Part-Time Lovers: Clare Chronicles, Book 1

by Shelley Munro

  Chapter Three

  Yvonne organized her sons, and by nine-thirty David and Michael were waiting for Nolan to arrive, both boys constantly peering out the window and bouncing around in their excitement.

  The phone rang and she picked up, hoping it wasn’t Nolan to say he needed to change plans. Her boys would mutiny.

  “Gina,” she said in relief when she heard her aunt’s greeting.

  “I’ve packed a picnic basket for you,” her aunt said in a gruff voice. “Make sure you get Nolan to stop by to pick it up.”

  “I was just going to grab some muffins and a few sandwiches,” Yvonne said.

  “Don’t argue, Missy,” her aunt said in her forthright way.

  Gina Muir might scare a lot of people with her blunt attitude, but Yvonne knew the woman hid a heart of gold beneath her no-nonsense exterior.

  “Thank you. Are you sure you don’t want me to come back and relieve you?”

  “It’ll be quiet. It was yesterday. I intend to close early, probably at two after lunch. That’s plenty of time for me to check out the displays in the Food Hall and meet with my friends. Enjoy your time off. You work way too hard.”

  Anyone else might have focused on the abrupt delivery. Yvonne heard the concern and caring and her heart swelled with love. Gina had been her savior after her marriage fell apart, offering a job and a new life, and Yvonne would never forget her aunt’s generosity.

  A car sounded outside in the driveway.

  “He’s here!” Michael shouted.

  “Yahoo!” David hollered.

  Both her sons ran for the door in a full-on race with thumping feet and yells of jubilation.

  “Nolan has arrived,” Gina said, hearing the racket. “Don’t forget to stop by the store.”

  “See you soon, and thanks.”

  “No thanks necessary,” Gina said and hung up.

  Yvonne picked up her handbag, plus jackets for herself and the boys. She walked through the open door and smiled at the way the boys gamboled around Nolan like playful puppies. He’d already started to transfer the car seats to his vehicle and was bent over while he fixed the first one in place.

  “Good morning,” she said, letting her gaze rove over his jeans-clad butt. Very nice.

  “Morning,” he said after he’d backed out of the car. He picked up the second car seat and had it fastened and secure in half the time it took her. “In you go, boys,” he said. “We have a show to attend.”

  Yvonne grinned at the mad scramble, although part of her noted her sons’ hero-worship in concern. Michael and David had only met Nolan a few times, but he was a natural with them. They needed a man in their lives—not that she intended to settle. Nolan had already let her down once, and she wasn’t about to give him a chance to hurt her boys.

  Nolan checked the boys were buckled in, then grinned at her and reached for her hand. He tugged her against his chest and started to kiss her before she could voice an objection about her boys’ presence. His hands stole up her back to hold her face in place while he ravaged her mouth. Lips, tongue, teeth. His entire arsenal of kissing experience came into play and every one of her objections died a quick death. She looped her arms around his neck and held on for the ride, pleasure setting off detonations throughout her body.

  When he lifted his head, his breathing was rapid. She didn’t want to think about her reaction. He shifted his hands and tugged off her scrunchie. Her hair released from its tidy ponytail and danced in the soft breeze.

  “Much better.” Nolan guided her to the passenger door and opened it for her. He gave her a swift tap on the butt of her jeans. “In you go. We have things to do.”

  “He kissed you, Mummy,” Michael said.

  “Why did he kiss you?” David asked.

  Nolan slid into the driver’s seat. “I kissed your mummy because she’s my girlfriend.”

  Damn and blast. “His grownup girlfriend,” Yvonne said hurriedly, after visions of phone calls from concerned mothers floated through her mind. Michael was a gregarious soul and made friends easily. Many of them were girls, and she didn’t want him scaring them with exuberant kisses. “You can’t kiss girls like that until you’re eighteen,” she added for clarification. She glowered at Nolan when he snorted out amusement.

  “Your mother is right,” Nolan said as he backed out of the driveway. “You can’t do that until you’re eighteen.” He lowered his voice and slid her a sly look. “Lots of fringe benefits for an eighteen-year-old.”

  Time for a change of subject. “Gina organized a picnic basket for us. We need to swing by and pick it up.”

  At the show grounds, Nolan parked his vehicle in the competitors’ car park and placed a paper badge on the dash.

  “No running off,” Yvonne said, turning to face her boys. “We need to go with Nolan to look at the animals first.”

  “If you’re really good, we’ll go on the rides later this afternoon,” Nolan said.

  The boys jumped up and down, and Yvonne smothered a grin. “You have to behave.”

  “I’ll come back for the picnic basket later,” Nolan said.

  Spring had arrived much earlier than normal this year, and Yvonne left their coats in the vehicle. She picked up her handbag and fell into step with Nolan. The boys ran ahead, arms outspread like plane wings.

  “I enjoyed last night,” Nolan said.

  Yvonne brushed a lock of hair off her face. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I did.”

  “My work is done,” Yvonne said.

  Nolan checked on the boys. They were still running ahead, arms outstretched. “What sort of sex toys?”

  Yvonne scanned their surroundings before answering. “I have a clit stimulator, a vibrator, a butt plug and some ben-wah balls.”

  “We haven’t tried anal—” Nolan broke off when a group of elderly ladies climbed out of a newly arrived vehicle.

  Nolan’s mother. Great. Just great. If Elizabeth said anything rude to her sons, Yvonne intended to deck the woman. And she wouldn’t pull her punches.

  “Ah, Nolan,” Elizabeth Penrith said. “Good timing. We need help to carry our things to the Exhibition hall.”

  “It will have to be quick,” Nolan said. “I have to help Dad with the cattle we’ve entered in the show.”

  “Oh, good,” one of Elizabeth’s friends said, her stern face softened by gratitude.

  “Michael. David.” Yvonne summoned the boys to her side.

  “Excellent.” A third woman with tightly rolled blue curls handed Michael a small blue box. “Can you carry this for me, young man?”

  “I don’t think—” Yvonne started.

  “Nothing breakable,” the woman said. “Boys like to feel useful. It keeps them out of mischief.”

  Yvonne knew her boys and wasn’t so sure.

  Elizabeth threw visual daggers, and Yvonne ignored them, taking a box of assorted flowers, ribbons and fabric in her arms.

  They followed the elderly ladies to a large hall. The cavernous room was abuzz with conversation when they entered, the scent of flowers and baked goods heavy on the air. Some of the displays had obviously been done the previous day. Elizabeth led Nolan, Yvonne and her boys to an area that was currently empty of entries.

  “Is this a timed competition?” Yvonne asked the blue-haired lady. Mrs. Williams, she thought, dredging through her memory.

  “Yes, and it’s always such fun. We have a short time to organize and start at ten.”

  “Good luck, ladies.” Nolan casually snared David’s hand and stopped him from racing away down the aisle. His other arm, he slipped around Yvonne’s shoulders.

  Yvonne almost chortled at the dried prune expression on Elizabeth Penrith’s face and cuddled into Nolan, presenting a family unit to anyone who glanced their way. Petty, yes, but she enjoyed it all the same.

&n
bsp; Yvonne took charge of Michael, and they wove in and out of men and women carrying flowers, sponge cakes and boxes of jam and chutney.

  “My mother has an unerring knack for popping out of the woodwork when sex toys are involved,” Nolan said, his voice casual as if he were discussing the weather. “We’ll lock the front door and the bedroom door tonight to be on the safe side.”

  Yvonne made a garbled sound that combined shock with laughter.

  “Tyler’s here,” Nolan said, his pleasure at seeing his younger brother obvious. “And Susan.” He swung David up and onto his shoulders and increased his pace to the entrance of the building housing the cattle for show.

  Yvonne followed more slowly, slivers of jealousy creeping stealthily into her heart. Susan from the reality show—the woman he’d picked from all the applicants. But he’d chosen her for Tyler, she told herself. The truth didn’t help her cope with her envy any better.

  When she and Michael reached the group, Nolan was giving Susan a hug. True, David was involved in the hug, enthusiastically kissing the top of Susan’s head too, but still…

  Nolan stepped back and slid his free arm around Yvonne’s shoulders again, urging her forward. “You remember Yvonne? And these are her boys, David and Michael.”

  “Of course I remember Yvonne.” Susan smiled warmly. Her long, straight hair hung loose around her shoulders and a smattering of freckles showed through her light make-up. Even dressed in casual jeans, a red shirt, black vest and knee-high black boots, the woman glistened with city polish.

  “I brought my friend, Christina, down for the weekend. She’s here somewhere. You remember Christina, Nolan?” Susan asked. “Ah, here she is. Christina, this is Yvonne, Nolan’s girlfriend.”

  A woman with brown hair, expertly trimmed and highlighted with blonde, shared her grin around. She hugged Nolan, the golden bangles she wore on her left wrist jingling musically. She pulled back and smiled at Yvonne. “I wondered why Nolan picked Susan. Now I know. He was already taken.” Christina’s eyes twinkled behind the lenses of her glasses.

  Yvonne felt her mouth drop open and firmed her jaw. His girlfriend? Nolan hadn’t even blinked an eye at the announcement, when in the past he’d hidden her like a naughty secret. And what was with the touchy-feely stuff? Not that she wasn’t enjoying his attention, but wasn’t their relationship merely a version of friends with very sexy benefits?

  “Hey, bro,” Nolan said when Tyler joined them. “I hear the farm sold. When are you moving north?”

  “In a couple of weeks. I want Katey to start at her school soon. The new owner takes over on the first of next month.” Tyler grinned at Susan, his love for the woman shining on his face. “Don’t tell Susan and Christina, but Josie and I lured them down here under false pretenses. They’re going to help us start packing tomorrow.”

  Nolan set David on the ground and grasped his hand before he could run amok and upset the cattle in the stalls adjacent to where they stood. “Let me know if you need a hand. Dad and I can both help.”

  “Thanks! It’s mainly the house stuff and tools. The buyer wanted the farm equipment. Have you checked on your entries in the show?” Tyler asked. “I saw Dad. He said one of your yearling bulls had won its class. We’ve won four of our classes. Eric is ecstatic.”

  “I’ll go and check. Do you want to have lunch together? We can meet on the hill and watch the events in the arena while we eat.” Nolan shared his question around.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Susan said. “Around one?”

  Yvonne remained silent while the others made arrangements to meet. Nolan seemed happy spending time with Tyler, when in the past the two had barely spoken to one another. Elizabeth Penrith wasn’t a warm person—that was for sure—even though she dedicated her life to raising money for various local charities.

  “Let’s go and see how we’ve done with our cattle and sheep,” Nolan said. “No shouting, boys. You don’t want to start a stampede.”

  Yvonne smiled when her two boys immediately started firing questions at Nolan, fascinated by the possibilities of cattle in a panic.

  By the time lunch arrived, Yvonne had stopped jumping every time Nolan wrapped his arm around her waist. She’d ceased worrying about her boys misbehaving and was equally glad she’d decided on comfortable shoes.

  The others were already seated on picnic blankets, the adults with glasses of wine in hand when she, Nolan and the boys arrived.

  “Glass of wine, dear?” Josie asked. “And juice for the boys?”

  “Thank you,” Yvonne said.

  Nolan spread out their tartan picnic rug, and Yvonne accepted a glass of wine before busying herself unpacking the contents of their basket. She handed the boys fried chicken legs and a pack of sandwiches before offering Nolan a slice of bacon and egg pie.

  “Why don’t you come up to Auckland for the weekend?” Susan asked. “Bring Yvonne with you.”

  “Good idea,” Nolan said, his eyes gleaming with sensual promise. “We don’t get much time alone.”

  “I can’t foist my boys on Gina,” Yvonne protested. “She has enough to do without adding them.”

  “Make it during the next month, and I’ll take them for a weekend,” Josie said. “Eric and I enjoy the noise around the place. With Tyler and Katey leaving early, we’re going to find it very quiet.”

  “No, I couldn’t—” Yvonne started.

  “Don’t be silly,” Josie said. “You work hard and deserve a break.” She turned to Nolan. “You too.”

  Susan placed her hand on Yvonne’s arm and squeezed gently. “Please come. We can have a girls’ afternoon. I’m sure Connor—he’s one of our friends—will draft Tyler and Nolan to play rugby for his team.”

  Yvonne hadn’t visited Auckland for years. She scarcely got enough time to go to the hairdresser these days, which was why she’d let her hair grow long. “I suppose I could take the opportunity to squeeze in a hair appointment.”

  “I like your hair.” Nolan’s gaze settled on the long strands that hung down Yvonne’s back.

  “Christina is the person you want,” Susan said. “She does personal styling and has so many great contacts. Give us a date and we’ll arrange it for you.”

  “Will I get to see the famous Maxwell’s? Our customers loved that episode of the reality show and talked about it for days. I love to dance,” Yvonne said. “I used to do competitive ballroom dancing before I was married.”

  “You never told me that,” Nolan said.

  Yvonne winked at him. “Because we’re always busy discussing other things.” She turned to Josie. “If you’re sure about babysitting, I’ll take you up on your offer. I’ll even volunteer to help with your packing in exchange.”

  “And I thought this would be stressful,” Eric, Josie’s husband, said. “Everyone is doing the work for us.”

  While everyone laughed, Nolan leaned over and brushed a quick kiss on Yvonne’s lips. “Thanks for agreeing to a weekend away. It’ll be fun.”

  By the time they trooped around the fairground rides and arrived back at her house, her sons were almost asleep on their feet. Michael bore the remnants of ice cream around his mouth while David had candy floss stuck in his hair.

  “Into the bath with you two,” Yvonne said briskly while considering the contents of her fridge and pantry. Something quick for dinner.

  “Would you like me to handle their baths while you take care of dinner?” Nolan asked.

  “You?” She didn’t manage to hide her shock very well.

  “I know how to have a bath,” Nolan said. “I’m sure I can manage two small boys.”

  “Thanks,” she said finally, unsure of how to handle this new Nolan who kept firing her surprises.

  She showed Nolan where she kept the clean towels and left him to supervise. From experience, she knew how grumpy her boys became when tired. He’d regret his of
fer soon enough.

  In the kitchen, she went through the motions, frying fish fingers and making mashed potatoes with a side of peas for the boys. For her and Nolan, she cooked pork chops and made gravy. All the while, she listened for shouts and screams. They didn’t come. Instead Michael wandered out dressed in his pajamas and settled in front of the television. Nolan and David appeared ten minutes later. David was chattering about the hedgehog he’d seen the previous night and Nolan was smiling.

  Yvonne’s heart squeezed tight at the sight of her son and the way he was soaking up the masculine attention. Damn Jason for leaving her and ignoring the fact he had two sons.

  Throughout dinner, Nolan was attentive to the boys and never brushed off their questions. He was equally considerate to her and Yvonne felt a crack open in her heart. She immediately shored up the breach. Nolan had hurt her, and it was best if she kept things casual.

  “Bed time.” Yvonne stood, needing time away from Nolan to regroup. She hustled her sons to their bedroom and tucked them into bed. After kissing them both goodnight, she unwillingly retraced her steps. She found Nolan in the kitchen. He’d cleared the table and the majority of the dinner dishes were stacked in the dishwasher.

  “Alone at last.” Nolan prowled toward her, his gaze twinkling with a sensual gleam of promise. Instinctively, she backed up and found herself trapped between the fridge and Nolan’s hard chest. “I’ve wanted to kiss you all day.”

  Yvonne thought of the constant touches, the casual kisses that had frequently toppled her off-balance. “You kissed me.”

  “Not how I wanted,” he whispered, his breath warm against her lips.

  “But we’re just friends.”

  “We’re more than friends.”

  “No.” No, they weren’t. A man didn’t desert a woman in order to go on a reality show, and they certainly didn’t do it in the lame way he had. Telling her he had things to do for three months and wouldn’t be able to see her. Huh! She lifted her chin to glare some of her irritation at the smooth-talking lothario.

  Nolan searched her expression. Maybe he didn’t like what he saw because he took her mouth in an uncompromising kiss. For frozen seconds, she let him do the work before she began to respond to his expertise. Heck, she wasn’t stupid. The man knew how to kiss and she figured she should enjoy the experience—short-lived as it may be. Ditto the toe-tingling sex.