by Tia Louise
“Henry, hi!” I stand and give him a hug.
My mom’s one attempt to rescue me from the dating apps was a Korean (of course) pediatric surgeon, who interned with my dad in Charleston.
“I haven’t seen you in… a year?” Henry is very nice, very polite. Too bad his ears make me wonder if he can fly.
“You look amazing.” He smiles and touches my elbow. “How’s your mom?”
“Great—she’s doing really great. Still working at the church…” I try to step out of his reach, but the booth blocks me. “I’m having lunch with her tomorrow. I can tell her you said hi. Are you still living in Charleston?”
“For now.” He nods, pointing to my hand. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“I’ve got her covered.” Remi’s voice is hard, and his arm goes around my waist.
“Oh, hey.” I don’t know why I suddenly feel nervous. “Henry Pak, this is Remington Key.”
I motion between them, but neither makes a move to shake hands.
Okay.
“Henry’s a pediatric surgeon in Charleston.”
Henry adopts a proprietary tone. “We dated a few times last year.”
“Just like… one or two times. Right?” I’m doing my best to salvage this. Thankfully, I’m saved by the DJ calling Remi’s name. It’s not a busy night at the Red Cat.
Glancing up, I see his jaw is clenched. The guys are staring each other down, and I consider waving a white napkin between them. Instead, I speak close to his ear.
“Remi, you’re up. Are you still singing ‘The Gambler’ for me?”
It breaks the staring match, and his eyes flicker to mine. “Yes.” He’s not smiling, but he kisses my cheek. “Be right back.”
The whole house is dark, and it’s after midnight when we get home.
“We should’ve asked Eleanor to take Lillie to preschool.” Remi whispers, leading me across the grand foyer to the stairs.
He’s been slightly distant ever since our encounter with Henry. Still, he brought the house down with “The Gambler.” Dagwood was right—everybody sang along, but Remi’s smooth voice sealed the deal.
We’re holding hands as he leads me past the second floor up to my suite. “You don’t have to walk me to my room.”
Butterflies are beating their wings like crazy in my stomach, and my throat is tight. I wonder if he’s going to kiss me. I really want him to.
He stops in front of my door and faces me. “It’s the closest I can get to taking you home, seeing as you live here.”
I can’t stand his formal manner after we had so much fun tonight.
Putting my hand on his chest, I clear my throat, choosing my words. “You know, I had a life before I met you.”
“Eleanor mentioned you dated some.” His expression is stony, and I don’t like knowing Eleanor is talking about me to him.
Still, I own my past. “I dated a lot. Henry was one of the many fish I threw back.”
“I don’t like thinking of you out there.”
“I’m here now.” My voice is quiet, soothing.
His is not. “Yes, you are.”
Reaching up, he cups my cheeks in his strong hands, and his mouth covers mine, pushing my lips apart and plunging in his tongue. It’s insistent, demanding. My back is pressed to the door, and he kisses me as if he’s claiming what’s his. It’s fucking hot as hell, and I feel the heat all the way to my panties.
A little whimper escapes my throat, and it’s like fuel to the fire. His hands go to my waist, ripping my silk blouse out of my skirt.
“Oh,” I gasp as his palms smooth over the bare skin of my sides, rising higher to the band of my bra.
His lips are on mine again, and I hold his cheeks, doing my best to keep up with his kisses. His mouth moves quickly, pulling my lips, nipping my jaw. He’s desperate, starving, but so am I. I want him so much. Lifting his head, he looks deep into my eyes.
I nod so slowly, but it’s all he needs. With a fast jerk, my shirt is open, revealing my black lace bra. The demi-cups only reach the tops of my areolas, and they rise and fall on every breath.
“You’re so beautiful.” He roughly cups my breasts with both hands, lifting them together.
I squirm against the heat zipping through my body. My back is against the door, and I’m burning up inside as he hooks his thumbs in the cups and jerks them down, exposing my tight nipples.
“Remi,” I whisper, but he doesn’t look up. He lowers his head to give one a firm suck. The other he pinches between his fingertips.
My knees nearly give out, and my panties are drenched. “Oh, god.” All my good intentions are flying out the window. “We can’t have sex out here.”
Once more his mouth finds mine, and I kiss him back with as much ferocity, wrapping my arms around his neck. His hand finds the doorknob behind me and turns it. We both stagger into my room, but he rotates me, putting my back against the wall again.
Stepping back, he looks at me, eyes dark and stormy. I’m standing with my shirt torn open, my breasts spilling over my bra, breathing like I’ve just run a marathon. His gaze is like a rough caress, sliding over my sizzling skin.
“You are so fucking sexy.” Reaching out, he cups my breast, sliding his thumb across my nipple. A soft noise hiccups from my throat, and his eyes flare with lust. “I want to taste you. I want you all over my face, coming and screaming my name.”
Oh, shit.
I can’t even answer before he drops to his knees and shoves my skirt up to my waist.
He murmurs a yes, when he sees I’m wearing thigh-high black pantyhose. Large hands grip my legs, lifting me as if I weigh nothing, opening me to him, and jerking my thong to the side of my bare pussy. “Beautiful.”
“Oh, god,” I gasp at the first pass of his warm tongue over my sensitive clit.
My knees melt when he does it again, then again, circling and sucking. Another noise trembles from my throat as heat surges low in my pelvis. God, it feels so good.
I reach down, fisting my hand in his thick hair as the pleasure tightens between my legs. His movements are quicker, his light stubble scuffing the charged skin of my inner thighs. My head drops back and my hips rotate in time with his movements. I’m going to come so hard…
“Remi…” It’s a cry as he plunges a thumb into me, still licking and sucking. “Remi!” My cry is even louder.
The pressure grows tighter and tighter, my thighs flex, and with one more firm suck, one more slow lick, I shatter, moaning and rocking against his expert mouth.
My hips buck, and my back arches. Then I bend forward, the waves of orgasm shuddering through my entire body, centering between my legs.
He doesn’t stop, tasting me as if I’m the most delicious thing he’s ever had. Until at last I’m begging. “I can’t… it’s too much.”
Lowering me gently to my wobbly feet, he sits back and looks up at me. A satisfied smile is on his lips. “You’re perfect.”
Rising slowly, he holds my face in one hand, lifting my chin. Our eyes melt together, and he leans down to kiss me. His other hand palms my breast again, sliding over my erect nipple.
I taste myself on his lips. I feel the massive bulge in his pants, pressing against my stomach. It’s wanton and erotic, and he kisses a line across my cheek to my ear. “Here is right where I intend to keep you.”
I can’t speak. I’m wrecked from that amazing orgasm, but he steps back, opening the door again. “Goodnight, Ruby. Sleep well.”
The door closes sharply, and he’s gone, leaving me in the center of my room, my mind blown, and my clothes disheveled.
16
Remi
As soon as I get to my room, I go straight to my shower.
Flicking on the water, I strip out of my jeans and boxer briefs. My shirt is over my head as the steam starts to rise. I could barely walk downstairs from the erection in my pants. My cock aches from wanting release. It’s like a giant redwood in my fist, and I pull it steadily as the water flashes off my skin.
In my mind’s eye, I see her bucking, her long hair spilling over her breasts, rising and falling in that bra as she panted for me. God, she’s so beautiful, pure ivory and jet black with those pink lips falling open, her small hands fisting my hair.
“Yes…” The orgasm rises in my ass, my balls tighten. I remember how she looked when I ripped up her skirt. Sheer hose ending in lace bands at the tops of her thighs, her bare pussy.
I can still taste her on my lips. I can still smell her on my skin. She came so beautifully, just like I wanted—shuddering and crying my name.
My beautiful Ruby. I will have her. I will plunge into her depths, feel those legs wrapped around my waist.
“Fuck, yeah,” I whisper as the streams of come wash down the drain. I brace myself through the pulses of orgasm. My eyes are closed, and she is the only thing I see.
Holding on a moment longer, the hot water splashes off the back of my neck. I lift my chin and let it wash down my face.
I didn’t want to take her tonight. She said she couldn’t sleep with me and be Lillie’s nanny. I don’t agree, but I won’t give her a reason to quit. I can’t have her deciding to leave me. I need her here.
But when that Henry Pak showed up, and I saw him talking to her, touching her arm. My jaw tightens at the memory. That motherfucker acted like he knew something I didn’t, like he’d been with her… I might have gone a little crazy thinking about it.
Or maybe it was Eleanor’s words in my brain.
It’s not fair, I know. Ruby is a grown woman. She didn’t even know me before two weeks ago. She’s gorgeous and fun and full of life. She isn’t the type to sit at home. Hell, I probably wouldn’t be as into her if she were.
One thing’s for sure—I was not going to leave the possibility of her going to bed tonight thinking of that guy. I only want her thinking of me. I want my lips haunting her dreams.
Snatching up the washcloth, I quickly get clean and shut off the water.
The last thing I see as I fall asleep is Ruby’s smile. I grin thinking about how she is with Lillie, how she is with Drew. She’s sweet and good, and I’ve got to convince her to go with me to New York.
The sun streams through the blinds, waking me, and I throw back the covers, jerking my jeans over my hips and snatching my shirt off my chair. I button it quickly as I run down the stairs to the kitchen.
Last time I kissed Ruby, I didn’t see her for nearly a week. I’ll be damned if that happens again. My stomach is tight, but as soon as I round the corner, my daughter’s voice slows my pace.
“Daddy!” She bounces in her stool at the bar, and I walk over to kiss her little head.
“What’s for breakfast, princess?” I look around the kitchen, and Ruby has her back turned, facing the coffee machine.
“Ruby made me a pear.” Her little face is scrunched. “She put cottage cheese in the middle.”
I do my best not to laugh. “Do you like it?”
“I didn’t… then she put honey on it.” She still seems unsure.
“I can make you toast with peanut butter if you want.” Ruby speaks softly, as if she’s trying not to be noticed.
Like I could possibly miss her looking amazing in my kitchen in black jeans and a long-sleeved striped sweater. Her hair is in two low ponytails on each side of her head.
“You need to eat your fruit, Lillian. And cottage cheese is full of calcium and protein.” Eleanor is at the table with a cup and saucer and a newspaper spread in front of her. “I didn’t think you’d be down so early, Remington. I heard you come in after midnight.”
Why does she talk to me like I’m her teenage son?
“I had to see my best girl before she left for school.” Leaning down, I kiss Lillie’s cheek then I go to the fridge where Ruby is holding a carton of soy half and half. “Did you sleep well last night?”
I imagine pulling her into my arms and kissing her good morning. The heat between us is palpable.
She keeps her gaze on her coffee preparations. “I did, actually. I was very relaxed.”
A grin splits my cheeks. She’s being playful, and I love it. “Are you still going to your mother’s for lunch?”
Our eyes meet, and I feel a charge, but she blinks away fast. “If that’s still okay?”
“I think it’s great.” Eleanor is watching us like a hawk, so I go to the coffee machine. “We’re not having lunch today, Lils. You’re going with Ruby to her mom’s house.”
My daughter’s little brow furrows, but before she can decide she’s not happy about it, I add. “You and I are going to get ice cream at Dipper’s instead.”
She inhales a little gasp and claps her hands. “Yay! Daddy’s taking me to Dipper’s!”
“Like everyone in the room didn’t just hear me.” I go over and tickle her, and she shrieks so loud I stop at once. “Too loud.”
“Remington, don’t tickle her. She’ll wet her pants.”
“I will not!” Lillie shouts even louder. “I’m not a baby.”
Eleanor abandons her post at the table to attend to her granddaughter. I take advantage of her momentary distraction to touch Ruby’s arm lightly.
“Hey.” My voice is soft. “I’d like to talk to you if that’s okay. Maybe after you drop Lillie at school?”
Her lips press together, and she hesitates. “I have to take care of a few things for Drew’s shower on Saturday. When you get back with Lillie?”
“Sure.” Sliding my hand down, I brush my fingers across hers. I’m addicted to the rush of heat between us. It tightens my stomach. “Have fun today.” Man, I wish I could kiss her.
“Thanks,” she whispers before turning to my daughter. “Time to go, Lil.”
Lillie runs to grab her coat and snack bag, and they head for the door. I lean against the bar watching them go as I sip my coffee. Ruby holds her hand, and Lillie skips every other step. She’s singing some Disney song I vaguely recognize, and I can’t help thinking how great they look together.
I set my coffee on the bar and notice Eleanor watching the whole scene play out with a scowl. I don’t have time for this.
I set my cup in the sink and give her a nod. “I’d better get to work.”
She doesn’t even respond.
17
Ruby
“Then you press the edges together like this, and it’s done.” Ma guides Lillie’s small fingers along the edge of her dumpling while I work on my own.
“I made a dumpling!” Lillie holds it up to me, and I smile.
“It’s called mandu.” I give her a little hip bump. “And you’re a natural. I couldn’t make mandu that good until I was five.”
Lillie’s little mouth quirks, and she leans closer. “You’re not like Tiana.”
“Who is Tiana?” Ma collects our crescents into her steamer and places it over the boiling water.
“It’s a Disney princess.” I walk over to watch her mixing soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, scallions, and garlic for the sauce. She makes a separate batch with red pepper flakes for us. “Lillie, you can play in my room if you want. Just don’t turn up the K-pop too loud.”
Her hazel eyes widen, and she takes off running to my old bedroom. She reminds me so much of her dad. I watch after her remembering his smile this morning. Just as fast, my mind drifts to his face last night, eyes heated and possessive. He kissed me like he would never let me go, then he dropped to his knees and blew my mind.
“Why is your face so pink? What are you thinking?” Ma’s voice is scolding, and I clear my mind.
“Nothing! I was just thinking how cute she is. She looks a lot like her dad.”
“You must be professional with that man. He is your boss.” She gives me a stern glare, and I can’t argue.
“I agree. I’ve turned over a new leaf, and I’m being very serious.” Seriously in lust.
Her voice drops, becoming more urgent. “People at church are talking about sexy nannies. Are you having sex with him?”
�
�No!” I hop up on the counter, wondering if oral sex is technically sex. “I told you I couldn’t live in his house if I did that. I’d have to get my own place.”
“Good. You must be careful. That man is not like us. He is not Korean.” She lifts the lid on her bamboo steamer and turns the dumplings with chopsticks.
I just can’t even. “Why should I be careful? Dad wasn’t Korean, and it didn’t stop you from marrying him.”
“I should have listened to my mother.” She takes a bowl of kimchee out of the refrigerator.
That makes me remember. “I saw Henry Pak last night. He said to tell you hi.”
“You should go out with Henry again. He’s a good Korean doctor.”
“Who looks like Dumbo.” She makes a scolding noise, but I let it pass. “So what did your mother have to say?” She looks confused, and I lean closer. “The part you should have listened to.”
Her eyes close, and she shakes her head. “She said I should not have married outside our community.”
This intrigues me. Ma has never dared to speak ill of my late father. “Are you saying she didn’t want you to marry Dad?”
“Your father was a very good man, but it is a lot of work to be married. It was very difficult at times.”
I can’t say no shit or she’ll lose her shit.
She’s quiet, thinking, then she does a sharp nod. “I’m not saying bad things about your father, but it’s good for you to know.”
“So why did you? Marry him, I mean.” She puts one of the dumplings on a small plate and cuts it in half.
I watch as she tests it, and I pick up the other half to test it as well. It’s delicious.
She hasn’t answered me, but when her dark eyes flicker to mine, she can’t stop her smile. Ma doesn’t show her soft side very often, so I always jump on it when she does.
“You thought he was hot.” I point my chopsticks at her and start to laugh. “Dad was Mr. Handsome American Doctor and you couldn’t resist.”
“He was very handsome, and I should have resisted.”
“Why?” I hop off the counter, legitimately curious. “I mean, he was hard on me, but—”
