Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin' Anthology 2015

by Melinda Curtis

  “Are you going to go run with us tomorrow? We will swing by at eight. If you’re outside we’ll pick you up, if not, we’ll leave you be. I hope that you’ll come.” He puts the baby in a football hold and walks me to the door. I turn to say goodbye before I descend the steps.

  “Thanks for everything. I mean it. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to relax and let go.”

  “We’ll walk you home. He should learn from a young age that you should always walk a woman to her door.”

  We walk down the steps and stroll over to Shady Lane. We arrive at door number three much too soon. I slip the key into the lock and open the door. Looking over my shoulder, I see Zane look at me with intensity.

  “Can I kiss you again?” he asks.

  “I wish you would,” I reply. In fact, I really hope that he kisses me soon and often.

  Chapter 7

  The early morning light almost blinds me as I step out of my room. Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, I’m ready to get this run started. I look across the street and wait for the boys to emerge.

  I see the single front wheel of the stroller appear. Zane looks both directions before he darts across the road. He’s also dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. He has nice-looking legs––muscular calves and thighs as thick as tree trunks.

  “Hi,” I say as he approaches me.

  “Hey there,” he replies. He leans over and kisses my cheek. “Are you ready to run? I’ll take it easy on you. Let’s run into town and have breakfast, and then we can walk back. That should get us back in time to shower, and open the bar.”

  “You’re on, if I make it the whole way without stopping, you have to buy me breakfast. If I stop along the way, you still have to buy because you got me up early to run.”

  He shakes his head and laughs. “Let’s go. I was buying anyway.”

  We begin our run with a soft, easy jog, after warming up we fall into a steady rhythm. Our steps synchronize so that we are completely in line with one another. I’m breathing hard, and he’s barely panting. My breathing evens out after a few minutes. We make it midway into town before we turn the corner and stop at the diner.

  He reaches in and picks up the baby, leading us to a booth in the center of the room. Aaron is awake and happy. His little arms move spastically as his dad places him on the seat next to him. Zane is so careful with his son. I watch as he strategically places his hand next to the baby so there is no way he can take a tumble.

  The waitress brings our menus along with glasses of ice-cold water. I drink deeply, trying to replace the moisture that I sweat away. Looking over my glass I take a peek at the man sitting across from me. His eyes are lowered as he looks over the menu. A bead of sweat is beginning to run down his forehead. I have the biggest urge to reach over and wipe it off.

  “What are you looking at?” He raises his eyes and gazes toward me.

  “I was just looking at you. You’re pretty nice to look at. You have this baby face and this tough-as-nails demeanor. They are in stark contrast to one another. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know you the last few days. I’ve discovered that the gruff attitude is just a facade to throw people off. You’re actually a really nice man.”

  “I can be a real jerk at times. I don’t have a lot of tolerance for people who mistreat other people. I have zero tolerance when it comes to people messing with women and children.”

  “Do you think that comes from something or have you always been protective of women and children?”

  “I imagine it comes from the respect I have for my mother, and what she had to do to raise three kids after my dad abandoned us. I also belonged to a biker group that is dedicated to helping children.”

  The waitress approaches our table to take our order. I ask for a ham and cheese omelet with fruit on the side. She looks to Zane, and he orders a veggie omelet, with a side of bacon, wheat toast, and a glass of milk.

  “I saw your leather vest in the closet. What does BFK stand for?” I have been waiting for a chance to ask him about it, but I didn’t want to admit that I was snooping in his closet.

  “It stands for Bikers For Kids. We do a lot of fundraising for children’s charities, mostly we raise money for disadvantaged children, abandoned children, and children of abuse. I love kids, and I don’t ever want to see a kid not get what they need, especially if I can contribute in some way. What are you passionate about?”

  What am I passionate about? I love men who want to protect children. He’s obviously a passionate man. He’s big and strong, but tender enough to let a child melt his heart. Who wouldn’t love that? I need very little time to ponder his question. My passions fall right in line with his.

  “I love kids, too. I write software for kids and put it up on Freeware. I like to make games where kids think they’re playing, but they are actually learning. You can learn a lot from playing the right kind of video game. I make things for all age groups. For younger kids, I start with things like colors and shapes. For older kids, I tend to write games that require critical thinking skills.”

  “I love that. I want to play some of your games. What platform can I use to play them?”

  “Your PC will work just fine. I can help you download one of them if you would like me to.”

  I smile in his direction. I feel happy knowing that he appreciates what I do. I never had a lot of support from Tyler.

  “Is that what you love to do––make games?” His eyes lift in question, and I wonder if maybe he doesn’t appreciate it after all. Maybe he thinks it’s silly.

  “I do. I love creating something that isn’t what it seems. I never really fully embraced the dream. My ex-husband wasn’t supportive. He thought it was a child’s fantasy. After several years of his haranguing, I gave up the dream and began coding for businesses like Lone Star––a tax software company.” I look out the window and wonder what he’s thinking. “I also have a contract with a space technology company. They often need navigation software for the satellites they produce. I like doing that, although, I probably won’t hear from them again since I was referred by my father, and we are estranged.”

  His eyes shoot up at the word estranged. He looks like he is going to say something, but the waitress interrupts our conversation when she delivers our meal. Zane reaches down and rubs the head of his son. He is such a contented little man. We eat in silence but move into conversation halfway through.

  “It’s none of my business,” he begins, “but I have to know. Your ex seems like an asshole. What was the attraction?”

  “Do you have an hour or two?” I quip.

  “I have all the time you need. I’m a very good listener.” He takes a drink of his milk and puts the glass firmly back on the table. “You obviously have some deep-seated hurt, or you wouldn’t be having nightmares about him.”

  I take a bite of fruit and stall. I don’t know where to begin. I start my story of how Tyler and I met, and how he won my parents over and go from there.

  “It was like he sprinkled fairy dust over all of us, and we were under his spell. My parents were completely over the moon in love with him.”

  “What made him so special to your parents?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I think it’s because my dad finally found the son he wanted. My mother was excited because she saw someone who could take over the business. She wanted my dad to spend more time living than working.”

  “How long did you date before he proposed?”

  I think about Tyler’s proposal and begin to laugh awkwardly.

  “It wasn’t so much of a proposal, as it was a merger. We went out to dinner, and he placed the box on the table. I opened it and saw a ring. He never said will you marry me, he just said, I think your mom has it all planned.”

  “Did she? Did she have your future planned?” He looks down at the baby and then back at me.

  “Yes, I was married two months later. The wedding happened so fast that people expected me to show up in maternity wear.”


  “Why did you allow that to happen? I realize that hindsight is always 20/20, but we’re talking about marriage and a lifetime commitment. You seem so strong and self-confident. Did the loss of control not bother you?” He takes the last bite of his omelet and sets his plate aside. He is completely focused on me.

  “How is Aaron doing?” I try to deflect his attention to the baby.

  “He’s sleeping. Answer the question.”

  “You don’t have to bully me to get an answer. I’ll answer anything you want to know,” I grumble.

  “Good, I have lots of questions.”

  “In hindsight, I got caught up in the excitement. My mother was like a tsunami as far as planning goes. I got caught up in her wave.” I push my plate aside and continue. “We all played our parts in this disaster. My mom wanted a wedding, my dad wanted a son, Tyler wanted access to everything he couldn’t get on his own, and I wanted to please everyone.”

  “Did you love Tyler?” His eyes narrow as he stares at me.

  “I loved the idea of Tyler. “I loved the picture-perfect boyfriend he bestowed upon me those first few months of dating. I didn’t know or love the Tyler he became after we married.”

  “What do you mean?” He lifts Aaron up and puts him on his shoulder. The baby squirms and falls back to sleep.

  “On our honeymoon, we took a three-week world tour. My husband spent most nights at the bar. I spent most nights in bed alone. He adopted a sex on Wednesday rule. He told me since it was known as “hump day” it would be our designated date night.”

  “So you’re telling me that he had this amazingly sexy woman in his bed, and spent his nights at the bar, then refused to have sex on any other night but Wednesday?”

  “Yep, that pretty much sums it up.” Oh my God, did he just say I was sexy? Really?

  “He sounds gay.” My mouth drops open and my eyes grow big. How is this man so perceptive? “No fucking way. He is gay, isn’t he?”

  I want to laugh, and I want to cry. This is such a soap opera. I can hardly believe it’s my life.

  “Yep, when I said, ‘he was spreading fairy dust around,’ I wasn't talking figuratively.”

  “When did you find out?” He reaches out one hand, and touches mine. His soft caress gives me courage to continue.

  “Unfortunately, I never realized until the end. I wanted everything to be perfect, and so in my mind I made it perfect. I made excuses for his lack of interest. I made up reasons for why he slept in a different room. He was comfortable to be around––like a girlfriend.”

  “Was he…” he looks uncomfortable, “was he having sexual relations with others while he was married to you?”

  The waitress approaches and asks if we need anything else. When Zane nods no, she leaves the bill on the table. He pulls out a twenty, places it on top of the ticket. We stand up to leave. I’m relieved to be going. The rest of this conversation is best held out of earshot of the general public.

  We make sure Aaron is buckled into his stroller safely, and begin to walk back.

  “You don’t have to tell me the answer to my previous question. I realize that the subject is very personal.” He pushes the stroller with one hand and holds my hand with the other. Holding his hand is such a natural thing to do. Telling him my secrets seems right, too.

  “I’m okay with telling you. I don’t know why, but I feel safe with you. Am I wrong to feel safe? I’m obviously not a good judge of character, and I don’t want my trust to be misplaced.”

  “You can trust me, Alexa. I’m not going to hurt you.” He gives my hand a squeeze.

  “I appreciate that. I don’t think I could survive another heartbreak.”

  “You were railroaded into marrying that douche bag.” Zane stops and turns to me. I watch as he takes my face into his hands. “You’re a good person, and I feel something for you. I feel protective of you. I care about you.” His lips consume mine. The whole world stops when he kisses me. I can’t hear the traffic as it passes; I only hear the rush of blood as it travels to my brain. He pulls away from me, grabs my hand and we continue to walk.

  “I care about you, too.” I lace my fingers in his and squeeze. “Just in case you were wondering, I have been tested for HIV several times since my divorce.” I don’t look at him as I speak. I’m afraid to see something in his eyes. Will he be disgusted? I know I was, and then I was just scared shitless.

  “I have to be honest. I was curious, but I never would have asked you. Now that you brought it up, weren’t you furious? He exposed you to his lifestyle, and didn’t give you the chance to protect yourself.”

  “I went through every emotion. I felt angry at his betrayal. I felt relieved that it wasn’t me who kept him out of our bed, but his preference for men. I was scared he’d exposed me to AIDS, or something else. I was elated when my tests came back negative. My emotions ran the gamut.”

  “He is the worst type of man. He’s a disgrace to the male population.” I look around and see that we are more than halfway there. “What was his end game?”

  “He was after my dad’s business. He worked his way into a partnership, and when he got it, he let the pieces fall where they would. My dad lost half his company, and Tyler left a very wealthy man.”

  “Money––he ruined your life and your parents’ lives, because he wanted money?” I look over at him and see the veins of his neck bulge. His face is red and it’s not from the rising sun. He’s angry.

  “That pretty much sums it up. He is way worse than what you’ve heard, but I think that’s all I can stomach for one day. I wouldn’t say he ruined my life. He did some horrific things; some things I can’t talk about for my own sanity.” I think back to our last day in court and silently curse him to hell. “However, I’m still here. I was derailed for nearly five years. The four years I was married to him, and the year it took to divorce him are all I’m willing to give up. It was a bump in the road, but I’m finally back on track.”

  I’m glad your bump in the road led you here, Alexa.” He points down to the baby. “He’s great company, but he’s not much of a conversationalist.” That makes me smile. Being with this man makes me happy.

  We walk the rest of the way in silence. He walks me to my door and waits for me to unlock it.

  “I’ll see you at four.” I wait by the door and hope that he’ll at least give me a peck on the cheek. I know I’m being greedy, but God, don’t I deserve something good for a change? I traversed through mountains of shit this last year and I just want something good for a moment.

  “I don’t want to rush you into anything. It would appear that you have had a lot to contend with this last year. If I’m adding to your stress, I can step back and give you some space.” He looks past me, into my room and then directly into my eyes. “I just want to hold you and kiss you senseless though.”

  My heart leaps with joy at his confession. I pull on his waistband and drag him into my room. With his hand on the stroller, he drags it in with him. I take a peek at the sleeping baby. Zane and I fall onto my bed and laugh.

  “That might be the nicest thing anyone has said to me in years. I know you have to go open the bar so instead of kissing me senseless, can you kiss me until I’m scatterbrained?”

  Leaning on his elbow, he props himself up and looks at me. His fingers come up to push my sweaty tendrils away from my forehead. His thumb traces over my cheekbone. He is looking at me with soft eyes and parted lips.

  “Alexa, I want to give this a chance. Our connection – it’s real. Do you want the same thing?” He leans down to brush his lips against mine. It’s a soft feather of a touch coming from a large burly man. He is a person of contradictions. Everything that’s rough and bristly is softened by something else. “I don’t want to start something and have you take off on the next full moon.”

  “I’m not a runner, Zane. I’m happy here, and I’ll stay as long as I continue to be happy.” It’s the most honest answer I can give. I look into his eyes. There is a smile there, but
then the softness hardens slightly. His cheeks appear stone-like as he clenches his jaw tightly.

  “Give me your lips woman,” he growls. His lips settle on mine softly but deliberately. He manages to coax his tongue inside my mouth. I taste him, and it’s the sweetest flavor in the world. It reminds me of sugarcane.

  I roll my body next to his, wanting to know what he would feel like beside me. His free hand slides down my back and settles on my hip. My heart beats out an erratic rhythm that makes me breathless.

  He breaks the kiss and pulls in my lower lip for a not-so-gentle suck. I moan as everything comes alive in my body. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt a pang of passion from being in a man’s arms. Selfishly, I want to keep him here to see how fabulous he can make me feel.

  The palm of his hand spreads across my butt. He grabs a hold of my bottom and pulls me against him. I can tell that he is just as affected by our kiss as I am.

  Roughly ten minutes later and several gasps and groans, he rolls onto his back and breathes deeply.

  “I feel like a teenager again. Any minute now, I’m sure my mom is going to rush in here and catch us.” He pulls his hands to his face and rubs. “I have to go open the bar. I would love to stay here and kiss you all day, but I can’t. I need a cold shower.”

  I roll over and rub my hand against his stomach and work my way up to his chest. I can feel the roughness of his hair through his thin cotton shirt. I love the feel of him under my fingers. How his breath hitches each time I slowly cross over his peaked nipples.

  “I’ll see you at four. Thanks for breakfast and thanks for talking with me.” I push myself into a seated position. The change in altitude makes me dizzy, or maybe it’s his kisses that make me feel woozy.

  With a groan, he slowly rises and pulls me to my feet. I fall into his embrace and feel him kiss the top of my head. He leans down for a chaste peck on the lips and then he moves toward the door with the baby in tow. I watch as he pushes the stroller across the street and disappears around the back of the bar.