“Well if that is what you want that is what you get. So friend let’s just go back to the house and you have no more worries about all of this ok?”
“Ok.”
“I am serious. I am going to make sure you guys are ok.”
“Ok. And I am ready to go back.”
They stood and he grabbed her hand.
“You know your daughter is really adorable. She’s lucky.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because she looks just like you.”
Scarlett smiled as they walked back to the house. When they entered to the house, the movers were setting up the beds and Helen and the girls were in the kitchen making a list of what they needed. They passed Devon as he was talking with Christopher and Chris. Scarlett walked into the kitchen. Helen looked at her.
“Sweetie are you ok?”
“Yes. I am sorry about that outburst. It’s just so overwhelming. You guys have blessed this family in more than one way we appreciate it.”
“With the help of the Lord we did. I was telling the girls since you are new here you should stop by and visit our church.”
“After everything you have done for us we certainly will.”
Angel walked over to Scarlett and leaned against her shoulder.
“I’m hungry.”
“Ok…well how about we take the car for a test drive? Would you guys like to join us?”
She looked towards Helen.
“We would love to but Christopher and I have a dinner meeting but can we get a rain check.”
“Definitely.” Scarlett looked over to Christian and Chris. “What about you guys?” Chris stood.
“Well I have to go to the community center tonight my team has a game. If it’s ok, I would like to bring Devon along. He said he loves basketball.”
“Oh um I guess its fine as long as he's not out too late.”
“We are just going to go to get some pizza after the game. I should have him home at around 11.”
She turned towards Christian. “That’s fine. So Christian what do you think are you going to join us or do you have plans too?”
“It would be my pleasure to join you ladies.”
Helen cleared her throat. “I thought you were going back to the office.”
“That can wait. I am going to show these lovely ladies around.”
Devon smiled. “You have my sister’s home at a decent hour.”
“No problem.”
Christian held his arm out to Scarlett. “So shall we go?”
“We shall.”
***
Christian pulled into a parking space and smiled over to Scarlett.
“How did you guys enjoy steak and shake?”
Angel smiled. I loved it. That strawberry banana milkshake was so good.”
Maggie took her seatbelt off.
“Yes it was good.”
Christian looked back to Maggie.
“So are you girls excited about the new school?”
Maggie exhaled deeply. “I was happy in my old school. I had great friends and now I just don't know. It's hard cause I have to start over, and it sucks but it’s what is best for my family so.”
“You know starting over isn’t a bad thing, think of it as reinventing yourself.” Scarlett looked at Christian and then looked at Maggie.
“How come I didn’t think of that? We can go shopping after I get home from work tomorrow.
Maggie lit up. “Really?”
“Yeah I need to get some work clothes and you and Angel need things to so it's a date.”
As Christian stepped out of the car, Scarlett glanced over to him, she knew from the moment she first saw him Christian was something special and she could see that in the right circumstance, no matter how hard she wanted to deny it she could fall in love with him.
As they walked into the store Maggie and Angel ran to grab two carts and Christian slipped his hand into Scarlett’s. She looked up at him.
“Christian.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help it.”
“You are going to be trouble aren’t you?”
“I could be persuaded to behave.”
“Ok that is enough.” She pulled her hand away from him. But he pulled her closer to him.
“Is it?”
“Christian!”
She gently pushed him away from her.
“You need to behave.”
“Just one kiss that’s all I want.”
She shook her head no. “You are something else.”
“Hey can’t blame a man for trying.”
She smiled and pulled away from him as they caught up with the girls.
“Hey mom so I can fill my cart with anything I want?”
“Oh yes Scar I think we should.”
Scarlett smirked and shook her head no.
“No everything you want will go through me.”
“But mom I want everything purple. I want purple drapes and purple carpet and oh I want a purple lamp, and I want a desk I can paint purple.”
Christian smiled. “Let me take a guess. You like purple?”
“I love it almost as much as Maggie loves Pink.”
Maggie smiled. “Bet you don't know Scarlett’s favorite color?”
“Actually I think I do. It’s blue.”
Scarlett turned to face Christian. “How did you know?”
“You wore blue to your interview. Most people use their favorite color to an interview it’s a calming factor for them.”
“Wow. You just keep impressing me.”
“That’s what I do best.”
Scarlett smiled as they walked over to the bedding. Scarlett pulled out the Wal-Mart cards.
“Ok so Maggie you are 15 and Angel your 9 I think you both are old enough to get what you want. So I have gift cards for both of you. There are three hundred on each of them so go nuts.”
Maggie and Angel screamed and hugged Scarlett. They ran to the bed section. Scarlett looked at Christian.
“Can you help pick out a temporary bed set for Devon? I am going to let him come up here tomorrow to get his stuff but should get him something for tonight.”
“No problem.”
They followed the girls into the bedding section. Maggie had already begun filling her cart full of pink everything. Looking over towards Angel her cart mimicked Maggie’s except in color. Scarlett walked over to the bedspreads and looked around. Christian walked behind her.
“So what bedspread are you looking at?”
“I like this one.”
She held up a brown and tan bedspread with leopard print sheets.
“Wow really?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing it’s just I didn’t see that coming.”
“Oh whatever!”
She laughed as she placed it in her cart. An hour and a half later, as Christian loaded the last bags, Scarlett stood next to him.
“Thank you so much for helping me tonight.”
“Not a problem. I am in the mood for some ice cream.”
Scarlett looked at her watch. “It’s nine thirty.”
“So? Come on lets go to Cold Stone.”
As they gathered into the car Scarlett looked at Christian.
“What’s Cold Stone?”
“It’s an ice cream shop down the street. Trust me you guys will like it because you can make the ice cream anyway you want it.”
Angel put her seatbelt on.
“Wow mom can we go please?”
“Yeah Scar I don't want today to end yet. It's been the best day I have had in a long time.”
Scarlett looked at the girls and smiled. “Ok.”
Christian drove them to cold stone. He parked the car and waited as they exited to follow them into the creamery. Maggie looked over the menu.
“I already know what I want. I want cake batter ice cream with the apple pie filling.”
Angel smiled.
“What can I have mom?”
&n
bsp; “You can have a small anything you want.” Christian smiled.
“Oh that’s a like it size.”
“Well can I have cotton candy?”
“Yeah go ahead.”
Christian stood behind Scarlett.
“So what will you have?”
Scarlett shivered as he stood behind her.
“You really need to stop standing behind me like that.”
“Why? Does it bother you?”
He moved closer to her and she pushed him away from her giggling.
“Stop! I will have strawberry shortcake, not that I need it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look at me.”
She held her hands up, and he could see every curve in her body. He grinned widely and winked at her.
“I can’t seem to stop.”
After they ordered and received their ice cream, they walked to the car. Angel stopped after opening the door.
“You are a really cool guy Mr. Water’s.”
“You know you can call me Christian?”
“Can I mom?”
“Sure if he doesn’t mind.”
“Which I don’t, so where to now?”
Scarlett shook her head.
“Home I have work in the morning.”
“Oh I forgot about that.”
“Uh huh.”
“As Christian drove them home and helped them unload the car, he hadn’t remembered when he had so much fun just being around someone. He convinced Scarlett to let him stay until Devon got home. After helping the girls decorate their rooms, he helped them unpack their few boxes then enjoyed sitting around and looking through their photo, albums Devon arrived and Scarlett walked Christian to the door.
“This was really fun.”
Christian placed his hands in his pockets. “I know we have to do this again.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Yes! So I will see you tomorrow?”
“Bright and early.”
He pulled her to him and gave her a searing kiss, as much as she wanted to pull away she couldn’t. She wrapped her arms around him deepening the kiss. Christian grinned as they pulled apart.
“I am sorry I just needed to do that before tomorrow.”
“Good night Christian.”
“Goodnight Scarlett.”
He gave her a light kiss on the lips before he returned to his car. He waited for her to shut the door and walk into the house before he drove away.
***
Christian sat down in his chair pulling at his dark blue tie, his black suit jacket already on the coat rack. He hated wearing suits but it was the job. He learned at a young age looking your best everyday rain or shine was a must. Chris walked into the office smiling. Christian always noticed that no matter the time of day Chris always looked like he just stepped out of GQ magazine. He wore a pinstriped black suit with a blue shirt and white tie.
“Hey little bro how are you?”
“I am good, real good. How are you doing this morning? I heard you guys won.”
“Yeah so you must have stayed late over Miss Scarlett’s to know that.”
“I stayed a while. Not that late. Just till like 11:30 or so.”
“Yeah I saw your car when I dropped Devon off. He is really talented, he shot around with the players for a while and I asked him to join the team.”
“Well that is good. This is his senior year. And Scarlett was worried about scholarships.”
“So what did you guys do last night?”
“We went to Steak and shake. You know they had never been there before?”
“Really?”
Chris sat in the seat across from Christian as he kept talking about his night.
“Then we went to Wal-Mart and got the things for the house and I took them to Cold Stone. Then we decorated the girl’s room and just sat at the house and I looked at the photo albums.”
“So you really do like her.”
Christian looked up from his computer and gave Chris and inquisitive look.
“What makes you say that?”
“Mom thinks you got a thing for her.”
“Well you know mom.” He looked back towards the computer.
Chris picked up a pen from Christian’s desk. “I do but I know you to.”
“And what does that mean.”
“It means you are a man and she is cute.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“Ok so you have this beautiful woman working for you that I know you like so tell me what the problem is?”
Christian exhaled as he pushed away from the desk. “You know what you went through with trying to get mom to be ok with you and Jay…then there’s the fact that Scarlett works for me now. Nothing can happen ok so just drop it.”
“You can always fire her.”
“And why would I want to do a thing like that? So I can be like you.”
“What do you mean like me?”
“You remember when Natalie was working for you? You fired her just so you could get with her. What kind of sense is that?”
“First of all that was what three, four years ago and her own suggestion thank you very much and second she was fine you know how it is.”
“If you say so.”
Chris picked up a piece of paper from Christian’s desk. “I still don't see why you can’t be with her just because she works for you.”
“That’s not the only reason.”
“Ok so what is the other reason?”
“Mom seems to think I will hurt her.”
“And?”
“I don't want to hurt her.”
Chris couldn’t hide the smirk that formed across his face.
“Since when? Aren’t you the guy who takes a girl out once and if she doesn’t pass your ridiculous standards you just don't call her?”
Christian shot an angry look towards Chris. “I don’t know since now ok. Now I have to get back to work.”
“Speaking of work where, is your new assistant?”
“She is down in personnel finishing up her paperwork. So if you don’t mind.” The phone rang and Christian picked it up. Chris stood.
“I am going to head to my office…I’ll be back around later.”
“Ok…Hello this is Christian Waters.”
“Since when do you answer your own phone?”
“Shane my man you know I’m no stranger to hard work.”
“I know so how's it going?”
“Good I can’t complain. How are you doing?”
“Great on a 6-0 streak right about now.”
“That’s what I'm talking about…heard you had a new girl.”
“Yeah Shannon, she's hot.”
“That makes what? Three girls this month?”
“Something like that.”
“And that is why you will never settle down again.”
“Who wants to settle down again? I am at the top of my game boy. And anyways you are one to talk.”
“And what does that mean?”
“It means you go through just as many girls as I do…maybe even more.”
“Yeah well things and people change.”
“Since when? I remember after you and that girl you were engaged to, broke up you became a man who enjoyed the company of many women and I am not mad at you about that because I did that same thing after my marriage. There is nothing wrong with sampling from different platters.”
“Where did that come from? Sampling platters?”
“I’m hungry so that was the first thought that came to my mind.”
“Ok well how about you go eat and I will get back to work.”
“Ok.”
“Hey wait when are you going to grace us with your presence here?”
“I am actually thinking about coming in a couple months.”
“Well good cause mom can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see her. It’s been three years since I've seen her. I guess I
can leave the California sun for a little while.”
Scarlett walked into the room with a cup of Coffee. Every time Christian saw her she seemed more beautiful than before. She wore a black skirt with a white tank top and pink jacket and all Christian could think was how he could get her out of it. Christian motioned for her to sit down. “Hey man I got to go but call me later so we can plan your visit.”
“Bet. Bye.”
“Bye. So I see you found the coffee machine.”
“Yes. Two creams one sugar just how you like it.” She handed it to him then took a seat.
He smiled. “Good but its two creams two sugars.”
“Yeah I wasn’t sure so I brought another sugar packet just in case.”
She handed him the packet and pulled out a notebook. He glanced at her bottled water.
“Good thinking. You’re not having a cup?”
“Oh no thank you I can’t stand drinking that stuff.”
“You know we have tea too.”
“Don’t like tea either.”
“Really?”
“Yep never have.”
She smiled a little and bit her lower lip.
“I gave it a chance but it’s just not my thing.”
“Wow if I wouldn’t have had coffee working here I don't think I could make it through the day.” He took a sip and Scarlett crossed her legs.
“You know coffee stunts your growth?”
“I'm 6’3 I think I will survive.”
She laughed and he looked at her.
“So tell me what you think about the company.”
“From what I am hearing and seeing I think I will love working here.”
“Good; because I think you will do great things here.”
Scarlett stood. “Yeah I should get back to work.”
“Ok well you’re doing a great job. Keep up the good work.”
Scarlett walked back to her desk and shut the door. Christian looked after her as she walked. He loved how when she moved her curves just moved right along with her. She was so beautiful. The more he saw of her the more he liked her. He knew from the moment his lips touched hers that he would never be the same. He knew he was in danger of falling in love with her. And that excited him and scared him at the same time.
Chapter 3
New World…
Scarlett sorted the papers at her desk. There was no way she would have them done on time. It seemed like every time she thought she had a break she didn’t. She looked at the clock 6:30pm. She placed her water bottle on the table and picked up the phone.
A Passion Rekindled Page 5