“Oh my god Ana, what in the hell has happened to you?”
The tears are endlessly falling as I tighten my fists to keep from falling apart. “Can I stay with you please?” I don’t know how I manage to speak but the words come out without my willing. Jessie’s face is full of outrage, horror and worry, but she soon softens as she makes way for me to come inside.
“Of course Ana, anything.”
I find my feet, walking through the door, before shutting it behind me. The finality of it all seeming to end the chapter of my life with the only man I have ever truly loved. My heart is broken into little pieces and now lies in the hallway of Jake’s house, shattering my life, my being. He was the one who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. The one who taught me to live, love, and find true happiness. My laughter, my song, my reason to take a breath. My Jake.
Introducing Jake Bennett.
Bored as fuck is about the only way to describe how I feel. I don’t know why I have let myself get into this situation, but I’m here nonetheless. I like Stella, she is a nice lady in all but there’s no spark there for me. When our hands touched on the same cereal brand in the local grocery store about a month ago, I didn’t really pay much attention. I smiled at her and like the gentleman I’d like to think I am, offered her the item before choosing my own. She acted a little shy and giggled but I went on my way; but then it happened again. I started to wonder if fate was trying to tell me something. Here we were hands on the same strawberry jelly and I thought that maybe I should give her a chance. She made all the right noises as she giggled and played with her soft wavy golden brown hair. Her light eyes sparkled in the brightly lit store as she looked deep into my own. I rarely give any women the time of day. I have my son to look after and none of the women I meet provoke any kind of reaction from me. I have been on dates, but none of them have really passed the second time around. They make it plainly obvious what they want from me and although I have urges just like any other man and fulfil them on occasion, it is not the sort of shit I want at my age anymore. I’m not getting any younger and do need to settle down at some point. Matthew is 15 and not long from now he will leave for college and have his own life to lead, whilst I will be left fending for myself.
“My daughter likes this brand,” she said, tilting her head ever so slightly as she purred the words to me.
I noticed then that she had a British accent and that was sexy as hell. “Well your daughter has good taste.” She laughed the tension eased as she began to tell me bits about herself. I thought I would just be polite and go on my way but something held me back, so I asked her out.
Almost a month down the line I was well on the way to breaking things up with her as I knew she wasn’t the right one for me. The only reason why I am here now is because she told me all about her daughter just passing her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, so it piqued my interest. We could actually do with a new Analyst; although I would never tell Stella this as she may naturally assume that I would give her daughter the job. I would have to meet her first and decide for myself.
I sat at the table in La Bistro restaurant in Reston. It was a lovely autumn day and people were all making the most of the lasting sunshine by sitting outside. The tables were full and laughter erupted as everyone was enjoying the atmosphere. I had ordered a beer and Stella a wine and we sat waiting for her daughter to turn up. I didn’t realise I was doing it but my foot tapped anxiously under the table, wondering if she were ever going to make her presence known. She was supposed to meet us at 1 o’clock and it was now five minutes after. It wasn’t a good sign on first impressions.
I was about to ask Stella if she knew when she was arriving when she spoke, “Ah, there she is.”
I turned seeking her out but my breath caught when all I saw was this beautiful young woman striding toward the restaurant. The image of her burned in my mind as I couldn’t stop myself from staring. In all my 32 years I had never come across anyone so perfect. I watched as she virtually danced as she strolled along the sidewalk. She was tall with long silky blonde hair, and legs that went on forever. Another image then flashed before my eyes of those same legs wrapped around me and my cock twitched at the thought. Shit, what’s wrong with me? I felt a loss as I couldn’t see her eyes and wanted so desperately to look into them. They were hiding behind a pair of sunglasses and I had this sudden urge to stop her in her tracks and gently lift them away from her so I could see the beauty behind them. She wore a knee length pencil skirt which only accentuated her beautifully rounded hips. The tight fitting polar neck top she was wearing curved around her phenomenal breasts. They were just aching to be touched, caressed. This girl was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life and evoked reactions from me I never thought I ever had in me before. Sudden hunger erupted within me to touch her. She absent-mindedly placed her finger on her lips moving it back and forth like she was in deep thought. My cock came to life again just on that one tiny movement. It was the sexiest thing I had ever seen. What the fuck is wrong with me? I noticed very quickly that I wasn’t the only one immune to her beauty. Other men were admiring her presence and the reaction to it shocked and frightened the hell out of me. A rise of anger burned in my stomach and a voice I didn’t recognise suddenly boiled to the surface, shocking me to my very core. ‘Mine.’ I almost turned my head from her wondering where this voice had come from before realising it was my own. Fuck me Bennett, get a fucking grip. It’s only a girl and not only that she looks about 10 years younger than you. I couldn’t behave like this, but at the same time I couldn’t look away. I was just enveloped in her and only her. Even when I tried to avert my eyes they just sought after her again. The butterflies I didn’t realise I had, suddenly grew bigger as she came nearer to our table. My hands started to ache once I realised I had been gripping on to the edge of the table like my life depended on it. She glances in my direction and my chest constricted at the sight. It is then I notice that Stella is waving at her and she is waving back. Shit no, this can’t be. Please tell me that’s not her? Shit, that’s Stella’s daughter, Ana. Now I’m well and truly fucked.
Take a Breath (Take 1) Page 26