by Randi Ocean
“I get it, Sally. No taking chances. Thanks for the update. I always want to know if there’s progress.”
“I’ll keep you posted if anything else develops. In the meantime, you take care of yourself and get some rest.”
“Thanks. I’ll try.”
When I hung up, I experienced a sense of calm that I hadn’t felt since I arrived in Portland. With Clay Orwell gone, I wouldn’t be looking for him over my shoulder every day. But, on the other hand, that also meant I wouldn’t be able to immediately identify someone else who might be looking for me. Ugh! Sally had the best advice, though: stay under the radar, and stop worrying. Words to live by.
**
On Monday when Dane and I returned to the studio, it was in a shambles. No one had been there since the CSI team had turned it upside down, looking for evidence. We had our work cut out for us to get it back in shape.
We started to tidy up, but Dane fell into a chair at the bar and said, “This’s too much for us. I’m calling the cleaning service.” He got them on the phone quickly and scheduled a crew for that afternoon.
Dane’s gaze was contemplative as he looked around the room. “Bridget, I’ve given a lot of thought to moving. I wasn’t sure if I could handle being here after everything that’s happened, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I think Valerie would want us to be here. She would want us to be working in her kitchen. I feel connected to her here and think we should stay.”
“I think you’re right, Dane. Valerie was very proud of this space. I think she’d want us to carry on that tradition.”
“So let’s do it. We need to get in touch with Sergio and see what he wants to do about the book. I hope he’s still on board with shooting it here. Valerie always said she didn’t want to hold up progress. She would want us to keep going on it.”
“I’ll get in touch with Sergio and see what he thinks about it. He should be back from the beach by now.”
“I think it would be healthy for us to get it going again soon,” Dane said, exhibiting more energy and enthusiasm by the minute.
“I’m on it….”
“Bridget, it’s so wonderful to hear from you,” Sergio said as he answered his phone.
“How’re you feeling?” I asked.
“The time away helped me very much. It was exactly what I needed to put things in perspective,” he said with a more upbeat attitude than I’d expected.
“I’m so glad to hear that. I think the time away from the studio was good for Dane and me, too. We were just talking, and he has decided not to move. He wants to carry on Valerie’s legacy from her kitchen.”
“That’s very good news. It seems appropriate,” Sergio said.
“Have you thought any more about the book? Do you want to move forward with it?” I asked.
“I have, and I think we should get going on it if you and Dane are up for it. But I don’t want to be on such a tight schedule. We’ve all been through a lot, and I think we should take it slowly. Can we get together and talk about it, maybe just the two of us?” he said with a somewhat suggestive tone.
“I’d like that,” I said, more flirtatious than I intended.
“Will you come to my place for dinner?” he asked.
“That would be nice. Let me check back with you in a little while, though. We’re trying to get this place cleaned up from the mayhem, and I don’t want to leave Dane here by himself to deal with it.”
“Of course. I’m not going anywhere. All the restaurants are closed tonight, so you can come by any time.”
“Okay, I’ll be in touch later. Thank you, Sergio.”
“I look forward to seeing you, my sweet.”
I went back into the studio and found Dane picking up odds and ends.
“Did you reach him?” Dane asked.
“Yes, and he’s ready to get going again on the book. He wants to open up the schedule, not work against a deadline. He feels like everyone’s been under so much stress that he wants to take the pressure off.”
“Seriously?!” Dane fell back into his chair at the bar. “That’s music to my ears. It’s really going to make everything so much better.”
“We have to figure out the food styling though. Nicole’s still the key, but she’ll need an assistant. She’s probably worked with someone she’s comfortable with, so I’ll call her about that. I think you should meet the person she is considering to be sure you’re comfortable with them too.”
“Okay. Once this place is put back together and we can take a breath, we’ll get Nicole over here to figure out the assistant situation, and hammer out a schedule. I can’t tell you what a relief it is that the deadline isn’t driving this train anymore.”
“It’s a relief that Adele’s not driving the train anymore.”
“Amen to that.”
The cleaning crew arrived at one to give the place a complete overhaul. By five o’clock, the kitchen sparkled, and everything else was polished and back in place. Dane had framed a couple pictures of Valerie he’d taken of her at work. She had her hair up in a knot and was laughing as she meticulously glued sesame seeds onto a hamburger bun with a pair of tweezers. She loved her work.
“Let’s hang these here,” Dane said, holding them up next to the breakfast bar. “That way she can always keep an eye on us.”
Around six, I texted Sergio to let him know I was on the way. He texted back: c u soon
**
When the elevator door opened, Sergio stood still, leaning against the opposite wall. He stared into my eyes and waited to see how I would approach him. I moved toward him and held out my arms to hug him. He wrapped his arms around me, lifting me from the floor in a tight embrace. He gently put me down as our lips met and tongues danced in a long, wet kiss.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Bridget.”
“It’s wonderful to be in your arms,” I said with total abandon. I held his face in my hands and our lips connected with the hunger for each other growing with each passing moment.
He took my hand and led me into the bedroom. The fire was flickering, and soft music set the tone. The robe and slippers he had bought for me were laid out on the chaise. He pulled my sweater over my head and began unbuttoning my blouse. Our desire began to feed off each other. We shed the layers that separated our souls and fell into each other’s arms, skin to skin. The release of emotions was intense. We sobbed and kissed, holding each other tight, legs entwined pulling closer as if we couldn’t get close enough.
“Oh, Bridget, I was afraid you still wanted distance between us. I’ve felt so isolated and alone.”
“I’ve had a lot of time to think,” I said, trying to regain my composure as I wiped a tear from his cheek. “Life is short, Sergio, and so unpredictable. It’s too important that we go after the things that make us happy.”
“My time at the beach was very cathartic, too,” he said. “I agree that we need to pursue the things in life that give us pleasure. You give me great pleasure, Bridget.” He kissed me gently, still holding me in a tight embrace. Our kisses became more passionate, needy, as if filling the void we each had felt without the other.
In that moment, the rest of the world fell away, and being in his arms was the only thing that mattered. His elegant hands caressed my curves and moved through the soft folds that were aching for his touch. His breath hitched and a smile came over his face as he discovered my wetness and readiness for him. His erection was thick and hot, pressing against me. I stroked his shaft and began to guide him inside me.
“I want to taste your sweetness,” he whispered. He rolled on top of me and slid down between my legs. He held my ass, tilting me into him as he parted my soft folds. My back arched, and moans escaped uncontrollably, savoring every titillating sensation from his skillful tongue. He took his time, gradually unearthing my clit before sending me spinning at the moment of ecstasy. The orgasm erupted though me. It fueled my already burning desire to feel him inside me.
“Oh, Sergio!” I cried ou
t in pleasure. He reached under a pillow and quickly unwrapped a condom and sheathed himself. As I moved on top of him, I laced my fingers with his, stretching his arms over his head, and pressed my lips to his. Amidst the complex emotions of our kisses, I maneuvered, taking his hardness deep inside me. He gasped and arched, trying to maintain control as I raised and lowered myself onto him.
“Oh, my God, Bridget,” he said as he moved rhythmically with me. He pushed his head back as he came hard. “Ahhh,” he cried at the peak moment of pleasure.
My core tightened, responding to his rock-hard climax, sending another orgasm rifling through me. I let go of his hands and fell onto his chest to try to catch my breath. His heartbeat was pounding as much as mine.
After a few moments, I slid down next to him and rested my head on his shoulder. We were totally emotionally connected.
“I love being with you, Bridget,” he said softly.
“I’m very happy here with you, too, Sergio, and I want to spend more time with you.”
Sergio tilted my head up with his fingertip so I could look him in the eyes. “I’ve thought a lot about it, and you were right about keeping our relationship under wraps for now. It really isn’t anyone’s business, and we don’t need advice or opinions. I’m sure everyone will have something to say about it if we make it known.”
It was a huge relief to hear those words coming from him. As much as I wanted to be with him without secrecy, my witness protection status dictated that the relationship remain covert or both of us could be in danger. And he was right; many people would have an opinion about us getting involved just when the news of his wife’s murder had surfaced.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“You’re right. With everything that’s changed, I’d like nothing more than to scream to the universe how much I love you, but I’m not sure anyone around us would understand right now. Let’s get the books done. By then, it’ll be understandable that we’ve become close.”
“Maybe it won’t take that long. I think we’ll know when the time is right, but for now, it can be our little secret,” he said with a smile as he rolled over and pulled me close.
“I love secrets....”