called her mom, hoping she’d be free. When her mother invited her to dinner, relief washed through her. There were things of a sexual nature she wanted to know but had never been interested enough to ask about before. Sure, Tasha had felt something toward Burke growing up, but she figured it was because he was that unattainable boy. Girls always wanted what they couldn’t have.
As she exited town, she headed south to her parents’ home. All during the drive, she tried to figure out how to ask her mom about what it had been like when she and Dad first met. Had there been this strange, pussy clenching reaction when Dad came near?
No. She couldn’t ask that . In fact, the idea of her parents having sexual urges didn’t sit well with her. Like any good mother, Mom had given Tasha the standard talk about how when she found her mate she’d know it was him. It was the how part of it that was the big question. She wondered if she’d know by his smell or by the way her body reacted when she was around him. She needed details. Her biggest fear was if the female thought she’d found her mate, but the object of her affection wasn’t interested. It wouldn’t be as simple as the two just knowing they were destined for each other.
After listing her questions, Tasha wasn’t sure she even wanted to hear her mom’s response. If her dad happened to be near, she’d have to table the discussion for another time. Sure enough, when Tasha pulled into the driveway, her father’s truck sat in front. So much for learning the secrets of the universe tonight.
* * *
The rest of the week seemed to go slower than a long winter. Tasha would often find herself looking out the library window at the new construction, searching for Burke since he’d said he wanted to get a job. She had spoken to him briefly at Tom’s funeral, but he hadn’t mentioned looking for a job, or if he planned to see her before returning home.
She’d just entered the library break room when her cell buzzed. She fumbled in her pocket for her phone hoping it was Burke calling. When she spotted Emmaline’s name, Tasha pushed aside her disappointment. He wasn’t the kind to call anyway. Hell, he probably didn’t even know her cell number. Either of his parents could have found it out easily enough, but Burke wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of asking.
“Hey, girl,” Tasha said.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been available sooner, but I want to hear what happened Saturday night. Want to get a drink at the Cove after work tonight?”
“Yes! What time?”
“I can be there at five.”
“Fantastic. I’ll meet you there.”
Buoyed by their get together, Tasha headed back to the spot where she read to the kids to locate the book she wanted to share with them. Out of habit, she glanced outside and had to blink twice to make sure she was seeing clearly. Holy shit. Burke was there—shirtless—wearing a yellow hard hat, low-slung jeans, and a tool belt. Her mouth drooled. She had no idea he’d landed the job. It was possible he’d been there all week and she’d missed him, but she doubted it as she’d checked too many times.
Not wanting him to spot her gawking, she stepped to the side despite believing he couldn’t see her through the tinted windows. Just as she was about to return to work, Dee Dee Duncan waltzed onto the construction site wearing an oversized hard hat. She handed Burke a tall cup of something—probably a Coke since it was his favorite drink—at least it had been in high school. He gulped down some of the contents and then smiled.
Tasha clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, every possessive cell in her body reacting. She knew the kind of man Burke was. He was the love ’em and leave ’em type. He’d dated Dee Dee Duncan in high school, but their relationship hadn’t lasted long. As soon as basketball season was over, she moved on to the baseball team, but Tasha had always wondered if Burke still pined for her.
As she exited town, she headed south to her parents’ home. All during the drive, she tried to figure out how to ask her mom about what it had been like when she and Dad first met. Had there been this strange, pussy clenching reaction when Dad came near?
No. She couldn’t ask that . In fact, the idea of her parents having sexual urges didn’t sit well with her. Like any good mother, Mom had given Tasha the standard talk about how when she found her mate she’d know it was him. It was the how part of it that was the big question. She wondered if she’d know by his smell or by the way her body reacted when she was around him. She needed details. Her biggest fear was if the female thought she’d found her mate, but the object of her affection wasn’t interested. It wouldn’t be as simple as the two just knowing they were destined for each other.
After listing her questions, Tasha wasn’t sure she even wanted to hear her mom’s response. If her dad happened to be near, she’d have to table the discussion for another time. Sure enough, when Tasha pulled into the driveway, her father’s truck sat in front. So much for learning the secrets of the universe tonight.
* * *
The rest of the week seemed to go slower than a long winter. Tasha would often find herself looking out the library window at the new construction, searching for Burke since he’d said he wanted to get a job. She had spoken to him briefly at Tom’s funeral, but he hadn’t mentioned looking for a job, or if he planned to see her before returning home.
She’d just entered the library break room when her cell buzzed. She fumbled in her pocket for her phone hoping it was Burke calling. When she spotted Emmaline’s name, Tasha pushed aside her disappointment. He wasn’t the kind to call anyway. Hell, he probably didn’t even know her cell number. Either of his parents could have found it out easily enough, but Burke wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of asking.
“Hey, girl,” Tasha said.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been available sooner, but I want to hear what happened Saturday night. Want to get a drink at the Cove after work tonight?”
“Yes! What time?”
“I can be there at five.”
“Fantastic. I’ll meet you there.”
Buoyed by their get together, Tasha headed back to the spot where she read to the kids to locate the book she wanted to share with them. Out of habit, she glanced outside and had to blink twice to make sure she was seeing clearly. Holy shit. Burke was there—shirtless—wearing a yellow hard hat, low-slung jeans, and a tool belt. Her mouth drooled. She had no idea he’d landed the job. It was possible he’d been there all week and she’d missed him, but she doubted it as she’d checked too many times.
Not wanting him to spot her gawking, she stepped to the side despite believing he couldn’t see her through the tinted windows. Just as she was about to return to work, Dee Dee Duncan waltzed onto the construction site wearing an oversized hard hat. She handed Burke a tall cup of something—probably a Coke since it was his favorite drink—at least it had been in high school. He gulped down some of the contents and then smiled.
Tasha clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, every possessive cell in her body reacting. She knew the kind of man Burke was. He was the love ’em and leave ’em type. He’d dated Dee Dee Duncan in high school, but their relationship hadn’t lasted long. As soon as basketball season was over, she moved on to the baseball team, but Tasha had always wondered if Burke still pined for her.
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