Taking the Plunge (32 page)

31

Nancy spent the week with her father, having dinner with him every night. For the first time, he didn’t walk into his office with his food and wine. He sat across from her and talked to her, thanking her for the dinner she made. She smiled and pretended to be happy even though she was miserable over Thatcher.

Thatcher
came downstairs during work and talked to her for a while. Every time he asked her to do something, she blew him off, saying she had things to do. She would hit the beach with her friends, go shopping with Ren and Sydney, or watch Derek surf on the water. Thatcher seemed hurt that she was so distant, but she couldn’t be around him and Grace and act like everything was okay.

“Nancy, I haven’t seen you all week,” he whispered, putting his forehead against hers. “I miss you so much.”

“I miss you too.”

“Sleep with
me tonight. I toss and turn all night. Not to mention, I’m horny as hell.”

“I—I have plans with my dad.”

“Why are you sleeping there?”

She shrugged. “I just don’t want to stay at the apartment.”

“Then sleep with me. I don’t understand.”

She l
ooked at her watch. “I have to go.”

“Where?” he asked with a desperate voice.

“I have plans,” she said without looking at him.

“I feel like you aren’t telling me something. I feel so distant from you.”

“Just tell me when your friend leaves.”

He glared at her. “So you don’t trust me? That’s what this is about?”

She gave him her own look of fury. “Why would I let you spend all week alone with her if I didn’t trust you?” Nancy grabbed her bag then headed toward the door.

He grabbed her arm. “Then why won’t you sleep with me at least?”

“I just don’t feel comfortable. You’re spending time with her, not me. Put her back together then send her on her way.”

“Do you not like Grace?”

Nancy shook her head. “I’ll talk to you later, Thatcher.”

He pushed her against the wall, grabbing her neck like he did before. “I love you.”

“I know you do.”

“Then stop pushing me away.”

“I’m not.”

“I can feel it. You’re scared.”

“I’m not scared of anything.” She grabbed his arm and pulled it away. “Have a good night.” She opened the door and walked out. Thatcher watched her go with a heavy heart. He wanted to scream in frustration. He had never been in this situation before and he didn’t know what to do.

Thatcher went back upstairs and saw Grace sitting on the couch.

“What’s wrong?” she asked when she saw his face.

“Nothing,” he mumbled.

“You can’t fool me.”

He sighed. “Nancy’s just been—weird. I feel like she’s pushing me away.”

Grace said nothing.

Thatcher looked at her. “Did you say something to her?”

“No. We just made small talk over breakfast.”

He nodded then turned away.

They spent the evening in front of the TV, talking about his artwork and other things. Thatcher missed Nancy like crazy. It was pure torture being without her. He could barely sleep when her warm body wasn’t beside him.

Later that night, Thatcher walked into his bedroom and got ready to go to sleep, which was pointless since Nancy wasn’t there. When he got into bed, he tried to go to bed but he couldn’t. He just tossed and turned.

There was small knock on his door that made him jump. The only person who would come to his door was Nancy. He smiled as he jumped out of bed and opened it.

“Can I sleep with you?” Grace asked, wearing a t-shirt and a thong. “I’m just too depressed right now.”

Thatcher stared at her, disappointment flooding his body. He didn’t know what to do. “You can take the couch and I’ll lie on the sofa.”

She shook her head. “Let’s just lay in your bed. Couches aren’t comfortable.”

Thatcher kept his hand on the door. “I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”

“Why? It doesn’t mean anything.”

“I only sleep with my girlfriend. I won’t do that to her.”

She looked down and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her other hand touched her small shirt, which revealed a part of her flat stomach. She still wore her makeup and her earrings dangled. Thatcher waited for her to walk away but she didn’t. Grace remained rooted to the spot. Then she stepped forward and grabbed his face, pressing her mouth to his.

Thatcher pushed her away, violently, using more force than he meant to. “What are you doing?”

She stumbled back, a look of hurt on her face. “I—I’m sorry.”

“I can’t believe you did that,” he snapped. “You know I’m with Nancy. I told you I loved her. Why would you do something like that?”

Grace pulled her hair out of her face, avoiding his gaze.

“Is that what you’ve been trying to do the whole time?” he asked, anger in his voice. “Why you wanted to go hiking where we made love, go to the restaurant where you met my parents? Did you chase Nancy off?”

She stepped back, fear on her face.

“I took you in because I thought your request was genuine. You needed me in a difficult time. But you were just trying to seduce me? Make me break up with Nancy? Let’s get this straight; you’re the cheater, I’m not. There’s nothing that could ever make me leave Nancy. I loved you when we were together, and nothing will ever ruin that time, not even this horrible behavior. But now I’m with Nancy. I’m going to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her.”

“Can we ju
st forget about this?” she pleaded.

“No. Our relationship is totally different now. I don’t trust you. Like I said a million times, without trust there is no relationship.” He shook his head, his arms shaking. “Pack your shit and get the fuck out of my house.”

“What?” she asked, shocked.

“I said get the fuck out. I’ll get you a hotel room since I’m not a complete jerk but I don’t want you here. The only girl who belongs here is Nancy.”

Grace didn’t move.

“NOW!”

She walked to her door then changed and grabbed her things. Thatcher carried everything to the truck then drove her to a nearby hotel. He threw his credit card on the counter.

“This is for her stay. Cut it off after a week.”

The worker slid the card through the machine then handed it back.

Thatcher glared at Grace before he turned away.

“Thatcher, I’m sorry,” she said with falling tears.

“I don’t ever want to see you or talk to you again. I mean it. Have a good life, Grace. And good luck with the divorce, if that’s even true.” He stormed out of the hotel then called Nancy. She didn’t answer. He called again.

“Hello?” she said quietly.

“Are you at your father’s?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m coming to get you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just get your stuff together.” He hung up and threw the phone into the passenger seat. He was too upset to talk right now. After he saw her beautiful face, he would feel better. When he pulled up, she was standing outside in his clothes.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

He marched up to her then grabbed her face, kissing her hard on the mouth.

“Is this a booty call?” she asked when he pulled away.

He smiled at her. “No, but I wouldn’t mind if it led to that.”

“Thatcher?”

He took a deep breath then looked at the ground. Thatcher didn’t want to tell her the truth but he knew he had to. What if she left him? Nancy had every right to. “Nancy, I have to tell you something.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her hands shaking.

“Grace made a pass at me. She tried to kiss me but I pushed her away. I’m so sorry.” He grabbed her waist and pulled her to his chest. “Please forgive me. Please.”

Nancy opened her eyes and looked at him. “You didn’t kiss her?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then why are you apologizing?”

“Because I should have realized what she was doing. She’s been trying to get back together with me. At first I thought she was just emotional, confused, but after she came to my bedroom and tried
to seduce me, everything became clear. I feel horrible for not realizing it. I’m such an asshole.”

She sighed. “Thatcher, you aren’t an asshole. You’re just very forgiving, sweet, and optimistic.”

He cupped her cheek and looked at her. “Please don’t leave me. I only love you and nothing happened between us.”

“I know, Thatcher. Where is she now?”

“I kicked her out and took her to a hotel. She isn’t welcome in my house anymore.”

She nodded, clearly relieved.

“Nancy, did you know? Is that why you’ve been distant?”

“Yes,” she said as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “When we had breakfast together, she told me she wanted you, that your
love for each other was stronger than ours. Grace said there was nothing I could do about it. She would win you back.”

He stared at her, anger brewing in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me that? I would have kicked her out in a heartbeat.”

“Because I wanted to win. I wanted to prove to her that I don’t need to fight for you, that I trust you. You said without trust there is no relationship. Well, I trust you, Thatcher.”

He pressed his forehead against hers. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I knew I had nothing to worry about.”

“You’ll never understand how happy that makes me.”

She placed her hands on his chest, feeling the muscle underneath.

“You’ve come so far, Nancy. I feel like you’ve let go of your past and have put yourself back together.”

“You put me back together, Thatcher.”

He rubbed his nose against hers. “And you’ve made me happier than I ever thought I could be.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the house. “Let’s go to bed. I’m tired.”

“You want to sleep here?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

“Well, isn’t you dad here? I don’t want to be disrespectful.”

“He knows I sleep with you and that we have sex,” Nancy said. “And he loves you, Thatcher.”

“He does?”

She nodded. “He told me he couldn’t have picked anyone better.”

He smiled. “That makes me really happy.”

“It should.” She pulled his hand again but he wouldn’t budge. “What’s wrong?”

“I—I didn’t want this to happen his way, but I’m going to go for it.”

She stared at him, not understanding his meaning.

“I don’t want to take your stuff back to your apartment,” Thatcher said. “Let’s take it to mine—everything.”

“What are you saying?”

“I know it’s sudden, but I can’t sleep without you, I hate being apart from you…I don’t want you to ever leave. Move in with me.”

She felt her heart accelerate. “What?”

“Please.” He grabbed her hands and held them to his chest. “Please live with me. I’m not taking no for answer. You belong with me, you’re my other half,
you’re my soul mate.”

She felt her tears bubble under her eyes. “I would love to.”

He pulled her to his chest and held her close. “Thank you so much.”

“You don’t need to thank me.”

“And thank you for not leaving me. I was so scared, Nancy. I didn’t know what you were going to say.”

She grabbed his face and looked at him. “I don’t care what other people do. I only care about what you do. And I trust you, Thatcher—more than anyone.”

He kissed her forehead.

“Now let’s go inside.” She pulled him through the front door. All the lights were off because it was late. They walked into a spare bedroom then removed their clothes.

“Where’s your dad’s room?” he asked.

“Down the hallway, on the other side of the house,” she said with a smile.

Thatcher felt uncomfortable. “I don’t think we should—you know.”

“Then you’re going to get raped.” She crawled into the covers
, naked, and opened her legs, inviting him toward her.

Thatcher stared at her with a hungry expression.

“I’ll be quiet.”

He climbed on top of her the
n pulled her hips toward him. “You have to be silent.”

Nancy grabbed his face and kissed him, slipping her tongue into his mouth. Thatcher hadn’t felt her embrace in so long, and his body burned as her lips touched him.
Her nails dug into his back, making his cock harder than it had ever been. He started to leak from the tip and his balls started to ache.

Nancy spread her legs wider and pulled her tip to her entrance.
“Thatcher.” She grabbed his hips and pulled him into her.

He moaned quietly, his breath suddenly gone.