The Pick Up Wife (3 page)

There was no way she was going to let him wine 40

and dine her. If he wanted to talk, he could do it after her shift.

Once she reached the order window, she snagged several plates ready to go to their hungry owners. By the time she returned to Leo with the promised iced tea and sandwich, she’d made her decision.

She thumped the food in front of him. “If you promise not to come in here again, we can talk.”

“I can—”

A wave of her hand cut him off. “I didn’t say I would go to dinner. I said we can talk. After my shift is over and then for only fifteen minutes. I have errands to run before Mel… I need to be home.” She didn’t want Leo to know he had kids, especially if he had nothing of any substance to 41

say. “Those are my conditions. Take ’em or leave

’em.”

He stared at her a long time before he spoke again. “Are you seeing someone?”

For a quick moment she debated telling him a lie, but changed her mind. She had enough secrets already. “No. My life is too chaotic for a relationship right now.”

That seemed to satisfy him. “Fine. What time?”

“Four-thirty.” He took so long to answer she didn’t think he would agree to her terms, but now that he had she could find out what he really wanted. “And afterward, you don’t see me again.”

He tilted his head to the side, a cryptic smile on his lips. “If that’s what you really want.”

“Hey, Sym!”

42

Symmone glanced and waved at a patron two tables away. “Gotta go, duty calls.” Despite making a deal with the devil she realized she was looking forward to spending a few precious minutes with Leo.

****

At four-twenty-nine, Symmone sat at an outside table away from the main flow of traffic.

This table was usually reserved for interviews or employee meetings. She sipped a glass of iced tea as she waited for Leo to make his way through the tables to her.

She studied him, uncaring if he saw her. The years had been kind to him and a spark of desire ignited in her veins. Today he wore a striped polo shirt and well-worn jeans. Each confident stride stretched the denim over powerful legs and thighs 43

and when he turned just right, she was treated to an outline of his… Ahem. No sense in letting her mind wander to what she could no longer have.

But there was nothing wrong with admiring, hoping, fantasizing, and it had been so long since the last time she’d been with him or any other man. Still, she could enjoy the well toned arms, solid chest, and narrow waist. She wondered if he was still ticklish.

Leo stood in front of her, amusement curving his luscious lips and lighting his eyes. “Do you like what you see?”

She ran a finger around the rim of the glass.

“There’s nothing wrong with checking out the view.” She waved her hand to the chair across from her. “Have a seat and tell me why you’ve decided to find me after all these years.”

44

His gaze swept over her face. She seemed a little more relaxed, but dark circles shadowed her honey-almond eyes. To be this close to her after so long, he longed to do more than just sit across the table from her and talk. He wanted to gather her in his arms, run his fingers over her skin and see if it was still satiny soft. He wanted to bury his nose in the hollow of her throat and inhale her feminine scent while he sampled her exotic flavor.

Despite the flare of heat he’d seen in her eyes a moment ago, none of the whimsical humor he remembered remained, and if it did, it was well hidden beneath the tough exterior she’d developed.

“Did you like the flowers I sent?”

“Yes, but if that’s the only reason you wanted to see me, you’re wasting my time.”

45

Should he tell her the truth? Maybe now wasn’t the time to tell her why he was there. She’d send him packing for sure.

“I meant what I said, Symmone. I’ve missed you. I made a mistake leaving you the way I did.”

She nodded and shifted in her chair. “We’ve established that.”

“I want you back.”

Her hand hit the table the same time her mouth dropped open. For a moment all he could think about was sliding his hard cock between her lips and watching her suck him off. He shook himself. Now was not the time, but soon.

“No.”

He raised a brow. “Really? Not even going to hear me out?”

46

She shook her head. “Let me share what I’ve learned and you so thoroughly taught me. No matter how much you love and trust someone, he can hurt you on a whim for his career. I learned that no matter how much I loved you, you weren’t coming back, and no matter how many tears I cried or wished upon stars, my heart would still be broken.” She blinked rapidly against the sheen of tears glistening in her eyes. “You don’t get a second chance to do that again.”

To hear her utter the words describing his treatment of her… Until now he’d had no idea of the pain he’d really caused. Guilt and shame settled around his shoulders like a heavy cloak. He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. He wasn’t surprised to find it trembled; what did surprise him was the jolt of electricity that slid 47

up his arm and filled him with an overwhelming need to hold her close and erase the pain he’d caused.

He exhaled and steeled himself for the accusation in her eyes. What he read in their brown depths was far worse. In addition to pain was total distrust. She held absolutely no faith in him.

“You’re correct, Symmone. You shouldn’t give me a chance to hurt you again, but I would like a second chance to show you I’ve changed.” He twined her fingers with his, relishing the silkiness of her skin, enjoying the soft caramel color against his darker cocoa. “I’m not the same selfish immature man I was ten years ago and I need you to let me prove it to you.”

48

She shook her head. “I can’t. Rebuilding my life took too long and there’s too much at stake now.”

He frowned. “Why didn’t you finish school?”

A blush swept through her cheeks and she looked away. “I went as long as I could after we divorced, but I needed to work.”

He shifted, leaning forward. “I sent money.”

She went rigid and fixed him with what he could only call a haughty glare. “I didn’t want that to be one more thing I was dependent upon; it could just up and stop.”

Damn, this was going to be harder than he’d thought. “Okay, so what have you done since the divorce?”

49

“Mostly work, and I catch a class or two when I can. Two more classes and I’ll have my bachelor’s.”

He smiled. “That’s great. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No.” She glanced at her watch. “Your fifteen minutes are up.”

“You were serious about that?”

“Of course. I told you I have errands to run.”

She pushed back her chair and stood.

He stood as well. “Can I help?”

She studied him for a long moment. “Leo, I appreciate the apology and for allowing me the opportunity to tell you what I think and feel, but I don’t need your help. I grew up a long time ago.”

Tugging the purse strap on her shoulder, she turned to leave.

50

“Sym, please.”

She stopped, her shoulders heaving up and down, before she spun on her heel to face him.

Standing in front of him, she jabbed her index finger in his chest. He cradled her hand with both of his.

“We’re not a couple anymore and I have no illusions regarding us. You are a complication I just can’t afford right now.”

When she tugged on her hand, he drew her closer and wrapped a strong arm around her waist.

She trembled in his embrace.

“You were never good at completely hiding your feelings, Symmone. You feel something for me, something besides animosity. Even now you’re aroused.”

51

She rested her hands on his chest. “That doesn’t mean I have to act upon my hormones.”

He stroked the curve of her cheek. “You are just so damn beautiful, and truth be told I’ve missed you.”

Symmone pushed against the unyielding wall of his chest, but he merely held her tighter. He was getting too close. His stupid apology was salve to her ailing heart, just the balm she needed to cure the ache, and being locked in his arms eased the void of loneliness. But she couldn’t give in to him, to the emotions he awakened.

“Let me go.”

He tangled his fingers in her hair and tipped her head back. “The one thing I’ve missed most is holding you. You were always so soft and I’m glad that hasn’t changed.”

52

She held her breath. “Please.” But she couldn’t be sure if her plea was for him to continue his sweet words or to release her.

“I promised myself one thing when I got the opportunity to hold you again.” He dipped his head.

Symmone parted her lips in anticipation, the mint on his breath an enticement all its own.

“What was that?”

He pressed his lips to hers, light, tentative, seeking. She moved closer and the kiss grew more demanding, seducing a response, coaxing forgiveness for wrongs that could never be undone.

Symmone slid her hands up until she locked her fingers behind his neck. His hands stroked her spine, ushering her even closer to the lean firmness of his body.

53

So much time had passed since she’d been kissed with any type of passion…and she still dreamed about Leo’s kisses. If only she could let go of the pain as easily as she yielded to his kiss. Time stood still and they were once again a young couple with the world laid out before them for the taking.

Tears burned beneath her lashes. They would never have that again. She broke the kiss, burying her face in his shoulder.

“If you tell me you feel absolutely nothing, I’ll walk away and you’ll never see me again,” he murmured in her ear. “I just want a chance to prove I’ve changed. I can be the man you expected me to be.”

Wrapped in his arms, surrounded by his scent, giving him a chance made sense. She lifted her head and scrutinized his face. She swept her 54

thumb against the fullness of his bottom lip.

Everything in her clamored for more, but she needed a clear head, not a raging libido.

“I have to think about it.”

He opened his mouth then closed it again.

“Fine. You have my number?”

She nodded. “I really have to go. Mel will be worried.”

“You two are still close?”

She smiled. “I wouldn’t have gotten this far without him.”

Leo cradled her cheek. “Tell him I said thank you.”

“I really have to go.” She stepped away.

“You’ll think about what I said.”

Bobbing her head up and down, she hurried away. She needed space, she needed time to think, 55

and one way to have that was to focus on being a mom.

56

Chapter Four

“You’re late,” Melvin admonished as he grabbed two of the cloth grocery bags Symmone carried.

She shuffled the others. “I know. The line at the supermarket was crazy and then it took forever at the gas station. I’ve had a really long day. You know who paid me another visit.”

He thumped the bags on the kitchen table then turned to help her with the others. “Really.

What did he say this time?”

“He sent me flowers this morning.” She began unpacking the groceries.

57

“Nice move.”

“They’re in the car.”

Melvin opened the fridge door when she held up a carton of eggs and package of cheese. “Well, you brought them home; that’s a good sign.”

She shoved a box of cereal on top of the refrigerator. “I can’t be vulnerable again. I can’t just let him into my life. The kids don’t even know him.” She slid a case of fruit cups in a lower cabinet, then paused. “Ohmigosh. He doesn’t know about the kids.” She stared at Melvin. “He’s never known about the kids.”

Melvin lifted a brow, his eyes widening.

“Never?”

“He served me papers the day I found out I was pregnant. I was a little preoccupied by the break up of my marriage.”

58

“The kids had to have asked about him.”

She shook her head.

“Symmone!”

She shrugged. “They’ve always had you, and most of their classmates at school only have a mom.” She huffed at the accusation in his eyes.

“The subject never came up.”

“You need to tell him.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

They fell silent as they continued putting away the remainder of the groceries. Once everything was shelved, properly chilled, or frozen, Symmone folded the bags and stuck them in a nearby drawer. She plopped in a chair and dropped her head in her hands. Life wasn’t supposed to be this complicated. She was supposed to grow old with the man she loved, not keep secrets from him.

59

“Sym, I have to go.”

She looked up. “Thanks, Mel.”

“Make sure you tell him.”

“As soon as I figure out how.”

60

Chapter Five

Every day for the past week Leo had sought out Symmone, as well as sent flowers. No matter how often he saw her, it wasn’t enough. He craved her company and looked forward to their banter, but he wanted more than the few minutes of witty conversation.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Melvin demanded as the bartender set a bottle of beer in front of him.

Leo took a swig from his bottle and focused on the man seated next to him. “That’s the problem. I wasn’t.”

61

Melvin shook his head. “You two deserve each other on so many levels. Did you talk to her?”

“Sort of.”

“Did you ask her out?”

“She won’t budge.”

He shook his head again. “I swear you two will be the death of me.”

“She’s your cousin. Tell me how to breach that giant wall she’s erected around her life. She always refused any help I’ve tried to give in the past.”

“You sent her flowers.”

Leo sighed. “I think she liked them.”

“Oh, she liked them. She brought them home.”

62

He smiled. If Symmone took home the roses, she had to be softening. “She’s not making this easy.”

Melvin barked a laugh. “Did you expect her to?”

“No, but…when I get near her, It’s like I never left. She lights up and tries very hard not to sparkle when she sees me.” He faced Mel. “You would tell me if something was wrong with her, right?”