“Because Grandma called and we have to go over there to get something.”
“Why didn’t you call and tell me you were going to your grandmother’s house?” Kimberly asked, knowing this was another one of April’s schemes.
“I forgot how long it took.”
“April…”
“Well, I did. We’re almost at Grandma’s. We can spend the night, can’t we?”
“This is the last time you scheme to get your father and me together,” Kimberly demanded, feeling like a heel for causing her children so much unhappiness. “Have your grandmother call me as soon as you get there. And the two of you are in big trouble,” Kimberly said, annoyed. She might feel guilty, but she wasn’t going to let them know. Now she was stuck alone with Jack, who would probably desert her, too.
“What’s happening with the kids?” he asked, munching on the cake.
“Jack, what if the girl had come? You would have cut the cake?”
“I overheard the conversation. I’ve been salivating about that cake for the past hour. The smell is all through the house.”
He looked so innocent, Kimberly laughed. “Would you like some dinner to go along with the cake?”
“That would be nice,” he said.
Kimberly dished the food into bowls. The candles had burned down some, but the ambience was still romantic, which wasn’t the mood she wanted to set with Jack.
“The candelabra and roses was April’s doing.”
“She fooled us, didn’t she?”
“She did that,” Kimberly said, setting the potatoes on the table. Jack held the seat for her as she sat. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d made that gesture. Over the years, there were lots of little things they’d forgotten to do for each other.
They listened to Luther, the Temptations and Gerald LaVert while they ate the succulent dinner. Kimberly had to admit she’d outdone herself. And in the flickering candlelight, she couldn’t help wishing Jack sat across from her each evening and that they’d go to bed together each night. He wore a golf shirt and linen slacks, and they looked absolutely great on him. She missed times like these.
“Ready for more cake?” she asked, more for something to do.
“Of course,” he said, and she sliced him a thick piece and spooned two scoops of ice cream on top.
He rubbed his hands together as he waited for her to sit.
“Remember when Mom used to take the kids for Saturday night to give us a date night?” he asked.
“I remember,” Kimberly said.
“I don’t remember when we last had a date night.”
Conversation lagged and they went back to their dessert, his words ringing in the air. When the last spoonful had been eaten, Larry Graham’s “One in a Million” played, the soothing tune filling the room. It was their song, and sadness gathered in Kimberly’s heart.
When she glanced up from her plate, Jack was beside her. “May I have this dance?” he asked.
Kimberly slowly rose and Jack gathered her into his arms. She closed her eyes with a sigh. It felt so good being molded against his body as they swayed to the mellow tones of the music. Kimberly pressed her face against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He placed his arms around her and pulled her close.
Kimberly missed this. If she closed her eyes and listened intently she could forget all her problems and remember this was their song. Jack stroked her back, slid his hands down to her hips.
Kimberly’s hands slid up his back, feeling the corded muscles beneath his skin. It all felt so familiar, so wonderful.
Jack’s hand slid to her face, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand before he gathered her chin, tilted it and kissed her, first with small nibbling bites, then he entered her mouth fully with an all-consuming kiss.
Just one kiss, Kimberly thought, as she lost herself in the pleasure of the moment. She could taste the pineapple on his tongue. Their tongues dueled as if they couldn’t get enough of each other. Having Jack in her arms was so familiar, so wonderful.
Jack caressed her nipples, pulling on the pebbled peaks, eliciting a deep moan from Kimberly’s lips. She cried out in pleasure.
As the last note of the song ended, he gathered her in his arms and carried her upstairs to their room. He quickly undressed her and began to kiss her, then ran his tongue over her heated skin.
He stroked her thighs, her sensitive place, and Kimberly cried out in pleasure as he inched closer and closer to the heat of her desire.
He wrung a tumultuous orgasm from her before he entered her. Kimberly curled her legs around him and he sank deeper into her. He felt wonderful. Together, they moved in rhythm, until Kimberly cried out once again in pleasure. Jack’s guttural moan followed closely behind hers.
They were lying spoon-fashion on the bed. Jack’s arm was around her waist, rubbing her stomach. The other under her head. Kimberly tensed—until she realized she didn’t show any signs of her pregnancy yet.
Jack kissed her neck, his breath brushed pleasantly over her skin. “Kimberly, as much as I would like to stay, I think I should leave. If the kids decide to come back, it would confuse them.”
Kimberly nodded. It confused her. “We shouldn’t have done this.”
“You’re still my wife.”
“But we’re separated. We can’t do this again, Jack.”
“We’ll talk about it.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You aren’t sure of what you want. This was a huge mistake.”
“All right. Have it your way. I don’t understand why you’re putting us through this, but I’ll go along with it for now.”
When Jack slipped out and stomped to the bathroom, Kimberly groaned. She felt sexually sated, but angry with herself. She should never have gone to bed with Jack, but she couldn’t deny she’d needed him. God, she needed him like the air she breathed.
The next day, April was in the house before Kimberly made it out of bed. Kimberly was feeling tired lately, which was expected, given her pregnancy. Good thing she’d slipped into clothes after Jack had left.
“Where’s Dad?” April asked.
“I don’t know.”
“He didn’t spend the night?” April was clearly disappointed, and Kimberly wanted to wipe it from her face.
“No, honey. You know we’re not together right now. We need to sort some things out.”
“But I thought…”
“You thought you’d throw us together and everything would be okay?”
Kimberly got up and gathered her daughter into her arms. Byron stood at the door with a closed expression on his face. “Come on, Byron. Sit beside me.”
Reluctantly, he came over and Kimberly threw an arm around his shoulder. He sat stiff in her embrace.
“Your father still loves you. He and I have to work a few things out. In the meantime, he’ll be spending time with you and I’ll spend time with you. But don’t worry about us. We both love you very much. That hasn’t changed.”
“But we won’t be together anymore. I thought our family would always be together.”
“Honey, we’ll work it out. Now, I’ll fix French toast for breakfast and you get ready for church.”
Friday night Jack worked late, more for something to do, rather than having to work. He just didn’t feel like going to an empty apartment. He was accustomed to having noise around, to children running up and down the stairs—April yelling something at her mother as they got ready to go to a game, or practice or something.
It was funny, how he’d scold her about running, and now he missed those noises.
At least tomorrow night he had the poker game, but he’d already fielded calls from his family about the separation. He didn’t feel like going through an in-depth explanation about that. How could he explain it to anyone else when he couldn’t sort it out for himself?
He flipped the channel until he found a game. But before he really got into it, he nodded off.
A couple of hours lat
er the phone rang. When the male voice announced that he was an officer with the police department, Jack straightened up, worried like heck about what had happened to someone in his family, but the officer told him Byron had been drinking beer and he had to pick him up.
Jack sped to the friend’s house. The officer was still there, waiting for other parents to pick up their children. Jack spoke to the man before he ushered his son to the car.
He left Byron’s car parked on the street. The boy reeked of beer as he drove to the condo Jack had sublet from a friend who was spending time in Europe.
He raked his son with a searing glance. “What the hell were you thinking, Byron?”
“It’s just beer.”
“You’re sixteen. You know better. We’ve talked about you and alcohol. Were you planning on driving under the influence?” Jack’s fingers cramped around the wheel. “Put lives in danger, not to mention your own? The privilege to drive also carries a great responsibility. Your car is a powerful machine, not a toy. I could ground you—take your license until you’re eighteen. Do you want that?”
“I wasn’t going to drive. I was going to spend the night there, remember? You gave me permission.”
“I didn’t give you permission to drink,” Jack blasted. “Where are his parents?”
“They’re out of town.”
“Out of…” Jack gathered a breath to keep from backhanding his son. “You know the rules. You aren’t allowed to stay overnight in a house without a responsible adult there. And what about this new girlfriend you were supposed to bring to the house? Why haven’t your mother or I met her?”
“There isn’t a girlfriend. April made it up to get you and Mom together.”
“Byron…”
“I don’t want to hear the lecture. I know I spoiled you getting your groove on with some hoochie mama.”
“I wasn’t out with another woman,” Jack said between his gritted teeth. “I was home alone asleep. I’m still married to your mother. I wouldn’t have an affair. What kind of man do you think I am? I’ve always tried to do the right thing. Tried to set a good example for you.”
“Then why did you move out? If you want to do the right thing, why aren’t you home with Mom?”
“Your mother and I have a few things to sort out.”
“Whoever you have to sort out, I bet she’s hot. I know the kind of women who hang out at those pubs.”
“Most of them are hardworking women who just want good food and someplace to socialize on the weekends and evenings. Or someplace to watch a game with friends or make new friends.” Jack slanted a gaze to his son, who was slouched in the seat.
“You’re not too young to start working, you know. School just ended. Maybe it’s time you can train to be a waiter at one of the brewpubs. Give you a taste of the real world. At sixteen, I was holding down a job and going to school full-time.”
“Yeah, I know. Grandma told me.”
“My dad died when I was young. I work hard because I want you, your sister and your mother to be comfortable,” Jack said. “I’m taking your driving privileges away for two weeks.”
“Oh, Dad, come on. It’s the summer.”
“You broke the rules. Be ready to pay the consequences.”
Byron slouched down in the seat even farther. “That’s not fair.”
“How do you think I felt when the cops called me? Can you imagine the nightmare running through my mind when he identified himself?”
“Some of the guys got a little loud.”
“There were girls there, too. You’re lucky they didn’t take you all down to the station.”
“You always exaggerate. I wasn’t drag racing, or anything that bad.”
“Every parent worries. And if I ever caught you drag racing you’d lose your car until you were fifty.”
Jack caught the boy rolling his eyes.
“Better watch that.”
“I’m not stupid. They had enough about it on the news. The news Mom makes me watch.”
Jack smothered a smile. “You need to keep abreast of what’s going on in your world.”
The next day Kimberly met Jack for lunch, wondering why he wanted to meet with her when the children weren’t around. They ended up at a restaurant close to their home.
He was dressed in his usual work attire. She’d changed into slacks and a red sweater top.
He stood when she reached the table, and kissed her on the cheek, which surprised her.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Fine.”
Kimberly waited until the waitress took their order for drinks and dinner before she broached the reason they were there.
“Why this secret meeting?” she asked, taking a sip from her soda water.
“I got a call from the police last night. Byron was drinking at a party at his friend’s house,” Jack said.
“What happened?”
“The police called the parents to pick up their children. The parents weren’t there.”
“You didn’t check before you let him go?”
“Do you always call the parents when he stays overnight?” Jack asked.
“Yes, I do. I know all his friends’ parents.”
“I guess I should have checked with you before letting him stay there.”
“I’m going to give that boy a good talking-to. And punishment.”
“I’ve already discussed it with him. And he’s lost the use of his car.”
“You don’t think…”
“He assures me he wasn’t going to drive after drinking, but I lectured him on that, too.”
“Well, good.”
“I’m going to let him work at one of the pubs this summer.”
“That’s a good idea. He shouldn’t have so much free time on his hands. And he’ll still be able to attend the summer programs that are scheduled.” Kimberly sighed. “I tell you, you just don’t know what they’re going to do next. I’m so worried about him.”
“Kimberly, all kids try drinking at his age. He’s a boy.”
“That’s no excuse for breaking the rules.”
“He’s not a bad kid,” Jack assured her.
“But he could—”
Jack touched her hand. “Honey, what he did was against the rules, but we’ll keep talking to him. Believe it or not, they listen sometimes. I got out of line, too, now and then, but I turned out okay, didn’t I?”
The way he was looking at her made Kimberly’s heartbeat quicken. He turned out more than okay. “You turned out just fine, Jack.”
“Well, at least we agree on something.”
Kimberly smiled. “I don’t think you’re a bad person, Jack.”
“I guess there’s hope for me yet,” he said, leaning back in his chair, looking sexy as heck.
It was the end of June, and Saturday night the Nationals, the local D.C. baseball team, was playing. Every channel on every TV situated around the brewpub was tuned in to it. As customers drank beer and wine, rowdy groups were yelling at the screens.
Byron was working out well as a waiter. He could serve food but not alcoholic beverages. Jack caught sight of the boy hurrying to a table with a tray of soft drinks.
Jack was sitting at the bar brooding, trying to decide if he was going to join his brothers and cousins for all-night poker. As he stared into his Pepsi, a leggy brunette sat on the stool beside him. She wore spiked heels, her skirt was short, and she was absolutely beautiful. It immediately kicked his mind back to when Kimberly had come into the bar wearing a black nothing, her legs looking fantastic in her spiked heels, her hair swaying along her smooth shoulders, and the fantastic lovemaking afterward.
It seemed like a lifetime ago.
Since she’d kicked him out, he had all the freedom in the world, but he still couldn’t seem to come to terms with what started the argument.
He’d rented a three-bedroom condo. His new home didn’t allow much space for the kids when they visited him on the weekends. April was still having a h
ard time adjusting to the new arrangement. Byron was more quiet, but Jack could tell the boy had issues over him moving out.
“May I get you a refill?” the woman asked. Jack had seen her around quite often lately. He hadn’t had sex in a while with Kimberly. He was pissed off that she was putting them through this. What did she think she was going to do? She had to let him back.
Always something with women.
He glanced at the attractive sista beside him. He wouldn’t have to work hard to get laid with her. And obviously, she was new and was unaware he was the owner.
“Why don’t I buy you a drink?” he offered.
She nodded her thanks. “My name’s Kasey.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Kasey. I’m Jack.” At one time he wouldn’t have considered putting any effort into the chitchat. But now…if his wife didn’t appreciate him, then someone else would.
“I think the Nationals have a good chance of winning tonight. Blake’s doing very well,” she said.
Jack shook his head. She could even keep the conversation going if he failed. “Yeah,” Jack said, glancing at the screen. He hadn’t been watching the game. But he watched her now.
“Do you watch baseball?” she asked.
“Of course,” Jack said. Jack didn’t even try to hide the ring glaring on his ring finger, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“So, what are you doing by yourself tonight?”
“Just taking a break from work,” he said.
“When do you get off?”
“Whenever I choose,” he said.
The smile was sultry when she twisted in her chair, so that those long legs rubbed against his. He twisted in his bar stool, for a better view of Kasey.
“What about right now?” she asked.
He peered into her eyes, but all he saw was Kimberly’s eyes. He glanced down at her legs and wanted to feel himself harden, but all he could remember were Kimberly’s legs, damn it to hell. Because hell was exactly the place she’d sent him with her irrational behavior.
Kimberly had bewitched him from the moment he’d met her. And she still had some control over him. It was a curse. He wouldn’t put it past those women to have worked up some roots, or some such curse to control him. Keep him in line. But he wasn’t helpless. Jack’s smile turned benevolent. He had a plan of his own.
Loving Spoonful Page 12
