“Ok.”
He stepped back and watched as she left to get dressed. He didn't know why he loss control like that. There was just something about the way she made him feel. After she got dressed and they headed to his place all he knew was he wanted to get to know her better. soon the days together turned to weeks and weeks turned to months and Shane knew Scarlett was who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
As Scarlett brought her thoughts back to reality, she was overtaken by sadness again. She thought back to that man she fell in live with. To the man who astounded her. His mind was sharp and his body was that of an Adonis, the few times a month they made love she was never disappointed. His smile would make her day even if she was in a funk. He was a sweet man who made her feel like she was the most important woman in the world.
Chapter 8
Everything Happens…
Christian sat at his desk when Scarlett walked in.
“Hey why are you still here your appointment is in ten minutes?”
“I cancelled I just didn’t feel like going you know?”
“But what about the merger?”
“I am letting Chris handle it.”
“What’s wrong you seem distracted?”
“I don’t know it’s just one of those days.”
“You feel ok?”
“Yeah I feel fine. I would be even better if you came over here and kissed me.”
She walked over to him and kissed him. He pulled her down to him. She smiled.
“I want to make you a thank you dinner of chicken Parmesan.”
“How did you know chicken Parmesan was my favorite?"
“A good girlfriend knows it all. So what do you say dinner at six thirty?”
“I would be honored. Can I bring anything?”
“Just yourself.”
There was a knock on the door and Chris walked in. Scarlett stood up and walked over to Chris.
“Hey little brother. Scarlett looking beautiful as usual how are you doing today?”
He hugged her.
“I am great. Tell Jay I had a blast at the movies and I am going to call her later.”
“And how do you know I am going to see her today?”
“Cause you are.”
“So true.”
“Well oh I got to go pick up Angel, Chris have fun with Jay and Christian I will see you…at six thirty?”
Scarlett walked out as Christian nodded. Chris looked at his brother.
“Six thirty huh? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“No. Scarlett invited me over for dinner as a thank you for everything I have done for her.”
“And that is it.”
“Yes.”
“No. I saw you two at the ball. You are falling hard for this one aren’t you?”
“I like her so much Chris. She is not like anyone I have ever been with.”
“I kind of figured that after you laid that big kiss on her at the ball.”
“I was in the moment.”
“Apparently, Amber threw a huge fit at the ball. She went up to Scarlett and told her she doesn’t belong in our world. And that you and her were destined to be together.”
“What?”
“Yeah Jay said when they went to the bathroom Scarlett and Amber got into it but Scarlett can hold her own she put Amber in her place.”
“Why didn’t she tell me it's not like we haven’t been around each other since then.”
“Isn’t it obvious? This girl has it bad for you I think she is in love with you and I have a feeling you love her too. I just don’t want to see you hurt her.”
“Why does everyone think I'm going to hurt that girl? Why is it so hard to believe that maybe I won’t do to her what I did to the others. Maybe it’s possible to like someone so much that you can’t dream of hurting them.”
“So do you love her?”
“Maybe I do. But how does that sound? We haven’t even been dating that long and I know I love her.”
“We all know you love her maybe it was love at first sight but it’s about time you admitted it. That’s a pretty big step. But why do I feel there is a “but” coming on?”
“We went out a couple weeks ago before you called me in and I let it slip that I loved her.”
“That’s a good thing?”
Chris looked at him. “Unless she didn’t take it well.”
“It wasn’t her that didn’t take it well. It was me. I got freaked out and before I could respond you called.”
“Why did you get freaked out?”
“I don’t know. She is the best assistant I have ever had and I worked so hard at trying to get her to admit she wanted to be with me. Now that she wants to be with me, and I feel like I am complete with her it just seems too good to be true. But Chris when I kiss her I feel like I am on top of the world.”
“Ok so where is the “but”?”
“I am so freaked out about being with her. I can’t expect her to understand that I am the job. Like we were out having fun and then you called me and I had to leave her.”
“What does leaving for work have to do with being with her? We are all the job but if she loves, you like mom does dad and Jay does me she makes it work. She understands work has to come first at least until you are married.”
“Marriage wow I can’t even think about that.”
“You know what mom would say.”
“Yeah I do so that’s why we know what to say when she brings it up.”
“Oh you remember then?”
“Yeah.”
Chris cleared his throat and spoke in a high tone.
“Son are you really thinking about marrying that girl?”
Christian shook his head.
“Marriage? Who’s talking about marriage I could never marry a girl like Scarlett. She is not right for me or the position she would hold as my wife. Please she is an assistant that is what she is good at.”
Chris laughed.
“Oh no mom I am just dating Jay until something better comes along.”
“Well you know there is this new girl in accounting.”
They laughed. Scarlett knocked on the door. Christian looked up. She stood there for a moment then cleared her throat.
“I forgot to tell you that your mom is sending over some files that you guys need to get to at your earliest convinces.”
“Thanks Scarlett.”
“I will see you tonight.”
She smiled and walked out the room and to the elevator. The phone rang and Christian looked out the door then picked it up.
“Hello.”
“I have some news about your little girl friend.”
“Who is this? Amber?”
“She is not watching her brother and two sisters she is watching one brother one sister and her daughter.”
Christian rolled his eyes.
“Really?”
“She has a daughter. That is what her secret is.”
“You think so?”
“Christian I saw how she was all over you at the ball so I did some research and let me tell you she is con artist.”
“And who exactly is she conning?”
“You and your family.”
“So you are saying she has a kid and she is conning us. So that’s not really her mother in shrines and she is not who she says she is.”
“Ok so maybe not a con artist but get this she was involved with a drug dealer. What kind of look will that be for the company when they find out that Christian Waters is dating a drug addict.”
“So now she’s a drug addict.”
“Well why else would she be dating a drug dealer?”
“Amber you have really lost it this time. I got to go.”
“I am serious ask Jayla I am sure she knows.”
“Good bye Amber.”
Christian hung up and laughed Amber was crazy sometimes. Chris stared at him.
“What was that about?”
“I should hav
e known that Amber would do some digging into Scarlett’s past.”
“So she found out about Angel?”
“Yep.”
“So did Scarlett tell you about what happened?”
“Yes she did and as much as it breaks my heart I am ok with it.”
“You’re not mad at me for not telling you?”
“No I know she asked you to let her do it.”
“Wow you are really in love with her aren’t you?”
“After everything she has been through and how she has made a way for Devon, Angel, and Maggie. Chris I don't know how not to want to be with her.”
“It’s about time little brother. I have to warn you though. Being in love is not so easy.”
“But its worth it right?”
“Love is always worth it. But I am going to tell you like I told Scarlett. Be prepared for the haters. There is always someone who is against your relationship and some may mean well but come across intimidating. You just can’t let them get to you.”
“I know this. But I won’t lose her.”
His mind went back to Scarlett. He hoped she was up for the challenge of being with him.
***
Scarlett ran to the door and smiled as she opened it. She bit her lower lip as she looked Christian up and down. He wore Khaki pants and a baby blue button down long sleeve shirt with a black sports coat. Christian pulled her to him and covered her lips with his. His hands wrapped around her waist and loved the feel of the silk material she wore. The light purple knee length dress clung to Scarlett in ways Christian loved. She wrapped her arms around him as he moved inside the house. He shut the door and pulled his lips from hers. She smiled.
“Now that is a way to say hi.”
“Oh sorry I forgot. Hi.”
She laughed at him.
“You are right on time dinner is just about ready.”
Scarlett walked into the kitchen. Christian followed and smiled as he saw her busying herself around the stove.
“So where is everyone?”
“Chris was taking Devon to a game and had extra tickets and he and Jay thought it would be fun to bring the girls along as well. They took them to Cincinnati so they won’t be back till very late.”
She gave him a wink and he smiled at her. “Oh that’s good. So you and Jay seem to be becoming good friends.”
“Yeah I like her a lot. She reminds me of me kind of.”
“So something smells so good right now.”
“Thanks.”
“So did you hear me this afternoon?”
Scarlett looked at him and smiled looking back at the stove. “Yes I did. But Chris explained to me what you guys were doing.”
“Scarlett please don’t be mad, I don’t feel that way it’s just.”
“Your mom just doesn’t think I am good enough for you or your family. And I don’t say I blame her.”
“It doesn’t matter what she thinks…I have these strong feelings for you and something tells me you do too.”
“I do I told you I do and you said you understood where I stand. You said you wanted to be with me.”
“I do. You are good enough for me. Better than good you’re the best.”
“Well Amber feels differently apparently.”
Scarlett said bitterly.
“Amber is whatever but what I'm saying is I do have feelings for you. I have since I first laid eyes on you. But you have to understand I have a life in the spot light and it just I don’t even know what I want to say. I just really want to kiss you.”
She turned towards him. “And what makes you think I want to kiss you?”
“You’re showing all the normal signs. You’re sweaty and nervous. Can’t stop looking at my lips. You know you want to kiss me too. So why fight it.”
“I don’t want to be hurt and I don’t want to get in so deep and have to crawl out from a broken heart. I've done that before and I won’t do it again.”
Christian walked closer to her and pulled her close.
“Scarlett I want you to hear me. I really like you. You are so sweet and cute and you are a great assistant. And all I want is to kiss you.”
Christian pulled her lips to his and kissed her. He held her close as his lips explored hers. Scarlett wanted to pull away but she was over taken by the pure pleasure she felt from his kiss. The way he held her close and kissed her with all the passion in the world just made her feel so good. He pushed her against the counter and she pulled off his jacket.
He moved his lips to her neck and laid a trail of kisses down the side. She started to unbutton his shirt and kissed his neck. He sat her on the counter and pulled her legs up to him, as he stroked her thighs as he pulled her dress up. Scarlett could feel his hardness through his pants. He kissed a trail to her breast when his phone rang.
“Just ignore it. Please just ignore it.”
“I want to but you know I can’t. It could be important. Hello. Hey, man I'm kind of busy can I call you back…what Monday yeah I am free in the afternoon. Alright bet.”
Christian hung up his phone and looked down to Scarlett.
“Now where were we?”
Scarlett pushed him away from her.
“I think we should stop now before something happens.”
“No come on.” Christian whined.
She hopped down from the counter.
“No…I'm serious. Let’s just eat.”
“Fine.” He huffed disappointedly.
Christian buttoned his shirt back up and went to the table, as Scarlett straightened her dress out. Christian looked after her as she grabbed the plates from the cupboard.
“So can I ask you a personal question?”
“Yeah sure.”
Scarlett began making their plates. Christian looked at her.
“Why didn’t you give your ex-husband a second chance?”
“I thought about it but when I was going to tell him I forgave him I got the call about my mom. I was in love with him even after he did that. But I focused on my family and here I am now.”
“Wow. I never understood why people did that. My boy was crazy for his girl. But in the end she left him because he couldn’t be faithful.”
“You men are dogs. I mean don’t get me wrong but you are.”
“Yeah I know. I have had my dog days too. But I'm starting to see the benefits of turning in my leash.”
He winked at her and she smiled.
“Don’t do it on the count of me. I wouldn’t want to tame such a wild animal.”
“Me? A wild animal?”
“I’ve heard stories about you, and your wild ways.”
“Really now and what were these stories?”
“Just gossip. I know not to believe everything I hear.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah I've been gossiped on enough to know not everything is true.”
“That’s good.”
Christian took a bite of his dinner and moaned at the taste exploded in his mouth. “You know you are a great cook. This is delicious.”
“Thanks my father use to tell me I belonged in the kitchen…of course when he was high or drunk that was a different story.”
“I can’t believe he hurt you the way he did.”
“Me neither. But I am ok with it. As long as we are here and they are there I am good.”
“Good.”
Scarlett looked at him and bit her lower lip.
“Christian I need to ask you a question.”
“Ok go ahead for you I am an open book.”
He took another bite of his chicken.
“What are your thoughts about sex?”
He coughed on his food from her bluntness. He grabbed his glass of water and swallowed.
“What about sex?”
“I know that’s what you want…and where you want us to be headed but I.”
“Scarlett I would never make you do something like that. You mean so much to me that if we never had sex I would be ok.�
�
“Christian.”
“Ok well not like never had sex what I'm saying is I will wait for you.”
“I just don’t…just don’t know what will happen if it happens. Sex seems to ruin everything.”
“I understand that. I don’t tell people this because everyone thinks I am such a playboy but I can count the women I have had sex with on one hand.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“I'm serious I want love not just sex. I realized at a young age that I wanted something more. Something more than just sex or being able to knock a girl off one of those notches on my belt, I realized that if a man expects a woman to not have many guys on her list he should return the favor.”
“Wow I would have never thought that you of all people would think like that because of the rumors of you and all those girls I mean they had you in the late twenties and early thirties.”
“Those are all just rumors. Chris and I made a lot of mistakes in college and after that once we started to take our career and life serious we made a promise to ourselves that we wouldn’t do it again unless we found our future wives. And he had with Jay.”
“Wow. But you’re so-”
“Horny yea because I am so attracted to you. I want you. I have never wanted a woman as much as I want you. I have had it so I know what I am missing. But waiting for you seems well worth it.”
Before she could respond, her phone rang and Christian stood.
“You get the phone I will clean up.”
She smiled as she picked up phone.
“Hello.”
“Scarlett hey it’s Chris.”
“Hey how is everything? What's up?”
“It looks like we are staying in a hotel tonight the game is running into overtime and I just got word a snow storm is heading this way. If you want us to leave we can try to make it.”
“No don’t I don’t want you guys to get stuck go ahead and stay I'm sure Christian wouldn’t mind keeping me company here.”
“Oh so he’s still there?”
“Yes he is.”
“He better be on his best behavior.”
“He is Chris.”
“Are you ok?”
“Of course, I am just so thankful for you all.”
“I know. Can I talk to Christian for a second?”
“Uh yea sure…it’s Chris.”
A Passion Rekindled Page 20
