The Trouble With Mini Cows (Fidalgo Island Book 1) Page 13

  Nate stood in the kitchen looking tall and sleek in his dark suit with the perfect shade of blue silk tie. He looked tired, but smiled when she came in. They both started talking at once.

  “You—”

  “Nate, I—”

  He gestured for her to go first.

  “Nate, I hope you knew this is the best I brought with me—I didn’t plan for more than Gran and the cows. You didn’t make reservations at some place fancy, did you?”

  “No, in fact the few moments I had between meetings today I was too busy thinking about what I’d planned for after dinner to actually plan dinner. There’s a couple of places in town, or we could just go to Mick’s and grab a burger.”

  “Um, what do you have planned for after dinner?”

  “Hmmm, that sounded more nervous than desperate. Guess we’ll be postponing the hot bunny sex on the lawn. Plan B it is.”

  “Nate…”

  He grinned. “Torture, my dear. I did promise payback and I want you to have confidence that I always keep my promises.”

  “What kind of torture? ‘Cause I won’t do anything weird.”

  “What’s weird?” he inquired with genuine curiosity.

  “Anything Daniel would do.” It slipped out, and she was mortified.

  Nate’s eyebrows went up. “Sounds like there’s a story there.”

  He waited, but she didn’t offer up any further details.

  “See my tie?” He pointed at it just in case.

  She nodded. It was kind of hard to miss.

  “You’ll be… wearing it tonight.”

  His slight hesitation didn’t go unnoticed. She peered at him skeptically. “We’ll see.”

  “Yep, but first there’s dinner. You ready to go?”

  “I guess. Let me feed Daisy.”

  He nodded and waited for her while she dumped food in the dish in the corner. He helped her into his truck and turned up the music. Tess relaxed a little, relieved she wasn’t expected to make polite conversation when she was still churning with nerves. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat much. Maybe she could get more details out of him over dinner. “Cool, modern woman,” she repeated silently to herself.

  She should have realized. She would have if she’d thought through it at all rationally, but Nate had distracted her with the whole tie thing. When they walked into the bar, Mick’s broad face broken into a smile—not just his mouth, but his whole face creased. “Look at you two! I knew it, I knew it!” His jubilation called attention, and the rest of the patrons swiveled around to see what was going on. A couple of guys sitting at a small table in the middle of the room, right up against the aisle near the bar, got up and offered them their table. Mick hurried over to clear the dishes and wipe it down and then gestured like the finest of French maître d’s.

  “Nate!” she muttered under her breath.

  “Don’t blame me, I didn’t think about it either.” He looked embarrassed. “Really, I was just thinking about feeding you as quickly as possible.”

  She gaped at him.

  “Sorry, that came out wrong. I’m just really looking forward to the after dinner.”

  “Maybe I would too if you clued me in.”

  Hints rolled off him like water off a duck.

  Tess watched as people pulled Mick aside and had whispered conversations. Here and there a fiver changed hands, usually into Mick’s big paw.

  When he wandered over to take their order, Tess’s evil side came forward. “Mick?”

  “What can I get for you?”

  She raised her voice: “How many people have money down on today?”

  Nate choked on the water he was sipping, and Mick looked befuddled.

  “Ahh, one or two, I think. Most folks are piling up around the fall and into Christmas. Christmas weddings are so romantic, don’t you think?” he asked hopefully.

  “So are spring ones,” she replied firmly. She looked him in the eye but still talked loud enough for everyone to hear.

  “Nate knows a lot of judges on a personal basis. We were just talking about tying the knot after dinner.”

  The bar erupted. Mick was getting calls from all corners, while Tess carefully considered whether Nate might need the Heimlich maneuver after all. When he’d mostly recovered from the coughing, he was still choking on laughter but managed to get out, very quietly, “I’m game if you are.”

  She ignored him.

  Tess did manage to eat. Starting small riots apparently loosened her nerves. But people were talking so loudly, stopping by to ask questions that they didn’t have any personal conversation. Mick breezed by to tell them dinner was on the house, so when they were done, Nate left a generous tip and they eased out of the room.

  Before he started the truck, Nate leaned back in his seat and blew out a long breath. “Whew. That was funny. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Did you see Mick’s face?”

  Tess smiled slightly. It had been funny, but then reality had set in and she’d realized all these people now thought they could ask questions any time they saw her. And they would tell other people who would feel the same way. She should have kept her mouth shut.

  When they got back to Nate’s house, Tess exited the truck reluctantly. She really wished she knew what he had planned. Nate didn’t seem too concerned that she was lingering, flipping on lights and holding the door open for her. “Come on, slow poke, time’s a wasting.” Wow, he was such a romantic.

  When she came into the kitchen he started undoing his tie, and Tess started walking around him and toward the stairs.

  “Not so fast there, Tess—unless you want to do this in my bed?”

  “If I knew what ‘this’ is I could answer that.”

  He smiled and reached for her hand, pulling her closer. “You’ll see.”

  He took the tie and wrapped it around her eyes a few times, tying the ends in a loose knot at the back.

  “Nate?”

  “What?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Paying you back for last night.” And taking her hand, he led her into the living room, pushing her gently down on the couch.

  “Wait here a sec, I’ll be right back.”

  Tess pondered. She was fully clothed sitting in the living room with a makeshift blindfold. And she still wasn’t sure what was going on.

  She heard Nate’s quick footsteps go up the stairs and down the hall, and then they returned just as quickly. The scent of jasmine filled the room. Where had she smelled that recently? It took her a minute, “Oh yeah,” and an “uh-oh” following close behind.

  Nate, though, was undoing her shoes and pulling off her socks. Then warm, oily fingers were slipping between her toes and running along the arch of her foot. Tess convulsed in giggles, jerking her foot back. Nate stopped. When she’d calmed down, he tried again, but with the same result.

  “Ticklish, huh?”

  “Yes.” The last of the giggles escaped. “Why am I wearing a blindfold for a foot rub? Are you planning to tickle me to death?”

  “So you aren’t anticipating my every move and worrying about it. You have a tendency to overthink sometimes, don’t you?”

  She made a noncommittal sound. Now was not the time.

  “And besides, that’s my favorite tie, so now every time I wear it we’ll both remember this—that presumes I can recover from this less than auspicious beginning. At this rate I may have to throw that tie out.”

  She wished she could see his face.

  “What comes after the feet? Cause that ain’t going to happen.”

  Nate sighed. “Where else are you ticklish?”

  She thought about it. “I don’t really know. I didn’t have any siblings growing up and nobody else has ever tried to find out.”

  He stood her up and unfastened her jeans.

  “Um, Nate?”

  “Relax. You’re thinking too hard. We’re only going PG-13 tonight, I think.”

  He helped her out of her jeans, and she could
hear him set them on the nearby table. “Sit down.”

  She sat back down, but the cold leather of the sofa shocked the bare skin of her thighs. She shifted and found herself stuck.

  Nate had gone back to kneeling on the floor, and soon his hands were doing wicked things to her calf muscles. If this was torture, bring it on, she thought, melting a little with each caress. She was going to be a melted puddle of relaxation in about five minutes. She started to change her mind when he got to the backs of her knees and his touch changed. Frissons of something electric rode on top of the relaxation. Her hands reached for something to grab on to, but found nothing besides the couch. She was dying of curiosity to find out what was coming next.

  There was a furious knocking on the front door behind them. A querulous voice called out, “Tess, are you there? I saw your car. Tess?”

  “Oh shit! It’s Gran.”

  “Are you serious?” he whispered. “Now?”

  Tess reached behind her head to untie the blindfold, but Nate had done some fancy knot. “Nate! Help me, I can’t get this undone.”

  He batted her hands aside and unpicked the knot then unwound it from her eyes. As soon as she could see, she grabbed her jeans and pulled them back on.

  “Why did she have to come back now?” Nate looked and sounded aggravated.

  “You wanted her to come back, remember?” she whispered furiously.

  “Not tonight!”

  More knocking hit the door.

  Tess tried to glare at him, but it lacked real force. Gran’s timing really was bad. And why did Tess feel like a teenager caught fooling around in the basement? Nate undid the latch on the door and opened it.

  “Why Callie, what a surprise,” he said dryly.

  Gran’s sharp eyes swept between him and Tess, missing nothing. She pointed her finger at his chest, which was about as high as she could reach.

  “Listen here, young man. Law or no law, you’d better not be taking advantage of my granddaughter or I’ll beat you senseless.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I think you’ll find if you examine the evidence that it’s Tess that’s taken advantage of me.”

  “Hah! More of that courtroom flimflam.”

  “It’s true. I want a meaningful relationship but she keeps saying she doesn’t want to settle down. I think she’s just using me for—” Tess gave him a warning poke in the back. “Anyway, you’re here now. Why don’t you both come in and you can catch us up.” His tone had gotten rather grim toward the end. Tess peered into the gloom outside the door, and could just see Walt’s quiet figure behind Gran. He looked tired.

  “I’ll go make some tea.” She gathered up the evidence of their previous activities and headed toward the kitchen, just catching Gran’s words as she went.

  “Mighty at home, Tess is, and you say you’re not taking advantage of her. Didn’t see a ring on her finger. You trying to drag her into politics too?”

  Tess quickly put the tie down on the counter. She strained her ears, but couldn’t hear Nate’s reply. Whatever it was it was followed by Gran’s characteristic chuckle. She couldn’t just go back in there and ask, certainly not without looking pathetic. She looked about for a teapot and finally located one in the high cupboard over the stove.

  When she took the tray into the living room, she found Nate leaning up against the doorjamb and Gran sitting very properly on the edge of the sofa. Walt was next to her, leaning back and looking like he was trying to stay awake.

  Gran frowned when Tess came in. “We’ve only been gone for a few weeks, how’d you make yourself at home so fast?”

  Tess didn’t answer, instead casting a sideways glance at Nate, who just grimaced.

  “Gran, where have you been?”

  “Oh, here and there. We went up to Alberta to meet a breeder. He’s doing some amazing things with mini Holsteins, crossing them with a Swiss breed for better fat content. But don’t try and change the subject, missy. Where’s Brendan?”

  “Um, in Seattle?”

  Gran turned her head to stare at Walt, who just shrugged.

  “You and he were supposed to get together, not you and this ambulance chaser.”

  “Gran!”

  Nate chimed in: “It’s okay, Tess, Callie’s dislike of attorneys is well known and widespread. For the record, I work exclusively for the county—not much call for chasing after ambulances.”

  “Well then, what do you mean Brendan and I were supposed to get together? He was wasn’t here for more than fifteen minutes, and what I saw I didn’t particularly like.”

  “Darn boy. Walt and I just thought you two would be good for each other and you needed to meet. He needs a settling influence and you could do with a steadier income.”

  “Gran!”

  “All right, Callie, that’s enough. You don’t have to like me, but Tess’s relationship with me is between the two of us. And there is a relationship.” He was looking at Tess while he was talking, as though daring her to contradict him.

  She wanted to, she really did. Just on principle, but that didn’t seem like such a good idea at the moment, as she disliked the idea of being fixed up with Brendan even more. And considering what had been happening before Gran’s arrival, denying it would mean that had been casual. The backs of her knees were still tingling, probably more from being backed into a corner.

  She sighed and sat down in the chair in front of Nate. At least Gran was back.

  “So, Callie, Walt, we’re glad you’re back—does this mean you’ve come up with a plan?”

  The two senior citizens on the couch looked at each other with guilty expressions.

  “Not exactly”—Gran drew it out—”but I think I have an idea. We just need a bit more time.”

  Tess closed her eyes in despair.

  “Gran, you’ve got to solve this now. You could lose your house!”

  “Oh, pish tosh. Nobody’s taking my house, child.”

  Tess could hear Nate’s sigh of resignation. “Callie, on Friday your case is being transferred to Marcus Wheeling.”

  “What! Why?”

  “Because I now have a conflict of interest.”

  “What are you talking about? Nothing’s changed.”

  “Yes, it has. Tess is here.”

  “Don’t make this my fault!” She twisted in her chair to glare at him directly.

  “I’m not, but I’m very biased toward what will make you happy.”

  “You are?” She beamed at him with delight.

  “But he’s a weasel!” Callie brought the conversation back on topic. Tess froze in shock, thinking she had meant Nate, but apparently the other two were on the same wavelength.

  “Neither here nor there, Callie. You’ll have to work it out with him, and he’s known to argue for big fines.”

  Gran looked nonplussed. Walt looked like he’d aged another ten years in the last ten minutes.

  “Why are you messing with me and my cows, anyway? They’re just pets. If they were cats you wouldn’t give a damn.”

  “Yes, I would,” Nate said. “If they were overcrowded and making smells and noise that disrupt the neighbors. It’s happened—we’ve gone through exactly the same process. If anything you’re getting more lenient treatment, because nobody knows what to do with the animals while this gets worked out.”

  “Well, you sure figured that out,” Gran muttered. “Stole my cows and my granddaughter. We never should have left.”

  “Amen,” Tess muttered under her breath.

  Nate must have heard her, because his hand came down gently on the back of her neck, his fingers tracing a pattern along its nape.

  “Naw, Callie. I’ll be forever grateful you did, because I met Tess.” His fingers stilled. “We’re already picking out furniture for the nursery.”

  She was going to kill him.

  Gran sat there stunned, her mouth working like a guppy’s.

  “You’re… you’re pregnant? Already?”

  “No, Gran. I’m not pregnant. Nate is
just messing with you.”

  “Oh I don’t know. We have discussed cribs,” he drawled.

  Gran must have believed him, because she went steely-eyed. Twisting around again to face Walt, she said, “You’d better call Brendan and get him back up here a-sap.”

  Walt shook his head. “Don’t see what good that will do. That ship has sailed, Callie—let the kids work this out for themselves.”

  “But he’s a lawyer!”

  “Callie. Let’s go home and get some sleep. I’m beat.”

  She patted his bony knee kindly and turned back.

  “Okay, we’re going home. Tess, I wish you’d come with us.”

  “Sorry Gran, all my stuff is here and so are the cows that want to be milked in the morning. Why don’t you come by after breakfast and we’ll talk… about the cows, not my love life. Okay?”

  Gran nodded, and she and Walt stood up to leave.

  Nate walked them out, and Tess took the tea things back into the kitchen. The mood had clearly soured, so she had no expectations of picking up where they’d left off. Nate came back in with Daisy at his heels. “So that’s good news that they’re back in town, anyway.” Tess just nodded, wiping down the counters. “Do you want me to stick around in the morning? I can move a meeting or two to the afternoon if it will help.”

  She thought about it, but his presence hadn’t really helped tonight. “Thanks, but I think it might be better if you weren’t here. I can probably get more out of Gran that way.”

  He nodded. “Well, see if you can get her to pick out five cows to take back with her. That might help move things along and be less for you. We’ll figure out how to move them after she picks them.”

  Tess hadn’t even considered that. Somehow she’d equated Gran’s return with her being able to leave. But it hadn’t really done anything to resolve the core problem.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Tess slept restlessly, anxious about her meeting with her grandmother and what had started with Nate the night before. She could still feel his hands on her legs pressing tightly on her stiff muscles and delicately tracing the inside curve of her knee. It was probably for the best that they’d been interrupted, if she reacted to him that strongly just touching her below the knee. Wasn’t it? Every part of her except her brain disagreed vehemently with that statement. Well, the sooner she got past the morning’s activities the sooner she’d see Nate again, and they’d just see.