All I Ever Wanted

by Francis Ray

  He gently squeezed. “Lead on, Kayla.”

  In less than a minute, Kayla had the movie in the DVD player, the control in her hands, and was scooted back on the living room sofa with Richard next to her. As movie trailers started to play, Naomi felt herself in a quandary. Usually she sat on the other side of Kayla as she did at the movies. She didn’t want to sit there tonight.

  Richard patted the space beside him. “I saved you a spot.”

  Naomi’s gaze went to Kayla. She didn’t like variations in their routine. And Naomi wasn’t sure how to explain the shift in her and Richard’s relationship.

  “Better come on before the movie starts,” Richard urged. “I don’t want to miss any of the action of the dogs taking down those nasty cats. Although I wouldn’t say it in front of my cat owners.”

  Naomi sat next to Richard, leaving a good two feet between them. The look he tossed her said it wasn’t close enough. She inched over a bit farther. He reached out and tugged her arm, bringing her closer still, until only a scant space separated them.

  Kayla snuggled against Richard, the control still in her hands because she enjoyed rewinding scenes she liked. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He leaned his head briefly against hers, then curved his arm around Naomi’s shoulders. “So am I, Kayla. So am I.”

  So was she, Naomi thought, and gave in to the urge to take a cue from her daughter and lean into the warmth and strength of Richard’s body. She barely caught back a sigh at how good it felt just to relax and not to be afraid. Then her mind went in an entirely different and new direction. Once Kayla was in bed, Richard would kiss her. She thought of the pleasure of the kiss in his office and snuggled closer.

  * * *

  “I can’t wait another second.” Richard pulled Naomi into his arms the moment she entered the living room, his mouth finding hers. He wanted the kiss to be warm and tender, the passion to slowly grow. It took all of his willpower for that to happen when she melted against him, a little whimper slipping past her lips.

  The woman packed a wallop and had no idea how she got to him, how much he wanted her naked and willing in a big bed. Lifting his head, his breathing off kilter, he reached for control.

  “I—no—I didn’t know a kiss could be like this,” she whispered, her splayed hands trembling on his chest.

  “With the right person, a kiss can take you under faster than a riptide.” He lifted his head, palmed her face, and stared down at her. “You make me ache.”

  Her eyes widened in wonder. “Me? I do?”

  He would have laughed at the pleasure pushing its way through the wonder if need hadn’t been clawing though him. “You do.” He kissed her on the lips, then took her hand and sat on the sofa, pulling her back into his arms. “This is nice.”

  “Everything with you is nice.”

  She tucked her head. His finger lifted his chin. “Never hide from me. Promise me.”

  “I don’t want to disappoint you, say the wrong thing,” she confessed.

  “I didn’t want to disappoint you, say the wrong thing either,” he confessed. “It made me second-guess myself. It wasn’t a good place. Let’s make a pact tonight that we do what comes naturally.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” She shrugged. “I don’t think I’m very good at this.”

  “Any better, and I’d be chewing nails.” He stared into her eyes. “Another pact. No comparison and no looking back at the past.”

  “I want that more than you know,” she said. “Moving forward is the only way I’ll ever be happy. I finally realized that.”

  “And that’s just what you’re doing.”

  “With you.”

  He smiled. “And the house. What did Sierra say about it?”

  Naomi looked a bit embarrassed. “I was thinking about something else when she called so I didn’t ask any questions, but apparently a house just came on the market that she thought would be perfect for us. I called her while I was waiting for the food order and told her that I thought you’d come with us—if you could make it.”

  “You told her right.” He came to his feet pulling her with him. “Sleep in. We’ll go eat breakfast after we see the house, then go find the frame shop to have my drawing framed.”

  Naomi’s smile trembled. “You’re a good man.”

  He wasn’t sure he liked being called good. “What time should I pick you up?”

  “Eight forty-five, and thank you.”

  “Thank you for trusting me.” He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth to reward her and because he couldn’t help himself.

  She twisted her head to one side to study him. “I’m not sure you gave me a choice.”

  “Desperate times.” His arms circled her waist. He liked that she was expressing her feelings more and more. “And I was past desperate.” His mouth found hers again, taking and giving pleasure. “Dream of me.” Turning, Richard left the apartment aware exactly of what he was going to dream about.

  Chapter 11

  “We’re coming up on the house address,” Richard said, slowing down.

  Naomi leaned forward in her seat, reading the house numbers. The houses were all well kept, single-level adobe and wood with manicured lawns and rear-entry garages. They passed a man in a straw hat cutting his yard. A few houses farther, a woman worked in her flower bed. A couple of children raced down the street on their bikes.

  “Looks like a good neighborhood,” Richard said.

  “And out of my price range.” Naomi nibbled on her lower lip. “Sierra must have made a mistake.”

  “Not a Grayson failing. Sierra knows her business. That sharp brain of hers as a Realtor is what got her and Blade together,” Richard reminded her. “Let’s wait and see. Should be the next house.”

  Naomi’s gaze had already moved ahead. She straightened on seeing the overgrown yard. Sierra’s SUV was already there. Richard pulled to a stop in front of the walk.

  “It’s on a corner lot,” Richard said encouragingly.

  “I’ve never seen a garden like that,” Kayla said.

  Because it isn’t one, Naomi thought as she unbuckled her seat belt and slowly got out. Through the tall grass to the left and right of the house were wooden arches. The white paint on each was chipped and faded, but what made Naomi not lose hope were the unruly yellow roses climbing up the structure.

  Sierra, in a slim-fitting black skirt and a ruffled white blouse with black piping, got out of the SUV, her high heels clicking on the pavement as she came to meet them on the sidewalk. Her long black hair hung down her slim back. Aaron and Paul were behind her.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Sierra greeted cheerfully.

  “Good moring,” Naomi said, but she couldn’t keep the frown from her face.

  “Hi, Mrs. Sierra.”

  “’Morning, Sierra,” Richard said from beside Naomi.

  “Naomi, please keep an open mind. It’s thirty thousand off the listed price because of the outward appearance, but it has great bones and loads of potential. It’s sixteen hundred square feet with an updated kitchen, and the backyard has a sturdy eight-foot fence.”

  The thirty thousand off eased a bit of Naomi’s worry about the cost, and she had said to look for a house that needed a little work. The fenced backyard was good. Sierra understood Naomi was on a budget, wanted safety for Kayla and what she needed in a house. “All right.”

  “Excellent. Shall we?”

  “What about the previous owners?” Naomi asked as she followed Sierra up the sidewalk. At least there were no cracks in this one.

  “Martha and Greg Allen moved to Denver almost a year ago to live with their son when she became ill. They thought they’d move back, but now realize that that’s not going to happen,” Sierra explained, continuing up the walk.

  “Wait,” Richard said from behind them.

  Sierra looked back with a frown. “Yes?”

  “Has Aaron already been inside?” Richard asked, holding Kayla’s hand. “Sometimes transien
ts move into abandoned houses.”

  Sierra rolled her eyes. “He’s already been in yesterday when I first got the listing, and again this morning. I told him if he wanted to be sure of my safety, he should have cut the grass.”

  Naomi smiled. Richard’s lips twitched.

  “Come on, I can’t wait for you to see inside.” Sierra stepped on the porch. “I love the arched door, and the little courtyard off the front porch. You can plant cacti or put a water sculpture there that you can view from the living room.”

  Naomi reached out to take Richard and Kayla’s hands as she stepped inside. She wanted to like this house. She wasn’t sure if it was the yellow roses or just the desire to keep moving forward.

  Early-morning light bathed them. She glanced up to see a skylight.

  “I had them cleaned, and the French doors in the master bedroom as well,” Sierra explained, then leaned closer. “Despite what I told Aaron, I would have had the yard cut as well, but I didn’t want to alert any other Realtors or homebuyers.”

  Releasing Kayla and Richard’s hands, Naomi stepped down into the open living area. Beneath her feet was badly scuffed wide-plank flooring.

  “The open area allows for entertaining or just enjoying the family. The breakfast bar has enough space for three or four chairs, and on the other side there’s lots of hidden storage space for kitchen and home needs. I love the window seating in the kitchen.” Sierra nodded to the padded seat just off to the right. “Kayla and Teddy can sit here and keep you company or do her homework.”

  Kayla promptly plopped down on the faded material. Dust wafted up.

  “The rods and curtains are custom for window shades, but I have a guy who can change out the rods to a simple draw or transverse rod. You can use a matching material to cover the chair seats or you could contrast.” Sierra stared at the lighting fixture. “The reindeer chandelier has to go.”

  “Agreed,” Richard said, his mouth a bit tight.

  Naomi walked over to the curtain treatment and looked beneath. “It looks stylish and simple. Roman shades aren’t that complicated, if you know what you’re doing. I used to do a little sewing.”

  Richard and Sierra joined her. Sierra spoke first. “Try it out with an old sheet first.”

  “We can pick up a board and material after—”

  “Whoa.” Naomi laughed, but it was high-pitched and nervous. “It was just a thought.”

  “Let’s look at the bedrooms.” Sierra headed toward a short hallway. “While we’re just talking, Richard, don’t you think these floors can be stained a dark brown to hide the scuff marks? The color would also hide any future spills and scuff marks.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Richard said.

  “Painted a light blue-green, the walls would give the place a restful, open look,” Sierra went on to say. “I’d keep the white trim. Here we are. The master bedroom.” She waved Naomi inside.

  The master bedroom had nothing in it except an upholstered headboard. The material matched the Roman blinds at the two windows on either side of the headboard, and the pole draperies at the French doors.

  “A custom headboard makes a room feel luxurious.” Sierra trailed her fingers over the nail heads on the curve of the headboard. “The slate-blue material held up well and wouldn’t have to be redone. They probably didn’t take the headboard because it wouldn’t have matched. Isn’t your bed a queen, Naomi?”

  “Yes.” Her heart was beating fast. She who couldn’t decorate a box could actually see her things in this room. It had a real fireplace, not a kiva. There was one problem. “The house has a lot of windows.”

  “Security system and double-paned windows,” Sierra told her.

  Naomi could see her dream slipping away. “Those would be costly, and before you say you know someone, I want to do this on my own … at least as much as possible. I hope you understand.”

  “I do. That’s why I was glad to find out that Mr. and Mrs. Allen had double-insulated windows installed two years ago, which, while not unbreakable, will give anyone trying to break in a lot of trouble and enough warning for the home occupants and certainly the alarm system company.”

  “I can’t ask Rio to do the alarm,” Naomi told her.

  “You won’t have to,” Sierra told her with a smile. “I checked yesterday. The installer, quite a reputable company I might add, will be only too happy to restart service. Because you’re a new customer, and the fact that they don’t have to go through the trouble of rewiring the house, they will give you a special monthly discount.”

  Richard chuckled. “Told you she was good.”

  “I’m not sure why I doubted,” Naomi said, but she was smiling.

  “Let’s take a look at the second bedroom, which has its own bath for a very special young lady,” Sierra said.

  “Like me?” Kayla said.

  “Exactly like you.” Sierra took her hand and stepped into the room next door.

  “Look, Mama, it has shelves for my books and toys,” Kayla said.

  Naomi noted that, but also that it only had one high window. “Yes, I see.”

  “Mrs. Allen liked to collect crystal and ran out of room, but wanted to keep it where she could see it every day,” Sierra explained.

  “Did you know them?” Richard asked.

  “No. They contacted me when their last Realtor didn’t work out for them,” she said. “Their exclusive contract with him expired early yesterday and I was able to change the lockbox on the door and see the place without his permission. Other Realtors can show the house, but they have to ask my permission first.”

  “Do you think that other Realtor might have a buyer already?” Naomi asked, worry creeping in. She liked this house. She just hoped that she could afford it.

  “Highly unlikely. We’ll pop into the small guest bedroom and then we’ll go back though the kitchen to the outside. The previous owners liked to entertain so they had a bricked patio and a small built-in barbecue grill, and the rest of the yard has motion lights.”

  The guest bedroom was small, but adequate. Naomi was anxious to see more. They followed Sierra back to the kitchen. She opened the back door.

  Naomi couldn’t believe it. Her amazed gaze swung back to Sierra. “The yard has been mowed.”

  “I knew how important the back was to you and Kayla, so I wanted you to be able to see its appeal.” Sierra glanced down. “With the bricked patio, no matter how much it rains, you won’t track in mud. The grass is struggling, but the two golden rain trees are beautiful by themselves with their yellow flowers, or you could plant a mixture of green and flowering plants beneath. In the morning, you could come out here and relax with a cup of coffee before work. In the evenings, return to wind down while you grill and watch Kayla play.”

  Naomi walked to the edge of the bricked patio. She could easily visualize everything Sierra had just said—with one addition. Richard. The yard stretched at least seventy-five feet both ways. A few steps away, a Chickasaw plum tree was loaded with fruit. She could try her hand at making preserves. This could be their home.

  “I bet a doghouse would look real good out here,” Kayla said, going to stand by her mother and slipping her hand into hers.

  There was certainly room enough for a doghouse—and the swing set she’d already set aside money for. She glanced around the patio again. She could probably buy some secondhand patio furniture, paint it, and make some throw pillows out of brightly hued fabric scraps.

  “Naomi, is this your house?”

  Naomi opened her mouth to answer, but before she could she heard loud, angry voices coming from the house. Instinctively, she pulled Kayla closer. Richard and Sierra both moved toward the kitchen door.

  “No!” Naomi cried.

  “It’s all right,” Richard soothed, stopping to look back at her.

  “Please excuse me.” Sierra never paused. Entering the house by door they’d left open, she started to swing it shut only to have Richard catch the door and enter behind her.<
br />
  “Touch me and I’ll have you arrested,” yelled a slim, middle-aged man in a tailored suit.

  “Mrs. Navarone is the exclusive Realtor of this property as of eight yesterday morning,” Aaron said, blocking the man. “You have to have her permission to be on these premises.”

  “I haven’t seen any papers to that effect, and until I do, I’m still the exclusive Realtor, so get out of my way.”

  Sierra’s eyes narrowed. “Richard, please go back with Naomi and Kayla. I’ll be with you in a moment.”

  The man’s fuming gaze zeroed in on Sierra. “You won’t get away with this.”

  “George, I personally sent you a certified copy of my agreement with the Allens, plus his son said he was going to call you. Since you’re here this early in the morning, I’d say you were lying about not knowing you were fired,” Sierra told him.

  George Bryant tried to go around or shove Aaron aside. It wasn’t happening. George wasn’t smart enough to realize he’d only gotten that far because Aaron allowed it. He didn’t want neighbors to see the scene that was going to play out

  “Don’t you dare insult me. I’ve been in this business twenty years,” Bryant snarled. “Isn’t it enough your husband owns God-knows-what without you trying to cheat and undermine the rest of us? You probably badgered my clients. They’re old and easily influenced. I’m reporting you to the board. I’ll have your license. You won’t get away with this.”

  Sierra’s temper spiked. She was not taking another insult from this fool. “Stand aside, Aaron.”

  “Mrs. Navarone.”

  “I’m not asking,” Sierra said, her voice precise and cool.

  Aaron moved to stand between her and the angry man. That was as good as she was going to get. She stepped closer to the incensed man.

  “I don’t have to undermine. I simply do my job better than you.” She placed her hands on her hips. “You’re lazy and sloppy, and your abysmal sales records show it. You’re a disgrace to our profession. Good people depend on you and you don’t even try to do a first-rate job. I should report you to the board for your ineptness and unprofessionalism. You couldn’t sell ice water in hell.”