line again and she’s still wild with pregnancy hormones.”
Liv laughed and Marc patted her hand.
Cassie looked Melanie up and down. “What’s your deal anyway? You’re the nastiest piece of work I’ve seen in a long time. We don’t like you. We think you’re a hateful twit and Tate is one of ours. Matt didn’t want you. There are other men in Petal, not our men, they’re all taken and we don’t share. And we don’t take kindly to our own being attacked by the likes of you.”
“You girls scare me. I’m glad you’re on my side.” Shane winked at Cassie.
“Well, you’ve said what you needed to say and you’re wrong of course. But you know that and that only makes you even more pathetic. As I told your mother last week. And as you’ve continued this nasty campaign against our Tate, it’s been hard but I’ve had to shift my business to another florist cross town. Now, if you had any actual skills and say, a job or a business, I’d threaten that but you just live off your folks. Which sort of makes the whole idea that anyone with a job and a business the gold digger instead of you very ironic and ridiculous too. But I suspect you’d need a dictionary to know you were just insulted. So scamper along now before a drink gets spilled on you.” Polly waved her away and Melanie stomped off with a wounded squeal.
The men at the table clapped and each woman gave a bow.
“Matt, I think you should take the river road.” Tate looked out the window at the clear night sky, the stars twinkling bright above them.
“Okay, anything for you, Venus.”
She rustled around and held out her panties. “Good.”
“Jeez, Tate, you’re going to give me a heart attack!” He tried not to speed as he headed down the rural road that edged the river leading to the lake.
“Park, Matt. I can’t wait much longer.”
And she couldn’t. Tate needed him desperately and she wasn’t quite sure why but he had to be inside her and as quickly as possible.
He pulled off, parking under an old willow tree and she turned, moving the dress out from beneath her as she crawled toward him.
Scooting toward her, he met her halfway and she hopped on his lap, grinding herself against him as he kissed her. His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her to him as he ate at her mouth, devouring her sighs and moans.
The other hand found its way under her dress and between her thighs. “Holy shit, you’re scalding hot,” he whispered into her mouth and she squirmed against his hand.
“Plea
se, put your cock inside me. Please.”
“You undo me when you need me so much.”
She lifted up and yanked his pants open, freeing him. She slid the head of his cock through her wetness before guiding him to her gate and sinking down on him.
“What brought this on? Not that I’m complaining.” He thrust up into her and she arched her back.
“I’ve needed you all day and we were rushed but dancing with you, your eyes on me all night, you’re so fucking handsome and sexy. I just…yes oh like that…needed you so bad.”
“Take your breasts out for me, Tate. Hold them so I can kiss and lick your pretty nipples.”
She gasped softly and undid the side zipper enough to reach into the bodice and free her breasts.
Holding them out as he made love to her, his mouth torturing her nipples, cock deep inside her body, she felt like another person, a sexy person and she realized she was. He made her feel that way and she’d accepted it.
“Since your hands are busy, let me ease you some.” Matt reached down and captured her clit between his fingers and squeezed gently over and over as she sped up on him.
“You’re a sex goddess, Tate. So damned sexy I can barely hold on. I need to come so you have to too.” He bit her nipple gently and then a bit harder and thrust deep, fingers still plumping her clit.
Tipping her head back, her back bowed as she came, the cab of the truck echoing with the sound of her voice and his whispered replies.
Chapter Twelve
Matt walked into a full house two days after Thanksgiving and caught part of a strained conversation between Tate and her baby sister, Jill. After they’d finished the renovation of the dining room, his parents had given them a nice, big table that filled the space.
Several Murphys and Cassie wandered around, gabbing and laughing. He loved that their house was a hub of activity. He caught sight of Liv sitting in the rocker in the living room, baby Lise a pink bundle against her chest, a shock of black hair peeking out from beneath a hat. She waved in his direction and he blew her a kiss and waved at Marc.
