Desperately Seeking Landlord Read online

  “I don’t want him to break my heart,” I admit softly.

  She picks up her White Claw. “We all get our hearts broken at some point by something. Heartbreak isn’t synonymous with a partner. You can be heartbroken by the loss of a pet, or even a failed grade, or not getting a job you really wanted. Shit happens, you might as well enjoy the good things while you can. It’s a mistake to think things are always rainbows and sunshine. Life’s not like that. Sometimes we have to bleed, figuratively and perhaps literally, to have the willpower and drive to fight for what we want.”

  I blink at her.

  Once.

  Twice.

  Three times.

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  “No idea.” She looks at the can of her drink. “This stuff isn’t that strong.” She clears her throat and reaches over to rub Fettuccine behind his ears. “So, Miranda, do you love my evil landlord?”

  “He’s my landlord now too,” I defend, which is absolutely ridiculous. Ducking my head into Fettuccine’s soft fur I mumble, “I think I do.” She squeals and starts clapping. I reach over and grab her hands so she’ll stop. Fettuccine hisses at me in the process when he drops to my lap. “Stop that. I’m not telling him.”

  “My little Miranda, all grown up and in love.” She looks wistfully at my ceiling, probably mentally planning my wedding. “Wait, what do you mean you’re not telling him?”

  “Not yet,” I emphasize, picking up my plate of pizza once more. “I … I need to be sure of how he feels first. We haven’t been together-together for long. I don’t want to send him running.”

  She huffs a breath, clearly disgruntled with me. “You’re such a party pooper. You should totally drive over to his house with a boom box and declare your love like some cheesy 80s movie.”

  “I’m not doing that.” The words rush out of me vehemently with a massive shake of my head. The idea of doing something so dramatic and public makes me want to throw up. I can’t imagine actually doing it like Lou did once for Abel.

  “Well,” she tucks her legs under her, “I hope Jamie knows how lucky he is to have someone as beautiful, smart, kind, and amazing as you, love him. If he ruins this I’ll gut him like a fish.”

  I have no doubt she would.

  28

  Miranda

  “Seriously, Miranda, you have got to start ordering your groceries online.”

  “Excuse me?”

  I look across the produce selection at an elderly woman. “Sorry, I was talking to myself.”

  She gives me a disgusted look and leaves the apple selection behind.

  Apparently it’s totally unacceptable to talk to yourself at the grocery store. Who knew?

  I grab three apples, dropping them in a plastic bag and into my cart.

  It’s not that I mind grocery shopping all that much…

  Lies. I hate it. Totally hate it.

  Why can’t food just appear in my fridge like some sort of magic trick?

  You say alakazam and bam open it up and there’s your food for the week.

  Instead, I have to adult, put on real pants, a bra, and go to the store. Not to mention, with the start of November the snow has started to come, which means extra layers of a sweatshirt, coat, and furry boots. It makes me look like a well-fed grizzly bear.

  Looking down at my clothes hastily thrown on I realize the woman probably thought I’m on drugs or something, because I look like a vagrant.

  A week straight barely showering, holed up in your apartment studying, will do that to a person. Finals are only a few weeks away before our extended holiday break, which means I’m determined to get in as much study time as I can.

  Moving down the aisles I toss in things I need to stock up on.

  Which basically equals everything.

  It’s a miracle I’ve survived.

  Raising up on my toes I grab a box of cereal.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Whoa.” I nearly get whacked in the face with the box, but after flailing my arms I manage to catch it. I whip around, my eyes meeting those of a blonde haired woman. She’s dressed in a sleek looking pantsuit, an expensive purse hangs off one shoulder. Her makeup is flawless, her red lips pulled into a smile. It’s not a kind smile. Sort of condescending, and I feel my hackles rise since I don’t even know this woman. She looks me up and down, her lips pursing. Her cheekbones are sharp like a Disney villain. “Can I help you with something?”

  If anyone looks down this aisle I’m sure the two of us will be quite the sight. Her all dressed up and shiny looking while I appear to be fresh out of hibernation.

  “I just wanted to see you.”

  “See me?” I blurt, pointing at my chest. I don’t even know this woman. Maybe she’s on drugs? High off some fancy perfume?

  She ignores me, continuing to size me up. “I don’t know what he sees in you.”

  “Who?” My brows furrow and my heart sinks.

  Who is a silly question, who else could she be referring to but Jamie.

  Sure enough, her lips curl into a coy smile. “Jamie,” she says in a sickly sweet voice. “We’re quite opposite don’t you think? He married me, after all, so I’m much more his type.”

  She’s a prissy white Barbie, all straight lines and plastic smile. Meanwhile, I’m a mixed darker skinned, curvy, Bratz doll compared to her.

  This time I size her up. “You’re right, we are. I’m much better looking.”

  She scoffs and jabs a finger at me. “Jamie will never stay with someone like you.”

  I bristle at her tone, wondering how she even found me, and why she thinks she can intimidate me.

  “Why? Because I’m funny, smart, artistic, and a pretty amazing catch, if I do say so myself?”

  She looks flabbergasted. She truly thought she could corner me and I would cower from her hurtful words.

  She gets right up in my face, trying to appear as menacing as possible. “Stay away from him.”

  “No, can do. I really quite like Jamie, Tobias too. You walked away from Jamie, your son, everything. I won’t do the same because I know a good thing when I have it.”

  Her jaw tightens. She looks tempted to pull off one of her pointed heels and beat me with it.

  “You can’t scare me,” I tell her.

  I’m only beginning to understand the depths of my feelings for Jamie. I’m not some scared little girl she can chase off. She has no claim on Jamie anymore. I don’t know a whole lot about her, but I do know she’s been absent for the last seven years. There’s no way Jamie would let her come waltzing back into his life as if nothing had happened.

  She twists her lips back and forth, eyes icy with murderous rage.

  “I don’t have to frighten you,” she warns, looking all too conniving. I cannot believe Jamie was ever with her, that she’s Tobias’s mother. “All I have to do is scare him.”

  She flounces off and I sit there with a leaden feeling in my gut.

  Somehow I manage to finish my shopping, go home, and unpack my groceries.

  After that, I can’t take it anymore.

  I get in my car and drive.

  * * *

  Showing up at Jamie’s house in a near flat out panic seems silly, but I have to see him.

  The conversation with his ex has shaken me.

  When it comes to us, my foundation is solid, but what about his?

  I park on the street out front and practically sprint up the walkway.

  I didn’t change. Or do anything with my hair.

  I look like I escaped a mental institution.

  Do I care? No. But that’s probably what someone mentally insane would answer with.

  I push the doorbell repeatedly like a kid who enjoys pushing buttons.

  His grumbling can be heard from the other side and then the door opens.

  “Jamie,” I breathe with so much relief it kind of frightens me. I dive into his arms, wrapping mine tightly around his middle and resting the side of my face against his solid ch
est.

  “Whoa, what’s going on?” He hugs me back but he sounds worried.

  I allow him to tug me into the warm confines of his home. Once he’s shut and locked the door he grabs my hand and pulls me to his office. He closes that door behind us, giving us privacy if his mother appears. Not that I’m worried about her overhearing the conversation but Jamie doesn’t know that.

  “What’s going on?” He basically pushes me into a chair and then leans his ass against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest. Normally I would be turned on by how in charge and sexy he looks, but now isn’t the time for my libido to surge.

  I blurt out the incident at the grocery store. When I’m finished he curses quite creatively and begins to pace his office.

  “I was afraid of this.”

  “Of what?” I stand and follow, placing my hand against his back when he stops. He braces his hands against one of his bookshelves.

  He turns around, cupping my cheeks in his large hands. “Using you against me, to get what she wants.”

  “Which is what?”

  He releases a humorless laugh. “What she always wants. Money. She’s not getting a penny from me this time,” he says vehemently.

  He lets me go, stepping back to pull out his desk chair. He sinks down into it, resting his elbows on his knees and head in his hands.

  I open my mouth to speak, but pause when I notice a small canvas on his bookshelf.

  “That’s mine.” I point unnecessarily.

  He looks where I’m pointing. “Yeah,” he admits rather sheepishly.

  “It’s the one you said got damaged.” It’s in perfect shape, not a smear or scratch. When I picked up my paintings it was the one missing. Toby had told me Jamie said one was ruined and I didn’t think of it again.

  But here it is.

  On his shelf.

  “I lied.” His voice is soft, but with a husky edge and he stands up, towering above me.

  “Why? Why would you lie?”

  It’s a simple black line painting of the side of a woman’s face, nothing fancy at all, so I don’t understand why it would’ve caught his eyes. I’m not mad at him for keeping it, just confused.

  He shrugs, his eyes soft. “It reminded me of you, and you painted it which makes it special, I guess. So, I took it.”

  “You could’ve asked. I would’ve given it to you.”

  His lips crook. “Sweetheart, since when do I ask for anything.” He lowers his head, skimming his lips over my right cheek. “I take.”

  My heart stutters, my eyelids fluttering closed.

  I can’t control the small moan that passes through my lips when he kisses me, angling my head back. I twine my arms around his neck, our bodies plastered together. He quiets my soft sounds with his mouth.

  A small gasp leaves me when he grabs the back of my legs and picks me up, turning me around to set me on his desk. He spreads my legs, stepping between them.

  “Jamie,” I breathe as he continues his onslaught of delectable kisses, “your mom.”

  “Left hours ago to visit friends out of state and Tobias is staying the night at a friends.”

  “You’re home alone,” I accuse as he peppers small kisses down my neck. “Were you going to tell me?”

  “You’re supposed to be studying, but I thought I might surprise you later.”

  “Hmm,” I hum as he unzips my coat, pushing it off me. I forgot I was wearing it, but it could be the reason I’m unreasonably hot. Or that could just be Jamie and his devilish mouth. “You’ve been withholding sex from me for weeks. Changing your mind now?” I lift my arms above my head when he starts tugging impatiently at my sweatshirt.

  He lifts it off and tosses it into the corner of his office.

  I’m far from being naked, still completely fully-clothed, but he looks at me like I’m a work of art he can’t help but admire. I feel sexy, worshipped.

  “It’s been too long since I’ve touched you like this,” he murmurs, diving in for another kiss.

  I get lost in the feel of him. I’ve been craving his touch more than anything. Not that he hasn’t been touching me, but he’s been holding back, not wanting to cross this line.

  “Are you going to fuck me on your desk?” I croon.

  He bites my bottom lip, fingers wandering under my shirt. “You have no idea how many times I’ve visualized you spreading those pretty legs right here, then kneeling to eat you out.”

  “Mmm,” I purr, my body vibrating with pleasure at the visual, “then do it.”

  He flashes me a dangerous grin before tangling our tongues together in a long, not safe for the public, kiss. He pulls slightly away until his hazel eyes meet mine, darker than normal and filled with desire. “I will, but I fully intend on savoring this.”

  “Don’t tease me,” I pout.

  “It’s not a tease,” his smile is wicked, “it’s a fucking promise.”

  He undresses me slowly, kissing each piece of skin that’s exposed with such reverence it makes me ache and fill with that emotion I’m so afraid of voicing.

  Love.

  He deserves to know, but I don’t know how to tell him, and now doesn’t seem like the best idea. I want him to know I mean it, that it’s not some lust-filled confession, but the truth that beats inside my heart.

  Goddammit, the man has turned me into a sap.

  “Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” he whispers in admiration, stepping back to take in my naked body splayed on his desk. My fingers drift down, stroking my clit. He has me so turned on I’m already wet and can easily slip two fingers down and into me. I pump them in and out, his eyes zero in, watching every movement. He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

  He drops to his knees in front of me, placing his hands on my thighs to open me more to him.

  I slip my fingers out, sliding them into my mouth and licking them clean for the sole purpose of seeing what it does to him.

  His eyes flash, deepening in color, a shudder racking his body.

  “God, Miranda,” he murmurs, “do you have any idea how sexy you are?”

  I do—and I feel it even more when he looks at me like this.

  He lowers his head, the strands of his reddish-brown hair tickling my thighs as he does. My hips buck a moment later when he circles his tongue around my clit. He licks down the seam of me and back up, swirling his tongue again around the bud.

  “Jamie, right there,” I plead, sliding my fingers into his hair, tightening them around the strands. If it hurts he makes no protest. When his fingers slide into me pleasure zips through my entire body. “Jamie, Jamie, Jamie,” I chant his name like a prayer.

  He takes his time, bringing me close to the edge and then pulling away. Tempting me. Teasing me. Torturing me.

  I tug his hair harder, forcing him to look at me. “If you don’t let me come, I might kill you.”

  His chuckle vibrates against my pussy and I bite my lip to stifle a moan.

  “Good things come to those who wait,” he taunts with a wicked groan.

  My planned retort vanishes when his tongue swipes my pussy and a low moan leaves me instead.

  This time when he brings me to the edge he lets me fall over, my back arching and legs shaking with the force of the orgasm. He holds me steady against the desk. Perspiration clings to my skin and he backs a step away, taking off the last of his clothes.

  I watch hungrily as each piece of tanned skin is exposed.

  He watches me like I’m his prey and when all his clothes are in a pile on the floor he grabs my legs, stepping between them.

  “God, I’ve missed this,” he murmurs, a moment before sinking inside me.

  I bite down on my lip, my eyes rolling back from the pleasure.

  Goddamn Jamie and his magic cock. Forget the Genie’s lamp in Aladdin, all you need is to rub Jamie’s cock and all your sexual fantasies will come true.

  I lift my arms above my head and a stack of papers falls. I hope they’re not important but neither one of us seems to
care.

  His fingers press into my hips as he fucks me. It feels ridiculously good to have sex with him again, but I understand what he meant about waiting. This is infinitely better, and despite the time on the plane this truly feels different. Our masks have fallen, the bars around our hearts loosening.

  All that’s left now is what’s real.

  He starts pumping faster and I cry out as my second orgasm rushes unexpectedly through me. His orgasm follows, and he collapses nearly on top of me, only his hands flat on the desk keep him above me. His cock twitches inside me and he makes no move to pull out.

  “I want to keep you forever,” he admits in a quiet confession. His eyes widen and he looks surprised, like he didn’t mean to say it out loud.

  I take his face between my hands, his stubble rasping my palms. I pull him closer, meeting him halfway until our foreheads are nearly touching.

  “I love you.”

  It’s the first time I’ve ever told a man I love him. I didn’t realize how powerful three words can be. If you separate them they’re pretty innocuous, but when you put them together it’s packed with meaning.

  “Fuck,” he rubs his nose against mine, “I didn’t know it would feel this damn good to hear you say that. I love you, too.”

  I close that tiny bit of distance between us and kiss him.

  This is a new kind of kiss.

  One filled with understanding and a newfound, pretty powerful, love.

  29

  Jamie

  After we’re dressed and I clean my office up, I make us each a cup of coffee before we settle in the family room.

  Miranda curls into the sectional, grabbing a blanket and getting cozy.

  I love that she feels comfortable here.

  “So, about your ex,” she cringes, blowing lightly on the steaming liquid.

  I stretch my legs out on the leather ottoman, exhaling a weighted sigh. “Don’t worry about her.” I rub the back of her neck, trying to ease her uncertainties.

  “I don’t trust her.” She seems hesitant to admit this to me.