ChapterThree
Chloe slapped at the phone to turn off the alarm and closed her eyes again, longing to return to the dream that had gotten her ramped up. She arched up and into a kiss with Ronan Doyle. So much more than the quick swipe of his tongue when he’d taken the lime from her mouth. She moved slowly, stroking against his tongue, pulling away with a bite of his lower lip. She moaned and writhed against him. His big, strong hands held her hips, his fingers pressing into the soft flesh. Her own hand slipped into her underwear to give herself a much-needed release.
She’d enjoyed many an orgasm over the last couple of weeks thanks to Ronan. She told herself she’d get some new material, but he was serving her so well.
Ringing pulled her out of the moment. She glanced at the phone. Mom. Ugh.
She was hot and ready and needed to get some relief, but if she didn’t answer, her mom would just call back until she did. The woman didn’t believe in leaving a message or sending a simple text.
“Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
“Apparently, not you.”
Does she have a camera on me?“I worked last night. I have to go into work soon, so I was taking a nap.” One that was supposed to have a happy ending that you’re cheating me out of.
“How are you supposed to find a better job if you’re sleeping all day?”
“I’m not looking for a different job right now. I like working at the Black Rose. It suits me. I enjoy it far better than I ever did working in an office.”
“But what kind of career is that? And what about starting a family? You can’t very well work at a bar while raising children.”
Chloe laughed. “I’m nowhere near a position to think about children. Sorry to fail you again. Chalk it up as yet another disappointment.” She sat up, giving up on the orgasm she thought she’d be giving herself.
Her mother heaved a sigh. “You are not a disappointment. I worry about you.”
Chloe clenched her jaw. They’d had this exact conversation so many times, she knew how it played out. “I’m happy with my life, Mom.”
She could almost hear her mother’s head shake in disbelief.
“I was calling because I saw Mrs. Nelson today. You remember her son, Lance, don’t you?”
Oh, God. She was not up for fighting her mother’s matchmaking. Did she know this guy? She scanned her memory. She wasn’t even sure she knew who Mrs. Nelson was.
“They live over on Orchard. He was a little gangly as a teen. Red hair.”
Recognition suddenly hit. “You mean Pizza Face?”
“Chloe Marie. I taught you better than to talk about people like that.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just what everyone called him growing up. I’m sure he grew into a fine young man.” She had to hold in the snicker at the use of her mom’s words.
“He is a lovely man. A podiatrist. A doctor.”
“I know what a podiatrist is. I don’t need an explanation.”
“That makes him stable. Regular hours. He goes to church every week.”
“If he’s so fabulous, why is he still single?” Lord knew in her mother’s mind you were only single in your thirties if there was something wrong with you. Chloe being her prime example.
“He’s recently divorced.” Her mother’s voice dropped to a near-whisper.
Chloe didn’t know what to attack first, but she went the safe route. “I don’t want to be some guy’s rebound relationship. Those never work out.”
“It would be good for you, even if he’s not your soulmate. He’s the kind of man who can take care of you, who’s kind and gentle.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“You haven’t had a serious relationship since Tim.”
How many times had she tried to explain? She couldn’t just come out and say Tim had been abusive, because although he was, he’d never hit her and that’s what her mother would want to know. It would just be another instance of her overreacting. Not knowing a good thing when she had it. “We just weren’t meant to be.”
“But it gets lonely. Even for you.”
Her words stung because they were true. She thought back to Ronan. He wasn’t a bad guy, wasn’t really good, either. He would never be kind or gentle. It wasn’t in his nature. And that was exactly what had always drawn her to him, even though for the last fifteen years he’d barely acknowledged her existence.
Until the block party.
She shoved out of bed. “I have to get ready for work.”
“What’s there to do to get ready for a bar?”
Chloe ignored the jab. She’d gotten good at that. She’d thought things would be different this time because her dad had gotten her the job with Mr. Byrne. She liked working there. “I know you think working at a bar is beneath me and I should shoot for something higher, but I enjoy my job. And I’m good at it.” Why can’t you just be happy for me? For once.
“If you have coffee with Lance, I promise not to mention your job again.”
“For how long?”
“As long as I can.”
Ooo...she must be desperate to offer that up.Even though Chloe knew it was too good to be true, she agreed. It was only coffee after all. Nothing could happen on one simple coffee date. She told her mom to tell Lance to stop by the Black Rose. Mom reluctantly agreed even though that was not a place for a proper date.
Maybe the guy wouldn’t even show. Then again, maybe he would and they might have a nice time. It would make her mother happy with her for a change.
The problem with that was she never really enjoyed a nice time.