“We did,” Ben concurred, “but even with me, it was a few weeks before I could convince you to come to the house. We met at the park or at the dome for a while first.”
“That’s because you kept wanting me to come to one of your community cookouts with who knows how many people I didn’t know,” Caine said. “It’s one thing if it’s just you, or you and Jonathon. It’s another entirely when I’m going to be swarmed by the whole community.”
“So I suppose you knew the people who were helping Norah paint?” Ben questioned.
“I had seen them around,” Caine said. “It was just the ladies from the antique shop and Brandon’s wife. What’s her name again? Deena, Della, something like that.”
“Dina,” Ben supplied. “I’m not surprised she has connected to Norah already. She will probably become a permanent fixture of the bookstore once it’s opened.”
“Oh, so it doesn’t surprise you that she could be friends with Norah, but you think there has to be something else going on for me to be friends with her,” Caine said. “What kind of double standard is that?”
“It’s not a double standard,” Ben insisted. “It has absolutely nothing to do with any arbitrary standard about men friends or women friends. For the love of God, my partner has befriended most of the community, male and female. I’m not the least bit threatened by it because I know him. That’s the point. I know you too, and I know this isn’t typical for you. There’s something going on here.”
“There is no such thing,” Caine said adamantly. “We’re friendly. I’m polite, and yeah, maybe I’m a little bit protective, but that’s not against the law. You of all people should understand that.”
“I do,” Ben told him. “I get it. For some of us, you, me, and a great many of the men who live in Corbin’s Bend, it’s just part of our DNA. It’s the way we are. I understand that. What I don’t understand is why you are so dead set against the possibility that there might be something going on other than just being friendly between the two of you?”
Caine found himself staring at a spot between Benjamin’s shoulders, caught somewhere between stunned and frustrated. Wasn’t it perfectly obvious what the problem was?
“She’s one of you,” he replied.
“And?” Ben questioned. “So am I. So is Jonathon. I wasn’t aware that was a problem.”
“It’s not for a friend,” Caine told him. “I couldn’t care less what you guys do between you, but it is if we’re more than friends. If she lives here, she clearly wants a particular kind of relationship.”
“It’s not a secret how we live,” Ben said. “You’ve never had a problem with it before.”
“I don’t,” Caine assured him. “Not for you, but being okay with you doing it, and getting into a relationship where someone expects it from me are two different things.”
“They are,” Benjamin agreed, “but you might want to consider giving it a chance. You might find you like it if you try it.”
“No,” Caine said bluntly. “There is no way in hell. I’m not judging you. You have the right to live however you choose, but there’s no way I would ever choose to live that way.”
“How do you know?” Benjamin wondered. “If you haven’t tried it, you can’t be certain how you might feel. Trust me, there are plenty of people living in Corbin’s Bend right now who would have never dreamed they would be happy in this type of relationship.”
“Good for them,” Caine said dryly. “I’m not one of them. Trust me, I’m not. I don’t need to try it to find out. I know.”
“How?” Ben pressed.
“How do you know you’re gay?” Caine shot back.
Benjamin gaped at him. “I just do.”
“And I just know your lifestyle isn’t for me,” Caine replied. “Now, can we please drop it?”
“Sure,” Benjamin said easily. “It’s going to get harder to talk through this stretch anyway.”
This was the steepest and rockiest part of the hike. Navigating this stretch didn’t require walking so much as climbing up a steep embankment. It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t something for beginners, but it didn’t pose either man much problem. Ben was a lifetime military man, and while Caine’s own stint in the military had been short-lived, it hadn’t been because of the physical aspects of the training. That had, in fact, been one of the things he had most enjoyed. He wasn’t afraid of solid physical work. Unlike some contractors, he didn’t simply hire out everything and stay hands-off with his projects preferring instead to do most of the building required himself and only hiring out the things that someone else could do better or easier, like electrical or plumbing. That way he could focus on the woodwork. The bookstore job was going to require a good deal of woodwork so he would probably do more than usual on this particular job. Not that he minded. It would be good to get his hands back into a big project. He hadn’t had a really wood heavy project since The Pit was completed. Not to mention he would enjoy spending a lot of time on this work site. He might only be being friendly to Norah, but he enjoyed her company, and she was easy on the eyes. It wouldn’t hurt to take advantage of the opportunity while he had it.
Toward the top of the embankment, he had to shut down all these thoughts and focus all of his attention on the climb. There were handholds to be found, but it took looking carefully to find them. Finally, he managed to climb over the top the embankment onto the flat plateau that stretched out from it. From here, it was possible to see for miles around. For a moment, he could almost believe that anything was possible. Almost.
“Well, hello there, stranger,” Quincy said when Norah pushed through the door to the antique shop. “You haven’t come to see us in ages. What have you been up to?”
“This store is keeping me pretty busy,” Norah told her. “As much as I like the idea of running my own store and setting it up to my taste, I never dreamed there would be so many decisions to make. I’ve run stores before. I thought I knew what I was getting into, but doing it all myself is something else again.” Every day it was some new decision that had to be made: flooring, paint colors, windows, lighting, even electrical outlet covers. The list was endless, and that was just for the things Caine needed. That didn’t even count inventory, merchandising, marketing materials or any of the other things that went along with running the store.
“That it is,” Quincy agreed, her long earrings swinging as she nodded. She was dressed in a peasant blouse and patchwork skirt today, giving her the air of a freewheeling Gypsy. “It will get better once you have your systems in place and everything is organized.”
“Hey, Norah,” Abby broke in, coming up from the back of the store with a feather duster in one hand. “I thought I heard you out here. It’s about time you came back for lunch. Where have you been?”
“Here and there,” Norah told her. “Mostly busy at the store.” They both seemed genuinely glad to see her, and that made her feel a little guilty about not coming sooner. Maybe she should have made more of an effort to continue having lunch with Abby and Quincy. They had eaten lunch together nearly every day the first week after she had moved in. She had really enjoyed it, but it had fallen by the wayside lately.
“So?” Abby countered. “You still need to eat. You should still come see us. Come out of your cave once in a while.”
“I know,” Norah agreed. “Sorry. I get caught up in what I’m doing sometimes and forget things like stopping for food.”
“You better watch that,” Quincy warned her. “When you find your HOH, he’s not likely going to be happy about that. Most of them get pretty up in arms about anything that could affect your health or safety.”
What Norah wouldn’t give to have someone in her life who cared about her enough to pay attention to stuff like that, but she dismissed Quincy with a wave of her hand. “I’ll cross that bridge if and when it becomes an issue. It’s not like I have anybody interested right now. Besides, I’m not skipping lunch every day. Sometimes Caine and I have lunch together.”
>
For the most part, that was what had kept her from going out. Caine had taken to bringing his lunch back to the store, and she would get her own lunch and eat with him. The first time she had done it, it was in an attempt to apologize for making a fool of herself and him the night that they were painting. It would’ve been one thing to say something like that to a man from the community who understood her submissive tendencies. It was quite another to have that part of herself come out around an outsider. When she had realized the next morning what she’d done, she was humiliated and furious with herself for putting him in that kind of position. She was sure it had made him feel awkward and uncomfortable, and she didn’t want that to get in the way of their working relationship. She had joined him for lunch to apologize. Caine, thankfully, had been gracious about the whole thing and brushed it off like it was no big deal.
After that, it was simpler to just grab something from her own kitchen than go out anyway. Not to mention it was rude to leave him there to eat alone when she was doing the same thing herself. Besides, she enjoyed his company. Though in general, Caine was a man of few words who kept to himself, when they were alone together he was easy company. She enjoyed talking with him, and he had a subtle, dry wit that made her laugh at the most unexpected moments.
Quincy raised an eyebrow. “So that’s how it is?” Though she said nothing more, the implication couldn’t have been clearer. Norah was suddenly forcibly reminded that Quincy had a reputation as one of the community’s most notorious matchmakers.
“It isn’t like that,” Norah protested. “Caine doesn’t like crowds so he prefers to bring his lunch back to the store where it’s quiet. He also can’t take Mav into a restaurant so it’s easier just to come back. I’m usually there and I have to eat too. It seems rude to leave him alone. I’m just being friendly. That’s all.”
“Sure you are,” Abby teased, sharing an amused look with her aunt.
“I am,” Norah insisted.
“Maybe you are,” Quincy agreed, “but maybe he keeps coming back because he likes the company.”
“I should hope so,” Norah replied, exasperated. “I’d hate to think he was simply suffering through when I was boring him to death.”
“I sincerely doubt that,” Quincy said. “If that were the case, he’d find somewhere else to hide out. Face it, honey, he likes you.”
“I like him too,” Norah said. “I like to think we’re becoming friends, but there’s nothing more to it than that, and there will never be.”
“And why not?” Quincy demanded. “If you like him, and he likes you, why not take a chance and see where it goes?”
Norah shook her head. “Nope. I swore to myself when I moved here I was done with vanilla relationships.”
“Why do you automatically assume it would have to be vanilla?” Quincy asked.
“You know why.” Norah retorted. “You told me yourself that he isn’t part of the community. He’s not like us.”
“You don’t know that,” Quincy countered. “All we know is that he doesn’t live here. He could be working here to get a feel for things before he decides to buy in, or maybe he’s working here to try to save up the money to buy in. At the very least, if he’s working here, he’s not going to be shocked or offended by the lifestyle. That’s far better odds than you would have in general.”
“If you say so,” Norah said skeptically, “but I’m not looking for somebody who will just tolerate the lifestyle. I want somebody who wants this lifestyle, who needs it like I do. I’ve had my fill of people who are just wanting to play sex games. I need an HOH.”
“I understand that, honey,” Quincy went on. “I’ve been a widow for a long time, and I know all too well what you’re talking about. All I’m saying is that I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off if I were you. He wouldn’t be the first convert we’ve had around here by any means, or the last.”
“That’s true,” Abby agreed. “Sometimes you don’t even know what you’re looking for until you find it. I didn’t.”
Norah turned to her, brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t know I wanted this sort of relationship when I moved here,” Abby explained. “I didn’t come to Corbin’s Bend looking for it. I only came because I needed somewhere to go and Aunt Quincy offered me a place to stay. Once I was here though, I realized there was something about it that intrigued me. Six months before I moved here if someone had told me I would be living in a community like this one in the sort of relationship that I am, I would have thought they had lost their mind, but once I found it, I knew it was right.”
“See?” Quincy said. “Sometimes you just don’t know until you try. What’s the harm in trying if you like him?”
“Maybe,” Norah conceded. As far as she was concerned, there was plenty of opportunity to do harm. What if it didn’t work and it damaged their working relationship? What if she risked it and he turned her down flat? What would it be like to continue to work with him every day if that happened? Would she even be able to do that? That was just far too much to risk. They were much better off staying friends, regardless of what Quincy’s opinion might be on the matter. “Anyway,” she continued, determined to change the subject, “are we getting lunch or what? I don’t know about you two but I’m starving.”
“So am I,” Abby agreed. That set her and Quincy in motion gathering up purses and phones and other essentials. In a matter of moments, Abby was setting up the sign to let customers know they were out to lunch, the conversation about Caine thankfully forgotten.
Chapter 5
Norah locked the door behind her, dropped her keys, sunglasses and water into her purse and headed downstairs. She came to an abrupt halt when she saw Caine standing on the first floor, hands on his hips, surveying the newly laid flooring. “I didn’t expect you here this morning,” she said by way of greeting.
Caine turned to face her. “I didn’t expect to be here either,” he replied. “Ben and I had planned on hiking this morning, but Jonathon woke up not feeling well, and Ben decided to stay home. Since I was already in town, I figured I might as well see how the floor turned out. I would have warned you I was coming, but as early as it is, I was afraid I would wake you.”
“I appreciate the consideration” she told him, smiling, “but I’m about to head out myself.”
“So I see,” Caine replied. “Where are you headed early this morning?”
“I’m hitting the yard sales,” Norah answered. “I’m planning on stocking a mix of new and used titles. Yard sales are a great way to pick up inexpensive used inventory.”
“That makes sense,” Caine agreed. "Where do you go to find these sales?"
“Nowhere in particular,” she said breezily. “I’ll pick up a newspaper once I get out of the community and see what’s advertised. It’s a beautiful day. I’m sure I’ll find plenty of options. The rambling is half the fun.”
“Are you seriously telling me you intend to go roaming around unfamiliar mountain roads alone?” he asked.
“Well, yes,” Norah said slowly. It was obvious that he disapproved, but she had no idea what he was so upset about. “I have GPS, and besides, how am I ever supposed to get familiar with the area if I don’t explore?”
“You could ask for help, for one,” Caine told her. “Find someone familiar with the area to go with you so you don’t end up lost in the middle of the forest or broke down on some back road with no idea where you are. You can freeze to death rambling around out here in the winter.”
“It’s not winter,” Norah protested. “Of course I wouldn’t go out on my own in the middle of a snowstorm, but it’s a beautiful day. Like I said, I have GPS, and I have a cell phone. I’ll be fine.” Why was she even having this conversation? She liked Caine well enough, and she appreciated his concern, however misplaced it might be, but he had no say over what she said or did. Why was she even still discussing this?
“Maybe not,” Caine agreed, “but it’s not exactly summer eithe
r. You have no idea how fast the weather can change in these mountains. It might be a beautiful day now, but it could be freezing by nightfall.”
“I don’t intend to still be out by nightfall,” Norah assured him. “That’s why I’m leaving early.”
“I still don’t like the idea of you being out there alone and no one knowing where you are,” Caine insisted. “Anything could happen.”
Oh for the love of... “I will be fine,” Norah repeated bluntly. To be fair, she hadn’t originally intended for this to be a solo trip. She had invited both Abby and Dina but both had had other plans. Still, it wasn’t as if she was wandering off into the wilds of Africa. Caine was being ridiculous.
“Why don’t I come along?” he suggested. “It’s not like I have anything else to do today since Ben is otherwise occupied. I know the area well, and I’d feel better about you not being by yourself.”
Norah rolled her eyes. “I do not need a chaperone. I moved across the country by myself. I’m perfectly capable of managing to make my way wherever I need to go.” She paused thoughtfully, finger tapping against her lips. “That being said, it might be useful to have you around to help me schlep cartons of books back to the car so I’ll take you up on your offer. Only for the free labor though.”
Caine flashed her a brief, slightly sideways grin that brought out the dimple in his cheek. “Yes, ma’am,” he said slowly, his voice shifting automatically into an accent that was distinctly southern with hints of something else as well. “If we’re going to be hauling books around, maybe we should take my truck.”
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