“But,” Lucy said, examining her long, red fingernails, “that is a conversation for another time. How long have you been seeing Riley?”
Nell didn’t have a ready answer. “Not long.” Less than a day, but Lucy didn’t need to know.
Lucy gave Nell another searching look. “And he likes you?”
In a defensive tone, Nell said, “Maybe he likes me because I’m nice, kind and smart. Maybe Riley is one of those people who just understands what a woman needs. He doesn’t need my money, if that’s what you’re implying. He does very well for himself.”
“I didn’t ask why he’s seeing you, I just wanted to know how long you two have been dating?”
“I already told you,” Nell said, staring hard at her mother for whom, according to Grandmama, time had never been a prerequisite for a relationship. Nell put her hands on her hips, prepared to defend Riley passionately. “Riley is a well-known architect and historical preservationist. His services are in demand all over the South. People come to him to have their homes restored to what they were originally. He knows more about…” She stopped defending him in the face of her mother’s disbelief. “People can change, you know.” Everyone, that is, except her mother. Lucy was still self-involved. She would never change.
“Yes, I know that, sugah. Everybody can change, if they want to.”
What was her mother trying to tell her? Nell stared at her, unbelieving. What she really wanted to do was tell Lucy she could spend the night but in the morning she needed to get herself over to Chloe’s Bed-and-Breakfast, but Nell couldn’t. Despite her mother’s ways, she was still family and no matter what or who they were, family was important.
She felt a little irritated with herself for being so spineless. “I’ll let you get yourself unpacked. Good night, Mama.”
Nell stomped out, feeling as though she’d been outmaneuvered and went down to the kitchen to fix herself a snack.
Cold water pelted Riley’s skin. This erotic tutorial with Nell was going to be the death of him. He leaned his head against the slick wet tiles of his shower. What had started out as just a “kissing lesson” had turned into something he’d never be able to turn off.
He’d been in the shower for over thirty minutes and his body still ached for fulfillment. If not for Lucy barging in like a steamroller, he’d have had Nell exactly where he wanted her. Naked, on her back, with him buried deep inside her.
Since she’d gotten him out of his pants, he couldn’t stop thinking that maybe agreeing to the sex lesson wasn’t his best idea. On paper, the idea had seemed like a gift from the gods. But in actuality the plan wasn’t going his way. Oh, he’d get to sleep with Nell, but getting to that point was going to be hell with her mother back around.
Plus he had to take things slow, he didn’t want to spook Nell. He wanted her to be as ready for him as he was for her. He wanted to show her that sex was more than just heavy panting and carnal knowledge. He wanted to show her the romance as well.
The thought of her taking all the things they’d share and getting some other guy bothered him. Not that he wanted anything permanent. He couldn’t do forever again. He and Chloe had already given it their best shot and failed. No, he didn’t have room in his heart for a lifetime kind of love. When Benjy had died, he hadn’t thought he’d ever recover. He just went on with his day-to-day life, but something was missing. What Nell wanted from him was about all he was capable of giving.
Riley turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Chester was sitting outside the shower stall whining. Guess the old boy must have been attuned to his mood.
Riley toweled himself off and dressed quickly. He still had some sexual energy to work off so he took Chester out for a long walk. As he and Chester strolled through the dark, quiet streets, Riley couldn’t seem to get Nell out of his thoughts.
The next morning, Riley almost raced out of the house in his eagerness to see Nell. Even though she was now a wealthy woman, she had decided to continue working at the diner until she sold it. Riley didn’t know why she wanted to keep working, but he liked that she didn’t intend to change her life too much. At least not yet.
The diner sat on a corner of the two-block-long downtown area of Wayloo. The sign, Granny’s Diner, was attached to the facade over the door and hadn’t been changed in fifty years. Inside, the diner was all chrome and red vinyl with black and white linoleum tiles on the floor. A fifties icon, the diner had the best food in Wayloo. Almost the only food in Wayloo.
The morning crowd was larger than normal. Nell worked the counter and as Riley entered, he saw that every stool was filled and he had no place to sit. He always sat at Nell’s station on the next to last seat near the pie display and his spot was filled.
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