Chapter 4
Regina felt wonderful after she’d handed her resignation over to the director of the dance school. The woman had tried valiantly to talk her out of it, but she had remained firm in her decision. Ethan was right she wanted to give her time to kids in the age group of four to ten and she believed that at the community center she’d have more control than she had here and most importantly she knew the kids would appreciate it more than the spoiled kids at Bancroft did. She’d realized that she didn’t enjoy teaching at the Bancroft School of Dance, because the students were spoiled rich kids that thought their talent was more than anyone else’s and had a problem with dealing with being told what to do. When the director realized that no matter what she’d offered her mind was made up and she was leaving the school. The woman had been so pissed that she’d told her just to finish out today’s class and not bother about coming back.
“All right ladies and gentlemen since this is my last class here with you fine students let’s get the best workout we can,” she announced just before she’d put them through it. By the time the class was over they were all dragging and too tired to claim who was the best. She felt like laughing out loud while she cleaned out her locker rejoicing with the thought that this was her last time dealing with the spoiled rotten students that attended Bancroft School of Dance.
“So I hear today was your last day.”
Regina was in such a great mood, that not even her skanky ass cousin Tiffany could bring her down. “Yes it is and I can’t believe that I hadn’t done this a long time ago,” she responded as she continued to pack her duffle bag.
“I guess you heard that I would be starting and decided to quit before everyone could see how much better I am than you.”
Regina froze trying to figure out why there’d been a position for a dance teacher and then it had dawned. They hadn’t, her skanky cousin had approached the director, but as long as she was there they didn’t need one and because Tiffany was waiting in the wings, that is why the woman told her to make today her last day. Oh boy was the director in for a big surprise because no matter what Tiffany didn’t have an ounce of dance skills. Her day was just getting better and better.
“You know cuz it seems to me that you are constantly following my lead and coming up second. First Joe and now my old job, hmmm, it makes you wonder doesn’t it.” Without waiting for a reply she shut the locker door and walked out without a backwards glance.
Tiffany stared after her hating her with a passion that was way over the top. Everyone in the family thought she was so damn wonderful totally ignoring her accomplishments, granted she’d tried several different things, but she’d never found anything that she was good at. Well this time she’d show her cousin and everyone else in the family.
As soon as Regina entered the house, the phone began to ring. Dropping the duffle by the door she closed and locked the door behind her and quickly answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hi Ms. Regina this is Marian Reynolds and my sisters and I were wondering if you were working tomorrow?”
Regina smiled, “No as a matter of fact I’m not working tomorrow. Why?”
“Well Uncle Ethan is taking us to the zoo and we were wondering if you would like to join us.” Before Regina could answer she heard Ethan’s voice in the background asking whom she was talking to.
“Hello?” Ethan said accepting the phone from his niece.
“Hi Ethan, Marian was inviting me to go along with you guys to the zoo tomorrow. I’d love to go if the offer is open considering I’m no longer working at the dance school.”
Ethan smiled at the joy and excitement he heard in her voice, “You are more than welcome to join us. So I take it that you turned in you resignation,” he inquired.
“Yes and when the director tried everything under the sun to try and convince me to stay, she got a little pissed and told me to make today my last day, so therefore I’m free until school starts back.”
“I’m glad it all worked out, I spoke with my friend at the community center and he and his wife are extremely excited about meeting you and having you offer dance classes.”
“That’s great and I can’t wait to get started. How about I make us a picnic basket for tomorrow,” she offered.
“You don’t’ have to do that.”
“I know that I don’t have, to it’s something that I want to do. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a picnic at the zoo. My parents used to take Reg and I to the zoo for a picnic every weekend and I know how much I enjoyed it and I’m sure the girls will enjoy it also.”
“They are ecstatic that you are joining us tomorrow so I’m sure the picnic will be an added feature.” They talked a little longer agreeing on a time they would leave neither of them mentioned the kiss that they’d shared.
Regina took a quick shower before heading to the kitchen to prepare her dinner and to prepare the picnic basket for the trip to the zoo. When her phone rang this time she smiled seeing that it was her mother. “Hi mom, what’s going on?”
“Hey baby, I was calling to make sure that you were okay. Tiffany said something about you getting fired from the dance school.”
Regina almost laughed, but didn’t like the worry in her mother’s voice. She knew her mother wasn’t worried about it money wise because they knew she had more than enough money to live off of without having to work another job again in her life. But she did know how much her daughter loved to dance and loved teaching it. “Mom Tiffany once again lied. I didn’t get fired I turned in my two weeks and when the director couldn’t convince me to stay she suggested I make today my last day.”
She explained to her mother how unhappy she was working there and how she didn’t like dealing with the spoiled rich kids. Her mother laughed so hard that she was laughing along with her.
“That child is so jealous, saying that you got fired so they could hire her. I knew she was lying about her being the reason you were fired so once again she was the second choice.”
Regina smiled at her mother’s words, “That’s what I told her when she showed up as I was cleaning out my locker. Apparently she’d applied there and with me being there they had no need for another teacher. I figured that the director was so pissed at me she thought she had an ace in the whole since she had Tiffany waiting in the wings.”
“Oh I’d love to be a fly on the wall when she sees what she got to replace you. Since you aren’t working tomorrow, how about we meet for lunch?” Her mother suggested.
“I’m sorry mom, but two of my former students and their sister invited me to go with them to the zoo. Their uncle just happens to be my neighbor and they called when I got home and asked if I’d come along.”
“Is this the young man that Reginald told us about, the one that he went to college with?”
“Yes mom that’s him. He’s crazy about the girls and is very good with them. He was the one that suggested I turn in my resignation after he’d seen the way I looked when I’d come home the other day, well after he’d practically ran Joe off. Ethan suggested that I volunteer at the community center offering dance classes to kids in the four to ten year old age group. He set up a meeting for me with the director of the center and his wife.”
“Well why not invite him over to the family cookout next weekend.”
Regina laughed at her mother’s attempt at being sly, “Mom it’s not like we are dating I just really enjoy his company and love the way he interacts with his nieces.”
“When did you have a chance to observe him?” Stephanie asked.
“Well the night we talked about my leaving the dance school, he’d invited me over to share dinner with him and the girls. I think he was worried that Joe wouldn’t have left, but he did. Somehow he knew something else was wrong other than Joe’s unwanted visit and I guess I was just so frustrated everything just spilled out and I cried all over him.”
“Well honey if you’ve cried all over him I need to meet him, especially if he could see that
something else was bothering you then I think it is very important for us to meet him.”
Regina knew it was useless to argue, “I’ll ask him mom, but if he can’t make it you’ll just have to accept it.”
Stephanie was still smiling long after she’d hung up the phone. Keith Coleman walked in and saw the smile on his wife’s face. “What has you smiling sweetheart?” He asked leaning down giving her a quick kiss.
“I was just speaking with Regina. I called to confirm what that little witch Tiffany was saying about Regina getting fired.”
“Well did she confirm?” He asked worried about his baby girl.
“No she turned in her notice. She said she didn’t enjoy teaching to rich spoiled kids. So she gave her resignation and when the director couldn’t change her mind, she told her to make today her last day and then she immediately called Tiffany and offered her the job.”
Keith started laughing so hard that he had to sit down, “Oh man her jealous ass is going to be fired so fast when the woman realizes what she’s got now.”
Stephanie told him what she thought was going on with their daughter and her new neighbor.
“He ran that worthless prick Joe off, then he’s tops in my book and I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Keith I don’t want you just showing up over there. You will just have to wait and see if she brings him to the family cookout.”
He smiled up at his wife knowing that he was going to do just that.
Chapter 5
By the time they made it back home the girls were sound asleep. “You carry the twins and I’ll carry Maryann inside.” Regina handed the twins to him one at a time before she scooped up Maryann. Once inside they quickly bathed them and dressed them in pajamas before putting them to bed. Regina followed him across the hall to the master bedroom where they both collapsed on his king sized four poster bed.
“Oh man I had no idea there would be so much to do at the damn zoo. I’ve never been so tired in my life,” Ethan groaned.
“I’m so tired I ache and I’m warning you now, you are going to have to share your bed because I’m too damn exhausted to make it home.” Regina informed him as she stood long enough to remove her shorts and t-shirt before slipping underneath the thick down comforter. She moaned at how wonderful the bed felt and within minutes she was fast asleep.
Regina jumped when the phone beside the bed rang loudly in her ear, seeing that it was after midnight pissed her off and she snatched it off of the receiver. “Do you have any idea of what time it is?” She snapped into the phone.
“I’m trying to reach Ethan Thompson.”
“Well I hate to tell you this, but he’s doing what normal people do at this time of night. He’s sleeping and we’d appreciate it if you called back at a decent hour.” Regina ended the call and then removed the receiver leaving it off the hook and placing it in the night stand drawer.
Karen stared at the phone seething wondering who in the hell the woman was answering Ethan’s phone and at this time of night. When she tried the number again the line was busy and continued to be busy the ten additional times she’d tried it. Kids or no kids she was going by there first thing tomorrow morning to find out what the hell was going on.
Ethan woke and lay still content in staring down at the woman asleep in his arms. Her body snuggled against his and just like the kiss, it felt so right. His mind reflected back to the trip they’d taken to the zoo and how right it had felt spending time with his nieces and with Regina. Glancing over at the clock he saw that it was just two in the morning, he needed more sleep before his nieces woke and demanded breakfast. He pulled Regina’s luscious body back against his buried his face in her soft and silky hair and drifted back to sleep. The next time he woke it was to the sound of whispered voices without moving he listened, “Ms. Regina can I sleep with you and Uncle Ethan?”
“Sure baby climb on up,” Regina whispered lifting the cover for Maryann to slide in. Thirty minutes later the twins joined them in the bed sliding between Ethan and Regina.
“Uncle Ethan we’re hungry.” Margaret informed him.
“Yeah, Uncle Ethan why don’t you run down stairs and prepare us a huge breakfast?” Regina added fluttering her eyes innocently.
He could only laugh as he climbed out of bed. Leaning down he gave his nieces a kiss.
“Uncle Ethan you have to give Ms. Regina a kiss also,” Maryann instructed.
“You are so right Ms. Regina needs a good morning kiss also,” he said leaning down and giving her a deep kiss on the lips. Regina saw the wicked gleam in his eyes before his mouth descended upon hers. The kiss was deep and sensual as hell and set her body on fire. She was a little dazed when he stood up, winked at her and walked away.
They were just finishing up breakfast when the doorbell chimed. With a frown on his face Ethan went to answer it wondering who in the hell would be coming by this early in the morning. Hell it was only eight thirty. He opened the door and groaned, “What in the hell are you doing here this time of morning Karen?”
Karen ignored his question walking past him in to the house, “I want to know who in the hell the woman was that answered your phone,” she demanded.
“Whoever answered my phone is none of your damn business. Further more, you know not to call my house after midnight when my nieces are here. Now if there is nothing else I’d appreciate it if you left.”
Karen was about to argue when one of the unwanted guests appeared.
“Uncle Ethan, you need to come on Ms. Regina is going to set everything up for the tea party.”
Ethan smiled at the excitement in Maryann’s voice, “As you heard we are about to have a tea party so you need to go so that I don’t keep the ladies waiting.” Karen glared at him as she stormed past him out the door. Ethan closed and locked the door and headed for the kitchen and his first official tea party.
Karen waited until she was driving out of Ethan’s neighborhood before she made the call. “We have a problem,” she began and then explained the event that had happened the night before. “Do you have any idea of some woman named Regina? The kid kept referring to her as Ms. Regina.”
“How should I know Karen, you know that Ethan and I aren’t that close, hell why do you think I came to you in the first place. I figured since you were letting him fuck you that you could use your talents and get the information I needed to stop the sell of my business.” Frank Jr. snapped.
Karen disconnected the call tossing the phone over into the passenger seat. She had began to wonder if she’d made a mistake by falling for Frank’s bag of lies promising that if she got him the information he needed to stop the sell of Thompson Investments, he’d set her up for life. Now even though she was having second thoughts, she knew she had to go along with the plan to get the money that Frank had promised her if nothing else. She would find out who the hell the mystery woman was and then she’d make her disappear.
Chapter 6
The days leading up to his sister and brother-in-law’s return he and Regina alternated meal preparation and since she no longer worked at the dance school, she was able to join them on the different outings to the museum, library and to the amusement park. She hadn’t had so much fun in such a long time and she knew that when Saturday came and the girls went home she would miss them terribly. Regina knew it was a bad idea to become so attached to Ethan and his little nieces, but she was woman enough to realize that it was far too late to prevent it. She’d tried to protect herself and her heart having a fear of trusting men outside of her family since the incident with Joe and Tiffany, but considering what she was beginning to feel for her neighbor proved that she was unsuccessful in keeping him out of her heart and it had only taken a week.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Ethan said joining her out on the deck.
“Just thinking about how much I’m going to miss them and wondering what I’m going to do with myself.”
“I’m sure I can come up with some things that we can do together t
o keep you from moping around,” he offered slipping his arms around her waist. “We can even have an official date where I can wine and dine you and convince you to see me without my nieces.”
Regina turned to face him leaning back against the rail of the deck looking into his beautiful blue green eyes and she saw that he was serious and the thought excited her, but it also frightened her. “Why?” she asked.
“Because when I’m with you even with the girls around it just feels right and because of that I’d like to spend time together just you and I so that we can get to know each other and see where this could go. Plus the fact that every time I’m near you I want to strip you naked and fuck you until neither one of us can stand.”
He saw the denial, but stopped her from voicing it, “No, you know there is something there and that is why you practically ran away when I kissed you the first time out here on the deck. I know it isn’t one sided and you feel it also.”
She knew he was right, but she’d been hurt before and she didn’t think that she could survive being hurt again. It did feel right being held in his arms, hell it had felt right to be held in his arms while she’d slept. Since meeting him, she had some of the most erotic dreams in her life, waking with her hand between her legs and his name on her lips. “I’ll think about,” she said.
“Well think about this,” his mouth captured hers and the kiss was so much more than the first kiss they’d shared. On their on accord her arms slipped around his neck and she kissed him back, her hands tunneling through his silky soft mane of hair. He gave her bottom lip a little nip just before he pulled away. They were both panting and breathless with her body was on fire and she had to bite her lip to keep from begging him to fuck her where she stood instead she rested her forehead against his solid chest breathing deeply.
Beginnings Page 3