The Other F-Word (18 page)

We all turned and saw him walk in with Bobby slung against his chest in the carrier.

“I didn’t know he was coming,” I said.

“He’s just bringing Bobby so I can feed him. They were in the area running errands,” Stevie explained.

A young blonde girl stopped him, cooing at little Robert. I think we all gasped a bit when she touched Adam’s arm, especially Stevie.

“Just relax, Stevie,” Marley said, putting her hand over Stevie’s clenched fist.

“I don’t like strangers touching my baby.”

I wasn’t sure which baby she was referring to.

Adam extricated himself from the girl’s grasp in his usual gracious manner and continued striding towards us. He took the seat beside Stevie. “Hi, did you see that?” he asked with a nervous smile.

“Yes, everyone did,” she replied, kissing Bobby’s head.

“Our son’s a chick magnet. Then again, he’s probably the most beautiful baby in the world. He looks like his mother, after all.” Adam always knew the right thing to say. He knew Stevie. They had been in love a long time. If asked, they would have said since their senior year in high school, but Kate and I had always thought it was much earlier than that. Mothers always know.

Adam took one look at the table and shook his head. “You guys are doing this wrong.”

“We all have our methods,” Stevie said.

“Oh, so now we all get to have our methods,” Marley replied.

“We need to set up an assembly line,” he said, gesturing to the table. “Why aren’t Dillon and Rick here?”

“Rick’s working on a new project and Dillon…well, Dillon isn’t good working in large groups like this.” Marley was right—it was the reason I hadn’t asked for his help. His OCD helped him stay on track, but he had a hard time with other people’s idea of organisation at times.

“Enough talk, let me hold that baby,” Kate said, holding her hands out.

Adam took Bobby out of his carrier and handed him to her.

“I call next dibs,” I said, smiling at him over Kate’s shoulder. There was nothing as rewarding as holding a baby, especially when it was the most adorable baby ever.

Bobby cooed against Kate before knocking over the beret she wore. “Hey, that’s grandma’s hat, little boy.”

“Like I said, he takes after his mother. He’s fixing a fashion fail, Mom.”

Kate shook a finger at her son. “What, you don’t like the hat? I was listening to Prince this morning and remembered I had bought a raspberry beret when I went shopping a few days ago. You like it, don’t you Stevie?”

Stevie bit her lip. “It’s interesting.”

Kate tilted her head. “If you don’t like it just say so, I can take it.”

“You should never take fashion advice from a song,” Stevie replied.

“Well I love it,” Marley said, smiling widely.

“You should also never take advice from Marley,” Stevie said, bumping her sister’s shoulder.

“I like it,” Arty complimented, making his first statement since we’d been here.

Kate brightened.

“I own a ton of bowlers myself. Hats are underrated. Plus, it hides all your grey.”

Kate’s smile turned into a frown.

I extricated the knit cap from Bobby’s chubby fingers before placing it back on Kate’s head. “It takes a strong woman to pull it off and, darling, you are the strongest chick I know.”

Kate beamed. “Thanks, Emmie. By the way, I called you to go shopping with me. Where have you been?”

“Yeah, Mom, Rick and I wanted to invite you to dinner a few times, but you’re always gone,” Marley said.

“Just busy.”

“I noticed a car in your driveway.”

I twirled a piece of my hair. “It was the handyman’s car. I have to get the house in order to sell it.”

“Rick and I could help with that. You didn’t have to hire anyone,” Adam said, looking somewhat hurt.

“Don’t worry, there’s still plenty to do,” I said.

Bobby saved me with his fussing. All of us women immediately tried to calm him.

“See, the kid’s a natural chick magnet,” Adam said, leaning back in his chair.

Of course, he calmed instantly when Stevie took him. “He’s hungry. I’ll be right back,” she said.

Kate bumped my shoulder. “Will you come to the stacks with me, Emmie? There’s a book I want.”

“The stacks are pretty easy to navigate, Kate. I can look up the section from down here.”

“This is a special book and I think it might be difficult to find on my own.”

“What book, Mom?” Adam inquired, already setting up an assembly line for us. In truth, it was a smart idea.

“One about…wolves.”

Damn…of course, Kate was onto me.

Adam gave his mother a confused look. “Why do you want a book about wolves?”

“It’s an interesting subject.”

“Since when have you been interested in wild canines, Mom?”

“Emmie’s been piquing my curiosity as of late.”

“Since when do you like wolves, Mom? Is it like a spiritual guide thing?” Marley said.

Nosy kids.

“I’m sure there is a lot of spirit and guiding,” Kate quipped, with twitching mouth ready to burst into a huge smile.

“You kids keep working. We’ll be right back,” I said, taking Kate’s hand and leading her to the stacks.

She shut the door as soon as we got there. “What’s going on with you and Damien Wolfe?”

“Shhh.” I checked to make sure the room was empty before answering her. “How did you know?”

“You’re not so sly. Handymen don’t usually drive cars worth more than the gross national product of a small country. Plus, you’re walking differently.”

Had he fucked me so hard I was limping?

Kate laughed, patting my shoulder. “I mean you’re walking lighter. Almost like you’re skipping. So reward my sleuthing skills and tell me what’s up with you and the handsome Mr Wolfe.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Let’s start with the obvious… What’s your status? One night stand, friends who fuck, whirlwind romance, or soul mates for life.”

“Jesus, those are my choices?”

She nodded.

“We’re dating. Getting to know each other.”

“How long?”

“Two weeks.”

“What! You’ve been keeping this from me for two whole weeks?”

“From everyone. I haven’t introduced a man into my kids’ lives in so long.”

She frowned. “It’s not as if they’re kids anymore.”

“I know that. It’s just that I have to make sure this is real. You’ve seen him. The man is high-end eye-candy. The kind they wrap in gold foil and sell at exclusive boutiques.”

“Yeah, he’s a panty-soaker for sure,” she replied.

“Nice description.”

“I think it’s better than your candy analogy, but looks can be deceiving.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“How is he in bed? Often, the most handsome men are horrible lays. They tend to lean towards the selfish side if you know what I mean, and I know you do.”

“I don’t kiss and tell,” I said in a hushed whisper.

“That bad, huh?” She grinned widely.

“It’s the best sex I’ve ever had. He stimulates me raw.”

“Nice description. And how does he make you feel the rest of the time?”

“He makes me feel like I’m special. Like I’m the only girl in the world.”

“Then pray tell, why are you keeping it a secret from everyone? I’d be announcing it to every stranger in the street.”

That was a good question, and one I wasn’t sure I could answer myself.

“I’m worried it’s going to end. I mean, he’s him and I’m me. This stuff doesn’t just happen. I don’t want the kids to know their mom’s getting mixed up with a man who could break her heart.”

“Why are you so sure he will break your heart?”

“You’ve seen him. He’s perfect. You should see his apartment. It takes up the top floor of this huge building on Lakeshore drive. A building he happens to own.”

“Let’s look at this methodically, friend. He’s a billionaire, which is a good thing.”

“That’s actually one of the reasons I’m so nervous, Kate.”

“It shouldn’t be. We know he has money so we can rule out that he’s trying to steal your identity, get you to co-sign for a loan or invest in his Ponzi scheme.”

I stifled my laugh. “Thanks, Kate.”

“It sounds like you’re not fully vested.”

“That’s not true. I am, but I’m a realist too. I see the way women look at him when we go somewhere. I’m in this relationship with him, and I love every minute of it, but I’m preparing myself now.”

“For what?”

“For pain.”

She shook her head. “Look, why don’t you just ask him?”

“Ask him why he likes me? That would make me sound like an insecure girl.”

“That’s exactly what you’re acting like, Emmie. Maybe you don’t see it, but Damien Wolfe isn’t the only one in this relationship with assets, if you know what I mean.”

We stopped talking then because the cute blonde who Adam had been talking to strolled into the stacks. We stood there for a minute while I contemplated if she was lost. No one ever came into the stacks.

“Can I help you find something?” I asked her.

“Just looking. By the way, I love your hat,” she said, gesturing to Kate.

“Thank you, I’d love to have you tell my daughter-in-law that. She seems to have a different opinion of it,” Kate said, readjusting the cap and smiling brightly.

The blonde turned to me. “I think it looks great on her. You’re lucky to have such a hip mother-in-law.”

My jaw dropped, and I stared at my friend with horror as we both realised this girl thought I was Stevie.

“I’m never wearing this stupid thing again,” Kate grumbled, tossing it into a nearby garbage can.

Chapter Sixteen

He picked me up in a beat up old truck, holding open the door for me.

“Car troubles?” I asked, hopping into the cab.

“Eh, I like to drive this once in a while. I’ve had it for a long time, and it’s my favourite car. Do you mind?”

“I love it.”

He rewarded me with a mischievous smile, kissing my hand before closing the door.

“I got your gift. Thank you,” I said when we were rolling down the road.

“Did you like it?”

“It was very generous. I don’t know how many men would send a woman the most state of the art speakers in the world.”

He shrugged. “You like music so I thought you’d enjoy them.”

“Damien, I love the gift. I do, but you don’t have to spend so much money on me. The jewellery and first edition books…they are too much. I just like being with you.”

“I can afford it, Jessie.”

“I know, but I’m not with you for those things. It makes me uncomfortable because I can’t reciprocate.”

“I don’t expect you to.”

“I understand that, but it makes me feel like I’m a kept woman or something.”

He let out a hearty laugh. “Kept woman. That’s funny. I know you’re not into me for my money, Jessie. That’s very obvious.”

“Good.”

“You want me for my hot body. The same reason I’m with you, babe.”

I laughed this time. He had a cocky, humorous persona and he could always make me laugh, but it felt hollow in my throat tonight.

“Why do you like me?” There it was…the question I’d been avoiding for so long.

“Is that a real question, or a trick girl question?”

“A real question. Come on, we don’t really make sense, do we? We’re kind of weird together.”

He narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “Hell yeah, we’re weird. What’s wrong with that? It all comes down to how we make each other feel and fuck the rest of it.”

“I’m not trying to piss you off. It’s a reasonable question.”

I turned to the window and we rode in silence for a while. He took my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist.

“I like you… I like you a lot, not just because of who you are, but cause of the way you make me feel. I knew it that night we danced at the club as much as I know it now. Isn’t that enough?” His voice registered hurt, and I cursed myself for bringing up my own insecurities again.

That was the thing about Damien, he could go from self-assured cockiness to sweet tenderness in a New York minute. I had a feeling that very few saw that side of him, and it made me feel special. At the same time, my inner voice kept warning me not to read into him. It was exactly why I’d kept him at arm’s length for so long.

“Yes, it’s enough. I just never expected to be dating again, let alone an ex-stripper, house-flipper, billionaire, younger man.”

“Same here, especially a Deadhead, vegan librarian with three kids. So which one of us is weirder?”

“Guess we both are pretty untraditional people.”

“That should only support the fact we belong together.”

“You have a reputation for being a playboy, but you don’t seem like that. Why don’t you date?”

“I don’t have time for it. If I want sex, I plan it. The women I was with understood that. You’re different. Just accept that you are. Don’t question away my feelings for you, Jessie. They are real. This is not a fling for me.”

I rested my head on his shoulder, and he put his free arm around me. “It’s not for me either.”

“Good, so I passed the trick question?”

“With flying colours. Where are we going?” I asked, when he hopped on the expressway.

“I’m taking you to a vegan restaurant. I think you’ll like it.”

“Which one?”

“I don’t think you’ve been to this one.”

“I’ve been to every vegan and vegetarian restaurant in this town, Damien.”

“I never said it was in town.”

* * * *

“Did I say you were weird?”

We both sat in plush, oversized seats, staring at each other.

“You mentioned it a few times.”

“You pick me up in a beat up old truck and now we’re riding in a private jet.”

“It’s the company jet, actually. I have some business in Denver, but you said you weren’t working tomorrow so I figured you wouldn’t mind an overnight trip.”

“A woman could get used to this,” I said, sipping on my champagne.

“I want you to.” He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

“What business do you have?”

“Some land I’m interested in, and I’m donating a few houses in the inner city.”

“It’s nice that you do so much charity work.”