Internal Fixation - Tawdra Kandle Page 0,73

goats in their pen and come on around to the kitchen.”

“Be right there,” I answered my grandmother. Standing up, I shook out my tingling foot and offered Emma a hand to help her to her feet. She took it but let go as soon as she was upright. Her lips were pressed together, and her eyes didn’t meet mine as we walked the goats into their enclosure.

“Emma, I’m not going to make this uncomfortable for you. I’ll be your friend, your colleague, and I won’t say or do anything that might pressure you. But it’s not me you have to worry about, anyway.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean?”

“In the end, it’s your own heart—and definitely your body—you can’t trust, because like it or not, no matter who you’re with, there’s always going to be something between you and me. This—us—” I brushed a single finger down the side of her face. “It’s not over. I’m not sure it ever will be.” I bent to fasten the latch on the goat pen gate and then smiled at Emma.

“Come on. Let’s go have lunch.”

14

Emma

“Okay, babe. Your choice tonight is Thor:Ragnorak or Guardians of the Galaxy: II. What’ll it be?”

“Hmmm.” I tapped one finger on my pursed lips. “Decisions, decisions. On the one hand, Chris Pratt is adorable and super funny, and I love Groot.” I sank down on the sofa and curled my legs under me. “But then there’s Thor. Chris Hemsworth is a god—I mean, literally. He is so hot.” I hummed and waggled my eyebrows, just to drive home my point.

“Chris Hemsworth? Baby, how can you be all hot and bothered about him when you have me right here?” Noah tapped his chest, glowering at me. “Why do you need to watch that Australian god-wannabe on TV when you have the legit deal at your fingertips?”

“Mmmmm, that’s so true.” I scooted down the coach toward the corner where Noah was sprawled, his knees wide and his arms draped over the back and the arm. “But that’s actually another point in Thor’s favor. Because as I watch the movie and get all worked up about him, I can snuggle up to you and live out my fantasy.”

Noah’s eyes darkened. “I like the way you think. Thor it is.” He pressed a button on my remote, and the opening strains of the MCU credits filled the air. I settled against him, my head laying on his chest and one hand resting around his waist. I felt very cherished when Noah held me like this. He was such a big guy that even though I wasn’t petite by any means—I was a respectable five foot seven, and I tended toward curves more than angles—he made me feel almost diminutive.

We’d been officially a couple for just over a month now. We’d spent almost all of our non-working time together; as Noah had pointed out, spring was flying by, and once May hit, he’d be back to training and practice, getting ready for the new season. We both wanted to be with each other as much as possible before that happened.

But so far, we hadn’t had sex. Noah hadn’t pushed, and I wasn’t necessarily in any hurry, either. It wasn’t that he didn’t turn me on—he did. More than once, I was tempted to be the one to suggest we take things to the next level, but I hadn’t—not yet.

“I don’t know how you can spend even five minutes alone with him, knowing how he feels about you and how you feel about him, and not rip off all his clothes. And then your clothes.” Jenny had closed her eyes and smiled beatifically. “And then do unspeakably dirty things to his very large, very hot body.”

“I will. Eventually,” I’d hedged. “I don’t think either of us wants to hurry into it.”

“You’ve been hanging out like you’re an old married couple for well over a year now. Even though you just started dating officially, you’ve been a couple in every way except sex, living together and arguing over money. Jump that man’s bones now, girlfriend!” Jenny had giggled and then tilted her head. “How far have you gone?”

With anyone else, I would’ve told them that was none of their damn business, but Jenny and I didn’t hold anything back. I’d been present when she and Nico had reunited—and had nearly had a front-row seat to their make-up sex, ewwww. She told me certain choice details about the fun the two of them had in the