That is until Veronica Rossi entered my life. I had met the Ross twins - Judah and Isaac on the first day of school. We became fast friends and I often saw Mrs. Rossi picking them up after school, while I waited in the school bus line.
Flashback - Charlie
I am so engrossed in the comic book I am reading that I am startled when I see the janitor’s cart go by as I sit on a picnic table. I look around and realize that it is late - I might miss the bus. I quickly stuff my comic book in my backpack and run around the building, hoping that I don’t miss the bus.
I’m too late as I see the last bus of the day leave the bus lane.
I feel a bit of panic. I am going to have to walk home. I know where I live from here, but I am not sure how far it is or how long it will take me to get there. But I have to get home somehow, so I start to walk. When I reach the sidewalk in front of the school, I hear Judah - or is it Isaac - call my name.
I stop and turn around, seeing them both standing there. I still can’t tell them apart.
“What are you still doing here Charlie?” Judah asks me - at least I think it is Judah.
I shrug.
“I missed the bus,” I reply as I hike my backpack up some.
“So where are you going?”
“Home?”
“You’re walking?” he asks - as if it is just crazy.
I shrug again and turn to start my walk, but his hand on my arm stops me.
“Come with us, my mom will take you home. She won’t mind.”
That is when I see lady a few feet behind them, standing next to a minivan as she looks our way.
“Come on, let’s go,” he says again.
Mrs. Rossi is nice. When we reach the townhouse apartment where me and my mom live, Mrs. Rossi wants to talk to my mom. That is when I tell her that she is working and won’t be home until two in the morning. After I tell her where my mom works, she asks if she can use our phone.
While she is on the phone with my mom, I show Judah and Isaac (or the Twins as I call them in my head) my room. Not much time passes before Mrs. Rossi comes up to my bedroom and tells me that my mom wants to talk to me. I follow her downstairs to the kitchen and pick up the phone. Mrs. Rossi pats me on the shoulder before she takes a seat at the kitchen table.
“Hey Mom,” I say.
“Hey Baby,” she says, sounding tired. “Mrs. Rossi is offering to let you spend the night with her boys, Isaac and Judah while I work tonight. Would you like that? You would get to hang out with your new friends.”
I look at Mrs. Rossi and she gives me a smile.
“Yeah, I guess so,” I finally say to Mom.
I wonder if Mrs. Rossi will make me go to bed at my bedtime. When Mom works nights, I usually stay up until ten, sometimes ten-thirty.
Before getting off the phone with my mom, she tells me to be good for the Rossi’s and she will come over to their house tomorrow morning before I go to school to see me and to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Rossi.
Before I know it, I am packing a small bag with a change of clothes, along with my toothbrush.
Once we are back in the minivan, I am quiet as Isaac and Judah tell me all the stuff we are going to do tonight. I just nod and look out the window. Some time later, we pull up to a big white house with black shutters. Mrs. Rossi pulls up under a carport and we all get out. I hitch my backpack over my shoulder and grab my bag.
“I’ve got it Charlie,” she says, taking the bag from me. “I’ll put it in the room you will be sleeping in tonight. I know you guys probably have homework, so why don’t you all go ahead and get started on that - and do not turn the TV on.” She says the last part looking at the Twins.
They both groan as I follow them up the front porch steps. As we walk into the house, I look around in wonder. Their house is big and looks like it belongs in one of those house magazines that Mom is always looking at.
We end up in a room that has two huge sofas, a few bean bag chairs and a big TV. The Twins both sling their backpacks on the coffee table that is between the sofas, sitting on the thickly carpeted floor as they pull out their homework assignments.
I do the same and we quietly start doing our homework. While we are doing our assignments, Mrs. Rossi comes in with a tray of snacks for us. We eat apple slices and cheese cubes while we do our homework. When we finish our homework, we go outside and play a game of HORSE.
That night, I eat a big dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with the Rossi family. I meet Mr. Rossi and the Twins’ little sister, Zoe. And I am right about the the bedtime thing. I am in bed at eighty-thirty, but it’s okay because I quickly fall asleep.
When I come down the stairs the next morning for breakfast, I am surprised to see my mom talking with Mrs. Rossi. I run over to her and hug her as tight as I can.
End Flashback
Feminine giggles pull me from my memories as I walk down the hall to my mom’s office. I smile a greeting at two co-eds, presumably nursing students and all they do is giggle more as they walk past me. My wife is always telling me that I don’t know the ‘power’ of my smile.
Whatever.
Since that first night I stayed at the Rossi home, my mom and I - more or less - became members of the Rossi family. Whenever she worked nights, I stayed with the Rossi family and every morning after her shift, she came over and ate breakfast with me and the Rossi’s’. And even on the days when my mom didn’t work the nightshift, we still found ourselves spending time with them. Over the years, my mom and Mrs. Rossi became very good friends. Mrs. Rossi or Ms. Ronnie as I now call her - was and still is a secondary mother to me.
Mr. Mathias Rossi or Pop as I now call him - was and still is the father figure in my life. When I first met him all those years ago, I used to watch him interact with the Twins and I would be envious. However, over time, he started to interact with me the same way. He was the one who gave me the birds and bees talk (right along with his own sons). He was the one that taught me how to tie a tie and how to treat women with respect. He was the one who taught me how to drive and took me for my driver’s test. He was also the one who was always there to pick up the pieces when my father broke his promises of coming to see me.
From age ten until I was fifteen, my father would call and say he was coming to see me. Those calls usually coincided with my birthday or Christmas. However, each and every time when he said he was coming - he never showed up.
I shake my head, dispelling memories I have no desire to think about.
As I turn the next corner, I can hear my mom’s voice I as approach her open office door. I peek my head into the open doorway and I see that she on the phone. I lightly knock on the door and she lifts her head. A big smile gracing her face. She tells whoever she is talking to on the phone that she has to go.
“Hey Charlie,” she says, rising from her chair - coming around to give me a hug. “It’s been so long since I have seen you.”
I roll my eyes.
“Ma, I just saw you four days ago.”
“Well that is a long time for me,” she says as she releases me from the hug.
She leans back against the front of her desk as I take a seat in one of the chairs placed before it.
“So what brings you here to visit your poor, old mom?”
“I was in the neighborhood, checking on a job site and I thought I would pop in to say hi.”
“Well, I am glad you did.”
We spend a few minutes catching up when a knock on her open door has me turning around in my seat.
Her boyfriend, Henry, is at the door. Smiling like a deranged mental patient.
Mom and Henry have been dating for almost a year now and I don’t like it. He seems to be a decent guy, but I still don’t like it. My wife says it is because I am no longer the only man in my mom’s life. She is probably right, but I will never admit it to her.
Henry comes fully into the office and kisses my mom on the cheek before he turns to me.
“Hey Charlie. How are you doing?” he
asks me with what seems like fake enthusiasm, but I am pretty sure it is not. Henry is always happy-go-lucky. I try my best not to roll my eyes.
“I’m doing good,” I say to him as I stand and shake his offered hand.
While I am glad my mom is happy with Henry, I don’t want to stick around to see them be all lovey-dovey.
“Well,” I say to both of them, “I should get going. I promised Zoe that I would be home by dinner time.”
I didn’t promise her - just told her I would be home by dinner time.
Same difference.
“Give Zoe my love,” my mom says as she comes over to hug me.
“I will,” I say as I make a quick retreat from her office because I see Henry hug my mom and his hands creeping to places where I don’t want to ever see.
On the way back home to my wife, I pick up Thai take-out. When I enter the house, Zoe greets me at the door. She is looking better than she did earlier. She takes the take-out bag from me and quickly takes it to the kitchen. When she returns, she drops to her knees - unbuckling my belt and undoing my jeans before taking my cock into her hot mouth. I let out a loud moan. Even when we have disappointment in our lives, my wife and I always find someway to connect and make it better.
Chapter 4 – Old Flames
Zoe – A Week Later
It’s a little after two in the afternoon and I am coming back to the office after a late lunch with Ivy. As I pass the conference room next to my dad’s office, he calls out to me.
“You got a minute Zoe?” he asks.
I stop in my tracks and sigh quietly. I have a couple of proposals to review and I want to get them done before I go home tonight. My dad likes to talk and I am sure this is one of those times where he will go on and on.
“Sure, Dad. What’s up?” I respond as I turn around and go into his office. I instantly see that he is not alone. A gentleman is sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
My dad meets me at the door. He gives me a kiss to the side of the head before wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me into the office. The gentleman in the chair stands and turns our way.
My mouth goes dry.
“Zoe, I would like for you to meet someone. You’ve met him before - back when you were in college, although I am not sure if you remember him.”
Oh, I remember him alright.
“Zoe,” he says, looking down at me proudly. “This here is James Harlan and James - this is my baby, Zoe.”
Mr. Harlan gives me that roguish grin that I used to love so much and the gleam in his eyes lets me know that he certainly remembers me. More than likely how he would bend me over his desk and fuck me senseless.
I stick out my hand for a shake and smile brightly (it’s fake) before speaking.
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Harlan – or shall I say, it’s nice to see you again – although I can only vaguely remember you.”
Which is just pure bullshit. I remember every damn thing about this man. I remember how he use to set my body on fire with just a mere look and then make me beg for it.
He takes my hand in his much larger one for a handshake. I keep the fake smile on my face coupled with a blank expression, letting him see that he no longer has any effect on me.
Bullshit!
Bullshit!
Bullshit!
I resist the the urge to sniff the air to see if they can smell the bullshit too.
I’m not going to lie – Mr. Harlan looks damn good. He has aged very well. Rocking a Denzel - circa Training Day - vibe; and damn if that doesn’t get me to thinking about our time together all those years ago.
Before we can continue, two distinct masculine voices - one with an easy Southern drawl and the other with a light British accent - infuse the air and my dad calls them into his office.
And let the shit show begin.
Wood walks in first, followed by Charlie, who is looking as handsome as ever in a pair of khakis, a white button-down shirt and a navy and tan argyle sweater vest.
I love it when my baby rocks the Prepster look.
I suppress a shudder and bite my lip remembering how he woke me up this morning with his long, thick cock.
My dad introduces them and I am very grateful when he also tacks on that Charlie is also his son-in-law. I can see Mr. Harlan side-eye me briefly before he turns his attention to Charlie congratulating him on his beautiful bride. I try not to roll my eyes before excusing myself, telling them that I have a stack of proposals to review.
Once I am in my office, I close the door and sit behind my desk. My brain is on auto-pilot as I wake up my computer and open up documents, not really focusing at anything on the screen as I think back to the day I met Mr. James Harlan and how we became involved.
Flashback - Zoe, Twenty-One-Years-Old
“You’re late,” I hear my dad say as I rush into the office and slide into my seat behind the desk.
I look up sheepishly as I give him the smile that usually lets me gets my way. He just shakes his head and jerks his head at me.
“Come with me. I have a new project for you.”
I quickly put my purse in my desk drawer before grabbling my pen, notepad and follow my dad to his office. It is the summer before my senior year in college and I am working at R&R Construction as an intern of sorts. I have worked here the previous summers in an administrative type of role, but this summer, Dad is letting me get more involved with the business beyond administration.
When I enter my dad’s office, someone else is sitting at the small conference table.
“James,” my dad says, “this here is my baby, Zoe.” He then turns to me and continues. “Zoe, this here is Mr. James Harlan. R&R is sub-contracting on the Hawthorne project.”
I do a stutter-step when Mr. Harlan turns around to face us before rising from the table and walks towards us - because he is tall, dark and all sorts of fine.
A delicious shudder runs up my spine when he takes my hand in his for a shake.
I somehow find my composure as I take a seat at the conference table. Over the course of the next twenty minutes, Dad and Mr. Harlan outline how I will be assisting Mr. Harlan on the Hawthorne project. Aside from working with a really cute older guy, I am finally getting a chance to get my feet wet in the family business. I will be learning about what it takes to fund and staff a project, as well as keeping an eye on the cost of materials so that the project stays within budget.
********
Four weeks later, I walk into the office of Mr. Harlan’s company, Phoenix Construction. It is a quarter till four. Mr. Harlan and I have a meeting to go over the budget for the Hawthorne Project.
“Hi Ms. Sadie,” I say to his administrative assistant giving her my biggest smile. “I have a meeting with Mr. Harlan at four.”
“Well, hi Miss Zoe,” she replies brightly. “Don’t you look cute today.” I do a little spin for her showing off my summertime professional attire which consists of a pale pink summer twinset, knee length grey pinstriped walking shorts and a pair of cute pale pink ballet flats.
She tells me that Mr. Harlan is on a call, but lets me know that it is okay for me to go in because the call concerns the project we are working on. I thank her and quietly open the door to his office – slipping in and closing the door softly behind me.
He has his phone on speaker and is pacing in front of his desk as he speaks. I walk over to the conference table and he gives me a wink and a smile – both have me feeling like a giggling school girl.
You see, I have a crush on Mr. Harlan. Mr. Harlan who is fifteen years my senior and is my dad’s business associate and friend. I have flirted with him since I have met him, but he pays me no mind.
I take out my notepad and take a few notes, but mostly, I watch Mr. Harlan. The way he talks and gestures with his hands has me hypnotized. So hypnotized that I miss him ending the call.
“Zoe,” he says as he comes to stand in front of me. His gray slacks still looking freshly pressed after a day of wo
rk. I try not to stare at his crotch.
“I’m sorry, what was that Mr. Harlan?” I ask. I can feel my face heating with embarrassment as he looks down at me. Dear Lord this man is hot. I start to fan myself with my notebook and then catch myself.
“First of all, none of that Mr. Harlan stuff. You make me sound old.” He gives me that mega watt smile that makes me squeeze my crossed legs tightly together. “I asked if you wouldn’t mind us having our meeting over an early dinner. I skipped lunch today and I need to eat.”
Dinner with Mr. Harlan?
Hell
and
Yes!
“Sure,” I say all calm and composed which belies my screaming insides.
We end up at an exclusive and expensive steak house in downtown Richmond. I am excited because this feels like a date. After we order our drinks, we start to discuss the project. I pull out my small notebook and begin to jot down the things he wants me to check on by the end of the week. When our drinks arrive, he easily pulls my chair closer to his, stating that he doesn’t want to have to talk too loud. He drapes his arm on the back of my chair as he talks to me.
I am now close enough that I can smell his aftershave mingled with his own unique scent. As he is talking, I try to focus on what he is saying, but I can’t, I am mesmerized by his lips as they move. He has a habit of running his tongue over his bottom lip and that has my mind wondering how he eats pussy.
The guys my age think the art of eating pussy involves lapping at my clit like a cat lapping a bowl of milk - they seem to be afraid to fully commit to actually putting their mouth fully on the pussy.
I jump slightly when his hand curves around my shoulder and squeezes. I feel my face heat up when I look at him because I know he has caught me not paying attention. I am paying attention, just to the wrong thing!
“I hope I am not boring you Sweetheart,” he says close to my ear. I watch his tongue drift over his bottom lip before he gives me a sexy smile.
I can only shake my head as I am tongue tied. He smiles even bigger - a knowing smile. I watch as he signals the waiter.
Love & Happiness (Sexy Secrets Book 3) Page 5