Her words surprised him, his parents had told him the same thing, but they were his family and knew him. Where as she’d just met him earlier tonight and she believed that he’d looked at every conceivable avenue before he’d decided upon selling.
“I’m not second guessing I know it’s the right thing at the right time, I’m just ready for the deal to be done. Knowing my cousins like I do I know they are trying to find out the name of the company that I’m dealing with to try and interfere with the sell.”
“Ah, I see the holding everything to the vest is what’s keeping you awake along with you wondering if you are doing what is right for the family. Believe me Ethan,” she said placing her hand on his, “I’m sure that you’ve run the numbers several times over and know that this is what needs to be done to protect your family’s interests for generations to come.”
“What do you charge normally?” He asked. When she frowned he smiled, “I know going to a psychologist isn’t cheap, so how much to do you charge.”
Regina laughed a deep throaty laugh that hit him triggering a longing for something that he wasn’t aware he wanted. “I’ve been going over this in my mind since the first time my cousins started complaining and I knew that I’d checked and double checked everything and projected things until the cows come home. I still started doubting my decision, but after talking with you about it I know it’s the right thing to do for the family as a whole.”
“Believe me I know what it’s like to have jealous family members that will try and do things to sabotage you. Sometimes family will be the first to stick you in the back.”
“Sounds like you speak from experience,” he commented frowning.
“Some of my family has a problem with me wanting to do things on my own without using my trust fund. When I took my first modeling job and became the rave of the fashion world several cousins wanted to ride my coat tail to the top thinking that because we were related it was my duty to the family to get them in to the business without them having to start at the bottom and work their way up, which is exactly what I had to do. Lucky for me I became close friends with the owner of the modeling company I went to work for. Melba always looked out for her models and didn’t allow anyone to use or abuse them. She was really flexible when it came to my dancing and the modeling gigs. She knew I was doing both so I could accomplish goals that I’d set for myself to do on my own without the help of the Coleman name.”
“You worked as a model, danced with a major dance troupe and went to school to be a teacher?” He asked in awe.
“Yes it was something I wanted to do. I know most of the family looked at me as if I was crazy when I chose not to use my trust fund. I wanted to put that money to work for me, to have something to live off of when the time came that I would burn out from dealing with other people’s kids and deal with some of my own.”
Ethan looked down at his mug and realized that he’d drunk all of the tea and hadn’t even realized it. He also noticed the weight that he’d been carrying around for the past month no long felt so heavy and oppressing.
Regina stood, “I think it’s time for me to get back and shower.”
“Thank you for being my sounding board and I can tell you it made a world of difference,” he confessed rising with her. He walked her to the door of her studio waiting until she was in and the door locked behind her before he returned home. After rinsing their mugs he turned out the light and headed back to bed and this time when his head hit the pillow he went right to sleep.
Chapter 3
Ethan admitted several days later that thanks to his talk with Regina he was able to fully enjoy his time with his nieces, which made him long for kids of his own. In the kitchen he prepared dinner while the girls played video games in the family room and snacked on popcorn. He was a little surprised when the doorbell rang; he cleaned his hands and headed for the door to answer it. He wasn’t expecting anyone and was totally taken off guard when he opened the door and found Karen standing on the front porch.
“Hey baby,” she said as she breezed by him walking inside as if she owned the place.
“Uh Karen what are you doing here?” He asked closing the door behind her.
“I came by to lure you out of this self imposed boring existence. So why don’t you put on something decent and we can get out of here.”
Ethan stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. The reason he hadn’t called her was because he’d ended things with her when he found out that she was making time with Frank Jr. because she thought that he would be next in line to take over Thompson Investments. Apparently she’d found out that wasn’t going to happen.
“First of all Karen you can’t just show up here and think that things will go back to the way they were if you are then you are wasting your time.”
“Uncle Ethan we are out of popcorn. Can we have some more?”
Despite his unwanted visitor, Ethan smiled at his little niece knowing the twins had put her up to asking for more snacks. “Tell your sisters that dinner is almost ready so you don’t need any more snacks.”
She nodded and ran to relay the message to her big sisters.
“What did your sister do for you that obligated you to keep her kids?” Karen asked snidely.
“I’m not obligated. I volunteered to keep them because I enjoy spending time with them. Now back to your reason for being here, but you know what? It doesn’t matter why you are here what does matter is that you aren’t staying so if you’ll excuse me I have to finish dinner.”
She stood stock still not believing that he was throwing her out, but she knew she didn’t want to be here with those damn kids so she didn’t argue. “Why don’t you call me when you get rid of the unwanted guests?” She called out as she walked out.
“The only unwanted guest is you,” he said closing the door.
Ethan returned to the kitchen and finished up their dinner dismissing Karen from his mind. Once he checked to make sure everything was simmering he joined the girls in the family room and joined in the fun.
Karen took out her cell phone as soon as he closed the door, “Why didn’t you tell me he had those damn kids here?” She snapped into the phone as soon as the other line was answered.
“How was I supposed to know, it’s not like we talk or anything. Were you able to get any information?” Frank asked.
“Hell no, he threw me out because he wanted to spend time with his nieces, which makes no sense to me. You need to find out when his bitch of a sister and her husband will be back to get their kids before I come back here.” Karen flipped the phone closed before heading to her car. Karen was getting the feeling that she’d made a big mistake in falling for Frank Jr. and his so called full proof plan. Granted he was alright in bed, but he lacked the finesse that Ethan had in bed and God knew his cock wasn’t as large, but she’d never met a man with a piece of tool as impressive as Ethan’s. The man was insatiable and often times that right after she’d found her release she would be done, not Ethan the damn man was just getting started and when he was done she was completely exhausted.
Well she wouldn’t give up just yet she’d let Frank Jr. think that she was still working to help him, but she would work on becoming an active part of Ethan’s life once again even if it meant having to deal with his bitch of a sister and her brood.
Regina pulled into her drive way just as the blonde woman sped down the street. Shaking her head she grabbed her bag out of the back. Regina sighed deeply feeling as if a huge weight sat atop her shoulders, today had been another day from hell and she wondered how much more she would be able to take of the spoiled rich kids that attended the school where she taught. Hell growing up her parents had more money than all of their parents put together and neither she nor Reg ever acted the way the kids that she taught dance did and it really pissed her off that they were allowed to be such obnoxious and selfish people. She remembered growing up and no matter what she or her brother wanted, they had to work for it and she realized tha
t that was the difference. The kids she taught never had to work for anything and thus thought they were entitled to any and everything their hearts desired.
Making sure to lock the car door she turned and headed towards her house. As she reached her front porch she heard her name being called. Turning, she spotted Joe climbing out of his car. She didn’t have the patients to be nice not after the long day she’d had with her dance class. She knew that it was time for her to make a decision she’d put it off long enough. “Hey Joe what are you doing here?”
“Hi baby, I came to see if you’d like to have dinner tonight.” He leaned in to kiss her, but Regina was able to dodge it and his lips grazed her cheek.
“Sorry Joe, but I’ve had a very long day and I’m just going to go inside, shower and crash.”
“Why don’t I come in and prepare dinner for you while you soak in the tub and once I get everything simmering I’ll come up and join you?” He suggested leaning closer.
Regina placed a hand on his chest gently pushing him away, “Joe I told you that you are wasting my time and yours. Nothing is going to happen between us again. It didn’t work before and it isn’t going to work now.”
“Regina I know I fucked up, but everyone deserves forgiveness and a second chance,” he implored.
“Joe I’ve forgiven you, but I can’t forget therefore us being a couple isn’t going to happen.” He was about to grab her arm when a voice behind him halted the action.
“Hey Reggie, did you forget about dinner?” Ethan called out having noticed the by play and when he’d seen the strained look on her face knew that something was wrong. “Everything is just about ready, but I think you have enough time to shower and change in to something else and come on over,” he stood there waiting for the tall lanky brother to back away from her and leave.
“I’m sorry I did forget, let me get showered and I’ll be right over,” she called back.
Joe stared at her for a moment before he turned and stalked over to his car glaring over at Ethan wondering who in the hell he was.
Regina let out a deep sigh of relief as she watched Joe drive off, “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
“No problem, now go on in, shower and come on over you’ve got ten minutes.”
She stared after him not believing that he actually expected her to come over and share dinner with him and the girls, but since he continued to walk away, she supposed he did.
She showered and changed and made her way over to Ethan’s place in exactly ten minutes. He opened the door before she could ring the doorbell quickly ushering her in. The girls squealed in delight upon seeing her and finding out that she would be having dinner with them.
“Oh man something smells wonderful,” Regina said as her nose was assaulted by a wonderful smell.
“Uncle Ethan is a wonderful cook,” Margaret informed her as she and her sisters led Regina where she could wash up.
Dinner was wonderful and she was totally unprepared for how right it felt to share dinner with this man and his nieces. They talked and ate together as if they did the same thing every night.
“All right girls go on and wash your hands you have an hour to play more video games.” The girls placed their plates in the sink before giving their uncle and Regina a kiss. She watched as they dashed out of the kitchen running across the hall to the family room to use up their hour.
“It’s good that you give them a time limit on the videos as I see to many kids that their parents allow them to play without supervision or putting a time limit on them.”
Ethan stood and poured them each a mug of coffee before retaking his seat, “So who was the guy bothering you when you got home?”
Regina sighed leaning back in her chair, “Joe’s a guy I dated a while back apparently he thought it was real cool to date a famous model and a member of the Coleman clan. At first it was all good we had a good time together and he was a perfect gentleman,” she paused to take a sip of coffee. “You remember me saying that your family would be the first to stab you in the back?”
Ethan nodded.
“Well I have a cousin the same cousin that felt it was my duty to get her into the modeling field without her having to go through the motions that everyone else has to. Well apparently to get back at me she showed up at my apartment while I was away on a shoot. She knew I was due back so she made it a point to go there and make a play for him. Him being the weak minded prick that he is he took her up on her offer and when I made it home I found them in my bed going at it like rabbits.
“I wasn’t hurt by Joe’s betrayal, because I didn’t care about him as he was just someone I enjoyed spending time with and the occasional screw,” she said softly so that the girls wouldn’t hear her. “What hurt was that my cousin had no regard or respect for the fact that we were related by blood, but she didn’t, she just wanted to get even. You should have seen the smile on her face when she spotted me in the doorway. Joe was so in to it that he didn’t stop until he came and then she says to him, ’Oh look who made it home,’ Joe jumped off of her pushing her away from him. I couldn’t help but laugh once I got my laughter under control I threw both of them out.
“For a while he stayed away I guess to give me time to calm down and get over it. He started coming around a few months later and I was cordial and talked to him, but when he tried to take it further I’d stop him. One night he lost his temper and almost destroyed my car busting out all the windows. After then I’d never allowed him to get me anywhere alone because I can’t trust him and I could tell tonight that he was just barely holding it in check.”
Ethan gripped the mug tightly in his hand, the thought of that bastard putting his hands on her made his insides twist painfully, “Well we will just have to keep our eye out for him and if he ever shows up you make sure to call me.”
“That’s sweet Ethan, but you don’t have to do that.”
“Sweet has nothing to do with it and you just remember to call me okay.”
She could tell that he was determined by the cold look in his eyes and the steel in his voice and it made her glad that she wasn’t on his bad side, so she gave in and promised to call him.
“Now tell me what else is bothering you. I could see it when you got out of your car that you’d had a rough day.”
Regina laughed, “Damn you are too observant. After my class today I realized that I need to make a decision about continuing the classes.”
“So I take it that giving this class isn’t enjoyable for you. I could tell the other night how much you enjoy dancing and being a teacher I’m sure you would be awesome teaching dance.”
It surprised her that he read her so well with the short time that they’d known each other,
“I guess I have a problem teaching people past a certain age. The girls in this class are diva’s that feel they know more than I do and it feels more like a chore to show up and deal with the different attitudes. Today I came so close to telling the director that I was done, but I know I can’t do it that way because it wouldn’t be right.”
He heard the pain in her voice and knew that she was feeling trapped without thinking he stood up and walked to her and pulled her up out of her chair. Then quickly led the way out back to the deck and as he held her she let the tears flow.
“I’m sorry for wetting your shirt,” she whispered. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Shush, it’s okay, you don’t have to apologize,” he held her tightly in his arms enjoying the way it felt to hold her. How her body felt right against his. “You know what I think?” Regina shook her head against his shoulder. “I think you should give the director two weeks notice take some time for yourself and then think about offering dance classes for kids from the ages of what four and up to ten,” he suggested shrugging. “Or you could even offer it at the community center where I volunteer I’m sure the kids there would be more appreciative of your gift.”
Regina leaned back to look him in the face, “I hadn’t thought a
bout that. Hell I don’t know why I even agreed to deal with teens or young adults,” she confessed with a smile and her spirits lifted she leaned up and gave him a kiss on the mouth. Feeling a great weight lifted off of her shoulders she gave him another kiss. This time he kissed her back and the kiss was more than either of them was prepared for. The sound of giggling brought them apart as they both looked around and saw three faces pressed against the door smiling.
“I’m going to head on home and write out my resignation and um…well could you give me the name of a contact person for the center.”
“I’ll do even better, I’ll take you by there and introduce you to the director and the two of you can sit down and talk while I work. We can go on Saturday after Maddie and Chester pick the girls up.” She thanked him again and quickly left, he hid his smile as she practically ran away, but he’d seen the desire in her eyes and knew that it matched his. Ethan admitted that he hadn’t felt what he was feeling before in his life, not even when he was with Karen and he’d planned on marrying her, before he came to his senses and discarded the notion. He had a feeling the part that was missing from his life had just ran away, but he’d let her go for now.
Later that night after putting the girls to bed he sat out on the back deck enjoying the night and listening to the faint sound of music coming from Regina’s studio. He wanted to go over and watch her, but he knew that their earlier kiss threw her for a loop and he didn’t want to frighten her away so he sat with a cup of tea and enjoyed the private show. She was all beauty and grace and the way her body moved was as if the music was flowing through her as she made it her own. Closing his eyes he sighed deeply imagining how that same passion for dance would flow through her when he made love to her. Ethan was able to admit to himself that he was drawn to her and his soul recognized her as being a vital part of his being and he knew instinctively that he would not survive without her. When the music ended he remained seated until the lights of her studio went out before he stood and entered his home and prepared for bed.
Beginnings Page 2
