“So when can I wear makeup?”
“How about a little light lipstick when you’re thirteen?” Sarah said, applying mascara.
“Thirteen! Everybody else will be wearing makeup next year,” she wailed.
“They will look ridiculous. But you won’t. Sorry, Laura, I’m not budging on this one,” she said, looking at Laura, who had her mother’s eyes.
Laura stomped out of her mother’s room, returning to her room, and slamming the door. Becky was reading a book to Scottie in the living room when Sarah came out.
“I didn’t know teenage years began at eleven…” Sarah sighed.
“You look amazing, Mrs. Morgan,” Becky said.
“Thank you, Becky. Please call me Sarah.”
“Can I come with you tonight, Mom?”
“This is grown-ups only. I’m sorry. You see Jim all the time.”
“So do you. No fair.” He folded his arms across his chest, a frown pasted on his face.
“Are you jealous?”
The boy didn’t answer his mother. Becky quickly began reading again and Scottie turned his attention to her. Sarah frowned to herself. Scottie is getting attached to Jim. Is that a good thing? Perhaps not. Dating, I don’t know what I’m doing.
The doorbell rang. Sarah answered it. Jim’s jaw dropped when he saw her. His gaze began at her eyes, then moved down lingering a bit too long on her breasts, making her shiver.
“You look fantastic,” he said. She felt his eyes burning through her dress.
Scottie ran over to the door.
“Can I come with you tonight?” the boy begged.
“What did your mother say?” He glanced over at Sarah who hid her laugh behind her hand.
“She said it’s just for grown-ups.”
“Right. But we can do something, just guys, maybe tomorrow. Okay?”
“Yeah! Leave the girls at home!” Scottie said, his eyes lighting up.
Jim chuckled.
“Scottie, let’s finish the book.” Becky waved her hand. Sarah kissed the top of Scottie’s head then called out to her daughter.
“Good night, Laura.” She stepped outside, closing the door behind her.
“I’m not sure if I’m dating you or Scottie,” Jim laughed.
“My boy is sure getting attached to you,” she said, concern in her voice.
“I like him, too. He’s a great kid.”
“Where are we going?”
“Bon Appetit,” he said, opening the car door for her.
It was a warm night but Sarah toted a lavender shawl in case the restaurant was cold.
Chapter Four
“Hey, Jim. Long time, no see,” Don said, drying glasses behind the bar.
“Hi, Don. This is Sarah Morgan, Sarah, Don Rosen.”
“Your taste is improving,” Don said.
“Thanks,” Jim said, red rising up his neck, “can we get a table?”
“Sure, sure. Sunny!” he called.
“How many women have you brought here?” Sarah asked.
“Just a couple…I guess.” A flush stole up his neck showing slightly above the collar of his shirt.
Sunny came forward with two menus under her arm wearing a big smile. She motioned them to a small table in a corner. Sunny nodded to Jim, obviously thinking Sarah couldn’t see.
“Who are these people, your relatives?” Sarah whispered to Jim.
“Just friends…friends who were with me through hard times,” he said, laughing.
“You had hard times?”
“Losing Nancy was the worst.”
“Sorry, yes, of course.”
“Didn’t stop there…” he admitted.
“What else happened?”
“I had an engagement that…didn’t work out.”
“Did you break up with her?”
“She left me for someone else,” he said, lowering his gaze to his hands.
“Stupid woman,” she blurted out. Jim took her hand.
“What’s good to eat here? I’m starving.” Sarah removed her hand from his to open the menu.
Drinks arrived, food orders were placed leaving the couple deep in conversation about writing.
“How do you find the time to write with teaching on top of running the English department?”
“I have time…too much time. This might not be a problem if I had a beautiful woman…like you in my life.” Jim laced his fingers with hers.
“Well, then, I wouldn’t want to interfere with your career.”
“Interfere, please, it would be a pleasure.” Jim took her hand in his. His thumb traced a scar on the inside of her hand.
“Where’d you get this?”
“Knife…in the kitchen, chopping.” She tried to ease her hand away but his grip was firm.
“Looks like—what they call on TV—a defensive wound.” He bent his head to place a soft kiss on the two-inch scar then released her hand.
Before she could open her mouth, Sunny arrived with their food. He had Steak Frites while Sarah had roasted chicken breast with fresh garden vegetables. Her appetite kicked into high gear. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten a meal she didn’t cook. Glancing up, she noticed him watching her with an amused expression on his face.
“What?”
“You look like you haven’t eaten in years.”
“Am I being a pig? I’m so sorry.” Heat rose, alerting Sarah to the blush in her face, and she dropped her fork.
Jim reached over to take her hand.
“I never meant to imply…no way. I like to see you enjoying the food. Please, please eat.”
Hunger gnawed at her belly so she picked up her fork again. Jim smiled and she shot him a return grin.
“This is the best chicken I’ve ever tasted.” Sarah stabbed a small piece, raising it to her lips.
“You’ve got…” Jim leaned over. Sarah closed her eyes while he brushed his lips over hers quickly. Then he sat back. “…butter on your lip.”
Her eyes flew open. She stopped eating to stare at hJim, her eyes focused on his lips.
“Do you always kiss away the drips on your dates…lips?”
“Only the irresistible ones.” She spied a twinkle in his eye.
They ate in silence for a while glancing at each other, exchanging shy smiles. When they finished, he ordered coffee and a special chocolate dessert for them to share. The sweet confection arrived first.
“How come you don’t have kids, Jim? You’re so good with them.”
His face turned red.
“I always wanted kids…Nancy…we did. She actually got pregnant, but lost the baby early on, like in the first few weeks. That’s when we found out she had cancer. In six months Nancy passed,” he said, looking down at his hands.
Tears pricked her eyes as she watched him struggle for control. Her hand covered his.
“How awful for you,” she said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
He blinked rapidly then looked away.
“Then I got engaged to Fran. She didn’t want kids…I foolishly went along. I guess I didn’t want to be alone.”
“And?”
“She ran off with my niece Lara’s ballet partner, Andres, to New York City.”
“Oh my God!”
“Actually, I think she did me a favor. I wouldn’t compromise on having kids again.”
Jim dipped his fork into the center of the small liquid-filled chocolate cake.
“You want to have a child?” Sarah raised her eyes to his, scooping up a taste of the dessert with her spoon.
“I’ve been looking for a woman who’d make a good mother and partner but haven’t had much success.” He raised his eyes, staring hard at her.
“You’ll be a good father,” she said, trying to ignore the goose bumps on her arm.
“You think so?” He put his fork in his mouth.
She nodded, her mouth full of the rich dessert.
He smiled at her, taking her hand again. When they finished eating
, before the coffee arrived, Jim leaned in to kiss her.
“You’re easy to talk to,” he said, sitting back in his chair.
Sunny arrived with two cups of steaming coffee. Sarah stirred in milk and sugar while Jim drank his black.
“Nothing you could say can shock me. My life has been one big disaster area, so…”
“Do you want to tell me?” He leaned forward, still loosely holding her hand.
“I’d prefer to look ahead, not back,” she said, lifting her cup to drink.
“A good philosophy.” He drained his coffee and sat back.
After she finished, Jim paid the check. They drove home in comfortable silence. He turned into his driveway, cut the motor then pulled Sarah into his arms. He kissed her gently then took it deeper, parting her lips, his tongue seeking hers. She responded, hungry for his affection. Pulling her closer, he flattened her breasts against his hard body. Her breath came quickly as desire began to flow again in her veins. When he leaned back, he locked his eyes on hers as his breathing became ragged, and the air between them thickened.
Sarah pulled him to her for another long kiss, winding her arms around his neck. He cradled her breast gently, feeling its weight...she moaned softly, wishing for more. His body stiffened as his fingers closed around her flesh. Heat shot through her veins like a rocket. Her body’s reaction unnerved her so she pulled back, trying to control her heartbeat. Jim dropped his hand.
“Do you want to…come inside?” he asked her, almost panting.
She shook her head. As much as he raised desire in her, how could she even consider sleeping with him on their first date?
“Too fast for me.” Her breathing had almost returned to normal.
“Of course.”
He nodded, moving away from her. They sat not touching.
“Thank you for the dinner. A great place.”
“Do you want to go out again next Saturday?”
“I…I’d love to.” Pleasure colored her cheeks.
“It’s a date, then.”
“Have to lock in the babysitter.”
He placed his palm on her cheek, tipping her chin up to face him. He peered into her eyes, his gaze searching hers. She couldn’t hide the longing there. His warm smile told her he read her, and knew she wanted him, too. He kissed her then walked her up to the front door.
“I had a—”
Jim tugged her into his arms to interrupt her with his mouth.
“Me, too,” he said after releasing her, “until next Saturday.”
He waited for her to open the door hanging around to be sure she was safely inside before he returned to his house. My first date in so long I can’t remember. Sarah smiled to herself before turning toward Becky. Her cell phone buzzed…a text arrived from Kit.
How was ur date? I’m moving to Grace’s.
* * * *
Downtown Willow Falls, Saturday afternoon.
Kit opened the creaky gate to walk up the brick path leading to Gracie’s Mansion. She liked the homey atmosphere and the eclectic decorating of the old Victorian. Grace, a recent widow, agreed to a rock bottom rate for Kit because she made it clear she desperately needed a place to stay at least for a few days and had limited funds.
She moved her suitcase from the motel into a room on the second floor. The small room had light blue walls, a bedspread in a small print fabric in dark purple, lavender and light blue. The bed had a matching canopy. The only other piece of furniture besides a small bureau was a little dressing table with a skirt in the same print. There were two windows, one looked down on the entrance to Bon Appetit while the other faced the University.
When Kit signed in, the band of white skin on the third finger of her left hand, where her wedding band used to be, caught her eye. She had discarded her ring in the gutter in disgust on the way home from the French restaurant after Johnny dumped her. To pretend you’re married, you need a wedding ring. At least until she could accept the divorce.
First stop after unpacking—Willow Falls Jewelry where she purchased the cheapest plain gold wedding band they had. Kit wasn’t ready for the attentions of a man or to admit her husband had left her. The wedding band kept her safe, her life, private.
Everyday Kit took out her laptop and tried to write, but nothing came. Setting up in the parlor on the first floor didn’t work either. Long walks, chatting with Sarah by phone and email, rocking on the porch with Grace didn’t bring new book ideas..
Zoe refused to see her, blaming her mother for the divorce. Kit stayed away. The pain of knowing her daughter lived so close but was out of reach seared her heart. She had always made time for Zoe, thought they were close. The divorce created a wedge between them, a gulf Zoe refused to cross.
While strolling through the small town, Kit came to know the stores and restaurants. She stopped in at Harry’s Deli for a sandwich at lunchtime, sometimes, Mary’s Café for tea in the late afternoon, then skipped dinner. Kit joined Grace for breakfast at eight every morning.
Willow Falls Seconds, a second-hand shop, intrigued her. Thumbing through the used books at Bella’s Bookstore, looking for a book to distract her, helped pass an hour or two. When she found a good book, she’d curl up on the wicker sofa or sit in a rocker on Grace’s porch, facing Bon Appetit, and read the day away.
* * * *
Tunney wandered into Bon Appetit in need of an excellent meal and good company. He wouldn’t admit to himself he hoped to see Kit Alexander again. He held his breath as he opened the door. His gaze went right to the bar. A big grin washed over his face. There she was, sitting in the same seat with a Cosmo on the bar in front of her. He stopped for a moment to look at the back of her sundress, a print in two shades of blue on a white background. He loved blue. As he let go of the door, his mind fantasized about the construction of the front of her dress and what it covered, causing his grin to widen. He placed his hand on the back of the seat next to her, leaned over and spoke softly into her ear with his deep, warm voice.
“Your first tonight?”
When she turned around he was rewarded with a nice view of her fine breasts. He was unable to pull his gaze away until her tinkling laugh grabbed his attention, and made him meet her eyes.
“Well, hello again.” Kit raised her drink to her lips, his eyes followed it.
“Is this seat taken?”
“Not yet”
“My lucky night,” he murmured, sliding into the seat next to her.
“I promise not to overindulge tonight.” She tried to form a frown but her lips kept turning up into a smile.
“Too bad. I enjoyed walking you home.” He glanced briefly at the neckline of her sundress again, then at the curve of her leg.
“You can still walk me home…across the street.”
“You’re staying at Grace’s place?” He raised his hand to signal Don.
“Nicer, cheaper than the motel.”
“How long are you planning to stay in Willow Falls?” Don placed a beer in a frosted glass in front of Tunney.
“I’m not sure.” He watched her gaze move down to his shoulders then stop.
“If you’re looking to rent something, I’m looking for a tenant for my mother’s house.”
“Really? I’m interested.”
“The house is furnished. I plan to renovate it then sell it.” He took a long draught of his beer.
“How long a lease?” She toyed with the damp cocktail napkin under her drink.
“How long would you want to stay?”
“Maybe six months, maybe a year?” she said, brushing a lock of hair from her face.
That’s when he noticed it, the wedding ring. He frowned, convinced this beautiful lady hadn’t worn one when he first met her.. He would’ve noticed because he had wedding ring radar, never missed one on an attractive woman. But there he saw the ring now, plain as day. What the hell am I doing? Married…even if I wished she wasn’t. But he did need a tenant.
“I could agree to…a six month renewable
lease, in case you want to move or I get a buyer.”
“Six months…I should know by then if I want to stay.”
“When would you like to see the house?” His gaze hovered on her lips.
“Anytime.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin.
“How about after dinner? I could drive you over there.”
“Is he hitting on you again?” Don asked, swiping a damp cloth along the bar next to her.
Kit chuckled; she’d heard this routine before.
“We’re making a deal. I need a place to live…he has a place to rent.”
“Oh, okay. Because I’d hate to throw him out of here again,” Don said, smiling.
“You say the same thing every week, Don. Eventually, she’s going to start believing you.” Tunney slammed the menu down on the bar in mock anger, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Why? No one else around here does,” he grumbled, walking back to the kitchen. “I guess he and Sunny are having a bad day,” Tunney said.
“Sunny?”
“His wife. They’ve been married for twelve years, you’d think they’d get along by now,” he joked.
Kit clammed up, folding the cocktail napkin in half then half again, averting her eyes from his. All serious all of a sudden. What did I say?
“Chicken Piccata is on special tonight. I’ve had it before, a great choice.” Tunney put his touched her shoulder in a friendly gesture. The swipe of his rough hand along her soft, smooth, bare skin sent a charge up his arm. He quickly removed his fingers as if he’d been scorched.
Kit pulled out of her reverie to turn her attention to him.
“Sounds good. I haven’t eaten much today.”
“You’d better eat. The house has plenty of stairs. Do you want to go over after dinner?”
“The sooner I’m settled in somewhere, the better.” She tucked into her food.
Tunney ate quickly, trying to convince himself he rushed so he could get the house rented but the idea of being alone with Kit fueled his speedy dinner.
* * * *
After dinner, they got in Tunney’s car for the ten-block trip to his mother’s house. The charming old Victorian three story home, painted a soft light brown with white trim, took command of a small but healthy patch of grass. The massive wooden front door had etched, frosted glass panels. “There isn’t much land. Less to take care of. But I’ll have the grass mowed every week. Come inside, I think you’ll like it.”
Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart Page 4