Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology) (19 page)

I set the drink in front of him. “I hope you
like gin.”

He sipped it. “It’s great, thanks.”

Relieved that I’d gotten another drink right,
I reached over and picked up his hand. “I’m glad you stopped
in.”

“This isn’t just a stop.” He sipped his drink
again. “I’m here to take you home too.”

Macon coughed. “Forward. Nice.”

Colin turned to him. “Maddy’s kind of
addicting.”

“I bet.” Macon gave me a look when Colin
turned away.

“And I’ll drive you home before I go in
tomorrow,” Colin added.

“I can pick her up. We’re supposed to leave
for a dive at seven thirty. She’d assured me she’d be sleeping at
home.”

Neither of them made the simple suggestion of
us staying at my place. I didn’t either, our walls were entirely
too thin. Instead, I made another. “Or I could borrow your car,
Macon.”

“Not a chance. I’ll pick you up.”

Colin looked at me funny. “You have a
license?”

“Yeah. How did you think I drove your
sister’s car?”

“Oh. Good point. I didn’t think about that. I
assumed that’s why you didn’t have a car.”

“I got my license the first day I could,
thank you very much.”

“Then why no car? Money?”

“Can you stop insinuating I’m poor?”

Macon jumped in. “It’s because she doesn’t
want to get hers from her parents’ house.”

“Oh. Why not?”

“Really? I’ve already told you about my
relationship with them.”

“But it’s your car.”

“Technically, it’s not. It’s in my dad’s
name, I just drove it.”

“Oh. Well, if you need help with a down
payment on a new one or something—”

“No. No offering to buy me a car.”

Colin laughed. “I’m not buying you a car,
just helping out.”

Macon shook his head. “She’s a keeper, man.
What other girl would act like a free car was a bad thing?”

“Is she always like this? So hesitant to
accept help?”

“I don’t know. She’s always happy enough to
take my money.”

I glared at Macon. Really helpful. “I like to
do things on my own.”

“Does she say that about sex too?” Macon
grinned. I reached over to slap him, but he ducked. “You asked for
that one.”

Colin laughed. It was the kind of laugh where
you could tell that he’d tried to hold it in, but it came out
anyway. He also looked ready to throw in a one-liner of his
own.

“Be careful, Colin. I can change my mind in
that department too.”

“I’m not saying anything.” He mimed zipping
his lips.

“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all
night.”

***

Colin came by work every night but Thursday
that week. I’d prepared myself for having both him and Lyle in the
same room with me, but it turned out I didn’t need to worry.
Instead Colin texted me to tell me he’d be waiting for me when I
got off.

True to his word, I found him leaning against
his car.

I stopped a few steps away from him. “Any
particular reason you’re waiting out here?”

He smiled. “I thought we’d mix things up
tonight. I wouldn’t want to let you get bored.”

“Bored? I’m not worried about getting bored.”
I closed the distance between us, craving his touch more than I
expected.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. “Want to
take a ride?”

“A ride? It’s pretty late.”

“Says the person who doesn’t have to get up
early for work in the morning.”

“True enough. I’m game.” I brushed my lips
against his. “I missed you tonight.”

He opened my door. “Glad to know I was
missed.”

“Where are we going exactly?” I buckled my
seatbelt.

“Just a place I know.”

“You really need to stop with all this
mysterious stuff.”

“Don’t pretend you don’t like it.” He grinned
and pulled out onto the road.

“How was work?” I usually avoided the topic,
but it seemed like a normal enough question to ask.

“It was all right. Busy though. Maybe one of
these days I’ll have time for lunch.”

“Can’t you pack something to bring with
you?”

“In theory.”

I shrugged, deciding I didn’t want to lecture
him on the downsides of skipping meals. We drove in silence until
he turned down a small dirt driveway, stopping in front of a
townhouse.

“Where are we?”

“Nags Heads.”

“I know we’re in Nags Head, but where are we
exactly?” I gestured to the house.

“This is a new development of ours.”

“And?”

“I noticed something when I was out here
today.” He stepped out of the car and walked around to open my
door.

“And this was something you had to show me at
night? Do you realize it’s completely dark?”

“Quit complaining. It’s right up your alley.”
He took my hand and led me back behind the house. Security lights
turned on, illuminating the night. “What do you think?” He nodded
toward a large digger parked in the dirt.

“Oh come on.” I pushed him in the arm.

He laughed. “I know how much you like to get
it on in farm equipment, and I thought maybe construction equipment
worked the same way.”

“I’m never telling you anything again.”

“Oh please. It’s funny.” He wrapped me up in
his arms.

“Maybe a little.”

“Want to see the inside?”

“Of the house?”

“No of the digger.” He chuckled.

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see
thanks to my position leaning against him. “Sure, let’s see the
house.”

We walked back around to the front, and he
reached under a rock to retrieve a key.

“Do you always leave keys that
accessible?”

“Not always.” He unlocked the door, and I
followed him inside. He flicked on the lights, revealing a
perfectly staged sitting room and dining room.

“Nice.”

“Isn’t it?”

“I bet this place has a great view of the
ocean.”

“That it does, but I like this room the
best,” He took my hand and led me down a hallway. He stopped in a
doorway. “Take a look.”

“Wow. A two story library in a beach house?”
I stepped inside the nearly empty room. Evidently they hadn’t paid
to stage it.

He moved into the room behind me. “I’m going
to have one of these rooms one day.”

“It’s missing the ladder.”

“I was thinking the same thing. How else can
you get to the books on the top shelves?”

“Maybe they’ll put one in when they actually
get books.” I pointed to the empty shelves.

“Hopefully whoever buys this place reads. It
would be a waste otherwise.”

I walked further into the room, stopping in
front of a large window, complete with a window seat. A loud rumble
of thunder had me taking a step back into Colin’s arms.

He kissed my neck, sending chills through me.
“I should go close up the car.”

“Or we could go.”

“Do you really want to?” He nuzzled his chin
against the top of my head.

“Not particularly.” The more time I spent
with Colin, the more I wanted to see him. Our work schedules,
particularly his, made quality time hard to come by, but the time
we did have was definitely memorable. He wasn’t what I’d been
looking for in a guy, but he never ceased to surprise me and keep
me on my toes.

“Good.”

He kissed the top of my head before running
out to the car. I took a seat on the window seat while I waited,
and I gazed out the window. Although dark out, the lights from the
house reflecting off the water created a beautiful effect.

“I’m back.” He walked in holding a couple of
flannel blankets.

“Dare I ask what those are for?”

“I told you this is my favorite room in the
house, but there’s no furniture.”

“We can stand.” Of course we could also sit
exactly where I was, but that would be too easy.

“Sweetheart, you’re not going to be standing
when I’m done with you.”

I laughed at the goofy smile on his face. “As
long as your plans don’t involve machinery of any kind, we’re
good.”

“Yeah? Well then I think it’s time we give
this library a story to tell.”

“You did not just say that.” I shook my
head.

“Yes I did.” He grinned.

“Just get over here.”

“My pleasure.” He spread a blanket out on the
floor before joining me on the window seat.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I
started unbuttoning his shirt.

“Hell yeah. I’m moving up in the world. The
floor is much more exciting than the couch.”

I laughed. “What am I going to do with
you?”

“Anything you want.”

“Do you realize how crazy you drive me?”
Colin nuzzled my neck with his lips.

I decided not to ruin the moment by telling
him how much his stubble irritated my face. The more he worked, the
less he shaved, and he’d been working a lot in the weeks since we’d
gotten back from the wedding.

“Do you?” His lips moved up to my ear.

“Kind of.” I ran my fingers down his
back.

“Only kind of? Maybe I need to show you.”

“Maybe.” I lifted my chin, giving him better
access to my neck again. Despite the stubble, his lips on a certain
spot on the right side of my neck single-handedly got me in the
mood—not that I needed the help. Wearing only his boxer briefs when
he slipped in beside me that night, I knew he was in the mood, and
that only served to accentuate what I already felt. I’d fallen
asleep after waiting an hour for him to join me. Colin loved having
me stay over, but lately he’d been spending most of the night
working anyway. Lucky for him, I appreciated his premium cable
channels, and his more comfortable bed. Well, and the sex that
inevitably happened when he finally turned in.

His hands slipped under the covers to pull
the t-shirt of his I was sleeping in over my head. His lips
returned to my neck as his right hand pulled my panties out of the
way. His hand stayed behind, and I closed my eyes.

“Let me know when I’ve made it clear.”

“Made what clear?” I said in a throaty voice,
playing along with his talk, even though I wanted to get lost in
the moment. He was definitely a talker. He’d narrate the whole
thing if I let him. My answer was to keep his lips busy.

“How crazy you make me.” He used his left
hand to put my hand on him. I slipped it under his underwear,
needing no more encouragement. He groaned.

“You’re so easy to get excited,” I
teased.

“So are you.”

I moaned, pushing off his briefs so nothing
separated us. With my free hand I grabbed his ass. “I want
you.”

“Yeah? Isn’t that a coincidence? I want you
too.” He moved his hand and thrust into me. Although expecting it,
I still yelled out. Despite his workaholic tendencies, Colin saved
plenty of energy for me.

He moved inside me, bringing me to a new
high. He was about to push me over the edge… when his phone
rang.

I opened my eyes as he reached for the spot
on the nightstand where he had left his cell.

“I have to take this.” He pulled out and
rolled off me.

“What?”

My words were lost as he answered. “Colin
here.” I watched in shock as he walked out of the room.

I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head.
Had he really just stopped like that? To take a phone call?

I waited. Sure, I was antsy, but I knew he’d
come back soon.

Ten minutes passed. The annoyance set in.

Twenty minutes passed, I got up to go to the
bathroom.

Thirty minutes passed, I got dressed.

Forty minutes passed, I opened his night
stand to search for something to do. I only found old school spiral
notebooks. I didn’t open them. I was afraid they were the men’s
equivalent of a diary, and I could respect his privacy even if I
was bored out of my mind and frustrated.

One hour passed, I tiptoed down the hall to
see if I could listen in to his conversation. He was typing on his
computer while still gabbing away.

I went downstairs and found my cell. The one
I’d left across the house so it wouldn’t interrupt us.

Are you up?

Macon texted back thirty seconds later.
Yes. Are you?

Unfortunately. Advice time.

Oh boy. Here we go.

Shut up.

Ok, what’s up?

If a girl walked out on you during sex,
how long would you wait before leaving?
I hesitated before
hitting send, but did it anyway. If I couldn’t tell Macon, I
couldn’t tell anyone.

During, as in while in the act?

What else would I mean?

Foreplay…

No. You were right the first time.

I’ll be there in ten.

You’ll get me?

Yes.

Thank you.

Just get ready.

I already am.

I slipped my phone back into my purse and
walked upstairs again, wanting to make sure he was still busy. The
partially closed door to his office hadn’t budged.

I found my sweater and headed outside. Macon
was being cool enough by picking me up in the middle of the night.
I wasn’t going to make him wait.

I sat down on the stoop, picturing what Colin
would think when he realized I’d left. I sighed, figuring it would
probably be hours, and maybe he didn’t even care.

Macon pulled up, and I slipped in with
relief. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Still feeling frustrated?”

“Not frustrated. Angry.”

He patted my leg. “Understandably. I like
Colin, but this is pretty low.”

“I know. I can’t believe it was so easy for
him to stop like that. It makes me wonder what sex with me is like
to him.”

“It’s not the sex that’s the problem. It’s
him.” Macon spoke firmly. I appreciated the resoluteness. My
self-esteem couldn’t handle the blow it was starting to feel.

“All he said was he had to take it, he didn’t
even smile or mouth an apology.”