He leaned forward to kiss me sweetly on the lips. I closed my eyes, savoring the taste of his lips that I had been yearning for. Our lips pressed together, gently nibbling, lingering for a few seconds, before we parted.
“I love you so, so much, Tasha,” he said.
“And I love you so, so much, Stryder,” I answered.
He took me in his arms, hugging me tightly, transporting me into the dream that was now a reality.
Epilogue
Stryder
The new spacious gallery in Windfield was teeming with people, mostly football players and sports enthusiasts.
I went around beaming with pride, accepting congratulations from my former teammates and even fans. Naturally, they all wanted to know if I was ever going back to football. It felt good to be missed, but I wasn’t done yet with my photography journey.
A beautiful, fulfilling year in London had passed. I had another year to go, but I’d decided to come back home first and hold a solo exhibit in the city that I loved. Alongside the numerous painful memories of Windfield were countless wonderful memories too. I’d grown and learned a lot over the past year, and this time I wanted to give back to the place I knew as home and to the football team I’d embraced as my family.
My exhibit entitled “My First Love” was all about football. Just the previous week, I’d gone to a Windfield Warriors game for the first time as a photographer. It was just as I had imagined. The game had a pull on me, of course, awakening my love for the sport. But I enjoyed being in the sidelines too, capturing moments that the audience often didn’t see from where they sat in the bleachers.
“Congratulations, Mr. Cooper,” a familiar voice said.
I smiled, recognizing the voice of the woman I loved. Turning around, I took her in my arms and gave her a lingering kiss.
“What’s that for?” she asked, giggling.
“Just because,” I replied with a grin.
“Looks like somebody’s very happy!” she said.
“I am, Tasha,” I told her. “Everything’s falling into place.”
“I’m so happy for you, Stryder!” she said, giving me a hug.
Our friends eventually surrounded us. I placed an arm around her shoulders as we conversed with them. I felt very much at home, joyful and fulfilled. There was only one thing left to make everything absolutely perfect.
As I was talking, I caught sight of him from the corner of my eye. It was my dad, approaching me with a serious look on his face. I braced myself for painful words. During my stay in London, I’d only talked to him on special occasions such as his birthday and mine. We hadn’t said much, but we had kept in touch through email. He’s never expressed support, though, but had not emphasized his disappointment and frustrations again.
“Stryder,” he said, nodding in acknowledgement when it was finally just the two of us.
“Dad,” I said in greeting, waiting for him to say something first. Our friends parted, saying hello to him and then dispersing into their own groups of conversation. I felt Tasha moving away, but I took her hand firmly, silently urging her to stay. She did, standing by my side quietly.
“Tasha,” Dad said, glancing at my girlfriend. At least he did not ignore her. Then turning to me again, I’d never forget the next words he said. “I’m proud of you, my son. You have done well.”
That was all he said, and it was enough. I was frozen on the spot as he came forward to hug me and give me a pat on the back.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my heart bursting with unexpressed emotions. There was still a lot left unsaid, a long way to go before we could repair our relationship as father and son. But this was definitely a wonderful beginning for us.
Before he turned away, he even said, “Take care, you two. I’ll see you around.”
Tasha smiled at me then. “And the day has just moved from great to perfect!” she exclaimed, beaming at me.
“Right,” I agreed, embracing her.
I now had peace of mind, and I was more than eager to delve deeper into my newfound passion. I was totally inspired, looking forward to a more beautiful and meaningful year together with the love of my life.
“This is touchdown for you, Stryder,” Tasha whispered.
“You’re my ultimate touchdown, Tasha,” I whispered back with a smile, leaning down to kiss her.
She smiled back, saying, “Hut! Hut! Hut! Or should I now say Click! Click! Click?”
We both laughed. It was definitely a very fine day.
THE END
Just For You
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The Xmas Conquest – Excerpt
Santa you gotta be kidding me.
One hot Xmas encounter in Jamaica has haunted me for an entire year.
Just when I was about to give up the search,
Guess who do I see sitting at my secretary’s desk?
Forget about beaches and bikini,
even in her boring suit Hannah had me hooked
But she was so stubborn and proper, refusing me in every turn
Yet always teased me with a glimpse of desire in her eyes
Oh my girl, you had no ideas how I enjoy a challenging conquest
***
Chapter One
Hanna
“Coffee?”
I groaned as I slouched down at the kitchen table and rested my chin in my hands. It was six-thirty in the morning – an ungodly hour to begin with – but it was also Monday, and there was nothing I was dreading more than going into work and sitting at a desk for nine hours, pretending to smile.
“Yes, please.”
Danielle nodded as she set a steaming cup in front of me. When the aroma reached my nostrils, I wrinkled my nose.
“You’re going to like it eventually,” Danielle said in a sing-song voice.
“Is that a threat?” I asked drily, staring down at the oily surface of my hot morning drink. “Or a promise?”
Danielle shrugged. “Whichever you’d prefer,” she replied. She arched an eyebrow and sat down at the table, sipping from her own mug.
“God, how are you so awake and put together,” I grumbled as I looked at my best friend and roommate. “It’s too early for eyeshadow.”
Danielle smirked. “It’s the coffee,” she replied. “Obviously.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for that,” I told her. “I feel so much better already.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Danielle said. “Besides, you’ve only been working there for what, six months? I’m sure you’ll like it more when you’ve settled in.”
I groaned again. “It doesn’t feel like six months,” I muttered. “It feels like an eternity.”
“Well, it’s either that or take out more student loans and go back to school,” Danielle said. She took a long drink of coffee. “And I somehow have the feeling that you don’t want to do that.”
“Indeed not.” Steeling myself, I wrapped my hands around the cup of coffee and brought the edge of the mug to my lips. The warmth felt good, and I had to admit that the smell was growing on me…but I couldn’t imagine how living, breathing adults managed to chug this stuff on the regular. It was like drinking hot, bitter poison, like feeling myself cook from the inside out.
“It snowed again last night,” Danielle said, glancing out the window. She shivered. “I can’t wait to stand and wait for the stupid bus,” she added sarcastically. “Nothing better than walking around all day with wet socks.”
I sighed. “Tell me about it.”
Danielle glanced down at her watch. “You’d better get a move on,” she said. “You’re gonna be late.”
I stuck my tongue out at her. “What are you, my chaperone?”
D
anielle snorted. “No,” she said. “But I don’t exactly want to cover your portion of the rent if you get fired. You’re still in the probationary period, you know.”
“Don’t remind me,” I said as I got to my feet and wiped my hands on my pajama pants. The coffee had helped – marginally – and I felt a little more awake, but it was still ungodly early. The sun hadn’t even started to peek out over the horizon and I shivered as I went into my bedroom and quickly pulled on tights, a sweater dress, and my favorite pair over-the-knee boots. Ever since I’d started working, I’d been able to splurge a little bit on clothes…but just a little bit, as I was still paying off student loans and repaying Danielle for her months of financial assistance.
I knew I was acting like a brat. I knew I should be grateful – after all, there were twenty-four-year-olds all around Boston with no jobs. Hell, one of our friends from college, Maria, had been working as a barista for two years and she had a master’s degree!
But my new job was, objectively, awful. It was worse than awful – I was surrounded by patronizing, sexist jerks who thought that staring at my ass all day was appropriate behavior. And to make matters even worse, I hadn’t managed to befriend any of the other women there. They were all in a tight clique…and I was the only one excluded from the party.
By the time I said goodbye to Danielle and left the warmth and safety of our small walk-up, I was feeling nervous and frightened. Would this be the day I got fired, for some random offense I hadn’t even committed? I shuddered as I walked down the street and waited by the bus stop. The Boston streets were filled with brown and grey icy slush – just looking at it made me feel like vomiting – and the air was chilly and dry. I could feel the tip of my nose going numb as I ducked into the bus shelter and wrapped my arms around myself.
When the bus arrived, I awkwardly sat down on a bench as my puffer coat rose to my ears. The bus was scalding hot and steamy, and by the time I got to my office, I was sweating profusely. My brown hair was stuck to my scalp, and my hands were clammy and hot. I tottered off the bus, carefully avoiding the piles of ice and muck, and made my way into the building.
“Morning, Hanna,” my boss, Jim, said. He narrowed his eyes. “Is everything okay?”
I frowned. “Yeah, of course it’s okay,” I said. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
Jim swiped his key card through the security turnstile. I followed behind to the elevator bank.
“Well, because it’s eight-oh-three,” Jim replied.
“Um, I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t quite get what you’re saying.”
“You’re supposed to be here at eight,” Jim informed me. “I’ll have to make a note on your employee file.”
I struggled not to roll my eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, trying to sound as meek and apologetic as possible. “The bus was late this morning.”
“Then perhaps you should have caught an earlier one,” Jim said. “See that it doesn’t happen again.”
The elevator arrived, its doors dinging open. Jim pushed his way through the waiting crowd, into the back of the elevator. By the time it was my turn to enter, the car was full. I groaned as the doors closed.
Today was going to be wonderful.
I could just tell.
***
By mid-morning, I wasn’t feeling much better. Jim had made a huge show of embarrassing me in front of the entire office staff – he’d told everyone that I was “egregiously tardy,” even though we’d shown up to work at the same time! I was angry, but I knew I had to keep my temper under wraps. I wasn’t going to lose this job because of my ego.
“Hanna, I need you to run out and get me some coffee,” Jim said. He leaned over my desk. “You know – cappuccino, with soy milk and a squirt of hazelnut syrup.”
I nodded and forced a smile. “Sure thing. Let me just finish up what I’m working on—”
“Hanna, I have a meeting in twenty minutes, I need the coffee now,” Jim replied tartly. “So, get a move on.”
I glanced over Jim’s shoulder at the brand-new coffee maker. “Would you rather I make you a cup here? And then after your meeting, I can go out and get your cappuccino?”
“Hanna, it’s bad form to talk back to your boss,” Jim said snidely. “Now go. Get that coffee.” His voice was loud and arrogant and I flushed angrily as I reached for my coat and bag. It seemed like everyone in the office had heard Jim as I made my way through the desks and cubicles. I kept my face down, buried in the thick faux-fur collar of my puffer jacket as I left the office.
The elevator was filled with the other girls from the office, all clutching their designer bags. They didn’t even make an effort to smile at me as I stepped inside, and I sighed as I squeezed in right as the doors closed. They lowered their voices, but I could hear them chatting about one of the neighborhood’s hottest new restaurants, a Brazilian steakhouse that had just opened a few blocks from the office.
Forcing myself to smile, I turned and faced them. “Hey,” I said. “My roommate loves that place – she’s already been twice. I hear it’s really good.”
The ringleader of the office girls, a brunette named Samantha, frowned.
“I don’t believe we asked your opinion,” she said in a cold voice. “Did we, girls?”
The other girls echoed their agreement.
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I was just trying to be friendly.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t really want to talk to you,” Samantha said. She raised an eyebrow. “You’re the new girl. And besides, you’re just a secretary.”
My cheeks were burning as the elevator doors dinged open and the stream of bitches pushed past me. What is it with people in this stupid office, I thought as I watched Samantha and her awful tribe striding away in their stiletto heels. Despite the ice on the ground, not a single one of them slipped or fell.
Outside, the sun was shining overhead but it somehow felt even colder than it had in the morning. I hustled across the street to the local coffee shop, where I gave Jim’s order and waited impatiently for his stupid cappuccino to land in my grip. It was ridiculous – I probably went on five or six coffee runs per week for Jim, and he’d never paid me back. I was keeping a secret total of his coffees back at my desk, and I wasn’t sure when I should confront him about it.
Being a working girl wasn’t exactly living up to my expectations.
When I got back to the office, I handed Jim his coffee. He narrowed his eyes at me.
“Hanna, you were gone for over twenty minutes. You know the policy – no running personal errands on company time. I’ll be subtracting those twenty minutes from your accrued vacation time.”
My jaw dropped. “I swear, I didn’t do anything else, Jim. All I did was go get your coffee.”
“It doesn’t take a reasonable person twenty minutes to fetch coffee,” Jim said arrogantly. “I should know. I used to go myself, you know.”
I could feel the anger building inside of me, hot and unreasonable, like a dragon about to blow flames and scorch the earth.
“You can go back to your desk now, Hanna,” Jim said in a snide voice. “I’ll need that report you were working on.”
The anger kept rising and rising in my throat. I swallowed.
“Jim, you asked me to leave immediately and get your cappuccino,” I said in what I hoped was a calm voice. “I haven’t finished the report yet – you told me to finish it when I got back.”
Jim narrowed his eyes. He took a sip of his cappuccino. “I don’t believe I would have given you such terrible advice,” he replied. “And while we’re talking, I want to mention something.”
By now, my ears were burning with rage. I wanted to grab the nearest heavy object and throw it right into Jim’s stupid, fat face. But I knew I couldn’t – I knew I had to be an adult, even if that meant getting yelled at by my boss.
“Yes?” I asked. “What is it?”
“The way you dress,” Jim said. He stepped closer and a wave of revulsion shot through my body. “It�
�s not exactly…office-appropriate, even if some of your looks are very attractive.”
I narrowed my eyes. Jim’s gaze slid down my body, lingering on my breasts, and I shuddered again.
“It’s rude to stare,” I said in a low voice.
Jim blinked. “I wasn’t staring,” he lied. He licked his lips as he continued staring at my breasts. “But I think you need to start dressing a little more appropriately. You’re not in college, anymore, Hanna. This is a real job – in the real world – and you’re going to have to learn to be an adult.”
I felt sick. First, this asshole was angry with me for taking too long to get his coffee, and now this? I couldn’t believe it – either I was crazy, or he was the most sadistic boss in Boston.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m well aware of that.”
“And furthermore, I hate to tell you this, but if you commit any more infraction, I’m afraid I won’t have a choice but to fire you,” Jim said. He leaned in close, staring at my breasts again. “And you know I’d be so sorry to do that.”
Something inside of me snapped and I stood straight and tall. “That won’t be necessary,” I said. Adrenaline began to pump through my veins and I smiled at Jim.
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