“Thank you. I may need some advice on how to handle Nathan because I fear he’s out of my league.”
“I think Nathan would be out of most women’s league, but his sole focus is you. Thomas told me how earnest he was to make this weekend work. He’ll play by the rules, but he’s going to push the boundaries some, too. I think he’ll do whatever it takes to be with you.”
Vanessa’s face flushed. “I’d do the same for him.”
“Just so you know, at some point he’s going to catch flak from Evan about settling down. Apparently, those two had a wild few years as partners with ATF.”
“They did. Do you think Evan giving him a hard time will make him leave me?”
“Not from the way I just saw him looking at you.”
30
As the sun started to set, they walked down the beach to The Seafood Shack. It was a little dive restaurant and bar located at one of the fishing piers with cuisine made from fresh local seafood. It was casual with open windows and ceiling fans running. The weathered wood was decorated with framed posters of events that had taken place around the area, old license plates from different states, and a few fishing nets. There were tables inside and outside. Carolina Beach music was playing through speakers, and people were dancing inside and on the beach.
Vanessa smiled when she walked in. She’d been coming here since she was a teenager. Since it made her so happy, Charles refused to go the few times they’d come down before her father died. Over the last few weeks, she’d been here several times. The owners remembered her family fondly, so they always looked out for her.
“Do y’all want to eat inside or outside?” she asked.
“How about inside by the windows,” Cat replied.
“Perfect. The best of both worlds.” The young waiter walked over and took their drink order. “This isn’t your typical restaurant. They’re going to bring us bibs then toss the contents of a pail on the table. It’ll be kinda like a Beaufort stew with shrimp, corn on the cob, and sausage in it. They’ll bring a second pail with crab legs. It’s fun.” The excitement in Vanessa’s voice couldn’t be hidden.
As they waited for their drinks, they watched the locals dance. “All of these people are doing basically the same dance. What is it?” Nathan asked.
“The Carolina Shag,” the girls said at the same time.
“It’s the state dance. My parents taught me when I was a little girl.” Vanessa turned toward Nathan. “I’ll teach you if you want to learn.”
“I don’t know if I can dance like that.”
“Oh, I’ve seen your moves on the dance floor. You can handle this.” Cat laughed.
The song changed to “When A Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge. “This I can handle.” He stood and held his hand out to Vanessa. “May I have this dance?” Vanessa placed her hand in his and followed him to the dance floor where Nathan pulled her in close. She melted against him, and he lowered his head so he could speak directly into her ear. “You can teach me to dance vertically, and I’ll show you how fun horizontal dancing can be.”
She pulled back so she could look into his eyes. “When?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You know when.” She moved back in and took a deep breath. “Close your eyes and pretend it’s just us. Know that I want you as much as you want me. Know that I’m counting the days until I can show you how good we’ll be together.”
“I don’t think that’s helping, Nathan. For the first time in my life I want to have sex, and I can’t.”
He turned her under his arm and brought her back close. “Look at it this way. We’ve got time to think it through, take all the precautions we need to, and plan for it to be special. A new beginning for both of us with a clean slate.”
“I haven’t thought about it like that.”
“Have you thought about what I said last night?”
“My doctor is in Riverton Crossing. I was going to make an appointment when I went back.”
“Maybe we can talk Thomas into writing you a prescription. Do you remember what you took last time?”
She nodded. “Just a low dose birth control. He may have access to the name of it in my medical records.”
“Are you sure you want to take it?”
“Nathan, I want to be married when I get pregnant.”
“Fair enough.” He slightly turned their position. “And what if I want us to have a commitment when we have sex?”
She tried to pull away, but he kept her close. “What are you talking about?”
“I want my ring on your hand when I make love to you. I want to know that you’re in as deep as I am.”
“Nathan, my divorce isn’t final yet. I can’t give that to you.”
“You can’t accept a ring, but you can give me a commitment. You know what I need to hear.” He blew out a breath. “Dammit, do you love me, Vanessa?”
“Yes, I’ve never felt like this before, but it’s too soon.”
“Is it? I want to hear you say it.”
She shook her head. “I won’t tell you that until I’m completely free to show you as well.”
“Then are you sure you’re not confusing love with lust? Are you sure it’s me you love and not just my hands on your body?”
She tilted her head to get any kind of glimpse into his eyes. “Have I done something wrong?”
The song had changed a while back, but they hadn’t really noticed until now. “Backfield in Motion” by Mel and Tim was playing, and people were dancing around them.
“Come on.” Nathan led her toward their table.
“Y’all are just in time. It should be cooled enough to eat,” Thomas said before he took a pull from his beer.
Nathan’s phone buzzed, and he showed it to Vanessa. “I need to take this.” Nathan took his beer and walked out on the pier.
Vanessa watched as he went to one side and rested his forearms on the railing with his phone to his ear. Cat’s voice brought Vanessa back to her and Thomas.
“Is everything all right?”
Vanessa looked at them. “I don’t know. I think I said something wrong and upset him.”
Thomas looked at Nathan then at Vanessa. “Who’s on the phone?”
“Evan.”
Thomas stood. “Excuse me. We’ll be right back. Please go ahead and eat.”
31
Nathan looked up to see Thomas walking with purposeful steps in his direction. The scowl on Thomas’s face let him know that something wasn’t right.
“Ok, Evan, I’ll be in early. I didn’t know there was a whole season.” He looked at Thomas who was directly beside him and held up a finger. “Look, I need to go. I’ll be back at three. Do you have my warrant ready?” He listened for a few seconds. “See you then.” He glanced over Thomas’s shoulder before he looked him in the eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“What the hell Thomas? I needed to take the phone call because Evan just explained that I need to come in early tomorrow. I’m sorry. I was coming back when I finished the call.”
“Then why does Vanessa think she’s done something to upset you? Are things not moving fast enough for you? You can’t fuck her yet, so you’re getting bored?”
“What the hell are you talking about? I asked her for a damn commitment before I take her to bed, and she’s not willing to give it.”
“Did she say that?”
“Not in so many words, but that’s what she meant.”
“Since Cat and I are here because y’all can’t be alone yet, sounds like you’ve got some time to figure that shit out. But let me ask you something, did you just expect that she’d want to rush into another relationship after what she’s lived through her entire adult life? You knew you had to go slow, Nathan, and let’s not forget your feelings started long before she could remotely think about reciprocating. Give her some time to catch up.”
Nathan ran his hand down his face and blew out a frustrated breath. “I know. I’m j
ust ready to start a life with her.”
“Does she want the same thing?”
“She says she does.”
“Then take it at her speed, man.”
“I’m trying, but damn. For the first time in my life, I want the sex to mean something.”
“Nathan, look and Cat and me. We were together for a while before I put a ring on her hand, and I promise you, the sex had meaning because I was with the one I loved.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but this is a first for me. Hell, I never thought I wanted this, much less have it. I don’t want it slipping through my fingers before I can hold on to it.”
“I don’t think she’s going anywhere. Just so you know, I never saw her look at Charles the way she was looking at you when we got to her house, and we won’t even discuss the look on her face when y’all were dancing. She loves you, Nathan. Just give her time.”
Nathan nodded as he looked at Vanessa. “We better get back. She looks like… Is she crying?” Nathan rushed back to the table. He turned Vanessa’s chair and squatted between her legs. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry for whatever I did. I didn’t mean to make you angry.” Her hands were clasped in her lap, and her head was bowed. “I didn’t mean to ruin dinner.”
She was going back into her shell. The woman she was when he first met her. Dammit, this is all my fault.
He took a deep breath. “Vanessa, would you please look at me?” Nathan was determined to wait her out. A few seconds later her lashes raised and her eyes rolled to meet his, but she wouldn’t move her head, so he gently tilted it for her. “Baby, you didn’t do anything wrong. I was pushing, and I told you I wouldn’t do that. I know how you feel, but I can’t wait to hear those words come out of your mouth. I’m ready to start a life with you even though I know we’ve never been alone together. I just got frustrated, that’s all.”
“You’re frustrated with me,” she quietly said.
“Not with you, with the situation. When I see what I want, I go get it. I can’t do that with us. I see our future so clearly, but I can’t make it happen. At least not yet, and Thomas reminded me of promises I made.” His hands gently brushed the hair out of her face then held firm. “And going at your pace was one of them.” He leaned forward and kissed the tear that streaked down her face. “Please forgive me. I don’t want to ruin our last night together. Evan just told me I have to report in at three tomorrow instead of seven.”
Her eyes widened. “Has something happened?”
Nathan chuckled. “Yeah, hurricane preparedness.” He was relieved when she smiled, so he sat in his chair and pulled hers as close as he could.
They finished dinner and walked back to Vanessa’s house hand in hand. Nathan listened to the girls talking as his mind wandered to their conversation earlier and gave himself a pep talk. Baby steps. Get through the divorce, then have a normal relationship. It’s okay to take it slow. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
By the time they arrived at the back steps, his mind was where he needed it to be for the most part. He needed to relish tonight because the coming week would be busy, then again, that might keep his body in check. “Ness, send Max out. I’ll stay with him.” He walked toward the ocean until he heard Max running on the walkway. Max ran a few minutes then they started walking around the house so Max could do his business. Nathan was in the front yard leaning against his truck when Thomas walked out to join him.
“Are you avoiding coming inside?”
Nathan turned at the sound of his voice. “Nah, just giving Max time to stretch his legs. He’s been cooped up for hours.”
“You were a million miles away on the walk back from the restaurant and even now when I just walked outside. What’s in that head, Cox?”
Without looking at Thomas, Nathan casually said, “I’m the bull in the china shop, and she’s the china. I’m afraid I’m going to break her.”
“Do you think she could have survived what she did for the last nine years if she wasn’t a strong person?”
“She’s not as strong as you might think.”
“She’s not as weak as you think either, man. Give her some credit.”
“I’ve scared her before, and tonight I made her cry.”
“She only cried because she thought she’d upset you.”
Nathan turned to Thomas with furrowed brows. “I don’t want her walking on eggshells with me like she did with that asshole.”
“Give her some time to see that you’re not like Charles, his father, or her father for that matter. You’re a new kind of intense for her to learn how to handle.”
“She shouldn’t have to feel like I’m something that needs to be handled, Thomas.”
“We’ve talked about where she is compared to your experience.”
“That’s not the issue. She wants me to make love to her now. I’m not doing it until the divorce is final. I’m playing by the fucking rules, man. I gave her, you, Sam, and Evan my word. I won’t break that. She knows what I need from her, and she won’t give it to me.”
“What is it that you need?”
Nathan shook his head. “She knows.”
“Why won’t she give it to you?”
“Because she’s still married.”
Thomas chuckled. “Seems that once the divorce is final, you both get what you want. Look, man, enjoy this ride with her. She’s finding love for the first time in her life. In some ways, the courts are keeping the reins on that bull inside of you. In some ways, they’re making it harder for her to move on with her life. So, they’re protecting her and hurting her all at the same time. You, my friend, need to be her anchor in the all of this turmoil.” Thomas shook his head. “God, Nathan, the woman I saw when we walked in this afternoon, wasn’t an image I ever associated with Vanessa Harper. She was happy, truly happy, man. That’s because of you. Don’t lose sight of how far she’s come.”
Nathan scrubbed his hands up and down his face. “You’re right. She wants the fairytale. Fairytales take time.”
“Then give her the damn fairytale.” Thomas slapped him on the back as Nathan agreed. “Ready to head back in?”
“Yeah. Max, heel.”
As they walked, Thomas asked, “How do y’all handle sleeping arrangements?”
“She’s rigged the bed where I don’t really get to touch her. She said it was something her grandparents did. It works as long as both parties are willing to do their part. We could easily sleep together, but we’re choosing to play nice.” Nathan cut his eyes to Thomas. “By the way, y’all have to sleep with your door open just like we do.”
Thomas shook his head. “You owe me, man, big time.”
“One other thing. Can you write her a prescription for birth control?”
Thomas’s eyes widened. “I’m not her doctor.”
“I know, but she doesn’t want to see anyone here, and I don’t know when she’ll be back in Riverton Crossing to see hers. We’re just preparing, you know?”
“Yeah, I’ll write her something.”
“Thanks. Just add it to my tab.”
“That’s a big fucking tab.”
32
The next morning, Cat took Vanessa to the drug store. Thomas had written her a prescription for birth control and the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Her period was due then she could start her pills.
She was grateful her trust deposit came to her account that month. For the first time, she felt like a real adult, paying her own way.
“So you’re going on birth control?”
Vanessa blushed. “Yes, if Nathan and I are going to make a go of this, then we need to think about what comes after my divorce is final.”
“Are you planning to move back to Riverton Crossing or is Nathan moving here?”
“I want to move back to Riverton Crossing once I’m free of Charles. I hope my old job is still available. Nathan said I could stay with him which will be helpful until I find a place to live. I don�
��t want to go back to the house I shared with Charles.”
“No, I don’t think I could if I were in your shoes.”
“Can I ask you something and you promise to tell me the truth?”
Cat blinked. “Yes, if I can.”
Vanessa didn’t look Cat in the eyes but continued to put personal items in her basket. “Do you, and the rest of the town think I’m stupid?”
Cat coughed and placed a hand on Vanessa’s arm. “Vanessa, I don’t know the whole story. Truthfully, I always wondered why you’d stay with Charles. As ruthless as the town grapevine is, there was just no way you didn’t know he was cheating.”
A sad smile formed on Vanessa’s mouth. “Yeah, that was made clear the night I met Charles and was told I was going to marry him. He let me know that he was never giving up Linda.”
“And why did you go along with it?”
“I was sixteen, Cat, I wasn’t given a choice. Our fathers arranged the marriage. At least they let me wait until I was eighteen. I guess, I didn’t have to go along with it at that point, but I didn’t know any better.” Tears formed in Vanessa’s eyes. She’d never explained the situation to anyone, and now she was explaining it a lot.
Cat hugged her. “No one knew. We just all thought it was a strange situation.”
Vanessa nodded. “It was. Since Charles came down here, I haven’t heard anything. I’m surprised Mr. Harper hasn’t called me.”
Cat nodded. “After Charles’s arrest, Mr. Harper had a heart attack. He’s been in an assisted living facility. According to the gossip around town, he isn’t doing too well.”
“I can’t say I’m sorry. He’s made my life a living hell since I was sixteen.”
“Nathan won’t let anything happen to you.”
A demure smile stretched Vanessa’s lips. “I know. What did I do to deserve him?”
“Survived hell.”
“Thank you, Cat—for this weekend, the talk,” she shrugged, “understanding.”
“Like Thomas said, if you’re going to be with Nathan, we’ll be seeing each other socially. A friendship may be long overdue, but it’s never too late to start one.”
Unbridled Passion: A Riverton Crossing Novel Page 14
