Life After Perfect

by Nancy Naigle

  The team talked through the drills, contingency planning for power outages, and communications during the time of the storm.

  When they wrapped up, Derek decided to skip the dinner. He walked out to his car and dialed Katy’s number. If he didn’t catch her, at least he could leave her a message. But when she didn’t answer, he hung up. He’d try again later.

  At home, he heated up some leftovers in the microwave, and then he tried her number again.

  “Hey there. Was hoping I’d catch you. Angie said you had to go out of town.”

  Katy’s words came at a clip. “I’m on my way back to Naomi’s now.”

  “You sound a little frustrated. Are you okay?”

  He heard her let out a sigh. “I’m fine. Tired. What’s up?”

  “I was going to see if you wanted to go to the movie tonight. They have one of those big blow-up screens out at the park. Since you’re back, you up for it?”

  She paused, then said in an apologetic tone, “Not really. I’m kind of beat. I was up early. Maybe another time.”

  “Sure. They’ll probably do it a few more times before the weather changes.”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “Okay, well I’ll let you go.”

  “Talk to you soon,” she said.

  He hung up the phone, sorry that he’d called. He’d had his hopes pinned on a date or at least some conversation. Maybe she’d just had a bad day.

  While he was washing his dish, he noticed the shock of pink flowers outside, and a thought occurred to him.

  He took the scissors from the knife block on the counter and walked outside. He must have snipped twenty-five flowers, forming a big bouquet that would cheer up just about anyone. He cut a piece of cotton twine from the ball he’d used to tie the tomato plant stems to their stakes.

  Not bad.

  He went inside and grabbed his keys and headed for his truck.

  When he got to Lonesome Pines, Katy’s car wasn’t there. He must have beat her home, which was good because he hoped the flowers might cheer her up after a long day on the road. He went to the front door, knocked, and let himself inside through the open front door.

  Naomi stopped mid-sentence, and Katy was standing right across from her.

  He knew her car hadn’t been out front, but it was most certainly her. “Hey, Naomi. Katy. I . . . I.” He glanced back toward the door. Confused. “I didn’t think you were back yet. I was just going to leave these for you.”

  Naomi looked as impressed as if she’d been the one to raise him.

  “Thank you,” Katy said.

  “We just got done with our meeting at the firehouse. The storm is expected to cause some trouble. Looks like you just barely beat the rain.”

  “I ran through some showers on the way in,” she said.

  “If the creek starts to rise, I want y’all to know that you can come stay at my house. Just call and I’ll come get you.”

  Naomi didn’t look worried. “That’s sweet of you, Derek, but that creek has never risen high enough to cause a problem here. We’ll be just fine. If worse comes to worst, we’ll take to the second floor.”

  Katy gave him a half smile. “I’ll just go put these in a vase.”

  She left the room and now what had seemed like such a fun and romantic gesture felt awkward as hell with Naomi standing there smiling that knowing smile at him.

  Thank goodness it only took Katy a minute to grab a vase and fill it with water. She returned, put it on the table in the front room, and started fussing with the flowers.

  “I’m just going to go check on Kelly Jo and I’ve got some . . .” Naomi spoke as she headed out of the room. “I’ve got stuff to do upstairs.”

  “That was subtle,” he said with a laugh as Naomi hotfooted it out of the room.

  “Yeah,” she said pushing her hair behind her ear. “Look, Derek. This is really nice. Sweet, really, but I think we need to slow things down. I—”

  “No pressure. I know you’re tired. I just wanted to stop by. You sounded kind of stressed after the drive. I thought the flowers might make you smile.”

  “You sure know how to do that,” she said, then stepped around to the other side of the table fussing with the flowers, only he had a feeling it was more to put space between them.

  “So?” He wasn’t quite sure what had changed, but the signals were clearly different.

  “It’s complicated,” she said.

  “No. What Todd and Kelly Jo are going through, that’s complicated.”

  She pulled her arms up and crossed them tight at her chest. “Okay, so it’s not life-and-death complicated, but it’s complex. I have to go back to Atlanta on Monday.”

  “Okay. So, what is in Atlanta? I thought you lived in Virginia Beach.”

  She shook her head. “I grew up in Virginia Beach, but I live on the outskirts of Atlanta.”

  “Oh?” Only he wasn’t really understanding. He was falling for this girl. Not even a week. It was ridiculous. Crazy. He knew it was. Even his hopeless romantic of a mother would say so, but it was true. She’d awakened feelings that he thought he would never feel again. And he liked it. And now she seemed afraid.

  “I’m sorry I know I’m not making sense. I’m so tired.”

  “I didn’t see your car when I pulled in.”

  She looked puzzled, then nodded. “That’s because I got rid of the Mercedes this morning.”

  “Is it the money? Do you need money? I could help—”

  Katy’s face flooded a soft pink. “No, it’s not. Money isn’t a problem. I can get a job. I’m just a grump. I’m sorry. I’m never like this.”

  “Why don’t you come with me? I’ll put you in a better mood.”

  Naomi poked her head around the corner. “Go on, Katy. We’ll be fine here.”

  Derek and Katy shared a smile. Had Naomi been hanging right there around the corner the whole time?

  “I won’t even make you go outside in the rain.”

  She laughed. “You were the one who didn’t want to go out in the rain. Not me. You almost sacrificed our pork chops because of a little rain.”

  “How about popcorn and a movie? We’ll veg out in front of the television and just relax.”

  “I’ll probably fall asleep.”

  “I happen to be a pretty good cuddle,” he said. “Come on. The rain sounds great under the tin roof.”

  The pounding of the rain on the roof of the truck somehow relaxed her. Plus it was so loud there was no way they could talk. She didn’t feel like talking. Ron’s manipulations had drained her. She’d be glad when all of this was behind her. And being with Derek was so easy. So nice, but she needed to figure out what her own priorities were. It had been so long since she’d even tried to parcel out what were hers versus theirs as a couple that she wasn’t sure where to start.

  But here she was. In his truck. Letting him lead the way. Tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow she could focus on her next steps.

  Derek pulled up to the house, and then pressed a button for the garage door.

  Katy winced as he drove into the garage, like maybe she thought the truck wasn’t going to clear the opening, though that wasn’t really it. The truck was big. No question about that, but her being here with Derek was more nerve-wracking.

  “I’ve parked in here a time or two,” he said with a wink.

  “Sorry,” she said. “That is some crazy rain.”

  “Yeah. Hope the satellite hasn’t gone out, or we might have to watch a DVD.”

  “That’s fine with me.”

  He got out and by the time she opened her door, he was at her side, helping her down.

  Inside the rain pounded the roof.

  “It’s peaceful. The tin roof.”

  “It takes some getting used to.” He hit the button on the remote, but
all they got was the satellite searching for a connection. He flashed her an apologetic look. “I was afraid of that.”

  “It’s okay,” she said.

  “You really are out of sorts today. Do you want to talk about it?”

  Tears welled, one slipping down her cheek.

  He caught it with the back of his hand, his knuckle sweeping it away, and then his thumb brushing across her lower lip.

  “Don’t cry. What is going on?”

  “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I can’t. I shouldn’t have come.”

  “Hey. Calm down.”

  She liked the way his lips moved when he talked. She lifted a hand and touched his cheek. She’d been dying to do that and it was as soft as she’d imagined. She pulled her hand away, but he caught it and held it close to his chest.

  His heart pounded under her touch. If his hand were on her chest, he’d feel the same.

  “Come with me,” he said pulling her up.

  She stood there for a moment, and he reached for her hand.

  He placed her hand in his and she followed him upstairs. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and tugged her down next to him.

  “Don’t say a word.” He leaned back and guided her next to him, stretching out next to her. The heat of her tears dampened his shoulder. “It’s hard, what’s going on with Todd and Kelly Jo. I know it’s heartbreaking. It’s okay to be sad.”

  “It is heartbreaking. I feel so ungrateful and lonely and I can’t even explain it. I am so sad for them that I can barely stand it.”

  “I know. It makes you feel like you’ve suddenly lost your way, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes. It does.”

  He ran his hand through her hair, letting the long tendrils wrap around his finger as he held her in his arms in the dark. Holding her closer. His breathing slowing to match hers. “I’m here. We’ll get through all of this.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, then scooted up, nearly nose to nose with him, and initiated a kiss.

  The quick inhale on his part proved she’d caught him off guard. She’d expected to surprise him, but her own soft moan sent an unexpected, eager intensity through her. She released all control like someone would when a wave crashes around her and pulls, wanting to drag her deep into the undertow.

  The intensity of their kisses grew and she pulled his t-shirt up, dropping kisses in a path along his chest.

  His breath hitched and she could feel the well-defined muscles of his stomach under her fingers and lips as she traced his torso.

  He lifted up just enough to pull his shirt off over his head. The soft cotton landed in a heap on the floor near the bed.

  When she kissed his neck, he ran a finger in between the buttons of her blouse, sending a shiver through her and she knew if she said no, things would stop. If she didn’t, there was no turning back.

  Her mind clung to that as his hands deftly worked the front of her blouse.

  She wanted this.

  She needed it. When he pushed her shirt back over her shoulders, she sat up and let it slide to the floor near his.

  He got up and stood next to the bed. He stepped out of his jeans, and then leaned forward kissing her. She sat up, letting her fingers dance across his strong arms, and then he laid her back and kissed a trail from between her breasts to her tummy.

  She pulled the sheet into her hands and closed her eyes. The images of his face, at dinner, smiling, laughing, different times and places over the past week, were all good. She opened her eyes. He was watching her.

  He rested his chin at the waistband of her skirt. He swept his tongue across the spot where her skirt met her stomach and then he slid his hands under the fabric.

  She closed her legs around his hand, and then parted them. He paused, just long enough to give her a chance to stop him, but she didn’t.

  He slid his hands to the top of her skirt, and in one move, swept it and her panties over her hips and to the ground.

  Her breathing came in short breaths, but his was just as uneven. He climbed back onto the bed and stretched out alongside her.

  “I want you tonight, Katy.”

  She closed her eyes and nuzzled her face into his shoulder.

  Cupping his hands on each side of her head, he tilted her face to his. He kissed the side of her face, slowly. Then her mouth, and she felt the growing urgency of something sensual and wonderful and she let herself ride that thought.

  She couldn’t deny herself his touch. He made no attempt to hide that he was watching her. Enjoying every moment that she shivered or tensed until there was no holding back, and she pushed her fingers into the flesh of his arms and the world fell away.

  For a moment there was nothing but that passion—their breathing a well-practiced melody that even drowned out the rain against the tin roof.

  His skin was hot, moist from the dance. The sound of their skin touching, moving together, was only heightened by the soft moans of pleasure that can’t be re-created on command.

  She knew this moment, this night, would replay in her mind forever. She would cling to it. Relive the joy she was feeling right now, and it would take her through another day and many to follow.

  In the darkness, Katy ran her hand along Derek’s chest. She had no idea what time it was but it was still dark out, and the light in the yard cast a soft glow across their entwined bodies under the crisp, white sheets. She’d slept for a little while, but now she was half awake. The rain wasn’t falling as hard now.

  Stillness had replaced their movements, as they lay next to each other. He brushed her damp bangs back from her face, but never said a word.

  Words would only clutter what they’d just shared.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Derek wished he didn’t have to work this morning, so he could stay in bed all day long with Katy, but the last thing he could do was break a promise to his father, or embarrass him in front of his patients. So, when the sun peeked through the curtain, he’d carefully slid out of bed.

  It was awkward to just steal away.

  He started to write her a note, but his handwriting was typical doctor scribble, and he kind of doubted she’d be able to read it. Instead he grabbed another sheet of paper off the table. He simply drew a big smiley face and printed CALL YOU LATER across the bottom. He laid it on the pillow next to her, and then slowly walked out of the room.

  The door creaked as he pulled it closed behind him. He quietly made his way down the hall.

  Outside, the rain had stopped, but the sky still cast an angry glance over the town.

  With everyone still watching Tropical Storm Eva, it was anybody’s guess what they were in for the next three days. They would either be blasted with heavy, damaging wind and rain for the next three days, or if she chose to do-si-do back offshore, they could have clear sailing all weekend.

  Being this far inland, the town rarely saw these kinds of storms. They hadn’t had a bad flood since 1967, but that year the flood was so bad they’d had a state of emergency.

  He couldn’t recall how Naomi’s house had been affected in the past, but being that it was right on the creek, it didn’t seem like the best place to be if the rain didn’t give them a break.

  When he got to the office, he checked his schedule. He’d have to get back to his house before noon so he could take Katy back to the inn. He certainly couldn’t leave her stranded at his house all day. It wasn’t like you could just hail a cab in a town like this. Besides, he’d want to talk to Naomi again about a contingency plan if the storm came this way and the creek flooded.

  An hour later his schedule freed up and he texted Katy to let her know he was on his way to pick her up and take her back to Naomi’s.

  She met him at the truck and climbed in.

  “Good morning.”

  “Back at ya,” she said. “How’s your day going?”
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  “I wish I’d had the day off.”

  She smiled and turned to look out the window. She wished he’d had the day off too.

  He pulled into the parking spot next to the front porch and shut down the truck.

  “Are you coming in?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, thought I’d check on Kelly Jo and check on things.”

  Derek and Katy walked inside together.

  “Have a fun night?” Naomi sang out.

  Katy felt three shades of pink brighter than the flowers in Derek’s front yard. It was like getting caught doing it in your parents’ house or something. “It was nice.”

  “Nice?”

  Oh, yeah. She knew. Great.

  “There are ham biscuits in the kitchen.”

  “Thanks,” Katy said, quickly making a beeline for the kitchen to escape further questioning and for some much-needed coffee.

  When Katy walked back out into the dining room, Naomi was sitting there alone. “How’s Kelly Jo feeling this morning?”

  “I don’t know. She and Todd have had the door closed all morning.” Naomi looked worried.

  “It’s heartbreaking.”

  “It is. At least he’s here now.” She leveled a loving look at Katy. “You’re a good woman, Katy. You deserve happiness too.”

  Katy’s phone rang. She glanced at the display, and then leapt to her feet. “I’ve got to take this. Excuse me.” She gave a half-grin and jetted out the back French doors since that was the closest exit. “Hello,” she answered.

  “I just got off of the phone with Ron,” said Shaleigh.

  Katy’s throat felt thick. “And?”

  “I don’t think he’ll try changing dates again on us. We had quite the little conversation. He tried to play it all off—the whole thing—but when I told him I’d seen pictures of him kissing his little friend, he was off-balance.” She laughed in a haughty way. “I described that kiss quite nicely if I do say so myself. I should take up writing erotic novels. I did so well that I left him a little speechless, in fact.”