She laughed, then cupped his jaw with her hand. “So, this goes beyond just concerts, dinner, and sex?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m interested in a lot more.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. Leaning forward, he mumbled against her mouth, “Stop thinking so hard.”
“It just seems… I don’t know… like there’s so much more to know about each other.”
“You’re right, babe. And that’s what we’re doing.”
“Not just sex—”
“I’m not talking about just sex,” he said, holding her gaze. “Yeah, sex is part of it, but I want to know everything. I think we’ve already got a good start.”
“We only get to see each other on weekends, and that’s if I don’t have a music event to attend.”
“Then stay here tonight.”
She sucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “All night?”
“Yeah. Stay here with me. Sleep with me. Let me hold you all night.”
The corners of her lips twitched upward. “Okay… you and me… all night.” Shifting slightly so she settled into his arms, she asked, “And in the morning?”
“Then we’ve got our start.” Kissing her smile once again, he tucked her underneath his chin, a smile on his own lips.
7
The clink of the weight bar on the metal hanger resounded throughout the LSI gym.
“I’m telling you it’s going to be a great festival,” Babs said, walking into the room.
“You just want to go so that you see big guys in skirts,” Drew retorted.
Lifting a brow, she replied, “First of all, if I want to stare at a big man’s legs, all I have to do is look at you. Second of all, it’s not a skirt, it’s a kilt. And third of all, shut the fuck up, sweetie. You know you’ll be in the beer tent enjoying the music!”
Drew grabbed Babs and swirled her around, planting a smacking kiss on her lips. “Yep, you’re so right, babe.”
“Eew! Put me down! We might be married but that doesn’t mean I want to be around you when you smell like a man who’s just worked out!”
The others laughed, used to Drew and Babs’ banter. Clay once wondered if Drew and Babs would ever get together after making eyes at each other for so long, but their relationship kicked into high gear even more with wedding bands encircling their fingers.
“I confess,” Clay said, “I’m a Celtic festival virgin.”
“Well, the food is great, the music is great, and heavy athletics are impressive,” Babs responded, her smile wide.
“Babs has convinced the rest of the women that it’s the place to go this weekend, so it looks like most of us will be there. You coming?” Walker asked.
Shrugging, he replaced the weight bar and nodded. “Sure, I’m game.”
“You mentioned music,” Tate said. “What kind of music?”
“Considering you only listen to country, I’m not sure that’s what you’ll find there,” Clay laughed.
“Celtic bands will be playing,” Babs said. Turning to Clay, she narrowed her gaze at him. “I thought you were the resident music lover of all types.”
“My mom passed along her love of music, but gotta admit Celtic music was not something she listened to.”
“Is that why you’ve been hitting the symphonic concerts lately? A love of music?” Blake asked, a grin on his face.
Clay smiled but remained quiet.
“Whoa, what brought that smile on?” Babs asked, her brows wiggling. “That is the look of a man who met someone.” She looked around at the men and grinned. “Come on, guys. Have you been holding out on me?”
“Not me,” Drew said, throwing his hands up in supplication. “You’d have my balls, babe, if I kept gossip from you.”
“So, did you? Meet someone?” Mace asked, sitting up on the weight bench.
“Y’all are worse than the women gossiping—”
“Hey,” Sylvie fussed, holding her nose as she walked into the room and handed Mace a file. “We women don’t gossip, we’re just involved.” Turning back to Mace, she said, “Sign here quickly before I have to have the room fumigated.” Mace handed the file back to her, and she held Clay’s eyes while still pinching her nose. “So… did you meet someone?”
“Might as well tell them,” Tate advised, unwrapping his hands after pounding on the weight bag.
“How do you know something?” Drew asked, tossing a towel at Tate.
“Right time, right place, man.” Tate grabbed the towel and tossed it right back, hitting Drew in the head.
“Shut up and let him confess,” Babs shouted, popping Drew on the shoulder.
The room grew quiet and Clay realized all eyes were on him. Sighing, he shook his head in defeat. “Christina Monroe… concert violinist.”
The others shouted congratulations as they grinned and went back to their workouts.
“Is it serious?” Sylvie asked.
“You’ve been bitten by the love bug,” Babs said, tapping his arm. “Hang on, guys, this means someone else to rescue!”
“No way! She’s a classical musician, not a magnet for trouble. It won’t be like the rest of you all. Me? I want simple, easy, no drama in a relationship—”
“That sounds like a turtle,” she quipped.
“No, just a beautiful violinist.” Thinking of Christina as he continued to press weights, he wondered if she would enjoy a Celtic festival. She likes music… she’d probably love it.
Clay had to admit the Celtic festival was a blast. As the Keepers and their women sat in the stands around the athletic field, the World Competitors in Highland Games hurled sheaths and hammers, threw stones, and tossed cabers. Since one of them was a native of Maine, the hometown boy had the crowd cheering.
“Hey, Mace, are we going to add this to our regimen?” Rank called out. “I could get into throwing heavy stones!”
“Honey, you can wear a kilt anytime you want,” Helena said, receiving a wink from Rank.
Mace grinned, nodding. “Don’t think I haven’t thought about it. We’ve got enough room behind the lighthouse.”
“These guys are fuckin’ titans.” Clay watched one athlete after the other lift the telephone-pole-sized cabers in their hands, carry it several feet, and then toss it end over end.
“They’ll take a break in just a little while,” Babs said, looking down at the schedule in her hands. “A couple of us thought about grabbing a big table in the food and entertainment tent. We can even take orders from everyone and get lunch from the food trucks.”
“Are you going to try haggis?” Walker asked, throwing his arm around Julie.
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. But I’m gonna go with Babs. I’ll get you some.”
After the others called out orders for meat pies, pastries, Scotch eggs, haggis, and fish and chips, several of the women left to place orders from the food trucks before the crowds descended after the athletic games paused.