It had been three weeks since Ashley left for a flight to Sydney. Nate had gotten a phone call and two emails during that time and that was it. He was growing weary of being in a relationship with an absentee girlfriend. She had promised to stick with local jaunts but that promise was unraveling with every trip she took out of the country.
Nate buried himself in his day trading, manning the phone and computer for up to sixteen hours a day. He barely ate and barely slept. If his mind wasn't on stocks and bonds, it was on Ashley.
But sometimes it was on Amber Bateman.
He chalked that up to sexual frustration. The single policewoman of Luvton had been ninety percent of his sexual outlet since Ashley had evidently decided she liked riding planes more than him. What they had done--Nate wouldn't call cheating as such--was definitely unacceptable behavior for a man who was supposedly monogamous.
All Bateman had done to him was masturbate him. Not even a blowjob. The first time hanging upside down and naked in the garage was decidedly something he did not want. The second time against Bateman's patrol car in the park was also something he didn't want but he gave into it soon enough. The third time he only allowed it without much protest because Bateman made it quick as he sat in his car beside the road.
The fourth time Bateman hadn't laid a hand on him but had threatened both his job and relationship if he didn't put on a strip show for her then masturbate while she watched on the other side of the interrogation room's one-way mirror. To Nate, that almost didn't count. It wasn't much different than standing in front of his dressing mirror at home and admiring himself as he released into the air.
The last time, however, Bateman had really risked Ashley finding out by pulling them over and taking him into the woods under false pretenses so she could masturbate him by the light of her flashlight. Ashley had sat in the car waiting and believing that her boyfriend was assisting the police.
That night had wound up more memorable than most, though. Thanks to Bateman's attentions, he remained mostly turgid which was a state that pleased Ashley. Two hours later, he orgasmed for the second time that night, this time deep inside his girlfriend.
None of those thoughts helped either of his needs, sexual or emotional. A third need came unbidden as Nate felt his stomach complain. Nate signed out of the trading network and decided to go out for a bite.
He wasn't in the mood for a sandwich and decided to visit the diner. He hopped in his car and drove three-quarters of a mile to the cement block building where the single word DINER glowed above the door.
The place was mostly empty. It was too far from lunch and dinner and he didn't mind the idea of being away from everyone right now. Nate stepped through the perpetual haze of Cigarettes Past at the front door and into the smell of rancid grease. The fact that he might regret eating here occurred to him but his stomach became insistent and he sat in the farthest booth from the door.
A waitress took his order, steak, and potatoes with water. It wasn't his usual healthy fare but it would stick to his ribs awhile. His food came up soon enough but the steak was overcooked and the potatoes underdone. Competition being practically nonexistent here, Nate wasn't surprised the meal left much to be desired.
Nate was only a few forkfuls from throwing a napkin over the remains when someone sauntered up to the table. He looked up to see a smiling young woman.
"Hi," she said and sat opposite him without asking.
Something about her was familiar but Nate couldn't put his finger on it. His head was too abuzz with the stress of a relationship he suspected was beginning to slip away.
"Yes?" Nate replied.
"Haven't seen you in a while," the girl said. Nate looked her over. Blue blouse, tastefully unbuttoned to just the hint of cleavage, short brown hair, hazel eyes. She either had made herself up to look very natural or was one of those who didn't need makeup.
Nate pushed his plate away. "I'm sorry. I don't think we've met."
The girl smiled. She was very easy on the eyes when she did that and Nate felt himself smile along with her.
"It's been a few months, Nathan, but yes, we have." She reached over and picked up his glass of water and brought it to her lips. As she drank, her eyes never left his.
"Do you normally drink after strangers, Miss?"
The girl sat down the glass and dabbed at her lips with a napkin from the nearby holder. "You're no stranger to me. We've met. Twice, actually."
Nate searched his memory and discarded every possibility. He'd met almost no one in this town other than the illustrious Amber Bateman in the months since he'd been here. He probably wouldn't have ever met Bateman had it not been for the inversion table hanging up and leaving him dangling naked in the garage.
He forgot about the rescue unit that had to get him loose because Bateman refused to even try. All she'd done was make him ejaculate all over himself and then embarrass him by bringing in two more emergency personnel. So yes, he'd met fireman Joe and--
"Lynn," the girl said holding out her hand.
"Oh god!" Nate gasped feeling his face and neck flush.
Lynn giggled and put the hanging hand over her mouth until she could quiet herself. "Yeah. In the garage."
Nate put his head in his hands. "Fuck!" he hissed.
"It's okay." She put a hand on his. "I once had to assist in the rescue of a gentleman who got himself lodged in a ShopVac."
Nate still felt heat coming off his scalp. "Well, mine was accidental."
Lynn smiled at him under her brows. "Really? Naked and covered with--you know."
Nate looked around, made sure they were out of earshot, and whispered. "Naked, yes. But I didn't do that to myself. I did not masturbate on that thing."
"Yeah, Amber did that to you. I heard."
"What?" Nate felt his head spin a bit. "You knew about it?"
Lynn waved a hand. "Yeah. After the fact. We left Joe in the dark about it, however. He's seen more weird things than I have so it didn't register with him one way or the other, I guess. He was fire rescue from up north for years before he decided to semi-retire here."
Nate took a deep breath, the embarrassment finally dissipating. What had happened, had happened.
"Don't worry, Nate. Just us three know about it."
He paused. "Wait, you said we've met twice. I don't recall seeing you after that because I would have remembered you after something that awkward."
Lynn grinned again. "Oh yes. We met again. You just didn't know it."
"I think I would've remembered!" Nate hissed.
Lynn leaned back in the booth and threw one arm over the back. The blouse stretched temptingly over her breasts and, in a quick surreptitious glance, Nate saw the faintest indication of her nipples.
"My big sister has always tried to make my birthdays special." Lynn regarded her fingernails a moment. "She told me she'd make my twenty-third special and get me a stripper. Said I'd met him before and that she'd see to it he'd put on one hell of a show."
Her eyes met Nate's again. "Of course, he wouldn't know I was there because he'd be doing it on the other side of one-way glass."
Nate felt himself almost throw up. "You're--you're Bateman's little sister?"
Lynn nodded.
"You were watching me that day?"
She nodded again. "We both were. You're one hell of a sexy guy, Nathan Walker, and if I didn't have a fiancé we'd be playing doctor quite a bit."
Nate looked into his palms for the second time and whispered "fuck" again.
"But since I do," Lynn continued, "we can't go too far."
He looked up. "What are you talking about?"
Lynn leaned her elbows on the table and put her face in his space, invading his comfort zone. "I couldn't get that out of my mind, the way you stripped, and the way you pleasured yourself that day. I've thought about that, wishing I could touch you. All of you."
Nate glared at her. "That is not going to happen. I have a girlfriend and the only reason Bateman has done what she's done with me is because I'm trying to keep that girlfriend."
"Amber tells me she's staying gone more and more these days," Lynn said smugly. "Been three weeks since you've last seen her, I've been told."
"That's none of your concern, nor your sister's."
"Relax," Lynn waved a hand. "I don't want to do anything to you beyond what Amber has. I'm off duty today and all I'm asking you to do is meet me at the station. I think the ambulance is the best place for me to indulge myself for a little while. Just you and me."
Nate crossed his arms and fixed her with a stare. "No. You are not law enforcement and you can't blackmail me into it."
Lynn shook her head gravely. "You're right, I'm not, but my sister is. If I don't get what I want from you I'll see to it that she knows about it." She reached up and flicked a blouse button open revealing a little more cleavage.
Nate felt himself respond. It had been a while and despite the situation, he felt his need for release.
"You might even enjoy it a little," she whispered seductively. "So, if you know what's good for you, you'll meet me at the police station, in the back right where the ambulance is parked. I'll be there two hours from now. And you'd better be, too."
"Why can't you two--" Nate cast about for the right word. "--bitches leave me alone?"
Lynn was unaffected by the insult. "Because a specimen like you doesn't come along that often. Besides, Nate, it's just this one time. I promise."
"If I do this, will you get Bateman off my back?"
She took another delicate sip of his water and tilted her head. "I can try but Amber is a bit bull-headed. If she likes something she just doesn't let it get away easily."
Nate didn't like hearing that at all. "Just try. I've got my own relationship problems and I don't need to keep looking over my shoulder wondering when the next grope session is coming."
Lynn abruptly rose and Nate let his eyes slide over her figure. Though she was smaller than her sister she filled out her Levi's well with her own set of admirable curves.