Lynnia (30 page)

Dario

Three days later

Standing in the back of the room with his crutches leaning against the wall next to him, Dario watched as Lynnia moved from one person to another. If one was to just give her a quick glance, then they would see a woman that looked happy and content. He could see beyond the façade. He saw the woman that not many got to see. The woman that was vulnerable and not as impervious to insults as she tried to appear.
Impervious?
It was official. He’d been hanging around his cousin and his equally educated wife too long. The guys on the site would give him major shit if he pulled one of those words out while they were trash talking or sitting around O’Connell’s bar.

Dario chuckled as he knocked back the vodka shot he’d be nursing since she walked in with the guy that had been her permanent shadow. Her sister, Nyema, said his name was Nick. What in the hell happened to Travis was his question. Was she trying to prove something? What was with the big shirt she was wearing? It was August, damn near September in Florida. The woman had a banging body that she usually showed off. This evening’s chosen clothing was all about hiding herself. What in the hell was that about? 

He wanted to ask her for himself, but couldn’t because that Nick guy seemed to be attached to her ass or something. Every time she moved, he was right there with her. It was starting to make him think this was some elaborate plan of hers. She had the guy shadowing her so no one would have an opportunity to ask her anything to personal. If they did, she could deflect them by using the man directly behind her. Every so often she touched the man, but not as she would a lover. It was a touch that made it appear as if more was going on between them, but he recognized the difference. The smile wasn’t a true Lynnie smile. He’d seen enough of them in his time to know when she was giving a heartfelt smile. She moved on to another guest and he followed.

The thought of the man being near Lynnie made him think of another type of nearness. He didn’t want to think of her being with anyone other than him, even though he knew she had been in the past. It still didn’t mean that he liked the idea of it.

Lynnie was so obvious. She’d spent the last half hour making sure her gaze never fell in his direction. He saw the sideways glances to see where he was in the room, but she made sure their eyes never met. Even though he’d purposely made sure he was never hidden from her line of sight, she still avoided him.

“Judging by the look in your eyes, you still haven’t been acknowledged by your secret … less than secret obsession. Fortunately for you, I’m secure enough in myself to not worry,” a woman’s voice interrupted his silent torment.

He’d almost missed Lindsay’s words. The fact that he’d forgotten that Lindsay was at the bar-b-que with him made him feel kind of guilty about the thoughts he had toward Nick. Dario was so focused on trying to get Lynnie to look at him that hadn’t realized anyone else was near him. It was kind of telling if he really thought about it. Lindsay was so unimportant to him that she was so easily  forgotten when he was faced with the woman that he really wanted to be there with.

Chyra’s husband, Zach, wanted to have this shindig to celebrate their recent marriage and the fact that he had his whole family together. The Olsens and the Nortons were all intermingled in the backyard of his grandparents’ former home. The house … actually mini-mansion would be a better description, had been passed on to Zach when his grandmother died a few months ago. Dario was part of the updates to the guest house and the back deck that had been a third of its size before. It now easily held the hundred or so people that were milling around the area. Both sets of grandparents sat on either side of the couches that were on one side of the covered and enclosed deck. Chyra insisted on having screened windows and doors so natural air could come in on the cooler nights. All of the sisters were walking and talking with friends of the family. Zach’s sister was here, somewhere, as well. She got over herself once she realized just how happy her brother was with Chyra. A couple of the husbands were inside watching the game and the other stood with Zach as he checked on the meat.

They all looked genuinely happy. This was why he loved being around them. There wasn’t a holiday or anything. This was just a need for them to get together to celebrate the welcoming of another family member. Zach fit right in with the group. He wanted that for himself. He didn’t want to be on the outside looking in. Yes, he was technically family because he is related to Victor who is married to the oldest Norton, Zoie, but he wanted to be more. He loved one of the Norton girls and should be able to have all that the other guys enjoyed.

Dario had purposely ignored Lindsay’s comment in hopes that she would go on about her business. It wasn’t going to be the case for him. Lindsay was his flea, his tick. She was his Nick.

When he laughed, she turned to face him.

“What’s so funny?”

She moved in closer to him and he felt her leg slant towards him. Just as she made the gesture, Lynnie looked at him. Of course that was the moment she turned her full attention to him. Pushing at the offending leg, he tried to follow Lynnia or at least chase after her, but his blind reach for his crutches had him coming up empty handed. He turned his attention to the place where his crutches had just been leaning and saw that they weren’t there any longer. Turning the other direction had him looking at Lindsay who held them in her hand. She looked to be in a playful mood. He was not.

“Lindsay, give me the crutches.”

His voice was more stern than he’d ever been with another human being. She shook her head and made to take a step back from him.

Dario moved to lunge for her and she took two steps forward before speaking, “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

He furrowed his brows as he snatched the crutches away from her. What was she talking about?

“What do you mean that wouldn’t be a good idea? What wouldn’t be a good idea?”

She put her hands in her back pocket and gave him a look that said she knew what he really wanted. How could she when he hadn’t really said anything one way or the other with her?

“It wouldn’t be a good idea for you to go hobbling after the woman you love right now. She doesn’t really know what she wants. She’s trying to figure some things out and you going to her right now will only add my confusion to the pot.”

“What are you talking about? How would you know that she’s going through anything? Do you know what’s going on? No, don’t say anything. I know I need to talk to her and it’s going to be today.”

Turning, he left Lindsay standing where she was. What was going on that Lindsay would warn him off of talking to Lynnie? It didn’t matter, he needed to do this. He needed to see for himself, know for himself the truth of what was going on with his friend. Outside of any matters of the heart, sexual issues or physical complications, she was still his friend. His friend was in need and he wanted her to know that he was there if she needed him to be.

He made it inside just in time to see her duck into a room at the end of a long, dark hall. He stealthily approached the door. He’d passed Nick in the kitchen and knew that he would remain there. One of the sisters’ friends was making him a plate and talking his ear off. This was his chance. He would finally be able to get Lynnie alone. He opened the door and found her standing near a window staring off into space not really looking out at the scenery on the other side. It was a beautiful, end of summer day. He could tell that she didn’t see that. Whatever was bugging her was enough to make her unable to see or enjoy that beauty.

“What is it D.? I know you’re here. I heard the crutches come up the hall.”

She sounded like she was crying. He placed the crutches to the side and took a few steps toward her. Turning, she looked at him then took the rest of the steps left between them. Lifting up on her tiptoes, she tentatively kissed him. A tear fell from her eyes and placed her hands on his chest.

“I wish things were different. I wish things had turned out the way I always thought they would, but they didn’t. I’m glad … you’re looking like you’re getting better. Thanks for coming to see about me. I’m good. The food should be done.”

He did the only thing he felt he could as she tried to move away from him. moving as quickly as he could, he lifted her into his arms. Her legs wrapped themselves around his waist as he lifted his face slightly and stole a kiss from her lips. She stared at him for a moment before closing her eyes and deepening the kiss. Moving the fabric of her dress, he used his free hand to squeeze her ass. The other hand was frantically working to free himself. He had her. His woman was in his arms and not fighting him. She was kissing him like she’d missed him just about as much as he’d missed her. Rubbing his thumb up and down the outside fabric that covered her, he continued to allow her to control the motions of their kiss. The second he was free, he slid the fabric of her panties over.

As soon as he moved to enter her, she bit her lip and opened her eyes to look at him. There was the silent plea that he needed. It was the one that said that she wanted this, needed this and she would do harm if she didn’t get it. He rubbed along the outside, testing the boundaries before moving closer to where they both wanted him to be. As the head slipped in, she pulled his lips back to hers and moaned when he slipped passed the surface and into the depths of her. They both moved to deepen the connection.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you.”

“Yes. More. I need more, D.”

He pulled out and plunged back in. Capturing her screams, he began to set a pace. She met him push for pull until their coming together was an act of the passion they both enjoyed whenever they were together. He took a step toward the wall so that he could get some of the pressure off of his leg, but she shook her head.