My Number One: Kasha & Knox (20 page)

That evening Jezebel worked later than usual. There wasn’t much to do, but she kept finding different ways to revamp her Excel spreadsheets. After she exhausted that batch, she turned to Access. She often lost herself in the world of databases. Her stomach grumbled and she tried to condition her mind into believing that food was the least of her worries.

Once 7:15 rolled around, she stopped kidding herself. Was this really necessary? The truth of the matter: Work had little to do with her delay. Call it excuse, fear or any other phrase. It boiled down to one word, a name to be exact: Aidan. There was no way to justify her fear of Aidan. She eventually packed up and headed out.

The evening air dashed across Jezebel’s face. She inhaled; not entirely enticed by the city fumes, but somewhat glad to be outdoors. She contemplated spending more time outdoors when she got home. Perhaps she’d throw something on the grill, and have a glass of wine. Yes . . .

As she was strolling up the block, preparing to walk past Aidan’s office, her body tensed. And for a moment she paused. Her head turned sideways and she peered at a dim light. The thick curtain shaded whatever was going on inside. Nothing else prompted her to draw near. There weren’t any voices. No one called out her name. She certainly had no business snooping around someone else’s domain. Yet she felt compelled. Her right hand reached for the knob. She turned, tried to push and pull, but it was locked. Feeling intrusive and nonsensical, the snooper spun around and walked off, knowing that she might need a time out.

“Jezebel?”

When she heard Aidan’s voice her knees nearly buckled. Did he hear me? Did he see me? Dear Lord, I’m an idiot! She paced forward, marching one foot forward at all times and pretending that he didn’t exist, although it was a difficult task, considering he was right behind her. Loud thumps overtook the silence until she realized that it was the pounding of her heart.

When he drew nearer, more than a far off sound, Jezebel spun around.

“Oh . . . hi Aidan.” The words were both full of air and full of crap.

“Are you okay? What are you doing out so late?” His arm locked onto her upper bicep.

“I had some reports to complete. You know, end of month stuff,” she blurted out, feeling silly for lying to a stranger.

“For the second week?” He was smirking.

Her lips tightened as she commanded them to stay serious, angry even. She gazed up at his eyes and lost it. Laughter burst out, trailing into the night.

“Were you trying to avoid me, Jezebel?”

“Were you trying to stalk me, Aidan?”

“Actually, I didn’t want to go south and have to head back up to the airport.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Oh no. My sister’s flying in from Wisconsin before she heads down to North Carolina. Her flight was delayed, so I have to wait it out.”

“Okay.”

“I was planning on getting a bite before I headed up to Philly International. Do you wanna join me?”

Only then did Jezebel realize that her stomach was still growling. She could definitely use a meal. “Sure, why not? Do you know where you’re going?”

“Not really. I was heading down to the Riverfront.”

“I can meet you there.”

“Ride with me, please?”

Jezebel didn’t want to get into his car. There was something about the way he said “ride with me”. A naughty voice within dared her to ride with him, ride on him . . . ride him, period! She nodded, afraid of answering with words. No telling what might have flown out of her mouth.

They sat at the bar of the quaint new Brown’s and Jezebel removed her jacket, placing it on a chair along with her handbag. Aidan reached to the seat of her chair and pulled forward, closer. She was already swooning, although alcohol had nothing to do with it. Jezebel couldn’t handle her liquor, but didn’t want him to know.

“Can I get a sweet wine?” she asked the bartender.

“Anything specific?” the guy responded. His eyes planted on her, while Aidan’s fingers were mating with hers.

“Moscato would be fine. Can I get an order of boneless wings too?”

“That’s all you want?” Aidan leaned further into her space.

“What ever happened to maintaining personal space?”

“We never made that pact,” he teased.

“I thought it was a universal order.”

“Please Jezebel, I’m Aidan. Let’s forget about what we did or didn’t do in the past. Can you give me that much?” Clever foggy blue eyes searched her soul. He was reaching for everything she kept hidden, while commanding it be gone.

Jezebel had to let his words marinate. Was he really trying to put her under manners? Was Aidan expecting her to forget about everything that made her Jezebel, the experiences that shaped her personality?

“I see the wheels turning, Jez. All I’m trying to say is just give me a chance. Okay?” His voice was smooth, but his irises sparkled beneath recessed lighting. And although she didn’t answer, Jezebel allowed Aidan to touch her arm. They naturally drifted together.

The restaurant was dimly lit, a perfect setting for lovers. Jezebel smiled at the thought.

Aidan reached for her again, taking hold of her fingers and placing them against his lips.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” Every inch of her flowed with his scent and sight.

“I want to do more than seduce your body. It’s your mind I’m after,” he answered.

“Forgive me if I come across as a skeptic. I’ve never been wowed or swept off my feet.”

“Don’t you believe in love at first sight?” He was still in possession of her fingers and had been kissing them in between words. When he pulled away, she felt like something was missing.

“Love at first sight is a pleasing theory.” Jezebel thought through her answer. She was afraid to admit that she hoped for love at first sight, or love at all.

What if she decided to hope and got her heart broken?

What if the belief tricked her, and even came out of her mouth?

What if she started to lose control over such erratic emotions and lost the fight?

What if this love turned into heartbreak?

These questions plagued her mind. Her heart sped up. A single teardrop rolled down her cheek before she could stop it. Aidan noticed. He wasted no time in wiping it away.

“Don’t be afraid to give it a try,” he encouraged.

“You have all the best slogans. In fact, you’re always quick to encourage me. But obviously you’d be the one to benefit.”

Their drinks and appetizers saved her. She knew that his response would be clever and thoughtful. And maybe even force her to admit that, for a man she’d just met, Jezebel was already smitten.

They had completed their food and finished the drinks when Aidan decided to check on the status of his sister’s flight. It was just under an hour out. Not wanting her to wait, the couple quickly finished up and headed out to the parking lot.

“Are you okay to drive?” Jezebel asked. When they had stepped outside she didn’t even wait for him to take her hand. Her palm was open and waiting.

“Of course. I only had one glass. That’s grape juice.”

They chuckled. He opened the passenger side door, directing her into the seat. He stooped down and gently captured her lips with his own. She didn’t fight him. By the time Aidan made his way to the driver’s side, buckled up and started to reverse, Jezebel felt heated.

“Can we . . . talk some more?” She wasn’t sure why the word “talk” wouldn’t come out easier, but only knew that she needed to be next to him a little while longer.

Aidan moved them further away from the streetlights. They parked beneath a tree where the lighting was nonexistent. No sooner had they stopped, then Jezebel was waiting to meet his lips. She directed him over to her and pushed the seat back as far as it could go. Their bodies clumsily came together until he was able to get underneath her. Jezebel straddled him. Her skirt rose high enough that when his hands gripped her bottom, there was mainly skin available. She pushed toward him, grinding. He thrust upwards, then brought her down to meet him in unison.

Jezebel couldn’t understand if the wine had caused this behavior or if she just needed Aidan that much. When she felt his fingers fight their way through her tight yellow panties and tease her outer delicacies, she immediately erupted. But he didn’t stop. He continued.

“Aaaaaidan,” she cried out against his mouth.

“I wish I could take you home and do so much more.” His tone was filled with hope and promise. She lost the fight again.

Jezebel was sated and embarrassed all at once. She lifted up, quickly unzipping his pants and wrapping her fingers around his flesh. She loved the feel of him and told him so. Common sense appeared and warned that if she was a different kind of girl, she would have gotten down on her knees and taken him in her mouth. Her good side reminded her that no respectable woman would be held up in a vehicle, performing acts similar to those of a whore. Ratchet was the word that came to mind.

She felt him contract. Whether or not she had gotten down on her knees, he couldn’t be stopped. Although she hadn’t officially had sex with him in a car, down in the city of Wilmington, Jezebel felt like she had. For a hot minute freedom was hers. It was enough to become indefinitely lost.

A harsh buzz set off, cutting into the air. The sound didn’t immediately register. They might as well have been on a private island. The windows were foggy. The atmosphere enticed them with the essence of desire. The phone buzzed once again.

“You’re not going to get that?” she asked.

“Oh yeah,” he reluctantly replied. Glancing around her he said, “My sister landed.”

Aidan kissed Jezebel on the forehead, nose, each cheek and finally lips. She didn’t allow him to linger.

“You need to get your sister.”

“I will. Let me just give her a call.” He connected the Bluetooth and Kaylee immediately answered.

“Is this how you take care of me, Aidan?” She sounded young.

Jezebel smiled. It warmed her to hear the closeness of the siblings.

“Don’t worry, I’m on my way.”

“That’s fine. I have a surprise for you,” she chuckled.

“Did Mom send a cake?”

“I brought you a treat, but not cake.” She was laughing harder. In the background was another voice doing the same.

“Who’s that?” Aidan asked. He’d just pulled up to where Jezebel had been directing him towards her car.

“Say hello . . .” Kaylee trailed off.

“Hi Aidan,” a sultry female voice sounded into the line.

“Who’s this?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

Jezebel didn’t wait to find out. She wasn’t sure it was a question she wanted or needed to be answered.

“Goodnight, Aidan.” Jezebel rushed the words, sprinting out of his car. She heard him call after her, but she raced to her car and was gone in no time.

She employed a renewed sense of determination in order to dig out of the cloudiness in her mind. She decided to change the past, deny it all and save her feelings.

The night never happened.

None of it.

Jezebel tried to compel herself to believe that, in now driving away, this was the moment that she’d left the office.

My Number One

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