by Roxy Wilson
Once again, her lips parted, this time on a whimper of need. Delving into her mouth, he drove his tongue through her moist heat. The taste of cream-sweetened coffee greeted his tongue and he moaned in response. He had always imagined she’d taste like cinnamon and vanilla, but he had to admit, the bitter sweetness of the coffee was so much more fitting. A flavor synonymous with her double-edged personality. So loyal to her best friend, so scared to take a chance on him, and so angry with the position both he and Brandi had put her in.
Jamie moved in his embrace and he tightened his hold on her, sure she was trying to escape. She might be ready to let go, but he sure as hell wasn’t. However, the sensation of her own arms wrapping behind and up to rest on his shoulders had him praising God. She was as in to it as he was. The sensation of her body pressed soft against his hard and muscled planes, had them both deepening the kiss. Drawing her tongue from her mouth to follow his, he urged her to taste him in return. He groaned as she complied. Mad, he was going mad. And she was driving him to it.
For a moment, he lost all sense of where he was and what he was doing. Having her this way was heaven, pure and simple, and after his previous life, he wanted nothing more than to dwell with her in this serenity. He needed her. He only hoped she would come to realize she needed him too. One way or another, he would do his best to convince her. Letting her go, now, was not an option.
Taking a step forward, he pressed her back. She went with him. One hand dropped from his shoulder to grip the wall behind them. He considered pushing her up against the same wall and seeing just how far she’d allow him to drive her and her need. While he debated the pros and cons, she straightened and braced her arm. Suddenly, she stopped moving. Brett let go immediately.
“What the hell was that?” she demanded.
He couldn’t believe what had just happened. How could he have just dived in like this? “I’m sorry, but your lips were…just there.”
“Just there?” Her eyebrows rose. “As in on my face where they usually are?”
“Damn it! It’s not like you resisted.”
“I didn’t have time to resist.” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. Then, to his surprise, she backed down and took a step back. “Okay). That’s a lie. I…I wanted to know what it would be like to kiss you. And when you swooped in, I…just gave in to my impulse.”
“So you’re saying…” His mind couldn’t process the reasoning behind her words.
She closed her eyes, put her hand on her brow, and then straightened her shoulder. “All right, fine. I’m attracted you. Does that make you happy?”
He couldn’t help the grin that split across his face. “Sort of.”
“I bet you’re used to women falling all over you.”
“Well…”
“Oh, shut up!” She waved a hand at him. “Now, judging by the fact that you just dove in for kiss, can I assume that you’re also attracted to me?”
Attracted was too small a word to explain what he felt. Hooked. Obsessed. Consumed by lust. “I don’t kiss women I am not attracted to,” he assured her.
Jamie sighed. “This is an extra complication. We’ll need to be very careful. Melissa’s more important. We don’t want to do anything to embroil her in a difficult situation. Right?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
“We’ll just have to…stay away from each other, that’s all.”
He was astounded by her logic, or lack of it. “That’s your solution? Stay away from each other? Well, jeez. I don’t think that’s going to work.”
She bristled. “Why not?”
“Because I intend to be a part of her life, and that means, I would be a frequent visitor here. So unless you plan on running out each time I come calling, we have to think of something else.”
She glowered at him, her delicate face fuming with anger. “I don’t like the fact that you’re not taking it seriously.”
He suppressed a smile. “May I suggest something? How about we give it a go? See where this goes.”
“Bad idea!” She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot.
Brett took a deep breath and then exhaled sharply. She was really going to make him beg. “Okay. The truth is that I’ve not been in a serious relationship with anyone since…Brandi. And you…well, you’re. …you. You’re not only attractive, but also a generous person. It would be an honor for me if you would agree to go out with me?”
Jamie narrowed her eyes. “You’re just saying that to get me into bed.”
Brett chuckled. Her outspokenness made it difficult for him to be nothing but totally honest with her. “That would be an added bonus, of course, but for the moment, I would settle for a date.”
“A date? As in you and me? Just the two of us?”
“I should think so. Two people going out for a meal so they can get to know each other. You could hire a babysitter for Melissa.”
Jamie considered him. Brett had never felt so scrutinized in his life. It was as if she was trying to peer into the depth of his soul in an attempt to gauge his true intentions.
“What if we end up hating each other? What kind of an impact would it have on Melissa?”
“I’m sure we would manage to be civil to each other, if not affectionate. In any case, if you don’t like this, we will discard the idea after the first date and go back to being…tentative friends. How about that?”
She sighed and pursed her lips in a thin smile. “All right. One date.”
He felt as he was being granted the key to a priceless treasure. Brett grinned. “You won’t regret it.”
“I hope not. When is this momentous occasion supposed to take place?”
“Tomorrow night. After the park. We’ll keep it casual,” he suggested as his heart pounded with excitement.
“All right,” she said with a bit of reluctance. “I’ll make arrangements for Mellie to stay with Heather and Sean.” At his questioning look, she added. “You remember them, don’t you?” When he nodded, she continued. “They’re spending some time here, and since Mellie’s comfortable with them, I’ll feel much better than if she stays with a sitter she doesn’t know.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he repeated the words she’d uttered not so long ago. Before the kiss that still had his senses reeling.
She sighed. “I sure will.”
When the door closed behind him, Brett did a fast jig on the spot. Things had suddenly taken an interesting turn. Sure, he’d never expected this to happen, but now that it had progressed to this point, he couldn’t deny that he was happy about the situation. Jamie was amazing. She was better than amazing. He’d never known a woman like her. So calm and composed, so sure of her opinions, and so loving and giving.
His thoughts flitted back to Melissa. He’d really enjoyed spending time with her. And as excited as he was about his upcoming date, he was equally excited about their planned excursion to the park. The little girl had taken to him so easily, so trustingly, that he’d been overwhelmed by her acceptance. His heart had near burst with the love he felt for her.
Nothing could shine above the fact that he’d spend his first few hours with his little girl and was eagerly looking forward to spending more time with her in the coming days.
His date with Jamie was an added plus. A big plus. He hoped things would go well with her. But if they didn’t, he would bend over backwards to make sure none of their personal feelings had any impact on Melissa’s happiness.
Suddenly, there was a lot on his plate to manage and Brett looked forward to the challenge.
Chapter Seven
Jamie couldn’t believe she was leaving Mellie at Heather and Sean’s. It was one thing for Mellie to be there while she was present, as well. It was a totally different ball game when she had to leave her baby behind. Sure, Jamie trusted her friends to take good care of Mellie, after all, they took care of their own twins, and they were more than friends. They were family. But she couldn’t help feeling a sense of guilt
that she was being a tad bit selfish leaving Mellie behind to have fun. She sighed.
“Go, Jamie.” Heather gently pushed her towards the door. “Everything’s going to be just fine.”
“You have my number right? I mean, she’s going to be all right, but just in case…sometimes she gets up at night and wants me.”
Heather looked at Mellie, a study of concentration, as she sat on the floor with the twins as they built a structure using the Leggo set that was strewn across the floor. “Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll have her super busy, so won’t even realize you’re gone.”
“But…”
“Have a good time.” Heather shooed Jamie and Brett out of the house and closed the door firmly. Knowing that she was overreacting, Jamie still couldn’t help but wring her hands. “What if…”
Brett put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We’re only going to be five minutes away, and you’d be back before she makes too much of a fuss.” His calm and reassuring voice failed to soothe her.
“I suppose…it’s just…I’ve never… ughh.”
He chuckled as they trudged along the walkway. “Welcome to motherhood.”
“Easy for you to say. All you’ve to do is show up, bring a gift, and she is putty in your hands.”
“I’ve to admit I’ve got the easy deal,” he agreed as he opened the car door. He assisted her, and he came around to take his seat. After he switched on the engine, he turned to look at her. “Are you telling me this is your first date since…Melissa came to live with you?”
“Yeah. I’ve been kind of busy.”
“Hmmm.” He navigated the vehicle smoothly into the traffic. “So I’ve made reservations at Naples. It’s an Italian restaurant.”
“I’ve been there.” She approved his choice. “Their food is divine.”
Their conversation was relaxed, and within a few minutes they had reached. Jamie berated herself for being so childish about leaving Mellie at Heather’s. After Brett parked the car, they walked inside. The manager seated them at a corner table at Brett’s request. The waiter brought the menus. Jamie ordered a prawn cocktail, a soup, and pasta as the main meal.
The waiter glanced at Brett as he took his order, his expression showing that he’d recognized the famous director. After he went away, Brett glanced at her. “What?”
“What’s it like to be famous?” she asked, intrigued.
He lifted a shoulder. “It’s the work that’s exciting. The fame is just an added side benefit. Thank God for the fact that I’d the brains to be a director. It’s the poor actors who have it tough. The constant media scrutiny, the intense public curiosity, it can be pure hell. Many of them break under the pressure.”
“But you must enjoy some part of it? The red carpet, the awards, the pictures in the magazines?”
“It’s fun while it lasts. I would rather people remember my movie and not my face.”
She cocked her head. “I saw your last movie. It was light, fun, but with an underlying message that I found appealing. I wish though…”
“What?”
“I wish that you’d shown the woman leaving her husband. He cheated on her. She shouldn’t have taken him back.”
The waiter came back with the wine. He poured it, and after Jamie approved, he filled their glasses. “The reality is that infidelity is often not a deal-breaker. People forgive each other, not because they want to, but they have to for the sake of the children, or the society, or to avoid the drudgery of starting all over again with someone new. And remember, new is not always better. A spouse you know with all his failings might be much better than someone who may have more terrible habits.”
“Or better?” She drank her wine.
“True. But I showed the protagonist not as weak, but as strong. She knew what she was doing, and she accepted him back because she hoped for them to have a better life together in the future. You can’t throw away ten years because of one mistake.”
“I don’t think I would have been as forgiving if I were in her place.”
He smiled. “That’s what makes the world so interesting. Everyone’s different, and there are times we think we’re right and the others are wrong.”
“Didn’t you win an award for that movie?”
“No. I won two years ago for Love has no Boundaries.”
“Oh yeah. Sorry.” She tapped her head. “It all gets mixed up.”
The waiter brought their appetizer. As she’d expected, the food was delicious. Jamie had been apprehensive about the date. She didn’t know if they had anything in common except for a mutual attraction for each other, but she found that there were many topics they could discuss. Brett was a movie buff, naturally, as it was his chosen profession, but he was equally knowledgeable about politics, current affairs, and to her surprise, was an avid baseball fan.
“So what’s your favorite team?” she asked the dreaded question. Jamie herself didn’t miss a game if she could help it. Of course, she had let everything slide during the past six months, but she made it a point to catch a game live whenever she could.
“That’s as loaded a question as asking as to whom I vote for.”
“People have been killed over such discussions,” she admitted. “Politics and baseball. Two very dangerous topics.”
He took a bite of his grilled shrimps. “All right. I’m a Boston Red Sox fan.”
She curled her lips. “The New York Yankees have been my favorite since I was five.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Democrat?”
“Yep,” she nodded. “You?”
“Democrat all the way,” he admitted with a grin. “So at least we have something in common. It’s half the battle won.”
They both laughed, and just like that, everything was easy. Jamie didn’t remember the last time she had so much with a man. Brett was witty and smart. He had definite opinions, but didn’t push her to adopt the same. Instead he accepted her point of view easily without much fuss.
“Would you like to order dessert, sir?” When the waiter appeared, Jamie checked her watch and was surprised to discover that they had been sitting for over two hours. Where had the time flown?
“Actually, would you mind if we skipped that?” She wondered if Mellie was getting fussy? Jamie dug out her phone and checked the display. She hadn’t received any calls. Was everything alright?
“Could you bring the check?” Brett said to the waiter.
“I’m sorry. It’s just…”
“Please don’t bother to explain. I understand perfectly,” he said. “It’s been a lovely evening, and I’m sure there will be many more to follow.”
Will there be? Jamie nodded. As she was about to say something, someone called her. “Hey!” She looked up to see her ex-boyfriend, Cameron, standing with his arm around a tall brunette.
What the hell was he doing here?
****
It had been a fun evening. Brett couldn’t believe that he was sitting across a woman he wanted so badly. If he had his way, he would’ve taken her straight back home and made love to her until she screamed his name in rapture. The aquamarine strapless tube dress, which emphasized the delicateness of her bare shoulders, and the ruffle running along the bottom of the dress had teased her sexy legs as she made her across Heather’s walkway. He had to suppress a groan of longing and instead try to allay her fears about leaving Melissa. But, damn. That dress clung to the right places, showed her curves, and brought out a glow to her skin.
With great effort, he kept the conversation light and easy. He didn’t want to scare her off with the lustful thoughts that flitted through his mind. And despite the fact that he found her presence arousing, Brett had to admit that she made for a lively dinner companion. She was opinionated but not pushy, assertive but not aggressive. He enjoyed their banter and knew she was having a good time, too.
As first dates went, this one was a huge success.
Brett could tell the exact moment when her mood changed. When her eyes shifted to the
tall man who was eying her, she stiffened. “Hello, Cam. What a surprise.”
“It’s been a while, Jamie.” His eyes strayed to Brett and darted back to her. “This is Whitney.”
Whitney stared at Brett as if she’d seen the pope. “Hi. Aren’t you the director of Love has no Boundaries, Afterglow, and Perfect Love.”
“I am.” He stood to shake hands with the duo.
“Wow!” Whitney bubbled over with enthusiasm. She pumped his hand with exuberance, even as she looked at her boyfriend. “Cam. He’s my most favorite director in the world. Wow! I can’t believe I’m actually meeting you. This is like…so cool.” She just stopped short of hugging Brett.
“Thank you.” Brett was used to such behavior and took it in his stride. “I’m glad you like my work.”
“Like it? I love it.” Whitney didn’t give anyone a chance to talk. “Would you mind if I took a picture with you? Wow! This is so exciting. Cam, darling, would you mind?” She handed him her phone while she clung to Brett, nearly put her head on his shoulder as she posed for a picture. “My friends would be green with envy. I mean, this is like…so super. Wow!” She checked the picture to make sure that Cameron had done a good job.
“Thank you. It’s very kind of you to say so” Brett took the check that the waiter had brought and paid quickly. He could tell that Jamie was uncomfortable and wanted to leave as soon as possible. Her silence was loud and clear.
