Worth the Wait: Blue Falls Book 4

by Stella James

  Fuck.

  Chapter 5

  Grey

  I’m surprised to see Eric sitting on the front porch when I get home from having coffee with Lily. She called me this morning and asked if I wanted to meet at Olive’s when I was finished at work and I jumped at the opportunity to have some girl time. I chat with Molly at the diner but things are often busy so we don’t get much of a chance to sit down. I miss having friends. The other girls at the club might have been, at the very best, superficial acquaintances but it was better than nothing. Maybe now that I’m working at a respectable place in a nice town as opposed to a shady strip club on the edge of a dirty city, I can actually make some real friends.

  I pull up beside his truck, and even though I’ve been officially living here for the last several days, the beauty of the home still strikes me. The house isn’t huge, I’d say average, the siding is pale green and compliments the surrounding trees. It’s modest and simple but compared to the apartment I grew up in on a busy city block, it might as well be a palace. Old school white shutters frame the windows and match the trim on the dual peeked roof and the wrap around porch always looks warm and inviting. Well, most days anyways. With Eric sitting stoically in one of the cushioned lawn chairs, it looks a bit more intimidating than usual. I pause at the bottom of the front steps before heading to my private entrance.

  “Hey, were you waiting for me?”

  The look on his face says he’s battling himself and normally I’d find such a thing amusing but I’m actually kind of worried. The first thing that comes to mind is that he’s changed his mind about the suite.

  “Actually I was,” he says. “Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure,” I climb the steps and take the seat beside him. “What’s up?”

  “I was kind of hoping that you might be able to help me out with Jamie,” he says, exhaling. “Some things have come up at work and I’m going to be late getting home for the next couple of weeks. I can still drop her off at camp in the morning but I was hoping you could pick her up afterwards and watch her for a couple hours? I’d be willing to knock some money off your rent, I don’t expect you to do it for nothing. You don’t owe me any favours.”

  I study him quietly and although I mentally agree instantly to help him out, I decide to make him sweat just a little bit. For fun. Because this guy needs to loosen up.

  “Let me get this straight,” I say. “You go from thinking I’m basically a slut, to thinking I need to be told my boundaries as if I’m a child to now trusting me with the care of your only child. Doesn’t that seem just a bit messed up to you? I mean, I could be a crazy person. Aren’t you worried that my dreadfully friendly personality might rub off on your unsuspecting first born?” He looks at me hard and I can’t help letting out a laugh at his expense.

  “Are you always so…”

  “Charming? Witty? Pleasurable to be around? Yes. I am.”

  The corners of his mouth turn up just a fraction and I claim it as a small victory before accepting his request.

  “I would be happy to pick Jamie up from day camp and hang out with her until you get home from work,” I say. “But you’re not taking money off my rent. Honestly I can’t believe you let me take you down two hundred dollars as it is. It’s quite sad actually…your lack of negotiation skills and whatnot.”

  “So what, were you some kind of bookie in your old life?” He asks.

  “Oh my darling, you don’t want to know who I was in my old life. I think it might scare that stick right out of your ass,” I say grinning as I stand and head back down the steps.

  “Summer camp ends at f-“

  “Four p.m., got it,” I say, not bothering to turn around. “I’ll be there.”

  *

  I look down at the post-it note in my hand as I wait in the parking lot of the community hall. I’ve been picking Jamie up from day camp and keeping her company for three days now but Eric still seems to doubt my competence. After telling me twice in person and once via text message, I found this green note stuck to my door this morning with the time and place for Jamie’s ballet lesson. I’ve never heard of dance lessons running in the summer but apparently this is some sort of catch up class for anyone that missed last year’s session.

  I remember dance classes as a child…the costumes, the recitals. I lived for it from the time I was three until my mom couldn’t afford it anymore. I was sixteen when I officially gave up my dream of being a dancer. Of the ballet variety anyway. I glance up just as the doors open and a group of young kids come piling out. I spot Jamie and I’m about to get out and wave but she looks over and spots me, grinning as she runs over to the car. I’ve always liked kids, and Jamie is no exception. She’s smart, funny and super sweet. It has been the furthest thing from a burden to hang out with her while Eric works late.

  “Hey kiddo!”

  “Hi Grey, are you taking me to ballet class?”

  “You bet! I’ve got your stuff in the back seat, you can change when we get there,” I say, as she buckles up and I begin to pull out of the parking lot.

  “Okay, hopefully I don’t mess up today. I don’t think Ms. Claire likes me much,” she says quietly.

  “What do you mean she doesn’t like you? You’re fabulous, of course she does,” I smile at her reflection in the rear view mirror. “And besides, you’re a beginner and it takes time to learn everything. I’m sure Ms. Claire would agree with me.”

  I have yet to meet an unfriendly person in Blue Falls and I’m betting that Jamie is maybe being a bit sensitive to gentle criticism. Ballet takes patience and precision, of course there are fun ways to learn and teach but some instructors are old school and take a more serious approach. Maybe I’ll have a quick chat with Ms. Claire after class today, she probably doesn’t even realize Jamie has hurt feelings. She strikes me as the type of kid who keeps things to herself and doesn’t want to disappoint anyone.

  We pull up to the small studio just across from the public library and once we’ve gone inside and Jamie’s gotten changed, I wait with the other parents in the narrow hallway, aimlessly staring at my phone to pass the time. When the lesson is done, the girls come filtering out. Jamie comes out last, her head hanging a bit too low for my liking.

  “Hey, how was it?”

  “Ms. Claire told me I can’t be a ballerina,” she says sadly.

  “What do you mean she told you that you can’t be a ballerina?” I ask.

  She crooks her little finger and whispers in my ear so that the other little girls won’t hear as they walk by and head for the door. She tells me exactly what Ms. Claire said to her and it instantly has me seeing red.

  “Do me a favour, sit right there where I can see you. I’m going to have a quick talk with your teacher.”

  She heads for one of the plastic chairs and slumps down, removing her pink slippers and nearly breaking my heart in the process. I leave the studio door open so I can keep my eye on her and spot Ms. Claire at a small desk off to the side of the wide open room.

  “Excuse me? Ms. Claire?”

  “Can I help you?” She asks. She looks to be about in her thirties and I can tell from her posture that she is most certainly classically trained.

  “My name is Grey Caldwell, I’m responsible for Jamie Doyle,” I say. “She told me what you said to her and I was hoping you could give me some clarification.”

  “Excus-“

  “Did you tell that sweet little girl out there that she couldn’t be a ballerina? Did you tell her she has the wrong body type and clumsy feet?” I can feel my face reddening with anger as I remember the tearful way in which Jamie quietly confessed to me what this witch told her.

  “I’m an instructor Ms. Caldwell, it is my job and my right as owner of this studio to give full critique when necessary, I see no-“

  “Oh bullshit. She’s six years old for crying out loud, how can you tell her she doesn’t have the right body type?”

  “I merely make an honest assessment, nothing more,�
�� she says.

  “Yeah, well consider Jamie effectively removed from your class. I’ll tell her father that he can expect a full refund in the mail,” I say through clenched teeth. I honestly doubt I have any kind of authority in this particular situation but I’m so angry and I know once I tell Eric about this dragon lady, he’ll agree that I did the right thing.

  “I think that would be for the best,” she replies in a clipped tone.

  “Great,” I say, immediately turning for the door.

  I see Jamie sitting up in her chair, watching me as I exit the studio. I’m wondering if she heard me but she doesn’t say anything when I reach her and kneel down in front of her.

  “Ya know what sweetie, why don’t we take a trip to the hardware store. I have an idea,” I say.

  She nods her head and tries her best to smile for me and I instantly have the strongest urge to go back the way I came and give Ms. Claire another piece of my mind. That wouldn’t be very low profile though, I remind myself logically. But it would sure feel damn good.

  *

  I’m just unloading our haul from the hardware store when Eric pulls up and parks beside my car. After Jamie and I left the dance studio, I took her for ice cream and then we went to purchase some supplies. I’ll have to check with Eric to make sure he’s okay with me installing a small barre in the basement, but I’m thinking he’ll understand once I fill him in on that awful hag of a dance teacher.

  “Daddy! Grey told Ms. Claire that I’m not coming to class anymore and guess what? Grey is gonna teach me ballet at home!” Jamie says as she jumps into his arms.

  “Is that right?” He says, his tone a bit clipped and a questioning expression on his face as he looks my way. Shit.

  “Why don’t you go inside and put the T.V. on while I talk to Grey and then I’ll come in and make us some supper?”

  “Okay! Bye Grey!”

  “Bye sweetie,” I say as she runs past me and up the steps. I turn back to Eric who looks very tired and very annoyed. “Okay, let me explain, that woman was a compl-“

  “Stop. I’m too damn tired for this shit. What the hell makes you think you have the right to do anything where my kid is concerned? We agreed on a couple hours of babysitting, not the authority to make changes to her Goddamn life,” he says.

  “I know, and I wouldn’t have but just hear me ou-“

  “I’m not doing this right now,” he says, grabbing a stack of paper work and a thermos from his truck. “I’m going inside.”

  He stomps passed me and leaves me standing there holding the two thin wooden bannisters. I understand why he’s angry but if he would quit being so damn stubborn and just let me explain I’m sure he would agree with me. I take the bag of brackets and screws and the two pieces of wood inside and leave them by the door. Maybe I’ll try and talk to Eric again tomorrow once he’s cooled off and at the very least try and explain the situation.

  I take a shower and decide to spend the night curled up on the couch watching a movie. I don’t bother making supper and instead toss a bag of popcorn into the microwave. I’m an hour into The Wedding Singer when there’s a quiet knock on the door separating my suite from the rest of the basement. I open it to see Eric, freshly showered and looking a bit sheepish.

  “Jamie told you what happened?”

  “Yeah,” he says, leaning against the doorframe. “It took her a few tries to tell me without crying but she told me what Ms. Claire said to her and that you spoke to her afterwards.”

  “I didn’t mean to overstep…yet again. But she was so heartbroken, and I remember being her age and being so excited over the idea of being a ballerina and it just broke my heart to see her so crushed. I only planned on speaking to the woman and it just kind of escalated from there. I’m sorry,” I say, offering a small smile.

  “What were you planning on doing with all that?” He asks, nodding towards the corner where I’ve placed the stuff from the hardware store.

  “Well, I thought since I have a bit of experience, maybe you’d let me put up a barre and I could teach Jamie a few things myself? I thought maybe we could do it while I’m watching her?” I ask hopefully.

  He slowly turns from the door and heads back towards the stairs. “I’ll put it up this weekend,” he says.

  “Eric?”

  He stops at the bottom of the staircase and turns back to face me.

  “Thank you. And I’m sorry,” I say. “I promise, I’m not trying to drive you crazy,” I laugh lightly.

  He nods once again in response and I’m assuming that means I’m forgiven. I close the door and head back to my nest on the couch and it isn’t long before I’m drifting off to sleep, thinking that perhaps my cranky landlord and I might become friends after all.

  *

  Today is Saturday and I’m off from the diner, Eric usually has weekends off but with the extra work they are doing to meet their deadlines, he’s gone in to work with his crew for part of the day. Jamie and I spent the morning watching Sofia the First and eating the waffles we made together for breakfast. One of her friend’s moms called this morning wanting to take Jamie with them to the lake, so once I diligently cleared it with Eric I told her she could go.

  I’ve spent the last hour tidying up the kitchen upstairs and my own space downstairs and I’m starting to get bored.

  I decide to relax for a bit and pick up the book I grabbed from the library the other day. I’m only a few chapters in but I know I’m about to hit the good stuff soon. I’ve always loved a good steamy romance and for the last year or so, they’ve been my only source of amusement in the sex department. It’s not for lack of trying, but I’m not a one night stand kind of girl and the last relationship I had was with a guy who didn’t quite grasp the concept of monogamous. Needless to say, I’ve been a bit pickier when it comes to men these days and have relied more on my own skills to give me relief then the company of the opposite sex.

  Antonio the stable manager on the other hand, can do no wrong thus far and I am dying to see what he has in store for the lady of the house once he gets his hands on her. I stretch out on the couch and pick up where I left off, reading one more chapter of verbal foreplay before Antonio just can’t hold himself back anymore. He’s got Gwen cornered and lord help me I’ve never thought a barn could be so damn sexy before. The words practically jump off the page and soon I find myself a little more than flushed. I check my phone and see that Jamie won’t be getting dropped off for another couple of hours. I set my book on the coffee table and begin by closing my eyes and tracing my fingertips along the tops of my breasts which peek out above my pink tank top.

  I imagine rough hands brushing up and down my torso in slow, sensual strokes, causing a slight shiver to run down my spine. I trace my fingertips lower until they reach the waist band of my yoga pants and continue until they slip inside my cotton panties. I brush my clit gently and slide two fingers up and down my already wet seam. My other hand grasps the cushion beside me as I slip my fingers up and down, teasing my entrance and bringing my own wetness up to my now begging clit. Goddamn. I start with slow circles, alternating my attention between the swollen pearl and thrusting my fingers inside my aching center. My breath begins to pick up as my other hand involuntarily finds itself massaging my heavy breast. I push my fingers in and out roughly, desperately trying to reach deep enough to hit that one deliciously sweet spot inside of me.

  Without breaking my connection, I flip onto my belly and grind myself against the heel of my hand while curling my fingers up and moaning into the cushion below me. Christ. I’m so close and I need this so bad. I imagine the weight of a man over my back, his sweat soaked skin sliding against me as he pushes in and out harshly and without apology. He takes me as hard as he wants with one goal in mind, to make me see stars. I buck my hips harder and faster, starving for my orgasm and chasing it without care or concern. I feel my body begin to tighten around my fingers and I don’t stop grinding into my hand until I’m groaning and panting like I just r
an a marathon. I completely soak my panties and as I lay there totally spent and breathless, I think about how nice it would be to find a good man to do this for me. Wishful thinking I suppose.

  I peel myself off the couch and change into fresh bottoms before washing my hands and giving myself a quick once over in the bathroom mirror. I’m admiring my fresh faced I just had an orgasm so I’m glowing complexion when I hear a noise through the thin walls that sounds like the clattering of metal against the cement floor. Shit.

  Chapter 6

  Eric

  It’s mid-afternoon when I pull up to the house. The guys and I started early this morning to get some drywall up and when I felt like we made a dent in the workload I told them to take the rest of the day off. Grey texted this morning and asked if Jamie could go to the lake with the Parkers so I figure before I shower off the dust and sweat I might as well get that barre put up in the basement. I was pissed off when Grey tried to explain what happened at Jamie’s dance class the other day. The fact that she felt she had any right at all to make that kind of call was going way too far. Of course, when Jamie finally told me what happened, I had half a mind to call that Ms. Claire myself and give her hell. Although I started off pissed and irritated, I actually found myself grateful that Grey was there and that she had the guts to stand up for my daughter when she had no obligation to do so.