One Last Kiss: A Second Chance Romance

by Lauren Wood

  I opened my eyes a little embarrassed and realized that he wasn’t here to kiss me. His dark eyes were glittering at me and I could have sworn that he knew what I had thought. It didn’t make me feel any better and i just sort of groaned to myself. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I so in need of him when I knew that it was wrong in so many ways? It really didn’t make sense to me.

  “Shoot.”

  “Well I don’t really want to do it here. Why don’t we go out for lunch or dinner? How is your schedule looking today?”

  I looked at the calendar at the edge of my desk and I could see that I was booked for the rest of the day, most likely the rest of the week. “Tonight works better than lunch. I have a client that I was going to meet at the Willopaw, if you want to go there with me. Or I guess I can reschedule.” I didn’t want to, but Rick looked like whatever it was that he was bursting to tell me was important and I didn’t want to keep him waiting. I also didn’t want him to be alone with me if I could find a person to be a buffer in between us.

  Rick wasn’t going for it though. He had the look in his eyes to be alone and I tried to ignore the sudden awakening of my body. Every time he was around, it was as if I was waiting for him. It was a hard feeling to shake, but one that I desperately wanted to. It didn’t seem right to feel this way, not knowing what he was feeling in return. While I tried to remind myself that he was a player in all senses of the word, I couldn’t stop loving him.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “What, what do you mean?”

  “I don’t know. You are not paying me any mind. I asked you something almost a minute ago and you are just looking past me with this goofy grin on your face. Are you okay?”

  I was embarrassed, but I was perfectly fine. That was the whole reason that I didn’t like to be around him alone. My mind started to wander and it wasn’t long before I was fantasizing about what could be. It was a lot to think about and even now, as he looked at me like I had an addled brain I was unable to keep the focus on his words. My attention was on his lips and how they moved to form each word. I couldn’t help myself.

  “Yes, I am fine Rick. I just have a lot on my plate. I can meet you around seven for dinner if you would like.” It felt strange that I could dictate our time together, but I knew that I could. He was the one that had heaped my plate up so high on the work side of things. There was also something else between us on the personal side and I had learned that he gave me far more leeway than he didn’t with other employees.

  “Good, that will work. I will see you in a couple of hours. I will meet you downstairs.”

  I nodded that was a good idea and waited for him to leave before I let out the last rush of air from my lungs. Something was going on and the fact that he wouldn’t even give me a hint of what it was about, made me nervous. I was worried about what was going to happen tonight when I meet him. My only hope would be that there were enough people there to keep us occupied and off the subjects that would cause our relationship to get even more strained than it already was.

  ***

  Something told me that I want to dress up for this dinner date. It felt like a date even though it was my boss and he had not said what it was about. I wanted to look pretty and when I saw his eyes light up and the look on his face, I was more than happy to give him the same smile back. He looked handsome in his suit and it appeared that I wasn’t the only one that wanted to look my best. My hand wanted to push through his dark locks of hair. He was stunning to look at and I was the one that had to finally break eye contact because I couldn’t take any more of his intensity.

  “You look amazing as always Claire. I didn’t think you would have time to go home before meeting me.”

  “I wanted to make time. You look good as well.”

  “Have you been here before?”

  I didn’t have to look at the menu to gather the price of this place. It was not a place that I would have been able to afford, so it was a treat to even be here.

  “I don’t think I have found the time yet. Is it any good?” From the looks of the place, it better be.

  “Yes, I think you will enjoy it. It will always hold a special place in my heart because I have been here for so many major events in my life. This is the place that I associate with celebrations and tonight I am determined for it to be more of the same.”

  “Well I am glad you brought me here.”

  The hostess saw us coming into the main area and knew Rick by name. He wasn’t joking when he said that he was here a lot. They must have been waiting for him because he called ahead, because we were whisked off to a table rather quickly. Or maybe I just wasn’t used to going out with men like Rick. I bet that everywhere he went, he was treated like this. Like some kind of god because of all of his money. While it was wrong in some ways, it wasn’t that hard to live with on the other side of things. We got a great table in the back with plenty of privacy and we had wine and appetizers out on the table before we could even order them. Everything was going so perfectly.

  “So what is it that you wanted to talk about Rick? You were acting a little strange earlier and you have me wondering what is going on.”

  “Well Claire, I don’t really know how to say it. Ever since you have come into my life, you have turned it all upside down.”

  That wasn’t what I was expecting and I must have been frowning because he was looking at me as if he had messed it all up.

  “Sorry, that didn’t come out right. I am nervous and you know I am not nervous very often. I don’t deal well with it.”

  “There is no reason to be nervous Rick. We have talked about all kinds of things. This is no different. Just spit it out and we will both feel a whole lot better.”

  He was battling with himself and it made me extremely curious to wonder what it was that had him so jazzed up. I could tell that whatever it was on his mind was important enough that he wanted it to go right. I sat still and waited for him to collect himself while I took a few nibbles on an appetizer and took a few sips of my wine. Everything tasted good, so it wasn’t hard to take my time, while he took his.

  “You are right. I am building it up in my head and that is why it is so hard to just get it out.”

  It sounded like he was ready to move on, but it still wasn’t forthcoming as easily as I would have thought it would be.

  “So what I want to ask you is, Claire will you marry me?”

  He was not on his knees, but there was a ring box open in his hand. It was not something I was prepared for and if I was honest with myself, I was confused. What?

  I said the last question out loud and his smile faltered a little bit on his perfect face.

  “You don’t want to marry me?”

  “Of course I want to marry you Rick. You are perfect in every way. I just don’t get why you want to marry me. You could have anyone that you wanted….”

  “All I want is you though Claire. You are the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and you are the very last thing that keeps me up at night. I love you and I don’t want anyone else.”

  It was all that I wanted to hear and more. His eyes were showing all of the love that he had for me and I could see my own misty set reflected off of his. “Do you really want to marry me Rick?”

  He chuckled and I saw relief wash over him. “I would love to Claire. If you will have me.”

  I leaned over and kissed him on his lips. It was better than it was in my fantasies and a part of me knew that this was how it was all supposed to be. I loved him, had loved him for a while and for him to feel the same way, felt unreal. It felt like there was so much more to us and now we were going to get to see what all is expected from us.

  Chapter 18

  Claire

  It wasn’t until later that I really got a full picture of what was going on. I now knew that the engagement had come quickly for a reason. There was an issue with some pictures of me and Rick together and he had gotten the idea from his lawyer.
If we were married, then there was nothing that could be done. It really meant that I wouldn’t be able to sue the company anymore for harassment, so we were free to be together. It wasn’t the way that I had wanted the question to be popped, but Rick assured me that if he hadn’t had to right away, it would have just been a while longer until he would have.

  I believed him, but it did make our wedding day a little faster than I would have liked. All of the wedding arrangements had been made within the week and now it was the day that I had been waiting for. Everyone was here and I was staring at myself in the mirror, waiting on Amber to get back, as well as Amy. I was full of nerves and I needed someone to tell me that it was all going to be okay. I don’t know if I believed it or not, but I just wanted to hear it.

  My twin came in first and I was relieved that she had the veil with her. It was one of the things she had taken upon herself to get together for me and it wasn’t that I didn’t trust her, but Amber was known for being a little flaky from time to time.

  “Amber, you are here.”

  “Yes, I told you I would be right back. Here I am.”

  I settled down in the vanity chair and looked at my sister through the reflection.

  “I can’t wait until it is your turn Amber.”

  She snorted at me in the most unladylike way and I shook my head. She tried but that was about all I could say about her at the moment.

  “I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon sis. I just don’t think that it is in my cards. Could you imagine me as a mom?”

  I smiled at her and told her that she would be a great one. While Amber was the wild one out of the two of us, I know that something was going to change that all around for her one day. A lot of people changed when they had kids or found the person they love. Love made us do things that we never thought was possible and I had faith that she was going to find her own reason soon enough. I hoped for her anyways. Anything to get her out of her current employment and back into something that is good for her. I just want what is best for Amber and I know that one day I was going to love being her maid of honor, as she was for me.

  “Why are you getting all misty-eyed Claire? You know that shit is contagious.”

  I wiped my eyes and apologized as even more wetness started to fall down. It was hard to not think about the fact that everything was about to change in a big way. This was the moment that I had been waiting for, the man I had been waiting for, so why was I so upset?

  “I don’t know Amber. This is just too much. What if I am making a mistake? What if I am not going to be a good wife?”

  Amber seemed to know what I was most worried about. It was the physical parts of it that I looked forward to the most, although it was also the cause of most of my anxiety that I was feeling. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t going to make a huge mistake and I didn’t know how to broach such a subject, not even with my sister.

  She had always been so bravado about sex and the like, but I found it all a mystery. I knew that I was too old for that to be the case, but it was the case. I didn’t know what actually happened, even though I did have a clue from going through life through the years. I would think that it was rather impossible to not know anything. But knowing what to do in theory seemed a whole lot different than knowing that you were about to do it.

  “Are you talking about sex? Are you really that worried about it?”

  I knew that she would know what I was nervous about. She knew me better than almost anyone else did and I was so thankful that she was there for me. I don’t know what I would do without Amber here with me. She was my rock when everything else was a complicated mess.

  “Yes I am worried about it.”

  Amber waved me off and told me that sex should be the last thing on my mind. “You are about to get married to the man you love. You have already slept in bed with him.”

  “Yeah, but that is a lot different than having sex with someone.”

  “It is, but I am sure that it is all going to be okay. Rick is a good guy and he loves you. That is really all you need and I know that he is going to be good to you. You have picked a good one sis.”

  “What about him going to the club?”

  “So what? He was single then and now he isn’t.”

  “But I am nothing like that, nothing like you. I couldn’t do what you do Amber. There is no way.”

  “You don’t have to be like me Claire. You just have to not be so afraid. Trust me when I say that Rick is going to take care of it for you. He will know what to do.”

  I knew that she was telling the truth. He knew enough of that I was sure. I knew that what would happen between us would be perfect, but I was afraid that I would mess it up. He wasn’t going to want me afraid and no one really wanted to talk about it like I did. I wanted details, real actions that I can take to do it right.

  “But what am I supposed to do, just lay there?”

  Amber smiled at me and shook her head as if I was being silly. Maybe I was, but I didn’t think that just lying there like a bump on a log was going to be good for Rick.

  “The first couple of times, all you will have to do is feel Claire. Do you trust Rick?”

  I nodded my head that I did and she just smiled back at me. “Then that is all that matters. He will take care of it.”

  She was not making me feel any better, even though I knew that it was why she had said it. She was trying to calm my fears, but still I was getting nothing in the way of a real answer.

  “Amber, just tell me what to do. I have never done this before, you know that. I don’t want to be a disappointment.”

  She touched my cheek and told me that it was going to be fine. “You are about to marry the man of almost every girl’s dreams. That is just going to have to be enough. It will all work out. You will see.”

  Amy walked in and I smiled at her. Now everyone was here and I was starting to settle down inside a little more. Amy helped get the last few things that I needed for the tradition. She had to find me something, old, borrowed and blue that came from her great grandmother’s ring. It was perfect addition and I started to get wet-eyed again when I looked at them both.

  Amber was getting irritated with me. “Now why are you getting upset? I told you that it is all going to work out.”

  “I know, it’s just. I never thought I was ever going to be this happy. I don’t deserve this.”

  Amy consoled me while my sister told me that I was being stupid. She was the tough love that I needed, even though it was at times, hard to hear. She was right though. I had no reason to be upset. A wonderful man that was what every woman waited for, wanted to marry me and here I was simpering like a fool.

  I straightened up and I heard the music starting in the other room. It was time to get this done and even though I was shaking inside and my eyes were rimmed with red, I still felt like I was the luckiest girl on the planet. When I started to walk down the aisle, my stomach churned, but seeing Rick waiting for me on the other end was just wanted I needed. It was easier to walk to him then to walk into the unknown. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to work out, but I knew for sure that I was with the right man. Rick was the man that I had waited for all of this time and he looked at me like I was the only one in the world.

  The preacher started to say his words and I was left smiling like there was nothing better. I said yes when I was supposed to, not even going with the tradition of ‘I do.’

  The kiss was not at all what was appropriate at that time, in front of family and friends, but that was okay. It was passionate and before long I was melted into his arms and I never wanted to let go. When he pulled away, I was left trembling from his touch. Now all I could think about was the honeymoon night and what it was going to entail. All I had to do was get through the reception that I was now hoping was going to be a quick affair. How was I supposed to function when I felt like every part of me was going to come unraveled?

  “Are you ready to go to the reception wife?”


  I really liked the way that it sounded and I wished more than anything that he would understand how much I needed him. How much I was unable to think of anything else. I was now his wife and Rick was now my husband. It all seemed so surreal and I was waiting to wake up from this dream.

  Instead of waiting to wake up, I took his offered arm and followed him down the aisle. There were many people there to wish us well and I couldn’t even see an individual face in the sea of faces. It was just too much and I pulled into Rick. He seemed to know what I needed because he pulled me closer to his chest and kissed the top of my head.

  “It’s going to be okay Claire. Now that we are married and together, everything is going to be okay.”

  I wanted to believe him, I really did, but I was still so unsure of everything. What if I had made the worst mistake of my life? What if I was wrong about everything?

  Chapter 19

  Rick

  I had waited for what seemed like forever for Claire. The wedding was there and gone before I knew it, but the reception was taking forever. I wanted to end it, but there were still so many people there that I didn’t want to seem rude. I wanted to leave it all to the rest of them, but that didn’t seem to be an option. My only option was to grin and bear it as long as I could. There was a real fear that I was going to drag her over my shoulder and go cave man to get her out of here.

  “You look so serious.”

  “I want us to be together.’

  “We are together Rick.”

  My eyes darkened and she looked away. I could see the soft blush going over her cheeks and I loved the way it looked. She was so innocent and it drove me absolutely mad to see her this way. The knowledge that I was going to be her first was almost more than I could take. It just made me want her more. More than I had ever wanted anyone in my life and if she kept looking at me like that, I sincerely didn’t know what it was that I was going to do.

  “I want to be together in all ways Claire. I have wanted you underneath me in bed for a longtime.”