The Beginning of Us (290 page)

As he begins to turn around, I close my mouth while fixing my hair and posture.

"You?" I say with a bit of shock to my voice.

"Oh my god, you!" Riley replies.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I say as I scrunch up my nose.

"Oh my god Derrick, do you realize who this gal is? Ha-ha, it’s the crazy mini-mart bitch. Your Char is the mini-mart chick I told you about Sunday."

"Derrick I can't believe this is even happening. This loon you have living with you almost accosted me at the store over a fucking newspaper. Can you believe that?"

"I'm a loon? You saw me heading for the paper and dove right in front of me like the paper was the last Twinkie on the planet."

I can feel the heat radiating from my cheeks and sense my face turning as red as my stilettos. I can’t believe Derrick's new friend is the same guy that I ran into at the mini-mart. Ugh, to think I was considering a slight, and yes, I do mean slight, attraction to this asshole.

Derrick decides to share his voice."Come on you two, you do realize how stupid you sound? You hate each other over a fucking newspaper. Let's pretend that day never took place and start over, right now. Char this is Riley and Riley this is my best friend Charlie. Shake hands, kiss and makeup, or do whatever you need to do to get over your issues. I’m hungry and this girl needs to get cooking."

I stand in shock at the way Derrick laid that on us. This is just like him to get right to the point and have us move on; he’s a great lawyer.

I take a step in Riley's direction with my right arm stretched out in front of me. I hope he is willing to accept my apology. I sure as hell am willing to accept anything he wants to give me.

Damn it, what am I even thinking? I can’t be attracted to this man, can I? Oh what the hell, here goes nothing.

"Well I guess I can start over and forget the other day. Sorry I acted like a ‘crazy bitch’, I was in a rush and not paying attention to the world around me. Hi my name is Char, nice to meet you."

"Yea I guess I can do the same. Nice to meet ya babe, the name is Riley."

He stuck out his hand to shake mine. As our hands touch, little bolts of electricity run through my hand and into my arm. I guess this evening just took a double turn, now time to cook.

RILEY

After meeting Derrick's friend Char, I had no idea she would be as cool as she is to talk with. I mean, she seems to fit right into our conversations and I love listening to her talk. Her voice is one of the sexiest things I’ve heard.

"Wow Char dinner was amazing, thanks for cooking for us. Had I known I was about to meet the ‘crazy mini-mart bitch’ I would’ve bought a dessert too."

"I wouldn't push your luck pal; we just kissed and made up." Char says with a wink.

"Whoa slow down there tiger, it’s our first date. Who says I’m ready for a kiss yet?" I ask.

She leaves out a sweet giggle and gets up from the table to start clearing our dishes.

"First date huh? Who is being presumptuous now? I was under the impression I was making dinner for my best friend and his roommate."

God I love the way her raspy voice sounds in my ears and the way her tight little curves fit into that amazing dress she’s wearing. She catches me looking her over and gives me a wink.

She comes up behind me and leans over my shoulder. In a low whisper, she breathes into my ear and says, "See something you like, Riley?" She proceeds to take my plate from the table and add it into the sink with the others.

Holy shit is this woman for real? The other day she was a loon and today she is flirting with me like sex on a stick. I’m usually damn smooth with the ladies, but with Char I have a feeling she likes to be in some sort of control. Where do I go from here?

Rather than waste another second I begin to stand and walk toward the sink as Char is rinsing the dishes and adding them into the dishwasher.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Derrick begin to stand and turn his body to face me. He crosses his arms and locks himself into a firm stance next to Char. Derrick is standing tall as if to represent her bodyguard. He eyes me up and down while whispering something into her ear.

What the fuck man. Does he think he owns Char too? I thought he was a mess over her older sister Chloe. Man, I need to find what the hell is going on between these two because I sure as hell want to make a move on Char.

I decide to grab the rest of the plates from the table and take them over to the sink. Once the table is cleared from our dishes, I wipe it down along with the stove and countertops. It’s the least I can do to help out after Char cooked us a great meal.

Since the kitchen is tidy, I decide to grab a beer and head into the living room. I’m hopeful the game is still on and I can catch the last few innings.

As I plop myself on the couch and turn on the tube, I hear Derrick and Char come in the living room. I flip the channel to ESPN and hear Derrick's breath catch. When I look over at him, I see his mouth is wide open and his eyes are set on the TV.

Not sure why he is acting this way, I glance at Char and shrug my shoulders while tilting my head in Derrick's direction. I notice Char taking a seat on the arm of the chair Derrick is sitting in and starts to rub his back.

I think she’s trying to comfort him, but I haven’t a clue what is happening.

"You know she’s busy and needs to get her life on a schedule. You still mean the world to her Derrick." Char says in a loving tone.

"Don't speak for her Charlie, if she wants us to work she would...she would...I don't know what the hell she would do. But she sure as hell wouldn't be doing this." Derrick said in a way that made me feel as if he wanted to cry or scream or perhaps both.

I turn my attention back to the screen and watch as the new ESPN analyst discusses the current MLB playoff standings.  

This woman is gorgeous and looks like Char. She has the same long, dark, wavy brown hair that falls well below her shoulders. She seems petite in her navy blue suit that makes her big, brown eyes deep and dark against her perfect skin tone.

If I didn't know any better I’d think this chick was Derrick's girlfriend and Char's older sister Chloe.

With that thought her name, Chloe Taylor, flashes across the bottom off the screen.

The intensity in the room becomes thick and I need to get out of this awkward situation fast. I stand and turn myself toward Derrick and Char while asking them if they need a refill.

It was as if I was saving them by the bell, in a sense. The sound of my voice triggers the two of them out of their trance and they follow me back into the kitchen.

I grab two beers out of the fridge, pop the caps, and hand one to Derrick. I take the empty wine glass from Char's hand and set it down on the counter.

The quick contact of my hand to hers sends shock-waves through my fingers and up into my arm. Her touch is like nothing I’ve ever felt. What was this chick doing to me? By the tension I was beginning to feel against the zipper of my shorts, I know exactly what Char is doing to me. If I don't figure out a way to make this work, this woman is going to drive me crazy.

I fill Char's glass with wine and two ice cubes, cause that's what Derrick did earlier and I’m smooth like that. I hand her back the glass and allow my hand to touch and hover over hers for an extra second. Yup I felt it again, amazing.

Chapter 6

Friday August 17, 2012

CHAR

Oh thank heavens, it’s after 5:30 on Friday night and I am leaving the office for the day. It’s been an interesting week and I’m anxious to get home and relax. Before I can do that I have to stop by Dad's office and give him Chloe's mail that keeps coming to my apartment.

I drive into a large industrial park and pull down the only road to the left. Straight ahead stands a tall stone building with a giant sign across two framed doors that read Taylor & Sons Contracting.

The building has been in this spot for as long as I can remember. It has such prestigious value to the city of Boston that they built the industrial park around my family's business headquarters. Taylor & Sons Contracting has been a family business for generations and my dad is the last son to keep the business alive and running.

I pull around back to where my dad parks his truck and I slide the Jeep right up along side of his precious red pickup.

I make my way through the giant building and I pass a few administrators, sub-contractors, and other employees who are preparing to leave for the day. I make small chit chat and wish them a good weekend as we mingle through the halls. This place was a second home to me and Chloe growing up; so many of the employees know us too well.

I take the elevator to the fourth floor and come up to the hallway of my dad's office. I notice his secretary, Patty, walking out from his closed office door.

"Hi Patty, is Dad still in there?"

"Hi there Char, good to see you sweetheart. Yes, your father is still in there. Roger was interviewing a potential hire and he said that your father just had to meet with him."

"Oh ok, is it alright with you if I just hang out here till he is done? I have Chloe's mail to give him before him and my mom head out to Los Angeles for a visit next week."

"Of course you can Char, but my work here is done for the day. I’m heading home for the weekend. Take care and it was great to see you."

"You too Patty, have a good weekend. And hey, I'll put in a good word for you with Dad, you deserve a raise." I say with a wink as I sit in the comfy leather chair and grab a magazine out of my bag.

I’m waiting a good 15 minutes before Roger emerges from Dad's office. I was taken back when he shut the door and walked right past me without saying a word. He just continued over to the elevator and gave me a quick nod while dialing up his phone. That was odd, but Roger always has been weird, oh well.

I pull out my phone and send a text to Chloe to kill more time. God what the hell is he doing in there for so long, it’s after six o’ clock and I’m starving.

Char - Hey chick, you busy?

Immediately she responds.

Chloe - Hey there sis, I always have time for you.

Char - I miss you, when you coming home to visit?

Chloe - Never, it’s too perfect here. Come to me ;)

Char - Yea ok, like that would ever happen, I am grounded to Boston for life :)

Chloe - Well whatever, you can at least visit.

Char – Ok I’ll think about it.

Chloe - So what else is new with you?? Dating any hotties lately?? Keeping Derrick in check I hope ;)

Ugh, she knows how to piss me off and push my buttons. I want to confide in my big sis and tell her about this hot guy I just met.

"Ugh!" I growl out in frustration. Oh what the hell, let's see what she has to say.

Char – There’s this hottie I laid my eyes on, but nothing will come of it. And yes Derrick is being a good boy, why, I don't know. He needs to kick his girlfriend to the curb and find a new one ;)

Chloe - Do you believe that :(

In that moment I wanted to scream yes! But at the same time Chloe has feelings too. She is just...well she is...she’s Chloe. I wish she knew what she was doing to herself and this poor guy. I want them both to have a happy ending, with or without each other.

Char - I love you and I love Derrick too, I just want to see you both happy.

Chloe – You’re right, I can live with that. Got to run love, talk to you soon!!!! Muahhhh, big kisses!!!

Char - Ok, call me soon and I’ll plan a trip to visit :) Oh and don't forget to call the movers to get the rest of your stuff from my apartment. Love you too!

I slide my cell back in my purse and stand to look at the view from the reception window. Geez, what to do? I’d prefer to be left out of the Chloe and Derrick drama and rather create some heated drama of my own with a very handsome man named Riley.

Just as the thought leaves my mind, I hear Dad's door open and I turn.

At first I see my dad walk over my way and hear the soothing sounds of his voice. My mouth drops open and my eyes go wide. What the hell are the chances he’s walking out of the office with my father? I have heard of it’s a small world and coincidence, but this is ridiculous.

RILEY

Waking up this morning, I feel powerful and a sense of accomplishment as if today is going to be a great day. I’ve got a gut feeling that my interview this afternoon will go well. I’m going to ride this emotional high all day.

One thing that I’m having trouble with is getting Char off my mind. After the awkward moment of seeing Chloe on ESPN Derrick, Char, and I took our beverages out to the deck and chatted for a few more hours.

She seems like a great catch, why the hell is she single. Or maybe she isn't and I haven't heard about the boyfriend yet. All I think about is her smile, her fantastic body, and the smell of her on my shirt from where she gave me a hug before she left Wednesday night.