“Yes, it is.” She stops to think for a moment, which makes me nervous. “So how many guys have felt your breasts?”
“On purpose?”
“Abigail Josephine!”
“Oh brother, I’m just trying to insert a little levity. You know, lighten the mood? It’s not every day I talk to my baby sister about my sexual exploits. Or lack thereof, in my case.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to help.”
“Stop apologizing. And I appreciate it, I guess. Although I don’t know what help you’re going to offer. Should I be scared?”
“No. Now, back to the question. How many guys have you gone to second base with?”
“Including Shaun, which was really brief by the way, so not sure that it really counts, but, that’d be a resounding two. Um, wait, let me think… yep, two.”
“Only two guys have felt you up?”
“Oh, please don’t word it like that. And yes, two. How many guys should I have let feel me up?” I hang my head, wanting to give up on this entire fiasco. “Never mind, please don’t answer that. Let’s just stop. This is sounding really pathetic.”
Denise lifts my face so that I have no choice but to look at her. “No, honey, it isn’t. Just because you’re inexperienced doesn’t make you a freak. It doesn’t make you pathetic.”
“Gee, thanks,” I say, giving her an exasperated look.
“Now, listen. It’s clear that there’s something between you and Shaun. He definitely has the hots for you. And I don’t think it’s the kind that says, ‘I’m going to get in this girl’s pants for the weekend just because I can’. He really feels something, otherwise, I think he’d be acting much more … slimy, like being demanding, pushy.”
“This is really scary.”
“It can be. But it can be a good thing too. When your stomach flutters, your pulse races, your skin tingles just at the mere thought of him caressing you.”
“Wow, yeah. I was feeling a lot of that between last night and this morning with Shaun, that’s for sure, which is crazy, given that I’ve just met him. Is that how it is for you with Jim?”
“Jim is it for me, Abbs. I truly believe that. Despite our age difference, something clicked between us, and I’m going to take full advantage of it. Meaning, I’m going to give him my love and devotion. If it were to mean giving up my job at Google for him, I would. But that just adds to our relationship. Working together, feeling that sense of accomplishment when you get an assignment completed, knowing that each brought out the best in the other.”
“Again, wow. How did you get to be so wise beyond your years?”
“Life, I guess.” She laughs. “And our upbringing had a lot to do with it as well. Mom and Dad are the best.”
“They sure are.” I look at her, almost afraid to broach the subject. “So then, how come you lost your virginity in high school?”
“Because I thought I was in love.”
“And how does that differ from what you feel now for Jim?”
“It just does. It’s hard to explain, but in high school, you know, you’ve got that first crush. You’re all dreamy and idealistic. Brett and I really liked each other. Even talked about a future.”
“Brett? Brett Cole, the stoner?”
“How did you know he was a stoner? You were already out of high school when he came along.”
“Yeah, well, even small-town news travels to the big city. How else? Mom. She told me about his arrest graduation night.”
“I’m just glad I decided to pass up on that party. I may have been the so-called wild child of the family, but I knew my limits.”
“Yet you thought you could change him, and…”
“And, well, I realized I couldn’t.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Anyway, let’s move on. So, I lost my virginity to a high school crush. Then in my first year of college, I had a thing with a guy, but that didn’t last. We had fun, but I knew it wasn’t going to go beyond that.”
“And with Jim, you know it will? How can you be so sure?”
“You can’t really. You just go with your heart. If it feels right, do it.”
I burst with laughter. “Well, that could certainly lead to some interesting predicaments.”
“It certainly could.” She laughs along with me before recovering, becoming all too serious again. “Abby, what do you feel for Shaun? Where do you want it to go?”
I don’t answer right away, thinking about her questions. Do I even know the answers?
“You’re taking too long. From the exchange of heat between the two of you, you should be pouncing. Ready for the next step in your life.”
“But what if it fails?” I say, hating how meek it sounds.
“Is that what’s stopping you from trying? Failing?”
“You can’t fail at what you don’t attempt,” I whisper.
“Wrong, Abbs,” Denise starts softly. “Not even attempting is a failure. A failure at not living your life to its full potential.” She studies me for a moment before continuing. “Is that why you’ve lived your life so carefully? So reserved? And…”
“Boring?” When Denise only nods, I continue. “I was the oldest child, the one expected to do ‘right’… to make the responsible choices. The one to set the example for you and Beckham and Claire. Some example, huh? You three have been fearless and have done remarkable things with your lives, and here I am, safe, stable, and boring! Pathetically afraid of making the wrong choices and being a failure in your eyes.”
Denise takes my hands in hers. “Oh, honey, life is all about attempts and failures. Trial and error. How do you even know you’ll fail if you don’t even try? You could be amazing. At anything! It isn’t shameful to fail. It’s shameful to give up.”
“Again, how did you get so dang smart?” I grin as I squeeze her hands.
Denise shrugs. “I had nothing to lose. As the baby, I could get away with a lot more and it’d pretty much be excused. It gave me a certain freedom, and I quickly learned I really didn’t need to try it all.” She chuckles.
“What if I get hurt? What if I hurt him?”
“That’s all part of life, Abby. You take the good with the bad. But how are you even going to know if you don’t try? If you don’t put yourself out there? Sylvia is right. Life is meant to be lived. You need to start living.”
As I mull over all that’s gone on in the last two days, and this conversation is starting to sink in, I square my shoulders, trying to fortify myself.
“You’re right. And so is Sylvia. But don’t tell her I admitted that.”
Denise drops my hands and pumps her fists. “So, ‘Operation Shaun’ is on!”
Now it’s my turn to giggle. “Um, okay. What exactly does that mean?”
“Do you want me to call it ‘Operation Get Abby Laid’?”
“No!”
“What it means is, you’re going to get to know Shaun more, he’s going to get to know you more. You’re going to try new things, and you’re going to live life. If somewhere in all that, you and Shaun happen to throw sex in the mix, then all the better.”
I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat and smile nervously at her.
“Come on, let’s get you changed. You’re due downstairs for a walk. Afterwards, we’ll plan out our day and see what the night brings.” She wiggles her eyebrows as she loves to do, pulling me off the bed.
I head toward the bathroom as Denise opens the dresser to retrieve clothes. It’s as if this is Denise’s second home, with all the amenities and clothes. Lucky for me, everything Sherri has in place here fits us perfectly. I’d hate to think about having to wear yesterday’s underwear. Or worse, not wearing any at all. I’m not a commando girl.
Once out of the bathroom, I go through the motions of putting on what Denise has set out for me, which is a cute pair of cut-off shorts and a graphic T-shirt with the words Keep Calm and Google On, written on the front. She also pulls out a pair of sneakers from the closet,
then hands me a pair of no-show socks. I quickly brush my hair free from tangles and put it in a loose braid.
“Ready.” I grin at my sis. “Let’s do this.”
Denise links her arm with mine as we leave the room, practically skipping down the stairs.
Chapter Seven
As Denise and I enter the kitchen, we find Sarah loading the dishwasher. No dogs. No Shaun. My heart does a little nose dive. Did he change his mind and decide to leave without me?
Denise instantly elbows me, gently nodding her head to the sliding glass doors off the breakfast nook. My attention turns in that direction and I see Shaun out on the grass, throwing balls for the dogs to chase.
A grin spreads across my face, which seems to please Denise as she smiles and winks at me.
“Hey, gals,” Sarah greets us. “Want anything? Juice, yogurt, omelet?”
“I’ll just grab some juice,” I say.
“And I would love an omelet. But you don’t have to cook for me. I can get it.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble. I just finished one up for Shaun a bit ago after he came back from his run. Now he’s offered to take the dogs for a walk.”
“Abby’s going to join them. Then I think it’s going to be a spa day for us. I’ll help you here, Sarah. It’ll keep me busy until they get back.”
“Oh, nice,” Sarah responds.
“Are you from the area, Sarah?” I ask. “Do you have family close by?”
“I am, and I do. My parents actually live right up the road in West Menlo Park. They both teach at Stanford. My younger brother is attending there, playing football. And my older brother is a techy in Silicon Valley.”
“Do you like what you do? The house-sitting?”
“I really do. I’d like to think I’m smart, but I’m not a genius like my other family members, so no college for me. I enjoy the different settings I go to… from one home to another, taking care of affairs and the houses for my clients.”
“Bet it never gets dull.”
“That’s for sure. What do you do, Abby?”
“I’m a caregiver. I help others with their daily living, running errands, taking them to appointments, cleaning, cooking. And I just began work as a dog-sitter for a few clients.”
“So, not unlike what I do, only you have your own place to go to at night.”
“Yeah, I guess you can look at it like that.”
“And do you enjoy what you do?”
“I do. I really do, as well.” I shrug. “I gave CC a try, got my AA in Liberal Studies. Just means I know a little about little.”
“No,” Denise interrupts. “It means you know about a variety of things, broadening your horizons. And it’s never too late to go back.”
“I wouldn’t know what I’d want to go back for. I know I’ll never make a fortune at what I do, but I like it and it works for now.”
“If you’re happy, that’s what’s important,” Sarah says.
“Right.” I place the empty glass on the counter. “Thanks for the juice. I better get out there before everyone gets restless.”
“Oh, Shaun is so good with those dogs. They’re having fun with all the attention.”
“So cute,” I murmur as I watch Shaun pitch one ball after another, causing the dogs to scurry after them.
“Would that be the dogs you’re referring to, or Shaun?” Sarah asks with humor in her voice.
I blush as I turn toward her. “Both, I guess.”
“I watched him last night with you, and it’s pretty obvious he likes you. Never in the three years I’ve been house sitting for Sherri have I ever seen him bring a woman over. Never really ever heard him talk about anyone for that matter.”
“Really? Isn’t that interesting?” Denise drawls.
“You’ve never noticed?” Sarah asks of Denise.
“This is actually the first time I’ve met him. In all the times I’ve been here, it never coincided with his visits.”
I guess Sherri says he makes it down about two or three times a year.”
“I can relate,” I say. “Even with me and Denise not that far away from one another, it’s only worked out to once or twice a year for us since she moved down here.”
“Families are funny that way,” Sarah says. “I still keep a room at my parents’ home, but I may only get there once or twice myself.”
My thoughts are turned away from that subject as Shaun notices me standing by the sliding glass doors. He grins and waves me out to join him. Which, I have every intention of doing.
“See you gals in a bit.” I reach for the handle as Denise and Sarah both tell me to have fun.
By Shaun’s side, how could I not?
As I open the door and step out onto the patio, the dogs notice my arrival and launch themselves my way. I bend down, trying to lavish each one with my attention. “Are you little cuties ready for your walk? I’m sorry to keep you waiting, but I’m sure you’ve had fun with Shaun out here on this gorgeous morning.”
“They’re chomping at the bit. They wanted to join me on my run earlier. Wouldn’t stop whining at the door.”
I stand, looking at Shaun. I can just picture him running, toned muscles flexing with every stride. “Can’t blame them,” I hear myself say. To that, Shaun just chuckles.
“Shall we?” He holds up the leashes for the dogs.
“We shall. Which ones should I take?”
He walks to me, giving me two leashes which are color-coordinated with the dogs’ collars. “Need you ask?” he says, and makes it sound so seductive.
Guess it’s Gypsy and Mysty for me. Shaun latches on to Eva, Ginger, and Greta, and we all set out across the grass, heading toward the front of the house.
“Figured we’d just stick to the neighborhood where the sidewalks are. Their little legs can only do so much. It won’t take long before they get tired.”
“Got it.”
We walk for a while in comfortable silence, letting the dogs concentrate on sniffing everything the length of their leashes will allow. The morning is indeed beautiful, with the sun out and the sky devoid of clouds. The blue is amazing. Only slightly deeper than Shaun’s eyes. I chuckle to myself, causing Shaun to turn his head toward me. I resist the urge to look his way. It’s pretty heady to think that this man at my side is interested in me.
“Abby, about this morning,” Shaun starts.
“Yeah, sorry about my panty comment. Didn’t mean to let that one slip.” Why I felt the need to bring that up, I have no idea.
I hear him groan and it sends a thrill through me. He reaches my side in an instant, leaning down to whisper in my ear. “One more comment about panties and I may have to see if you’re a commando kinda girl.”
I gasp and look at him with surprise. “Well, I wasn’t expecting you to say that. We’re on a public sidewalk. And for your information, I never go commando.”
“Too bad,” he whispers again.
I look back at him and can’t help but laugh. “What are you doing to me?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing. I don’t know what got into me this morning, saying what I did, treating you the way I did. I’m sorry if it was too much.”
“No, you’re not,” I state frankly. “I’m pretty sure you enjoyed it. I know I did,” I confess.
I can see I’ve clearly surprised him with my words. “While I’m glad to hear that, I know you think we hardly know one another, so I’d like to change that.”
“I’d like that too.”
“So, do you think Denise could spare you for the evening so we can do something together?”
“I’m pretty sure she already had that exact thing in mind. In fact, I think she thinks she needs to prep me for you.”
“What?”
I laugh at his amused look. “Well, she wants to take me to a spa for a makeover. I guess that involves a facial. and hair and make-up, and I’m sure she’ll be dressing me this evening. So, to give her a heads-up, what did you have in mind? That way the attire
will be appropriate.”
“You don’t need to go to all that fuss. That is, unless you like to do that sort of thing,” he quickly adds. “Abby, I like you just as you are now.”
I scoff. “In cut-off shorts and a t-shirt?”
“Yeah, because in the short period of time since I’ve met you, I know it’s who you are, what you’re comfortable with. Besides, you look really cute.”
“Well, thank you for that. And the fact you can read me in so little time means it really is time for me to get out of that comfort zone. Between Denise and Sylvia, I guess they’ve found a way to pound that into my hard head.”
Shaun stops me by placing his hand on my elbow, turning me to face him. “It only matters what you want.”
I look down at the ground as if gathering courage. When I look back up to him, I see sincerity. “I’ve never thought about my life being boring until I sat back and really looked at it, and yeah, it’s been safe. And, maybe a little more than boring, according to some. It makes me think about doing more. There’s plenty out there I haven’t allowed myself to experience, and I’d like to change that.”
“Does that mean you’d be up for an adventure this evening?” A hint of daring is evident in his voice.
“I most certainly would be. What do you have in mind?”
“That, my dear, will have to be a surprise.”
“Well, you have to give me some sort of clue so I’ll know what to wear.”
“Ah yes, the all-important wardrobe. How about nothing much different than what you’re wearing right now? Comfortable shorts, a top, sneakers. Bring a light jacket, just in case. The nights can get chilly in the desert.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to give me to go on?”
“That’s all you need.” He gives me a quick kiss on my cheek before we resume our walk.
A few minutes go by, and I can’t help but ask. “Shaun, were you really sorry about this morning?”
He stops once again, facing me, caressing my chin with his finger while his thumb grazes my lower lip. “No, Abby, I wasn’t. I’m inexplicably, wildly attracted to you, and meant it when I said I want to get to know you more. About this morning, I enjoyed every bit of it. I would’ve enjoyed much more, but I can see that you’re not ready to take that leap just yet.”
Unexpected Adventures (New Adventures Book 1) Page 6
