Once I’ve paid and left generous tips for the staff, Mom and I make our way back outside. I notice she has a renewed spring in her step and a beaming smile on her face, making this all worthwhile.
We stroll down State Street, taking in everything from the luxury boutique shopping to the larger stores like Nordstrom, to the adorable mom-and-pop specialty shops. There are restaurants galore and I can’t imagine not being able to find something you like with all the culinary options to suit every palette.
A window display of ceramic knick-knacks calls to her. “Let’s stop in here, Fran. I’d like to pick something up for Vivian as a thank you.”
“Sure,” I say, smiling, as I remember all the funny novelty items we had in our house growing up. Even then I thought they were a bit strange.
While Mom is chatting it up with the cashier, I mill around the store for nothing in particular when something catches my eye. It’s a keychain with a ceramic clown. He’s got large clown shoes, a big red nose, and an even bigger smile on his face. Sold.
“What’s in the bag?” she asks as she holds the door open for me.
“Just a little something for Matt I thought he’d like,” I reply with a grin, as I picture his face when he opens it. “It’s kind of a joke.”
“Good girl.” She nods her head approvingly, flipping her newly coiffed hair over her shoulder. “It’s a step in the right direction.”
By the time we make it back to the restaurant where her car is parked, the sun is dipping down into the horizon, and my heart can relate. It’s sinking in my chest knowing that I have to say goodbye to her.
I cut the ignition and twist my body toward her, picking up her hand and clasping it in mine. “Mom, I’m so glad we did this. I had such a nice time. And…thank you for finding my heart.”
“Oh, sweet girl,” she says, pulling me close, “it’s impossible to miss,” she whispers into my hair, “it’s so big.” She breaks away and holds my face, peering into my eyes. “I love you so much. Thank you for what you did for me today…and I don’t mean the Hollywood hair.”
We say our goodbyes and I watch her drive away in that Volkswagen Jetta, the same car she’s had for the last ten years, but at least now she’s got new hair to go with it. She’s also got an envelope filled with money that I slipped into her purse. I knew if I gave her a check she would rip it up, so now at least she’ll have some extra money when she needs it.
A surge of excitement rolls through me knowing I’m on my way back to see Matt and of course, I get to play with his car for just a bit longer. I won’t tell him that I put the pedal to the metal a couple of times to see just how fast his baby could go.
The drive back to the hotel is mesmerizing, the sky a pool of soft pinks, bright oranges, and deep blues drowning in one another to create an abstract work of art. I’ve always found beauty in the sky but tonight it seems that much more stunning. Mom’s words ring in my ears, ‘Everything’s magnified when you feel.’ I suppose she’s right.
When I’m about two minutes from the hotel I text Matt to let him know that his car and I are back, and in one piece. While he may not admit it, I’m sure he was nervous about his car.
I round the circle and meet the valet attendant, who is once again drooling as I pull up. You would think he’d be accustomed to luxury cars, but for some reason this particular one seems to get his juices flowing. He comes around and opens my door and I hand him the key before he quickly gets in and speeds off toward the garage.
I giggle and shake my head at his eagerness only to turn and find the world has fallen silent around me. I stare at Matt, winded, my heart stuttering in my chest at the mere sight of him. I’m suddenly seventeen years old again, opening the door to the boy I’ve been crushing on who’s finally taking me out on a date. He’s standing against the copper doors with a white dress shirt hanging loosely over a pair of faded blue jeans, hair slightly mussed as if he’s been running his fingers through it, hands deep in his pockets. His dimple is puckered from his smile and his blue eyes are sparkling with the night sky.
I’d like my peas now, please.
Chapter Twenty-Eight – Matt – Giving chase
I’m crawling out of my skin and think my watch might explode like in one of those James Bond 007 flicks if I look at it one more time. Fran’s only been gone for six hours yet it feels like forever. I’ve missed her like crazy today and I can’t wait to see her smile, talk with her, kiss her lips, hold her close.
I’m surprised I was able to focus on my presentation after she left. The entire time I was speaking to the audience, I was thinking about Fran, glancing over at the empty seat beside Peyton and wishing I was looking into her eyes, my heart tight with a longing I haven’t felt before.
So the moment she texts me, I run a marathon to get down to the lobby and wait for her, tapping my foot against the sidewalk and biting the inside of my lip in anticipation, until I can catch a glimpse of her, the only thing that will calm me down right now.
The second the Aston Martin pulls into the drive, I find myself frozen, unable to move or even breathe…until I see her.
Jesus.
She is exquisite. I drink her in like a tall glass of water after a severe drought: her ruffled hair, the green spaghetti strap dress adorning her curvy frame, her strappy sandals and cute pink toes, and when our eyes finally meet, her smile that wraps around me like a warm blanket in the dead of winter.
I push off the wall at the same time she starts walking toward me, adrenaline surging through my veins with every step until I swallow the distance between us. In one swift motion, I lift her off the ground and squeeze her tightly, burying my face in her neck, her hair tickling my cheek, her scent making me see stars. “I missed you so damn much, Fran.” I feel the beat of her heart pounding against mine in response and even if she can’t say the words, I know she feels it, too.
Setting her down and filled with the need to still touch her, I caress her face with my hands, feathering kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, her lashes, her nose, and finally her lips. I trace the curve of her bottom lip with the tip of my tongue and she lets out a whimper of pleasure, opening for me so I can lick inside her mouth and move against her tongue. Her hands twist around my neck, playing lazily with my hair and sending shivers racing over my skin.
As our kiss becomes lighter, she brushes her soft lips against mine before gently nipping at the corners of my mouth.
“So is this how you show that you kind of missed me?” I tease, my thumb strumming down her cheek, my eyes completely charmed by her own. “Because if this is how you show kind of, I’m interested to see what it’s like if you really missed me.”
She shoves against my chest and picks up the purse she dropped on the ground before looking back at me. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” She winks and struts through the doors of the hotel, leaving me momentarily stunned and with a vicious hard-on that I’m hoping might finally get some relief.
I follow Fran’s trail of crumbs as she makes her way to the elevator and steps inside. Once the doors close, I corner her, caging her in, my arms on either side of her head. “You can’t say things like that to me and just walk away, because I’m definitely giving chase.” Lowering my hand, I twirl a lock of her hair around my finger. “Do you want me to chase you, Fran?” I whisper huskily into her ear and she sucks in a breath. “I will…because that’s how much I want you.”
She closes her eyes and moistens her lips with her tongue, seemingly fighting for the same control that I am, but it’s useless and so I give in. Wrapping an arm around her back, I tug her against me, every inch of her rubbing against my eager body and I go rigid with desire, fisting my hands in her hair and taking possession of her mouth with my tongue. She moans and it turns me on even more, making me realize we need to get to a room before I lose myself in her on this elevator. I’ve never craved anyone like this before. But that’s the thing, deep down I know this is more than just a craving, and she’s the only one who can satisfy it.