by Jill Downey
“We were fine until your accident…until Florence Nightingale stepped into the picture,” she said.
“We hadn’t had sex for ages prior to the accident.”
“Only because you were always working.”
“No, that’s not the reason. We’ve been friends almost our entire lives. Had each other’s backs through our lonely fucked up childhoods. I wouldn’t have survived it without you. I never want anything to come between us. That’s why it was a mistake for us to leave the friend zone. And I’m sorry. I really am. I believed you when you said you wanted a post-divorce fuck with no strings.”
“I meant it darling, it’s just you were such a great lay, how could I stop at a few? We are a good match Kyle. Imagine if we merged our resources. Both of us are ambitious, not to mention animals in the bedroom. They always say marry your best friend.” She ran her long scarlet fingernail down his nose. “Can you say you don’t miss the sex, even a little?”
“Yes, I can say that. We’re friends. Accept it or not, that’s all I have to offer.”
“This Hallmark movie starring your nurse will get old. You’re not the domestic kind of guy. I’ll be around to pick up the pieces.”
“Give it a break Charlene. There won’t be any pieces. She has no interest in me despite my irresistible charm.”
“There must be something seriously wrong with her.”
“I rather think she’s discerning, wouldn’t you agree?”
Charlene laughed out loud, “Part of your dubious charm is your self-effacing demeanor—that is unless you’re in the courtroom, then look out.”
Kyle lifted an eyebrow and said, “And here I thought the charm gene skipped me. Are we good then?”
“You know we’ll always be good. Can’t say I’m happy about you cutting me off but easy come, easy go. I’m just glad you didn’t die on me. I would have been very pissed off.”
He held out his arm and she leaned into him as he squeezed her tight.
“I’ll see myself out. Bye darling.” She flounced out of the room like she owned the world.
Kyle stood up stiffly, grabbed his cane and mentally rehearsed his damage control speech. He shook his head wondering how the hell Charlene always seemed to have impeccable timing when it came to Ella.
16
Ella stuffed Finn’s spiderman PJ’s into his superman backpack and zipped it closed. “You’re going to have so much fun with your Aunt Faye.”
“Yeah but what if Dad needs me?”
Ella sat on the bed and pulled him to her for a hug, “That’s why I’m here. Plus, he’s getting stronger every day, soon he won’t even need me.”
Finn buried his head in her neck and in a muffled voice said, “I don’t want you to leave, ever.”
Her heart ached at his admission. This little guy had already lost so much in his short life, now another big transition. They were scheduling interviews this weekend for his replacement nanny.
“Buddy, I promise you that we’ll always be friends. We’ll make play dates and do lots of fun stuff together. Sound good?”
“It won’t be the same.”
“No, you’re right it will be different, but who knows, maybe it’ll be even better. You’ll probably like your new nanny even more than me.”
“Never!” he pushed away and grabbed his pack and ran out of the room.
Ella sighed; her chest heavy. This wasn’t going to be easy all the way around. She had become very attached to this little person. All her maternal instincts had kicked in and she felt their destinies were now somehow intertwined.
Ella caught up with Finn in his father’s office, sitting silently on the floor with Daisy. Faye had already arrived and the energy in the room crackled with her vibrancy.
“Ella! Great to see you again.” Faye looked radiant, her pale skin and features delicate, so different from her brother’s dark complexion and hard angles. It was as if each of their parents got to have a replicated self, Kyle so much like his father and Faye a mirror image of her beautiful mother.
“Hey Faye. Finn and I were just discussing his apprehension about leaving his dad all night,” Ella shared. “He’s a bit worried he might be needed,” she exchanged knowing looks with Faye and Kyle.
“I’ll be fine, in fact I’m taking Ella out for a fancy dinner at The Yacht Club tonight.”
Finn and Ella said simultaneously, “You are?”
“Yes. I figured it’d be good to have my nurse by my side for my first big outing.”
“Clever of you to throw in the nursing card,” Ella said dryly.
Finn jumped up from the floor, his little matchmaking self, delighted with this turn of events. “Yes!” he said his earlier upset forgotten.
“Make sure to order the calamari, it is to die for!” Faye said.
“And you hafta dress up ’cause everyone is rich,” Finn said making everyone laugh.
“But I don’t have anything to wear,” Ella said.
“Already taken care of. There is a dress hanging up in your room, Faye picked it up for me on her way here.”
“Shoes…”
“Check. Size six-and-a-half, correct?’
“How did you know that?”
“Richard checked your tennis shoes for size.” Kyle smiled quite pleased with himself.
“You’ve certainly thought of everything except for the most important part, asking me if I wanted to go.”
“Ella you have to go,” Finn piped in. “My dad needs you, you heard him, he’s scared to go out alone for the first time,” he grinned at his dad mischievously holding his thumb up.
“I see how this is going. I’m outnumbered. I’m beginning to wonder which plan came first, Finn’s sleepover with his aunt or the Yacht Club?”
“You’ll have to continue to wonder,” Kyle said grinning.
“I didn’t know, I pinky swear,” Finn said.
“I believe you,” Ella said. “This sounds much more like something your father would concoct.”
Brow furrowing Finn said, “What’s concock?”
“She’s implying that I was being sneaky.”
“Oh, I get it. Well, were you?” he asked innocently.
“Kind of, how else am I going to get her to go out with me?” Finn smiled conspiratorially with his dad.
“Let’s go Finn, we’ve got places to go and things to do,” Faye said.
“Can we go look at puppies?”
“No!” Kyle shouted.
“Wah,” he said, rubbing his eyes comically.
“Go on get out of here you two, I’ve got a mountain of work to get through.”
“Bye, love you,” Finn called out as Faye pulled him along.
Finding themselves alone, Ella’s heart began pounding. “It’s awfully quiet,” she said suddenly overcome with shyness.
Kyle studied her before replying, “Be ready by six o’clock, my driver will be waiting for us at the front door.”
“Kyle…”
“Don’t complicate this Ella, it’s a thank you for everything you’ve done for Finn and me. I want to pamper you a little. Deal?”
“I guess so,” she said reluctantly.
His eyes glowed with warmth and his smile had her responding in kind.
Kyle felt the blood surge to his groin again and had to fight the urge to do something about it. Her wide toothy smile was almost his undoing. That tiny gap between her front teeth was so damn sexy. He forced himself to open the file in front of him.
Ella took his cue and turned on her heel, leaving without another word.
Ella applied mascara with shaky hands, apprehensive about the evening ahead. She hadn’t a clue how she was going to eat she felt so queasy. At least she was having a good hair day which helped bolster her confidence a little. There was a familiar knock at the door. Deja vu, “Come in.”
As before, Richard Drake entered and discreetly stood at the door until Ella motioned him in the rest of the way.
He held a long velvet jewelers�
�� box in his hand and Ella eyed it warily. “What cha got there Mr. Drake?”
“I suspect it is something to compliment your exquisite beauty Ms. Palmer.”
Her hand fluttered to her chest, “I see.” Taking the box, she lifted the lid and gasped when she saw the long string of pearls with matching earrings nestled inside.
“They’re magnificent,” she said in a hushed tone.
“Yes, truly. A fine choice to compliment your attire.”
“Thank you. They will look lovely, are they on loan from a jeweler then?” she asked tentatively.
“No, Ms. Palmer. They are a gift from Mr. Bennett. He sincerely hopes you’ll accept them as a token of his appreciation for your excellent care of him and his son.”
Ella’s forehead creased with doubt. “I don’t know what to say.”
“If you don’t mind a bit of unsolicited advice, just say thank you.”
Seeing her discomfort, he smiled warmly at Ella. “Might I also add you are a vision Ms. Palmer. You are going to knock his socks off.”
“Why thank you Richard.”
“Have a lovely evening, and Ms. Palmer, try to have a good time. You look like the proverbial deer in the headlights.”
Ella felt her cheeks grow warm; she smiled shyly and replied, “I’ll give it my best shot.”
“Goodnight.” He quietly left Ella alone.
Ella slipped on the Jimmy Choo metallic pumps. Perfect fit. Taking the string of pearls from the box she fastened them around her neck. The necklace nestled in between her breasts and was the ideal accessory.
The mid-thigh length midnight blue chiffon dress had a plunging neckline and plunged daringly low in the back. The thin straps left her creamy shoulders and arms bare. The garment flowed loosely. Going braless was her only option due to the extreme cut of the garment.
She dabbed a couple of drops from her twelve-thousand-dollar perfume bottle onto her inner wrists and behind her ears. Adding siren red lipstick as the finishing touch, she grabbed her matching Jimmy Choo clutch and headed out the door.
Kyle had just closed his bedroom door when he saw Ella heading straight towards him. His entire body suddenly felt warm as his eyes hungrily took in every inch of her. She was breathtakingly beautiful, moving gracefully like a panther, long slim arms swinging easily by her sides, one hand gripping a glittery clutch. As she got closer, he could see the outline of her nipples and the bounce of her breasts, free and unconfined by any undergarment. Ella’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Her loose hair cascaded around her shoulders. It appeared almost black, so soft, so luxurious, it was all he could do to not ravish her on the spot. He let out a low whistle. Kyle had left his tie hanging around the collar of his white oxford since he couldn’t do a knot one handed.
“Do you know how to knot a tie?” He asked, voice low and husky.
“I can try,” she said breathlessly. Setting her purse on a credenza, she walked up to him and grabbed his black tie, so close he could see his breath stir her hair. He felt her hands tremble as she fumbled with the knot. He lifted her chin until their eyes met. Hers a luminous pool of smoldering green. He leaned down and gently brushed his lips against hers.
“Kyle…”
“Shh, I have to, I can’t stop myself,” his voice low, almost daring her to protest. “Ella you are the most magnificent creature I’ve ever known.” He scooped his palm underneath the weight of her hair, cupping the back of her head as he leaned down to take her lips again. This time he wasn’t so gentle as he explored, taking, plunging, tasting, tongue parting her lips further. Breathing heavily, his voice shaky he said, “I want you naked in my bed.”
The heat from her palms resting on his chest scorched through his clothing. At her bemused expression Kyle dipped down for another taste. He had never wanted anything as much as he wanted this woman. He was rock hard and the temptation to drag her back into his bedroom almost overrode his sensibilities. He felt a primal need, as ancient as time… he smiled against her lips, me Tarzan you Jane. Unwilling to scare her off, he reluctantly pulled himself from the ledge.
Ella could hardly meet his gaze his blue eyes were so intense, like the most brilliant faceted sapphires, smoldering with desire…all for her. He took her breath away he was so handsome. He had slicked his normally unruly mop of hair back, which only enhanced his chiseled features and made his eyes more compelling. She felt a moist pulsating in her core and knew lines would be crossed tonight, it was inevitable. She could no sooner fight it than the ocean could fight the moons pull on its tides. She tenderly brushed back a stray lock of hair that had curled across his brow and saw his pupils dilate.
“Shall we?” he said crooking his elbow as she slipped her hand through.
They exited the elevator together and walked out to the waiting limo. The driver opened their door and they slid into the quiet luxury of the Mercedes. Soft jazz filled the interior, creating a buffered cocoon-like ambience.
“Would you like a glass of wine?”
Feeling as if she were in a dream, she leaned her head against the soft leather seat and sighed, “Why not?”
Kyle pulled out two wine glasses and poured them each a glass of white. He raised his to hers and said, “Here’s to me sweeping you off your feet.”
“Mission accomplished. Should we have the driver turn around?”
“I’m crazy about you Ella, am I wrong to hope you’re beginning to like me just a little?” he leaned down to lick the wine from her lips. Nibbling at her bottom lip he stilled when she slipped her tongue into his mouth, running the tip of it over his teeth.
“You wouldn’t be wrong,” she whispered.
Placing his glass in the holder, he cupped her breast in his palm, rubbing his thumb over her swollen nub. Her breast felt heavy in his hand and he massaged it until she groaned.
Hot with longing, his need for her surged when Ella melted into the plush leather seat, surrendering to his touch. He licked the tender spot right below her ear, desperate with want. “Babe, I need you. You’re like kryptonite.”
She looked at him so wantonly that he almost lost control. “I’m ready,” she whispered.
He groaned, “I can’t believe I’m saying this right now but perhaps we should wait and continue this later.”
“You started it,” she said, as she pulled his head back down to her lips.
He whispered against her mouth, “And I’ll finish it. But not right now.”
She smiled seductively and then tantalized him further by nipping at his bottom lip.
“My heart is pounding, feel this,” he said holding her palm against his heart. Smiling, she replaced her palm with her head and rested her ear against his chest. He wrapped his arm around her, his nose buried in her hair, while she rested her head against his beating heart. He ran his fingers lightly up and down her arm and murmured, “Your skin is so soft.”
Kyle rested his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes, absorbing the sensations of her scent, the weight of her head resting against his chest, her soft willing body and the whispered promise of her words.
17
“Mr. Bennett, so glad that you’ll be joining us this evening,” the host said.
“It’s good to be out in the world again.”
“We were sorry to hear about your accident. We have your usual waterfront table ready. Would you like to enjoy a cocktail in the lounge before being seated?”
“Yes, please. I understand you have a jazz pianist for entertainment tonight.”
“Yes. He’s very good.”
“Ella does the lounge sound good to you?”
Eyes shining in anticipation she said, “Perfect.”
Even with the stiff competition of moneyed guests, Kyle and Ella stood out. They made a striking couple that could easily grace any magazine cover. The private club afforded many perks for guests but also created a camaraderie amongst its members. Most either had yachts permanently docked there or rented vessels available through the club.
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br /> Many members were deep-sea fishing enthusiasts and entered competitions regularly. Kyle was one of them. Unfortunately, he would miss the annual Blue Marlin Tournament this June. It was great fun and he was disappointed that Finn would miss out as well. He had thought that this year he was old enough to really enjoy the competition. They could still hang out and see the catches of the day being judged. The club had lots of activities for its members and their families so there would be plenty to do. Hopefully he’d be up for some of it.
A loud wolf whistle pierced the crowd as Pete, Kyle’s law partner, unsteadily made his way over. “What the fuck man! You caught the most beautiful mermaid in the sea!”
“Have you met Ella? Ella Palmer meet Pete Simon, my college friend and partner in crime.”
Pete, obviously having imbibed too much alcohol, was laying it on thick as he bowed dramatically, kissing the back of her hand. Rather than releasing it, he held on, eyes burning with interest. “What are you doing hanging around with this low life when we could be dining together on his yacht?”
Ella laughed, going with the flow as she tried, unsuccessfully, to withdraw her hand from his grip.
Kyle glared at Pete and with steel in his voice said, “Down boy, this is my date.”
“Only because she hasn’t met me yet,” he grinned wolfishly.
“Wine?” Kyle asked her.
“Yes please.”
“It appears you’re set, am I right Pete?”
“Sure partner. I’ll keep your date,” he said, winking at Ella, “company while you get the drinks.”
“I’ll go with Kyle, but thanks.” Ella finally escaped his grasp. She hooked her hand through Kyle’s arm and walked with him to the bar. He had intentionally left his cane in the limo and so far, hadn’t needed it. Ella would be his prop for the evening. Pete trailed along.
“When are you returning to the office? There are some important matters that need your attention.”
