Fostering Love (The Soul Sisters Series Book 1)

by Johns, Victoria

  “Oh I don’t know, I can’t really wear a bra with that you don’t think I’ll look like I’m trying too much?” I answer.

  “Nope, get it on and I’ll deliver the remaining magic once you’re in it,” she snaps as she thrusts the dress at me.

  The dress is unique, it’s strapless with a hidden boned bustier which means it retains shape and sturdiness for keeping my breasts in place but the ribs are soft enough that you can tell I’m not wearing a bra and you also get a hint of sexy breast swell too. There is no back to speak of and what there is of it is a single one inch thick strap shaped like a T that goes across the back and down the middle to the waist band of the skirt. The skirt bit is simple, it’s tight and fairly short at mid thigh and it balances out the racy top perfectly. Although I love the dress I feel like I’m trying to garner attention and I suppose I am, aren’t we all? So I suck it up and tell myself Tommy better appreciate this.

  “Here, put these on too.”

  “Neely I won’t be able to dance in them,” I say with a head shake.

  “Exactly, you’ll only be capable of shuffling to the ladies and maybe the bar and back and if you’re feeling brave possibly a slow dance with Tommy,” says Lottie. The shoes Neely has given me are sky high and they put me at over six foot. They’ve got a pretty little detailed cut out leather butterfly that sits over the top of the ankle clasp and have a deadly looking pointed toe.

  “Sit here, let me finish the look.” I perch on the edge of my bed while she back combs some of my curls and then quickly attacks me with makeup. It’s not fancy because I don’t need it with this dress, just some smoky grey eye shadow, a feint black line of eyeliner, a touch of mascara and a wisp of lip gloss that makes my full lips look plumper.

  “Lean forward and bend your head,” she barks. I do this and she starts to frantically fluff my hair and spray it with hairspray whilst my head is upside down. Then “Up” is the next command I receive.

  “OK. Give me a minute to get over the hairspray head rush,” I reply, and as I stand up she takes some simple dangly earrings and a necklace that ends seductively between my cleavage which Flo has been busy selecting. After this she gives me a two inch thick bangle to go on my wrist and huge simple wedge of silver which is a ring to go on the same hand.

  “Winner. Epic. Dark Dolly is coming out to play,” she says as she turns me to the mirror. I stare at my own reflection and feel butterflies in my stomach because I know I look hot. As in scorching hot.

  “Jesus, even I don’t know it’s me, there is no denying it, you girls are amazing.” I smile and grab my purse off the chair.

  “The girl is happy, our work is done and we will take full credit for the immediate boner Tommy gets when he sees you.” I turn back to the mirror and smile at all my girls, the fact that they’ve come together to help me is their way of showing support and making me comfortable enough to let my hair down and have a good time.

  We arrive at Purps and Tits is behind the bar, so Flo and I leave the drinks to the other two and go to see if there is an alcove lounge free. I spot one and signal that’s where were heading as we make in that direction.

  “Are you excited? I’m excited for you. Was he a good kisser? No don’t answer that, you don’t need to, of course he was,” Flo mumbles.

  “I think you should answer Dolly, I’d love to know.” I spin round and there’s Tommy with a huge grin on his face. He’s wearing a simple white linen shirt with the sleeves shoved roughly up to his elbows, plain black trousers and shoes. He looks good and I blush when I remember the last time I saw him as he approaches me casually.

  “Hi,” I say and he takes my hand and steps closer to me, he then bends to kiss my cheek and whispers “Hi” back to me. We don’t say anything else and it feels like it’s enough. I make a glance in Flo’s direction and she’s day dreaming which means she is off in romance novel land again.

  “Drinks are up, hey Tommy, what do you want...a beer?” Lottie asks.

  “I’ll get it, you have a seat with your girls,” he says and wanders off to the bar.

  “He looks a dish tonight,” says Neely. “Do we need code cues or a rescue symbol for the nights proceedings, Dolly?”

  “No, it’s not going to be like that, it’s just a get to know you drink and anyway we’re all here together.” They laugh at that and are still chuckling as Tommy returns and after some seat shuffling takes place he finds himself next to me. We talk and sip our drinks, I’m in on a bottle of something sparkly that the girls have got and he’s steadily nursing his beer.

  “How’s work, Tommy?”

  “Busy thanks Neely, but I’m not complaining,” he replies.

  “Done any more outdoor jobs?” she says on a chuckle.

  “Oh no, they’re reserved for special fares only,” he says and then looks at me “They know?” The bubbles are going to my head so I giggle in reply “Absolutely, we share everything, can you handle that Tommy?”

  “I don’t share Dolly and something tells me I’m going to have my hands full with you, hopefully about as full as they were a few days ago.”

  “Maybe,” I reply on an eyebrow raise. The girls clearly think things are progressing and that I no longer need their help so they head off to the dance floor, telling me to stay and get to know Tommy better. I blush and smile at Tommy as they leave.

  “I have to tell you, you look amazing tonight, but I’ve seen you look better. It’s a good thing they don’t allow the untied bikini top look here or I’d have put in a request for you to wear that.” His voice goes deeper and quieter as he says this, it’s like he’s including me in on a secret conspiracy.

  “Thanks Tommy. About the other, I don’t usually...”

  “Don’t apologize,” he cuts me off, “I don’t want you to apologize; I’ve been waiting for the right moment to ask you out. Admittedly, we did things backwards but none the less, best assistant working day ever.”

  I laugh, “Well it was part of my elaborate plan. Create a fake job at a secluded nature spot and then seduce an unsuspecting male...” I can’t keep my face straight as I finish the line.

  “Your plan was foolproof right up until we were interrupted by the winners of the bad time awards,” he says laughing back at me.

  By this point Tommy has turned to face me and has his hand on my knee gently rubbing it. My dress is shorter now I’m sat down so every once in a while he takes the opportunity to rub his hand a little higher. Whilst this is going on he glances at my eyes, lips and face, like he’s asking for permission to move this forward.

  “I like you Dolly and I want to see how good things could be between us.” He leans in for a little kiss and then brushes his lips just below my ear. “You’re beautiful and knowing what I know about how you look when I do things too you, makes me want to see it again. I can’t wait to see it again.” He’s still placing soft kisses on my jaw as he speaks these words and I’ve got my head nuzzled into him and my eyes are droopy and half closed, I’m also making some murmuring sounds of agreement.

  “Excuse me, Miss Frobisher, the Manager would like to see you for a moment.”

  “Sorry, what?” I say as I turn and look at one of the cookie cutter doormen standing at the end of the alcove we’re sat in.

  “The Manager, Miss Frobisher; asks that you give him a moment of your time,” he repeats.

  “Sorry, I don’t even know who the Manager is, so no, thanks, but no thanks I don’t think so bruiser boy.”

  “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist or ask you to leave the premises.” Oh my God, he’s actually totally serious.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I yell back at him.

  “It’s OK Dolly we’ll go and see what he wants,” Tommy tells him.

  “My apologies Mr Sevens, I’m asked to escort Miss Frobisher. Just Miss Frobisher.”

  WHAT! He is completely serious about this too.

  “She’s not going anywhere on his demand,” Tommy says calmly, but it’
s with an edge that tells me he knows what this is about.

  “Tommy, come and join us for a beer whilst Dolly deals with this bit of business,” I hear Chris say.

  Where did Chris come from?

  Tommy looks at me and then the doorman and concedes. “OK a quick beer; you had best bring her back to me quickly and if you don’t I’ll find her first and then you.” There is definitely a threat in that statement.

  What the fuck? I don’t want to and see the Manager.

  “Miss Frobisher,” cookie cutter guy is looking at me and waiting for me to get out of the alcove and follow him. He can tell I’m not happy but he doesn’t acknowledge it or care. “This way please.” He leads me round the dance floor to a paneled door next to a closed bar, after he opens the door he ushers me through and says “Top of the stairs, first door on the left,” with that he leaves me and shuts the door behind him as he resumes his job for the night.

  I’m still at the bottom of the stairs, having a moment of paranoia. I’m contemplating leaving, but I’m also curious enough to see what this is about and angry enough to need someone to shout at. This Manager is going to get it for his unexplained and insistent interruption. I fly up the stairs in my crazy shoes and think, fuck knocking, so I just grab the handle and barge in, on the other side of the door is a very angry looking Jonas. He’s stood like he’s made of vibrating stone in front of a large desk. Behind him I can see the lights in the club ceiling flashing and feel just a hint of base drum from the music. It’s then that I realize the mirrors around one edge of the dance floor are two way mirrors giving the manager the option to oversee his domain as he wants.

  “Not a fucking chance. I’m off,” I shout.

  “Dalton, don’t touch that fucking door.”

  “Whatever,” I reply flippantly and turn around towards the door.

  “Dalton I will fucking drag you back up here if I have to. You’ve ignored my text messages so I’ve had to resort to other measures.” Jonas is trying to keep calm; it’s never been hard to see when he’s on the edge of his patience, he’s like an unexploded bomb.

  “So you’re the Purps Manager? WOW. Impressive that you need time to get your shit together for this. Say what you’ve been desperate to say and then I’m out of here.” He is not the only one shaking with rage right now.

  “I want to know you’re alright after... Letitia and dinner at Barbs and Harrison’s,” he says.

  “That’s it? You could have actually asked that via one of the fucking repeated text messages you sent. Fine. I’m fine. Thanks for your concern,” I shout back in a pissy manner. “You don’t need to protect me from anyone anymore. You’ve done your family duty. Is that all? Good,” I shout not bothering to wait for his answer. “I’ll be getting back to my date.”

  Suddenly he’s moving towards me. “You’re going nowhere and certainly not back to him.”

  WHAT!

  “Fuck you; I’m none of your business.” I grab the door handle and get the door open about ten inches before it’s slammed shut and he’s right behind me, leaning over me with a hand to the side of my head with his palm flat keeping the door closed. I know I have to turn around to face him but I don’t want to be this close to him. I’ve made a decision to get on with things with no more Jonas moping in my head but he’s not moving out of my space.

  I turn around and I’m starting to shake even more. He leans just a little so his face is directly looking at me when he says “Mine” really quietly. “You’re not going back to him Dalton you’re not his.” I drop my purse in shock and plant my hands on the door beside me, I feel like I’m bracing for something but I don’t know what.

  “Mine, Dalton.”

  Whilst I am trying to comprehend the totally bizarre turn of the night he leans in until his lips are on mine. Both our eyes are still open and I still haven’t moved or responded.

  “And only mine.”

  When I don’t really do anything like complain, shout, resist or kiss him back he steps in closer which is mad because he is already really close. I can now feel him touching certain parts of my body. I’m still looking at his eyes and they register the usual angry flare he’s always shown me and it keeps me frozen in place. With a gentle firmness he moves the hand that is at the side of my head and places it around my throat, his hands are big and they encompass my neck. He starts to slide his thumb up and down my neck and it feels good and with the anger still in his eyes it feels possessive.

  “Kiss me Dalton. I know you want to. You’ve always wanted to.” I gasp and shudder when he finishes this and open my mouth; he’s only a hair’s breadth away from my face so it gives him enough time to get his tongue in my mouth. His kisses are gentle and pleading and I know that I am starting to come undone, I am starting to cave. My resolve is wavering because I want this and I've always wanted it. His kisses become more urgent and he takes what he wants because the hand on my neck holds me in place at his mercy. I can feel his body now shrouding me and it feels right. After a second later I offer my tongue to him and this is all he needs, my permission. I feel like I’m being pinned to the door with want as my hands move from the door to grip the back of his head and I feel a groan leave the back of his throat.

  “Fuck me. Fuckin’ better than I dreamed it would be,” he says whilst looking into my eyes again and it’s the only encouragement I need to attack his lips. I moan with him as I suck at his tongue and nip at his lips.

  “There she is, my fuckin’ girl, let me have it,” he demands as a loud banging hits the other side of the door.

  “Jonas open up.”

  FUCKING TITS.

  She’s like an ice cold bucket of water and a well needed dose of reality.

  “Not now Letitia, get back to work,” he shouts whilst trying to keep me in place. I push against him and he knows the moment has been broken and he’s lost my commitment to the play we were involved in.

  “Come on baby, open the door, I’m on my break,” she continues.

  “Let me go Jonas. Just let me go.” I say it on a whisper with a pleading tone in my voice and I find I can’t look at him. He moves to open the door slightly whilst trying to contain me in the room.

  “This had better be good,” he snaps peeking round the door at her, and he becomes pissed when he realizes that I’ve out maneuvred him and am prizing the door open myself. I don’t look at either of them as I pass and walk through it.

  “Dalton,” I don’t answer him. “Wait,” I still ignore him.

  The last thing I hear as I walk down the stairs is “Jonas we need to talk, can you leave the Brady Bunch family stuff I haven’t got long; my boss is a tyrant and a hard task master,” she says this with a sultry edge to her voice that makes bile rise up my throat and then I hear a slamming door.

  I’m not staying now; I’m too upset over him doing that to me when it’s obvious he’s still fucking around with her. I’m absolutely devastated that I let it happen and more traumatized that I wanted it and enjoyed it. I make my way around the edge of the club avoiding the dance floor and bar so I don’t bump into any of the girls, the guy gang or Tommy and it’s at that point that I realize my purse is on the office floor. Tough shit, I am not going back up there.

  “Miss Frobisher the Manager requested I call you a cab, the fare is covered.” I go with him and one of Tommy’s cabs is waiting with the door already open so I climb in and the door closes behind me. I’ll be able to get in the apartment because Neely and I have a spare key hidey hole. The girls will worry about where I’ve got to but I have no way to get hold of them now and Tommy, poor Tommy.

  I’m a fucking bitch.

  I hit home on autopilot and the last thing I think about as I’m dropping on my bed is that he kissed me, he made me want to kiss him back and he then he let that bitch in. It’s also then that I realize the fucker got his way because I didn’t go back to Tommy.

  I burst into tears and cry until sleep consumes me.

  *****

  Jonas
>
  “Why the hell aren’t you behind the fuckin’ bar where you’re paid to be?” I snap at her as I pick up the in house phone and wait for the head doorman to answer. “Make sure Miss Frobisher gets put in a cab home now. Get it charged on the account,” is all I say as I smash the handset into the base of the phone on the desk.

  Tilting her head to the side Letitia says “Jonas what was Dolly doing up here with you?” She’s got that look about her where she’s ready to scratch some fuckers eyes out.

  “Is it any of your business who I have meetings with?” Eventually she will get the message that this is just what I told her it is. A fumble in the fuckin’ dark.

  “I actually came up here to talk to you about something. I’ve got some err, news.”

  Chapter Eleven

  I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in this position on my bed, but I was still wearing my favorite dress and was on top of my covers. My face felt crusty and I knew it was a combination of tears and dry makeup. I hadn’t drunk enough to feel hung over, I was just sad, depressed and really afraid. Depressed because things felt crazy and out of control, sad because I knew I’d have to face Tommy and the girls soon and afraid because I didn’t want to see Jonas. Worryingly I couldn’t decide whether that was because I needed to hate him or because I wanted to be back living in that brief moment where he told me I was his. It’s what I’d always wished for since...forever. Just remembering the feel of his lips on mine made me run my fingers over them to see if they felt any different. I’d never had any guy make a declaration like Jonas had and even though I was a strong woman, it still felt intoxicating.

  The cruel twist was that I could never be his; he wants his life to remain private and us getting together like I so desperately wanted would mean the exact opposite, we’d become the talk of the town. It would upset Barbara and Harrison and I didn’t want to be involved in something that I felt would need to be justified to people so that they would understand and leave us be. I was talking as if Jonas actually wanted me, he didn’t, he was still with Tits and her interruption had proved that. I think he just didn’t want me with Tommy, and unfortunately his fucked up head games were starting to make me question whether I was in the right place to start something new. I wanted to feel mad that he had a hold over me that meant he got to carry on with his life whilst mine stayed firmly in the past, not moving forward and dreaming about the impossible. I’m starting to think I need a break from my life. When he left and went in to the navy before it worked for me, sort of, once I got over the loss I felt. Maybe it’s my turn to get some perspective.