AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, a juvenile grizzly.”
“There’s a lot to unpack here and for the first time in my life I’m at a loss for words so I’m going to get out of the car and walk around to open your door and then I’m going to walk you home. If you want to kiss me goodnight, I won’t stop you because I can’t remember ever wanting anything more than I want to kiss you right now, but the ball is in your court. No worries. All right?”
“All right.”
“Good.”
I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb from the SUV. I pull in a deep breath of cool night air and walk around the car to her door. I pull the handle and open it, holding out a hand for her and I feel my heart swell in my chest when she does not hesitate to put her small hand in mine. I’m surprised to feel callouses on her hands like I have on mine. This delicate woman has known hard work and I can appreciate that.
But there’s also something deep inside that makes me want to ensure she never has to deal with the hard stuff ever again.
“I had a lovely time,” I tell her as she pulls a key from her handbag and unlocks the front door before turning to me. “I’d like to see you again.”
“I’d like that too,” she says before pressing up on her toes to put herself closer to me. She raises her palm and gently places it against the bristles on my cheek and leans in further, pressing her soft lips to mine.
I wrap my arms around her and kiss her back. Zelda whimpers against my mouth and I swipe my tongue across her lower lip. She opens for me, and I get my first taste of her sweetness. And like a drug addict, I know from just one hit, I’ll never get enough of her.
I pull back before we cross a line she’s not ready for and press a kiss to her cheek.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
And with that, she turns and walks into her house, quietly closing the door behind her but miraculously leaving so much possibility open to us.
I jump in my car and head back down her hill and into town to my hotel. I climb in bed and before I fall asleep, I think of nothing but Zelda and her sweetness.
Chapter 6
Zelda
SPAGHETTI
I close the door behind me and lean against it, pressing my fingertips to my lips. I haven’t kissed a man since I was younger than my youngest daughter.
But I liked it.
There’s something about Court that just puts me at ease. I feel safe with him and I haven't felt safe in a very long time. I’m content, maybe complacent, but I’ve never been safe. Not since I left my parents’ home when I was pregnant with Aubrey.
But when Court said he wanted to kiss me more than he’s ever wanted anything, I wanted to give it to him. I wanted to kiss him, so I did.
I can still taste the red wine and pasta he had for dinner and it’s such an intimate thing to know about someone—what they taste like—that I smile a secretive smile to myself and then head off to bed.
Things with Court are fun and safe and he’ll leave in a little bit when he’s done filming his show so there’s nothing to worry about. I can just have some fun and leave it at that.
“You know I fucking hate spaghetti!”
“I know,” I whisper as he throws his plate against the wall. I pray it doesn’t wake Aubrey and Parker. I’ve already tucked them in for the night. “I’m sorry! I was just so tired.”
“Tired?” he snarls. “You think you’re tired after sitting on your fat ass all day? I’m tired after a hard day of work. You’re just lazy.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” I cry as I clutch my baby to my chest. He won’t hit me if I’m holding the baby.
But the air whistles and I whisper, “No,” as he backhands me so hard across the face I fall to my knees, making the baby cry. I don’t know how I manage to keep Merritt in my arms, but I do.
“Shut her up!” he screams. “Or I will.”
“No!” I cry. “I promise. Just let me put her in her room.” I can’t let him take Merritt. If he touches her in this state, I don’t know what will happen. I just know that I have to protect my baby.
