“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Faye.”
She rolls her eyes with a giggle. A sound I have missed for so long.
“Okay, I’ll bite. Let’s go to the store and I will help you prepare a good meal.”
“You saying you don’t trust me?” I cock an eyebrow at her as I lean against the inside of the door.
“That’s exactly what I am saying. Did you forget about the time you and Eddie told those girls you’d cook for them and I had to do it for you?”
I laugh. “I’d forgotten all about that. But did you ever think it was more that we were lazy and would rather play video games while you did all the work.” I grin.
A pillow comes flying at my head but I bat it away. Beans comes charging in and starts attacking the pillow.
“Get dressed.”
She salutes me. “Aye, aye captain.”
I toss the pillow back on the bed and pull the door shut, ushering Beans back to the living room.
FAYE
?I’ve been in Colorado with Darin for three days. I hadn’t realized how much I missed his friendship. We have been enjoying a marvelous week together. Strangely I hadn’t thought about Enzo until he shot me a text inquiring why he hadn’t heard from me. I suppose I have been busy at the office working with Linda and Mable, but I have been appreciating Darin’s company as well. He’s cooked for me the past few nights and we have curled up with Beans between us on the couch to watch all the great movies from the 1980s. My favorite being St. Elmo’s Fire.
I return home in three days and I can genuinely say I’m not ready to leave. Back home, Eddie is driving me nuts as he and Claire prepare for their wedding. I wish he could see her for the wretched troll twat she honestly is, but he doesn’t. In a month that poor bitch will be my sister. I would almost demand Eddie transfer me to this office to get me away from her but then that would mean leaving behind the home I grew up in. The only home I have ever known. Although if I have to be around Claire living in that home with me, I might make the sacrifice and move out.
Linda is requesting that Darin take me out tonight to some art showing for one of her acquaintances. Art isn’t really my thing but it will be nice to go out. Not that I haven’t enjoyed staying in with Darin.
Things have been so good between us. It almost feels as if we are a couple. We get up and go to work, eat lunch, and have dinner together. Putting in my gold hoop earrings, I finish off my look. For the gallery, I am wearing my red wrap sweater paired with my black and white polka dot pencil skirt and my red peep toe heels.
When I come out of the bedroom, Darin is wearing his dark grey suit that I love him in. It fits him so snug. He’s in the kitchen refilling Beans’ water bowl.
“Hey,” I greet him even though I was with him only an hour ago.
His mouth opens and closes. “I don’t think I can take you out looking like this.”
“What? Why?” I smooth my hands over my skirt not seeing the problem.
“I’m…speechless. You look too damn good, Faye.” He crosses the room and when he approaches me there is this tension crackling between us. To be honest, I’ve felt it since I arrived here.
I swallow when his eyes land on my lips. His rugged fingers tilt my chin upward. “You don’t know the things I want to do to you right now, Faye.”
I jerk my head to the side. “Darin,” I whisper his name as my belly pools with warmth.
“Faye, I want to kiss you.”
I suck in a breath. “What, no one in Colorado hasn’t fallen into your bed yet?” I try to tease but he flinches as though I have slapped him. “I’m sorry. It’s just.” I wince not wanting t
o sound harsh and disbelieving but his is Darin. The man I have wanted for years. The man I have watched screw so many women in the past.
“You don’t believe that I could want you. That I have wanted you for years. Faye, I’ve thought of nothing but you for the past seven years. You drive me crazy in these damns skirts.” His hands go around to my backside and he squeezes my bottom as he steps into me, pinning me against the wall. “One kiss, Faye. One kiss and you’ll know.”
“We can’t. Eddie…work…Enzo….” I trail off running out of excuses as his hungry eyes narrow in on me.
The pad of his thumb rubs over my red lipstick.
“Stop making excuses and shutting me down. Forget the world right now. It’s only you and me here. One kiss and I promise you won’t be thinking of anything but me.”
My knees knock together as his lips brush across my cheek. “Darin…”