“Later, Lenny,” she says as she steps off the porch and approaches the car that’s holding a bunch of her friends. A part of me wants to walk over to the vehicle to see who all is inside. Make sure there are no drugs or anything in the car. But I stop myself. Jules has raised a very smart child, and if she trusts her then so do I. Leaning against the back of my car, I watch as they back out of the driveway. Sophia waves at me from the backseat. After they’re out of sight, I get in my car and drive toward Jules’ office. There’s a soft glow emitting from a window toward the back of the space. I’m not sure if she’ll hear me knock, but I still do my best to get her attention. Putting my hands around my face, I look inside to see if I can spot any movement. With one more pound against the glass, I see Jules walking around the corner.
“What are you doing here?” She opens the door for me.
“Came to see you, why else would I be banging on the door?”
“How’d you know where to find me?”
“Tracker on your phone,” I say with a hint of a smile. I break out in a full belly laugh as Jules’ eyes go wide with horror. “Just kidding, Sophia told me where you were.”
“You went to my house?”
“Correction, went to your parents’ house because you refuse to tell me what house you want.”
“Fine, you went to my parents’ house?”
“Sure did, and that kid of yours is something else. I like her.” I give Jules a wink which earns me a shy smile.
“I like her too.” She shrugs.
“You’ve done well with her. She’s smart and fearless like her mother.”
“That she is. I’m just glad she takes after me,” Jules says softly as she locks the front door behind us. I’m guessing by the sudden quietness of her statement, she must not want to elaborate on her happiness that Sophia doesn’t take after David. At least, that’s what I’m assuming she meant.
“What are you working on? Need any help?” I shift back and forth as I shove my hands in my front pockets.
“No, just some design ideas I had for the new subdivision you’re building.” Before I can reply, she takes off down the hallway, and I follow.
“Now, if you plan to join me there’s no funny business, understand, Lenny?”
I cross my heart and hold up two fingers. “Understand.”
“Somehow I don’t believe you were ever a boy scout. Now sit,” she instructs, and I do as I’m told. Right now, I don’t want to push her buttons as I need to regain her trust.
“You’re right, I wasn’t, but I promise to try to be good,” I say as I take a seat next to Jules.
Shoulder to shoulder I look down at the drawings that she has been working on. Each page is unique, showcasing a different room with a variety of choices. “This one, I love it. I love the country charm meshed with modern contemporary.” I take it in. The mixture of dark wood against a whitewashed wood mixed together with a steel gray backdrop.
“That’s my favorite too,” she whispers, and I turn my head toward her, wondering if she has more to add. Her hair’s fallen, hanging around her chin and casting a shadow against the face that I want to see. Before I know what I’m doing, I raise my hand and tuck it behind her ear. “You’re breathtaking, Jules, do you know that?”
“I thought I said no funny business?”
“You did, but you didn’t say I couldn’t tell you what I think.”
“Okay, no funny business and no compliments. We work together, that’s it.”
“I can’t promise that, Jules. I need you to hear me out.”
“No disrespect, Lenny, but I heard more than my fair share today.”
“No, you heard what had to be said. I don’t want to keep it from you anymore.”
“Keep what from me?”
“The whole David and Rachel thing,” I say and watch as she leans back in her chair. She turns her body toward me, inviting me to continue. “Rachel and I had been engaged for a year, no wedding date as she wouldn’t pick one. My parents, her parents, hell even our friends were questioning it. But I was blind to what was going on right in front of me.”
“Love is blind sometimes,” she says, sounding as if my mistake can be excused.
“Anyway, my father sent me to a conference as he was grooming me to take over the business. I told Rachel that I would be back on Friday night, knowing that the conference ended on that Thursday afternoon. I felt that something was off and wanted to see for myself. When I got home that night, there was a car I recognized in the driveway. I knew who drove it, and I sat there trying to figure out why David would be at my house. I dialed her cell phone, hoping that my gut was wrong, but she didn’t answer.”
“Knowing the truth, but still needing to see it for proof is the worst feeling,” she adds in. There’s a glassy look in her eyes like she’s lost inside of my story. I can understand why, though.
“That’s why I decided to go inside. The moment I opened and quietly shut the door, I could hear her voice screaming out his name in pleasure. They couldn’t even make it up to our bedroom. Right there in the dining room I stood and watched your husband bring my fiancée to ecstasy, Jules. When they noticed that I was there, there was no remorse written on Rachel’s face, but there was a glimpse of relief on David’s. I don’t know if it was the way he wanted me to find out, or if it was his way to call it off with her.”
“I’m not sure I want to know what either of them were thinking,” Jules says with pain flooding her eyes.
“Either way, Rachel moved out that night, and I’ve not spoken to her since. I heard David called it off with her the next day and moved along to his next victim. I didn’t know you then. I knew of you, and I remember feeling sorry for you, but not in a protective way. Just…I remember wondering if you knew what he was doing and you just turned a naked eye to it. I couldn’t figure out the dynamic of your marriage. At the time, I played it off that you were okay with him sleeping with the whole town.”
“That’s understandable,” she says, sounding worn out from the story.
“Well, that was before I knew you, met you and realized that he hurt you just as much as Rachel hurt me. Whatever the case, I swear to you, Jules, I didn’t hire you, kiss you, or feel this attraction to you because of something that happened in my past. Honestly, I should run for the hills and protect my heart at this point, not open it up and share it with you.” I take a deep breath while I shift in the chair and take in her expression. She’s hard to read. I can’t figure out if she wants to scream at me, punch me, kiss me, or tell me to get the hell out of her life.
Jules does this half laugh thing that I’m getting used to before she responds. “Lenny, I’m sorry for what David did to you. It seems I’m learning more and more every day about the man I was married to. I knew he wasn’t faithful, but I turned and looked away. My family is strict on making your marriage work, giving it your whole self, but I couldn’t anymore. That night when I walked in on him and his secretary, I was relieved. Imagine that. I wasn’t broken or angry. It was a wake up to what my life had been like. We weren’t happy, and I honestly don’t know if I ever truly loved him. Yes, he made me happy when we were dating, but the moment we said I do it changed. It was no longer about the two of us or our dreams. It became all about David, his family, the presence in this city, and what made him happy. When I got pregnant with Sophia, it had been the first time in months that we had slept together. I remember thinking to myself that I was stuck now. I wasn’t happy, I feared what my life was going to turn out to be. When Sophia was born, he showed up minutes before I delivered and smelled of another woman. I turned the other way, thinking this was how life was meant to be. Now, I know better. I got us out of that, and I never want to feel that kind of betrayal again. That’s why as much as my chest aches to see where you and I can go from here, I’m scared. You’re known to be a player, and I won’t be that person again. I’ll never be walked over like David did me for all those years.”
“Jules, I like women,
but the one thing I am is faithful. When I’m in bed with you, trust me—you’ll be the only person that I want in it the next night and then after.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is. It’s like this. I like you, you like me. Let’s just see what happens.”
“What do we do next?”
“You let me kiss you,” I say, leaning a little closer toward Jules.
“Then what?”
“Let’s see how the kiss goes first, shall we?”
15
Jules
Lenny Ward has a way with words. As much as I’ve been telling myself over and over tonight that I need to walk away, I can’t. With his mouth close to mine, I swallow as I brace myself for what’s coming next. His lips have been on mine before, and I know the power they have over me. I forget everything in the world when our tongues dance a dangerous tango. Throwing caution to the wind, I scoot closer and grab the back of his neck, pulling him the rest of the way to me. I need to stop lying to myself. The whole day I fought this urge. I can’t right now, not after he just laid out his past to me. Both Lenny and I are products of destruction caused by David. We have broken hearts that I’m convinced are meant to be mended back together with each other’s. Lenny’s mouth trails kisses down my neck. Before I know what’s happening, I’m lifted from the chair and my back lands against the conference room table. Lenny slides his shirt up and over his head, giving me a full view of his well-defined torso. I admire the way his muscles contract in his jaw as I drag my teeth over my lips. I lift my eyes up to his, watching as they focus on mine, caging me in like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. He grips the edges of my shirt, pushing it up to bare my skin. With a blink of an eye, his mouth is on my skin causing my back to arch from the light touches of his tongue. “Stop me, Jules.”
The words, “I can’t,” come from my mouth, and it’s the truth. I want him. I want to feel his weight on top of me. The feel of his touch against my body as he kneads my breasts again. Right now, I’m drunk on pleasure, and it’s all from the man who’s about to ruin me for all other men in the world.
Lenny leans up and unbuckles my jeans as I lift my hips, allowing him access to slide them off me. The sound of them hitting the floor doesn’t even bring me back to reality. Next to go are my lace panties, but he wasn’t as nice to those as he was my jeans. In one swift move, he rips them from my body. With a quick intake of air, I wonder if he always rips them. Slowly he moves up and removes my blouse. Thankfully my bra snaps in the front and is easily taken off. Lenny Ward has caused me to lose all train of thought as I lay here fully naked for him to glare at. I don’t feel as uncomfortable as I thought I would. I’m not even embarrassed as I know he can see my stretch marks from childbirth. No, his eyes make me feel as if I’m the first woman he’s ever seen. “Fucking beautiful, Jules. This body, I want to worship every inch of it.”
My core aches for him to touch me. If it could speak, she’d beg for him to put her out of her misery. Yes, the other day took the itch away, but not the need for more. Lenny undoes his pants and slides his boxers down to the floor. Before I can register anything, I hear the crinkle of the wrapper, and thankfully I don’t have to ask or feel guilty for not being safe. I lean up on my elbows, watching him slide the condom over the thickness of his cock. Before he moves, he reaches out and slides his fingers between the wetness of my folds. “You’re soaking wet, Jules. This is your last chance to stop me. Once I start, I won’t be able to control myself.”
I don’t answer him; instead, I push up a little more, grabbing his cock with my hand and pull him toward me. Placing just the tip close to where I want it must be all Lenny needs to fuel his next move. Thrust after thrust, I lose myself in everything he’s giving me. My head tosses back and forth as I claw at his back, begging for more. I wrap my legs around his waist tighter, pulling him into me deeper as I cry out, “Oh God,” as the electricity of my orgasm hits me hard. My legs start to shake as he continues. I start to say something, but quickly I’m shut up by his mouth on mine as another orgasm builds. It’s the first real release that has been given to me by a man that I want more from. I don’t let things go far enough to allow my body to endure this kind of release. Never in the past has this level of intensity been reached. Maybe, just maybe, I can get used to this sex thing with a man that I should run from. Lenny moves off me, but I grab his arm to stop him. I’m not ready to lose the touch of his body against mine, but then again, we are in the conference room of my business.
“Get dressed, I’m taking you home.”
“Home?”
“To my home where I can devour you properly and fall asleep with you in my arms.”
“I can’t sleepover with you, Lenny. I have a daughter that I need to take care of.”
“Fine, let’s go eat. But I want you in my bed soon where I can properly take care of you.”
“Slow the alpha down, nothing to rush into,” I say as I slide off the table and grab my jeans. As he dresses, I stand here staring at his toned chest, contemplating what could happen if I did take him up on his sleepover offer. If he can work my body like that on the hard, wooden table, what could we make happen in the comfort of a bed?
16
Lenny
It’s been four very long days since I’ve seen Jules. Four days that all I’ve done is think about her body underneath mine. Four days that I’ve not been able to focus on a thing.
“What has you brooding in here?” Blake asks as he enters my office and takes the chair closest to my desk.
“Nothing, why?”
“Well, you’ve been staring daggers at your computer since you got in this morning; that’s for starters, and you’re moody like you’re PMSing.”
“Fuck off, Blake,” I say, pushing my keyboard closer to the monitor.
“See, that right there. Spill it, man, or I’m not leaving.”
“It’s Jules. She hasn’t been in the office, and I’ve not seen her since Friday night.”
“I never thought I would see it again. Our very own Lenny Ward has a crush,” Blake says with sarcasm laced through his words.
“I don’t have a crush, we’re paying her to work, and she’s not here.”
“Just because she’s not here doesn’t mean she’s not working. I heard she’s meeting with the Petersons today to show some designs for the house.”
“When, was that today?”
“Calm down. Yes, it was this morning, and if you look at your calendar, you’d have seen the invite.” Quickly I open my desktop calendar and look at the meetings that were scheduled today. That’s when I see her name.
“You’ve always sucked at keeping things organized like that. You really need an assistant; you know this, right?”
“Maybe. Look, I gotta run. See ya later,” I say as I grab my keys and race out of the office. If traffic is light, I might arrive before Jules leaves the model home.
“Just admit it, you have a crush,” Blake shouts behind me. I don’t respond; instead, I toss him the middle finger as I continue on my path to find Jules. It doesn’t take as long as I expect to reach the model home where Jules is still parked in the driveway. I spot another car next to hers and realize she’s still inside with the clients. It’s not wrong or weird for the owner to show up, right? I’ve had plenty of meetings with the Petersons. They won’t expect this as anything other than a follow-up. Entering the house, I’m hit by the sound of laughter coming from the front room. It’s not any laugh, it’s Jules laughing at something Mr. Peterson probably said. He’s a funny guy and has had me laughing like that a few times.
“Morning,” I say, peeking my head around the corner. My eyes quickly scan the room but land on Jules. She dips her head, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear before she looks back up at me.
“What a nice surprise,” Mr. Peterson says as he stands and heads over to me. We shake before I walk over to where Mrs. Peterson is seated. “Don’t you look ravishing this morning, Mrs. Peterson.”
“Oh, Lenny… You can stop flattering an old lady. It’s great to see you,” she says with a genuine smile.
“Mrs. Aldridge, how are things going? Are they giving you a hard time?” I ask Jules before turning to wink at the Petersons. They’ve been friends of the family for as long as I can remember, and I love that they trusted me to get them a “smaller retirement” home as they put it.
“Things are going great, Mr. Ward. We’re just finalizing some last-minute things here before they leave,” Jules says. I glance down at the desk and notice all the materials that are spread out. Wood floor samples, cabinet samples, tile samples, and even some crown molding pieces. I shouldn’t be surprised since Jules knows what she’s doing. The part that I’m impressed with is that she got Mrs. Peterson to make her mind up. That’s been the longest battle, and I was pretty sure Rose at one point was going to strangle her if she didn’t pick something soon.
“Good choices. I’ll let you three get back to it. I’ve got a few calls to make, so I’ll be in the other room,” I explain but don’t break eye contact with Jules. I want her to understand that I’m not leaving until we talk. With this new territory for me, I’m shocked that it’s me who’s upset instead of her. Most women when you sleep with them want a follow-up. A date, a call, a text, flowers, or hell, I don’t know, maybe a wedding proposal. Not Jules. She’s sent me to voicemail with every call since Friday. She even texted me to tell me that she was busy. I’m sure she has a good enough reason for it all. That’s why I’m waiting to get said reason.
I’m perched on the barstool at the kitchen island when I hear Mr. and Mrs. Peterson holler back at me. It doesn’t take but a few minutes before Jules enters the room. My head cocks in her direction. “Everything go okay with them?”
“Yes, everything is finalized. Why are you here?”
“Direct as always,” I say and stand, moving closer to her, but before I can reach Jules, she outsmarts me and sidesteps to the left where she can hide behind the kitchen island. “What’s going on?”
Forty Candles: A Standalone Romantic Comedy Page 10