A Passion Rekindled (6 page)

“I just wish there was something I could do for you.”

“There is.”

Christian caressed her face.

“You just keep being you.”

He placed her hair behind her ear. She looked at him and he grinned.

“Come on where’s that smile?”

Scarlett shook her head. Christian smiled wider.

“Come on. I know it’s there.”

Scarlett smiled at him. Christian pulled her to him and hugged her.

“Are you ok now?”

She looked up at him, as she held onto him tighter.

“You don’t know how much this means to us.” Christian wiped the tears from her eyes. 

“Scarlett you are a stunning woman everything about you is just beautiful. I think you are a fighter and-”

As he looked into her eyes the familiar force pushed him towards her and the need to feel her lips on his was overpowering. He leaned over and she allowed his lips to embrace hers. She accepted his lips as she wrapped her arms around him to kiss him back. He pulled her over to him and allowed her to straddle him. He kissed her then moved to her neck. Scarlett didn’t want her body to respond to him but she was so attracted to this man. Christian couldn’t stop himself from wanting to take her, feel her and just wanting to be close to her. After what seemed like forever but was only minutes, she pulled away.

“Christian.”

He pulled her face closer to his and kissed her again. All of her craved for his hands to explore her body, for his lips to taste all of her. She wanted him so badly that tears started to brim her eyes as she pulled away from him.

“Christian wait.”

“Scarlett I like you a lot. I mean I really, really like you. I felt an instant attraction to you the moment I laid eyes on you. Being stuck with you in that elevator was the hardest thing I have ever had to do because all I wanted was to kiss you and take you right then and there. And oh my God kissing you is like the sweetest and yet most arousing thing that has ever happened to me. No woman has ever done this to me. I look at you and I just want you. But I also know you are not in the place to be with anyone and I am ok with that. I am willing to just be your friend.”

“You are even though you feel this deep attraction to me?”

“I didn’t say it would be easy. But I will do it for you.”

“So since we are on the same page can I get off your lap now?”

He smiled at her.

“Yes. But only if you admit you like me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean admit you like me.”

“Of course I like you.”

“No I mean really like me.”

She smiled and looked around the playground. He pulled her face back to his. She blushed.

“Of course I like you. You’re sexy and tall. And you’re smile is so I don't even know but all I need right now is a friend.”

“Well if that is what you want that is what you get. So friend let’s just go back to the house and you have no more worries about all of this ok?”

“Ok.”

“I am serious. I am going to make sure you guys are ok.”

“Ok. And I am ready to go back.”

They stood and he grabbed her hand.

“You know your daughter is really adorable. She’s lucky.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because she looks just like you.”

Scarlett smiled as they walked back to the house. When they entered to the house, the movers were setting up the beds and Helen and the girls were in the kitchen making a list of what they needed. They passed Devon as he was talking with Christopher and Chris. Scarlett walked into the kitchen. Helen looked at her.

“Sweetie are you ok?”

“Yes. I am sorry about that outburst. It’s just so overwhelming. You guys have blessed this family in more than one way we appreciate it.”

“With the help of the Lord we did. I was telling the girls since you are new here you should stop by and visit our church.”

“After everything you have done for us we certainly will.”

Angel walked over to Scarlett and leaned against her shoulder.

“I’m hungry.”   

“Ok…well how about we take the car for a test drive? Would you guys like to join us?”

She looked towards Helen.

“We would love to but Christopher and I have a dinner meeting but can we get a rain check.”

“Definitely.” Scarlett looked over to Christian and Chris. “What about you guys?” Chris stood.

“Well I have to go to the community center tonight my team has a game. If it’s ok, I would like to bring Devon along. He said he loves basketball.”

“Oh um I guess its fine as long as he's not out too late.”

“We are just going to go to get some pizza after the game. I should have him home at around 11.”

She turned towards Christian. “That’s fine. So Christian what do you think are you going to join us or do you have plans too?”

“It would be my pleasure to join you ladies.”

Helen cleared her throat. “I thought you were going back to the office.”

“That can wait. I am going to show these lovely ladies around.”

Devon smiled. “You have my sister’s home at a decent hour.”

“No problem.”

Christian held his arm out to Scarlett. “So shall we go?”

“We shall.”

***

Christian pulled into a parking space and smiled over to Scarlett.

“How did you guys enjoy steak and shake?”

Angel smiled. I loved it. That strawberry banana milkshake was so good.”

Maggie took her seatbelt off.

“Yes it was good.”

Christian looked back to Maggie.

“So are you girls excited about the new school?”

Maggie exhaled deeply. “I was happy in my old school. I had great friends and now I just don't know. It's hard cause I have to start over, and it sucks but it’s what is best for my family so.”

“You know starting over isn’t a bad thing, think of it as reinventing yourself.” Scarlett looked at Christian and then looked at Maggie.

“How come I didn’t think of that? We can go shopping after I get home from work tomorrow.

Maggie lit up. “Really?”

“Yeah I need to get some work clothes and you and Angel need things to so it's a date.”

As Christian stepped out of the car, Scarlett glanced over to him,
she knew from the moment she first saw him Christian was something special and she could see that in the right circumstance, no matter how hard she wanted to deny it she could fall in love with him.

As they walked into the store Maggie and Angel ran to grab two carts and Christian slipped his hand into Scarlett’s. She looked up at him.

“Christian.”

“Sorry I couldn’t help it.”

“You are going to be trouble aren’t you?”

“I could be persuaded to behave.”

“Ok that is enough.” She pulled her hand away from him. But he pulled her closer to him.

“Is it?”

“Christian!”

She gently pushed him away from her.

“You need to behave.”

“Just one kiss that’s all I want.”

She shook her head no. “You are something else.”

“Hey can’t blame a man for trying.”

She smiled and pulled away from him as they caught up with the girls. 

“Hey mom so I can fill my cart with anything I want?”

“Oh yes Scar I think we should.”

Scarlett smirked and shook her head no.

“No everything you want will go through me.”

“But mom I want everything purple. I want purple drapes and purple carpet and oh I want a purple lamp, and I want a desk I can paint purple.”

Christian smiled. “Let me take a guess. You like purple?”

“I love it almost as much as Maggie loves Pink.”

Maggie smiled. “Bet you don't know Scarlett’s favorite color?”

“Actually I think I do. It’s blue.”

Scarlett turned to face Christian. “How did you know?”

“You wore blue to your interview. Most people use their favorite color to an interview it’s a calming factor for them.”

“Wow. You just keep impressing me.”

“That’s what I do best.”

Scarlett smiled as they walked over to the bedding. Scarlett pulled out the Wal-Mart cards.

“Ok so Maggie you are 15 and Angel your 9 I think you both are old enough to get what you want. So I have gift cards for both of you. There are three hundred on each of them so go nuts.”

Maggie and Angel screamed and hugged Scarlett. They ran to the bed section. Scarlett looked at Christian.

“Can you help pick out a temporary bed set for Devon? I am going to let him come up here tomorrow to get his stuff but should get him something for tonight.”

“No problem.”

They followed the girls into the bedding section. Maggie had already begun filling her cart full of pink everything. Looking over towards Angel her cart mimicked Maggie’s except in color. Scarlett walked over to the bedspreads and looked around. Christian walked behind her.

“So what bedspread are you looking at?”

“I like this one.”

She held up a brown and tan bedspread with leopard print sheets.

“Wow really?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing it’s just I didn’t see that coming.”

“Oh whatever!” 

She laughed as she placed it in her cart. An hour and a half later, as Christian loaded the last bags, Scarlett stood next to him.

“Thank you so much for helping me tonight.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

“Not a problem. I am in the mood for some ice cream.”

Scarlett looked at her watch. “It’s nine thirty.”

“So? Come on lets go to Cold Stone.”

As they gathered into the car Scarlett looked at Christian.

“What’s Cold Stone?”

“It’s an ice cream shop down the street. Trust me you guys will like it because you can make the ice cream anyway you want it.”

Angel put her seatbelt on.

“Wow mom can we go please?”

“Yeah Scar I don't want today to end yet. It's been the best day I have had in a long time.”

Scarlett looked at the girls and smiled. “Ok.”

Christian drove them to cold stone. He parked the car and waited as they exited to follow them into the creamery. Maggie looked over the menu.

“I already know what I want. I want cake batter ice cream with the apple pie filling.”

Angel smiled.

“What can I have mom?”

“You can have a small anything you want.” Christian smiled.

“Oh that’s a like it size.”

“Well can I have cotton candy?”

“Yeah go ahead.”

Christian stood behind Scarlett.

“So what will you have?”

Scarlett shivered as he stood behind her.

“You really need to stop standing behind me like that.”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

He moved closer to her and she pushed him away from her giggling.

“Stop! I will have strawberry shortcake, not that I need it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look at me.”

She held her hands up, and he could see every curve in her body. He grinned widely and winked at her.

“I can’t seem to stop.”

After they ordered and received their ice cream, they walked to the car. Angel stopped after opening the door.

“You are a really cool guy Mr. Water’s.”

“You know you can call me Christian?”

“Can I mom?”

“Sure if he doesn’t mind.”

“Which I don’t, so where to now?”

Scarlett shook her head.

“Home I have work in the morning.”

“Oh I forgot about that.”

“Uh huh.”

“As Christian drove them home and helped them unload the car, he hadn’t remembered when he had so much fun just being around someone. He convinced Scarlett to let him stay until Devon got home. After helping the girls decorate their rooms, he helped them unpack their few boxes then enjoyed sitting around and looking through their photo, albums Devon arrived and Scarlett walked Christian to the door.

“This was really fun.”

Christian placed his hands in his pockets. “I know we have to do this again.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”