Strangers with Benefits (Siren Publishing Classic) (29 page)

And now he was little more than an invalid and he couldn’t please her in the way he had grown accustomed.

The way that she had grown accustomed to him.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Sidonie faced Den’s knees in his bed and all that she could think was that she wanted more.

More.

Please lord, more.

Even though she knew he was exhausted.

Even though she knew that he had fought for his life just a few days before.

None of it mattered.

Nothing mattered.

Even as her cunt quivered and shivered and she giggled, Sidonie still wanted more.

The phone rang and she slid away from Den’s parted muscular thighs. “Hello?” she chirped into the open line.

“Hi, Sidonie. It’s John McTavish.”

“Hey! How are the kids doing?”

“They are doing wonderful. We just finished homework not too long ago and I’m serving dinner in a minute. I know that Dennis is home so I thought I’d check on you guys.”

“He’s doing great and I’m about to feed him dinner now, too.” It wasn’t a total lie, after all he had just snacked on her cunt moments before.

And she would get up to start a meal for him. “What time will you be ready to come back?”

“Oh, I have no idea. I guess that depends on you, dear.”

“Um, well I can be done in an hour depending. Did you want me to meet you then or do you want to wait?”

That would make the time about five thirty, give or take, but that was better than nothing.

“You want to talk to Den?”

“Nah. We’ll be there soon enough.”

“All right then, see you in a bit.”

When all was said and done, she had no idea what she was doing. She had practically renovated her life to make a place for Den in it and she wasn’t even certain if they were going anywhere. But there was something between them that wouldn’t let her walk away.

“So you and Mom, huh?” He grinned and she shook her head.

“What?”

“She likes you.”

“I like them, too. You have awesome parents.”

“I know I do.” He winked.

“I’m going to make dinner right fast and then go get your folks. Is there something you want in particular?”

“No. I’ll eat whatever.”

Sidonie stood up and walked into the kitchen. She was still naked, but the man had seen so much of her, he might as well call himself her gynecologist.

Since she was short on time, she made a simple meal of spaghetti and garlic bread she didn’t even have time to eat.

When she left Den, she wondered what she would do with the space she’d created for him, a little Den shaped hole in her heart. It was a place that no other could fill and she had a feeling she would never look at life the same when he was no longer in hers.

Once she was back at her place, she could smell the yummy Asian spices from the hallway and wondered how Mrs. McTavish had done it. Sidonie loved Asian food, but had none of the skill needed to cook it, nor did she carry any of the spices.

“Hey, you guys!” Sidonie called out as she slid her shoes off and carried them with her in one hand.

“Hey, Mom!” Katie and Mark called out in unison.

When she came around the corner, she saw everyone was at the dinner table. Although, it looked like the food was finished, and the occupants remained there for a conversation. It looked the same way as it did when she was home and that made her happy, oddly enough.

The kids jumped up and grabbed her for a big hug. “Dinner smells awesome. What did y’all eat?”

“Lumpia and pancit!” Katie chimed in.

“It was awesome, Mom. I want you to make it for us.”

“I’ll have to ask Mrs. McTavish about that.”

Mrs. McTavish nodded. “I can do that. It’s not that hard.”

“I hope not, because I know nothing about cooking Asian food.”

“Yeah well, I didn’t either and she taught me when I couldn’t boil water.” Mr. McTavish offered. Sidonie smiled and shook her head.

“So how was your day?” she asked the table.

She got a varying degree of responses from the kids, all of which meant awesome. The McTavish’s grinned as if they had the best time in their lives.

“I had a great time.” Mrs. McTavish chuckled. “They didn’t give me a single problem.”

“Really? Hmmm… I’ll have to check their rooms for pods.”

Mr. McTavish laughed heartily and wiped his eyes. “I know that feeling.”

“Stop it! They were perfect, unlike a teenage boy we used to have. Remember the time Dennis got the tractor stuck in the fence because he was trying to do doughnuts in the field?”

Mr. McTavish laughed until he cried. “Heck yeah. Took me four hours to get it out of the mud.”

Sidonie chuckled. “He sounds like a handful.”

“That’s ’cause he was, dear.”

When all was said and done, she changed into some casual clothing and followed the McTavish’s back to Den’s. She didn’t get out of the car, even though she clamored for the sight of him, for some reason, and she had just left.

Once she was at home, she wondered what she was going to do with herself.

The next morning, she woke up and decided to take the kids out for breakfast that morning, and then an afternoon at the beach. Or rather, a second breakfast as her son had stuffed his face with a bowl of cereal within moments of waking.

When everyone was dressed her phone rang. Sidonie looked at the display and smiled. It was Den. Her heart gave an odd flutter that she tried to tamp back as her children looked at her eagerly.

“Is it Grandma McTavish?” Katie asked. Sidonie was shocked that her daughter had taken to the other woman so quickly.

Sidonie shook her head and answered the phone. “Hey. How are you feeling?”

“All right, but I wish you would make me some waffles.”

“Well, I’m not making any waffles today. We’re headed out.”

“Where to?”

“The Old Country Store.”

“I’m jealous.”

She had no idea why she said it. “If you want, you can come with us.”

She was surprised when he agreed. “Yeah.”

“If you want, you can ask your parents to come, too.”

“They would love to.”

“Do you want me to come and get you?”

“Nah. I’ll let dad drive us.”

No sooner than she ended the call, the KatieMark inquisition began.

“Is he going to come with us?”

“Do we have to wait? I’m hungry,” her son added for good measure.

“No. They will meet us there. And no, Mark, we’re leaving now.”

By the time they made it to the country store and diner, she saw Den’s truck pull in next to SUV. Mr. McTavish climbed out of the front and helped Den get out as Mrs. McTavish watched.

They were all smiles and Katie bounced eagerly at the sight of Den.

It was funny, but Sidonie wanted to have the exact same reaction.

Den hobbled slightly and she knew his hip likely bothered him. But he looked good. His hair was not combed to its usual perfection, but a tangle of curls that haloed him. It wasn’t much longer than he usually kept it, but the extra inch made a big difference.

He wore his usual tee and jeans, both worn to perfection and clung to his leaner frame lovingly.

Damn, he looked good enough to eat.

She walked over and gave him a stingy hug that was in deference to her children.

“Hey.”

“Hey back.”

He winked. “So these are your kids, huh?”

“Yep. These are my babies.” She looked at them, proud at the sight of them. They looked good and it made her happy to know she had been granted them as a gift from God. “Katie and Mark, this is Dennis McTavish. Den, these are my children, Katie and Mark.”

He shook their eager hands, and she watched as Mark took stock of the other man.

It was odd, knowing her children were old enough to understand there was more to the situation than she said. When her children were younger, before she and Charles divorced, she didn’t ever think about when she would resume dating. There was too little time for it in the beginning and after the wounds left by her divorce were healed, she didn’t find any man interesting enough to bother with trying for more.

She had a few dates, if lunch with interested parties could be called dating. Most of them were not interested after finding out she had children and the few that made it past that were not for her.

Not that they were bad men, just not for her.

So she hadn’t really made time to seek anything more. But with Den, she wanted it all. Was it even possible? For some reason, with him, anything seemed possible, within reach.

Den didn’t do anything inappropriate, didn’t even stare too long at her, but somehow she was just as aware of him as she was when they were naked. At the thought of naked, Sidonie felt her nipples jut into the minimizer and she was grateful to have on the padded bra for once.

Somehow, he knew. She could see it just as clearly as she knew her own name.

When they took a large gathering table at the back of the dining room, she took a chair across from Den’s mom. Den sat down next to her and grinned as he looked over the menu.

Their table began to fill with pockets of chatter.

“That country fried steak sounds nice,” Mr. McTavish said as he pulled out a pair of reading glasses.

“I think I want the French toast,” Katie chimed in.

“I want the farmer’s breakfast.”

On and on it went.

She had to admit, she was so aware of Den she couldn’t even read the menu. She didn’t know what she was going to eat as the waitress asked for drink requests.

Katie looked over at Den. “So you got hurt at work?”

“Pretty much.”

“What happened?”

Den chuckled. “I don’t know if your mom would like me to tell you the whole story or not.”

“Mom?” Katie asked.

“Well, how about we talk about that when we finish eating?”

Katie shrugged. “Okay. But it’s not like I don’t have access to the internet.”

Sidonie shook her head. “That’s why I said after breakfast.”

By the time the ordered their food, her belly was ready to rumble and the drink only made the hunger worse.

When they placed their orders, Sidonie felt annoyed as she watched the waitress eagerly hover over the table.

Her irritation must have been visible enough that Den must have noticed as he clasped his good hand on her thigh.

Instead of annoyance at the peppy girl by the table, she was annoyed at Den for being so attractive. Why did he have to look so dang good anyway? She relaxed after she smelled the delectable food laid out before her.

Everyone dug in and the table was silent save the delighted sounds that came from everyone’s lips.

As they finished, her daughter groaned. “Mom, that hit the spot for sure.”

“Me, too.” Mark grinned delightedly and rubbed his flat belly.

Den nodded.

“Do you want separate checks?”

“No, one is fine.” Den chimed in before Sidonie could get a word out.

When the check was folded and laid on the table, Den grabbed it as his dad stretched a hand out. “Son, let me get that.”

“Next time, Dad.”

“With you, son, there never is a next time.”

She knew that feeling well when it came to him.

As everyone wandered around the general store and laughed at odds and ends, Sidonie and Den strolled over to the register. She pulled out her card, but Den nodded. “I’ve got this.”

“I know, but I wanted to at least pay for the kids.”

“Sidonie, do you really think I am going to stand here and let you pay for your kids? I know you’re a package deal. I don’t expect that feeding them is cheap, but I don’t think I’ll go bankrupt today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today.”

She chuckled. “Fine then, have it your way.”

“I am, thank you very much.”

Mrs. McTavish decided she wanted a necklace and earring set with shells before they left and Den held the door open for everyone when they exited. When they were all outside, Den took her hand in his.

“Thank you for letting us butt into your plans.”

“It was no problem. Katie likes your mom for sure.”

“Yeah, mom has always wanted a grandkid to spoil. She thinks I haven’t worked hard enough on that yet.”

“Really? And what did you have to say to that?”

“I told her I’ve been practicing with you.” He winked and Sidonie chuckled.

“You better not have.” She hissed and popped him in the good arm.

“You’re violent. But I like it.”

Sidonie rolled her eyes. “Ugh, you make me sick.”