Chapter 19
Moist, soft caresses woke Lesley from her sleep. She rolled to face the reason her eyes had opened. John lay beside her, trailing kisses down her bare arm. He had showered, shaved, and come with coffee in hand.
What a man.
“What time is it?” She grabbed for the cup he held hostage.
“Nuh-uh. A kiss first.”
Touching his lips with her own, she snaked her hand up his arm and reached for the cup. “Thank you.” She smiled against his skin. “Now, what time is it?”
“Almost nine.” He nuzzled his mouth to her neck.
“What time did you get up?” She ran her fingers through his silky hair, enjoying how his smooth, warm cheek felt on her skin and slightly missing the stubble that had tickled her into ecstasy only hours before. Two days before he had run from her. Now, he was running back to her.
“Five.” He leaned up from his ministrations and stared into her eyes then trailed his gaze down her chest, stopping at the tip of the sheet and hiked his lip into a devilish grin.
Very aware of how clothed he was and how naked she was, besides the high heels still strapped to her feet, she pulled the sheet higher, taunting him.
“Why so early?” She took a sip of coffee and squirmed as he trailed his fingertips under the sheet, and up her leg to the top of her thigh. She trembled.
“Easy now,” he teased. “You’ll spill.”
She already spilled over. If his hand trailed a little higher, he would know for himself just how much.
“I had to get the kids to school this morning. Emma usually has to go into the bakery around five in the morning to get everything ready by six.” He tiptoed his fingers around her hipbone and to her stomach, avoiding her sweet spot.
A slight moan escaped her lips.
“You’re insatiable.” He leaned in to kiss her lips. “Besides.” He pulled back. “The children don’t like when I’m away.”
His kids.
If they were going to be so intimate, should they spend more time with Matthew and Rachel, together? Get the children used to the idea of them…
Was there a them?
Being with John was her new plan, and his kids came as a package deal, so in her mind it only made sense.
“We should spend more time with your kids, together. Don’t you think?” she ventured.
“Not yet. I want to enjoy you for myself for a little while.” He touched his lips to hers.
“Oh.” She pulled back from his kiss. “Sure. I understand.” He didn’t want her around Rachel and Matthew, which meant whatever they were doing wasn’t as serious to him as it was to her.
Some of the doubts she had early last night resurfaced. Would she ever be enough for any man?
“I don’t think you do.” He took her hand. “The kids have been through so much. I want to make sure this is solid. Completely solid before we really involve them.”
Solid? Wasn’t what they did last night enough for him? They’d both agreed sex wasn’t something they take lightly. She had developed intense feelings for John over the course of their time together, but obviously, she needed to tread carefully. If this didn’t work… She didn’t want to think how that would break her. But, yet, she couldn’t fault the man for wanting to protect his children. If anything, it made her care for him even more.
“You’re a good father.” She ignored the pain in her chest at the idea of another possible shattered love.
“I try.” He leaned in and nipped her lips as her phone rang. “Don’t answer it,” he begged as he kissed her again.
“I have to.” She reached to grab her cell; her father’s picture stared back at her. What timing. “Speaking of fathers.” She showed him the screen. “It’s my dad.”
As John’s lips moved from her mouth to her shoulders, she slid the answer button over. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, sweetheart. I have good news.”
Tingles prickled through her body as John swirled his tongue from one shoulder to another. She wiggled under him.
“Oh yeah?” She suppressed a giggle. “What’s that?”
“I’m taking time off in a couple of weeks and coming to see you. How is everything going?”
If this sexy man didn’t stop teasing her, everything would be mind-blowing in about thirty seconds. “Everything’s good.”
She maintained her composure and swatted at his hand that had traveled south to the center of her back. He gave her a dirty grin as he pulled the sheet to the bottom of the bed with a big whoosh.
“Wonderful. I’ll email you my flight schedule later today. I can’t wait to see you.”
John ogled her lying there in nothing but the shoes like she was a slab of bacon and he was a starving puppy. She turned completely over, giving him the full privilege to stare at her derriere. Eat your heart out.
“I can’t wait to see you either, and dad, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
She glanced back and gave John a wink. He crawled over her, balancing his weight on his hands as he used his tongue down her spine. She thought about kicking him with her heel, but the sensations rippling through her body were too pleasurable to fight.
“Oh?” her dad asked.
“Yes, but…Dad, I can’t talk now. I’ve got a busy schedule today.”
“Sure, I have to get back to work anyway.”
“I’ll see you soon, okay? I love you.”
“Love you, too, sweetheart.”
She clicked off the phone before she let out a moan of pleasure.
He flipped her over and raised an eyebrow. “You want me to meet your dad?”
Her chest tightened. The words just slipped out when she talked to her father. If John didn’t want her hanging out with his kids yet, maybe he didn’t want to meet her dad so soon. How stupid of her to assume. “Yeah. I do. Is…is that okay? I mean, if you don’t want to, then you don’t have to.”
“Relax. I want to meet him. I’m just happy you want me to meet him.”
“You are?” Her voiced hitched.
“Don’t sound so surprised, but, I’m concerned about something.”
The elation of his confession died. She hadn’t done the whole meet the parents bit in years, but what could be so concerning about meeting her father? Would he want her to meet his parents eventually? Maybe that’s why he was concerned. Maybe he didn’t want her to meet his parents. “What are you concerned about?”
“What’s got your schedule so busy today that you can’t talk to your dad?” A grin broke over his face.
“Oh.” She let out a sigh of relief. He was playing with her. Punk.
“Well, for starters.” She sat up and reached for the zipper of his jeans. “I’m going to finish what you started. Then, we’re going to start knocking down some walls.”
“Oh, I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
She reached for the waistband of his jeans as a pound vibrated the front door. They both sat still. “Who could that be?”
“Don’t answer,” he begged. “Tell them to go away. Just for a few minutes.”
“John.” Lesley shimmied out from under him. “It might be a crew member. Can you get the door?”
“Like this?” He motioned downward to his growing need.
“Oh.” She giggled. “But you’re dressed. I’m not.”
“Trust me, baby, you can get dressed a lot faster than I can get this under control.” He pointed to his unit.
“Fine. Stay right here. I’ll be right back.” She ran to the bathroom and grabbed her robe.
“Hurry.” His eyes took on a doe-like stare, all hungry and lusty like.
Her insides quivered with delight. “I’ll be back so fast, you won’t even know I’m gone.”
“Doubtful,” he mumbled and threw himself back on the bed.
She placed a kiss on his lips and ran as best she could in her heels to the front door.
A deliveryman stood outside with a large bouquet of white roses.
“Can I help you?”
“Are you Lesley DeLoach?”
“Yes.” She stepped out onto the porch. “What’s this?”
“Delivery. Sign here please.”
He handed her a clipboard. She scribbled her name on the dotted line before taking the arrangement from him. “These are beautiful. Thank you.” A giddy feeling floated in her stomach. John sure knew how to please a lady. No wonder he insisted she go to the door.
“No problem.” The man ogled her in her sparse wardrobe and headed for his delivery van.
She took the card out of the holder.
White roses just like you carried on our wedding day.
I still love you.
Yours,
Peter
“What the hell?” she mumbled. How did he find out where she was?
Her stomach dropped as the giddiness changed to a surge of adrenaline. She glanced back at the roses, realizing they were a spitting image of her wedding bouquet. Up until last night, the happiest day of her life.
No.
No. No. No.
This couldn’t be happening. Her past needed to stay exactly there…in her past.
“Lesley, what’s taking so long?” John hollered.
Her hands shook as she stuffed the card back in the envelope. Things were going wonderfully between her and John. The last thing she needed was Peter screwing up her life.
Again.
“Uh…be right there.”
She plodded down the steps and through the grass, her spikes poking into the dirt. “Hey, hey,” she whisper-yelled to the delivery driver and raised her hand in the air. Her robe blew in the breeze behind her and the cord of the cover threatened to come loose. “You have to take these back.” She thrust the flowers to the man.
“What? Why? Do you not like them?” He took the arrangement and slipped a peek at the top of her chest threatening exposure any second.
Lesley grabbed hold of her robe and pulled the two sides tighter together. “It’s not what or why. It’s who. The flowers are beautiful, but I can’t accept them. Give them to a nursing home or something. Just get them and yourself out of here. Now.”
“Ma’am, I’m not supposed to take them back. They’re yours.”
“Who cares? I’ve signed your paper, now, do me a favor and give them to someone else, or I’ll call your boss and tell him you tried to look down my robe.”
His eyes widened. “I’m sorry. Please don’t.” The driver placed the flowers back in his van, his moves so hasty he knocked the arrangement over. Water spilled all over the floorboard.
“Then leave. Now.” She turned and stomped back inside, hoping to prevent John from seeing the van as it left the drive. The last thing she needed was to explain her ex attempting to win her back.
Peter winning her back. Ha!
She hurried back through the house, taking in a few deep breaths while trying to get her emotions under control before she entered the bedroom.
“You okay?” John asked. “You look a little flustered.”
“Fine. Just wanted to hurry back to you.”
“Who was it?”
“Oh, just someone needing directions. Now, where were we?” She untied her robe and let it slip to the floor.
“I believe we were talking about bringing down some walls.” He wrapped his hands around her waist.
“Yes, lets.” She straddled him and leaned in for a kiss, readying herself to give him as much attention as he had given her the night before.
Sounds of doors slamming echoed in the distance.
Lesley parted their embrace. “What was that?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” John pulled her back toward him…right before the doorbell rang.
“Yoo-hoo,” Linda’s voice called from the porch. “The crew’s here.”
“Damn it,” John mumbled. “So close.”
A little too close.
****
John rubbed his eyes. The hours spent working on the manor over the past few weeks, caring for his children, and making love to Lesley took a toll on him physically. He drained his coffee and tossed the cup in the garbage can outside of Emma’s bakeshop before walking through the door.
“Hey,” his sis greeted him. Flour covered her shirt, and her fingers were dyed a bright pink.
“Trying to turn yourself into a troll?” He pointed to her hand and waved to Ms. Donna Malone who sat at a table in the corner nursing a cup of coffee and a muffin.
He rounded the bar to grab another cup, realizing he should have kept the one he had. He wasn’t thinking straight today, and it was only seven am. The top of the carafe steamed, the vapors hitting him in the face as he poured his coffee.
“You look like hell. Maybe you should take the day off?” She passed him the sugar.
He ripped open a packet, spilling half the granules on the counter. “Thanks, Em. You look lovely.” He poured the little bit of sugar left into his cup, mixing it with a stir stick.
“Seriously. Take a day off. I’m sure Lesley won’t mind.”
“You’re right. She probably won’t.” He imagined his day off wouldn’t be very restful. All he wanted to do in his spare time was spend it with her.
“But?” Emma prodded.
“How do you know me so well?”
“We shared a womb. Now spill, well actually, don’t spill anything else.” She cleaned the sugar off the counter. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
He shot a glance at Ms. Donna who had her nose in the morning’s paper. Still, he kept his voice down. “I’m not complaining about the work. Working at the manor and with the locals has been good for me. I’ve been hired on for more jobs, and the extra money is helping me get caught up on all the bills.”
“Okay. Work is good, but…”
“It’s Lesley.”
“What about her?” Emma scrunched her eyes together. “I saw her the other day. She seemed fine.”
“Physically, yes, but she really needs to start making some income. We’re running through her money faster than anticipated, and I don’t want to let her down.” He took a large sip and instantly regretted it. The liquid burned all the way down to his stomach. He stuck out his tongue.
“Easy tiger. It’s a fresh pot.” His sister poured herself a cup. With her voice low, she asked, “She doesn’t have any money put aside?”
“She hasn’t told me everything about her finances, and honestly, I haven’t asked outright, but I gather that what her aunt gave her, and the money she made from her car, is all she has to go on, and it’s going quick.”
“She didn’t get anything from the divorce?”
“No.” He shook his head. “She said she didn’t want her ex’s money. I just wish there was more I could do.”
Emma stared at him, before a grin spread wide across her face. “You’re falling in love with her, aren’t you?”
“What?” John stared at his sister. “Will you keep your voice down please?” He motioned toward Ms. Donna before he grabbed a cookie from the display case.
“You do,” she whispered and pointed her bright pink finger at him. “You love her.”
Sometimes being a twin really sucked. He could keep his emotions hidden from everyone but Emma. She always saw right through him.
He hadn’t actually said the words out loud. Every time the notion presented itself, he tried to push it aside. “Maybe,” he mumbled and took a slower sip of his coffee.
“What? You’re whispering too low. I can’t hear you?” His sister put a hand to her ear and leaned in closer. “It sounded like you said, maybe.”
“Yes, all right? Hell.” He shook his head.
Emma’s face broke in a celebratory smile. “I knew it.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m glad you did. I didn’t, not completely. But every time I’m with her, it’s never enough. I’m constantly thinking about her even when I’m right there with her,” he rushed on, unable to stop the words finally coming out. “I feel like I’m going crazy, and I can’t stop to rest because every time we’re apart, I’m working as hard as I can to be with her, near her, again in some way. But at the same time, my stomach burns, and an overwhelming fear takes over. I feel so guilty for loving another and terrified all at the same time.”
Emma’s eyes softened, her smile fading. “I understand it might be scary, but Sandra’s not coming back. She’d want you to move on.”
“I know.” He took a bite into his cookie. He knew that better than everyone else who kept telling him she was never coming back.
“And Lesley cares about you. I think she has since the moment she met you.”
That he also knew. Or at least he hoped he knew.
“I know she does, but she hasn’t spent all that much time with the kids.”
“Does she ask about them?”
“All the time.”
“Then why hasn’t she seen them?”
Because that would make it real.
“I’ve prevented it. I want to protect them from any more pain. You know that.”
“You’re a good father, John, but you can’t prevent them from getting their hearts broken in life.”
“I know.” He leaned his back against the bar. “I just love them so much. I couldn’t handle it if they were hurt again. Especially if it could have been prevented. But I can’t move on with someone unless they love the kids as much as me.”
Emma propped next to him and crossed her arms. “She’s spent a little time with them, and they like her, but if you’re not sure how strong their bond is or will be, invite her over more. Maybe for dinner? See how it goes, but I really don’t think you have anything to worry about. At the birthday party, and at church, Matthew and Rachel couldn’t get enough of her.”
He had seen that much for himself. She really was a natural mother.
“Tell her you love her, John.”
What if she doesn’t love me back?
“Yeah, maybe.” He shrugged and turned to leave just as Ms. Malone sauntered to the counter with her cup and saucer.
“More coffee, Ms. Donna?”
“Yes, please.” She handed over the dishes. “But in a take-out cup, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Emma turned to complete the task.
“John?” Ms. Donna stared at him.
“Yes?”
“I was at that town meeting, and I listened to what you and that new girl, Lesley, had to say about the manor. What’s her story?”
He shuffled his feet. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Her background. Why all of a sudden is she here?”
Since the woman won a ton of money in her divorce, her boldness took on a new level. He calculated his next words. “Well, she inherited the property from her aunt, like we said.” John gripped his coffee tighter, and gazed back to his sister who gave him a side-glance.
“Yeah, yeah, I know all that, but why not sell it and go back to her own life? Does she have a husband? Kids? Anything?”
Not yet.
“No, ma’am.”
“Divorced?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“A pretty thing like her. Let me guess, he cheated on her?” The woman turned on her expensive shoes, walked back to her table, and dug through her purse.
“Ma’am, her story isn’t really mine to tell, but I don’t think it’s a huge secret that she left her husband because of infidelity.”
“Just as I suspected.”
When the woman pulled out her checkbook and began writing, he stared back at Emma. His sister’s reflection matched his thoughts. Puzzled.
The lady ripped out the paper and strolled toward the counter. “You two don’t whisper well at all. I heard every word you said. I may be old, but I am not deaf. Here.” She thrust the paper on the counter. “This is for the manor. Cash it, and help that girl get back on her feet. I understand the need for independence. And for God sakes tell her you love her. Every person in this town knows it to be true but you apparently.” Donna grabbed the straps of her purse. “And tell your uncle to call me, would ya?” She turned on her designer shoes and hustled out the door.
“What the heck was that?” Emma scooted closer, peering over his shoulder. “How much is it for?”
John looked down and thought his eyes crossed on him. He rubbed his face and refocused his gaze. One, two, three, four. He counted the zeros twice. “Fifty thousand dollars.”
“Shut up.” Emma yanked the check from his hands. “Holy crap, John. What do you think Lesley’s going to do when she sees this?”
Get excited. Hopefully, really excited.
“I’m not sure, but I can’t wait to tell her.” He shoved the check in his back pocket and pecked his sister on the cheek. “Later, sis.”
“Yeah, well, take Ms. Donna’s advice and tell her you love her while you’re at it,” she hollered at him as he ran out the door.
John loaded in his truck and pointed his hood in the direction of Lesley. All of his previous exhaustion faded as the adrenaline of what this money meant coursed through his system. If his truck hadn’t been anchoring him to the ground, he would’ve floated away on his high. This check put a whole new spin on burning a hole in his pocket, but he couldn’t just show up with a check. This was a cause for celebration, and he wanted to give her a present. One that showed her how much he cared.
He parked in front of the nearest woman’s clothing store and walked in. Signs hung above each rack, screaming of the summer blowout sale.
“What can I do for you, John?” Lizzy Kay Baker, the owner of Lizzy’s Lizard Boutique asked.
“I’m looking to buy a blouse for a friend of mine.”
“Mmm…” Her smile met her eyes. “And what size is this friend of yours?” Her voice hitched on the word.
“I don’t know. About this big.” He held his hands apart a little ways.
Lizzy laughed
He dropped his hands and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not real sure what size she wears. Small?”
“Is this the same friend who was at the town meeting with you? The one that owns the Rosalyn Manor?”
Apparently, everyone in town did seem to know he was hot for Lesley.
“That’s the one.”
“There are quite a few blouses to choose from in various sizes over here.” She pointed to a rack on the far wall.
“Actually, I’m looking for a special blouse. An air something.”
“Oh!” Her eyes danced. “You mean Hermes. You must really like this new girl. Anything with that high of a name has to be special ordered. It will take a week to come in, and I only order special brands for a minimum sale of five hundred dollars.”
John felt his mouth sag. “Five hundred? What’s that shirt laced with, diamonds?”
“Hermes is a top designer. Five hundred is actually on the lower end. I’ve seen blouses go up to four thousand before.”
“Four thousand?” His jaw dropped. “That’s a down payment on a car.” Exactly what kind of life did Lesley lead before him? He just thought he wasn’t good enough. With a price tag like that, now he knew.
“I’m sorry, John.” Lizzy shrugged.
“Okay, what’s on the even lower end than that?”
She pointed him back to the rack on the wall. “Come with me, dear. I’m sure we can find something nice.”
It couldn’t just be nice. It had to be great. Lesley deserved great.
An hour later, he pulled up to the house with the check in his pocket, a bouquet of flowers from the local grocery store, an umbrella, a bat, and a wrapped box with a blouse costing him more money than he had ever spent on any one garment in his life.
She sat on the porch in her shorts, bare feet, and dust covered hair with an old fashion soda bottle sitting beside her, and her nose in her aunt’s journal. She was obviously taking a break from demolition, and after he kissed her senseless he would scold her for not taking proper safety precautions with her footwear.
He grabbed the gifts and flowers and took a deep breath.
“Are those for me?” She smiled and stood, placing the book on the porch railing.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She grabbed for the flowers and held them to her nose. “Thank you. What’s all that?” She pointed to the pile by her feet.
“This.” He held the parasol. “Is to replace your umbrella.” He held up the bat. “This is for your safety.” She giggled as he placed them on the porch steps. “And this.” He handed her the box. “Is for you. Open it.”
Lesley yanked the present from his hand and ripped at the paper like a kid at Christmas. She pulled the top off the garment box and held up the blouse—a deep emerald to bring out the soft green and brown tones in her eyes.
“It’s beautiful. John, you shouldn’t have. Thank you.” She gave him a kiss on the lips that made his knees shake.
“It’s to replace your blouse that got ripped. I know it’s not that air-whatever brand.”
“Stop it. It’s beautiful. I love it. Besides, that was the old me. The new me doesn’t wear Hermes anymore.”
He didn’t know the old Lesley, but he knew he loved this one. His hand shook as he reached into his pocket.
“There is something else.”
“Yeah? What?” She placed the shirt delicately back in the box.
“A lady came into Emma’s shop today, Donna Malone.”
“I’ve heard of her. She’s the woman who found her husband with the pool boy and got a fortune.”
“That’s the one.” He pulled the check from his back pocket. “Apparently, she wanted to share some of that fortune with you for the manor.”
“What?” Her eyes widened as she reached for the paper and stared down at it. Her hands shook, the excitement visible all over her body as tears pricked her eyes. “Is this real?”
He nodded. “I believe so.”
“Oh my God, John. It’s real. It’s really going to happen.” She leapt in his arms nearly knocking him on his butt and covered his face in kisses as her teardrops caressed his cheeks.
He squeezed his hold on her, riding the wave of excitement with her. His only regret was he couldn’t bring her this much joy. No matter how hard he worked, he could never give her the things she had once been used to, and whether she still wanted those things or not, he still wanted to be able to provide them for her. The feeling gnawed at him as he took her inside and made love to her.