Bakery Scene, Take One
Disclaimer: Janet Owns All
Karen
I pulled my sporty new car into the open space on the street near the bakery. I checked myself in the rear view mirror and grinned at the stupid smile on my face. What was it about really fabulous, intense sex and multiple orgasms that makes you grin all the next day? It's especially good when it's unexpected – when you had waited and waited and pretty much given up on any possible relationship, then snap! The road is clear and just like that he appears and wants just you – and needs to have you right then and there. And over there, and again over there. And the day after that, and the one after that, too. Well, you get my drift. So I was celebrating with dessert for tonight. I had something special planned and food wasn't required, but I thought that dessert might be fun. I was just going to let him lick melted chocolate off me, but my dad had called and asked me to pick up some warm donuts, which are always out of the bakery oven at 3pm, just like clockwork, every day. So I figured I'd pick something up, too. Maybe something whipped-creamy. I turned to grab my purse and cried out. The color drained from my face and the previous grin slid into a grimace of horror. I saw him. I was watching from the passenger side window and he didn't see me… but I saw him. He was kissing another woman.How could he do this to me? He had her pressed up against the side wall of the bakery in front of his car and you couldn't slip dental floss between them. His hands were fisted in her hair and sliding down her arms. One of her hands was playing with his hair and the other was cupping his beautifully molded ass. Then both hands reached down to his ass and pulled him closer. He placed his hands on the brick wall at either side of her head and leaned his body into her. One hand came up and played with the curls at her shoulders. Her face glowed and you could see the perky smile as she said something that made him throw his head back and laugh. Words wouldn't come and breathing seemed ridiculously hard, like I had a huge weight pressing down on my chest. Two tears escaped my eyes and trickled down my cheeks. Years of loving this man had come to this. I knew now that I would never have him in my life as my one and only. I had waited and waited and when he finally came to me, free at last, I almost couldn't believe it. I had put my job first for so long, but when I took a good long look at myself, I realized that I didn't want to take the Burg out of the girl. I do want the picket fence, the 2.5 children, the serenity and constancy of a normal life. I didn't want the job if it meant I couldn't have the man I had always loved. And I decided that I wanted Joe Morelli in it. Forever. I have loved him for most of my life and been unable to have him for a variety of reasons, and now I have lost him, again. He hadn't even waited until my sheets were dry before he was kissing her – her again- on the street – in broad daylight for Chrissakes! What the fuck is it with him and Tasty Pastry?? And what the fuck is it about Stephanie Plum? What does he see in her?
I gripped the steering wheel and forced myself to stop crying. I wiped my eyes and told myself that it didn't matter, I had options and so what if this didn't work out – again – I would go back to my job and forget I ever saw Joe Asshole Morelli. And then I looked again, and I saw something inexpressibly wonderful. I know it was mean, but I smiled – it was a very evil smile, but I knew that anything I could do to Joe wouldn't compare to the holy war that was coming his way. I sat back and enjoyed the view as one of the most beautiful, striking, dangerous men I have ever seen slowly emerged from a big black SUV. Ranger – the Burg had gone wild with the news that he and Steph were living together. Seriously, what was with Steph to be two-timing on that piece of candy? He walked to the sidewalk and stood watching. I swear I saw his shoulders slump a little and I spared him a minute of shared sympathy, because I knew exactly how he felt. I saw Steph's head turn and the horror that crossed her face was priceless to me. She tried to run to him, but Joe held her arm. She shook him off, but stopped when Ranger turned and walked away. He cut his eyes to me and I saw twin dark pools of indescribable hurt before he resumed his blank face and walked back to his car. I looked over again, and saw Steph collapsed on the sidewalk, a high, keening wail coming from her. I spared her no sympathy, of course. She had played with fire and gotten burnt.