by Lacey Wolfe
“As tempting as that sounds, I happen to like taking money from unsuspecting victims. You just sit here and be my good-luck charm.”
Beth giggled and scooted closer to him.
The dealer at the table got the game going. After the first round, Neil realized he was playing with some good players. Tonight might be a bit of a competition.
As the dealer dished out the next few cards, he couldn’t help but feel like someone was watching him. He glanced around but didn’t see anyone he recognized. Maybe some pretty woman was watching him from afar.
The club was still packed, even though it wasn’t a typical night. As he picked up his cards to see what he had, he heard someone clear their throat from behind him. Laying the cards down, he turned to see a woman. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her.
“Neil Clark, right?”
He nodded.
“I can’t believe you.” Her tone was loud.
“Quiet down.” He waved his hand. “What did I do to you?”
She rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her slender hip. “It isn’t what you did to me. It’s my best friend.”
Ah, one of his past bed romps must have gotten her feelings hurt. “Tell your friend it was just a one-time thing and not to take it personal.”
“Oh believe me; I’ll be sure to let her know what I saw here tonight. You and that woman.” She huffed. “Thank God Krista never went all the way with you.”
Krista.
Neil stood quickly, but the woman had turned her back and was strutting away fast. He pushed through the crowd, hoping to catch up to her, but she was out the door before he could catch her. He followed her in time to see her climbing into her car and driving off.
Damn it!
“Who was that?”Beth asked as she came up behind him and laced her arms through his.
Neil shook her off and stomped off toward his own car. Having Krista think negatively about him was the last thing he wanted.
Beep , beep, beep. Beep, beep¸ beep.
Krista rubbed her eyes.
Beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep.
Pushing herself up from where she was laying on the couch, she glanced around, disoriented. She must’ve fallen asleep while watching TV.
Her cell phone continued to beep. What the heck? She reached forward and grabbed it from her coffee table. She hoped the noise didn’t wake EJ. She’d had a hard time getting him to go to sleep tonight as it was.
Krista read the messages from Jamie.
Are you there? I saw Neil tonight.
Neil is a jerk. Thank God you didn’t get involved with him.
You deserve someone much better than that sleezeball. Call me!
Krista scrolled through, reading them again. Where had she seen Neil and what had he done? She was about to call Jamie when a knock sounded on her front door.
Setting the phone down, she tiptoed over and peeked out the sidelight window and was surprised to see Neil.
What the hell was going on this evening?
She opened the door and stepped out onto the front porch, closing the door behind her. She didn’t want the voices to carry down the hallway to wake EJ.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to explain.” He was out of breath.
She brushed her hair over one shoulder. “Explain what?”
“Tonight.”
Krista sighed. “I’ve been asleep. I have no idea what’s going on. I do know I had texts from Jamie and apparently you’re a sleezeball. However, I haven’t talked to her yet to find out why. But since you’re here. Go ahead and explain.”
He stared at her with an apologetic expression. “I did a stupid thing tonight and I’m sorry.”
She crossed her arms and leaned against the cool brick but didn’t say anything.
“I like you so much and I don’t know why.” He grunted. “I don’t mean that the way it sounds, but I am so attracted to you. I’ve never been this attracted to a woman. And yet, you’ve pretty much told me over and over that it isn’t going to work. Tonight was poker night at the club and I was there.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Well, Jamie saw me with a woman.”
Krista held her hand up. “We’re not together.” Not that hearing he was with someone else didn’t sting.
“But I want to be. I don’t want the other woman.”
“You want to be with me, even though I keep telling you it’ll never work. So you turned to another woman? Or something like that.”
“Fuck, yeah. Something like that.” He rubbed his palms along his sides.
Krista stared at the older man. She’d only seem him a few times in her life, but he’d always been so collected, but right now the man who stood before her was frantic. He didn’t hold that same controlled demeanor she was used too. Instead he seemed unsure of himself.
“I made a dumb mistake.” He sighed.
Krista couldn’t understand why he was so apologetic. “Did you sleep with her, kiss her, or anything like that?”
“No. I only met her when I sat down at the table.”
Krista laughed. “You flirted with another woman and now you feel guilty?”
Neil was silent a moment and stared past her. Finally he looked back at her. “When you put it that way, I can see how silly this is. But I didn’t want Jamie to tell you anything that would upset you. She ran away so fast I didn’t get a chance to explain what she saw.”
She chuckled more. “It’s fine, Neil. Really. You can go home and sleep tonight with a clear conscience.”
He growled. “Damn it, woman! The things you do to me.”
Before Krista had a moment to respond, his arms were around her waist tugging her to him. His lips captured hers and then their tongues met. Krista was frozen at first, until a fire seemed to ignite in her. She laced her arms around his neck and stood on her tippy toes. Tilting slightly, they deepened the kiss.
Nerves in her body tingled, especially between her legs. Her panties grew moist and she couldn’t believe she was this turned on from a kiss.
Neil pushed her so until her back was up against the rough brick wall, and his erection pressed into her stomach. Oh God, the feel of a man’s arousal. It had been so long. So long since she’d wrapped her hands around a shaft and stroked it up and down, listening to a man’s breathing to tell if it was pleasurable or not. The feel of seeps of cum escaping as her hand glided faster up and down.
Lost in thought, her hips began to grind into him. His thigh pressed to her center. The rubbing and grinding felt too damn good.
“Krista,” he whispered against her lips.
“Don’t stop.” She tugged his mouth back.
He whispered into her chin, “We’re on your front porch. Let’s take this inside so I can really show you how sorry I am.”
She shoved him away. “Crap. This went way too far. You’ve got to go.”
He stared at her, raising an eyebrow. “I’m confused. We were just kissing.”
She’d practically been dry humping his leg. “This shouldn’t have happened. We can never happen. Forget this kiss. Goodbye, Neil.”
She didn’t give him a chance to speak again. She opened the door, jetted inside, and shut the door. Leaning against it, she heard him mumble something.
Krista couldn’t believe she’d just made out with him. And chances were if they hadn’t been on the front porch, she’d have had her way with him. Damn, could she have been any more wanton?
There was just something about that man and she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. He made her want to throw all inhibition out the door. It was probably best she wasn’t going to see him again.
Her phone beeped again from the coffee table. It was probably Jamie. Krista sighed and grabbed the phone. Sure enough, it was another message asking her to call.
Krista obliged and Jamie answered after the first ring. “What have you been doing?”
“I was asleep.” And humping Neil’s leg.
“I’m s
o glad you decided against that guy. He was with another woman tonight. And that woman was practically in his lap groping him. He liked it. I could tell.”
“Maybe he was just flirting with her.”
Jamie sarcastically chuckled. “Oh no. It was much more than that. They were going home together. I’m not blind. Besides, he shouldn’t have been there since he’s met you. I don’t care that he was playing poker or whatever.”
“Jamie, chill. I’m not with him and I made it clear I didn’t want to be. He had every right to talk, flirt, or whatever with that woman.” Only she hoped after that kiss, he didn’t return to the woman—at least tonight. Hopefully he was going home to take a cold shower, much like she needed.
“For some reason I thought you’d be a little more upset about this.”
“I appreciate you being there for me.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
She twirled a strand of hair. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay? I need to get some rest. And you need to stay out of that club. Older men are nothing but trouble.”
“You might be right.”
“I’m always right. Now that we have that established, life can go on.” Krista chuckled.
“Yeah, whatever. Go back to dream world.”
“Night.” She set the phone back down on the table.
After switching off the TV and lights, she headed to her room. Morning would be there fast and she needed to get ready for a long night of tossing and turning. Her engines were still on fire from Neil. And a finger wasn’t going to cut it when she really wanted him to fill her.
* * *
Neil stared at his computer screen. He needed to work, but all he could do was think about Krista and that kiss. Good God, it had been beyond amazing. Never had a kiss had him so freaking turned on. This woman had gotten her claws into him and she wasn’t even trying.
Neil grunted and shoved back from his chair. There was no use in even trying to work. He needed to get Krista to give him a shot. She was a single woman. Nothing tying her to where she was—that he knew of. So what was the problem? Why didn’t she want to try? Or at least play a little.
Somehow he had to devise a plan for this weekend. He’d get her to go out with him and give her a date she’d never forget. One that would change her mind. Krista didn’t want an extravagant date. If he wanted her to even consider a relationship, he’d have to tone it down quite a few notches. Something he wasn’t used to.
But first, he was going to call her and ask her on a proper date.
Pulling the phone from his hip, he dialed her number. After the fourth ring the voice mail message came on. Now the question was, to leave a message or not?
“Hi Krista, it’s Neil. When you’ve got a moment, please give me a call. I’d like to take you out again this weekend. Hope you’re having a wonderful day. I’ll be thinking of you.”
He pressed the end button. Was that an okay message? Was it stupid?
What the hell was the matter with him? Of course it was a fine message. Since when did he over think such things. The more he got to know this woman, the more insecure he became. Hopefully she was worth it.
* * *
“Well, what did he want?” Jamie stared hard at Krista.
Krista set the phone down on the kitchen table. “A date this weekend.”
Jamie shook her head. “Are you going to go?”
Krista chewed her bottom lip. It was tempting. He was all she’d been able to think about. “I don’t know.”
“All morning you’ve defended his evening out with another woman. And you finally confessed to kissing him.” Jamie gave her a stern look.
Krista grinned. She couldn’t shake that kiss. She was still turned on. Her lower body was craving an intimate meeting with Neil. It had been quite awhile since that part of her body had met flesh and not hard plastic.
“I’m attracted to him in a bad way. But then I think about EJ.”
Jamie sighed and rubbed her arms. “Why is he holding you back so much? Don’t you think he’d want his mommy to have a boyfriend and happy?”
“Seriously? He’s seven. His mommy dating a millionaire is the last thing on his mind.”
“You’re dating a millionaire!” EJ stood at the kitchen doorway with a big grin and wide eyes.
Krista hit her forehead with her hand. “No, I’m not.”
“Is that who sent the flowers?”
She couldn’t just lie to him. “Yes, but we’re just friends. That’s it.”
“Think he’ll buy me anything cool?” EJ continued in an excited voice.
Krista stared at Jamie, hoping she’d see her pleading gaze to help her with this situation. She did. “Did you ever finish building the Lego set I bought you? I want to see it.”
“Yeah. It was hard.” He groaned.
“Show me.” Jamie hopped up from the table and at the doorway turned and mouthed sorry.
Krista took a deep breath and hoped her son didn’t repeat any of what he’d heard to anyone—especially Todd.
But at the moment, she had to decide about Neil. Since EJ was distracted now with Jamie, she grabbed her phone and went out the back door to sit on the porch. Taking another deep breath, she called Neil back. Maybe he’d be busy and not answer.
“Hello, beautiful.”
She was never lucky. “Hi, I got your message.”
“Good. I’d really love to take you out again and I promise, this time it won’t be on a jet.”
Perhaps he had a yacht for this next date. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“I’m not taking no for an answer. One more date, that’s all I ask. Let me show you that I can be the kind of guy you want to be with.”
It was hard to tell him no, especially when she really didn’t want to. “Okay, but it needs to be somewhere public.”
He chuckled. “Afraid to be alone with me?”
Yes, yes she was. She’d be naked in no time with her legs spread open. “I don’t want you getting the wrong impression.”
“I could wait a lifetime for you, Krista. You’re special.”
Her heart did a flip-flop. This man could make her swoon. He was trouble. “Saturday is best for me.”
“Then Saturday it is. How about we make it a day date? I’d like to make the most of our time together.”
“Okay. Sounds like a plan.” Jamie tapped on the door behind her and mouthed the word Neil. Krista nodded. “Listen, I’m sorry to cut this short, but I’ve got to go.”
“I’ll be in touch soon about our date. I can’t wait.”
“Me too.” She disconnected the call.
With the phone held tightly in her hand, she got up and went back inside where her friend stood with her arms crossed and toe tapping.
“We’re going out this weekend.” A grin spread across her face.
“Did you tell him about EJ yet?”
She shook her head. “No. Thankfully it’s his dad’s weekend. Let’s hope he doesn’t tell Todd I’m supposedly seeing a millionaire.”
Jamie shrugged. “I think I convinced EJ you weren’t.”
What a relief. “Thanks.”
All she needed now was for Todd to demand to meet Neil before this supposed date. The date she planned on being the last one. But so far any plans she’d made about Neil hadn’t worked out. Hell, she hadn’t planned on seeing him again after the first date. Yet now they were pretty much on date three.
* * *
Todd was late—which wasn’t like him. EJ sat on the couch, watching some cartoon that Krista didn’t get. It was sort of like a Saturday Night Live type show for kids. Some of the skits were rather funny, while some left her scratching her head. But EJ loved it.
She checked her phone to make sure Todd hadn’t called or sent a message. Nothing. “Hey, EJ. Did your dad say anything about being late?”
“Nope.” His gaze never left the TV screen.
“Is he working late?”
“I don’t know, Mom.
Call him.”
Her son was a genius. Why was she fussing about it when all she had to do was call? As she scrolled though her contacts to Todd’s number, she heard the glass door open and a light knock on the door.
“Looks like he’s here.” She opened the door.
Todd stood on the other side with a smile. “Sorry I’m late. I stopped and got coffee. Here.” He handed a cup to her.
She took it, surprised he’d thought of her, and stepped back so he could come in. “Thanks.” She heard the hesitation in her own voice. He’d never done anything like that before.
“I was there and knew I was coming here. No big deal.” He shrugged.
Something in her gut told her it was a big deal. “I appreciate it. That was kind of you.” She turned to face her son. “EJ, Dad’s here.”
“Just a minute.”
“He loves that show,” Todd said.
She nodded and sipped the hot beverage. Mmm, her favorite. Mocha. “Yeah, I know.”
“I personally find it odd.”
Krista glanced at the clock and hoped the show would hurry up. Typically when she had to converse with Todd, she liked to do it over the phone. She didn’t have any hard feelings toward him anymore necessarily. It was still uncomfortable at times to be around him though. They’d once shared everything with one another, and now, only EJ.
“Those flowers are still holding up.” Todd took a sip of his coffee.
She glanced at them. They still bloomed brightly. “Yeah. I’m surprised, since I don’t have a green thumb.”
“Still not seeing the man who sent them?”
She shook her head. She hated lying, but was it really lying? This was a date to show him things wouldn’t work. Just last the last few dates.
“A millionaire sent her those.” Perfect timing. EJ’s show was over.
“A millionaire?” Todd raised an eyebrow.
Krista laughed nervously. “You watch too much TV, EJ.”
“But—”
She gave her son a stern look and he shut up.
“You two have a fun weekend.” Krista held the door open and set the coffee on the end table next to it. “Give me a hug.” EJ wrapped his arms around her and she planted a kiss on the top of his head. “Have fun. I love you.”
