Amber choked back. Oh heavens, why did that admission ache? Having another woman hold all of Eduardo’s attention suddenly caused Amber to flame with jealousy and envy. “And you let her get away?”
Eduardo smiled inwardly. Boy was that the truth. “No, I’ve concluded that she let me get away…”
Amber hooted, “You are so bad.” And good, oh, very, very clever how he reeled in her conflicting emotions, Amber was suddenly feeling sorry for him. Maybe he was a better fisherman than she first realized.
“I know I’m confident,” he claimed, gazing out at the water beyond. “I have to be in my line of work. I’m up against the best legal minds in court; I have to be self-assured in my presentation. So if that makes me conceited then so be it. As for my lady friends, I don’t look for perfection...that’s overrated. The female has to be unique though,” Eduardo stopped, looking back at Amber. The wind blew in her hair causing strands to rise and float above her shoulders.
Why was she suddenly hearing “Close To You” by the Carpenters? Why do birds suddenly appear/Every time/You are near?/Just like me/They long to be/Close to you…Amber realized she was enthralled by Eduardo’s concession and had been intently looking at him the whole time trying to figure out which part of his face she liked the most. She blushed, turned away.
Eduardo noted his effect on her physically. Amber’s weight shifted in her chair creating distance between them. She began rubbing her neck and was edgy for some reason. Why was she so interested in his personal preference anyway? How could she benefit from all this?
Amber was over-stimulated by just conversing with him. She wanted to sit on his lap now, run her fingers through his hair and rest her head on that wool jacket of his. Damn that song! Damn Eduardo Sanchez! The further away from him the better—and she’d better change the subject and fast. “I think Adrian’s crying.”
“How can you tell? I don’t hear anything.”
“Mother’s intuition,” Amber cracked, leaving her chair and escaping towards her tent. She unzipped the porch and threw herself in. Good Lord what an idiot she was, peering into his personal life! Why on earth was she that interested? She had Victor. Victor cherished her, brought her up on a pedestal. Eduardo was...well, honestly Eduardo was just someone she would have never been able to access. Being Eduardo’s sister-in-law suddenly gave Amber opportunity to get to know a man as handsome as he was. Being comely with money, he could have any unique woman he desired.
They long to be/Close to you...Damn that song! Damn him! Why were visions of him with other women threatening her very reason? All those gorgeous selective women, and why, oh why couldn’t she fight the urge of exiting the tent and running back to tackle him? Eduardo shouldn’t be idolized—he’s the devil incarnate with dreamy green eyes.
Amber had to fight her way back to sanity; had to slam that door shut before fantasies of him would begin to take over. Her sexual impulses towards him were frightening and she didn’t know how to deal with them. She had to remain calm, remain in control, time to wake up Adrian, who cares about the three naps a day.
Five
Let’s Be Friends
“Victor told me that you were hired by Aldridge & Watson? They’re a highly reputable Century City firm. How did you ever manage that?”
It was amusement now, a game. She would say something funny, a joke with a double meaning and he’d end up with some cute comeback and over the years they toyed with each other continuing borderline flirtation. Amber always teased her brother-in-law when she went over her in-laws; he was always there visiting, dropping by unexpectedly, bringing a cake or pie, or simply waiting to get fed.
“They liked my smile,” Eduardo presented her.
“Yah—right and then they asked you to take your clothes off and model bathing suits,” Amber quipped, gazing at her son Adrian (who was barely three) spilling the entire contents of his juice cup into the planter. “Adrian!” Amber snapped, pulling his little body away from the plant. “Don’t do that. How many times do I have to tell you not to open up that cup?” She scolded, noticing that her son had tears in his eyes.
“Sorree Mommy...” Adrian gave to her.
The gape broke her heart, but Amber felt she had to be tough with her son and she didn’t want to look weak in front of The Family. There were even extra relations there to celebrate Rosalba’s birthday, cousins Amber had never met before, along with some childhood friends from Guanajuato, the town where Rosalba and Fabrizio grew up.
Eduardo knelt down to Adrian’s eye level. “Look mehiò, Mommy is a little tense right now, why don’t you just give her some slack?” Adrian nodded his little head and Eduardo eyed Amber laugh at the prospect of her son actually under-standing what slack meant. He watched her caress Adrian’s nut-brown hair. “Now, go see if Nana has any more of those cookies she’s been hiding, and if she denies it, tell her to come to see Tió Eduardo,” he stated, standing back up.
Adrian darted off immediately to find his grandmother even as Amber stood there bewildered. She never took Eduardo as the sort to be interested in kids, never mind being a father someday. Victor told her once that his brother wasn’t the marrying type—Eduardo was a confirmed bachelor, and after going camping with him a couple of years back, she understood why. “Thank you,” she expressed to him.
“Just thought I’d help you out,” Eduardo grinned at her. Instantly, their smiles drop to lips parting slightly, their eyes lock and hold and strong sexual tension are obvious. They turn away from each other’s gaze and look among other relatives passing by them.
“Eduardo!” Rosalba is heard yelling at him from within the kitchen area. “Eduardo, venga aquí ahora!
Amber snickered, “You are so busted.”
Eduardo pat down his chest, “I know exactly how to handle her, just you watch.”
Amber couldn’t watch Eduardo work his wonders on his mother at that moment because her son decided that he’d rather dip his chocolate chip cookies in the dirt outside. “Adrian!” Amber yelled at him from within the living room then rushing outside to scold him.
Out on the lawn there was a live mariachi band, presents galore and tons of food that night. Carne asada, arroz con pollo, chile rellanos, corn on the cob, big pots of beans and Spanish rice, fruit, sodas, and a beautiful gigantic cake. Amber snuck a taste of the Tres Leche multi-fruit cake as she walked by and then grabbed Adrian’s hand to lead him over to his father. Victor had been playing dominoes with two of his uncles and Amber brought over a chair to sit by them. Peeking at Victor’s dominoes, he strategically placed them against the others, he was a better player than his uncles and that made Amber proud. When you are naturally athletic like Victor, competiveness can span across any form of sport.
It was an unusual summer day in the valley, pushing nearly a 100°. There were dark clouds in the sky, causing the sun to play peek-a-boo with the atmosphere. Amber spent most of her time underneath the shady trees or beneath the patio awning when the sun did decide to shine bright. Victor and his uncles set up a folding table away from the crowds near the poolside under a huge oak tree in their backyard, and Amber spent almost an hour by her husband’s side, watching him play dominoes. She was just about to scoot away when she spotted Eduardo pull his shirt over his head to go swimming.
It was harmless to look at him through the group of men playing diligently; it was risk-free, right? Amber observed her brother-in-law as he released himself of his yellow cotton shirt, beige Docker shorts and brown loafers. He was super lean and tan right down to his toes with muscular legs, the body of a swimmer. He was so rightly proportioned, not an ounce of fat on that incredible male. No wonder he was always so confident, he knew he was in a class all by himself. Eduardo raised his arms over his head and dived into the deep end of the pool. Amber was in astonishment, shook her head. Could that man get any sexier? His physique was unquestionably different than her husband’s. Victor was shorter, same color skin, but in no way muscular like his brother’s. Victor had hair on
his chest too, but just barely in the center, while Eduardo’s chest hair was on all the right places, body hair that seemed to thin out downward and escape underneath the safe-guarded lining of his Lycra bathing suit. Amber waited for him to sprout from the water, but didn’t see him. She stood up, brushed down her skirt and pretended to look for something by the pool. Eduardo had not come up for air. Was he still at the bottom of the pool? Good Lord he could hold his breath! Amber instantly got concerned for him and walked over by the deep end. Adrian came running over to her and Amber just barely managed to grab her son before he fell in. She swung his body around and was grateful for the temporary diversion. Adrian enjoyed his little merry-go-round with Mommy and continued to spin with her around and around. They both got dizzy after that and fell to the ground cackling.
Laughing with Adrian still in her arms, she eyed in the distance, Eduardo exiting out of the pool, he was like a Greek God departing the sea, inconceivable, wet and slippery. Amber couldn’t help but notice the bulge beneath his taut drown bathing suit.
Eduardo reached for a towel and began drying himself off when suddenly; he caught Amber staring at him. Amber gasped and looked sharply away. She tried to disguise her blushed facial appearance by grabbing Adrian and fixing his messed up hair. What was she doing checking out her brother-in-law anyways? Shame on her! But then she couldn’t help herself and searched for Eduardo again, but he seemed to have left the pools side. She tried looking for him through the crowd of relatives, but he practically vanished. Amber shook it off and guided her son back to the other nieces and nephews.
Her in-laws rented a giant blown up dinosaur for the kids to jump in and Adrian took off running. Amber started laughing and heard a man chuckle behind her and turned around, it was Eduardo—back in his shorts and yellow shirt. In the sunlight, the golden shade made his face look tanner, his eyes grassy, he looked sexier and more sensual to her than ever before if that was possible. Amber couldn’t help but stare at that gold chain around his neck, something was hanging from the end of it and she wanted to reach out to see what it was.
“They sure do like to jump, don’t they?” Eduardo assumed.
“They sure do,” Amber agreed turning away from him.
“They didn’t have those when we were growing up, huh?”
“I know,” she expressed, thinking that the conversation was stupid for some reason, small talk with nothing else better to say. “Nice Speedo,” Amber joked, trying to reason away her gawking at him before.
Eduardo started laughing. “Yah—well, someone had to liven up this party!”
Amber turned and faced him, crossed her arms across her chest. “Yes, we girls applaud you for the show,” she teased, gazing around at all the various ladies now staring at her brother-in-law. Amber let go one of her bright smiles, unconsciously licked her lips.
Eduardo brought his eyes down to her mouth and glanced away cautiously. “What else did you hear about Aldridge & Watson?” He coughed, changing the subject.
“Well,” Amber checked back at the jumper, Adrian was having the time of his jumping life. “I know they don’t handle personal injury, but one my attorneys said that they had this huge case about a girl who got run over by a tractor on the beach and ended up settling it for quite a substantial amount.”
Eduardo focused on Amber as she purposely looked away. “Oh yah, I think I heard about that,” he agreed, surveying her attire from the tip of her head down to her espadrilles. Amber was still watching Adrian jump while he grabbed the small opportunity to study her up close. Her raven hair was pulled back into a pony-tail with a blue scrungy, bright blue crystal earrings dangled every time she moved her head and mesmerized him. A baby blue tank top extenuated her bosoms, her legs, so faultless and smooth, were exposed through a half-jean half-cotton skirt and his inspection of her consumed him in seconds and there was no hope for him after that; he was completely smitten.
Amber continued to stare at Adrian bouncing in the balloon, could sense Eduardo’s eyes fixated on her form. Her cheeks flushed hot, Eduardo noted his effect on her, turned away, cleared his own throat.
Did my heart just skip a beat? What the hell was going on? Why do we keep looking at each other this way? Not good Amber, not good. Amber pretended to forget the conversation and walked around the jumper. Adrian was laughing and giggling with the other kids as Amber eyed Eduardo melt away across the transparent mesh of the blown up dinosaur.
Eduardo made himself disappear. It was happening to him again, those uncensored feelings. He thought they’d settle, should have subsided by now—but nope—no departure in sight. He was not only sexually attracted to Amber, he required being in the same proximity with her, which left him totally in doubt! He was hunting her companionship now? That was really mind-blowing! He never wanted friendship from a woman before and didn’t want a relationship, dashed away from them every chance he got. No, Amber still held his interest and he had to disengage before it truly rendered him to pieces.
For the rest of the evening, in between the meals and the cake, Amber tried to avoid Eduardo at all costs. He was scaring her now and she didn’t know what to make of it. Here was her brother-in-law, he was someone to have fun with during the family functions, kid around with, have a legal conversation with and now she couldn’t stop thinking about him? The feeling was totally surprising, but at the same time, quenching. Eduardo kept staring at her in the way her low-life boyfriends used to do, only this time, this particular fellow wasn’t so repulsive and he was beyond her reach, a man she thought she could never get. The more time she spent with Eduardo the further his magnetism drew her in. What the heck was going on? She had a wonderful husband. A husband, who adored his child, worshiped her. Victor was her knight in shining armor, taking her away into his castle and harboring her from fear, and currently—without warning—she was being tugged by this dragon, the desirable, enchanting, mysterious, mythical beast that was Eduardo Sanchez, Attorney-at-Law.
Six
Longing For Passion
Amber was in the middle of drinking some coffee, when she had to blink twice. Eduardo was in a corner of the living room with some blonde. Who was she? Where did she come from? Selective, Amber thought. So this is what he likes...blonde, slender and strikingly beautiful? How very fortunate for him, how very fortunate for her, grabbing all the attention from the most handsome man at the party! Damn her!
Instantly, Amber stood up, went to find Victor. Once she found him—talking to one of his cousins—she interrupted their conversation and blurted out, “Who’s that girl with Eduardo? She’s cute.”
Victor and his cousin, Hector, turned and glanced at Eduardo. Having been incarcerated for nearly two years, Hector was your typical careless juvenile offender.
Hector spoke first, “I don’t know, but she’s fine,” he presented with street gang slang.
“Oh, I think she came with one of my cousins,” Victor suddenly expressed.
“Who?” Hector wanted to know.
“I dunno, I think she came with Monica,” Victor voiced, turning away from his brother.
“Think I might go introduce myself, get me some action,” Hector mouthed choppy.
“Yah-right, look who you’re competing with estúpido, she’s not going to notice anyone else tonight,” Victor voiced, patting his cousin on the back; “You’re going home alone my friend.”
Amber continued to stare at Eduardo and his acquisition. Victor noted her concentration. “Go over there Amber, introduce yourself, maybe you’ll hit if off since you’re so attracted to her too,” he snorted.
Hector guffawed and the two humorous guys give each other high five’s. Amber gave her husband a sneer. “Funny.”
The sun set early that afternoon and Rosalba and Fabrizio turned on the Christmas lights they left up throughout the year and illuminated the backyard like an outdoor concert. Amber continued to sip her coffee and studied Eduardo and his conquest from afar.
Amber couldn’t stop staring at th
em, the female was drop dead gorgeous, tall and slim, also wore a tank top with very tight (Amber assumed) size zero jeans. Her hair, blonde, was shorter than Amber’s, but just as straight. The female complemented Eduardo in looks, they formed a stunning pair. She was titillating at her brother-in-law’s witty remarks (Amber could only presume) as she watched with a sense of torture in her heart. They got close; he whispered something in her ear? Her eyes spread outward and she playfully slapped his shoulder, throwing back her hair and almost spilling her drink in her hand. He went in for the kill, bodies gently rubbing up against one another; Eduardo grinned and eyed her breasts as she continued to throw her head back in seduction. Amber was breathless now and no longer drinking coffee; she was so envious of that stupid girl, whoever she was, Amber suddenly envisioned herself in her place, flaxen hair melting into ink. Amber throwing her head back, feeling the length of her hair drape to her waist, his hand on the small of her back, Eduardo caressing and playing with her hair as she spoke to him tenderly.
Amber blinked out of her fantasy and gulped when Eduardo stole a kiss from her. A girl he barely met and he actually moved in and brushed her lips? Gee, was he really that good? Of course he is stupid! He’s the devil incarnate with dreamy green eyes. Good Lord, Amber couldn’t stand it anymore, she had to glance away she was utterly exhausted from screening his performance and deliriously covetous of that stupid blonde.
Later that evening, it began to rain, a light mist turned into a thunder and windswept shower. They were asleep, at home, when Amber was suddenly woken up by a thunderclap. Victor was snoring and was unaffected by the sound, God bless him. Amber got up from bed and wandered into her son’s room; checked in on him sleeping peacefully. He too slept through the loud sound, God bless them both.
Unsuitable Obsession - Part One Page 7