by Melody Lane
He couldn’t help but grin. “Good. Point for me.”
“Multiple points for you.” She smiled.
Her lipstick was gone, her eye makeup was a mess, and her black hair was tousled. But Janice was stripped, sexy, and someone he wasn’t going to let go.
He kissed her lips. “When can I see you again?”
She put a hand to his cheek. “Can’t you stay longer tonight? We can walk around East Village. I’ll show you my favorite haunts. We can get a drink, have a bite to eat.”
Antonio shook his head no. “I can’t tonight, although I’ll take a rain check on that. I have to get the ice cream truck back to Queens.” He snapped his fingers. “My phone rang earlier. I better see if it was the ice cream company. I’m late getting back, you know.”
“Make sure you tell them why.” Janice’s eyes opened widely. “You couldn’t help but have hot sex with one of your customers.”
He grinned, as he stood and peeled off the condom. He picked his pants off the floor to search for his phone. “Oh, yeah. I’m sure they’d like to hear that.” He raised his eyebrows. “Although this was the best first day of work I ever had.”
Janice stood and wrapped the warm blanket around her. She smiled.
As he listened to the call, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Janice, it’s the agent I had for those modeling jobs. I haven’t spoken to her in weeks.” His eyes widened as he listened more. “She’d like to talk to me about an acting job.” He closed up his phone. “A paying acting job that she says I’m perfect for. My headshot and resume has already been sent over to the television production company and they’re interested.”
“Oh, Antonio,” Janice raised her eyebrows and grinned at him. “How exciting!”
He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “An acting job, Janice, I can’t believe it!”
“So you’re okay about it not being in the theater?”
“Yes, yes.” He laughed out loud. “I’m okay with it.”
“When do you have to see the agent?”
“Tomorrow.”
Janice leaned forward and kissed him. “I’m truly happy for you.”
Antonio put a hand on his goatee and rubbed it. “Hmm. How will I work that out? On my lunch hour, I guess.” He grinned at her. “I’m sorry, but I really need to go now. I have to get tomorrow figured out. And get that ice cream truck back to Queens.”
She beamed. “I understand completely.”
“I’ll let you know how it goes.”
As he kissed her one last time, the sweetness of her mouth drowned him. How could he be falling for Janice Freeman so quickly? He let his hands slide over her beautiful breasts, then drift down between her wet thighs. Wet from some serious lovemaking.
This day was overwhelming.
Chapter Three
Janice stood in her shop window sprucing up her main advertising space. Since spring was now definitely confirmed, she decided she would place one of the new dresses from her spring line on the mannequin. It was plum in color with a fitted bodice and full skirt to the knee, cotton, fully lined, and accented with a white belt and flower around the waist. It was a romantic little number. After all—she smiled—spring was for lovers.
With that thought, she stopped what she was doing. Were she and Antonio really lovers? Could you actually count one time as being official? She shook her head, not knowing what to think. As she placed the matching peep-toe heels on the mannequin, distressing thoughts got the best of her.
Would it make a difference to him that she was forty? They hadn’t discussed anything about age, so why worry about it. He hadn’t asked about her age, so there was no reason to tell. All she knew was that the handsome ice cream man had just barely turned twenty-seven. With his perfect skin, six-foot frame, curly dark hair and fringe of moustache and goatee, he was damn sexy. All twenty-seven years of him.
Did he really like her? She bit her lip. It appeared like he did. Their time together seemed genuine. She had to stop thinking about these distressing thoughts. If it didn’t work out, it didn’t work out. She couldn’t let someone go if he was never hers to begin with.
Janice wondered how his meeting with the agent was going. He said the appointment was on his lunch hour. It was after three, so he had to have been there by now. She let out a breath. He said he would let her know how it went, but he hadn’t. She bit her lip. Wait a minute. They hadn’t even exchanged phone numbers. She felt a chill throughout her body. One of those chills that you dread. Her heart felt like it plummeted to the ground as the disturbing thoughts took over.
But then she heard a noise. She cocked her head toward the window. It was that music floating across the air again. The catchy hook on repeat every thirty seconds that was now making her heart skip a beat in excitement. How fast things can change. She grinned from ear to ear. The ice cream man!
She finished quickly with the mannequin and picked up the clothes she had just removed from it. Janice barely had time to comb her hair, powder her nose and reapply lipstick. Time to see Antonio and all of his sexiness.
As she went out to the sidewalk, she saw his truck stopped about five-hundred feet away from her. He had customers. Impatiently, she tapped a heel on the sidewalk. Amazing that before yesterday, she never cared if the ice cream man came around or not. In fact, she was usually trying not to eat ice cream as it interfered with whatever diet she was on.
Seeing the truck start moving, she sighed. It would only be moments now before his beautiful face came into view. As the truck stopped in front of her, Antonio opened his driver’s side door and hopped out. Before she could say a word, he tilted his head down and started kissing her. Her lips were soft and his mouth was warm and inviting. Their tongues tangled in what Janice could only describe as bliss. She found herself melting in the arms of this man she barely knew, and her eyes closed. This was too much. How could meeting someone just yesterday be having such an effect on her? Taking it slow wasn’t even going to be an option.
As she broke off the kiss, she looked into his eyes. The corners of the large chestnut wonders tilted upwards along with his mouth. He grinned from ear to ear. It was obviously good news he was ready to sprout.
“Guess what?” he asked.
“What?”
“You’re my good luck charm.”
She frowned. “Is that all you got?”
“Haha. No.” He let out a breath, then ran his fingers through his hair. “I have an audition tomorrow for a reoccurring role as a police officer in a crime drama on television. It would be for a whole season, with option for a second if the show stays on. I’m not the lead, but I would be in the show every week.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Antonio, that’s wonderful news!”
“I would have called earlier, but realized we hadn’t exchanged phone numbers. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know the name of your shop either.”
She threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “What time is your audition?”
“Ten.” He raised his eyebrows. “Next question, are you busy tonight?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I usually just sew, but that is always negotiable.”
“My apartment is not conducive to studying. My roommates are in a band and always playing their instruments and working on their music. Peace of mind doesn’t happen there. I need quiet to study and I may need some assistance. So, with that in mind, would you be willing to help me with my lines?”
“Of course.” She smiled.
“Thank you.” He rolled his eyes. “I have to memorize all of them tonight. That’s a lot of pressure. Sure hope I can do it. We could perform some run-throughs of the scene together afterwards.” He put up a hand. “If you don’t mind, of course.”
“I’d love to help you.”
“Next question, my audition is physically closer to you than to me. Am I out of line to request a sleep-over?” His eyes twinkled. “Is it too soon?”
“Hmm.” Janice thought for a moment. Althou
gh they didn’t know each other very well, she wanted to see Antonio more. Was she taking a risk letting someone she didn’t know stay all night with her so quickly? She looked into his eyes. They were warm and comforting. She glanced at his arms. They were strong and inviting. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend the entire evening and then the night with him?
His eyebrows rose. “Well? An answer is required.”
She smiled. The decision was made. “Why not?”
He laughed. “Wonderful. Then I’ll be taking that rain check from yesterday. After work, I’ll go to my apartment and bring back an overnight bag. I’ll just head to the audition from here.”
“We can go to one of my favorite restaurants down the street to have a bite to eat for dinner.” She tilted her head. “Ethiopian, of course. Then you can study the rest of the night.”
He smiled and looked her over. “Well…maybe we won’t be working all night. It would be nice for us to have a little fun and relaxation.”
Her eyes widened. “Like yesterday?”
“Yes, like yesterday. There is still a Popsicle left in your freezer.” He raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, then. We know what dessert will be.” She nodded. “What about your job driving the ice cream truck tomorrow?”
He ran his fingers through his hair and bit his lip. “I don’t like to do it, but I’ll have to call in sick. There’s no other way. This is obviously too important and I can’t possibly miss it. The ice cream company wouldn’t let me off so soon. I know that. I just started yesterday.” He flinched. “This could even get me fired.”
Janice shook her head. “There is nothing else you can do but call in.”
Two women walked up to the ice cream truck, lagging slightly back from Janice and Antonio. Janice could see them whisper to each other. She was sure it was because Antonio was one hunky ice cream man. That’s what she would have said if one of them were she. Should she be possessive towards him? She couldn’t help but grin. Why the hell not? When had she ever had the chance to do something like this before?
“Give me one more kiss and I’ll see you later.” She jutted her lips out for him.
Antonio leaned down and obliged her, then squeezed her tightly. “I have customers right behind you.” He moved a hand down lower and smacked her butt. “Get out of the way.”
“Ouch!” she cried out, feigning pain. She grinned. “See you tonight.”
As she turned around, she couldn’t help but glance at the women and give a sly smile. She was sure they were thinking how lucky she was. It was true. Besides being a handsome devil in a white uniform, Antonio was sweet, sexy and smart. And to make matters even better, things were going pretty well for the two of them. If it wasn’t for that nagging issue of his age that kept coming back to haunt her and the fact that they had only met twenty-four hours ago, she’d be feeling pretty satisfied right about now. More satisfied in her love life than she had ever felt before.
Janice felt a burst of energy for the rest of the day. When she closed her shop for a lunch break, she ran upstairs and cleaned her apartment. She changed the sheets on her bed, washed the dishes in her sink and checked to see that the Popsicle was still in the freezer. She grinned. Of course it was still in the freezer. Where else could it have gone?
Although she only had two customers all afternoon, it didn’t matter. She was too excited for the day to end. Janice even called up her best friend Marcy to tell her about Antonio. Marcy was ecstatic at how well things were going for Janice and wanted to meet Antonio before she moved back to Michigan.
When Antonio came into her shop at six, she was more than ready for him. It was nice seeing him in something besides that uniform of white pants and T-shirt. He looked pretty damn good in jeans and pullover sweater. Good enough to eat.
And she was sure she would do that later.
Her lined three-button jacket of earlier in the business day had been replaced by a low-cut, purple T-shirt that accentuated her breasts. Antonio had spent a lot of time with her breasts the night before and, obviously, liked them. Classic trousers were exchanged for tight-fitting blue jeans that highlighted her rounded butt. The zebra heels she had worn during the day still looked good with her outfit so she left them on. Since Antonio was tall, Janice could wear any height of shoes that she wanted, a bonus. Quite unlike her boyfriend of last summer who was almost her same height.
Antonio couldn’t have been happier when he saw her. As they bent their heads to kiss each other, their contentment together was already apparent. It was amazing at how comfortable they were together so soon.
They left Janice’s shop and walked down St. Mark’s Place to the small Ethiopian restaurant located in the basement of a building close to First Avenue. They were alone except for one other couple. As they sat down at the cozy, wooden table, a waiter came over immediately with two cups, a pitcher of water, and menus held underneath his arm. He set down the refreshments.
Janice looked up. “Dahnay, how are you this evening?”
Dahnay nodded to her, with a smile of recognition. “Very well, thank you, Ms. Freeman. Your menus.” He handed them to Janice and Antonio. “What may I get you to drink?”
“House red,” said Janice.
“I’ll take the same.” Antonio glanced over menu. “Hmm. I have no idea what anything listed is. You’ll have to help me.”
Janice grinned. “I’m partial to the dorowat. It is chicken simmered in niter kebbe butter, berbere sauce and onions.
“Okay.” Antonio raised his eyebrows. “Whatever that is.”
“No worries. Berbere sauce is a dark, rich, tangy barbeque sauce. You’ll love it. Most people do once they’ve tried it. Niter kebbe butter is butter that is boiled with more than ten different herbs. The fat is removed and what remains is a purified and flavorful low-fat product.”
Antonio nodded. “So it sounds like Ethiopian food is low in fat and good for you.”
“Exactly.”
“So how long have you lived here in New York City?” Antonio asked.
Dahnay brought the wine to the table and sat it down.
“About thirteen years.” She took a sip of her wine trying to decide how much to tell him, some of the basics probably. Time for the first bombshell, “I moved here after my divorce.”
He raised his eyebrows. “How long were you married?”
“Just a few years—neither one of us was ready for that type of commitment. It was a mistake from the beginning.”
“I’m sorry.”
“After we divorced, I decided I wanted to see if I could make it as a designer.” She smiled. “I had my degree in fashion merchandizing and worked as a buyer for a major department store in Michigan. But I wanted more. New York City was the ultimate to me. Always had been, every time I came here as a buyer for my company. Once I made up my mind to live here, it didn’t take me long to move. I already had a few connections in the Garment District that helped me out.”
“So the shop and everything came easy after that?”
“Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. I paid my dues.” Janice raised her eyebrows. “I’m still paying my dues.” She watched as he sipped the wine. He didn’t seem upset that she had been divorced. Time for the next shock. “I just turned forty.”
Antonio looked up at her, but didn’t flinch. Instead his eyes locked onto hers. “When?”
“Last week.”
“Our birthdays are only a week apart.” He smiled. “Too bad we didn’t know each other then. We could have celebrated together. Want to hear my story now?”
“Sure.” Janice’s heart was pounding. Antonio didn’t act like he cared that there were thirteen years between them. It was a non-issue. Multiple points for Antonio again.
“I’ve already told you I’m from Houston. Got my degree there, then moved down to Los Angeles when I was twenty-four. Had a few modeling jobs.” He shook his head. “I didn’t like it there at all. You really need a car in LA. I think that was part of the problem for me. I wante
d to live in a place where public transportation and walking were the main modes of getting around. I don’t really care about having a car.” He grinned. “Plus, I wasn’t having any luck getting regular work, so I moved here.”
“I understand the car thing.” She chuckled. “I don’t miss having one at all.”
“I’ve had a variety of jobs for these last three years. I already told you that. None of them were very exciting.” He let out a breath. “I’ve lived here a year longer than LA but the outcome has been the same. No significant acting work.”
“But that might all be changing now.” Janice took another sip of her wine. “You might catch a break tomorrow.”
“I hope so.” He cleared his throat. “There’s another thing I’d like to tell you.”
“Yes?”
“I send my mother money every month. She’s retired and needs it.”
“Hmm. That’s commendable. What a good son you are.” As she stared up into his eyes, she saw something there that she hadn’t even seen in her own lately.
Hope.
He had grown up in Houston and she came from a suburb outside of Detroit, but they had found each other. New York City had called to them for different reasons but their paths had crossed. They decided it was fate that they had met yesterday on his very first day of being an ice cream man.
When Antonio grabbed her hand from underneath the table, Janice felt like a schoolgirl. Just yesterday morning she had been old, poor and lonely. Today it was just the opposite. There was a new woman in East Village and Janice Freeman was ready to take on the City like never before.
By the time they entered her apartment, mouths and hands were going everywhere. Good thing they had left the street and were alone now. They were unable to keep off of each other any longer.
His fingers slid to her breasts. “I want this shirt off.”
Janice pulled the shirt up and over her head and threw it over the kitchen chair.
He turned her around and unhooked the yellow gingham bra. His head bent to slowly kiss her shoulders. He ran his lips from one side of them to the other. “You’re so soft,” he breathed out. “I missed you today while I was working, Bella.”