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The kiss ended. Mutually. And Gavin spoke first. “As much as I want to continue… well beyond a kiss. Let’s go and release our demons or dilemmas, whatever you wanna call them. Before we go creating more. I kind of forced you into giving me your address. I didn’t realize it. So, let’s get out of here until you are the one issuing the invite.”
He never ceased to surprise the hell out of her. Oh yes. She would have had sex with him right then and there. In the foyer. Anywhere in the house. And she would have regretted it later. Not that she should. But it happened to be in her DNA somehow. She survived on predictable and safe and anything that strayed from that sent her into a tailspin. And Gavin recognized it. And he not only accepted it, but he strived to pacify anything with the potential to trouble her.
“I’m ready,” she said.
Taking her keys out of the bowl on the foyer table, she followed him out and locked the door. Shoving the key into her pocket, she rounded the shrubs to the circular driveway and got her first glimpse at the Harley. Shiny. Lots of chrome. He straddled the seat and gazed at her.
What should she do? Straddle the seat behind him? What about helmets? Didn’t people wear motorcycle helmets? If they didn’t, they most certainly should.
Not that she ever had Hunter wear a helmet for anything. But he didn’t ride motorcycles. She didn’t grow up as a kid in a society where children wore helmets when they rode their bikes or roller-skated. But motorcycles. Hunter… well, Hunter wouldn’t be on a motorcycle.
“Don’t you think it best if we wear helmets?” she asked.
“Lanie, there’s no helmet law in Florida. Did you wear one when you rode your bike as a kid? I’m not trying to minimize the dangers of it.
“Let’s go,” she blurted before she could talk herself out of it.
And they did. He had her put her arms around him, but not encumber him or his movements. It didn’t take long before she rested her palms on his thighs as he encouraged and leaned into his motions.
She breathed in the salt air. The sun heated her face and her shoulders. He stopped them at a little beachside grill. They sat on the deck and had a beer and lunch.
When he returned her to her house, he walked her to the door but made no move to follow her inside. He divulged, “I won’t lie and say I’m not slightly or incredibly intimidated learning you live in the Sunset Palms development. I honestly don’t want to not find you in a bed waiting for me after our shifts tonight. Come to my place. I’ll give you a key. It’s not what you’re used to, but I’m not ashamed of it.”
Without hesitation, she defended or apologized for her lavish address. Before recognizing that he made assumptions because of it. He became guilty of what she to fell victim too— social stigmas. “Of course, I will. And don’t be intimidated. By me… never. This is all my ex. I was a part of it. A huge part of it. But he had the career. And I have been wishy-washy especially about the reception. Not because of you so much as myself. I do need to stop falling into stereotypes. And if me being with you is a totally opposite of the stereotypical spectrum I’ve been placed in, you shouldn’t place me in another one. I don’t want to be typecast by everyone else anymore. This is my life.”
His eyes shot to the ground, and he chuckled. “You amaze me. You are unlike anyone I have ever met. And it is refreshing and captivating.” His arm snaked around her waist and tugged her hard against him. His lips hovered over hers. “The roles reversed. And you’ve brought them full circle. Touché.”
Closing her eyes, she breathed him in. As much of him as she could. His breath. His warmth. His words.
Age nor financial standing mattered. His lips touched hers. Barely. He held them at hers and her body jolted. As did his. The air around them electrified. Neither of them moved. They simply became consumed with one another. He caressed her arms creating a multitude of sensations within her. Tenderness. Desire.
He whispered, “I’m outta here. This was your marital home. Hunter’s home. I don’t want to make any mistakes. See you in a few. Pack a bag. I don’t want you to use not having anything you need as an excuse to get out of it. It’s been too long since I’ve had you underneath me.”
* * *
Tuesday nightat the bar whizzed by. The popular topic of discussion between the staff— the inaugural theme. And she couldn’t escape Gavin’s smile, his casual caresses, or his whispered promises. Her legs were jelly.
Everything about him seized her attention, her awareness, and her entire being. They bounced from serious discussions about the bar into bouts of joking and teasing one another. She had never had so much fun. At least recently she hadn’t.
Finishing up with wiping down the bar and stools, she went to the back and found Gavin doing his inventory report. “I’m the last one here. I can just stay and wait for you until you’re finished,” she suggested.
Looking up from his iPad, he crunched his lips together and frowned. “Absolutely not. I won’t be long, but get to my place, take off your shoes, and relax. There’s some white wine in the fridge.” Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a keyring with a single key attached. “I’ll text you the address. It’s a patio home. A middle unit. When you’re driving in and get to my section, I’m the second one. I’d have you pull in from behind and park in the garage, but it’s harder to locate that way. So go in the front.”
“If you’re sure,” she remarked.
Placing the iPad on a box, he stroked his fingers up her neck and into her hair. “Most definitely I am.” He kissed her tenderly. An ache in her center formed.
He walked her to her car, as always, and after he watched her open his text and tap the address open in her maps, he leaned in and kissed her again. It didn’t feel right to be going to his house for the first time without him. She left the parking lot and followed the directions her phone provided. He didn’t live but a few miles from Raphael’s. Not that she spent a lot of time in the area, but from what she knew, he lived in a popular, trendy area.
Driving into a nicely manicured entry indicating ‘Pineapple Grove”, the road took her through a small preservation section before it opened to homes. They were rather cookie-cutter, but recent builds and all well-kept. After a few more turns, she stopped in front of a group of four connected homes. His had a bright teal door which held a large, pretty, beachy wreath. Definite woman touches.
He said he had never been married, but he probably lived with a woman or two over the years. Though he said he’d never been serious about anyone. She hadn’t pried into his past relationships because she didn’t care to discuss hers. They enjoyed the ‘now’ with each other. No need to disturb what they currently had with talk of the past or the future.
Lizards ran in every direction as she strolled up the paved path to the front door. Using the key he gave her, she unlocked the door and let herself in. Light from a lamp on the hallway table greeted her along with the strong scent of cinnamon. To her right she saw a short hallway leading to a bathroom with probably a bedroom off to the right.
She went straight into a nice, open living-kitchen area. Placing her overnight bag on the floor, she scanned the space, taking it all in. There were pieces of him everywhere. Not as in he lived like a slob. No. Completely opposite. Everything was clean and tidy. He had a huge television mounted on the far wall. Underneath it he had a rustic piece of furniture holding numerous framed photos. Going closer, she bent on one knee and studied them. She smiled as she put faces with the individuals and the stories that he told her.
Easy enough to conclude that no other woman besides his sisters probably assisted in decorating his home. She knew he had three younger sisters and several nieces and nephews. He did however have a touching photo of his parents sitting together on a porch swing. They barely spoke about their parents, but the realization that he lost his father during his teen years resonated with her. She couldn’t imagine how difficult that had been. And with him being the oldest and the son, he took on the weight of caring for his mother and his sisters. Wow. She really needed to get her head out of her ass. She had a pretty cushy life.
