Nice & Naughty (19 page)

Gordy nodded enthusiastically and held out his hand for the phone.

“You’re in luck, Zoe. He just walked into the bar. Here he is.”

He grabbed the phone just as he heard Zoey protesting, “No, Ralph. That’s okay. Don’t—”

“Hi, it’s me.” Gordy stopped her before she said something he didn’t want to hear.

“Oh, hi. I didn’t want Ralph to bother you in case you didn’t want to talk to me.” She sounded sincere…and insecure.

He could easily alleviate her insecurity. “I’ve thought about nothing except calling you since you left.”

“Then why didn’t you call?”
 

“I wanted to give you some space to deal with your aunt’s death and things there in Connecticut. And I was on shift at the firehouse and frustrated enough knowing I couldn’t see you.”

“Do you want to see me?”

Damn, she sounded sexy. He found himself cradling Ralph’s phone a little closer to his ear. “Oh, yeah.” There was nothing Gordy wanted more.

“Do you want to drive out today?”

His resolve was immediately lost as his heart skipped a beat. “You want me to?”

“Mmm, hmm.”

He signaled to Ralph for a pen and a cocktail napkin. “Give me the address.”

Chapter Five

Zoey hung up the phone and looked at the group of women that surrounded her in the old farmhouse’s kitchen. This was where her Aunt Zoe had taught her to cook those many years ago. The place where her aunt’s nearest and dearest three friends had congregated so often. Over the years, they’d all shared food, wine, laughter and tears, good times and bad in this kitchen. Now, they dealt with their grief over her loss here too.

Having her aunt’s closest friends there with her during this period of mourning both helped and hurt a little. There were strong memories in that house, for all of them.

The days after her arrival had been consumed with the plans and arrangements for the funeral and settling the estate. But with both the funeral and the meeting with the lawyer done now, it seemed her aunt’s friends were ready to take on a new task—Zoey.

It was probably their way of getting over Aunt Zoe’s death themselves. It seemed as if Zoey’s love life was now their pet project. That she’d made the mistake of mentioning Gordy to the three matchmakers only added fuel to the fire. A possible love connection for Zoey was like blood in the water and these women were the sharks. They bit into the task of securing her a man single-mindedly.

“Is he coming?” Aunt Maizie asked.

Zoey nodded, wishing she could share Maizie’s excitement. Right now she was too overwhelmed with guilt. She was inviting a man to spend the night less than a week after her aunt’s death, and she had a feeling they would probably end up doing some very wicked things in her aunt’s house. There was also the feeling of panic residing low in her belly with the thought of seeing—and doing more—with Gordy.

“Good. Now, we have a ton of things to do.” Like a general staging an all-out military attack, Maizie outlined the plan. “I’m going to start a pot of good old Irish stew. It sounds like your Gordy would like that, and it will hold on the stove in case you two get distracted for a few hours, if you know what I mean.”

Zoey blushed at the older woman’s insinuation, but didn’t argue.

“Rosemary. You straighten up around here from this drunken cry fest we’ve been having since Zoey arrived.” Maizie continued with her orders. “Can’t have the man seeing the house a shambles.”

Rosemary nodded like an obedient soldier. Zoey took a glance around at the discarded tissues, coffee mugs and wine bottles littering the table and countertop and had to agree with this part of the plan.

“Louise. You make a fire in the fireplace. Then find every candle in this house and put them all around the living room.” Maizie forged boldly onward.

Louise nodded. “Good plan. A woman’s looks always benefit from candlelight. Even if she is as young and beautiful as our Zoey, here.”

“Thanks, Aunt Louise.” Zoey smiled at her aunt’s friends, all of whom she’d grown up calling aunt even though they weren’t blood relatives. Honorary aunts they called themselves, more special because they were chosen and not related by blood. They’d always been an important part of her life and Aunt Zoe’s too. They were there for Aunt Zoe when she discovered, just two months ago, she had lung cancer. Never smoked a day in her life but it took her anyway and in less time than anyone could have imagined.

The thought and the sadness must have shown on Zoey’s face because all three women’s attention was focused on her.

“She did what she thought was right, Zoey. She knew you were busy with the new business and she knew you would abandon everything to come and hold her hand for however long it took.” Rosemary reached out and covered Zoey’s hand with her own.

“Well, I never agreed with it. Swearing us all to secrecy so we couldn’t even tell you. She should have considered how you would feel, Zoey.” Maizie shook her head.
 

Louise glanced up at Maizie. “She thought she had more time, Maizie. We all did. Even the doctors were shocked. She was going to tell you right after the holidays, Zoey. She just went to bed one night and didn’t wake up.”

Renewed tears in her eyes, Zoey nodded, remembering Gordy had told her nearly the same thing about his friend who’d died without any warning. “I guess we all think we’ll have more time.”

It had been that realization that made Zoey take that frightful step and invite Gordy to the farmhouse. She’d thrown herself at him once already in her apartment, only to be rebuked. It was really putting her feelings out on the line again to take this latest action, but the aunts wouldn’t have had it any other way.

All four women seated at the old wooden table wiped their eyes again. Maizie took another slug of wine and straightened her spine. “Okay. Enough pity. This is not what Zoe would have wanted.”

They all nodded their agreement, Rosemary with a big added sniff.

 
“All right, ladies.” Maizie clapped her hands to rally the troops. “No time to waste. We don’t have all day. Zoey’s Gordy will be here in just a few hours. Chop, chop. You have your assignments.”

“Um, I didn’t get an assignment.” Zoey raised her hand in the air like a schoolgirl.

“Your job is to get yourself ready for Gordy. Go take a bubble bath, put on some perfume and your prettiest outfit. Something easy to get out of.” Aunt Maizie turned toward her with a suggestive grin.

Zoey blushed again. These women, all of an indiscernible age ranging somewhere between fifty and sixty she supposed, were not shy when it came to sex.
 

“Don’t forget to wash all the important parts real well.” Maizie shoved another glass of wine into Zoey’s hand and shooed her out of the kitchen while Zoey seriously considered drowning herself in the tub.

~ * ~

Gordy drove the distance to Connecticut in record time. He was lucky he didn’t get a speeding ticket, but the roads were dry and he was too anxious to get there to drive the posted limit. He stopped during the trip only long enough to pick up a bunch of flowers for Zoey.

His overnight bag was in the back seat. He supposed it was making a big assumption to bring an overnight bag, although Zoey wouldn’t have invited him to drive this far without assuming he’d stay overnight. Besides, he’d sleep on the couch if she wasn’t ready for anything more.

Would she be ready? She’d only had a few days to get over her aunt’s death and get her affairs in order with the lawyer. Come to think of it, was he ready? He knew his body was more than ready to sink into Zoey, but his mind knew making love to Zoey wouldn’t be just a one-night stand. He wanted to begin their relationship on the right foot.

Relationship. Just the thought surprised him. He hadn’t even considered a serious relationship since his divorce. Why was he jumping through hoops to insure one with Zoey now?

He’d originally agreed to pose in the fireman calendar thinking it would yield him a disposable bounty of quick sex with anonymous women. That had somehow seemed very appealing to him at the time. It wasn’t so tempting anymore. Being with Zoey would completely negate that original plan and that didn’t disappoint him one bit.

The conversation he’d had with the Ladder 3 guys a few months ago flashed through his mind. How Troy and Antonio had lectured Scotty that he’d know when he found the one. Was Zoey the one for him?

Who knew? He’d thought his ex was the one at the time too. Maybe he should wait.

Gordy sighed and forced his attention back to the road in front of him. As he neared the small Connecticut town where Zoey was, his heart started to beat a bit faster. He had two days before he had to be back for a shift at the firehouse. It wasn’t a lot of time with her, but it might be enough to figure things out. If it wasn’t, there was always later, when she returned to the city.

The town was so small, Gordy blinked and nearly missed it. Before he knew it, he was pulling slowly down a dead end road that he hoped led to Zoey. He spied the mailbox with the number she’d given him and steeled his nerves. As anxious as he’d been to arrive, he was still nervous about actually being there.

A large square boat of a car pulled out of the driveway and three faces within turned his way. Gordy glanced down at the cocktail napkin that contained the directions and confirmed that this was indeed the house number she’d given him. Maybe it was a shared drive or something. Of course, they could be mourners come to pay their respects.

That made Gordy reconsider once again letting anything happen with Zoey during this visit. She was still in mourning for a beloved aunt, the only relative she had left. She was truly an orphan now. Gordy had an overwhelmingly huge family. He could barely comprehend the thought of being alone in the world, but he knew he couldn’t take advantage of Zoey’s fears of being all by herself now.

But what if she wanted him to be with her as part of the healing process? He sighed, confused and frustrated. Relationships were just plain complicated. No wonder the idea of casual sex had seemed so appealing to him. Now that it was too late, he realized he was hooked on Zoey. Casual was not an option anymore.

He would just let her lead them. Whichever way she wanted to take tonight, whether it was platonic or passionate, he would follow.

With that resolution made, he drove down the long gravel driveway and parked near the house. Getting out of the car, he smelled snow in the air. It didn’t often snow in November, but it sure felt like a storm was coming. It would be just his luck to get snowed in with Zoey after he’d resolved not to sleep with her if she didn’t want that.

Why was his life so complicated? He considered that as he knocked on the door. He stood with the flowers in hand as he waited for her to answer. The overnight bag would stay in the car until he assessed the atmosphere.

She opened the door and he began assessing immediately. Her warm smile greeted him along with the scent of stew cooking. Zoey pulled him inside, closing the door against the cold. He stood in a candlelit room where a fire roared in the hearth. Soft music played in the background. A mound of pillows and a throw were on the floor in front of the fire and a bottle of wine and two glasses sat on the table. The scene seemed designed for seduction.

Gordy dragged his gaze back to Zoey and he remembered the flowers in his hand. “Here, these are for you.”

“Thank you. They’re beautiful.” She took them and leaned in to kiss his mouth.

She was dressed in something that looked like a very dressy, clingy sweat suit. He reached out and touched the incredibly soft fabric. It was like touching a cloud but as nice as it felt, he still couldn’t help picturing peeling it off her.

“This is nice. You look good.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “I’m going to put these in water and stir the stew. Are you hungry?”

“Um, sure. If you are.” Gordy hung his coat on one of the hooks behind the front door and then followed her into the kitchen. Immediately he got a feeling of why she loved visiting her aunt as a child. The room, the whole house really, radiated a sense of warmth.

Zoey stood on tiptoe to grab a pitcher from one of the open kitchen shelves. At the sink she filled it with water and then put the bunch of flowers inside.

“Maybe we can have a glass of wine by the fire first and then eat.” She gave the stew one quick stir and glanced at him over her shoulder.

Gordy listened to her words, which were plain and straightforward enough, but he was having trouble concentrating on them as he watched her, looking so great. He swallowed hard. “Sounds good.”

She grabbed his hand. Just that small touch had his heart speeding as she led him to the other room.

Zoey poured two glasses of wine and handed him one before she arranged herself seductively on the pillow-strewn floor. The view made his breath catch in his throat. He hesitated and watched the doubt replace the confidence on her face. He remembered the scene in her apartment when he’d refused her offer to hop into bed and she’d thought he didn’t want her. Shit. That insecurity was still present and it was his fault. He sat next to her, close enough their thighs touched.

Putting the glass on the floor, he reached out and rubbed her neck. “How are you doing?”