Simple Man

  Shane opened his eyes and found Kate sitting in his kitchen wearing his Led Zeppelin shirt, creamy, bare thighs crossed delicately beneath the worn surface of the table. You’d think she was wearing a suit, considering how properly she carried herself.

  Logan sat in his pink highchair and babbled back at her as she spooned something into his mouth, scraping the spoon slowly along his chin. Logan was handling the solid food a lot better for her than he did for him.

  She continued to talk to Logan as she fed him, unaware she was being watched. Seeing her feeding him, chatting with him, did things to Shane.

  He sat up and she turned. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

  “Hey.” He smiled and stretched. Sliding off the blanket, he found his jeans and pulled them on. Strolling into the kitchen, he bent and kissed her head. She smelled like a mix between him and her. It was the best perfume in the world.

  “Hey, big man,” he said, running a hand affectionately over Logan’s head. He smiled and cooed at him. Turning back to Kate, he said, “Thanks for getting him up.”

  He went to the bathroom and cleaned himself up. When he returned Kate was sitting on the couch with Logan watching Sesame Street. Logan had a fistful of her hair and was happily tugging it. It was a nice picture.

  He grabbed a Gatorade and joined them. “What are your plans for the day?”

  She shrugged. “I’m free. How about you?”

  “I have a gig tonight, but that’s not until later.”

  They spent the morning watching television and playing with Logan. Around lunchtime, Shane put him in his swing where he quickly fell asleep. He turned and stared at Kate.

  “He’s a really good baby,” she said as she picked up rattles and placed them in a basket.

  “Yeah. He is.”

  She stood and a moment passed where they simply waited for the other to speak. He knew what he wanted to do.

  “Come here,” he said as he locked the front door.

  She smiled and followed him. He took her hand and pulled her into his bedroom. The covers were still on the couch. He shut the door and they stood in the small, dim room. He faced her and knew she understood his intentions.

  Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he ducked down, and kissed her slowly. She kissed him back and soon they were all over each other. “I love you in my shirt.”

  “I can’t believe I’m wearing what was once a diaper.”

  “Not for long.” He toppled her to the bed and removed her shirt.

  She reached for him and undid his pants. Shane kicked them off and pulled away her panties. There was something so sexy about rolling around on his bare bed with Kate completely naked.

  Their legs twined and the brush of her sex against his bare cock made them both groan. Reaching in the drawer in the bedside table, he found a condom and slipped it on. She lay beneath him, anxious and waiting. He filled her on one quick motion.

  Her legs curled around him, heels digging into his ass as he slowly fucked her. She gripped him and met each thrust. Her head tipped back as she came and once her pleasure was handled he began fucking her in earnest.

  He liked that she didn’t need it to always be gentle. His hands cupped her breasts and he sucked at the tips, pinching the other nipple with his fingers. When he came he felt as though he gave her part of his soul.

  They panted and held each other. Slipping off the condom, he dropped it in the wastepaper basket on the floor. They each lay on their backs, hands entwined, thumbs slowly gliding over the other’s fingers.

  Shane never had a girlfriend like Kate. She was a grown-up. She had a job and a house. Having her in his life made him want to be more of a man.

  He contemplated how tight his budget had become, trying to figure out ways to save some money. His mind always seemed to return to finances, even in post-fuck languor. It was hard, having a kid and being lower class. Kate was middle class.

  “Will you put this in your report?” he asked, joking.

  She laughed. “Perhaps.”

  They hung out all day, not getting fully dressed until he needed to shower and get ready to go. Kate seemed nervous when he came out of the shower. She was back in her jeans and had pulled her hair into a clip. Logan bounced happily on her knee.

  “Does the same girl always watch Logan?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Her name’s Lisa.”

  “Lisa’s Tucker’s girlfriend, right?”

  Was she nervous because he saw another woman regularly? It was nothing like that, nothing remotely close to what he and Kate had. Lisa was his babysitter. That was it. “Yeah. She’s good with Logan. He likes her.”

  She nodded quietly.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  “What? Yeah.”

  He pulled his shirt on and frowned. Something seemed to be bothering her. As he laced up his boots he watched her. She put Logan on the floor and situated him with some toys. She tidied up, straightening pillows on the couch and tucking in the kitchen chairs.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  She stopped and wrung her hands. Shane stood and walked to her, not stopping until his front was pressed to hers. He pinched her chin between his fingers and tilted up her face. Her lashes fluttered and their eyes met.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “N—nothing. I just…I’m not sure what happens now.”

  Confusion tightened his brow. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean…with us.”

  “Well, I’m going to go to work and I won’t get home until late, so you probably won’t hear from me until tomorrow morning.” Relief showed in her eyes. “Hey, what did you think this was?”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “I’m not like that, Kate, certainly not with you. I like you. I like you a lot. This wasn’t a one time thing, okay?”

  She smiled at him and nodded.

  “Can I call you tomorrow?” he asked, shyly.

  “I’d be mad if you didn’t,” she told him. He kissed her and when he pulled away she said, “I should probably go before your friends get here.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t want them to think anything.”

  “Kate, do you think they aren’t going to find out?”

  “Well…it’s just…maybe we should try to keep this to ourselves for a while, because of the situation with Logan.”

  Disappointment had his brows lowering. He understood not broadcasting it to her supervisor or the judge, but not telling his friends…that seemed a bit much. “Is that what you want?”

  “No, but I think it’s what’s best.”

  Maybe she was right—for now. “Okay.”

  They kissed goodbye and she said good night to Logan. After Shane watched her leave he got his guitars together and waited for Lisa.

  Tucker came with her tonight. As they came in, Logan smiled. Lisa scooped him up and Tucker scanned the trailer and frowned.

  “Dude, flowers? You okay?”

  Shane’s face burned. “Shut up. I’m trying to make it nice around here.”

  “Nice or gay? Why don’t you throw down some doilies while you’re at it?”

  Shane ignored him and went to say goodbye to Logan.

  The night was uneventful. He played, got paid, and thought of Kate the entire time. He wanted to do something for her. Take her somewhere nice, maybe. His budget was tight and he’d have to consider Logan, but he’d figure something out.

  * * * *

  The following morning, after he dropped Logan off at daycare, he called Kate.

  “Hey,” he said when she answered.

  “Hey.”

  “How was your night?”

  “Good. How was your gig?”

  “Okay. What are you doing today?”

  “I have a few home visits then I have to go to Lakota and swing by the office. I’m getting a new case today. I’ll have lots of paperwork to do tonight.”

  “Oh.” So she wouldn’t be able to come over. “I was t
hinking…we should do something.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know, but don’t make plans for next Saturday.”

  “My weekend’s all yours.”

  He smiled, liking the way that sounded.

  As he pulled up to the job site he said goodbye, wishing he had more time to talk to her. The sun beat through his t-shirt and the air tasted wet, but he didn’t mind. He whistled as he clocked in and his lips twitched as he tried to hide the grin that kept trying to show itself.

  Work was more tolerable than any other day. The warm and happy sensation he had that morning remained. As he worked he didn’t let mild dilemmas upset him. He was patient and even went the extra mile when a buddy of his needed a hand, not worrying about how it would affect his own objectives.

  On the drive home, he hit all green lights and the radio played only good songs. It was a perfect day, a day in which Kate kept his mind company through it all.

  * * * *

  Tuesday, he spoke to Kate briefly in the morning and she said she’d call him when she finished work. His day went fast and on the way home he continuously checked his phone. At seven o’clock, when she still hadn’t called, he tried her cell.

  “Hello, you have reached Katherine McAlister. I’m unable to take your call at the moment, but if you need immediate assistance you can contact the Children and Youth department at…”

  He hung up.

  After he put Logan to bed he called her again, but got her voicemail. It wasn’t until eight-thirty when his phone finally rang.

  “Hello?” he answered.

  “Hey.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief. “Hey. Where have you been?”

  She sounded irritable. “Working.”

  “Oh. How was your day?”

  She sighed. “All right. Long. How was yours?”

  “Mine was good. Why was your day long?”

  “This new case I have is a tough one.”

  “Can you tell me about it?”

  She hesitated. “It’s confidential. Sorry.”

  He didn’t expect that, but supposed he had to respect it. “Oh, okay. I didn’t know you’d be working this late. I thought I might have been able to see you tonight.”

  “Sorry. My weeknights are sort of busy.”

  “Oh.” He was getting an odd vibe. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m just…tired.”

  “Do you want me to let you go?”

  “Yeah, I have some paperwork I need to fill out and I have to iron my clothes for tomorrow.”

  “Ironing, what’s that?” he joked. She didn’t laugh. The smile he’d been wearing all week faded. “Okay, well, I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

  “Sure.”

  They hung up and he couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling he had. Was she pulling away from him again? Maybe she was just having a shitty day. He tried not to dwell on it, but his mind kept replaying their conversation.

  The next day he called her on his way to work and she sounded better. That night he had a gig at the Grill so he could only send her a text telling her he missed her and was thinking of her.

  By the time he got home the week must have caught up to him. He crashed as soon as he walked through the door.

  Thursday morning he was excited. Kate usually stopped by on Thursdays. Her visit was part of her job, of course, but it still meant he got to see her.

  When he got home he tidied up and gave Logan a bath. Trying his best not to make a mess, he stirred the boiling spaghetti and jarred sauce as Logan banged his spatula on the tray of his highchair. He was straining the pasta and pouring the sauce over it when he heard her pull up. Carrying the bowl to the table he went to the door.

  She was professional Kate, wearing white slacks and a black cardigan. Her shoes were black as well. She grinned when she saw him waiting at the door.

  Reaching for her bag, she shut the car door and walked up the steps. “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hi.” He kissed her, backing her into the trailer and taking his time giving her a greeting that made the waiting worthwhile. When he released her she was slightly flushed. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.” She turned. “You cooked?”

  “It’s just spaghetti and Ragu. I’m not real gifted in the kitchen.”

  She smiled. “That’s okay. You have other talents.”

  They sat and ate, talking about their workweek. Kate looked tired. It bothered him when he asked about her other clients and she hedged, giving vague answers. He knew she had to keep things confidential, but it wasn’t like he knew the other people. She could still talk to him about general things without giving away too much. However, when he thought about her telling some stranger about his personal shit he didn’t like it, so he respected her privacy.

  She stayed until Logan went to bed, but sadly, left shortly after. Something was off. He sensed space between them that wasn’t there the other day and he didn’t like it.

  Friday morning he called her on the way to work and she sounded like a totally different person. She sounded normal again.

  “Sorry about yesterday. I, uh, wasn’t feeling real good.”

  “Is everything okay?” he asked. God, he hoped she wasn’t sick. What if she was? She’d played with Logan a lot. He didn’t want either of them to be sick.

  “Oh, everything’s fine. Just…women problems. I’m good now.”

  Women problems? Ohhh…

  “So, all back to normal?” He wanted to see her Saturday. He had big plans. And not to be a pig, but a lot of those plans involved a naked Kate.

  “Yup.”

  That night he played at the Grill. He couldn’t wait for the weekend to officially start, wondering how early Kate would come over on Saturday. He had what he thought was a pretty decent plan for the day.

  That night he couldn’t sleep. It was after midnight when he got home, but she didn’t have work the next day so he called her. “Hey, were you sleeping?”

  “No. I was reading.”

  He asked about her day and they talked for a few minutes. Her voice was soft and he loved listening to it. As he lounged on the couch holding the phone against his shoulder, he stretched. Crocodile Hunter was on mute on the television. His hand slipped past the band of his pants as he sprawled out. Just her voice made him hard.

  “I wish you were here.”

  She was quiet for a second. “I could come over.”

  He stilled. “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh, please do…”

  She laughed. “Okay, give me a few minutes.”

  “Can’t wait. Drive safe.”

  He hung up the phone and grinned. She was coming over. He anxiously waited for her, trying to pass the time by watching TV. When she pulled up excitement exploded low in his gut.

  He went to the door and watched her climb out of her bug. She had soft pants on and a t-shirt. What would it be this time? His grin widened when he made out the silkscreen. Vintage Rainbow Bright—totally awesome.

  She came through the door and stared up at him. “Hi. I’m here.”

  He traced a finger over her brow. “What do you want to do now?”

  Her eyes searched his and she gave him a pointed look. Yup, him too.

  Their bodies crashed together in a fury of need. He stripped off her shirt and groaned when he saw her pale pink, lace bra. Her petite fingers undid his pants and he removed his shirt. Her mouth went to his chest and bit his nipple.

  He hissed and moaned. She was a frisky little thing. He scooped her up and her legs wrapped around him. Turning, he sat her on the kitchen counter.

  “God, I fucking missed you,” he said as he yanked down the straps of her bra and pulled a tight nipple into his mouth.

  Fisting her hands in his hair, she arched into him. “Me too.”

  His fingers slid into the waistband of her pants, grabbing a handful of her plush ass. She lifted and he tugged the pants off along with her panties. Hol
y fuck, Kate was completely naked on his kitchen counter.

  Something inside of him told him to stop and take in the moment. He eased back and stared at her. She was balancing her weight on her palms braced behind her. Her breasts bore the wet marks from his mouth and her eyes were heavy with lust. As he looked at her she smiled and slowly parted her legs.

  Glistening pink folds flashed at him and he practically came in his pants. He growled and dove for her, lifting her legs over his shoulders and fastening his mouth to her clit. Her voice cried out as he stabbed his tongue into her slit. She tasted fucking magnificent.

  Her fingers tightened in his hair as he feasted on her. When she came, it was loud and hard. Moving up to her breasts, he dragged his lips over her silky flesh then found her mouth. “Taste yourself,” he whispered as he sealed his lips to hers, pressing his tongue deep.

  She moaned and gripped his jaw as if she couldn’t get enough. Suddenly, she broke the kiss and disappeared. He blinked and looked down. Her body slid off the counter and she was on her knees, quickly unfastening his pants.

  She pulled him free and gripped his flesh, tugging long, sure strokes. He thrust his hips forward. “Put your mouth on me,” he said.

  Leaning up off her heels, she opened wide and took him deep. Holy fuck! Her mouth was a tight, wet suction of heat. As she looked up at him with big brown eyes, her cheeks drawn tight over his flesh, her lips sealing him in, he nearly exploded. She was so fucking sexy.

  Her hand cupped his balls while the other gripped the base of his cock, stroking as she bobbed up and down over him. His hands went to her hair. He didn’t want to hurt her, but the moment he tightened his grip, she moaned and sucked harder. She liked it a little rough.

  He twitched and jerked as she gave him the best blowjob of his life. When he got close, he tightened his fist in her hair and began to fuck her mouth. She took all of him, her mouth open wide, hands squeezing his hips.

  “I’m gonna come,” he warned.

  She slanted her mouth over him and grabbed the base of his cock again, not letting him pull away. Holy shit, she was porn hot. He’d never seen a girl do it like that in real life.

  She pulled at the end of his dick then opened her mouth and jerked him fast. Her little pink tongue caught the first jets of come as they shot into her mouth. Her lips were pink. Another ribbon of white pulsed over her tongue and she swallowed. Leaning forward, she took him deep, milking every last drop of his release.