Her last chance

by Danielle Lee

  “God, Dad, do you have to talk like that?” Karen asked.

  “We aren’t dead yet, baby. Hey, you never know, you might have a new brother or sister soon.” Bill laughed.

  Kyle looked into the kitchen now. “That’s just gross. You guys can’t possibly still…”

  “Every night, unless it’s a full moon, and then we do it twice.” Bill winked, then stood up and smacked his wife on the butt.

  Gail rolled her eyes and Karen made a gagging motion with her finger up to her mouth.

  Warren sat at the table, struggling to eat his bacon and eggs. He loved this family.

  “Well, we don’t want to be here when she gets out, so we’ll get out of your hair. Remember, be nice,” Bill said.

  “I will. Thank you for breakfast, Gail. Bill, as always, you’re nuts.”

  Bill smiled as he quickly ushered his family out of the house.

  After a quick shower and a makeup lesson, Kat pulled herself together quite well. Minus the “Got Milk?” disaster and her fuzzy teeth, she was eager to take on the world—well, at least the coffee that she’d left in the kitchen. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and dressed in her Calvin Klein boot-cut jeans and a black V-neck T-shirt. She wore a single gold chain around her neck and hoop earrings in her ears. She looked good—much better; maybe a little too obvious for her parents, but who cares. She walked out into the kitchen and everyone had gone. She smelled the traces of breakfast and noticed a solitary plate on the table with some bacon and scrambled eggs on it.

  When she sat down, she heard the front door open. Just as the fork reached her mouth, Warren came around the corner holding the mail. He handed her some letters as he sat down appraising her. “You look great.”

  She blushed slightly. “Thank you, and thanks for getting the mail. Is everyone outside?”

  “Ah, no. They left. Your dad said something about a noon movie at Cinema Ten. They told me it was theater nine if we want to join them.”

  “Warren, if you wanted to go, you should have. I’ve got some work to do today.” Actually that was a lie, but he didn’t know about her career mishap. She had to speak with her lawyer about the lawsuit, and better yet, she had to find out if anyone had called about the newest job opening for the Times.

  “I thought we could take a walk today, maybe catch a movie later—after dinner, of course.” He smiled at her as she put down her fork.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come on. You have to eat, don’t you? You won’t be disappointed.” He batted his eyes a little and laid a big grin on her.

  She smiled back and picked her fork back up. “Okay, you got me. Where do you want to walk?”

  “I was thinking maybe downtown. Maybe we can go to the bookstore, and cookie shop, and then back to my house. I thought I could cook for you.”

  “Wow, you cook, too? Well, I guess I will have to take you up on that, but I will help.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She finished her breakfast and washed the dishes. When she finished, she pulled out a pair of black cowboy boots. She’d received them the previous Christmas and left them in the closet at her parents’. She never wore boots in New York—knee-high boots, but country wasn’t exactly New York’s style. Warren was dressed in Levis and a black button-down shirt. He looked great, too.

  She decided it was great walking beside him. Many women on the street passed them and turned their heads, checking out his fine behind. She could’ve been jealous, but instead felt like he was a trophy that she could carry around. They walked into a few shops, making small talk along the way. They stopped into a small bookstore and talked about their favorite authors and books. They both liked poetry. Emerson was her favorite and Frost was his. They both had a love for Stephen King, and his “Dead Zone” series. Authors like Terry Goodkind, J.K. Rowling, and Lee Duncan were a few that kept coming to mind when she thought about her favorite fantasy novels. When she talked about how much she liked the book “IRIS: A Dragon’s Perspective,” Warren saw passion in her eyes. He took a mental picture of that look, cataloguing it in his thoughts for later. He thought that she was much like the heroine Xandria Shaw, with her tough exterior and exquisite beauty.

  Throughout the trip, they found that they had much in common: books, movies, theater. They quoted many famous lines from the different films that they’d seen, making a game of it during their day of endless shopping and gadding.

  They had a small lunch of egg rolls and rice at the House of Hunan on the corner of Third and Wallace.

  “Well, do you want to head back to my house soon? I’m thinking dancing…then dinner, then movie?” He smiled at her. She thought he could destroy her with that one look.

  “Yes, sounds perfect.”

  He took her hand in his and led the way to Fifth and Rosedale. They made it there within a half hour. They were certainly working off their calories for the day. Warren talked about how he was used to walking. Frequently, he just walked to his office from his house so he had the time to blow off steam, to think. She thought that was a good idea. She walked ninety percent of the time in New York.

  They entered the house and she noticed all of the flowers that were meticulously placed. She felt a little awkward being in the home with all of his wife’s flowers.

  “I’m sorry about all the flowers. I realize it may make you uncomfortable.” He shifted his weight onto his right side as he leaned against the counter. “You want to go downstairs?”

  She nodded and smiled softly. He took her hand as they walked through the basement door and she noticed right away that it was like the man cave her brothers always wanted. There were shelves lining the one wall with an assortment of leather-bound books, brand new books, and old ones with the covers slightly torn. In the center of the short wall was a mantle with a fireplace, and on the wall to her left was a huge sectional couch with a cherry coffee table in front of it. The area was beautiful; very homey, very much Warren.

  “I love this room! My brothers would love this! The books are great. My apartment looks much the same with the shelves and all of the books. The couch has to be my favorite part, though.”

  Warren smiled from ear to ear. “I bought that couch a little over a year ago; always wanted one.”

  “A couch? Don’t set your sights too high, do you?” She laughed.

  He looked at her and grinned. God, how he loved her laugh; it was almost musical.

  “Well, I guess not. Sarah wouldn’t let me get a sectional couch. She thought they were a bit tacky for her taste. So I never gave it much thought. Then last year when I was walking by Stanton’s, I bought it. It may be tacky, but it is damn comfortable, and besides, this area here is all mine and she had nothing to do with it.” Warren smiled, then immediately frowned, feeling bad about the last part.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Don’t be. It’s true. I’ve let things bother me for way too long. Don’t think of me as broken, please.”

  “I don’t, it’s just…”

  “Don’t worry about anything. You’re perfect. You couldn’t say anything that I haven’t already heard a thousand times. I’m so glad that you’re here with me. I had a great time today."

  “Me, too.”

  Warren walked over to the small Bose stereo sitting above the fireplace and switched on a CD. He held out his hand and she took it.

  “Dance with me?”

  Kat nodded, then he pulled her into his warm embrace. With his hand at the small of her back, he led her across the room gracefully.

  He could dance. He smelled great, too. His hair looked just as delicious as he smelled; she wanted to run her fingers through it. Finally, a man that could not only dance, but was very easy on the eyes.

  As he twirled her around the room to Frank Sinatra, he genuinely felt happy for the first time in a long time. “Thank you,” he said, then pulled her into a hug.

  She fit perfectly into his body; he couldn’t help but think of her in his bed.
r />   “Would you like something to drink?” he asked.

  “Yes, thank you. It’s a little hot in here, isn’t it? Do you have the air on?” She pulled at the neckline of her T-shirt, then followed him up the stairs to the kitchen.

  “Water, wine, or soda?”

  “Water is just fine,” she said.

  He handed her a bottle of natural spring water. She took the cap off and downed its contents in a couple of gulps.

  Warren stifled back a laugh as he watched her.

  She put the bottle on the counter. “I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”

  “Would you like more?” He cocked his eyebrow up. She could never understand how that one gesture could do so much for a situation. It had so many different meanings. She had to laugh.

  “No, it’s okay.”

  “All right, well this is a bit awkward, isn’t it?” Sure it is…All you’ve been thinking about is how she would feel in your arms, in your bed, how making love to her would feel so wonderful, how long it’s been for you...

  “A little, sorry.”

  “Please don’t apologize. You’re going to have to start paying the toll if you apologize to me again.” He gestured to his lips. “Right here with a little kiss the next time you say you’re sorry. Come on, I dare you.”

  He was being cute. She was relieved that he knew how to remedy her nervousness. She could think of a few things to fix that. She was attracted to him, heaven help her. Standing in close proximity with a man like Warren Vance could only mean one thing: trouble. And all she wanted to do was flirt. “Now I will really make sure that I don’t.”

  “We’ll see about that. I’m pretty good at having women apologize.”

  “Really?” Now it was her turn for the eyebrow.

  “No, but I’ve had great practice with you.” He laughed a belly laugh at her expression, then turned to the refrigerator. “Ah, there is some great stuff in here. Now, is there anything at all that you’re allergic to before I start the feast?”

  “I’m surprised my father didn’t give you a list of my medical history. I’m shocked,” she said while pretending to fan herself.

  “Funny, funny, Katherine. Are you going to keep giving me shit about that? Because if you are, this isn’t going to work.”

  She looked at him; she didn’t know if he was joking or not. “Sorry, maybe this was a bad idea!” she said as she turned for the door. Her face reddened as she grabbed the doorknob.

  “Gotcha!” he said as his left forefinger gave the come-hither signal and pressed a finger to his lips. “Man, this is going to be much easier than I thought!”

  She walked over, half a mind to slap him, then saw his wide grin. “You suck!” She smiled as she went to kiss his cheek, then he pulled her into him.

  “You know, I can stand like this all day with you.”

  She moaned softly, and smiled—the same one that he first saw when she got off the airplane.

  He bent his head down. “I’m going to kiss you—now,” he said quietly.

  She knew it even before he said it, as his eyes darkened and he bent his head down so his lips could brush hers. “Good.” What was she saying? This was way too fast with her. A week ago she was hoping to use him, have sex, then go back to New York. This was turning into a relationship. Oh, God…a relationship in Connecticut. She didn’t even want to think of it. She stopped the kiss. His face sulked.

  “You okay? Where were you just now?”

  “I think we’re moving a bit too fast…I don’t want to be the rebound girl.” Rebound girl? Really, where was the duct tape when she needed it?

  He let go of her gently and walked over to the sink. He grabbed a washcloth and started to wash some dishes in the sink. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, which made the situation all the more awkward. Then he turned around. “You know…” His voice was a little bit louder, angrier. “I haven’t so much as looked at another woman for five Goddamn years!”

  She could see that he needed to get this out, so she didn’t say anything.

  “FIVE YEARS!” He threw his hands up in the air as he looked at her. His eyes were battling an inner war. “I haven’t touched a woman, thought of a woman, looked at a woman, nothing. FIVE YEARS! This shit has taken me down. Five years I’ve felt guilty about Sarah sitting in that hospital room, five years I watched her from a chair, thinking that we would be together, that she would wake up and walk out of that hospital. I was delusional thinking that I’d even want her after what she did.” He was angry—angry with himself for the way he was talking. He shook his head, ran his fingers through his hair, and paced nervously.

  Katherine looked at him, tears threatening to escape her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Warren. I didn’t mean to…”

  “That’s two, Kat.” Then he turned the conversation back. “I can’t believe how my world has been rocked by this woman. She finds out something that we should have both worked through. She leaves it up to herself, then decides that she can’t handle it. Now I’m left for the past five fucking years sulking in a corner—probably now really unable to have children with someone. She has done this not only to herself, but also to me all over again. Then when I finally start to clear this out of my mind—the guilt, the racking pain—you think I’m using you in some sort of cat-and-mouse game, excuse the expression…”

  “That’s not what…”

  “It’s exactly what you meant. Damn it, Kat, don’t you see how special you are to me? You have no idea how much you’ve gotten me through this past year: your column, your picture, you. I know this sounds a bit off, but when you came here, I felt my world get a little lighter. I can see us together, with a future—see me with a future. It makes me happy as hell. You look so damn good in this place with me. You feel great in my arms, and I can only imagine what it feels like to…” He stopped, feeling flustered, and his face reddened as he watched her take in what he had just said. “Hell.” He walked over to her, grabbed her arm tightly, and pushed her against the dishwasher. “I’m taking what’s mine, and you, girl, owe me two.”

  Her eyes widened in shock and passion as he put his hands up to her face and tilted her head back, pressing kisses down her neck. He could feel the pulse of her heart and its rhythm against him. Her breathing became heavy as he ran his finger down, feeling her nice, taut skin. Then he trailed his mouth back toward hers, lingering a while on her ear, sucking at her earlobe, then to her lips. Her nice full bottom lip was begging to be taken. He bit her softly, after he heard a small moan escape her parted lips, and it only made him want her more. He took her in further, tasting her, indulging himself in the kiss.

  She kissed him back with the same intensity. Her arms floated down to his sides as she felt his hard body press against her own. She pulled them up his back, feeling the muscles tighten as she ran her nails down his shirt. He slowly moved his hands to her hips and lifted her gently off the floor, placing her on the counter behind her. Her breast heaved as she inhaled; her eyes looked at him in passion as she bit on her bottom lip.

  He had to have her. His hands moved up her legs to her hips, then to the bottom of her shirt where he slowly lifted it to expose her black, lacy bra. He groaned as his fingers traced the tops of her arms where the straps to her bra were. He gently slid them down, exposing her shoulders. He brushed kisses down her shoulder, then around her neck to the tops of her breasts. He reached around with his hands and unclasped the bra. She let her arms fall as the bra slipped from its place, exposing her breasts.

  Immediately, he gave them the attention they deserved.

  She had perfect nipples, the color of coral. He took one in his mouth, teasing it with his tongue while he touched the other lightly with his other hand. She moaned and moved her hands through his hair.

  “I want you,” she said huskily.

  “God, I want you, Katherine,” he said as his breath became more ragged. His hands went to her beltline, slowly undid the button, and slid the zipper down. Her hand went down upon his.
He stopped what he was doing. She must’ve wanted to stop. When he backed away, he saw her undoing the snap herself. He exhaled, and thanked God that she didn’t want to stop, then took her into his arms and carried her into his bedroom.

  The bedroom was large, with a sleigh bed catty-corner on one wall and a fireplace on the other. Dark hardwood floors made the white rug stand out. The walls were a calming pale blue, with wispy white curtains donning the windows. He gently laid her on the bed, then slowly took off her jeans.

  Her legs were gorgeous, long and muscular. Her eyes were closed as she arched her back. He crawled between her thighs and reached for her panties with his teeth.

  She could feel him on her skin, her breathing ragged; her pulse was so fast she didn’t know if she could stand the wait much longer. She pulled him over her by his belt and began kissing him some more. Her hands found the strength to undo the zipper of his pants and, with his help, pulled them off.

  “I want this to be perfect,” Warren whispered, looking to her. He turned and pulled a match from the night table and lit a candle that sat on top of it, then went back to kissing her.

  She smiled inwardly. This man was something out of her dreams.

  His hands fell down to her hips, gently stroking her, making their way to her inner thighs. Her body trembled at his touch. Softly, he brushed his fingers against her core. Warm, liquid heat threatened to erupt from her as he touched her gently. She wanted him; she needed him inside of her.

  “Now, please, now.” She didn’t think she could take any more teasing. The way he looked was more than enough for her; he went to the dresser for protection, sheathed himself, then slid back into position, pulling himself up to her.

  He went inside, slowly. She rocked her hips back and forth as he felt the warmth of her explode onto him. Shivers went down his spine as he moved to her rhythm, and she gasped as he sped up, moving faster until finally the ramifications of his passion were released. She felt him fill her, she felt his heartbeat, and she felt his lips on hers as they made love.

  ***