Chapter Five – Max
I started playing the part of the friendly neighbor whenever I saw Lucinda outside. She’d smile politely but always resisted the opportunity to talk to me in depth, running to the apartment or her car as fast as she could. That happened for a few days until she saw her landlady sitting with Riley having cookies on the porch while I mowed the lawns of both houses. I was rolling the lawnmower over to my yard when Lucinda glanced at me.
“Lucinda. There you are. This is Riley. She lives next door. I don’t think that you’ve met,” Violet told her as Lucinda stopped and looked down at my daughter. I started the motor but I couldn’t miss the beautiful smile that Riley gave her before she offered her a cookie. It was as if she was working from my script. I saw Lucinda take the cookie and drop to the steps slowly as Violet said something to her with a smile, making Riley laugh. The lawn was on the small side, so I finished quickly before walking into my house for a cold beer.
I made my way back to the porch where the women sat, wearing the same damp shirt. I looked Lucinda over. “You’ve met, haven’t you?” Violet asked as Lucinda shot me a nervous look.
“Yeah, he helped me with a box when I first moved in. How are you?” Her smile was bright, but I could see something in her eyes as she bit into the cookie that Riley gave her.
“Doing well,” I replied, looking around the group. “You met my angel?” Lucinda met my gaze as she nodded. I could see that Riley had already charmed her. I smiled as I leaned over, getting my daughter’s attention. “Is there a cookie for me, Ri-Ri?”
“Of course there is, Daddy. There’s always a cookie for you.” Riley beamed at me as she handed me two of the chocolate chip cookies that Violet made for us. I took them and winked at her as she giggled. “You get four since you helped with the grass. You must be so hungry, Daddy.” That was Riley, always looking out for me. I grinned and thanked her before biting into one, looking at Lucinda as she shot me a curious glance.
Violet invited us in for dinner and Riley jumped up to run inside. This was a regular thing. Lucinda stood and looked at me with a small smile. “She’s so cute, Max. One of the sweetest little girls that I’ve ever met.”
“That she is,” I agreed as I leaned against the patio with a grateful smile. “Are you going to join us for dinner?”
“It’s hard to resist her cooking,” Lucinda admitted with a small shrug. “I have a small kitchen, but I’m not all that good with a stove.” She met my eyes. “Not like you, it seems.”
“I do just fine. You should join us for dinner sometime,” I told her as she looked into the house.
“Where’s her mom?” Lucinda asked softly. I let a sad look cross my face.
“We’re divorced. There’s a custody battle going right now, but I won’t let anyone take my daughter away. She means the world to me,” I explained in a soft voice, not faking my emotions. “I don’t think that her mother is good for her.”
Sympathy crossed Lucinda’s face as she formed a small O with her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m going to fight,” I assured her. I heard Riley call my name. “Let’s go.”
I brought Riley home for a bath after the dinner of fried chicken and mashed potatoes. She hugged both women good night. My daughter was already attached to our neighbour. She spent most of the time with Lucinda talking about dolls and her favorite shows. I had to drag her away – I saw the longing look in Lucinda’s eyes as she watched us leave.
I got Riley bathed and dressed before we watched a movie as I worked. It was the usual routine, but I found myself looking towards Lucinda’s window every so often, noticing the blinds were open. She wasn’t there, though.
I invited Lucinda to breakfast the following morning as I stepped out to get the paper. She was just coming home from a run, all sweaty and sexy, blushing. She told me that she was busy. I watched her run around to the entrance of her apartment, admiring her ass in her tight pants. I went back in and fixed some pancakes before running Riley over to Mom’s so I could see some patients.
Riley ran over to say hello to Violet when we got home that night. I noticed Lucinda in the kitchen, working on something. “Lucinda is making a roast for dinner if you’d like to join us. It’s plenty big enough for all of us,” Violet offered. I smiled down at her.
“You’re going to spoil us,” I teased her as I looked inside the house. Lucinda had said that she wasn’t a great cook, but it smelled delicious from out here.
“I taught her how to make it. I think the girl needs a little encouragement. She’s a bit… skittish,” Violet confided, looking down as Riley played with a doll at the corner of the porch.
I’d noticed the same thing. She was a striking and beautiful woman but seemed to withdraw from anyone if they got too close. I knew that there was passion for life in there somewhere, but I just didn’t know how to bring it out. “Yeah. I can see that.”
“I think Riley makes her drop her walls a bit. Kids have a way of doing that. Stay for dinner and let Lucinda relax a little bit. I promise it will be good.” I nodded and we went inside. Riley hugged Lucinda and helped to set the table.
Violet and Lucinda plated the roast and scooped the vegetables into a large bowl. I decided that Lucinda wasn’t lying about not cooking a lot: she hesitated with a lot of the steps. She blushed as she came to the table.
I complimented Lucinda on the meal, as did Riley, telling her how good the food she made tasted. That earned us a smile from Lucinda. We enjoyed the meal – she sipped a glass of wine and seemed to relax. Violet carried the conversation, asking Riley all about her day with Grandma and making Lucinda smile a few times.
We finished up, so I offered to help with the dishes. Violet told me that she’d do them and to get that pretty baby to bed. I nodded and thanked them both for a lovely night before walking home with Riley.
The night was normal as far as appearances go, but my mind kept wandering to Lucinda. She wasn’t giving in to me as easily as other women had and, even with Riley at my side, she seemed to pull away from me. I needed something to get this ball rolling: a dinner where I could break her down. Something away from my daughter. I wanted her to see me as an option for something romantic. Someone who would sweep her off her feet.
I knew that there was more to Lucinda than just her gorgeous body. I knew she had secrets that she was hiding and that they scared her away from living life to the fullest. I’d never know them if we didn’t get to know one another on our own. I needed to form a bond with her.
I knew that I could want more than just an act with her. I wanted to know what Lucinda feared and be the one to make her feel safe again. I wanted her to want me like I wanted her, acknowledging the fact that I hadn’t slept with anyone since meeting her. Granted, I had Riley every night, but I wasn’t sure if I would sleep with someone else even if I hadn’t.
I tucked her into her own bed that night and stared blankly at the sports scores on the TV from my bed. I knew that Riley was staying with my aunt and her ten-year-old daughter tomorrow night. I’d get to Lucinda then. I’d make her dinner and get her to open up to me.
I looked over to see her window open tonight – that damn light filling her room. I wanted to see her soon on my own terms… where I could touch her and break down her walls. I knew that if I kissed her and we made it to my bed, Lucinda would be mine. Few women wanted to leave once they found themselves there, but I was going to offer her more to help both of us.
I sensed that Lucinda needed someone close to her since she kept herself so guarded. I could be that person. Riley could get further into her heart. I closed my eyes and thought about Lucinda the past few times I’d seen her, knowing that she felt something for me as well. I just needed to get past the fear in her eyes.