Chapter 4 #2
“So, you’ll agree? How about tomorrow?”
I exhaled a laugh with my sigh. “You know I don’t like asking you guys.”
“Which is why we’re offering,” Ramsey said, appearing behind Melody in the doorway. “I adore Mikayla, and we all adore you, Casey. Plus, it makes my job easier and gives me bonus points.” Ramsey winked at Melody.
Melody’s cheeks turned pink, and she swatted him away.
Ramsey leaned down and kissed her in a way that made my cheeks warm. Kyle never kissed me like that. Not in front of people, and not in private. It was the kind of kiss that said he couldn’t wait to get her alone and have his hands, and other parts, all over her.
I wanted that.
I couldn’t bring myself to want another relationship, but sex?
I missed sex. Even if it wasn’t as passionate as the kiss Melody and Ramsey shared, sex was still fun.
It was a release, a moment to pause and not think about all the other things in life.
It was exciting and made me feel good, and I missed it.
Melody was still blushing when Ramsey disappeared back into the house. “Sorry about him.”
I shook my head. “Nothing to apologize for. You guys deserve that kind of happiness.”
“So do you,” Melody said, looking affronted that I dared suggest otherwise.
I laughed mirthlessly. “I think I missed the boat on happiness. I’d settle for some good sex, though.”
“Then have some. Didn’t you tell me you have a match you’ve been talking to?”
“Yeah. We talk about our failed relationships. Hardly sex-talk.”
“Then flirt with him.”
“I don’t think I know how to flirt.”
“Everyone knows how to flirt.”
“Then maybe I forgot.”
“You’re an intelligent woman with endless resources. Figure out how to flirt and find a man who’ll have some good sex with you.”
“You make me sound so undesirable.”
“You’re not undesirable. You just have to have a little confidence. There are always single dads at school. I still get hit on sometimes. Ramsey gets angry about it, but I kind of love that it makes him a little jealous.”
I laughed with her. “You’re bad.”
She shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s not like I encourage them. You should volunteer at school sometime.”
“I wish I could, but I’m barely earning enough with the three jobs I’m already working. I don’t think I could add volunteering into my day.”
“Maybe one of the events on a weekend then. I don’t know. Or just flirt with the next guy you see. Who cares how it goes? Practice.”
I snorted, then realized where I was going and who I would see. The master of flirtation. Who was both not really single and had the ability to make me weak at the knees with his words alone.
He could teach me a thing or two about flirting.
“Mom! We’re going outside!” Amber called from inside the house.
“Okay!” Melody called back. She turned back to me. “Don’t worry about Mikayla. We’ll feed her and let them play outside and tire her out. Take as long as you need today.”
“Thanks, Mel. I really appreciate it. Thank you to Ramsey, too.”
“I’ll let him know. See you in a few hours.”
I nodded and waved, turning to go and knowing my daughter was in good hands.
I just wish I had the same confidence in my own situation.
I parked outside the flower shop and took a deep breath to steady my nerves. Walking in there again, knowing the day before I’d made a fool of myself, was not my favorite plan for the day. But I had no choice. I pitched this column. I had to follow through.
Voices led me into the shop and toward the back, where I found Natalie and Omar staring at a book with Landon talking about the flowers he offered.
“Fall flowers have rich, deep colors that are stunning against a white dress. The burgundy and orange and yellow colors of hydrangeas, plus a few lighter and brighter colors to balance the whole thing. Or you could do one single stem of a large, bold flower that brings simplicity and elegance instead of a full bouquet.”
“Simple is definitely my style,” Natalie said.
Landon looked up and saw me standing a few feet away. “You return. Give me a minute, and I’ll be right with you. If you think you can avoid destroying things today.”
His smile and the light in his eyes told me he was joking, but the subtle mention that he remembered me sent heat to my cheeks. The man could flirt with a post. Which was pretty close to how I felt as I stood there without speaking.
Natalie and Omar turned to see who Landon was speaking to, and Natalie smiled brightly. “Casey! You made it. We started without you.” She stood and came over to me, hugging me warmly before tugging me to the table where the three of them sat.
“Hi,” I said, letting Natalie shove me into the open seat. Between her and Landon. My knees bumped against Landon’s, and a jolt went through me.
He cleared his throat, almost sounding as startled as I was when we touched. He offered his hand to me. “I’m Landon Boyd. It’s nice to meet you, Casey. Natalie and Omar have filled me in on your articles planned. I’m happy you could join us.”
“Thank you,” I said, my voice coming out breathy, like I was trying to talk him into the bedroom. I cleared my throat and forced a smile to my flaming face. “Nice to meet you. And I promise to keep my destruction to a minimum.”
Natalie and Omar looked at us, confusion written all over their faces.
“I stopped in here yesterday on my way home. I… The brightness of it drew me in, but then I knocked over a display tower and ran off before I could buy anything. I was planning to never come back again.”
Omar chuckled. The man was polished and perfect and had probably never had an embarrassing moment in his entire life.
Natalie laughed heartily and put her hand on my arm. “That’s totally something I would have done. You know how I am. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. It’s good because I had none when I fell to my knees and groped him.”
Landon choked, his blinking gaze struggling to figure out what he’d missed.
Natalie chuckled. “I was the woman in the picture with Omar.”
Landon looked astounded. “You were?”
Natalie nodded. “I was. And it wasn’t like it looked. I came out of the bathroom and someone slammed into me, and I fell. Omar was just there, and unfortunately for him, slowed my fall. With his crotch.”
A laugh burst from Landon. One he covered up before he winced. “That… um… I have no words. Ouch?”
Omar cracked for the first time, a laugh falling from his lips. “Yeah, ouch was the first word I thought of, too. Followed by a few others I shouldn’t say to anyone besides my future wife.”
I swear to God, I swooned. These damn men. Ramsey, Omar, hell, even Landon. How in the hell did I end up with Kyle when there were men like these others out there? Why couldn’t I find one of them now?
Nope. Nope. I didn’t want one. I wanted sex. I wanted flirtation and desire and a few really good orgasms. Not a relationship. I wasn’t looking to pick out flowers and a white dress and promise to love someone for the rest of my life. Been there, done that, was not going back.
Ever.