The Bride Takes a Powder

by Jane Leopold Quinn

  "No," Norah said at the same time.

  Mike moved closer to Norah—to stake his claim? To protect her? Yes to both. "Well, would you like to join us for lunch? Ollie's isn't usually open for lunch, but since I own the place…"

  "Oh, Mike." Norah gave him a look of thanks and smiled, capturing his hand.

  He couldn't let her leave with this yahoo. The guy who'd humiliated and hurt her.

  Glaring at her former fiancé, she said, "Garrett, you need to go back to Chicago now."

  "I wouldn't mind having some lunch though." He looked at his watch. "I should check in at the resort first."

  "Sure, you do that," Mike grudgingly agreed. "Then come right down First Street to Ollie's. That's my place. We'll see you there." With that, he tightened his grip on her hand and tugged her through the park and away from Garrett.

  "Thank you for saving me. I'm so sorry he came to town. I never wanted that. I didn't want to have to see him again."

  "Did you live together?"

  "No, we didn't. As a matter of fact, we don't even have too much stuff at each other's place. Isn't that odd? Toiletries, some underwear, a pair of jeans, and a couple tops and that's it. That's kind of scary now that I think of it. It's like we were never that entrenched in each other's lives."

  Mike wasn't sure what to say. I'm sorry didn't seem right. Yippee did, though. He put his arm around her shoulders and, since it was starting to rain again, they ran across the street and into Ollie's.

  Lunch of burgers and fries was a stilted affair. Garrett gazed about the place with ill-disguised disfavor.

  "So, what do you do in this burg for fun?" he asked.

  Norah jumped in. "I haven't been bored here, and I don't miss Chicago one bit."

  "Well yeah, sure." Garrett snapped a nasty glance at Mike. Draining the last of his beer, he said to Norah, "I want to talk to you in private. Is that something we could do?"

  She looked apologetically at Mike and said, "I should do this. I'll be back in a little while."

  Garrett pulled his wallet from his pants' pocket. Mike lifted a hand. "Forget it, Garrett."

  "Sure. Come on, Norah, let's go."

  She winced at Mike but he said, "It's okay. I'll be here." She'd better come back. Once they disappeared out the door and were gone for a few minutes, Mike's curiosity got the better of him and he followed. They'd gone around the corner of the building. It was still raining so they stood under an overhang in the parking lot between his place and the old movie theater.

  "What the hell are you doing here in this stinking little town?" Garrett snarled.

  Mike had no trouble hearing him over the rainfall.

  "I told you, it's a nice town."

  "And that doofus Mike? He runs a bar? You can do better than that."

  "I'm not going to talk to you about this. After what you did, the humiliation you put me through, you have no right to talk to me this way."

  "You know, if you weren't such a cold perfectionist with such lofty standards maybe I wouldn't have needed to go to other women. At least they don't judge everything I do."

  "I don't know what you're talking about. When have I ever judged you?"

  "I know you don't approve of the law I practice, but it brings in the money. I assume that's why you were marrying me."

  She hauled back and slapped Garrett's face. Mike could hear the sound standing at a distance. He tensed, waiting to see what the man would do. If he so much as threatened to touch her…

  "I have no interest in your money, and I have no more interest in you. How dare you blame me for your cheating. Get the hell out of town now! I never want to see you again. Have my father let you into my condo, and you can take the ring and your stuff." With that, she turned and stalked back toward his bar.

  Garrett looked floored but didn't go after her. Mike waited for her to come to him, but she charged right by and headed around the corner in the direction of her apartment.

  Garrett spotted him watching. "I'm not leaving."

  "Suit yourself," Mike replied, heading to Norah's house.

  When he caught up with her on the porch they were both completely soaked. "Norah, wait. Talk to me." Her face was contorted with fury. He'd rather see fury than anguish although she probably felt that too.

  "Just leave me alone. I'm fine."

  He could let her alone, but he didn't want to. "What did you see in that guy?" slipped out before he could stop it.

  She turned back to him, her face a study in hurt. "Don't go there, Mike. You don't know anything about it. And it's over with him, so the whole point is moot anyway."

  "Good lawyer talk there."

  Her mouth dropped open, and she shook her head. "Are you mocking me?"

  "No, but I don't want you to run away from me."

  "Like I do?" She seemed to deflate. "Like I did."

  He wanted to take her in his arms but didn't think it was what she needed at the moment. Instead, he held out a hand hoping she'd trust him enough to take it, because he'd bet his last dollar that trust was her issue. Can't blame her, can you?

  "Mike, I really can't do this right now."

  "Honey, I'll leave you if you want, but I'll be right there—" He pointed to Ollie's. "—when you're ready to talk." She looked on the verge of crying.

  "You have enough to worry about. I don't need babying."

  He cracked a smile. "I want to take care of you. My problem will resolve itself."

  She threw her hands in the air. "I don't know what to do with you, Mike. You're either the nicest, most naïve guy in the world or an idiot."

  "I vote for nice." He chuckled. "Come here. Let me hold you. Maybe I need a hug too." Try whatever you need to do to win her.

  She came into his arms then, resting her cheek against his chest. "Oh, Mike." Her voice came out all soft and shuddery.

  "It'll all be okay, sweetheart. You'll see." They stood holding each other while he gently rubbed her back in comforting up and down sweeps.

  Unfortunately, he couldn't help noticing the river. It was pouring harder, and the water kept rising. They needed to deploy the sandbags behind the bar and safeguard the rest of the river's edge. B Falls had flooded two decades before. No one wanted that to happen again. The water was already surging over the concrete of the river walk, the walk they'd been on when they first kissed.

  "As much as I don't want to move right now, I need to talk to Marc and get some kids started on filling sandbags. The river's too high."

  She turned her gaze across the street as well. "Let me change clothes, and I'll help."

  He cupped her chin in his hand. "Really?"

  "Don't be so surprised. I can shovel sand just fine."

  "I'm not surprised. Thank you." He smiled, then a sudden intensity of love and gratitude and pride came over him. Lowering his head, he pressed what started out as a soft kiss on her lips but turned deep and devastating in seconds. He couldn't end the kiss, didn't want to. It meant everything to him. Nothing was more important than his feelings for her.

  A strong gust of wind blew heavy rain against them, reminding him of the river. He reluctantly ended the kiss. "Meet me behind Ollie's when you're ready. I have to talk to Marc and get the kids lined up to help. School'll be out soon for the day."

  ***

  Twenty minutes later, Norah headed his way in jeans, a hoodie, and gym shoes. Ollie's was in chaos. People milled around getting orders from Mike and Marc, who thrust a rain slicker at her. Good idea. She was wet but not totally soaked in the short distance from her apartment.

  "You sure you're ready for this, honey?"

  She made a face. "I'm stronger than I look, sweetie. Just show me where you want me." He pointed upward to his apartment above the bar. Gripping his finger, she smiled and squeezed it. "Later." He used his body as a barrier, backing her into a corner. Standing close, he brushed his thumb across her cheek. Her smile died. The frenetic activity around them seemed to disappear as they held an intense gaze that stretched on for
long moments. She very well remembered what he could do to her. He'd made love to every inch of her body, and she knew they weren't anywhere near done. She flushed with desire from her toes to the top of her head as she repeated, "Later."

  Someone bumped into Mike with a, "Sorry."

  "Norah," he began.

  "I know, Mike." She wanted him too, more than she'd thought possible, certainly more than she'd ever wanted Garrett. The surrounding chaos suddenly burrowed into her mind. She placed a hand on the middle of his chest, felt his heart thudding. Risking a glance, his eyes blazed cobalt with promise. She chuckled. "Later. If I'm not dead." Then she pulled the slicker down over her head, settling it on her shoulders.

  He gave her a quick kiss before they left the bar together heading toward the river. That was the last she saw of him for quite some time, at least up close. From her spot on the sandbag line, she saw him corral the high school kids, organize them to fill sand bags, and place them along the shoreline. She heard their "yes, Mr. Banning" over and over. It didn't sound like they'd lost respect for him because of the scandal and his suspension.

  At one point, she straightened from shoveling sand into bags and spotted Garrett standing in the parking lot between Ollie's and the theater. Was he going to offer to help? He was able-bodied, worked out regularly, and surely had enough sympathy for the people and the town. Then she was busy again. The next time she glanced at the parking lot he was gone.

  Rain poured on the workers until they were soaked even through the slickers. Her feet felt heavy like they were stuck in concrete blocks. Gym shoes weren't really good enough for this kind of work. She slipped almost every time she moved so she tried to stand in one spot and just keep shoveling, ignoring the aches in her shoulders and arms.

  Bernice and Ollie came by with cups of coffee and water. "Thanks," she said. Straightening, she rubbed her lower back with a fist as she sipped the hot brew. Gazing around for a moment, she saw Mike closer to the river with the teenagers. They were resting too. He slapped several of them on the back, and she could see he was thanking them. Many of them exchanged tired smiles and high-fives with him.

  His folks handed him a cup of coffee too. He took a moment to glance over at her. Even through the back breaking work and the pouring rain, she felt the promise of him, the warmth of his affection. She felt like she belonged in this town. But all she wanted to do was fall into a hot bath, then a bed, then fuck Mike to death. She lifted her cup in a silent salute, and he did the same. Then the break was over.

  And then things got worse. Where before it had been raining heavily and blowing, now it became a deluge with blasts of wind sheeting water into her face. She had to pull the slicker hood as far down as possible in order to be able to even see the ground. Wanting Mike and the rest of the people there to accept her as one of them, she'd be damned if she'd let anyone see she was in trouble. But she was scared. This was way more than anything she'd experienced before, and it was extraordinarily dangerous. Spreading her legs against the power of the wind, she braced herself and kept shoveling.

  What felt like many, many hours later all the sand was bagged. She massaged her lower back and gazed along the banks of the river on both sides all the way past the resort to the east then west to the park and highway. Sandbags were stacked and lined up to protect all the buildings.

  "You okay?"

  She sagged back against Mike, then straightened quickly. He was undoubtedly exhausted himself. "I'm fine."

  "Ready for some rest? We've done all we can. The sandbags are higher than the flood stage from twenty years ago. We should be safe now."

  "Yeah, but I'm not sure I can walk very far." When she tried to take a step, slippery mud underfoot spilled over the tops of her shoes dragging them down and almost sucking them off her feet. Risking a glance up at Mike, in that moment of inattention she felt her foot slide sideways, tried to catch her balance with the other leg and tripped over a row of knee-high sandbags bordering the river. It all happened so fast. She didn't have time to scream before she hit the water and went under.

  Cold! Water over her head. She opened her mouth in shock but was oddly aware enough not to breathe in, knowing she'd likely die. Just when she feared she might die, strong hands tugged an arm and yanked her out of the river. Then strong arms enveloped her, but she was in shock at the rapidity of it all. Back on shore and on her knees in the mud, she bent at the waist. All she could do was gasp for breath and cough water out of her lungs.

  "Get it out!"

  She finally heard a voice, something other than the roar of wind and water.

  "You're safe now. Cough it up!" He steadied her with an arm around her shoulders holding her upright.

  Still struggling for breath and shivering with the unrelenting cold and wet, she clung to Mike. He opened his slicker, sacrificing his damp shirt to shelter her against his body. He wasn't much warmer, but he was a little drier. She hooked her fingers in his belt loops and hung on for dear life.

  "We've got to get you inside, honey. Get you dry."

  Through exhausted, traumatized eyes, she watched people heading away from the river, most of the kids going into Ollie's. She vaguely remembered his folks had offered free burgers and fries to all the workers.

  "I'm taking you home."

  "Oh Mike, shouldn't we help your folks with all those kids?"

  "You're a good woman, Norah Ballard." He gave her a devastating smile. "I'm so proud of you for helping out. But no. You need to get dry."

  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. What could she say? She'd wanted to be part of this effort. Maybe there was a reason her eyes had opened and she'd seen the sign at the exact moment the train clattered past. You've Come Home. She let her gaze roam the river edge again, at all the hard work. It wasn't pretty, but it would protect the town. She was pretty proud of herself too. And she knew that tomorrow she'd probably not be able to walk.

  Inside the bar was bedlam. The kids and adults should have been exhausted after all the hard work. There was a hum of voices then that was drowned out by the jukebox. But he didn't give her a chance to stay long, bundling her up the stairs to his apartment above the bar, and marching her right into the bathroom.

  "Stand there. I'm taking your clothes off and putting you in the shower."

  Robotically, she followed his directions, lifting her arms when he told her to, lifting her feet so he could pull off her shoes and jeans. She barely registered that he had her down to bra and panties before they were off, and she was standing in the shower being pelted by hot water. And she wasn't alone. A naked Mike still had hold of her. Thank goodness because there was no way she could stand on her own yet.

  He did everything for her. Washed her hair, massaged soap into her skin, and even knelt at her feet to chafe them clean and bring back feeling. She watched him wash himself, wanted to help but she was helpless to move. Even though they'd made love, these actions seemed more intimate. He lifted his arms to soap under them, he worked suds into his hairy chest and the most private of all, he bathed his cock and balls. She was exhausted and practically unconscious but not so much she didn't notice his growing erection.

  Does everyone down in the bar know what we're doing? The thought flitted through her mind, then she really didn't care.

  Stepping out of the shower, he dried them both off, swept her into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom. He tucked both of them between the sheets and yanked up the blanket. Then he slid his arm under her neck, drawing her close to his chest. "Sleep, sweetheart," he murmured caressing her cheek, then kissing her lips softly.

  "I—"

  ***

  What in hell is that sound? The buzz-saw rumble was ear-splitting. Too groggy still to think, she tried to roll over and realized she was secured by an arm draped across her middle, fingers cupping a breast. Her eyes flashed open the instant she felt the heat of arousal race through her body. Against her back, a hard body blanketed her and a hot, even harder shaft prodded her bottom.
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br />   She giggled at another thunderous snore.

  Chapter Nine

  Mike snuffled himself awake, felt the wriggles of the woman in his arms. He groaned, pressing his lips on her neck, nestling his morning woody against her soft ass. She had such a luscious ass. "What're you laughing at, baby?"

  "Your snoring." She attempted to turn over, but he held her in place.

  "I don't snore. You must be mistaken." He knew she couldn't see his smile as he slowly walked his fingers through the lush hair on her mound and into her sex to caress her clit. She arched, moaning. God, she was already wet for him.

  Lifting her thigh, he tilted her back and slid his cock into her sheath. They both groaned at the same time. So hot and tight, her interior muscles rippled and squeezed him in time to his light pinches of her clit. They moved in concert, slowly and luxuriously. He nipped at the curve where her neck met her shoulder. She pressed his hand, keeping it steady on her clit.

  So sweet. I love you.

  She started coming. The pulsations brought him over the edge, and he came in a fiery rush, his cum flooding her passage. It had happened fast, too fast, but he'd never felt so satiated, so completely in love.

  Lying soft and warm in his arms, her body continued to milk his cock, her hips moving in a slow rhythm accompanied by her little humming sounds. He couldn't help but smile at the thought he'd satisfied her so deeply. "I'm falling hard for you, Norah," he whispered, his lips brushing her ear. She didn't respond to his declaration. "You don't have to say anything back. I know you've been through a lot and probably aren't ready for another relationship. I just wanted you to know I don't do this with every woman. I don't say those words. Having you in my life showed me how lonely I've been. Oh, crap, I'm sure I'm mucking it all up." He rolled to his back, rolling her with him, and nestled her head on his shoulder.

  "You're not mucking anything, Mike. I've never felt this way about anyone else, especially…my ex-fiancé."

  "But you were going to marry him?"

  "Don't remind me," she replied bitterly. "It's a cliché, but I never knew what I was missing until I met you. You know what we did that morning?"