Lauren lay with her head on Ethan's chest. This was either the best thing she'd done in her life, or the biggest mistake. Patrick had wanted to set her up with a nice guy, and she’d just fallen into bed with him. Despite Ethan reassuring her he didn't think anything less of her and repeating that he was just as responsible, she wasn't sure where to go from here.
"Lauren," he whispered.
She looked up. They had been dozing, not quite ready to get out of bed and she was comfortable.
"You're not going to make me move, are you?" she asked.
Ethan laughed. "No, I just wanted to say something to you."
"What?"
"No one's ever done that to me before."
"Done what?" She couldn't think of anything special that she'd done. The tone of their lovemaking had changed in the middle as it turned from just sex to something special. Lauren didn't want to be the first to say it, but the tenderness they had shared had melted her inside.
"You know. That thing with your tongue."
She laughed. "Oh, that. I can do it again if you want me to."
"No. It's just that my wife didn't like to do anything like that. It felt amazing."
Lauren grinned. There was a lot she could do that Ethan might like. "Sounds boring."
"I didn't think so at the time, but you just set a new standard."
His words got to her. Mentally picturing anyone else giving him that pleasure made her frown.
"Lauren? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she said, resting her head back down where she was comfortable. This was crazy. She barely knew the guy and while sleeping with him wasn't out of character, this was something she didn't want to screw up. Especially when Cassie and Patrick were behind their meeting. She would feel like she’d let them down. Of course, they hadn't realised quite how well she would get alone with Ethan.
"We should think about getting up and going for breakfast. If they've already had it, I'll take you out somewhere to eat."
She buried her face in his chest, hiding the grin that spread across her face. "I guess so."
They made their way downstairs. Cassie and Patrick sat at the table with his parents and Sophie.
"Hey, you two," said Cassie brightly, getting up to bring more food to the table.
"Good morning," Lauren said, looking around the room for someone to be surprised at Ethan's presence. They all kept eating.
She glanced at Ethan. From the expression on his face, he'd been expecting the same. Lauren followed Cassie to offer her help.
"I've cooked bacon, eggs and toast. I'll just put some more on for you two."
"You're not surprised Ethan stayed with me."
Cassie turned to look at her, shaking her head. "I came in to see if you wanted breakfast this morning. You were otherwise engaged."
Lauren felt the blush creep up her face. "You saw us?"
"I saw Ethan. Figured you were under him."
Lauren slapped Cassie on the arm. "You never said anything."
"What was I supposed to say? Please stop having sex for a moment so I can find out what you want for breakfast?"
Cassie laughed. Lauren blushed, looking at the ground until she found it too hard to keep a straight face.
"You'll have to tell me all about him when we get a quiet moment," Cassie said, leaning over to hug Lauren.
Together they prepared the food, taking it back to the table where Patrick held up his plate to hint at a second helping. Cassie laughed. "Just as well I cooked too much, isn't it?"
"Aren't you supposed to take care of your husband?"
"It's still weird, calling you that."
Lauren smiled, watching them with affection. As much as she’d loved seeing Cassie with Mark, with Patrick she was complete. She caught Ethan's eye. He was smiling back at her, and she sat beside him at the table.
She squeezed his thigh, his hand reaching for hers as they intertwined fingers. This was going to be no one-night stand. In all these years, she'd never felt a connection like this. Not one that seemed to go both ways.
When she looked away from Ethan, she saw Patrick smiling at her. He nodded towards Ethan, and she grinned as he winked at her. Patrick wouldn't steer her wrong.
After they'd finished breakfast, Patrick's parents said goodbye. Jane, Patrick's mother, came over to kiss Lauren goodbye. Lauren looked at her, surprised. She’d barely said a word to her the day before.
"Cassie tells me you're Mark's sister, which makes you her sister. Welcome to the family, Lauren," she said warmly.
Lauren looked over at Cassie. She watched them with a smile on her face, and Lauren just knew she'd discussed it with Jane.
"Thank you, Mrs Cross. I really appreciate it."
She watched the other woman walk away, tears building in her eyes. Feeling Ethan's hand on her shoulder, she turned to face him.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Lauren smiled. "Great. It's nice to be part of a family again. Not that I really had one to start with."
"You let me talk about my past last night. Maybe one night over dinner we can talk about yours?"
"Are you asking me out, Doctor Stone?"
"After this morning, it's the least I can do."
She walked with him out to his car, holding his hand, and it occurred to her she hadn't done that before. There had not been one person in her life who wanted to romance her.
All the wrong guys.
Hell, she would probably screw this up too; might as well make the most of it while it lasted. He was such a sweet man. He also didn't seem to be easily scared off. She’d lain awake watching him for ages before he woke. There hadn't been an older man in her life for a long time, and she’d wondered just how far she could push him. Now she knew.
It wasn't until she saw how much in love Cassie and Mark were that she thought about finding an older man. They had joked about it over the years, but if Ethan wanted to explore a relationship, she was up for the challenge.
He let go of her hand as he climbed into his car, rolling down the window to lean out and say goodbye.
"Thank you for last night, and especially this morning," he said.
She laughed, kicking the toe of her shoe against the concrete driveway. "It was pretty good for me too, you know. Thank you for taking care of me."
"Any time. If you give me your number, I'll call you for that dinner too."
"Give me your phone?"
He handed her the phone, and she entered the numbers. Adding her name with a heart at the end, she handed it back to him.
Ethan laughed. "Oh, so I won't confuse you with another Lauren?"
"I should hope not."
She leaned in the car window, giving him a lingering kiss goodbye.
"Talk to you soon, Doctor Stone."
"You bet."
Lauren blew a kiss as he backed down the driveway, waving until he was gone. She sighed, turning back to the house, unsure whether to go home or stay another night. Cassie had asked her to, and although she felt as if she were intruding on the newlyweds, she wanted to spend more time with her family.
"How did it go? Are you two going to see each other again?" Cassie asked as she walked back in the door.
"I think so. He just asked for my number. We'll see."
"He seems nice. I don't know him as well as Patrick does, obviously, but from what I hear he's a really good guy.” Cassie grabbed Lauren’s hand, squeezing it with affection. “You know, if you don't end up with him, we won't be offended."
Lauren laughed. "We'll just see if he does call me. I was very forward this morning, got carried away, as I do. I would really like to see him again, though I do wonder if I'm going to be a bit much for him."
"Lauren, if it's meant to be, it will be. He looked pretty happy about it Come on, let's have another coffee. Are you going to stay tonight too?"
"Thinking about it. I don't want to overdo it. You guys only got married yesterday."
She followed Cassie into the kitchen, leaning against the bench as Cassie got out the coffee cups and boiled the kettle.
"We're going away for a week in a few weeks’ time. It'll be school holidays soon, and we can leave Sophie with her grandparents while we spend some time alone together. Probably just after Christmas. Until then, Patrick has his patients."
Cassie handed Lauren her cup. "Let's go and sit outside on the deck. The sun is nice out there in the morning."
The sun was streaming through the trees, and Lauren thought how peaceful it felt. The deck was large, and Cassie led Lauren to the barbecue area. Sophie and Patrick had been out, folding up the last of the chairs and cleaning the table. It had been a small wedding, and once they were finished no one would have guessed there had been a wedding in the garden the day before at all.
"I remember you telling me that Patrick had bought you a house, and how big it was. Never thought it would be this awesome."
"I am very lucky."
They sat down, and Lauren turned her face towards the sun. "It's so nice out here."
"I love it. I've been thinking about burying Mark's ashes in the garden here. We managed to get some cuttings from his plants in Hamilton, and they're starting to grow. Maybe in a few months, when they've grown a bit and there's some cover. I don't like the thought of him getting wet."
Cassie was looking towards a corner of the garden wistfully. Lauren didn't have to ask what she was thinking about.
"He was at peace about you and Patrick, Cassie. You know as well as I do that he'd love to be near you still. It's only right he should be with you. If you want to bury his ashes, you can bury my half too."
Lauren saw the tears in Cassie's eyes when she looked back at her. "Are you sure?"
"I can always visit him here. It'll give me an excuse to come and stay with you."
"You never need an excuse."
"Do you think Ethan will call me?"
Cassie laughed. "I think if he doesn't, he'll have me to answer to. He looked pretty smitten to me this morning."
Lauren took a sip of her coffee, running her finger around the rim of the cup. "He was very sweet."
"There you go. Let's just see what happens."