by Ellen, Tracy
I smiled grimly and interjected firmly, “I’m not the same girl you went out with back then, Mike.” Either Mike’s watched the remake of The Stepford Wives too many times, or he’s lost his ever-loving’ mind. “In fact, I never would have willingly done half of the stuff you just outlined, even back then. I own a store, remember? I can’t go buying houses in Minneapolis or go traveling at the drop of a hat. Thanks, but no thanks.”
In frustration that Mike could be so stupid and because I’m still starving, I took an enormously huge bite of my sandwich and stuffed in some chips, too.
Against anything resembling logic, my words had the reverse effect on Mike. He relaxed and smiled affectionately. “Of course we’ve both had ten years of growing up and maturing,’ I snorted with my mouth full at that, “but Bel, I’m the man that knows you, remember? You can keep Bel’s Books if you want, honey. I know how you love this place. We’ll arrange for Billy, or another more qualified store manager, to watch over Bel’s Books. You can pop in when you have the time.” Mike chuckled and lifted both hands, “I mean, how hard is it to run a used bookstore, once you show them the ropes?”
It probably wasn’t the most polite sight to see me with a dropped open mouth of partially masticated turkey, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and chips, but I was appalled at Mike’s arrogance.
‘Did this asswipe not understand the long hours it took to run my little empire? The dedication, sweat, and tears I’ve put into these four walls for years? Did he think I’d have an unqualified store manager on my staff that couldn’t take over and run this kingdom like clockwork, if I so chose?’
“…and after we dated for a few months, we could have the big wedding we were cheated from having.” Mike grinned and ran his fingers along the top of my leg. I hurriedly moved it out of his range, turning almost sideways while I frantically chewed. It was simply amazing how this evasion didn’t faze him for a second. He instead stroked my forearm that was still within his reach. “You’ve had it all planned out in your head for years, haven’t you, Bel? I know how women love all that wedding mumbo-jumbo.”
“Will you shut up and listen to what I am saying for a minute, please?” I asked, but since my mouth was full of club sandwich this was said more in forceful grunts versus actual words, and Mike ignored me once again.
Brown eyes that I mistakenly thought glowed warmly like melted caramel now looked peanut-brittle bright with determination to have me understand his Dream Plan. Too bad his dream Bride-To-Be was a detail so minor he wouldn’t stop for second to listen to her.
I attempted to swallow down the huge lump of food so I could talk clearly and get him to stop, but Mike rolled along relentlessly. I grabbed the water bottle and gulped to help push the painful clog of food down the pipe. I slammed the empty water bottle back on my desk.
“…but you can’t take too long to plan the wedding,” He captured my free hand and teased, “because I know we’re going to get right on having those babies we talked about. I want two babies, Bel, a boy and a girl. Boom, boom. I can’t wait to see you pregnant”
Mike dropped to his knees and knee-walked over to stand in front of me. Horrified, I was transfixed as he brought my hands up to his lips and kissed each palm. I know there has to be greasy bacon and chip crumbs all over those hands, but he ignored that reality like he ignored me.
He peered up at me and whispered, “I can’t wait to make you pregnant.”
“No!” I whispered, somewhat hoarsely. “Thanks, but I’m not interested.”
“No?” He repeated, brows rising in surprise. “Okay, I guess we can wait a little longer on the babies, but Bel,” Mike chuckled and my eyes narrowed at the arrogant sound that I once thought charming, “you’ve got to know your eggs aren’t getting any younger, right?”
‘Not the eggs again!’
“No, I don’t want to get married!” I yelled.
Mike reared back like I’d slapped him. “Are you saying you want to take things slow…”
“No, I’m saying I never, ever want to get married!” I yanked my hands free and stood up.
Mike chuckled again and I was starting to hate that sound. “Oh, come on, Bel. Every woman wants to get married at some point. I think…”
Exacerbated, I shook my fists at the ceiling in frustration and then glared down at this ass at my feet. “No, Mike. I am serious. Hear what I am saying. I’m not the woman you knew ten years ago. You do not know me. Marriage and babies is not my Dream Plan.” I enunciated clearly, “Ever!”
Mike stood up slowly and he smiled, but his face wore an expression that said he knew he was dealing with a wild, dangerous animal that needed to be handled.
“Tell you what, we’ll take things slow. I get how women sometimes don’t know what they want until they are shown how it will be. Let’s try a few dates, okay?” He reached for me suddenly and pulled me close before I could move. “Bel, I have never stopped loving you. Thinking about you is driving me crazy.” He held my upper arms and raised me up on my tiptoes while he leaned down and muttered, “All morning I have been thinking of you with that asshole, Drake. I know you can’t want him over me. I’m sorry I got too drunk last night to be with you.”
He bent his head to kiss me and I twisted adroitly, ducked under his arm, and was free. I’ve had twenty-five years of experience ducking men that I am not attracted to, so this move came naturally.
I tried to tell Mike the truth and I do not like to lie--if I can possibly avoid it, but enough is enough. I have a pesky, little used bookstore to run and a girl to save.
‘I do not have time for this shit.’ The voices cheered me on to do what a girl needed to do.
“I have a boyfriend!” I shouted.
Mike had been moving towards me but at these magic words, used by women as the lowest form of excuse since time immortal, he stilled.
“You have a boyfriend?” he repeated in an expressionless voice.
“Yes, I already have a boyfriend! So, I cannot go out on dates, or get married, or have any of your stupid babies!’
“Who is this supposed boyfriend?” Mike demanded aggressively, hands on hips.
I crossed my arms over my chest and smiled. “Not that it’s any of your damn business, but my boyfriend is that asshole, Luke Drake.”
I actually said the word boyfriend this time without hesitation or a splutter. Asshole was never a problem.
“I can’t believe Drake is your boyfriend!” Mike’s voice was rising in anger. “What do you even know about him, Bel? As a lawyer, I know how to read men, and I can tell from looking at him that he’s not to be trusted. I’ve heard he’s not even here in Minnesota most of the time. I know his type, he’s got women everywhere. You want a man like that? I thought you said you didn’t want to get married.”
“You don’t know crap, Mike McClain. Luke can totally be trusted not to want to marry me and have freakin babies; I can double-damn guarantee you that!”
Mike looked me up and down, but this time there was nothing sexual in his glance only sad disgust. “You’ve changed, Anabel Axelrod. If you could prefer Luke Drake over a man like me, you’ve really changed.”
“Ha! I could have told you that.” I snapped my fingers. “Oh, wait. I did tell you that.”
He shook his head and grabbed his jacket. Jerking it up over his arms, he said tightly, “This is my final offer, Bel. I’ll forget what you’ve said about Drake. We are both tired and it’s not like us to argue this way.” He took a step closer and stated loudly, “I don’t want to lose you. I know we belong together.”
He was nuts, but seeing his sincerely miserable expression, I found myself feeling somewhat bad. Mike’s shown me the man beyond the charming mask and I was definitely not the right woman for him. Maybe we would have evolved into different people had we married young, but I don’t have much faith in people changing that much. I did love Mike then, and I’m not taking that away from us, but I’ve had ten more years of getting to know myself. There’s a world full of w
omen out there who would love the life Mike was offering me. They’d jump at the chance to be with him, but with my fervent thanks to all the powers that be in our Universe, I know that I wasn’t one of them. How ironic that by acting out on her psycho hatred for me ten years ago, Ex-Immaculata saved me from a life that would have drained the spirit out of me, if not ending in divorce.
‘As if I’d ever be happy living in a beautiful house, traveling the country, shopping endlessly, and sleeping with a gorgeous man whose dream life centers around me cooking him fabulous meals and having his children!’
At my silence, his eyes darkened and he sneered loudly, “He’ll never be faithful, you little fool, and he only wants you because I do.”
‘Then again, I don’t feel that bad.’
“You don’t know anything about him. I know he’ll never be faithful to me, you idiot, that’s why he’s my boyfriend!” I was losing my temper with this delusional troublemaker. “You’re the one who only wants me to prove you can win. You don’t know anything about me.”
There was a soft knock on the door and I glared at Mike while I shouted, “Come in!”
At this same time, Mike McClain shouted back at me, “I can guarantee you’re the biggest idiot if you’re telling me Luke Drake is your boyfriend!”
In the ensuing two seconds of silence that echoed with our shouted words, I didn’t have to look over my shoulder towards the open door. I swear to God, I only have to look down at my breasts and see my nipples standing perkily at attention to know who stood behind me.
I closed my eyes. I believe I was actively praying to all those powers that be in the Universe when I heard that silky, low voice drawling in amusement, “Anabel, Anabel, are you spreading lies around town again that I’m your boyfriend?”
Chapter XI
“Great Balls Of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis
Wednesday, 11/21/12
2:07 PM
This has to be, hands down, the quickest turnaround time in my life at getting caught in a lie. Definitely, it was the most inconvenient. Maybe when in my Les Misérables’phase and beginning to practice my pickpocket skills at age ten comes close, but certainly nothing since.
‘Talk about bad karma! This was ridiculous.’
I was still facing Mike. His handsome face instantly lost the anger at hearing Luke’s words and his knowing look held a mixture of pity and gloating affection. Zipping up his coat, he stepped closer until he was next to me.
He looked down and spoke in a low voice swelling with renewed conviction, “Boyfriend, eh? I knew I was right thinking you wouldn’t pick Drake over me! I’m not giving up on us, Bel. I think you’re just scared to trust me. Don’t be. You deserve to marry me and have my children. You’ll see that we belong together.”
Crossing my arms over my misbehaving bosom and taking a deep calming breath, I regarded Mike levelly and said, “I swear to God I do not want you.”
Mike only smiled like I was a child needing to be humored and reached to touch my cheek, but I avoided his hand by pivoting. It was time to face the music waiting behind me.
I was scared alright, but not for the reason Mike stated. He may claim to remember so much about our life together, but he was disregarding my swear to God like it meant nothing. Mike was going Stalker on me. Irritatingly time consuming as it was, I could see it was going to take a nail gun to drive home through his incredibly thick skull that I was sincerely not interested.
Meanwhile, the mean mommy voice was having a grand old time rubbing it in and chanting, ‘Liar, liar pants on fire!’
I easily ignored this priggish voice in my head because the reason my red frilly thong was in flames has nothing to do with lying, and everything to do with the man that has just stepped into my office--the man that just threw my lying butt back into the fire with his drawling words.
There was a crowd in the doorway behind my Anti-Hero, and I was inwardly appalled to note the fur draped Svettie smirking at Luke’s denouncement. Little John was observing me and Mike with a bland face and hard eyes. I finally looked at Luke.
His swift appraisal of my person didn’t come close to grossing me out when pausing on my plumped up breasts under my crossed arms. Lifting his head, glittery green eyes locked with mine for a moment.
If Mike McClain’s blonde handsomeness was Ivy style Ralph Lauren, then my black prince was bad boy meets GQ.
Under Luke’s unzipped leather jacket, his sweater was a black cashmere V neck over a charcoal T shirt. These must be his come-to-town clothes and not meant for the rigors of barn wear, although he definitely has a way with the jeans. His weren’t too new or too tight, but still hugged his lean, muscular legs and lovingly cupped his not-so-lean package in a fashionable way that I could only admire and wish to emulate.
‘Hmm, another first in my life and it’s a rather bizarre one.’ I can state for a fact that even my weird mind has never once thought t it would be appealing to actually be the pair of jeans wrapped around a man’s lower half—albeit the important half.
Forgetting my awkward predicament for a second, I stared back at the scorching hot man standing at his ease and regarding me with cool, challenging eyes. Luke was nowhere near handsome, but he’s something much better. He’s incredibly attractive. I could stare at him for hours trying to decipher what in particular makes him so interesting. Too bad my schedule today was so busy.
I’m not sure what Luke read from my rueful expression at being busted, but his attention was zeroed on me and he ignored Mike completely like he didn’t exist. His expression somewhat cruel, Luke cocked his head and motioned for me to come over to him.
Luke may be speaking quietly, but I could clearly hear the command in his voice when he added softly, “Come here, baby.”
I guessed by his hard tone that Mr. Cocky was still a mite disappointed with me from our phone conversation. Calling me “baby” was new and different, yet somehow generic and not much fun. It ranked up there with that dumb “angel”. Not anything like Princess. That’s much more fitting and friendly. Sweetheart was rather nice, too. Luke usually only called me that when he felt sorry for me, and I didn’t get people feeling sorry for me enough in my life. But baby? I could see him calling any interchangeable woman a stupid “baby”, and I didn’t like it one damn bit. Apparently, Luke was faithful to no woman, but he didn’t like his babies being kissed on by other men.
I ignored Mike completely and also wished he didn’t exist, but I was sure he was glaring at Luke from the rigidness of his posture. The office still technically has space for more people, but the blend of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide they’d need to breathe has been replaced by the testosterone filling every air molecule in the room.
I appeared to have two options. I could obey Luke’s arrogant summons like a well-trained bitch being called to heel by its master under the disdainful regard of his friends. This, for some odd reason, didn’t thrill me. Or I could allow Mad Mike’s sniggering assumption to stand that Luke was not my boyfriend and that I loved Mike, but I was just too scaredy-cat to commit. This was so odd for so many reasons and definitely didn’t thrill me.
Luckily, I was never good at painting by numbers and could think of a third option. I could do things my way and multi-task while I was at it. This wasn’t odd at all by my reasoning and totally thrilled me.
Giving a Thanksgiving Indian war whoop, I threw myself across the room and into Luke’s startled arms. Using his shoulders to boost, I hopped up and clamped my boots around his waist and locked my arms around his neck. Wriggling to get comfortable, I plastered myself against him. I grabbed his head with both hands and kissed him like he was a Pilgrim sailor coming home to his brave woman after years lost at sea.
Breaking off the torrid kiss, I leaned back in the arms that had encircled me automatically to keep me from falling. I stared into his stunned, war-god face.
“Gosh, you’re such a good kisser! Mmm, those lips! That killer tongue! Don’t even get me started on what your tongu
e does to me.” I wriggled some more. “You know I can’t stop myself from shouting to the rooftops that you’re my boyfriend! I must have told ten people in the store alone today.” I crossed my heart dramatically and laughed with exhilaration to be telling the truth again. Being forced to lie really depressed me. “I swear to God, I’ve been having the best time telling everyone you’re my boyfriend, Luke Drake. Guess what?” I didn’t pause, but seeing his black brows meet at this gushing torrent, my frisky grin widened. “It’s the first time I’ve had fun calling a man Boyfriend in over a decade. Well, since I’m being truthful here, it’s the first time I’ve ever had fun saying that word in my life! I’ve only had one boyfriend before.” I put up a hand and shook my head. “I know, I know, that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Calling Mike McClain my boyfriend, even when he was my boyfriend, was never this fun! Will you kiss me again, please?” I lowered my voice and stared into his gorgeous, narrowed green eyes. “I’m begging you. You taste deliciously like coconut cream pie and I like that even more than my brownie,” glaring pointedly over my shoulder, I was pleased to see Mike’s thunderstruck face and ruthlessly drove home a nail by adding accusingly, “that I was so rudely interrupted from eating with my lunch!”
Facing Luke again, it was to see he’s looking back at me with an unsmiling face while his hands tightened warningly on my hips. I winked at him, but it was just a tiny wink because usually I think winks were creepy. Sometimes though, there’s the perfect occasion for a little flirty one, and this was it. His lips twitched, just the smallest movement, but I saw it. My unrepentant little smile turned incorrigible.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his, hoping he’d pity his Sweetheart and start making out for real. I couldn’t care what the entourage crowding the door was thinking of me. I was too lost in the scorching heat of the bubbling chemical cauldron of sexual need this dark alchemist stirred up in my nether regions. My Devil only had to stare at me and I was drowning in desire.