Jewel Ann - Idle Bloom

“You’ll meet me for sex?”

I nod.

“Any time, any day?”

I nod. “I love you, so whatever the sacrifice, I’ll do it. We can do this, babe. I realize it could take a long time and like most addictions, you may always struggle with it, but I’ll do whatever it takes to help you through.”

“You’re a real gem, Oli.” She bats her lashes at me and grins. “So on to the next issue. This might sound funny, since I practically sleep with you every night anyway, but I need a place to stay next weekend. Alex’s parents will be in town for two nights before they leave for Europe. Normally, I would go to Kai’s but since I ended things with him—”

“Wait. What do you mean you ended things with him?”

She tears the last piece of toast into little pieces. “Well, after what he said to you and then what he said to me, I told him we’re over. I can’t be his friend anymore.” She looks up at me and I see her eyes fill with tears and a sad smile pulls at one side of her lips.

“What did he say to you?”

“He said he loved me and that he wanted to be with me. He said the words I’ve been waiting to hear for what seems like forever.” She sniffles. “But I don’t love him anymore and when I’m with you I question if I ever really loved him because what I feel for you is so much more than I’ve ever felt before.” Using her napkin she dabs at her tears. “But it still hurts. In spite of everything, he’s been my friend forever.” She shakes her head. “Things just haven’t been the same since the accident.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Glossy green eyes look at me. “I was with Kai that night. We went camping and that was going to be our first night together. He stole a six-pack of beer from his parents and I had one, he had the other five. It was late and he wanted to get in the tent. I was having second thoughts, given his inebriated condition. He tugged the button to my shorts then he tried to remove my shirt. I backed away, insisting he stop. I tripped and fell backwards onto the coals of our campfire that had started to burn out. He landed on top of me and struggled to get off. I don’t remember much after that, but later I was told that the people camping next to us saw the whole thing and rescued us before calling 9-1-1.”

She releases a sob and I hurry to pull her into my arms. “He spent every night at the hospital with me until I was released. I promised him I would never blame him for it, but I do. It’s not just the scars. I blame him for the way I feel about them. A year later we found ourselves alone at my parents’ house and I wanted to have sex with him. I needed to know that he still wanted me that way. I needed to feel beautiful in his eyes.” Another sob escapes and I’m torn between wanting to comfort her and rip Kai’s heart right out of his chest. “All I saw in his eyes was … pity. That moment ended our romantic relationship, but looking back, I think that moment ended our friendship. We’ve just been in denial over the past two years.”

Cradling her face I wipe her tears and kiss her soft cheeks. She sniffles again. “So can I stay next weekend … with you.”

“No.”

She physically deflates even more. I smile. “You can stay forever.”

Her forehead wrinkles. “What?”

“Move in with me.”

“What?”

I laugh. “You heard me. Move in with me.”

Her eyes search my face like she’s unscrambling a puzzle. “Are you serious?”

With those three words it hits me. No, I’m not. The magnitude of my proposition starts to sink in. Where did that come from? What the hell was I thinking? Forever? Move in? Shit!

Eyes wide, she’s holding her breath … I’m holding her breath. “Yes, I’m serious.”

She hugs me and squeals. Then her lips attack mine with purpose as her hand slides down the front of my briefs. “Boston Kreme me, Oli,” she whispers with a naughty seductive voice.

Okay, this might work out after all.

Vivian

I’m not sure what “the dream” is, but I’m pretty sure I’m living mine. Oliver asking me to move in with him, forever, has dissolved my reservations about us. Dr. Jekyll cannot ask someone to move in unless he intends to expose Mr. Hyde. Oliver’s invitation feels like a promise—a promise to share everything with me, maybe not overnight, but soon.

“What is half your rent and utilities?”

Oliver gives me a sideways glance as he drives us to his parents. “Why?”

“I want to figure out how much I’m going to need to work when I start school in the fall.”

He laughs. “I don’t rent.”

“Then what’s half of your mortgage?”

He shakes his head. “You’re not paying my mortgage.”

“Then I should take care of all the utilities and groceries.”

“No.”

“Oli!”

“I asked you to move in with me because I want to be with you, because I love you.” He squeezes my leg. “I wasn’t looking for a roommate.”

I entwine my fingers with his. “I’m not going to move in and mooch off you. I want to contribute.”

“You can pay me back when you conquer empires after you graduate.”

“I’m not living with you for free.”

He smirks, keeping his eyes on the road. “I’m sure I can think of something you could do to earn your keep.”

“Don’t say sex. That would make me feel like a prostitute.”

“Mmm, well we wouldn’t want that. Maybe you could massage my aching muscles every night after I get done with my long labor-intensive work days. Naked, of course.”

I laugh. “And that’s not going to lead to sex?”

“I’ve never had sex with my massage therapists.”

“Good to know, but how many of them have been naked while massaging you?”

His lips twist to the side. “Good point.”

“Besides, I probably wouldn’t be that good at it. I’ve never had a massage, so I don’t have much to go on.”

“You’ve never had a massage? Ever?” His brow furrows.

I shrug. “Nope. I don’t think a lot of teenagers get massages and then the …”

“The scars.” He sighs.

“Yes, the scars. It’s no big deal. I doubt either one of my parents have ever had a massage.”

“Then that’s another thing you should add to your to-do list after you accumulate your billions.”

“You do realize it’s not about the money.”

“No?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course not. It’s about making a difference in the lives of people like my parents. People who work for me will not work more than thirty hours a week. They will have generous pay, health and retirement benefits, and childcare. Then of course there will be fitness centers, healthy lunch options on site, sleeping pods to increase productivity, and who knows … maybe even chair massages. People will love working for me and as a result their enthusiasm and quality work will make my companies the best in the world.”

Oliver’s grin is enormous.

“What are you smiling at?”

“You. Just when I think you can’t amaze me anymore, you do. I love listening to you talk about your future like that. You’re so full of spirit and I have no doubt you will achieve everything you set out to do, a hundredfold.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

He winks at me.

“What about you? Are you going to retire co-owner of the Handy Hunk?”

“I’m not an owner, just a meager employee. Eventually, I will leave this glamorous job and move on.”

“Practicing law?”

He lifts his shoulders. “Maybe.”

“Hmm, I haven’t seen you in a suit, but I’ll miss those leather work boots.”

He chuckles. “The boots? You like my boots.”

I nod, digging my teeth into my lower lip. “You know how some men are about women in heels … nothing but heels? Well, that’s your boots for me. I fantasize about you in nothing but those work boots.”

He pulls into his parents’ driveway. “The boots, huh?” He grins.

“Yep, just the boots.”

“Might get the sheets dirty.”

I blush. “We’re not in bed … at least not in my fantasy.”

His eyebrows pull up. “We’re not?”

I shake my head. “We’re in the back loading area of The Green Pot. I’m in a sundress with flip-flops, no panties, and you fuck me up against your brother’s work truck … wearing only your work boots.”

Oliver swallows—hard while adjusting himself. “Damn, Vivian. I’m going to walk into my parents’ house with a boner.”

“Sorry, I’ll meet you inside.”

“Wait! You’re leaving me?”

I nod and open the door. “Giving you some privacy to take care of things.”

“Just give me a minute. It will go away on its own.”

“I doubt that.”

“Why do you say—”

I stand with my rear to the door and lift the back side of my dress. “Because I’m not wearing any panties tonight.”

“Shit! What the hell—”

I close the door and giggle all the way to the house.

“Vivian!” Jackie hugs me.

“Jackie, nice to see you again.”

“Where’s Oliver?”

“Uh … he’s still in the car. He had to um … handle something before coming inside.”

“Oh, I hope everything’s okay.”

I grin. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Well then, head out back. Hugh and Chance are out there.”

“Can I help you with anything?”

“Not unless you want to chop veggies for the salad.”

“I’d love to.”

Jackie leads me to the kitchen and points to a strainer with carrots, peppers, and tomatoes. “A knife is in the top drawer and the cutting board is on the island.” She slips on her floral apron and mixes something in a baking dish.