I shake my head. “My parents tried to do the same. For some reason, they were convinced that if I weren’t reminded of alcohol, I wouldn’t go out and drink.” I lean in, taking her hand in mine. “The reality is all of that was for nothing. I don’t need commercials or advertisements to remind me of alcohol. My mind will do that. Just like Deidre’s did.”
I run my thumb along the outside of her palm, noting how tender her skin feels.
“Thanks for asking me to dinner. The past two years, on this date, I spent the entire evening in my kitchen, baking tray after tray of cookies or preparing a dough, so that I wouldn’t have to think about my sister.”
“And here we are talking about her.” I start to feel a little guilty for bringing this discussion up, but Desiree shakes her head.
“No, this is even better, somehow. I don’t get a chance to talk about her often. My parents …” She trails off and looks away. “They don’t mention her at all, especially on this day.” Her gaze casts upwards, colliding with mine. “Thank you.”
‘You’re welcome,’ gets stuck in my throat. Those two words don’t seem appropriate for this moment. So, I do what comes naturally. With her hand in mine, I lean over the table, careful to avoid the candle at the center, and press my lips to hers.
Desiree doesn’t pull away. She meets my kiss with an enthusiasm of her own. I make it short on purpose, not wanting to get too carried away in the restaurant or on this day. While Desiree may be thanking me for taking her out, my rational mind reminds me that this is still the anniversary of her sister’s death. She’s more emotional than she would be, and my aim is not to take advantage of that. When I make Desiree mine, I intend to make sure it’s with her full consent and rationale onboard.
I retake my seat at the same time our waitress brings out our food. We ordered a large bruschetta pizza for the table. I carefully watch as she cuts the pizza slice on her plate with a knife and fork. Her movements are so dainty and feminine it’s a throwback to the etiquette classes my parents forced me to take as a teenager, something I’m well aware that Desiree took as well in her youth. Both she and Deirdre had.
“This is delicious.”
I smile. “That means you forgive me for liking oatmeal raisin cookies, right?”
She pulls the cloth napkin from her lap to cover her mouth as she laughs. “You’re forgiven.”
I nod, and we continue making small talk while we eat.
“What’s on your agenda for the rest of the evening?” Desiree asks once we step out of the restaurant nearly an hour later.
“You,” I answer without hesitation.
When her lips twist upward into a grin, I know she’s decided to stick with me throughout the remainder of the night.
Chapter 3
Peering down at my wrist, noting the itme. My eyeswiden. “Oh my gosh,” I squeal as we approach my apartment door. “I can’t believe we stayed out until after midnight. I’m going to be a zombie in school tomorrow.”
I spin around to look up at Neil. Though I haven’t had anything to drink, I become dizzy from the mere look in his eyes. My gaze drops to his lips, and I lick my own, anticipating another kiss.
“Just throw on a movie or something for the day. I used to love it when my teachers did that when I was in elementary school.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “I’d love to, but I have an actual curriculum I need to teach before the end of the year. And with the number of breaks we have between now and January 1st, I have to take advantage of as much teaching time as I can get.”
He steps closer before running the tips of his fingers down my cheek. I tilt my head, leaning into the soft caress.
“You love teaching?”
Blinking, I open my eyes and stare up at him. A sigh escapes my lips. “I enjoy it, but truthfully it’s not my number one career goal,” I confess.
His eyebrows dip. “What is?”
I avert my gaze, only for Neil to move his hand beneath my chin, bringing our eyes to meet once again.
“To own a bakery. Sweet Seduction, just like the name of my website.” I pause, realizing he’s one of the very few people I’ve told my dream to. “Deirdre and Jackie are the only two people I’ve shared that with.”
Neil’s lips firm as he peers down at me. But his look doesn’t read sympathy. There’s understanding in his eyes.
“We’ll be talking more about this. In particular, why you haven’t pursued that career ambition just yet. For now, you need to get some rest.”
His mouth tells me to go inside and get some sleep, but the way his gaze burrows into mine, I’m picking up that he’s holding back his desire to accompany me inside as well. I start to form the invitation on my lips, but they’re covered by Neil’s.
Leaning in, I fall into his embrace, letting out the most profound sigh as he kisses me with what feels like everything inside of him. His lips are so soft and welcoming I can’t ever imagine having kissed any other man or ever wanting to. And unlike the kiss we shared at dinner, this one doesn’t end too abruptly.
I’m able to get my full fill of Neil’s kiss as I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull his body into mine. Or maybe, it’s him who pulled me closer into his warmth. Either way, our bodies are fused together, our tongues sampling, tasting, and savoring one another’s.
Slowly, the kiss ends, as our night together is ending—my chest constricts with the regret of our parting.
“You taste better than those oatmeal raisin cookies,” Neils murmurs as he presses his forehead against mine.
I lower my eyes and laugh.
“That was corny as hell, huh?”
He chuckles as I nod.
“Thanks for getting me through this day.”
He kisses the tip of my nose. “Thanks for letting me. I’ll see you on Friday.”
I nod, recalling that I agreed to another date with him Friday night.
“You should go inside now.” There was a warning tone in his voice. Almost as if I weren’t to go inside right now, it would most certainly lead to things getting out of hand. I can’t say that I’m opposed to that happening, but the gleam in Neil’s eyes stops me. He appears as if he’s trying his damndest to hold back. Why? I wonder, but don’t let the question form on my lips.
Lifting onto my tiptoes, I softly brush my lips against his one final time, prompting a small groaning sound to pierce the air between us. That came from Neil, and it caused my lips to curl upward.
“Can’t wait ’til Friday.” I give him one final look over my shoulder before turning and entering my apartment.
Shutting the door behind me, I lean against it and let all the air out of my lungs. It’s been a few months since I’ve been on a date and probably years since I’ve been on one as good as this one. No, scratch that, it’s been never since I’ve been on a date like this.
I’m not a stranger to relationships, but never have I experienced losing track of time on a first date. Not since I was a teenager, and even then, it wasn’t so much the guy, as it was my maturing hormones and the thrill of sneaking out, defying my mother’s rules.
None of that comes into play with Neil. We’re both consenting adults. All we’d done on our date was have dinner and then spend hours driving around and talking. We discussed his fascination with astronomy as a child while naming all of the stars. He told me the story of the Man in the Moon that his mother taught him as a child. I talked about my days as a teacher and funny stories of my students and their shenanigans.
Even when it got quiet between us, there was no awkwardness. The most surprising part was, not once had I paused to think about today’s date and what it signified. After our initial conversation at the restaurant, thoughts of my sister and her death didn’t weigh me down as they did in previous years.
Now, as I enter my apartment alone, thinking about my sister, force me to remember that she is gone. My mind instantly returns to Neil, the man who tried to help her. He also had the same problem as Deirdre, and a piece of
me wonders if this is a mistake.
Could I be falling for someone as unwell as Deirdre?
Shaking my head, I push away from the door. It’s a ridiculous notion, I know. Neil’s been sober for years. He’s not my sister.
Chapter 4
“Ohhh, you should taste these butter toffee cookies. I finally perfected the recipe,” I squeal with excitement, squeezing the phone on my right hand while holding a half-eaten cookie in my left.
“Those sound amazing. If they’re anything like those pumpkin lattes, they’ll sell pretty well. Oh, and the vanilla cookies. Mama enjoyed the batch you sent a couple of weeks ago,” my closest friend, Jackie, says into the phone.
I smile. “I’m glad she liked them. I’ll have to remember to make some more and send them. How’s she doing?” Jackie’s father passed away recently, and according to my friend, her mother is taking his death pretty hard.
A sigh pushes through the phone. “The same. Still pretty down, but she’ll come around.”
My heart feels torn. Jackie needs to be in Williamsport, caring for her mother. But at the same time, her moving away was almost like losing another sister.
“I believe she will, too. Nothing like the holidays and cookies to liven up someone’s spirit.”
Jackie laughs. “You were always the chipper one,” she says.
“That’s my role. I’m the happy, glass-half-full friend, while you’re the worrywart always looking for the other shoe to drop.”
“And Deirdre was the …” She trails off.
“The funloving, raging one.” Maybe that’s what got her into trouble.
She and Deirdre were friends first, having met in college. I ended up following my big sister to the same state school, and we instantly became a trio.
“How’s work?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Busy. I’m stressed learning all of the ins and outs of a new company, and there’s a major project that has been thrown into my lap.”
“Sounds like a lot of work.”
“It is. I’m so damn tired,” she says around a yawn. “I easily put in eighty hours this week and still don’t feel prepared to attend this meeting at Townsend Industries tomorrow.”
“Townsend, huh? They’re a big corporation, aren’t they?”
“Sure are. And the CEO wants to expand into healthcare, which is why his company has taken an interest in ours.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” I ask while taking the final bite of my cookie.
“It’s a great thing if it goes well. My bonus looks as if it hinges on this deal going through. But first, we have to get Aaron Townsend’s approval, and he is not the type you try to wing it with. He’s a stickler for every detail and about as tough as they come in business.”
“Sounds intimidating, but you’ve put in the work. You’ll be fine.”
Jackie lets out a sigh. “I guess so. Besides, working directly under Neil McKenna prepared me for occasions such as this one.”
My back goes straight at the mention of his name. My insides warm, and an unintentional smile crests on my lips.
“Neil’s not that bad.”
“Neil’s not that bad,” Jackie mimics before cracking up. “Ol’ sprung behind. Neil can be a slave driver, to be honest. It comes from the right place, though. He truly wants to do good, and he is. On top of that, he works as hard as he pushes his employees to work.”
I could hear the respect in Jackie’s voice. Before relocating, she worked at McKenna Rehab for seven years, moving up from addictions counselor to clinical director to the administrative liaison. Ultimately, by the time she left, it was her job to be the face of McKenna Rehab, informing the public and those seeking to help out its different services and how the facility could best serve them.
“That’s good to know,” I mumble, still thinking about Neil and feeling excited to be seeing him in only a few hours.
“Which is why I told you how much he loves your oatmeal raisin cookies.”
I lift my eyebrow, even though she can’t see me through the phone.
“I knew you two would hit it off.”
“What?”
“I said what I said.”
“Jackie, what are you talking about?”
“You heard me. It’s been obvious for years now that you two had a thing for one another. Neil kept his distance to be respectful, but man, the sexual tension was always palpable.”
I shake my head in protest, but the actual words refuse to emerge from my throat. “I—”
Jackie laughs. “Yeah, you don’t have to bother saying anything. Neil’s one of a kind, and he’d never do anything to jeopardize one of the patients getting treatment at the rehab, which was probably why he waited this long to make his move on you. What’s it been, like a month now that you two have been seeing one another?”
“Just shy f a month.” It’s November 1st, exactly four weeks since our first date. Neil and I talk almost every day, and save for Tuesday and Thursday nights, we see each other just about every day as well.
“See? I knew it was only a matter of time. Maybe I should’ve moved away sooner, and you two would’ve been together by now.”
“Don’t say that,” I insist. “I like Neil … a lot, but I also would rather you live here again.” I truly miss my friend.
“You’ll get used to not having me around. Besides, I’m only a plane ride away. You better come visit me.”
“I will, as soon as there’s time. Speaking of time, I gotta go.” I glance up at the time display on my microwave. “I have to finish this batch of cookies and then take a shower to get ready for tonight.”
“Have fun.”
“Maybe you should get out of the office and find someone to have fun with.”
She snorts. “Yeah, whatever. I have to go, too.”
“’Kay, bye,” I say as she abruptly hangs up the phone. I stare at it for a few seconds, wondering what Jackie’s issue is. She never delved too much into the details of her family life. Only that she’d moved to Washington after graduating from a boarding school on the East Coast. She attended the same state college Deirdre and I went to but lived with an aunt while her parents remained in Williamsport. Aside from a few visits back home from time to time, she mostly hung out with her aunt or us during the holidays.
Shrugging, I place my phone in my back pocket and busy myself, finishing the cookies.
Once everything is done, and the dishes have been cleaned, I head to my bedroom to undress and ready myself to shower. Neil and I are going to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner. Afterward, we’re going to see a holiday light show. While there’s something about this time of year that always brings out the giddy, kid-like feeling in me, I’m feeling an extra bubbling of emotion this year.
The past three holiday seasons were tempered with a sense of longing and sadness, but this year feels different. More hopeful or something.
I grin as I lather up in the shower, bringing to mind Neil’s words last night before we got off the phone. He wished me a good night’s rest, but I felt the thickness in his voice down to my toes. Of course, my holiday season is feeling full of hope this year. Something like love is in the air.
“Mmm, it always smells so good in here,” I gush as soon as we enter the soul food vegan restaurant.
“Agreed. Jackie had the staff ordering from here two to three times a week,” Neil says before a deep chuckle moves up his throat and out his mouth. His hand squeezes mine.
“I spoke with Jackie earlier today.”
He peers down at me. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s good, I guess. Busy.”
He nods. “That’s expected at a new job … lots of catch-up work to do and training. Reservation for McKenna,” he tells the hostess.
The young woman with one of the best twist outs I’ve seen in a long time runs her finger down the length of the paper in front of her, tapping it twice once she finds Neil’s name.
“Reservation for two. Your t
able is ready. Follow me, please.” She smiles.
“I love your hair, by the way,” I say, admiring the handful of purple highlighted curls that capture my attention.
Her smile broadens. “Thank you. I’m feeling those laid edges as well.” She winks and nods in the direction of the baby hairs I’d laid down with my gel an hour earlier after getting out of the shower.
Neil’s hand squeezes mine, and I peer up to find him grinning down at me.
“What?” I ask as he holds out my chair for me.
He shrugs and moves around the table, taking his seat. “Compliments roll off your tongue so easily. It’s rare to see that.”
I purse my lips. “It’s not that rare, is it?”
He pushes out a gush of air. “In my world, it is … sometimes.” Frowning, he looks at something over my shoulder, his eyes getting a somewhat far off look. Meanwhile, his hand clutches my wrist while his thumb traces tiny circles along my wrist.
“Still trying to figure out that deal, huh?” I question.
A few weeks ago, he told me about a proposition from another healthcare company. Going ahead with the deal would further expand the reach of McKenna Rehab facilities nationwide.
“There’re so many pitfalls as to where this could all blow up in my face. But there’s also the tremendous upside that we could be doing a lot of good for people who wouldn’t otherwise get the help they need.”
“How so?”
His eyes take on that sparkle he always gets when he talks about work as he leans in. His gaze meets mine. “For one, this deal could help bring McKenna into locations where recovery resources are nil, like Appalachia, for instance. The opioid crisis is taking its toll there, and so many rehabs refuse to do business there because the insurance companies won’t pay.”
“This is an opportunity for McKenna to establish itself in Appalachia?”
A Holiday Seduction: A Holiday Novella Page 3
