by Susan Stoker
She immediately began to shake her head. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I should’ve—”
“How about we talk about this over a late lunch?” Blade interrupted.
Her brows drew down and she looked confused. “But it’s like, two in the afternoon.”
Blade smiled. “It is. If you’re not hungry, we can do something else. It’s not too hot today. We could sit outside in that shaded courtyard I saw on the side of the building if you’d prefer.”
He saw the indecision in her eyes. And fear. Perhaps that he was here to berate her for leaving the bar on Friday. Wanting only to reassure her, Blade slowly reached out his hand and placed it on the side of her neck. His thumb brushed the skin near her ear as he leaned in and said quietly, “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Wen. I’m not upset with you about the other night.”
“You aren’t?”
He shook his head. “No, sweetheart. I’m pissed off at that bitch who pretended she was you, but I’m not mad at you.”
“I should’ve said something.”
At her words, the worry Blade hadn’t realized he was still carrying around slid off his shoulders like a silk shirt. “I understand why you didn’t…well, at least partly why. Will you sit with me and talk?”
Her long lashes lifted and she met his gaze. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
He beamed then reached out to take the flowerpot from her. “You always leave work with flowers?”
She giggled. “No. But Mrs. Epson is popular around here. Lots of men like her and she gets at least three or four bouquets a week. This poor thing wasn’t doing so well, so she told me to take it home and revive it.”
“I didn’t know you had a green thumb,” Blade said as he steered them toward the front door.
“I don’t. I kill any and all flowers that dare to cross the threshold of my apartment door.”
Blade looked down at her in confusion for a moment, then his lips quirked. “Flower killer. Got it. I’ll keep that in mind. I guess the dozen roses I was going to send you after today are out, huh?”
She looked up at him in shock. “Why on earth would you send me roses? I mean, they’re expensive!”
Blade thought she was making a joke at first, but then realized she was serious. “Hasn’t anyone ever bought you flowers before, sweetheart?”
“No, but that’s beside the point. They’re impractical and—”
Blade put a finger over her lips, stopping her words. “Maybe so, but every woman deserves to feel special by having her man give her flowers.”
She didn’t respond, merely stared at him with those wide, innocent eyes of hers.
“Have fun!” the receptionist called out right before they left the lobby.
Blade gave her a chin lift and held open the door for Wendy.
As they walked toward the shaded area Blade had seen on his way in, she asked, “How’s your day been?”
There it was. Her asking about his day. Blade smiled. “Better now that I’m with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Corny,” she protested.
“I mean it,” Blade said. “I couldn’t concentrate at PT this morning and my commander got on my ass. After, Ghost cornered me and made me tell him what was bothering me. I told him all about you, and how I’d screwed up. I told him I was going to come and see you today, and he said to take the afternoon off. I did some paperwork and called my sister, then I went home to change and got here about an hour ago. I ate about three of your chocolates in my nervousness then couldn’t make myself wait any longer and went inside about twenty minutes ago.”
“You were nervous? Why?”
“Seriously?” Blade asked her.
She nodded as she sat on the concrete bench under a large tree. There wasn’t any breeze in the air, but the leaves provided a nice shady haven for the two of them. Blade sat down next to her on the bench and rejoiced in the fact that when his leg pressed against her own, she didn’t jerk away from him.
She bent over and put her bag on the ground and he did the same with the flowerpot. The chocolates, he put on the bench next to him. Then, with his hands now free, he reached over and took one of her hands in his. He clasped it between his palms and simply held it gently.
“Wendy, I’ve been talking to you for months. This is the first time we’ve seen each other, talked to each other in person. Why wouldn’t I be nervous?”
“Because you could get any woman in a hundred-mile radius?” she asked rhetorically.
“I’m not sure the ladies in my immediate proximity, present company excluded, are my style,” he teased. “They’re a bit old for me.” Then he sobered. “I don’t want to be with anyone else but you. I haven’t dated in a really long time because I’ve seen what true love is through my friends’ relationships. I want what they have. And hooking up with a chick I meet in a bar isn’t in the least attractive to me anymore. I saw you Friday night, you know.”
She immediately tried to pull her hand from his at his last words, but he refused to let her.
“Full disclosure and all that, I also talked to Jack later that night when I called you,” Blade told her.
If possible, her eyes got even wider. “You did?” she whispered.
“Yeah. I texted you and called and you weren’t answering. He picked up the eighty-seventh time I tried calling you.” He smiled to let her know he was exaggerating…but only a little bit. “He told me where you worked and what your schedule was.”
“That rat,” Wendy said under her breath.
“I wasn’t happy, Wen,” Blade said.
“What?”
“You told him you didn’t come over at the bar because you thought I looked happy. I wasn’t. That cunt told me a story about something that had supposedly happened to her here at the facility, and I laughed because it sounded sort of like something you’d tell me…but not exactly. I laughed to be polite.”
“You put your hand on hers,” Wendy countered.
“I put my hand on hers to keep her from touching me inappropriately.”
Wendy’s eyes widened even as her brows furrowed. “She touched you inappropriately?”
Blade smiled and squeezed her fingers lightly. “She tried. My point is, you told Jack that you didn’t interrupt because you thought I was happy, but I wasn’t. I don’t ever want you to feel weird or awkward about interrupting me again. I don’t care where we are or what I’m doing. Besides, I’m going to count on you to save me if another woman gets handsy with me.”
“She was pretty,” Wendy said, looking down at their entwined hands.
Blade felt a tinge of frustration. He understood her insecurity. He had smiled at the fake Wendy, and if their roles had been reversed, he would’ve been upset at Wendy too. But he needed her to understand where he stood and that she was the one he liked. “You know the saying, beauty is only skin deep?” Blade asked.
After Wendy nodded, he reached out and put his finger under her chin and turned her face so she had to look at him. “She might’ve been pretty on the outside, but inside she was rotten. Anyone who would take advantage of someone like you, who would purposely deceive both of us, is an ugly troll.”
Her lips twitched.
Blade went on. “I went to that bar to meet the woman who captured my attention from the very first time she tried to sell me life insurance. I had no expectations about what you looked like, but what I see in front of me right this second blows me away.”
Her eyes dropped, but he didn’t remove his finger from her chin.
“Someone who’s comfortable in her own skin, and someone who cares more about other people’s feelings than her own. You smell like fried chicken, which you probably think is embarrassing, but to me it means you care enough to sit with the residents as they eat their lunch. It reminds me of home and makes me want to eat you up. You’ve exceeded all my expectations, Wendy.”
Her eyes came back up his. She took a deep breath then said, “I’m sorry I didn’t go up to you at the bar
.”
“Apology accepted,” he said immediately. Blade could see the tension in her shoulders fade away at his words. “If you had stuck around for another five minutes, you would’ve seen me go off on her ass.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. She was a prostitute, you know.”
“Holy shit, really?” Wendy asked.
Blade reluctantly dropped his finger from her chin and re-clasped her hand. “Yup. She got just enough information from you to fool me for a bit, but I was suspicious of her almost from the start. She dug her own hole when I asked about ‘Josh’ and how he was enjoying the fifth grade.”
Wendy giggled. “Yeah, I didn’t tell her anything about my brother.”
“Obviously. But even before that, I knew something was off from the second I met her.”
“How?”
“She didn’t ask me how my day was.”
Wendy cocked her head. “What do you mean?”
“You’re very good at turning conversations away from yourself, Wendy. And one of the first things you always ask me is how my day has been. When she didn’t do that, I was suspicious.”
“Oh.”
“Then she tried to grab my junk right there in the bar, and I knew you wouldn’t ever do that either.”
“Oh my God, no!” Wendy exclaimed.
Blade chuckled. “Anyway, I called her on her deception and believe me, she turned from sweet to a bitch in two seconds.”
“So, you just left?” Wendy asked.
“First, I talked to the owner of the bar and got her banned for life, so she can’t pull that shit with anyone else. Then I looked in every nook and cranny for you…hoping against hope that you were still there. Then I left.”
“I couldn’t stay,” Wendy said quietly.
“I know. Were you really not going to contact me ever again?” Blade asked.
“Darn it, Jackson,” Wendy murmured, then shrugged. “Such a blabbermouth. No, I figured you were either enjoying your time with that other woman or you were pissed at me.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m stubborn, isn’t it?” Blade asked.
Wendy simply nodded.
An hour later, they were still sitting on the bench under the tree talking. Blade glanced at his watch and was amazed at how much time had passed. He’d never felt so at ease with a woman like he did with Wendy. Their conversation never lagged and he’d never laughed so much as he had with her.
She’d explained what had happened on Friday at work and why she’d gone to the bar in her scrubs. While the story was similar to the one the bitch at the bar had told him, Wendy’s made much more sense. The fact that she’d put the resident’s safety above her comfort, and had allowed him to throw up on her rather than risk him falling, only solidified Blade’s thoughts about her compassion.
He hadn’t missed the way she’d called her brother “Jackson,” rather than “Jack,” as she’d originally told Blade his name was, but he didn’t comment on it. It could be nothing. Jack was obviously a nickname…but something about the way she said his full name made him think otherwise.
They talked about her work schedule, some of the residents’ antics, and about her telemarketing job. He shared more about his friends and how they were as close as brothers. Blade told her a lot about his sister, Casey, and even went into a bit more detail about her kidnapping in Costa Rica.
Finally, Wendy looked at her watch and said, “I really do need to get going. Jack will be home soon. He—”
“When can I see you again?” Blade asked, brushing his thumb over the top of her hand, which he’d rested on his thigh beneath his own.
“Oh, um…I don’t know.”
“Tomorrow?”
She flushed and bit her lip.
“What? Are you working?”
“No, but it’s a school night.”
He smiled. She was so cute sometimes. “I understand.” And he did. The last thing he wanted to do was interfere with her routine with her brother.
“But…he’s going to some school thing in the afternoon and won’t be home until right before dinner. Maybe we could do something then? If you wanted.”
“I want to,” Blade said with a smile. He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back, loving the flush that filled her cheeks. “In case it’s not obvious, I like you, Wendy Tucker.”
“I like you too.”
“Do you want to meet me somewhere?” he asked.
“You could…um…come over to my place if you wanted.”
Her offer surprised Blade, but he kept his thoughts off his face.
“It’s nothing fancy, but I’ve been meaning to try this new recipe for green beans. I mean, I’ll make something to go with it too, but I just thought that maybe you could come over in the afternoon and then we could have dinner. You can meet Jack…but we could also go out if you’d prefer. I don’t know what time your boss…or whatever you call him…will let you off work.”
Blade never imagined she’d invite him to her place so soon, not to mention meeting her brother. He knew from their conversations that he meant the world to her, so her offering to let him meet Jack was huge. “My commander will let me off a bit early. I’d love to come over, sweetheart. If you’re sure it’s okay?”
“I have a feeling after I tell Jack how today went, he’ll insist on meeting you sooner rather than later. And don’t get used to going behind my back and conspiring with him,” she warned with a teasing glint in her eye.
Blade smiled. “Never.”
“Why don’t I trust you?”
He chuckled. “Because you’re smart. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
With that, Blade stood and helped Wendy to her feet. He grabbed the plant and chocolates and she picked up the bag she’d been carrying. They walked to her older-model Chevy Equinox. The small black SUV had seen better days…there was rust on the bumpers and a large dent in the driver’s side. The sight of it made Blade clench his teeth. It looked like someone had run into the car at some point, and the thought of Wendy being inside the car when it had happened made him worry about her all the more.
But he didn’t say anything as she opened the back door and put the bag inside. She took the plant from him and actually buckled it in with the seat belt in the back, which made him grin. Then he handed her the small bag of chocolate. When she tried to take it, he held on until she looked up at him.
“If I were a different kind of man, I’d insist on taking an IOU for each one of these Kisses,” he teased.
As he expected, the blush that had faded away earlier returned.
But instead of ignoring his words, she surprised him by saying, “If I was a different kind of woman, I’d give them all to you right here and now.”
It took a moment for her words to register, and when they did, Blade couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.
“Did you just snort?” Wendy teased.
“Nope,” Blade lied. “Men like me don’t snort.”
“Men like you?”
“Manly men who can open bottles of beer with their teeth.”
She giggled, and Blade’s heart skipped a beat. This is how he liked to see her. Happy, carefree, not nervous or shy around him. He vowed to do whatever he could to always keep her this way.
“Whatever,” she told him, rolling her eyes. She took the chocolate from him and placed the bag on the backseat as well, then shut the door. She opened the driver’s side door and stood there, looking unsure once again.
“You want to set a time for me to come over, or do you want to text me when it’s convenient?”
“How about three? Jack will get a ride home from one of his friends, so I don’t have to pick him up after school. And that’ll give me time to get home and make sure I’ve got everything.”
“Do you want me to bring anything?” Blade asked.
She shook her head. “No, I’ve got this.”
“Jack doesn’t drive?”
She hesitated before
she answered. “Not yet. He’s in no hurry to get his license, so for now it works for me to take him where he needs to go.”
Blade wouldn’t have thought anything about her answer, but she was no longer looking him in the eye. Her gaze had shifted to the left as she’d explained. Blade didn’t have time to delve into why she might be lying about her brother not wanting a driver’s license; now wasn’t the time or the place.
“Three sounds perfect,” Blade told her. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with you.”
“Me too,” she said with a smile.
Keeping his eyes locked on hers, Blade leaned toward her, watching for any sign he was moving too fast or that she didn’t want him kissing her.
When she placed one of her hands on his upper arm and stood on her toes as he got closer, Blade relaxed. He brushed his lips over hers, and even though he wanted nothing more than to plunge his tongue deep inside her mouth and find out how she tasted, he moved his lips to her cheek, kissing her lightly there as well. Then he moved one of his hands to the small of her back and did what he’d wanted to back in the bar Friday night.
He pulled Wendy’s body into his taller one. He didn’t stop until they were touching from hips to chest, and he sighed in contentment. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. She was stiff at first, but within seconds, she melted against him. He felt as if she belonged there, fitting against him perfectly.
Every curve of her body was flush against his own. Blade closed his eyes and soaked the experience in. Wendy was soft in all the right places, and he wanted to lift her off her feet and have her straddle him so he could press her against the side of her car and have his way with her.
Surprised, and not a little alarmed at the way his thoughts went from affectionate to passionate in a heartbeat, Blade pulled back. Wendy was staring up at him with the same dazed look he had a feeling was on his own face.
He brushed his fingers over her cheek lightly then took a step back. She stumbled a bit, and he steadied her by holding on to her arm. “You good?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Drive safe, Wen. Text me your address and I’ll see you tomorrow at three. Okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”