“You’re not alone, Ms. Pennie. I’m here.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “You’re a doctor. I don’t expect you to check on me every single day. Besides, I need you to get a wife so I can die knowing you’re being taken care of.”
“Don’t say that.” He folded his arms over his chest. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not laughing.” Tense silence filled the room for a few moments. “Anyway. What do you think?”
“I think it’s smart. On both fronts.”
“Good. I’m ready to travel and see things I’ve never had a chance to see. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a nice beau and get my groove back.”
“I didn’t need to hear that.” He shook his head when Ms. Pennie burst out laughing. She was never one to hold her tongue. Sex talk wasn’t off-limits in her opinion. To him, it was like talking to his parents about it.
“Ha! I knew that would get to you, boy.” She set her fork down. “I will need your help with the sale.”
Myles nodded. “Anything you need. I can call my Realtor and ask him to take care of everything.”
“Thank you.”
She finished her dinner, while he watched her. Ms. Pennie had stayed in her home so long because she loved it. The house had been built in 1939 and had undergone several renovations over the years. It was prime real estate in the city, located in one of the best neighborhoods in Ann Arbor. Selling it should be no problem, but he hated that she felt she needed to. He understood why, though. Too much house for one woman.
“So, have you met any nice women?”
Myles chuckled. “There you go. We’re not talking about me right now.”
“You know I have to ask.” She bit into her roll.
“Every time I see you?”
Ms. Pennie cracked up, tossing a piece of bread at him. “At least, I’m consistent.”
“Well, you’ll be happy to know I have met someone I like.”
Like was a strong word for him when it came to women. He didn’t throw the word out there often, or at all. Yet, somehow, he felt it wasn’t big enough. The word didn’t encapsulate everything he felt for Aria. He wasn’t crazy enough to think he’d fallen in love with her after one date and one night of sex, but he knew it was...more.
Myles glanced at his watch. Nine o’clock. In one hour, he’d be at her house and he hoped they could move past this faux friend thing.
“You like someone?” Ms. Pennie arched a brow. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use that word before about someone you’re seeing.”
“That’s because she’s not like anyone I’ve ever spent time with.”
Ms. Pennie smiled. “Tell me more, boy. Don’t hold back.”
Myles started from the beginning, telling her about their meeting at the paint party and ending with him playing for her at his house. Because she didn’t need to know anything beyond that point.
“Wow. You played for her?”
“I did.”
“How did you feel?”
Myles glanced up at the feeling, recalling the night in question. The music, Aria... Mixing the two together was intense, but it felt right. For years, he’d kept his music separate from everything. For the first time, he didn’t mind merging his music with his relationship.
“Good.”
“I’m so proud of you, son. I always told you to share your gift with others. Maybe you can take over for me and teach. There are so many children who would benefit from your expertise.”
Over the years, Ms. Pennie had encouraged him to pick up her business of private lessons. He’d always balked at the idea because he already had such a busy schedule.
“No, I’m okay with things the way they are.” For now. Something told him his status quo was about to change very soon, though. “Back to the subject at hand. I enjoy being with Aria. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and she gets it. She understands why my music is so important to me because her art means so much to her.”
“That’s good.” Her chin trembled. “I’m so happy to hear that. Now, I have to stay alive so I can hold your babies.”
Myles frowned. “I told you to stop with that death talk. You’re not going anywhere.”
“I know, I know. I want to meet this woman.”
He smiled. “I hope you can soon. I’m supposed to meet her in an hour.”
Ms. Pennie gave him the once over. “And you’re wearing that?”
Myles’s gaze dropped down to his outfit, then back to Ms. Pennie. “Wh-why? What’s wrong with my outfit?”
“Nothing. It just dawned on me that you’re not wearing a full suit. I’d say this woman is already doing wonders for you.”
He barked out a laugh. “You’re funny.”
She shooed him out. “Go ahead and leave. I wouldn’t want you to be late for your date.”
Myles stood and kissed her brow. “I’ll see you tomorrow. If you’re feeling up to it, maybe I can take you to the Art Fair. At least down Main Street. I don’t want you out walking in the hot weather for too long. Plus, if this year is like the last few years, it’ll rain.”
“That would be nice. You know I love to go.”
“I do.” And he’d always taken her. It was a tradition that he’d like to keep going because he knew she looked forward to it.
“Maybe you can bring your Aria, so I can meet her.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“Boy, bye. See you tomorrow?”
“Definitely.”
* * *
Myles knocked on Aria’s door right at ten o’clock. She opened the door as if she’d been running. Her hair was wild, and her cheeks were flushed. She’d changed into a long, flowing kaftan with a colorful African print. Beautiful.
“Hi,” she breathed.
“Hi.” She stood still for a moment, her eyes on his. He wondered if she’d changed her mind about him coming over, because she made no move to invite him in. “Are you—?”
“Come in.” She motioned him inside.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked into the house. He scanned the living area, noted the bold colors on the walls, sculptures lining the shelves. Several paintings sat against the wall on the hardwood floor. There was no furniture in the room, just an area rug.
“Thanks for coming,” Aria said from behind him.
Turning, he smiled. “Thanks for inviting me. You have a nice place.”
The smile that greeted him nearly took him out, it was so beautiful. “Thanks. I still have a lot to do, but I’m happy that I had kind of a blank slate to put my own spin on the house. We painted a few days ago and I like the way it turned out. Now, I just have to fill it up with furniture.”
He walked around the room slowly, studying each piece of art. “You didn’t bring furniture with you from New York?”
“Not really. I brought a few pieces, but I wanted to start over.”
He stopped, pondered her words. There was so much he wanted to know about her. She’d hinted at failed relationships in her past, but he sensed her last one had done the most damage.
“Did you want a glass of wine? Or a beer?”
Shaking his head, he turned to face her. She stood near the door still, shifting from one foot to the other. He inched closer to her.
Aria held out her hand, halting him in his tracks. “Before we go any further, I have to say this. I’m kind of goofy. Maybe some people would call me neurotic. I live in my head. For years, my only friends were my Barbie dolls because my mother insisted on entering me in every beauty pageant she could, and I didn’t like being around the girls I competed with. Brent was the first friend I had that actually had a pulse.” She let out a nervous giggle. “I spent years building a hard exterior just to deal with my mother and her lofty expectations. I left home because I knew I’d suffocate if I stayed. This is n
ot to say that I never let my guard down because I did—a few times. It never ended well for me.
“When I moved back, I told myself I wouldn’t get involved. I told myself that this move was about my career. I needed to reset. Then I met you, and it felt like you saw me. You understood my work, you made me laugh, you pay attention to the small things that are really big to me. There’s something so...” She sighed heavily. “So innate, so natural in our connection. It scares me. I didn’t want it. And when you didn’t call, I told myself this was my out, that I could walk away knowing that you weren’t shit and I was right to not want it.”
He laughed. “Really?”
“Really. But here’s the thing. Even though it hurt that you didn’t call, I’m kind of glad you didn’t. Because it gave me a chance to really think about what it is that I want. Bottom line? I convinced myself that it would be easy to walk away from this.” She motioned between them with her hand. “But it’s not easy to turn my back on something that feels so right. So, you tell me. Am I imagining that this could be more? More than sex, more than ice cream and chips, more than oil paint and sheet music?”
Myles brushed a stray hair out of her face. The woman in front of him was fearless, even though she couldn’t see it. The plea in her eyes, the sincerity in her words... She was being so open and honest with him he wanted to give her everything she needed. “You’re not imagining this. It’s not just you.”
She dropped her head and let out a shaky breath. “Good.”
“Can I say something?”
Aria lifted her head slowly. “Yes,” she whispered.
“It never bothered me to be referred to as the serious twin—before you. I’m not spontaneous. I wear suits because I’m comfortable being uncomfortable. Because it makes me better, sharper. The only friends I have are my siblings and their spouses, and I’ve always been okay with that. I live in my head, too. I never had Barbie dolls, but I had instruments that served the same purpose. I’ve never let my guard down to anyone who wasn’t my family. But there’s something about you that makes me want to.”
Aria sucked in a deep breath. “Myles, I... I lost my words.” She giggled.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I’ve thought a lot about how I handled things. I don’t want you to ever feel like you don’t matter. I have a lot to learn about relationships, but I want to try. Because the alternative isn’t something I want to imagine.”
She gripped his jacket and tugged him closer. “Okay. You can kiss me now.”
Myles didn’t need another invitation. His lips were on hers, his hand was fisted in her hair, and he was kissing her with everything he had. She tasted like cheesecake and strawberries, smelled like oranges and snow.
“Need you,” he murmured against her lips. “Now.”
“So, does this mean you don’t want anything to drink?”
He lifted her in his arms. “We can drink later, baby.”
“In that case, I have a really nice countertop in the kitchen.”
Laughing, he hurried to the kitchen and set her on the granite. He pulled her gown up and off, flinging it behind him. He expected to rip her panties off again, but she was gloriously naked and ready for him. “Perfect,” he grumbled against her ear before he nipped her lobe with his teeth.
Aria pushed his jacket off and started on his buttons. Myles’s skin seemed to heat up from within with every brush of her knuckles against his chest. “Screw it,” she mumbled, before she ripped open his shirt, sending buttons flying everywhere.
He didn’t have time to react to the fact that she’d ruined his shirt because she unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his pants and pushed them off.
“I’m sorry about your shirt,” she said. “But you had on too many clothes.”
Their lips met again in a frantic kiss. He couldn’t stop touching her, committing her body to his memory.
“Condom,” he grunted. “In my wallet.”
She groaned, falling back against the countertop. He stumbled when he tried to step out of his jeans, which were pooled at his feet, nearly taking an “L”. He yanked his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a condom. He sheathed himself quickly and pressed his erection against her core.
“Now, Myles,” she whispered.
He thrust into her hard, enjoying the soft purr that burst from her lips. He closed his eyes to center himself. She felt so good, so warm. He moved slow at first, letting her get used to him again. He wanted to take his time with her, worship her the way she deserved. But then...
“Harder,” she whimpered. “Take me. Harder.”
He let out a low curse, then picked up the pace. They moved to a rhythm all their own, slow and fast. Myles was unraveling. The way she said his name, a mixture between a moan and a whimper. The feel of her legs gripping his hips. The sight of her beneath him, writhing under him. He didn’t think he could last much longer. He was so caught up in her he couldn’t think straight.
Myles pressed his thumb against her sensitive nub, rubbed her until she gasped for air. “Aria.” He dropped his head to her breast, bit down on her nipple. “Let go.”
Aria came then, shouting his name over and over again. And he followed her, coming so long and hard he had to grip the countertop to remain standing. Once the tremors subsided, he picked her up and slid to the floor, on top of her gown.
Aria took his bottom lip in her mouth, nibbled on it before pulling him into a slow, lingering kiss. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. She brushed her lips over his ear. “Thirsty now?”
He laughed. “Definitely.”
* * *
“Beauty pageants?” Myles massaged the ball of her foot, sending shivers of awareness right to her core.
They were seated on the bed, facing each other, with only a thin sheet draped over them. Myles leaned back against the headboard. Her bed was her first and best big purchase for her home. The pillow-top mattress made her feel like she was floating on a cloud and she loved that it was adjustable. She’d had to buy a custom-made headboard, but it was worth it.
Aria dipped a potato chip into her ice cream and bit into it, letting out a low moan. Not only did Myles rock her world in more ways than one, in multiple positions, he’d surprised her when he’d run out to the local twenty-four-hour Meijer around the corner to grab ice cream and chips when she awoke with a growling stomach. He’d also brought back breakfast, having noticed that her refrigerator was bare.
“Yes,” she grumbled. “It was pretty much the worst time of my life. Caked-on makeup, full-length sparkly gowns and a fake smile is not my idea of fun. But my mother liked to have something to talk about to her friends.”
His hands inched up her calf. “I’m sure that was torture for you.”
“It was ridiculous. When I left home, I didn’t wear a dress for two years. I kept having flashbacks.”
Myles laughed. “What changed? Because you look damn good in a dress.”
She shot him an amused look. “You like that look on me, huh?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a look I didn’t like on you.”
Aria’s face burned at his sincere tone. “Do you have to work tomorrow? I mean, today.” She glanced at the clock—2:33 a.m. Usually, she’d be neck deep into a painting, but she could admit this was a better way to spend her evening. Aria was a night owl. She preferred evening activities because she found her level of creativity was heightened once the sun went down.
“I have to be at the hospital at six.”
Aria raised a brow. “That’s early. Don’t you need to get a little sleep? I don’t want you operating on some patient without your beauty rest.”
“My first surgery isn’t scheduled until noon. But I have to do rounds in a few hours.”
She piled a mound of ice cream on a big chip. “I don’t know how you do it. I hate mornings.”
/>
“Not a morning person?”
“God, no.” She tipped her head up and dropped her treat into her mouth. “If the world sees me before ten o’clock, everyone should run for cover. I’m a monster.”
“I don’t mind the mornings when I’m not working. But the hospital is crazy right around eight.”
“I know. I had to go establish care with my new doctor and couldn’t find a parking spot easily. I ended up doing valet.”
“It’s worth it,” he agreed.
She eyed him. He didn’t look tired. There were no bags or dark circles under his eyes. But she wondered if he’d just learned how to mask his weariness. “Have you ever taken a vacation?”
“What?”
Aria picked up the gallon of vanilla ice cream and set it on the bench at the foot of the bed. She ate a chip before she closed the bag and put it next to the ice cream. “You’re so devoted, to your job, to your family. Don’t you ever get tired of being bogged down by obligation? When was the last time you did something for yourself?”
He arched a brow, and she knew what he was thinking before he could articulate it.
“Other than me, of course,” she joked with a playful roll of her eyes. “When was your last trip out of this area?”
He squeezed her knee and shrugged. “It’s been a while, maybe January? I visited Ian in New Orleans.”
Aria had learned from Bailee that Ian had done a stint in Doctors Without Borders. “I love New Orleans. Did you have a beignet?”
He shook his head. “No, but I ate a lot.”
“Well, you must go back one day just to visit Café du Monde. You won’t regret it.”
“I’m sure. Love tells me that all the time.”
Powdered dough and confectioner’s sugar were the first things she’d bonded over with her new friends. They all liked dessert. After every outing together, they’d stop at some place and order multiple desserts with many spoons.
“I’ll be sure to grab one when we go back for Ian’s wedding.”
Spark of Desire ; All for You Page 33
