The Heartbreaker Series: Books 1-3 (42 page)

“I’m going to take Nicola to the bathroom. We’ll be right back.”

I swear Jill winks at me before lifting Nicola out of the high chair and disappearing toward the back of the restaurant. I glance at Brian beneath my lashes. He smiles at me, the smile small and almost shy looking. I look down at the table and feel him rest his hand on top of mine.

“I know you just want to be friends and I’m cool with that, but I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner this weekend?”

I school my features, not wanting him to see that I’m excited he’s asking me out. Even if it’s just as friends, I know I want to get to know him better. If he’s just a friend, I know I won’t hurt him in the end, like I would if we started dating.

“I’d love to. I have to work Saturday night, but I’m free Friday.”

Which means, if he agrees, that I have two days to prepare for my non-date with Brian.

“Friday works great.”

I give him my number and he calls me so I can save his into mine. He has to leave and head to an appointment, but he tells me he’ll call me tomorrow. I stand up and come around to him. I kiss both of his cheeks before hugging him. His woodsy scent wraps around me and makes me want to bury my nose in his neck.

“I’ll talk to you later,” he says and then walks to the front.

Jill and Nicola come back a few minutes later. “Brian had to get to an appointment.” She raises an eyebrow at me. “What?”

She snaps Nicola back in her seat and sits back down. “So…?” She looks at me expectantly.

“So, what?”

“Why won’t you go out with him, Mila? He’s a great guy. He’s handsome, smart, and really fun.”

“We’re going to dinner Friday.” Jill’s eyes sparkle and she smiles. “It’s just as friends, Jill. Don’t start planning our wedding or anything. It would just be nice to have someone else to hang out with. That way I’m not always bothering you guys.”

I always feel like I’m intruding on everyone. Well, except for Jordan. He’s Jasmine’s twin brother. Around two years ago, he was the victim of a hate crime due to his homosexuality and since then he’s been very quiet and reserved, but he and I have gotten to know each other.

“You don’t ever bother us. Mila, you’re family.” She places her hand on mine. “What brought this on? We haven’t made you feel unwelcome, have we?”

“Oh God, no. Not at all. It’s just you and Nico are having another baby and still making up for all the time you lost. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.” The waitress comes to our table and informs us that our bill was paid.

“Brian is such a sneak,” Jill says. She throws a large tip on the table. When we step outside, Jill walks us to my car. She buckles Nicola in and kisses her before hugging me. “Nico should pick her up by three. Remember, you’re always welcome and never think otherwise.”

We head back to my house, where Nicola promptly falls asleep. I lay her down in the portable playpen that Jill brought over. I grab my sketch pad and sit down on the sofa. I have the perfect view of Nica’s profile.

Thirty minutes later, the drawing is perfect. I remove it from my sketchbook and lay it gently on the coffee table. I’ll clean the drawing up later, then frame and hang it on my wall with the rest of my sketches, which consist of anything I see that inspires me. Not all of the sketches are of my niece, but many of them are. She just happens to inspire a lot of my creativity lately.

Nico sends me a text letting me know that he’s on his way to get Nicola. A slight wave of sadness washes through me at the realization that my time is almost up with my little niece.

Some days I wish things were different for me, but they’re not. I’ll never have the things that I want most in the world. I push those thoughts down because it does me no good to think of such things. I made the decision I had to make and I can’t change it. I just have to learn to deal with my decision the best I can.

Chapter Five

Brian

My guards is up as I circle my sparring partner, Tim. We’ve been at it for ten minutes back and forth. It’s not unusual for me to leave a sparring match with a bloody nose, split lip, or a black eye. Sparring is a great way for me to maintain my skills and burn stress. Right now I’m using it to burn some nervous energy. Tonight’s my date—okay, well, not a date—with Mila. It sucks when you know that there could be something amazing between you and another person, but they don’t see it.

After our lunch the other day, thoughts of Mila have plagued my mind so much that I’ve resorted to jerking off multiple times. In my mind’s eye, I’d see the way her olive-colored cheeks would turn the sweetest shade of pink. For someone who exudes so much confidence, she sure seemed shy whenever I showed her attention. I honestly was surprised when she said yes to dinner with me, but I was happy all the same.

I just have to take my time and hope that maybe she’ll come around and begin to see me as someone more than just a friend.

A jab to my side pulls me back to my sparring partner. I block his next shot and land a punch to his side and a shot to the side of his head.

“That’s the way, B. Show him who’s boss,” Javier, my sensei, says.

Tim has more bulk, but I have the reach and power behind my shots. Javier has always joked that I’m freakishly strong. People always assume that I’m not because I’m skinny, or at least skinnier than the average fighter, but I hit hard.

By the time we’re done, Tim’s sporting a swollen nose and my lip’s bleeding. Javier helps me take my gloves off, and I grab a bottle of water for Tim and me.

“Thanks for sparring with me. Sorry about your nose, man. You gave me a run for my money,” I tell him before slugging back half of the water in my bottle.

“No problem. I’m rusty as fuck, but it was fun. I’ll spar anytime you want.”

Tim heads out, and I grab my towel off of the bench to wipe the sweat from my face. I make my way to the locker room to shower for my dinner date with Mila. Javier calls out to me, so I turn around.

“What was that out there? I’ve never seen you lose focus like that before. Are things okay?”

Javier has become a sort of surrogate uncle. He’s been my sensei since my dad signed me up when I was a kid. He’s been a friend to my parents for as long as he’s taught me martial arts. Javier has been a wonderful mentor to me, especially through failed relationships and when my self-esteem was at its lowest.

“I have a sort of date tonight and I was just thinking about it.”

“What do you mean, sort of date?”

“I’m going out to dinner with a woman tonight, but she’s already pulled the we-can-only-just-be-friends card. I know there’s something there between us. I can feel it, so I just need to get past whatever defenses she has up to get her to see what could be there between us. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I have to at least try.” I take a drink of my water.

“Well, she’s not very smart if she can’t see what a great guy you are. Go hit the showers. We’ll talk Monday.” He gives me a back slapping hug before shoving me toward the doorway to the locker room.

After showering and brushing my teeth, I throw on dark blue jeans, a t-shirt, and a white button-up shirt. I roll the sleeves halfway up my forearms after I rub some pomade through my hair. I slip my feet into some brown loafers, put a little cologne on, and then throw everything back in my gym bag.

I head to Jill’s old place, which is where Mila is staying. I made reservations for eight o’clock at my favorite steakhouse. I hope she’s okay with that. When I called her last night, I just told her what time I was picking her up and then let her go. I’ll admit I was nervous about it, so that’s why I kept the conversation brief.

Truth be told, I could’ve listened to her talk all night. I find her accent to be extremely sexy and usually have to fight a hard-on when she starts speaking Italian around me. I’ve heard Jill say the same thing before about Nico. I guess I can no longer give her shit about it.

After pulling in to Mila’s driveway, I shut my car off and make my way to the front door, trying to inconspicuously wipe the sweat off the palm of my hands. When I reach it, I ring the bell. I hear a muffled voice call out to come in.

“Hi, Brian. I’ll be right out. Make yourself comfortable.”

Once inside, I see her walls, which are covered in artwork. There are some sketches and some paintings. I notice a sketch of the painting that I bought from her show. I still haven’t told her I bought it. I’ve never been into art, but my mom is. When I delivered it to her house, she freaked out, hugging and kissing me. Of course Dad accused me of spoiling her, but they’ve done so much for me. It’s only fair that I do things for them.

There are several drawings of Nicola that are done so well you’d think they were actual photos. The click of heels draws my attention to the hallway and I’m struck speechless. Mila’s coming toward me in a red dress that stops right above her knees. It’s form-fitting, showing off her delectable curves. The bodice is tight and pushes up her gorgeous breasts. Her hair is down in loose curls that hang down her back.

“Wow,” I whisper.

She keeps moving until she’s right in front of me. “
Ciao
. You’re looking very handsome.” I feel myself flush at her compliment.

“You look beautiful.”

I move in to kiss her cheek. She smells like summer morning. At the last second, she moves so our lips connect. I tell myself to pull back, to keep it friendly, but I can’t. My hands slide into her hair and I grab onto it at the base of her neck and take over. I tilt my head to get better access to her lips and she obliges me by moving with me.

I feel her arms slide around my waist, pulling me toward her. There’s no hiding the massive erection I have right now. I open her mouth with mine, moaning at the feel of her tongue against mine. She makes me lose control, but then her words come back to me. Mila just wants to be friends. I pull back, resting my forehead against hers.

“W-Why did you stop?” Her voice is husky, and her breath is hot and tickling my lips.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. You said you just wanted to be friends. I need to respect that.”

The words were almost painful to say, but no less true. I need to take my time with her. I need to show her what we can have.

She lifts her hand to my chest and looks me directly in the eyes. “Don’t be sorry. I’m the one that kissed you.” Her hand travels up until she’s cupping my jaw. “I just really wanted to kiss you.”

She kisses me one more time and moves to grab her purse.

It takes me a second to shake myself out of the post-kiss fog that Mila’s got me in. Once it’s gone and my erection is no more, we head outside to my car. I open the door and help her inside. Conversation is stilted at first, but at least it’s not an uncomfortable silence.

I pull into the parking lot of Johnny’s Steakhouse, go around to Mila’s side, and help her out. With a hand on the small of her back, I lead her inside. I stop at the hostess stand and give the girl my name. She grabs a couple of menus and leads us to a table by one of the big bay windows.

I order us a bottle of wine and then set my menu down. I look up at Mila and want to touch her. The candlelight illuminates her face and gives her an almost angelic look. I feel awkward all of a sudden and don’t know what to say to her. I don’t want this to seem like the getting-to-know-you portion of a date, which this is not.

“Do you miss Italy?”
I’m an idiot
, I think to myself for asking such a stupid question.

“
Si e no
. Yes and no. I miss my mom, sister, and friends, but I don’t miss the painful memories. Have you ever been to Italy?”

Our waitress brings out our wine and takes our order. “No, I’ve actually never been out of the country.” Most of our family vacations were places we could go by car. “I think the furthest I’ve ever gone was to a three-day conference in Dallas.”

“Dallas, Texas. Home of the Dallas Cowboys,” she says. She sounds so cute that I just want to pull her across the table.

“You watch football? I’ll admit I didn’t peg you for the football-watching type.”

“
Si
, I’m not, but I’ve been to my brother’s house when he, Gabe, and Jordan were watching it. Gabe gets very, um, I guess you would say…loud.” Her light laughter makes me smile.

“I’d have to agree with you on that. He can be very vocal when he watches football, especially the Bears. I’ll admit that I’m not a very big football fan. Hockey and baseball are the sports I like to follow.”

Our conversation is paused when our waitress brings out our food. We both dig in with gusto. Mila certainly isn’t shy about her love for food. She even feeds me some of her food off of her fork, which, for some reason, I find to be a sensual act. I reciprocate and try not to groan when her lips slide down the tines of my fork as I pull it from her mouth, leaving the fork clean.

We finish our meals, and I order some chocolate mousse for us to share.

“Are you trying to make me fat?” Mila asks with a laugh.

“You’d still be beautiful.”

“
Grazie
, you’re very sweet. Tell me about your parents. What do they do?”

“They’re great. They’re both retired, my dad from the post office and my mom from a grade school. My dad does some woodwork now and my mom works part-time in a coffee shop. They both like to keep busy.” I thank the waitress when she brings our chocolate mousse.

“I’d love to see some of your father’s work. Will you show me sometime?”

I watch her dip the spoon into the chocolate dessert. She sticks it into her mouth and moans around it. I know I’m staring, but I can’t help it. I will the erection that is forming in my pants to stop, but it seems to have a mind of its own.

“Brian?” Great, she’s caught me staring.

“Sorry about that. Of course you can see his work. If you’re not busy Sunday, he’s usually out in his workshop after church and until supper. That’s if you don’t already have plans or have to work.” I dip my spoon into the mousse and savor the chocolaty flavor.

“Sunday would be great.”

We finish the mousse, and I’m disappointed when the check comes because that means our non-date is over. I stand up and pull her chair out for her. With a hand to the small of her back, I lead her out of the restaurant and to my car.

The drive back to her place is quiet, but not uncomfortably so. When we pull into the driveway, I shut the car off and help her out of the passenger side. We make plans for me to pick her up around two on Sunday to take her to my parent’s house.

When we reach her door, she turns and looks up at me. “I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you for dinner, and I’ll see you Sunday.” She pushes up on her toes and places a chaste kiss on my lips.

She’s making me crazy with her mixed signals. I watch her disappear inside her house and close the door. When I hear the snick of the lock, I make my way to my car.

It’s not a good sign that I’m already looking forward to seeing her on Sunday. I’ll have to give my mom and dad a heads up. I don’t want my mom to get her hopes up. Hell,
I
don’t want to get my hopes up.

***

After our non-date Friday, I’ve worked myself into exhaustion. I went to the karate studio and worked my
bo
for a while. I assisted Javier with some sparring teaching. I did a nunchuck and
bo
demonstration for the kids, which they loved. What I didn’t love was the end of my
bo
connecting with the corner of my eye. It’s just something that happens on occasion.

After I got done at the studio, I did laundry, cleaned my house, and got groceries. I called and gave my dad the scoop about Mila and told him to make sure that mom knew we were just friends.

I was watching a horror movie after dinner when my phone dinged. It was Mila. Like the idiot I am, I was happy that she contacted me.

Hi! What are you doing?

Just watching a scary movie and nursing a partial black eye.

BLACK EYE!!! What happened, do you need me to come over?

I was taken aback by her reaction. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, but I had to remember that we were only friends.

No you don’t need to come over :) I just got into a fight with a bo and it won.

What’s a bo? Will you show me sometime?

I sent her a video of one of my demonstrations and waited for her response, which came a few minutes later.

Wow! Very impressive. You really know how to work that stick ;) I have to get back to work, but I just wanted to say Hi, and I’ll see you tomorrow.