by Komal Kant
There was a strange look toying with Wade’s features—a curve of his lips, dimples pressing deep into his cheeks. Wait, was he fighting a laugh? I couldn’t believe the nerve of this guy-
“Uh, you’re still wearing my shirt,” he said, that look tugging at his face as his eyes ran the length of my body. “Only my shirt.”
In a flash of horror, I realized he was right. I was still in his shirt, my bare legs on display. The shirt barely covered my ass. I bet he’d gotten an eyeful of it. Damn it. Not my intention.
I crossed my arms over my chest. I might as well follow through at this point. “I don’t care. Take me home.”
With a burning face, I turned away from him, letting my hair cover my face as embarrassment sank into me.
When it came to this man, I just couldn’t catch a break.
Lois Woods’ house was a few minutes in my rearview mirror before I slammed on my brakes and pulled over on the side of the road with squealing tires.
With a growl, I smacked my hand on the steering wheel, wondering what the fuck was wrong with me.
I’d dropped off a mostly naked Blair at her grandmother’s house, still dressed in nothing but my shirt, and hadn’t said anything to her.
It shouldn’t be so easy to walk away from someone that you truly had a connection with. Despite my original aversion to her, she was like no woman I’d been around before.
I had to talk to her. I had to at least let her know that she didn’t repel me. That our stories ran together, seamless, but connected.
Putting the car into drive, I made a U-turn and drove back the way I’d came—back to the woman I couldn’t stay away from any longer.
The Woods’ house loomed up on my right as I turned onto the access road that wound around the fields to the front yard.
The house of a deceased woman. It was strange to think about Lois’ kind face that filled with deep wrinkles when she laughed at her own jokes or told stories about her daughter.
It was strange that she was gone, but her house remained; the garden she normally tended to with so much love was now becoming unruly despite her being gone for just over a week.
Life was fucking strange.
When I knocked on the front door with an impatient knuckle, it was Lisa Fonseka who opened it. If I’d been anything but disappointed, my gaze would’ve lingered longer on the obscure carrot earrings dangling from her ears, but I was too antsy for that.
I needed to see Blair now, before things between us devolved further.
“Wade!” She greeted me with wide eyes, like I was the last person she expected to see. There was something more in her gaze. Was it awe? But why would Blair’s mom look at me like-
Then it hit me.
Somehow, she knew. Someone had told her about me. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Hi, Mrs. Fonseka,” I said, trying to act as normal as possible. “Any chance I could see Blair?”
The hazel eyes, so identical to Blair’s, were still large as she nodded with too much enthusiasm. “Of course, Wade. She just got back a few minutes ago from your parents’ house. Delilah asked her to stay over.”
I tried not to react to the lie. I guess it would’ve looked bad if she’d told her mom she’d spent the night at my place.
“Is she upstairs?” I asked, as Mrs. Fonseka shut the door behind me.
“Yes, first door on the right,” she told me with glamor in her tone. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
I shook my head. “I’m good, thanks.”
With that, I headed upstairs, following the directions I’d been given. The Woods’ house was one of the larger ones in town and when I’d been younger, back when Mr. Woods’ had been alive, the house had been in impeccable condition.
After his death, the upkeep had been too much for Mrs. Woods, and maintenance of the house had been mostly neglected. There was still value in it. A fixer-upper for a new couple. A quaint home to retire in. Someone would make this place home.
When I reached the door of Blair’s bedroom, I paused.
What in the actual fuck was I going to say? I didn’t have a script or a pre-planned speech. There could be no glitz or polish. Whatever I said had to be authentic. It had to be me.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
“Come in!” Blair immediately called, probably thinking it was her mom.
I took a deep breath for good measure and pushed open the door. Blair was lying on her bed, staring up at the yellow ceiling, a look of despondence on her face, like she’d just had the worst morning ever. I guess she kinda had.
A jolt of satisfaction shot through me at seeing that she still had my shirt on, now paired with fitted, grey leggings. She looked good. So good that I wanted to slip her out of the pants she’d only just put on and take her on the bed.
When I shut the door behind me, Blair glanced in my direction and immediately her demeanor changed from morose to defensive.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, scrambling out of the bed and rushing forward to meet me.
Good question. I knew why I was there, but I wasn’t sure how to put it into words.
“I’ve been an ass,” I finally said. That was a good place to start.
“No way.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice.
Her response was deserved. I hadn’t treated her the best. It was time to get real with her. Well, as real as I could get.
“You make me nervous, Blair,” I admitted, taking a slow step towards her.
She blinked those rainbow eyes at me, different emotions flashing within them. Disbelief, confusion, fading anger. “Why?”
You know why.
But I didn’t respond with the truth. I took the easy way out.
“Because I’m still recovering from the last time I was in love.”
That wasn’t a lie. I was telling her the truth, even if it was a different version of it.
Blair slumped down on the bed; the confusion had now taken over. “I-I didn’t expect this to happen between us, Wade. I didn’t even want to be here for the funeral of a stranger who should’ve been familiar to me. But since the moment I got here, I found you, and I didn’t expect that. You push and pull at my heart. I feel stupid, like I shouldn’t want to be near you, but I can’t help myself.”
Guilt welled up inside me. It wasn’t fair to treat her like that. To tug at her feelings like they were meaningless.
“Blair,” I breathed, reaching out for her, but she took a step back. “I will fall apart if we keep doing this, but I can’t stop.”
There was an amber fire raging in her gaze. Her bottom lip trembled as she sucked in a deep breath, wiping a strand of hair off her irritated face as though my answer wasn’t good enough.
“Just leave, Wade.” The amber struck me, rendering me motionless. “Just leave.”
Yet, even as I sifted through the anger on her face, I couldn’t bear to walk away. I was a fucking disaster. Just like everyone said I was.
Was yo-yoing with someone’s feelings any better than being unfaithful. It was all too similar.
“No,” I grabbed her by the waist, pulling her in as her eyes widened in surprise. An idea formed in my head. Something so irresponsible, that I couldn’t believe I was childish enough to take things further with her. “Not until you say yes.”
“To what?” Her lips were so close I could taste them.
“Come to the gala with me tomorrow night,” I told her recklessly, running my hand down her arm and around her waist.
Disbelief struck her features. Her lips, the ones I wanted to feel against mine, pursed in annoyance. “This isn’t some kind of a trick, is it? You’re not going to suddenly flip, are you?”
I shook my head, not willing to take no for an answer. “My mind is made up.”
“What if I don’t want to?” she asked, frowning as she crossed her arms over her chest in an attempt to rebuff my advances.
My eyes dropped, following her movements. A thought wriggled its
way into my mind.
“You wouldn’t still be wearing my shirt if you didn’t,” I said, a hint of a smile in my voice.
“You’re a jerk, you know?” she stammered, and I could tell she was out of things to say.
I took a step closer, wanting to touch her again. “Well, you’re a brat, Goochee. Maybe that’s why we can’t stop whatever is forcing us together.”
Blair seemed to consider this, angling her head in thought. Finally, she responded. “So, you’re basically asking me out on a date?”
A date? Well, shit. Is that what it was?
I shrugged. “Technically.”
“Okay, then technically, you can pick me up and take me to this Charity Gala if you’re asking me out.” Her tone was the no-bullshit kind, and it was a turn on to see her get so bossy with me.
“I can do that,” I agreed with a nod.
“No bailing on me,” she continued.
“No bailing,” I assured her.
“No flakiness.”
“No flakiness,” I repeated.
“No douchebag behavior.”
“No douchebag,” I started to say, but then stopped. “Hey, I get your point, okay?”
“Okay, fine. I believe you.” Blair hid a smile. “What time should I be ready?”
“Five,” I told her, turning towards the door. “And wear that stupid shoe.”
From Blair’s splutter of indignation, I could tell she knew exactly which stupid shoe I was referring to.
“YOU LOOK LIKE A THOT!” was not what I wanted my grinning dad to tell me when he answered the phone.
“Dad!” I shrieked, almost dropping my phone in shock. “That doesn’t mean what you think it means!”
From beside me, Drew burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, collapsing against the bottom step of the stairs and slapping his knee.
Drew and I had just finished getting ready for the Welsecky’s charity gala and had video called our dad so he could see us before Delilah and Wade came to get us. Since Drew didn’t believe in expending unnecessary carbon emissions, we had opted to carpool. Or was it called truckpool here?
Dad’s expression turned thoughtful. “That’s not what Stacy at the grocery store told me. Well, either way, I bet Wade is going to think you look amazing.”
A part of me still wasn’t sure how Wade and I had decided to go together. Despite having reservations about whether he would even show up, I’d still slid into one of my favorite little black dresses that I’d brought with me in case of an emergency.
The dress fell slightly above my knees and had a cinched waist and risqué, plunging back. The front was more modest, showing a little cleavage. I’d finished off the look by sweeping my hair up in a bun and donning a Swarovski crystal necklace.
Oh, and I was currently barefoot. It was like I was becoming a shoeless hippy like my brother.
In my hand, I clutched my one Louboutin in my hand in the hopes that I hadn’t misunderstood Wade’s words.
Wear that stupid shoe.
Did that mean he would bring its pair?
“Drew, you look handsome, too,” Dad told my brother, thankfully moving on from his thot comment. “Back in the day, the girls would go wild when I dressed up.”
Drew had dressed up too, or what his interpretation of ‘dressed up’ was. He had on a beige kurta that hung down over black dress pants. The fusion of Western and Nepalese didn’t make much sense, but at least he’d tried.
“What elaborate stories is he telling you now?” Mom asked, strolling into the room, carrying a camera so old it was beyond vintage.
She looked timeless in a pink, flapper dress that she said had been her mother’s. Also, there was a pink feather in her hair, which I had no explanation for.
“Nothing appropriate,” I said with a roll of my eyes, watching as she fiddled with a knob on the camera. “So, that used to be yours?” There were so many knobs and dials on it that it looked like a photography torture device.
Mom nodded, her voice turning wistful as she gazed at our grinning dad. “Yes, I got it for my sixteenth birthday. It went everywhere with me. Oh, the memories. I remember dating your father and doing a poignant, nude shoot of him where his ba-”
“MOM!” Drew and I cried simultaneously.
Thankfully, the doorbell rang just then, saving us from further saucy tales from our parents’ past. Between this and the ‘thot’ comment, I was pretty sure I would need therapy in my old age.
“Love you, Dad!” Drew called out as he vaulted off the stairs. He paused in front of the hallways mirror, running his fingers through his mess of long, dark hair.
Mixed feelings brewed inside of me as I watched my brother fuss over his appearance. It was scary watching him fall so hard for Delilah and I just hoped it didn’t end in heartbreak like his previous relationship had.
“Sorry, Dad, our dates are here,” I told him, still gripping the Louboutin in my other hand. “But my car should be done any day now, so I’ll see you in a few days.”
Dad nodded, a gleam in his eyes. “Have fun with Well Smacky. I mean it.” He turned his gaze onto Mom, his face alight with affection. “Enjoy your night, my sexy love animal.”
Blech. That was my cue to leave.
“I will, Heshan. Love you.” Mom’s tone turned misty as she ended the call. “Ah, I miss that man.”
“I know, Mom.” I wrapped an arm around her and gave her a squeeze as we headed to the front door.
Drew cast a nervous glance around him before pulling open the door. “Hey, guys!”
“Hi!” came Delilah’s voice as she stepped inside and appraised my brother. “You look, um, wow.”
Wow was pretty accurate.
Meanwhile, Delilah was wrapped in a slinky, silver sequined dress that clung to her body in a way that made Drew blush. Her hair was loose and wavy, her makeup was simple, and she wore no jewelry so as not to detract from the shimmery dress that made her glow.
“You look so ne-ice,” Drew spluttered, beads of sweat forming on his hairline.
Delilah stared at him in confusion. “Did you just call me your niece?”
“Uh, I, uhm, need a drink.” Drew spun around and bolted out of the room so fast it left us spinning.
“What’s wrong with him?” came Wade’s voice.
I turned to the door and froze, blinking several times to make sure I wasn’t losing my sight in my old age.
Wade had just strolled in, dressed in a deep blue suit that was tailored impeccably for his body, highlighting his broad shoulders and thick legs. His dark hair was slicked back off his forehead and his beard had been trimmed and styled, giving him a sleeker appearance.
It was a look that only added to his sex appeal, and I sure as hell was falling for him, I mean, it. The look, I was talking about the look!
“You’re wearing an Armani suit,” I said stupidly, looking him up and down in disbelief.
Wade shrugged a shoulder, like it was no big deal. “You sure know how to state the obvious, don’t you, Goochee?”
We studied each other hard, and from the way his mouth quirked up into a smile as his eyes grazed my body, I could tell he liked what he saw.
Ugh, why did he make me feel this way? Like I wanted to throw everything to the wind and hole up in his cabin and never leave?
Delilah cast a meaningful look between her brother and me. It was strange, but there seemed to be disapproval there. Maybe she didn’t like me nearly as much as she pretended to. She’d been adamant about keeping Cole away from me the other night after hearing Wade and I might have a thing for each other, so her expression didn’t make much sense.
It took a couple of seconds, but she ironed out the look on her face and replaced it with a warmer expression. “You look stunning, Blair!” She sounded genuine and I wanted to believe her, but I couldn’t.
Still, I couldn’t lie about her appearance. “Not as stunning as you,” I said, wanting to know what was going on in her mind. “I love your dress.”
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“Thank you!” Delilah’s smile was so dazzling, it was hard to believe it was forced. Her eyes dropped to the shoe in my hand. “Isn’t that the same shoe you have?” she asked her brother.
Stoic as always, Wade produced a black shoe from behind his back. I would recognize it anywhere. Glossy, black exterior, bright red sole—it was my other Louboutin!
“Glad you caught my clue, Goochee,” he told me in a tone that made my stomach tumble.
I tossed my head. “I am a journalist, after all.”
The glittering blue eyes turned cold. “How could I forget?”
Delilah’s face paled from beside him.
What the hell was going on? It was like a secret hung in the air, almost tangible, but always out of reach. It was close, but-
Click! Click!
“Blair, you’re like Cinderella!” Mom gushed, hovering around us with the camera held up to her face. “Why don’t you put the shoes on her, Wade?”
Before I could inform my mom that I was perfectly capable of putting on my own shoes, Wade knelt in front of me. It was like the worst proposal ever.
My mind went blank. Literally, mush.
Mush, mush, mush.
All I saw was that crooked smile, those shining eyes, that rugged face, and literally my ovaries couldn’t contain themselves.
This gorgeous man was on his knees in front of me, and all I could do was gape at him like a goldfish.
“Then I must be Prince Charming,” he said to me, his voice low and teasing.
That snapped me out of my daze, and I glared at him. “Hardly. More like the Prince of Darkness.”
Grinning at that, Wade took my shoe of my hand and reached for my left foot. He never broke eye contact, and a million feelings danced inside of me.
A thrill shot up my spine as he slipped the shoe on my foot, his fingers gliding on my skin with the lightest touch.
Then, with the same tenderness, he took the shoe he’d brought with him and slipped that on my other foot. His fingers lingered on my leg, and when our eyes locked, I could see the primal look in them that I was sure was anything fairytale appropriate.
Drew walked back out again, this time a little less red and sweaty. “Those blood shoes could feed a family of four for a month,” he informed me, as Wade straightened up.