“Not always.”
He may not realize that he needed a different type of release, but she did. She continued washing him, kneading and caressing his muscles. He got aroused when she washed his privates and thighs, and he reached for her. But she smiled sweetly and shook her head. He scowled, and that was so Nick, it endeared him to her even more. His scowl eased with her touch. He closed his eyes as she worked her way back up his body. She felt his heart beating sure and steady, no longer frantic with need.
When she was done, she caressed his face and whispered, “Okay.”
He opened his eyes, and they were brimming with so many emotions, it overwhelmed her. His hands circled her upper arms, holding tight, and he lowered his forehead to hers, his eyes closing again as he said, “God, Trix. What the hell are you doing to me?”
Loving you.
Chapter Nine
TRIXIE HUMMED AS she breezed into Emmaline’s Café, greeted by the aroma of fresh-roasted coffee and warm baked goods. Everything at Emmaline’s was delicious, from the specialty sandwiches to the freshly made desserts and designer coffees, and the atmosphere couldn’t be more upbeat with sunflower-yellow walls boasting gorgeous paintings from local artists and a chalkboard displaying today’s specials in bright pink and green, interspersed with sayings like TODAY’S YOUR DAY! and WELCOME TO YOUR HAPPY PLACE! Trixie scanned the room, looking for Tempest. Almost all the tables were taken, but she didn’t see her friend anywhere. In the rear of the café, a spiral staircase led to a loft with more seating. She wondered if Tempest was sitting up there.
Emmaline, a vivacious brunette, waved from the far end of the counter, where she was adding a dollop of whipped cream to a piece of pie. Trixie hoisted her messenger bag over her shoulder and went to say hello. Emmaline handed the pie to another employee and asked her to bring it to a customer sitting at a table near the front of the café. Then she came around the counter and hugged Trixie.
“It’s so good to see you,” Emmaline said.
“It’s great to see you, too.”
“I heard you were meeting Tempe for lunch. I saw her pop into the ladies’ room a minute ago.” Emmaline lifted her brows and leaned closer. “Jilly told me you moved in with Nicky boy for a month while you start a miniature horse therapy business. That is so exciting. A whole month with that hot cowboy and starting the business. I swear that man could melt the panties off an iceberg.”
“He sure can.” Please don’t talk about him and other women.
“You know, there was a time when Jilly and I thought you and Nick would end up together. We thought, hot cowboy, gorgeous cowgirl making cute cowpokes. But then you guys fell into your awesome friendship. I guess that’s better, right? Without the complications of all that other stuff that goes along with sex.”
Like the walls Nick has around his heart and the random women he hooks up with to keep those walls in place? She tried to push those thoughts aside, grasping for the elation that had carried her into the café on the tails of the breakthrough she’d felt in the shower and said, “Yeah, I guess so.” She spotted Tempest coming out of the bathroom. “There’s Tempe.”
“Go. I’ll come by your table in a few minutes to take your orders so you don’t have to wait in line.”
“Thanks, Em.” Trixie headed over to the table.
Tempest looked beautiful in a short floral dress. She had a gracefulness about her that set her apart from her siblings. “It’s so good to see you,” she said, embracing Trixie.
“You too. How are Nash and Flip?” Nash, her handsome artist husband, had been a single father to his son, Philip, who everyone called Flip, when Tempest had met him.
“They’re both great. Flip is getting so big, and Nash is…” She sighed as they sat down. “Well, he’s just wonderful.”
“I love seeing you so happy, and you look amazing. Are you using new makeup, or is your happiness making you glow?”
“No new makeup, but there is something new in my life.” She put her hand over her belly and grinned. “I’m pregnant.”
“Oh my gosh! Congratulations!” Trixie hugged her again. “You must be so happy.”
“We are. We just told my parents last night, and I’m sure my cousins’ phones will be ringing off the hook with the news by nightfall.”
“I’m thrilled for you. Does Flip know?”
“We told him last night, too. He is over the moon, and already talking about teaching his baby brother or sister how to feed the chickens and collect eggs and how he’s going to read to it and do just about everything else under the sun.”
Trixie laughed. “He’s going to be such a great big brother.”
“Thank you. And I’m excited for you and your new endeavor. I remember what it was like when I started my business and moved away from Peaceful Harbor. I was as scared as I was excited.”
“I’m more excited than scared. But I’m not moving away from home. I’m just here to get started without the distractions of my brothers and working on the ranch.”
“Well, you couldn’t be staying with a more knowledgeable horse guy. Nick’s the greatest. It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? I started a business to get out of the hospital environment, and you’re starting a business that will bring you into it.” Tempest had felt confined by her music therapy job at the hospital and had started her own music therapy business. She and Nash had renovated one of their barns, and now she saw clients there.
“It is funny. I hadn’t thought about that.”
“It’s too bad you’re not staying in the area because we could work together. I’m working with kids who have emotional challenges and physical limitations. They could definitely benefit from horse therapy.”
Emmaline arrived with two glasses of water. She set them on the table and said, “Sorry to interrupt. What can I get for my sexy ladies? One of our famous mile-high sandwiches, perhaps?”
“Not for me, thanks. I’ll just have a cobb salad with ranch dressing,” Tempest said.
“That sounds great. I’ll take the same.”
“Okay, two boring salads it is.” Emmaline winked and went to fill their orders.
“I love her,” Trixie said. “You know, Tempe, maybe we can work together. There aren’t many hospitals, rehab centers, or nursing homes in and around Oak Falls. I’m going to have to travel outside the area, and you’re only about two hours away. There are so many facilities within an hour of here, I could potentially be traveling this way every week.”
“If that’s the case, we could coordinate visits,” Tempe said.
“That’s what I’m thinking. I’m sure Nick won’t mind if I stay with him more often.” As she said it, she had a painful thought. What if Nick’s walls never came down? What if he never felt as much for her as she felt for him? Could she handle going back to being just friends?
“That would be fantastic, but that’s a lot of travel,” Tempest said, jarring Trixie from her thoughts. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“I won’t have much of a choice,” she said, answering Tempest’s question and her own. She felt a wave of disappointment, but she refused to give in to it or allow what ifs to kick her legs out from under her before she and Nick even had a chance to see where their new connection might lead. Determined to succeed with the business and breaking down Nick’s walls, she said, “Besides, I know it’ll be worth it, and I travel a lot now delivering and picking up livestock for our ranch.”