“Nothing. We’re at work and need to keep this professional.”
“I did when I got here, now I want to see what your lips taste like today,” I say, inching closer to her. The more I move toward her, the more Jules backs away.
“They are tasteless today.”
“I should be the judge of that one, don’t you think?”
“No.” Her voice is low and unsteady.
“Why have you been ignoring me?”
“I wasn’t. I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?”
“I don’t have to answer that.”
“I think you do,” I say as I now have her pinned against the counter that’s caged her in.
“Why? Didn’t you get what you wanted already? Why keep coming after me?”
“I had a taste of you, Jules. I want more, and I’ve already told you I want you in my bed.”
“I can’t, Lenny. We work together, I have a teenage daughter, and I’m only legally separated.”
“None of that bothers me, Jules. I like your daughter, she’s spunky like you. We’ve already established that I hate David, and we can figure out the whole office romance thing.” The second I’m done, Jules pushes me away and snakes her body away from me.
“Jules, why the change? Did something happen?”
“No.”
“I think you’re lying to me. What’s wrong?”
“This can’t happen again. I’m sorry, Lenny. I think you’re great, and yes, my body floats when you look at me, but we can’t happen. We should figure out a way to work together without crossing any more lines. I’m sorry,” she says. If I stand here and stare at her any longer I’ll witness the tears that are building up in her eyes fall. Being a prick, I don’t respond. I walk away and out of the house. I can’t put my finger on what changed. It’s when I get in my car that it hits me. It has to be David. That fucker is still trying to control her.
I do the only thing I know to do. I go back to the office and bury myself in work until I can figure this out. The way my body craves hers, it’s a sure sign that we should give this a try at least. Fine if we don’t work, she can still have her job, and I’ll make sure to stay out of the way. Until I have proof that we are meant to try, I’ll find a way around it.
17
Jules
I manage to make it through the rest of the week without another run-in with Lenny. Yes, it’s more me because I would call the office and see if he was in. Okay, I had Lacy or Anna call so they wouldn’t see my name. Childish, I know, but I have to put distance between us. This… Whatever has been happening between us is too much too fast. Yes, I had the best sex of my life, and I would give anything to have it again, but I can’t. There are too many things on the line for me.
My name.
My career.
My daughter.
My family.
My heart.
It’s already Saturday evening, and I’m at home while everyone around me is enjoying life. Anna and Lacy tried to talk me into going out for drinks, but I refused. Sophia is out with her friends at a movie. Instead, I’m here in my pajamas shoving popcorn in my mouth as I flip through the channels trying to find something to watch. My parents are, well they are where they are all the time it seems. That freaking snotty club they love to hang out at. They’ve also made it known about the rumor they’ve been hearing.
Rumor has it that David, my soon to be ex-husband, has been seen at the Country Club all week with some tall skinny blonde on his arm. He was supposed to have his daughter this weekend but cancelled to have a fling. It pisses me off that he can have a life while I stay tucked away. That’s how it always was. David would be out and about while I was taking care of our home and our child. The few times that I would venture out for dinner with him and our parents I never understood the looks that were cast at me. I was the laughing stock of our circle. I’ve even heard that he explained it once; that I was okay if I got what I wanted. That tiny little fact makes me laugh because I never asked him for anything but honesty and respect.
Then, on the other hand, I have Lenny. The closer I get to him, the more afraid I become. I’ve not laid eyes on him since Monday at the model home. When I was at Ward Properties, I made sure to keep the glass walls frosted. Not wanting to chance a look at him. I know if I am forced to face him, I’ll cave and ruin everything. Right now, I have to play it safe. Maybe one day soon, I’ll be able to act upon my feelings for him. Leaning my head against the pillow, I let my eyes close for just a moment, taking me to a place where I’m happy. Where I’m free to love and date who I want. Sophia is in the dream, and she’s happy. That’s all I want for her. I want her to experience life, know true love, and have respect for herself. I’m not sure how long I’m asleep when a hand touches my shoulder and rocks me awake.
18
Lenny
Since Jules has been avoiding me all week, I set out to figure out why. Yes, I know she’s been having her friends call the office to see if I’m here or not. Two can play at this game. The front desk would alert me to the calls, and I would either move to another office or leave altogether. I’m trying to respect her wishes, but it’s getting old and boring real fast. There were a few times that once she entered her office and the frosted panel would flip on, I’d make it back to my office and flip mine on too. Just knowing that she was next door and okay was enough for me. Blake and I have been racking our brains on why the change. As much as Blake has warned me on office romances, he’s actually on my side with Jules. His explanation was that he’s not seen this much fight or desire in me since Rachel. I’ll be honest, Blake’s right. This is also the reason I’m leaning against the bar at the country club watching David.
Disgust courses through me as I watch him parade around like he owns the place. I’d give anything for another opportunity to punch him just for pure enjoyment. I notice Jules’ parents at a table close to David’s. Neither table has looked in each other’s direction. However, both sets of parents have been watching the display that’s happening over on my side. I take a moment to calculate my options. Approach David or go straight to the parents. Either way, Jules will probably be pissed as hell at me, so it doesn’t matter which one I pick. Blake’s on the other side of the bar watching me closely to make sure he doesn’t have to bail me out of jail tonight. I won’t allow things to go that far.
Walking out of the bar, I head over to the dining room. Approaching the Baxters first, I stop and make small talk about their daughter, boosting her as she needs to be. They already know how talented Jules is, but it’s always nice to hear it from someone else. Quickly, I notice that Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge are getting ready to leave, and that’s my cue, so I excuse myself from the Baxters.
“Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge. I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time?” I take a seat across from them not allowing them to invite me to sit as I don’t need their permission.
“Evening, Lenny. What can we help you with?” Mr. Aldridge states while Mrs. Aldridge smiles politely.
“I have a feeling it’s more what I can help you with, and maybe you can help your soon to be ex-daughter in law. Do you guys remember her? Jules, the mother of your granddaughter?”
“Son, I think it’s best you watch your tone with us.”
“Don’t think so,” I say, leaning back and crossing my leg to rest on my knee. “See, I have a little problem with your son. You might not know this, but he ruined my life once before when he slept with my ex-fiancée while he was married to Jules. At the time, I thought he ruined everything that I loved, it wasn’t until recently that I woke up and realized that he’s still messing with my life. See, I want to date Jules and yes, I know she works with me, but you’ve met her, and she’s amazing. David is stopping that. I’m not sure what he’s doing, but he’s done something. I’m positive that you’ve seen him here tonight with one of his many girlfriends, parading around like some privileged man. But where’s Jules? Where’s Sophia? They aren’t w
ith their family having dinner, no they are hiding because your son is making them do that. This is where I need you two to do the right thing, or I will find every skeleton in your closet and expose it. I have enough money to make that happen, and if I can’t find something—I’ll make it up. Don’t you think he’s ruined your good family name enough already?” I stop as they turn and look over the room, watching their son make a fool of himself. Mrs. Aldridge looks at me, hiding her emotions as she’s old school and would never allow them to show.
“We miss them,” she says quietly.
“I’m sure Sophia misses you too, but I’d bet money on the fact the Jules doesn’t,” I state, and I hope I’m right about that. The Baxters have leaned a little closer to our table, trying to eavesdrop on our conversation. Maybe they can hear everything, maybe they’ll tell their daughter that I went to bat for her tonight. I’m not just doing this for myself. It’s for her release of this family. To get her life back once and for all.
“Our son doesn’t have much to do with us, Lenny. I’m not sure how we can help if we even can.”
“Oh, you can. Here’s how I look at it. Either cut him off or make him sign the papers.”
“He hasn’t signed them yet?” Mr. Aldridge questions.
“No, he signed the separation papers, but refuses to do so for the divorce papers. Did you know he moved them out and they both now live with her parents?”
“We weren’t aware of this,” Mrs. Aldridge states, and her husband’s face turns red.
“Son, thank you, but I know what to do about this. You have my word that this will be stopped. There’s no way he’s going to continue like this.”
“Thank you, sir. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.” I stand and look over at the Baxters. Jules’ parents give me a nod.
Just as I walk away my phone vibrates in my pocket. I slide it out and don’t recognize the number on the display. Clicking the green button, I answer, “Hello.”
“Mr. Ward, hi this is Sophia Aldridge, Jules’ daughter. You said that if I ever needed something I could call you,” Sophia’s words are fast, and I can hear noise in the background.
“Yes, are you okay?”
“No, actually I need a ride home. I tried to call my mom, but she didn’t answer. I was supposed to be at the movies, but we went to this party, and there was drinking and other stuff. I just want to go home.”
“Text me the address, I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you,” she says before the line goes blank. I want to stay here a little longer to see if anything happens between David and his parents. Instead, I need to do the right thing and go rescue Sophia from a party she shouldn’t be at. I head over to Blake explaining what’s happened and tell him to keep me posted. I’m not sure if the Aldridge family will make a scene here or not, but I can only pray they do. It would serve David right to be embarrassed in front of his buddies. Maybe the girl on his arm will run for the hills and think twice before dating another scumbag.
My phone dings with a text. I open it up and look at the address Sophia sent me. I shake my head at the kid as I wonder how she ended up landing at Devon’s house. Then again, his parents are always traveling, leaving the kid to be raised by his housekeeper.
I pull up to the gate of the private community. Lucky for me, I know the guard as I’ve been here a few times.
“Mr. Ward, how can I help you tonight?”
“I need to recuse a friend from an underage party that’s happening,” I explain as I give him the address.
“Certainly, once you leave I’ll send the security guards to bust the party up,” he says as the gate opens allowing me access.
I drive around a few streets until I locate Devon’s house. I spot Sophia out by the mailbox right away. I don’t even have to put the car in park. She’s inside the car faster than I can blink.
“Thank you, Mr. Ward. I didn’t know who else to call.”
“Welcome, and I’m glad you called. You did the right thing, you know.”
“Well, part of the right thing. I shouldn’t have ever come here.” Sophia’s voice is low and distant.
“He didn’t try to hurt you, did he?” I pray she says no or I just might have to take care of that kid.
“No, I’m okay. But my mom is going to kill me.”
“That one is all you. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“You’ve met her, right? She’s something else when I mess up. I’ll be grounded until summer.”
“Maybe not until summer, but I do see it in your future.”
The rest of the ride is quiet, neither one of us speaking. I wonder what happened at the club after I left and how Jules will react to me bringing her daughter home.
Pulling into the driveway, I tell Sophia that I’ll walk her in. I want Jules to know that her daughter was safe.
“Jules, wake up.” I shake her shoulder. She wrestles with opening her eyes, and once those emerald greens shine up at me, I smile at her.
“Lenny, what’s going on? Why are you here?” She pulls the blanket closer to cover her body.
“Sophia called me, she needed a ride and couldn’t get you.”
“How? What? Is she okay?”
“I’m okay, Mom,” Sophia says as she comes into the living room.
“Come here, what happened?” she asks and sits up a little straighter as Sophia explains her evening.
“Go on up to your room. We’ll talk about this later while I figure out your punishment for lying to me.”
“Yes, Momma,” Sophia responds as her head hangs down. She’s a good girl, and Jules should be proud that she’s raising such a good kid.
“Thank you, Lenny, for bringing her home. I can’t believe I didn’t hear my phone. I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to her.”
“Welcome, I’m glad she had my number. She’s welcome to call me anytime.”
“Thanks, but that’s not your job,” she says, scooting up on the sofa.
“No, but I’m a friend and friends help when needed.” Jules grabs her phone from the end table next to the sofa. Her face scrunches up as she looks at the screen. I shift my weight a little to the side, wondering what’s the matter.
“She called me six times.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Jules. She’s okay, and I got there as fast as I could.”
“I’m sorry that you had to get pulled away from your evening.”
“Wasn’t doing anything special. I swear.”
“Okay,” she says, sounding defeated.
“Jules, have dinner with me tomorrow night? Just dinner, two people eating and talking, that’s all.”
“Lenny, we went over this before. I just… I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. It’s simple. I’ll be here at seven tomorrow night to pick you up. If you want a buffer, bring Sophia along too. That’ll be a good punishment.”
“Say yes, Mom,” Sophia says from the hallway.
“Sophia Lynn Aldridge, get your butt to your room, now.”
“Everyone has to eat at some point, and I like that kid,” I say, earning a smile from Jules.
“Fine, we will have dinner with you under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Anywhere but that stuffy country club. I really do hate that place.”
“So do I, and it’s a date.” I lean forward and grab hold of each side of Jules’ face. I want to kiss her so bad right now, but I won’t. I won’t kiss her until I know she’s ready to be mine. That’s going to be one hard task.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Jules.”
“See you tomorrow, Lenny.” I show myself out and mark this down as a win.
19
Jules
I still can’t believe that in just a short time Sophia and I are going to dinner with Lenny. I’m not calling this a date; instead, it’s dinner with a friend. That’s all this is. Is it though? If it was just dinner, I wouldn’t be standing here in front of my closet trying to
figure out what to wear. If this was just dinner, I’d throw on a pair of jeans and pair it with a simple top. Instead, I have no idea what to wear.
With a knock on the bedroom door, I call out, “Come in.” When the door opens, I glance back and take in my daughter. She’s decided to put on what I call normal clothes and not the ones that she matches together to create her own look. Sophia decided to wear a pair of skinny jeans with no holes in them and paired them with a solid navy blue top and denim jacket. I also take in her Chucks. She put her own little spin on the outfit. “You look pretty,” I tell her as she plops down on my bed.
“Thanks. Why aren’t you dressed?”
“Don’t know what to wear,” I say, shuffling through the hangers once more as I try to decide.
“What about your dark skinny jeans with your striped top and burgundy cardigan?”
“That would be cute, what shoes?”
“The silver ballet flats.”
“You should dress me every day, it would be faster.”
“And then you’d be hip too.”
“Funny,” I say as I pull out the clothes Sophia listed.
“Where are we going? Do you know?”
“I don’t, but I know where we won’t be going.”
“Where’s that?” she asks, as she moves up to the headboard and rests her head while I dress.
“The country club, I refuse to go back to that place.”
“Thank God. I hate that Grandma and Grandpa love to eat there. I don’t get it,” she says as she shrugs her shoulders up in confusion.
“Neither do I. When I was your age, they’d drag me there all the time. I was so happy when I got my own car and could go places with my friends.”
“I bet. Hey, Mom, I like Lenny, and I’m sorry about last night.”
Forty Candles: A Standalone Romantic Comedy Page 11