Breathless (Meadowlarks) (22 page)

Chapter
Fourteen

The mail truck came today. I signed for two oversized boxes of new clothing—business clothing. If I’m going to start (hopefully) getting back into the real estate game, I’m going to start fresh. New Riley, new wardrobe.

I
carried the boxes into the living room, and opened each one. Scarlett helped me go through the boxes, she pulled out the bagged items and tossed them on the floor.

“Oh, thank you for being so helpful today!” I smile
d, picking her up to sit beside me on the sofa.

I ordered myself three new pants suits, complete with fashionable jackets. Some skirts, in a wide variety. Blouses, and other tops. And, of course, new shoes…proper “you live in Wyoming now, and there’s more dirt than pavement” shoes.

I made a few phone calls yesterday, while surfing the Internet, and coloring with Scarlett—hello, multi-tasking! Even though I hold a license in Maine, I need to take the Wyoming state test and provide my degree for the Real Estate Commission to review (and all being well, approve).

Addison put going back to the hospital on hold for a few more months. So, I dangled a carrot, and Sadee snatched it up. Granted, everything works out in my favour, Sadee will babysit Isaac and Scarlett for me on the days where Alex or Addison can’t.

Sadee was saving for her future, with hopes of attending the University of Wyoming next fall. She happily accepted my offer, knowing she’ll be able to accrue more money by the time she leaves for school.

“Well, what do you think?” I
stood, posing in one of my new outfits in front of Scarlett. A sleek pair of black dress pants, with a grey knitted blazer, trimmed in black, with a belt cinched around my waist. “You like?”

“Mommy pretty!”

“Why, thank you, my darling. You’re my biggest fan, aren’t you?” I asked, smiling.

“Yep.” She
said, sweetly and to the point. Scarlett got down off the sofa and tipped one of the big packing boxes on its side. She climbed in. “This my house, mama!”

“Oh! Very nice, Scarlett. Can I visit you in your new house?”

“No.”

Oh, well. Okay then.

She pulled the top lid down, hiding her face from me. Her legs stuck out of the box and I gently tapped on the top.

“Love you, baby girl.”

I heard her smack her lips against her hand, and the sound of her blowing me a kiss. I undressed, then redressed in my jeans and…you guessed it! T-shirt.

***

The anticipation was killing me.
I aced the test I took in Maine, all those years ago. But this time, I felt like I could have used a day or two more of…I don’t know, preparedness, I guess.

I was
standing in the cereal aisle of Lander’s grocery store, perusing over the selection of sugar-infused breakfast choices. Isaac always begs for the box with the most color and chocolate, and I always decline and get something healthy and boring.

Today, I was
feeling a little adventurous. Today, I was feeling not exactly boring. I picked up a box; the most eye-catching one, and tossed it into the cart. There, I did it…I stepped out of the norm. When I turned the corner at the end of the aisle, my shopping cart bumped into another.

“Oops! Sorry about that.
” I smiled, pulling my cart back, and around the one I just t-boned.

“No harm done here, ma’am.”

Oh, sweet mother of all things that are just…wrong!

Standing in front of me
was a gorgeous man. He was tall, like a tree…and I was feeling like I wouldn’t mind a climb or two. His dark hair was short, except for a little at the front that he had messily brushed to one side.

He was
wearing ripped and worn jeans—are there really
any
other kind? A white t-shirt…and I didn’t know what else, I didn’t care. As he lifted his arm up to run his fingers through his hair, his bicep bulged and I inhaled sharply when I saw there was a tattoo on the inside of his arm. A line of letters under his bicep…maybe a name or saying.

Oh, woof.

I’m the worst person in the world right now, right?

Damn it
.

“Guilty pleasure?” he ask
ed, smiling slightly, his hazel eyes twinkled.

“Ugh…what?” I ask
ed, shaking my head.

Get a grip, Riley!

“The cereal,” he said, nodding toward my shopping cart.

“Oh.
”
I’m a moron
. “You could say that.”

I panic
ked, and turned my cart around, back down the cereal aisle and away from the potential thigh-clenching. When I hit the end, I curved my cart and slowed my pace, making my way to the checkout. In my peripheral vision I could see Mr. Tattoo standing a few lines over. I mustered all of my strength not to look over at him, and it worked.

I
made it outside, all but threw the bags of groceries in to the Dodge, and climbed in. My fingers fumbled to get the key into the ignition, and then finally I turned the key and the truck rumbled to life.

The vibration coming from
that thing was not helping my situation
at all
. I looked around, shifted into drive and tentatively pulled out of the parking space. Creeping up a few feet, I stopped for an elderly woman slowly pushing her cart in front of the truck. I tapped my fingers in the steering wheel, and waited for her to cross.

Mr. Tattoo
came out of Lander’s, and I grinned at the sight of him. I saw him scanning the lot, and his eyes locked dead on me behind the wheel of the truck.

Damn.

Thankful for fundraisers, or class trips…a bunch of kids swarmed Tattoo with their mothers, and lassoed him into buying cookies.

I
was outta there.

“
Cole, don’t look at me like that!” I whined, crossing my arms over my chest after I told her about the head-on collision at Lander’s. “I love Alex. But, I’m not dead! I
can
look you know.”

“I’m not saying you can’t look, believe me, I still look. But you’re talking like you actually considered doing…something with Mr. Gorgeous!” She
shook her head at me, then winked. “You’re such a bad influence, you know.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“So, tell me. What did his tattoo say?”

I exhale
d and sat back in the chair at Addison’s dining room table. “I don’t know, I didn’t look long enough. I almost ran out of there.”

“Sometimes I wish Blaine would get a tattoo. Honestly, there’s nothing sexier than a hidden secret imbedded somewhere.” Addison grin
ned.

“Thank you for watching Scarlett. It was nice to do something alone, even for an hour. Let me know when I can babysit for you guys.” I smile
d, then sipped my coffee.

“Back to Tat. Was he…
woof?
” Addison giggled.

“Very.”

She sighed and crossed her arms. “We’re awful.”

“Yep.” I
winked.

***

Blaine and Alex c
ame in for lunch, and Addison and I stifled our smirks and never mentioned Tattoo again.

Alex
stood behind me in the kitchen, with his arms wrapped around me. He nuzzled my hair with his nose, and kissed my neck. “I love you,” he whispered into my ear, his lips grazed my skin.

I forg
ot all about Tattoo, and fell victim to Alex’s charm once more. He made me absolutely liquid, purely heated…positively breathless.

“I love you, too.” I lean
ed back into his kiss.

I
took Scarlett home, turned on the tunes—loud—and started cleaning the house. My baby girl and I danced around the house, and I decided it was a good day to start rearranging a little.

I push
ed around all of the furniture in the living room, creating a new space. I stood back, breathing heavily, sweating profusely, and smiling at my accomplishment. I thought it looked good.

The phone
rang, and I answered it, my voice breathy. “Hello?”

“Hello, I’m looking for Riley Harrison.”

“This is she.”

“Hello, Ms. Harrison. I’m Pete McLeod from the
Mountain States Real Estate Commission…”

I bounce
d, and shrieked, and danced around the house. I was now able to sell houses in the great state of Wyoming. Now, I just had to find a broker to hire me. I called Addison to tell her the news, then my mom.

“How’s dad?” I ask
ed, after spilling my guts about my news.

“He’s having a good day today. Wes took him to the golf course this morning, and he actually played a few holes,” she
said. “We miss you.”

“I miss you too. Give him a big hug for me, kay?”

“I will, baby. I love you. And congratulations, you’ll knock their socks off, I’m sure!”

“Thanks, mom. Love you too.” I h
ung up, and jumped on Google to look for local agencies.

Three hours, and seven phone calls later I
had an interview scheduled for this Friday. At a smaller office in Sheridan. The friendly receptionist said that they were looking to hire another agent, and my years of experience were in my favour.

“See you at eleven on Friday, Ms. Harrison!”
she said.

“Thank you, see you then!”

Me: Guess what.

Alex:
What.

Me:
Interview on Fri!

Alex:
Way 2 go, babe.

Me:
Love you.

Alex:
XOXOXOXO

It was
only Wednesday, but I was eager. So I flipped through the hangers in my closet, trying to find the perfect interview appropriate attire for Friday. I picked out a grey pencil skirt, and a dark blue button-up blouse, complete with a thin belt. I set it aside, and my belly flipped with anticipation.

Addison and Blaine
took me and Alex out to dinner to celebrate. A little premature, but I was confident I would be employed by this time next week.

“I’ll have the cobb salad, please.”
I placed my order.

“So what’s the agency?” Blaine ask
ed, sipping from his bottle of beer.

“Pine Ridge Realty.”

He shrugged. “Never heard of it.”

“It’
s small; husband and wife brokers. They only have a few agents working for them.”

“I’m so happy for you, girl,” Addison gushe
d. “Cheers!”

We reach
ed across the table and clinked our wine glasses.

After dinner we pick
ed Isaac and Scarlett up from Addison’s house, where Sadee had been babysitting all four of them. We tucked them into bed, and I stood in the doorway of Isaac’s bedroom, watching him settle into sleep.

“Love you,” I whisper
ed to him.

“
You too, mom.”

He was getting so big, he wasn’t
my little baby anymore. It’s hard to believe that almost eleven years had gone by so quickly.

I
found Alex outside, starting a fire in the pit.

“I’m not tired, I’m just gonna sit out here for a while,” he
said as he broke a branch and tossed it into the growing flames.

“Want some company?”

He nodded, and pulled up a chair for me to sit beside him. We sat and watched the fire burn, for what seemed like hours. The heat built up to much we had to pull our chairs back a bit. As hot as the fire was, Alex’s stare on me was even more heated.

I turn
ed my face and smiled at him. “What?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“You.”

I smiled. “You said that already.”

H
e bit his lower lip, and I evaporated on the spot. “Come here,” he rumbled.

I smirk
ed, rolled my eyes, and got up from my chair. He pulled me down onto this lap, and turned my face to kiss him. His lips were soft, yet powerful. The stubble on his face tickled my skin, and sent sparks down deep into my body.

Alex reache
d his arms around me, his fingers carefully unbutton my jeans and he lets his hands wander. I leaned back, breathing sharply, and I close my eyes.

My arms lift
ed and I reached behind me, letting my fingers play in his soft locks of hair. I pulled his head down to my shoulder and he opened his mouth, biting my flesh and sucking it hard.

“Pants,” he moan
ed.

I lift
ed, and wiggled out of my pants.

His hand touched me. Tortured me. Made me lose my mind.

My hands gripped the armrests on the chair, and I rocked back against Alex’s body. One of his hands groped my breast, while the other stays firmly planted against the delicate flesh between my legs.