Breathless (Meadowlarks) (4 page)

I huff
ed, knowing I was fighting a losing battle. Grandparents always win over the parents.

Isaac
stuck his tongue out at me playfully and I darted mine out right back at him. He giggled and followed my mom into the kitchen, ready for his ice cream.

Scarlett
slept soundly in her fairy forest, and my dad had challenging Isaac to a game of basketball on the PlayStation. They were both sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning their bodies and turning their hands with each movement in the game. Like their actions control the players and not the buttons they were pushing on the controllers.

I head
ed up to my old room and opened my closet doors. It's like stepping into a time capsule, only this one hadn’t been buried for decades. More like, two years. But it seemed like forever ago that I wore anything in here.

I
inattentively trailed my fingertips along each hanger, remembering an occasion when I wore each item on the rack. I stopped at the coral colored dress, pulled it off the hanger and held it up. The last time I wore this, I remembered standing with my back turned and Alex was behind me.

We left The Club together after he visited with Addison and Blaine. We f
inally admitted our feelings to one another, and we also conceived our daughter that night.

I touch
ed the lace back of the dress, feeling the embossed flowers, and smiling at the memory of Alex peeling this off of me.

He kissed and sucked my shoulders and back while he pulled it down my body and it pooled at my feet on the floor. “You're so fucking sexy,” he growled at me. “I have wanted this for way too long.”

“Have it,” I breathed, heated by my thumping heart.

With my dress in my hand, I pull
ed my phone from my pocket and called Alex.

He answer
ed in two rings. “Hello?”

“Hi, babe.” I smile
d when I heard his deep voice.

“Oh, babe. I miss you.”

“I miss you.” I frowned.

He sigh
ed into the phone. “How's everyone? How's Scarlett?”

“They're good. She's great. Fell asleep on my dad after dinner. What are you up to?”

I could hear the sound of the TV in the background.

“Just watching the game.
Bruins are winning four to one.”

I’m
not sad I'm missing it. “Sounds awesome. I’m going out with the girls tonight.”

“Oh, are you now?” H
e breathed.

I smile
d, knowing this would probably get him going. “Yeah, just looking at something to wear. I’m not sure though. I think I'll just settle for this boring coral dress with a lace back. It's comfy.”

“Riley, you know I remember that dress. I remember everything you wear, especially what I take off
of you.”

My insides shift
ed and clenched. I licked my lips, thinking of Alex's hands on my body.

“Are you really going to wear that?” he ask
ed dryly.

“Well, yeah. Why?”

“Put it on and take a picture. Send it to me.”

I laugh
ed. “Anything for you babe. Love you.”

“I love you. Be good,” he
said huskily.

“Bye, Alex.”

I tossed the phone on the bed and pulled off my clothes, swapping my regular black bra for a strapless one, I pulled the dress over my body. It still fit like a second skin, like it had been painted on my frame.

I curl
ed my long black hair, twisting each thick tendril in my fingers. I applied enough eyeliner and mascara to enhance my eyes and add touch of gloss to my lips. I was ready to go by the time Leah texted me that they would be here in five minutes to pick me up.

A quick selfie in the mirror with my cellphone a
nd I sent the picture to Alex.
Eat your heart out handsome
.

He text
ed back within seconds.
Come home. NOW.

“Holy shit, Riley! You look amazing!” Camille is the first to bounce from Leah's BMW
as she skipped up the stone walkway to hug me.

“Hey, girl!” I hug
ged her tightly, as I miss them all so much.

Zoe and Leah join our embrace and we
stood, giggling and hugging for a few minutes.

“Okay, my mascara's gonna start to run if I start crying, so let's go!” I laugh
ed, and the sound of eight high-heeled shoes clicked down the stone quickly.

I
wasn’t sure why I expected things to change in my absence, and, like my parent's house—minus Scarlett's bedroom, The Club hadn't changed either. It was still the same, and when we walked through the double doors it seemed the crowd inside hadn't changed much either.

I fe
lt different though, like I had turned in to someone else. Someone I still had yet to fully recognize and accept.

“What can I get you?” The huge-
breasted bartender shouted to me from behind the counter.

“Tom Collins!”
I shouted back and smiled.

She nod
ded and started working on my drink.

I pull
ed out the straw from the glass she handed me, and I chugged back the tingly drink in one shot.

The girls all gape
d at me and I laughed. “What?”

“Well, let's dive right in, shall we?” Zoe snort
ed.

“Why not?” I
said with sass and took their hands, pulling them all behind me onto the big dance floor. “Besides, when will the four of us be together like this again? Little Miss Marshall is too busy gettin’ famous!”

Leah blushe
d and curtsied. She surprised everyone by quitting her accounting job to fulfill her dream—to be a singer.

Suddenly I
was twenty-seven again, the single mother of one child who was sleeping peacefully at our home on 870 Milestone Avenue with my parents just down the hallway. I was bouncy and fun and invigorated. I shook my hips and danced my ass off, swinging to the pulse of the music and smiling at the three gorgeous girls I had with me.

Four more Tom Collins' later I
was beyond happy, I was thrilled...inexplicably vivacious.

Damn
Zoe for snapping me out of my reminiscing. “I wish Addy was here!” She said, bouncing to the beat.

Twenty-nine again. Two babies again. Living in Wyoming. The new Riley Harrison, the
boring
Riley Harrison. I as just missing the SUV with the four stick figure family members placed on the back window.

I
felt guilty thinking like that, I cherished my children more than words could say, and I wouldn't change anything about them. But I miss Maine, I miss
this
. Couldn't we just stay?

“Well aren't you just a sight for sore eyes?” A voice rasp
ed from behind me into my ear.

I turn
ed and almost threw up on the spot.

Jacob
was standing there, looking like a predator.

“
You’ve got to be freaking kidding me, Jacob. Get lost!”

“Oh, aren't we snippy. Does the high altitude in Buttfuck Idaho give you some extra entitlement?” He glare
d at me with those crazy copper eyes, piercing my flesh and making me shudder.

“Leave us alone,
asshole,” Camille sneered and pulled me away from him.

He reache
d and grabbed my wrist. “Where's Red?”

“You're
on glue if you think she would come near you. Touch me again and I’ll punch you in the fucking throat.” I pulled my arm away and rubbed where his grip seared my skin.

He lunge
d for me and as fast as he did, someone shoved him down onto the black tiled floor. He skimmed on the floor for a few feet and stopped, almost knocking a couple of younger girls over. I smiled at the sight of him on the floor and turned to see who came to my rescue.

“
Riley
. How are you?”

I lick
ed my lips, trying to give them moisture so I would be able to speak. I swallowed hard, but still nothing came out. I stood, amidst a blur of dancing limbs attached to colorful clothing, and looked into the eyes that so lovingly looked at me each day.

The eyes of my son—
or should I say, the eyes my son got from his father. Dane Sullivan, the one and only.

C
hapter Three

“D-Dane...Hello.” I am a ball of clusterfuck right now.

He look
ed like he had stepped out of the pages of GQ, or Men's Health. He was wearing ripped and faded blue jeans, a tight black V-neck t-shirt, and his hair was still as I remember. Shaved so short it's almost non-existent. His eyes were blazing emerald green, and damn if I wasn’t clenching my damn thighs as I drank from his cup of gorgeous poison.

“You look breathtaking, Riley,” he
said, flashing his amazingly perfect teeth at me, the small dimples in his cheeks beckoned me to lick them. “It's been too long, can we talk?”

He h
eld out his palm and I didn’t even hesitate to put my hand in it, he led me away and I heard slightly muffled voices calling for me.

The girls.

I was sure they were going to give me shit for this one. But I’m curious as to why after ten years Dane as here and wanted to talk.

The terrace
was covered in the cool March air, and I was relieved when I stepped out feeling like I could finally breathe. He led me to a small table and pulled out a chair for me to sit, and I do, crossing one long leg over the other.

“Damn, you're still so sexy.” He inhale
d deeply when his eyes traveled up my body, gazing intently at me. “Come to bed with me.”

I drop
ped my jaw and I’ sure my eyes bulged out of their sockets at his audacious request. “You're kidding me.” I smirked, not believing what he had just said and how much nerve he had to even ask me. “What are you doing here, Dane?”

“I'm still in Maine. My company is doing
so well in Augusta, that I am constructing another building here.”

“What company?” I ask
ed, annoyed.

“Don't you get the checks every month? It has my letterhead on the paper.” He smil
ed and pulled his chair closer to mine.

I lean
ed in close to him and bit my lip. “Wanna know what I do with those, Dane? I rip them open, pull out the check and burn the rest. The money goes into an account for
my
son for college; whatever else you send is ash.”

His eyes narrow
ed and he looked so sexy in that moment I reminded myself that I hated him and I loved Alex.

Do not jump him, Riley.
Don't do it.

“Well, I guess it doesn't matter what I do then. As long as Isaac has a bright future ahead of him.”

“He's perfect,” I bit out.

“Well, you're his mother. Of course he is.”

I rolled my eyes until they were in the back of my head. “Okay, well. Nice catching up. See ya.”

I
stood up to leave but he grabbed my hand, pulling me down onto his too-freaking-sexy-and-whoa-there's-a-bulge lap. I tried to pull away and he overpowered me. Now we were inches from a kiss. I breathed so heavily I was afraid the windows were going to start to fog.

“Please, don't,” I whispered.

Damn alcohol for making me feel like I was powerless, and damn Dane Sullivan for showing up and flipping my world upside down.

“You are immaculate, you know that? God, every time I think about you I get hard.”

“Every time I think about you, Dane,” I breathed, right into his open mouth. “I thank God you walked out of my life.”

Ladies and Gen
tlemen, Riley Harrison is back.

I
got up from his lap and slowly walked backwards away from him. Biting my lower lip, narrowing my eyes seductively and pulling a curled tendril of hair. “Bye, Sperm Donor.” With a wink, I turned on my five inch heel and walked my ass back in to find my girls and dance the rest of the night away.

***

I do not want to say goodbye to my parents, and they
were even more upset having to see us off at the airport.

Mom
was bawling and my dad was holding her, consoling her while we walked away, trying to smile as we left.

I mouth
ed
I love you
to them and they both waved.

Isaac
slept on the flight, only waking during our two stops.

Scarlett
was a very pleasant flier, which was wonderful because I had been on flights when babies were screaming and it's more stressful for the parent than that of the other annoyed passengers. Scarlett ate some arrowroot cookies and drank from her sippy cup while we waited for our last connecting flight to good ol' Sheridan.

I
was exhausted when I walked out of the gate and headed for baggage claim. I'm sure I looked like a hot mess, too. When I saw Alex my eyes lit up and I almost ran to him; baby in one arm and the other dragging Isaac, who was carrying my giant purse/diaper bag.

Alex
took Scarlett from my arms and pulled me into his body. Like it was natural, I curled into the area of his chest where I felt safe and comfortable, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Baby, I missed you so much,” Alex
said, and he kissed the top of my head.

“You have no idea how much I missed you.” I smile
d, and then whisper in his ear. “
Every. Single. Night
.”

“Okay. Let's go home!” He grin
ned.

We quickly round up our lugg
age from baggage claim and headed home.

Home
.

A word I took for granted last week, very snobbishly it seem
ed, and I was disgusted in myself. I'm so lucky to have everything that I have—two healthy children, a good man who truly loves me, and wonderful friends and parents who care about every aspect of my life.

Why the hell was I so stupid in Maine? This
was really where I was supposed to be. Dane's appearance, and even Jacob's, reminded me of why that place needs to be in my past.

I wonder if I
could convince my parents to move here.

“So what exactly did you do for four days?” I look
ed around the kitchen at the full sink and cluttered counter tops.

“Ugh...” Alex scratche
d his head and smiles. “I couldn't function without you. Ask Blaine and Addy, I was too sad to do anything.”

“You're full of it.” I tease
d, and playfully punched his shoulder. “I am going to show you this new device that came out recently. It's called a
dishwasher
.”

“I thought you
—”

“Alex. If you finish that sentence with a comparison of me and a dishwasher, you had better start getting used to using your own hand.” I h
eld up my hand and wiggled my fingers, smirking at him.

“Wanna watch me with my own hand?” He grin
ned and took my hand, kissing and biting my knuckles.

Damn
…

Yes
.

***

After the kids
fell asleep, Alex and I sat on the couch watching late night TV and eating popcorn. Two separate bowls of course, since I spritz mine with vinegar, and Alex thinks I am gross for doing it.

He start
ed yawning just after midnight.

“You're
going to be tired in the morning.”

He shove
d the last of his popcorn in his mouth, some fell out when he tried to talk. “Yeah, so?”

“Mmm, mmm, mmm. Alex Cole, you're just the epitome of sexy. Do you know that?”

“Yeah?” He answered. Like it was even a question. He smirked, his cheek puffed with popcorn.

I laugh
ed and got up to turn off the TV. “Bed, let's go.”

“Oh, yes ma'am!” He jump
ed up and almost tackled me like a football player. He bent and lifted me up over his shoulder so I was dangling down his back. He held tightly onto my legs and I had to cover my mouth so my giggles didn’t wake the children.

When he
got me into the bedroom, seconds before throwing me down on the bed, I smacked his ass. That gorgeous ass of his, in those jeans. Oh, what I wouldn't do to this man.

“It's been four very long days.” Alex pull
ed off his shirt and threw it on the ground, where it'll stay until I pick it up, I’m sure. He unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, leaving them open but not off his body.

I drool. “How
long
?”

“You're about to find out!” He crawl
ed up the bed and hovered over my body, he looked down at me and smiled. “You're beautiful.”

“You don't say...”

“You know I still wake up and have to pinch myself to see that you're real. That you're really here and we're together?” He said, and looked seriously at me. “You've been the love of my life since I was a kid. Then you became my lover and the mother of my child. How is all this possible?”

I
took his face in my hands and kissed him. “It was meant to be.”

Alex trail
ed kisses down my face and chest, lingering around my breasts and tantalizing each hip with a bite. He lifted each of my legs and licked and sucked my calves, up behind each knee and into the inside of my thighs.             

I
was ready to explode if he didn’t hurry up.

But he
knew it, and he was drawing it out as long as he could.

“Alex,
please
,” I begged him.

“Not yet, I am gonna let go the second I am in you. I want to wait.”

The torture was blurring my vision and sending me into a frenzy. I clawed the sheets and bent my back with insane pleasure when he finally brought me to the hilt and I released over and over. The second his mouth left me I started panting, my lungs praying for air. But one sharp inhalation was all they were going to get when Alex thrust in deep and I cried out for him.

“That's it, baby. Let it go.”

I unraveled like a ball of yarn—tossed down a hallway, sent skittering across the floor and leaving a big mess in my wake.

He
brought my knees up to my chest and leaned down into me, he was so deep I thought I was going to pass out, it was like nothing I had ever felt before.

“Fuck,” he growl
ed through gritted teeth. “You're squeezing so tight.”

Beads of sweat drip
ped from his forehead and landed on my chest; I was surprised when they didn’t evaporate on the spot from the heat of my body. Even though I have already inexplicably fell apart twice already, I felt the build once more and when Alex started to push as hard as he could through his own orgasm, I rippled through another and held a pillow over my face to stifle my screams.

***

“You're k-kidding!” Addison sputter
ed coffee from her mouth when I told her about the Dane Sullivan Encounter in Maine. “Holy crap, I can't believe it.”

“Tell me about it, I thought I was trippin'.” I put my face in my hands. “You have no idea what seeing him almost did to me, girl.”

“I cannot believe he dared to show his face around you. After everything.”

“I know. I'm just glad it didn't happen when Isaac was with me somewhere.” I breathe
d in a sigh of relief and sipped from my bottle of water. “How could I explain that one?”

“Isaac will need to know about Dane someday. Just not
today
.”

I smile
d and nodded at my best friend. Addison was right. Isaac deserved to know why his “father” wasn't around his entire life, and why we were so much better off without him. Dane swept me off my feet; had me in a beautifully dangerous choke-hold and then left me pregnant at eighteen and all alone.

I found out right after my first ultrasound when I was pregnant with Isaac that Dane Sullivan was actually a twenty-four year old married man with a ridiculously older Sugar Mama.

Mrs. Lerner-Sullivan was one of the wealthiest women in Maine, having survived four of her previous husbands, she finally married someone younger and more agile.

Dane.

He came into Mrs. L-S's life just as he did mine—in the driver's seat of a landscaping truck, muscular and ready to get down and dirty.

My parents hired him to give our landscape an overhaul, and he came every day with a crew of almost as gorgeous men and turned our property into a masterpiece.

I flaunted every single bathing suit that I could find in front of him. Laying unnecessarily long by the pool in the back yard, or undressing in front of my open bedroom window whenever he was around.

How
stupid
was I?

But my, oh my...
he was a delectable vision. Constantly working without a shirt on, his body was a work of art itself, completely overshadowing anything I had ever seen at that point in my life. His torn and well-worn jeans hung from his hips in the most delicious fashion, his tanned skin was always glistening from sweat and I remember how the sight of him would make my insides scream and claw at me.