“You make it sound like we’re already together.”
“We are already together, at least in my eyes. Aren’t we in yours?”
“Well, I mean…things are moving so fast I haven’t really had time to sit and think about it.”
“Perfect. It’s all happening naturally. The limits we put on relationships with others are just that, limits. They’re created by people to slow down what they already feel, and what they already know. They’re buffers to prevent themselves from getting hurt and to comply with what society thinks is right or wrong. I live by my own set of rules, and one of those rules is that I don’t hurt people, and especially not you.”
I smile.
“What?”
“I thought I was confused, but when you say it like that it makes a lot of sense.”
“But you have to feel it for yourself. Know it for yourself.”
“I do. That’s why I went to that diner this morning, and why we’ve been together ever since. Everything inside me is excited. I’m enjoying every minute and I don’t want this to stop.”
“Then why should it?” He turns towards the corner and motions to the waiter.
Seconds later the waiter arrives at the table and he pays him in cash. A few seconds later and we’re walking out.
“Where are we going?”
He offers me his arm, which I accept.
“How about a walk through the canals of Venice and then we can make our way up to the Santa Monica Pier. It, and its reflections off the water are beautiful this time of night.”
I nod. “Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
We walk for a few minutes, and I’m feeling a lot better, but I’m still thinking about my best friend.
“What about Laura?”
“Just as we’re letting our relationship develop naturally, the time to tell Laura will present itself.”
“Naturally.”
“Exactly,” he says.
The man certainly has a way with words and I like that he’s not pressuring us to move too fast, even though in some ways we’re moving at breakneck speeds already. Maybe that’s just it. He has this way about him, this charisma that makes me feel like I’ve known him forever. He’s easy to be around and easy to talk to. There’s no pressure, and that makes me want be with him even more.
This man knows how to make people feel good, and that certainly includes me. And I have no doubt he’ll know just how to break the news to Laura when the time is right. I just hope my dad finds him to be just as charismatic as I do.
CHAPTER 14
Amy
July 6th
I wake up the next morning, and freak out for a second.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Perfect actually.”
“You don’t seem perfect.”
“Sorry, it’s just that I forgot where I was for a second when I woke up. My mind was like, where are you?”
“Do you need to go home?”
“Later. It was the good kind of freak out, plus I’m right where I belong.”
“And where might that be?” he says.
“Right here in your arms,” I say, kissing him on the cheek. I’m not sure if he’s ready for my morning breath just yet.
“Feeling energetic this morning?”
“You know I always am.”
“Great, because I was thinking we could grab a coffee and pick up some more trash.”
“Um, okay,” I say, wondering just how far his charitable pursuits extend.
“Just kidding!” he says, flipping me over and spanking me playfully. “We can channel that energy in another direction,” he says, reaching down and playfully taking a bite out of my behind.
Last night had been an all out romp in-between the sheets, and the rest of the house for that matter. I can’t believe he had so much energy after working such a long shift without any rest. Not only that, but come on…he’s a lot older. How in the world does he keep up with me? But as I’m quickly finding out it’s me who is the one who’s going to have to keep up. He’s got the energy, and the sex drive, of a sixteen-year-old boy. But the best part is that he has the experience, attentiveness, and thoughtfulness of a real man.
We go for a quick morning session before leaving the bed, and then I head for the shower.
“Coffee in or out?” he asks.
“Let’s go out,” I say. There’s that thoughtfulness of his again.
“Perfect,” he says. “That means I can join you in the shower.”
“Oh my god. You just don’t stop, do you?”
“Not when it comes to you.”
The second my back foot enters the shower his front foot is in. He’s cleaning me with that masculine smelling body wash of his, but all I can think of are dirty thoughts.
We step out of the shower about thirty minutes later. The water’s starting to get cold, and our sex count is already at two for the day…and climbing.
We hop in his Jeep and a few minutes later we’re pulling up to a quaint little coffee shop I’ve never seen before. As much as I do love my Starbucks, it’s always cool to find the little mom and pop shops. Plus it makes me feel good to support local businesses.
They seem to know him by name, and don’t even bother asking him what he wants. A couple minutes later there’s a coffee, black, sitting in front of him, and something delicious, with a straw, in front of me. I don’t even know the name because I don’t even know if it has a name. The waiter said it’s off the menu, and something I might like. I like this VIPish kind of treatment.
“I almost forgot,” the waiter says, a few seconds later. “On the house,” he says, placing two mouth-watering scones on the table.
“You’re like a celebrity here,” I say.
“Nah. I just know the owner. That’s all. Him and his wife actually. Great people.”
I take a bite of the scone and consider if I should go down this road or not.
“What’s on your mind? I can see you’re thinking about something?”
“You mentioned the owner and his wife.”
“Yep. Want to meet them?”
“No, no. It’s not quite like that. It’s just that…well…you got me thinking. What happened with your wife? Sorry, I mean your ex-wife.”
I’m fumbling over my words this morning, but I don’t want to fumble this relationship. Curiosity killed the cat, and right now this feline has got to know. If we’re really going to do this I need to know if there are still some loose ends, feelings, or anything else in his past.
“No need to be sorry,” he beings. “A few years ago she decided she wanted to be an actress.”
“An actress?”
“Well, apparently she won the Academy Award from me.”
“I don’t follow.”
“She said she wanted to be an actress, but apparently what she really wanted was to be the mistress of a big shot Hollywood director.”
“Oh. Sorry, Laura didn’t ever tell me what happened.”
“Yeah, we don’t talk about it much. The two of us kind of feel like she walked out on us.”
“It sure seems that way.”
“Probably, but it’s best not to dwell on it. Life is short, and I’m forward looking. I’m glad she got what she wanted out of life, and in the end everything worked out for both of us.”
“But you never remarried.”
“Not yet,” he says. The conversation’s getting a little heavy all the sudden, but I am glad to know he sees me as real long term relationship material. The longest of terms it seems. Is he really thinking this could lead to that? I mean, he is older so he’s not going to be one to waste time, right?
And as crazy as it seems I can see the two of us really continuing what we’ve started. We’re great together and we’re having an amazing time. It’s easy to see how the nice time we’re having now could turn into a nice month, then a nice year, and before you know it a nice life together. That’s just crazy, I think to myself. You just met him. It
was like my entire childhood I believed in love in first sight, and then I spent the last few years realizing there was really no such thing. At least I was trying to convince myself of that. But I’m glad I never quite did, because if I had it wouldn’t have allowed me to open up to this, and to him.
“And do you think you will one day?”
“Well, it takes two to tango, but yeah…the future’s looking bright.”
“Yeah,” I say. “The future does look bright.”
With one finger I scoop up a little of the whipped cream on top of my coffee, quickly placing it on his nose.
He tries to lick it off with his tongue, but it’s not quite long enough.
“Don’t tire your tongue out,” I say.
“And why is that?”
“We’re going to need it later,” I say, leaning in for a kiss.
He keeps his tongue in his mouth, which tells me he knows exactly what I had in mind for later, and what part of my body I want him to put his lips, and tongue, on.
CHAPTER 15
Amy
“Rear-rear-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep,” he says, imitating the sound of a fire engine.
“Help, I’m up here,” I say, pretending to be a damsel in distress, as I stand on top of his bed.
“Oh no! I’ll save you!”
He rushes toward the bed in his fireman suit. As corny as this role-playing game is that I came up with, I have to admit it’s still turning me on. And most importantly it’s fun. Everything with him is so much fun. He’s up for anything. “Let’s give it a try,” he often says. I love that about him. His positivity and optimism is contagious. I thought when you get older you get more stuck in your ways, but not him. He’s more of an explorer than I am.
“Oh shit!” he says. He jumps up on the bed grabbing me with one hand. “Shhh,” he says. “I’m really sorry, but get in here.”
He opens the closet and I jump inside. “What in the heck?”
“Hey dad.” Oh my god, Laura’s home!
“Hey sweetheart.”
I hear her laughing. “Why do you have your fireman’s suit on?”
“Just making sure it still fits.”
“Still fits? What, did you gain a bunch of weight in one day or something?”
“No, but you know. The fit has to be perfect in my line of work.”
“Um okay. Whatever you say.”
“Are you staying here tonight?” he asks.
I step closer to the slats in the closet door, trying to get a good look. She’s still standing there, with her backpack over her shoulder. What is she doing here? She enrolled in summer classes and I know there are exams this weekend.
“No, I have to head back to campus. I just forgot a book and had to come and grab it.”
“Got ya.”
“But I’ll give Amy a call since I’m here. See if she has time to meet up for a few before I drive back.”
“Right,” he says.
I see her flip around her backpack, and pull her phone from the small pocket in front. My eyes dart across the room trying to remember where I left it, my own backpack that is. The one with all my clothes I packed for my stay…with her dad!
“Reception has been hit or miss today. It’s strongest in the kitchen,” he says, starting to walk that way, which forces her in the same direction.
I see her bring the phone to her ear, and then I hear it.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
She stops in the doorway. “That’s weird, I can hear it echoing.”
“Yeah, reception is really weird today.”
“Oh wait. It’s coming from in here. It’s…your phone, dad?”
“Yeah. I better get it.”
“And when did you change your ringtone from the one they set at the factory?”
“I don’t remember. Maybe one of the guys played a joke on your old man. You know how they like to tease me down there.”
“You’re not old, but they definitely got you good,” she says. “Is that Rihanna?”
“No idea, he says, as he walks around the bed to where my backpack is. Oh my god, I have a pink phone case! There’s no way he can pick it up.
“Hmmm. She’s not answering,” she says, and I see the phone come down from her ear.
“Where did I put that thing?” Benjamin says as he pretends to look for it under the bed.
“How in the world would your phone get under the bed? Wait, it’s not ringing anymore,” she says. “That’s weird.”
“That is weird. I guess I’ll find it later.”
I breathe out quietly through my mouth. My heart is practically beating out of my chest. What if she would have found me in here, in her dad’s closet in a super transparent bra and panty set? All hell would break loose.
I narrow my focus through the slats and see she’s contemplating the coincidence. Shit! She knows it doesn’t add up.
“I’ll just try her one more time,” she says. I see her swipe her screen, which illuminates the dial pad. She enters her passcode. Please don’t have me on speed dial, I pray to myself.
I’m not even breathing, anticipating the ring. Benjamin’s trying to look cool, but is failing miserably. His face is scrunched up, expecting the big blow that’s coming.
I close my eyes and wait for it. How embarrassing? How humiliating? This is absolutely the worst!
“That’s strange. It went to voice mail.”
My shoulders drop what seems like a foot. I relax my muscles, not realizing how quickly I had worked myself into one big tensed up knot.
“Must be the reception,” Benjamin says.
“Or her mailbox is full,” Laura says.
They make their way out of the bedroom together and I breathe a huge sigh of relief. I don’t think my mailbox could have been full…unless she hung up her first call after my voicemail already picked up. She probably hung up that call just a second after the voicemail kicked in. And I hadn’t been checking my messages since this whole whirlwind of a romance with Benjamin began.
How lucky was I? I put my hand over my chest and realize my heart rate is scary high. I take a few deep breaths to calm down. That was way too stressful. We definitely have to do something about this.
CHAPTER 16
Amy
July 9th
“Where have you been?”
“Good morning to you too,” I say. I don’t even have the front door shut behind me and my dad’s grilling me.
“At Laura’s. I already told mom.”
“And how is Laura?”
“She’s good,” I say, as I walk toward the steps, which should leave me to safety. Looks like today will be spent in my room.
“Stop. I’m not done with you.”
I freeze in my tracks. I thought Sundays were made for relaxation.
“What?”
“You were at Laura’s place, right?”
“Right.”
“Why were you there so long?”
“It wasn’t that long.”
“Four nights? That isn’t long?”
“It wasn’t…oh, yeah I guess it was. Who cares how long it was?”
“I do for starters. And what were you doing over there?”
I’m still getting my bearings from dad’s all out attack. Did he hear something? Did he see us when we were out? We were careful to go to the quietest parts of town. My dad barely leaves the neighborhood anyways.
“Normal stuff.”
“What normal stuff.”
“Just enjoying my time. What do you think? Jeez, what’s up with you?”
“What’s up with you?” he says, coming up off the couch.
“Nothing’s up with me.”
“Could have fooled me, because Laura came by a few nights ago to drop off your sweater. Thought it was a little strange since you were supposedly over at her house. She did a good job covering for you before she rushed out of here, but I know something’s not adding up.”
Fireman's Filthy 4th: An Older Man Younger Woman Holiday Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 22) Page 5