“I can’t even begin to imagine how hard that would be. I lost my parents and that felt like hell. But I still had my sister and a few aunts and uncles. I’m sorry Miguel.”
We lay there for a few minutes, neither one of us saying a word. His breathing became light and even and I thought he fell back asleep.
“I’ll call her tomorrow and find out.”
He surprised me by speaking. I lifted my head and looked closely at his face. He had a serene calmness in his eyes, but the edges were laced with fear and sadness.
“Knowing you’re in my life makes it much easier. Thank you.” He raised his head and kissed me softly.
“I’m always here for you. Don’t ever forget that.” I nibbled a path along his jawline to his ear, teasing him, and trying to cheer him up.
“Oh trust me, I can’t forget that. Especially now that I know what you feel like inside and out.” He responded to my teasing and nodded his head down toward his legs.
Glancing lower, I saw the bulge in his pants and smacked his arm.
“Don’t you dare start that, mister! You know I can’t resist you and I have no willpower to control myself with my niece here.”
“Hmmm, there is a bathroom with a lock on the door.”
That was all he had to say. We hurried up and went to the bathroom, kissing and giggling the entire way. Once locked inside, all laughing seized and we washed away our worries with our bodies.
CHAPTER 8
Leah didn’t have preschool on Tuesdays so I dropped her off at Paul’s parent’s house. They must not have much company because they talked my ear off. Finally leaving, an hour later than I planned, I went to the shop to take care of all of yesterday’s problems and start on the new ones.
By lunchtime, I still hadn’t heard from Miguel. Normally, we would text or call multiple times a day. Nothing important, just sweet flirting to remind each other we were thinking about the other. Growing concerned, I sat down at my desk and called his phone. He didn’t answer so I left a message. An hour later, I decided to try his office phone just in case he forgot his cell phone at home.
“Professor Sandviel’s office, Natalya speaking.” The cheery English accent of a young lady answered promptly. A bit too promptly, but who ever said I wasn’t the jealous type?
“Yes, hi, is Miguel available?” I refused to use his proper name with this little twit. I wanted her to know that we were on a first name basis. A first kiss basis. A first body basis. Yeah, I was pitiful.
“Mr. Sandviel will not be in the office for the remainder of the day. May I take a message?”
Well, so much for having the upper hand with her. Clearly, she knew more than I did today. Not at the office? What happened? I never knew him to take time off work or even leave work early for that matter. Did he call his sister? Was he sick?
“Excuse me miss, would you care to leave a message?” She asked forcefully. She must not have realized that she stunned me into silence.
“No, no, thanks.”
I set the phone down and stared at it. Did I think the phone was going to answer my questions? Who knows? I sat there staring at it for a good ten minutes before Joan bounced into the office.
She was overflowing with excitement as she began telling me about the trip she went on. I couldn’t listen to her though. I was worried about Miguel. I did my best to look interested and ask questions at the appropriate time, but she noticed.
“Mel, what’s wrong?” She positioned herself on top of the desk, her legs dangling back and forth. “Did you and Miguel get into a fight or something?”
How did she always know me so well? No, it wasn’t a fight or anything like that, but she knew who it was about.
“No, Joan. Something’s wrong though. I can feel it.”
I was always able to feel things when they weren’t right. Our mom use to tease me and say that I had inherited Aunt Zula’s psychic abilities. Her name itself scared me enough to refuse to except that theory, but I always tried to listen to my instincts when they felt this strong.
“Do you mind if I run over to his house and check on him? Everything’s good here and I won’t be gone long.”
“Sure, but be careful driving. I know how you are when you’re distracted.”
Yeah, I knew what she was referring to. I drove right into a tree three years ago after my boyfriend cheated on me. But that was much different. I had wanted to destroy the car I found them in and the tree was my first opportunity.
“Yeah, Yeah, I know.”
I didn’t want to waste any more time talking. I grabbed my purse and keys and hurried out the back door.
Half an hour later, I was riding the elevator up to his condo. His car was parked in his spot in the garage so I knew he was here, but I didn’t know what to expect. Walking up to his door, I debated on knocking or trying the doorknob. He had told me that his house was mine, so should I let myself in? I didn’t know if he meant uninvited, so I reached up and knocked tentatively.
No answer.
I tried the knob and found that it was open. Slowly opening the door, I peeked inside.
“Miguel?” I called out. “Are you home?”
Nothing.
Closing the door behind me, I took a few steps further inside and could hear the shower running. After setting my purse down, I went looking in that direction.
Coming to the open bathroom door, I saw that nobody was inside. The Shower was on and steam filled the bathroom, but he wasn’t there. I walked a little further down the hall and turned the corner to find him sitting at his desk in his bedroom. His back was to me and he was staring out the window. A bottle of Jack Daniels and a half empty glass were sitting in front of him.
“Miguel?” I asked as I walked toward him.
He spun the chair around, stopping me where I stood.
There in front of me was the man I fell in love with, the beautiful man who made my body soar just looking at him. But instead of the strong, sexy man, I saw a sad, broken boy hidden inside the man’s body. With the look of desperation on his face, I wasn’t sure if he’d want me there or not.
“Oh Mel.” He jumped to his feet and swallowed me up in his arms, crushing my body to his. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I just couldn’t figure it all out yet. I’m so confused. I’m sorry.”
I tried to pull back to look at him, but he wouldn’t let me. He kept me pinned to his body. Seeing how he needed the reassurance, I tightened my hold and clung on to him as well.
“It’s okay. I got worried and came to check on you. I called your office and you were gone so I hoped I’d find you here.” I paused, allowing him feel my reassurance. He didn’t loosen his grip in the slightest. “Do you want to talk about it?”
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled above my head. I rubbed my hands up and down his back to soothe him and tell him he wasn’t alone. Relaxing slightly, he nodded his head, but still didn’t speak.
“How about we go to the living room and sit down? I’ll grab a drink on our way and you can turn the shower off?” I thought moving a little and refocusing his thoughts might help him open up some.
“Okay,” he whispered and started walking toward the hall.
His sadness was breaking my heart. His shoulders were slumped, his head hung low, and his steps were slow and uncertain. Whatever was going on was far more than only a call from his sister.
We moved around the kitchen and made some sandwiches together as I told him about my day and Joan coming back. Using small talk, I hoped to distract his mind for a little while. He leaned over and kissed me every time I passed by him. He seemed to need to reassure himself that I was really there and that I was his. I didn’t hesitate. I returned his kisses and rubbed his arms or back whenever I could.
After eating a half sandwich each, which was the most either of us could do, we went into the living room. I opened the curtains to let some sunlight in, hoping it would chase away some of the dark, oppressive feelings. He sat on the couch and stared str
aight ahead at the empty fireplace.
Gathering him in my arms, I sat directly on top of his lap. I didn’t want him to have to look directly at me when he spoke so I leaned my head onto his shoulder and held him against my body. He wrapped his arms around my back and sighed.
“My dad’s going to die, Mel.”
Well, no small talk now. Straight to the gut punch.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
I squeezed him a little tighter and kissed his neck. I sensed that wasn’t the only thing bothering him and I wasn’t wrong.
He started explaining everything, rushing to get it all said and done. “It’s not that I’m upset about him dying. That may sound bad, but he wasn’t a good person. We didn’t have any type of relationship that I’d ever even admit he was my father other than by blood.” He paused while forming his thoughts. “It’s my mom and my two sisters I’m worried about. My mom especially. She may not have had a good husband, but somehow she found it in herself to love him. And my sisters have both married, but their husbands are not good men either. They’re just like my father was.”
I listened to every word he was saying, but I was reading between the lines. He was blaming himself for not being able to change their situations or give them the opportunities that he’s had.
“They said he’s expected to live a few more weeks.”
I pulled back to look at him, wondering if I’d find sadness or maybe even tears. What I saw surprised me. It was anger. Not directed at me, but about his father.
“Do you want to go see him?”
I barely got the words out of my mouth before he raised his voice and said, “No!”
I flinched, the surprise of his forceful voice catching me off guard.
He shook his head and pulled me back into his embrace. “I’m sorry, Mel. I didn’t mean to yell with you there. I’m sorry.”
He started breaking down again. I felt his body crumpling beneath me. I wouldn’t allow that when we were actually getting his feeling out. Besides, he didn’t actually yell, it was more like a loud growl.
“No, Miguel. It’s fine. I’m fine. I was just surprised. You need to talk about it. Remember, I’m here for you, no matter what.”
I turned my head and kissed a trail up his neck, across his cheek, and opened my mouth on his lips, inviting him for a slow, loving kiss. He hesitated, but gradually merged his lips with mine, quickly transforming it from gentle to aggressive. I knew what it was like to feel alone, to need reassurance, and that’s what I was giving him.
Moving from my mouth, he slowed our momentum and kissed his way to my cheek, my temple, up to my hair. Brushing feather light kisses above my head, he pulled me into his chest, squeezing me tightly against him.
“God, I’d be lost without you. I love you, Maelianna.”
“I love you too, Miguel. I’m always here for you. Don’t force yourself to go through these things alone. Even if you’re embarrassed or scared, just let me be with you. Hold you. Don’t do it alone again, please.”
“I don’t deserve you, but I’m so glad Paul blackmailed me into going to their dinner party that night. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.” The injured look he had moments ago started to fade, replaced by a happy and satisfied one.
Seeing this as my opportunity to lighten the mood, I leaned back and looked shocked. I was shocked actually. Blackmailed? What the heck?
“What do you mean blackmailed?”
“Oops. Um, I mean he invited me.” He raised his eyebrows, trying to look innocent.
He was not getting out of it that easily. Not only did I want to know, but I saw his mood lighten by the second as we continued.
“Oops? Oh no, I don’t think so. Spill it.” I sat back and crossed my arms across my chest, showing him he wasn’t getting any more love until he told me.
“Okay, okay, but no yelling at Paul. It did lead us to each other, right?”
Great, how bad was it if he was warning me not to get mad?
“Spill…all of it.”
“Well, Paul said he wouldn’t cover two of my classes that I needed him to, unless I agreed to come to one of his wife’s dinners.”
That wasn’t so bad. I could deal with minor manipulation. Looking deeper into his brown eyes, I saw that there was more he was holding back.
“All of it, Mr. Sandviel!”
He grinned uneasily. “Well, you see, I insisted I didn’t want to go. He told me about you. About his beautiful and caring sister-in-law who he wanted me to meet. I informed him that I didn’t really do the dating thing and had no interest at all. That’s when he told me he’d notify the board about my one mistake five years ago when I slept with a student.”
I gasped. Paul was not that kind of man. And why would he push Miguel so hard to meet me? Was he really that certain that we’d be right for each other? Should I even think about the student or worry about who the secretary was? No, I’d do that later. Right now I’d focus on Paul. Part of me wanted to thank him since he was right, but the other part wanted me to smack him for thinking he had to blackmail someone into meeting me.
Seeing my frustration, Miguel jumped back in to try to smooth it over. “But see, if he hadn’t done that, then we wouldn’t have met. And Mel?”
I raised my eyebrows, not saying a word, waiting for the rest to come out.
“The minute I saw you in their kitchen, the moment you tried to shake my hand with the rooster head, I knew it was worth it. I never looked back. I, me,” he emphasized, “I’m happy Paul did it. I don’t know what made him do it, but I will always be in his debt for introducing us.”
Okay, he got me there. He easily wiped away all the bad and replaced it with the good. But he was right. I wouldn’t be here, in his lap, if it weren’t for Paul and his stupid blackmailing.
“Yeah, I guess so.” I uncrossed my arms, my lips turning upward at the corners.
Before I had a chance to protest, Miguel picked me up and tossed me to the couch, instantly tickling my feet and quickly moving higher to my sensitive ticklish spot along my inner thighs.
“You guess? So you don’t know yet, huh?” He was laughing and teasing me.
I was thrilled that he was back to his normal self. I knew all his worries were lying inside, just under the skin, but I wanted to show him that he wasn’t alone anymore.
“Okay, you win.” I squealed and tried to pull away.
“Oh yes, I won alright. I got the grand prize, baby.”
He stopped tickling and leaned his body down on top of mine, resting the majority of his body weight on his knees between my legs. I pulled myself up to meet him halfway, as we held each other tightly and kissed away the worries.
Three hours later, I returned to work. Miguel and I had made love, talked some more, and then made love again. I was quite the therapist, if I do say so myself. Feeling much better about the situation, I finished the orders and placed a few ads for help wanted. Joan had already left to go home since she wasn’t actually scheduled to work today. So I called her and updated her on everything that had happened in the past few days while she was gone. She shared all the details from her trip and gushed about how much she enjoyed the hotel they stayed at. We were like teens swapping our stories.
I was still concerned about Miguel and how he’d handle it when his father actually passed away, but I felt better about the situation now that he saw me as a partner. We’d never had the talk about girlfriend-boyfriend status or being exclusive, but considering neither of us had dated for so long and we were now seeing each other every day, it was needless to label ourselves. Still, I found myself grinning and feeling proud when Joan referred to him as my boyfriend during our conversation.
CHAPTER 9
Joan insisted that we walk to work today since it was a warm, clear day and we’d been driving for weeks due to business being so busy. I easily agreed, enjoying the beautiful start to fall. I had spent most of the week training another new girl and couldn’t believe it was alre
ady Friday. Miguel’s schedule was extremely busy since school was about to start, so other than spending the night together a couple times, we hadn’t seen each other like usual. That meant I didn’t have much to talk about, but Joan had no problem filling in the silence. She was extra cheerful today, her endless chatter constantly making me laugh.
When we arrived at the shop, I was surprised to see Miguel’s car parked outside. I was instantly bouncing like my sister. I hurried in the door, eager to find him. It didn’t take long; he was at the register talking to Allyea.
Trying to return his surprise, I quietly tiptoed up behind him. I reached my arms out as I got close, but he turned around at the last second, and wrapped me in a full hug, lifting me off the ground.
“There’s my beautiful woman.” He twirled me around before setting me down and giving me a quick kiss. “Did you really think you could surprise me with that obnoxious bell you have on the door?”
Damn bell! I hear it so often, I forget it’s there.
“I was hoping so.” I pouted just a little. “Besides, what do I owe the honor of this visit to?”
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “All I can say is that you’re going with me and we’ll be gone until Sunday.”
My mouth fell open. I was speechless.
I started going through all the appointments and orders in my head, the paperwork, and everything else that needed to be done. I was so overcome with both excitement and worry that I didn’t notice Joan coming up beside us until her hand was on my back.
“Don’t worry, Mel. Everything’s taken care of here. Your bag’s already packed and inside Miguel’s trunk.”
I looked from her to Miguel and back to her again. Her smile lit up her entire face. Now I knew why she was so happy this morning.
“Okay, enough with the worrying, you’re mine now. I’ve wanted to do this for weeks.” Miguel stepped away and took my hand in his, pulling me toward the door.
Twisted Truths & Leveled Lies Page 9