Someone Like You (7 page)

“Not in school.”

Nick leaned back against a desk and crossed his feet at the ankles. “It wasn’t much, anyway. I’m free last period of the day when Matt gets out to do his community service.”

“You’re also letting him miss weight training twice a week.”

“Gotta live by what I said at the faculty meeting. Besides, he’ll be back for practice.”

She walked toward to him. Today she’d donned a paisley dress and strappy shoes with him in mind. “Don’t diminish what you’ve done.” She squeezed his arm. “Was it hard, seeing the boy with Down’s Syndrome?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Some. But after a while I just had fun with the little guy. He plays like normal kids and once we got him cheered up, he had a ball.”  Nick shook his head, his jaw tense. “What a damned shame.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“How ‘bout making it up to me tonight after practice?”

She gave him a sideways glance. She wanted to see him, very much. They were trying to take it slow, but hell, Annie advised her to go with her gut, so she would. “You could come over afterwards. The three of us can have dinner together.”

“You’re on, babe.” He brushed his knuckles down her cheek, his soft touch making all her shiver. “Think about me.”

You don’t have to worry about that
,
Coach,
Brie thought as he walked out the door.

o0o

Heading down the corridor, Nick took a quick left before he reached the gym and stuck his head in the principal’s office. Dylan’s secretary, Sheryl, greeted him. “Hi, Coach. Great game Friday night.”

Her son played on the team. “Joey made a critical catch in the fourth quarter.” He nodded to Dylan’s office. The door was open. “Don’t suppose the big guy has a minute to see me.”

Dylan called out, “I do. Come on in.”

Inside the office, Nick noticed that the space hadn’t changed much. He’d heard Dylan refused new furniture and other redecoration. Now, he sat behind John Skelly’s desk, suit coat and tie off, talking on the phone. “I will. Yeah. Uh-huh. Um,” he rolled his eyes at Nick, “Me, too. Yes! Someone’s here.” When he clicked off, there was an amused expression on his face.

“That your bride?”

“Yep.”

“You coulda said ‘I love you’ in front of me. I’m a sensitive kind of guy.”

“Not what your players say.”

Since Nick knew it was the opposite, he went along. “Well, that’s a different story.”

“What can I do for you?”

Dropping down into a chair, Nick said what had been in the back of his mind since he left the shelter. “I took Matt Keller to his first service project meeting today.”

“That’s great. And thanks for your comments at the faculty meeting, by the way. Despite what Speranza said, one of my goals is to get as many staff as I can in on this work.”

“Then that makes this easy. I’m free last period when Matt does his volunteering. Since the kids can go on their off time, I was wondering if I could, too.”

“Go with Matt to the shelter?”

“Yeah, sort of. I’d like to do my own volunteering there. Twice a week. During football season, my assistant coach can run the weight room on those two days. There’d be the added bonus that I could take Matt for some of his hours. He needs adult male companionship.”

“Would you be encroaching on his volunteer work?”

“No, I talked to the director before I left. I could tutor this one little boy.”

“What about when he leaves? There’s a limit to a woman’s stay at the place.”

“Then I’ll help out somewhere else. I think Matt going there is great, but these sheltered kids need to have an adult man treat them good, too. Especially somebody as big as me.”

Dylan’s face lit up. “You have my stamp of approval to leave school and then some.”

“Thanks.”

“No, thank you.”

Nick stood. “One more thing…don’t tell anybody about this.”

“Afraid the teachers’ union will get after you?”

“Nah, I’m my own man. But I don’t want to, you know, hell no need to spread this around that I’m doing something…” He shrugged.

Dylan filled in, “So good?”

“Maybe.”

“Okay, sure.”  Dylan cocked his head. “You’re a nice guy, Nick Corelli.”

“It shouldn’t be just our
kids
helping out, Dylan. See you later.”

As happy as Matt, Nick headed to the gym.

o0o

Cella had gone to bed and Brie stood in the doorway watching Nick in the kitchen where he’d offered to clean up so she could read her daughter a story. Hands sudsy, he glanced over at her. “She settled?”

“Yes, finally.”

He gave her a once over. “You look mighty fine in those levis, Miz Gorman.”

Her own perusal was intentionally sexy. “You too, Coach. In jeans and a thermal shirt.”

“Come on over here and show me how good I look. My hands are wet so I can’t put them on you.”

Brie felt young, foolish, and since she liked it, she did as he asked. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pressed her body into his. His muscles contracted and he moaned. “You’re killin’ me, babe,” he said again, as he had the other night.

“Hmm.” She kissed his spine.

“I like how your hands feel on me. I’d like it even more if they went a little lower.”

“Not when Cella could come in at any moment.”

He stilled, then in a move worthy of the athlete he was, he pivoted fast, grabbed her arms and backed her up. Right into the laundry room, where he slid the pocket door shut. She was giggling even as he hiked her up on the washing machine. “Nick, what are you…”

He took her mouth. Once again, there was no gentleness. No teasing. He bit her lip, soothed it with his tongue and then plunged inside. Brie felt her breasts tighten and her body go liquid. He left her mouth and kissed his way to her neck. “This is my favorite spot on you…so far.” 

Her head tilted back for easier access.

“Spread your legs, darlin’.”

She did and he slid her forward into intimate contact with him. His erection was hard and heavy against her. Without her conscious consent, she ground into him.

After a few moments of heaven, he stepped back. His face was flushed, his blue eyes shining with desire. “We gotta stop.”

“Now?”

“You, Gabrielle, are a tease.”  He nipped at her lips then stared hard at her. “Friday night, right, Cella won’t be here?”

“Yes.” 

“Good. I need more of you.”

“I need more of you, too.”

So much for slow
, she thought.

Chapter 6

“I’m going to lose my job,” Nick grumbled as he dragged the ladder he found on the side lawn and propped it up against the back of the house. “I’ll get arrested as a peeping tom, I won’t be able to work with kids and I’ll lose my pension.”

“Poor baby,” Brie said. “Why don’t you let me do it? This was my idea after all.”

After Brie took Cella to Lisa’s, Nick had invited her over to his home. And he had gifts--a bottle of a wine she liked, pretty pink carnations he’d noticed she put in the back area of her room and another present, for them both, wrapped up in a bag. She’d been nervous, so he suggested they dress warmly and walk down the beach.

He hadn’t thought much about ending up at Lisa Markham’s house. As soon as they reached it, Brie said, “You think Cella’s all right?”

“Want to stand here and see if she passes the window? I’ve been in that house and we’re lookin’ straight into the family room.”

He’d been joking, but she’d said, “Could we?”

It was then he realized how worried she was. A mother’s worry. His own mama still hovered and had told him the feelings of concern never went away. Plus, Brie had had serious loss in her life.

After a while of no sightings, he’d said, “Oh, hell,” took her hand and pulled her up the slope from the lake to the house.

“Nick, we don’t have to do this.” But he could tell she wanted to.

That’s how they’d landed in the Markham’s backyard. “It’s the damned ladder I’m worried about. Come here, lady, and hold onto it.” She crossed to where he’d leaned the thing against the house.

Before he went up, he kissed her hard. “You’re gonna owe me big-time for this.”

She smiled. He hoped she realized that despite his kidding all week, he would never pressure her into doing what she wasn’t ready for tonight. Nonetheless, he was dying to get her in his bed.

Silently, he climbed the ladder. He reached the top and peered into the window. Music was up loud and Cella sat on the floor with group of dolls spread around her. Lisa was pretending to
be
each doll that talked to Cella. Brie’s daughter was holding a conversation with them and seemed totally engrossed.

“All’s well,” he whispered and told her the gist of it. “She’s fine without her mama.”

“That’s good. Now be careful coming down.”

He made it past three rungs when he felt one give way. “Goddamn it,” he said as the ladder swayed.

Brie held on and he made quick work of the next few rungs. Then another broke and Nick toppled into the bushes. Luckily, the ladder fell back against the house.

“Oh, God, Nick, are you okay?”

“I guess we know why the ladder was lyin’ on the ground. They were throwing it away.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“You should be.”

“Are you hurt?”

He crawled his way out of evergreens. “My dignity is in shambles. And we made a ruckus. But Lisa had music on so they probably didn’t hear us.”

When he stood, he felt a twinge in his shoulder. “I’m going to need a backrub, though,” he said massaging it.

“You’re a shameless opportunist.”

They dragged the ladder around the house, left it on the ground then climbed the slope of the side lawn to the front. They were almost home free when the outside lights flicked on, the door popped open and Jack Markham called out, “Who’s there?”

o0o

Nick buried his face in the pillow on his king-size bed and moaned. A sinful scent permeated the air.

“Pretty sure of yourself to buy massage oil,” Brie quipped.

“No, darlin’, just hopeful.”

She poured a dab on his back and its warmth—the bottle suggested heating—felt like heaven. It was even better when she spread the liquid across his shoulders. His mind blanked as she began to rub. Soft…a little harder…hard now. He groaned like a person in pain as the oil and her hands tended to him.

“Sorry you hurt your shoulder. It was stupid to check on Cella.”

“It wasn’t stupid, Brie. Moms are entitled.”

“Thanks for going along with me, even though we both embarrassed the hell out of ourselves.”

“Nah, Jack Markham thought it was funny. And he said he wouldn’t tell Cella…oh God, right there…so no harm no foul.”

She worked her way down his back, seeking out muscles, using her fingers on his deltoids, the heel of her hand down his spine. When she reached his waist, he murmured, “You’re getting off sides, lady.”

“I have no idea what that means.”

And holy, Jesus ever-loving Christ, she began to knead his butt. Nobody ever kneaded his butt before, not even a masseuse. Her bare thighs contracted against him—he’d stripped and insisted she get down to her skivvies, too. “God, Brie.”

Her laugh was female and sexy as she moved lower to
his
thighs and rubbed there, too. On the top, the outside. When her hands moved almost into the end zone, he barked, “That’s it.” He couldn’t stand any more of her touching him and not having her, so he lifted up his head and torso. “Slip off, honey.”

After a giggle, she did and lay next to him on the pillow. He moved over her and braced his arms on either side of her shoulders. He was hard as granite, but he’d make this good for her if it killed him.

Smiling down, he whispered, “I’m going to go real slow. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.” She nipped at his chin. “And Nick?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t go slow. You weren’t the only one affected by the massage.”

“Hmm. Let’s see.”

He slid her panties down, off and then he touched her intimately. Opened her and found her wet. Really wet. “Oh baby, you
are
ready.”

Her moan interrupted him. “No, don’t do more. I’ll come. And I want you inside me this first time.”

“Let’s take off the bra--”

“Nick, shut up and just do it!”

Chuckling at her impatience, he plunged into her, missionary position which wasn’t his favorite because it wasn’t as pleasurable for women.

Didn’t seem to bother Brie at all, though, because she came after a couple of thrusts. “Yes, Nick, yes.” Her hands gripped his arms like a lifeline. “Oh God!”

Those were the last words he heard, the last thing was conscious of, before he rode with her into oblivion.

o0o

“The massage oil is for backs, Nick.”

At the moment, he was rubbing the filmy liquid into her breasts and taking his time doing it. The sexy scent permeated Nick’s bedroom, even up to the cathedral ceiling. Brie loved this huge space with a sitting room and bath attached even more now than when he’d first carried her into it.

“You used oil on my butt, honey.”

“Ohhhhh…” She lifted up for more pressure, he guessed. He gave it to her.

Though she’d come in a blinding flash of pleasure, she felt the twinges of excitement start again and her hands fisted in the striped quilt.

He bent over and suckled her breast. “Hmm.”

“Nick, I--”

“Shh. I’m losing my concentration.”

So was she. “I want to tell you something.”

Moving to her other breast, he chided, “Then, hurry up, because the fire’s been stoked.”

“I…Oh, wow, oh…”

“Come on, spit it out, Gabrielle.” 

“This is the first time…for me…since Jared.”

He stopped cold. “Jesus, Brie, he died five years ago.”

“I know. There wasn’t anybody…I don’t know, I…”

“Shh, no need to explain. I’m just surprised.” He kissed her with the outmost of tenderness. “And happy that you chose me.”

She smiled at the light in his eyes, the pleasure on his face.

Nick cocked his head. “Hmm. Must be you haven’t felt
this
in a while either.”  He began to kiss his way down her chest, over her belly, to her thighs, which he gently spread apart. “Let’s take care of that.”