Taunting Lips (A Teasing Hands Accompaniment) (8 page)

Nodding, I marched over to one of the two armchairs across from her and plopped down. “Go on.”

“I’m sorry…” she began, but I didn’t follow. Often, I wondered just how I’d feel if she ever said those same two words to me. Would I be happy? Sad? Indifferent? “…wish that we were together. That you still loved me and treated me like the princess I never was.”

It was very anticlimactic. It did nothing for me.

“You know, Olivia…” a maniacal laugh bubbled out of me “…when I came over today, it was to release years of pent-up anger. Let you know how you fucked me over in more than one way. How I lost the love of my life because of you.”

She gasped at my words, and a single tear fell down her cheek. “Love of your life? You met someone?” In all that I said, that was all that perturbed her. She wiped at her face and stared me down with that same insulted look she’d used on me throughout our marriage. It was the one that screamed unhappiness at my actions.

Did this chick think I was unlovable? Or that I couldn’t love another?

“Yes, I did.” I wasn’t about to give her more than that. She lost her right to anything pertaining to my life three years ago. “She’s wonderful and everything you never were.” Low blow, but it was the motherfucking truth.

Just thinking of my 
gatita
 made a small ache in my chest appear. Would she be proud of me for taking this step? Mad that she wasn’t here herself to punch the woman responsible for our pain?

“I hate my life.” She sniffed a few minutes later and stood up, stopping in front of me and lowering herself to her knees. We were eye level; I could almost taste the desperation my words caused. “Miss you every day. My husband has never given me his love…it’s all about appearances—he’s not you.”  Olivia closed the gap between us and skimmed her lips down my cheek.

Disgusted, I pulled back and held her in place as she attempted to kiss me again. “What the fuck are you doing?”  I all but snarled. Didn’t she understand the part about me loving another? What the fuck am I saying? This was Olivia I was talking about; the woman solely cared about herself. Her wants and needs. “Get off.”

“But, Camden, I—”

“Don’t want you.” Freeing was the way I’d describe saying those words felt. She reeled back as if I’d slapped her, mouth agape and eyes red and full of tears. “You’re nothing more to me than a bad memory of my younger years. With Amanda, I’m happy…myself. She’s given me every part of her, without asking for money, jewelry, or any of the superficial demands you placed on me.”

Her body shook with anger, her fists clenched against her side. “Get out.”

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Making her realize her mistakes wasn’t as happy an occurrence as I first thought it would be. Maybe my girl had made me soft. I wasn’t joyous over her pain, but I did breathe easier.

Olivia hadn’t changed, and her self-entitled attitude was going to destroy her. At the very least, I warned her. Good deed of the day had been done.

“Get the fuck out!” she wailed again, and this time I stood up and walked toward the front door. Pausing just as my hand reached the doorknob, I turned and said goodbye to the one woman that at a point in time meant the world to me.

“Olivia,” I spoke low, almost soft. Wild eyes met my calm ones one last time before I walked out and never looked back. “In all this with Amanda, I realized one thing. I was never truly in love with you, nor you with me. Be happy.”

8

The whole confrontation with Olivia lasted less than an hour, which surprised me, if I was being honest. I expected more. More screaming—offensive words being slung at each other as feelings were hurt. None of that happened. Instead, I left her house feeling lighter in having realized that the only woman I'd ever given my heart to, in its entirety, was my 
gatita
.

It was still early enough in the day that I could head to the spa and cancel all my appointments for the rest of the week. My focus had shifted the moment things became clear; it was no longer about getting her back. In all this craziness, I lost sight of how I’d taken ownership over her person.  She never stopped being mine. Now, it was all about reminding her why I’d taken her body and heart as my greatest treasure.

The reception area was empty as I entered through the spa’s main entrance. No one sat behind the front desk. Cynthia should’ve been in already and going through the day’s schedule. Maybe she was in the back restocking the refreshments we provided our clientele.

“Cynthia,” I called out as I walked around the counter. Two things stood out—our computers were logged off, and the phones were still transferred over to our answering service. Where the fuck was this crazy chick?

“She called out, Cam.” Stacy came from the back room area then, coffee in hand and an annoyed look on her face. “I’ll be manning the front today until she decides…”

Decides?

“What do you mean?” Turning on the computer, I double checked today's appointments and noticed one cancellation that was moved to next week, and a meeting at twelve. The latter was new.

“Don’t know, really.” Stacy shrugged and took a sip of her drink. “Those were her words. By the way, why are you here so early?”

“Taking the bull by the horns.” I laughed, and she looked at me with trepidation. “I saw Olivia today, Stacy. Saw her and felt nothing but sadness over my own stupidity. There was no love lost between us, don’t think there ever was anything more than affection to begin with. ”

Stacy took a seat on the chair I pulled out for her and smiled. “And, I take it that’s a good thing?”

“Amazing.” With the mouse in my hand, I opened up several screens all with my schedule for the next week. She watched me quietly, but the amusement on her face told me she knew just what I needed. “Clear this for the next seven days. I’ll be away.”

“Just where in the hell do you think you’re going?” Stacy asked, trying to sound put out but failing horribly. “This is all so last minute. What will our clients think?”

“Don’t give a shit what they think. We have two new masseuses starting tomorrow; Oliver can show them the ropes of how we do things at this facility. They've worked for us in the past at another location and were great assets to the team. I'm not worried.”

“Still haven't answered the
why
 you are doing this?” 
Nosy little thing.
 She pushed my hand aside then, clicking away at the screen and moving my schedule around.  Beside each client’s name, she added notes over which masseuse could cover. Clever. Most would be happy to have someone take them on instead of rescheduling.

“First thing,” I said, and she looked up at me, “I owe you a nice bonus for all this extra work. Second, please call an agency and have them send over possible candidates for the receptionist position. Your call on who we hire.”

Her eyes grew large, and the biggest smile over took her face. “You trust me?”

“Yes, I do.” Grabbing my laptop bag, I walked around the counter. There was a meeting in a few hours added yesterday by my mother, and I needed to call her as soon as possible. Who was it with, and why? “Cynthia needs to go; she needs to let me go.”

“Do you need me to fire her?” Was that a tinge of glee I detected in her voice?

“No, I will. It’s the least I can do. Be up front, and explain the why. She’ll receive a letter of recommendation and a severance package. I’m not a total dick.” Unbelievable. Stacy pouted and looked upset at not being able to fire her. Women.

“Fine.” Stacy leaned back in her chair; arms crossed over her chest, and watched me. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because, I have a stubborn 
gatita
 to tame.”

“What!”

The knock on my door startled me. Looking over at the clock on the wall, I noticed it was twelve and I never had a chance to call Mother. From the moment I sat down behind this desk, I'd been bombarded with phone calls and backed-up paperwork.

End of the quarter financials were due within the next two weeks, and I hadn't looked at any of the reports sitting atop my desk. Amanda consumed my every thought, and I wanted it to stay that way. If I could, I’d take her away for a few weeks and make her understand that her body was mine. That her heart beat for this fucker that loved her beyond all comprehension.

Another knock at the door.

“Fuck.” I grumbled and stood up; I hated going into situations blindly. Why Mom would set this up and not leave me a single note explaining angered me. If this was a vendor, it could wait.

Taking in a deep breath, I opened my door, and to say I was shocked by the person standing on the other side would be putting it mildly.

“What are you doing here?” I all but snarled at the woman responsible for bringing my 
gatita 
into this world. It was then, after my harsh greeting, that I took in her appearance. Susana Brooks did not look a thing like the society matron she resembled while kicking me out of her home just yesterday. Tired. The woman who stood before me now with puffy eyes and sagging shoulders looked tired.

As if the weight of the world sat on her shoulders.

“Where’s Amanda? Is she okay?” My rapid response startled her; she jumped and placed a hand over her heart. “Well, answer me!” Why else would she be here? Fuck, the room began to spin, and I reached out with one hand to hold myself up against the wall beside my door. “Please—”

“She’s fine.” Mrs. Brooks gave me a small smile as she appraised my near mental breakdown. Next to hearing my 
gatita 
say that she loved me, this was the best thing I'd heard in the last week. “You love her.”

Pushing off the wall, I moved aside to let her in. “I do.” That was all she was getting from me. It was more than she deserved, if I was being honest. 

“Can we talk?” Susana sounded so meek, it angered me that she made me feel bad for her.

“It depends,” I added as a precaution for both sides. If she came here with the intent to push me away from her daughter, she was wasting both our times. “I’m not leaving—”

“She needs you. Loves you.” I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at the corner of my lips if I wanted to; she saw this, and her expression brightened.

“Amanda is all I will ever need.”

“Thank you.” It was an honest response. She truly felt this way, and that made the tension between us evaporate. Surprised by her words, I ushered her in and toward the small sitting area inside my office.

“Please take a seat, Susana. Would you like something to drink before we start?” Mother taught me to be courteous if nothing else, and besides, she looked like she needed it. Walking over to the tiny fridge on the wall behind my desk, I opened it and pulled out two bottles of water.

Shaking her head, she sat down and patted the seat next to her. “No, I need to say what I came to say, and then go. Mr. Brooks is waiting on me to have lunch.”

“Okay.” Placing a bottle on my desk, I walked over and took a seat. “Go on.”

Susana looked up toward my ceiling and let out a big sigh before turning back to face me. “I’m sorry.” 

Not expecting that response, I choked on the sip of water I had taken. “Umm, what?”

“This shit is so much harder than I thought it would be. I'm not one to ever admit defeat, Camden.” Her lack of decorum made me laugh. What happened to the prim and proper woman that gave me hell? “Oh, shut up,” she grumbled and then surprised me again. Susana Brooks giggled until tears appeared.

This was some Twilight Zone shit.

“You were saying,” I hedged after calming down. While it was turning out to be a pleasant visit, I needed to move this along. Amanda was out there without me, and I planned to remedy that as soon as possible.

“I’m sorry, Camden. So sorry for interfering and not realizing that what my daughter needed was you.” Susana reached for one of my hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I was blinded by my version of perfection and was so ignorant that I hurt you both. For that I am ashamed and remorseful.”

“Thank you, but I have to ask...what brought this on? Just yesterday you wanted my head on a platter for pursuing her.” Before we moved forward, she had to at the very least give me that.

“Can I have that bottle of water now?” Looking over at her, I noticed a few tears slip over her cheeks. Something huge had to have happened between the time I left this morning and now for her to look this crushed. In so much emotional pain.

Smiling at her, I stood up, retrieved the bottle atop my desk, and handed it over to her. I didn't sit. My mind was racing, and the anxiety began to take hold. Therefore, I paced the small room as she drank the water and collected herself.

“Amanda’s moving out when she gets back.” My frantic eyes snapped to hers after that statement. 
Gets back? When the fuck did she leave? 
“This morning.”

“I’m sorry…”

“You spoke aloud.” She chuckled at my reaction and took another sip of water. Then, just as soon as the amusement left her, she replaced it with the same somber look she’d walked in with. “She was so mad—disappointed in me, and that hurt more than anything. I’d promised to stay out of this, this thing happening with you—”

“It threatened your dream of her and 
Hunter
,” I spat his name, “getting back together.” She nodded sadly. “You do realize that Amanda wanted nothing to do with him? He broke her heart, and she didn't trust him. No longer loved him.”

“Trust me, I do now.”

 I believed her, but so many questions still ran rampant through my head. While I accepted her apology and words, I still needed to understand the sudden change of heart. When I chose this room as my office, it was because of the view it afforded me. From here, I could see the beach, the calming waves hitting the shore and fizzing out as the sand soaked in the moisture.

It had a sedative effect.

“Why now? Why not when she begged you to butt out?” My eyes caught hers in the reflection of the glass—she needed to answer me. Give what she owed.

“Stupidity. Stubbornness. Greed.” Her reproachful tone caught me by surprise, and I turned around to face her. “It was all about what I considered best for her—blinded by my need to have what I considered perfect. Perfect for her. For me. For our family.”

“And now?” If she still felt this way, there was no way in hell my relationship with her could ever be repaired.

“I was dead fucking wrong.” Susana sniffed, then stood up and walked over to where I stood on the other side of the room. Taking both my hands in her shaking ones, she squeezed them and took in a big breath. “You both need each other. I see that now. Please don’t let my idiocy stop you from making my little girl happy. Love her, like only you can.”