Chapter 4 #2
“I’m looking forward to spending the rest of the evening in public, exploring this charming town with you.” He announces for all to hear.
Before we leave, he throws a cocky nod at Cory.
“Nice meeting you, Superintendent.”
Hand in hand, Vic and I step out of Izzy’s Flower Shop, but as soon as we’re out of sight, I yank my hand away and shove his chest.
He’s unyielding, a solid mass that doesn’t budge, which somehow manages to both irritate me and slightly turn me on.
“Are you out of your mind? Claiming we’re dating? I only wanted to knock my ex off his high horse! Not be in a whole relationship! The town isn’t gonna let this go. They know and remember everything . There’s gonna be pictures of us on our neighborhood social media page!”
His playful grin wanes.
“I was just following your lead, Kerry. Didn’t think it was a big deal.” He shrugs.
“Well, it is a big deal!” I snap, throwing my hands in the air.
“And what’s this about you not being rich? You lied to me.”
His smirk returns, devilish and teasing.
“Does that make you want me now? Besides…” He steps closer, his heat rolling off him like a challenge.
Leaning in even more with his breath warm against my temple, he clarifies, “I’m not rich…I’m wealthy.”
A wave of heat surges through me.
Holy shit, I’m unraveling.
Stand up straight.
This rich jerk will not make me melt in his palms, but suddenly, my resolve falters, causing me to panic.
“Oh no, you’re wealthy and ridiculously handsome! I bet Cory’s pissed. He’s gonna terrorize you. You have no idea the lengths he’ll go to make your life a living hell.”
Victor’s expression doesn’t change.
He straightens his 6’3” frame, a picture of poise and potent masculinity, then closes the final stretch of distance between us with measured and deliberate steps.
His gaze smolders, heavy with intent and an undeniable authority that wraps around me like a cloak.
Leaning close, his breath warm against my ear, he whispers with a sharp, gravelly authority, “Let’s be clear. I don’t give a fuck about your ex.”
I don’t just hear his words; I feel them reverberating through me, setting off alarms in places I had nearly forgotten could sound off.
My toys NEVER stirred up this much of a wildfire of desire, this much of a potent cocktail of frustrating arousal.
So, what do I do?
Well, the most rational thing.
I RUN.
Ignoring the stabbing pain from my four-inch heels, I dash past him in a blur, my heart pounding louder than my footsteps.
“Wait!” His voice slices through the cool evening air—low, amused, and with just enough bite to make me irrationally angrier.
His strides are long and effortless, and in seconds, he’s beside me.
“Let me walk you to your car.”
“I didn’t drive. I took an Uber,” I snap, quickening my pace.
The sharp click of my heels echoes off the empty street, matching the frantic rhythm in my chest.
“Then let me take you home.” His tone softens, smooth yet insistent, his presence closing in with every determined step.
“No way! You’ve caused enough trouble, Victor Grey Beard! ” My voice bounces off the buildings, a little louder than I intended, but I’m too annoyed to care.
“I’ll leave the way I came… without you!”
He stops, brows furrowed, clearly not used to being rejected.
“Kerry, wait!” The plea in his voice is subtle, almost masked by frustration.
His fingers brush against mine, feather-light but passionately electric.
“I’m not asking. I’m telling you that I’m taking you home. It’s the least I can do for putting you on the spot… although you put me on the spot first.”
I freeze and then cross my arms.
“You’re impossible.”
His eyes soften as he steps closer to invade my personal space like he owns it.
Gently, he tucks a stray curl behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a second too long, igniting sparks where there should be none.
His warmth seeps into me, betraying my resolve.
“God, you’re beautiful,” He mutters, more to himself than to me, his voice a low rasp that brushes against my skin like velvet.
His gaze drops to my lips, and suddenly, the chilly air feels irrelevant.
“Please let me take you home, Kerry Kind. I promise to be a gentleman. You asked me to play the part, and I did. So, there’s no way in hell I’m letting my fake girlfriend find her own way home.”
His teasing smirk should annoy me.
But it doesn’t.
“Fine,” I grumble.
“But you better not try anything… grimy. ” The corny joke and my goofy laugh slip out before I can stop it.
“Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”
He chuckles, deep and warm, the sound wrapping around me like an embrace.
Just then, a sleek black Escalade glides to the curb.
“Mr. Grimes!” the driver calls out with an exaggerated grin as Victor opens the door for me.
“Gary, don’t start.” Victor’s tone is a mix of playful and warning.
“We’re just taking Ms. Kind home. That’s all. This isn’t what you think.”
As he guides me toward the car, his hand wraps around mine with gentle firmness, sending another surge of unwanted warmth through me.
Gary snickers from the driver’s seat.
“Sure it isn’t, Vic. Stepping out of your comfort zone, falling head over heels…”
“Gary!” Victor snaps, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks.
It’s…
weirdly endearing.
“Please, excuse my driver. He’s more like an uncle than anything. He has a hard time not butting in.” Vic explains, his voice tinged with affection and a hint of embarrassment.
“I get it. My parents and friends are the same way.” I reply, finding common ground that makes the air between us a bit lighter.
As we settle into the ride, I give Gary my address, who nods and occasionally glances at us through the rearview mirror.
“He’s quite protective over you.” I observe, noting the careful watch he keeps on Vic.
“As he should be. It’s my first night out in a new town, and I’ve given a ride to a strange stranger. Who wouldn’t be protective?” Vic smirks, his voice laced with a mix of sarcasm and warmth.
I gasp in mock offense.
“ Strange? You’ve got some nerve. You’re the one fake-dating a stranger to win a pissing contest with her ex.” I snap while struggling to undo my shoe strap .
Vic chuckles, then carefully lifts my leg, placing it gently on his lap to help me.
A light breath escapes my mouth.
The moment he touches me, the slit of my dress parts slightly, revealing more of my thighs, which seems to momentarily distract him.
“Eyes up, Grey Beard,” I tease, catching his wandering gaze.
Gary’s snicker from the front seat makes my cheeks heat, but Victor’s focus never wavers from my face, my barely concealed cleavage, and my legs.
Even though he’s just unclasped my shoe strap, his hand remains firmly yet gently around my ankle, massaging his thumb deep into my legs.
What the hell is happening right now?
My heart races, and my body responds to his touch so naturally, with my leg gently resting in his palms and a moan slightly escaping my lips.
I’ve never desired someone so badly in my life, and I’ve certainly never felt so desired in my life.
“Grey Beard,” I whisper, part warning, part invitation.
His thumb pauses, then resumes its gentle stroke.
“I promise I’m never this blunt, but I think I might go crazy if I don’t ask…”
Without thinking, I blurt, “If you could kiss me?”
His mouth falls open slightly.
“Uh… I wasn’t expecting that.”
Suddenly, I realize I suck at reading signals, let alone the damn room.
I’m mortified by my forwardness, feeling exposed in the back of this truck, my emotions raw and unfiltered.
“I was actually going to ask about your ex,” he continues, his voice soft but unreadable.
“Your marriage. But…uh…do you want me to kiss you?”
Oh my goodness, I’m so embarrassed, and there’s nowhere for me to hide.
He’s going to think I’m a gold digger for real!
We’re in the back of a truck with my hoo-haw practically screaming for him to take me, and he asks about my ex.
I need to get out of here…
now!
“Kerry, you okay? I didn’t mean to throw you off. I was just wondering how someone so…how you could fall for someone like that? You’re just…”
With my confidence completely depleted, I roll my eyes and interrupt, “A fool? Weak? A pushover? I’ve been called everything in the book, Vic. Gimme your best shot…” My voice trails off, searching for the right words .
Victor gently sets my foot down.
His fingers brush against my skin like a farewell, but his intensely focused gaze pins me in place, like he’s trying to read every thought I’ve ever had.
“You’re just…so beautiful. Radiant. Vibrant. Mesmerizing. And clearly too damn good for him.”
His words don’t just fill the space between us; they create a new atmosphere, one that’s sweet, sensual, and filled with desire.
As his affirmations enfold me like a warm blanket, soothing the raw edges of my vulnerability, we find ourselves inexplicably drawing closer to one another.
In this bizarre, unexpected moment, his hands rest respectfully on my leg, and our lips become perilously close.
He whispers, his voice rough with desire, “Do you want me to kiss you, Kerry Kind?”
His question hangs suspended, our breath mingling, and our intentions clear yet unacted upon.
But just as the distance between us nearly closes, promising what I think would be the most magnetic kiss of my life, an unexpected interruption slices through the air.
Ahem.
Gary loudly clears his throat.
“Ms. Kind, we’ve arrived at your home.”
The moment shatters like glass.
No, no, no, no!
I’m not ready for this night to end, not like this, not with a cascade of unsaid words and the tantalizing promise of unexplored acts of passion between strangers.
In mutual frustration, my head thuds against the window with a soft groan, and Vic sharply exhales beside me.
“Do you need assistance, Ms. Kind?” Gary asks, barely suppressing a laugh.
Victor quickly cuts in.
“No, I’ll walk her to her door.”
He reaches for my hand with gentle firmness, easing me out of the vehicle.
As we stand by the curb, his gaze sweeps over the modest facade of my home.
It’s small but brimming with the warmth and comfort that I cherish…
and occasionally share with my ever-present parents.
A flicker of concern crosses my face, hoping they remain tucked away inside and unseen.
To preempt any assumptions, I turn to him with a slight defensive edge in my voice.
“This is what you call quaint and cozy, Mr. Grimes.”
Escorting me to my door, he looks at me, eyes soft.
“I love it.” The way he says it like he means it makes me comfortable.
“It actually fits you. Beautiful, welcoming, warm, prim, and interesting as I spot the two people looking at us through the blinds.” He laughs.
His compliment warms me, but the emergence of my parents peeking through the blinds injects a dose of reality.
Ugh, my parents!
I’m sure they’ve received a million texts by now from everyone in town.
I sigh.
“Okay, so I’ve been living with my parents since the divorce. Just to save up and find my footing,” I quickly offer an explanation, feeling the need to justify my life before any judgments form.
“I understand. I was married once, too,” He shares, a touch of melancholy lacing his words.
“But let’s save that story for another time, maybe when we meet again?”
Emboldened by his openness, I close the small distance between us, playful yet sincere, “And when might that be, boyfriend ?”
His laughter rings out, genuine and contagious.
“Maybe at the next town event? I actually have a few events lined up over the next two months. I really hate business dinners and stuffy gatherings, but you may just bring me luck, Ms. Kind. You know, with your local sweetheart status and all. I don’t know why, but it’s easy to play with you. I don’t usually play well with others.”
“Oh really? I find that very hard to believe,” I reply sarcastically.
“So, we’re continuing this...charade?” I probe, half-hoping he’d suggest something more genuine.
But then his response is cut short by the abrupt ring of his phone.
He pulls it from his pocket, and a flicker of tension crosses his face as he sees the caller ID: Syd .
My curiosity spikes.
Is she the ex-wife?
A current girlfriend?
One of many, perhaps?
He steps back, his tone drops but still audible to my ears.
“Uh, hey, hon. Everything okay? I’ll call you back soon. Love you, too.” He mumbles into the phone.
Dammit!
My heart sinks.
He’s a player, a charmer skillfully navigating through the vulnerabilities of my heart.
The flush of humiliation burns my cheeks as the sting of disappointment and betrayal tightens around my throat.
This is precisely why I’ve steered clear of dating since my divorce.
As I watch him finish his call, his demeanor subtly shifts, already formulating an excuse, a justification for not disclosing who was on the other line .
“On second thought,” He begins, his voice casual yet cautious, “maybe we should just play things by ear. My life is complicated, and it looks like yours is too. Tonight was fun, but—”
“Don’t even bother,” I interrupt sharply, raising my hand to stop him mid-sentence.
“I refuse to be just another name in your little black book. So, let’s just agree to avoid each other. Thank you for the escapade as my Grey Beard for the evening. I’ll let the townsfolk know we parted ways peacefully in a week or so. Until then, perhaps keep Syd under wraps?” I turn to face my door, swallowing the lump of sadness and thwarted hopes building in my throat.
“Wait, Kerry. It’s not what you think—” He tries to interject.
“I really suck at dating.”
“Fake dating included.” I retort sharply.
He chuckles, a sound that excited me an hour prior, but now it only deepens the sting.
The truth is, I’m more hurt than I want to admit.
Nothing exciting has happened for me in a long time but tonight.
.
.
felt different.
For once, everyone saw me differently, as someone other than the one-dimensional, small-town happy-go-lucky sweetheart.
For a fleeting moment, it felt like my life had surged from a stagnant red to a glowing green.
Nevertheless, I turn the key in the lock and push my door open, tuning out Vic’s continued pleas.
“I don’t want to end on a bad note, please, Kerry.”
Standing in my doorway, my resolve hardens.
“It was fun while it lasted. Take care, Grey Beard.” My words are final as I slam the door, cutting off not just Vic but the illusory slice of excitement he offered.
Turning around, I barely have time to breathe before I’m met with the bright, expectant faces of my parents, their excitement untouched by the cold dose of reality I’ve just endured.
They’re oblivious to the charade, to the fleeting hope that evaporated as quickly as it had appeared.
I force a smile, the kind that’s all too familiar, the one that says everything is just fine.
“Kerry Anne Kind! Why didn’t you tell us about your boyfriend? Why do I have to hear about this from everyone else in town?!” Mom chides.
“He’s a good-lookin’ fella, too, but he clearly lacks manners. Not an ounce of etiquette. Droppin’ you off at our doorstep without so much as an introduction.” Dad adds, his brow furrowed in mild disapproval .
Mom smacks his arm.
“And when’s the wedding, huh?” A mischievous twinkle gleams in her eyes.
“Ugh, Mom! Dad, please!” I groan, already exhausted.
“Please, my butt! Give us all the deets, or we’ll march our hind parts right out this door and force them outta him.” Mom’s threat is delivered with a chuckle, but the underlying seriousness is clear.
Before I can form a coherent response, my phone alarm blares—a blessed, timely rescue.
I glance at the screen.
Five minutes until interview decision time!
I sharply exhale and use this excuse to escape their eager inquisition.
“Gotta make a call.”
Escaping the probing questions from my parents, I retreat to my room and close the door behind me, granting me brief sanctuary from the evening’s massive letdown.
The sting of Vic’s deceit still lingers, but a spark of pride flickers within me.
Tonight wasn’t just about awkward confrontations with rich snobs or fleeting flirtations; it was a night where I stood my ground against Cory.
Reclaiming a piece of dignity in front of an ex who thought he still had sway over my emotions was epic.
The idea of never having to crawl back to him for a job or validation fills me with a resolve I hadn’t felt in months.
It’s time to rebuild my career on my own terms.
Suddenly energized by this newfound determination, I dial Vicky’s number.
The call connects, and I take a deep breath before speaking, “Hi, Vicky? It’s Kerry. I’ve decided to accept the interview for the teaching position.”
There’s a pause on the other end as Vicky processes my sudden decision, and then her voice brightens with enthusiasm.
“Kerry, I thought you forgot about the offer. It’s pretty late, but that’s fantastic news! Can you make it at 8 a.m. sharp on Monday?”
“Absolutely.” My lips curve into a genuine smile, feeling the pieces of my life snapping into place.
I ask about my new students—their ages, likes, dislikes, strengths, and struggles.
“I like your initiative already,” Vicky praises, and it feels damn good to hear .
By the time we hang up, a surge of energy courses through me.
I spend the rest of the weekend buried in lesson plans, crafting interactive science projects, math games, and engaging reading sessions.
I sketch out every detail, from social studies discussions to arts and crafts, tailoring each lesson to their needs.
I even pick out my outfit, carefully opting for comfy khaki ankle pants and a chic pink blouse paired with sensible flats—no heels to trip over, and certainly no men to trip over either.
The excitement of teaching, of being around kids again, fills me with a joy I knew I missed but didn’t know how to get back.
Speaking of joy stealing…
my phone pings.
Though we ended on a sour note, I really hope it’s Mr.
Grey Beard.
Unknown : You were the most beautiful woman in the room this weekend.
Me : Who’s this?
Though we ended on a sour note, I really hope it’s Mr.
Grey Beard.
Unknown : It’s your ex-husband, my love.
I miss you so much.
I’m ready to let you come home.
Great, the absolute last person I want to speak to right now.
Me : Leave me alone, Cory.
I’m very happy.
And very much moving on with my life.
You should too.
Unknown : You see, I can’t do that until I get my wife back.
Me : EX-WIFE.
Now please leave me alone before I call the police.
Unknown : Lol.
We both know what’ll happen when you do that.
Tell me something.
Does your rich pretty boy lover know the real you?
I’ll be happy to send him your mugshot.
You need to dump him, Kerry.
I’ll be damned if I let you run around town and embarrass me.
You’ll never be with another man.
Me : Screw you Cory Martin!
Unknown : Lol.
Gladly.
I shudder, every muscle in my body tightens at the memory of the past—the suffocating control and the sharp edges of his rage .
He hasn’t changed.
But I have .
Though my fingers tremble as they hover over my phone screen, the fire that spurred me to leave still burns within me, fueling a resolve that has only hardened with time.
His words are always venomous.
His threats always cause pain.
And his rage is still clearly unchecked.
But the antidote to his evil is me.
The journey through my trauma has led me to strength, and I’ll be damned if I allow him to undermine the life I’m trying to rebuild.
Drawing a deep breath, I steady my hands and my heart, then block his number yet again.
I won’t let Cory’s threats deter me from my purpose.
I’m finally back in my element, refocusing on my preparations and drowning myself in the promise of a future where he has no place.
It isn’t until much later that another notification appears—a tagged photo on the neighborhood social media page.
It’s Vic and me frozen in time, staring at one another like we belong together.
We do make a convincing couple.
I momentarily muse before shaking my head and diving back into my work.
I’ve got no time for distractions.
And I’ve got no time for liars named Victor ‘Grey Beard’ Grimes.