When Love Calls (33 page)

“So did you want a tour or…” Mike’s voice trailed off and his silence gripped my attention as I looked over to see why he’d stopped talking. His expression said it all and I knew he’d caught me living out the fantasy in my mind as he focused intently on my bottom lip that was still tucked behind my teeth. There was a huge part of me that wanted him to call me out and then make every vivid image a reality, but despite the fact that I’d worked myself into quite a lather, I managed to maintain a measure of professionalism.

“We can go ahead and get to work on the show. Maybe you can show me the house later.”
Heaven help me!

I’d actually been thankful when I heard little feet come trotting down the stairs. Mike and I sat down at the kitchen table and got to work while Adrian ran toy cars around the kitchen floor. I watched nervously as Mike flipped through my notebook. I stuffed down the feelings of vulnerability and exposure as I watched him scan my work. His face showed no traces of approval or disdain so I couldn’t get a read on what he was thinking. When he’d skimmed every page, he flipped back to a poem I’d written titled
When Love Calls
.
Of course, he would pick my most heartfelt, soul-baring piece.
I winced. I let out an exasperated huff.
I brought the book over so I’ll have to suck it up.
I cajoled. 

“This one is really powerful Erin. If you’re comfortable, I’d love to do something with it.” 

I nodded reluctantly. “Well, let’s see what you have in mind.”

Upon my approval, Mike pushed his chair back from the table and strode away toward the front room with my notebook in hand. I jumped up to follow him and glanced back briefly at Adrian who was still intently racing cars back and forth across the kitchen floor.

When I stepped into the music room, Mike was seated at the piano, pecking out a melody as he recited the words of my poem. I couldn’t believe he’d captured the essence of the emotions intended in my words in such a short time. The song he was composing was a ballad and as I watched him create, I was both awed and aroused. His fingers danced skillfully across the ivory and black keys as he embellished single notes into chords that ebbed and flowed with the emotion and intensity he put behind them. I watched Mike rock from side-to-side, eyes closed as he parted his lips and began to sing the melody he’d written.  I’d never really heard him sing before, at least not stripped down without his band and other instruments. He had immersed himself in the music and I couldn’t help but join him. I began singing the harmony to his chorus and our voices matched perfectly. As he went on to put a tune with the second verse, I ad-libbed between his vocals. At the climax of the song, I watched as Mike closed his eyes again tightly and belted out high tenor notes in conjunction with perfect piano chord progressions to match his passion. I closed my eyes and sang out in full voice and wrapped his tone with my harmony. I could feel the low hum as our voices resonated throughout the room. As the song ended, Mike stood up from the piano and grabbed me by my shoulders. “That was phenomenal! Erin, your voice! You have no idea. I don’t know what to say! Do you have any idea how talented you are?!” His eyes darted wildly as he searched mine for some hint of understanding. I couldn’t reply because I was frozen in place, weighted by insurmountable emotions that covered me, like a metal blanket. I was overcome and before the tears that brimmed in my eyes could fall, Mike leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. Instinctively I kissed him back, parting my lips for his awaiting tongue. Instantly I felt the weight being lifted as he kissed me slow and deep. Now I was floating. Effervescing like a million tiny bubbles. I grew limp in his arms and felt him grasp me tightly around my waist as he pressed his body against mine. I could feel the dim embers below becoming a raging inferno as the tingling ache grew in my middle. I wanted to command Mike to put out the fire he had ignited, but a small voice doused the flame before it could set my body ablaze.

 “Daddy can I have pizza?”

Neither of us were sure how long Adrian had been standing there, but we were certain it had been divine intervention that kept us from being engaged in something completely risqué when he’d walked in. We straightened our posture and Mike stepped away from me after giving my shoulders a firm squeeze. It was his way of telling me I’d gotten lucky to receive a way of escape from my impending sexual demise.
Shit, he’s the lucky one.
I smirked to myself and shot him a glance. Mike nodded as if to say, “We’ll see.” Then turned his attention to Adrian.

“Sure thing Little Man. Daddy will fix you a pizza right now. Go on upstairs and I’ll call you when it’s done.” Mike walked out of the music room and into the kitchen. I didn’t move to follow him.
I’d better stay here for the sake of all of us.
I heard Mike shuffling around in the kitchen and seized the opportunity to pack up my things.

 “Hey Mike, I’d better get going. This was really good. I love what you did with the poem. Well, I guess it’s
technically
lyrics now. Either way, you made it beautiful.”

I heard the oven close and Mike’s boots making their way up the hallway.
“You
made it beautiful Erin. I just put your beauty to music. By the way,” he said as he approached me and his voice softened. “I just have to tell you that you are fucking sexy when you sing. I’m not sure I can promise to behave if we have another session like the one we had today. It’s a good thing I’ll be gone a while. Otherwise, you’d be in serious trouble.”  Again he was pressed up against me and now I was pinned between him and the wall. This time Mike kissed me deep and hungrily and I closed my eyes as my tongue matched the motion of his. His hands were at my waist and a soft pant wisped from my lips as mounting desire look my breath away. Slowly Mike slipped his fingers beneath the fabric of my thin cashmere sweater and made his way up from my waist to the cusp of my breast. He gently squeezed the lacy cup between his fingers and grazed the perky nipple that begged for release against the fabric. “Damn I have missed your body,” he breathed into my ear as he nibbled at the nape of my neck. His words were incomprehensible. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart and alternating shallow breaths. The sounds had created a rhythm and as much as I wanted to feel Mike within me, grinding in matched, syncopated strokes, I reluctantly pushed him away.

“We can’t do this with your son here
and
awake. It is
not
going to happen!”

“I know,” he rasped between bated breaths as his fingers trailed from my face into my loose tresses.

I pulled away and tried not to look at the obvious bulge in his pants as I bent over to pick up my notebook and purse that I’d let fall in the midst of our heated encounter.  Mike, however, did
not
attempt to avoid staring at my ass like it was a steak being waved in front of a hungry lion! I scooped up my things and speed-walked toward the door.

 “Wait Erin! Let me walk you out!”

I gripped the door handle and pulled it open before turning to Mike. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea and, by the way,” I sniffed. “Your pizza is burning!” The last thing I saw was Mike dashing toward the kitchen. I chucked as I strode to my car. It felt good to know that I had not only affected him, but had thrown him off his game. It made me feel like I was finally getting back on mine.
It looks like the tables may be turning.
I thought as I gave myself a quick glance in the rearview mirror.
And they’re turning in my favor.

Chapter Nineteen

Angie and I arrived in Orlando late Friday night and made our way to the hotel in our rented Impala. It wasn’t my first choice, but it was clean and available so we took it and ran in hopes of getting checked in before the end of dinner service. Angie had already chastised me twice for not keeping my eyes on the road. Although it was dark out, I could see clusters of coconuts hanging from the palm trees and I was fascinated.
I can’t wait for daylight.
In my mind, there were already a dozen different paintings being created. I couldn’t wait to add vivid detail to the imagery in my head.

We managed to check in and get back down to the bar right before the kitchen closed. “Thank God,” Angie said. “I’m starving! We’d better fuel up for this run tomorrow. Were you trying to head straight out after the race or did you want to do some site-seeing first? Who knows when we’ll be back in Orlando?!”

 “We can do some site-seeing. As long as we get to Miami in time for late check-in I’m cool! I’d prefer to beat the girls there, though. Their flight gets in around eight, right?” I looked over at Angie who had already started on a glass of red wine that I’d missed her ordering.

“Yeah, I think they get in around that time.” She tilted the glass to her lips then paused when she saw how hard I was staring. “I’m sorry. Did you want a glass? I didn’t order you one because I know you are cutting back. I figured I’d let you take the lead on that one. Who am I to force you to drink? Even if it
is
my birthday weekend
and
you’re making me run in a race that I had to come
all
the way to Florida for. Nope, I wouldn’t dare force you to have a glass of wine with me.” Angie turned the glass up and swallowed a gulp of wine then cut her eyes in my direction.

 Instantly I flagged down the barista. “I’ll have a glass of whatever she’s having.” I jerked my head in Angie’s direction. I took the edge of the glass between my lips and paused just long enough to mutter, “Passive-aggressive ass,” before rolling my eyes and taking a sip. Angie snickered and waited for my reaction. It had been weeks since any alcohol had hit my tongue and the bitter grapes against my tongue tasted like sweet nectar to me. I closed my eyes for a moment and savored the smoky flavor as it danced over my palate.

“Mmm hmm. You missed that shit, huh?” Angie teased with a chuckle. I didn’t break the bond of my lips to the glass. Instead, I rolled my eyes again and took another sip of the cool liquid. Already I could feel it relaxing my body and I welcomed the ease as the waitress slid a plate of wings in front of me and a chicken club sandwich in front of Angie. Hunger overruled thirst and I set the wine glass gently on the bar and plucked a wing from the plate.

“
Maybe
we could walk through Disneyland?” I said between chews. Right then I knew I was ravenous because I hardly ever talked with food in my mouth. In fact, it was one of my pet peeves. I paused long enough to finish my bite before continuing. “Do you think they’ll put us out for not buying a ticket to the park? “

“Erin, there will be thousands of people in the park. I doubt they’ll be worried about us but the most we’d probably be able to see would be the theme park where we’re running,” Angie said before biting into her sandwich.

“We could go to Sea World or see what else is around to look at. Ohhh! Better yet, let’s go on one of those alligator tours!!” I was getting excited. I wanted to do and see everything, but there wasn’t enough time.
I’ll have to make another trip down to be a tourist.
Site-seeing wasn’t the only thing that had me excited. I was giddy about the plans I’d made for Miami and nervous about how I was going to get my friends to go along with my plots. There was a reason I wanted to have Angie here first. I knew if she went along with my plans, the other girls would follow suit. I had already searched for gator tours before we arrived and found one that started at noon which gave us plenty of time to run the race, pack, shower and head to the tour site. I played it cool as I waited for Angie to agree.

“An alligator tour could be cool. We definitely can’t do that in Chicago so I’m game!” Angie agreed like I knew she would. She wasn’t a big fan of going out of town to do things you could do at home. If we shopped, it needed to be in places we didn’t have back home for things we couldn’t get back home. Plus Angie was a bit of a daredevil, so it was easy to get her to agree to do something as unique as looking for alligators.

“Great! I’ll talk to the clerk at the front desk about setting it up and I’ll meet you back in the room.” I watched Angie round the corner toward the elevator, then propped myself up against the bar and ordered another glass of wine. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.” I said with a longing gaze as I gripped the glass. I welcomed my old friend to my parted lips and relished the warming sensation creeping up my back and across my shoulders. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually felt genuinely buzzed from just a glass or two of wine and for some weird reason, for a second, I felt proud of myself.
I’ve managed to stay away from both ass and alcohol for nearly a month. That is pretty damned impressive.
I decided not to hold my weakened moments of self-gratification against me. All things considered, it was still quite an accomplishment. I swallowed the last bit of wine and paid the tab for me and Angie’s food and drinks.
I love how she just knew I was paying.
I smirked. It was Angie’s typical “birthday girl” behavior. She didn’t pay for shit on her birthday weekend. It was a standard she’d set years ago and had somehow managed to get people to go along with it.

When I got to the room, Angie had showered, dressed and was propped up in her bed flipping channels on the TV.
Damn this chick moves fast.
She was clearly eager to be in relaxation mode so I didn’t bother her with conversation. I tossed my suitcase on the bed and rummaged around until I found my pajamas and running clothes. As I stepped into the shower, I thought about the race and how much it meant to me to be running in it. Even though it wasn’t a half marathon, it still felt good to be stepping out of what used to be my comfort zone. I realized that as the days passed, I felt less and less compelled by the life I’d once chosen to live. Now, I embraced each day and the adventure it held. In fact, I had begun to seek them. Each day I sought an opportunity to feel alive and each day in some small way, I found one. As I laid my head against the pillow, I closed my eyes and said a prayer of gratitude for my life and the new gifts that had been placed in it. I had a new zeal and thirst for life and for the first time
ever
I felt like I was living my life on my own terms and not for or because of anyone else. So that night my prayer was simple.
Thank you.