by Roxy Wilson
As if he could hear her thoughts, the phone rang. Her heart thudded wildly when she glanced at the ID and noted who the caller was. Butterflies, or better yet bats, fluttered their wings at the pit of her stomach. She cleared her throat. “Hi.”
“Hey. How are you doing? I hope I didn’t disturb you,” he asked in his low, throaty voice that always managed to remain upbeat.
“No, I was just…getting ready for bed.”
A pregnant paused followed her declaration. “That has put an image in my head that I definitely like.”
Lexi gasped. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m fully clothed.”
“Now, I’m even more aroused,” he admitted. “I can just imagine peeling those clothes off your body.”
“Mr. Davenport, don’t say these things,” she admonished. Lexi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his brazen behavior. “We don’t know each other well enough for you to make those kinds of jokes.”
“I assure you that I would like to get to know you in that way,” he told her. “What do you think?”
She was getting more and more confused…and aroused. “What do I think about what?”
“About us getting to know each other in that manner.” He chuckled, obviously delighting in her apparent discomfort. “I’m all for it.”
Lexi’s head was spinning. “We…well, you…”
“Don’t tell me that you’re holding me getting dumped against me. It wasn’t my fault, I assure you. I plead insanity…for my ex-fiancée.”
She giggled. “No, I certainly don’t hold it against you. It’s just that I don’t know you at all…”
“And that’s exactly what we will try to change by dating each other.”
“Dating?”
“Yep.”
Lexi wasn’t sure of what she wanted to say. She was definitely attracted to him. But did she want to date him? Why the hell not? Something tugged at her mind. She recalled the kiss. It was devastating. And if he could reduce her to that state with a kiss, what would happen if she actually dated him?
“I’m quite busy.”
“If that’s your excuse to brush me off, you’re out of practice. The good news that I have inferred from this conversation is that you’re not dating anyone.” Damn it! She should have told him that she had a boyfriend. Well, she missed that chance. “So I guess I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“What’s tomorrow?” she squeaked out the words.
“Tomorrow’s another day, Lexi,” he said before ending the call.
Lexi stared at the wall for a long time. What the hell was the man trying to do to her? He was deliberately tying her up in knots. And she didn’t like it one bit.
If that’s case, why am I smiling? Lexi admonished herself as she lay down to sleep. She was doomed.
Chapter Four
Cole whistled as he closed his laptop. He’d done well for the day. Four chapters into the story, and he was enjoying himself. When the writing went well, there was nothing quite like it. He loved those days when the words just flowed on to the paper and he didn’t have to worry about anything. And when it didn’t work, it frizzled out all the excitement from his life.
Today isn’t that day.
Picking up his phone, he called Lexi. He’d been calling her regularly for several days now. She still hadn’t given him a time for a date, but he was confident that he would get there eventually. After his ex-fiancée left him, Cole swore off women. About two months after Arianna had dumped him, his friends started getting on his case. They told him that it was time to get off his ass and start socializing again. Just to get them off his back, he agreed to go on a blind date with a woman his friends insisted was perfect for him. The date wasn’t unpleasant, but there was no spark, even though she was a lovely, bright, personable woman. They both mutually agreed that there was no need for a second date. But the truth was that the problem was his. He didn’t want to open himself up to more heartbreak at the hands of a woman. But now, Lexi made him think otherwise. Maybe he could take that risk with her. Something inside him sang when he was with her. “Hey!” She picked up on the second ring. He’d learned to read her mood over the phone. She sounded upbeat today. “How is it going?”
It was the perfect moment to push his case forward. “I’m a bit down. It’s the weather, I think. It’s depressing, isn’t it?”
“Not really. But is there anything I can do?”
Ahhh! The perfect plan fell into place. “Actually, you can. I think dinner with you might improve my mood considerably.”
“You louse.” She laughed. “Don’t you ever give up?”
“No. I’m going to hound you until you give in and agree to have dinner with me.”
“Alrighty, then.”
“What do you mean by, ‘alrighty then’?”
Her laughter filled his ears. “I agree to have dinner with you.”
Cole couldn’t believe it. Finally. “How about tomorrow? Six o’clock? I’ll pick you up.”
After they agreed on the venue, he talked with her for a while discussing the events of the day. She’d recently landed a gala event. It was a big contract and she was delighted. As always, he was bowled over by her love for her work. It wasn’t her whole life, but it was a big part of it and she relished the opportunity to prove her mettle. He liked women who could stand on their own feet and be independent and strong. Lexi was all that and more.
The next evening, he brought white carnations for her. Her eyes softened when she looked at them. “Thank you.”
Cole fought for breath. Although her watercolor print dress in shades of purple, blue, and green was long, it didn’t hide her curves. The V-neckline, as well as the fabric knot which shirred at the center front, emphasized her full, perky breasts. Her sienna-colored skin and Michelle Obama-like arms were perfect in the short-sleeve dress. The strappy silver heels highlighted her long, slim legs. In short, she was ravishing. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes sparkled at the compliment. “Why don’t you come inside while I put these in water?”
Her house reflected her personality. It was neat, clean, and orderly, with a touch of whimsical. He detected a pair of ceramic fairies in one corner; a wind chime hanging next to a window; blazing orange cushions on the pristine, white couch; and pots of plants crammed into nooks and crannies.
“If I tried to bring in a plant, it would die within days. I’ve a black thumb as opposed to a green thumb.”
She adjusted the stems, cut them, and put the flowers in a clear glass vase. “My sister, Brielle, and I are the ones who can baby a dead plant back to life. But God forbid if anyone gifts a plant to Janay, the youngest. She would forget to water it.”
“Yeah, I’m like that. Only a little worse.” He tried to keep his eyes off her long, slender back as she pampered the flowers. My God! How could he feel like a school boy with his first crush? He longed to take her in his arms and plant a kiss on her lips. But slow and steady was more his style. Although in this case, he wanted to pick up speed.
“Let’s go.” She picked up her silver clutch, put her phone inside, and beamed at him. “So how was your day today?”
“My detective found a murdered homeless person on the street,” he announced as they stepped out. “He’s trying to figure out who the serial killer is.”
“I don’t know how you manage to dream up all these sequences and scenes and characters. Sounds like a lot of work.”
“And I have no idea how you can plan an event for three hundred people and don’t faint from the stress of it. But to each his or her own. I love my work, although of course, sometimes it can be a solitary experience. But generally, I enjoy being with characters who live in my head.”
“That sounds very lonely.”
“It’s not lonely when you’ve got car chases, murders, mysteries, and other weird stuff going on. In fact, it’s more exciting than the mundane life that we live on a daily basis,” he said as they wal
ked out of the building.
“I must pick up one of your books and read it,” she said as they strolled towards the parking lot. Once they got into his car and drove off, she adjusted her seat belt. “My sister, Janay, is a huge fan.”
Cole kept his eyes on the road although the sweet scent of her perfume was driving him mad. He wanted to turn back, go into her apartment, and make love to her. But this was their first official date. What he had in mind was still far into the future, but he longed for the day when he could have his arms around her. As they braved the traffic, they talked about inane stuff. Lexi was a good talker, but she was also a good listener and he found himself telling her more about his struggle to get published than he intended.
“It was the sixth book I ever wrote that finally got a nod from an agent,” he told her as they entered the restaurant. Their table was in the corner. After they were seated, they accepted the menus from the waiter. “It took him almost a year to sell it.”
“And there was no looking back after that, right?”
“If only it was that easy,” he said. “I published three books before I began to see any money, but now that I look back, it was a fun time. The uncertainty, the insecurity, all added to my work. But I’m glad I’ve passed that stage. Each book is an inner struggle. Is it good enough? Will the readers like it? Will it sell? I’m always a nervous wreck just before each book is released. But then aren’t we all? I’m sure you must be going through similar anxieties with each event you plan and undertake.”
“Yeah. Something like that,” she admitted. They placed their order. “Janay was telling me that you’re going on a book tour soon.”
“In about six months.”
They began to talk about the demands of a book tour, the insane schedule, and the constant uncertainty about whether he’d meet people or end up sitting in a bookstore with nothing to do if people didn’t show up. Cole enjoyed talking to Lexi. It was easy and stress free. He didn’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing or making a faux pas. She was nonjudgmental, and since she’d already seen him at his worst (when he got ditched) he didn’t have to pretend to be better than he was.
And the most significant thing of all was that she seemed to like him for who he was. Nothing could beat that feeling of satisfaction, knowing that she didn’t care about his work or his status or any of the things that seemed to drive his ex. With Lexi, he was just an ordinary man and she was an ordinary woman. And yet, together, they were extraordinary. She told him about her childhood, the sweet memories of her time with her sisters and parents, and the sadness that overwhelmed her when she reflected on how her parents were now so far away in Hawaii. Of course, she was happy for them. They were having a blast on their own, enjoying retirement, and relaxing on the beach every day at the beachfront hut they owned.
“Are you going to visit them for Christmas?” He sure hoped not. But of course, she might prefer to spend that time with family.
“My parents are going on a cruise this year. Usually, they come here to be with us. Brielle, Janay, and I don’t go out of the city. In fact, we always spend Christmas Eve night at the senior citizens’ home. It’s our adopted charity.”
He was amazed to hear it. “That’s great. What do you guys do?”
“We decorate the tree with them. Brielle cooks her scrumptious dishes. Janay sings carols and we join her. She’s a good singer and could have chosen it as an alternate career, but she likes what she does. Great for me, as I couldn’t find better partners than my sisters.”
“And you bring presents for everyone?”
“Yeah, we do that. There are twenty-four residents, so we usually just divide and each one of us buys gifts for some of them. In fact…It might be a bit too early to ask, but…” She paused and looked at him with a speculative gleam in her eyes. “May I ask what your plans are on Christmas Eve?”
“Nothing.” Cole shrugged. “We usually have a nice family dinner, but this year they’re going for a holiday together, and I said no to them a long time ago.” He winced. “I guess I’ve been in a bad mood ever since that fiasco happened.”
Lexi placed a reassuring hand on his. “That’s perfectly understandable. It happened on Christmas Day, a day that’s supposed to be filled with joy and happiness. Instead…”
“Yeah, instead, I was the sap who had a fiancée that went AWOL.”
Lexi squeezed his hand. “So would you be open to joining us for Christmas Eve dinner at the home? I know it’s an imposition on your time, but a few of the residents love your books. I have seen them read them. And it would give them such a thrill if you were to pay them a visit.” Her eyes glowed as she made her case.
How the hell was he supposed to say no? And why would he do so when he was getting the perfect opportunity to spend time with the woman he desired above all and at the same time to do a good deed? “It sounds like a plan. I’m in. How can I turn down an opportunity to interact with fans?”
“Great. They’ll all be thrilled.”
After dinner was over, they strolled back to his car and he dropped her home. As he helped her out of the car, Cole was aware that his heart was thundering loudly in his chest.
“I had a lovely time,” she said.
“Yeah, me too.” He stared into the depths of her dark eyes. Something stirred. He could see it but couldn’t decipher it. Was she feeling as unsettled as he was? “Another date? How about coffee tomorrow?”
She laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to wait for a few days to call me? I thought men liked to make the women hang in suspense?”
Cole held her hands in his. He was past the point of caring if he looked like a besotted fool. He was one. And surely, she could see it. Why pretend? Besides, he’d been pursuing her. Today was the first time she’d given him an opening, and he wasn’t going to risk losing his momentum. It was onward and upward from now on.
“I don’t like games,” he said in a firm voice. “But I like you. More than like, in fact. I think I’m falling fast for you. It’s never happened before. It seems like a whirlwind ride to me, one that’s spinning so high and fast, I can’t seem to get my breath.”
“Same here,” she admitted.
He was happy that she shared his feelings. Was he going mad? What was this? Could it be love?
Surely not!
The thought spun through his mind, leaving in its wake a kaleidoscope of mixed emotions. He didn’t want that. Not now, not when he was barely getting back on his feet. He was probably just dissecting the situation too much. It was much better to just go with the flow and see where this led.
“So coffee tomorrow?”
“Sure.” She agreed. “I would love that.”
And from that moment, Cole knew that his life was on the right track. If this was love, he welcomed it with an open heart. With Lexi, his heart was safe. She would never hurt him. Lexi was one in a million, and he was lucky to have found her.
Cole bent forward, drew her in his arms, and claimed her lips. The kiss was sweet and soft. At once, his mind was flooded with memories of his first kiss with her. He’d been angry then, but even so, she’d left an impression on him. Now, he could see why. The scent of her, the feel of her, was enough to drive him mad. Desire burned through his veins as he pressed his body tightly against her. He never wanted this to end. As his tongue danced with hers, his senses went into an overdrive.
When he stepped back, Cole was staggered by the emotions that swirled in his heart.
“You’re amazing.”
She laughed. “So are you, Cole Davenport. Now come on, off you go before we both do something we will regret.”
“If I promise not to regret, can we do it anyway?”
She giggled at the comic expression on his face. “No, we can’t. Now, off you go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
At least, he wouldn’t have to wait for long. As he waved his hand and reluctantly stepped back into his car, Cole was happy to note that things were progressing much faster than he anticipat
ed. He couldn’t have foreseen a better end to the dinner date.
Chapter Five
Lexi hummed the tune to “This Christmas” as she arranged the lilies in the vase on her desk. A few months passed since her first date with Cole, and they were inseparable. They either saw each other at dinner or met up in the evening before she was due for whatever events she’d planned for the night. And of course, they talked to each other on the phone daily. In fact, she couldn’t imagine a time without him. What was her life like when he wasn’t in the picture? Certainly, it wasn’t as exciting and interesting as it was now.
“Another date tonight?” asked Janay as she stepped into the office.
Lexi smiled. “No, actually he has to meet a friend who came from Chicago.” She sighed as she surveyed the flowers. They are so beautiful, and so is he. “Cole sent these.”
“Wow! And here I was, trying to rake my mind as to who could have sent you flowers.” Janay’s voice was acerbic. “What’s the occasion?”
“It’s exactly three months since our first date.”
Janay stuck out her tongue. “If only you could hear yourself. I’ve never seen you look so head over heels in love.”
Was she in love?
Perhaps she was.
But it wasn’t something she could admit to her sister. And if she couldn’t say it to Janay, how could she confess it in front of Cole? She wasn’t ready to divulge the depths of her feelings to him as yet. What if he didn’t return her feelings? She would be heartbroken if that was the case. But knowing Cole, he would never break her heart.
“I guess it’s the first time a man has bowled me over so completely,” she admitted to her sister.
Brielle sauntered in, carrying samples for the new tart that she baked. “I think these are quite perfect, but can you taste them and give your opinions.” After she passed them two small helpings, everyone settled on their seat. Brielle glanced at the flowers. “Cole sent those?”
