“I like her. She’s cool… and different.” That was high praise coming from a girl who had purposely chased off every nanny, babysitter, and caretaker she’d ever had.
“You hardly know her.” Still, it made me wonder what kind of job she had. A single dad could never have too many willing babysitters.
“I know that she doesn’t talk to me like I’m a dummy, and she’s a writer. I bet you didn’t know that!”
“I didn’t. What does she write?” I couldn’t remember what she’d been into in school, only that she’d been at the top of the class every year.
“Books. She said they weren’t right for a girl my age.” Her tone told me exactly what she thought of that idea, but it made me wonder what dirty fantasies she put on paper. “She also said I could hang out with her anytime.”
“That was nice of her.” And it didn’t have anything to do with me. I saw the shock on Viviana’s face when she realized it was me. I also saw the heat she didn’t even try to hide.
“Yeah, but you were kinda rude, so she might take it back.” Having your eight-year-old kid school you on manners was enough to make any parent want to kick his own ass.
“I wasn’t rude.” Maybe a little gruff, but not rude.
“Whatever.” Norah stomped into the house and I shook my head wondering what in the world I did in a previous life to have been cursed with a girl. Little girls were moody creatures. Emotional land mines I couldn’t navigate to save my life. And to think, she was only eight. Still a few years away from teenage hormones, and I was already flunking out of parenthood.
“I made us something.” I knew I shouldn’t hide in my workshop all day, but my woodworking business had picked up over the past few years thanks to a table commissioned by the First Lady of Louisiana, which meant I rarely got to make anything just for me. Or for Norah.
“Not another bookshelf, Dad.”
“Nope, not another bookshelf,” I told her in a mocking tone that made her laugh. “A coat rack. We still need hooks and knobs, but I figured we could go shopping for them together.”
“Okay.” She sounded like I just asked her to pave the driveway.
“What’s wrong, Peanut?”
She sighed, and I knew I just had to wait her out. Norah couldn’t keep anything to herself. If she was angry, she said it. If she was happy, she laughed and did goofy things to make everyone else happy. When she was sad, which was rare, Norah got quiet.
“Are you not dating ‘cause of me?”
“What? No. I’m not dating because of me. I don’t really have the energy to do all that right now.” It had been a couple years since my last real attempt at dating, and it hadn’t gone all that well. The woman I was involved with, Stephanie, was expecting more than I’d been planning to give, and that was that.
“Pinky swear?”
With a suppressed smile, I hooked my pinky with hers. “Pinky swear. Let me worry about that, you worry about being a kid.”
“Fine. But if you wanna date, you can. I don’t mind.”
“Good to know.” It was the first time she’d mentioned my love life, ever. Which was weird all on its own considering she hadn’t been all that fond of Stephanie, and hadn’t made a secret about it. “What brought this on sweetie?”
“Becky Foster is spending the summer in California with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. He has a house on the beach. And Callie’s dad just got a whole new wife. You’re way handsomer and you have no one!”
“Ouch.”
“Sorry, Dad, but it’s true. Viviana is really pretty and she’s cool too.”
That’s my kid, nothing subtle about her.
“I hear you got a new neighbor.” My best friend, hell, my only friend, Zeke Riley, sat with me on the back porch while Norah ran around chasing butterflies.
“Norah told you?” He nodded with a mischievous smile. “Said she was real pretty too. Pretty enough to make you mad, and you know that’s a kind of pretty I’ve gotta see.”
“No, you don’t,” I growled at him, feeling possessive when I had no cause. With Norah talking about Vivi nonstop, I couldn’t forget all those curves and that silky creamy skin she didn’t seem to mind showing off. “She’s my neighbor.”
“And a saint, or a nun?”
“I’m not sure, maybe a combination of both since she never turns Norah away. Yesterday, I came out of the workshop at nine and she wasn’t home. They were having a “writing session” if you can believe it.”
The laughter shining in his brown eyes said he couldn’t believe it either. “What was Norah writing?”
“A play.” The disbelief still hadn’t left my voice, because that’s what I felt. “She wants to be a playwright. Like Shakespeare she says. Why me?”
“To be fair, she could want to be a porn star, or do something dangerous, like chase serial killers.”
“You always go so dark so fast.” I shook my head and he just shrugged.
“I call it putting things into perspective. She’s got a mentor, that’s a good thing since your dumb ass can’t help her with this kind of stuff.” As usual, Zeke made a good point, which is why I ignored the dumb ass comment.
“I just can’t figure it out, I mean why is she so cool with letting a kid hang out with her?” I’d met more than my share of women who feigned interest in Norah just to get close to me, but I didn’t get that vibe from Viviana. Nanette couldn’t be bothered to stick around, and she’d given birth to Norah. So I had a hard time understanding what motivated Vivi. “I know her. Well, I used to know her, but that was a long time ago.”
“You’re too suspicious, bro. Maybe she’s lonely and just likes having someone to talk to for a bit since she’s newly back in town.”
Maybe, but I wasn’t convinced. Not yet, anyway. She barely spoke to me when I went to pick up Norah, and she definitely hadn’t made any overtures for sex or a date.
“I don’t know, Zeke.”
“What’s to know? Your daughter made a friend, who you used to be friends with, and you’re attracted to her. Big deal.”
He was right. It wasn’t a big deal. Viviana and I were friends once, and there was no reason we couldn’t be friends again.
“Exactly. It was just a momentary freak out, that’s all. We can be friends, and you’re right, maybe it’ll be good for Norah to have a woman to hang out with sometimes.” She wasn’t even out of diapers yet when Nanette left me a note saying she wasn’t cut out for motherhood, so she might appreciate someone who could paint nails and play dress up. “It’ll be good.”
“Who’re you trying to convince, me or you?”
That was a good question, and one I had no answer for at the moment. All I had to do was keep things casual. Make sure not to send out any vibes of any kind, and we would be fine. We’d all be fine.
Absolutely fine.
Viviana
“It’s about time you came by to see me. It’s not like we’ve got tons of family these days.” Aunt Mae was my mother’s twin sister, but she was more of a mother to me than her sister had ever been. They had the same reddish blond hair and the same big green eyes, which I’d inherited, But whereas my own dear mother couldn’t be bothered with parenthood, Mae had stepped up and been my rock whenever I needed her.
Aunt Mae was also, shall we say, quirky. Today, for instance, when I walked into her shop, Voodoo Does It Right, she was wearing a leopard print dress that scraped against the floor as she made her way towards me in heels much too high for a woman in her fifties. A silk leopard scarf was tied around curly, waist length hair and she wore rings on every finger. Typical Mae.
“Aunt Mae, I’ve been home for a few days, not a few weeks. I have a whole house to set up. And repair.” But instead of doing that, I was here in her voodoo shop, paying a courtesy visit. I needed incense and candles.
“Let’s go in the back, I’ll do a reading, see what’s making your aura so red.” Mae flapped her thin, muscular arms under the wide sleeves of her dress, waving me back
.
“Sorry, Mae, no time. I stopped in to say hi and pick up some incense, maybe a few candles.”
“Say no more!” She grabbed one of her baskets of bones and began to fill it with a lot more than incense and candles. “How was the trip down from Chicago? I can’t believe you drove all that way by yourself. Thank the spirits you arrived safe and unharmed. Just as I knew you would.”
“I don’t need sage, Aunt Mae.”
“Hush up, girl. How else will we cleanse your new home? Did living up north steal all your brain cells?”
“It stole something alright, that’s why I came back here. Now I’ll let you cleanse my place or whatever, if you promise to stop talking about Chicago.” I knew she was proud of me, and that’s why she never stopped talking about it, but I was trying to put that all behind me.
“Can’t do that, honey. You did some big things up there, Vivi, and I’m proud of you, no matter what those assholes tried to pull. Embrace the good and toss out the bad, that’s the key to a happy life. Oh, and put this candle beside your bath, it’ll help you relax.” The basket was so full I was starting to think Mae was trying to make a commission off me.
“Okay, Mae, that’s enough. I don’t think I need more than this right now.” I held my hands over the basket to stop her from putting anything else inside it. “Enough, old woman, or I’ll lock you up in my attic.”
“Go right ahead, I’ve always wanted to be the crazy lady locked in the attic. I’ll run around naked and terrify your guests just like Jane Eyre!” She clapped her hands giddily, and I just shook my head.
“You’re well on your way, don’t worry.”
“I’m not. But I am so glad to see your face, Vivi. So beautiful and my goodness, if I had that body I’d be giving it away every night.” She swirled her hips in a motion I wish I could say I’d never seen, but that would be a lie. “Too bad you’ve apparently saved it for a rainy day?”
“I’ve been home for four days, Mae. Four days.”
“Plenty of time to let a young fella get a sniff of your knickers, dear.” She shook her head and slowly placed all the items in two small bags, which had to have been a clown bags given how tiny they looked. “The spirits say you need to get laid. You’re too stiff, too uptight. That’s why you’re having trouble writing.”
Okay…what? No one knew that book four was giving me problems. No one. I knew there was no such thing as “spirits”, though I didn’t have the heart to tell Mae as much. But her prediction was kind of freaky.
“Who said I was having trouble writing?” She gave me that look, the one that had gotten me to confess to every single bad thing I’d ever done as a kid. “Okay fine, I am having trouble. But I don’t think sex is the answer.” Men were a distraction I didn’t need. When I saw a handsome one like Nash, I took a mental picture and put it in the old fantasy bank for when I needed a good bean flicking.
“No one said you had to be bothered. Give in to the physical pleasure for an hour, and then go on about your life. You could do yoga, I suppose, but you’ve always been too jumpy for that. Just get laid, Vivi.”
Sex advice from my aunt never got old. No matter how old she got. “Got it, Mae. I’ll get laid because my aunty told me to.”
“Laid on what?”
I groaned, because I knew that voice. “Norah, are you here to get my aunt to do a love spell for you?” I turned, fully expecting to only see the little girl. Instead she stood beside her father, her tiny hand dwarfed by his, looking like a miniature version of him. Except where he scowled, she beamed a smile at me.
“Not a love spell, but Aunt Mae has the best candles!” She dashed over to the new display and stuck her nose in each jar. “What’s getting laid?”
I laughed and shot a look at Nash, who still looked pissed and ready to bolt. “It’s another thing you don’t need to know about until you’re older.”
“Not fair!”
“Totally, but it is what it is, kiddo. Enjoy being a kid.” I didn’t know much about children, but I do remember being in a hurry to grow up. Until I realized what it meant to actually be an adult.
“But everyone gets to tell a kid what to do.” She pouted and shot a wicked glare at Nash that made me grin.
“Well that is one of the best parts of being an adult, but you only get to be a kid for like eighteen years, and you’ll be an adult for way longer than that. Think about the oldest person you know, they’ve been an adult for thirty or forty or even fifty years.”
“Whow! Yeah, that’s true.”
“Right?” I grinned because this girl was a captive audience. It really was too bad she was too young for my books; she’d be a great beta reader. “So enjoy having someone else do your laundry and pay your bills. It doesn’t last nearly long enough.” We both turned and looked at Nash. “Batting your eyelashes and pouting is only gonna work for so long on this guy.” Norah giggled and we both gave Nash big puppy dog eyes.
“Well, aren’t you two just the sweetest?” Mae grinned at the little girl before she turned her gaze to Nash. “Good to see you, Nash. You’re looking well.”
“So are you, Ms. Mae. Pretty as a picture.”
“You charmer,” she said with a blush. “You must be pleased that someone you know bought the house beside yours,” she said to him, blatantly fishing for information.
“Mae, he has better things to do than worry about me.” Really, what in the hell was I thinking moving back here? I love Mae, but she would never stop meddling. Not that I want her to, not completely anyway, but just a bit less interference would be good. “Now, can you ring me up so I can get back home?”
“No one has seen you, Vivi. Stop around and say hi to folks first.” Mae wore her determined face but I wasn’t as easy to sway these days.
“I will. When I have time, but for now, I need to get back home.” I could hear her grumbling as I made my way towards the door, but any hope I had of making a clean getaway was halted by Mae’s angry voice.
“Stop right there, girl. I’m disappointed in both of you. This is your hometown, dammit. Have some pride.”
“I do.” I insisted at the same time Nash did.
She sighed and shook her head. “Good. Then you can both be a part of my Solstice Celebration ceremony, and I’m not taking no for an answer. We’ll practice twice beforehand and I’ll let you know when and where.” She grabbed Norah’s hand and took her around to the different candle displays. “I have just the thing to inspire your next great piece of drama!”
Things were awkward now that it was just me and Nash. I didn’t know why he was so unhappy to see me, but I knew enough to keep my distance. “See you around, Nash.”
“Wait, Vivi. It’s uh, good to see you.”
I barked out a laugh. “Try again, Nash.”
“It is, really. I was just surprised to see you and then…all of you.” He motioned towards my chest. “It was a lot to take in.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Nash. You were a lot to take in too.” I pushed past him and grabbed the door to leave.
“Vivi, maybe you can come by for dinner and we can catch up, since we’re neighbors.”
“And friends, at one time anyway.”
He smiled, and the pulsing between my thighs said ‘yeah right’ to the whole friends pretense. I’d been attracted to Nash since I knew why I should be. The crush came later, but the want had been there since forever.
“Friends. I could use another friend.”
I shrugged. “I don’t really do friends these days, but since our friendship predates that decree, I’m in.”
“Good.” He sounded relieved and a bit puzzled at my cryptic remark. “You look good, Vivi.”
“Yeah, Nash, you look good too.” So good that I planned to go home, run a warm bubble bath and lose myself in fantasies of that body. For at least an hour. “See ya.” When I got out onto the street and saw all the people milling about, I thought maybe Aunt Mae was right.
It was time to let the people of Belle
Musique know that Viviana was back. A new and improved version.
Stronger. More confident. And just a tad bit horny.
“Dad said you’re invited for dinner, and that you have to accept.” Norah stood at the bottom of the back staircase, looking up at me nervously. Her ponytail had fallen to one side and her knees were covered in grass, but she looked adorable in her pink gingham one piece short set.
“Oh, yeah?” She nodded and crossed her scrawny arms over her chest in a move that matched my own. “What are you having?”
Her lips twitched at my question. “Steak with mac & cheese. I love mac & cheese, but I hate broccoli and dad says I have to eat it. Even though we’re having a guest.” Why was broccoli so universally hated by youngsters?
“Really? I love broccoli so much I mix it with my mac.”
“That’s gross. You’re a weirdo.”
“Thanks. Come on in while I save my work.”
“What are you writing?”
“A story about two people who want nothing to do with love, but can’t stay away from each other, so they fall in love anyway.” That was the bare bones of the story, and dull enough for eight-year-old ears.
“That doesn’t sound too bad. Why wouldn’t they want to fall in love? It sounds wonderful.” I couldn’t help the smile that touched my lips at her words, spoken so innocently. So naively.
“Because by the time you’re my age, there are things that happen that hurt, and some people would rather avoid it than experience that hurt again.”
She nodded, gravely serious. “I fell off my bike once and I never want to do that again.” Smart girl.
“Exactly. Do you and your dad like cream soda?”
“I never had it before,” she said as she walked up to me in the kitchen, peeking around my hips. “What’s it taste like?”
“Perfect thing to help wash down broccoli,” I told her, grabbing her hand in my free one as we walked to the blue plantation house that was a near replica of my own.
Accidentally On Purpose: An Accidental Marriage Boxset Page 2
