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Authors: Felicia Watson
Tags: Romance, Gay, Contemporary, M/M romance, Novel, glbt, dreamspinner press, paperback, felicia watson
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conviction of an
experienced abuse counselor that she was not ready yet.
Twenty minutes into the session he was more convinced than
ever. Norah persisted in asking when it would be ―okay‖ for her to start
dating again. Nick always fervently advised his clients to delay entering
a new relationship until they had a chance to be alone for a while and
develop a healthy attitude towards men—and themselves.
―Why? Got your eye on someone?‖ he joked cautiously.
―No, not that. It‘s just that I miss….‖
―Sex?‖ he supplied.
44
Felicia Watson
Norah laughed uproariously. ―Oh, hell no. Gotta say, never saw
what all the fuss was about there.‖
―Too bad, but when you meet the right guy, you will.‖
―Right.‖ She nodded vigorously, and Nick saw her trying to
convince herself more than anything else.
Feeling the desk was too great a barrier between them for the rest
of this conversation, Nick moved to the other guest chair, positioning
himself directly across from Norah. ―You were saying? You miss….‖
―I miss the way…. I miss feeling… important, I guess.‖ She
hastily added, ―I know the way Alex treated me was wrong and he had
no right to do those terrible things, but there was also the way he was
so… so passionate about me. I know it got all twisted and fucked up,
but… but the love….‖ By now Norah was staring at the hands tightly
clasped in her lap. She went on in a near whisper. ―It was there in the
beginning….‖ She turned tearful eyes on Nick, finishing, ―Know what I
mean?‖
Nick took a minute to leach all exasperation from his attitude
before he answered, ―Norah, don‘t confuse possessiveness with a show
of overpowering love.‖
―I know you told me that a million times, but—‖
―No!‖ Instantly regretting his outburst, Nick took a deep breath,
making time to deliberately dial back his approach. ―There are no
‗buts‘ with that distinction. The two things couldn‘t be further apart.
The way Alex treated you—even in the beginning—was all about him .
When you love someone you want them to be happy. When you need to
control them, own them and order them around, it‘s all about you .‖ He
dipped his head so he could catch her eye and shoot her an encouraging
smile.
―I know all that. But I can‘t help wanting…. I been working so
hard for so long. When does it start to pay off?‖
―It already has. Give yourself some credit. You have a job. Okay,
not the greatest job in the world, but they love you there and it‘s just a
stepping stone. You have an apartment—‖
―That I gotta share with two other girls.‖
Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela
45
―Yes, but a third of that place is all yours. You have rights and
you‘re not afraid to exercise them. You have a car that you‘re learning
how to keep running. It‘s all coming together. Give yourself a little
more time—time to heal and time to get to know Norah Seebold and
what she really wants out of life.‖
―And then what?‖
―And then when the right man comes along, you‘ll be ready to
give and take , to build something together. When genuine love
happens, you‘ll know it.‖
―Is that how it worked for you?‖
Nick wished he hadn‘t long ago decided to be completely honest
with his clients and patients. A resounding ―yes‖ would have been the
capper to that little speech, but he couldn‘t possibly lie to Norah‘s
earnest face. Instead, he evaded wryly, ―Umm sure… any day now.‖
LOGAN was mentally girding himself for his second automotive class
as he parked near the garage steps; he hiked up them hoping there was
to be no repeat of ―storytelling time.‖ Hearing about Tish and Norah‘s
past was hard enough, but the worst part had been figuring that he was
now unfairly lumped in with creeps like that Alex and Joe. He felt a
brief rush of anger at Trudy… or maybe it was Linda‘s doing for
holding a
experienced abuse counselor that she was not ready yet.
Twenty minutes into the session he was more convinced than
ever. Norah persisted in asking when it would be ―okay‖ for her to start
dating again. Nick always fervently advised his clients to delay entering
a new relationship until they had a chance to be alone for a while and
develop a healthy attitude towards men—and themselves.
―Why? Got your eye on someone?‖ he joked cautiously.
―No, not that. It‘s just that I miss….‖
―Sex?‖ he supplied.
44
Felicia Watson
Norah laughed uproariously. ―Oh, hell no. Gotta say, never saw
what all the fuss was about there.‖
―Too bad, but when you meet the right guy, you will.‖
―Right.‖ She nodded vigorously, and Nick saw her trying to
convince herself more than anything else.
Feeling the desk was too great a barrier between them for the rest
of this conversation, Nick moved to the other guest chair, positioning
himself directly across from Norah. ―You were saying? You miss….‖
―I miss the way…. I miss feeling… important, I guess.‖ She
hastily added, ―I know the way Alex treated me was wrong and he had
no right to do those terrible things, but there was also the way he was
so… so passionate about me. I know it got all twisted and fucked up,
but… but the love….‖ By now Norah was staring at the hands tightly
clasped in her lap. She went on in a near whisper. ―It was there in the
beginning….‖ She turned tearful eyes on Nick, finishing, ―Know what I
mean?‖
Nick took a minute to leach all exasperation from his attitude
before he answered, ―Norah, don‘t confuse possessiveness with a show
of overpowering love.‖
―I know you told me that a million times, but—‖
―No!‖ Instantly regretting his outburst, Nick took a deep breath,
making time to deliberately dial back his approach. ―There are no
‗buts‘ with that distinction. The two things couldn‘t be further apart.
The way Alex treated you—even in the beginning—was all about him .
When you love someone you want them to be happy. When you need to
control them, own them and order them around, it‘s all about you .‖ He
dipped his head so he could catch her eye and shoot her an encouraging
smile.
―I know all that. But I can‘t help wanting…. I been working so
hard for so long. When does it start to pay off?‖
―It already has. Give yourself some credit. You have a job. Okay,
not the greatest job in the world, but they love you there and it‘s just a
stepping stone. You have an apartment—‖
―That I gotta share with two other girls.‖
Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela
45
―Yes, but a third of that place is all yours. You have rights and
you‘re not afraid to exercise them. You have a car that you‘re learning
how to keep running. It‘s all coming together. Give yourself a little
more time—time to heal and time to get to know Norah Seebold and
what she really wants out of life.‖
―And then what?‖
―And then when the right man comes along, you‘ll be ready to
give and take , to build something together. When genuine love
happens, you‘ll know it.‖
―Is that how it worked for you?‖
Nick wished he hadn‘t long ago decided to be completely honest
with his clients and patients. A resounding ―yes‖ would have been the
capper to that little speech, but he couldn‘t possibly lie to Norah‘s
earnest face. Instead, he evaded wryly, ―Umm sure… any day now.‖
LOGAN was mentally girding himself for his second automotive class
as he parked near the garage steps; he hiked up them hoping there was
to be no repeat of ―storytelling time.‖ Hearing about Tish and Norah‘s
past was hard enough, but the worst part had been figuring that he was
now unfairly lumped in with creeps like that Alex and Joe. He felt a
brief rush of anger at Trudy… or maybe it was Linda‘s doing for
holding a
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