Fool For You

by Megan Noelle

  The first time Corey hoisted himself onto the bar so he could lean in to kiss me, I was completely surprised. Maybe he acted on the same need to touch that was consuming me or perhaps just wanted to mark his territory. Which would have bugged me before, but it kept other guys from ruining my night and it kept slutty women from approaching Corey. Besides, I got a thrill out of our public displays of affection and after the sobby week I’d had— it felt fantastic. As the night progressed we continued to steal random kisses when ‘the moment’ struck—which was fairly often. Each time though, the constant grin on my face grew just a little wider. The moments where we weren’t able to be locked at the mouth, we were usually watching each other. The fluid movements he made while mixing and pouring drinks drew me in. He would look my way and both of our faces would light up in a smile.

  I didn’t bother hiding the openly affectionate behavior because frankly, I was enjoying every moment of it.

  The night ended and Corey drove his jeep behind my car to follow me home. I insisted on going home so I wouldn’t be late to work again, but when he asked to come with me, I didn’t hesitate to accept. Saturday morning was spent much the same way as Friday; which prompted me to be a grinning idiot all through work.

  Around the lunch hour, three of the newer Inn employees cleaning the guest room showed up in the lobby, their arms loaded with down pillows. Apparently, a couple of our younger guests thought it would be really humorous to cut a large gash in each one so feathers would go everywhere as the cleaning service made the bed. The pillows looked like a bomb ready to blow with the feathers sitting open to the guests.

  “Why would you bring them down here, Trevor?” I pleaded with the 19-year old boy, to right his wrongs before the situation got worse.

  “Well Miss Danielle I just didn’t know what to do with them. Leaving them in the room unattended just seemed like a terrible idea to me.”

  “No, no—Trev— this is a terrible idea! Please tell me you didn’t bring them all down here.” Trevor quickly shook his head. With every movement he made, the feathers jostled around, threatening to pour over.

  “No ma’am, Robbie has the rest.”

  “Oh no.” My hands clamped over my eyes. Robbie was an even bigger goofball than Trevor was. Both boys had great intentions and were total sweethearts, but they were dumber than a box of bulbs. Throw them together and you get shenanigans like this.

  “Don’t worry, Miss Danielle, we’ll get it taken care of.” Trevor spent the better part of his life in the deep South where it is downright rude not to address those older than you as Miss or Mr. I had told him numerous times that just my first name would do—but some habits you just can’t break.

  “Here I am!” Robbie’s voice came barreling toward us along with at least 6 more (very large) pillows.

  It all happened in slow motion. Robbie stepped on his own shoe lace and was launched into the air. The pillows were ready to provide a cushion for him. Instead they rammed directly into Trevor and his pillows. The next thing we all saw was white. White snowy feathers—everywhere. They attached to my clothing, hair, and absolutely every surface around us, while some floated with grace throughout the lobby.

  An all-too familiar laugh came from behind me. I turned to see Corey with both hands on his stomach, doubled over in hysterics. My hands found my way to my hips as I eyed him down, fully aware how ridiculous I must have looked. Corey kept the very large grin on his face as he walked up to me and plucked a feather from my hair.

  “White’s a good color for you, Sweets.”

  “And you’re here to what….rub it in?” I forced out my best attempt at anger. This did nothing to pull Corey out of his beaming state.

  “No, I just lucked out to be here in time to catch this circus.” My hands dropped from my hips as I turned, defeated to see the mess. My two yahoo employees got to their feet and searched my eyes for what to do next. I continued to stare around in dismay at the feather vomit covering a majority of my beautiful lobby.

  Corey walked up to my side. “Alright, you two, grab the vacuum, get some garbage bags and pick up every single feather. Grab brooms or whatever else may help.” Robbie and Trevor eagerly nodded and ran off at Corey’s command. Normally, this would be all my territory and to have another come along and instruct my workers on what to do would push me over the edge. In this instance though, it was preferable, since my mind was still in awe over what happened.

  Corey wrapped his warm arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “We’ll get this taken care of, Sweets, nothing to worry about.”

  “By the way, what are you doing here?”

  “I was bored, figured you haven’t thought about lunch so I was going to make you eat with me in the dining room.” I smiled up at him, reached up and placed a kiss on his cheek.

  “If you help me clean I’ll let you eat lunch with me.”

  “Oh, I’m honored.” He wrapped both arms around my waist and pulled me in for a swift kiss that left me wanting more, but the boys had returned.

  We spent the rest of the afternoon picking up what felt like, millions of feathers. Corey helped the entire time and his playful banter kept me from losing my cool on the young workers. Trevor and Robbie worked hard to clean up all evidence of the disaster that took place. I had to hand it to my two youngest employees—they worked very diligently, every shift.

  We finished cleaning and Corey still insisted on having lunch with me. We ordered two different courses and shared so we had a selection of delicious food for our meal. Corey insisted we share a piece of cake for dessert and well—who was I to turn that down!

  “I forgot to tell you, I need to order the liquor for Emily’s wedding.”

  “How much is that costing me?” Corey asked; shoveling a piece of cake into his mouth.

  “The paperwork’s on my desk. We can get it after lunch so you can sign off on it.”

  “Your desk, huh?” His lips smirked up and I dropped my head down so he couldn’t see my smile rising.

  No Danielle—you do not need to have sex with Corey on your desk—again.

  “Strictly business.” The reminder was more for me than him because the way desire pooled in my belly told me I wanted anything but business right then. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

  “Whatever you say, Sweets.”

  We finished the cake and he followed me into my office. Just as he had done every time before, he plopped down in the chair and rest his feet on the edge of my desk. I went around to my side of the desk and rifled through the wedding files. The page I was looking for was toward the bottom of the stack; I pulled it out and handed it to Corey. He meticulously scanned the document he then picked up a pen and signed his name at the bottom. “So you don’t think I screwed up the order?” My tone mocked him for doubting me. His eyes remained locked onto the paper, but the corner of his mouth pulled up into a smile.

  “You’ll have extra bottles, no question about that. But,” He looked up and locked that intense, dead-sexy blue gaze on me. “I wouldn’t mind splitting one of those with you later.”

  The heat in his eyes radiated deep in my stomach. How he could say a single thing and make me weak was a talent I had never seen before. I had half a mind to throw caution to the wind and let him take me here on this desk once more. But with my luck—that would be the moment my grandma would choose to walk in. I’m no expert—but explaining that to her would be borderline awful.

  “If you’re lucky,” I replied with a wink; and took the paper from his hands. Corey was on his feet, hands planted on the desk as he leaned into my space.

  “I’m sure I’ll get lucky.” I couldn’t help but smile as he leaned in to place a kiss against my mouth. Thank goodness for the desk in front of us—the kiss had no promise of stopping and was usually one that started a heated round for us.

  “Later,” He whispered against my lips; reading that it wasn’t going to happen.

  “Of course.”

  Corey backed a
way and before he left, made sure I would accept a check from the bar for the order. The way our conversations went from funny to heated to business certainly made me laugh. I’ve never had quite the easy transitional conversations as I do when I’m with Corey.

  My mind was still wrapped around Corey’s kiss and the effect he had on me when the phone rang.

  “This is Danielle.” I breathed into the phone.

  “I’m surprised you’re at the office today, Dolly—it’s Saturday.” Grandma.

  “Well there is always work to be done.”

  “Well, I’m impressed. Anyways, I won’t keep you—just wanted to invite you to dinner tomorrow. Will you come?”

  “Yeah Gram, of course.”

  “Okay Dolly—be here at 5; dinner’s at 6.”

  “See ya then.” I smiled when I set the phone onto the dock. If Corey had stayed—my Gram would have called right in the middle of a very impassioned …discussion. Not that this stopped me from wishing Corey was still there.

  * * * *

  I left my house with a good half hour to get to my Gram’s on time. All I had to do was get in my car and go. Instead, my jaw dropped as I stood staring at the very flat tire that was now going to make that near impossible. The worst thing was—I didn’t have a spare. The last time my tire went flat I was driving around the New York countryside with Gabby—well that turned out to be a total disaster. Long story short, it was never replaced.

  My Grandma’s disappointment was quickly filling every inch of my psyche—and I hadn’t even told her yet. There was only one person I could think to call that could make this experience less like the nightmare it had the potential to become.

  “Hey baby.” Corey could always put a smile on my face with his enthusiastic greetings.

  “I have a problem.”

  “What kind of problem?”

  “Flat tire. No spare. Expected at Grandma’s for dinner in 30 minutes.”

  “Yikes, I wouldn’t want to walk in late to a dinner at Violet’s house.” Sigh—I was dreading it.

  “Yes, I know. Is there any way you could help me get there? In exchange I am officially extending an invitation for you to join us.” He laughed.

  “It’s just me and Sanders until 8 so I can’t come with you, but I could step away to drive you— then come back later to pick you up.”

  “Oh no Corey, if you’re not able to stay that’s okay, but I’m not going to ask you to do all that if you need to be at work. I’ll just give her a call and let her know the situation.” That thought gave me goose bumps; she wasn’t going to just accept a flat tire as an excuse to miss her dinner.

  “Don’t do that, Dani—that’s a death sentence. Seriously, it is totally fine, I’m more than happy to help you out.”

  If there’s one thing I knew about Corey, he’d drop everything to help if I called. Even if that meant leaving Sanders in a crowded bar for an hour. “I want to talk to Sanders, have him tell me that you really aren’t too busy to do this.”

  “It’s my bar, Danielle; I can do what I want.” “Do it, please.” Maybe it was childish—but it would give me piece of mind to know that Sanders wasn’t going to be left with a packed bar.

  “You’re impossible.” With a sigh, he called Sanders over.

  “Hiya sexy.” Sanders beamed over the phone. “Ow—damnit man!” I laughed as I pictured Corey’s hand smacking whatever part of Sanders he could reach.

  “You get hit?” I asked.

  “Yes! This boss I have is very temperamental, anyways; your man said you had something to ask?”

  “Do you mind staying alone at the bar while Corey brings me to my Grandma’s for dinner tonight?”

  “Totally fine, babe.” Sanders let out another grunt, from being hit again, I assumed. “YES—please pull this guy away from here for a bit.”

  “Okay thanks! You’re the best!”

  Sanders moved the phone from his ear to talk to Corey, but I still heard him. “See man, you better watch out— your girl thinks I’m the best.”

  After a few more seconds Corey was back on the phone. “On my way, baby.”

  My heart did an unexpected flip from the combination of Corey calling me baby to hearing Sanders’s refer to me as Corey’s girl. Was that just what he assumed? Or was it possible Corey said something to him? Things had been going so well between the two of us—I didn’t want to think about something coming between that now. Besides, it was beginning to feel almost impossible to stay away from him. A day apart was—at most—what I wanted to endure now.

  How pathetic!

  Ten minutes passed and Corey’s Jeep pulled up behind my poor lopsided car. I ran to it and settled myself into the passenger’s seat. Before I could manage to get my seatbelt on Corey grabbed hold of my shirt and pulled me to him for a kiss. Once his lips left mine they trailed a line of irresistible kisses along my jaw. My body was already reeling with having him near, but with those luscious lips teasing my sensitive skin—I only wanted more.

  “So that’s why you said you’d be more than happy to drive me?” I teased, with a smile.

  Corey shrugged his shoulders. “I’m going to take one whenever I can.” My smile remained in place while our fingers laced together, as they always were in the car, and stayed until we pulled up in front of my grandparent’s house.

  I expected Corey would try to steal another kiss from me, but before he could, I leaned across the seat and planted my lips on his. The simple kiss from earlier was nothing compared to this one. His tongue stroked mine; his fingers laced in my hair holding me to him. In my life there was only one person who could turn such a plain moment into one I wouldn’t forget and that person was the one caressing my face and back, making me crave more. At this point I was wondering if it was possible to ever get enough of him.

  When I could no longer breathe, we pulled away. “Thank you for the ride,” I said trying to suck air back into my lungs.

  Corey flashed his sexiest smile, revealing his dimple, making me swoon more than I imagined possible. “Any damn time.” I laughed. “Just call or text me when you need me back here.”

  “Will do.”

  I climbed from his car and with a wave goodbye I ran into the house 5 minutes after 5. Gram was in the kitchen waiting for me with her hands on her hips.

  “Would it kill you to be on time?”

  “I had a flat tire; I resorted to plan B to get over here and I think making it just 5 minutes late is pretty damn good.”

  “How did you get over here?” Disapproval leaked from her tone, making me feel like a disobedient child instead of a grown woman.

  “A friend brought me.” Gram nodded and shoved a plate of bacon-wrapped something or other into my arms.

  “Bring this out to them. I’ll get the table set.”

  “Them?” I asked; but she was far too busy purposely ignoring my question. In the living room my Grandpa sat in his usual comfortable armchair, and smiled when I came into view. When I saw who my Gram so conveniently forgot to mention, I came to a sudden stop. Ollie stood to take the plate from my shaky hands; his smiling lips pressed a lingering kiss to my cheek.

  “Surprised to see me?” He asked; elated his plan had worked.

  “There are hardly words.” Ollie chuckled, holding out the plate for my grandpa to grab an appetizer.

  “Your grandparents ran into mine the other day and word spread that we went on a date; so your grandma decided to invite me to your family dinner.” His proud expression radiated around the room; if only I knew what was prompting the attitude.

  “Are your grandparents here?” The words tumbled out so I didn’t have to remain standing there with a goofy look on my face. For some reason the very first thing that popped into my head was… Corey was going to absolutely freak out. An anxious sensation slowly made its way from my toes into my head creating a killer tension headache.

  “Nah, they were going to come but had a prior obligation.”

  “Oh.” Thank the Lord. O
llie’s face started to fall at my extreme lack of enthusiasm, which was opposite of what he expected. “Well, it’s great to see you.”

  Oliver may be a guest today but that wasn’t going to keep me from greeting my grandpa; as always I pecked his cheek and let him squeeze me tight into his side. “How are you doing, grandpa?”

  “I’m just fine.” He seemed uncomfortable when I first entered the room with our addition to dinner—Grandpa was never a fan of Ollie growing up. Upon seeing my lack of excitement at seeing Ollie in his house, pasted an amused expression on his face.

  “Good, well you boys enjoy the appetizers, I’m going to go help Gram set the table.”

  Thankfully the dining room was on the other end of the house from the living room. I planned to scold my Gram and it was going to be very awkward if Ollie could hear us. A smug grin was already on her face when I got there, which escalated my irritation.

  “Why didn’t you tell me Ollie was going to be here?” I snapped.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you went on a date with him?” She recanted.

  “It was one date, Gram. I haven’t seen him since—you should have told me!” I tried to sound angry, but instead it came out as a whine.

  “And he sent you flowers.” A heated sigh blew past my teeth. Sometimes she heard nothing I had to say.

  “You’re right he did, and I thanked him for them. That doesn’t change the fact that you should have told me he was going to be here.”

  “Oh you look fine,” she said, coming to the wrong conclusion for my stress.

  “I don’t care about that, Gram.”

  She set down the final place setting and turned to face me, arms crossed. “Or is there someone else that you’re dating that you haven’t told me about? A friend perhaps that gives you rides when you have car troubles.” Shit— how does she always know?

  Stand your ground, Dani! “I’m not seeing anyone else. Don’t change the subject, you went behind my back and I don’t appreciate it.”