How to Liv (26 page)

I gasped in mock horror.  “Really Karen?  You’d do that?  I’m shocked!”  I giggled.

“No, you’re right.  I couldn’t possibly.”  She shook her head in dismay, looking down to the floor.

“Oh yes, you could,” I said more seriously.  Joel slipped his arm around my shoulders and dipped his head to listen to our whispered conversation.  I waited for Karen to look back at me.  “If there’s one thing I’ve learnt recently it’s that life is too short not to take that chance.”  I glanced at Joel who smirked at me and squeezed my shoulder at those words.  The look of love on his face sent shivers through me.  I blinked and tried to refocus on Karen.  “You deserve to have some fun.”

“Yeah, but I’m a single mum, I shouldn’t be so irresponsible.”

“Irresponsible?” Joel piped up.  “What are you two on about?”

“See the
blondie over in the corner?” I asked Joel, subtly nudging my head in his direction.  “Early to mid-forties, wearing the grey slacks and the pale blue shirt?”

“And the dreamy blue eyes that match that shirt?” Karen continued.

“Yeah, what about him?” Joel asked.

“Karen’s thinking of having a one night stand,” I explained.

“Oh my god!  I cannot believe I’m even having this conversation,” Karen interrupted and ducked her head in embarrassment.  “How can I even be considering this?”

“Where are the kids tonight?” Joel asked.

“At Matt’s.”

“
All night?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Karen, you are looking sexy as hell in that dress and if the way that guy is looking at you is any indication, he thinks you’d look pretty sexy out of it, too.  You’re a good mum but you’re also a woman who deserves to do something for herself.  The kids don’t need you tonight.”  He leaned closer to her.  “Go for it!”

I watched as Karen’s eyes latched onto Joel’s.  They stared at each other for a moment and Karen’s facial expression went from insecure to confident.  She blinked a couple of times then took a step back.

“Okay.  I can do this.”  She looked back over to Trevor and then said, “But first I need another drink.”

Joel and I watched Karen grab a wine from the counter and head in Trevor’s direction.  The attractive looking pair started chatting.  I turned to Joel.

“Should I be concerned?” I asked.  “So you think Karen’s ‘sexy as hell’?”  Joel stared at me a moment uncertain of how to answer.  I poked him in the ribs.  “I’m only joking!”  I laughed.  Relief flooded his features and a sexy smirk graced his mouth.  “I’m in awe of you Joel Turner.”  I twisted in his arms, wrapping mine around his waist, drawing him closer.  “What you just did for Karen… you gave her the confidence boost she needed.  You’re such a kind and thoughtful man.  What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“I’m sure that’s my line,” he said, leaning down to give me a sweet, lingering kiss.

“Break it up you two!” Daniel said loudly from beside us.  I moved to give him space when I saw he was carrying Eric’s present.  It was a huge and heavy box.  “Make way.  Coming through.”  He continued on parting the party guests, heading to the kitchen where Eric was still stationed.

We followed him, which essentially meant taking a couple of steps to get closer to the action.  I watched Karen and Trevor step
closer, too, they really made an attractive pair.  Scott was there, and I noticed our receptionist, Natalie, standing over by the window, as well as a few others from work lurking about.  Jess was by Eric’s side clearing a space on the bench so Daniel could place the box there.

“Happy birthday mate!”
Daniel said, taking a step back after putting it down.

“What’s this?” Eric said, pulling the wrapping from the box and noticing our company logo on it.  “It looks suspicious.”  He tore the tape from the top, peered inside and started laughing.  “You’ve got to be joking!”

“What is it?” someone yelled.

“It’s coins.”  He stuck his hands in the box and pulled it upwards showing the crowd.  A pile of five and ten cent pieces flowed from his hand back into the box. 
“Lots and lots of coins!”

“You love counting right?” Karen yelled over the crowd.

“Well, you are an accountant!” somebody else yelled out.

“How much is in here?”  He lifted the box and quickly put it back down.  “It’s damn heavy!”

“Start counting!” someone else called and laughter surrounded us.

“How much is there?” Joel whispered in my ear.

“I think it’s about six hundred dollars, all up.  Everyone at work put in and Karen organised the change at the bank.  Don’t tell him though, let him suffer and count!”

“Really?” he asked with raised eyebrows.  “He made out better than you, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t really have a 30
th
just drinks at the pub, remember?  Besides, look around,” I said, motioning to the waitress walking by us, “Look what he must be forking out for this shindig.”

“True.  I feel a little underdressed.  I
shoulda realised when I saw what you were wearing.”

I looked at Joel’s outfit and felt desire coursing through me.  He was dressed in a checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up, not the cheap flannelled type it was kind of dressy, and a pair of tan coloured slacks, leather shoes and belt - the most dressed up I’d ever seen him.  He hadn’t shaved in a few days now, his beard and moustache suited him.  He looked hot!

“I’m more of a drinks in the pub kinda guy,” he said with an apologetic shrug, looking around the room at all the men wearing suits.

“I love that about you,” I said with a light kiss on his nose.  And I did.  I wasn’t the cocktail dress kind of person either.

“You look stunning by the way.”  He put his arms around me and drew me close.

“So I’ve heard.” 
Only about four times since I put my dress on.
  “But feel free to say it again.”

“You’re gorgeous.”  He kissed me on the corner of my mouth. 
“The most beautiful woman in the room.”

“Charmer.”

“Just stating the facts.”  Then he kissed me again and for a moment I forgot where we were and let passion take over, until I got jostled by someone in the crowded room.

A couple of hours later, we were heading out the door after saying our goodbyes, when Jess came running up to us.

“Wait!  You forgot your lolly bags!”  She thrust two little plastic bags into my hand with a giggle.

“Lolly bags?”
I asked, not quite believing what I was hearing. 
I haven’t had a bag of lollies given to me when leaving a party since I was a kid. 
Sneaking a peek inside one of the bags I was excited to see that it was choc-a-block full of sugary treats.

“Yeah, why should the kids have all the fun?” Jess said.

“Exactly!”  Joel snatched both bags from me and sprinted off towards the car.

“Enjoy the rest of your night guys!” Jess called after us as I started chasing him.

“Give me back my lollies!” I yelled.

“Come and get them,” he taunted, holding the bags above his head.  I took the remaining steps and jumped up trying to reach them.  I didn’t have a chance in hell so I did the only thing I could think of – distraction.  Leaning into him, standing on tippy toes, I started kissing his neck.  I was dragging my tongue
up toward his ear when his hands dropped to wrap around me and that’s when I made my move to grab my swag.  Twisting quickly in his arms I got hold of the bags but unfortunately I couldn’t pull them from his tight grasp.

“C’mon, did you really think I’d fall for that?”

He pulled his hand away and continued walking to the car.  I crossed my arms, huffing in defeat.  By the time I sat in the passenger seat of the car he was already tucking into the lollies.

I put my belt on and then watched him stuffing his face.

“I cannot remember the last time I had a Wizz Fizz,” he exclaimed, holding up the bag of sherbet before putting it back inside.  “Mmm, musk sticks.”  He shoved two in his mouth, giving me an evil smirk.

“Joel, give me my lollies!”

“Oh look, bananas!”  He said around a mouthful, holding one up and giving me a wink before popping it in his open mouth.  “Alright, here you go.”  He passed me one of the bags and I look inside, it was nearly empty.

“Give me your bag, you’ve eaten most of this one,” I complained.

“Nope.”

“Joel, you’re so mean!”  I pulled out a
licorice black cat.  “Yuck!  Here you can have this one!”

“No thanks!”  He wrinkled up his nose and I pouted at him.  He stared at me a moment before surrendering, “Alright, here
ya go.”  He finally passed me the other bag so he could start the car.  “Spoil sport.”

“
Meanie!”  I poked my tongue out at him and he laughed.

I dug around in the bag until I found a
Chupa Chup, it was strawberries and cream flavoured.  When I eventually got the stupid wrapper off I stuck it in my mouth and absentmindedly looked out the window into the darkness as we headed towards Raelene and Adam’s place.  Their place was a little out of town and so when we got further from the street lights of the suburbia I noticed the sky.  It was cloudless and the stars were shining bright.  As if it was planned on purpose ‘Starlight’ by Muse came on the radio just then.

“What a beautiful night!  Look at all the stars Joel.”

Joel glanced at me before leaning forward and peering up through the windscreen.  He suddenly pulled his ute off the side of the road.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Let’s just take a moment,” was his only explanation before he got out of the car.

He met me at my side and took hold of my hand.  I
shivered, the air was a little crisp.  He grabbed his picnic blanket from the tool box on the back of his ute then pulled me into the field we were parked beside.  Instead of putting the blanket on the ground like I thought he would, Joel wrapped it around my shoulders and pulled me close.

“Can I suck your lollipop?” he asked huskily.  I removed it from my mouth and pointed it toward him.

“As long as you give it back,” I warned him.

He stuck his tongue out and licked it sensually, keeping his eyes on mine, before sucking it into his mouth.  The intense look in his eyes coupled with his sexy smirk sent my arousal into overdrive.  That quickly disappeared when I heard a loud crunch.  I pulled the stick from his mouth to reveal it was no longer holding a lolly.

“You shit!”  I laughed, shoving his chest, he didn’t let me go.

“Come ‘ere,” he mumbled around his mouthful pulling me closer.  He leant down to give me a kiss.  His lips tasted like strawberries and before I even knew what was happening he was forcing a piece of the lollipop back into my mouth with his tongue.

“Mmm.”  I pulled away from him, crunching on my own piece.

He chuckled and moved to my side.  His hand trailed the length of my arm and his fingers tangled with mine.  We stood in that field staring up into the perfectly clear sky at the hundreds and thousands of stars for I’m not sure how long.  Peace washed over us and I sighed in contentment.

“Look at all those stars!” Joel eventually said.

“Makes us seem small and insignificant,” I whispered.

“I dunno, you’re pretty significant to me,” he replied, making me smile.  I felt his eyes on me before I’d even turned my head.  He cupped my cheek and ducked his head closer to mine.  “Have I ever told you how much I love your eyes?”  I shook my head.  “Well I do.  They are my favourite thing in the world.  The deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I could lose myself in them for days.”  He was staring at me, and even in the darkness, I could feel the intensity behind his own eyes.  I felt it then, I felt that deeper connection, like we were soul mates.  My heart sped up and my breathing slowed.

“You can’t even see them clearly, it’s pretty dark out here,” I replied absentmindedly.

“True, but I’ve got them stored in here.”  He tapped the side of his forehead.  I got on my tippy toes and planted my lips on his.  His hands came up to both sides of my head and he held me in place as his lips started to move slowly against mine.  My eyes closed as I got lost returning his gentle kiss.