Center Stage (6 page)

“So, what do you want out of this?”

He picked up the trays and held them in his hands. “I want to enjoy my time with you as I always have. It just happens that I didn’t do so well keeping my hands off of you. I’d like to think if we’re going to be having sex that we’d have some kind of agreement to have sex with each other and not just when one of us isn’t busy with someone else. I’d like to think you’ll eat your cold dinner and climb into bed with me. Maybe we could have a little more of what we had upstairs before we fall asleep. Tomorrow I’d like to wake with you in my arms, have a cup of coffee, read the paper on my day off, and watch a playoff game. But I’d like you to be here for it.”

He walked to the table and set down their dinners. “That’s what I want, Arianna. I’m not going to ask you to marry me. I’m not even going to ask you to stay more than this one time. I’m too old to start over, but I’d sure like to make my time worthwhile. And, since I haven’t stopped thinking about you since Carlos’s wedding, I figure you must mean something to me.”

He pulled out a chair and motioned to it as if he wanted her to sit.

She did so, with the empty glass still in her hand.

“Honey, that’s all I got.”

She wasn’t sure she’d ever heard the man talk that much ever.

Now she was speechless. She nodded her head and sat down.

They ate in silence, and with John, that was comfortable.

And the more that she wanted to hate the fact that she’d crossed the line that she’d hope she wouldn’t cross because now things were a bit awkward, she couldn’t help but want to say she was his girlfriend. Was it completely crazy to think that perhaps she’d already fallen in love with him?

Chapter Seven

Monday mornings didn’t bother John, but this one had him itchy.

He didn’t want to be on edge. After all, he’d spent a great deal of Sunday lounging in his recliner with Arianna either on his lap or very nearby. They’d made love multiple times and eaten the last of his Hungry Man meals. The only thing that should have been making him so antsy was that he’d had to leave.

But now he had to face Zach.

John paced in front of Mary Ellen’s desk. He was too early. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t open the door and wait on Zach’s couch. He did own a key to Zach’s elevator, but it wasn’t right. The whole thing wasn’t right.

Production meetings on Monday mornings were supposed to be about the build, not about how he’d
produced
with Zach’s sister-in-law. To make matters worse, he was about to ask Zach for something that meant commitment—all for a woman.

He loosened the button on his shirt. The air seemed to be restricted from his head.

Zach’s office door opened from the inside, and Mary Ellen stepped out.

“John, you’re early.” She smiled as she sat down at her desk. “You can go in. He’d never mind having you early.”

“Is he in a good mood?”

“A little sleep deprived, but that’s to be expected.”

John nodded. “He should have taken more time off.”

Mary Ellen shook her head and opened the file on her desk. “Right. And when was the last time you took off?”

He couldn’t even remember, but suddenly taking a day, or even a week, off to hold Arianna in his arms on some secluded beach sounded more appealing than working. That told him he was in trouble. He loved his job. No woman had ever taken his mind off of it.

John stepped into Zach’s office and shut the door behind him. It was bad enough he was nervous. He didn’t need Mary Ellen hearing what he’d come for.

Zach was on the phone. When he saw John, he looked down at his watch and then back up at him. Yeah, he’d thrown everyone for a loop by being two hours early.

He sat down on the couch until Zach finished his phone conversation and then stood when Zach hung up.

“You’re early.”

“So I was told.”

“Everything okay? You don’t even have your files.”

John looked down at his empty hands and realized he’d had no intentions of bringing them. Dear God, he was losing his mind over a woman.

“I’ll come back for the meeting later.” He stood from the couch and walked toward Zach’s desk. “I had something else to talk to you about.”

“Sit down. What’s up?”

John took a seat. He wasn’t comfortable. This was what sleeping with Arianna had done to him. Now he wasn’t comfortable in Zach’s presence.

“Rockwell Theater.”

“Slated for demolition for an office building.”

John nodded. “But it’s still for sale. The owner wants someone to renovate it. He doesn’t want to sell so he hasn’t committed yet.”

“You know an awful lot about this.” Zach leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Arianna mentioned something about moving home and having a community theater. She’d like to teach or something like that.”

“And you’re thinking it would be a good place for her?”

“It was a thought.”

Zach moved in and rested his arms on his desk and clasped his hands together. It was a move John was familiar with. It meant he was thinking business.

“Can she afford property like that?”

John shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t even told her about it. I thought you should look at it. I’d be willing to invest in it and see what she could do with it.”

“You’d invest?”

“I live in a basement and drive a truck with two hundred thousand miles on it. I have some money stashed away.”

The business look changed and the corners of Zach’s lips curled into a tight smile. “You’d do this for her.”

“It’s an investment.”

“It sure is.”

John stood up. “Listen, if you think it’s a bad idea…”

“No.” Zach stood and walked around the desk. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. I just want to make sure that you’re sure about this.”

“Investment.”

“And you’re sure?”

No, he wasn’t sure. His chest hurt, his palms were sweaty, and he felt as though Zach had socked him in the gut. But he was crazy about the woman who had made it very clear that marriage was not an option. However, maybe an investment in her livelihood was.

“I think it would be an awesome opportunity for some renovating the area. She’d do the rest.”

Zach nodded slowly. “I’ll look into it.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back with my files.”

“How about I pick you up at lunch, and we’ll head out to Steve’s. Since you mentioned it, I’ve had a hankering for it.”

“Sure.” John walked out of the office.

For a man who didn’t like commitment, he’d sure made one, and now Regan would start asking questions—that part he was sure about.

Arianna had successfully found the coffeemaker. Why she’d packed it with the bathroom items she wasn’t sure, except those were all of the last items she’d packed.

The house was beginning to look more like a home.

She’d gone to the store and bought groceries. There was, in fact, a Starbucks at the end of the street so she stopped. And because she couldn’t help herself, she picked up some of that imported beer John drank.

Now she looked around and thought how barren it all was. She’d felt more at home in John’s basement earlier when she’d gone through the door, which they’d left unlocked, and placed the beer and replacement Hungry Man dinners in his refrigerator.

It wasn’t something she needed to get worked up over. She’d given him her word that she wasn’t one to sleep around either, and she wasn’t. They’d kidded that they were boyfriend and girlfriend. She’d been very candid about never wanting to be married or have babies. But as she sat down on her own couch and turned on her own TV, she missed him.

New relationships were the hardest, and she’d had her share. When they started, you missed the person. You wanted to sleep at their place always. Phone calls and text messages could get you through the day, but it was never enough. Then there was the need to move in together and talk about futures. That was when it usually went wrong.

So where did they go now? They already lived together. Neither of them wanted marriage. Was this all there was to them?

She rested her head back against the couch.

She needed her sister. Regan would know what to do. It had only been two days, and she knew she was about to spill it all. All she could hope was that John wouldn’t be upset.

Arianna sat on Regan’s couch and held Spencer as he slept. One thing was for sure, the Kellers made beautiful babies.

She’d played with Tyler after lunch until Regan had put him down for a nap. Now the house seemed quiet. She wondered how her mother ever managed with four kids who were all within four years in age.

Regan strolled back into the living room and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. “I think he already likes you.”

“What’s not to like? I’m here to spoil them rotten.”

“Yes, you do that well.”

Spencer stretched in her arms. “Thanks for letting me come out.”

“Are you kidding me? I’m so happy you’re here for good. That once every few months thing was okay, but I’m glad to have my sister back in town.”

“I will try not to intrude.”

“As you can see, my daily conversations need some adult interaction.”

Arianna nodded. “I just couldn’t sit in that house anymore. I’m all unpacked, but it was too quiet. New York is never quiet.”

“And I’m sure your tenant doesn’t make much noise either.”

There was a heaviness in her heart when she thought about it. She hadn’t even heard him get ready and leave for work that morning. She’d awaken in his bed, alone.

“He’s the quiet type.”

“Yes, but other than Zach, I’ve never met a better man.”

Arianna ran her thumb over Spencer’s tiny hand. “He’s been very helpful with the house.”

“I’ve heard he’s fed you a few times too.”

She laughed. “Yes. I can’t seem to buy him a meal. But I did get him some groceries when I went to the store, to pay back some groceries he shared.” That was as far as she wanted to go with her admission.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I think he has eyes for you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because he nearly drove over Carlos to pick you up at the airport the other day. He’s talked about you for months, asking how you were, and what you were doing next.”

“He did?” Her voice creaked. She’d had no idea.

“Sure.” Regan shrugged as if it were no big deal. “I think he’s had eyes on you since Zach’s father passed away, but he’s not one to make a move.”

Arianna adjusted the baby on her lap, more out of nervous energy than necessity. “He’s mentioned he’s not the type to remarry.”

“Nah, but just think of how perfect that would be for you. You never want to get married either.”

“Still, a relationship is a relationship.”

“Yes, and you’re not against relationships. You’re against the whole issue that there is a document that says you belong to someone else.”

Her sister knew her so well.

“What would you say if I told you I was interested in him?”

Regan shifted and leaned in closer. “I’d say you have good taste. He’s a very handsome man.”

That he was. “What if I told you I kissed him?”

Regan lifted an eyebrow. “I’d say you’re very bold.”

“That’s no news there.”

“No, but I would assume it didn’t go too well. John’s worried that all women are too young for him.”

“He does have an issue with age difference.”

Regan scooted closer. “He’s only in his early fifties. That’s not too old.”

And didn’t she know that, too? Damn! She’d never been with a man who had more energy, and she certainly wasn’t going to complain.

“I like him,” Arianna admitted to her sister as much as to herself.

“And he likes you, so what’s holding you back?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing as in you’re going to make a move or…” She studied Arianna and then scooted closer. “Oh, my, God!”

“Shhh,” she warned as Spencer shifted.

“You had sex,” she whispered.

“We had sex.”

Regan’s face was not hiding her emotions. The grin on her face was from ear to ear, and if her son hadn’t been sleeping in Arianna’s arms, she would surely have grabbed her. Of this, she was certain.

“I can’t believe it.” Regan sat back against the couch and tucked her feet up under her. “How was it?”

“I didn’t come here to discuss details like that.”

“Really. Usually you would.”

“This is different.”

“Different?” She studied her again. “You’re in love with him.”

Arianna let out a long sigh. “I think I am.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“But we already live in the same house. It’s as if we’ve started a relationship at the end. This can’t go well.”

“Be a little optimistic.”

Regan was right. It wasn’t as if he’d offered marriage or any enormous commitment. If all else failed, she’d rent out the house again. Regan had lots of room for the favorite aunt.

Zach had met John for lunch, and in true Zach style, he already had figures on the theater.

The price was much more than John could take on himself, but then again, Arianna wouldn’t hear of that anyway. Zach had known that, too. He’d offered up capital from Benson, Benson, and Hart. It was an investment for them all—if she’d see it that way.

John stopped by the store on his way home and picked up two steaks, a couple potatoes, and salad. There was no snow on the porch, so there was no reason not to cook her dinner. He couldn’t help himself either as he’d checked out. There was a fresh bouquet of flowers, and he bought them. That might have become too domestic, but the thought that they’d bring her some joy made it worthwhile.

He’d pulled up in back of the house, which was the norm. The house looked dark, all but the one light from her bedroom window.

He climbed out of his truck and headed toward the house with his groceries in his hand. The debate of whether to go in through the back door or straight down to his apartment jostled in his mind.

They were in a committed relationship. They’d agreed on that like school children writing notes that said yes or no on them. So why was he so uncomfortable just walking into the house?