Way to Her Heart (6 page)

She plopped down on an ottoman near the stairs and looked at the pretty plant with a frown on her face. Of course it was normal for a healthy woman to enjoy a flirty night of dancing and kissing with a big hunk of man, but the whole thing had much more meaning for Sherri. Lucas was the first man she’d kissed since the night she and Trevor conceived Sydney. More to the point, he was the only man she’d wanted to kiss. Many men had pursued her over the years and she was always able to send them on their merry way without a second thought. Her priorities were firmly in place, as were her totally justifiable fears of abandonment.

She knew for a fact that men could be craven cowards who ran out on a woman rather than owning up to their responsibilities. After Trevor’s betrayal and subsequent disappearance, she’d made herself a promise that she’d never, ever allow herself to get so caught up in a man that she put all her trust in him. They just weren’t worth her trust—that’s what she’d decided. And after Sydney’s birth she’d renewed that vow with a codicil. She would never let any man get close enough to her or her precious baby. No man would ever have the chance to break her daughter’s heart the way hers had been shattered by Trevor. Giving up a love life had been a very small sacrifice to make for Sydney’s sake. Not once had she regretted choosing her little girl’s happiness over sex. Not until the first time Lucas touched her hand.

She groaned loud and long, dropping her head into her hands. After a moment she had to laugh at herself. Pushing the ottoman back into its normal spot, she went to do her usual house check, turning off the music and then making sure that all the doors and windows were locked and that the alarm was set. Filling a thermal glass with ice and water, she went upstairs to bed. She undressed slowly and thoughtfully before getting into the shower. There was nothing like a hot shower to send her to sleep. Tonight, though, the shower did nothing but remind her of what Lucas’s touch did to her. When the spray of hot water hit her skin it was like being stroked with his strong fingers over and over. All over. She directed the handheld shower over her body, lingering in all the places she wanted him to touch and to taste. With her eyes closed and the sweet scent of her body gel wafting up to her sensitive nose, all she could think about was what they’d be doing right now if not for the condom shortage.

She ended the shower with a punishing cold blast of water as though it could put an end to her wayward thoughts, but her ploy didn’t succeed. Wrapped in a big pink towel, she sat on the edge of her bed and started applying the coconut oil she liked to use. The oil melted into her skin and gave it a delicious scent, which only increased her sexual angst. Who knew that all of her desires would come galloping back after one kiss? That wasn’t strictly true, though; the second their hands connected something had happened to her deep inside. It only got more intense every time their skin made contact, and tonight was the most explosive reaction she’d ever registered. Even Trevor, who considered himself to be an accomplished lover, hadn’t had the same effect on her libido.

Once she was moist from head to toe and smelling fantastic, she slid under the covers without a stitch on. Sleeping nude was one of her favorite things, although she didn’t do it when Sydney was home. Normally she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but tonight all she could think about was Lucas and what it would be like to have him next to her in the bed. A litany of “if onlys” went around and around in her head and she couldn’t seem to cut them off. If only she wasn’t convinced that sex couldn’t be a part of her life. If only Lucas wasn’t so damned sexy. If only he was a dimwit and a bore instead of such a charming man; she wouldn’t be tossing and turning right now if he was a loser. She sat up straight and drank deeply from the glass of water before taking one of the cubes out and rubbing it down her throat and between her breasts. Like it or not, Lucas VanBuren’s kiss had awakened something deep inside her psyche, something she hadn’t realized was even there. She put her head back on the pillow, sure that she wasn’t going to sleep that night.

* * *

Luckily she did manage to fall asleep, but her dreams were not only erotic, they were highly specific and centered on Lucas. She didn’t have time to dwell on the X-rated cinema of her mind, though; today was a busy day. Sydney was ready and waiting to be picked up after her sleepover and she was her usual cheery, chatty self. After thanking her friend Lisa’s mom for having her over, saying goodbye to Lisa and kissing her mother hello, Sydney was buckled into her seat in the car.

“Mommy, did you bring my swimsuit and things for swim class?”

“Of course I did, sweetie. Your bag is in the trunk and everything is in it.”

Satisfied with her answer, Sydney plunged ahead to more important matters. “Did you have fun last night?”

Startled, Sherri’s cheeks flamed as she was trying to formulate an answer, but Sydney kept talking.

“I mean did you have fun on your date with Uncle Lucas, Mommy. Where did you go? What did you do?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t call it a date, Sydney. Lucas and I went to Sweet Tea and had barbecue and then we went to a club to listen to music and dance. Then he brought me home.”

“That sounds like a date to me, Mommy. Did he come and pick you up?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Did he bring you a present?”

“Well, he brought me a really pretty plant, but that’s not exactly a gift, I don’t think.”

“He took you out to eat and he took you out to dance and he paid for everything, right?”

Sherri’s eyes were brimming with laughter as she answered. Sydney might make a very good attorney one day if she kept up her interrogation skills. “Yes, he did. But that doesn’t mean it’s a date-date. It just means it was a friend-date.”

“No, Mommy, you’re wrong. That’s a real date, trust me.”

“What do you know about real dates, little one? Where are you getting your information?”

“Everybody knows that stuff, Mommy.”

They had reached the athletic center where Alexis taught weekly swim classes, so further conversation was forestalled as they went in and joined the class. Sydney had so much fun that it wasn’t until later, when she was getting her hair done at Sanctuary Two, that she brought up the subject again. This time she addressed Alexis in an innocent voice.

“Auntie Alexis, what’s a date?” she asked sweetly.

Alexis was separating Sydney’s abundant hair into four equal parts so that she could blow-dry each section. “A date is when two people who like each other spend time together.”

“Did you and Uncle Jared go on dates before you got married?”

“Sure we did, cutie. We went on lots of dates.”

“Did he pick you up and bring you a present and take you somewhere and pay for everything?”

Alexis smiled at her warmly and agreed that, yes, he had. Sydney gave her mother a triumphant grin and said, “See? I told you, Mommy. That was a real date you had with Uncle Lucas. I told you so.”

Sherri was glad that they were in the private area Alexis used for her clients. If they’d been in the main styling area the whole salon would have heard her business being announced.

Alexis could tell by the look on Sherri’s face that there was more to the story. Giving her friend the look that meant that a long session of girl talk was on the agenda for later that day, Alexis grinned and said, “You’re absolutely right, cupcake. It was a real date and I’ll bet they both had a great time. And Mommy’s going to tell me everything as soon as I get done with your hair.”

Sherri suddenly got really interested in her magazine and pretended that she didn’t hear the two of them chattering away. But behind the cover of the latest issue of
InStyle,
she hid a secret smile.

Chapter 6

A week later, Lucas drove over to Sherri’s condo to pick her up for what would be their second official date. He was in a great mood for several reasons, not the least of which was that he’d gotten his beloved Land Rover Defender back from Alana’s Custom Classics. It was a vintage ride, a 1985 model, and before Alana put her loving and skilled hands on it, it was a hot mess of dents, scratches, patches of rust, Bondo and primer. Despite its appearance, he loved the boxy SUV with the ladders on the rear and the equipment rack that surrounded the entire roof. It had always been his intention to have the vehicle restored, but when he acquired it he lacked the money and now that he had plenty of money, he had no time. But Alana had taken one look at it and eagerly offered her services to bring it back to life. When he saw the spectacular results of her work, he was stunned.

“Alana, this is amazing. I knew Jared had done the right thing marrying your sister. You Sharp women are not only beautiful and smart, you’re also talented. The man you marry is gonna be one lucky guy.”

Alana merely smiled and replied, “The man I’m going to marry is a figment of your imagination. Go enjoy your ride.”

He had the perfect idea for inaugurating the remodeled vehicle, and he was happy that Sherri agreed with him. He’d managed to get tickets to a jazz concert at the Spoleto Festival and she’d agreed to go with him. It was an annual event in Charleston that welcomed some of the most acclaimed artists in the world in dance, music, art and theater and he was looking forward to going. He was surprised that Sydney had declined his invitation, but she had other plans.

“Auntie Alexis is going to make jam and jelly this weekend, and I’m going to help her. She can make all kinds of things and they’re really good. She’s going to teach me how,” she said happily.

When he arrived at Sherri’s condo, both ladies were ready to go. Sydney’s overnight bag was packed, and she was eager to get started on her own adventure. Sherri was dressed casually in a pair of copper-colored linen shorts with a scalloped hem and a crisp matching blouse with cap sleeves. The fabric was lightly suffused with gold and she wore a narrow gold leather belt that showed off her slender waist. With her flat sandals and a minimum of makeup, she looked fresh, sexy and stylish—as usual. Thanks to Sydney’s urging, they were on their way in minutes. She was eager to reach Alexis and Jared’s house.

When they reached their destination, Sydney was the first one out of the car, running to the door to greet the couple and their bouncy little dogs. She was excited and hardly paid any attention to her mother and Lucas as they departed. But she did manage to give them each a big hug and a kiss. “Have a nice time! See you tomorrow,” she said cheerily as she waved goodbye from the doorway.

“I’m glad you’re here, sweetie, but are you sure you didn’t want to go with your mom?” Alexis asked.

Sydney nodded her head vigorously. “Yes, I’m sure. I want to help you make jelly and play with Sookie and Honeybee. Besides, Uncle Lucas and Mommy need some alone time,” she said, sounding much older than six-going-on-seven.

Alexis exchanged a look of surprise with Jared over Sydney’s head. “
Alone
time? Where did you get that from, Sydney?”

“I got it out of my head, Auntie Alexis. They have to spend time together so they can get to know each other really good before they get married.”

Alexis was walking toward the kitchen when Sydney imparted this information, and she froze in place like a statue before turning around to stare at the child. “Who’s getting married?”

“Mommy and Uncle Lucas,” Sydney answered. “Where’s my apron?”

Alexis and Jared gave each other identical looks of total shock as Sydney got on a stool to wash her hands over the kitchen sink.

“Who says they’re getting married, sweetie?” Jared asked in a gentle voice.

“
I
said it. I asked Uncle Lucas if he liked my mommy a whole, whole lot and he said yes and I said he should marry her because he’d be a really good husband for her, just like you are for Auntie Alexis. And now he’s working on it so we can get married and be a family,” she said confidently. “What kind of jelly are we making first?”

Alexis finally recovered her ability to speak and asked if Sherri knew about this plan.

“I didn’t tell her yet because it’s a surprise. But she’ll know pretty soon.”

Jared could see that his loving wife was about to pass out so he put his arms around her and held her tight. “I knew that being married to you was going to be wonderful, but I had no idea it would be this much fun.”

“Fun? This could be a disaster and you know it,” Alexis said in a low voice.

Jared kissed her soundly and assured her that everything would work out. “I told you that Lucas had that look in his eyes the first time he saw her, the look that said he meant business. Don’t worry—they’ll be just fine.”

* * *

Lucas couldn’t have been any more pleased with the new turn of events in his life. After their first date he’d endured a cold shower when he got home from Sherri’s condo, but it wasn’t the magical cure-all of legend for sexual needs. A cold shower was supposed to make all desire leave at once, and in truth, it normally did. There was nothing like getting doused in icy water to turn off the urge for sexual fulfillment, but the memory of Sherri in his arms was too strong. His body was still horny and restless, and dreams of sublime lovemaking with Sherri had taken up most of the night.

When he awoke the next morning he was filled with optimism. As far as he could see, their date had been as close to perfect as possible and he was looking forward to a repeat performance. Sherri wasn’t indifferent to him by any means, and that was an excellent sign of more good things to come.

They had promised each other that there would be no awkwardness the next time they saw each other, and there hadn’t been. Sherri and Sydney had come to Seven-Seventeen for a late lunch just like she said they would, and everything was perfectly normal. Better than normal, actually, because there was no denying that something very special had transpired the night before. Sherri had looked beautiful as always, wearing a peach-colored outfit of a short cotton skirt and a short-sleeved T-shirt. Sydney was always adorable, and even more so with her long braids swinging with every movement of her active body. She had greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and a big hug and urged him to give one to her mommy, too.