Negotiating for Love

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “Though I could eat a horse right about now, you’re the only thing tempting me.” Paul turned, pulling her close. With his hands caressing her body, he proved what he had assumed. She wasn’t wearing anything under his shirt.

  “Now you’re talking.” She stripped off the shirt, tossing it to the floor. “But this time I’m on top.”

  *

  “I thought we were spending the rest of the day at your place, where are you going?” Martina asked when she realized he wasn’t driving toward his Mt. Adams home.

  “I need to pick up Charlie,” Paul said of his collie mix. “My sister, Myra, kept him while I was out of town.”

  Martina said nothing. He had talked about his two sisters and their families on numerous occasions. If she remembered correctly, Myra was the lawyer who had three children. His other sister, Kacey, was a doctor and married with one child.

  Martina hadn’t met either of them. Not because he didn’t want her to, but because she didn’t want to. The subject was a part of many of their disagreements. Like her, family was important to him. Her hesitance came by way of fear that it would look as if they were a couple back then. She’d done everything she could to keep their relationship casual until he’d messed everything up.

  Martina had forgotten about Charlie. Paul mentioned the night before that he had to pick up the dog once he dropped her off at home. Thanks to their rendezvous, that didn’t happen.

  He pulled into the long driveway of a large, two-story brick home and cut the engine.

  He exited the vehicle and walked around the front of the car to the passenger side.

  Martina just stared at him when he opened the door and extended his hand.

  “What? I’m not going in. It shouldn’t take that long. I can wait out here.”

  “Martina I’m not leaving you out here. You’re right, it probably won’t take long, but I’m not leaving you in the car. Let’s go.”

  She glanced from his face to his hand and back up again. Spending the entire day lounging around with him, watching college football in between lovemaking sessions had been perfect.

  “Paul—”

  “I know you didn’t want to meet my family when we were dating, but we’re friends. Or at least I’d like to think we are. You have nothing to worry about. You going in with me, possibly meeting my sister means nothing. So can you stop being difficult and come with me? It’s too cold out here to be arguing. Besides, the kids love the dog and are never ready for him to leave. And my sister will try to insist that I stay for dinner. By having you with me, that’ll help me get outta there quicker.”

  After their talk over breakfast, he had agreed that they could take their reunion slow. Of course, she insisted they should just hang out and get reacquainted, but he told her that he already knew her. As before, he wanted more than she was willing to give. She planned to show him that they were good together. They didn’t have to mess up the natural flow of things with discussions of marriage and kids.

  “Fine,” she finally said and swiped his hand away as she climbed out of the car unassisted. “While you’re laying a guilt trip on me, you could’ve gone in, gotten Charlie, and we could be on our way.”

  “Yeah, but then I wouldn’t have had this little verbal sparring with you. It’s great practice for when I have to argue a point during some of my committee meetings.” The humor in his voice and the kiss he planted on top of her head did nothing to calm her nerves.

  She talked a tough game, but the inside of her stomach twisted into knots. They agreed to take their relationship slow. Meeting his family felt too personal…too scary.

  Martina heard Charlie bark the moment Paul rang the doorbell and she mentally braced herself for whatever came next. She wiped her sweaty palms down the sides of her slacks. Her heart pounded double time. Not much made her nervous, but meeting a member of Paul’s family for the first time was doing just that.

  “Sit.” A woman’s command came from the other side of the door. After a few minutes, all Martina heard was whimpering.

  “Hey, I thought you were pick—” his sister, Myra, started but stopped when she saw Martina standing next to Paul. She readjusted the baby that was on her hip, and before she could stop him, Charlie lunged at Paul.

  “Hey buddy.” Paul greeted his dog who was standing on its hind legs.

  Martina didn’t miss the way Myra’s brows rose in question, her gaze bouncing from Paul to her. Tall and slender with a cute bob hairstyle, she was even prettier than the pictures Paul had around his old apartment.

  “Uncle Paul!” An adorable little girl with two long ponytails hanging from each side of her head screamed as she charged toward the door. Paul caught the child with his free arm and lifted her.

  “Okay, okay, I guess you guys are glad to see me.”

  Martina watched in amusement as he gave his niece a noisy kiss while ruffling Charlie’s fur. Her heart split open just a little at the sight of him loving on the girl with such affection. Martina knew he would be a loving father someday.

  As if just noticing her, Charlie barked his greeting. He hurried over to her and leaped up, putting him near her height. Marina stumbled back, trying to stay upright.

  “Down!” Paul ordered, his free hand on her back, holding her steady. Charlie went back to all fours before sitting, his tail thumping wildly. “You okay?” Paul asked, concern on his face.

  “I’m fine.” Martina bent and hugged Charlie. She turned her head in time for his doggy kiss to land on her neck instead of her face. “Hey, sweet boy. Long time no see.” She and Charlie use to spend a lot of time together, especially when Paul traveled and she dog sat.

  Another, smaller, child barreled towards them. She wrapped her arms around Paul’s legs, begging to be picked up.

  “Peanut, get a hold of your dog, and you guys come in,” Myra said.

  Martina’s lips twitched at the nickname. Paul glared, daring her to say something smart.

  He grabbed hold of Charlie’s collar. “All right, boy. Let’s give Martina some space.”

  His sister opened the door wider and stepped aside. With a hand at the small of her back, Paul ushered Martina inside.

  “Hey sis, this is a friend of mine, Martina Jenkins. Martina this is my sister, Myra.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Martina.”

  “You too.”

  “Well you two make yourself comfortable. I’m preparing dinner and need to get back in there and check on the food. Here,” Myra handed Paul the baby, “hold him for a second or you can put him in his chair, in the family room. Oh, and girls, don’t ask Ms. Martina too many questions.”

  “Hey lil man,” Paul cooed at the baby who practically had his whole hand in his little mouth, drool dripping down his chin. He was also staring at Martina.

  “Hi there.” She tugged on the baby’s bare feet, extracting a grin from him.

  “This here is Collin. He just turned ten months, and it looks as if he’s as enthralled by you as I am.”

  “Uncle Paul, what’s entall mean?” the tallest of the girls asked, butchering the word.

  “What’s your name?” the smallest girl asked Martina before Paul could respond to her sister.

  “And it begins,” Paul grumbled.

  Martina laughed and bent slightly to the little girl. “My name is MJ. What’s your name?”

  “Her name is Aliyah, and my name is Ann-Marie. I have the same name as Daddy’s mommy,” the oldest girl said.

  “That’s awesome, Ann-Marie. You and Aliyah have pretty names.”

  They each grabbed ahold of her hands, both talking at the same time as they pulled her into the family room. Martina glanced over her shoulder at Paul, who shrugged and mouthed sorry.

  *

  Forty-five minutes later, Paul stood in the doorway of his sister’s family room watching Martina interact with his nieces. She laughed at their antics and listened attentively while the youngest tried to tell her something about the movie they were watchi
ng on TV.

  This was the Martina that people rarely had a chance to see, the sweet, patient, compassionate woman who loved children.

  “How old are you?” Paul heard Aliyah ask Martina.

  “I’m thirty-one.”

  Both girl’s eyes grew big.

  “Whoa,” Aliyah said.

  “Wait. Is that old?” Ann-Marie asked, her brows scrunched in confusion.

  Martina laughed and pinched Ann-Marie’s cheek. “Yes, that’s old. Well, older than you.”

  “You’ve been holding out on us, Peanut. She’s cute.”

  That she is, Paul thought, ignoring the nickname that he hated. His gaze took in Martina. Actually, cute wasn’t a strong enough word to describe her. In fact, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  “I take it that you’ve known her awhile. Charlie hasn’t left her side since you two arrived. So how long have you guys been dating and why am I just meeting her?” she whispered, nudging him in the arm.

  As for Charlie, he and Martina had always got along well. There were even times when Charlie seemed to favor her over him.

  “I kept her to myself because I didn’t want you to scare her away,” he joked. “But seriously, right now we’re just … hanging out. We dated over a year ago for a while, but things didn’t work out.” Now wasn’t the time, if ever, to give her all the details of his and Martina’s history.

  “Well, I like her. Anyone who can sit through Aliyah’s explanation of Despicable Me and seem interested in the movie is alright in my book.” She moved farther into the room and clapped her hands. “All right you munchkins. I want you two to go into that bedroom and get all of those toys off the floor.”

  “But Mom, MJ might be gone by then,” Ann-Marie argued.

  “That’s Ms. MJ to you, young lady. And if you and your sister would have picked up that room when I first told you to, it would have already been done. Then you wouldn’t have to stop interrogating Ms. MJ. Now go!”

  “What’s interogay mean?” Ann-Marie questioned.

  Paul shook his head and chuckled when his sister rolled her eyes. Ann-Marie was like a little sponge soaking up every bit of knowledge she could, which meant asking fifty-million questions every day.

  “Come on. I’ll explain it to you while we clean up.” She hustled the girls to the door. “Are you guys able to stay for dinner?” Myra asked.

  Paul glanced at Martina who was giving Charlie her full attention, talking to him while scratching behind his ears. Paul still couldn’t believe she had agreed to come into the house without more of a fuss. He probably shouldn’t have made such a big deal about coming in with him, but it was. He wanted her in his life, and that meant meeting his family. He knew he couldn’t woo her or pull her into his life the traditional way. Heck, there was nothing traditional about Martina. But Paul was determined to get to the bottom of her commitment phobia if it was the last thing he did.

  “Sis, I think we’re going to head out.”

  Martina seemed to have a good time with his family, but he didn’t want to push his luck. Besides, he had big, adult, plans for her when he got her to his house.

  *

  Martina nestled deeper into her wool coat and relaxed against the soft leather seats in Paul’s car, staring out of the passenger window as the city buzzed by. The October chill reminded her that summer was over, and winter lurked just around the corner.

  Her mind drifted back to Paul’s sister and her family. Prior to them leaving, Myra’s husband had arrived home, and they all stood around talking sports. Martina felt as if she had known the couple forever. They were so down to earth considering they were both lawyers.

  Now as she sat next to Paul, she had to admit that she had probably over thought the idea of meeting his family. The visit wasn’t uncomfortable at all. Maybe letting the guard around her heart down a little would be okay.

  A dose of what ifs popped into her head. What if she allowed Paul to get a little closer? What if she let him put a title on whatever was currently happening between them? And what if she allowed him to meet her grandparents?

  Martina startled when Charlie whimpered. She had been talking to him from the front seat for the first few minutes of their drive. Now she’d been in her own little world while he was stuck in the back seat inside his crate, which he hated, but Paul insisted on.

  “What are you thinking about?” Paul asked, squeezing her thigh.

  She hesitated before speaking but covered his hand with hers.

  “Your family. Us. My family.” She kept her gaze down, playing with his long, tapered fingers. She didn’t know whether or not to go into details about the thoughts playing around in her mind. Paul wanted forever. After their talk that morning about picking up where they had left off a year ago, she was pretty sure that wouldn’t change. Like before, he claimed he could handle a casual relationship, but she wasn’t so sure he could. Heck, she wasn’t so sure she could.

  “So what were you thinking about all of us?” he prompted.

  “I was thinking about how nice it was meeting your family. Myra and her husband seems cool. And the kids are great.”

  “But … because it sounds like there’s a but coming.”

  “No but, just an observation. Thanks for insisting I meet them. I had a good time.”

  “It seems like something else is on your mind. You’re a little distracted. Is there something else?”

  “Yes … no,” she stammered, frustrating herself. “I mean … what do you think about attending Sunday brunch with me, tomorrow at my grandparent’s house?”

  Oh, crap! What the heck?

  The surprised look on his face matched the shock that slammed inside her chest. She could only imagine what the expression on her face looked like.

  She wasn’t sure what she had planned to say to him, but she was pretty sure it wasn’t that.

  A stunned silence filled the car. He was probably waiting for her to say - oops, I didn’t mean to say that. And her mind screamed - tell him that’s not what you meant!

  The silence grew, sitting between them like a two-ton boulder, unable to be moved with no room to go around it.

  What was I thinking? I can’t take him to Sunday brunch.

  Every Sunday, her grandmother spearheaded a huge meal where the whole family gathered to eat, watch sports, play games, and talk crazy to each other. Though the house was always full and lively on Sundays, the gathering was intimate…personal. The last thing Martina needed was for her family to think she and Paul were a serious couple. Peyton and the girls would eat this up, and there would be no end to the teasing.

  But how was she going to get out of this?

  “I’d love to go to Sunday brunch with you tomorrow.” Paul interrupted her musings. “Just let me know what time.”

  Oh, that’s just great.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next day, Paul steered his Lexus toward the Jenkins’s estate, stealing an occasional glance at Martina as she sat wringing her hands together. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her so worked up, but he was pretty sure she had never taken a man to her grandparents’ home. He’d bet the balance in his trust fund on it.

  Martina stayed the night with him. She had been antsy from the moment she extended the invitation to the famous Jenkins family brunch. Even when he took her home, a little over an hour ago, to change clothes, she wasn’t herself. Walking around aimlessly, mumbling to herself, she was barely able to look him in the eyes, and she’d been quiet. Too quiet.

  The night before, Paul sensed the invite caught her off guard as much as it had surprised him. For a moment, he thought about letting her off the hook and not going, but where was the fun in that? It was way past time Martina faced her fear of commitment, and he was just the man to help her along.

  “Martina, relax.” He reached for her hand and squeezed. “Everything is going to be fine.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know Paul. This might be a bad idea. Being around
my family can be a little overwhelming at times. You don’t know what you’re in for.”

  “Your family cannot be worse than mine. I doubt we’ll be subjected to hearing someone like my father drone on and on about politics or hear about someone’s new winter wardrobe, which would be my mother’s topic of conversation.”

  “Don’t be too sure about that. Jada, Ms. Fashionista, will be there and I guarantee she will bore us with a story about her latest designer outfit or those stupid red bottom shoes. Like anyone of us cares about that crap.”

  Paul laughed, glad to have his baby back to normal. As long as she was giving him a hard time, or making him laugh with stories about the life around her, that was a good sign.

  “Oh and don’t get me started on CJ.”

  “That’s Christina, the artist, right? The one married to the thug lawyer?”

  Martina grinned. “Yep, that’s the one, but she and Luke aren’t married yet. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time though. But anyway, she’ll be floating around the house like all is well with the world. Actually, she and her mother, my aunt Violet, mentally live in a different world. They’re into harmony with nature and expressing one’s self artistically. I also think they’re trying to bring back the 60s, the hippie days, when it comes to their clothes.”

  Paul laughed again.

  “And since I’m warning you about them, might as well add Toni and Peyton to the mix. Toni will be gushing over her husband Craig and carrying little Craig around on her hip as if he can’t walk. And you met Peyton. She’s probably the only one of us who has good sense … though lately, I think she’s been a little depressed.” Martina shrugged. “But who knows since she usually keeps everything to herself.”

  Paul listened, learning more about Martina’s family in the forty-minute drive, than all the six months they had dated.

  Paul smiled to himself. This is what he had been waiting a long time for. Martina to let her guard down.

  Paul pulled into her grandparents’ circular drive, the huge home standing out in comparison to the other houses on the block. He followed Martina’s direction and drove along another driveway that took them toward the back of the house in search of a parking spot.