by Elsie James
“Thanks. But what are you doing here?” She seems genuinely curious.
“I hoped you’d join the committee. That’s why I’m here,” I answer honestly.
“You hoped I’d join?” She walks around her classroom straightening things that are already organized. I wonder why she seems on edge. I’m not a stranger; we have a lifetime of memories between us. The last five years feels like nothing more than a bad dream that I am ready to move past.
“Rach, what happened? You’re not wearing a ring.” I get straight to the point.
“I’m not engaged, so why would I wear one?” She stops walking and leans back on the side of her desk. Sadness builds behind her eyes. Her body language is casual, but the constant clicking of the pen she’s fidgeting with gives her away.
“You broke it off with him?” Adrenaline courses through me. She has to say yes.
“I did. When you find your fiance in bed with another woman, that’s generally considered a bad sign.” Her sentence conjures up thoughts of her in bed with Dense Spence and fury at myself rushes through me. Because I wasn’t there, a man like him was able to hurt her. Remorse drowns me as I stare at her. A hurt expression lingers on her face. An even more terrible thought creeps into my mind. I wonder if this is how she looked when I broke up with her.
“What an idiot. He had you in his grasp, and he just let you walk.” I shake my head at the thought. When I walked away, I had no choice. He had everything and he decided to treat her like that. “He didn’t deserve you.”
“You’re one to talk. I never got over the way you ignored me, disappeared from my world. I’m not letting you get away with playing the hero now when what you did hurt me so much more.”
“Me? Rach, we didn’t talk for a few weeks and then you were engaged. Those weeks are the biggest regret of my life.”
“We didn’t talk? Or you didn’t talk to me? You devastated me.” Her arms cross over her chest. All I want is to hold her and fix it.
“I didn’t want you to forfeit your scholarship,” I say honestly.
“What are you talking about? I never would have done that. It didn’t have to be a choice. We could have made it work. You didn’t want to.” Tears well in her eyes, confirmation that after all this time, she still loves me.
I walk to her, grabbing her shoulders in my hands. “I thought I was doing what was best for you.”
“What did you know about what was best for me? Do you know how hard you made it for me to move on?”
I don’t know but I’m already furious at myself for how I handled the situation. “I’m sorry I hurt you. It was never my intention. But you hurt me too. I was young and stupid. My pride was bruised, so I blocked you, but it didn’t take me too long to realize I was wrong.”
I rarely let myself think back to this time because it enrages me. But she’s asking for answers and giving them to her is the least I can do.
“I unblock you and I see a picture of you standing in the dress you wore on our first date. Tanned, smiling, and engaged to Spencer. To make matters worse, you were out of the country. Every photo I saw of you from then on was taken in an exotic location. You were completely inaccessible to me. I couldn’t get to you if I tried. And why would I when you looked happy? It was then I realized that your parents were right.” The truth pours out of me. The only way out of this is through it and she's worth it.
“My parents? Greyson, what do my parents have to do with anything? It’s no secret you weren’t their favorite, but I made my own decisions, even back then. Except for the time you made them for me by disappearing.” She looks still shattered by my choice.
“Look, I listened to other people and thought I wasn’t good enough for you. But I see now that wasn’t my decision to make. I thought that it was about a lifestyle that you needed. One I could never give you. But I was wrong.”
Her sadness gives way to a flicker of anger. “Well, you had a pretty easy time moving on with every hot girl in town, didn’t you? I hear the rumors, Greyson. You didn’t seem sad. You seemed horny.”
“That isn’t fair.” Where did that come from? That’s never been me. “And anyway, it’s not as many as you think. But yes, Rach, it’s been five years, and you were engaged to someone else, so I did try to move on. That doesn’t mean it was easy for me. I know I hurt you, but please don’t make me into something I’m not.”
My last sentence does it. The dam breaks and Rachel lets herself cry into my chest. Five years of regret course through me as I hold her.
She pulls back and looks up at me. “When you left, I felt like I lost everything, and Spencer was just there. I never loved him as much as I loved you, but then, I knew I’d never love anyone as much as I loved you. So it couldn’t be an issue. A life with Spencer would be easy. You weren’t an option so it seemed like the best choice at the time. I regret it.”
Hearing confirmation that I drove her into his arms makes me sick. “I’d give anything to get that time back. I spent so much time missing you, Rach.” I pull her to me and wrap my arms around her. I keep her pressed against my chest until her body stills into mine. The sweet, familiar scent triggers memories of the nights we spent together talking, laughing, making love. It’s all I want.
As if catching herself, she jerks away from me. “Greyson, don’t do this, don’t come into my world if you’re unsure. I don’t trust myself with you. You know me too well for me to lie right now. I can see it. I could easily fall for you again, and that scares me.”
“It’s me. You know me. I’m never going to hurt you again.”
◆◆◆
The next morning, I stop by the school to drop off a potted plant for her at the front office. On the card, I write a note asking her to call me. When the call finally comes that evening, I take advantage of every second she’ll give me.
“Hey, thank you for the succulent. That was sweet of you.”
“What are you gonna name it?”
She laughs into the phone before responding. “You know me too well.”
“I’m thinking Greyson has a nice ring to it.”
“Hmmm. I’ll consider it,” she says with a chuckle.
I planned on inviting her to dinner, but I don’t want to risk her saying no, so I make her an offer she can’t refuse. “I’d like you to bring your class to the station. We can give them a tour of the engines and they can meet Kindle, our firehouse dog. It would be an opportunity to expand the fire safety discussion and an incredible experience for the kids.”
“Really? They would love that. Wait, what do you get out of this?” Rachel asks me in a teasing tone.
“I get people to keep Kindle occupied for a few hours,” I lie.
It’s you, Rach, I get you.
Chapter 5: Rachel
On the day of the field trip to the firehouse, my students are bouncing off the walls. They’re excited, but not as excited as I am. Greyson and two other firefighters greet us. They usher the students and me in through the enormous bay door. The students sit in two rows just three feet from a parked fire engine. As the kids stare in amazement, Greyson stares at me. With him in his uniform, I can hardly look back at him. Sexy muscles bulge from beneath a tight shirt.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he says quietly into my ear as he wraps an arm around my shoulder.
I smile and feel my face blush. “Good morning.” A warmth flows through me.
Kindle, the station’s giant, brown labradoodle, wears a plastic yellow fire hat. She prances through the rows of kids who reach out to pet her. My students squeal with delight as she puts on a show. I’m grateful they are getting this opportunity although I suspect Greyson’s motivation was selfish.
“Hello, boys and girls. My name is Greyson and I’m a Fire Captain. Today, I want to show you a few things we use to keep you safe in case of a fire.” He hops onto the fire truck and pulls out the hose. “Who knows what this is for?”
As he holds my students’ attention with his demonstrat
ion, my own mind wanders. He’s done it. Greyson has gotten me back into his sphere. I can feel myself falling for him just as hopelessly as I did when we first met back in community college. Greyson was in the fire cadet program, and I was the same bookish girl I am now. He chose me, wanted me from the moment we met. He was never the shy type. We just worked.
“Miss Rachel?” The sound of my name snaps me out of my thoughts. “Do you mind demonstrating for us?” Greyson asks in front of my class.
“Sure, no problem.” I walk toward Greyson, wondering what he has in store for me. He places a hand casually on my lower back and I feel the heat from his touch warm me. “This is what it looks like if we have to carry you out of a burning building. Are you ready?”
“What?” My face flushes. He’s going to pick me up? In front of my students? I look up at him. “I, um, sure. Yes. It’s a great teaching moment.” Effortlessly, Greyson scoops me up off the ground, one hand on my back, the other under my knees. “See kids, it’s important to trust firefighters. We won’t hurt you. In fact, we will do anything we need to do to protect you.” He holds me there for a moment. Then he lowers me back to the ground with a chuckle and gives my arm a light squeeze before letting go.
Tarik and Joshua walk the students outside to demonstrate the use of a fire hydrant. Greyson turns to me. “I never forgot how you made me feel. Seeing you again has confirmed it, I love being around you. I’ll never stop apologizing for breaking up with you the way I did and I know it will take a long time for me to make it up to you. But let me start by taking you to dinner, please. I want to get to know you again to find out who you are now.”
As sad I was when Greyson broke up with me, it all seems so long ago. The things that I’ve always loved about him haven’t changed. He’s sweet and charming. When I look in his eyes, I can tell he still loves me fiercely. I want to get to know him too.
“I’d like that.”
The students and I each leave the firehouse exhilarated for our own reasons. Kindle bounces around us, kissing the kids goodbye.
◆◆◆
The next night, I get ready for dinner, determined to look every bit like the woman of his dreams. I look good with just the tiniest hint of makeup. I feel good, too, in my black, low-cut dress that hugs my bust and flows around my hips. I pair it with a gold necklace and nude heels. Greyson won’t be able to look away; I haven’t forgotten what he likes after all these years.
When I open the door to my apartment, he looks mouthwatering in slate gray slacks with a black button down that accentuates his bulky frame. He smiles at me with his perfectly straight teeth accentuated by his facial hair. Greyson has a way about him that is both thrilling yet somehow predictable. I knew him as a boy, and his heart is still the same, but this mature man in front of me is new to me.
“Wow, you’re stunning.” He looks me up and down, and I feel his eyes linger around my chest for a moment too long. A sexy smile widens across his face.
“Thanks, you aren’t too bad yourself.” I place a hand on his forearm, giving him a quick hug.
“Where are we going?” I ask him.
“The Hideout.”
“I’ve never heard of it. Is it new?”
“Not new, but it’s pretty exclusive.” He takes my hand as we walk to his truck.
We pull up in front of a tall, glass front building with a large and industrial feel. I recognize it right away—Greyson’s bachelor pad.
“This is my place. It’s where I hide from real life. That’s how it got the name. I’ve always loved to cook for you, so I couldn’t think of anywhere better.” The gesture feels intimate and romantic.
Taking my hand, he leads me into the elevator and pushes the number six indicating the top floor. When I walk in, I find the inside to be exactly what I expect. Cold and almost sterile. Exposed Edison bulbs hang from industrial cords over the slate countertops. Stainless steel everything but with a surprisingly minimal feel. There are very few personal items lying around; if I didn’t know better, I’d say he just moved in. No photos, not even a throw pillow. The kitchen island is set with place settings for two. A single white rose sits in a vase in between the two plates.
“Sit.” Greyson pulls out a barstool for me and pours me a glass of wine.
“This is really sweet.” The effort he put into this makes me smile.
“I’ve imagined this day so many times. While you were traveling, I was here. Planning on what I’d cook for you if I ever had the chance,” he says with a smirk. Greyson knows how to make me feel like I’m the only woman in the world.
“Well, it should be a fabulous meal then. What’s on the menu?” I take a sip of the sweet white wine.
“I’ve got some steaks ready to go on the grill. And of course, I picked up a cheesecake for dessert.”
“No you didn’t! From Blue Moon Bakery?”
“Of course I did. I missed five birthdays so I need to make up for lost time.” Memories of the first cheesecake Greyson got me make me smile. My birthday was just two weeks after we met. He told me he had a big exam for his Anatomy & Physiology class so we couldn’t celebrate until the weekend. But he asked me to come over anyway, just to be close to him. He greeted me with a tiny cheesecake and a single white rose. We spent the night reviewing the parts of the body by studying each others.
“You’ve always known how to make me smile. So, do you have roommates?”
“No, it’s just me. Grab your wine, let me show you around.”
“It’s very um, manly.” I chuckle as I run my fingertips across the metal rim of the wineglass.
“When I bought it, I was going through a phase,” he admits.
“Leather and glass?”
Greyson laughs at my teasing and shakes his head.
We stand. He takes me by the hand and walks me through the kitchen into the adjoining living room.
“Actually, I bought this after we broke up. I went through a phase of believing that I would never love again, so I bought a place as opposite as I could from the small house with the big yard we always dreamed of. You wanted the house with a library. I only wanted you. So, I had no need for the rest of it as long as you were traipsing around with Dense Spence. What I needed was a hideout. Somewhere emotionless.”
“Well, this is definitely that.”
I never considered that he was sad too. I may have been misreading his actions all along. Greyson slides open the big glass door leading to the balcony. We step out into the cool night air and look out at the glowing lights of downtown Peony Pointe.
“What about now? Do you think you’ll ever love anyone else?”
He takes my wine, sitting both of our glasses on the iron outdoor end table. Taking both of my hands, Greyson looks into my eyes. His light blue eyes almost clear in the moonlight. “No, I won’t. It’s only you, Rach. I never stopped loving you. Having you back here. Making you dinner. Taking care of you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. Your happiness fulfills me like nothing else I’ve ever found. Let me be that person for you. I know things went wrong for us, but we were kids. I will never walk away from you again.”
Greyson leans in and kisses me sweetly on the lips, sealing his promise. A feeling comfortable and exhilarating. He wraps his arms around me and in response, I throw my arms around his neck. Any pain we caused each other dissolves in the heat of our embrace.
When I finally let go, his stare lingers on the neck of my dress floating just above my nipples. We pick up our wine glasses and gaze out over downtown. Standing close enough to feel the heat radiating off of him, I stop to appreciate how safe I feel with him.
But I felt safe with him before, and he disappeared.
I felt safe with Spencer, and he cheated on me.
It feels different this time, but it still feels like a risk. But I think Greyson is a risk worth taking.
With each drink, I watch Greyson’s eyes and stare helplessly into them. Greyson leans toward me. His sexy grin splashing across his love stricke
n face. I return his seductive smile with one of my own. Five years of pent up frustration explodes into a long, deep kiss that takes my breath away.
“Come here. Dinner can wait,” he says with authority, and I agree.
Greyson pulls me with him through the doorway. When we get to the staircase, Greyson puts a hand on my lower back and moves me in front of him. I climb the stairs first, giving him a view of my curves. My heart beats fast in my chest, anticipating what will happen when we reach the top.
Greyson guides me to his bedroom and we crash onto his bed. With my legs slightly parted, my black lacy thong is exposed. He pulls me into a soft kiss, his hands stroking the back of my thighs. He rolls onto his back, and I straddle him. His hands wander my body and when he gets to my ass, he spanks it gently. I grind my hips into his crotch and feel his firm length against me.
“We have to get these clothes off of you,” he whispers, pulling down the front of my dress to expose my black bra. He puts his hands on my waist and pulls my body down firmly. His hips thrust up and I can feel his erection begging for my attention.
I respond eagerly, taking off my bra. My breasts brush his face, and I plant kisses on his neck and ear. Greyson wraps his hands around my mounds, squeezing while he slips his hot mouth over my nipple. My hips grind into him.
I pull my dress off over my head and Greyson takes off his shirt. Rolling me onto my back, he kneels next to me on the bed. With one hand he caresses my stomach, slowly moving down toward my sensitive core. He cups me softly, squeezing my full outer lips, sending a sensation to my clit beneath. He spreads his fingers and parts my folds, gaining access and pushing two fingers inside of me. I gasp as he enters me, my wetness leaking around him.
“Oooh, that’s nice,” I purr. Greyson still knows exactly how to touch me. My hand sneaks across my body to unbutton his pants. I hold his huge, rigid cock, and he moans as I stroke him from base to tip.
Sliding down the bed, he parts my legs wide. He rakes his tongue over my lips before advancing to my creamy labia. Passion bubbles through my body. I feel the vibration of his tongue on my sensitive nub. It sends electricity down me. My walls tremble with an urge to be filled by him, a longing for him to make a connection.