Womanizer (Spoilt) (6 page)

“I had a nice time. I haven’t enjoyed a man’s company for so long. I’m a little rusty.”

Mitch laughed before his face grew serious. “I want to see you again tomorrow night.”

“I would love to, but with Jesse ... I don’t know.”

“I understand, I do
, but I have to see you again. You have bewitched me, woman!”

He reached forward to encircle her waist and brought her in close to him.
His lips found hers and they molded together in a passionate embrace, their lips both urgent and tender all at once. Her soft lips tasted like raspberries and she smelt delicious, like vanilla ice-cream.

His full lips felt better than she imagined
, and as she touched her tongue to his, she wrapped her arms around his neck so she could bury her fingers in his hair. His kiss was beginning to buckle her knees and she felt giddy. Even though she had little to compare it to and it had been a while since she enjoyed a man in any way, she decided his kiss was by far the most toe-curling. His strong lean hands on her back burned her skin through her dress and she wanted to forget about everything and feel them against her skin. He eased back and with passion heavy lids she stared at him, puzzled.

“Dinner tomorrow night at my house
, then?” he asked with the boyish grin she could easily fall in love with.

“Jesse goes to bed at seven-
thirty. Maybe I can come over after that.”

His eyes reflected the same hunger she felt low in her stomach.
Desire had deepened their color too.

“I’ll pick you up.”

His lips sought hers again and with hungry lips and roaming hands they drove each other wild with passion. Seconds, minutes passed, neither of them anxious to break the moment. His hands stopped their exploration at her face and he eased her back again.

“I should go
...”

“I know,” she replied as softly as he had, which added a husk to her voice, sending a jolt of desire through his already racing heart. “I don’t want to be your next conquest.”

“You are everything but that. That is why I should leave.”

“Pick me up at eight.” With a quick kiss and waft of vanilla, she disappeared inside.

Chapter Eight

Changes

“What am I doing?” she said in an angry hiss. Leaning against the door she mentally kicked herself for being an idiot. She’d fallen for his charms like a fish fascinated by a lure.  Yet she couldn’t deny the feelings welling up inside her. She couldn’t remember ever having such intense attraction to anyone before. What did it all mean?

“Did you have a good time?”

Isabelle gasped when she heard Carol’s voice coming from the darkened hall.
“You scared me.”

“Sorry. So?”

“Yes, that is the problem.” Isabelle shrugged.

“Why is it a problem? Are you still not sure?”

“No, I’m not sure.”

“You enjoyed his company?”

“Yes.”

“Then what is the problem?”

Those were the first words that popped into Isabelle’s head when she woke the next morning.
What is the problem?
Carol was right. Why not just see where it took her? He didn’t appear to be a complete creep, so what could it hurt to find out? The anticipation of seeing him again that evening crept up to overwhelm her and she longed for the day to be over.

She found Carol and Jesse at the breakfast table and was relieved to notice that Jesse seemed oblivious to the fact she had been out late. It was definitely too soon for a meeting. She had to be sure first. She had told Jesse a little white lie about her evening, which was for the best right now.

“Hi, Mummy,” Jesse said brightly when she sat down at the table. “Did you have fun last night?”

“Yes, thanks, honey. It has been a long time since I’d seen my friend.” A wave of guilt tugged at her for
lying to him but again she told herself it was for the best.

“Are you going out again soon?”

“Would it bother you if I did?” Isabelle studied her son. His expression appeared inquisitive without any concern and she breathed an internal sigh of relief.

“No, if you want to go out with a boy too, it’s OK.”

“Oh, I see.” Isabelle had no idea what to do now. Jesse’s acceptance would be important for any future she may have with Mitch or any other man for that matter. His happiness was her paramount concern. Knowing he would feel alright made the decision to see Mitch again much easier.

“I want you to be happy, Mummy. I want a daddy too. 
Someone to do boy things with.”

Isabelle’s heart lurched and she felt so sad for her little man.

“I know you do, honey. Maybe one day.”

“You can go out all the time if you bring me home a daddy.  Nan will look after me.”

“Yes, Jesse, she will and thank you.” A lump formed in her throat.  His show of maturity beyond his years caused mother’s pride to tingle her skin.

“Can I go play now?” It seemed the subject was forgotten.

“Yes, Jesse,” she replied with a tear in her eye. Jesse knew far more than she gave him credit for.

“See, even he thinks you need a man,” Carol said in her matter of fact way.

“Yes thanks for pointing out the obvious,” Isabelle said with a sardonic raised eyebrow. “Just as well because I’m having dinner at his house tonight.”

“Oh, really?
You failed to mention that last night.”

“You didn’t ask.”

* * *

Mitch woke on the fine, warm Saturday morning feeling like a new man. Isabelle was incredible, beautiful, intelligent, and to top it all off
, a fantastic kisser. He had walked home the previous evening - as it turned out they lived close to each other - and had a restless night with dreams of ocean eyes and soft lips.

Dra
gging himself out of bed bleary-eyed, he showered and decided he’d better do some shopping if he was going to cook dinner. Time to drag out the rarely used barbecue from storage and put it to use.

After completing the
shopping and preparing a salad - which he didn’t know he could even do - he cleaned his apartment as he never had before. Normally a very untidy person, when he’d finished he couldn’t believe that he was in the same house. As he did a final check the phone rang.

“Yep, it’s Mitch.”

“So how was the big date?” asked the deep husky voice on the line. Charlotte.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than hassle me?” They exchanged a giggle.

“No, Jared has gone to work and I just walked in the door after helping Chelsea at the shop - who is huge by the way and counting down the days - and I remembered that our eligible bachelor went on a hot date.”

“How very nosy of you.”

“I would call it family interest, and you almost are, so ...”

“The date went well. She’s coming over for dinner tonight.”

“You’re going to cook?” The skeptical tone almost had him feeling defensive. Was he really that much like the stereotypical bachelor?

“Yes, I’m going to barbecue
, if you have to know. I may not be the master chef like Jared but I am capable. I even made a salad.”

“OK, don’t get all defensive on me.”  She laughed. “I have to admit it is great to never have to cook. Even when Jared is on night shift he prepares food for me to reheat.” She laughed again. “He spoils me.”

“He loves you.”

“I know and I’m the luckiest girl alive.
Anyway, enough about me. Tell me more.”

“Not much to tell. We went out for dinner. I walked her home and we said goodnight.”

“Did you kiss her?”

“Yes, nosey.”

“Did it curl your toes?”

It was Mitch’s turn to laugh.
“Maybe.”

“Yay!
” she cried in a tone that almost made him deaf. “I think our Mitch is falling in love.”

“Don’t get carried away. I’m definitely interested in finding out more about her.”

“Hmm, well at least you are seeing a girl more than once. It’s a start. I’ll call you tomorrow.” And she was gone.

Glancing at the time
, Mitch realized he needed to get a move on. It was suddenly very important to him to not be late collecting his date.

* * *

Isabelle watched for him out the window as she didn’t want him to wake Jesse. She even admitted to herself she was eager and couldn’t wait for him to arrive. A twinge of concern crept into her mind but she shook it off. Mitch wasn’t what he seemed and she decided her concerns weren’t warranted.

An excited “O
h!” escaped her lips when she spotted him heading up the path to their building. She leapt off the chair, waved to Carol and hurried out to meet him. When she walked out the door she stopped: he looked incredible, again. Tonight he wore jeans and a blue t-shirt the color of his eyes. His hair looked damp, as though he’d just showered, and images of his wet body ran through her mind. She couldn’t move.

Mitch couldn’t help but notice her when she dashed out of her apartment building. His heart flew into his throat when she stopped and his tongue became tied once again. The tight skinny jeans with boots which had her matching him for height showed off every curve of her body. Her blue frilly shirt brought out the blue in her eyes and they
were once again that mixed color. Her hair was down and fell in a black satiny curtain down her back. Shiny lips begged him to taste the raspberry on them again.

In two swift strides he bridged the distance and was not disappointed when he buried his hands in her hair and brought her lips to his. They felt and tasted just as he remembered. Her floral scent intoxicated him as h
e devoured her mouth with fervor. Seconds, minutes, passed as they stood entwined. When she pulled back to speak he found he missed the taste of her.

“
We should go before the neighbors call the police.”

“The police?”

“Yes, you keep kissing me like that and we will be indecently exposed.”

The image of this froze him to the spot until she started giggling and he couldn’t help but laugh along with her. He offered his arm and they strolled towards his house. The heat and electricity passed between them like a steady flowing river.

They chatted about the people with whom they were both acquainted and discovered they shared similar outlooks on life. They were both in an occupation that they would prefer they weren’t doing. She asked about his collection and seemed excited about seeing his work.

When he stopped and turned up a path leading to an apartment building
, she realized they’d arrived. The modern complex looked expensive and it pleased her to think he must be frugal with his money and respected him more for it.

They rode the elevator
in silence, his hand clasping hers before entering the front door. The inside was very much as contemporary as the outside. His furniture looked informal and comfortable, which suited him. There were photographs on the walls of various landscapes from around the world and she was awestruck by their beauty and his talent. She walked over to one shot in a desert with the sunset lighting the dunes. The yellow, red and orange, tinged with pink, were spectacular.

“This is beautiful, Mitch. It’s yours?” He nodded. “You’re really talented.”

“Thanks,” he said softly, a blush coloring his cheeks.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what you have chosen for your collection now. Looking at these you will have no trouble finding a gallery and selling your pieces.”

“You’re too nice,” he mumbled.

Modest too;
she liked that. “No, I’m being honest. You are definitely wasting your talents photographing models, although, you do that well too.” She smiled to try and ease what appeared to be discomfort over her compliments. His mesmerizing stare was also doing erratic things to her pulse.

“I guess. Um, would you like to have a drink out on the balcony?”

“Sure, lead the way.”

Isabelle found this new humble and shy side of Mitch endearing. It seemed there was much more to him then his re
putation. Underneath the womanizer was a sweet, shy man and Isabelle was glad she took the chance and ignored his past. It was just that - the past - and she planned on changing his future. She knew how crazy that sounded in her head but she couldn’t deny the charge that passed between them and the heat warming her blood.

He led her through a generous-
sized kitchen to a larger sitting room. A sliding door led out to a large balcony. Two chairs and a table sat at one end and she noticed a barbecue waiting to be utilized at the other. A bottle of wine chilled in a bucket on top of the table.

“You have a nice apartment, Mitch.”

“Thanks. It serves its purpose at the moment. I aim to buy a house if I find a gallery and sell some pieces.”