“What’s the matter,” Tucker asks. He’s kissing me but my mind is somewhere else.
“My daddy’s pretty scary,” I blurt out feeling silly about how childlike I must sound.
“Is he a big guy?”
“Huge,” I say. “Maybe we should just say we’re dating for now. I wouldn’t want your first visit to end in bloodshed.”
“Parent’s love me,” he says as he lowers me onto my back, positions himself between my legs and rests his head on my chest. His long legs are hanging off my twin bed. “This bed must have been made for an elf.”
“My big personality might have had you fooled but I’m only 5’ feet tall,” I say rubbing his hair. He’s quiet for a few minutes. “Are you awake,” I ask stroking his back.
“I guess we did everything backwards. If I was your father I’d be pissed if some man walked into my home and said he married my daughter in Vegas, while she was drunk no less.”
“Maybe someday we’ll have a real wedding,” I say.
“Yeah we will,” he says sliding his big hand over one of my breasts. “I can’t believe these are real,” He says squeezing it gently.
“I take it you’ve encountered lots of fake breasts,”
“Do you want to meet my family?” He says quickly changing the subject. “My mom, dad and sister usually have dinner together on Monday nights.”
“I’ve never heard you talk about your sister.” He lifts his head to look at me.
“We don’t talk very often but she’ll be excited to meet her new sister-in-law.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to tell them so soon? What’s the rush?”
“There’s no rush but I don’t see the point in waiting.”
“Let’s just tell them we’re dating for now and in a few weeks we’ll say we eloped,” I say kissing the top of his head. Tucker’s hand is under my shirt making circles around my nipple.
“Tucker did you hear a word I just said?”
“Yeah I heard you,” He says lifting my shirt and kissing my breast.
“I was planning to volunteer today. I can meet you after.”
“You volunteer in Marin?”
“I take the bus over there as often as I can,” I say.
“I’m going to send a car for you,” he says sitting up on his knees and sliding his shirt over his head. I reach up to unbuckle his pants. He stands to slip out of his shoes and jeans. I get up and stand in front of him and pull his underwear down to his ankles. He’s hard everywhere and for a brief moment I wonder if it’s love or lust that I feel for Tucker. He wraps me in his enormous arms and I breathe in his sent. He kisses me gently and I feel like its love. He lifts my shirt over my head unhooks my bra and lowers his head to my bare breasts. It’s definitely lust I think as my body tingles under his touch. He cups each of my breasts in his hands and licks and sucks my nipples before moving his lips back to mine. The kiss deepens our tongues wrestling angrily as we tear off our remaining clothes. We back up until my back is pressed against the dorm room wall. He lifts me with one arm and drives himself into me. He holds onto my ass and I encircle my legs around his waist as he pounds inside me repeatedly. I bite my bottom lip to prevent myself from screaming out his name. When both our bodies begin to tremble with pleasure another thought races into my mind: ‘birth control’. “Shit,” I say.
After Tucker leaves to meet Mike for Lunch I resist the urge to wrap up in my quilt and sleep the day away. I drag myself out of bed, shower and dress in a sleeveless black sundress with colorful flowers around the bottom and wedged heels. I pull my hair into a high ponytail and put on tons on mascara and shiny lip-gloss. I head for the administration office and register for next semester’s classes. I’m all set to head for the bus stop when a call comes in on my cell phone.
“Mrs. Bradley,” the man on the other end says. I hesitate for a moment thinking who the hell is Mrs. Bradley.
“Yes that’s me,” I say reminding myself.
“This is City Town Cars. Your car is waiting in front of the administration building. The drivers name is John and he’s been instructed to stay with you for the entire day.”
“Thank you,” I say and hang up thinking I could get use to being pampered like this. John a tall lanky man who reminds me of Lurch from the Adam’s Family is standing next to the town car. A few girls are standing near the car peering into the tented windows. I approach the car tentatively.
“Good afternoon Mrs. Bradley,” John says as if he’s known me his whole life. He opens the door and I slide onto the back seat feeling self-conscience because the girls are giving me dirty looks.
“How did you know who I was?” I ask John as he merges onto interstate 80.
“You’re husband described you to the dispatch office. I could also tell by the way those girls where looking at you.”
“Yeah my new husband is pretty popular with the ladies.” We drive over the Richmond San Rafael Bridge and down the 101 freeway. There are tree lined hills on one side of the freeway, stores and businesses on the other. I sink into the leather seats and make small talk with John as we drive.
“We’re here Mrs. Bradley,” John says pulling up to Room for Growth.
“Please call me Leila.”
“Yes ma’am,” He says getting out and opening my car door. He extends his hand to help me out and hands me a card, “Just call the number on the front of the card a few minutes before you’re ready to be picked up.
“Thank you,” I say fishing around my purse for money to tip him.
“No need for a tip. You husband’s taken care of that.”
“I guess he thought of everything,” I say as I head towards the building. Inside are learning stations where the participants are taught to weave baskets and other skills as part of their job training. They sell the baskets online, at farmers markets and art shows to earn extra money.
“Leila!” Sharon a woman with Down-syndrome calls out as she rushes over to hug me. Where have you been?”
“It’s only been a few days,” I say.
“Come on we have lots of catching up to do,” Sharon says linking arms with me and pulling me over to her work station. We sit down and I pick up the basket I was making on my last visit.
“So what’s up Sharon? How have you been?”
“I’m fine, but Joan’s in a snit. I heard her yelling at her son over the phone a few minutes ago.”
“Well that’s none of our business Sharon.”
“It’s your business because she was talking about you.” Sharon leans across the table and whispers conspiratorially, “Joan wanted you to meet her son and I think he told her that he has a girlfriend now.” Sharon looks around the room, “Joan always hates his girlfriends. One girl had boobs as big as my head,” Sharon says with exaggerated hand gestures. “Here she comes,” She whispers turning her attention to her basket as if she wasn’t just discussing Joan and her son seconds ago.
“Hi Leila,” Joan says walking over to hug me. “I know our resident busy body here told you everything.” Sharon lowers her head and focuses on her basket. “I’ve wanted you to meet my son for weeks now. He’s a really nice guy but he has horrible taste in women. I was planning to invite you to dinner tonight but he just called and said he’s bringing some girl.”
“I just started dating someone,” I say.
She pulls up a chair next to me. “Is it serious?”
“Pretty serious,” I say. She looks down at my hand. I forgot to take off the ring. “It’s just a promise ring,” I say.
“That’s some promise,” she says with a raised eyebrow. “Anyway, I know you two would be perfect for each other. Will you just come for dinner as a favor to me? I told him he wasn’t allowed to bring his dreadful new girlfriend.”
“You should give her a chance you might like her.”
“The stories I c
ould tell you about some of the women my son’s dated.”
My cell phone buzzes in my purse. I excuse myself and read the text message. The message is from Tucker. He says he needs to reschedule dinner and that he’ll call to explain soon.
“Well it looks like I’m free for the night. I’d love to come for dinner,” I say to Joan.
“That’s wonderful,” she says reaching over to hug me.
“This is not a set up. I’m in a committed relationship.”
“Oh sweetie you’re only twenty. Commitments can change like the weather at your age.” Joan writes down her address. “Come around five. I know you love architecture. I’ll give you a tour of my house.”
Sharon who has been quietly listening the whole time says, “Looks like you’re gonna have a new boyfriend soon.”
______
Tucker and Mike meet at The Cave for lunch. They seat themselves and order Buffalo wings and a pitcher of beer when the waiter comes to their table.
“What happened to you this weekend? I thought you were going to hand out with us.”
“I got tied up at work. I had to settle a few accounts at my old job while preparing financial proposals at the new job. It’s been crazy. Did you guys have a good time?”
“Yeah we flew to Las Vegas, drank too much the usual. So what else have you been up to? We haven’t really talked in a while.”
“Just work,” Mike says looking down at the table.
“What’s on your mind Mike,” Tucker asks.
Mike smoothes his napkin on the table trying to gather his nerve. He exhales loudly, “Nothings on my mind I’m just overwhelmed with work. I really need to get away.”
“We’re flying to LA next week. Its Leila’s birthday you should come with us if you can get away.”
“I haven’t been to LA in a while. I might take you up on that offer. I have a few clients down there. I can make this a business trip and charge it to the company.” Their food arrives and they eat in silence for a few minutes. “I talked to Samantha today,” Mike says. “She wanted us all to go out together.”
Tucker replies without lifting his gaze from his plate. “That’s not a good idea,”
Mike nods his agreement as he tears into his plate of wings. “So you’re really into this Leila girl. Samantha told me that a woman answered your phone when she called over the weekend.”
“That was probably Sarah or Leila’s sister Nickie.”
“You had three girls at your house this weekend?”
“Yeah but it’s not what you think. I’m in love with Leila.”
Mike looks up from his plate of food in astonishment. “In all the years I’ve known you I have never heard you say those words.”
“It’s never been true before.”
“Not even with Samantha,” Mike asks.
“I loved Samantha but not like this,” Tucker says.
_____
Joan’s house is located at the top of a mountain that looks completely uninhabited. We drive up to the gate that surrounds the house. John rolls down the car window and presses the intercom button. I ask him to, “Tell the person on the other end that Leila Peterson is here for Joan Noland.” I know giving them the last name Bradley would raise questions. The gate swings open and we careen up a winding stone drive way. I step out of the car feeling under dressed. The houses in Marin are usually designed to fit into their surroundings. They have lots of cedar sidings, natural colors and they’re surrounded by trees. This house is far from being a typical Marin home. It’s white with huge pillars on the second floor veranda. It has to be at least 15,000 square feet and the scenery from the cobble stone walk way is breathtaking. I look past the rolling green hills to a view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
“Leila,” Joan says as she walks up to hug me. She’s wearing a Saint John dress with flared sleeves that make her look like a bird in flight. “I’m so happy you came,” She says taking my hand and leading me up the walkway.
“Your home is so beautiful.”
“Thank you dear. You recognize that,” she says pointing to a trail of plants along the walk way.
“Yes, that’s purple love grass.”
“My son and I planted it after I saw your picture.”
“About your son,” I say stopping on the walk way and turning to face her.
“Here he is now,” She says.
I stop breathing for a full minute and everything in my path goes black. “Isn’t he handsome,” Joan says as Tucker approaches the place where I stand frozen.
“Tucker is your son,” I manage to say, “But your last names.”
“Noland is my maiden name,” she says. “How do you know Tucker,” She asks.
“She was in one of my classes,” Tucker says. I’m still too stunned to speak.
“Honey are you alright?” Joan asks.
“We should get her inside,” Tucker says.
“Tucker this is Leila by the way,” Joan says as we walk into the house. I sit down at an enormous kitchen table. “I knew you’d forget all about whomever it is your dating when you met my son.”
“But,” I say looking back and forth from Tucker to Joan. I’m not sure why I didn’t see the family resemblance. They have the exact same midnight blue eyes.
“So this is the woman you’ve been telling me about,” Tucker says taking a bottle of water from the refrigerator and handing it to me. “You’re right she is beautiful,” Tucker says staring down at me with a look of amusement.
“See it pays to listen to your mother,” Joan says. She’s clearly proud of herself. “Now you two sit here and get acquainted. She walks over to Tucker and pushes him towards me. The caterers are bringing dinner in about an hour and your father will be home soon. “I’m so excited,” She says before disappearing down the hall.
“Tucker what’s going on,” I ask once Joan’s out of site.
He laughs. “My mother’s been telling me about you for weeks she really likes you.”
“I like her to but I can’t believe she never mentioned my name to you. This is way too weird. Shouldn’t we tell her?”
“No let her think this whole thing was her idea,” He says pulling up a chair. He takes my hand and brushes a finger across my palm. “You know what this means right?” I shake my head no. “It means this was meant to be.”
_____
Tucker and I take a walk around his family home. It is the biggest house I’ve ever seen. It has eleven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The teak hardwood floors shine as if they’ve never been walked on. We walk out into the back yard side by side. The estate is on five acres of land. We stop near the lap pool and gaze out at the view. “I can’t believe you grew up here.”
“Yeah it’s an ok house.” He points to a small tool shed next to the pool house. Mike and I built a homemade bomb and blew up that shed when we were thirteen. He bends down and sticks his hand in the pool. I had my first kiss in this pool. “Her name was Delilah,” she was one of my older sister’s friends.
“How old were you?”
“I was eleven.”
“How old was the girl?
“She was fourteen. I was tall for my age.”
“That’s so gross.” I say rustling his hair.
He splashes pool water on my legs. I bend down and splash him back and he picks me up and threatens to throw me in the pool. He puts me down when Joan comes out with a man that has to be Tucker’s father. He’s a few inches shorter than Tucker with the same dark blond curly hair only his hair is cut short and streaked gray at the temples. He has hazel eyes with laugh lines in the corners.
“Look how well you two are getting along,” Joan says. “I want you to meet Tucker’s father.
“Hello young lady,” He says with a broad smile.
“I’m Leila Peterson,” I say shaking his hand.
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His expression changes, “That’s fine,” Mr. Bradley says before turning to walk away. Joan follows quickly behind him.
I hear her say, “Tucker William Bradley you were very rude,” but Mr. Bradley just quickens his pace without a word.
“I don’t think your father likes me.”
“That was a bit odd. Come on,” Tucker says taking my hand and pulling me into the house. We walk through the kitchen were the caterers are setting up for dinner.
“Slow down Tucker,” I say straining to keep up with him. We come to the end of an extremely long hallway and Tucker opens the door to his father’s office. Mr. Bradley is sitting behind a massive desk. “I’ll wait out here,” I say trying to pull away from Tucker’s grasp. He tightens his grip and pulls me into the room with him. Joan is sitting in a chair a few feet away from the desk.
“What was that about,” Tucker asks his father.
“I’m going to just wait outside,” I say trying again to creep away.
“No Leila you should hear this,” Mr. Bradley says walking around to the front of the desk. He leans against his desk and crosses his arms over his chest. “I received a very disturbing call from Amy’s father a few hours ago.”
“He said that Amy was heartbroken over the fact that you married a prostitute named Leila in Las Vegas over the weekend.”
“I am not a prostitute. I have only slept with one and a half men in my entire life,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
“How can they be married? I just introduced them today?” We are all quiet for a few beats. The silence in the room is broken by footsteps and laughter in the hall. A beautiful plus sized woman with the same blue eyes, dimples and cleft chin as Tucker walks into the room. She saunters in with a tall attractive Hispanic woman.
“Shauna why did you bring Samantha here?” Tucker yells. His face is red with anger. I start to back away towards the door.
Shauna and Samantha ignore Tucker’s question, “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Bradley,” Samantha says with a pleasant smile.
“I’m going to go,” I say before turning to walk out of the room.
“No wait,” Tucker says reaching for my hand.
A Love Like This (Book 1) Page 12