When I had created my bids I had seen it and skipped right past it. His question made me feel a little unsettled and I decide that I should just go the professional route on this one.
“Honestly, the event is in the middle of wedding season. There was no way I could commit to it and make sure the weddings I already had on the books would get my full attention.” I say, instantly regretting lying to him. I just met him, but the expression on his face was almost like he knew I was lying, but he didn’t call me on it. I had never been one to have a poker face so it was probably written all over my face. But at the end of the day I had just met him, there was no reason to tell him about Sean, even if he was the first man in almost four years to catch my attention.
“That makes sense, just one thing.” And I raise my eyebrow, “You don’t believe we are actually going to go with anyone else’s bid, so why not just enter one anyway?”
“Not my cup of tea I guess Mr. Crown.” I say seriously as I take a drink of my iced coffee, letting the cool liquid seep down my throat, then I take a deep breath.
I knew why I didn’t want to tell him about the real reason I hadn’t bid on it. I didn’t want to see that look of sympathy or pity that I had been seeing from everyone these past three and a half years. It was weird how after something like what had happened with Sean, marks you. How suddenly everyone expected you to jump in to fight the problem. But I hadn’t. I didn’t condone people drinking and driving in anyway. How could I it was the major reason my life had been taken off it’s course. But I also knew myself. If I jumped in volunteering for a great cause like MADD, I’d let myself drown in the ugly feelings I kept at bay towards who killed Sean. Where I was in life all I had time for was my three kids and my job. Maybe when the kids were older I would be able to do it, but for where I am in my life, it just isn’t for me.
“I’m sorry Sabrina, please call me Mike. Mr. Crown is my dad, and honestly makes me feel closer to turning forty than I want to feel.” He says smiling. Hmm he is older than me. I mean I could tell that, with the cute lines by his eyes and the slight greying at his temples and in his facial hair, but there was something that made him even sexier knowing he was older than me.
“I couldn’t, we should really keep things professional Mr. Crown.” I say looking at him.
“Please Sabrina? Mr. Crown makes me feel old.” He says with a smile that reaches his eyes and they brighten up like they are filled with mischief, and I laugh.
“Okay. So tell me how is it that someone working in the corporate offices of Edwards Automotive can escape in the middle of the day? Don’t you guys have pretty assistants that do that for you?” I ask smiling at him, watching him drink his coffee. I watch as one of the sides of his lips starts to twitch into a smile.
“Honestly? I needed a break. Lucky for me, my clumsiness paid off for me today” his deep voice is so sexy, and I almost think he is flirting with me, surprising me.
“Paid off for me too.” I say softly, “So what do you do at Edwards Automotive, other than being on the events committee?” I ask.
“I’m the VP.” He says and I try not to look surprised.
“Wow. That’s pretty impressive.”
“I guess you could say that. My grandfather is the founder of Edwards Automotive, and on paper the President, so I think being the oldest grandson, I was pretty much thrown into the position.”
“You mean when you were little you didn’t dress up in suits and pretend to be in charge of a huge company?” I joke with him trying to keep the conversation light-hearted.
“No” he says laughing, and oh boy does he have a beautiful smile. When he smiles it makes him look even more handsome, giving him a carefree vibe compared to the serious look I had first seen on him when I had bumped into him.
“What did you want to be when you grew up?” I ask.
“Honestly?” he asks and I nod, “A doctor.”
“Interesting.” I say smiling.
“What about you? What did you want to be when you grew up?”
“When I was five my mom says I wanted to be a fireman.” I say smiling.
“Really? Huh…” he says a little surprised.
“What did you think I was going to say? Something like a ballerina or teacher?” To this he laughs. Rich and deep laughter and I couldn’t stop my grinning if I had wanted to.
“I was actually. So Sabrina, do you like being an event coordinator?”
“I do, and it doesn’t hurt that I am really good at it.” I say confidently, “Honestly I also love that it gives me the flexibility, time wise, to take and pick up my kids from school, things like that, and I love finding new undiscovered vendors and promoting them to everyone like crazy.”
“What do you mean?” He asks genuinely.
“For example, like this new little bakery I found in LA, Izzy Tizzy’s. Two twenty-something friends open this incredible little bakery and let me tell you it’s the best place EVER! Not just for wedding cakes or birthday cakes, but their pastries as well. I love finding little places and showing them to people and watching those people fall in love with them as well. Or this photography team in Ontario who I found on Facebook by chance, probably seventy-five percent of my couples book them for their weddings and eighty percent hire them for their engagement sessions.”
“I’ve heard of Izzy Tizzy’s! They have these mandarin napoleons and cannolis that are suppose to rival any Italian Nonna right?” he asks animatedly, almost charging my own energy up a notch.
“YES! That’s them!” I say smiling and I look at my watch and frown, “I should get going. I wanted to sit and watch a little bit of Mark’s practice.”
“Oh. Okay then.” He says sounding as disappointed as I feel.
I look at him, his pale blue eyes on mine, my eyes roam down to his lips and I really wish I didn’t have to go. He is so damn hot! My bad girl yells as the practical side silently agrees with her. I pick up my bag and decide to search for my sunglasses. “Things always fall to the bottom of these bags. Oh well hopefully it isn’t too bright out to need sunglasses” I say and look at him and his face goes from serious to a sexy grin as we both stand up.
“May I?” his deep voice resonates and I tilt my head in a little bit of confusion as he steps in closer, his big strong body next to me, his scent making my mouth water. The mix of his cologne, coffee and something else is mouth watering good, I just want to put my face in at his neck and breathe in. Geez! What the hell is wrong with me?
I look up at him and he smiles, his hands moving slowly as his fingertips touch the side of my face in such a sweet way, that it tugs at my heart. When was the last time a man touched my face? I think as I feel warmth flutter over my cheeks, I realize I am blushing, and want to groan at how juvenile my reaction to him is. The back of his fingers caress the skin on my left cheek as his other hand reaches for the top of my head and he hands me my sunglasses. I close my eyes, of course! Could I be any more of a nerd? Why would a man like this ever be interested in me? He would more likely be interested in twenty-something year old college girls like George Clooney. He had that cocky type air to him.
“Thanks.” I mumble out and look down for a second to regain my composure.
***
Mike
Had I lost my mind? I had caressed her face, her skin feeling like silk, made me ache to hold her. My mind filled with thoughts about what the rest of the skin on her body would feel like. It was like I couldn’t control myself with her. I can tell she is embarrassed and I should let her go on her way, but I’m a bastard. I want to hold her, know what it feels to have her pressed against me and never let her go. I had never, in my almost forty years felt this way. Even with having been in a relationship with Holly for ten years, I’ve never had this draw to a woman. Figures I would feel this attraction to the one woman who, if she knew the truth about how I was to blame for one of the worst things that has happened to her, she would hate me.
“I should get going, if I want to be able
to catch a little bit of his baseball practice.” She says, her voice soft, bringing her hand out for me to shake.
She is going to leave. Then I won’t be able to talk to her or get to know her. Trying to come up for a reason to keep her around I blurt out, “What would you do differently?”
She looks confused, “I’m sorry? What would I do differently with what?” she asks, her eyes have that look again, like they are filled with mischief and it adds a special brightness to them.
“The 5K, you obviously did your homework, you knew we were tired of the same year in and year out, what would you do differently?” I ask in a lame attempt to keep her near me, even if only for a couple minutes longer.
“You really want to know?” she asks curiously.
“Yeah.” I say trying to keep my face as emotionless as possible.
She looks down at her watch and unconsciously bites her bottom lip. I can see her inner debate about being able to make it to her son’s baseball practice and talking it out with me, so I give her a chance to do both.
“It’s a nice day today, if you want we can talk at the park during his practice?” her eyes meet mine in surprise and I smile. I like that look. I like the idea of being able to surprise her; that on its own is another red flag that I seem to need to ignore today.
“Yeah, if you don’t mind terribly, the park is only like five minutes from here.”
“Sounds good, I’ll drive us, and drive you back, let’s go.” I say as I put my hand on the small of her back and she looks up at me, stirring something in me that I am not sure I want to even try to define or think about, but at that moment I know it’s something I will remember for the rest of my life. I lead her over to my black Range Rover and open the door for her.
***
Sabrina
He is driving us to Mark’s practice? How the hell had he caught me off guard so easily? He shuts the door behind me, and I lean over to unlock his door. He gives me an almost smile and he mutters a shy thanks. I give him directions on how to get to the park. We sit in silence as Mumford and Sons plays in the background. It’s not awkward or uncomfortable. His driving is soothing, which is saying something, since everyone teases me about being the worst back seat driver. “Baby you have to relax, I promise I will get us there safely” Sean’s voice in my head and I smile, he always used to tease me about how horrible I was when others drove. I look over at Mike and he looks at me and I smile and look away out the window. It’s weird because with Mike I’m calm. No nerves about his driving. I’m not going to read too much into it, I think to myself.
We get to the park and go over to the bleachers. I try not to look at him, but the way his large frame moves is so graceful I can’t seem to look away. We sit on the bleachers and watch the team practice.
***
Mike
“That’s him, over on first base.” She points out as she looks at the baseball diamond. He is a tall lanky kid with lighter brown hair than his mom, but there is a little bit of a resemblance.
“He looks like you. How old is he?”
“Twelve, almost thirteen. Do you have any kids?” she asks as her gaze falls back on my eyes, something in the pit of my stomach tugs at me.
“No. Not Yet”
“They change your life… completely.” She says softly, the look on her face sweet, gentle, loving.
“So tell me about your other two. What are they like?”
“Well let’s see… Penny is nine now. She is slowly becoming more girly. Before she was a total tomboy, but recently pink and purple has slowly been invading her room and wardrobe.” She says smiling, “I think it has something to do with this new boy in her class.” She laughs and I smile, enjoying her talk.
“Chris is six. He is really sweet, a bit shy, the most serious of the three. He eats, lives, and breathes football. This will be the first season he will be able to play Pee Wee Football, so he literally has a countdown. I think he is the only child that instead of asking to be read Dr. Seuss books, he wanted me to read him books on the sport.”
“Really?” thinking I would probably like this kid.
“Yeah, he loves it. Football season starts don’t ask him to do a thing on a Sunday… and he is only six, I can only imagine how he will be like in ten years.” she smiles.
“They sound great.” I tell her, my hand goes to her hand on the bleacher and I squeeze it gently, really enjoying the feeling of her hand in mine.
She looks at me, her big brown eyes warm and soft and kind.
“They are. I mean don’t get me wrong they can be hell on wheels at times, but at the end of the day, I don’t know what I would do without them. They give me purpose.”
“Do you mean after their dad left the picture?” I ask bravely.
She frowns, and turns to face me.
She looks at me, I almost feel like she can see through me, and I wonder what she is thinking.
“Yes and no. Honestly from the moment I became a parent I felt centered. I think overall they gave me purpose. I don’t know if that makes any sense?” she says, her eyes soft and loving. No hint of sadness or anger in her voice. I just want to grab her in my arms, something about her makes me want to protect her, hold her near me.
“Mind me asking what happened to their dad?” I ask and she looks away, biting her lower lip slightly.
“Umm… we aren’t together anymore.” She says staring out at the baseball diamond.
“So is it that Mrs. Edwards and you are not ready yet for the pitter-patter of little feet yet?” she asks.
“No Mrs. or anyone really.” I say trying not to smile. She wants to know if I am with anyone, and I know I’m a bastard, but I kind of like the fact that she wants to know.
“Really?” she asks sounding surprised and I laugh. “I mean, you just seem really put together, I would have thought some girl would have taken you off the market.” Right as the words leave her lips, I can tell she hadn’t meant to say those words out loud because her cheeks turn to the prettiest shade of pink, and I can’t help but laugh again as she covers her mouth with her hands and her eyes go wide.
“I just mean…” she tries to explain but I shake my head.
“No I understand what you are saying. I’m hot.” I say giving her a full smile and she laughs, and somehow we have scooted closer to one another. When we quiet down I look at her.
“I was engaged for a long time but for some reason we both kept moving the date. It was like we both knew it wasn’t right, but didn’t know how to walk away.” I say honestly surprising myself that I would openly admit what happened with Holly and me.
“Who walked away?” she asks looking out at the kids playing baseball.
“She did. She met someone, and she was torn up about the feelings she was having. We had been together for almost a decade. She fell in love with him. Before she crossed any lines, she came to me, we broke things off. Couple of months later they were married. Now they have a set of twin boys and they are completely right for one another. Holly and I were really close, more friends than anything else. I think we both afraid of losing that friendship if we broke it off.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy for her. I’m glad we were able to stay friends, maybe not as close as we once were, but life goes on right?”
“Yeah it does, but sharing your life with someone for that long, to have it end and see her with someone else, must not be easy.” She says smiling as her hand goes on mine, her small delicate fingers blanketing mine. I don’t move my hand. I look at her, feeling a warm buzz flows through me. Need and hunger hits me and the front of my pants tightens as my dick starts to get hard. I want her, shit.
***
Sabrina
“So tell me what you would do differently with our 5K?” he asks almost too formal sounding after what we had just shared. Maybe I had crossed a line by placing my hand on his, but I had had this overwhelming need to touch him. I took my hand off of his hand and sat a little
straighter.
“Honestly, I would change it up to a 5K Mud Run and Music Festival. Costs would be a little higher, but with social media promotion, some local news media feeds, you would be evening out costs with more participants, and hitting a younger demographic, therefore…”
“Extending the interest of the event for years to come? That’s good. I like it. Let me talk to the committee.”
“What do you mean, like to suggest it to Spark?” I ask and he looks a little surprised, “I mean its fine, I can get you a list of locations and contacts I made so they can talk to them and try to lock in the rates I was guaranteed.” I spout out surprising myself. Why would I help Spark out? To have another chance to talk to him and then maybe get naughty together! The bad girl in me yells.
“You would do that?” he asks his eyes narrowed, making him look even more freaking rugged and sexier than before. Damn it Sabrina, cool your jets! I yell at my hormones.
“It’s a great cause Mike, why wouldn’t I? I mean life isn’t all about business, right?” I say looking up at his eyes, eyes that are so freaking blue that I want to just swim in them, hoping to God that it wasn’t written all over my face how attracted I am to him.
***
Mike
She said my name, and my dick instantly got even harder. Fuck. What is it about her? Before I am able to answer, I hear a kid yelling Mom and she looks up at the boy she had pointed out earlier. Except now he is standing at the bottom of the bleachers, with the closer view I notice he looks a lot like her.
“Hey Mom.” He says as he looks at her and her face lights up.
“Mark, this is Mike. He works for Edwards Automotives, we were talking about the MS 5K.”
“Oh cool, did she tell you about her mud run idea?” he asks excitedly, and I like that she talked about work with him and that he remembered because he was paying attention.
Crown's Chance at Love Page 4
