I’ve been in Colorado with Darin for three days. I hadn’t realized how much I missed his friendship. We have been enjoying a marvelous week together. Strangely I hadn’t thought about Enzo until he shot me a text inquiring why he hadn’t heard from me. I suppose I have been busy at the office working with Linda and Mable, but I have been appreciating Darin’s company as well. He’s cooked for me the past few nights and we have curled up with Beans between us on the couch to watch all the great movies from the 1980s. My favorite being St. Elmo’s Fire.
I return home in three days and I can genuinely say I’m not ready to leave. Back home, Eddie is driving me nuts as he and Claire prepare for their wedding. I wish he could see her for the wretched troll twat she honestly is, but he doesn’t. In a month that poor bitch will be my sister. I would almost demand Eddie transfer me to this office to get me away from her but then that would mean leaving behind the home I grew up in. The only home I have ever known. Although if I have to be around Claire living in that home with me, I might make the sacrifice and move out.
Linda is requesting that Darin take me out tonight to some art showing for one of her acquaintances. Art isn’t really my thing but it will be nice to go out. Not that I haven’t enjoyed staying in with Darin.
Things have been so good between us. It almost feels as if we are a couple. We get up and go to work, eat lunch, and have dinner together. Putting in my gold hoop earrings, I finish off my look. For the gallery, I am wearing my red wrap sweater paired with my black and white polka dot pencil skirt and my red peep toe heels.
When I come out of the bedroom, Darin is wearing his dark grey suit that I love him in. It fits him so snug. He’s in the kitchen refilling Beans’ water bowl.
“Hey,” I greet him even though I was with him only an hour ago.
His mouth opens and closes. “I don’t think I can take you out looking like this.”
“What? Why?” I smooth my hands over my skirt not seeing the problem.
“I’m…speechless. You look too damn good, Faye.” He crosses the room and when he approaches me there is this tension crackling between us. To be honest, I’ve felt it since I arrived here.
I swallow when his eyes land on my lips. His rugged fingers tilt my chin upward. “You don’t know the things I want to do to you right now, Faye.”
I jerk my head to the side. “Darin,” I whisper his name as my belly pools with warmth.
“Faye, I want to kiss you.”
I suck in a breath. “What, no one in Colorado hasn’t fallen into your bed yet?” I try to tease but he flinches as though I have slapped him. “I’m sorry. It’s just.” I wince not wanting to sound harsh and disbelieving but his is Darin. The man I have wanted for years. The man I have watched screw so many women in the past.
“You don’t believe that I could want you. That I have wanted you for years. Faye, I’ve thought of nothing but you for the past seven years. You drive me crazy in these damns skirts.” His hands go around to my backside and he squeezes my bottom as he steps into me, pinning me against the wall. “One kiss, Faye. One kiss and you’ll know.”
“We can’t. Eddie…work…Enzo….” I trail off running out of excuses as his hungry eyes narrow in on me.
The pad of his thumb rubs over my red lipstick.
“Stop making excuses and shutting me down. Forget the world right now. It’s only you and me here. One kiss and I promise you won’t be thinking of anything but me.”
My knees knock together as his lips brush across my cheek. “Darin…”
“Faye, you know you want to. Stop holding back.” His gaze locks onto mine and there is so much sincerity behind his words. He’s right. I do want this.
“Okay,” I whisper, giving in. How can I turn him down? This is all I have ever wanted.
“Good,” he says in a raspy tone. His palms slide to my hips, holding me in place. His minty breath washes over the tip of my nose as he leans down. Then those lips I have thought about so many times come down on mine. His tongue brushes across the seam of my mouth and I part my lips, inviting him in.
On instinct, my hands go to him, pulling his body further into mine. Our tongues sweep over one another getting lost in the taste and sensual sensations. Hiking up my skirt he hitches my leg up on his hip, nearly ripping the fabric but I don’t care. As I pull back to catch my breath his teeth graze me, nibbling my bottom lip. It’s so damn erotic.
Darin’s erection is pressing into me but he puts my leg down and smooths my skirt back into place.
“Let’s go,” he says going to the door leaving me stunned. That’s it? He’s going to kiss me stupid then walk away?
I’m terrified to move; my panties are so damn wet and I can scarcely breathe.
He looks back over his shoulder at me wearing a smirk and my lipstick. “You coming?”
“Almost,” I let out on a shaky breath.
In the car, he keeps his hand gripped on my thigh as though he is anxious I am going to bail out the door. I don’t know what happened back there but I want more. So much more of that in my life. I like Enzo but when we kiss it doesn’t feel like that.
I feel so confused. I look over at Darin as he parks the car.
“What are we doing here?”
“Going to the showing. What else?”
“No. I mean you and me, Darin? What is this?”
“What do you want it to be, Faye?”
I look down at his hand all possessive on my leg. “I don’t know.
He removes his touch and I miss it instantly. “Well until you know, I’ll be waiting.”
“Darin…that isn’t fair. I can’t ask you…” I shake my head.
“No. You were right you know. It took you meeting someone to give me the push I needed to pursue this. It wasn’t fair of me but, Faye, I care about you. If your happiness rests in his hands I want that for you. It will suck but I only want to see you happy. I won’t kiss you again until you ask me to.”
I offer him a weak smile not sure how to respond.
“Hey,” he says pulling my eyes back to him. “Let’s just enjoy tonight…the rest of your trip. You can go home and see where your heart leads you. Whether it’s to his door or back to me.”
The rest of the night Darin played the perfect gentleman and the next two days he was so busy going out on jobs we didn’t get to talk. He didn’t even get to drive me to the airport; Linda and her girlfriend, Jen, are giving me a lift.
“So, what’s the deal with you and the boss man?” Linda questions when I get in the car.
“I don’t know what you mean?”
She smirks at her girlfriend then eyes me in the rearview mirror. “Well, to be honest I thought he was gay with your brother but he told us that he was dating you. But when you got here you guys weren’t all over each other so what’s the deal? I see the way you stare after each other.”
I bite back laughter at the comment about him and Eddie but I don’t know what to make of him telling them we were a thing. “It’s complicated.”
“Right. Well some advice.”
Before she can say more Jen cuts her off. “This is none of your business. Leave them alone.”
“Oh, shut it. You know I say what I think.” Jen rolls her eyes and offers me an I’m sorry face.
I shrug it off. “So, what’s this advice?”
“Make him work for it. Darin comes off as a man who always gets his way.”
“You got that right.” I grin.
We arrive at the drop off point and Linda smiles at me. “I’d tell you to hurry back, but I don’t want you taking my job.”
“No worries there, I love Tennessee. It was nice meeting you both. Thanks for the lift.”
“Anytime, girl.”
**
I go into the apartment hoping to surprise Enzo when he gets home from his session. He’s been wanting to take pictures of me. Tonight, he is going to get his wish but the photos aren’t for him. They will be for me. I feel the best I ever have and I feel like celebrating myself.
I haven’t seen Enzo since I have been back from my trip. He’s been busy with his work and I suppose I’m feeling guilty about that kiss with Darin. Licking my lips, I want to cry. I had always dreamt of kissing him. It was amazing. Life changing, earth shattering, sweep me off my feet kiss. He’s in Colorado though and my life is here. He’s been so busy we have only shared a few brief text messages. I can’t stop thinking about him though. Deep down I know I should end things with Enzo but I would be a fool not to try and make things work with him. He’s here. Darin isn’t.
I hear movement in the bedroom and I call out, “Enzo, is that you?”
No one answers me. When I walk into the bedroom my mouth drops. Claire my fucking brother’s fiancé is in Enzo’s bed, legs spread fucking herself with a purple glass dildo. Not only that she has a camera pointed on herself, filming it.
“Oh my God!” I screech. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Her eyes widen in shock when she realizes I am standing here taking in the show.
She pulls the comforter up over her naked body.
“Faye! Please, don’t tell Eddie. It’s a surprise for him. It’s my wedding gift to him.”
“What?”
“Well, um…when you brought Enzo to the engagement party he mentioned he was a photographer and I called him to set this whole thing up.”
“You expect me to buy that lame story?” I shake my head and look away from her.
“Please, Faye. Promise me? This is a misunderstanding is all. I swear it,” she begs.
“I don’t know. I need to think on it.”
I turn on my heels and leave her there in his bed. I’m not even upset about Enzo. I am mad for Eddie. He loves her. This if it isn’t what she says will crush him and how in the hell will I tell him?
I go out to my car and lean against it, waiting for Enzo. Minutes later, Claire is hauling ass to her car.
**
“My future sister-in-law was in your bed fucking herself with a dildo and videotaping it. Explain that to me, please!”
“Claire’s my ex-girlfriend. We broke up a year ago when I found out she was dating your brother. We used to make movies together. I guess she thought she would surprise me, I don’t know what she was thinking, but I don’t want her.” I give him a you have got to be kidding me look. “I’m not ashamed of liking what I like in the bedroom. You want honesty so I am giving it to you. I met her through a job three years ago. I thought I loved her but I was wrong. When I found out about your brother I told her to choose and she chose him. I pursued you to get to her. It was terrible of me and I’m sorry.”
“You knew who I was all this time? When you called me Faye when I slept with you that first time…” I shake my head feeling so dumb.
“I guess seeing us together made her miss me. Hell, I don’t know, but I don’t want her. I’m falling for you, Faye. Please, give me a second chance.”
“I can’t, Enzo. You dated that bitch that I hate. You used me…I have to tell Eddie.” God, this will crush him.
“I’m so sorry, Faye.”
I nod as tears pool in the corners of my eyes. I feel so torn. I’m not crying for me. I mean, man does it suck but I have my answer. I belong with Darin. Poor Eddie. I sigh. At least Enzo has the decency to feel bad about his actions.
**
It’s been two weeks since I caught Claire in Enzo’s bed but I haven’t been able to bring myself to tell Eddie. I told Darin. He told me to keep quiet that he would handle it. He knows how my brother is and I guess hearing bad news from someone on the other side of the country is better than hearing it face to face. At least he can’t punch Darin from so far away.
Things have been so quiet at the office. Eddie has been buried in his work and he has barely spoken to me. It almost makes me think Claire told him some crazy story and he is mad at me. As far as I can tell the wedding is still on. My bridesmaid gown was delivered today and I received a text from Darin that said he couldn’t wait to walk me down the aisle. As much as I am looking forward to seeing him, I’m not sure I can allow my brother to go through with this wedding.
I haven’t heard from Claire which is so unlike her. The wedding is too close for her to be so distant. I was sure she would be pulling something stupid to make me look bad. But there has been nothing.