To Love a Man (18 page)

“I hope you like turkey and cheese. I brought miracle whip, lettuce, and tomatoes in case you wanted to add them to your sandwich.”

“Thank you.”

She grabbed the knife
from the silver serving tray and began to spread the miracle whip over two slices of bread for her and two for Ramón. He nodded thanks as she handed them to him. Then she placed the turkey, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes onto the bread and took a bite and smiled.

“You know most people like Hellman’s but I am a Miracle Whip kinda girl.”

He nodded his mouth full “Miracle whip is all I use.”

She swallowed looking at him.
“You know I thought you guys had cooks.”

“I do have one but it’s after
one in the morning he’s gone by now. Plus I can hold my own in the kitchen.”

“Oh really? I would love to taste more sometime.”

She grabbed a few of the sour cream and onion chips he had on the tray and placed them into her sandwich. He gave her an inquisitive look.

“Really? Chips on your sandwich?
You don’t think that’s just a little too much.”

“
Hey don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. It’s really good.”

She handed him her sandwich and he took a bite then handed it back.

“It’s good.”

“You’re surprised?”

“Well yeah I am. But I see you are full of surprises.”

She beamed at the compliment while taking another bite of her sandwich.

“So tell me what happened on your date.”

He took a
nother bite of his fully loaded sandwich as she grabbed one of the glasses from the tray and took a sip.

“Honestly I had more fun when my car broke down and I had to walk to the gas station with a sleeping three year old on my back. It’s so frustrating to be on a date with a man who was so full of himself. He spent the date talking about how much money he made and the lack of money I made then had the nerve to ask me if I was a tiger in the bed.”

Ramón smiled.

“Well are you?”

She looked up at him.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

And the truth was he really did wanna know. She bit her lower lip, which he noticed she did when she was deep in thought. He took one of her hands in his. He felt a spark consume him. He moved his hand back and took to eating again.

“So how old are you?”

“I am 27.”

“Ok well I am 28
.”

“
Didn’t you just have a birthday like two months ago?”

“
Yes actually I did. So what else do you know about me?”

“Not much but I am loving learning new things about you. Like I would have never taken you for
a romantic.”

“
And what makes you think I am a romantic?”

“
A fireplace in your bedroom with pillows…this food if one thought pretty hard this could be a picnic by the fireplace.”

“
Well I am a romantic but the fireplace came with the house and I use these pillows to make s'mores with Maddie.”

She blushed and looked down taking the last bite of her sandwich. They sat in silence for a moment then he glanced at her.

“So were you ever able to get a hold of you ex?”

“I was able to get a hold of his secretary. Charles is out of town all month. Apparently, after he agreed to take Zack, he was called out of town and instead of telling me, he bought him into your camp. That way he doesn’t get to be a dad his son is having fun and I am none the wiser to his attempt to keep screwing me out of money. But hey why should I be surprised that is just the kinda man he is. Then he finally called me back and I just didn't wanna hear any more of his excuses.”

“Wow you must really hate him?”

“Actually I don't. I have no feelings for him. Charles had been out of our lives for so long
that when I think of him it’s like a distance memory. It’s just an excuse my language but it pisses me off to know that even after seeing how much his son loves him he will still choose work over his child every time.”

“So it’s been you and Zack by yourselves?”

“Yeah for almost 7 years. Charles and I married young got pregnant almost immediately young we were married for a year and I spent most of it as a single mom because he wanted a leg up at work, but then work took the place of us and pretty soon it became all he wanted. So we divorced and once we did that we were supposed to have joint custody but he wasn’t around and he didn’t support us. He just got back in Zack’s life last year.”

“Wow I'm sorry.”

“No need to be sorry it’s over with no big deal. So what about Madison’s mom?”

Desiree popped a chip in her mouth and Ramón picked at his plate.

“She was older than me. I met her when I first was drafted she was a young media rep. and we dated on and off for a couple of months. Then about three months after my 20
th
birthday she said we were pregnant. Two months after Madison was born she decided she didn’t want to be a mom so she gave me sole custody of Maddie and if it wasn’t for my parents I don't think I would have been able to handle being a dad and a ball player.”

“Well you are doing a great job. I like Maddie she is a great kid.”

“She told me how you fixed her hair before service. What I am wondering is why would you do that for a little girl you didn’t know?”

“I guess no matter if they are your kids or not you never stop being a mother.”

“You know it is so nice to just talk to someone and not have to worry about impressing them. You are a breath of fresh air to me.”

“And you are a great distraction. But maybe we should check on the clothes so as soon as this storm stops we can head up to the hospital.”

“Are you that bored talking to me?” he asked half expecting her to say yes.

“
No of course not.” She stood and Ramón stood with her. She looked up to him. The view was so breathtaking she didn’t mind the strain.

“
I am so grateful to you for everything you have done.”

“I haven’t done a thing.”

Desiree felt her face flush as the tears tried to return. She tried to turn away from Ramón but he wiped the one tear that dared escape from her left eye. He drew her to him and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back.

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Make me feel better with just a hug?”

“My mom used to tell my sisters and me that hugs were very powerful.”

“I can see that.”

She hugged his waist even tighter not wanting let go.

He caressed her hair
“I should thank you though.”

“For what
you have done more than I have. Actually you have done everything.”

“You have given me an excuse to be close to you Desiree. You forgave me for being stupid. I had such a great time with you at Dave and Busters. And after, holding you and dancing with you felt so right. You feel so right in my arms. And that book, it may have seemed liked just a random thank you gift but it touched my heart.”

Desiree just stared at him. She wanted to speak but she couldn’t. He moved her hair from her eyes but she pulled away and looked at him. He moved closer to her.

“Desiree you have this way about you that makes me wanna be around you. You are not like other women I know. And I like that about you.”

She smiled knowing he meant what he said. She looked away and Ramón turned her face to his.

“Desiree.”

She loved the way he said her name.

“You can call me Desi. Everyone does.”

As they stood in silence, the heat began to rise. Ramón knew he shouldn’t be this close to Desiree but he couldn’t pull away. Desiree smiled.

“You have been a lifesaver for me. I appreciate everything you have done for me.
And I am sorry about the attitude. It’s just I could fall for you and I had to keep myself in check. I was just foolish though to think someone as great as you could be attracted to a woman like me.”

“Desi how could I not be
attracted to you?” As she reached her hand up and placed her hair behind her ear and he leaned in towards her, his gaze full of un-denying passion. Desiree’s legs nearly went to jelly as she melted under his glare. Ramón finally gave in to the need of placing his lips onto hers. His head descended down to hers and as their lips touched, they both felt a surge of energy flow through them as if they were connected. He pulled his lips away from hers and brushed her earlobe with his tongue. As he gave light kisses down the nape her of neck she quivered. How could she stop him before things got out of hand when her body craved for more? She couldn’t find the strength to resist him; her brain had shut off the moment their lips touched.

When his lips returned to claim hers she trembled underneath him, wanting to taste all of him. She clung to his body with her arms tightly
, as his tongue fought hers for attention. Ramón pulled her down to the pillow in front of the fire while her lips devoured his as if she was a starved animal and he was her long awaited meal. She felt like if she didn’t have him she would die but once his hands began to caress and move up her legs she began to doubt herself.

She gently pulled away looking into Ramón’s eyes and frowned.

“I'm sorry.” She whispered. “I want to so bad but I can’t.”

Ramón removed a strand of hair from her eyes. “
It’s ok I understand.”

“
It’s just I don’t do this. I don’t sleep around and we barely know each other.”

“Well,” Ramón said as he gently moved away from her. “
How about I take this tray into the kitchen and grab the stuff to make s'mores while you put on the sweatshirt and shorts, we can sit in front of the fire and get to know each other.”

“
Really?” she asked surprised at his response.

“
Yes really. I like you and any chance I get to get to know you I want to take.”

He walked out the room as s
he pulled on his sweatshirt and realized it was like a dress on her, she smiled to herself placing the shorts on. As she sat and got comfortable on the pillows Ramón walked into the room carrying a bag of marshmallows and graham crackers in one hand and sticks and chocolate in his other. He had changed into a tee-shirt and shorts as well. He smiled as he moved over to her.

“
You look so cute in that.”

She blushed and helped him sit the food up. He opened his legs and motioned for her to sit between them. She sighed doing as he asked and
laid on him. He handed her a stick and she placed one of the big marshmallows onto her stick and his. As they heated up Ramón sighed.

“
This is new for me.”

“
New?”

“
You not wanting to sleep with me.”

“I have no problem sleeping with you but I do with having sex. I see it as more than a passing thing. I am glad I stopped even though it was hard to, my body is still cussing me out.”

They laughed and Ramón placed his marshmallow onto his chocolate and cracker as Desiree did the same. She sighed as she took a bite.

“
So would this be considered a date?”

Ramón smiled
behind her. “I would like to think so.”

“
Good because I am having a great time.”

“
You actually seem to have let your guard down.”

“
It’s easy when we are like this. This is just what I needed I think and despite what you think it is romantic. Relaxing by the fireplace while a storm is outside.”

He took one last bite of his S’more and pulled her closer to him.

“Desiree tell me something about you no one knows.”

“Well umm ok. I am wearing a weave.”

Ramón laughed shaking his head.

“M
ost women even those who don’t need it wear weave I'm talking about something that no one knows or suspects I will even go first…even though I act fearless when I step onto the court and everyone sees me being confident and talented but honestly I am scared each and every time I get on that court.”

She turned her head and looked up to him.

“Scared about what?” she asked concerned.

“
There are so many things that could go wrong, I could get hurt I could hurt someone, I could have a heart attack on the court. That’s why I pray before the game. To keep us all safe.”

“
Wow.” Desiree turned away from him taking in what she just learned. She exhaled deeply leaning completely on Ramón.

“
When I was sixteen I babysat for a neighbor and her older brother began to stalk me. He followed me around and parked outside my school. He actually tried to grab me but I got away. I don’t even wanna know what would have happened had he got me.”