Stuck in Between (Bound by Your Love)

by Bennett, Blakely

“Yeah and he was under the impression that I forced her to see Sarah and picked her up from his house. I’m not sure what’s really going on.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Sooner than I would like, I bet.” I placed the coffee cup on the end table and wrapped my arms around my legs.

  “So what happened before the Samantha fiasco?”

  “Red wanted to talk about Friday night—”

  “Red?” Lainie said, scrunching her eyebrows.

  “No, sorry, I meant Bond. I’m a bit hungover from last night.”

  “This must get good because I can’t remember you ever drinking enough for a hangover since college.”

  “Yeah, well, I was having a rough day.” I rolled my neck to get rid of some of the tension.

  “Not surprising. Sleeping with Bond is never, and I mean never, a good thing for you.”

  “That was only a part of it. When I got to Red’s, they left Bond and me alone in the kitchen to talk, and we got into an argument.”

  “Over what?”

  “Now don’t yell,” I said, holding out my palm to her. “He wanted me to spend the night again. I think he fucked another woman earlier on his sailing date although that was unclear.”

  “I’m doing my best not to give you a ration of shit.”

  “I know and thank you.” I patted Lainie’s knee in appreciation.

  “But I do plan to give him a piece of my mind. He needs to learn to keep his cock to himself in your regard.”

  “Please don’t, Lane. Let me handle it, okay? He is not the worst of it.”

  “Go on then,” she said, shaking her head at me like she was my mother.

  “I ran out of the kitchen and into Red’s boat. Guess who followed me out there?” I raised my eyebrow.

  “Bond? Cat?”

  “Red.”

  “Red?”

  “Yeah, he said he was checking on me. He touched my arm and—”

  “Oh god no!” She threw her hands up and almost knocked her coffee over.

  I laughed but really felt worn out. “His touch drove me crazy and I wasn’t expecting it and he seemed to feel it too. I ran out and then all the crap happened with my sister.”

  “I can’t take the suspense! Did you fuck him too?”

  “No, not that, but we did kiss. Later, when we were at my place, I let him go down on me.”

  “Holy shit girl, do you have no sense?” Lainie got up and filled her coffee mug.

  “Well, I had a good amount to drink and all that fighting chemistry switched on me and made me crazy hot. Oh, Lainie, his kisses—”

  She slapped the counter and said, “You can’t be considering this. I feel like I need to shake you to wake you the hell up. This cannot end well. What does he want?”

  I faced the kitchen and said, “Me, he wants me.”

  “And Bond? What about him?

  “He says he wants to try again. Be a better man for me.”

  She walked back over to me and sat down. “What do you want?”

  “To be happy, to have a normal relationship where I don’t feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest over and over again.”

  “Red seems like a good guy, from what I can tell, but Bond will never, ever be okay with you two dating.” Lainie shook her head and said, “I’m not sure why you need so much drama in your life, Jacqueline. My advice is to forget them both and move on.”

  “You know I can’t do that,” I said, waving my hands emphatically. “We have all of our friends in common and I love Bond even though I feel torn up and twisted over him. Next to you, he is the best friend I have ever had.”

  “And he breaks your heart.”

  “Yes, there is that. And Red, I don’t know what I feel about him. I always thought he hated me, but now I find out he has wanted me for a long time.” I paused for a moment. “It’s nice to be wanted.”

  “This can’t possibly end well and I know you are smart enough to know it.”

  Lainie and I passed on going out to lunch. I headed home, and she went back to bed.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The Rain Don’t Last

  by Hope

  On Monday and Tuesday the gods of fortune smiled down on me, leaving me in the office without Henry, my boss. I tended to get so much more done without his overly controlling presence. Although my title read Executive Assistant, I did much more for the small finance firm including admin work for three other managers. I also helped with marketing and sales support when necessary. I liked those projects the best.

  My desk sat in the main space surrounded by six offices, a kitchen, and a conference room. In the main area, where prospective clients were greeted, the industrial and drab décor—gray carpet, beige walls, and metal desks with faux wooden tops—was spiced up with several plants that I watered each week. The two other desks near mine housed two part-timers who helped with some of the administrative tasks.

  On Wednesday, Henry showed up at the office in rare form. A major client had fallen through, and he decided to do his best to take it out on me. I could hear him yelling into the phone all day, and I even contemplated leaving early, feigning sickness or women’s issues. Instead I stuck it out. I thought I had made it through unscathed, until the end of the day.

  “Jacqueline, get into my office,” he yelled from across the hall.

  I grabbed my notepad and a pen and sat down in the chair in front of his desk, waiting for what would befall me.

  “I want you to put a hold on all of your other projects and come up with a spreadsheet for last year’s data. Be sure to line item all expenses including travel.”

  “We have already reconciled last year’s numbers and Tom has me working on the most recent marketing blitz.”

  “All other projects are on hold and don’t make me repeat myself again,” he said, banging his fist against his desk.

  I jumped at the sound but did not back down. “We have a deadline for the marketing campaign and I need to spend time on that.”

  “Have the spreadsheet on my desk on Friday.”

  “That’s not possible even if I did no other work,” I said calmly but fantasized about diving over the desk and strangling him.

  “I’m getting sick and tired of your negative attitude. Have it on my desk or you’re fired.”

  “How do you want the spreadsheet done?”

  “You figure it out.”

  “I’m unwilling to start another project for you, without you telling how you want it. We’ve been over this before. I’m not a mind reader and how you want something presented changes all the time. Just tell me how you want it.”

  “Friday, now get out of my office.”

  Although my blood boiled and I wanted to punch him or better yet have Red clock him, I modulated my steps leaving his office. I snatched my purse and sweater and stormed down the hall to the elevator.

  As I steamed, sitting behind the wheel of my car, I debated about going over to Red’s. We hadn’t spoken since Saturday night, not really getting a chance to talk on the way back to his place on Sunday morning. I still didn’t know how I felt about him, but I did want to see him again. My stress escalated thinking about finding another job, and I needed a distraction.

  I ran home, showered, and changed into one of my favorite dresses I had bought from Lainie’s boutique. It had a spaghetti strapped halter top that flowed out from just under the bodice. It started with red at the top and had the colors of the rainbow in wide rows, blending one after the other, ending right above my brown thong sandals. I consciously didn’t put any makeup on and blew my hair out so it flowed in waves. I picked dangling earrings and slipped on two long silver rings on my right hand that went just past my first knuckles.

  Hearing my phone chime, I checked to see who texted me.

  Red: I’m in your neck of the woods. Can I stop by for a few?

  Me: I don’t think that’s a good idea. I was planning to head over to your place.

  Red: We
won’t have a chance to talk once everyone shows up.

  Me: Do you know Big City Tavern on Las Olas Blvd?

  Red: Great place. Meet you at the bar in 10?

  Me: More like 20.

  Red: Excellent.

  My pulse raced at the thought of seeing Red again. I could hear Lainie ranting in my head and I chose to ignore her. When I thought of Bond, I felt a twinge of guilt but pushed it to the side. It had been eight years and for the first time since meeting him, and letting him sweep me up in his life, I felt real hard core attraction for another. Besides, I told myself, I couldn’t decide what I wanted without getting to know Red better.

  I parked in front of the tavern with the bright red and black awning. Taking a couple of deep breaths, I tried to relax. Nervousness filled me as I got out of my VW and I squared my shoulders. Don’t let them see you sweat, I reminded myself.

  The dark hardwood floors, gray brick walls, and shiny oak bar gave the place a rustic elegance. I saw Red before he saw me, and I stood by the entrance watching him converse with the bartender. How had I been so repulsed by him before? He looked so striking in his blue collared shirt and chinos. He must have come straight from work. A cold, dark beer sat on the bar in front of him.

  As if feeling my stare, he turned to me. A huge smile broke across his face, and he strode towards me.

  “You came,” he said, encompassing my small hand in his. His intense desire swept over me, causing mine to rise.

  “Were you worried?” I said, softly.

  “I thought you might change your mind.”

  I let go of his hand and said, “Didn’t realize it was an option. Good to know.” I turned like I intended to walk away.

  “Sit, you feisty woman.”

  “Yes, sir!” I said, saluting him as I hopped up into the high back chair in front of the bar. “A Guinness? Do you fit all the Irish stereotypes?”

  He laughed and said, “It’s so good to see you and you look adorable in that dress. I’ve thought about you every day since we’ve been apart.”

  “Have you now?” I said, batting my eyelashes.

  “Stop goading me, or I’ll push you up against the bar and take you right here.”

  “I’ll try to behave,” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Damn, girl, what am I going to do with you?”

  “I guess that’s still to be seen.”

  He just stared at me for a few moments and asked, “What would you like to drink?”

  “I think I’ll stick to water for now.”

  He signaled the bartender and asked, “How was your day?”

  “I’m sure you don’t want to hear about that.”

  “Oh, but I do. I want to know everything about you.”

  I shared with Red what happened at work.

  “Why do you put up with that?” he asked. He appeared charged up and angry.

  “I’ve been working there since college and I love all the other people. Henry took over my old boss’s job about a year ago. At first it seemed like it would be okay but after two months, I no longer loved my job and it seems to get worse as the weeks go by.”

  “I remember you mentioning that, but at some point you have to decide if it’s worth it. Why don’t you quit?”

  “I’m pretty sure I’ll be fired on Friday anyway. I have no intention of working on the redundant project he wants me to do.” I fingered the sweat on the water glass the bartender had set in front of me. “I guess I need to start looking for another job. It’s not so easy in this economy.”

  “That’s true,” he said and paused. “Now that I think of it, I might know of an opening in my company. I can check for you.”

  “Thank you for the offer, but I don’t think that would be wise.”

  He chuckled and said, “You wouldn’t be working for me, Jacqs. One of the executive assistants is leaving to have her baby. She plans to be a stay-at-home mom. I’m just not sure if they’ve found a replacement yet. Ted is a great boss and would never treat you poorly. No one in the office would allow that to happen.”

  “I think you’re missing the obvious.”

  “And what might that be?” He lifted his beer mug and downed half of it.

  “We don’t know what will become of us. We might go back to hating each other.”

  “I never hated you, Jacqs.”

  “You sure acted like someone who did. If I’ve learned any great lessons from my relationship with Bond, it’s that behavior counts the most, especially when it contradicts the words people say.”

  “Fair enough, but I’m asking you to let me show you differently.”

  I sipped some water through the straw and placed my glass back down as the music from the jukebox began to blare. “What about Bond?” I said over the ‘80s rock song playing. “I don’t want to be the one that comes between you. Have you thought that part out at least? Lainie says that he’ll most definitely care, and that if I had any commonsense at all, I’d know that this could only end badly.”

  “I don’t have it sorted out.”

  “We have all the same friends. How do you think they’ll feel about it? What about Blue?”

  “Why bring Judy into this?” He finished the remainder of his beer and signaled for another.

  Sweet Judy Blue Eyes, a woman in our group who briefly dated Red, was dubbed by Bond as Blue. Their tête-à-tête had taken place three years before.

  “She might not like you dating another from our group.”

  “She hardly has a say about it,” he said, resting his arm on the back of my chair.

  “Agreed. My point is that our dating might impact our other friends too.”

  “You can’t live your life for other people.” He lightly tugged on my hair, causing chills to rush up my back.

  I pivoted in my seat and said, “And you can’t live alone without them either. At least I can’t.”

  “I’d like to see what we could be without bringing them into it.” He thanked the bartender who brought him another beer. “Have I told you how much I love your lips?”

  “No, and you’re changing the subject.”

  “Yes I am. They always looked puckered, ready for a kiss.”

  I blushed over his compliment. “Stop distracting me.”

  “You’ve been distracting me for years, so it’s only fair.” He scooted his chair closer to me and towered over, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth.

  “Hmmm,” I moaned just as the sound got caught up in our steamy kiss. “Your kisses make me dizzy and it’s hard for me to think straight.”

  “Don’t think, just feel,” he said, yanking my chair even closer to his. He buried his hands in the back of my hair and lit me on fire with another mystifying kiss.

  “What are we going to do?” I mumbled against his mouth.

  “Spend time together,” he said with an ardent gaze that set my heart pounding. “Let me find out about that job and if it’s still available—”

  “You don’t even know if I’m a good employee!”

  “Of course I do. If it’s still available you can quit or call in sick tomorrow and spend the day with me.”

  “Wait. What?” I pushed against his chest. “Don’t you have to work?”

  “I’m the boss, remember.”

  “But not of me, never of me.”

  “Only in the bedroom,” he said, casting me a look of pure lust.

  I felt the wetness growing in my panties and with it came great relief—and a load of guilt. I thought I would never feel desire again for another man after meeting Bond, and yet it turned out to be his best friend that now stoked my libido.

  “What time is it?” I asked, trying to break the spell.

  “It’s almost seven. I need to get going over to the house. Stay is probably already there.”

  I stepped down off the stool. “Oh, Stay is coming? I haven’t seen him in ages.”

  “His girlfriend broke up with him, so he’s back in the fold.”

  Stayman hadn’t b
een over to the house in months because his girlfriend didn’t care to hang out with us. Although I missed him terribly, I also understand how daunting it must be for a new person to come into a group of tight-knit friends. I planned to give him a great big hug.

  “Okay, you leave first. I’ll follow in a bit,” I said, swinging my bag over my shoulder.

  “Please think about tomorrow. I’ll call Ted on the way to the house and find out about the job.” He stood and drew me to him, folding me in his arms. After lifting me off the ground, he gave me a fervent kiss goodbye.

  *****

  Before I entered Red’s house, I texted Lainie.

  Me: Do you plan to drop by tonight?

  Lainie: Getting ready for a second date.

  Me: Can I know his name yet?

  Lainie: Don’t want to jinx it. Maybe after tonight.

  Me: You are so silly sometimes. Make sure to tell Second Date I said hello.

  Lainie: Stay away from Red and Bond.

  Me: :P

  Avoiding Bond and Red, I went straight through the house to the game room to find Stayman. The warm wood-paneled room held two pool tables, a dart board, a couch, a bench, and two high top tables.

  “Get over here woman,” Stay said as soon as he saw me. He scooped me up into a tight squeeze.

  “Are you done hiding from us?” I said after he lowered me to the ground. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Karen, but I’m glad you’re back. My pool game has been suffering.”

  Stay stood almost as tall as Red but was far lankier. He was sexy in his own way, in a plaid button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Although thirty-five like Bond and Red, he had a cherub face, bright, blue eyes that twinkled with mischief and a half-cocked smile, which made him appear much younger. He shaved his head bald. I liked it best just as it started to grow in. It felt soft to the touch and smelled of coconut.

  “Hiding, me?” he chuckled. “I’ve missed you, too. So what’s up with you and Red?”

  I blushed and said, “What do you mean?”

  “Cat told me about Saturday night. She had the feeling something was up.”

  “We’ve called a sort of truce.”

  “I’ve always thought he had a thing for you,” he said, sitting down on a stool against the wall near the billiard table.