Calida smiled as she said, “I remember dad saying once that mom’s sweets could always bring a smile to his face no matter what mood he was in.”
“I can contest to that although many couldn’t understand as there was a significant age difference,” Mrs. Larina said with smile patting Calida on her shoulder before she started walking away. “Enjoy your meal.”
“Calida, what did she mean about a significant age difference?” Mariah asked as their server arrived at their table.
Calida glanced up briefly before she said in a low voice, “My mother had turned 21 when she had me, and my father was a few months shy of forty.”
Calida didn’t say another word after that comment as the server sat down their food while Tomas and Mariah kept the conversation moving with Edric adding his own words and opinion deciding to find out more about Calida’s parents.
Afterwards they sat around chatting and Calida was laughing at something Edric said when suddenly another voice intruded, “Ric, Tomas, what a pleasant surprise. I didn’t know that you were here.”
The four of them turned to see Sophia standing there with a man standing next to her and Calida recognized him immediately as the new employee at her brother’s company although her face didn’t show any hint of recognition.
“Ric, Shane said he had something to tell you and you told him you were coming here for dinner,” Sophia said catching a server and asking for two more chairs.
“We will be closing soon, ma’am,” the server told her as she brought them over.
Sophia started to say something snidely but the server walked away before she could, and she muttered, “What rude servers they have here.”
Calida opened her mouth to say something when Edric grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, and she turned to look at him as he smiled shaking his head before leaned over.
“Let it go this time,” he whispered in her ear.
Calida scowled at him but she nodded her head as she whispered back, “You better be glad that I like you enough to do it.”
Her eyes widened when she realized what she said, and he smiled at her leaning forward to kiss her lightly on the lips to the astonishment of everyone at the table.
“Ric,” Sophia said sharply getting his attention.
“She paid me a compliment so I gave her a reward,” he told her without taking his eyes from Calida’s face.
Calida narrowed her eyes at him as she said, “I will remember that for next time so I can watch what I say.”
He laughed loudly getting Tomas and Shane’s attention as they looked at him with shocked eyes and Sophia frowned heavily wondering what in the hell was going on.
“Shane, meet your boss’s sister,” Sophia said abruptly turning Edric’s attention to them as Shane turned around to meet Calida’s hazel eyes.
“Why do you look familiar,” he muttered, and Calida only smiled as she tugged at her hand but Edric only tightened his grip keeping her hand in his own under the table.
Shane shook his head as he said turning to Edric, “Sorry about this afternoon but the old guard’s niece was in the building at the time.”
Calida sipped her drink wondering if they knew enough about the business to know that Samson’s niece was in college overseas, but when they continued talking she knew that they didn’t, or they weren’t going to let her know about it even if they did.
“Calida,” Mariah said getting her attention and Calida leaned toward her without moving her hand from Edric’s grasp as he talked with Shane and Tomas, Sophia trying to edge her way in the conversation.
Sophia excused herself ten minutes later getting nods from Edric as she stood up brushing against him, and Calida saw the glare she threw her when he didn’t even knowledge it.
Calida was drinking when her cell went off and she frowned as she pulled it out of her pocket which was made hard by Edric’s grip on her hand. She noticed she had a message and when she opened it her face paled at what she read unaware that Edric was reading it over her shoulder.
Calida, be careful. Sophia called your brother and he is probably on his way here.
Calida glanced up looking around the restaurant as Edric whispered, “Is everything okay?”
Calida closed her phone and nodded her head unaware of her hazel eyes shadowed with worry and hints of anger that Edric recognized.
“I think we should call it a night,” he announced to the table green eyes focused on Calida not missing the look of relief that flashed over her face before she masked it.
“It is getting late,” Tomas said checking his watch as Mariah yawned in her hand. “It’s time to get you home, young woman.”
Mariah laughed before she remarked, “Of course as you have someone waiting for you at home.”
Tomas frowned but he was astonished when Calida turned around and told Mariah, “Don’t take it to heart, Mariah. Lida probably went for Edric first before she went to Tomas, and unfortunately for Tomas, if someone else comes along with more money and more information for my brother, she will drop Tomas with a phone call. As for Tomas, well,” she stopped staring at him for a second before she shrugged her shoulders and continued on. “She is a means of information for them although I don’t think she realizes it yet.”
Edric pulled on Calida’s hand causing her to fall against him saying, “How do you know that?”
Calida glanced up at him before she said with a touch of anger, “Remember what I said about not liking my nickname take a wild guess why?”
Edric’s eyes narrowed as her meaning sunk in and Tomas shook his head as he uttered, “Bastard.”
“More than you know,” Calida muttered to the astonishment of the table as everyone stared at her.
Edric was about to say something when Sophia returned to the table and she smiled as she started to sit back down.
“We are about to leave, Sophia,” Edric told her turning his gaze to her and Calida took the opportunity to send a text to Jake letting him know with a few words what was about to happen.
Edric turned to her in time to see her sending the message and frowned as she closed the phone a few seconds later, and his grip tightened getting a startled reaction from her.
He stood up taking Calida with him as the others followed suit and as the server came over, Calida said, “I will take care of the bill.”
Edric ignored her as he handed the server the credit card he pulled out of his wallet earlier and Calida frowned as she tried to get her hand back from him.
Edric moved quickly as he released her hand and before she could step away, slid an arm around her waist yanking her closer to his side curving his hand along the edge of her hip.
“Since you didn’t want to hold my hand,” he told her looking down as she tilted her head back to look at him.
“Why…” Calida began only to be stopped when Edric kissed her again.
“Because I want to go to bed with you,” he told her bluntly not caring about the eyes that were watching them, and he smiled with smugness as a blush started up her neck to cover her cheeks.
“I don’t go to bed with every man who tells me that,” she mumbled as the server returned and Edric signed the receipt before she gave him back his card which he stuck in his pocket.
“That’s a good thing,” he said in her ear as he turned his head, “Because I only want you to be interested in me.”
Calida didn’t know what to say to that as he ushered them out of the restaurant Sophia on his other side while the other three followed them.
“Ric, I could use a ride,” Sophia said once they were outside her eyes scanning the parking lot.
Edric was already striding for his car with Calida by his side when a black SUV pulled up next to it and out stepped a good-looking man with blondish hair and dim green eyes.
“Calida,” he said in affectionate tone of voice although there was a look in his eyes that Edric noticed and didn’t like at all. His arm around Calida’s waist tightened when he felt her body
stiffen slightly as Jeffrey Reseda stepped toward them.
“Jeffrey,” Edric said with a nod of his head as he calmly stepped forward shifting Calida from being directly in front of Jeffrey and Calida gave him a shielded shock look before she returned her attention to her brother.
“Ric,” Jeffrey said with a laugh satisfaction in his eyes as Edric glared at him. “I didn’t know that you were here and that you knew my sister.”
“We met recently,” Edric told him giving Calida a look, “and I have to admit I was quite taken with her.”
“Really,” Jeffrey said a slight hardness in his tone. “I would think with the beautiful Sophia at your side, you wouldn’t want to look anywhere else.”
Edric smiled as he glanced over at Sophia before he turned back to Jeffrey. “True, but I rarely do what people expect of me,” he stated honestly.
Jeffrey frowned as Sophia stepped forward with a laugh. “Ric, don’t be so modest,” she said in a light tone.
“I’m not,” Edric told her his eyes never leaving Jeffrey’s while he said this.
Jeffrey’s jaw clenched before he smiled and turned his gaze to Calida. “Calida, I can give you a ride home so we can catch up,” he said stepping forward to grab a hold of her arm only to have Edric shift her out of reach.
“I have a ride, thank you,” Calida said without any politeness in her tone as another car pulled up and Jake got out.
“Calida, are you okay?” He said hurrying over to her noting the arm wrapped tightly around her waist and he smiled slightly as he came to a stop. Edric glanced over at him and Jake read the situation quickly before glancing down at his watch.
“I thought maybe you would need a ride, but it looks like you already have one,” he said ignoring the sharp look that Calida threw him. “I will let the others know that you won’t be home tonight.”
“Jake,” Calida called out as he waved and walked back to his car. Within seconds of arriving, he was leaving and Calida couldn’t believe that he left her there without a backwards glance.
“I do believe that you have been left in my care,” Edric admitted smugly next to her and she turned hazel eyes to him as her hair shifted across her shoulders.
“You think you are so damn smart,” she said trying to sound angry but for some reason her voice came out teasing instead.
“I don’t think,” he confirmed with a touch of arrogance that Calida shook her head at him a smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
Edric turned to Jeffrey before saying, “It’s been a long day and I would like to spend the rest of it alone with Calida, so if you will excuse us.”
With those words, he ushered her to the car and opened the passenger door before walking around calling out to Tomas, “We will see you at home.”
Tomas nodded his head watching them with hooded eyes as Edric got in and started the car pulling away seconds later heading for home.
“What kind of trick is your boss playing with my sister?” Jeffrey demanded as they drove out of sight and Tomas turned to him his face blank.
“I don’t know,” he said with a straight face. “But if you want my honest opinion, I think he is attracted to her.”
Jeffrey’s face turned red at the answer as Sophia laughed and stated, “Well, I guess he has to have some fun before he finally settles down.”
All eyes went to her and Tomas frowned as Sophia revealed, “I mean, he has to eventually doesn’t he?”
Tomas repeated those words in his head as he took Mariah home and even she said, “I don’t know why but I have a feeling that Sophia is up to something.”
“I think so too,” Tomas told her as they walked in her apartment. “But we can’t be sure until she makes her move.”
Mariah nodded her head as she turned to him and Tomas smiled down at her tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
“Is what Calida said true?” She asked him in a soft voice, and Tomas hesitated briefly before he nodded his head.
As he leaned down to kiss her, he told her, “I will show you how much you truly mean to me.”
He kissed her passionately, but he could feel the restraint and wariness in her and he broke it off slowly. Mariah was breathing deeply as she opened aroused glazed eyes to look up at him, and he kissed her forehead before he kissed her lips again more lightly.
“We will take our time,” he told her getting a shocked look from her before she smiled and nodded her head.
“Thank you,” she said modestly giving him a seductive look and he groaned as he kissed her again before backing away.
“I better get out of here before I actually break my promise,” he told her with a wink and she laughed as she saw him to the door. After he left, she leaned against the door before locking it and heading to take a shower her mind clouded by the man although she still frowned recalling the shared glances between Edric and Tomas.
Edric escorted Calida in the house as Ms. Welsh came out of the kitchen and she smiled when she saw Calida with him.
“Calida,” she said with affection and Edric wondered what Calida did to gain the trust of his housekeeper in such a short time.
“Hi Ms. Welsh, I’m back again,” she said shooting Edric a heated glare which he responded to by laughing.
“Ms. Welsh, can you take Calida to get something to drink while I get her things from the car?” Edric asked pressing a kiss to Calida’s cheek before walking away feeling Calida’s eyes on him.
“Calida,” Ms. Welsh said getting her attention as she turned back to her. “What would you like to drink?”
“Ice tea if you have any, Ms. Welsh,” Calida said absently wondering what Edric was planning as she followed Mrs. Welsh to the kitchen.
“I have some lemonade if that will be okay,” Ms. Welsh asked once in the kitchen and Calida nodded her head.
She was sitting at the table drinking her lemonade as Ms. Welsh talked with her about her niece who was getting married in a few months when Edric walked in.
“May I have a glass?” He asked nodding his head to the glass that Calida held, and Ms. Welsh nodded her head with a smile as he settled down at the table across from Calida.
He stared at her in silence while Ms. Welsh poured his drink and sat it down in front of him before returning to what she was doing.
“So what do you want to ask me?” Calida said staring down at the glass in her hands.
“How old was your brother when your parents go married?” Edric asked lifting his own glass to take a sip.
“Ten I believe as he is nine years older than I am,” Calida told him honestly.
Edric frowned as he mentally calculated and said slowly, “So your mother got pregnant not too long after they were married?”
Calida winced as she said, “I think my mother was already six weeks pregnant with me when they got married according to what Wilma says although neither one knew she was pregnant until after the wedding.”
Edric had a thoughtful look on his face and Calida said a little harshly, “My mom didn’t marry my father because of his money if that’s what you are thinking. She had an inheritance herself that her own grandparents left her which she put in a trust for me.”
Edric glanced at her in shock before he shook his head and reached over laying his hand over hers as he said, “It crossed my mind briefly, Calida, but only briefly.”
Calida glanced up at him before she nodded her head and apologized in a soft voice getting a smile from Edric.
The phone rang as they finished their drinks and while Ms. Welsh answered it, Edric stood up and walked around the table lifting Calida up in his arms without much effort getting a shocked look from her.
“What?” She said as he walked out of the kitchen and headed for the stairs. “Where are you taking me?”
“Where you will be staying tonight,” Edric told her as he reached the second floor.
Chapter 10
“Now wait one moment,” Calida said hotly after Edric closed his door behind them with his foo
t and walked over to place her on his bed.
Edric looked at her with a lifted eyebrow as he loosened his tie and stated, “I told your brother I wanted some alone time with you and I have a spy who is currently living in my house. Do you think he would believe it if he learns that you are sleeping in another room?”
“Edric, I’m not staying here,” she told him getting up from the bed and starting for the door.
Edric caught her before she could open it and spun her around so that her back was flush against the door with him standing in front of her.
“I think it would be a good idea since I’ve already admitted this is where I want you,” he told her green eyes roving over her face seeing the flashing hazel eyes before they traveled lowered to her breasts in the clinging blouse she had on.
“What do you want from me?” Calida whispered after a few minutes of silence staring at him. “We barely know each other and I’m the sister of a business rival of yours, and I will tell you now that I don’t have anything to do with the business. My father left everything to my brother with the exception of twenty-five percent shares that is in my name. If you want them, all you have to do is ask.”
Edric’s head shot up at that information as he asked, “You would give me the shares just like that without even thinking about it?”
Calida sighed heavily her eyes not wavering from his as she said honestly, “My brother is driving the company our father worked his ass off to build in to the ground. If it will help restore some respect to the Reseda name, I would sign over my shares without a word and you don’t have pay a dime for them, or pretend to have feelings for me.”
Edric stared at her before he leaned down and without giving her time to think took her lips in a heated and passionate kiss. Calida gasped at the sensation but she didn’t stop him and responded back with the same passion. Edric pressed his palms flat against the door as Calida slid her hands to his shoulders the kiss stealing their breath but neither one willing to give it up just yet.
Past Sins Revisited Page 13
