Saturday (Timeless Series #6) (11 page)

“I don’t know if a donut qualifies.”

“It’s not just a donut. Sweetheart, it’s so much more than that. You’ll see what I mean.”

She still hesitated.

I tried not to take the rejection personally. I knew her restraint had nothing to do with me. “Well, I’m going to have one myself. Maybe we can get together a different time.” If I kept pressuring her it would just make it worse. All I could do was extend my hand. It was up to her if she wanted to take it.

“I’ll go.”

I kept the smile off my face even though it took all my strength to accomplish that. “Great. I’ll meet you down here.”

“Okay.”

***

We sat across from each other at the table near the window. We both had funnel cakes of our own. Mine was covered with strawberries and strawberry sauce while her was hidden under layers of chocolate.

She stared at it like it was a beast. “This thing is enormous.”

“It’s great, huh?”

“There’s no way I can eat this by myself.”

“Then I’ll take care of it.” I was only allowed to have a meal like this once a month. If I ate too much sugar my body would pay the price. “That’s what I’m here for.”

“There’s no way you could eat both of these.”

“Is that a challenge?” I rose to every challenge, and I always beat them.

“Not sure yet…” She pressed her fork into the cake and broke a piece off. “Here we go…” She shoved it into her mouth and chewed slowly.

“What did I tell you?” I asked. “It’s the best shit ever, right?”

She nodded just before she swallowed. “Wow, you weren’t kidding.”

“I know my stuff.” I ate everything on my plate while keeping my gaze locked to her face. Now I couldn’t get the image of that photograph out of her mind, the one where she was covered with cuts and bruises. Anytime I thought about the file vomit moved up my throat. It was a despicable crime, something that kept me up late at night.

“What have you been up to lately?”

“Just work.” I was preparing for my case to go to trial. The justice system didn’t have the delivery speed of McDonald’s. Cases could go on for months—sometimes years. All my spare time was devoted to creating my strategy. I couldn’t afford to lose this case. And society couldn’t afford to have another rapist on the street.

“No golfing?” Her lips rose into a smile, and she looked so beautiful when she allowed her natural features to come through.

“No…unfortunately.” I wouldn’t have time for that for a while.

“Did you pick up another case or something?”

“Actually, I did.” I wouldn’t go into the specifics to spare her the heartbreak. She didn’t need to know anything about it. When I put him behind bars I would tell her. It would be my gift to her.

“What’s this one about?”

She never asked me that before. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re right.”

“It’s okay.” The fact she asked me anything at all was a good sign. “How’s work?”

“Good. But to be honest, I haven’t worked on your design…”

Probably because she assumed we wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore. “That’s fine. I’m not in a hurry anyway.”

“That’s a relief.”

Without asking I took a bite of hers. “The chocolate is good.”

Since I took some of hers, she took some of mine. “Yours is too. But maybe we can split one next time.”

I tried not to react but it was difficult. It was the first time she spoke of us having plans in the future. I drank my water to cover up my smile, knowing it might spook her off if she caught the look. “Sounds like a good idea.”

***

I wanted to get inside her apartment. If she were alone with me inside closed doors, it would be a great way for her to realize she could trust me. But I couldn’t make that happen by my own manipulation.

She had to invite me.

I walked her to her door at the end of the night, dreading the goodbye part. I never knew when I would see her again every time we parted ways, but there was a good chance I would at least get a hug from her.

And her hugs were the best ones I’ve ever had.

“I apologize for introducing you to the funnel cake,” I said. “Now you’re going to be addicted.”

“The fact it’s around the corner from my office doesn’t help,” she said with a chuckle.

“Have you had crepes before?”

“Crepes?” she said. “Those wraps filled with chocolate and fruit?”

“So you’ve tried them.”

“I know what they are but I’ve never had one before.”

“Really?” Did she live under a rock? “Well, that’s the next thing on our bucket list.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” She pulled her keys out of her purse, her eyes downcast.

I had to get inside but I didn’t have a clue how to make that happen—unless I forced it. “I had a great time tonight.”

“Me too.” She got the key in the door and pushed it open, the keys still hanging from the keyhole.

This was tricky. She seemed to be in a good mood, calm and comfortable. If I pushed too hard I’d lose the moment. But if I didn’t try hard enough we’d never move forward. “How long have you lived here?”

“A few years. It’s close to work so I like it.”

“Cool. Can I take a look?” I kept my hands in my pockets and didn’t move toward her, giving her as much space as she wanted. There was no other way to show my intentions unless I said them out loud.

“Uh…” She kept one hand on the door and looked terrified.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “I was just curious to see what your place looked like. It’s not a big deal.” Too much pressure would make her cave. It was difficult to find that balance, to push her when it was necessary and when to back off when she needed it.

She gripped the door handle, still unsure.

“Good night,” I said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

She pressed her lips tightly together before she answered. “Yeah, you can come in.”

She just invited me inside her apartment? Did that just happen? The evening had been going remarkable well. I almost couldn’t believe it. “You’re sure?”

She nodded.

“Cool.” I walked inside, keeping my hands in my pockets. I took a look around her place, seeing the small living room and kitchen area. For an apartment in Manhattan it was pretty nice. It was bigger than a broom closet, something most people had. “It’s nice.” It was decorated in earthly tones, suiting her personality and demeanor perfectly. If I walked into this apartment without her present, I would have known it belonged to her.

“Thanks.” She shut the door behind her, and her shoulders were rigid. She was hunched slightly in a peculiar way, like she was forcing herself to relax and her body wouldn’t obey.

I didn’t walk down the hall to take a peek of her bedroom. If anything, that might make her uncomfortable. “Is it okay if I sit down?” I walked to couch and stared at her large TV.

“Of course.”

I sat down at the edge and looked at the picture frames on the table. All of them were images of her and her friends, hiking or going to the beach. Florence was in one of them.

“Shit, I forgot my manners.” She smacked herself in the forehead. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Water is fine. Thanks.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t do this a lot…” She turned back and walked into the kitchen.

“It’s no big deal.” The fact she invited me inside was a big deal. Now I knew she was comfortable around me—and she really did like me. If I were anyone else she would have shut the door in his face. I really had a chance to make this work.

She set the glass of water on the table. “Anything else?”

“No, thank you.” I crossed my legs, resting one ankle on the opposite knee. I grabbed the water and took a sip, trying to act as normal as possible. Being alone in her apartment was too significant to ignore.

She sat down on the opposite end of the couch. “You want to watch something?”

“Sure. What are you into?”

She glanced at the time on her phone. “
America’s Funniest Home Videos
comes on right now.”

“You like that show?” I always left it on in the background when I was at home working on briefs.

“Yeah. It’s nice to watch something family friendly. Everything else on TV is rated R these days.”

“I know what you mean.”

She turned on the channel and leaned back, her eyes on the screen.

I didn’t make a move to sit beside her. A part of me wanted to grab her hand or place my arm around her shoulders, taking advantage of the situation to have some kind of affection. But I knew it wasn’t wise to push the envelope. Just the fact I was inside her apartment was amazing.

She laughed when a dog chased his own tail in a video. He kept spinning around until he got dizzy and toppled over. Her eyes lit up in joy and her face looked natural, poised.

We weren’t technically on a date, but it was the best one I’ve ever had. There wasn’t a fancy dinner or a bottle of wine. There wasn’t hot sex at the end of the road. It was just she and I—together.

And it was perfect.

***

I was exhausted and sleep deprived. This case was taking all of my focus and it hadn’t even started yet. I was obsessed to the point of insanity. My rage and pain edged me forward, pushing me to limits I’d never breached before. Every time I read a new account of the crime I ground my teeth so tightly together my jaw hurt. Rose had only been in my life for a short amount of time, but I’d become so fond of her that I couldn’t comprehend it.

The fact this happened to her—shattered me.

I had to get justice for her even if she didn’t know about it. I had to fight for her, to do the right thing. What happened to Rose was in the past and nothing could change it, but I could stop it from happening to someone else in the future.

And I would.

I gave her space for a few days so I wouldn’t come on too strong. The last time we hung out it went perfectly. If I pushed her for more, she might cut me off altogether. Besides, I had a lot of work to do at the office. I put in more time than I’d ever had before, determined to win this case with ease.

I got tickets to the Mets because they were playing The Warriors the following night. Since they were her favorite team, I thought it would be the perfect excuse to see her again. She wouldn’t say no to a free ticket.

Nobody would.

When five days had come and gone, I called her. It was nearly impossible to downplay my feelings and pretend I wasn’t thinking about her all the time. She was always in the back of my mind, but I couldn’t reach for the phone and text her whenever I felt like it.

I listened to the phone ring a few times before she answered.

“Hey.” It was the first time she didn’t answer me in a dismissive way. I didn’t detect her walls that time. She spoke to me like I was a friend—someone she trusted.

“Are you watching
America’s Funniest Home Videos
?”

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“I’m watching it too.” It was on in the background. At the moment, there was a dog wearing sunglasses at the beach. A bandana was around his neck, with the American flag print.

She laughed into the phone. “He looks so cute with sunglasses on.”

I loved her laugh. There was nothing else like it. “Yeah…pretty cute.”

“Did you know it’s on Netflix? So you can watch every season.”

“We’ll have to have a marathon.”

“Good idea,” she said with excitement.

I really liked the way things were going. It was too good to be true. “Are you busy tomorrow night?”

“Depends. Why?”

At least she didn’t shut me down entirely. “I have two tickets to the Mets tomorrow. Want to come along?”

“Oh my god. Aren’t they playing The Warriors?”

“Yep.”

“Yes! Of course I want to come along. How much is the ticket?”

“Not a dime.”

“Don’t be like that,” she said. “If I’m going to take a ticket I’m going to pay for it.”

“I got them for free.” That was a lie, but she didn’t need to know that.

“How?”

“I know people.”
Another lie.
“It’s tomorrow at seven. So, I’ll pick you up at six. Is that okay?”

“Absolutely. Oh my god, I’m so excited. I’m actually pacing in my apartment because I can’t sit down.”

The thought made me smile. Whenever I made her happy, I was happy. “I’m glad you’re excited.”

“Thanks for inviting me.”

“There’s no on else I’d rather go with.” That comment was a little strong but it was too late to take it back.

Thankfully, she let it slide. “Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The Warriors

Kyle

When I picked her up she was wearing a Stephen Curry jersey with a Warriors baseball cap. She looked cute, to say the least. She wore dark skinny jeans under her jersey, and Nike running shoes were on her feet.

“I’m really digging the sporty outfits you wear.”

“You don’t think people will give us a hard time?” she asked. “You know, because I’m not rooting for The Mets?”

“Who cares?” I asked. “Let’s do what we want and worry about it later.”

She buckled a fanny pack around her waist and walked out.

I eyed the dark green bag with a raised eyebrow. “A fanny pack?”

“Yeah, they are so convenient,” she said. “Hands free.” She locked the door behind her and walked down the hall beside me.

I tried not to laugh. It was dorky but cute at the same time.

She caught the look. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You think it’s lame?”

“Actually, I think it’s cute—on you.”

“A basketball game is no place for a purse—or a clutch.”

We took a cab to the stadium then walked inside. I got great seats three rows back. We were right behind The Warriors’ bench. We’d get a great view of everything—and all the players.

“Shit, these seats are incredible.” She’d never been so enthused over anything in my presence. Her eyes were bigger than golf balls, and she took in the scene like it was the coolest thing in the world. “I can’t believe I’m here. I’ve always wanted to come to a game.”

“It’s pretty exciting.” Her happiness was infectious. I liked this side of her—the happy and carefree one. If she relaxed more often every day could be this way. “Want something to eat? A beer?”

“A beer and a chili dog would be perfect.”

“Great. I’ll be right back.” I left the chair and scooted down the aisle.

She opened her fanny pack to get some cash.

“I’m not taking anything from you.” I kept walking so I wouldn’t have to listen to her protests. She could label it however she wanted, but as far as I was concerned this was a date.

***

The Warriors won—which was what I was hoping for.

“I can’t believe that last shot Curry made.” She walked beside me down the sidewalk. We would have gotten a cab on the way home but the streets were congested with cars. Everyone was trying to get out at the same time. “The ball just flies in there like a magnet.”

“It’s pretty incredible.”

“And it’s even more crazy that he does it at the last minute. He literally has one second to prepare for the shot. I swear, it’s all muscle memory with him. His body just knows how to play the game. Incredible.”

All of people passed us on the sidewalk, talking loudly and drunk from the game. I stuck close to her side so no one would bump into her by mistake. I was listening to every word she said but I was also focused on getting us out of there. “His dad was a basketball player. He probably learned a lot from him.”

“I wish I was good at sports.”

“Have you ever tried?”

She shrugged. “Not really. I did dance and ballet, but that’s about it.”

“You’re a dancer?” I could picture her moving across the floor gracefully, wearing tights and a tutu.

“
Was
a dancer,” she corrected. “I haven’t done it since high school.”

“That’s still cool.”

“I guess. It’s relaxing and strenuous, but not as interesting as watching the NBA.”

“Well, you’re comparing apples and oranges.” The group we were walking with got into an argument. It wasn’t clear what they were saying, and within seconds they started pushing and shoving each other, F bombs dropping left and right. A beer bottle was thrown to the concrete where it shattered into shards. Then one of the guys grabbed a piece of glass, prepared to stab the other.

Shit.

I placed my body between Rose and the commotion, and my hand automatically wrapped around her waist. I’d never touched her that way before but I didn’t think twice about it now. I guided her from the commotion, keeping her pressed against me.

She looked over my shoulder as we walked, seeing the violence that started. More men got involved into the fight, and soon the radius increased.

“We’re fine.” I kept my voice calm even though I didn’t feel calm. I had to get her out of there before she had a meltdown. The evening went so well and I couldn’t afford a setback. I wanted to put our relationship in cruise control and just enjoy it.

I took her down a different route just to avoid the fight, and after a few blocks we were clear of the calamity.

“What were they fighting about?”

“I don’t have a clue.” My arm remained around her waist, and I loved the curve of her hips in my grasp. Even though we were just in danger, it was hard to stay concerned when my hands were on her.

“Where are we now?” She searched for a street name.

“I know where we are. We’ll just take the long way back to your place.”

“At least you know where we’re going.”

After a long walk we reached her apartment building. A few people were talking in the lobby, wearing Mets gear. We quickly walked passed them and took the elevator to her floor.

When the doors opened the silence descended. My ears appreciated the break. For the last hour they were ringing from all the screaming at the courtside. We walked to her door.

She got the door unlocked. “Thanks for taking me to the game. I had a great time. Actually, I had the time of my life.”

My lips automatically rose into a smile. “No problem. I loved spending the evening with you.”

She eyed her open door then looked at me. “There are so many drunk weirdoes out right now. Why don’t you hang out here for a bit until they go home?”

I could manage on my own. I wasn’t afraid of a group of drunken men. The only time I was scared was when I had a lady with me. But I wasn’t going to pass up on the offer. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

We walked inside and she turned on the lights to her apartment. The city glowed outside the window, and far into the distance the park was visible. The city was a big place, but it was arranged to maximize space and people. Even if you lived two blocks from someone, there were about a hundred thousand people between you.

“I wonder if we were on TV.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we were.”

She opened the fridge. “Do you want anything?”

“Water, please.”

She grabbed a bottle and tossed it to me. “Sometimes I wish I lived in California so I could watch them play more often.”

“The west coast isn’t my place.” I took a long drink before I placed the bottle on the kitchen island.

“Why not?”

“Their oceans are so cold. Have you ever been?”

“Actually, I haven’t.”

“I’ve been for the firm, and the water is barely above freezing. It’s nothing like the water we have here.”

“Surely, there must be something you like about California.”

“Not really,” I said. “The traffic is a nightmare. That’s all I ever focus on.” I walked to the couch and tried to think of my next move. My arm wrapped around her waist earlier so would she let me hold her hand? Or was I pushing my luck?

She sat on the opposite end of the couch, exactly where she’d been sitting last time. She had a beer in her hands and she took a drink before she turned on the TV. “What should we watch?”

“Well, I know our favorite show isn’t on.”

She turned on TBS. “The Mummy. Dude, this movie is always on.”

My head snapped in her direction. “Did you just call me dude?” My grin wouldn’t disappear. When she was herself she said the cutest things. She didn’t think before she spoke. Words just came out.

“Well, yeah. But it’s true. This movie is always on TV.”

“Because it’s awesome. It’s one of those movies you can just watch—even if it’s smack in the middle.”

“I know.” She set the remote on the coffee table. “I guess we’re going to watch it then.”

“Fine by me.”

She grabbed a blanket from the bin beside the couch and pulled it over her legs. She got settled into the couch and watched the TV, her eyes growing heavy.

Instead of watching the movie I watched her. My head faced forward and my eyes wondered in her direction. She was the most fascinating creature I’d ever met, and I loved staring at her like this. I wish I could do it when she was aware of it—that would be even better.

***

An hour into the movie, she was fast asleep.

Her cap had loosened and fell off, and the blanket was pulled tightly against her chest. Her mouth was slightly parted as she breathed. If she were comfortable enough to fall asleep with me in the room, then she didn’t see me as a threat whatsoever.

And that made me happy.

She couldn’t sleep there all night, so I turned off the TV and scooped her into my arms. She was lighter than I expected, and I loved holding her that way. She fit perfectly against my chest, like she was meant to be there.

I carried her into her bedroom and gently set her on the bed. Her room was small, with one queen size bed and a white dresser. I removed her shoes but kept everything else in place. Then I pulled back the blankets and tucked her in. She didn’t stir once—probably because she was exhausted.

Since she was fast asleep I took advantage of her vulnerability and stared at her. Her hair came loose from her ponytail and the strands fell softly around her face. When she was asleep she looked peaceful—like she didn’t have a care in the world.

She was beautiful.

My lips burned as I watched her, desperate for a piece of her. I could take this as slow as she wanted, but I was a man and I had needs. All I really wanted was some affection—mainly a kiss.

I let my desire get the best of me and I leaned over the bed. My lips traveled directly to her forehead, and once they were there I gave her a long kiss. My mouth felt right. Her skin was warm and she smelled like vanilla. I wanted to stay there forever, to enjoy the sudden ecstasy that rocked through me.

But I knew I’d overstayed my welcome.

I pulled away and stared at her for another moment, seeing her small chest rise and fell with deep breaths. If I could stay there forever I would, but I knew I couldn’t.

I walked out of her bedroom and shut the door behind me. When she woke up she would wonder how she got into bed. Hopefully, she wouldn’t freak out that I went into her bedroom. Obviously, nothing happened so she had no reason to be scared.

Since I didn’t want to leave the door unlocked I lay on the couch and got comfortable with the blanket she left behind. I kicked off my shoes and tried to fit my long body across the cushions but couldn’t completely fit. My feet hung off the edge while the TV played in the background.

I could lock the door and slide the keys underneath but I didn’t want to. I was looking for an excuse to stay there, to be there when she woke up the next morning. I was looking for any reason to be with her.

Any reason at all.