Play Me_A Standalone Romance

by Cary Hart

  “I’m pretty sure she loves you.”

  “How can you tell?”

  I pick up the plates and take them over the table. I’m stalling so I can come up with a logical answer, one that will put her at ease, but I’m failing miserably.

  “Well, she gave me a thumbs-up.” I smile at the memory.

  “What?”

  “Before she walked out, she gave me a thumbs-up,” I mutter, turning around to grab our drinks. I take a sip of mine before placing it on the table. “Ready to eat?”

  “What?”

  “You ready to eat?” I walk around to her chair, pulling it out.

  “No, rewind.” Ellie twirls her finger in the air. “What’s this about a thumbs-up?” she asks as she sits down.

  “Like this.” I throw my thumbs up in the air giving her my best Grans impersonation as I walk around to take a seat across from her.

  “Why?”

  “You are well beyond your three questions, but since we are making it up as we go, I’ll give you a pass.” I wink. “But just this once.”

  “Lee!” She laughs. “Just spit it out.”

  “Fine.” I lay my napkin out on my lap, still continuing to take my time, before I lean in and say, “My Grans thought I was a miserable, lonely shell of a man. Overworked and tired. No time for myself.”

  “And?” She motions for me to hurry.

  “The point is, she saw me happy.” I flash her a wicked grin, one I know will drive her crazy. “Apparently being worked over isn’t the same as being overworked.” I wink again.

  She gasps.

  I laugh.

  “Not funny.”

  “You’re not a slut.”

  In a war of smiles, we begin a stare down. Not sure what game we are playing, but it’s fun.

  “You’re not cute.” She picks up her fork and begins to eat the casserole, then moans with pleasure.

  “You sure about that?”

  “Yes, but oh em gee can you cook.” She quickly takes another bite.

  “Thanks. My Grans taught me.” I finally begin to dig in.

  “Speaking of which,” she says, pointing her fork toward the kitchen. “Why so much food?”

  Taking another bite, I scoot my chair back and cross my legs. Picking my glass up, I take a sip before I begin. “My Grans has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.”

  “Oh no.” Ellie holds her hand to her chest for a moment before getting up and dragging her chair in front of me. “How bad?” she asks, leaning over, taking my hands in hers.

  “Apparently, we ignored the symptoms. By the time we found out, she was in the moderate, middle stage. But lately she has shown signs of it progressing.”

  “I’m so sorry, Lee.”

  “Me too.” I give her hands a squeeze. “A couple weeks ago, she was trying to boil a chicken, but forgot to add water, then went to lie down. A small fire started.”

  “Was anyone hurt?”

  “Nope.” I shake my head. “But it scared me enough to take my time in getting the kitchen put back together. So, it’s only been microwavable foods and cold cuts for her.”

  “Oh! I take it that didn’t sit well?”

  “She’s getting tired of it. So, until I can figure everything out, I thought I would improvise. Make a few freezer meals. Divide them up in individual proportions.”

  Giving my hands another squeeze, she pulls me closer. “So thoughtful,” she says, leaning in and placing a soft kiss on my lips. “What are you going to do?” she asks.

  “You,” I reach over and tap her nose, “are at your limit.” I stand and reach across the table, grabbing her plate and setting it down beside mine. “Now, eat.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Ellie sticks her tongue out while scooting her chair in.

  “My turn,” I say as I pull my chair in.

  “I’m not sure if this is friendly dinner conversation or an interrogation,” she laughs between bites.

  “We can skip the dinner conversation and go straight to the friendly.” I nod toward the couch.

  Raising her eyebrows, she says, “I’m game.”

  “Let me get my round in over dinner, get this mess cleaned up and then the couch and I are all yours.”

  “Deal.”

  “So, why do you always taste like vanilla?”

  She takes a drink then licks her bottom lip. “Oh, my ChapStick.

  I’m obsessed.”

  “Why vanilla?”

  “I never used to care what flavor, but my first night in Nashville, I had this gig and I always apply ChapStick before I go on. That night I had vanilla. I’m a tad superstitious, so it’s now my favorite.”

  “Mine too,” I confess, leaning in to steal a quick one. “Middle name?”

  “Jane.” She makes a face. “At boarding school my nickname was Plain Jane.”

  “You are anything but,” I reply.

  A little while later, I nod at her empty plate. “More?”

  “Oh no, I’m so stuffed. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” I collect our plates, stacking them in the sink. “Would you like to take some home with you?”

  “Maybe just a little.” She holds her fingers a tiny bit apart in a pinching-type gesture. “If you have enough.”

  “I think I went a little overboard.” I purse my lips together, glancing at the mess I created.

  “Possibly,” she laughs, coming to stand beside me. “Where are the containers? I’ll start filling them up.”

  “I got this. You just sit over there and relax.” I nod toward the couch again.

  “Tempting, but I have ulterior motives. The quicker we get this cleaned up, the sooner we will be on the couch together.” She flashes me a sexy smile.

  “How can I argue with that?”

  “You can’t.” She holds her hands in the air. “So, I win! Yay!”

  I think I already have.

  Ellie

  After the past couple days, there is one thing I know for sure. Lee loves his Grans. He would do anything for his grandmother even if it means sacrificing his own happiness.

  How can you not fall for someone who loves that deeply? It’s what I have always wanted. That kind of love is unconditional.

  “Hey, what’s going through that pretty little head of yours?” Lee says, bringing both hands up to cradle my face.

  After dinner, Lee collapsed on the couch, pulling me with him, and I didn’t object. But lying here, I can’t help but think about my own family. Will we ever reconcile? What happens if one of them falls ill, will they even tell me? Do they even care?

  I care.

  “Nothing, really.”

  “It doesn’t seem like nothing.” He begins to rub slow circles on my lower back. My eyes flutter shut.

  “Hey, Lee?” There is a small rap at the door before it swings open. “Mother said—”

  “Dammit.” He sits up, taking me with him. “Give me a minute to take care of this.” Lee gives me a weak smile as he tucks my hair behind my ear.

  “You were bringing dinner down, but if you are busy I’ll just order a pizza,” the woman continues.

  “Mom, wait.” He jumps over the coffee table and heads into the kitchen. He brings back a box of food.

  Mom?

  “I completely forgot. You got this?” He hands the food over to her.

  “I can manage.” She begins to turn and when she does, she does a double take.

  “Oh my lord!” She sets the box down and walks over to me.

  I’m a little confused. The last I knew, Lee wasn’t on good terms with his mom.

  “Are you any relation to Anna Clark?” She takes a couple steps forward, making me a little nervous.

  “Yeah. That’s my mom.” I stand. “Well, now it’s Anna Hawthorne.”

  “So she’s still married to that bastard? Hmph,” she mumbles, shaking her head.

  “Mom!” Lee scolds. “I think it’s time for you to go.” He opens the door.

  “Pardon me. I’m jus
t so shocked, that’s all.” She looks between me and Lee. “It’s just a small world.”

  “Mom. The food.” He bends to pick it up. “You don’t want to keep Grans waiting.” He takes one step outside, I’m sure to get his mom to follow.

  “You look just like her.” She turns, shaking her head again, as she follows Lee out.

  “Nice to meet you,” I call after her, but Lee shuts the door, leaving me inside while they talk.

  Not sure what to do, I take a seat. Waiting. A minute becomes five and five becomes ten. Laying back, I take Lee’s place and settle in.

  “I’m so sorry,” Lee says as he opens the door.

  “Really, it’s okay.” I begin to sit up.

  “No, stay just like that.” He walks around the coffee table and climbs up toward me. “Am I too heavy?”

  “Not at all. I like it,” I admit.

  “Good. Me too.” He lays his head down.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I run my fingers through his hair.

  “My mom came back last night.” He turns his head, resting his chin on my chest as he looks at me. His eyes are sad and for the first time, I can see the little boy behind the laugh lines and five o’clock shadow.

  “And I take it you’re not happy about it?”

  “I don’t know how to feel. She says she’s back for me and to help Grans, but I can’t help but wonder if there is something else.” He begins to close his eyes. “That feels so good.”

  “Maybe I should stop?” I keep going.

  “Nah. I’ll be fine.” Lee lays his head over my heart.

  “Maybe you can just take one day at a time. Don’t expect anything.” I kiss the top of his head. “No expectations means no disappointments.”

  His chin is back on my chest and he searches my eyes. “How did you get so smart?” His lips turn up.

  “Years of disappointment, I guess.”

  “I won’t disappoint you.” Lee makes a promise I’m not sure he can keep. “You know what else?” he asks, as he begins to nuzzle my neck. “This spot right here,” he whispers against my skin, “was made for my kisses.”

  “Then by all means, kiss away.” I turn my head, inviting him in to take what he wants.

  And he does. Slow kisses—tender, yet demanding—as he works the spot he calls his.

  Nipping.

  Licking.

  Sucking.

  His lips follow the curve of my neck as he teases his way down to my chest. Sliding away enough material to expose the top of my breast, he places a soft kiss before he lays his head down right above my heart. “I love the way you feel against me.”

  “Lee—”

  “Just.” He inhales. “Like this.” He quickly breathes out.

  “Lee? You falling asleep?”

  “No. Just resting my eyes.” He moves a little, maybe nodding. I can’t tell. “You just feel so good.”

  “Lee. Maybe I should—”

  “Don’t leave me, not ever,” he pleads.

  “I won’t,” I agree.

  “Stay.”

  “I will.”

  “You promise?”

  “I do.”

  I guess Lee isn’t the only one making a promise he can’t keep.

  The question is, who will break theirs first?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lee

  It’s been five long days since I’ve seen Ellie. Between work, Grans and the surprise reappearance of my mom, I haven’t had much time for myself.

  “Hey, Scott!” Kyle hollers. “Come see me before you go.”

  “I just finished my rundown with the weekend crew.” I head up to the site trailer. “Will now work?”

  “Yeah, man. Come on in.” Kyle stands there with the door propped open.

  Looking over my shoulder, I search the parking lot for Drew’s truck.

  “Drew had to leave,” Kyle says as if he’s read my mind. “A slight family emergency. Something about a goat getting loose.”

  “They have goats now?” I question, stepping up into the trailer.

  “Who knows?” He pats me on the back as I slide by. “How you doing?” Kyle points to an empty chair.

  “I’m lovin’ the job. I thought maybe the guys would have a hard time once you announced the promotion, but they’ve adjusted pretty well,” I inform him as I take a seat.

  I’m on edge. I thought the transition was going well, but maybe I was too preoccupied to notice any problems.

  “Good, good.” He nods while he digs for a folder. “But that’s not why I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Okay?” I lean forward, ready for whatever he throws my way.

  “Your grandmother, how is she doing?”

  “I’m losing her, but I’m coping the best I can,” I admit, for the first time, that no matter what we do, eventually the Grans I know will be gone.

  “I know you have been researching memory care homes.” Kyle flips through the folder until he finds the paper he has been searching for. “There it is.” He turns it around and pushes it across the desk. “I want you to take a look at this.”

  “Lavender Springs Memory Care Home.”

  It’s the exact same facility I’ve been researching for months. The only home, I feel, can give her the care she needs.

  “It’s top notch. The staff is the best in the Midwest,” Kyle states.

  “I know, I’ve looked into this place. But it’s also forty-two hundred a month for the full time residential living. Twenty-three hundred for home care, and that only covers six-hour days.”

  I run the numbers in my head once again. No matter what I do, I can’t afford it.

  Kyle lets out a whistle. “I know. It’s rough, but I have something I think will ease your mind.” He reaches for the papers stacked on the printer, slapping them with a stapler before handing them over.

  “I have to say, you’ve piqued my interest.” I look through the papers.

  Flipping houses?

  “Not many know this, but Drew and I have been flipping houses for the past year. It was only supposed to be a one-time thing, but I had a few things I needed to take care of and Drew? Well, kids are expensive, and after the accident last year he wanted to make sure they were well taken care of. College paid for and all that stuff.”

  “What does this have to do with me?” I sit with the papers in my hand, trying not to jump to conclusions.

  “It takes so much spare time and with Nina going to school, I don’t have the time to invest in it anymore. Which is where you come in.”

  I scan the numbers, and everything looks great, but there is no way I can come up with the start-up.

  “Kyle, I’m going to be honest. I like what I’m seeing, but I don’t have the money to put into it.”

  “Lee, I want to be your silent partner. I put up the money, you do the work and when we make the sale I get ten percent of your profit.”

  “Let me get this straight. You want to front all the money, Drew and I do the work and when it sells we split it fifty, forty, ten?”

  “Yeah, man.” He leans back in his office chair, hands clasped behind his head. “Minus the start-up funds, of course. But you are looking at a possible one-hundred-and-seventy-five-thousand-dollar profit.”

  Now it’s my turn to whistle. “That would pay for the first three years of Lavender Springs. More if we only did part time in the beginning.”

  “You in?” Kyle extends his hand.

  “Hell yes!” I clasp his hand in both of mine. “Where do I sign?”

  “Perfect! I’ll have legal draw something up and have it to you sometime next week.” He stands and comes around the desk. “We are looking to start on it in the next couple months.” He slaps me on the back. “That work for you?”

  “Yes, perfect. Thank you.” I open the door to head out. “You coming?”

  “I have a few calls to make. Then I’m out of here, but you go on.”

  “Kyle, thank you so much. The stress, I was…” I shake my head, th
inking about the past week and how Grans has been a little irritable. Mom swears it’s her declining, but Grans says my mom is being mean and I hate to say it, but this time, I’m unsure who to believe.

  “I get it.”

  “It’s gone now. Because of you.”

  Kyle walks over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder, looking me right in the eyes. “No, Lee. This is all you. You have worked your ass off to get here. Don’t let anyone else take the credit.”

  Nodding, I turn and jog to my truck. Throwing my hat in the back, I hop in and grab my phone. Bringing it to life, I see a text from the exact person I want to talk to, celebrate with.

  Ellie: I miss you.

  Just seeing her name makes me smile. Seeing her message has me wanting to rush right over there, but first I’ll settle for a quick text. I won’t bother her in case she is trying to get ready with the girls.

  Me: I miss you too.

  Hitting send, I set the phone down as I buckle up, but my phone quickly pings.

  Ellie: When are you coming over?

  Me: I just need to go home and shower. I have some good news.

  Ellie: Like the kind where we get to celebrate?

  Me: Yup. Care to share the spotlight tonight?

  Ellie: With you? Anytime. (kissy face)

  Me: See you in a few.

  Ellie: I can’t wait! Hurry.

  I throw the phone in the console and head home to shower. Tonight is a new start for many things. For me, for Grans, and hopefully for me and Ellie. Putting fears aside, I’m going in. Heart first.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ellie

  I can’t help but run around the apartment like a crazy person. Everything I had laid out for tonight Rain nixed. Once she found out that Lee had some big news, she decided tonight needed to be “super special” to get super laid. Her words, not mine. Even though…

  Ellie, get it together.

  Everything was either too casual, too dressy, or too see-through. “Ugh!” I throw my hands up. “I give up!” I plop down on the bed and put my head in my hands.

  “Just so you know, I’m giving you one huge eye roll right now. So huge that my eyes may just burst out of my head.” Rain jumps on the bed, tackling me so I remove my hands from my face.