A Beat in Time

by Gasq-Dion, Sandrine

  Oh. Hell. Yeah.

  I did my hair and makeup and put some perfume on my neck and wrists. I stared at the bottle and shrugged, spraying some on my crotch. Couldn’t hurt, right? I then sat on my couch and stared at the clock like an idiot, my head tilted to the side, listening for any sign of Vince. I heard the sound of a diesel truck and ran to the door. The UPS man was just walking up to my door with a package.

  “Serena Devane?”

  “Yes. I didn’t order anything. I don’t think?”

  “Here ya go. Can you sign?”

  “Sure.”

  I signed and took the box from him. He jumped in his truck and pulled out of the driveway. I stared at the box and frowned. Taking it back in the house, I took the scissors to the tape and opened it. A jar of Nutella sat in air bubble wrap.

  “What the hell?” I lifted the jar out and cocked my head to one side. “Who would send me Nutella?”

  I wracked my brain to think of who would send me a jar of hazelnut spread. Again, thoughts of a few of my books came to mind. I knew that in one of them, the main character was in love with the spread. I put the jar in the pantry and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Once again, the sound of a diesel engine caught my attention. I peeked through the blinds to see Vince jumping out of his dick truck. The thought made me chuckle and I went to answer the door before he even reached it. Vince looked surprised when I opened the door.

  “Hey.” His face lit up.

  “Hi. You need help with anything?”

  “Nope, got it all right here.” Vince tapped his duffel.

  “Well, come on in.”

  I moved aside as Vince walked into my house. I caught sight of his ass in faded blue jeans and I swear my mouth watered. Vince’s T-shirt was screaming across his back, it was so tight. His biceps nearly shredded the material around them.

  “It feels good up here. Nice and cool,” Vince remarked.

  “I know. I love it up here.”

  “Nice house.” Vince took a look around my place. “Want to give me the tour?”

  Yup. The tour of my bed and me screaming underneath him.

  “Serena?”

  “Yep?”

  Vince grinned, “Were you thinking dirty thoughts?”

  “I may have been,” I admitted.

  “I meant what I said. I’m not here to have sex with you. I really want us to get to know each other.”

  “Okay, how bout a beer and we sit on the back deck and talk?”

  “Sounds good.”

  We sat on the deck and talked about New York and the things we missed about it.

  “I miss the pizza and the hot dogs the most. I lived in Brooklyn when I first got to New York and fell in love with this pizza place—”

  “Fulton and Front Street?” Vince cut in.

  “Oh my God! Yes! I loved their pies!”

  “My mom loves them too. I always got her one when I got off work on Fridays.”

  I glanced at Vince. He looked a little sad. “You miss her, huh?”

  “Yes, but she was the one who told me to get out of New York and start new. I think she may join me out here if we have another shitty winter. Which we will.” Vince chuckled.

  “Did you always want to be a firefighter?”

  “From the time I could stand, yep. My father was one and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to help people.”

  “Was one?” I asked.

  “Yes, he died of cancer two years ago.”

  “Oh shit. I’m so sorry,” I whispered, biting my lip.

  “Thank you. I know my mom wanted me to leave, but sometimes I think she needs me there. She’ll never admit it. She has all her friends in the neighborhood and they watch out for each other. Plus, some of my guys still check in on her.”

  “She sounds like a good woman.”

  “She’s your typical Italian mother.”

  “Oh lord,” I laughed. “My mother is the typical French mother.”

  “So food plays a big part in your family?”

  “Yes, we always sat down together to eat meals as a family. When we’re all together, we still do.”

  “Same here. My mom would invite the guys with no family over all the time. They were her other sons.”

  “You’re the only son?”

  “Yes. I’m an only child, which is rare for Italians,” Vince snickered.

  “Do you want kids?”

  “Oh yeah, I want, like, ten.”

  I spluttered and Vince tapped my back, laughing.

  “Kidding! Maybe two or three.”

  “Why not four? Why not six?” I eyed him.

  “I think two is perfect. One boy, one girl.”

  I couldn’t stop staring at him. This was the perfect male specimen. He had a great sense of humor, made me laugh, was sexy as all hell, loved his mother, and wanted kids? I think I made that wish when I was twelve. Vince leaned in and touched my cheek.

  “What are you thinking right now?”

  “I blew out my candles when I was twelve and I think I wished for you.”

  “I’m not perfect, Serena. No one is, but I don’t lie and I don’t cheat. I love with my whole heart and I would never intentionally hurt you. I know you’ve got your ex to deal with and I won’t push, but I think we could be good together.”

  I was starting to think the same thing.

  We ended up on the couch sifting through shows on Netflix. I stopped and turned to look at Vince. He was watching me.

  “If we watch a horror movie, I’m going to be in your lap.”

  “Horror movie it is.” Vince declared.

  “I never watch them alone. I usually watch Lost.”

  “Ah, so you’ve put Jack and Sawyer together in your head, right?”

  “How did you know?” I snickered.

  “We can watch whatever you want.”

  I put a horror movie on. Fuck it. I leaned into Vince and he put his arm around me. I looked up at him with a grin.

  “Are you up for catching some live music tomorrow?” I asked.

  “Sure.”

  We settled in to watch the movie and I snorted.

  “What?” Vince cocked a brow at me.

  “Why is the woman always running through the woods with high heels on? Oh, and when the killer gets to her, she stands there and screams.” I shook my head in disgust.

  “What would you do?”

  “Well, first I’d lose the stupid heels. Maybe clock him in the head with one of them.”

  “You’d never die in a situation like that. You’d probably make the killer cry.”

  “Damn straight,” I admitted.

  Vince caressed my cheek and I swallowed hard. The way he looked at me, it went right through to my soul. His eyes darkened with lust and my lips parted.

  “I want to kiss you,” he said softly.

  It took a millisecond before I attacked him. I was in his lap, licking at his lips and grinding against him. It was as if I had no control when it came to Vince. His arms encircled me and then he was feasting on my mouth, his tongue dueling with mine. His hand slid up my neck and into my hair and I swear I purred. Vince broke the kiss panting, his eyes wild.

  “We need to stop or I’m going to take you right here.”

  “And that’s a problem why?” I ground against his dick; which, by the way, was what I expected from a man with big hands and feet. He was hiding an elephant trunk in his pants.

  “I meant it when I said I came up here to get to know you better, and not in the biblical sense, Serena. As much as I want to make love to you, I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t just have sex for kicks.”

  That stopped me and I stared into his eyes. “I get that.”

  “But believe me, the way you kiss? The sex is going to be phenomenal.”

  “It’s all in the kiss,” we both said in unison.

  I started at that and Vince smiled, his hand running smoothly up and down my neck.

  “We have time, Serena. I want to g
et to know you.”

  “My family is nuts,” I warned him.

  “Bring it. I already met some of them.”

  I touched his cheek and smiled. “You are so brave.”

  Vince laughed and removed me from his lap. I leaned into him once again and we watched the movie. Vince and I laughed at all the stupid shit in the movie and then the credits were rolling. I blinked and looked up at him. His eyes were half opened.

  “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

  “Wow, I’m tired and tipsy.”

  “It’s the altitude,” I informed him as I helped him up the stairs.

  “I got it from here.” He took my hand. “Have to brush teeth.”

  “Okay, good night, Vince.”

  “Night, Serena.”

  I went to my room and shut the door, leaning against it. My whole body was screaming to be taken—and hard. I wanted Vince to pound me into the damn mattress. I brushed my teeth and slid into bed, grabbing my remote. I always fell asleep with the TV on at night; living alone, I liked the noise. I had a hot, sexy firefighter right down the hall from me. I loved the fact that Vince didn’t want to jump into bed with me. It was irritating and endearing all at once. I sighed and rolled to my side. I could see dating Vince, we definitely had a lot in common with both our families being from Europe. It occurred to me that I hadn’t thought of Jensen all day. Maybe things were looking up?

  Chapter 17

  I woke up to the sound of pots and pans clanking downstairs, which was odd for me, seeing as I lived alone. I rolled over and looked at the clock. It was ten in the morning. My eyes widened. I never got to sleep in. I got up and hauled a robe on, heading downstairs to see Vince in the kitchen in nothing but sweats. My eyes perused his muscular body, taking in the many colorful tattoos that covered him from his biceps to his abdomen. I must have gasped because Vince looked up and shot me a wide grin.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

  “Damn, now that’s a sight I’d like to see every damn morning,” I blurted out.

  “Why, thank you. I’ve made pancakes. I hope it’s okay I rummaged through all your cabinets.” He motioned to the butter, syrup, and flour on the counter.

  “Eh, not like I have a lot anyway.”

  “You really don’t. Do you ever eat?”

  “Sure I do! Every now and then I’ll have a snack between writing.” Vince eyed me suspiciously and I smiled. “I don’t eat much.”

  “I’m getting that. Coffee?” he asked.

  “It is a must!” I grabbed a mug and poured myself a cup, making sure to add cream and sugar. Vince leaned against the counter as I sipped it. “Oh, so good. How I love thee, coffee.”

  Vince cracked up and grabbed a plate down, placing two fluffy pancakes on it. He handed it to me and I slathered it with butter and syrup. I took a bite and groaned. “These are good. What did you add?”

  “I sprinkled some cinnamon and nutmeg in there.”

  I finished the pancakes in record time and declined the offer of more. Vince went about cleaning my plate, along with all the bowls and utensils he’d used.

  “If I may say, your ex is a moron.”

  “Oh?” Vince placed the plate in the dishwasher.

  “You cook, clean, have a great sense of humor, look like that and are packing. Yep,” I nodded. “Moron.”

  “How do you know I’m packing?” Vince lifted an inquisitive brow.

  “Um, I felt it last night,” I admitted with a blush.

  “Well now,” Vince moved to take me into his arms. “Are you a size queen?”

  “I’m an anything queen. I haven’t had sex in a long time. I’m afraid when it does happen, you’ll have to deal with a cave of wonders.”

  “Well, I do like adventure,” Vince chuckled.

  I palmed his cheek and shook my head. “I don’t get it.”

  “What don’t you get?”

  “Who in their right mind would cheat on you? There has to be something.”

  “Well, I have a great relationship with my mother. She taught me to respect women. I was also brought up cleaning and doing things for myself so,” he shrugged. “I did everything right as far as I know. I just wasn’t enough.”

  “Well, lucky me.” I leaned in to kiss him. Our lips met softly and then Vince wrapped me in his arms. We had the kissing down, I couldn’t complain at all about that. Vince broke from the kiss with a smile.

  “So, what are we doing today?”

  “We’ll figure it out.”

  I took Vince all over Flagstaff. He seemed to really love it and I was having fun. By nightfall, we’d gotten dinner and were on our way to the Green Room. I wanted Vince to meet the guys and I really was in the mood for live music and drinks. Vince held my hand as we entered the bar, the place was already jumping and people were already crowding the stage area. I waved as Aarin and the guys were setting up.

  “This is pretty cool.” Vince took a look around. “Want a drink?”

  “Sure. Just one, though.”

  We took a seat at the bar and both ordered a beer. Vince leaned back against the chair as the music started on stage. I liked all kinds of music and I liked it loud, so I was wondering how Vince would feel about the music currently being belted out.

  “You like it?” I almost shouted.

  “Hell yes!” Vince held up his beer in salute.

  We really couldn’t talk over the music, so I took that time to inspect him thoroughly. He was so… alive and animated. I laughed as Vince got up and jumped into the mosh pit overflowing with folks currently bashing into one another. His smile was infectious; his laugh, addictive. There was still so much about him I didn’t know, and I found myself wanting answers to all my questions.

  Vince came back to me and sat down, laughing and wiping sweat from his forehead.

  “I haven’t done that in forever!”

  “You looked like you were having fun.” I handed him a napkin.

  “You never do that?” he asked.

  “I’m afraid someone would hit me in the boobs.”

  Vince stared at my chest with a salacious grin. “Now that would be a shame.”

  I slapped his bicep and waved the bartender over. Raucous applause and screams erupted behind us and I turned on my stool. The first face I saw was Jensen’s. Our eyes met and I looked away quickly. The guys on stage began to clap and then Aarin’s voice floated over the building.

  “Let’s give it up for Breeding Blood! You guys going to play?”

  Jensen moved towards the stage area with his guys in tow. Wyatt came over to me with a genuine smile.

  “It’s good to see you, Serena.”

  “Hey, Wyatt. This is my date, Vince Rossetti. Vince, Wyatt Presley. He gives me guitar lessons,” I added.

  “You get guitar lessons from Wyatt Presley?” Vince said in awe.

  “She’s not too bad,” Wyatt shot me a grin as he shook Vince’s hand. “You two sticking around?”

  “Oh, I—” I started.

  “We’d love to! I can’t believe Breeding Blood is here!”

  “I’ll buy you a beer after, dude. Good to meet you.” Wyatt told him honestly.

  I watched as he walked across the bar to the stage and huddled in with the guys. Jensen’s eyes met mine again and I turned back to the counter. Vince leaned into my ear.

  “What’s wrong? He seems nice.”

  “Wyatt is Jensen’s guitarist. You know, the Jensen I told you about.” I stated.

  “Jensen Pratt is your high school sweetheart?” Vince said in astonishment. “Fuck, I’ve got no chance.”

  “Stop that.” I took his hand. “Look, nothing has changed, okay? Everything I told you is still true.”

  Vince peered over my shoulder. “Well, if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.”

  “Vince, please.” I turned his face to mine. “It doesn’t matter who he is, he still chose to hurt me. I’m here with you. We can leave if you want.”

  “Nah, I’d like to hang
out and get a beer with Wyatt, at least.”

  I eyed Vince carefully. “I know what you’re up to.”

  “Moi?” Vince placed a hand on his chest in mock horror.

  “I get it, you know? You guys and your testosterone.”

  Vince snorted. “I learned a long time ago that you can’t make someone be with you. They either want to be or they don’t, and forcing the issue only makes it worse. We both agreed this was casual and I’ll stick to that.”

  Jensen and his band started playing and the bar broke out in utter pandemonium. I watched from across the room as Jensen played the drums. He still looked the same, even after all this time. Eyes shut in concentration, sweat flowing freely down his arms and face. He really was a sight to behold. Vince was rocking it out in front of me and I laughed. He really was fun to be with.

  After a half hour of playing, Jensen and his guys bowed to the screaming hoard of fans and then walked towards the bar. I tapped Vince on the shoulder and let him know I was going to the ladies room. I crossed through a throng of people before hitting the hallway to the bathrooms. I barely placed my hand on the door when another hand grabbed my bicep. I twirled around to see Jensen standing there, his chest heaving.

  “Is that your date?” he asked.

  “Yes, Jensen. It is. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to pee and get back to him.”

  “Really, Serena? What is he? An UFC fighter?”

  “Nope, he’s a fireman.”

  “Well, shit. I’ve got no chance now, do I?”

  “You had your chance, remember? I basically got on my hands and knees and begged you and what did you do? Oh, that’s right, you left. So excuse me if I can’t muster up some sad feelings for you.”

  “I meant what I said, Serena. This isn’t over between us. It never was.”

  “Oh, but it is, Jensen. Where’s Noelle?”

  “We broke up.”

  “Nothing new there,” I said wryly.

  “Oh, but it is different this time. I can assure you of that. I’m seeing a psychiatrist, Serena. I’m going to be the man you fell in love with.”