Chapter Ten
Trace
Icouldn’t getCierra out of my head, and it was starting to become a problem.
Ever since we’d run into each other at the soup kitchen a few days before, I’d been thinking about her nonstop. She’d looked beautiful in a simple pair of jeans and knit top. And what the fuck was up with that sexy tattoo on the back of her neck? I couldn’t help but touch it, and her skin was so soft and warm. I’d almost brought my lips to it, kissing and licking every inch of her tattoo. Damn. She got to me. And I didn’t mistake the shiver that shook her and the way her flesh pebbled when I touched her.
I sucked in a deep breath and blew out, but my brain pulled me back to that little moment in the kitchen when I’d been undoing her apron and our fingers touched. It was like someone had shot me with a taser—I was frozen dead to the spot, wanting nothing more than to reach out and slide my hands around her waist, to pull her close so I could feel her ass grind against me. I wanted to slip my fingers upward to cup her breasts, to tug lightly on her hair so I could pull her head back in line with mine and kiss her deeply.
Focus!My pants grew tight and I clenched my fists to calm down. Mission Street Kitchen was the last place I ever thought I’d bump into her. And I seemed to be bumping into her a lot over the past couple of weeks.
“It’s fate,” my friend Sheila said as she speared a cherry tomato with her fork, then popped it into her mouth.
We were having dinner at La Luna, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in North Beach. I’d been coming here for years and was never disappointed. I’d called Sheila because I had to tell someone about Cierra, and I knew I’d be in for a ribbing fest if I said anything to my buds about it. Sheila and I had been friends since our first year in college. We’d tried dating our junior year, but it’d been stilted and weird, and we’d both agreed we made better friends than lovers. She was like the sister I never had.
“I’ve never seen you act like this before about a woman.”
“I don’t know what the fuck’s up with me.”
A devilish glint sparkled in her blue eyes. “You like her.A lot.I’ve been waiting for this to happen for so long.” She clapped her hands and laughed.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Immensely, but I’m also thrilled for you. It’s about time you met someone who means something to you.”
“Hang on. I’m just saying I’m obsessing over her because she’s hot and I can’t have her. It’s the forbidden that’s driving me crazy. I’m sure if we got together, I’d have her out of my system.”
“Are you sure about that? I don’t think so. In all the years we’ve known each other, you’ve never mentioned any woman you couldn’t get out of your mind. It’s not just the challenge. She’s getting into your system.”
“Fuck that.” Annoyed, I pushed back from the table. I wanted her to tell me that because Cierra was off-limits, it made her more desirable. I didn’t want to hear about her getting into my system.
“When I met Landon, it was the same thing. I denied it for a long time, thinking he was too good to be true, or that I didn’t want to give up my independence, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. He was a great guy and I wasn’t giving anything up. I was actually enhancing my life, and we complemented each other. That’s when I realized that I really loved him.” She patted the slight bump on her stomach. “And now we’re going to have a baby. Some things you can’t fight.”
“That’s totally different. And who said anything about love? We haven’t even gone out on a date. Anyway, it can’t happen. My grandfather would have my head, and she thinks I’m a player. I just need to get back into circulation.”
“You’re impossible. I’m telling you to give her a chance. Your grandfather will be happy for you.”
“Only if it works. And you know me—I have an allergy to relationships.” I laughed and picked up my glass of chianti.
“But you do like her.”
It was a statement. I nodded. “At first I was attracted to the way she looked. I figured that since she was Kelsey’s friend, she was probably as materialistic and shallow as her. But then she came up to my office to go over the game plan for a new launch and I was blown away by her passion and intelligence. She ended up captivating me in a way no other woman ever has. And then she’s serving food to the poor and homeless. I can’t think of any of the women I’ve dated who would be doing that. If Kelsey had come down to help, it would’ve been amidst a fanfare of social media posts and martyrdom. She would’ve taken all the back pats in the world, but Cierra was just there to help, that was it. So now I’m thinking she’s not the shallow, money-obsessed chick I thought she was. I can’t figure out why she’s friends with Kelsey. Maybe I’m missing something here.”
“Hmm…. Why did you say she thinks you’re a player?” Sheila asked.
I explained about the tabloids and Kelsey and how I suspected she’d told Cierra a bunch of BS about me cheating on her and treating her horribly.
“Why don’t you tell Cierra the truth?”
“Like she’s going to listen to me instead of her friend who she’s known for a long time. I don’t think so.”
“Then she’ll have to get to know you, and when she does, she’ll doubt what her friend told her. You’ll see.” She smiled warmly, and then her eyes brightened when the waiter placed a large piece of chocolate hazelnut cake in front of her with two forks. She picked one up and dug in right away.
“You’re not going to share, are you?” I said.
“Yes I am, but you better be quick about it.” She took another large bite.
I laughed while shaking my head. “Go for it. I’m not much for chocolate.”
