by MK Harkins
Chapter Sixteen
Tiffany
“I DON’T THINK it’s a good idea,” Dad said with his hands on his hips. Mom tried to look oblivious by pretending to read the paper.
I’d come into the main house for my usual cup of morning coffee. No one could make it like Dad. But today, I wished I’d gone to Starbucks.
“What? My dating Todd?” I tapped my foot in an effort to keep my anger contained. That didn’t work so I tried deep breathing. Dad had been a big grump about the painting “debacle”, as he liked to call it.
“We don’t know enough about this man, and why does your date have to be at his condo? That’s not a proper first date,” he complained.
“Dad. He wants to cook for me. That would be a little difficult if we went to a restaurant, don’t you think?” It was a snarky answer, but this was ridiculous.
“I don’t like it,” he responded.
“But I like him!” I shouted. Both parents straightened. I never shouted. “And, I might as well tell you now, I’m moving to my own place next month.” There. We’ll deal with all the unpleasantness at once.
“Gerald! Now look what you’ve done,” Mom said and glared at dad.
She hardly ever got angry with dad. I never raised my voice. This was turning into a bad day of epic proportions.
We were seated around the kitchen table, as usual, eating omelets and sipping our coffee. The morning started so peacefully.
Dad groaned. “Please, don’t move because of this. Of course you can date whomever you want. I’m sure he’s a nice boy.”
Ugh. “He’s a man, Dad.”
“Man. I stand corrected.”
“Mom. Dad. I’m not moving because of Todd. I’m moving because it’s time, and I’m twenty-eight. I love you both. This has nothing to do with our disagreement. I’m sorry I blurted it out. I think I was looking for an excuse. I apologize.”
“You mean you want to leave?” Mom’s eyebrows raised. She wasn’t crying—yet.
Trying to turn things around and soften the blow, I said, “No, not really. I love it here.”
She asked hopefully, “So, you’ll stay then?”
“I love it, but I also know it’s time for me to grow up and be on my own. You two have made life so wonderful for me. But I need to experience some of the hurdles of life independently.”
“What about our coffee time in the morning? And Monday nights watching The Bachelor?”
“Oh, Mom. I hate The Bachelor, you know that.” I laughed and offered, “But I’ll still come by and watch it with you anyway.”
Dad got up from his seat, walked over to my mom, and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Your mom and I have been expecting this. We’ll be okay. Right, Clara?”
She smiled bravely. “I’m sorry, Tiffany. It seems I’m suffering from only child syndrome. I just love having you around.”
Oh, this was killing me.
“We’re proud of you, honey. You’ll do fine. We support you and will help in any way we can,” he said while massaging Mom’s shoulders.
“Thanks. Don’t worry. I’ll be back all the time to visit. I’ll just be across the lake.”
“You have a placed picked out already?” she asked.
I studied her for a moment. She looked okay, but I almost felt like a cheating husband who just told his scorned wife he was going to live with his mistress.
“I have a few scoped out. Nothing’s final yet.”
She perked up. “Can I help? I mean, I wouldn’t be pushy or anything.”
Relieved, knowing that we’d cleared a large hurdle, I answered, “Sure. That’d be fun. You can help me decorate too.”
She stood and started to exit the room. Before leaving she said, “I have so many ideas! I have a Pinterest board just for decorating!”
Dad walked around the table and rubbed my shoulder. “Thanks for that. This will be hard…I mean, this will be an adjustment for your mom. I’ve been trying to prepare her, but I think the reality will take some getting used to. For me, too, honey. We’ll both miss you.”
I wanted to cry, but held it back. “Dad,” I started and stopped. I was too old to be crying about leaving home. But I loved them and would miss them every day.
He gave me a gentle push. “Now go on. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”
“You’re the best,” I told him. And I meant it.
***
AT PROMPTLY SEVEN o’clock, I stood in front of Todd’s door. He lived on the top floor, the penthouse, of an expensive condo building in downtown Seattle. I knew this because it had been one of the buildings I’d already checked out and discarded because of the steep prices.
Excitement flooded through me. This would be the first time Todd and I would be alone. Technically, we’d been alone for our first two kisses, but they carried the threat of discovery. Someone could’ve walked into either and interrupted us. Tonight, there would be no interruptions. I wondered if we could stop once started. Would I want to stop? I remembered Todd said “just dinner,” but what if I wanted more? Could I tempt him?
A small smile formed as I tapped on his door. I guess I’d find out.
Todd opened the door, gave a little bow, and beckoned me in with a long sweep of his arm. I walked in and…wow, just…wow. His condo was fantastic, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He hadn’t shaved, and he had a dark scruff along his jaw. His hair, still a little wet from his shower, smelled manly. What was that scent? Leather? I’d need to get a little closer to figure that out. No problem. Back to his hair. It was disheveled and curled up at the ends in the most appealing way. I tightened my hands by my sides. It would be embarrassing if I launched myself at him two seconds after walking through the door. But I wanted to mess it up, I mean, fix his hair. He wore faded, low slung jeans with a white, fitted t-shirt…and an apron? On his left side, a splattering of what appeared to be marinara sauce, but what caught my eye was the green lettering. “How many licks will it take…” it read.
He watched as my eyes took in the message. “Oh that. This was a gift from my sister. She has what you’d call a quirky sense of humor,” he said while laughing, then turned to invite me in. Not so fast.
I first dropped my purse, then my coat at the front door. I left them on the floor and said, “Let’s find out, shall we?”
He cocked his head to the side as his piercing eyes tried to read mine.
Chapter Seventeen
Todd
WHAT WAS SHE doing?
She walked toward me, taking her time. Reaching around my neck, she untied my apron and let it fall forward. I’d meant to take it off before she arrived, but now I was glad I hadn’t.
On her tip-toes, she ran her fingers through my hair and took a deep inhale at the base of my neck.
“You smell incredible,” she almost purred.
Just dinner. Just dinner.
“How many?” she asked.
My brain had officially left the building. How many what?
Grabbing my t-shirt, she tugged me toward her. She was five-six to my six-two, so I bent a little.
Her velvet-soft tongue started at my collar bone and went at a slow pace up the column of my neck to my ear, where she paused to nibble.
Just dinner. Just … oh, hell. Who cared about dinner?
“Just one, Tiffany. God, just one.” It was true. All the resolve, all the plans I had, flew out the window. I needed her. Now. Pressed against the wall, I felt her, all of her. And she could feel me. She moaned through our heated kisses, pulling me closer. She was warm and soft and smelled of lilacs. I wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.
Telling her about my family and Savannah could wait until later. Wait.
Loud ringing filled my head. It sounded like an alarm. Was I hearing things?
“I think that’s a fire alarm. Are you burning our dinner?” She kissed my neck, and whispered in my ear, “Or are we about to combust?”
I took her shoulders. “Hold that thought,” and t
hen, “Shit!” I ran to the kitchen, almost expecting it to be up in flames. But everything was just as I’d left it. The marinara sauce simmered on the stove, filling the space with a rich, tomato scent. The eggplant was breaded and waiting to go into the oven. I hadn’t started the pasta yet. It laid undisturbed next to the pot of water.
A loud banging at my door interrupted my kitchen assessment. “Fire! Everyone out!” a voice shouted through the door.
Tiffany’s eyes widened. “A real fire?” she asked.
“I don’t know. The fire alarm tripped once last year. It was a false alarm. Let’s not take any chances though.” I flipped off the oven and stove.
Taking Tiffany by the arm, I grabbed a blanket and some coats before we left.
By the time we’d walked down the thirty flights of stairs and exited the building, the fire department had arrived. I looked for a safe place to watch and wait for the all clear.
“Tiffany, there’s a bench across the street. Do you want to sit down and wait? Are you warm enough?”
“Sure.”
My building sat next to a large park, so we made it to one of the last unoccupied benches. They were filling up fast from the residents pouring out of the building.
After we were seated, I put the blanket around her shoulders. She shivered and moved closer to me. “If you’re cold, we can go to a restaurant.”
“No, I’m not cold. I’m worried about the fire and people still inside. I hope everyone’s out.”
“I don’t see any smoke,” I said.
“That’s a good sign.” She took my hand and snuggled in close. My heart sped up, and it wasn’t because of the thirty flights of stairs.
“Tiffany?”
“Yes?”
I was going to ask her a question, but I forgot what it was, so I kissed her. Outside, it was forty-five degrees, but within minutes, I was burning up. I tore my lips away.
“I just remembered.”
She chuckled and asked, “Hmmm?”
“I was going to say this was probably a good thing.”
“Kissing?” She smiled.
“No. The fire alarm. Of course, only if it’s a false alarm. I’m not saying a fire would be good.” Great. Now I was rambling.
“Why? How could that be a good thing?” A crease formed between her brows.
“We already know our physical connection is great,” I started.
“Great?”
“I’ll rephrase. We both know our physical connection is insanely, freaking fantastic.” I paused. “That better?”
“That’ll do.” She chuckled.
“I really did plan for dinner tonight. Just dinner. Remember? I would have felt bad if I went back on what I’d told you.”
“That would’ve been my fault.” A seductive smile crossed her lips.
“Yeah. You’re right.” I received a playful push on the arm for my answer. “But it would have been mine, as well. I wanted to tell you some things about me, about my past, before we became more involved. There are some things you should know about me.”
“I’ve been hiding,” she blurted out.
I looked around. “Well, you’re awful at the game,” I said, laughing. “I think there’s counting involved, and…”
“I meant emotionally.” She bit her lip, then tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Sorry. I thought you were kidding. I guess you want to go first?” I asked.
Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “I kind of charged in there, didn’t I? Do you mind?”
“Of course not. Ladies first.” I smiled to reassure her.
“We’ve talked about everything else for the past year, I guess I got a little excited to share.” She took my hand and gave a little squeeze. “Okay, I’m going to jump off the diving board now.”
She paused, and I nodded.
“When I referred to hiding, it’s probably pretty clear what I’ve been doing. It’s not a secret. I’m almost thirty, and I still live at home.”
“I thought you were twenty-eight?”
“Yes, as I said, almost thirty. Anyway, I didn’t know what I was doing until recently.”
“And that is?”
“I should have moved out a long time ago. Do you remember Angela?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“I accused her of using her parents to get what she wanted, but I’m no better. Angela used her parents for money; I used mine for emotional support. I’ve been scared to live on my own because I have a few insecurities I haven’t dealt with yet. When I’m with my parents, things are easy. But I know I need to work on my confidence, trusting I’ll be okay on my own. Their job should have been over years ago!”
“I’d bet they don’t think of you as a job.”
She smiled and said, “I guess not, but…I’ve been lonely, Todd.” Her beautiful blue eyes met mine, and my heart stopped for a moment. “The funny thing is, I didn’t realize it until I met you. I started to feel things even before we kissed the first time. That’s why I was so angry when you called me a mistake.”
A stab of guilt shot through my gut. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m not sorry. If I hadn’t been angry, we would have missed the classic paint fight.”
“I enjoyed the fight, but I liked the making-up part best,” I whispered in her ear.
***
Tiffany
NOW THAT I’D started, the floodgates flew wide open.
“Have you ever been betrayed?” I paused then added, “by someone you trusted?”
His eyes closed for a brief moment before he answered, “Yes.”
“I have also. The saddest part of the betrayal for me wasn’t the actual act. It was what followed.”
“What do you mean?”
“I dated Fletcher all through high school. He wasn’t anything like what you saw at the fundraiser. He was kind and funny…my first love.” I wondered if I should tell him everything. I wanted to change some of my habits that kept me frozen in place, so I decided to plow forward.
“Go on.” He rubbed my arm. It was just what I needed.
“Fletcher and I had it all planned out. We would attend the same college and get married right after. But it all was destroyed in one night. Our future together no longer existed.”
“What did he do?”
“A week before our graduation all our friends met up at a bonfire by the lake to celebrate. First, my friend, Emory went missing, and, soon after, I couldn’t find Fletcher. I had this weird, eerie feeling that something wasn’t right. It was confirmed when I found them behind an old boathouse.”
“I’m so sorry, Tiffany.” He put his arm around me.
“The betrayal wasn’t the worst part. I knew I’d be upset for a long time, but I didn’t plan on it lasting for so many years. Not my feelings for Fletcher, those ended quickly, but the lack of trust. I haven’t been able to trust again, but more importantly, I don’t trust my judgment. How could I be so stupid? Not to mention, being twice betrayed, not only by Fletcher, but also by a close friend.” I felt humiliated admitting to Todd that I’d made such a poor choice, and as a result, made myself an emotional hermit.
“It wasn’t you being stupid. It was Fletcher. There are two types of men when it comes down to it. Either you have it in you to cheat, or you don’t.”
I nodded in agreement. “Intellectually, I know that. But, ever since that experience, I’ve chosen the men I date based on their safe factor. By that, I mean men who I know in advance I won’t develop serious feelings for. So, I’ve lived at home, and I haven’t put myself at risk. At least until now.”
He cocked his head to the side.
“You’re dangerous to me,” I told him.
“Dangerous?” His deep brown eyes penetrated mine.
“Yes. You aren’t safe. You could do some serious damage.” I felt exposed telling him all this. Why was I talking? I needed to shut up. Right now.
His eyes softened, and his mouth tilted up into a grin.
“That’s exactly why I’ve avoided you.”
“Really?” That made me feel so much better.
“Yes. My first love also betrayed me.”
“What happened?”
Pain flickered across his face. “Her name was Savannah. I met her in college. She betrayed me, but not in the same way.”
It was my turn to give him a questioning look.
“Breaking up with Savannah destroyed me. I was a wreck for years. But she didn’t cheat.”
“What did she do?”
“She chose her family over me.”
“Oh, no.” I’d wondered why he seemed closed off. We had more in common than I’d originally thought.
“When I first met you, I was scared. The potential was there.” He picked up a strand of my hair and wrapped it around his finger. He gave it a tug, and I leaned in to kiss him. Now that I’d started kissing him, I couldn’t seem to stop, but his words echoed in my head.
Still curious, I asked, “The potential for what?”
“For heartbreak. You could break my heart,” he confessed. “My feelings for you came on strong and fast. That hadn’t happened since …”
“Savannah?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean when you said Savannah chose her family over you?”
“It was her dad. He didn’t approve. She came from a wealthy family, Tiffany.”
Oh, the pieces were coming together.
“Like mine?”
“Yes, like your family.”
“And you thought I, or my family, would reject you?”
“That was my fear, yes.”
“Thanks for being honest with me. You know me well enough now, right? You know that wouldn’t happen?”
“Yes, but I think I’ve given your father other reasons to hate me.” He grinned and shook his head.
“Don’t worry. He’ll like you once he gets to know you. He can be a little protective.”
Looking at me closer with those piercing eyes of his, he asked, “Would you like to be scared about a relationship?” He smiled and added, “Right along with me?”
