by Tawna Fenske
“The mom-ing or the sandwich?”
“Both.”
“My mom, I guess.” Ellie shifted in her seat, her chest rattling with loss and longing at the memory of her mother. “On both counts.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Ty spread his hands over his knees and stared right into her eyes. “People can’t help but repeat what they learned from their own parents. Whether it’s sandwiches or bedtime stories or favorite curse words. Sounds like you had a good mom.”
“I did,” Ellie admitted, her voice thick. “The best.”
She held back, not wanting to volunteer the whole story of how her mother died when she was little, or how her big brother raised her. As much as she liked Ty, she didn’t want to start down that path. Not yet, anyway.
“My mom was incredible,” she said. “If I can be even half the mom she was, it’ll be the proudest achievement of my life. Nothing else compares.”
“There,” he said. “The way your eyes lit up just then. That’s perfect.”
Ellie blinked. “What do you mean?”
“You’re passionate about your family. About being a mom, about your own mom—it makes you light up from the inside.” Ty beamed and gestured toward the camera. “That’s what I want to see from you when that’s rolling. I saw it the other day when you were doing your presentation, so I know you can do it.”
Ellie laughed, not sure whether to feel flattered or awkward. She settled for a bit of both. “So you’re saying I have the same maniacal gleam when I’m talking about my mom as I do when I’m talking about anal beads? That’s disturbing.”
Ty smiled and shook his head. “Tell me what you love about your company.”
“It’s empowering,” she said, no hesitation at all. “For women in particular. So many of them have spent their whole lives thinking their sexuality is dirty or shameful. Something they’re not supposed to talk about. But Madame Butterfly shows them that sex is not only normal, but fun and exciting. And they can learn things about the way their bodies work. About what gives them pleasure, and how to ask for it from their partners. I love helping women find that for themselves.”
Ty raised his hands and applauded. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
“What?” Ellie shifted on her barstool, a flush of pride washing through her.
“What you did just then. When you relaxed and opened up and then got a little fire in your belly. That’s what you need to bring to your presentations. To your on-camera presence.”
Ellie glanced at the camera. She’d almost forgotten about it while they’d been talking. A cluster of butterflies stirred in her belly, but Ty’s voice cut through the hum of their wings. “Uh-uh,” he said. “Look at me. Not at the camera. Just forget it’s there.”
Ellie took a deep breath and looked back at his handsome face. Those coal-dark eyes were suddenly so familiar to her. So soothing. She’d only been sitting here with him for, what—five minutes? Ten?
But already she felt a thousand times better about this whole video thing.
Then he smiled, and a warm ball of sunshine spread from her belly all the way to the tips of her fingers.
“You ready to try this for real now?”
She nodded. “Let’s give it a shot.”
…
Ty had just shut down the camera equipment for the day when his cell phone rang. He was planning to ignore it, figuring personal calls could wait until after business hours.
But the name on the screen sent him fumbling to answer.
“Anna, hi.” Ty cleared his throat and said a silent prayer this wasn’t an emergency call. That his half-sister wasn’t hurt or sick or in jail or—
“I’m getting married!” she squealed.
Or that.
Ty took a deep breath, weighing his own terror at the word “married” against his sister’s obvious happiness.
“That’s—that’s great,” he managed. He sat down on the edge of his desk and summoned his most supportive-sounding voice. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“His name is Martin, and that’s why I’m calling,” she said. “I know I haven’t seen you in ages, but I want you to meet him.” She paused a little there, and Ty sensed there was more to her request. That if he just waited, she’d spit it out.
“I was hoping maybe you’d walk me down the aisle.”
Her voice was almost a whisper, but it hit Ty like a ten-pound boulder to the chest. He swallowed hard, surprised to find tears clogging his throat. That made it hard to respond, which was probably why Anna scrambled to fill the silence.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to,” she said. “I know you hate doing stuff in front of crowds, and it’s not like we even grew up together.”
Ty blinked hard. They’d been shuffled between separate foster homes, too young to understand what was happening. Just when Ty would get attached, he’d get bumped someplace else, until “good-bye” was more familiar to him than “I love you.” Anna’s mom got out of rehab and came back to claim her, but Ty’s mom was dead by then. Their father had been no use at all, bouncing between prison and—
“I’d love to,” Ty said, desperate to halt the flow of dark memories. “Walk you down the aisle. I’d be honored.”
He meant it, too. Marriage and kids weren’t in the cards for him, but he desperately wanted Anna to be happy. If getting married would give her that, he’d do it.
“Oh, Ty. This means so much to me.”
“I’m glad to help.”
“I promise you won’t have to do any public speaking,” she said. “Just walk me down the aisle.”
He laughed and shifted a little on the edge of his desk. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need, just ask.”
“That’s sweet. I’m so lucky to have you.” His sister sniffled on the other end of the line, and Ty’s throat started to close again. He cleared it quickly, needing to divert the conversation.
“Tell me about the guy,” he said. “What does Martin do?”
“He’s wonderful,” she said. “Your classic grown-up Boy Scout. He’s an attorney who fights on behalf of abused and at-risk kids. He owns his home and is this total model citizen. He’s never even had a parking ticket. Isn’t that crazy?”
Ty let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
Nothing like our father.
“He sounds terrific,” Ty said. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Great! Let me check my calendar, and I’ll email you some dates that might work. We can go from there.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“So, how about you?” she said. “Any chance you’ll take the plunge someday? Find a nice girl, settle down and have six kids and a dog and—”
“No.” His response came out sharper than he meant it to, so he hurried to fill the awkward silence. “Not my thing.”
He’d never be his father. That guy who destroyed families. It’s why he avoided relationships and attachments like the plague.
He cleared his throat again.
“I’m happy for you, Anna,” he said. “Tell me all about the wedding plans.”
Chapter Five
Ellie had every intention of flirting with Ty at her next video appointment. She’d picked out another sexy dress and even waxed her eyebrows.
But as was often the case, motherhood took center stage.
“Sweetie, when your teacher gives you a note to bring home to me, it’s very important that you make sure I get it.”
As she glanced into the rearview mirror, her son’s lower lip quivered.
“I meant to,” he said, his voice small and earnest. “But she kept talking about the dead lions, and I got scared.”
“Dead lions?”
“She said there were dead lions and that if I didn’t turn in the permission slip for the zoo field trip, I might not get to go.”
“Deadlines,” Ellie said, resisting the urge to smack her forehead. “The lions are all okay, sweetie. And I’m sorry you’re missing
the field trip.”
“Me, too,” he said. “But I’m glad I can go to work with you.”
“So am I,” Ellie said with only the tiniest twinge of guilt. Her deepest, darkest, secret self wasn’t thrilled by this unexpected schedule change. “I called Polly—you remember her, right?”
“The nurse who taught me how to make fart noises with my armpit?”
“Right,” Ellie said. “A skill for which we are forever grateful. She’s going to come pick you up at ten. Do you remember what that looks like on the clock?”
“The big hand is on the twelve, and the little hand is on the ten.”
“Exactly. That’s in thirty minutes.” Ellie pulled into the parking lot and wondered which car was Ty’s. Maybe the motorcycle? They were meeting at the main First Impressions office today, rather than Speak Up. Some sort of public presentation seminar had taken over the other building for the day.
“Grab your backpack, sweetie.” Ellie held the car door open for Henry, then took his chubby little hand in hers.
Ty had been tied up with a client when Ellie had called to explain the scheduling snafu and to ask about changing the time.
“His schedule is pretty tight right now,” the receptionist had told her. “Video is crazy hot these days, so he’s booked months out.”
“But my son—”
“No worries, hon. We’ve got lots of parents working here,” the woman had said. “We know how it is. Just bring him with you. We can find a way to keep the little guy entertained.”
Which is how Ellie found herself leading her six-year-old by the hand, hoping like hell he didn’t ask her what was in the tote bag she carried.
Well, sweetie, those are vibrators mommy planned to hold up for the camera…
Um, no. While she certainly didn’t lie to her son about what she did for a living—“Mommy sells grown-up things”—she wasn’t about to advertise it.
“What an adorable little boy,” the receptionist cooed as Ellie led Henry past the front desk. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Henry,” he announced with pride as he shoved his glasses up his freckled nose. “And I know all about how that baby got in your tummy. Want me to tell you?”
Ellie grimaced and started to apologize, but the woman just laughed. “You’re such a smart young man,” she said. “And I’m sure your mommy is very proud of you for learning about babies and grown-up things and about how some things are best to only share with people when you know them really, really well.”
Ellie shot the woman a grateful look, earning herself a smile in return. Henry furrowed his brow. “What? I didn’t show her my book. Or my penis.”
“And I’m very glad about that.” Ellie grabbed his hand again. “Come on, baby. We’re almost there.”
She led Henry around a corner and down a narrow flight of stairs to the video studio. The door was ajar, but she knocked anyway.
“Ty? I’m so sorry I’m late. I had a little mix-up with Henry’s school schedule, and I tried to call, but—oh, crap!”
She spun Henry around by the arm at the same moment a horrified Ty threw a jacket over his computer monitor.
A computer monitor that, if Ellie wasn’t mistaken, showed a very large image of a banana, a pair of kiwi fruit, and one strategically-placed cock ring.
“Wow, hey,” he said, stepping back from the monitor like it was the most natural thing in the world to have a coat over it. “This must be Henry?”
“I’m Henry,” the boy confirmed, sticking out his hand. “Why do you have fruit that looks like a penis?”
Ty didn’t miss a beat. “Isn’t that better than having a penis that looks like fruit?”
The boy seemed to mull that over and decide the stranger had a point.
“I’m Ty,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Aren’t you lucky, getting to come to work with mommy today?”
“He’s getting picked up in half an hour.” Ellie blew hair out of her eyes and shot Ty an apologetic look. “Thank you for understanding. We’ve had a crazy morning.”
“Not a problem.” Ty settled himself on a tall chair and splayed his hands over his knees. “I’m sure we can find a job around here for Mr. Henry. Maybe get him on the payroll so he can start helping with the light bill and paying his taxes like an upstanding citizen.”
Henry giggled and adjusted his glasses. “I already have a job,” he said. “I clean my room every night before I go to bed.”
“And I’m sure you’re terrific at it.” Ty smiled at Ellie before directing his attention back to Henry. “Actually, I think you’d like some of the warm-up exercises I’d planned for your mom this morning. Would you like to help out with that?”
Henry’s eyes went wide, and a flood of gratitude shot through Ellie’s core. She glanced at Ty, relieved he didn’t seem perturbed at all. He was calm and relaxed and totally unfazed by the unexpected juvenile guest. Not many guys could just roll with that.
She glanced back at the jacket-covered monitor and hesitated. “Uh, this exercise doesn’t involve fruit, right?”
Ty shook his head and grinned. “Nope. We’re going to stretch our face muscles so we’re limbered up and animated for the camera.”
“You can stretch your face?” Henry was in awe.
“Yep,” Ty said. “Actors, like the ones you see on TV, do it all the time. Want to give it a shot?”
Ellie nodded, but Henry’s response was more enthusiastic. “Yes! Face exercising sounds like a good job. What do I hafta do?”
“The first one is called lion,” Ty explained, and her boy’s eyes widened in wonder.
“Like an alive lion? Not a dead one?”
“Not a dead one,” Ty confirmed.
Henry smiled, relief evident on his freckled face. “The kids on the field trip are seeing dead ones, so this is way better.”
Ellie thought about correcting him, but Ty was already off and running with the exercise. “Okay, so the idea is that you make your face like a lion’s face. You want to make everything as big as possible. Your eyes and your mouth and your cheeks—kind of like a lion’s mane. You think you can do that?”
“Yeah!” Henry grinned. “Do I get to rawr?”
“Definitely.” Ty looked at Ellie. “You’re doing this, too.”
“Oh.” She touched a hand to her collarbone, suddenly self-conscious. “Are you sure I need to—”
“Yep.” He grinned. “I picked this warm-up just for you. It’s all about letting go of the fear of looking silly and making sure your features are animated. It’s a good exercise, I promise.”
“Okay,” Ellie agreed, more for Henry’s sake than for Ty’s. “I’m ready.”
“On three,” Ty said. “One, two, three—lion!”
Ty boggled his eyes and opened his mouth as wide as possible. He put his hands up like claws and let out a loud, low roar that sent Henry into peals of laughter.
“Rawr!” the little boy yelled, his mouth open wide and his eyes sparkling with joy.
“Rawr!” Ellie yelled back, lifting her own manicured claws in her best lion impression.
“Your mom’s got this nailed,” Ty told Henry. “I think she’s had practice being a wildcat.”
The flush shot all the way from Ellie’s face to her fingertips, even though Ty didn’t crack a smile or look at her. He was still focused on coaching Henry with a gentle patience that made Ellie’s ovaries ache. How did Ty get so good at this? And why was it affecting her so much, the sight of her son with a man besides her brother?
Down, girl. He’s entertaining him, not auditioning for the role of stepdad.
“You did an awesome job with that one, little man,” Ty continued. “The next one is called fish. What do you think a fish looks like?”
Henry frowned in concentration then glanced at Ellie. “Wet?”
“Sure, but we’re not going to get wet today.”
Ellie commanded herself not to blush this time, though she wasn’t terribly successful. She said a
silent prayer of thanks Ty didn’t look at her.
“Fish scrunch their faces up tight,” Ty explained. “Their eyes, their mouths, their cheeks—it’s pretty much the opposite of lion. Do you think you can do that?”
“Yeah!” Henry grinned. “One, two, three—fish!”
They all squished their faces up tight. Ellie squinted her eyes to tiny slits and scrunched her mouth up small. Not an easy feat when she was laughing at the funny expressions from Ty and Henry. God, she felt silly.
Silly and grateful. There was a tingle in the center of her belly that radiated all the way to her fingertips and toes.
“Nice job, man!” Ty held out a hand to high-five Henry, and the boy reached up to smack the massive palm with his small one.
“You, too!” Henry said. “You’re a good fish.”
“That’ll come in handy if the video producer thing doesn’t work out.” Ty smiled at Ellie, and her ovaries twitched again. “How’s your face? Are you nice and limbered up?”
She grinned. “I’m not sure what a limbered up face feels like, but you definitely gave my smile muscles a workout.”
“Excellent.” Ty grinned. “Next, we can try—”
“I’m so sorry I’m late!”
Polly hustled in, her long gray braid sliding over one shoulder as she stooped to wrap Henry in a big hug. “Hey, big guy! You ready to go?”
“You’re not late at all,” Ellie assured her. “Thanks so much for coming. I owe you big time for this.”
“Not a problem.” Polly grinned. “Henry and I have big plans today, don’t we?”
“Yeah!” Henry beamed and picked up his backpack. “Polly said next time we hung out we’d make a Batman costume.”
Polly smiled and glanced at Ellie. “I hope that’s okay. My nephew outgrew the black unitard he used five or six Halloweens ago, and I found some kid-size paintball armor at the thrift store for a dollar.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Ellie fumbled into her purse. “Here, let me grab some cash for supplies.”
“Nah, this is just for fun.” She smiled down at Henry. “Shall we get moving?”
“Uh-huh.” Henry turned to Ty and stretched out his small hand. “It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Ty.”