by Natalie Ann
For now she did have a meeting she had to get to and grabbed her jacket, purse, and keys and left the house via the garage, hit the button and drove out, making sure the door was shut behind her.
She parked in her reserved spot next to Penelope’s car and knew her sister was going to make a comment about why she came in later.
And she wasn’t disappointed when Penelope popped her head into her office dressed very similar to her in a knee-length black skirt with a light gray button-down shirt not far off the blue of her own sweater. They both had black heels on.
“Man, someone is going to think we are twins again,” Penelope said. “We really should ask what the other is wearing ahead of time.”
“Irish twins. And we don’t look that much alike. I’m hotter than you.”
Penelope laughed. “Please. You can only say that with a straight face to a family member. If you said that to a guy your voice would be drier than the Sahara and they’d think you were joking, then walk away.”
The bitch she’d been associated with so much in life. “You’re right. But you’re my baby sister.”
“Younger sister by eleven months and three weeks. That doesn’t make me a baby and you know it.”
She was in too good of a mood to argue with her sister. “You’re right. It doesn’t.”
“What?” Penelope said. “You’re agreeing with me?”
“I am.”
“And you’re smiling more than normal. You’re late, which means you had some packages delivered. Did you get to land your eyes on the smoking delivery guy?”
There was no use lying. “I did. And I talked to him. I purposely did. He rang the bell and I got to the door before he made it back to the truck and called out to him. Then he came back and helped me bring the packages in the door.”
“You want to see his package, don’t you?”
“That’s crude, even coming from you.”
“It is and you smirked and you know damn well it’s true. I’m not as rigid as you and can admit when I want to see a man naked.”
“Your mind is going in the gutter. I think it’s been too long since you’ve been on a date.”
“A few months. Unlike you who had a great time on Saturday. What I want to know is if you asked him on another date or not. You went out of your comfort zone and called out to him so something tells me your younger sister got through to you.”
“We’ve got a meeting to get to,” she said, picking up her phone and tablet from her desk and starting to walk out.
“You’re avoiding me. That means I’m right again.”
“We talked and I asked him to dinner. I’m going to cook for him. There, are you happy?”
“Woohoo,” Penelope said, bumping their hips together, a few employees watching the two of them.
“No more. You know I like to keep my life private.”
“Fine,” Penelope said, lowering her voice. “I do too, but I’m just so happy for you! I can’t wait for the details.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
6
Clear The Air
Crew parked in Emily’s driveway, then got out and walked to the front door. He really couldn’t remember the last time a woman cooked dinner for him, certainly not someone he was only going on a second date with. He was at a loss of what to do or bring, as he didn’t want to come empty handed either. Call him old school, but he thought she might appreciate a small gesture.
And it’d taken him a lot of thought on this and then it just struck him.
Before he could ring the bell, she had the door open, standing there in leggings and a long sweater that looked soft enough for him to reach out and touch. He wouldn’t though because he was pretty sure if he touched any part of her his mouth would have to taste her and he was still trying to get a feel for what was going on with them.
“You didn’t need to bring anything,” she said, reaching for the gift bag in his hand. “But I do like gifts.”
“I haven’t met a woman who didn’t,” he said back but held his smile in place as he said it. He hoped it didn’t come off as sarcastic like he normally replied.
“Come on in,” she said, shutting the door behind him and then leaving him standing there while she reached in the bag and started to laugh. “This is great.”
“I figured you’d appreciate it. Maybe after dinner we can find a wall to prop it on.”
“I’ve got a few of them we could use,” she said of the Nerf dartboard he’d brought over. “And I can’t tell you how funny this is considering something I was thinking of tonight.”
“What’s that?” he asked, following her into the front room that he suspected was just a formal living room. The furniture was nice and stiff. He’d bet anyone who sat in here didn’t stay long.
“Look on the table,” she said when they moved through that room into a more comfortable living room. This one had a massive sectional in it that looked like you could curl up in it and sleep for days.
His eyes landed on the coffee table and he saw a couple of games. Yahtzee, Jenga, and Chinese checkers. Totally not what he expected and was looking forward to this night.
“Are you a competitive person?” he asked. “I have a feeling you want to beat me at something since I got you at three things on Saturday.”
“I am competitive but not like you think. It’s more that you said you liked to have fun and I realized I did too. I don’t have to win, but I don’t have darts or a pool table here. Not to mention a bowling alley.”
“You’ve got darts now.”
“I do,” she said, laying the box on the table with the other games. “Why don’t you come to the kitchen and keep me company while I finish up dinner?”
“I can do that. I’d offer to help with dinner, but it smells really good in here and I’m afraid I might ruin it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a home-cooked meal I didn’t prepare myself. And like I said, I might ruin yours as I’m all thumbs in the kitchen.”
“Since you had a burger I assumed beef was a safe bet and put a roast beef in the oven. I’ve got potatoes in the water and a salad made if you want to pick at that.” She turned and opened the fridge, then pulled out a plate with pepperoni and cheese on it. “Or you can pick at this.”
“This is more up my alley. And you really went all out. I wasn’t expecting this.” When she said she’d cook for him he’d thought for sure it was going to be something fast like maybe a steak or some chicken. Not a roast that took a few hours.
“I snuck out of work early. Or more like my sister pushed me out the door. I hadn’t really planned on what I was making and when I was walking around the grocery store looking, the roasts caught my eye.”
“Just like something else that might have caught your eye?” he asked, popping a piece of cheese in his mouth.
“Maybe,” she said. “And where are my manners?” She turned and went back to the fridge. His eyes landing on her bent over, he wished he could get a better view of her ass but her long sweater was covering her. Her spiky sexy heels were gone, but at least she didn’t have thick fuzzy socks on either. Just some tiny black ankle ones.
She put a beer in front of him. The same as he had at the bar. “You pay attention.”
“I normally do,” she said, then reached forward and snatched a piece of cheese from the plate. “The roast should be done in about forty minutes so we’ve got time to chat.”
“That’s good. Maybe we can clear the air a bit.”
“We can do that too,” she said. “Go ahead. I imagine you are curious about some things.”
He liked that she wasn’t playing dumb on anything. Not that he thought she’d be someone to play any games. At least he didn’t think so, but his judgment on women wasn’t always the greatest.
“I am. I’m going to assume that our last date went well enough in your mind for me to be here now.”
“And the same in yours since you accepted,” she said, grinning at him.
He didn’t reme
mber her smiling as much either and wondered when or where the change occurred with them. He figured it probably didn’t really matter though.
“I wouldn’t have paid for the date if I thought otherwise.”
“That’s another thing,” she said. “Why did you?”
He had to decide if he wanted to tell her the truth and then realized he wasn’t sure of the truth himself.
What did he say? That she caught his eye. She knew how attractive she was. It wasn’t just that.
It had more to do with how nice she was. How considerate. Most just dismissed him when he did his job, but she thanked him not just verbally but with food and drink on hot days. Coffee when it was cold once too.
“You’re pleasing on the eye,” he said.
She laughed at him. “I am that. I’ve been told that before too. But no one else has thought to pay for a date with me.”
“I’m sure a lot of men go out of their way to get your attention. They might not have put down money publicly like that and it was a risk.”
“How so?” she asked.
“Some might think it’s creepy. Others might wonder why I was.”
“I didn’t think it was creepy. It was a fundraiser and in the end I didn’t even know who those other men were. I knew you and was glad for that.”
He didn’t want to ask if she was glad because he wasn’t a stranger or that it was him and she felt an attraction too.
He was still pretty sure she wouldn’t want much to do with him and was shocked he was sitting in her kitchen drinking a beer while she cooked him dinner. Then he had to wonder if he would have gotten here if he didn’t put the money down to get things going and knew the answer to that.
Nope. She wasn’t the type to make that move, he was pretty positive.
“That’s a good thing then. Anyway, let’s say I saw an opportunity to get your attention more than dropping packages on your porch. It’s for a good cause on top of it, but I wouldn’t have bid on anyone else if that is what you’re asking.”
“So you were there just for me?”
“I think that is obvious. What are you getting at?”
“Just weighing the words in my mind too.”
“Open up your mouth and speak them if they are in your mind.”
“I’m not looking for a relationship right now,” she said. “I want to be clear. But I thought maybe more of a companionship.”
Here we go again. He wasn’t good enough for her and wondered why it hurt so much to hear the words out of her mouth.
He wasn’t going to let it show but rather put her on the spot. She started this and he was going to make sure he knew the rules going in.
“So you’re looking for someone to fuck when you’ve got an itch?” he asked point blank. No smile. No flicker of his eyes. He needed to know the truth.
Damn it. She was making a huge mess out of this and could see the change come over Crew’s eyes.
He went from being laid back and funny to almost crude.
She supposed she had that coming with the way she was dragging it out and trying to work up the courage to say what she wanted.
The problem was, she wasn’t sure what she really wanted.
“I think you are insulting not only me but yourself with that statement.”
There, she felt much better being firm and professional.
“A friend, then, to play games with?” he asked, his lips sliding into a smirk. He was finding a bit of humor in it, she hoped. “I’m sure there are a bunch of retired homeowners around here that’d play gin with you at night and sip tea.”
She couldn’t help it and started to laugh. “My God. You’ve got my head spinning.”
“You think it’s funny? I was serious.”
She moved closer to him and stood in his personal space. “How’s this for serious? I don’t need a man to scratch any itch I might have. I can take care of that myself if I choose to.” He gulped, but she wasn’t going to stop. “I haven’t been on a date in a long time. I was touched that you were the one who bid on me and made sure you won. I might wonder why or how you felt you could drop that money down for one date, but you did and your reasons are your own.”
“They are. But I shared them.” He stood up. “How much more are we going to share?”
She wound her arms around his neck. “When I say companionship I mean someone to spend time with. A friend that could lead to what you might call benefits, but I don’t mean it that way. I’m just saying that I had a great time with you on Saturday night and I wouldn’t mind experiencing more of it. Whether we end up in bed together is yet to be determined, but I’m being honest in that I’m not looking for anything serious.”
“You’re a straight shooter,” he said, his mouth lowering. “So I’ll do the same and let you know what you might be missing if we don’t end up in bed together at some point in the future.”
His mouth moved over hers, his tongue coming out to tease her and coax her lips open. She caved, not because she was weak, but because she wanted it like that itch that needed to be scratched. The one she bragged she could take care of herself and had more times than she’d ever admit.
But hugging and kissing a man was one thing she was missing in life and there was no harm in doing it. Especially with the specimen in front of her that just put his hands in her hair and was holding her head in place while he assaulted her like she’d never been before.
Most men were gentler with her. Not Crew and she welcomed it.
When he finally lifted his head, she was grinning and said, “Well now. That’s enough to keep a girl up at night.”
He laughed and sat back down. “Just so we know where the other stands right now.”
“That is what this conversation was supposed to be about. Do you understand now what I’m saying?”
“I think I’ve got the hang of it. It’s kind of like dating but knowing it might not go much more than that.”
She frowned. “I consider dating where people can see others if they want. And that’s fine,” she said quickly. “But if I’m sleeping with one man, he’s not sleeping with another woman. Those are my rules.”
“Rules? We get to have rules? I like rules.”
She smiled this time. “I think you like breaking rules.”
“That too,” he said. “For now though I’ll have to think of mine. I’ll agree with yours though. If you’re in my bed, you aren’t in anyone else’s. Not that I think you’d want to be.”
“Oh...you’re a cocky one.”
“I am that,” he said. “Do you like cocky men?”
“Not usually,” she said, moving to the stove to turn on the water for the potatoes. “But I’m making an exception for you.”
“And you’re not going to tell me why that is, are you?”
“No, I’m not.”
7
Luck Is Luck
Things were definitely not like he’d thought they’d turn out.
The kiss was something he’d been hoping for. Getting her in his bed another, but he didn’t expect it anytime soon by the looks of it. The possibility was there and that was good enough.
And when dinner was done and his belly was full, he pushed back from the table and gathered his plate.
“No, no. Sit down. You’re my guest.”
“Do your guests normally grab you and kiss you?”
“You didn’t grab me, but I wouldn’t mind another kiss,” she said, turning and leaning up. He wasn’t expecting the playful side to her and didn’t hesitate to lean down and give her the kiss she requested. He did hesitate to slap her ass like he was dying to do.
She probably wasn’t used to men like that and he’d have to remind himself that. Though he was who he was, he knew he might have to make some changes to fit into her world. Or at least get more of a leg in it.
“Either way, I’m helping clean up or my grandmother would have the skin off my ass if I didn’t and she found out.”
He wondered if he should wa
tch his language more around her too. Then said screw it. He could only change so much without being someone else. That wasn’t happening.
The money in his bank account wasn’t going to turn him into some stuffy prim and proper dude that followed rules. Not that he broke them as much as he used to.
Nope, the day he found out his parents died, he slowed the hell down himself.
Not that he worried there was anyone out there that would miss him other than his grandmother, but he damn well wasn’t going to leave his money to any of his money-hungry relatives.
He was going to make his parents proud and make something of himself.
They’d quit their jobs and were traveling the world blowing through money like virgins in a strip club. Enjoying life too much at times. But they’d been hard workers since they were kids and were sick of it.
They wanted him to experience life, but he knew they wanted him to make something of it too. They’d never been to college and were thrilled he was going. He knew damn well they’d be disappointed in him that he’d dropped out and now was a blue collar worker too.
He didn’t think of it that way though.
He actually loved his job. In his eyes, it was a solo job. He came in, sorted the mail he needed to, got his stuff and loaded his truck and hit the road driving along a beautiful island every day without anyone to really get on his nerves.
In his spare time he had investments and was making his money grow. Maybe he’d buy some property here on the island for rentals and give the Bonds a run for their money. Nah. No one could do that.
“You’re close to your grandmother, you said. Can I ask what happened to your parents? You said they died in an accident. Or is it too hard to talk about it?”
This was where things got tricky. “It’s hard,” he said, not lying one bit. “It was ten years ago and when the call came in, I realized they were gone. I wouldn’t hear my mother’s laugh or my father’s voice yelling for a beer. In a funny way,” he added. “It was a joke between them after work. They worked hard.”