Unforgettable (13 page)

Krista’s heart sped up, only this time
not about the lunch. “You’ve got to stop making me swoon. I’m
barely holding on to the edge of not falling completely for
you.”

He kissed right below her ear. “I’ve
already fallen.”

Did that mean? Did he…?

“
I love it when I silence
you.” Neil grinned. “Now, what can I do to help?”

Krista glanced around. “Everything is
ready. I didn’t want to go all out because I have no idea how long
this will last. Luckily, Jamie isn’t only taking EJ to lunch, but a
movie as well. So we have plenty of time.”

“
Maybe this will get over
quickly on good terms and you and I can have some time together. I
missed you while I was away on my trip.”

She loved hearing that he missed her.
“We talked every day.”

He gave her a playful look. “Yes, but I
didn’t get to kiss you.”

She moistened her lips. “You can kiss
me now.”

Neil pulled her to him. “I plan
to.”

Their lips met slowly. Krista could
feel her body already revving up and ready to go. A simple kiss
from this man kept her on the verge of release. Maybe they had time
for a quick romp, right there on the kitchen table.

Before her thoughts could take her any
further, the doorbell rang.

“
He’s got awful timing,” she
whispered as she stepped away from Neil.

Taking Neil’s hand, she led him through
the house to the front door. Was she ready for this?

Krista opened the door and Todd stood
there with a bouquet of flowers in hand. She pushed the glass door
open and Todd stepped in.

The two men looked each other up and
down and Krista realized she was supposed to be the one
talking.

“
Todd, this is Neil, the man
I’m seeing. Neil, this is Todd, EJ’s father.”

They shook hands, but neither spoke to
the other.

It was time to get this show on the
road. “Lunch is in the kitchen. Grilled chicken wraps and homemade
potato wedges. Hope that’s okay.”

“
Sounds perfect. I always
liked your wedges,” Todd said and handed her the flowers. They were
yellow and white daisy’s. Her favorite.

In the kitchen, she set the flowers
down on the counter. “I’ll get those in a vase in a
bit.”

“
I can help. Are the vases
still in the same place?” Todd asked.

Krista nodded. She had a feeling Todd
was trying to show Neil that this had once been his home and she’d
been his woman. But as Neil had reminded her, Todd had never wanted
to spoil her the way Neil did. If she’d let him, she was sure the
sky would be the limit when it came to his money.

She set the food on the table, grabbed
a pitcher of sweet tea, and then set it on the table as well. She
stood by her chair and waited on both of the men. Neil walked over
and rubbed her lower back.

“
You’re doing
great.”

“
Thanks.”

Todd came over and they all sat down.
Once everyone had food on their plates, she wondered where this
would go. This was new territory for all of them, so how to
approach this?

“
I’d like to start, if
that’s okay.” Neil took a sip of his drink. “I want you to know,
Todd, that I understand I’m not EJ’s father and I’m not coming in
here looking to take your place. Krista has expressed wanting me to
wait to meet her son and I respect that.”

Todd sipped the tea before he spoke. “I
appreciate that. Neither of us have yet to introduce EJ to someone
we’ve been seeing, so I’m not sure how it will affect
him.”

Neil nodded and picked up a wedge.
“Understandable. I don’t want her to feel pressured. In fact, I’d
prefer if she waited until she knew for sure about her and me. I
don’t plan on going anywhere. I hope in the future that you and I
can possibly team up together with EJ.”

Todd set his wrap down. “I don’t know
about teaming up. I’m his father and I think I can handle that role
without any help.”

“
Todd.” Krista gave him a
stern look.

“
It’s fine,” Neil said, not
seeming upset at all.

“
In the event you actually
stick around, I get that you’ll be in my son’s life. But I don’t
give my permission for you to be any more than a friend to him.”
Todd turned his attention to Krista. “You’d feel the same way if I
had a woman in my life.”

She nodded, because really, what could
she say? She’d not been in the position that Todd was currently
sitting in. So she couldn’t say how she’d feel or react. “This is
new, for all of us. I think it’s best we take this one day at a
time.”

“
Do you not have any
children?” Todd asked.

“
No.” Neil picked up his
glass for a drink.

“
Can I ask why?”

Krista tasted blood in her mouth and
realized she’d bitten her tongue as she waited on Neil to
answer.

He set the cup back down. “Kids haven’t
come into my life equation yet.”

Todd laughed. “I’m guessing you’re in
your forties. Have you even been in a serious
relationship?”

“
One.”

Krista took a sip of her drink. She
really should’ve served wine…or maybe tequila.

Todd leaned back in his chair and
stared at Neil. “So all these years, you’ve just been doing
what?”

“
Running a successful
business.”

“
And having a different
woman in your bed whenever you want.” Amusement laced Todd’s
tone.

“
Todd. His personal life
isn’t up for review,” Krista snapped, having enough of her ex’s
questioning.

He shook his head with irritation. “It
should be if he’s going to be around my son.”

“
Krista, it’s okay. I don’t
mind answering his questions. And yes, Todd, I haven’t been looking
for a relationship. In fact, I never planned on falling in love
again. I was hurt badly years ago and vowed I would never give my
heart to a woman again.” He reached under the table and took
Krista’s hand. “But then I met Krista and that changed. She doesn’t
even know the extent of my feelings for her. She isn’t a fling. She
isn’t someone I’m just having fun with. She’s my
future.”

Oh. My. God.

“
I can’t change my past.”
Neil picked up a potato wedge with his free hand.

Krista waited on Todd to say something,
but he was silent. She wasn’t even sure what to say after what Neil
had just said. But she was pretty sure he’d just confessed his love
for her. Neil loved her. He loved her! How the hell had she gotten
a man like Neil Clark to fall for her?

“
I wish you two the best,”
Todd finally said as he pushed his chair back. “I’m sorry to eat
and run, but I’ve got to get back to work.”

“
If you’ll excuse me a
moment,” she said to Neil as she stood, then followed Todd out of
the kitchen.

Todd stopped at the front door and
turned to her. “This is real then, huh? There really won’t be you
and I again. You’re moving on.”

A sadness to tell Todd no formed, but
at the same time she was filled with joy to know Neil loved her. “I
think so. I didn’t see this coming and it’s happened so
fast.”

“
As weird as it is to say
this, I’m happy for you.” He grinned.

“
Thank you.”

Todd raked his hands through his hair.
“I just hope everything he said in there was the truth.”

So did she, because of what Neil had
said at lunch, she’d now fallen off the edge and was head over
heels in love with the man.

“
We’ll talk soon.” Todd
turned and left.

Krista took a deep breath and went back
into the kitchen where she found Neil typing away on his cell
phone. She stood there watching him. He was a handsome man. And
even though he was years older than her, and she never thought
she’d find love in an older man, she couldn’t be
happier.

Neil was kind, loving, a good listener,
and very understanding. On top of that, he had an excellent body to
look at it. She was happy that she’d taken this chance on a man
that was from out of her world. A man who could give her any kind
of life that she might want.

“
Did you mean everything you
said?” she asked, needing to make sure he hadn’t said those things
out of jealousy.

He gazed at her, his expression full of
longing. “I did. I love you, Krista.”

Her eyes moistened. “I…I love you
too.”

“
Then get your sweet ass
over here and kiss me.”

It didn’t take her long. She sauntered
over, climbed up in his lap, and kissed the man who had fallen in
love with her.

* * *

“
So this weekend?” Jamie
asked, plopping down on the couch next to Krista.

“
Yup. He’s got tickets to
the baseball game. It seems like the perfect way for EJ to meet
him. No pressure and they can kinda just get to know one another.”
Krista sighed, already nervous for this to happen. “Is it too soon?
Am I making a mistake?”

Her friend tightened her blonde
ponytail. “If you’re ready, then go for it. Obviously the man loves
you and isn’t going anywhere. Things are moving fast, but sometimes
that’s just how it happens.”

Krista nodded. Fast. That was for sure.
“I need to see EJ and Neil together before this goes further. I
don’t necessarily have to tell EJ that I’m seeing Neil. But what if
it’s really awkward or EJ hates him?”

Jamie laughed. “Don’t over think. Jeez,
here I thought you were getting past that when you got involved
with Neil.”

Not over think it,
ha
! How was the even
possible? “I don’t think I’ll ever stop, but at least I’m living a
little, right?”

“
I guess. What’s Neil up to
tonight?”

She smiled, thinking about him calling
her earlier, nervous about asking for a guys night. “It’s poker
night at The Gentlemans’ Club and he asked if I was all right with
him going.”

“
You are?” Jamie raised an
eyebrow.

As best as she could be. “I’m not crazy
about the idea, but I also don’t want him to change his life for
me. It’s an adjustment for us both to be in a relationship.
Besides, it’s a poker game and I trust him.”

“
Want me to go keep an eye
on him? I could look for my own man at the same time.”

Yes, please.
Wait, did that mean she didn’t trust him? “No.
Stay away from there tonight.”

“
If I must.” Jamie groaned.
“I’m never going to meet a man of my own.”

“
Stop trying so hard. After
all, I wasn’t looking and I found one.”

* * *

Neil grabbed his brandy from the bar
and glanced around for the table Ian had told him to sit at.
Several of his friends were there and they planned to have a good
time playing poker.

He spotted Keith and went his
way.

“
Hey, man.” Keith stood and
put his hand out to shake it.

“
Good to see you. It’s been
awhile. How’s life?” Neil shook his hand and took a
seat.

“
Great. Enjoying a night
out. Work has been hell.”

“
I hear ya. But in the end
it’s always worth it.” Neil took a sip of his beverage. “Hopefully
this is a good game. Time for a little fun.”

“
Oh yeah, and the women.
Man, they are hot tonight.”

Two hands slammed down on Neil’s
shoulders. “This man is spoken for.”

Neil chuckled as Ian released
him.

“
You’ve been wrangled in?”
Keith asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

With pride, he said, “I
have.”

“
Next round of drinks are on
the house,” Ian called out. “My man here is spoken for. A love
connection found right here at my club. Let’s
celebrate!”

An hour and several drinks later, Neil
had won a few rounds of poker and couldn’t wipe the grin off his
face. He didn’t usually drink more than one, maybe two drinks when
he went out, but since this was a celebration, he’d gone a little
overboard and now was feeling the effects.

“
Can I get you another?” the
waitress asked.

“
No, no. I’m good. Real
good.”

Keith laughed. “I think we’re all real
good right about now. Between you and Ian buying rounds, we’re all
toasted.”

Neil agreed. The mood in the club
tonight was happy. A few poker games were still going on, but for
the most part everyone was mingling. Ian had said several times
that they needed more nights like this one. It was much more laid
back. The alcohol helped.

“
I think I’ve lost enough
money tonight. Think I’ll start looking for a lady.” Keith got up.
“Congrats, man. Perhaps I’ll be next to celebrate.”

Neil smiled and wondered what kind of
celebration they’d have if he actually married Krista. Things were
moving in that direction. He wanted to spend the rest of his life
with her, but the marriage part was slightly scary.