9781618858368ForbiddenDeceptionlLeveyNC Page 4

  “Don’t you think we owe it to ourselves to figure this out? Seems like there are a lot of unresolved issues between us.”

  “What’s there to figure out? You lied, we broke up. Can’t you just let the past rest? I can hardly believe you don’t have women flocking to you for dates. Why come after me, someone who’s not interested?”

  “You want the truth. I’ll lay it flat out. All cards on the table. There has only ever been you. I’ve dated in the past ten years but no woman has ever measured up to the memories of us. Jesus, if you’d only have let me explain you’d have realized I was turning seventeen a month later from when you found out. I’m sorry my mom told you. I know that must’ve been damaging. Age had nothing to do with what we shared though.”

  “Tell that to the women or men in jail for statutory rape. You led me on for six months. Let me fall in love with you and dream of a future, building a life, having children. We had plans. Then the truth came out and there was nothing you could do to fix the lies that built us. I had to sit and wonder if anything you ever told me was true, if we were real.”

  “I was an asshole in love. There were times I began to tell you but I didn’t want to see you hurt or risk losing you, not when I was entering college in the fall. Creating more issues seemed a moot point than a harmless white lie.”

  “What do you want from me?”

  “The first thing I noticed about you was your smile. Man, it was like sunshine. Looking at you now, makes my gut hurt. I took away your smile. Maybe I want to put it back. Do right by you now.”

  “I’d have to be willing to put myself in that position. I never thought or imagined we’d run into each other again. This is a lot for me to handle.”

  “I can respect that. What do you want me to do? I’m not a man who gives up easily.”

  “A bit of breathing room would be nice. I don’t like feeling crowded.”

  “All right, I can give you some room. I don’t like speaking through a plate of glass though. Would you be willing to meet somewhere in public, a coffee house, anywhere that makes you comfortable?”

  “I don’t know, Seth. Right now I just want to go home to get some perspective.” She leaned back in her seat.

  “Fair enough. I’ll get out of your hair then.” He tapped his fingers on the metal frame before backing off, sticking his hands in his pockets.

  Chapter Three

  Ailyn drew a bated breath as he edged his way back inside the fire station. Part of her couldn’t deny his perfect physique, the way taut muscles flexed with every step. She flipped on her cell and voice activated phonebook.

  “Call Rianna.” Putting the car in drive, she pressed the Bluetooth button on her steering wheel and clipped her seat belt before merging into traffic.

  “This is me is it you?”

  “Yep, this is me, big sis.”

  “Any news on when your school will be repaired? We’re so glad no one was hurt.”

  “Oh it’ll be a few weeks before we can get back in to teach. Got an email that we’d be set up in some mobile trailers within a few days and they’d call if sooner.” She navigated into the turn lane and flicked on her signal.

  “That’s good. I’d have thought you’d sleep in with a day off.”

  Her sister had some delusions, she rarely got a chance to sleep in. “I saw him at the fire and this morning.”

  “Him? Him. What are the odds? I’m guessing you didn’t know he was in the Midwest when you accepted the job.”

  “I know, right. No, not at all. Seeing him hit me like a monsoon. I’d probably have moved in the opposite direction if I did.” With the need for fortification running through her, she parked near her favorite coffee shop. She exited and strolled down the sidewalk toward the entrance.

  “I tried to tell you to be prepared just in case. We should’ve had a game plan ready to be set in motion. How did seeing him go?”

  “Uh…well, I pretended not to know him during the fire but he saw right through my act. He found my number in the phonebook, called and convinced me to go see him at the fire station.”

  “I gather you went and from the sound of your panicky voice something went down.”

  She wove her way around a group of kids in deep conversation and entered. Cool air greeted her flushed skin.

  “Yeah. I don’t know what to do.” She texted her sister a picture of Seth, then stood in line to order her standing favorite, a large mocha latte and a slice of pound cake.

  “Ohh, he has turned into quite the hunk. Shit sister, his looks are remarkably the same as when you dated him. So?”

  Ailyn swiped her card before picking up her purchases. “Infuriatingly amazing. I don’t think I’ve been kissed like that since him. Of course my body responded to him like no time had passed, which set me off. I’ve acted like a lustful wench, raging bitch and crybaby in the past hour and a half alone, it’s not pretty. My nerves are wound so tight I’m not sure what emotion will come careening out of me next. He just makes me want to scream.”

  “Yeah, his name out in the throes of passion.” Rianna laughed. “I take it things didn’t progress too far since you’re all worked up.”

  “Oh no, they went pretty well on my side, I had the O of big O’s. God, how can his mouth and tongue action be so much better than I remember?” She tested her coffee for scalding factor and took a sip.

  “Nice to know he knows how to take care of business. Now back to your all-over-the-place emotions. If I wasn’t your sister I’d charge you for this session.”

  “Har har. You’re the new family therapist you don’t have a choice but to help. For free.”

  “It’s simple. Let go of the anger. You’ve become quite a bitter cynic. Get to know the new him. You all had a great time together back then. I remember how crazy he was about you. Seth was all about pleasing you and being there for you.”

  “Uh…no. He had his shot. What is with you and Mia telling me to date him again?”

  “What’s up is we know you really want to but you’re scared. And face facts. You have to tell him about Eva, so you might as well get to know him before you drop the bomb on him.”

  “I am not telling him about my daughter. Well, I’m back and forth on deciding to or not. Got a crazy yoyo going on in my mind. One minute I think I want to and then the reality crashes in. If I tell him, I won’t be able to kick him out of my life,” she confessed between bites of oh so good lemon cake.

  “You, my dear pretty little sister, are playing a dangerous game. Why torture yourself and him? And, are you thinking about Eva or trying to one up him on duplicity?”

  “Whose side are you on? How do I know he doesn’t have a harem of women or something crazy? I have a right to protect my baby from harm.”

  “So instead of getting to know the one man who knocked your socks off you’re going to go back to the stuffy safe dates. Not surprised you didn’t find one to light your furnace.”

  “Ri, I have dated my butt off. Recently too, and they haven’t all been stuffy. I’m just looking for—”

  “Seth.” Her sister nailed the head on the board.

  “But not him in the flesh, someone like him who will make me laugh and fit seamlessly with me. A man closely resembling him.”

  Her sister laughed on the other end of the phone.

  “You make things so difficult. What did you tell him before you left?”

  “I said I needed time.”

  “Well take that time to think about what’s best for everyone involved and not just your wounded heart. Remember somewhere in the back of your mind you wanted to share her memorable moments. I remember you putting everything in an updated scrapbook and the yearly edited video of Eva. I trust you to do what’s right when your head’s on straight.”

  “I knew you would bring the book of memories up,” she groused and finished her food.

  “I’m your sister and big sisters are always right. Plus I’m on the outside looking in. You are viewing things through rose tinted
glasses. Slightly distorted.”

  Ailyn sighed.

  “Go home and take a nice long hot bath. Grab a bottle of wine and have a couple of glasses. You will feel much better after drinking that than the swill you’re drinking now.”

  “I’m not drinking wine this early in the day.” Ailyn laughed. “I’ll stick with my vice of choice—multiple lattes and maybe an added shot of espresso.”

  “Mmm, so much better for you. Go ahead and get all razzed up. Here I was trying to get you relaxed and you’re going the opposite direction. “I’ll come over and check on you when I’m done with my last client.”

  “Sounds great. Ri, I’m so glad I followed you out here. Bring the wine with you.”

  “You’re my sister. You didn’t think I’d leave you to suffer the cruel wilds of the wilderness alone. Mi casa, su casa.”

  “You make it sound like we’re pioneers on a wagon trail through the old mid-west.” She laughed.

  “Yeah, well. Once I looked up housing costs and job prospects, moving was a no brainer. I have to go my next client is here. Hugs and relax, everything will work itself out one way or another.”

  “Later.” She pressed end and bit her lip in uncertainty. Her runaway thoughts kept her on edge.

  Ailyn powered up her tablet while toying with her, now too cool to drink, latte and brought up her work email. For the next twenty minutes, she found and read the instructions for the trailer she’d be sharing with another teacher, and sighed over the one from Martin asking her on a date again. She hoped she wouldn’t have to file a complaint against him, since she’d rebuffed his advances multiple times. The idiot still didn’t get the hint he didn’t interest her on a personal level, and never would. Not that he wasn’t a handsome man. He was extremely attractive, just not her type. Her cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. She glanced down to see a pic of Eva’s face.

  “Hi, baby.”

  “Mama, Jerilynn wants me to spend the weekend with her. She’s having a sleepover, can I go?”

  “As long as your homework is done and you find out if you’re leaving with her from gymnastics or if I need to drop you off.”

  “Okay.”

  She waited a minute for her daughter to confer with her friend and finished reading her email.

  “She said I can just pack an overnight backpack and bring it to school with me. It’s her mom’s day to carpool us all.”

  “Sounds okay to me. Remember your homework comes first. I’ll see you tonight at home after jazz, tap and ballet.”

  “Yep, today I’m hanging out with Ashland in between my private lessons. She’s helping me learn the cheers for cheerleading, maybe I’ll make the competitive team this year at tryouts.”

  “Good, now go back to class.”

  “I’m going. I hate indoor soccer though. You should write me a note. This sport is dangerous for my dancing career.”

  “Nice try. Goodbye, Eveleen Izabelle Dominguez-Mahone.” She heard a sigh.

  “Yes, ma’am.” The line went dead.

  Speaking her daughter’s name brought her back to the past. Reliving the moments spent with Seth lazing in bed all day with nowhere else to go. They’d talked about any and everything in those special moments, including what they would name their kids. Seth’s grandmother Eveleen held a special place in his heart, as her Abuela Izabelle did. They had picked names for the time when they would have a boy and girl. They had fought over having a Seth Jr., where she vehemently objected, stating kids named after their parents struggled to find their own identity. She caved to using Seth as a middle name for a boy though. Seth gave her the wounded green eyed stare and eventually tried sexing her into changing her mind. When she moved away and had Eva on her own, she couldn’t think of a more perfect name for their daughter with olive skin, a mass of thick black curly hair and bright green eyes.

  Seth. Seth. Seth. She did an engine search of his name and spent the next hour scouring every link he appeared in. When she came across a picture of him and a date at last’s years annual award party, his striking looks in dress Class A Uniform stole her breath away. The date on his arms in a slinky barely there dress caused a fit of jealousy to course through her. From her perfectly placed wavy tresses, to her curvaceous body, long slender legs and pretty feet showcasing her Louboutin heels. It wasn’t the dress or the shoes that caused the angry wave of envy. Though no one should look so damn sexy without appearing trampy. The body language is what had her teeth on edge. The way he stood, how she hugged his waist showed they were intimate. He made love to that woman with those green eyes of his, leaving her fuming, wanting to claw the bitch’s eyes out.

  Taking a breath she tried to read the next but couldn’t get the image of him with the gorgeous brunette out of her mind. Was he still dating her? The thought caused her stomach to roll with nausea. She closed the window, tucked her tablet under her arm, edged her way back to the counter, and ordered another latte and egg and ham on a bagel with provolone cheese. She’d cooled off a tad by the time she’d returned to her seat and propped up her tablet to stare at the black screen.

  I will not stalk him online. I will not stalk him online. I will stalk him online.

  She bit into her sandwich and went back to the page with her search. Lt. Seth Mahone receives a Valor award from the state representative and a representative from their U.S. district congressman. The same woman stood next to him with a dazzling smile on her face. Seething with mistrust and hurt she whipped out her cell phone and sent a rapid text.

  I thought you told me you were single. What was today about? A journey to the past?

  I am single. What are you pissed off about this time?

  Really? Doesn’t look that way to me. Pictures don’t lie.

  I have work to do, Ailyn. If you’re going to be cryptic, I don’t have time to deal with you.

  Cryptic. You are all over the newspapers with the same woman at every event. If you’re married, I’m going to sever your balls from your body and shove them down your throat. Is that clear enough?

  She stared at the screen forever and blew out a frustrated breath. Men who were the epitome of sex on a stick only broke hearts in the end. The crushing jealousy grew exponentially in the absence of his next response. She didn’t have long to wait. An incoming call flashed across her screen.

  “Darlin’, I don’t even know where to begin to approach this. Christ woman, you’re giving me a migraine over nothing. First, I haven’t seen you in ten years. Second, earlier you made yourself loud and clear on where I fit in your life. My past is not your concern. Who I’ve dated or who I’ve fucked after you is also none of your concern, unless we’re heading to the clinic for tests so we can fuck bareback.”

  “You’re right your private affairs are not my concern. I don’t know what’s come over me.” She ignored the latter part of his reply.

  “I knew you weren’t unaffected even though you pretended to be. For the record, if I saw you with another man all dressed up, I’d want to bash his head in too. Alyssa was a longtime lover I let loose when she kept hinting about marriage.” Dead air passed between them.

  “Oh,” Ailyn mustered up.

  “Are my balls safe now? I rather like them where they are.” His voice lost the hard edge of steel.

  “Yes, of course.” Mortification surged within her. She poised her finger to hang up when his voice stopped her.

  “No need to be embarrassed. Finding our way back to one another is going to be one hell of a ride.”

  “Seth, don’t look too much into this.” Now he for sure knew she had online stalked him. She finished off her latte and swallowed down the rest of her sandwich.

  “Whatever helps you sleep better at night darlin’. I gotta go, I’ll call you tonight.” He disconnected the call.

  Ailyn pitched her trash, gathered her belongings and left the coffee shop. She climbed into the car and buckled up. As she pulled out her phone dinged. Stopping at a red light, she slid the bar to unlock her screen
and clicked on her message. An image of Seth fisting a thick long erection, a drop of pre-cum on the slit, filled the screen. The words something to look forward to underneath left her speechless. A car furiously honked behind her. She closed her dropped jaw and tossed her phone on the passenger seat. As she hit the gas, the angry driver swerved around her and cut in front of her.

  “Stay off your fucking phone, bitch,” he yelled into her open window.

  “Road rage much?” Her words fell on deaf ears as he’d sped off. What is it about people with no patience? It wasn’t like she stood at the red light for an entire turn.

  The rest of her trip home remained blessedly uneventful. No fear for life from raving lunatics. She eased into her driveway, clicked the fob to open the garage, slid on in and threw her car in park. She slipped her phone into her bag, grabbed her things and headed inside.

  Ailyn slipped off her heels, padded across the plush carpeted floor to her kitchen, opened the fridge and found the Holy Grail, her bottle of chilled white wine. Tucking the bottle under her arm, she moved to her mahogany cabinet and took out her favorite goblet, decorated in pink and black zebra stripes, made by a close friend.

  She slipped her hair out of the tight twist, letting the mass loose. Enjoying the quiet house, she carried her items to the back deck, and sat on the plush lounge chairs.

  Using her teeth, she pulled out the cork and gave herself a full glass of sin. After plugging the bottle, she set it on the table and took a much needed draw of heaven. Problems seemed to drift away whenever the fruity goodness graced her taste buds. She dug into her bag and extracted her phone. Taking a second sip, she let herself drool all over the inappropriate picture in the privacy of her home without feeling guilty.

  Thick. Long. Hard. She itched to run her finger along the angry vein down his engorged cock. She stared some more, put her phone down, peeked again and felt her face burn. Seth sent the erotic image to get under her skin, to make her want, to make her remember, to drive her insane. He sent the picture to remind her they had unfinished business. As if he knew she’d let him in her panties. And who was she kidding. A snort left her mouth. She swallowed a drag of wine and caved. Of course the man was totally getting into her panties.