by Tracy Reed
Kendell stood up. “You’re just saying that so I…we never…we didn’t talk about marriage until…” She covered her mouth and turned her head slightly.
“Yep, girlie, that’s how it feels when you realize you let the dream get away.” Chloe sipped her wine. “Fret not little one, you’ve got Jackson. He’s probably, well, he’s…I’ve got nothing. Alex…”
“I don’t know him, so I can’t comment. But, hey, according to Kendell, I have poor judgment when it comes to men.” She sipped her wine.
Taylor leaned back in her chair. “I told you to talk to Bas. Instead you broke up with him.” She shook her head. “Hey, at least you can say you just made some woman very fortunate.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kendell asked.
“It’s simple. You just gave your happy ending to another woman who will appreciate it. But as Chloe said, you’ve got Jackson. A man so insecure in your relationship that he chose to announce your engagement at a baby’s christening reception.” She raised her glass to Kendell. “Congratulations, you’ve got a real prize.”
Alex stood up and raised her glass. “Kendell, for your sake, I hope Jackson learns to love you as much as Bas does.”
“Bas doesn’t love me.” She shot back.
“You’re right.” Chloe stood up. “He’s in love with you.” She raised her glass. “Kendell, as Bas’ friend, I promise to do whatever I can to help him find that good thing he desires and deserves.”
“That’s not fair,” she replied.
“I thought we were making toasts?” Chloe asked.
Taylor stood up and raised her glass. “To Kendell, we love you, and pray you know what you’re doing, and realize what you’ve lost. Salud.”
That was the best GTS we’d had since Chloe’s surprise wedding.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Moses
* * *
ALEX AND I HADN’T BEEN married a year, yet I could read her like one of my books. I knew when she was very quiet, she was angry, and it was my job to make sure I wasn’t the one she was angry with. Considering she spent the afternoon with her girlfriends discussing Kendell’s announcement, Kendell was probably the reason for her quiet mood.
I locked up everything downstairs and took that long walk upstairs. I grabbed the door knob, exhaled and pushed open the door. I looked around the room and it was empty. I looked at the doorway to the bathroom and noticed the light was on. I braced myself and went to the bathroom, and looked straight ahead. There was one of the most beautiful sights I’d ever seen.
I leaned against the doorway. Alex was in the tub, surrounded by bubbles. “Hey, Beautiful.”
She looked up and smiled. “Hey, Handsome. Join me?”
I didn’t need to be asked twice. I quickly got undressed and joined her in the tub. I got in my favorite spot, behind her. She leaned back and I wrapped my arms around her.
She leaned back against my chest and I had to admit, if she kept fidgeting, this bath was headed in another direction. She finally got comfortable and I kissed her shoulder. “So, are you going to tell me what happened?”
She exhaled. “No.”
“Okay.”
“It’s just, I want to wring her neck.”
“Kendell, right?”
“Of course. She’s insane.”
“What did you do?”
She leaned to the right and looked up at me. “What makes you think I did something?”
“Because I know you.”
She lifted my hand. “You have beautiful hands…long, strong fingers. I like how they…”
“Alex, what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
I knew that trick. She figured if she changed around the question, she’d trip me up. “Okay, what did you say?”
“You think you know me so well.”
“Yes, I do.”
She continued stroking my fingers. “I told Kendell if she didn’t put the kibosh on her smug attitude, I was going to knock her back so far she’d be sous chef for the Last Supper.”
I laughed out loud before I knew it. “Babe, first off, good line. I’ve got to use it in a book. Second, what happened?”
“I, we were all pissed at how she disregarded Bas’ feelings with her engagement announcement.”
“I know you’re upset, however…”
“Babe, you know she had it coming.”
“Whether she deserved it or not, what goes on or went on between Bas and Kendell is none of our business.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Uh-huh…so you’re telling me you and the guys haven’t asked him what happened?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You better explain, or you’ll be in this tub alone.”
“Yes, we asked him.”
“And?”
“He hasn’t got a clue why they broke up.” I kissed her neck. “So I take it you four have come up with a way to get rid of Jackson.”
“Of course.”
“Let me guess. Chloe, wants to cut off his jewels and roast them.”
“That was her suggestion. However, we opted to go with Dionne’s instead.”
“Which was?”
“Covering his jewels in honey and then put a bee filled cod piece on them.” She laughed.
I cringed at the thought of the pain that would evoke. “Dionne came up with that?”
“Yep, she has a little sadistic streak in her.”
“I’ll say. Quentin should be scared.”
“He is.” We laughed.
“Seriously, babe, it’s none of our business.”
“We know. That’s why we all vowed to stay out of it.”
“You did?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am. I know the four of you, and find it hard to believe you all agreed to drop it, just like that.”
She scooped up some bubbles and blew them in my face. “I don’t want to talk about Kendell and her drama anymore.”
“You don’t?”
“No.” She kissed my hand. “I know this will inevitably come back and bite her in the butt.” I eased my hand down the center of her stomach and was treated to that sexy giggle.
“So, what did you have planned after your bath?”
“I hadn’t expected company.” She leaned and looked up at me.
“You didn’t?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Once you didn’t act on my announcement, I thought this was going to be a solo bath.”
“What announcement?”
“When I stopped by your office and said, I think I’ll take a bath before bed.”
“I’m sorry, I missed the signal.”
“That’s okay. They say the honeymoon period is short lived. I just didn’t think ours would end before our first anniversary.” I tickled her. “Stop baby, you know how ticklish I am.”
I kissed her neck. “Yes, I do. I also know how much you like…” I eased my hands between her thighs and her breath caught. “Are you ticklish there?” She shook her head and grabbed the top of the tub as my hand continued to tease her. My hand traveled further up her thigh. “Are you ticklish there?” She leaned back against my chest and parted her legs. Her breathing had changed and her body was writhing. I gently bit her ear and whispered, “Maybe you should show me where you’re ticklish.”
She covered my hand with hers and guided my hand right to the spot where she wanted me to touch her. I followed her lead, and soon she was sailing higher than a kite. When she came down, she collapsed against my chest until her sated tremors stopped. “Now it’s your turn.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Bas
* * *
I HAD BEEN TRYING TO figure out what I did to deserve what was happening to me. I always thought I was a good boyfriend. I never cheated on the women I was in relationships with. I’d tried to be honest and respectful. Never one to overstep my bounds and yet, when it came to Kendell, I shared parts o
f me I never shared with any other woman. In fact, I never considered marriage until Kendell. Yet, the one woman I thought was more real than any of the fluff balls, turned out to be the one to hurt me the most.
I still couldn’t believe she was engaged. What really had me stumped the most was that she and Jackson hadn’t known each other that long. I knew you didn’t need to spend years getting to know someone, but my God, it had only been a few months.
Leave it to the woman I loved to shatter my reputation. I didn’t hang out with the fellas today, because I couldn’t stand to have one more person feeling sorry for me. It was bad enough I felt sorry for myself, I didn’t need my boys feeling sorry for me as well.
What I needed was a good steak and a glass of port.
I walked into the restaurant and went straight to the bar. I’d always liked this restaurant. The smooth jazz complimented the food and atmosphere perfectly. I looked around the restaurant at all the couples, and began to second guess my decision to fly solo tonight.
I sipped my drink and sighed. I was Sebastian Devereaux. I could do this. I used to go out on a regular basis and pick up, I mean, meet women. Yet, here I was, terrified to put myself out there. Damn Kendell for stealing my confidence. I sipped my drink and looked around the restaurant. There had to be at least one attractive, single, woman I could buy a drink and possibly dinner. So far, no one caught my eye.
I placed my order and when I looked up in the mirror, I spotted a familiar face. I couldn’t stand another rejection. Instead, I waited for the perfect time to make my move. I kept tabs on her with the help of the mirror and her server.
Just as I was finishing my steak, she came over and tapped me on the shoulder. I wiped my mouth, turned around, and stood up. We’d never really spoken beyond some small talk, but she had always been on my list. Pretentious comment number two. Every time I wanted to approach her, she was with someone. I made it a rule never to brush up on another man’s woman. I wouldn’t like it if someone knowingly did that to me. The few times she had come in to the store, we’d spoken a little, but nothing more than friendly banter. I was surprised when I saw her at church. I didn’t know we had that in common, as well.
She was clearly the type of woman I’d be with…smart, successful and beautiful. She wasn’t like the women I used to date, nor was she like Kendell. She was a mix. I have wanted to ask her out, but the timing was never right. Seemed we’d never been available at the same time. I wasn’t sure she was now.
She held up the receipt. “Seems someone treated me to dinner.” She smiled.
I smiled. “I didn’t want to intrude on your meal. Join me for a coffee?”
She looked at her watch. “That would be nice.” I helped her onto the stool, and noticed she had beautiful legs.
“What would you like?”
“An espresso.”
“We’ll have two espressos. Thank you.” I sat down.
“Thank you for dinner.”
“It was my pleasure.” I couldn’t believe I was nervous. “I have…”
“Let’s not muddy the evening with a lot of conversation about past intentions.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s just flow in the present.”
This was new for me. An aggressive, confident woman. “So, do you go out to eat alone a lot?”
The bartender placed the espresso shot glasses in front of us. “Thank you.” She added sugar and took a sip. “That’s a tricky question.”
“It is?” I sipped my espresso. “How so?”
“In order to answer that question, I have to step back into the past and right now, I’m trying to forget some things in my past.”
“Sounds like you’ve just come through a rough break up.”
“Is it that obvious?” She ran her index finger around the rim of her glass.
“Let’s just say, I’m not sure what’s worse, the break up or getting back out there.” I sipped my espresso.
“Trust me, there’s something worse than getting back out there…,” she sipped her espresso. She had incredible lips.
“What could be worse?”
“Watching your ex move on.”
“I know your pain.” I finished my espresso.
“Is that why you’re here alone?”
I nodded. “She’s engaged.”
She signaled the bartender. “Two Prunier Champagnes, thank you.” She finished her espresso.
“I’m not a champagne kinda guy.”
“Trust me on this.” She smiled.
She had a beautiful smile. “Okay.”
The bartender placed the petite glasses in front of us. We raised our glasses. “Here’s to our exs may they realize what they’ve lost.”
“Salud.” I took a small sip and realized it wasn’t champagne, but very smooth brown juice. It reminded me of what Moses had given me the other night. “That’s not champagne.” I looked at her with a raised eyebrow and a crooked smile.
“No, it’s cognac. It’s what I drank when I found out my ex got engaged to a woman ten years younger than me after only knowing her three months.”
“You win. At least my ex waited almost a year.”
She sipped her drink. “He didn’t even tell me. I found out from one of my girlfriends whose boyfriend knows him. Her boyfriend and my ex are friends.”
“I can top that. I suspected she was engaged, but her fiancé announced it at my niece’s christening reception.”
“You win that round.” She laughed and took another sip. “No more talk of exs.”
“Deal.”
“Why are you dining alone?” she asked.
“Thought I should get back out there.”
“Good move. Trust me sitting, festering, thinking about the past and trying to figure out what you did wrong, doesn’t help. Nor does planning their death.” She smiled.
“Exactly.” I sipped my drink. “Although, I think I had come up with some very clever options.”
She laughed. “Don’t tell me, in case you need my services, I need to be objective.”
“Are you sure, because I have some really good ones.”
“I’m sure. Besides, if they think they can do better than us, all the best to them.”
“Exactly.”
She looked at her watch. “It’s getting late and I have to fly to Toronto in the morning.”
“Toronto?”
“Yes. I just took a position in my firm’s Toronto office.”
“Congratulations.” God, Your timing is really something.
She placed a fifty dollar bill under her glass and stood up. I started to get up, and she stopped me. She stroked the side of my face and gently kissed me.
“My dear Sebastian, you are the one that should have been.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Please don’t.”
I was a little shocked at her request. “Afraid I might kiss you and you’ll change your mind about Toronto?” I teased.
“Yes.”
She was either being nice, or this was flirting on a whole new level. She brushed my lips with the tip of her finger. I don’t know what came over me. I eased my hands around her waist, pulled her close and gently grabbed her bottom lip between mine. She splayed her hands across my chest and met my lips with hers. The intensity grew from a gentle peck to an intense, deep kiss for all to see. I couldn’t believe she was…I was carrying on like this in public. I blamed it on the Prunier and the music. This was my match. She wrapped her hands around my neck and let out a faint moan. She pulled back, and brushed her finger across my lips and smiled.
“My driver is waiting.” She leaned in and whispered. “If I wasn’t moving to Toronto, this would be the first of many kisses between us.”
I could have suggested a long distance thing, but I knew it wouldn’t work. “I agree.” Savannah Moore and I were destined to be two ships that pass in the night, and I was fine with that. Some fantasies were just meant to be fond memories, and stories you share w
ith your son when he’s old enough to understand.
“However, in the off chance you find yourself in Toronto, call me and we can share a Prunier.” She wrote her number on a napkin, placed it in my hand and kissed me again before walking out of my life.
I watched her walk towards the door as her hips moved to the sexy sounds bouncing off the walls.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chloe
* * *
“LAST NIGHT COLLIER AND I were at Pietro’s enjoying a little quality time when I looked across the room at the bar, and saw this couple making out. Imagine my surprise when I realized the man was Parker’s god father.”
Bas turned around and the look on his face was priceless. “What did you say?”
“I said, I saw you and Savannah Moore making out at Pietro’s. I wouldn’t have thought you would want a woman like her. But, way to go. And from the way you two were going at it last night, it’s safe to say you’re over Kendell.” I poured a cup of coffee. “I’m glad to see you’re back out there. She’s beautiful, successful, and smart. You are bouncing back with a real prize. So when are you going to see her again?”
“I’m not.”
“That kiss said otherwise.” I sipped mt coffee.
“I said, I’m not going to see her again.”
“It’s time to move on. And moving on with Selena Moore is a good first move. She’s perfect for you. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought about her sooner.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I want to help you find someone.”
“I’ve reached a new level of desperation.” He sighed. “Look Chloe, of all people, I never expected you to feel sorry for me.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you.”
“In all the years I’ve known you, you have never wanted to fix me up. Why now?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“Yes, you do.”
“Okay, you’re a great guy, and I’m pissed at the way Kendell treated you.” I sat down and sipped my coffee.
“Uh-huh and this has nothing to do with your feeling sorry for me?”
