Melt

by Aarons, Carrie

  He fake shuddered. “Oh God, just rip the bandage off quick, gorgeous.”

  I didn’t want to make things awkward, but we’d spent two dates and a hot night of sex together, and it was time to go below the surface. I knew he was funny, charming and handsome. I knew about his business, and that he could give just as good as he got in conversation … and in other areas that concerned men and women. But we hadn’t really gotten all that personal, and if I was really going to dive head first into the dating pool with someone again, I needed to know if the water was nice.

  “Jake Brady, when was your last relationship?”

  Fifteen

  Jake

  I knew that it would get to this point. At some time or another, every relationship did.

  With some women, it happened two hours into the first meeting … in which case I was running in the opposite direction. No two people needed to exchange life stories over the first cup of coffee or beer they ever ordered together.

  And apparently, with Samantha, the time was now. It didn’t mean I wanted to get into all the personal stuff, who ever wanted to relive their fuck ups and sordid past, but for her … I’d make the exception. I don’t know if I’d ever been so ready to be forthcoming with a woman before.

  I sighed, twining my fingers with hers as I started. “If we’re going to go there, I’m allowed to touch you. My last relationship, if you could call it that, was about six months ago. She was a local graduate student, we dated for a couple of months, nothing serious. She was too young, and I was too uninterested. It might not be what you want to hear, but there is the truth.”

  I hesitate to look up, not wanting to see her reaction.

  “Jake, look at me.” Her soft voice sounded from across the table, and I met her dark eyes. “I’m not doing this to shame you or get dirt, I just want to know where you’ve been. What your life has looked like, because I want to know you. Thank you for being honest with me.”

  Nodding, I kind of saw her point. “Well then, since you want my past, it’s not a very storied one. I’ve dated … a lot, but nothing serious. A few months here or there, no next steps, nothing that ever made me want to pursue it into another level. I’ve focused on my business a lot, and just kind of went about life with the flow that I always have. It might sound stupid, but you’re really the first woman I’ve felt a real connection with, and I’m not just saying that because I’ve seen you naked. Although … goddamn, that was a fun experience. Samantha, I don’t know what to say … I just, there is something here. So there is the truth. I have no skeletons, sure I’ve probably been a jerk and dumped my fair share of wonderful women because I was an idiot, but I’ve never cheated. I’ve never been engaged or lived with a woman. I’ve slept with women, and that’s as far as I’ll go. But, I’m an open book. Because I like you. So if there is anything you’d ever like to know, just ask.”

  I think a fly went into her mouth with how far down it was hanging. “How do you manage to do that? Take my expectations and blow them right out of the water?

  “I get it right about seventy percent of the time. Don’t forget the zoo … that started off well until I crashed and burned.”

  She smirked, squeezing my hand. “To be fair, Lennon did have quite the meltdown.”

  I toyed with the napkin in my lap, trying to figure out how to ask my next question. “So now that you know about me … can you tell me a little bit about your past relationships?”

  Her face contorts from one of teasing happiness to a far-away, masked loneliness. I know it won’t be easy, but we have to talk about it, like she said. I need to know what I’m getting into … because as I’d said, I did care about her. I was interested in pursuing this, much further than I’d ever thought about pursing anything with any other woman.

  “It’s really only one relationship. Sure, I dated in the flirty, kind of teenage way before I met my ex, but before him it was nothing real. I met Derek when I was nineteen, at Madison in our sophomore year. He was … my first love. I loved him completely. After we graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so when he was offered a job out in Seattle, I went with him. More like followed him, I guess. After we got out there, our relationship changed, even if I didn’t want to admit it to myself. I’m not sure what happened, but he just wasn’t … present, I guess. I hung in there, thinking that if we could only make it to him proposing, to a wedding, to something, then it would all be all right.”

  A sad smile crosses her face, and I can feel the pain in her voice. I can see how ignored she felt, and I instantly want to slam my fist into this Derek guy’s jaw.

  “I found my job at Mount Rainier and fell in love, so Seattle did give me something. Two things, actually. Two years into living out there, I got pregnant with Lennon. It was a massive surprise, but for a little at least, it seemed to bring Derek and I back together. He was supportive and excited, and I thought it was finally the thing that would make us a family. Except six months after she was born, as I was trying to juggle being a new mother and holding down a job and not going insane, he just checked out. Started talking about traveling to foreign countries, and spreading his wings. I really tried to make us work, it absolutely kills me that Lennon will have to grow up with two parents who were never married and are no longer together. But by her third birthday, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t sit in that house every night with a complete stranger. We didn’t love each other anymore, and I was doing more harm to my daughter staying with him. So I left.”

  She shrugs, and it looks like she’s trying to shrug the heaviness of everything she’d been through off of her shoulders. Sadness comes off of her in waves, but there is something else there too. Relief? Freedom? Something resembling the two.

  I take her hand, the one woven in mine, in my other hand, encasing it. “You made a really tough decision, but one that was better in the long run for you and Lennon. Thank you for telling me that … I know it wasn’t easy. Any man who doesn’t give you all of the love and attention you deserve, both you and Lennon, doesn’t deserve you. I’ve seen how you are with that little girl, and any man …”

  I have to break off, because I feel myself getting angry. She’s not even my kid, hell I haven’t even spent that much time with her, but I saw how awesome she is. I have never understood how someone could bring a child into this world and not be completely enthralled with everything they did.

  “Anyway, now that we got that off our plate, literally … what’s for dessert?” She smiled, her expression breaking up the invisible cobwebs of the past on her face.

  She needed me to transition us. So I did. “And now we come to the most important part of the date, because it will determine the probability of me asking you out again … are you a chocolate cake or cheesecake kind of person?”

  Samantha contemplated me for a second, our hands still holding on to the other. “You’re asking me out no matter what, let’s face it. But I’ll go with the cheesecake.”

  I winked, loving her confidence. “A girl who knows what she wants and can order the right thing too, I knew I picked well.”

  We finished up our dessert and then walked to the car, the night balmy. It was one of those perfect summer nights, one where I would have liked to take her to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to sit and watch the lights of the city. But I knew she had to get home, and the date had already been so damn near perfect I didn’t want to ruin it.

  I drove her home, taking the time to get out of the car and follow her into the building.

  “You don’t have to come up, it’s okay. You know you can’t come in …” She looks so beautiful as she timidly tries to let me down.

  As much as I’d like to lift the skirt of her hot-as-fuck dress up and plunge into her in the middle of this lobby, I know why I can’t stay with her tonight.

  “I’m a gentleman bringing you up to your front door, can’t I do that?” My motives were so not that pure, but I didn’t want to walk away just yet.

  “Okay
.” She wove her fingers through mine as we walked to the elevator.

  We rode up in silence, our hands the only things connecting us. How badly did I want to push her up against the wall? So fucking badly that I had to bite my tongue to remain a good boy.

  As we arrived on her floor, Samantha took her keys out of her purse and led me out, walking to her door just a few short steps from the elevator.

  “Thank you for a really great date.” She turned to me, her chocolate eyes smiling contently.

  I didn’t respond. Instead, I gently pushed her up against the wall, taking both sides of her face in my hands before I laid my lips on hers. I’d waited all fucking week to kiss her, to taste her, to feel her … and I was taking full advantage of this moment.

  She had the most kissable mouth, soft and full with just a little bit of fight. I explored her lips lazily, tangling our tongues and plunging mine in deep, almost slowly fucking her mouth with my own. A small moan worked its way up her throat and into mine, and a sizzle of electricity held me by the balls. My fingers felt the smooth skin beneath them, itching to move south.

  I broke off the deep, intimate connection and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose before moving away. I didn’t trust myself not to try and get her naked in the middle of this hallway.

  “Good night, Samantha. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  She still stood there as I backed away, a little dazed as she watched me get back in the elevator.

  Hell yeah, it was a really great date.

  Sixteen

  Jake

  Dozens of trucks lined the waterfront, the fairgrounds teeming with people. This was my Graceland, my Woodstock.

  Truckapalooza was the one event of the year where we did our most business, outselling ourselves and usually depleting our stock. It was a chance to get the Cones & Corks name out there, and to make impressions on industry bigwigs who secretly combed the scene, looking for the next big foodie obsession.

  “Oh my God, you have got to try this truffle mac n’cheese.” Alice practically moans as she shoves another forkful in her mouth.

  I set down the heavy container of green tea ice cream I’m carrying and stare at her. “Are you fucking kidding me? Focus, please. We have ten more minutes to stock and then we’ll be slammed the rest of the day.”

  “Yes, boss man.” She salutes me, a piece of her now cotton-candy pink hair flying up. “You know I work better on a full stomach, though. Don’t worry, I’m going to charm the pants and wallets right off those investors.”

  If I wasn’t so sure of that statement myself, I would be more jittery. But she was good, we both knew it. And I had high hopes for today.

  “Maybe we’ll get a storefront. Or hey! Maybe, Target will want to pick us up and put us in those little cafes in the front of their stores. God, I love Target. You wouldn’t think I would, but just something about all of the shit you could ever want being in the same location.”

  I had to laugh at her zeal, but wasn’t trying to dream too big. It had been three years since the business had been born, and we were doing great. But I wanted more, and as the owner, I had to put my neck on the guillotine time and time again to get it. They, whoever they were, weren’t kidding when they said running your own business was damn tough.

  “Who would have figured you for a Target junkie?” We began sliding the front windows to the truck open and setting up our promotional materials on the counters outside.

  “It’s actually a great date spot. See the weird things that people pick out, whether they match up with your weird things. This one time, a chick picked out a shaving kit, a pair of high-heeled sandals, and some weed killer. I couldn’t get past how odd the combination was … it made me like her even more. You should try it sometime with your little single mommy.”

  A boom of laughter erupted from my throat, because I could definitely see Alice taking a date to Target just to get under their skin. “Her name is Samantha, you know that. And retract the claws when she comes around today, she’s bringing her daughter.”

  She holds her hands up as if to say, “who me?”

  “You’re just worried I might steal her away. You know, since I’m better in bed than you are.”

  I roll my eyes, setting out the last of our supplies before the truck is throttled with customers. “Not everyone is interested in a lesbian experience with you.”

  “Pshh, how would you know? My hips don’t lie and neither do the abilities of my tongue.”

  It’s the last dirty remark she makes for a while, as the food truck fair gets going and the grounds become even more crowded. We both scoop and pour as we network, getting people to follow us on social media, post pictures, take brochures. I just recently opened an option on the website for catering, and a bunch of engaged couples throughout the day express their interest in our truck being the favors at their weddings. It’s exciting and I can feel the adrenaline buzzing through my veins with every sale and sample I hand out.

  “I don’t even get to cut the line and I’m dating the proprietor.”

  I swing back to the window just in time to see Samantha, Lennon and Molly walk up.

  “Will a kiss do instead?” I lean out the window, checking out cleavage as I stare down on her.

  In the week since our date, I hadn’t seen her. Sure, we’d talked on the phone, and even had some phone sex after Lennon had gone to bed, but it wasn’t easy dating a woman who had priorities that came before a relationship. I was trying to be patient, and I understood, but fuck was it hard not to see her whenever I wanted.

  “Only if it comes with a side of whatever Midnight Caramel Cow is … because that sounds amazing.” She scans the side of the truck, with our signature flavors of the day written on it.

  “Come around back.” I nod to the door and walk to meet her on the other side.

  As soon as I make it outside, she’s there, a yellow and blue sundress molding to her curves.

  “Good to see you.” I tip her chin up with my hand, kissing her out of sight of the chaos in the front of the truck.

  “Where the heck is my sample? I wasn’t coming back here to fool around, I really wanted ice cream.”

  “I’ll give you some cream.” I wink, knowing my dimple has popped out.

  She shoves my arm half-heartedly. “Gross.”

  “What else did you eat so far?”

  “Oh, just about a bite of everything. This is insane, but I will report that I’ve heard great things being said about this truck right here all afternoon. You’re definitely one of the more buzzed about businesses, just so you know.”

  Her news made my chest puff out a little. “Your spy skills may have just bought you a free cone.”

  The back door to the truck swings open, and Alice climbs down the steps, a weird look on her face. She approaches Samantha and I, her black army boots completely standing out in the summer heat.

  "So, you're the MILF, huh? I get it now." She nods at Samantha like she's assessing her as a piece of livestock for sale at a show.

  "All right, that's enough. I told you, no claws, please.” I had to roll my eyes and shake my head at Samantha, Jim Halpert-style.

  I knew Alice could be blunt, but she was practically sniffing my girl and trying to pee on me at the same time.

  "What, I'm just complimenting her. She's hot. And if she's anywhere near as cool as you say she is, he talks about you a shit ton, then I'm happy for you, man."

  She pats me on the back and walks back up the truck steps, out to the masses.

  "Jesus, sorry about that. She's a little ... direct."

  Samantha wraps her arms around my waist, her small frame fitting perfectly in mine. I don’t know when we went from touching each other only at certain moments in private, to showing affection in public, but I liked it. Normally, it wouldn’t be my favorite thing a girl could do. But I noticed that every time Samantha took our what was happening between us just a touch further, I wanted to take it a mile longer.

  “I actually k
ind of like her. And she called me a MILF, so she’s good in my book.”

  I bent down, kissing her neck and allowing her smell to wash over me. “That’s because you are a mother I’d like to fuck. A mother I do fuck, a very sexy woman who makes the sweetest moans when I suck on her—”

  "Ooookay, horn dog, you're going to make me mount you in a public park. And then we'd both be arrested for public indecency. Is that what you want?" She put her hands on my chest.

  "Would you believe me if I said I didn't care in this moment?"

  The wind blew some of her silky dark strands in her face as she laughed. "Yes. But you have to work, and I need some ice cream. So get to it."

  Her hand landed squarely on my khaki-clad ass cheek, giving it a firm pat.

  "Did you just spank me, sweetheart?" I was probably sporting a semi on her thigh now.

  "Maybe ..."

  "Go get your Mom and Lennon, you three come on into the truck. You can help us serve, and eat all the ice cream you want. Do it now before I drag you to that porta potty over there."

  Her eyes twinkled with laughter and arousal as she skipped away. Damn, I was really infatuated with this woman.

  The rest of the afternoon was spent in the crowded truck, which I usually despised if more than two people were working in it. But today, with all three Groff girls chirping around the small metal canister, it was actually kind of fun. Molly was a natural with customers, and Samantha was a little bossy pants who kept things organized. Lennon mostly just ate ice cream, but for a while she chatted with customers and drew people to the truck. I knew it was a plus to have a cute kid around sometimes.

  All in all, it was one of the best days I’d ever spent working on my business. And I knew it was not a coincidence that the new lady in my life was there for it.