It Must Be Love

by Nicki Night

  Jewel sauntered toward him—her head cocked sideways and her lips pouted. Placing a hand on his cheek, she whispered, “Want me to?”

  “Ha!” Sterling looked at the ceiling and mentally counted down from ten. It didn’t work. A slight erection worked in his jeans. “You better leave. Now!”

  Jewel giggled, rose to her toes and planted another kiss on his lips. Grabbing her purse she trotted to the door. “See you later.”

  “Kylee’s looking forward to meeting you,” he called after her. The door shut.

  Sterling closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure if she’d heard him. He couldn’t focus on that now. The bacon wasn’t going to fry itself and Kylee and Raven’s flight would be arriving within the hour.

  Seconds later, his phone rang. “Hello.”

  “I heard you.”

  Sterling stopped breathing for a quick moment. He didn’t speak. The silence expanded and felt constricting.

  “I just don’t know if it’s a good idea to meet your daughter. I mean...are you sure you want her to meet me? You always talk about being careful of who you bring around her. What if she doesn’t like me? It’s just that—”

  “I want you to meet her.”

  Silence descended on the conversation again. Several beats ticked by without either of them speaking.

  “We should talk about this in person.” Sterling hoped he didn’t sound as dejected as he felt. He knew this wasn’t easy for her and understood.

  “I know.”

  “Tonight...after dinner.” It was more of a question. Sterling wondered if she was going to show up.

  “Okay.”

  “See you later?”

  “See you later.”

  Sterling ended the call and stood still, gnawing his bottom lip for several moments. In complete silence, he finished preparing his breakfast and then headed to the airport. Though he didn’t speak, his mind was a frenzy of hopes and doubts the entire way. Of course they would love each other. Jewel was an amazing woman and Kylee was a sweet girl. If they didn’t, he’d have to let Jewel go. She’d already gotten deep inside of him. Letting her go would be like tearing away a piece of himself. How had that happened so soon?

  Chapter 21

  Jewel sat in front of the restaurant for at least ten minutes before willing herself to step out of the car. She’d explored all the reasons she should leave and drive straight home. What sense did it make to meet this little girl when she had no intentions of staying with Sterling. Yet, she was there.

  For some reason, walking away didn’t seem as easy as she’d imagined. Outside of his daughter and ex-wife, Sterling was the perfect man. When they were together, she had a blast. He wasn’t intimidated by her family’s legacy. In fact, he seemed not to be affected by it at all. The other men she dated were either in awe of it or tried unsuccessfully to not appear fazed. Others made her feel as though they were in some kind of competition with regard to their pedigrees. Sterling was Sterling, not his family’s accomplishments. And Jewel was just able to be Jewel—for the first time ever.

  Another five minutes passed. Jewel pushed the door open and hopped out. She had to at least show up. Curiosity fueled the rest of her determination. The last thing she wanted to do was walk away with regrets. Having dinner with Sterling and his daughter could confirm several things for her. As much as she enjoyed his company, his mind and his...body, she just knew this couldn’t work. Going inside would allow her to prove that to both her and Sterling. Then, she would end what they had—have the “we should just be friends” talk with Sterling and move on with her life.

  Jewel spotted Sterling the moment she walked up to the host station. Sterling waved and she pointed him out to the hostess. The short walk over to the table seemed to last forever. Sterling stood to greet her, kissing her lips. Jewel tensed and her eyes landed on the cutest girl with a mess of curls springing out of a ponytail.

  “Jewel, this is my little princess, Kylee,” Sterling pulled out a chair for Jewel. “Kylee, this is Ms. Jewel—daddy’s friend.” He presented Jewel like a prize as she sat down.

  “Daddy,” Kylee sang, rolling her eyes. “I know she’s your girlfriend. Hi, Ms. Jewel.” Kylee held her hand out for Jewel to shake it.

  Impressed, Jewel smiled and raised her brows. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Kylee.” They shook hands.

  “Miss?” she repeated with a pout. “I’m not a grown up.”

  Sterling and Jewel laughed this time.

  “You can still be Miss.” Jewel noticed her voice become lighter—playful even.

  “I can?” She seemed to be in wonder. “I like that,” Kylee declared with a firm nod.

  “Me, too!” Jewel matched Kylee’s nod.

  “You’re pretty, Ms. Jewel.” Kylee unleashed a smile so wide, her eyes nearly shut. The adorable grin revealed spaces where two teeth used to be.

  Jewel couldn’t help but laugh and be softened by Kylee’s cuteness. She felt her defenses dissipate just a little. “You’re pretty, too, Miss Kylee. Very pretty.”

  “Thank you!”

  The rest of the dinner went as smoothly as it started. Jewel forgot that she was supposed to assess the situation. Instead, she was pulled in by Kylee’s charm and really enjoyed her and Sterling’s company.

  The three of them headed back to a local creamery for ice cream before ending the evening at Sterling’s place. The second they hit the door Kylee took Jewel by the hand and raced upstairs to show off her bedroom. As many times as Jewel had been at Sterling’s home, this was the first time she saw inside of Kylee’s room. She expected pink and frills and instead walked into a whimsical royal blue and purple paradise fit for a trendy princess. The walls alternated in light blue and lavender. A crystal chandelier hung from the center, shining perfect light on large painted letters spelling Kylee’s name across one wall and a tiara on the other.

  Kylee flopped on the bed and patted the space beside her. “Come sit, Ms. Jewel.”

  “Okay.” Jewel joined her.

  “Let’s play a game.” Kylee pulled out her phone and they took turns driving in the racing game. Kylee twisted and turned her entire body as she navigated the sharp road and explained the rules to Jewel.

  When it was Jewel’s turn, Kylee fell back cackling each time Jewel crashed the car into a wall, divider or another car.

  “It sounds like fun is going on in here.” Sterling stood in the doorway.

  “I’m a horrible driver.” Jewel threw her hands up. “Who knew?”

  Kylee’s toothless giggle made Jewel laugh harder.

  “I hate to be the one to break up all the fun, but it’s way past your bedtime.”

  “Aw, Daddy!” Kylee’s gleeful grin was immediately replaced by a sad frown.

  Jewel looked at her phone. She couldn’t believe it was past ten. She stood.

  “I know. Say good-night to Ms. Jewel and go take your shower. When you’re all done, I’ll tuck you in.”

  “Okay,” she whined as she slid off the bed. “It was nice to meet you, Ms. Jewel.” Before Jewel knew it, Kylee had wrapped her arms around her waist.

  Jewel felt more of her resolve dissipate. She hesitated for a brief moment before hugging Kylee back. “It was great meeting you, too, Miss Kylee.”

  Sterling came over and took Kylee by the hand. Kylee looked up, setting her large doe eyes on Jewel. Her heart softened a tad more.

  “Daddy is taking me to the movies tomorrow. Can you come with us?” She turned to her father. “Daddy, can she come? Please. Can she?”

  Sterling shrugged. “If she wants to.”

  “Will you come?”

  “Sure. I’ll come.” Jewel’s smile was instinctive. That little girl was working her way through her resolve just like her dad had. “Just tell me what time.”

  “Yay!” Kylee jumped up and
down. “See you tomorrow.” She hugged Jewel’s waist harder this time, knocking her back a step.

  Sterling shook his head. “Okay. Time for bed.”

  “Okay, Daddy!” Sterling received no opposition this time. Kylee was happy.

  Sterling turned to Jewel. “Meet you downstairs in a few?”

  “Sure.”

  Jewel headed down to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. She opened it, sipped and exhaled. This dinner was supposed to prove to both of them that moving forward together would never work. That’s why she’d held such trepidation at the thought of meeting Sterling’s daughter. Now Jewel wasn’t so sure of that or anything anymore.

  Chapter 22

  Sterling couldn’t help but sing along with the upbeat song flowing from his Bluetooth speaker. He moved around his bedroom to the beat. His plan had worked. Kylee and Jewel were smitten with each other. Not only did Jewel join them for the movie the next day but they hung out several more times since then. He looked forward to having Kylee closer to home now that Raven was finally done with her master’s program. She’d postponed her graduate studies to care for Kylee and then went back when Kylee was a little older. Everything was working out for the best in his life.

  Now that he had dropped Kylee and his mother off at the airport, he had the opportunity to spend more adult-only time with Jewel while Kylee was away. He planned the perfect night with the intent to make his intentions crystal clear. Sterling would have both his daughter and the woman who was quickly capturing his heart close by.

  Sterling danced around his bed toward the ringing phone on the nightstand. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Sterling.”

  “Our baby is on her way to California as we speak. I just got back from dropping her and my mom off at the airport,” he said, as he tossed a tank top and pair of shorts on the bed.

  “Good...um...are you home right now?”

  “Yeah.” He began changing out of his jeans and shirt.

  “Are you going anywhere?”

  “Not until later. What’s up?”

  “I wanted to stop by. I need to talk to you.”

  Sterling stopped moving. “Is everything okay?”

  “I’ll be right there.” Raven hung up. He looked at his phone.

  Sterling pulled his shorts on, stuffed his feet into sandals and went down to the kitchen. He pulled a cold beer from the refrigerator, stepped onto his back porch and lay back on one of his wicker lounge chairs. He stayed there until he heard the doorbell ring. He dialed Raven’s cell number and told her to come around to the back.

  “Hey. What’s up?” He stood and greeted her with a friendly kiss. “Have a seat. Want a beer?”

  “No thanks.” Raven took a breath before she sat.

  Sterling faced Raven. “Talk to me.”

  Raven averted her eyes, tucked her lower lip inside her mouth and sighed. Sterling tried not to worry. Whatever she had to say was obviously difficult so he didn’t want to rush her but his patience was wearing.

  “I got into my PhD program.”

  That’s all she had to say? Sterling was relieved. “That’s fantastic, but I knew that already.”

  “In Chicago.”

  “What!” Sterling’s back straightened. “What happened to the program here in New York—at Hudson?” Sterling pointed, gesturing in the direction of the university.

  “The school in Chicago is offering me a full scholarship. It’s a stellar program. I can’t pass this up.”

  Sterling put down his beer and stood. Too upset to look directly at Raven, he planted his hands on his hips and looked out into the yard. Grunting, he swiped his palm down his face.

  “What does this mean, Raven?” He still hadn’t looked her way.

  “Kylee and I aren’t here to stay. We’re heading back at the end of the summer.”

  “How long did you know this, Raven?” He said her name hard. He felt his eyes boring into her.

  “Sterling...”

  “How long?” he barked, interrupting her.

  Raven lowered her head and groaned. “Since May.”

  Wide-eyed, Sterling looked at his watch as if he could chart the passage of months there. “It’s July!” Sterling palmed his temples, put his hands back on his hips and let them slip off. He stepped sideways and turned around. In his attempts to contain the angry energy coursing through his veins, he didn’t know what to do with his body. “I can’t believe this.” His hands were back on his hips. “I’ll pay for the program here in New York.”

  “I can’t let you do that.”

  “I want my daughter here. That’s what we planned.” Sterling sat, making the lounge chair tilt and steady itself. “You said three years was all you needed. Our family is here.”

  “Sterling, please.” Raven held her hands up. “This is difficult enough, but I can’t let this opportunity pass me by. My sister is still there and can help out with Kylee if I need her to. It’s just for a few more years.”

  Sterling groaned. “Just!”

  “Kylee can still spend her summers, school breaks and holidays here with you.”

  Sterling was on his feet. “I never agreed to being a part-time dad. Just let Kylee live with me.”

  Now Raven stood. “I’m not giving up my daughter.”

  “But I have to?” Sterling challenged her with knitted brows.

  Raven huffed. “She’s a girl. She needs her mother.”

  “And not her father.” Sterling wasn’t letting up.

  “I’m sorry. This is how it has to be. In a few years it will be all over.”

  “So now you make all of the decisions for our daughter yourself?”

  “Sterling...” Raven closed her eyes and shook her head.

  All he could do was stare at Raven. If he was less macho, he would have been bawling by now. The way he looked at it, Raven was taking his daughter away from him. For so long, he waited for her to be in the same state—the same community. Now things were changing and there didn’t seem to be much he could do about it.

  The doorbell rang, startling both of them. Sterling trotted through the house, opened the door and Jewel stepped right in.

  “Hey, babe.” She stood on her toes and kissed his lips. “I was at the mall and saw the cutest hair clips for Kylee. You know the studded ones she loves.” Jewel rifled through the bags. “I got a little something for you, too. Maybe you can wear it tonight.” She looked up and the smile melted from her face. She looked at Raven and then back at Sterling.

  That’s when Sterling realized that Raven had followed him.

  “Uh. Hi.” Jewel held her hand out. “I’m Jewel.”

  “Raven, this is my girlfriend, Jewel.” Sterling noticed Jewel stand more erect. He knew they hadn’t defined what was between then, but he didn’t want to leave any room for misunderstandings.

  “Hi.” Raven shook Jewel’s extended hand.

  “Is this a bad time?” Jewel asked.

  Sterling hated the awkwardness of the encounter.

  “Oh. Um. No. I was just leaving.” Raven nodded toward Jewel and said, “Nice to meet you,” although she didn’t sound convincing.

  Raven stepped around them and walked out. Jewel looked at the door and then Sterling. “I’m sorry about showing up without calling first.”

  “You don’t need to call.” Sterling pulled Jewel in for a kiss. He needed to feel her lips against his. Her touch calmed him. She’d become his balm.

  “Are you okay?” Jewel asked once she caught her breath.

  Sterling forced a smile and peeked into the bag she was holding. “What do you have for me in here?”

  Jewel eyed him suspiciously for several seconds before pulling out a blue shirt. “It reminded me of you.”

  Despite the plans he had made, Sterling needed to let Jewel know how he felt ri
ght in that moment. Taking the bags from her, he took her by the hand and led her to the backyard.

  “Sit.” Sterling took a seat across from her and held both her hands in his.

  “I was saving this for tonight but I think this is the best time.” Curiosity seemed to knit Jewel’s brows. Sterling smiled because what he was about to say restored the joy he felt before Raven’s daunting news. “I don’t know what you did to me, but I can’t imagine not having you in my life.” Jewel’s mouth opened. “We haven’t defined what we’ve been doing, but I know I want more of you. I’ve felt this way for a while, but I had to know that you would accept my daughter and that she would accept you. You were worried about meeting Kylee, but I knew what I was doing. I want to be with you, Jewel. You’re not like any other woman I’ve dated. I’ve heard you talk about what you want out of life and I know it didn’t include a man with a daughter and an ex-wife but I need you to know, you have a place in my life, too, and you’ll never be in competition with either of them.”

  Jewel’s mouth opened and closed. She sat blinking at Sterling and finally exhaled.

  “You don’t need to respond. Just think about what I said. Can you do that for me?”

  Jewel pursed her lips. “I have to be honest with you. I never saw myself being in a relationship with someone who had an ex-wife and a child. I’ve always imagined my first child and wedding would also be my partner’s first. In fact, until you came along, I was dead set against dating divorcees or men with children. It always seemed to lead to complicated circumstances.”

  “I figured that. Which is why it was important for me to introduce you to my daughter. You’re still here. That’s a good sign and I realize that. I believe we have something special and I want to explore it. You’re an amazing woman. I’m not willing to let you go without at least trying to see what this can become. So if you’ll have me, I’ll show you that being a divorced man won’t matter at all. I’m very careful about the decisions I make and believe me I’ve thought about this one thoroughly.”

  Jewel nodded. Sterling caressed her chin and pulled her to him. He kissed her lips, wrapped his arms around hers and pulled her in for a more passionate exchange. He kissed her with a new intensity causing his desire for her to burgeon even more. Sterling had to stop himself before he ended up carrying her upstairs to the bedroom.