Nick couldn’t get enough. He wanted more as their kisses blossomed. Her breathing became short little gasps that drove him wild. They stumbled backward, forgetting time and place, and bumped into the kitchen counter. The empty bowls, once filled with grits, crashed to the floor and shattered into dozens of pieces. They didn’t care, too wrapped up in each other. Too enveloped to think about what they were doing and what would come after.
For the time being at least, it didn’t matter.
Chapter Thirteen
“I’m surprised to see you’re back.”
Rosalie smiled at Ines as she walked into The Party Haven. Today the clerk wore a cowgirl outfit complete with a cowhide vest and denim skirt that stretched across her fleshy thighs. She perked up at the sight of Rosalie. The rest of the store was empty on a Wednesday morning.
“I’m surprised to be back myself,” said Rosalie. She unzipped her crossbody bag and pulled out her wallet. “I’m hoping you still have that Princess and the Frog costume in stock.”
Ines folded her arms, leaning against the store counter. “You mean the one that costs an arm and a leg? The one your baby girl threw a tantrum about?”
“That’s the one.”
“We’ve got several. What made Mama Bear change her mind?”
“I figure it’s a special occasion. If it makes my cub happy, it makes me happy.”
Ines cracked a smile of her own and then shrugged. “Fair enough. Gimme a second. I’ll grab you one from the back. That way you’re buying one that hasn’t been touched by anybody else’s grubby little hands.”
“While you’re at it,” said Rosalie in another spur of the moment decision, “can I take a look at that queen costume you mentioned last time?”
Fifteen minutes later, she emerged from The Party Haven with two large shopping bags dangling off her arm. In one bag was the glittery, tulle Princess and the Frog costume Remi coveted. In the other, the rental queen costume that happened to fit Rosalie better than anticipated. The decision to splurge on a Halloween costume for Remi went against her better judgment.
She had created a meticulous budget and sixty bucks on a children’s Halloween costume wasn’t on the expense sheet. Yet, in the wake of other spontaneous decisions she’d been making, she talked herself into it. If she could ignore Clyde’s call—if she could give in to an irresistible attraction for her boss and kiss him—why not be irresponsible and splurge on Remi?
After years of being careful and considerate of others, she was tired of playing by the rules. She was sick of giving Clyde the benefit of the doubt. She was done denying herself basic desires like any other woman. Most of all, she was tired of going through the motions.
It was time for a change. She was going to stop caring about what everybody else wanted. From Clyde to Ma to the little voice that was her conscience in the back of her head. She was going to go with intuition and whatever felt right in the moment. If that meant splurging on Remi’s Halloween costume, so be it.
On her walk to her car, she passed a poster for the Autumn Festival. She lost her breath thinking about her cooking lessons with Nick. If doing whatever felt right meant another passionate kiss with him, how could she resist? She was done resisting, ready to take risks for the first time in years.
Rosalie tossed her bags in the back of her Honda Civic and hopped in. She was nervous about seeing Nick again, but the curiosity of what came next drowned out any hesitancy. She wanted to find out, turning the key in the ignition and pulling into traffic. Soon she would.
“What’s that smirk for?” Zoe asked as Rosalie turned up at the restaurant. She finger combed her home-dyed red hair and eyed Rosalie with gossipy interest. “I know that sorta smirk. It’s one of those ‘I’ve got a secret’ smirks.”
Rosalie dismissed Zoe’s claim with a shake of her head. She refused to lend credence to her fellow waitress’s claims. Even if they were a little true. She did have a secret, and so did Nick. From across the dining room floor, their eyes met. It was the first time seeing him since what happened in the kitchen.
Her insides twisted into a pretzel. She couldn’t control the reactions he drew out of her. A mere glance from him and her senses spun into overdrive. The room felt hotter and her mind foggier. She couldn’t help remembering how demanding his mouth felt on hers. How sturdy his arm felt braced around her waist.
Rosalie forcefully tore her eyes away and focused on the dining area. Regulars like Mrs. Kettles and Mr. Yancy had shown up for lunch. She snatched her notepad and pen from her apron pockets and dived headfirst into waitressing.
The diners distracted her. She provided top-notch service to each table, delivering their appetizers, entrees, and drinks with a gusto that earned generous tips. Her zeal was unmatched, energy high as she failed to notice Zoe was gone on a lunch break. She didn’t need anyone’s help. So long as she had the tables to wait on she was satisfied. The busier she was, the less she noticed Nick’s presence in the shadows.
“I love the renovations,” said Mrs. Kettles, laying a ten dollar bill on the table. The tip was more than her usual. “The restaurant’s coming alive. I can tell it’s a woman’s touch. I’m guessing that’s you?”
Rosalie simply smiled and thanked the ex-schoolteacher for her patronage. She pocketed the tip and began clearing the table. Que was slow-moving and probably on a smoke break; besides, she had suspicions he kept their tips from time to time. After she finished wiping down the table, she turned on her heel to head to the kitchen, but nearly bumped right into Nick.
Her surprise widened her features. Her eyes doubled in size and her nostrils flared. She hadn’t expected him to be standing right behind her. He was a tempting force, tall and broad and towering a foot over her with his intent green-eyed gaze. She clutched a hand to her heart and calmed her sudden erratic breathing.
“I didn’t know you were behind me,” she mumbled.
“Sorry,” he apologized. His fingers threaded through his golden-brown strands. “Do you have a moment? Was wondering if I could speak to you alone…”
Oh, god.
Her already knotted insides tightened. The clench was unbearable, a deep contraction on her stomach muscles. She played it off with a curt, sharp nod, and fell in line, following him out of the dining area. She could feel others’ eyes on her. Zoe as she returned from her latest break, and a couple of the diners, who stared nosily. She ignored them, trailing behind Nick with marked indifference.
Fuck them.
They didn’t pay her bills. They didn’t know who she was. They didn’t matter.
Let them think what they wanted. They were going to gossip anyway. She was all too familiar with how fast word traveled around a small, close-minded, traditional town like St. Aster. As a teenager running around with a bad guy like Clyde, she had experienced her share of town gossip. She knew that once the rumor mill started churning, there was little she could do to stop it.
In the back office, the door swung shut behind them. Nick walked to his desk and plopped into his chair. She chose to stand. He seemed confused by this choice, tilting his head to the side as if tempted to ask.
“We should probably talk, don’t you think?”