by Emerson Rose
“I’m sure she loved you and I’m sorry if she scared you. She’s been on my case lately about calling her back.”
“Well, she is your mother, you should call her back. I’d give my right hand to talk to my mum again.”
If I weren’t feeling guilty before, I am now. Here I am acting like I’m too busy to call my mother back while Tiana will never see hers again. I’m not a complete asshole, I don’t call her because the less interaction I have with her the less likely it is that she finds out about my vision… for now.
“You’re right, believe me, I’ll make a point of it from now on.”
“I’ve got to go, Donna needs me.”
She’s not the only one.
“How are you getting home if your brother is here?”
“I’ll walk.”
“You will not. Maybe Jayden is right. You’re not taking this seriously enough, get an Uber.” I swear to God if she refuses, I’ll stand Jayden up and go get her.
“Okay, I have to go.”
“Tiana, promise me. Uber.”
“I promise. My God, you’re as bad as Jayden.”
“Oh honey, you have no idea. Don’t try my patience.”
Click. The phone line disconnects. She did not fucking hang up on me. I pull the phone away from my ear and look at the screen that says call ended. She did hang up. That little fucking firecracker hung up.
I open a text box and press the audio message option and send her a text while I make my way out of my office.
Big mistake.
I don’t take well to rudeness, not to mention disobedience. That woman just pressed my biggest button and now she’s going to see what happens when she refuses me. So much for breaking things off today, I’ll have to do it tomorrow.
Chapter 17
Tiana
Don’t try my patience? Is he kidding? I’m a grown ass woman, if I want to walk home and risk my life, I damn sure will.
I mean, I don’t, but I need some peace and quiet when I get home tonight. That’s why I told Jayden I had a ride. I should have lied to Mr. Pushy, too.
When I exit the kitchen, I find Donna filling salt and pepper containers at the counter. I’m seething mad. I don’t say anything, I just start helping her. The mindless work is good for my hot head and she seems to sense that I need quiet. Donna likes to chatter on and on but she holds her tongue and watches me intently.
After about ten minutes she breaks the silence yanking me from my thoughts. “That Drake sure got you all cattywampus.”
“What?”
“Drake. You know that boy is handsome as hell, but he’s one of the only honest ta God players I’ve ever met. Don’t get attached, he’s a heartbreaker.”
“Oh, I’m not interested. We met a couple days ago. He’s our next-door neighbor. We ran into each other here last night and he bought me dinner, it’s nothing.”
She tips her head down and looks at me over her glasses with her brows lifted.
“I’m serious, we’re just friends.”
“It didn’t look like that when y’all were holdin’ hands and givin’ each other googly-eyes.”
I huff and pick up the tray of shakers. “We did not have googly-eyes.”
“Okay, honey, but be careful. I’ve seen a lot of women cryin’ in their soup in here because that boy won’t commit to anything other than sex. You’re a real nice girl, I don’t wanna see ya get hurt.”
Is that all he wants from me? A few nights of kinky sex and then onto the next women who’s blind to his game? I want to quiz her about the other women he’s slept with and how she knows he’s a player, but that would make me look interested.
How do I keep getting myself into these situations? So, this is why Jay didn’t want me hanging around with his best friend. He’s a man-whore. Great.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Donna. He’s too old for me anyway.”
“Mmhmm, when a man looks as good as he does it don’t matter much how old he is. How old are you, sweetheart? Bout twenty-seven or so?”
“Twenty-five.”
“That’s right, you graduated with Suzanne and Kimber, didn’t you?”
“Yes, do you know what happened to them? I didn’t keep up with anyone when I moved away.”
“Well, poor Suzanne married Willie Donovan and he died in a fishing accident. Kimber married a Marine named Caleb but they got divorced and now I think she’s engaged to another Marine out in Cali.”
“Wow, that’s terrible about Willie, I remember him, he was a nice enough guy.”
“He musta changed a lot then cuz he was a drunk when he died. Fell overboard in the swamps and drowned.”
Donna is a true Southern gossip, God, love her. I finish putting the shakers on the tables when a set of headlights flashes through the front window.
“That your ride, honey?”
“No, I’m walking home. Maybe it’s a customer?”
“Well, they better go on home and make a sandwich cuz we’re closed.”
“I’ll tell them…” The bell on the diner door rings hard when Drake flings it open. His face is set in a ferocious frown when he speaks through gritted teeth, “Hello, Donna. Tiana, it’s time to go home.”
Donna doesn’t respond, she’s too busy looking back and forth between Drake and I trying to figure out what’s going on.
“Drake, what are you doing here?”
“We’ll talk about it in the car.”
“We most certainly will not. I’m not going anywhere with you, I told you I’m walking home.” My words come out the way I want them to, stern and forceful but my body is drawn to him. I take a step toward him. I take hold of a chair when I realize what I’ve done but it’s too late. He recognizes my conflict.
“In the car, now.”
“No.” I cross my arms over my chest with defiance, but when he starts toward me my eyes widen and I step back.
He looks at Donna behind the counter while still walking toward me, “I’m sorry, Donna, but she’s done for today, she’ll be back at noon tomorrow.”
Before I can think, he’s wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted me off my feet. “Put me down! You can’t do this, I’m working!” I yell and look back at a stunned Donna.
“Not anymore.”
He hauls me out the door kicking and yelling to a black SUV where he opens the back door where he tosses me in and slides in next to me. There’s a driver behind the wheel who doesn’t seem to notice that one of his passengers is kidnapping the other.
“Let me out! This is kidnapping you know. I could call the police and have you arrested.”
“To my house,” he tells the driver and turns to me, “You will do no such thing. You’re going to sit quietly and listen to me. Tiana, I took your computer and had a friend look at it today, that video you received came from an IP address somewhere close to Jewel Falls. You can’t be walking around alone at night and I could have told you this if you hadn’t hung up on me!”
His words crescendo until his voice is booming and I’ve scooted as far away from him as I can. This guy is crazy. Why didn’t I listen to Jayden?”
“How did you get my computer? That’s theft. You’re a thief. I’m probably safer out there walking around with some stalker than in here with you. You’re insane you know that? Certifiable. And you’re a man-whore. I don’t know how I could have been so idiotic.”
His nostrils flare when he inhales and closes his eyes as he tries to calm himself. When he opens them, I’m surprised at the pain I see there. “Do you honestly feel unsafe with me?”
“Honestly? Yes, I do. You just fucking kidnapped me from my where I work.”
“I’m angry with you for hanging up on me,” he says.
“Well, I was angry with you for bossing me around.”
“I was looking out for you not bossing, there’s a difference.”
“Well, you need to learn some people skills because yours suck!” I exclaim.
I glance over at him to
see his reaction. I’ve been looking straight ahead while we argue because honestly seeing him in his uniform is too much. No matter how pissed I am, he’s a gorgeous man in the most respected military uniform on earth and he makes me weak.
“Tiana, look at me. Please,” he pleads.
I do and he reaches out and places his hand on my bare knee. His touch is like a lightning bolt deactivating my anger and waking my desire for him.
“Come here.”
I scoot across the soft leather like a zombie under his spell. His arm slides behind my back and he pulls me against his chest and strokes my hair.
“I care about you. If anything had happened to you walking home, I’d never forgive myself for not coming to take you home.”
“You don’t care about me, you’re only interested in one thing.”
“Oh really, and what’s that?”
“Getting into my pants.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“People like you don’t associate feelings with sex. You just wanted another notch on your belt and you got it. You don’t have to bullshit me with the feelings stuff.”
He holds me at arm's length and ducks down so he’s at my level looking me straight in the eyes. This is the first time he’s ever looked at me straight on. A shiver runs up my spine and I have the strangest sensation of disconnect. It feels like an electrical current has been interrupted and there is no longer communication happening between us.
“Where did you get an idea that? If I say I care about you, I care about you, Goddammit. Who are you to tell me I don’t?”
He’s right. Who am I to tell him anything?
“Let’s just say you have a reputation.”
“Oh yeah? Well, how about we talk about your reputation, I’ve seen some pretty racy videos of you with men in a bar but you don’t see me judging you now, do you?”
I lower my eyes to stare at the colorful bars and pins on the breast of his uniform. All the anger that’s been boiling in my blood since he dragged me out of the diner fizzles out. He’s right, again. I have no right to judge him. Maybe he is a playboy; that’s his prerogative but I don’t have to be a part of it.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to keep bringing that up, but somebody has been filling your head with shit about me that has nothing to do with us. People may think I’m an asshole for not committing to the women I sleep with but they don’t know me. They don’t know why I do what I do, and they don’t know how I feel about you.”
I cock my head and gaze at his perfect scowling face. “And how is that? How do you feel about me, Drake?”
“I have very strong feelings for you and honestly I don’t know how to deal with them. Your brother doesn’t want us being involved and I don’t want you sneaking around behind his back and lying to him about seeing me. He has his reasons and they are valid. I won’t lie. We should stay away from each other. I just don’t know if I can.”
“What are his reasons?”
“You’re better off not knowing. Trust me, please.”
“Sir, we’re almost there, would you like me to circle the block or do you want to go to the house?”
Sir? Who is this guy? I’ve never heard an Uber driver be so formal. And what the hell is going on with Drake? He cares for me, so he storms into the diner like a raving lunatic to escort me home, but there is something he doesn’t want me to know about him that is bad enough to keep us apart?
This can’t just be about Jayden, they’re friends. They could work it out; there’s got to be something else. He’s admitted to not committing to the women he sleeps with, so it’s not that either.
I felt something different with him last night and I know he felt it too. Maybe he’s scared? Maybe he thinks he’s too old for me? Jayden said he’s thirty-seven, that’s an eleven-year age gap, substantial for some people but not for me. I don’t have age hang-ups, I mean I’m not looking to date my grandpa or anything but eleven years isn’t a big deal. So, what could it be?
“Go to the house.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you have one of your men driving us around?” I meet the driver’s eyes in the rear-view mirror.
“No, Max is a retired Marine. I don’t drive at night.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t see well in the dark.”
“Like night blindness? You can wear special glasses for that. It might save you some money paying a driver.” I catch the driver’s eyes again, “No offense.”
“None taken, ma’am.”
“I do wear glasses and contacts, it doesn’t correct it.”
We pull into the driveway and Drake opens the door ending the conversation and offers me his hand.
“You’re incorrigible,” I tell him.
He cocks one eyebrow, “And your point is?”
I huff and let him help me out. My feet ache and I’m weary, I don’t think I can deal with much more today. I need my bed and I need it now.
Drake scoops me up into his arms. My feet never touch the ground.
“Put it in the garage. I’m taking her next door,” he says to Max.
“Aren’t you worried the neighbors are going to see you lugging me across the lawn?”
“Fuck the neighbors.”
“Have you forgotten we live in Gossipville?”
“No, I have not.”
Hmm, well okay then, fuck the neighbors. I hope he’s ready for the entire town of Jewel Falls to weave some crazy stories and spread them far and wide.
“You don’t have to carry me. I stink, and I know how to walk.”
He glances down at me in the dark with a will you just shut up look and I roll my eyes.
“Just sayin’.”
“You smell fine and you’re tired.”
“What if Jayden’s home?”
Drake says, “He’s not.”
“How do you know?” I persevere.
“Because he’s at Al’s drinking.”
“Weren’t you supposed to meet him there?” I ask.
“Yes,” he answers curtly.
“He might have been worried when you didn’t show up and come home.”
“His car isn’t here.”
“He could have put it in the garage,” I suggest.
“He washes the dust off his car before he puts it in the garage every night. The driveway is dry. What is your problem?”
“My problem? What’s yours?”
“Right now, you are my problem and I’m trying to put your question-asking ass to bed.”
“Nobody asked you to make me your problem,” I tell him, somewhat peeved.
“Nobody had to, that’s the nature of problems.”
He carries me up the steps onto the porch like I weigh nothing. He’s not even out of breath.
“Do you have your key?”
“As a matter of fact, I don’t. Someone ambushed me tonight and I didn’t have time to get my things.”
He shakes his head and sighs. “Reach up there and grab the key.” He nods toward the top of the doorframe. My brother must be a moron, how could he leave a key out here for anyone to use? And he thinks I’m not taking this seriously enough. I slide my hand along the wood until I find the key.
“Has this always been here?” I question.
For as long as I’ve known your brother, it has. I thought maybe he would have taken it in, though, with someone threatening you.”
“Exactly. How can he say I’m not being cautious when he’s practically inviting the stalker into his house?”
“He must have forgotten. I’ll talk to him about it.” He opens the screen door and unlocks the heavy oak door all while holding onto me. When we’re inside, he marches straight up to my bedroom and flicks on the light switch. He pauses so our eyes can adjust to the bright light of the room and then he carries me into the bathroom where he sits me on the vanity.
“What are you doing?”
“Drawing you a bath.”
“I’ll probably fall asleep
and drown,” I warn.
Drake informs me, “I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Oh,” I say, nonplussed.
I watch him turn on the water and test the temperature. When he’s satisfied, he stands and opens a cupboard next to the tub for a towel as if he knows exactly where everything is. I consider mentioning it, but suddenly I’m too tired to talk.
When he turns to help me out of my clothes, my eyelids are drooping, the bathroom is warm and cozy and I’m exhausted. I wasn’t kidding about drowning.
“Arms up.” I raise my arms over my head and he slips my greasy smelly blouse over my head and tosses it into the hamper. Half dressed, I’m slouched forward gripping the granite countertop feeling about as unattractive as I ever have. He leans in and places his hands on either side of my face to press a soft kiss on my pouty lips.
“You’re so beautiful, I wish I could look at you forever.”
He looks at me for such a long time I feel like maybe he was being literal about looking at me forever. When the tub is full. he shakes himself from his eye-feast and turns to shut it off.
“Ready?”
I drop my chin to my chest and look at him through my lashes. “Like this?” I say referring to the fact that I’m still half dressed.
He smiles a sympathetic smile and squats down to unlace my shoes and remove my socks. To my horror, he rubs my sweaty tired feet but after a few seconds of that, I’m melting all over the vanity.
“Okay, up with you, beautiful girl.” He stands and pulls me to my feet. I start to unbutton my shorts but he moves my hands to do it himself. He pushes them over my hips along with my panties until they fall to the floor at my feet. He scoops me up again and gently lowers me into the water. It feels like heaven. I’ll admit I wanted to go straight to bed but this is a much better idea.
He kneels next to the bath and pours body wash on his hands.
“Close your eyes.”
I do as I’m told and I’m rewarded with his roaming hands on my skin. He washes me, sliding his hands over my tired muscles and massaging wherever he can reach. I’m about to slip under the water when his hand finds my sex. He slides the pad of his middle finger around my clit and cups my mound.