by Lila Younger
The inside of the room has very obviously not been touched by the decorator. There’s a few bookcases in here filled with books; old battered copies of pulpy mystery novels you’d buy at the airport mixed in with hardcover books and a bunch of National Geographics too. An oversized office chair faced an antique wooden desk, and a sofa bed in the corner is pulled out. Maybe for all those busy nights when he can’t be bothered to make it all the way up the stairs to his bed? I guess. My eyes are caught by the picture hanging above the sofa bed. It’s huge, a panoramic shot of a lake that’s clear as glass. I can make out the rocks below in all sorts of colors. High mountains, deep purple and capped with snow, surround the lake. The scene is gorgeous and tranquil, and there’s a hawk wheeling around in the sky. I take a step in to see it better.
“You like it?” a voice says behind me.
I jump about three feet off the ground and drop my empty bowl.
“Mark! I- I wasn’t. I mean, the door wasn’t-” I stop and stare. It’s Mark, and he looks good. A million times better than my memories. The eyes, the hair, the cheekbones. He’s wearing a buttery, black motorcycle jacket that stretches over taut muscle and strong arms, a black t-shirt, and soot gray jeans and motorcycle boots. My eyes are sort of jumping everywhere trying to memorize it all. His allure is the kind that’s blinding in person, and my voice sort of peters out into nothing. He’s smiling, which is a relief, because I’m very aware of the fact that I shouldn’t be here. Then I remember about my bowl. We both rush to grab it at the same time and our fingers touch, and I shrink my hand back like I’m burned. Luckily he’s too busy with picking things up to notice.
Smooth, Hailey. Really smooth, I say to myself. Why don’t you just announce your crush to him while you’re at it? Although now that I mention it, my cheeks are burning up again, so he’s going to know in a few seconds anyways.
“Sorry to scare you Hailey,” Mark says to me once he straightens up again. He’s a head taller than me, even in my heeled boots. The perfect height really. “My accountant got food poisoning and had to cancel the meeting today.”
“That’s great,” I blurt, then smack myself mentally. That’s not great at all. “I mean, is he okay?”
“Oh I’m sure he’s just fine. The guy seems to get food poisoning pretty frequently. From what I gather, his wife is a terrible cook. As am I,” he says holding up the cereal bowl. “That’s why I don’t try to cook anything in the house as I’m sure you’ve found out.”
“I can cook,” I say eagerly. I have a sudden vision of whipping up a three course meal and spoon feeding it to him. Naked. Maybe we’ll skip straight to dessert. “I make dinner for my roommates all the time.”
“Then I’m sure we’ll get along just fine,” he says, flashing me his brilliant smile again. I have to work hard not to swoon. “But for tonight, let me take you out for dinner. It’s been too long hasn’t it Hailey? I’m sorry I’ve been too busy to show you around the city.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say quickly. “You’re probably really busy these days.”
I don’t miss the fact that he even remembers the texts I’ve sent him. That means he’s read it. And maybe that he isn’t avoiding me. My heart perks up a little at the thought.
“Too busy,” he says with a frown. “But come on. We can catch up over burgers.”
My stomach does a little growl, so I quickly agree and follow him back out of the house. He drops off the bowl on the kitchen island and picks up a black motorcycle helmet that he tucks under his arm.
“You’re not scared to ride are you?” he asks.
I barely remember to shake my head. Inside I’m jumping up and down because riding a motorcycle means I get to sit up close with Mark. Really close. Like arms around him, body pressed up to him close. Even though I’ve fantasized about that more than once, actually getting the opportunity to has me nervous. That thing where I could never lie? Well it means that I never developed that way of being calm and collected around guys I like either. It’s just too obvious. I must think pure thoughts. I must think pure thoughts. I must think pure thoughts.
But it’s no use. We head towards the garage, where he hands me a helmet of my own to wear. I quickly pull it on so he can’t see my face, then I follow him out to where a sleek motorcycle sits in the driveway. Mark’s got two other cars, a Jeep and a sports car, but I’m determined to see this through. He swings his long leg over the black bike and pulls on his own helmet.
“Now you,” he says, his deep voice muffled.
I gingerly climb on behind him. The seat is wider than I expect, and angled so that I slide forward, my whole body flush against his. I gingerly put my hands around him, hoping I don’t betray how much I wanted to do this. Mark isn’t a beefcake, but he’s definitely got muscles, the kind that makes me feel small and delicate in comparison. I don’t feel intimidated at all though. In fact, I feel sort of protected and safe around him. Like nothing bad can happen to me. He smells delicious, like leather and wood and something so masculine it’s making me wet. This is the closest I’ve ever been to Mark and I’m trying not to squeal or give myself away. He turns on the engine, and the motorcycle comes alive with a roar.
“You’re going to want to hold on tight,” he says over the noise.
“What?”
Instead of answering, he physically grabs my arms, pulling them tighter against his body. His hands are rough and calloused, which surprises me, because that’s the last thing I’d expect from a photographer. I want these. This is like something out of my fantasy, but he’s warm and very, very solid. The muscles across his back flex and stretch as he moves, and I can feel every part of him.
“There,” he says. “Now let’s go.”
And with that he kicks off and we move. I have no clue where we’re going, but I really hope that it’s somewhere on the other side of town. I could sit back here forever.
Chapter 3
Mark
I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the reason I took Hailey on my motorcycle was to have her snug against me. I know, I know. What the hell am I thinking? She’s my best friend’s kid. I’ve seen her grow up playing with dolls for crying out loud. It bothers me too. In fact, that was the reason I put so much space between us. She was so strong and smart and beautiful at her eighteenth birthday/graduation party, that I knew I had to get out of the picture. What I was starting to feel for her then was wrong. So I moved almost two hours away. And it was easy enough not to reply to her messages when she first arrived. That and I owed Keith, her father, too much to fuck things up that way.
But now, having her here in my house, fuck if I don’t want to kiss those beautiful lips of hers and bend her over my desk in the study. She’s grown up so much even in these past three years. She is still a wide eyed innocent, and that adorable blush is still there, but the way she carries herself with so much confidence gave me a hard-on that took far too long to subside. I was going to have a lot of problems keeping myself under control if I stayed around her much longer, so I suggested dinner. Thank god she’s hungry too.
And the motorcycle? Well, I just couldn’t help myself. Having her breasts pressed against me, holding onto me for protection was too good to resist. I even speed up a little more than I usually do on the corners. It is proving to be one hell of a distraction, and I have to discreetly tuck myself against my jeans. I turn off the engine, and her arms stiffly separate and release me. I’m surprised to discover just how disappointed I am.
“You alive back there?” I ask.
“I think so. That’s the first time I’ve ever ridden on a motorcycle,” Hailey replies. She carefully pulls her helmet off and smooths down her honey brown hair. There’s a sweet smile on her lips, which I hope means that she enjoyed the ride as much as I did. “I think it’ll take a few minutes for my heart to stop racing.”
“Did I go too fast?” I ask as I help her off the bike.
“No. It was actually kind of exhilarating,” she says with a lau
gh that lights her face. “So where are we?”
“This,” I say with a grand gesture of my hand, “is the Three Crowns. It’s an old pub place that was taken over. The food’s been overhauled, but the place itself hasn’t. It’s got pool tables and darts too. I bring your dad here every time, but he’s yet to beat me.”
“Pool?” she says perking up. “I play pool.”
“Course you do. You’re Keith’s kid,” I say with a grin, and then stop myself. Right. Keith’s kid. Can’t be trying anything here, no matter how much I want to. I shake my head. I feel like Jekyll and Hyde, and it’s only the start of the evening. I need to keep myself under control. “Come on then. Let’s go inside.”
We cross the parking lot and I pull open the heavy wooden doors for Hailey. As I said, the pub looks like you’d expect a traditional English pub to look, with lots of dark wood and red brick. It’s a laid back place for sure, and some of the tables might look a little grubby, but I prefer it to the high end restaurants featuring ingredients flown in from around the world. Not that I can’t afford to eat there, but in my mind, the best foods are hearty and simple. The feature was definitely the bar, which had thick carved pillars and bronzed mirrors reflecting the room. It’s a busy night tonight, and all the tables are full. I nod at the hostess, lift up a two fingers, and then guide Hailey over to the bar. Joanna, the bartender is chatting up someone on the other end, but she gives me a wave to say she’ll be over.
“What do you think?” I ask Hailey.
“It’s fantastic,” she says, admiring the bar, and something in me relaxes. It’s important to me that a woman is as easygoing as I am. Though she’s definitely not an option on the table, Mark, my stupid conscience reminds me. So don’t even go there.
“Shall I order us a drink?” I say abruptly.
“Oh- I forgot my purse,” she exclaims reddening. “We just rushed out of there and I-”
I hold up a hand.
“I’m taking care of dinner. Don’t worry about it. It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve been through with your landlord. I can’t imagine getting thrown out of your home and told to find something in a day.”
“Thanks,” she says gratefully. “And it is kind of mindblowing. I don’t think it’s really all sunk in, not with how busy school’s been and-”
A waitress stumbles and bumps into Hailey, spilling the pint of beer she’s holding in her hand. Most of it misses her, but a large splash lands on her leather boots.
“I’m so sorry,” the waitress says, horrified. “Let me get you some napkins.”
“Oh no, don’t worry about it,” Hailey says. “I’ll just go to the bathroom and clean up.”
“I’ll be here,” I assure her. “With your-”
“Pepsi is fine.”
“Pepsi then,” I say. “You better hurry before it stains.”
The waitress points to the bathrooms and she hurries off. I watch her pretty little ass, clad in fantastically tight jeans, disappear into the crowd. A hand claps my shoulder.
“You done ogling her Mark?” Joanna asks, her raspy smoker’s voice cutting through my temporary brain fog. “She’s a little young, even for you.”
“I wasn’t ogling,” I retort. “I was just making sure she found the bathroom okay.”
“Sure,” she says. She crosses her arms across her ample chest. “Call it whatever you want. I know what I see.”
“It’s not like that Jo. She’s Keith’s kid.”
Jo let’s out a low whistle.
“Don’t be an idiot,” she says, wagging her finger at me. “It’s not worth it.”
I’m offended that she’d think I would do anything, and tell her as much, though not as nicely. That doesn’t seem to faze her though.
“I know you Mark. Your eyes and your prick seems to do most of the thinking for you in this bar, but this time you have to use your brain. She’s not some girl you can win over with a few games of pool and forget about when the sun rises.”
I clasp my hand over my heart.
“Joanna Beauregard, do you really have such a low opinion of me? I’m just here to take her out to dinner. The poor girl’s got her house flooded and I promised her father that she could stay with me until she finds another place. That’s it. Yes, I think she’s amazing, but I know better than to risk it.” I sound pretty convincing, even to myself, but old Jo isn’t fooled.
“I’m just trying to warn you from doing something foolish. You’ve got that look in your eye you always get when you want something real bad. You know that Keith would be furious if he found out. And I think you owe the man more than that.”
“What would you have me do?” I ask, throwing wide my arms. “Tell him ‘hey, I met your daughter today, and I’ve got the hots for her. Is it okay if I get her naked’? Cause I don’t think he’ll give me his blessing either way.”
“You’ve got an answer for everything don’t you?”
“Look, I’m not going to carry her off to my bed tonight. Promise. So just pour me a glass will you Jo?”
She gives me the stink eye, but finally starts to pour out a pint for me. And not a moment too soon. Hailey is already making her way back. I definitely didn’t need her to overhear the conversation. I quickly introduce Hailey to Joanna, and a table opens up and we leave the bar, but not before Joanna gives me one last shake of her finger.
“She seems nice,” Hailey says once we’re seated at the table and our menus are placed in front of us.
“Joanna is fantastic. She’s poured me into a taxi home more than once. Never lets anyone drink and drive. Never lets you drink and dial either.”
“Now that is a good friend indeed. Too bad everyone doesn’t have a Joanna by their side when they drink.”
The waitress comes back, the same one who had spilled the drink, and Hailey reassures her that the boots are fine. I use that moment to take in Hailey, her plush lower lip, her button nose, those big eyes. She’s grown into such a beautiful young woman, and I see that a few other guys around us have noticed her too. I feel a surge of aggressiveness, and I have to work to not take her hand in mine at the table. We order, cheeseburger for me and shepherd’s pie for her, and the menus are taken away. There are so many things I want to ask her about that it’s hard to find a place to start. She notices me staring and ducks her head down, embarrassed. A beautiful pink blush fans across her cheeks. She’s never been good at hiding how she feels about things, but I don’t care. I’m not about mind games or manipulations.
“I’m sorry. I’m staring. It’s just... you’ve grown up a lot,” I say. “I really am sorry that I couldn’t be there to show you around the city when you first came.”
“That’s okay,” she replies. “I probably wouldn’t have had the time anyways. School is crazy busy.”
“What are you taking?”
“Pre-med.” She says this quietly, with just a trace of sadness in it.
I raise my eyebrows. Pre-med was not what I was expecting. The girl that I knew always had a pencil in her hand, doodling and sketching away. And she was good at it too, capturing in just a few lines the essence of a thing. And what she didn’t draw well, she’d practice over and over until she did. I always thought that maybe she would go to art school. She sees the surprise on my face and shrugs.
“Mom and Dad really pushed me to do it,” she says almost apologetically, as if reading my thoughts. “And they wouldn’t have paid for art school anyways.”
Keith and his wife, Daria are both doctors. They’re both focused, methodical people, so it was a surprise to everyone who knew them when Hailey turned out to be such a creative person. I have a clear memory of someone’s wedding where all the little kids were running around screaming their heads off, and Hailey was sitting at the table quietly with just a pencil and the comics section of the newspaper, tracing and learning to draw. It seems like a damn shame to me that she’s letting her talents go to waste, though I know that Keith’s always wanted a son to keep on the famil
y practice. I think that there have been doctors in the family for almost six generations now.
“But art school is where you want to be?” I press. “Have you tried applying?”
“It is,” she allows. “But that’s not in the cards right now. And I missed the deadline, so it doesn’t matter anyways. I still draw in my free time though.”
“You can, but Hailey, I think you have a gift for this.” I lean forward, looking her straight in the eye. I know I’m being intense right now, but I believe wholeheartedly in her. I want her to see that. Even more than her beauty, her appreciation and fine eye for art was what drew me to her. “I’ve always thought that. You are a natural at it. You even have a better eye than me I think. You can go far.”
She blushes and her big doe eyes dart away then back at me, as if testing to see if I was sincere. I am, and I keep my gaze level until she knows it. My reward? A smile that socks me in the gut. It’s powerful and all-consuming, and for a second I forget entirely why I’m not trying to make her mine. Is it possible for her to have such a strong effect on me? I want to say more to her, make her keep smiling, and I take her hand. It’s soft and small, and I rub it with my thumb. She looks at me with surprise, her lips parted. She looks completely kissable.
We are interrupted by the waitress carrying out our plates and spring apart like teenagers who know they’ve done something wrong. She sets down our food, and we take a minute to dig in. The chef at the Three Crowns might not have any Michelin stars, but I think he’s one of the best. It’s the sort of food that makes you realize just how fucking hungry you really are once it’s in front of you.
“How is the food?”
“It’s good,” she says, her eyes lighting up with each bite. “Like really good. You wouldn’t think a pub could have this stuff here.”
“Yeah, it’s a real hidden gem.” I pause and put down my burger to start attacking the fries. I like to drown them in ketchup and vinegar. Hailey looks on curiously.
