Another Chance to Love

by Cheris Hodges

  Paige watched as Brian and Mickey got into his truck. She shrugged off the incident and the spark she felt when Brian looked at her as she walked into the restaurant to place her order.

  Brian drove home slowly, trying to get Paige off his brain. Why had that woman gotten under his skin? How could someone who annoyed the hell out of him also arouse him the way she did?

  “What’s wrong, Daddy?” Mickey asked.

  “Nothing, champ. We need to go get the cooler so we can take something to drink to the park.”

  “Yeah! I want some Sunny D and soda.”

  “How about water and fruit juice? You don’t need all of that sugar.” Brian pulled into the driveway and shut the car off. As he and Mickey walked inside, Brian wouldn’t let himself look across the street, even though she wasn’t there. He had avoided Paige all this time and it was going to continue, even if he did want to bury himself inside her. Just fantasying about Paige was more action than he had received from his wife in the last few years of their marriage.

  Olivia’s change hadn’t been drastic. It had happened over the last five years. The beginning of their marriage had been like an extension of their high school relationship. They would hold hands when they walked, spend weekends at the lake, feeding each other grapes and cheese. But after the first miscarriage, she’d become a different woman. Sex was sporadic and only when Olivia was in the mood. Brian had always been a passionate man who had loved making love to Olivia from the day they lost their virginity together. He was addicted to Olivia, her taste, touch, and smell. She could turn him on with just a smile or a touch of her hand.

  When she stopped touching him, he asked her why on numerous occasions. The answer had always been the same. “I’m tired.”

  As time passed, he just stopped asking. But Brian had been willing to have a marriage that lacked passion and love in order to provide a stable life for Mickey.

  This will be better. Without the tension in the house I know my son will flourish, he thought as he packed the mini-cooler with drinks, fresh fruit, and cheese. Seconds later, he and Mickey headed out the door. Just as they were about to leave, Paige came speeding down the street. Brian’s blood pressure shot up a hundred points. When is she going to learn?

  “Mickey, run inside and grab us some potato chips from the cupboard.” Brian unlocked the front door and Mickey ran inside.

  “Hey!” Brian called out when Paige got out of the car.

  “What?” she retorted.

  “I told you to slow down and you’re still zooming through here like Speed Racer.”

  “Why are you harassing me, Robocop?” Anger flickered in her dazzling eyes. “You need to get a life or get laid or something.”

  Brian’s eyebrow shot up. “You’re so damned crass.”

  “Who was staring at my breasts when he dumped orange juice on me?”

  Brian’s cheeks grew hot. She saw that? Embarrassment rippled through his body. What could he say? Brian bit the inside of his jaw. “You need to slow down.”

  Paige threw her hands up in his face. “Get over it. Besides, you’re not supposed to be talking to me, anyway.”

  Glaring at her, he wondered why she had to be so damned frustrating. “Paige,” he said calmly. “I’m trying to prevent a tragedy.”

  Her face softened, causing Brian to turn around. Mickey was coming across the street. “Brian, I’m not a fool. I don’t speed when I see kids playing in the street.”

  Mickey walked over to his dad with a super-sized bag of chips. “Hi, are you coming to the park with us?” His childish innocence made Brian and Paige forget their argument.

  “No, sweetie. I have to clean up and cook dinner. But you can come over later and get a Popsicle if your dad says it’s okay,” Paige replied.

  Mickey pulled at Brian’s leg. “Can I, Daddy, please?”

  Brian relented. “Sure, I’ll take you over there.”

  Paige smiled at Mickey, but smirked at Brian as they walked away.

  “She’s pretty,” Mickey said in a loud whisper.

  “Pretty crazy,” Brian muttered. He stole a glance at Paige as she walked into her house. He had to give it to his son, the boy had good taste.

  Paige didn’t understand why Brian got under her skin the way he did. She had spent six months avoiding him, trying not to be taken in by his good looks and velvety voice. It was easy to do at school, but today, she couldn’t deny her attraction to him any longer. She wanted him in the worse way. Who wouldn’t want a man like Brian? He was strong, considerate, gentle, and passionate. Was he passionate? Paige wondered what it would be like to be held in Brian’s strong arms, to have his full lips touching hers. Paige closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself, wishing they were Brian’s. What am I doing? That man has issues and I’m going to mind my business.

  But there was something about the way he looked at her, with lust dancing in his eyes. It had been two years since a man had touched her or caused her legs to quiver.

  Phillip Reese, her ex-fiancé, had been an expert lover, but that was where his good qualities ended. Phillip wanted to control Paige and she wasn’t having it. He’d told her that his wife wouldn’t work, wouldn’t hang out in the street with other people, and would be at his beck and call.

  Paige had simply replied, “I guess I won’t be your wife, because the last time I checked, slavery was over.”

  She had pressed the pitiful half-carat diamond engagement ring into his hand and never looked back. After Phillip, Paige promised herself that her singular focus in life would be her career. But her longing for Brian skewed her focus. She wanted that man and avoiding him wasn’t going to work any longer.

  Well, Momma always said if you want something, go for it, Paige thought.

  The thunderstorm popped up unexpectedly, par for the course for South Carolina summers. The lightening slashed across the grey sky as Brian and Mickey jumped into the truck before they were completely soaked. The little boy gripped his father’s arm as a boom of thunder shattered the air.

  “I want my mommy!” Mickey was afraid of thunder.

  “Shh, shh,” Brian cooed as he held his son. When Olivia was around, she’d cuddle with the little boy until the storm was over or he went to sleep. What was the song Olivia used to sing to him? Brian wondered as he tried to comfort his shivering son. The rain came down in thick sheets and booming thunder shook the car. Brian knew it wasn’t his touch that Mickey was longing for; he needed his mother and she wasn’t there. It didn’t matter how often she called or how many cards and gifts she sent to her son from Atlanta. She was still gone. Sometimes Mickey would cry out for her at night and ask Brian why his mommy had to leave. He had told Mickey time and time again that it wasn’t his fault that Olivia left. But it was times like these when it didn’t matter why she left. All that mattered was the fact that she was gone.

  Silently, Brian cursed Olivia for leaving Mickey. If he was willing to put up with what had become a marriage of inconvenience, then why couldn’t she?

  The first time Olivia called from Atlanta, she and Brian had had a civil conversation for what seemed like the first time in years.

  “Mickey’s hurting,” he’d said.

  “I can imagine. I really thought I could stay until he was old enough to understand a divorce,” she’d replied. “Brian, I want this. I want to be a fashion designer more than anything and it’s always been that way. I was jealous of you. Staying in Elmore didn’t limit your chances, but it killed mine.”

  “You have responsibilities. A son who loves and needs you. This isn’t about our marriage anymore. When Mickey wakes up in the middle of the night wanting his mother, there is nothing I can do about that.”

  “This is so unfair.”

  “What’s unfair?”

  “Life.”

  “I don’t mean to make you feel bad, but you let your mother do this to you. We could have been in Atlanta years ago. But—”

  “Please, don’t do that. As soon as my exa
ms are over, I’ll visit my son.” “All right, Olivia. But what’s happening is what I was fighting to avoid. Mickey needs both of us.”

  “And I needed you, but you don’t always get what you need.” Her hostility had flowed through the phone lines.

  “I don’t want to fight with you. I just need to understand what happened to us. Not just you leaving but where out love went.”

  “I guess I outgrew it. Bye, Brian.”

  At that moment, he’d known beyond a shadow of a doubt that his marriage was over.

  The storm subsided as quickly as it had begun. Brian started the car and Mickey slouched in the passenger seat. By the time he got home, the sun was peeking through the clouds. Mickey sat up and looked over at Paige’s house.

  “Can I have my Popsicle now?”

  “Uh, why not?” Brian and Mickey got out of the car and headed across to Paige’s.

  Brian held his breath as Mickey pressed the doorbell. When Paige opened the door, dressed in a pink mini dress and Winnie the Pooh slippers, Brian smiled.

  “Hi,” she said.

  Mickey grinned at her. “I like your shoes.”

  Paige blushed. “Thank you. Come in and I’ll get your Popsicle.”

  “Yeah!” Mickey exclaimed. Brian followed his son inside. Paige led them into the kitchen and opened the freezer.

  “All right, sweetie, what flavor do you want?”

  “Red.”

  Paige fished a cherry treat out of the box. “Robo-Brian, can I offer you anything?”

  Brian frowned at her. “That’s okay. Popsicles aren’t my thing.”

  Paige smiled. “And just what is your thing?”

  Brian looked at his son, who was devouring the Popsicle. “Butter pecan ice cream.”

  “I’m fresh out of that. But I have some chocolate almond crunch.” “You’re as bad as my sister. What’s up with you women and chocolate ice cream?”

  Paige rolled her eyes. “I’m ignoring you, Robocop.”

  Mickey giggled and Brian playfully tugged his son’s ear. “You think that’s funny, huh?”

  Mickey nodded as he slurped on his Popsicle.

  Brian looked up at Paige, who was smiling at the two of them.“What?” he asked.

  She shook her head as if to say nothing.

  Brian walked over to her and placed his lips close to her ear. “He really needed this.”

  “I’m glad I could help,” she replied.

  Brian wanted to ask Paige out, but he couldn’t find the words or explain the feeling because he got lost in her golden eyes. Mickey’s voice snapped him out of his lust-induced trance.

  “May I have another one?” he asked.

  “Sure, if your dad says it’s all right,” Paige replied, looking away from Brian.

  Her gentleness with Mickey touched Brian deeply. She wasn’t just the brash, fast driving woman who made his blood boil. She was a sensitive, sexy woman that he wanted to get to know. Why can’t she be like this all the time? he thought as he watched her hand Mickey another Popsicle.

  “All right, that’s the last one,” Brian cautioned.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Paige grabbed a Popsicle for herself. Brian watched as she took it into her mouth. His heart began beating faster as he focused on her lips, imagining them on his pulsating dick. In and out. In and out. Brian shook his head to clear the image of her between his thighs.

  “Uh, Mickey, let’s go so we can let Miss Paige get on with her day.”

  “All right,” he said in between slurps.

  “Thanks, Paige,” Brian said as she walked them to the door.

  She gently squeezed his shoulder. “Anytime, he’s just saving me those calories.”

  “Bye, Miss Paige,” Mickey said from the steps of the porch.

  Brian turned around and looked at her. “Paige, there’s a jazz concert in the park tomorrow and I was wondering if you would like to share a blanket with me and Mickey.”

  “Sure,” she said, her lips curving into a sexy smile. “I was planning to go anyway.”

  “Cool. I’ll drive.”

  “What? You still don’t trust my driving?”

  Brian winked at her and smiled. “Not at all,” he replied, then ushered Mickey across the street.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Paige couldn’t sleep. And it was too cold in her house, but if she turned the air conditioning off the heat would be unbearable. Throwing the sheet back, she sat up in the bed and looked at the clock, which read five after midnight. Climbing out of the bed, she decided to fix a midnight snack and head outside.

  She walked into the kitchen, poured herself a tall glass of cold milk and grabbed a handful of chocolate chip cookies. Knowing her quiet neighborhood was sleeping, she didn’t think about changing out of her boy shorts and midriff cotton top. She sat on the steps, leaning back as if she were sun bathing, and munched on the cookies. Paige didn’t notice that she was being watched.

  “It’s a little late to be outside, isn’t it?” Brian called out.

  Paige dropped her cookie. “Robocop! You scared me.”

  “Sorry.”

  “What are you doing up this late?” Brian waved for Paige to come over. Dusting the crumbs off her shirt, she started across the street. She drank in shirtless Brian and gave a little praise for those grey shorts that clung to those muscular thighs of his. Why did he have to be so damned tempting? If Paige was honest with herself, she’d admit that Brian Jackson was the reason she couldn’t fall asleep.

  “I can’t sleep,” he replied when she walked up on the porch.

  “Me either,” she said. “Want a cookie?”

  Brian smiled. “I see why you run.”

  Paige arched her eyebrow. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  “You love sweets, but it doesn’t show.” His eyes roamed her toned and lean body.

  “So, you’re going to lecture me on about my eating habits?” she asked as she took a seat on the brick steps.

  “Nah, not now. What I will do is take one of those cookies from you.”

  Paige handed Brian her last cookie. “It’s hot out here,” she murmured, forcing herself to look away from him, afraid that her eyes would betray her desire.

  Brian nodded. “It’s going to be a hot summer. We’re still stuck in a drought. Good thing I’m not a farmer.”

  Paige wanted to tell him that it wasn’t the humidity that was causing her to sweat. “How’s Mickey?”

  “Sleeping like a baby. I wish I could do the same,” Brian said with a far-off look in his eyes.

  Paige reached out and touched his sculpted arm. “You just need to burn off some energy.”

  He raised his eyebrow. “And what are you suggesting?”

  Paige smiled and stood up. “I’ll race you to the stop sign. Winner gets cookies.”

  Brian smirked but didn’t reply. Paige knew he read the duality of her statement. She did want to race him but to the bedroom.

  “What? Scared you’ll get beat by a girl?” Paige teased.

  “I don’t want your cookies. Nor do I want have you choking on my dust tonight.”

  “I’m more than just cookies,” she said seductively.

  “I’m sure you are,” he said, stealing another glance at her body.

  Paige smiled knowingly. “Well, well, Robocop is human.”

  “All right, Paige, I’m attracted to you. But who wouldn’t be?”

  “Brian, I’m flattered, but if I recall correctly, you called me crazy.”

  “And I still believe that, but seeing you with my son showed me that you’re more than a speeding shrew.”

  Her right eyebrow shot up. “A speeding shrew?”

  “First impressions.”

  Paige thought back to the fit she’d thrown when she moved in. “I guess I deserve that. What about you, Mr. Officer?”

  Brian laughed. “I was nothing but kind to you. I helped you pick up your books.”

  “I don’t think so, you were automatic. Yes,
ma’am, I’ll help you with that.” She moved mechanically, like a robot.

  “Whatever,” Brian said, stepping in front of her.

  She wanted to kiss him, to feel his full lips against hers. Though Brian continued to talk, she didn’t know what he was saying because his lips had her hypnotized.

  “Brian,” she said, interrupting him. “Would it be shrew-like if I kissed you?”

  He grinned. “That’s quite bold.”

  Bold. She was about to redefine the word as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him firmly on the lips. Brian pulled her into his arms, accepting her wanton kiss. Paige’s tongue roamed his mouth, savoring his sweetness. They broke apart and stared deeply into one another’s eyes.

  “Um,” Paige whispered. “I’d better go.”

  Brian gently took her by the elbow. “Not yet.”

  This time he took control of the kiss, boldly capturing Paige’s honeysuckle lips. His hands roamed her tender body, making her shiver with delight. She wanted to succumb to desire as he cupped her bottom, pressing her against him. Paige felt his thick hardness bouncing on her thighs and her body sizzled. Then Brian stepped back. The sexual energy around them made the humid air electric. She wanted to finish what they had started, yearned to feel Brian inside her. But she wasn’t in the market for a one-night stand. With shaky steps, Paige backed further away from him.

  “You don’t have to go,” he whispered.

  “Yes, I do. I’ll see you later.”

  Brian grabbed her elbow. “Paige, I want you to stay with me tonight.”

  His invitation intrigued her. But where would this leave them? “Brian, I can’t stay. I-I want to, believe me I do, but it’s just—”

  “I understand. I didn’t mean to come on so strong.”

  She shook her head. “Brian, I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do. And I started this. Let’s just call it even.”