I was probably the only secret between them. I didn’t want that. “Tell her everything. You have my permission.”
“Thanks, man. I’d never ask, but I appreciate that you’re letting me tell her.”
Ainsley had softened Adam in ways I’d never thought possible. He was becoming settled, and it suited him.
“I should have had you tell her a while ago, but I wasn’t thinking. Sorry, man.”
Adam opened the car door. “No apology needed,” he said. “I’ll go pay for two bags if you’ll grab them from the cooler.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “It’s fucking cold out here.”
Adam called over his shoulder, “Your fault for not wearing a damn jacket!”
I laughed. Bastard. Slowly, things seemed to be falling into place. Patience and perseverance were going to be key in the coming days.
IT TOOK ME nearly three hours to get ready for coffee. I wanted to look pretty without simultaneously screaming, “Take me to bed!” When I finally pulled into the parking lot, the place was fairly full with people getting their morning caffeine fix. This was where we had our first date after Brandt got my number at the concert. We’d talked for hours that morning. Brandt had asked me to dinner the following night, and from that point on, my heart had belonged to him. Taking the visor down, I checked my makeup one last time to make sure everything was still okay. My insides felt like I’d already had twelve cups of coffee when I hadn’t had a drop yet.
In the passenger seat, my phone vibrated.
Brandt: I see you.
I flipped up the visor to find him standing at the front of my car. His hair was down, and he was still the most handsome guy I’d ever seen. In the winter, he always wore long-sleeved thermal shirts and jeans. Inside, I smiled. Maybe I still knew Brandt after all. I pushed my legs together in response to my natural impulses. Once, he’d been mine. I took a couple of settling breaths as we smiled at each other. They were nervous smiles, which calmed me—knowing he and I were probably feeling the same way. I got out of my car, pulling my jacket around me as I walked over to Brandt.
“Hey, stranger. Are you stalking me?” I couldn’t help my flirtatious tone.
Brandt chuckled. “Honestly, I didn’t want to miss a minute with you, so I got here twenty minutes early.”
I blushed.
Someone brushed passed me in a hurry to get into the coffee shop.
An older gentlemen turned and said, “Sorry, ma’am. My apologies.”
“It’s okay, have a great day.”
“You, too. My grandson is arriving today. I haven’t seen him in ten years, and I want to greet him with his favorite coffee.”
Total jubilation exuberated from the man, and my heart lightened seeing someone so happy.
I gave him a warm smile. “Have fun. That’s so exciting!”
He was off through the door, whistling and hurrying to the counter.
Brandt took my hand, and I gasped at the sensation coursing through my veins. It was the first time we’d touched since the breakup.
Brandt stopped. “Is this okay?
My initial response was to lean into him, to feel Brandt close to me. He felt like home, even though there were skeletons lurking in the dark corners of our past. My shoulder brushed his, and I pulled back, realizing what I was doing. My movement wasn’t obvious, but I wanted Brandt to take the lead.
“Yes, I like it.”
We stood on the sidewalk, smiling goofily at each other. I shivered in the breeze, and he said, “Let’s get you inside, Nikola.”
I nodded as he led me inside. The coffee shop smelled of freshly-ground beans and pastries, making me salivate. We were third in line, and there were still a few vacant tables. The man who had bumped into me received his order. He passed us and gave me another big grin. He was precious. I wondered what the story was behind him not seeing his grandkid for ten years. I’d never know, but I hoped they never lost touch again.
I looked up when Brandt squeezed my hand and said, “Do you want your usual?”
In this moment, it felt like we’d never been apart. “Yes. Thank you.”
He winked. We moved up in line and Brandt moved his hand to the small of my back, bringing me a little closer. His scent enveloped me, and I leaned into him. We stood silently, but the vein in my neck pulsed quickly as excited, nervous energy took over.
At the front of the line, the barista greeted us, “Welcome to Kennedy’s Coffee. What can I get for you today?”
“She’ll have a blueberry muffin and a medium caramel macchiato. I’ll have a large black coffee.”
The barista punched in the order. She looked young, college-aged. “Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Your total is nine eighteen.”
Brandt let go of my back, and I instantly missed the connection. He pulled out his wallet and handed her a ten and a few ones. “Keep the change.”
She smiled. “Thank you. Here’s your number. Place it on the table and we’ll bring your order to you when it’s ready.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile.
As we made our way to the corner table, the memory of one of our last visits here came without warning.
It had been five days since I’d seen Brandt and I was anxious to be with him. An unexpected trip to New York, followed by endless problems, had delayed my return home. Adam was out of town, meeting with someone regarding a new security system for the members of Club Envy. Brandt had passed on the trip so he could see me since I’d been out of town, but that meant he had to work security. Otherwise, we’d have been at the club, having fun in our room. I loved being at the club with Brandt—the sex swing was one of my favorites. But at least we’d get to see each other for a bit tonight before he went back to work.
I pulled up to Kennedy’s Coffee, throwing my car into park just as Brandt arrived. It was dark out, and I was desperate to have him. Brandt jumped out of his truck and met me at the front of my car.
He bent down, putting a hand on each side of my face. His tongue invaded my mouth as he kissed me with a passion that ignited the yearning I’d felt for the past five days. I bit his lower lip, and he growled at the sensation.
“Fuck. I missed you, Nikki.”
I licked my lips. He only called me Nikki when he was about to take me.
“I missed you, too.”
He looked around. The streets were fairly deserted as late evening approached.
Without saying a word, he took my hand and we walked to the dark alley. I knew what was coming. When he’d texted me before I took off, asking if he could meet for twenty minutes when I landed, I knew we’d end up being together—somewhere.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“I can’t wait. I need to come inside you. It’s been too long.”
After a year of dating, we’d stopped using condoms. Sex with no barriers was the way to go. There were a pile of pallets against the wall. A dim street light flickered across the way, leaving the area behind the pallets in a faint light.
Brandt looked back toward the street, then grabbed me before pushing me against the brick wall. “Take your panties off. I need your pussy bare.”
Brandt was domineering in the bedroom. My independent personality faded when he took control. I loved giving myself to him. I trusted him explicitly.
“I’m not wearing any panties,” I said. “I took them off on the plane, hoping you’d take me.”
Leaning against the brick, I unzipped the front of my black, retro dress. It was stylish and out there, but made for great unplanned alley sex. The glow from the street light lit my body as the zipper made its way down the dress, showing my lack of undergarments.
“Fuck me. Nikki, you’re about to have me in you.” He touched me and stuck two fingers in me, making sure I’d be able to take him without being primed.
“I needed you. I made sure I was ready.”