“I’m not most people.” He grinned. “Most people also wouldn’t say you’re generous, beautiful, creative, and have a head for business.”
Did he say beautiful?
“You need a man who will make a big deal about the little things, like getting excited when the blush pink colored zipper thingy is finally available for retail.”
How did he remember that?
“Or be patient with you even though it’s been years and you still haven’t mastered the easy level of Guitar Hero. Or that you’ve personally fitted twenty-five brides for their wedding underwear.”
“Wedding underwear?”
“You know what I mean.”
She smiled at his attention to detail. Carrie always thought Aleks and her brother tuned out every time she spoke.
“You need a man who will let you be you in all of your jittery glory.”
The more he spoke the harder it was to convince herself she was in lust, not love. She wanted him–sexually–but it wasn’t the lack of sexual contact that made her heart shrink three sizes. It was the reality of knowing she could never have him, all of him, to call her own.
He scooted over to where she was sitting.
“Don’t look like that. I have a feeling he’ll be coming sooner than you think.”
“Great! Let me know when you find him, because I’ll probably be too busy to notice.”
He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. She could smell the slightest hint of his aftershave. His eyes again. Lustful. Deep emerald.
“You’ll notice. I’m sure he’ll make it real clear.”
Her eyes widened. She was so confused. One minute he was talking to her about other men
and the next he was five inches away from her face with a look that made her want to trail her tongue along his neck, his collarbone, and down to the zipper of his jeans. Aleks inched his way closer, tilting his head to the right, guiding her in to meet his lips. He moved closer, inch by slow inch.
She was breathless. This was the moment she had dreamed about. And it was finally here.
* * * *
“Aleks, dear.”
The whimsical voice from the stairway made them jump, and Aleks hurled himself to the opposite end of the couch.
Damn! He quickly rearranged his pants to try and loosen some of the pressure against his erection. What a great way to greet Mrs. Taylor. Hi there, how are you? Want a glimpse at my teenage boner? Aleks turned his body straight ahead when he noticed Carrie watching him shift in his seat.
“Yes, Mama T.”
They heard the footsteps. “Do you know where...oh! Carrie, you’re down here.” She glanced at the table. “Good. You have food.”
“We’re just going to watch a movie.” Aleks had to clear his throat twice before he got out the full sentence.
“Okay, I’ll leave you two alone. Just wanted to let you know my meeting was cancelled and that I made your favorite this afternoon, Aleks. There’s a carrot cake in the fridge.”
He nodded and mumbled his thanks. Mrs. Taylor headed up the stairs, leaving the scent of Chantilly in her wake.
Aleks glanced at Carrie. They needed a distraction from the almost-kiss neither of them wanted to acknowledge, so he suggested they start the movie. It had been the perfect moment for him to see if their relationship could survive a jump to the next level but instead of going in for the kill, he chickened out.
He felt the couch dip as Carrie settled in beside him, pulling her legs up under her body and wrapping a blanket around her lower half. Aleks sat close, but not too close. He didn’t want to overwhelm her.
Minutes ticked by and as they laughed, they relaxed and nuzzled closer. Usually Rob was sitting between them. It was certainly different to have her body leveraged up against his own. Aleks could smell her sweet perfume, orange blossoms, and he could hear her uneven breaths. Suddenly, the movie wasn’t so interesting.