by Nita Johnson
Jesse drove to a nearby restaurant where we were quickly seated. After looking over the menus we placed our order. He surprised me by holding my hand over the table while we talked. Rob hadn't ever done anything like that in the entire time we’d been together, saying that public displays of affection were not his thing. Although that disappointed me, I just went along with it, not like I could've changed his thoughts on the matter. Little things like this made me realize that maybe I had been wearing rose tinted glass when it came to my marriage. That maybe things had not been as perfect as I once thought.
“Penny for them?” Jesse probed me, his hand doing that thumb thing over my knuckles again.
“Oh, it’s nothing.” I brushed off his question, feeling silly for getting lost in my memories of my time with Rob.
Jesse leant over the table getting closer to me. “It’s not nothing, sweetheart. Tell me what had you going on in that pretty little head of yours. Let me in.”
“You took my hand in yours.” Frowning, I carried on with my explanation. “Rob never once did that. Said it wasn't his thing to show affection in public.”
Jessie growled at my answer. Legit growled. “We’ve already come to the conclusion that the man is an asshole, Willow. Don't let the past come in-between the future. I want to hold your hand, I want to do a lot more. You're my girl and I'm going to show the world that you're mine!” he declared bridging the last bit of space between us as he claimed my lips with his own. I was still for a moment but I soon lost myself in all that was Jesse.
“Wanna talk about what happened with your ex. Obviously I know he fucked around on you but do you want to tell me the whole story?” Jesse broached the subject carefully. Not long after our kiss our food came, and we devoured it in a comfortable easy silence, but now the plates had been cleared away so we were back to talking. Something that also came easy to us, not once suffering those awkward silences that could plague first dates.
“Not much to tell really. I went back home one day to get something I’d forgotten only to find him fucking our next door neighbor on our kitchen table. I shouted some shit about him bleaching the thing then I drove to Nan’s house. That was the day I met you.” I smiled at him shyly.
“I thought at the time you looked upset and now I know why.”
“That's not the whole story. After not hearing from him all night I decided to confront him the next day. That's when I walked in on him getting a blow job from someone he worked with. The man who gave me his shitty excuses was not the man I grew up with, he was no longer the man I’d married. He had become a stranger to me. I said my piece and left deciding to go and tell my nan what had happened. Well you know the rest from there.” I sighed as I came to the end of my story telling.
“Billy the bat.” Jesse smirked in my direction lightening my mood instantly.
“Yes, Billy the god damned bat.” I groaned.
“Rob is a motherfucking douchebag. He lost the best thing to ever happen to him and one day he will wake up and realize that but it will be far too late for him to rectify the situation. Far too late,” he stated passionately.
“And why’s that?” I probed him.
“‘Cause you're mine now, Willow. He lost you but I've god damn claimed you and I won't let anyone stand in my way to make you see that we belong together.”
Holy shit, this man meant business. I ought to be alarmed by his words but I found myself liking him more and more. Jesse walked me to my door like a proper gentleman when our date came to an end.
“Thanks for a lovely evening, Jesse.”
“You're more than welcome, Will.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” I asked nervously. I loved spending time with him tonight and was eager to do it again.
“You can see me anytime you ask, baby. You know where I am.”
“Yes I do.” I laughed quietly so I didn't alert my nan to my presence. I didn't want to chance her interrupting us again.
He leaned closer into me, pressing my back into the door. “And starting Monday, we will be seeing alot more of each other.”
I wound my arms around his neck as he brushed his lips against mine. “We won't be able to do this at the office,” I told him jokingly.
“I own the company and if I wanna kiss my girl in my office then I damn well will.”
Running my hands through his hair I lifted up on my toes, this time instigating the kiss I so desperately craved from him. Our mouths came together fiercely, him taking and me more than providing. His tongue slipped past my lips and into my mouth. I groaned with pleasure which excited Jesse more. He pressed his erection into me, grinding himself against my lower half and I returned the gesture, hungry for him.
Breaking away unexpectedly he took a step back and I instantly missed his warmth. “Gotta go, sweetheart. The things I’m wanting to do to you now shouldn't be done on a first date.”
I pressed a hand to my lips to smother my grin as he walked away from me and let himself into his house. What a way to end a perfect first date.
I had to walk away. I wanted nothing more than to rip her jeans off and sink inside of her not giving a shit that we might be seen. That's how crazy I get when I’m around her.
I’m about to lock up when a thought crosses my mind. Quickly making a decision, I scribble my cell number down and run back over to her house. Deciding not to knock on her door, I leave the piece of paper in her mailbox for her to find in the morning. I prayed to God it was her that got her hands on it and not Betty.
After a quick shower, which included stroking my cock like some teenager to the images running through my mind where we hadn't stopped when we did and instead I fucked Willow against the doorway, I got into bed already planning when I could next get my hands on my girl.
*Morning, got your note. W x.*
The chime on my cell alerted me to a new message. I grinned from ear to ear when I saw who had sent it.
*Thank God you got to the mail before Betty did! Jx.*
Seeing the three dots moving I decided to wait to see her reply. I was so busy I couldn’t even think straight but for Willow I'd drop everything in an instant just to spend a few stolen moments with her, even if it was via instant message.
*Damn, wish I’d have let her now. Would have been hilarious watching her trying to send a message. LOL! xx.*
*Here’s me thinking your nan’s the devious one. I think I’m beginning to see you in a new light! xx.*
“Yo, man. You're needed out here. A delivery has just turned up and there's some things missing,” Travis shouted to me as I stood in my office grinning like a fool.
“Something you wanna tell me, J?” he grilled me, a huge ass smile plastered on his face. He damn well knew what I was smiling about but I’ll be damned if I was gonna tell him.
Pocketing my cell phone I pushed past him. “Where's the delivery driver?” I asked, effectively ending the conversation before it even really began. What happened between Willow and me was our business. If and when the time came for anyone else to be in the loop, then I’d discuss it. Until that time, what happened with us, stayed with us.
*Here’s me thinking your Nan’s the devious one. I think I’m beginning to see you in a new light! xx.*
His message made me smile. I’m my grandmother's grandchild through and through, what more did he expect. She’d taught me well. Very well indeed.
*LOL!! You have buildings to build and I have laundry to do. Message me later, baby. xx.*
I threw my cell down on my bed and continued gathering up all the dirty clothes I’d separated into piles. Not one of the things I enjoyed doing but and I was running seriously low on clothes and had to do it. Which suddenly reminded me. I’ve yet to go to the old house and get my things to start work on Monday. I’ve only got a few more days left and I really can't leave it much longer.
“Damn it to hell!” I cursed as I shoved the clothes into the machine not relishing the idea of being back there in the slightest. Nan had gone out with he
r friend for the day so I couldn't even call on her for moral support. Thinking of her, I hoped she’d taken her cell phone along with her. I repeated myself till I was blue in the face the day I gave it to her, making sure she knew that she was to carry it on her at all times just in case she’d ever need any help. Especially in emergencies.
Fetching my cell from off of my bed I selected the message app:
*Urgh! Just realized I’ve got to go back to my old home. My clothes for the office are all still there. I’ll need them for my new job. Wanna look smart for the boss ;-). Wish me luck, baby. I’m hating the fact I’ve got to go back there! xx.*
I pressed send on the message to Jesse watching as the blue line went across the screen then the delivered status came up beneath it. I knew he was busy but once he picked up my message he’d be in touch to make sure I was ok. That’s just how he was. Very caring when it came to me.
Deciding that dawdling was only going to prolong the inevitable I grabbed my car keys. I locked up and headed over to my old house. Surprisingly it didn't feel strange at all referring to it in such a way, to me it was old. I’d no intentions of ever moving back in, focusing instead on moving forward.
The journey didn't take long, the morning rush hour had long since passed. Pushing my key into the lock felt wrong, like I didn’t belong here. This place held great memories for me at one point in time but now they are all tainted by what he did, by what they did.
I bypassed the kitchen, instead keeping my gaze on the stairs as I ran up them heading to my old bedroom.
Rob’s things were back in place, unlike the last time I had been here which made me a little sad. This would still be my life if I'd not caught him; carrying on blissfully unaware of what he was doing while I went from day to day thinking I’d got it made.
Cursing myself for being such a fool I set to snagging all my clothes off their hangers, shoving them into an old gym bag which I found lying in the bottom of my wardrobe, completely in a rush to leave this house. I was down to the last few items and I was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when I heard a key in the lock. My heart stopped then started up again, this time beating so hard I felt faint. The opening and consequent slamming of the door had me forgoing the remaining things I’d left to pack instead focusing on zipping up the gym bag.
Hefting the bag over my shoulder, I made a dash to the stairs to see Rob slowly ascending them.
“What are you doing here, Willow?” he questioned me as he continued up the stairs. I took a step backwards putting some distance between us both. I wasn't scared of Rob but the way he’d treated me the last time we were together had me a little wary of him now.
“Just came to pick up some things. I’m done now, so I’ll be out of your hair in a jiffy.” He stopped then, running a hand through his blond hair, his cool blue eyes assessing me. To say he was creeping me out with that gaze would be an understatement.
“Do you have time for that chat now?” He remained in place and I was stuck at the head of the stairs with nowhere to run.
“Not really. My nan’s waiting on me. Something about going to the supermarket and needing my help,” I lied straight to his face, hoping that it would work and he’d fall for my lies allowing me to leave peacefully.
“I’m sure she is but this won't take long. Come on, Willow. Surely you can spare your husband ten minutes of your time,” he coaxed me trying the nice approach to win me around and get his own way but not this time. Giving him the brightest fake smile I could muster I forged ahead with my plans to leave. Instead of answering him I descended the stairs bringing me closer to him but closer to my way out.
“Silent treatment I see. You always did like to act like a child,” he said sarcastically.This time my quick temper got the better of me and doing what he wanted I bit back, playing right into his hands but unable to keep quiet.
“What the actual fuck? You honestly think talking to me like that is gonna get me to talk to you? The only one acting like a child here is you, Robert. Now move out of my fucking way,” I instructed him. He stepped to the side allowing me to barge past him and carry on my downward descent. I'd never moved so quick in my life and just as I grabbed the door yanking it open I felt him behind me. Whirling around to face him, my anger now replaced any wariness I’d previously had for him.
“I’ll be back on the weekend to pack the rest of the kids’ things. The quicker we make the break from you and this house the better, and then any future dealings with be done through our lawyers,” I told him vehemently, my tone full of acid.
“I told you before, my darling wife. You ain’t getting a penny out of me.” He reached for me but I anticipated his move and stepped backwards a few paces. There's no way on this earth he’d ever get the chance to put his hands on me again.
“I think Willow was more than clear when she told you what she wanted. She said the kids’ belongings, nothing at all to do with money. So I suggest you retreat into that house of yours before I have to forcefully make you and I really don't want to be doing that. I’m in too much of a bad mood to be beating on assholes today.” Jesse’s voice had my body sagging in relief. I'd ask him later how the hell he knew where the house was but for now I’m nothing but grateful that he's here.
Coming up behind me, he slid an arm around my waist anchoring me to him, showing me that he had my back, that I could lean on him and rely on his strength.
“You alright, sweetheart?” he muttered questionably placing a kiss on my temple, a move not gone unnoticed by Rob.
“You and him!” he spluttered in shock. “And you made me out to be the bad one! Didn't take you long before you decided to keep someone else's bed warm!” he spat.
Jesse moved so fast he was a blur, pushing me behind him, his hand around Rob’s throat. “What did I just say?” he asked Rob quietly. “Don't make things awkward. We will be here Saturday morning. You will be here waiting for us and you will allow us to take Nate and Kaylee’s belonging and you will not give us any trouble. Am I clear?” He still kept that quiet voice but even I caught the warning it held.
“Crystal,” Rob mumbled through tight lips. I could see the anger written on his face but he also knew that fighting Jesse when he was spitting mad was a no-win situation.
“Good, I’m glad we have an understanding.” He looked back to me. “You ready, Will?” he asked me with not a trace of the anger he’d just displayed with Rob.
“Yeah, baby. Let’s go.”
“See you Saturday, motherfucker!” he called to Rob as we left. Angry Jesse showed his face once more but again softening his tone when he spoke to me. “I’ll follow you home, sweetheart.”
“Ok.” I was grateful that he’d offered knowing somehow that I needed his presence.
Dealing with the messed delivery took way longer than I liked which pissed me off to no end. I had other things that required my attention today, wasted time on things like this just set me back even further. I’d already had the people who hired me breathing down my neck. They wanted their state of the art office block and they wanted it now. Storming back into the portable office I threw my hard hat across the small space, startling Travis who was occupied on the computer.
“Fucking suppliers, fucking delivery drivers,” I grumbled as I rummaged in my pocket for my cell phone hoping that Willow had messaged me back. Smiling when I saw that she had, that smile soon morphed into a pissed off frown when I’d finished reading the last message she’d sent me not so long ago.
“For fuck’s sake,” I bellowed as I jumped to my feet angrily, pacing as I pressed the contacts app on my screen.
“What the fucks jumped up your ass, J?” Travis snapped at me, he too pissed off and overworked. His temper frayed even more than normal.
“Willow has gone to her old house to get some clothes so she can start here on Monday,” I told him as I scrolled through the names, desperately searching for one in particular.
“What's the problem with that?” Travis said genuinely conf
used by my reaction.
“Her ex got in her face last time he saw her. I had to step in. What happens, Trav, if he's there and things take a turn for the worst?”
Travis’s eyes widened in shock as I filled him in on what went down with them. “Why didn't you say something sooner? Find her and go make sure she's ok.”
Finally coming to the name that could give me what I wanted, I pressed the call symbol. I held the phone to my ear. “Already on it my man,” I told Travis as it started to ring.
“Betty, I need the address of Willow’s old place,” I informed her as soon as she picked up.
I couldn't drive fast enough as I raced to Willow’s former home, breaking every speed limit along the way. I just hoped to God that she was ok and that I’d blown this all out of proportion. I just couldn’t take the risk, not when it came to Willow. Her safety was paramount to me.
I stopped my truck just behind Willow’s little car. I could see that the door to the house was ajar and the raised voices had me quickening my steps.
“I told you before, darling wife. You ain’t getting a penny out of me.” I heard his sniveling voice before I laid eyes on him.
Willow had her back to me but I could see him as clear as day and I also noticed the look in his eye. He wasn't playing. It was then I realized he actually would hurt her.