by Rye Hart
When she and the kids left, I tried to redirect my attention. Emily obviously didn’t want to talk about it, so there wasn’t anything for me to do. I couldn’t spend the entire day dwelling on her sadness, even if I wanted to.
Instead, I walked into my study and pulled up my chair. As I sat behind my desk, rereading the outline I’d written, I wondered how to start the book. I finally knew exactly what I wanted to write: a children’s book for kids who were grieving.
Tommy and Sarah were my inspiration. The book would be for them and any other kid who needed a little extra help during such emotional times.
The idea was solid, and it struck a strong chord inside me, but every time I tried to write the actual book, I froze. My writer’s block was stronger than ever this morning, and I thought I knew why. No matter how hard I tried to put Emily out of my mind, I simply couldn’t forget the frown that was on her face all morning. It was burned in my mind, haunting me and distracting me from my work.
I sighed and threw my pen onto the desk, closing my notebook and putting my head in my hands. If I couldn’t even get a first draft done, then I had no hope of ever finishing the book. That thought was enough to make me open the notebook again. I reread my outline for the hundredth time, desperately trying to find my inspiration.
As I read over my words, I remembered everything Tommy and Sarah went through in the days and weeks after Telissa’s death. She was sick for so long that they really hadn’t remembered her any other away. Still, her death broke them.
At only six and four, they were too young to fully understand what happened. That was part of why I wanted to write the book, to not only help kids through the difficult times, but also help them understand death in a way that made sense.
My head spun with ideas, and I picked up my pen, turning to a clean page and pressing down on the first line. I wrote as much as I could, but very little came out. My head was still conflicted, shifting between thoughts of Emily and my book. I couldn’t seem to focus on either one for very long. I knew that if I wanted to get any work done, I first had to deal with my Emily problem.
I closed my notebook and leaned back in my chair, focusing my eyes on the ceiling. Thinking about Emily always made me hard with anticipation. Even when I was trying to think of ways to cheer her up, I still found my pants tightening around my groin. Now that I’d had her, I wanted to be with her all the time.
Just this morning, I had daydreamed about fucking her against the kitchen counter. I quickly rid myself of those fantasies when I saw the frown on Emily’s face, but still, her body affected me in ways I couldn’t control.
Sitting at my desk, I thought about being alone with her. I hoped that might help her relax and get back to her old self, but I knew it would take more than just another night in my bedroom. Emily needed something special. She deserved to be treated to a real night out, something that would not only give us a chance to be alone, but give us a chance to talk as well.
I jumped up from my chair and hurried out into the hall. Emily and the kids were still at the park, and the house was silent as I ran toward the front door. I didn’t slow down until I reached Mrs. Johnston’s front porch. I knocked hard on the door and stood back, waiting for her to answer. When she did, she smiled at me kindly and stepped out onto the porch to join me.
“Sean,” she said affectionately. “What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if you’d be able to watch Tommy and Sarah tonight,” I said. “Emily’s been a little upset lately, and I wanted to do something special for her, to cheer her up.”
“Oh, that’s nice!” Mrs. Johnston said. “She really deserves a night out. She works so hard.”
“She does.” I nodded. “I thought I would take her out, just the two of us. What do you think?”
“Sounds just lovely,” Mrs. Johnston said. “Of course, I’ll watch the kids. I’d love to.”
“Thank you so much!” I said, excitement coursing through my body. “I’ll bring them over later.”
“Sure.” Mrs. Johnston nodded and waved goodbye as I stepped off the porch and walked back to my house.
As I hurried inside, I thought about where to take Emily. I wanted to do something special, which meant something different than our usual forays into town. I didn’t know enough about the surrounding areas to know where to go, so I sat down at my computer and googled a few places. Just as I came up with a plan, Emily and the kids came through the front door.
“Go wash up!” Emily said. “I’ll get lunch started.”
“Okay!” Tommy and Sarah ran upstairs to wash their hands.
With a smile, I walked over to Emily and claimed her attention with a kiss. She looked at me, surprised, but kissed me back. The frown was gone from her face and her mood seemed lifted.
“After lunch, go get dressed,” I said. “Take your time, take a shower, and wear something nice.”
“Why?” Emily asked.
“We’re going out tonight,” I said. “Just you and me.”
She laughed. “We are? And how is that? Who’s going to watch Tommy and Sarah?”
“Mrs. Johnston,” I said simply.
“Oh.” Emily blinked. “Well, okay. That sounds interesting.”
“I think we need this,” I said softly. “A night on the town. We’ve never done that before.”
Emily’s face slowly turned from cautious to happy. She smiled the first real smile I’d seen since yesterday. It stayed on her face for far longer than a second, and when she leaned forward to kiss me, it felt real.
My stomach tightened with longing, and I held her tightly, sliding my hands up and down her sides, feeling the curve of her hips. I wanted to reach around and squeeze her ass, but I knew I couldn’t. Tommy and Sarah would be back downstairs any second, and this wasn’t something they needed to see.
“They’ll be down soon,” Emily whispered. “But I’m excited about tonight.”
“Me too.” I grinned.
Reluctantly, I pulled away from her and sighed deeply. Emily was still smiling as she moved into the kitchen to get lunch ready. I watched her as she moved around, a bounce in her step again. She seemed like her old self, and the sight warmed me.
As I watched her, I decided to skip lunch. Now that I’d done my part to improve Emily’s mood, I finally felt ready to write. I disappeared in my study for an hour, writing nonstop the entire time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - EMILY
After lunch, I did what Sean said and disappeared upstairs. I showered slowly and took my time picking out an outfit. Sean wouldn’t tell me where we were going, but I knew I needed to dress up.
His excitement was infectious. The way he insisted on taking me out was flattering, and it sent waves of desire coursing through my body. I’d been so preoccupied since my lunch with Janie that I hadn’t spent much time with Sean. When he was around, I found myself falling silent for fear of saying too much.
Now, that fear was gone, as was my preoccupation. Janie’s words still echoed in my mind, but I forced them away. She thought I loved Sean, and I had been determined to prove her wrong. But now, I no longer cared.
Janie could think what she wanted. Besides, tonight would be our first real date, which meant we were taking our relationship out of the bedroom. That, more than anything, quelled my fears and comforted me while I dressed for the evening.
Since Janie’s comment I wondered what Sean felt for me. Did he love me? Was he only interested in my body and what I could do for his children? I didn’t know the answers to my questions, and I promised myself I wouldn’t stress over my insecurities during our date night. Instead, I would enjoy my first night out alone with him. I would revel in the time I spent with Sean and be happy to simply be with such a gorgeous, caring man.
I put on a black dress that hugged my breasts and waist, fanning out into a full skirt that fell just above my knees. The dress was simple and modest, but I always felt sexy when I wore it. It flattered my curves, and my dark curls looked amazin
g against the black material.
I smiled at myself in the mirror as I applied a thin layer of makeup. Ever since I started working for Sean, I hadn’t spent much time on my appearance. Tommy and Sarah never cared what I looked like, and Sean seemed to like me just fine without any fanfare. Tonight though, I wanted to put in some extra effort.
With a final touch of mascara, I took a step back to take in my appearance. I looked good. Sexy and confident. I smiled at myself and twirled around for a second before I found my heels and slid them on my feet. Thankfully, Sean was tall so that I would still be shorter than him in my shoes. I was grinning as I flew downstairs, ready for the evening to begin.
“Hey,” I said as I walked into the living room. “Do we need to feed Tommy and Sarah dinner before we go?”
Sean turned to face me, and his eyes flew wide open. He looked me up and down, lingering on his favorite parts of my body. By the time his eyes finally returned to my face, I forgot what I was asking.
Nervously, I cleared my throat and took a step forward. Sean shook his head slowly, a grin spreading across his face.
“Jesus,” he said softly. “You look fucking incredible.”
“Thank you.” I laughed shyly, a blush creeping onto my cheeks. “I just wanted to look to nice for tonight.”
“You succeeded,” he said with a soft laugh of his own.
I smiled and looked him over while we stood a few feet apart. He was wearing a pair of jeans that hugged him well and a button up that accented the muscles of his arms. His shirt was navy blue, and it made his eyes stand out.
I took a step closer to him, and my stomach tightened with desire. I suddenly didn’t want to go out tonight. I wanted to stay in with him. Having the entire house to ourselves sounded more than appealing.
“Where are Tommy and Sarah?” I asked, clearing my throat again.
“Already at Mrs. Johnston’s,” Sean said. “They’re eating dinner over there tonight. We’ll pick them up when we get home.”
I nodded and looked around nervously. Of all the time I’d spent with Sean, this was the most nerve-wracking. I suddenly felt uncomfortable in my own skin, and it wasn’t until he took my hand in his that I finally relaxed.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked, squeezing my fingers gently.
“Yes,” I said, nodding.
He led me out the front door and down the porch steps. He didn’t let me go until we reached his car where he opened the door for me and helped me slide inside. Closing my door, he walked around to the other side and slid behind the wheel.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“To dinner,” he said. “Then I thought we could go dancing if that’s something you like.”
“I love dancing,” I said, wiggling with excitement.
Sean laughed and drove us toward town, holding my hand the whole way.
* * *
We ate dinner at a small bistro in town. It only just opened last month, and I hadn’t had a chance to go yet. I felt like Sean could read my mind when he parked out front and led me inside. The food was amazing, but what kept me happy was Sean’s company. We talked the entire time, never once falling into an awkward silence.
* * *
After dinner, Sean drove us to the only dance club in town. It coupled as a bar and was the place to be on any given night. Janie and I usually avoided it on the weekends because it was jam-packed with high school kids carrying fake IDs. During the week, though, it was just busy enough to be fun and still have room to breathe.
* * *
“Drinks?” Sean asked, leading me to the bar.
“Beer,” I said simply.
“Perfect.” He grinned and stepped up to the bar, ordering us each a beer and turning around to place one in my hand.
We found a table and sat down, talking over the music and laughing at the crazy dance moves of the people around us.
“Wait,” Sean said. “You know everyone here, don’t you?”
I looked around and laughed to myself. Sean was right. Everyone in the club were people I’d either grown up with, gone to school with, or knew from afar.
“Basically.” I shrugged. “The curse of growing up in a small town, I guess.”
“It’s nice in a way,” Sean said. “I didn’t even know my neighbors back in San Diego.”
“I’ve always wanted to explore the world,” I said. “I love it here, and it’ll always be home, you know? But I still wish I could see other places, other cities, and countries.”
“Why can’t you?” Sean asked, leaning closer to me. “You can do whatever you want.”
“Maybe one day.” I smiled and leaned against Sean, taking a sip of my drink.
We finished our drinks, and then I led Sean onto the dance floor. We danced for what felt like hours, letting the music drown out everything else. I wrapped my arms around Sean’s neck, and he pulled me close, grinding his pelvis into mine. I giggled and turned around, shoving my ass against his crotch.
“You’re so damn sexy,” he said, leaning down to whisper in my ear.
His words sent shivers down my spine, and I knew it was time to go home. I turned around to kiss him, pulling his face to mine with a rough desperation. He groaned and kissed me back, his hands sliding down to my ass.
“We should get out of here,” he said against my lips. “Now.”
I nodded. “Let me run to the bathroom, and we’ll leave.”
Sean watched me walk away, his eyes following me closely. I grinned to myself and kept walking, jaunting my hips side to side to give him a little treat. My mind was a million miles away as I hurried into the bathroom. All I wanted to do was get home and have Sean all to myself. Dinner had been amazing, and dancing with him felt invigorating. Now, I was ready for more.
My skin was on fire as I stepped out of the bathroom and hurried down the hall toward the dance floor. I didn’t get more than a few steps when I felt someone’s tight grip clamp down on my arm. Spinning around, my eyes flew up to see Tanner leering down at me. His fingers tightened on my arm as he leaned forward.
“What are you doing here with him?” Tanner asked, anger in his voice.
“Tanner,” I said. “You’re drunk. Let go of me.”
“I’m not drunk,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m just pissed. Here I was, thinking you and I were meant for each other, and then I see you here with him. Some man I’ve never met. Some man who you barely know.”
“I do know him,” I said, trying to pull my arm away. “I know him better than you.”
“I don’t care!” Tanner hissed, leaning farther forward.
He let go of me just long enough to wrap his arm around my waist and yank me forward. I pushed against his chest and craned my head to the side, trying desperately to pull away from him.
“Tanner, just let me go.”
“You should be with me!” Tanner screamed. “Why can’t you see that? I’ve waited patiently for years, for you to turn around and see me for what I really am, but you never did! You just strung me along.”
“I don’t string you along!” I yelled back. “Get. Off. Of me!”
I shoved hard against Tanner, but he held me tighter. His fingers dug in to my sides, and I cried out in pain as he shoved me backward against the wall. I wiggled and squirmed, shoving and kicking at him, but he just held me there, pressing me harder into the solid wall.
“You should be mine!” Tanner screamed in my face. “And I’m going to show you that!”
Tanner’s hand slid down my side to the hem of my dress. He yanked it upward just as his lips crashed down on mine. I shoved his face away and screamed out in fear. Not a second later, Tanner flew backward and landed on the floor.
When I looked up, I saw Sean standing above Tanner, his face red with rage. He was on top of him in a flash, his fist connecting with Tanner’s jaw over and over again. Tanner struggled to get up, but Sean held him down easily. He lifted him up by his shirt collar and leaned forward menacingly.
> “I’m only going to say this once,” Sean said. “Stay the hell away from Emily, or I will fucking end you.”
With one last punch, Sean shoved Tanner back to the ground and stood up. He was shaking with fury when he turned to face me. My eyes were wide with shock and fear, and I couldn’t move. My body was still pressed against the wall as if some invisible force was holding me there.
“Come on,” Sean said, an edge in his voice. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. Wrapping his arm protectively around my shoulders, Sean led me through the crowd of people in the club, not letting me go until we were safely outside. Once the night air whipped across our faces, Sean dropped his arm and glared off into the distance. I followed him to the car, neither of us saying a word.
We climbed inside and drove toward home. Sean was still shaking with unresolved rage. I tried to think of something to calm him down, but I couldn’t pry my lips apart. Part of me was terrified and shaken by Tanner’s assault, but another part of me was turned on by how fast Sean jumped into action. Watching him pummel Tanner into the ground for me was hot, and when I looked over at him, I felt a rush of desire wash over me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - SEAN
My head was racing as I drove us home. It took all my strength not to turn around and go back to the club. Hitting that jackass a few times wasn’t enough. He deserved to be beat fucking unconscious, pummeled until his face was be unrecognizable. I wanted to put him in the hospital and have him wake up, alone and afraid to see my face again.
Instead, I just kept driving. My anger was far from fading, but I knew I couldn’t do any more than I had. I had Tommy and Sarah to think about. If I got arrested for assault, they wouldn’t have anyone to take care of them. They’d already lost their mother, I couldn’t let my own anger rob them of their father.
Still, it was impossible not to feel a burning rage the entire ride home. It wasn’t until we finally pulled into the driveway that I turned around to see Emily staring at me, her eyes wide and her face flushed.