Chapter 12
"Hey Beautiful, what are you doing out here all alone?"
"Just needed some fresh air."
"Are you okay, Morelli seemed to have a pretty tight grip on your arms."
"I'm good, I just wish he would leave me the hell alone. I mean he is with Teri now, why does he have to keep popping up in my life."
"Steph, maybe he realizes what a perfect woman he let go."
"Perfect! Ha, Lester that's a joke if I ever heard one."
"No Steph it's not."
I looked him in the eyes and I could see that he wasn't joking. I'm not sure how long we stood there in silence when Lester brought his lips to mine, the kiss started out sweet and tender and it didn't take long for things to heat up. We both reluctantly pulled away. I thought now was as good a time as any to tell Lester the truth.
"So maybe you could help with me a problem I am having."
"What kind of problem?"
"Well I am a little worried about what Joe might do when I start dating a guy."
"Is this something that is going to be happening soon or do I have time to think about this problem with Joe?"
"Well I am working on it and I'm hoping that it happens sooner than later, really soon actually." I couldn't hide the smile on my face and neither could he.
"Sounds like you already have the guy picked out."
"Maybe." That got me the raised eyebrow, and a questioning look.
"Tell me about him."
"Well, let's see...I can tell you that he is one of the hottest guys I have ever met." I saw Lester's eyes get darker at the comment. "He can always bring a smile to my face or make me laugh without even trying and makes me feel good about myself. The only problem is that I think he may hate me, I made a huge mistake with him and I'm not sure how to fix it." Lester started to interrupt but I put my hand up, I had to get this all out now. "Please let me finish." He nodded. "I spent the night with him about three months ago, it was the most amazing night of my life and I think I may have hurt him."
"I don't hate you, as a matter a fact my feelings for you are the exact opposite of hate. But I think you already know how I feel don't you?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked trying my best to look innocent.
"I saw you with Miranda and I can take one guess at the topic of conversation and I bet it would be right."
"Lester I have to tell you how sorry I am, that night..."
"Steph, I don't want to talk about that night. I want to talk about now."
"But don't you see that night has everything to do with this. I know it may be to late, but when I told you it was a mistake...that was a lie."
"Then why, and I don't want to hear the excuse you gave me about being your boss."
"It's me Lester, I'm scared. When we talked that night, I told you about Joe and Dickie. Between the two of them, they nearly destroyed me. I never let anyone know how bad it hurt, but I just don't want to be a failure again. I don't think I could go through something like that again." I was crying now and Lester put his arms around me.
"Steph I want you to listen to me." I wasn't looking at him so he put a finger under my chin and lifted my face until I was looking at him. "I would never hurt you like those two. I know what it is like to have love and lose it because of something that the other person did. Let me tell you something that I haven't told you before. A few years ago when I was still in the Army I met a girl named Courtney, we spent all of our time together. Then it came time for me to go on a mission, she was okay with the first couple, I came home from one of them and found her in bed with some random guy she picked up at a bar. I later found out it wasn't the first time. I haven't been serious with anyone since."
He was looking at me while I processed what he just told me. "Steph?"
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Isn't it obvious? I want you Steph and not just for one night. I want you to see that I know how badly you were hurt. I know what it feels like and I would never do that to you, and I think we both know how important it is to find someone special and share life with them. I am falling in love with you..."
"What?"
"You heard me, and don't act surprised I know that is what Miranda told you." He said to me with a smile. "I have never felt like this with anyone before, you did something to me the day I met you. Then we started spending time together and getting to know one another, when we spent the night together I thought it was our chance to start a relationship..."
I cut him off. "And then I had to screw it up before it even began, I could never even begin to tell you how sorry I am. Truth is Lester," I can't believe I am going to tell him this. "is that I am falling in love with you as well. It probably started happening even before that night, you know I have never thought of that night as just sex, we made love that night and it was perfect. When I saw you with Miranda and the guys told me that she was your girlfriend I was heartbroken and thought I had lost my chance with you. I was even trying to figure out a way to stay home tonight, and if it hadn't been for Val that is exactly where I would be." He gave me a questioned look. "She figured out that it had something to do with you and I told her everything, her response to it was to come here tonight looking fabulous." I finished with a smile.
"Well I must say you do look fabulous.
"Thank you."
He leaned over and began kissing me again, then as things were heating up again he pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
"Wrong?" At my nod he continued. "Nothing is wrong, but we are at a nightclub and it is my party going on inside. If we stay out here much longer, we are gonna be in a lot of trouble."
"Well then birthday boy let's go back inside."
"On one condition."
"And what might that be?"
"That you go back in their as mine."
"I think I could deal with that."
"Okay now we can go, I need a drink and a dance with my girl."
I couldn't help but smile at the last comment...my girl, I think I am really going enjoy being his girl.
"Don't drink to much, I think we should have a private party later."
"I like the sound of that Beautiful."
TBC –
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