Pleasure for Pleasure

by Jamie Sobrato

  “You’ve been what?” But she’d heard just fine. Her brain needed to hear again what her mother had just said to believe it.

  “Booked, dear. We’ve been arrested and charged with committing indecent exposure, or some such nonsense, and…performing a lewd act in a public place, I believe is what they said.”

  Oh. God. Why couldn’t her mother be like other middle-aged moms? Maybe join a book club or a quilting circle instead of spending her free time performing lewd acts in public.

  “But…I thought you two were no longer on speaking terms.”

  “Oh, we made up tonight. Boy did we ever make up.”

  “Say no more. I’d like to be spared the details.”

  “Fine, just come get me.”

  “Which police station?” Josie asked as she turned on a lamp.

  “We’re downtown.”

  She muttered a reassurance that she’d be there as soon as she could and hung up the phone. She hopped out of bed and shuffled to the closet to pull out a pair of jeans and a shirt, appropriate attire, she guessed, for bailing one’s mother out of jail in the middle of the night.

  She slid her feet into shoes and headed for the door, smiling as she thought of how she would tell this story to Trent later. But the smile faded from her lips as she remembered that she and Trent were no longer speaking. And then, even worse, her groggy brain finally realized that Trent had probably just received a similar call from his father and would also be headed for the police station.

  She might even see him there. Grabbing her keys and purse next to the door, she couldn’t resist the urge to glance into the hallway mirror to straighten her bed-head hairdo a bit. But no more than that. She wasn’t out to impress Trent, after all. She couldn’t care less what he thought.

  She hadn’t seen him in the week since she’d wrecked his car. He’d dropped off a letter at the center stating the extent of the damages and the cost for repairs, but he’d left it with Erika. Josie was still waiting for official notice that the center would be losing its lease, but in the meantime, she’d alerted Erika to the fact that she ought to start looking for a new job. Josie had arranged to start work at the counseling center as soon as her work at Lovers for Life was finished.

  Her own car had mysteriously started just fine the next time she tried it. The rear right corner was still crunched from her wreck, but she’d managed to pry the metal back away from the wheel enough with a crow bar that the car could be driven. As soon as she saved up enough money, she’d have the poor old girl repaired.

  Josie navigated the near-empty streets of the city, her stomach in knots over thoughts of Trent. She simply had to get over him. There was no other choice.

  Twenty minutes later she found a parking spot in front of the downtown police precinct and then hurried into the building.

  It was easy to spot Trent, since he was ten feet ahead of her entering the building, the only other person present besides a police officer at the counter, a scantily clad woman of dubious employment and a scruffy man in a filthy orange raincoat. Trent turned and caught her watching him.

  His expression darkened momentarily. He forced a smile and shrugged. “Parents—what’re you gonna do?”

  Josie smiled in spite of herself. “Murder them?”

  The police officer at the counter gave her an odd look, and she blushed.

  “I’m joking,” she assured him.

  He grunted and turned his attention back to his paperwork.

  “I’m here to pick up Rafaela Marcus,” she said, and he nodded without looking up.

  “And I’m here for Anthony O’Reilly.”

  Josie looked at Trent and shrugged. “Guess we’d better have a seat, huh? I wonder why they aren’t out here.”

  “Maybe they had to lock them in separate cells to keep them from performing any more lewd acts in public.” His voice dripped sarcasm, but Josie could tell by his half smile that he approved of their parents being together.

  Josie smiled, feeling all the tension drain from her shoulders. Trent had that effect on her. She realized in that instant that she missed his jokes. Even at a police station in the middle of the night, he seemed at ease.

  She, on the other hand, was still in shock. Her mother hadn’t even acknowledged to Josie that she was having a relationship with Anthony until now. She supposed, if they were happy together, it would be good for both of them.

  Trent stared at her. “You look nice, for four in the morning.”

  “Thanks, so do you.”

  Their gazes locked and an awkward silence fell between them. Moments later it was broken by the sound of footsteps and Rafaela’s voice in the hallway.

  “I’m sure your wife would love my seminars, Officer Malcolm. They’ll make a nice birthday gift.”

  Her mother never missed the opportunity to improve someone’s sex life, not even if that someone had just arrested her, apparently.

  Josie and Trent exchanged an exasperated look when their bedraggled parents appeared in the lobby, escorted by Officer Malcolm.

  “You two promise to behave yourselves from now on? No more hanky-panky in public?”

  “Of course, dear. We just got a little carried away. I promise it won’t happen again.”

  “These your escorts?” The officer nodded toward Josie and Trent.

  “Yes, these are our children,” Rafaela answered.

  He looked at Josie. “Keep them out of trouble.” The officer shook his head and disappeared back down the hallway, leaving the two errant parents to be dealt with by their reluctant offspring.

  Anthony smiled and shrugged at Josie and Trent. “Sorry to drag you two into this mess, but if you don’t mind, I think Rafaela and I would like to go home on our own. Can we borrow one of your cars?”

  This was a development Josie hadn’t anticipated. Apparently not even being arrested could tame their parents’ out-of-control libidos. Anthony and Rafaela were gazing at each other like lovesick teenagers. They seemed oblivious to the sterile surroundings and the uncomfortable presence of their adult children.

  She saw now that they weren’t just in lust, they were in love. And when she turned her gaze from them to Trent, she understood just how badly she wanted the same for herself and him. Perhaps it was too late for them now. She’d made mistakes. She’d been afraid to trust. She hadn’t even given them a chance.

  And now she was paying a dear price.

  Since neither of them volunteered to give up a vehicle, Trent’s father persisted.

  “Trent, can we take your car? I’m sure Josie wouldn’t mind giving you a ride home,” he said.

  And Josie knew in that moment, this was her last chance to do what she should have done three years ago. Regardless of whether he was selling the buildings, moving to Tahoe—whatever. She had to try at least once.

  “Yes, let me give you a ride,” she said to Trent.

  He nodded. To their parents he said, “No hanky-panky in my SUV. Understand?”

  Rafaela waved a hand of dismissal. “We wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Five minutes later Josie sat in the driver’s seat, an eery sense of déjà vu hanging between herself and Trent. One of the last times they’d been in her beat-up old car together, their relationship had hit rock-bottom.

  Trent cleared his throat, breaking the silence, then muttered, “Can you believe those two?”

  Josie made a right turn away from the route to Trent’s neighborhood, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

  “I can believe the arrest and the charges, but I’m a little shocked to see my mother so head-over-heels in love, and with a guy her age to boot.”

  “I’ve got a feeling this was some kind of setup to get us together again. Whadda you think?”

  Josie blinked at the idea. Interesting. And not out of her mother’s range of creativity. “Hmm,” she said, mulling over the possibilities.

  For the first time in her life she was getting the feeling that her mother really did know best. And as unconventional as Ra
faela was, maybe she did have her ways of making sure Josie’s life headed in the right direction.

  “Where are you going?”

  She glanced over at him and offered a shaky smile. “I hope you don’t mind being kidnapped. We need to talk.”

  “About?”

  “Unfinished business. I promise I’ll take you straight home after.”

  “Guess I don’t have any choice.”

  She smiled more confidently then. “I knew you’d see it my way. I’m truly sorry about your car, by the way. I’ll pay for all the damage, I promise.”

  “No hurry,” he said quietly. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, anyway, that I decided not to sell the buildings. The center is free to renew its lease for as long as you want.”

  Josie smiled at the good news, but she understood now that keeping the center running wasn’t nearly as important as tending to her sadly neglected personal life.

  Josie pulled her car into the very same spot where they’d parked more than three years ago, overlooking Ocean Beach. It was dark, but they could hear the waves crashing close by.

  This might very well be their last night together, but she couldn’t dwell on that. She believed it was their destiny to come together here, at least once more, for one unforgettable night. She would always have this night to remember when she was old and gray and living alone.

  “I owe you,” she said.

  “Like I said, no hurry on the car.”

  “No, for three years ago, I owe you.”

  Trent smiled. He understood. “Josie, I appreciate the gesture, but I’ve forgiven you. We don’t have to—”

  She leaned over and kissed him, soft and deep.

  “I made a big mistake, Trent. I never gave us a chance.”

  “No, you didn’t.” His gaze was penetrating, even in the dark.

  “I want to now, if it’s not too late. I didn’t realize until you were gone that…” She paused, savoring the truth, that she was head over heals, hopelessly in love with Trent.

  “That what?”

  “I love you.”

  He took her hands in his now and pulled her close. He kissed her very gently, as if he were asking a question.

  “Don’t you want to know what your payment is?” Josie asked.

  “Payment for what?”

  “For years of unrequited lust and unconsummated encounters.”

  “Oh, that. We have kind of made up for it lately, don’t you think?” He grinned. “So what’s my payment?”

  “Sex on the beach, of course.”

  Trent leaned his head back on the seat and sighed. “Sorry, babe, that’s not good enough.”

  “But—” Her heart dropped to her belly.

  “That’s what I wanted three years ago, and even a few months ago, but it’s not what I want now.”

  Josie felt her stomach curl up into a little ball around her fallen heart. She’d let her fears rule her for too long and now she was going to lose the best thing in her life because of it.

  “I’m sorry, I just thought…”

  “I want you,” he said.

  Huh? She did a double take. He was looking at her, dead serious, his eyes filled with the emotion she’d seen in them the last time they’d made love. “You want me?”

  “And not just for one night, or for two hours a week, or for two months. I want you, all the time, forever.”

  Josie blinked back tears. “That’s a lot of sex on the beach.”

  “Damn right it is.” He grinned, leaned over, and pulled her into his arms. Kissed her again. Pulled her shirt up and slid his hands underneath. “I just have one question.”

  “Hmm?” She nuzzled her face into his neck, intoxicating herself with his scent, and planted a soft kiss there.

  “Whatever happened to my boxers?”

  “Oh, the ones I drove away with?” She leaned forward and opened the glove compartment. “They’re right here.”

  Trent spotted the blue paisley fabric and looked over at Josie. “You kept them in your glove box for three years?”

  “I guess I’ve always hoped I’d get a chance to give them back to you.”

  He smiled, then pulled her into his arms again.

  He was the one—the perfect lover and companion she’d hardly dared to wish for. She’d been so afraid of not finding him she’d run away before she ever got the chance. But Trent hadn’t let her run away this time. And she was thankful. Oh, so thankful.

  Epilogue

  Three Months Later…

  RAFAELA LOVED SITTING in the waiting areas of airports, watching people say their goodbyes, and even better, watching them greet arriving loved ones. The hugging, the kissing, the happy bursts of conversation—it was all enough to make even her skeptical old heart swell.

  She turned her attention from the window, where she’d been watching for the plane to arrive, to Anthony, who was browsing a nearby newsstand. Who would have guessed she’d finally find the love of her life after all these years? Not her. Truth be told, she’d all but given up on the idea before she’d met Anthony again.

  They’d known each other years ago, yes, and maybe there’d been some sparks that they’d ignored out of respect to his marriage. But the moment she’d laid eyes on him in that restaurant, she’d known in her heart she’d found a long-lost jewel from her past.

  She caught herself twirling the ring on her left hand again. The ruby ring was a tad big, but she hadn’t been able to part with it to have it sized ever since Anthony had given it to her two months ago. Besides, she’d been so busy helping plan her daughter’s wedding, and now her own next month…

  Rafaela blinked back a tear as she saw the plane land in the distance. Trent and Josie were coming back from their honeymoon of hiking in Hawaii.

  Anthony slipped into the chair next to her, and Rafaela discretely wiped away the moisture in her eye.

  “Is that their plane?”

  “I think so.” She looked at him and frowned. “Do you think I should let them call me Grandma?”

  “You don’t look like a grandma to me,” he said, waggling his eyebrows and giving her knee a squeeze.

  “I can’t get over how happy Josie was on the phone last night.” The fact that she’d even called Rafaela as soon as she had the home pregnancy test results was…remarkable.

  “Seems like you two are finally getting along like a mother and daughter should.”

  She sighed. “It’s about time.”

  “Not many moms would go to all the trouble you have to make sure their girl is happy.”

  “Maybe not.” But no one had ever accused Rafaela of being like other moms.

  She stood to watch as passengers from the arriving flight came filing out the door of the gate. When she spotted Josie and Trent, hand in hand, she smiled at the evidence of her hard work coming to fruition.

  It hadn’t been easy getting Josie and Trent together, but they were well worth the trouble.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7774-2

  PLEASURE FOR PLEASURE

  Copyright © 2003 by Jamie Sobrato.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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