by K. Z. Riman
“No. I can drive us home.”
Without another word, she left the office again.
* * * *
Kelsey took a while to dress her son in his suit, then took a little longer to get dressed, herself. Was it going to be like this each time we went out? Well, not that there was a need to rush. I didn’t want to go in the first place.
I was waiting with Luis at the front door when Mother and Father hurried down the stairs. “We’re late.”
“It’s only eight-fifteen. Calm down,” I said, throwing away what remained of my cigarette.
“Uncle Scott, look! I’m wearing a suit just like yours.” The boy looked proud, squaring his shoulders back.
Why did this boy have to talk to me, of all the people here?
“Yes.” I smiled at him, just the same. I couldn’t bring myself to say more to the kid and I didn’t know why. He was staring at me expectantly. The more he pleaded with his puppy-dog eyes, the less I wanted to speak.
“Mommy fixed it,” he added with enthusiastic tones, still waiting for a reply.
“Yes, where is your mommy?” Mother sounded worried as she cut in, saving me. “Scott, could you go and check on her, please?”
Gladly.
I made sure my expression remained neutral as I climbed the circular stairs and walked quietly through the hallways to get to her room. Mother always had this habit of reading me. Curse the day mothers were made with so much intuition!
I knocked a few times on Kelsey’s door and called her name, but she didn’t answer. When I heard her voice, she was cursing, annoyed about something. I pushed open her door and found her inside the closet, trying to zip her dress up.
“Shall I help you with that?” I asked.
She jumped and turned, but made no comment as to why I was in her room. Slowly, she nodded. “Please.”
I could smell her from where I stood and the sensation in my nose heightened as I drew nearer. She was using a sweet, floral fragrance that was all-woman. As she turned away, she exposed her shoulders and her nape, her perfectly outlined spine and her silky skin. She still had her hair up in a knot and her black dress covered her from her breast to halfway down her thigh.
Fuck! This was even more revealing than her work suit!
Carefully, I held her zipper’s tab and slid it slowly up, making sure my finger touched the outline of her spine. Her skin was so soft and silky.
She shivered, a sharp intake of her breath giving her away to my cock. Hearing her was so pleasurable.
As I finished, she immediately turned and blushed, looking everywhere but at me again. “Thank you.”
“You look beautiful,” I said, and I meant it.
She looked as fresh as the morning dew in the garden. Her lips were moist and her cheeks glistened like honey. She really was beautiful.
My heart jumped, staring at her. She had changed. She was no longer that virgin kid I knew, but why did I still feel the same ache to touch her?
She didn’t respond to me. She moved past me and picked up her purse from her bed. “Are you coming?”
I didn’t speak as I followed her out. She was walking ahead of me, fidgeting, as her hands continuously pushed her loose hair back into the knot. Mother and Father gasped seeing her, agreeing that she looked like a woman who fitted the family well.
“I’m so happy your dress fits you perfectly, dear!” Mother beamed. She had always wanted to shop for a daughter and so she had been so pleased doing it now, choosing the sexiest dresses for Kelsey.
Mother must have forgotten she had a son who would drool. The dress fitted Kelsey, all right. It hugged her completely, revealing her curves so much that any man would be turned on. She was turning me on!
She rode with me in the car, letting Sean ride with his grandparents.
As she sat beside me in the car, I fought with myself a few times, putting off my need to touch her thigh. What had happened to me? Since that kiss inside her closet, I had wanted to kiss her again and to touch more of her.
She didn’t wait for me to help her out of the passenger’s seat when we reached the Povenmier residence. She got out, glancing at Sean to see how he was behaving. She gave a relieved smile when she saw he was holding his grandparent’s hands, like a proper little boy, as they walked.
“Kelsey!” Dean Nielsen Povenmier greeted her first in the group. His eyes gleamed from a tear as he reached for her from his wheelchair. She gave him a light peck on the cheeks.
“Hello, Nielsen.” She smiled, giving him her hand to hold while he greeted us. Was there a fucking need for that?
“It’s been a while.” Father shook the dean’s free hand and nodded. “I’m so happy to visit your home again.”
“The pleasure is mine, now that I have seen Kelsey again. She hid from us for too long, didn’t she?” the dean said, as we all headed to the dining room.
Kelsey pushed his wheelchair, leaving him to stay at one end of the long table before moving to sit beside me. It gave me pleasure to think she chose the chair beside mine. My insides were boiling.
Calm down.
“Napkin, honey.” She waved hers to show her son, now seated between her and Mother.
“Do you need to say that to a five-year-old boy?” It was insane.
She was treating her son with too much sweetness. I bet the boy would grow up to be like Seth. Though, that shouldn’t be a bad thing. If it was because of that, or because of how I saw her treat the old dean a while ago, I suddenly felt the need to be angry at her.
She rolled her eyes at me, annoyed at what I had said, but I ignored her.
By then, dinner had been served and Carter had arrived, flashing everyone, especially Kelsey, a warm smile. “Hello, Kelsey. It’s been a very long time.”
Oh, fuck off, pretty boy!
“It has,” Kelsey said shyly. She had been here countless times, helping the family when the occasion called for it. “You have changed a lot.”
“I disagree,” Carter said, sitting opposite her. “I haven’t changed at all. I’m still that Carter you knew back then.” He turned to me. Finally, you dick! “Scott. So nice to see you have returned.”
“Well, my home is here.”
“Yes. There is no other place as peaceful as home, right?” His tone was rather sarcastic. When he turned to Kelsey again, a different look glinted in his eyes and he shot glances at her chest. My blood was boiling, just seeing him. “I believe you are staying here for good, too, Kelsey.”
“She is.” Mother held Kelsey’s hand on the table and squeezed it. “She is like a daughter to us now.”
Carter chuckled, glancing at his father and giving him a meaningful smile. “It seems you and my father have that in common. She has always been family to us, too.”
“I owe Dean Povenmier a lot,” Kelsey said, smiling.
“Kelsey!” The dean’s twelve-year-old daughter struggled free of her mother and ran to hug her. “I missed you, Kelsey!”
“Oh, I missed you too, Ella.” Kelsey squeezed her and introduced her to her son. Kelsey had saved Ella’s life some years ago, but it was much more fitting to say that Ella saved hers. As a result of Ella’s near-accident, Kelsey was able to enter Draco University and eventually meet my brother.
Whether her life was actually spared of difficulties was still a matter of opinion. By meeting my brother, she had found herself in a pit of heartache and hardships. She was left with a son and a broken heart for years. For what? For just a couple of years of happiness?
“Ella’s never stopped asking for you.” Mrs. Povenmier sat adjacent to her husband and smiled. “Scott, my, you have changed.”
“A lot,” I replied, a ghost of a smile on my lips. They had no idea how much.
When Ella turned to her brother, she asked, “Hav
e you asked Kelsey to be my sister yet?”
There was something behind that question and I was beginning to think this visit was not for anything casual. I gritted my teeth.
“Not yet,” Carter replied, and they giggled.
I clenched my hands under the table. I really didn’t know why this was all becoming such a burden to me.
Kelsey narrowed her eyes and looked at me, a worried expression on her face. So she had heard them, as well.
“Carter, dear. Would you be kind enough to check on the soufflé? Have Kelsey help you. I’m sure our cook would very much want to see her again. It’s been a while,” Mrs. Povenmier said a few minutes after the main course, strengthening my doubts.
It was illogical for her to ask her stepson to check on dessert when they clearly had a lot of servants in the house. Given that she wanted him to share the chore, it wasn’t logical to ask a guest to go and check on something from the kitchen, even if she was once a helper here.
Mother and Father might be dumb, or acting dumb enough to let it happen for the sake of a stupid friendship, but I wasn’t falling for any of it.
Kelsey smiled politely, nodding and excusing herself from the table. I saw that she was uncomfortable about it too, thinking perhaps of the reason she was suddenly being drawn away.
When she had gone, Dean Povenmier wasted no time to asking my father a favor. “Keith, I have an alternate motive for asking you all to come here.”
Father narrowed his eyes as he looked at his friend. “What is that?” The tone of his voice betrayed all his attempts for nonchalance. He was on guard and the dean knew it.
“As you know, Kelsey is like a daughter to me,” he started. “I have named her in my will and she will inherit a small part of my money when I die.”
Father shrugged his shoulders. “I think there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I’m sure she will be happy to hear that from you.”
“Yes, but I need your help in convincing her to marry my son.”
I knew it. I knew there was something behind Carter’s smile and Ella’s question. I clenched my fist again under the table and held off my need to stand and get Kelsey from the kitchen. I heard her giggle as she and Carter spoke with the cook. Only God knew how far away Carter was standing from her.
Father jerked his head, taken aback by the unlikely request. It wasn’t like Kelsey was Father and Mother’s real daughter that the dean had to ask them of that. She had been their son’s girlfriend and perhaps that made the complication. “Well, I must say, Nielsen, I didn’t expect that.”
“I know. It is not likely that a man would propose marriage for his son to the father-in-law of a woman, just as he would propose a business plan.” The dean took a sip of his juice. “Kelsey has always been kind and sweet to all of us, especially to Ella. Carter has always been attracted to her, even when Kelsey was dating Seth, so I see no reason why I shouldn’t try and do something about it now.”
Father looked at Mother for a second and then nodded. “Well, I cannot speak for her about that.”
“We are worried that if Carter wooed Kelsey in your house, it would insult you, given that she is your son’s…well, former girlfriend. I believe they didn’t…” Mrs. Povenmier was apologetic, but eager to see their plan through.
“Seth and Kelsey never had the chance to get married, but they were planning to.” Mother took a sip of her wine, giving an expression that she found no offense to the request.
“I see no reason why she couldn’t marry. It’s been six years. Carter knows she has a son and is willing to take responsibility for him,” the dean continued, speaking slowly as he coughed deeply, age taking the best of his years away.
“Well, like Keith has said, we cannot speak for her.”
“Will you allow my son to visit and court Kelsey in your house?” Dean Povenmier looked eager, waiting for a positive response from his dear old friend.
“Of course.” Father nodded, his reply escaping a lump in his throat.
I muffled my groan of utter irritation at what was going on. I couldn’t believe that Mother and Father would agree to such nonsense. Kelsey was my brother’s girlfriend and fiancée, and she should remain to be! Even as she needed to be loved, she needed to remain with us for the sake of her son.
She could not get married!
Chapter Seven
Kelsey: Thumbs War
That feeling of uneasiness, being urged out of the dining hall with Carter to fetch dessert, disappeared when I found myself still laughing at his jokes. Carter was always friendly to me. He made me feel at home in this house whenever I visited or helped with anything.
“My, my, you have changed,” he said as we waited while Jose, their cook, checked on the soufflé. “You have become more…beautiful.”
“Thank you. That’s so sweet.” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and looked at Carter shyly. I didn’t feel any onset of a flush at his compliment the way Scott’s words made me.
“Your boy…he looks so much like you,” he said, trying to be polite when I could tell he was lying. No one had ever said Sean looked like me. No one ever would, because he didn’t look like me. He looked like Seth.
“Really?” I frowned.
Seeing my reaction, he changed his mind. “No, actually, I was trying to show off.”
We both laughed again.
“Here you go, Kelsey and Carter.” Jose handed each of us a tray to bring out. “Nice to see you, Beautiful.”
“See?” Carter raised an eyebrow as he flashed me a genuine smile, showing his beautiful dimples. He had always been this handsome—blonde, blue eyes, and muscular. “Beautiful.”
I chuckled. “Stop teasing me, Carter, or I might believe you.”
“Believe me then.” Carter stopped, staring at me. “Is there any reason for you not to believe me?”
“No,” I replied honestly. He never gave me any reason to, even when we were younger. “You have always been very good to me.”
Carter smiled and then looked at my hands before pressing his lips together. I followed his gaze and wondered if it was my ring that made him react that way. “It’s nice to have you around again.”
“Yeah.”
We were greeted by maids at the door, who took the trays from us, and so I went ahead.
“Ah. Here they are!” Dean Povenmier announced as he saw us, the smile on his face brighter than the one from when I arrived.
“The soufflés are perfect, Mother,” Carter said, as he headed for his seat.
Scott had narrowed his eyes and frowned. What had happened while we were away that he looked so agitated? He looked at me and took a sharp breath before reaching for my hand under the table.
I flinched, but he didn’t let go. I looked around the table to see if anyone had noticed.
Carter did. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes.” I swallowed hard and tried to pull my hand back, looking away from Scott as he casually drank his wine.
My heart was pounding and I felt myself blush. Scott’s palm was warm and it was wonderful to touch, like having the sun in your hands and the flames running through your veins. I saw a vision of our kiss, and of what might had happened if Leo hadn’t interrupted the moment. I saw him in bed with me, kissing me and touching me…
What am I thinking? I jerked back, gasping for air. When everyone turned to me, he let me go.
“Are you all right, dear?” Mother asked.
“Yes.” I slowly stood up. “Excuse me. I need to use the ladies’ room.”
I was sweating. I had to support myself with my hands on the counter sink to steady my shaky self. Scott was playing with me. I bet he had been playing with me all along, since when he first kissed me.
What was it that he asked of me again? “Use him.” Ha! What bull!
I bet he was the one using me, since he couldn’t get himself laid, staying at his parents’ mansion!
No, he couldn’t make a fool of me. I squared my shoulders and fixed on a smile while I followed everyone to the receiving room, where Ella insisted on singing me a song.
“Oh, thank you.”
Scott’s eyes were all over me and I could not get myself to focus on Ella’s singing.
I pulled Sean towards me and wrapped my arms around him, conscious of everyone moving about. Even Mother and Father were acting strangely. Something must have happened while I was in the kitchen with Carter.
I clapped my son’s hands as soon as Ella finished. Ella pulled Sean away from me, asking if they could play in her room with her maids. I nodded, and smiled sweetly.
“Do you want to take a walk, Kelsey?” Carter rose to his feet and held one hand to me. I turned to everyone as they looked—the Povenmier’s pleased, and my in-laws weakly smiling at me. “We just had the garden landscaped. Perhaps you would like to see.”
“Of course.” I nodded and took his hand, which he wrapped around his arm as he escorted me out.
Carter never did anything to cause me trouble, even in our youth. There was no reason for me to deny him the pleasure of a good talk.
“Are you staying here?” I asked.
“Oh, goodness, no.” He chuckled as if it was a really bad idea. “I rent a flat uptown so I can be nearer to my work.”
Right. He was a lawyer like Seth. Last I heard, since Seth’s death, he had been winning a lot of cases and gaining popularity.
“That’s nice.” I nodded.
“You should come and see my place some time. I have hundreds and hundreds of books, some of which, I believe, would interest you.” He looked at me as he spoke. This was the first time that he had gotten me completely alone, walking along the brick path in the dim evening light. This was also the first time he had asked me to visit him anywhere.
“Perhaps,” I lied. I already decided, even before he finished what he was saying, that I didn’t want to visit him in his apartment. I didn’t want to be alone in a room with him; at least, not until I sorted out everything for Sean.
