Coulson's Lessons

by McIntyre, Anna J

  Breathless, they pulled away from each other. Alex’s face was flushed, her lips bruised. The old familiar ache, the unquenched need, stirred in her body. Embarrassed, her eyes flashed to the floor as she attempted to regain composure. Garret’s breath was labored, and his fingers absently combed through his hair. He leaned down, picked up the cowboy hat and placed it securely on his head, moving it slightly from front to back until it fit comfortably.

  “I guess it’s still there,” he said at last. “No other woman has ever touched me the way you do, Alex.”

  Alex blinked her eyes several times, attempting to regain her balance. She leaned to the floor and retrieved her purse. “Now what?” she asked softly.

  “Now…” He broke into a wide smile. “Now I plan to take you to dinner and dancing. And I want to keep seeing you. That’s what I want, Alex. I want us to get to know each other again. Our bodies sure as hell remember each other. I want our minds to become reacquainted. I want to learn things about you that I never knew before. Until yesterday, I never knew your birthday was in December. I want to know about your dreams, your fears, everything.” He paused for a moment, afraid he had said too much. It had been ten years; could this possibly be as important to her as it was to him?

  “Is that possible, Alex?” he asked softly, his eyes pleading.

  “Yes, Garret, it’s possible.”

  Alexandra wondered how their relationship would fare when exposed to the outside world. Would they agree on the same restaurants, argue over what movie to see, like each other’s friends, hate each other’s families? The total sum of their relationship had included only two people: Garret and Alexandra.

  Alexandra considered this as they drove to the Lucky Lady Restaurant. Would their relationship evolve or would it stall and cease to exist when exposed to a wider range of experiences?

  Garret followed Alexandra into the Lucky Lady Restaurant and walked with her to the bar. Customers occupied several barstools and the bartender, whom Garret had seen the previous evening, was working. Garret could not recall seeing the bartender in Coulson prior to the night before. He wasn’t overly interested in the identity or history of Alex’s employee—not until Taylor looked at Alexandra. Most casual observers would miss the look. Garret didn’t. Jealousy churned in the pit of his stomach; he could feel its pressure elevate and grow. Oddly, he had not experienced this sensation when he had met Ryan Keller those many years ago.

  “Taylor, I brought you the liquor room key,” Alexandra explained in cool detachment as she handed the key to the bartender. Taylor’s eyes looked into Alex’s. He looked utterly miserable, as if he had lost his last friend.

  “Alex, can I talk to you a moment, in private, before you leave?” Taylor asked softly. He didn’t even look in Garret’s direction. It was as if Alex’s date did not exist. “It’s important,” he added.

  Alex let out a deep sigh and agreed to talk with Taylor in her office. Unbeknownst to her, when she left Garret waiting alone in the bar, he was seething in contained anger.

  “Alex, I want to apologize,” Taylor blurted out the moment she shut the office door.

  “Really?” Alex’s eyes narrowed as she waited for the apology.

  “I was totally out of line. I don’t know what came over me. Alex, you’re a good friend. I didn’t realize it, but I guess I became a little territorial because of our night together.”

  “Taylor, I thought you understood.”

  “I do, Alex,” he interrupted, nervously pacing the office. “It’s just that I felt responsible for you.”

  “Responsible? Whatever for?”

  “Hell, Alex, what we did… I mean, you’re just not… “ he stammered, desperately searching for the correct words.

  “What in the world are you trying to say?”

  “Alex, you’re just not the kind of woman who has a one-night stand, and I felt…”

  “Damn it, Taylor, I’m a forty-one-year-old woman! Not some young virgin you seduced! Get over it!”

  “Just don’t be mad at me, Alex, please. I value your friendship,” Taylor pleaded. “I was wrong to say what I did. I didn’t mean it. “

  “I accept your apology, but for heaven’s sake, Taylor, don’t treat me like some naïve school girl. It’s insulting.”

  It wasn’t until they were in the Jeep, with Garret sitting in stony silence and his hands on the steering wheel, making no attempt to start the ignition, that Alexandra noticed something was wrong.

  “Is something bothering you?” Alex asked. She was not prepared for the furious glower Garret turned in her direction.

  “Just what is the relationship between you and your bartender?” His voice quivered from the rising anger he was attempting to restrain.

  Alex flushed. Then, swallowing nervously, she felt a sudden chill. Never in her entire life had anyone looked at her in such a way. It was as if Garret were fully capable of murdering someone with his bare hands. Would that someone be her? She had never experienced jealousy from Ryan. Never. Until this moment, Garret had never revealed a jealous side, although he had commented on the inappropriateness of her red dress.

  She took a deep breath and steadily met his gaze.

  “Are you sure you want to hear this?” she asked, her tone challenging.

  “Yes,” Garret managed to choke out. Inside, he could feel a twisting and churning.

  “Garret, when Ryan died, I had only made love with two people in my entire life. About five months after his death, I was feeling pretty lonely and…”

  “Jesus, Alex!” Garret’s hand swept up and removed his hat, then hastily replaced it on his head. His tortured expression revealed his unwillingness to accept the situation. He didn’t even want to hear about it. Yet, he had to hear.

  “Grow up, Garret!” Alexandra spat out impatiently. “It was only one night.”

  “Jesus, Alex!” Garret’s hand roughly brushed his brow.

  “Would you stop saying that! Curse all you want, but don’t use God or Jesus. I hate that!” Garret stared at her incredulously. He was being tortured and all she cared about was using the Lord’s name in vain.

  “Garret, I was lonely and sad. I needed to be held. I needed intimacy. Is that so hard to understand?”

  “But with your bartender?”

  “Unlike some people, I can’t have sex with just anyone. Taylor was a friend, I liked him…” She paused a moment. “And I found him sexually attractive.”

  “Jes—”

  “Don’t say it, Garret! I mean it,” Alex fumed.

  “And so you just had sex with him? Like that?”

  “Tell me you never had a one-night stand?” she challenged.

  “But that’s different.” Garret was confused. Somewhere, he had lost all control of this conversation.

  “Why is that different?”

  “Because I’m a…”

  “Don’t even say it’s because you’re a man, Garret Coulson. Don’t even!”

  They sat in silence for a few minutes, each collecting their thoughts. Finally Garret spoke.

  “It was only once?” he asked softly.

  “Only once,” she answered. He would feel a little better if she sounded the least bit contrite. At least she could show some regret.

  “Has there been anyone else?”

  “That’s none of your damn business.” Garret’s angry eyes flashed to her in warning.

  “No, there hasn’t been anyone else.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “But it’s still none of your damn business.”

  “It should have been me,” he said quietly. “I should have been here for you. Not your damned bartender.”

  “Garret.” Alexandra let out a long sigh. “I’m glad it wasn’t you. I’m glad it was Taylor.”

  Garret’s eyes widened; he wanted to throttle Alex. Yet, she sat there looking entirely too smug, too secure.

  “You need to understand. What happened between me and Taylor had nothing to do with you. It had nothing to do with Taylor. I was sim
ply lonely, missing my husband, needing to reach out to someone. Garret, if we make love again, I want it to be about you and me. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Ryan in bed with us. He never was before.” She reached out and brushed the side of his face with her fingertips. Smiling sweetly, her eyes met his.

  Garret was confused by this woman at his side. Her strength and confidence astounded him. The only weakness he had ever witnessed in Alexandra was her inability to leave him ten years ago. Garret’s expression relaxed, then he leaned over and pulled her into his arms.

  “Okay, Alex. But the next time you get lonely, call me.” Alex chuckled. Then Garret added in a low growl, “I think you should fire the damned bartender.” Alexandra pulled herself from his arms. Her expression revealed she was not slightly intimidated by his demand.

  “No, Garret. Taylor is a friend. A friend.”

  “But he seduced a vulnerable woman!” Garret’s anger was returning.

  “No, Garret. I seduced him.” She smiled sweetly, daring him to continue. Her statement left him momentarily speechless.

  “What about tonight? What did he want?”

  “He wanted to apologize. You see, last night he was worried about me.”

  “Why?” Garret frowned.

  “Because I left the bar slightly inebriated with a strange man.” Garret looked confused. “You, Garret. I left with you. Taylor was worried about me, and he got a little rude. So he apologized. That’s it.”

  “What do you mean, rude?”

  “Enough! Damn it, Garret, enough. Don’t beat this thing to death. It happened, I don’t regret it, end of story! I have absolutely nothing to apologize for. There is an old adage about glass houses. I seem to remember someone in this car telling me about a convenient long-term relationship he had with a woman.”

  They sat in silence for several moments. At last, Garret gave a heavy sigh.

  “You’re right, Alex. Let’s go to dinner. Okay?”

  Alexandra answered by leaning over and kissing his cheek.

  Chapter 40

  Kate had a bad habit. She never locked her front door. Tommy cursed inwardly as his hand turned the doorknob. Again, it was unlocked. When was she ever going to learn? Tommy shook his head in disgust and entered the front door without knocking. He wouldn’t normally barge into Kate’s house unannounced, yet he was overly anxious to berate his youngest sister on her obvious disregard for her security. The world was not as safe as it used to be. She was much too trusting and in many ways naïve.

  Kate was just walking from her kitchen into the living room when Tommy barged into the house, causing her to startle.

  “Jeez, Tommy. I have a door bell.” Kate stood in the middle of the living room, wearing nothing but a sheer nightgown. Her hair was tousled; it was obvious she had just gotten out of bed.

  “Kate, when are you going to remember…” Tommy’s words were cut short by the unexpected appearance of Russell Coulson, who stepped from the hallway, apparently unaware that Tommy was in the room. Russell stopped short; his fingers were in the process of buttoning his shirt. He hastily completed the buttoning, dropping his hands to his sides; he flushed in embarrassment.

  Russell Coulson. Tommy was momentarily stunned. Livid. Angry. Furious. At one time, Russell had been as close to Tommy as Ryan had been. The three had been best friends from grade school through high school. No one alive knew as much about Russell Coulson’s early life as Tommy did. They drank their first beers together, smoked their first cigarettes, and tried marijuana behind the football bleachers. Tommy knew the first girl Russell kissed, knew about the first brassiere he removed, he even knew the first girl Russell had sex with.

  It was obvious that’s what Russell had just done with his sister. Not that Kate was an inexperienced young girl, yet she deserved respect. If Russell had suddenly become too good for his best friends, he sure as hell wouldn’t think Kate would be good enough for him. Oh, she would be good enough for a quick roll in bed, nothing more.

  Sweet Kate… Tommy’s anger accelerated. Even if Russell hadn’t dumped Tommy all those years ago, it would still be an uncomfortable situation for Kate’s brother. There was something unsettling about having a buddy, one whom you once shared conquest stories with, however imaginary, date your sister.

  When he was in college, Tommy wasn’t thrilled when Ryan first started dating Alex. He knew how fast Ryan worked to get a girl into the sack. He suspected Ryan wouldn’t pass up a chance to score with Alex, even if she was the kid sister of his best friend. Yet, Tommy had faith in Alex. She was the savvy sister, the one capable of handling herself. Alex would never let a situation get out of control. But that was Alex. This was Kate. Tommy seethed in anger, his tense features revealed his emotions.

  “Hello, Tommy,” Russell greeted hesitantly. Russell didn’t like the way Tommy was glowering at him. What the hell is wrong with the guy, anyway?

  “Russell,” Tommy greeted tersely, his gaze flittered over to Kate, who seemed highly amused at the discovery.

  “Oh shit, Tommy. Lighten up,” Kate said brightly. Russell looked from the brother to the sister.

  “I’ll talk to you later, Katie. I better run. Nice seeing you, Tommy.” Russell smiled, awkwardly making his hasty exit.

  “Jeez, Tommy, why did you have to go and chase him off?” Kate asked after Russell left. “If looks could kill, that poor boy would be dead!”

  “I’d like to kill that poor boy,” Tommy growled. “Just what the hell are you doing?”

  “Tommy Chamberlain! I don’t believe you. I am a forty-year-old woman. Hardly a kid. Since when have you been concerned about my bed partners?”

  “Just how long has Russell been your bed partner?”

  “Since last night.” Kate beamed. What was her brother’s problem? “We had wild sex at his office. It was so good we thought we’d try it on a bed.”

  “Kate! Don’t you have any pride?”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Kate was now growing angry. She threw herself onto the couch and stared defiantly at her brother.

  Tommy took a deep breath. He needed to calm himself. How was he going to explain this to his sister? She truly did not understand.

  “Kate,” he began softly, removing the anger from his words. “Russell is an arrogant son of a bitch. He doesn’t give a shit about people.”

  “Then why did you let him be a pall bearer at Ryan’s funeral?” she asked.

  “At the time it seemed right. I don’t know. I was a little preoccupied. I couldn’t see the point in denying Russell his request. I don’t know. Damn it, Kate, don’t you see? How can you sleep with some guy who will never take you anywhere? Who will be too ashamed to have you as his date? Who will only see you privately? How can you do that Kate?”

  “Is that what you think, Tommy?” Kate’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Yes, Kate,” Tommy said softly. “That’s exactly what I think.”

  “You’re wrong, Tommy. You’ll see. You’re dead wrong.”

  Tommy forgot why he initially stopped at his sister’s house that morning. Sitting behind his office desk, unable to concentrate on work, Tommy cursed himself for handling the situation so poorly.

  His confusion increased when his mother called to ask him if he had heard from Alex about her date. What date? He had no idea Alex was beginning to see men. He was happy for her. She deserved happiness and companionship. Yet, when his mother informed him that Alex’s date was none other than Russell’s older brother, Tommy couldn’t imagine that any more surprises could possibly come his way. He was wrong. Just moments after he hung up the phone from his mother, Russell Coulson walked into his office.

  “Tommy,” Russell greeted coolly, his composure and self-confidence fully restored since the morning’s encounter. “We need to talk. Now.”

  Before Tommy could respond, Russell turned and closed the office door. Tommy stood; the two old friends faced each other.

  “I’d like to know what the
hell your problem is,” Russell demanded.

  “You’re the one with the problem,” Tommy retorted. He remained standing. “I want you to stay away from my sister.”

  “Why in the hell would I do that?” Russell could not believe what Tommy was demanding.

  “Because I’m liable to kill you if you don’t,” Tommy warned seriously.

  “What in the hell is this all about?”

  “My sister isn’t someone you can use. I won’t let you hurt her.”

  “Why would you think I’d do that?” Russell’s anger turned to bewilderment. “Tommy, I think I’m falling in love with your sister. I came here today to find out what you have against me. I know how close you are to Katie.”

  “In love with her?” Tommy sat back into his chair. Now he was the bewildered one.

  “Why is that so hard for you to understand?”

  “Because Kate isn’t like the people you associate with. You made it perfectly clear over twenty years ago how important social standing was to you.”

  “I was a fool,” Russell said wearily, sitting down in the chair that faced Tommy’s desk. “When I went away to college and met Alicia, I was caught up in image, self-importance. I was a fool. Friends are rare and priceless. I didn’t know that at the time; instead, I took it for granted. Believing it was something easily replaced. I was wrong. Damn it, Tommy, I’ve never stopped regretting it.”

  Russell abruptly stood, tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and paced the room. Tommy sat silently, watching his old friend. The sincerity of Russell’s words did not go unnoticed.

  “When Ryan was killed, I realized I would never be able to mend my fences. Not with Ryan.” He paused and looked directly into Tommy’s face. “But you, Tommy. What about you? I’ve missed you, Chamberlain. I miss my oldest friend. Can’t you forgive me?”

  Tommy quietly considered Russell’s plea. Since Ryan’s death, Tommy had dearly missed the comfort of an old friend. Russell was right—true friends were rare and priceless. Of all his acquaintances, Tommy did not claim many as close friends. He remembered the fun, the good times he once shared with Russell. He also remembered the hurt when Russell had turned his back on Ryan and himself.