|
December 27
Velvet
“Velvet, thank you so much for coming today. I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”
I meet the gaze of Gladys Harper, one of Nash’s and my neighbours. She invited us over today to help welcome our newest neighbour, Sue, into the neighbourhood. Gladys is eighty-one. She’s very proper. She’s also lovely and kind, and I worry about her getting older and living on her own with no family to check in on her. I said yes to coming over mostly so I could see her. I know she spent Christmas alone after declining my invitation to join us for dinner, and I just hate knowing she was by herself. She does seem okay today, though, so that’s good.
I smile. “I am, Gladys.”
“Oh, good, dear. I’m very glad to hear that.” She glances across her living room to where my husband is talking to Celia and Mark, the young couple who lives two doors down from us. “Nash appears to be enjoying himself too.”
Nash didn’t want to come today. He gave me some longwinded story about wanting to go and look at possible birthday presents for Zeke who is turning seven next month. I promised him that we’d come, chat for a bit, check on Gladys, and then leave. We’d be quick. I hadn’t realised that Gladys was going to fill her home with so many people and go all out with the entertaining. Where I imagined a cup of tea and maybe a piece of cake, Gladys has platters and platters of food, and it’s clear that she’s hoping everyone will stay for an extended amount of time.
I pull my gaze from Nash and meet Gladys’s smile again. “He does look like he’s having a good time. Thank you for having us over today.”
She pats my arm. “Of course, dear. It is my pleasure. Sue has been quite lonely since moving to Brisbane. I’m hopeful she’ll begin to make some new friends today.”
One of the things I adore about living on the street we do are the older people who live here. Out of the twelve neighbours Nash and I know, five of them are over the age of eighty. We’ve lived here for seven years and during that time have gotten to know these people well. They’ve taught me so much about how to live just by living the way they do.
Just like Gladys, they all make time for people. They give up hours of their lives, happily, to have long conversations. To ask, really ask, how people are. They follow through when they say they’ll do something for you. They follow through when they say, “We must get together soon.” They remember when they tell you, “I’ve got a book that you’d love. I’ll bring it over.” They pay attention to all the tiny things in life and about people, and they never rush through the moments that end up becoming the memories of a life well lived.
I want to live like them and having them in my life has helped me do that.
“I spoke with Sue earlier and she mentioned that she does embroidery. It’s something I’ve wanted to learn for a while, so I’ve asked her to teach me,” I say.
This information causes Gladys’s face to light up with happiness. “That is wonderful, Velvet. I know she’ll love that time with you.” Something catches her eye behind me. “Oh, I have to go and check on the food, dear.”
I let her go and take a sip of my tea. As I glance around the room, I’m assaulted by the vision of Celia giving Nash an eyeful of her breasts. Her partner has left them alone and she’s doing what she does best: making a move on my man.
Celia and Mark moved in about six months ago and she zeroed in on Nash straight away. After all these months of watching her do everything she can to get his attention, and Mark turning a blind eye, I’ve decided they must be in an open relationship. I’m not usually jealous or possessive when it comes to Nash, but I’ve finally met a woman who brings that out in me.
Over the past six months, I’ve managed to keep my feelings to myself. Nash is clueless to her agenda, which shocks the hell out of me. I mean, considering how flirty he was with women before we got together, I would have thought he’d be more than aware when a woman was flirting with him. However, he is truly oblivious to Celia’s moves. Lately, though, she’s becoming more in-your-face with it, and I lost my shit last week, ranting to Nash about hating women who do this to other women. Nash was highly amused by my outburst. The cocky bastard was turned on by my possessiveness.
Now, I watch while she leans in close, with her fucking breasts all over the place, and puts her hands all over him. If we weren’t in Gladys’s home with our neighbours, I’d march over there and tell her to fuck off and leave my man alone. Instead, I pull my phone out and send him a text.
Me: You’re mine, Nash. Tell that woman to stop flashing her boobs at you.
He says something to Celia and reaches into his jeans for his phone. He reads the text while Celia fluffs her fucking perfect blonde hair. I swear that woman must spend hours every morning fixing her hair and makeup. I hate it. Nash glances up from his phone and looks at me with a grin before tapping out a reply.
Nash: Jealousy is my favourite look on you, sweet thing.
Me: I mean it. If she keeps this up, I can’t be held accountable for anything I do.
Nash: This really is the best fuckin’ Christmas present you’ve ever given me.
Me: NASH.
Nash: If she’s flashed her tits at me, I didn’t notice. The only tits I’m ever looking at are yours.
I roll my eyes at him. Of course, he looks at other women. Just like I look at other men. I don’t expect him to never look. Except at Celia. I think he should be fucking blindfolded whenever she’s around.
He simply grins again at the roll of my eyes.
Celia takes this moment to cut in on our texting conversation and leans into Nash again and says something to him. She also puts her hand on his chest, which almost makes me forget where I am and stalk over to tell her exactly what I think of her. She then does the best thing she’s done all fucking day and leaves him.
I madly tap out another text.
Me: I hate women like her. Women who go after married men.
Nash: She’s not going after me. She’s with Mark.
Me: You are so fucking clueless. She just had her hand on you. She’s going after you.
Me: And if she ever does that again, I am going to make it so fucking clear to her that she is never to come near you again.
Me: And you better be ready to bail me out of jail in case things go that far.
Nash: Vee?
Me: What?
I finally glance up from my jealous bubble that has had me madly tapping out those texts and look at him. I immediately suck in a breath at the heat blazing from him. Oh. My.
Nash: I don’t care what the fuck excuse we give Gladys, but we are leaving right fuckin’ now so I can take you home. I need you to shove YOUR tits in my face.
Me: You go tell her. I’ll meet you outside.
I almost laugh at the grimace on his face. Nash might grumble whenever I make him come to lunches or dinners with our neighbours, but he’s the biggest softie you’ll ever meet when it comes to the older generation. Our neighbours actually have him wrapped around their little finger. He hates saying no to any of them and never does. Telling Gladys we’re cutting and running early will hurt him to have to do.
I slip outside and wait for him. He takes his sweet time and I smile at the thought of Gladys trying to make him stay. I kinda wish I could observe that conversation.
When he finally meets me on the front lawn, he says, “You fuckin’ owe me for that.”
My lips quirk. “What did you have to promise to get out of here?”
He takes hold of my hand and leads us to our place. I love the urgency I sense in him. Nash’s desire for me only seems to grow stronger with each passing year. “I have to go with her to her church book club tomorrow and fix a leaking tap in the building.”
I laugh because we both know what that really means. Nash will be sitting through that book club meeting.
He gives me a look that says he doesn’t find this very fucking funny. But there’s so much heat in that look too. I know this man would do anything to be with me, even if there was no sex involved.
“I love you, Nash.”
He doesn’t slow down. “I love you too, sweet thing.”
I take hold of his arm and stop him. “No, I mean it. I love you like I love no one else.”
We’re halfway to our place and I know from his body language and the look on this face that he just wants to get me home. However, if there’s one thing my husband always gives me, it’s his full attention. Nash listens when I speak. Really listens. Even when we’re in the middle of a full-blown argument, he does his best to hear what I’m telling him. “I know you do.”
“I’m sorry that I hate that woman and take it out on you.”
More heat works its way into his eyes. “You know I’m good with that.”
“I’m not, though. I don’t like those feelings that I can’t control.”
“I’ve thought about what you said and while I never realise it at the time, I can see what you’re seeing in Celia. I’m going to tell her it’s not on.”
I stare up into his beautiful eyes while every bit of tension eases from my body. “Thank you.” I don’t think I knew just how tense I’ve been over this woman. Nash may be turned on by my jealousy, but I’m affected badly by it. I hope to never feel it this strongly ever again.
His arm comes around my waist and he pulls me in close. Cupping my cheek, he bends his face to mine and kisses me. His touch wakes my body right up and I press myself harder against him as our kiss deepens and becomes almost desperate.
“Fuck,” Nash rasps when he drags his lips from mine. “I know you’re in the middle of telling me important shit, but baby, I fuckin’ need to be inside you. Can we finish this conversation later?”
This man.
I will love him for eternity.
I give him a sexy smile. “Do you know I’m not wearing any panties today?”
“Fuckin’ hell,” he growls. He then takes my hand firmly in his. As he drags me home, he says, “The next fuckin’ time Gladys invites us over, I’m not going.”
I tighten my fingers in his. “Yeah, baby, I know.”
He looks down at me and everything in his eyes tells me we both know he’s full of shit. Nash Walker would give me the world if I asked for it.
|
