Desire in a Kiss

by Nicki Night

  Serenity’s cheeks burned. He thought she sounded amazing.

  “I’m up around the same time anyway. It won’t be a problem.”

  “It’s probably best. It will keep me from hitting the snooze button for an hour. I may have a better chance of getting to work on time.” Serenity yawned again. “I’d better get to bed.”

  “I like talking to you.”

  “I like talking to you too.”

  Silence settled between them for a few moments. She sensed that he wanted to prolong the call as much as she did.

  Serenity looked forward to starting her day with the sound of his voice. “Good night, Chris,” she finally said.

  Serenity fluffed her pillow, pulled the covers to her neck and closed her eyes with a smile on her lips. This was only their second time speaking on the phone, but she felt like she’d known him for some time. Now she yearned to see his face in person. His voice would resonate like a baritone serenade. Serenity hoped for a preview in her dreams.

  Chapter 10

  Good morning. Call me when you get a chance.

  Chris put his phone aside and leaned back onto the headrest. He’d awakened with Serenity on his mind again. It was still early, but that was best. He planned to ask her to dinner. Hopefully she’d see his text and ring him soon. He smiled at the memory of their phone conversations this past week, which went on for hours at a time, just like the one last night. There was a familiar air when they spoke. He felt like he’d known her much longer. She was witty, intelligent and interesting, giving depth to their interactions. They eventually ventured into more flirtatious banter. There was a lot to like about Serenity, and he had yet to look into her eyes. Best of all, she didn’t appear to be weird—so far. That’s what he feared most with all this online dating. Based on what he found after checking into her, she seemed passionate and giving—two compelling traits that were missing in his dates of late.

  Knowing so much about her almost seemed unfair, since she could only know things about him that he told her directly. He hadn’t actually lied about anything except his name. He was careful never to mention the name of his family’s business or the “restaurant” he “ran” with friends. He also never expected this online dating thing to yield any kind of viable results. Yet, something about Serenity pulled at him, even though he’d never met her in person. It had to happen soon. Chris needed to know what it was about her that compelled him.

  This was an experiment. She’d already proven that there were decent girls online. Curiosity led their interactions. Now he wanted to explore more. Maybe after a few dates they would go their separate ways. Maybe he wouldn’t need to tell Serenity who he really was. Or maybe...things would work out—surprising him and her. She’d mentioned her reservations about online dating too.

  * * *

  It was time to move beyond emails, texts and long talks on the phone. Serenity had begun to visit him in his dreams. He already imagined the feel of her skin, the scent of her hair and the unfiltered sound of that sweet voice of hers that reminded him of a sultry ballad.

  Chris pushed the car door open and swung his legs over the step board, dismounting from the oversize SUV. Waving to several of Chandler Food Corp.’s employees as he walked, Chris headed through the parking lot toward the front door. Just as he reached for it, his phone rang. Quickly, he snatched it from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He licked his lips instinctively when he saw Serenity’s number and then chuckled when he realized what he’d done.

  “Hello.” His tone was collected. He turned from the door, stepping aside as other employees made their way inside.

  “Good morning,” Serenity sang.

  Chris walked away from the entrance. “Good morning yourself. Are you tired?” Asking the question reminded him of how little sleep he had had in the past week. They’d spoken every single night. An involuntary yawn followed. Chris shook his head.

  “I’m exhausted! Luckily my students keep me alert.” She paused for a moment. “I got your text.”

  “Yes.” Chris remembered. Hearing her voice was a pleasure that made him forget things at times. He chuckled. “I was wondering if you were busy tonight.”

  “Oh...” Several beats passed.

  Maybe she wasn’t ready for this, Chris thought. He wasn’t letting up, though.

  “You still there?”

  “I’m sorry.” Serenity released a nervous laugh. “I’m giving a lesson tonight. I’ll be finished around seven o’clock. Why?”

  “I’d like to take you to dinner.” Chris heard her clear her throat. He’d come to notice she did that when she wanted to take her time answering a question. “Do you have a favorite place?”

  The purpose of his question was twofold. One, it was important to him that she feel comfortable and, two, he didn’t want to go anywhere that he usually frequented. As vast as Long Island was, it was a small community. There were only a few degrees of separation. Everyone knew someone who knew of someone within the circles in which he operated. Chris would be less likely to run into anyone he knew on her side of town. His research showed that he and Serenity lived on opposite ends of the island. His family was spread across the far north, bordering the wealth of the Long Island Sound, and she hailed from the South Shore.

  “Have I not done enough to convince you that I’m not crazy?”

  Serenity’s laugh floated through the phone like a pleasant melody. Chris was happy to lighten the air between them, dispersing the tension that followed his inquiry.

  “How do you know that I’m not the crazy one?” Serenity feigned an evil laugh.

  “My insanity detectors are highly sensitive. We wouldn’t have gotten past the first few emails, let alone the second phone call. I’m convinced that you’re pretty sane. If not, I’ll find out for sure if you allow me the pleasure of taking you to dinner tonight.”

  “How about we start with coffee?”

  “That’s cool with me.”

  “Have you ever been to The Cozy Mug?”

  “Nice name, but no. So it’s a date?”

  “It’s a date.”

  Chris closed his free hand and gave a small fist pump. “Great. Does seven thirty work for you?”

  “Perfectly.”

  “Good. I need to get into work. Call you later?”

  “Sure. I’ll text the address.”

  “Thanks. And next time, I get to pick the place.”

  “Hmm. You sound pretty confident about there being a next time.”

  “I’m a confident kind of guy.” Serenity chuckled, and again it reminded him of music. “Good day to you, Ms. Williams.”

  “And you as well, Mr. Mullins.”

  He almost asked who Mr. Mullins was and caught himself.

  Once the call ended, Chris entered Chandler Food Corp.’s headquarters. A smile that generated from somewhere in his core shined on his face. Several employees greeted him with inquisitive smiles.

  He was just starting his day but already felt accomplished. He’d worn one of his favorite suits and driven the SUV in anticipation of seeing Serenity that evening. He remembered her saying that she liked big things. His Escalade was far larger than the Porsche and potentially less pretentious. His self-assurance was intact. He hadn’t expected her to decline. She was curious just like him.

  Ideas of how things would turn out later visited him throughout the day. Would Serenity be like the woman who had been appearing in his dreams recently? Would their conversation flow as easily in person as on the phone? He was sure she’d be just as beautiful as she was in her pictures, if not more. Would he see anyone who knew him? Most people called him Chris anyway, so even if he did run into someone, he could manage the interaction and avoid revealing too much.

  Chris returned from his third meeting since the morning. There had been on
ly one on his calendar, but a crisis had yanked him from his planned schedule and demanded his time and attention. Mentally worn out, he plopped in his chair and closed his eyes, relieved that the day was almost over.

  “Can you believe this mess?”

  Chris opened his eyes to see his sister Jewel marching into his office with one hand on her hip. She parked herself in front of his desk and huffed. She sat hard and then lifted both hands to massage her temples.

  “It’s the economy, sis.”

  “Which I thought was getting better!”

  “It will work out.”

  “How? The entire supermarket chain is folding. That’s a huge chunk of business for us.”

  “Those stores can’t stay empty long. There’s a new chain that’s planning to open fifty locations across Westchester and Long Island. I’ve already met with their investors.”

  “That’s going to take months. What do we do in the meantime?” Jewel sat up. “We’re going to feel this loss for a few months.” She flopped back in the chair.

  Chris knew this to be true. He stood and headed to the window overlooking the walking path that snaked around a large fountain and rose over a koi pond by a footbridge—a welcome addition from the last renovation the company had made to its grounds. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he sighed.

  A moment later, Chris turned abruptly, hurried back to his desk and flipped through folders in search of notes. “Here it is.”

  “What’s that?” Jewel stood and walked to Chris’s side of the desk to view the papers he held in his hand.

  “There’s a small chain of boutique markets that are opening up a few stores in our area. They’re one of those places that only sell organic foods. The first store is set to open this summer. I’ll have my team check into their progress and see if they’re on track to start their grand openings. I’m sure we can get our gluten-free and organic fruit pies in there. That will fill some of the gap.”

  Jewel sighed. “It’s a start, but I still won’t come in on target based on our projections from the end of the year. You know I hate it when I don’t make my numbers.”

  “Your numbers are my numbers. We will make it.”

  Jewel smiled. “I love how collected you seem to be in the midst of crisis. I can learn from you, little bro.”

  “’Cause I’m smarter.”

  Jewel swatted him on the head. Chris ducked but got hit anyway.

  “Seriously. We’ll get through this.” He touched her nose.

  “We have to,” Jewel said, still sounding dejected. “Dad charged us with coming up with a strategy to minimize our losses.” She turned to her brother. “We can start tonight. Come by. I’ll make dinner.”

  “Whoa! First of all, I want to make it to see tomorrow. No need for you to go anywhere near the kitchen. Besides, I have plans for tonight.”

  “Boy! You know I can cook.” Jewel folded her arms in front of her and twisted her lips at him.

  Chris chuckled.

  “And where are you going? You don’t have to be at The Reserve tonight?”

  “I have other plans.”

  Jewel tilted her head and eyed him through narrow slits. “A new one. What’s her name? As a matter of fact, forget it. You don’t keep them around long enough for me to learn any names. Have fun. We’ll get started on the strategic plan tomorrow.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Chris asked Jewel’s retreating back.

  Jewel waved over her shoulder, dismissing his inquiry as she walked out his office. Chris knew what she’d meant. It had been years since he introduced someone to his sisters who didn’t disappear after a few short weeks. Serenity didn’t even know his real name. There was no telling how long she’d be around—even though he liked her without really knowing her yet. Tonight that could change.

  Chapter 11

  Serenity could never have anticipated the events of her day. Cutbacks led to one of the music teachers being laid off, and Serenity had to pick up two more classes plus work with the show choir. That left her with only one free period besides lunch. Time management would become more challenging than it had ever been.

  This also meant more time had to be dedicated to prepping for the additional classes, limiting the time she had to work on Rayne’s wedding and Heartstrings. She and Elisa had a bridal shower to plan and a bride-to-be to keep calm. For Heartstrings, there were grant proposals that had to be written and submitted, lessons to be given, recitals to rehearse for and a gala to plan. She and Rayne were the only two actual employees. Volunteers often helped with programs and lessons, but only at their convenience. Their board members were helpful but not musically inclined or grant-savvy. Serenity would have to let them know that she’d need more of their support for planning the gala. That, she knew, they’d be capable of handling.

  What worried her the most was the grant proposal they were due to submit in a few days. If funded, Serenity would be able to take her mission abroad, as part of a program to bring the arts and instruments to kids in a poverty-stricken community in South America. She planned to take a leave of absence to run the program herself. But now that her school was down a music teacher and she’d been given the bulk of the work, how could she ask for that leave of absence for an entire school year?

  The stress of all this sudden work made her want to cancel both her lessons and her date with Chris at the coffee shop. She was tired but determined to make it through. Working with her kids from the organization always made her spirit dance, and she’d waited long enough to meet Chris in person.

  She opened the first closet in the music room, where she kept her belongings and had hung a mirror. Turning from side to side, she realized she looked as weary as she felt. The vibrant pink lipstick had all but disappeared, leaving only traces in the crevices of her plump lips. Eyeliner had smudged under her eyes, partly from the tears she’d shed, saying goodbye to her fellow music teacher. Serenity retrieved a few wipes from the box she kept for her students and analyzed her reflection once more before wiping the spotty makeup from her face. The cool moist cloth soothed her skin, dabbing away some of the stress of her day. She poured a dime-sized amount of cream on her hand and massaged it into her face. Then she refreshed her eyeliner and mascara and painted on a new coat of lipstick.

  Checking her reflection once more, she realized she still looked a little tired, but it was the best she could do. At least her resemblance to a raccoon was gone. Somehow she would manage.

  She arrived at the community center a few minutes early. Most of the students she worked with were already there. Beginning the lesson right away gave her less time to think about all the changes that had transpired at school. Before she knew it, seven o’clock had come. She had hoped to leave a few minutes early.

  “Okay, guys. Circle up.”

  The kids obliged, putting away their instruments, lining them up neatly by the door and taking hold of one another’s hands.

  “Lauren, would you like to lead tonight?” Serenity asked a quiet, heavyset young lady.

  “Sure, Ms. Serenity.” The girl cleared her throat. Serenity smiled, cherishing her willingness to always lead. “I am talented,” she declared. The rest of the group repeated what she said. “I am important.” Once again, the group responded with the same words. “I am enough!” The enthusiasm that Lauren used to proclaim the last line of their ritual made Serenity’s heart swell.

  “I am enough!” the group yelled.

  “See you next week, everyone. Don’t forget to practice. We only have a few weeks left before the gala.”

  “Yes, Ms. Serenity,” several of them yelled in unison.

  Twin girls ran to her and wrapped their arms around her waist. She squeezed them tight.

  “Ms. Serenity.” One of the twins released her and pulled out her cell phone. “Can you teach us how
to play this?” The young girl tapped her way to YouTube. “This guy is lit,” she said in teen language describing how good they thought the musician was.

  “Let me see if he’s as good as you claim,” Serenity said.

  “I’m serious. He plays Champagne’s new song on the violin. You have to see this.” The girls played the artist’s video.

  “Isn’t he so good, Ms. Serenity?”

  “And he’s cute too,” the twin sister said. The girls snickered. Serenity raised her brow and their snickers turned to full-on laughter.

  Acclaimed violinist Storm Kensington played a beautiful upbeat version of the R&B artist’s latest release. Serenity and the girls bobbed their heads to the beat. Serenity was excited that the girls were so intrigued by an artist she also admired and his incredible ability to freestyle popular music.

  “Wasn’t he great?”

  “Yes he was, girls.”

  “See, I told you he was lit.”

  Serenity laughed. “It looks like your mom is here.”

  “Bye, Ms. Serenity.” The girls walked off, giggling about how cute Storm looked in the video.

  For a fleeting moment, Serenity thought it would be cool to have someone like him visit the kids and play for them. Just as quickly as the thought came, she shook it off. How would she get a celebrity of that caliber to come to visit her program?

  Serenity looked at her watch. It was now ten after seven. “Shoot!” With the frenzy of the day, she had forgotten to tell Rayne she was meeting Chris at the coffee shop. She wanted Rayne and Ethan to be there.

  On the way to her car, Serenity called Chris and asked if they could push the time back to eight o’clock. That would give her time to speak with Rayne and stop by her house to freshen up. The coffee shop was only ten minutes from her house. Serenity reached out to Rayne after she finished speaking with Chris.

  “Of course we’ll come. We’ll get there before you arrive.”

  “Yes!” Serenity shrieked. “Thank you so much.”