Second Chances (3 page)

He leaned in to kiss her hello his lips warm and soft on her cheek, his nearness and spicy cologne intoxicating. “Tim, this is my friend and roommate, Rose.” She introduced them, glancing apologetically at Tim as Rose launched into her customary ‘date inquisition.’

Amelia’s self-proclaimed wing man since their college days, Rose took her duties to defend and protect her friend very seriously. “I’ve got your back” she’d pledged to Amelia as they sat in the student union strategizing emergency escape plans for dates gone wrong. True to her word, it had been years since Amelia had dated a guy who hadn’t first been interrogated by Rose, and although her judgments were sometimes misguided, she had a pretty good track record for spotting the bad apples.

“So you’re going to the Aquarium tonight?” Rose asked rhetorically. “Have you ever been there before? What’s your favorite exhibit?Do you like fish? Do you like to eat fish? What’s your favorite restaurant?”

“Yes. Yes. The Harbor Seals and what were the rest of your questions?” Tim countered. Amelia watched as he sparred with Rose, noting the amused smile on his chiseled face, his trim fingers as they combed through his jet black hair the ends just brushing the burgundy collar of a chamois shirt that stretched tight across his muscular chest. Perfectly faded designer jeans hugged his athletic legs and a pair of never-been-worn Timberlands completed Tim’s lumberjack chic.

“So do you have any logger friends you could set me up with?” Rose asked eyeing him from head to toe.

“Rose!”

“It’s okay,” Tim assured her. “Actually she’s not completely off base,” he turned towards Amelia, his mouth crooked in a sheepish grin. “Would you mind terribly making a quick stop before the Aquarium? The Wilderness Stores advertising account is up for review and there’s a small meet and mingle tonight with some of the corporate execs. I can’t even tell you the crimes I committed to score an invitation to the party.”

“But it’s your first date!”

Amelia shot a grateful look at her wing man, loving her for saying what she couldn’t.

“I know, I’m sorry the timing couldn’t be worse,” Tim apologized. “But I promise I’ll make it up to you on our next date.”

Our next date. She liked the sound of that even though this one had yet to lift-off. “It’s fine, no problem,” she lied, trying to hide her disappointment. “We’ll go schmooze for a little while and then I’ll let you buy me dinner afterwards.”

With disbelief and disapproval warring across her lovely face, Rose could only stare as Amelia moved quickly out the door blowing a kiss good-bye as she went.

Rose had never forgiven Tim that first misstep or the fact that he’d never even tried to redeem himself with her.“I’m not dating Rose,” he’d said when Amelia urged him to be more endearing. Hence, six months later, he was still on Rose’s probationary shit list.

And six months later, Amelia still had doubts of her own too. Tim was a great guy, handsome and interesting, they had fun together. She loved him dearly, but enough to spend the rest of her life with him? Even now she still didn’t really know Tim, not the way you’re supposed to know everything about the person you love. And as long as he continued to keep her at arm’s length, it could be a while before that day came.

“I’ve gotta go,” she told Minji waving her freshly painted nails wildly in the air, and propelling herself out the door. “I’m meeting Tim for dinner.”

“See you next week,” Minji yelled after her. “Thanks for the tip!”

“You too,” Amelia yelled back, wondering which of them was truly the better tipper.

*   *   *

“Watch it.” A strong arm curled around her waist pulling Amelia safely back to the sidewalk as a taxi cab flew suddenly past her.

“Jesus, I didn’t even see him.” She turned to her savior and smiled. “Thanks Superman.”

“All in a day’s work,” sniffed Tim flexing a well-muscled arm.

“Well in that case,” she asked batting her long, thick lashes, “can this damsel in distress at least buy you dinner?”

“Now you’re talking. All this hero business has made me hungrier than a pitcher in the World Series.”

Linking her arm through his, Amelia rolled her eyes as they made their way across the street to Bulls n’ Buns.

Settling into a red leather booth for two, they barely glanced at the menu before ordering. “I’ll start with a bowl of chowder followed by a Mammoth burger rare, fries on the side and a 20-ounce draft,” Tim informed the hovering waitress handing her his menu and nodding for Amelia to order next.

“That sounds good,” she said handing over her menu as well, “I’ll have the same please.”

“I’ve never met another woman who eats like a horse and still looks as good as you do,” he leered, leaning across the table to steal a kiss. “How do you do it?”

“If I told you I’d have to kill you,” she quipped kissing him back, “and what good would that do us?” She ran a freshly polished nail across the flesh of his palm smiling as he trembled in response. “So speaking of pitchers and the World Series, how was the game last night, did you have fun?”

“Baseball’s not my idea of fun,” he grimaced, “but try telling that to Ben. Man, he’s a pain in the ass. He wouldn’t leave my office until I agreed to go with him.”

“That’s what you call a good friend,” Amelia laughed as he squirmed uncomfortably.

“Maybe that’s what you call it. I call it blackmail.”

“Come again?” she choked sipping her beer.

“It was a long time ago.” He stopped, reluctant to revisit the past but it was even harder to ignore Amelia’s prodding. “We were in college. The night before graduation Ben, Chad and I went to a party where someone spiked Chad’s drink with a laxative. If it’d been anyone else it wouldn’t have been a big deal,” he shrugged, “but for Chadwick Brown IV it might as well have been arsenic. At least then his dad couldn’t kill him when our class president failed to show and give the senior class address. The first C.B. not to speak at commencement since the beginning of time I think.”

Amelia was curious. “What happened?”

“Well, his sister Abby gave the speech instead. Then Chad’s dad ripped him a new ass hole and stuffed it full of guilt about embarrassing his family and disappointing his poor, dead mother.”

“He didn’t!”

“He did. I’ve gotta hand it to ole’ Chad senior, he’s a hard ass that can find the soft spot on any living being especially his own son. Chad adored his mother. When she died during our senior year he was devastated.”

They ate quietly for a moment, lost in their own thoughts until finally Amelia questioned, “So did you do it?”

“Do what?” he asked perplexed.

“Did you put the laxative in Chad’s drink?”

“What kind of a fool do you think I am?” he scowled, attacking his burger again. “Some people might think Little Lord Font La Roy is too busy deciding which silver spoon to use to even care what other people do, but not me. Messing with Chad is serious business. He doesn’t forgive and he never forgets. I’d rather suffer through a stupid baseball game with Ben then risk the wrath of Chad.”

Hiding a smile Amelia said, “I think it’s great. You needed to loosen up a little, have some fun.

“Trust me, I know how to have fun,” he said, seductively skimming his thumb across the back of her hand.

“You do?” she asked feigning wide-eyed innocence.

“Oh yeah.” He smiled causing her heart to skip a beat, and she crossed her legs against the tidal wave of sensation growing between them.

He gazed into her eyes, shining pools of lavender mirroring his own excitement, and he felt himself grow hard. Stroking her hand, he imagined her nipple beneath his thumb blossoming like a rosebud from his touch and marveled at the smooth and creamy complexion of her breast. Kissing one and then the other perfect orb, the heat of her skin scorched his lips. Oh, baby.

“Want to play a game with me?” His voice was hoarse but his message was perfectly clear.

“What’s it called?” Breathing heavily, Amelia signaled for the check.

“Fuck Me.”

Oh my…..

*   *   *

“Rise and shine, kiddo,” he said pulling back the covers and giving a light slap to Amelia’s firm bottom. “It’s a work day!”

Groaning in denial, she searched frantically for the covers to ward off the chill that was starting to creep over her sleep-warmed skin. “You say that like it’s a good thing,” she glared.

“Well it’s definitely not bad. In fact, I think it’s going to be a great day!”

“And I think you’ve got problems.” Reluctantly she climbed out of bed following Tim to the bathroom to brush her teeth while he shaved. “So why is today going to be such a great day?” she asked feeling perkier with a fresh, clean mouth.

“Remember the Wilderness Stores party we went to?”

“How could I forget?” The event that almost ended their relationship before it began. Despite Tim’s promise of a quick ‘pitch and go’, it had turned into an all-night networking pow-wow. Well maybe not all night but the date part of it at least. At first she didn’t mind. Multiple open bars meant everyone had a drink in their hands at all times. Rounds of mouth-watering mini beef wellingtons, crispy bacon-wrapped scallops and a host of other tantalizing hors d’ouevres, circled past her frequently enough to threaten dinner later. And watching Tim in action was all the entertainment she needed.

Like a giant cat he’d circled the room looking for prey to pounce on with his schmooze and charm, and she’d watched with interest as he selectively chose his targets. Only the most powerful people in the room earned his time and attention. He peppered them with questions, laughed politely at their jokes, made sure they had plenty to eat and drink, and by the end of the evening, he’d bagged himself an invitation to pitch marketing strategies for the Wilderness Stores brand.

“They’re announcing their new agency of record today. Out of six initial agencies, only two are still in the running and Trillingham is one of them,” Tim crowed proudly.

“Wow, Babe that’s awesome. I know you really put your heart and soul into those presentations.”

He agreed. “It was sort of like a group project in college you know? I burned a lot of midnight oil doing eighty-five percent of the work even though Roger was co-manager on the project. But if,” he smiled brightly, “correction when, we get this account, I’m sure my efforts won’t be overlooked.”

Amelia gave a long slow whistle. “Are we talking about a promotion here?”

Dodging her question, he planted a firm kiss upon her lips. “I’m not talking about anything. I’m just saying that I really put myself out there for this account and I think my bosses know that. Now what’ve you got going on today?”

“I will have my nose buried in a book today,” she announced proudly. “Well not a book so much as Pashmina’s manuscript; my first BIG editorial assignment.”

“That’s right, I almost forgot,” he said absently already thinking of the day ahead. He finished tying his shoe laces and stood up. “Okay, I’ve gotta go.” Kissing the tip of her nose he walked to the bedroom door. “Have fun with your manuscript and keep your fingers crossed for me.”

Amelia finished dressing and made her way to the kitchen where Ben waited with her favorite caffeinated beverage, Diet Coke. “The early bird said you were here before he dashed off to catch the worm,” he said dryly, answering her unasked question. “Personally, I think pre-dawn protein is highly overrated.”

Amelia laughed, nodding her agreement. “I’m with you. I need real food before I dig into my day. Do you have any Pop Tarts?”

*   *   *

CHAPTER THREE

“That’s what I like about you…,” Amelia’s cell phone rang as she sat at her desk thoroughly enjoying the advance peek at Pashmina’s manuscript, furiously filling a notebook with line edits and proofing questions, and feeling more and more like a real editor by the minute. Man, she loved this job.

“You keep me warm at night…,” her cell phone sang, pressing her to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Hey.” It was Tim sounding very much like a flat tire.

Amelia’s good mood vanished leaving her suddenly nervous as she forced herself to sound normal. “Hey yourself, what’s new?”

“Not much, except we got the Wilderness Stores account.”

Doing a little chair dance she squealed into the phone. “Babe, that’s so awesome! That’s great! It’s fantastic! Congratulations.” Closing her eyes she mouthed a heartfelt “Thank you.” Life was good for both of them right now.

“How about I come over tonight and cook you a special celebratory dinner? Whatever you want, steak, lobster, pasta. You name it, I’ll make it cause that’s the kind of fabulous girlfriend I am.”

Deafening silence muffled his response.

“Tim?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Hey listen, I’ll have to take a rain check on dinner. There’s an agency high-five happening tonight and the whole account team needs to be there. Sorry.”

“Of course, sure, I understand,” she said, completely underwhelmed by his enthusiasm. “Whenever you want.”

“Okay, thanks. Listen, I’ve gotta go now. I just wanted to let you know about the account. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Something was wrong. She knew it. She’d felt this way with him before. Shortly after they met, she’d invited him to go with her to South Carolina and visit her mom. She knew it was a bold move so early in their relationship, but she was falling hard and fast for Tim and she needed the one person who knew her better than anybody to tell her if she was headed for a crash landing or soft ground.