CHAPTER 19
Ford
This seems right.
Actually, it’s more than that.
This seems real.
There’s no telling how many dates I’ve been on over my adult lifetime. Some were casual, destined to be a one-time thing. Sometimes, I would see the same woman for weeks.
Sometime over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed taking some of those women on double dates with Reeve and Leary.
And yes… For the most part, those were all enjoyable occasions.
Yet as I sit here now with Viveka tucked up against me in the round booth we’re occupying with Reeve and Leary, I can’t recall a single detail about any of those other times.
Fast forward twenty years into the future and I bet I won’t forget what Viv is wearing tonight—a light blue wraparound dress with a pair of strappy, cream-colored sandals that are at least four inches high. They put her almost eye level with me.
Almost.
Nor will I forget that she smells like spiced flowers and her hair is done in a twist at the back of her head that I’ll take great pleasure in releasing later. I won’t forget I had a decent steak but that her butternut squash ravioli was amazing, and we ended up switching plates.
I sure as shit won’t forget that for the entire evening, the conversation among our group was scintillating and without any lull. We laughed and laughed some more. Viveka fits right in with me, Leary, and Reeve. More importantly, they both really like her a lot.
There’s no denying I really like her a lot, too.
Leary is tucked into Reeve’s side, but she doesn’t seem all that comfortable as her belly barely fits in the booth. We’d moved from the restaurant portion into the bar area, choosing a half-moon-shaped booth to sit in and have an after-dinner drink.
Leary gives a nudge to Reeve. “I’m about ready to call it a night, honey. I’m tired, and my back is killing me.”
Reeve’s expression immediately clouds with worry as his hand goes to her belly. “You sure nothing else is wrong?”
Leary rolls her eyes and swats her husband’s hand away. “I’m tired, Reeve. I worked all day and then we had a two-hour meal, plus delicious cake that is sitting heavy in my stomach, and that’s because I ate my cake and yours, too. I can’t hang on Friday nights like I used to, and I’ve had about as much joy and frivolity as I can for the evening.”
“Well, it is your birthday, Leary,” I point out with a grin. “You should be able to leave when you want.”
“I knew there was a good reason you’re my best friend,” Leary says with a firm nod. She reaches across the table, and we fist bump.
Viv straightens up, pulling her body away from mine. She reaches forward and grabs a glass of champagne that’s half full. I had ordered that along with a sparkling grape juice for Leary, although we haven’t touched it much other than an initial birthday toast.
Taking the glass in hand, Viv holds it up toward Leary. Reeve and I scramble to grab our glasses and do the same.
Then Viv proves once again why she seems to fit within our group dynamic. She holds her glass up specifically to Leary. “Well, let me make this last toast. Not only to wish you a wonderful birthday but to thank you for including me. I don’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun with a group of friends.”
Leary doesn’t even bother with her glass of juice, but instead pushes away from Reeve to lean over in the booth. She and Viveka give each other a hug, and I can’t help but smile. I’d been filled in last night by Viv about her and Leary’s lunch yesterday. Assuming Viv and I stay on course, I think those two will have a very special friendship going forth.
Reeve and I both set our champagne glasses down without taking a sip. Neither one of us like the bubbly very much. Instead, we both reach for the highball glasses of scotch we had been nursing.
Reeve tosses his back without regard as he’s got a built-in designated driver with his pregnant wife.
I toss the rest of mine back as well, because tonight Viveka is staying at my apartment. The most dangerous thing we have to do is stumble to the elevator that will lead us up.
I was surprised and warmed when I asked Viveka to join us for Leary’s birthday dinner and she suggested having Frannie watch the dogs, so she could stay at my place for the evening. I know she’s been feeling guilty we’ve been sleeping at her house because of her dogs, but I don’t mind.
Sure, I miss my king-size adjustable bed and my overly large walk-in shower with multiple spray heads, but sleeping with Viv every night in her cramped little queen has its benefits.
When the women end their hug and pull apart, Reeve slides out of his end of the booth and holds his hand out to help Leary do the same. It’s painful to watch her struggle to get her girth out, and I try not to laugh. I’ve had no qualms with teasing her as she’s gotten bigger, but I’m going to give her a pass on her birthday.
I put my arm around Viv’s shoulder. “Are you ready to leave or would you like to have another drink?”
She grins and then nods at the champagne bottle that is still half full. “Let’s stay. I feel terribly guilty there’s all that champagne left over, plus I like the way the bubbly makes me feel.”
She scoots in closer to me and tips her head back to put her lips closer to my ear. “Besides… I can get really dirty and kinky when I’ve got a good buzz going on.”
Dear God… I did not need to hear that. For there is nothing more I would like to do than toss her over my shoulder and carry her out of here caveman style.
“Okay, you two lovebirds,” Leary says as she puts her purse over her shoulder. “I know that look, which means we are really leaving. Like now.”
Viv and I turn to her with silly grins as Reeve slips his arm around her waist. Leary inclines her head toward each of us. “Thank you again for a lovely birthday dinner. We should do this regularly.”
Reeve adds, “And preferably before the baby comes. I’ve heard a rumor that our social lives will be flushed down the toilet after the birth.”
I laugh at them because that’s probably true. “We’ll just come hang out at your house instead.”
Leary beams a brilliant smile, and I can tell she likes the idea very much. “That’s exactly what we’ll do.”
“But I’m not changing any diapers,” I tell her sternly. God knows I have to deal with enough shit at the dog shelter. I can’t say that was my favorite thing to do last weekend, but it didn’t suck spending time with Viv.
Reeve and Leary make their goodbyes, and I reach for the bottle of Verve Cliquot I had ordered. I tip it and fill Viv’s glass, setting the bottle back on the table. I pick up the flute and hand it to her. “Drink up, baby. I can’t wait to see what dirty things you’re going to do.”
She gives me a coy smile before taking a delicate sip of the champagne. She closes her eyes to savor it as she swallows, and that might be one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.
When she opens them, she says, “Seriously, though… Thank you for inviting me tonight. I felt like I would be an interloper, but it wasn’t like that at all.”
“Reeve and Leary both like you a lot. More importantly, they know I like you. It was a no-brainer that you would join us tonight.”
Viv nods and turns her body slightly to face me. “Tomorrow, I’m meeting my expert witness out at the Swan’s Mill site.”
I acknowledge that with a nod. The hearing is next week, and we’re both finishing up the evaluations. Four of my five experts have already been out there, and I’m waiting for their reports. My last one is also going to be out there tomorrow as well. I am not surprised Viv is going to meet hers there. I had the choice to do the same, but it wasn’t really required. Viv is going because she likes to be more hands on and she’s diligent in that way.
“And after that,” Viv continues, “Frannie wanted to know if I would do a girl’s night with her. Her husband’s out on the road, and I think she’s feeling a bit lonely.”
“That’s fine by me,” I reassure her with a smile. Although honestly, it kind of sucks. I’d much rather be with Viv, but I suppose I can entertain myself for one evening.
“But maybe Sunday we could do something together,” she suggests.
“How about golfing?” I suggest. The weather forecast looks spectacular for that day.
Viveka wrinkles her nose dramatically, but she’s just teasing. She gave me so much hell for my distaste in cleaning out the dog cages at the shelter that she’s going to give me a lot of grief about golfing.
But honestly, I didn’t mind volunteering with her because by the end of the day, I felt I had actually done something very good with my life by helping out. Who knows, maybe by the end of Sunday, Viv will enjoy the game of golf and it can become “our” thing.
I watch as Viv closes her eyes and sways back and forth in the seat next to me for just a moment. When her lids flutter open, she gives a dreamy sigh. “I love this song.”
To be honest, I hadn’t paid a bit of attention to the music that was being played. The bar area we’d moved to has a dance floor, which is where we had our booth sitting near the edge. I listen closely to the slow melody, recognizing Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight.
No doubt it’s a great song.
“Is this your brazen way of trying to get me out on the dance floor?” I tease as I start to automatically slide out of the booth.
She grins and accepts my hand as she follows me out. “I’ll only dance with you if you’re any good. I don’t want you to embarrass me.”
I laugh as I pull her toward the dance floor. “It’s kind of hard to screw up a slow dance, Viv.”
She fits perfectly into my arms as we sway back and forth to the music. Viv rests her head on my shoulder and hums along with the music. I press my cheek to her temple and smell her hair. Fuck, she smells good.
Neither one of us feel compelled in any way to maintain conversation. Instead, I concentrate on the strange proprietary sensation I’m feeling.
As if Viv belongs to me and only me.
When the song finishes its last notes and then moves into Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers, I lean back to look at Viveka. “Another dance?”
She shakes her head. “Let’s finish that champagne and then go up to your place.”
There was nothing solicitous or lewd about her suggestion, yet I feel it straight through to the tip of my cock.
Viv coming up to my place.
Viv in my bed. Knowing she absolutely belongs there.
I take her hand, and we wind our way through the dancers back toward our table. Just as we’re stepping off the dance floor, a woman steps into our path. I come to an abrupt halt, Viveka doing the same because I’m holding her hand.
For a brief moment, my mind goes absolutely blank. I recognize the woman, knowing her… well, carnally. I also know I should know her name. Like it should be coming to me at any moment.
But it’s perhaps the way the woman is glaring at me that is making my memory rebel.
“And what exactly is this?” the woman asks as she waves her hand in between Viveka and me. My hand involuntarily tightens on Viv’s, and I take a step to the side to stand in front of her.
Then it hits me. “Allison.”
“I’m surprised you remember my name,” she hisses, her glance going once to Viv, where she casts a sneering lip curl before looking back to me. “Are you two-timing me with this woman?”
In all my years of dating, which have included many breakups and many times I’ve had to kiss off a woman who couldn’t take no for an answer, I’ve never been confronted with this brand of crazy. It’s been well over a week since I’ve even received a text from Allison, and I had assumed she’d moved on.
In fact, I actually stare at her expectantly, waiting for her to start laughing and telling me she’s just joking.
But she continues to stare daggers at me.
Finally, I’m forced to say, “Allison… You and I aren’t dating, so I can’t be two-timing you. It’s been over a month and a half since our last date.”
“You never officially broke up with me, Ford,” she snaps.
“Allison,” I say gently. “You and I are not dating and are not a couple. We went out a few times, the last one being over six weeks ago. I didn’t ask you out again. Now, you have continued to text me in a casual, friendly way a few times. But given I haven’t asked you out again, surely you understand what that means.”
Even though what I said is the absolute truth and I feel confident I handled things well, it sounds kinda shitty when I say it out loud.
“You never told me you weren’t interested in me,” she accuses.
Okay… now I’m starting to get pissed, because I shouldn’t have to be dealing with this. “When I stopped calling you or responding, you would think that would be a hint.”
Allison gasps as if I had just slapped her across the face. “You’re an asshole, Ford.”
I take a deep breath, rubbing the bridge of my nose for a moment before I say, “I’m sorry you feel that way. And I’m sorry if you felt I should have been doing something more affirmative to make things clear to you. But so there’s no misunderstanding, again I’m sorry… but I am not interested in going out with you again.”
Allison’s face turns bright red with what I think might be anger, and I brace for maybe her next level of crazy. Instead, her gaze cuts to Viv, and she says, “Honey… I wouldn’t waste your time with this one.”
Allison then spins on her heel and marches off through the bar. I watch her until I lose sight, dragging out the inevitable moment when I have to turn to face Viveka.
“Well, that was enlightening,” Viv says with twinkling eyes and an amused smirk.
“Normally, I would laugh that entire encounter off,” I admit sheepishly. “But the truth is, I’m embarrassed you saw that. I don’t want you to judge me based on that.”
Viveka’s eyebrows shoot up and she steps into me, placing one hand on my chest right over my heart. “I would never do that, Ford. You’ve been completely upfront with me, and I don’t have any expectations—”
“Maybe you should,” I cut her off.
She blinks a few times before slowly drawling, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, Viv, that surely you have to know this is different to me. You are different to me.”
She tilts her head as she listens.
“I put my law license on the line for you,” I tell her. “And I never gave it a moment’s thought. To this day, I don’t have one regret about doing it. I’ve spent almost every night with you for the last two weeks as well as the weekends. I’ve invited you into my close circle of friends, and I sat through an unbelievably horrid meal with your mother. I think maybe you should have expectations of me. I think I’ve given you enough that you have to know this is not casual, and it is not temporary. At least not to me.”
Viv’s mouth opens slightly. She just stares at me with wide eyes.
Processing.
For a very long moment.
Finally, she says one word in a breathy voice. “Ford?”
I bend my face closer to hers. “Yeah?”
“Here’s an expectation,” she murmurs as her hand trails down my chest, over my stomach, stopping just at my belt. “I’d like for you to take me upstairs right now so we can explore this in a little more depth.”
“You know if we go upstairs, there’s not going to be a lot of talking,” I say with a lewd smile.
“I know,” she replies. “And I’m completely okay with that.”