The Sweet Road to Love

by Jacki Kelly

  She couldn’t take her eyes off the way his hand slipped down to grasp a handful of ass and the open-mouthed kiss the woman gave him. With his wife just a few feet away, how could he behave so brazen? Is that what happened when playboys aged?

  “What are you looking at?” Melissa asked.

  “Nothing. Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Dakota sat outside the restaurant, checking the rearview mirror. Madeline was already inside. She could see her seated at the table near the window. After last night, Dakota had more respect for Madeline. It took a tough woman to hold her family together when her husband was doing everything he could to tear it apart. The idea of monogamy was great in theory, but it seemed a lot harder to put into practice. Even her parents had died with the suspicion of infidelity in the air.

  She shook the thought away. Dating Bishop was playing with fire. But while she thought she was having fun, he’d claimed her heart. He wasn’t any closer to giving up his playboy ways than she was of enduring their casual relationship.

  She stepped out of the car and headed inside.

  Madeline waved to her as she came through the door.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show.” Madeline slid her chair to the left to make room at the small table. The morning paper lay open in front of her.

  “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I couldn’t get away from the bookstore. Jennifer was late this morning. Have you ordered yet?” Dakota picked up the menu.

  “Of course not. I was waiting for you. I see the little affair last night made the front page. I think that’s very quaint. In La Jolla, something this small wouldn’t have been a blip on the screen of activity. I find it rather surprising that Bishop could be happy in such a small city.” She held her nose in the air like a bad smell had entered the room.

  “Madeline, Bishop doesn’t live in Bristol. And Philadelphia is no hick city. I think Philly can compete with any cosmopolitan city.”

  “Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to belittle the town or the affair. Everything was quite charming.”

  The server arrived to take their orders, then disappeared. “I had hoped I’d get to your bookstore while I was here. I’d like to see your establishment.”

  “You haven’t missed much. It’s under renovation. I’ll make sure to send you pictures of the finished project.”

  She placed the napkin in her lap. “Dakota, I’m nothing if I’m not straightforward. After Adanna’s little debacle, I decided my hands-off approach is probably not the best idea.”

  “Madeline, if you have something on your mind, just say it.”

  She patted Dakota hands. “I thought so, dear. You seem to be quite reasonable. Level headed. You run a successful business. But honey, don’t fall in love with my son. You’ll end up hurt and bitter. Bishop can’t help himself. A gene passed on from his father, or after being raised by his father, he doesn’t stand a chance. In this case the apple doesn’t fall from the tree.”

  Dakota opened her mouth to respond, but hesitated. How could she answer his mother when she had so many questions herself? “We’ve only been dating a short time. I’m not sure how I’d classify our relationship, but I think we are a long way from serious.” She shrugged.

  “Oh, dear.” She looked distressed.

  “Does he know we’re having this conversation?”

  “Of course not. I just wish someone had told me what I was getting into when I fell head-over-heels for his father. He doesn’t think I see what’s going on. But every new piece of jewelry that he brought home meant he’d slept with another bimbo.”

  Dakota pictured Bishop’s father as he groped the buttocks of the woman half his age last night. “Why do you put up with his behavior?”

  “I used to think about leaving him, but when I turned fifty, I realized I didn’t want to start a new life. I have a nice home, with a clothes and shoe closet that would make other women drool. I take several wonderful trips each year and I have a core of girlfriends that are wonderful. When I need to complain, they listen. I’ve decided I’m too old to change my life now. But if I’d known in my twenties or thirties that he was going to be this kind of man, I would have taken my babies and run in the opposite direction.”

  Madeline picked up her water glass and took a sip. The diamond on her ring finger could choke an elephant. After she put the glass down, she stacked her hands on the table. “I’m not proud to admit this, but…” She looked across the room. “It’s financial. I like the nice vacations, the designer clothes, and the big house. And I’m not walking away with only half.”

  “Why are you telling me this? You hardly know me.”

  “I see the way you look at him.” She picked up her glass again. “You love him. And Bishop might think he’s falling for you. I think that’s why he insisted we come to town. He wanted to show you off. But your relationship is still shiny and new. I’m not so sure he can hold on to that kind of passion for thirty or forty years.”

  A thin film of sweat moistened Dakota’s back. She knew what she was getting into, to say anything less than that wouldn’t be fair to Bishop. But his mother’s sharp words pierced her heart like a blade.

  “Ms. Contee…Madeline. Bishop has always been honest with me. We have a no-strings relationship. I’m not sure what you think you know about me, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

  Madeline made a loud sucking sound with her teeth and shook her head. “If I thought Bishop or his brothers were capable of change, I wouldn’t be sitting here. I’m surprised he didn’t warn you. Out of all of my boys, he is usually the most honest one.”

  Dakota sat back in her chair. She pressed her hand together in her lap to keep from fondling some miscellaneous item on the table. “One of the first things Bishop told me about himself was that he’s not into commitment.”

  “You think you can change him?”

  “No. I’m not ready to settle down, either. So our relationship works for us.”

  “Let me tell you something about Contee men. Keep your heart tucked away. Someone should have stopped Adanna before she got carried away with Dennis. He’s not much better.”

  “You don’t believe in marriage?”

  She fingered the edge of the napkin. “Senior is slowing down now. Most nights I know exactly where he is. I’m not saying he isn’t a good man. He just wasn’t good husband material when he was young. He’s taking a long time to grow up. But after all these years of marriage, I don’t much care what he does anymore. He lives his life and I live mine. And I must say, I always manage to find good company when I’m in need.”

  The server returned with lunch. Dakota looked at the large green apple salad and swallowed. No way could she sit through a meal.

  “Darling, you look sick. Are you feeling well?” Madeline reached for her hand.

  “If you could excuse me, I need to go to the ladies’ room.” Dakota pushed away from the table and grabbed her purse.

  In the lounge, she sat on the sofa and buried her head in her palms. Her stomach churned like a cake mixer. She deserved exactly what she got. Mim used to say, if you play with fire, don’t cry when you get burned.

  “Ma’am, are you okay? Can I get you something?”

  Dakota looked up to find a server hunched over her with a paper towel in her hand. “I’m fine. Thank you.” Dakota stood and smoothed the wrinkles from her dress. After a deep breath, she slogged back to the dining room.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  After lunch Dakota kissed Madeline’s cheek and waved goodbye. She was happy to see Madeline tip off in her five-inch heels to the rented Jaguar and pull away.

  When she was out of sight, Dakota started the Volkswagen and headed for the bookstore. At least during the remainder of their lunch Madeline hadn’t revealed any more family secrets that Dakota would rather not know about.

  Sorting out Bishop’s mother’s words from all the emotions was like trying to find that infamous missing sock, impos
sible. All she wanted to do was erase the thought that she could become Madeline. Even though Madeline was a beautiful, fashionable woman, the sadness in her words was a warning.

  The time she’d spent with Bishop didn’t match his confession about wanting to be unattached. He showed up even when she wasn’t expecting him, he called several times a day, and he always made her feel special. Brian had never been that attentive and he’d never confessed he didn’t want attachment. What could she believe? Was it all part of Bishop’s charm, or did it really mean something. People changed. Maybe he was ready for a real relationship, or maybe she just wanted him to be.

  The balance of the day, she maneuvered customers around the construction as they made book selections. The banging of hammers and the constant chatter cushioned her through the day.

  For the first time in years, she was happy to lock the doors of the shop and head home. Only in the sanctuary of her small home did she stop guarding her emotions. Before Bishop arrived, she dimmed the lights and folded her legs into the lotus position on the floor. No way could she feel bad about how they ended up. She got just what she told him she wanted, fun and excitement. Together, they had both.

  After several minutes, she opened a bottle of wine and lit some candles. The doorbell interrupted the peacefulness. Before answering, she checked the mirror and fluffed her hair, hating herself for even caring about such small things.

  “When did you become that person?” she asked her reflection before turning away.

  Bishop stood on the threshold with a big smile and a bouquet of long-stemmed yellow roses. “I owe you a thousand thank yous for putting up with my family over the weekend. I put my parents on a plane this evening, and now I’m all yours again.” He slipped his hand behind her neck and drew her close enough to kiss. His cold hands sent a shiver through her.

  The moment she tasted his tongue, she realized how much she’d missed him if she sent him on his way, or if he decided to move on. When his family gene rang the bell, signaling her time was up and the next lucky woman could take his hand in his long line of female companionship, she’d be left alone and lonely.

  “Flowers? That’s a first. Should I consider myself special or do you do this for all your girlfriends?” She led him into the kitchen.

  “I’m not a flower giver, so this is special. You are special. After the weekend you’ve had to put up with, I figured I should do something to thank you.”

  “I had an interesting conversation with your mother today at lunch.”

  “Any conversation with my outspoken mother can be interesting. So what did dear old Mom say this time?” He poured the wine.

  “She talked about the family gene that makes the Contee men unable to settle down like it was a real scientific phenomenon.”

  He took a long swallow. “She likes telling that story. Telling her side make her feel less like a victim and more like a martyr for putting up with my dad. What else did she say?”

  Dakota expected him to deny his mother’s logic or to distance himself from his mother’s story. Her body temperature edged up like a warning signal.

  “So, what she said was true?” Mim used to say never ask a question if you don’t really want the answer. She steadied herself against the counter, hoping his reply would strike his mother’s belief out of existence.

  “Nothing’s been verified,” he chuckled. “I think we kinda like the legend. But the tale has more to do with watching my father as we grew up than anything else. Adanna is the only one that’s chosen the marriage route. And right now, it doesn’t look like that was too wise.”

  “Dennis just doesn’t have a lot of money. He’s not mean or cruel and his feelings for his family are obvious. He adores your sister. Why don’t you guys like him?”

  “She could have done better, that’s all.”

  “Love has no regard for class, Bishop.” There was more edge in her voice than she wanted.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “What are you saying?” Dakota put her glass down to focus on him.

  “What do you mean? We’re just discussing your lunch with my mother, right?”

  She nodded. “So, you just let the gene theory rule the way you live your life?”

  “That’s pretty tough. But after thirty-three years of living this life, I’ve lowered my expectations.”

  She smacked his arm. “What does that mean? While dating me, you’ve been slumming?” She narrowed her eyes, demanding honesty from him.

  “No, you’re absolutely great. I just think I’m too young to settle down forever.”

  “Why, is there some young ass out there that you need to grab?”

  “Where did that come from?” He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

  “Never mind.” She gulped her wine.

  §§§

  Bishop recognized the conversation the moment she started. Careful not to reveal too much, he held his gaze steady. His voice even. The last thing his father had said today before going through security was “Be careful son. That woman wants more than a good toss in the bed.”

  Bishop had slapped his father on the back and laughed, but he already knew Dakota wasn’t the type of woman to hang around for fun, forever. He wanted more too. But just not right now. Regardless of how much he enjoyed her company, he wasn’t ready to walk down the aisle.

  He grabbed her hand and led her to the sofa. Ready to change the subject. “I had a hard day.

  After removing his shoes, he sat beside her on the sofa. She coaxed his head into her lap.

  “How’s the renovation coming along? Did the shelves arrive today?” He tilted his head just enough to see her face.

  With her warm fingers, she messaged his temples, loosening the tension from the day. He closed his eyes as she ran her thumbs over his forehead. Just her touch slowed down time.

  “Everything is on schedule. I think we’ll be done in time for small business Saturday. I run a whole ad for that day.”

  He chuckled. “Do you have a letter to read to me tonight?”

  “I thought you didn’t like my readings.”

  He lifted his head, pulling up next to her. He held her face between his palms to stare into her beautiful brown eyes. “I enjoy your readings.”

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  “A little, but in a loving way.”

  “You better be careful or when dinner arrives, you only get to watch me eat.”

  “Read me something, girl.” He slid his hand between the cushion and her butt.

  She reached for the book on the coffee table, and flipped through several pages before landing on one. “I will cover you with love when next I see you, with caresses, with ecstasy. I want to gorge you with all the joys of the flesh, so that you faint and die. I want you to be amazed by me and to confess to yourself that you had never even dreamed of such transports… When you are old, I want you to recall those few hours, I want your dry bones to quiver with joy when you think of them.’”

  He nodded. “I like that. Who wrote it?”

  “Gustave Flaubert in 1846.”

  “Wow, I guess even back then men were lustful.”

  “Loving.” She corrected him.

  “You are a beautiful woman, do you know that?”

  “Yeah, yeah. You’re too late to clean it up now.” She flipped on the music channel.

  Like the music, Dakota had infiltrated his life too. This couldn’t be too much different from commitment. He held her in the fold of his arm. In the serenity of her living room, his conflicted thoughts eased enough to allow him to enjoy her.

  “You know we can’t go on like this much longer.” Her voice was so calm he almost didn’t recognize the sound.

  He shifted her away. “What are you talking about? That stuff my mother said?”

  “She was right. Your mother. We’ve been having a really good time together, but we can’t have a meaningless affair forever. At some point, we have to return to adult life and do adult things.”


  He pulled his hand down his face and glared at her. “All relationships always come to this, you know. We’re having a good time and women always want to shake things up. I don’t understand why. What do you want, Dakota?” He stood up, kicked the table with a big thump.

  She clasped her fingers without looking up at him. “I want more than you can give me.”

  “You know I’m not ready to settle down. I told you that.”

  She pushed off the sofa. “You don’t have to change. I do.”

  “Dammit, Dakota.” He walked the length of the small room like a caged animal. “Why now, why tonight?”

  “Bishop, I can wait till next month or next year, but why? If I’ve learned nothing else, I know I’m not putting my life on hold for another man.”

  “So this is about Brian again. Because of him, you’re judging me,” he huffed. “That fucking man is always lurking around some corner.”

  “That’s not true. This has nothing to do with Brian. I’m talking about you and me. We are fine as long as we don’t talk about the future or I don’t get too serious. But I can’t promise that I won’t get too wrapped up in this…this thing we do.”

  He pushed his hands in his pockets. “So now what?” His words hung between them, like a smoldering flame nobody wanted to touch. He didn’t know how to answer.

  “I can’t hold you with one hand and have a normal life with the other. I could wait around hoping you’d change, but Mim always said you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”

  “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  She bit her lip.

  Before she could answer, he grabbed his suit jacket off the chair and stormed out the door. He slammed it hard enough to shatter the quiet on the deserted street.