Authors: Audrey Carlan
“Hey, you heard from Em or El?” I asked.
“Yeah, actually, I spoke with Ella. She was really tired. Said the baby was colicky and she and Ethan were having a time of it.”
“I’ll send her some flowers; let her know we’re thinking about her.”
“Brill, mate! She’ll adore that.” His smile turned into a frown and he looked stroppy as we walked to the lockers.
“What is it?”
“Emma seemed out of sorts.” He opened his locker and pulled out his towel for the showers. I did the same.
“How so?”
“She didn’t say anything. It was just a feeling. She shouldn’t have married that wanker.” He said aloud what the entire family thought but wouldn’t dare mention to her. She was too proud and too young to listen. She had to learn on her own. But if that bugger hurt her, he’d have two very brassed off brothers to deal with.
I nodded as he sighed. “I’ll call her. Find out what’s going on. Maybe have her come to the States, pay us a visit?”
“Agreed.” My phone pinged, signaling I had a voice message. “I’m going to hit the showers. You coming?”
“In a minute. I’ve got a voicemail from an unknown number.”
“Okay, brother. I’ll catch you back at the office.” He headed toward the showers.
“Hey, Nate.” I used his nickname even though I made it a point to use his God-given name most of the time. I expected the same of him. He turned around. “Good game, mate.” He smiled and waved over his head as he left the lockers.
I typed in the code to my voicemail and heard the loveliest sultry voice. She spoke with an American New York accent that sent pleasurable chills down my spine.
“Hi, Collier, this is London. London Kelley. I received your message and was hoping to catch you.” Her voice pitched and glided like water flowing down a babbling brook. “I’m heading out to lunch with family and friends but would love to meet up with you some time. I think we have some unfinished business…” She let that word dangle and drift off. “Feel free to text me your availability at this same number. Have a lovely rest of your day.”
The call ended and I listened to it one more time, just to hear that voice smooth over my senses like chocolate drizzled over a sundae.
She asked when I was available. I scrolled through my phone planner. Tonight was the only night this week I didn’t have an engagement. It would seem presumptuous or eager to ask her out tonight. But there wasn’t another option unless I waited until next week. Finishing what we started last week sounded so very appealing. A week would be torture to my hardening prick.
Blimey! To hell with it.
I edited her phone number, filling in her name, then hit the text icon.
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
I received your message. Fancy a meeting tonight? My schedule is booked through the next week. Collier
After taking a rather cold shower to rid my burgeoning desire for a petite, tanned, Goddess with a name that matched my former home, I checked my phone.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
What did you have mind. I may have an opening this evening. LK
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
Dinner perhaps? Does 7 suit?
A smile split my face. This was the first time in a long time I looked forward to seeing a woman for an official date. Bonking a woman I met in the local pub had become commonplace. Downright humdrum. Anticipating taking a woman out brought me back to my college days when I was courting my ex-wife Claire.
Back then I was less wise in the ways of wooing a woman, though the chilling, creeping tingle of nervousness pricking the nape of my neck was familiar. The mere thought of being near London’s perfection had me blooming with need. In seconds her return text rang through, clearing my thoughts.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
You want to date me? Based on our last encounter, I expected a booty call. ;-)
Bloody Yanks and their funny symbols and acronyms. My fingers raced over the keys.
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
You want me to ring your bum?
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
LOL That’s an interesting idea. Dinner it is. I can meet you. Where?
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
A gentleman picks up the lady he is courting at her residence.
Chivalry is not dead. I’ll be damned if it dies with me. My mum would kill me if she’d heard I met a date and didn’t properly knock on her door. Growing up, my mum was everything you’d ever want out of a mum. She was kind, gentle and always smelled like cookies. Baking was her hobby. I thought about the first time I caught London’s scent. She smelled of cinnamon. Familiar, yet sexy. My suit smelled of her for days after her body had pressed against it street side. I’d stashed it in my closet waiting to send it to the cleaners so that the scent would waft over me again in the morning when I started my day. The smell had just started receding. I needed a fix and I’d have it tonight.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
You surprise me…and confuse me. I’ll see you at 7.
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
May I have your address?
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
I’m sure you’ll find me.
“Oh bloody hell!” The bird was a piece of work. She seemed to enjoy toying with me. Even still, I couldn’t shake the smile that spread across my face as I strutted into work, a full spring in my step. My secretary stood and followed me into my office.
“Here are your messages, Mr. Stone. I rearranged your afternoon meetings as you requested. Was there anything else you needed before I take my lunch?”
“Yes, actually. I need you to make dinner reservations for seven thirty at a nice place downtown.”
She took down the note. “For how many? And who will be in attendance.”
“Just two. I’m entertaining a beautiful woman named London Kelley this evening.” I smiled. Her eyes met mine and widened. It wasn’t often that I surprised her. She took the new information in stride. A consummate professional.
“Business or pleasure?” She bit her lip and focused on the notepad in front of her. I enjoyed riling her.
“Oh, pleasure my dear, Jane. And I want to impress, so pick a romantic location.”
My secretary was tall and thin with no body to think of. I wouldn’t call her a great beauty, but was extremely competent with lips that stayed shut. She was not one to gossip and I appreciated her honesty and work ethic.
“Thank you. That will be all.” She turned to leave the office. “Actually, Jane?”
“Yes, Mr. Stone?” Her pale hand held the door handle like a lifeline.
“When an American ends a communication with the letters S.W.A.K, what does that mean?”
Her cheeks pinked and her lips lifted in a hint of a smile. “Sealed with a kiss.”
***
“What are you doing?” Tripp asked accusingly as I shoved my phone back into my purse.
“Nothing. Just texting with Collier. I have a date.” Already, I was imagining the ways in which I’d defile that beautiful man. My hands itched to be all over him.
“You’re kidding? You have a date? A bonafide sit down and eat, go to a show, dancing kind of date?” He cringed. “With a man?” His expression clearly shocked. He leaned forward and gauged my reaction.
“Who has a date?” said a voice I knew as well as my own from behind me. Aspen sauntered in, her long blond hair blowing in the wind as if she just came out of a shampoo commercial, which actually could have happened. She does have a huge modeling agency as part of her empire.
“Bridge!” Tripp hollered with delight. My best friend was a riot. A true funny man.
Not!
My sister stopped dead in her tracks and pretended to almost faint. “No way!” I rolled my eyes.
Tripp pulled out her chair and kissed her cheek. “You look gorgeous as usual, Pen. Love suits you.”
She offered Tripp the biggest smile I’d ever seen. I loved Aspen’s boyfriend, Hank more and more for making her so happy. She deserved it even if the odds were against their relationship. With her being a top performing billionaire work-a-holic, and he a laid-back cowboy construction worker, a love match was not in their favor. However, it just proved that no matter the odds, love always prevailed. Except for me. Love was a bitter, cold bitch that I stayed far away from.
“So tell me more about you going on a date. An official date? The kind one has when they’ve first met someone they may be interested in getting to know, in case you don’t remember what that is,” she added.
“Ha ha. Real funny. Yes, I’m going on a date. Not a big deal. Just dinner.”
Tripp and Aspen looked at one another and rolled their eyes.
“Bridge, when was the last time you were on an actual date?”
“I go on dates all the time with my clients. What are you talking about?” I knew what they were talking about but they didn’t need to make it something it wasn’t.
“That’s work!” Tripp chided.
“It’s more than work sometimes,” I winked. He knew my sexual proclivities; they were the same as his. All work and no play made London a dull girl. I made certain there was never a dull moment between me and clients especially the ones that were worthy of bedding.
“Fucking your clients or boy toys don’t count and you know it!” he accused.
Aspen nodded and waved the waiter over.
“Martinis?” she asked us brusquely. Tripp and I nodded then continued our heated glares. “We’ll take two Stockholm seventy five’s, and I’ll have iced tea,” Aspen ordered.
“Very well, Mam,” the waiter scurried off with her order. It was strange that Aspen didn’t order herself a drink. Before I could ask she started in on the third degree.
“All joking aside. Who’s the mystery man?” Aspen asked.
“You probably know him. Collier Stone.”
“My lawyer?” she laughed. “That’s rich!”
“No, you’re rich. Collier’s a sexy man who asked me on a date and I agreed. We’re going out to dinner tonight.”
Tripp and Aspen shared a knowing look. Tripp took a deep breath then continued. “James Bond is hot, I’ll give you that.”
Aspen snorted at Tripp’s nickname for Collier. “I haven’t actually met him. I always work with his brother Nate. But, are you ready for a real date?”
“You act like I haven’t been with a man in ages. As a matter of fact, I had Dylan just last night.”
“That’s sex, not a relationship,” she chastised.
“I don’t do relationships.” My tone was scathing, harsher than I intended.
Our drinks arrived and Aspen took a healthy sip of her tea and continued. “Exactly, our point.”
“Look guys, I know you’re just trying to make sure I’m happy. Believe me, I am. Very much so. Collier asked me out. I said yes. At this point, I’m going to dinner with the guy, not marrying him.” That reminded me of why we were having lunch today. “Speaking of marriage…you’re getting married?”
My sister flung out her left hand and bright as the sun stood a huge diamond ring.
I gripped her hand to inspect it and my body started to tingle. An all-encompassing tickling sensation ran up and down my spine. It was as powerful as full-body laughter, or one of the most earth-shattering orgasms. You couldn’t help but be swept away by it.
Instantly I felt sheer joy pump off her like sound waves encasing me, lulling me into a happy stupor. She was throwing off some intense vibes. My empathic ability struggled to accept it all. Even when she admitted to being in love with Hank, it was never this concentrated. Something had changed. It was as if she was a giant force and anything that touched her couldn’t help but be affected.
“Aspen, what’s going on?”
“I’m getting married in five weeks!” she squealed like a five year old little girl, something I’d never seen her do. My sister was always in complete control.
“It’s more than that. Why are you in such a rush? Just a couple months ago you two were on the outs. Now you’re rushing into marriage?”
Tripp’s head volleyed from side to side, watching us. “Hank is the one pushing it. Not me.” That was an odd admission, even for my sister, who tended to be brutally honest.
I rolled my eyes. She was being vague and it annoyed the hell out of me. I watched her sip her tea almost nervously and stop making eye contact. She was hiding something. I knew my sister as well as I knew the backside of my hand.
“Out with it.” I crossed my arms, tilted my head and stared her down. I was prepared to wait all day if I had to.
She looked at me, then at Tripp and bit her lip. “Okay fine.” She took a deep breath and then blew me away with her next words. “I’m pregnant.”
Tripp and I looked at one another, grabbed our glasses, clinked them together, then swallowed our entire martini down in one go. It was how we dealt with crazy information. Knock one back when you don’t know how else to deal with what life has served you.
“Now that…I didn’t expect.” I shook my head and smiled.
She watched us closely to gauge our reactions.
“Looks like we need more drinks, Bridge. You’re going to be an Auntie!” Tripp laughed.
“I can’t wait,” I said. Aspen clasped her hands together and took a deep breath, obviously worried what my reaction would be. “Just one favor, Pen. Just one is all I ask.”
She looked puzzled. “Anything.”
“Please let me be there when you tell Mom.”
She threw her napkin at me and we all howled with laughter. Our mother was a stuck up mega beast who hated that Aspen and Hank were together. I could only imagine what she’d say when she found out they’re getting married in five weeks. Add a baby to the mix? That’s a whole new angle and this information would send Mother into a manic depressive state. I wanted front row seats to that show.