CHAPTER SIX

Paige couldn’t sleep. And it was too cold in her house, but if she turned the air conditioning off the heat would be unbearable. Throwing the sheet back, she sat up in the bed and looked at the clock, which read five after midnight. Climbing out of the bed, she decided to fix a midnight snack and head outside.

She walked into the kitchen, poured herself a tall glass of cold milk and grabbed a handful of chocolate chip cookies. Knowing her quiet neighborhood was sleeping, she didn’t think about changing out of her boy shorts and midriff cotton top. She sat on the steps, leaning back as if she were sun bathing, and munched on the cookies. Paige didn’t notice that she was being watched.

“It’s a little late to be outside, isn’t it?” Brian called out.

Paige dropped her cookie. “Robocop! You scared me.”

“Sorry.”


“What are you doing up this late?”
 Brian waved for Paige to come over. Dusting the crumbs off her shirt, she started across the street. 
 She drank in shirtless Brian and gave a little praise for those grey shorts that clung to those muscular thighs of his. Why did he have to be so damned tempting? If Paige was honest with herself, she’d admit that Brian Jackson was the reason she couldn’t fall asleep.

“I can’t sleep,” he replied when she walked up on the porch.


“Me either,” she said. “Want a cookie?”


Brian smiled. “I see why you run.”


Paige arched her eyebrow. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

“You love sweets, but it doesn’t show.” His eyes roamed her toned and lean body.

“So, you’re going to lecture me on about my eating habits?” she asked as she took a seat on the brick steps.

“Nah, not now. What I will do is take one of those cookies from you.”

Paige handed Brian her last cookie. “It’s hot out here,” she murmured, forcing herself to look away from him, afraid that her eyes would betray her desire.

Brian nodded. “It’s going to be a hot summer. We’re still stuck in a drought. Good thing I’m not a farmer.”

Paige wanted to tell him that it wasn’t the humidity that was causing her to sweat. “How’s Mickey?”

“Sleeping like a baby. I wish I could do the same,” Brian said with a far-off look in his eyes.

Paige reached out and touched his sculpted arm. “You just need to burn off some energy.”

He raised his eyebrow. “And what are you suggesting?”

Paige smiled and stood up. “I’ll race you to the stop sign. Winner gets cookies.”

Brian smirked but didn’t reply. Paige knew he read the duality of her statement. She did want to race him but to the bedroom.

“What? Scared you’ll get beat by a girl?” Paige teased.

“I don’t want your cookies. Nor do I want have you choking on my dust tonight.”

“I’m more than just cookies,” she said seductively.


“I’m sure you are,” he said, stealing another glance at her body.

Paige smiled knowingly. “Well, well, Robocop is human.”


“All right, Paige, I’m attracted to you. But who wouldn’t be?”

“Brian, I’m flattered, but if I recall correctly, you called me crazy.”

“And I still believe that, but seeing you with my son showed me that you’re more than a speeding shrew.”


Her right eyebrow shot up. “A speeding shrew?”

“First impressions.”

Paige thought back to the fit she’d thrown when she moved in. “I guess I deserve that. What about you, Mr. Officer?”

Brian laughed. “I was nothing but kind to you. I helped you pick up your books.”

“I don’t think so, you were automatic. Yes, ma’am, I’ll help you with that.” She moved mechanically, like a robot.

“Whatever,” Brian said, stepping in front of her.

She wanted to kiss him, to feel his full lips against hers. Though Brian continued to talk, she didn’t know what he was saying because his lips had her hypnotized.

“Brian,” she said, interrupting him. “Would it be shrew-like if I kissed you?”

He grinned. “That’s quite bold.”

Bold. She was about to redefine the word as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him firmly on the lips. Brian pulled her into his arms, accepting her wanton kiss. Paige’s tongue roamed his mouth, savoring his sweetness. They broke apart and stared deeply into one another’s eyes.

“Um,” Paige whispered. “I’d better go.”


Brian gently took her by the elbow. “Not yet.”


This time he took control of the kiss, boldly capturing Paige’s honeysuckle lips. His hands roamed her tender body, making her shiver with delight. She wanted to succumb to desire as he cupped her bottom, pressing her against him. Paige felt his thick hardness bouncing on her thighs and her body sizzled. Then Brian stepped back. The sexual energy around them made the humid air electric. She wanted to finish what they had started, yearned to feel Brian inside her. But she wasn’t in the market for a one-night stand. With shaky steps, Paige backed further away from him.

“You don’t have to go,” he whispered.

“Yes, I do. I’ll see you later.”


Brian grabbed her elbow. “Paige, I want you to stay with me tonight.”

His invitation intrigued her. But where would this leave them? “Brian, I can’t stay. I-I want to, believe me I do, but it’s just—”

“I understand. I didn’t mean to come on so strong.”

She shook her head. “Brian, I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do. And I started this. Let’s just call it even.”

She wanted to make love to him, badly, but not now. Paige bit her bottom lip as she walked away.

Brian sat on the porch, staring wistfully at Paige’s retreating figure. What was he thinking, making a move like that on her? It wasn’t as if he could have acted on those impulses anyway. He had to set a positive image for his son and sleeping with a woman he barely knew wouldn’t be a good example. And he couldn’t have gone over to her house, leaving his son alone while he acted like a horny teenager. Brian knew his priority was Mickey. He stole one last glance at Paige’s behind and then shook his head. He had to let that go. She would be too much of a distraction. Walking inside, he released a frustrated sigh. Distraction or not, he was hard as a brick and he wanted to bury himself deep inside Paige Grayson.

Sleep didn’t come easy for Brian that night; his mind was filled with erotic thoughts of Paige. He couldn’t get the taste of her mouth out of his mind. Her kiss had stirred his soul. Her lips were like silk. He imagined her in his arms, her firm breasts pressed against his chest. Brian reached down and stroked his throbbing shaft, imagining it was Paige’s supple body tightening around him as she bounced up and down.

He stopped once he realized what he was doing. This is crazy, he thought as he closed his eyes and attempted to go to sleep.

The next morning, Brian woke up before the sun rose over the horizon. Shake it off, Jackson, he told himself as he climbed out of bed. That wasn’t going to happen, though, because Brian was yearning for Paige, a fact that scared him. What if one taste wasn’t enough? From the way she’d kissed him, he knew he wasn’t going to be satisfied until he tasted every inch of her.

For a change, Mickey was sleeping late. Brian dashed into the bathroom and took an ice cold shower, hoping he wouldn’t think about the taste of Paige’s lips or her supple skin. As the water beat down on him, Brian imagined Paige stepping in behind him, her breasts pressed against his back, her hands roaming his body and gently stroking his hard dick. He shut off the water. The shower wasn’t helping.

Brian knew the only thing to do was to have her. Then he could get those thoughts out of his mind.

“Daddy!”

Brian threw his robe on and dashed down the hall to Mickey’s room. “Little man, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t feel too good,” he moaned.

Brian looked at his son with concern clouding his vision. “What’s the matter?”

“I want Mommy. She knows what to do.”


Brian practically stopped breathing. “Champ, she’s not here.”

“Why? Was I bad? Did she leave because of me?”


Brian inhaled sharply. Each breath was like a knife jabbing into his heart, no matter how many times he’d heard his son ask these questions. “Your mother left because she wanted to. It didn’t have anything to do with you.”

“But why didn’t she take me?”

Brian wanted to tell him that he wouldn’t let her take him with her, but he had to calm him down. “Mickey, why don’t we go do something fun?”

The little boy shook his head. “I want Mommy.”
Brian ran his hand over Mickey’s head.

“I’ll call her for you.”

Mickey grabbed his pillow and hugged it tightly. Brian felt bile rushing to his throat as he dialed Olivia’s number.

“The number you have reached has been disconnected,” a recording played back.

Brian hung up and dialed the number again. He got the same recording. What in the hell is going on?

Brian called again. Now he was worried. He and Mickey hadn’t heard from Olivia in about a week and that was odd. She had been making regular calls to her son, though Brian wished she had visited Mickey at least once since she left. Mickey was probably acting out because he hadn’t heard from his mother. Brian couldn’t imagine her moving and not leaving a number where Mickey could reach her.

The only thing he could think to do was call his former mother- in-law. Brian hadn’t talked to Davina Watson since Olivia walked out on him and he wasn’t looking forward to the call. Nonetheless, he dialed the number. Brian had never been Davina’s favorite person, nor was she his. They tolerated each other because of Mickey and Olivia. He was sure she wouldn’t be much help to him. With bated breath, he waited for his former mother-in-law to pick up.

“Y’ello.”

“Davina, it’s Brian.” He cradled the phone against his ear and shoulder.

“What do you want?”


“I need to get in touch with Olivia.”


“Why? She left you, get over it.”


Brian sighed and folded his arms across his chest. “When she left, she also left our son. Mickey needs to speak with his mother.” You old battle-ax.

“Hrump. She told me you wouldn’t let her take the boy or bring him to me.”

“That isn’t the point of my call. Just tell Olivia to call her son today.”

“You can’t handle it, can you?”

“I’m not the one who walked out. It was your daughter who couldn’t handle it. Davina, Mickey isn’t going to suffer because Olivia didn’t want to be my wife anymore.”

“She shouldn’t have married you in the first place.” The dial tone sounded in his ear.

“That bitch,” he muttered. Brian turned around and saw his son standing behind him.

“Is Mommy going to call?”


“She will, son.”


“When?”


“I don’t know, but why don’t you go take a bath?”


“No,” Mickey shouted, folding his arms across his chest. “I’m waiting for Mommy.”


“Come on, Mickey, go wash up.”


“No!”


Brian grabbed Mickey’s arm and turned him toward the bathroom. “Brian Jr., I’m not playing with you. Go wash up and get dressed!”

The little boy wouldn’t bulge. Brian let him go, took a deep breath and spoke softly. “Mick, when she calls, I’ll come get you.”

“No. I want to be right here!” Tears welled up in Mickey’s eyes. Brian was at his wit’s end. His son was disobeying him, but how could he punish him for missing his mother? Brian turned his eyes upward and said a prayer that Olivia would call.

“Mickey,” Brian began, “your mother is working and she’s going to call soon, okay.”

The boy began to cry. Brian wrapped his arms around his son. “I know you miss her,” he cooed as Mickey sobbed.

The phone seemed to ring at the right time. Brian grabbed the receiver, nearly ripping the phone out of the wall. “Hello?”

“Brian, I’m sorry I didn’t give you my new number. Things have just been crazy since I started my apprenticeship. My mother said something is wrong with Mickey.”

“That was really irresponsible of you. Here I am burning vacation time until I can find a work schedule that will benefit both Mickey and me, you’re too busy to pass on a phone number? There’s nothing wrong with Mickey other than the fact that he needs to see his mother.”

She sighed heavily in the phone. “Then save the lecture and put him on the phone, please. I’m not arguing with you, today.”

Brian handed the phone to Mickey and watched as his gloomy son brightened like a lantern. His heart fell to the pit of stomach. He wished there was something he could do to keep that smile on Mickey’s face. Brian needed Mickey in his life but he didn’t want his son to suffer because Olivia had decided she didn’t want to be a full time mother anymore. Was he making Mickey suffer because he couldn’t make his mother happy?

He wanted be a good father to him, just as his father had been to him. Marvin Jackson had kept his family together, through thick and thin. There were times when Brian saw his parents fighting, but no one ever left. His father had been there for him at every football game, every parent teacher conference and the day he graduated from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Academy. Up until the day Marvin died, he had been there for his family. Brian had wanted to be like his father and keep his family together as well. It was too bad that Olivia had other ideas.

When Mickey hung up the phone, he walked over to Brian and gave him a hug. “Mommy told me to give you a hug.”

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Brian replied, swallowing the bitter taste in his mouth.

“Can I go to Atlanta and see her?”

Brian’s heart screamed, No, she walked away from you. “Sure, the next time your mother calls, we’ll talk about it.”

Mickey pouted. “I want to go now.”

“Son, we have to wait for your mother to tell us where she lives and invite us to her house,” he said calmly. He didn’t want to get frustrated, but the situation was giving him a headache. While Brian could understand how Mickey was feeling, if the little boy didn’t watch his tone of voice, he was going to get a spanking.

“She lives in Atlanta, so we can just go there,” he said.

“Go get washed up and dressed. We will discuss this the next time your mother calls!”

Brian’s patience was at its end. Mickey walked down the hall with tears in his eyes.

In the six months that Olivia had been gone, Brian had tried to figure out how he could have thought they were going to stay together when they were barely speaking to each other. The dullness of being lonely had subsided, but his son still needed his mother to be closer to him more than a voice on the end of the phone.

Suddenly a terrible thought struck him. What would happen if the day came when Olivia decided that she wanted to take Mickey to Georgia with her? He couldn’t let that happen.

Brian vowed that he would not lose his son. He was going to do whatever he had to do to make that happen.