Never Say Never, page 12
“Well and you?” Malcolm asked as he peered down at Sabrina’s light-brown eyes. They shared a knowing smile. Moments passed and Sabrina didn’t answer him. During the long pause, he noticed her nipples were beginning to harden underneath her tank top.
“What are you doing here, Dr. Malcolm? Doesn’t Parker House have a restaurant?” Jasmine blurted, interrupting his lascivious thoughts.
“Yes, Jasmine, I …” Malcolm bent down to Jasmine’s level.
“Call me Jazzy,” Jasmine said. “Mom does.”
Sabrina smiled at her forward daughter. Jasmine was smitten with the good doctor, as was she.
“Alright, Jazzy! I’m here picking up some fruit, snacks and protein drinks. I like to stay healthy.”
“Well, that’s no fun,” Jasmine remarked. “You should come eat with us. Mom’s making meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I’m sure there’s enough, right, Mom?”
“Jasmine!” Sabrina couldn’t believe her child’s audacity. “I’m sure Malcolm has other plans.” They shared a sizzling-hot attraction and it was just a matter of time before they combusted. Sabrina was sure her stomach would be tied up in knots sitting across from him all evening, knowing the way he could make her body feel with just his hands.
“As a matter of fact I don’t,” Malcolm replied evenly. “And I would sure love to have a home-cooked meal.”
“Well, uh …” Sabrina was at a loss for words.
“It’s set then,” Jasmine said. She grabbed Malcolm’s large hand in her tiny one and pushed him toward the checkout. “You’ll come over to Grandma’s and have dinner with me and Mom.”
Malcolm halted the pushy little shrimp and turned to face Sabrina. “That is if you don’t mind,” he said. He hoped she didn’t.
Sabrina shrugged. “Of course not. Jazzy’s right. There’s plenty to go ‘round.” She added, “Give me a minute to grab the ground chuck and we’ll be on our way.”
After Sabrina grabbed two pounds of ground chuck from the butcher, they were out the door. Malcolm helped her carry the bags to the car.
“Thank you.” Sabrina smiled at him. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re quite the gentleman?”
“I think I’ve heard it once or twice.”
Minutes later, Malcolm was following behind Sabrina as she drove the short distance to her parents’ bungalow. He looked forward to spending even more time with her. Not only had the chemistry between them been off the charts, but she’d shown such kindness taking care of him and listening to his woes. It made him adore her all the more.
Pulling up behind her, Malcolm turned off his engine and jumped out to assist Sabrina with the groceries.
Inside, Sabrina flicked on the kitchen light and held the door open for him to pass.
“Where do you want these?” he asked, holding up the bags.
“On the table is fine.”
Malcolm placed the bags on the kitchen counter and turned to her. He owed her a huge thanks. They stood facing each other for several awkward moments until Jasmine chirped up. “Would you like a tour of the house?”
Malcolm smiled at his pint-sized hostess. “I would love one, if you don’t mind,” he replied, hazarding a glance at Sabrina, who was busy putting away groceries. Although he didn’t mind a tour, he would have preferred to sit in the kitchen and watch Sabrina. He thought he was guarded, but Sabrina gave new meaning to the word. He wished he knew what she was thinking, feeling, but he couldn’t read her closed expression.
“Why would she mind?” Jasmine asked, holding out her hand for Malcolm to take. “This isn’t even her house.” Malcolm laughed at the wisecrack. Jasmine certainly was a little firecracker, just like her mother.
“C’mon.” Jasmine pulled him along toward the front of the house.
Sabrina grabbed her mother’s apron off the hook and wrapped it around her middle.
“Wait a sec,” Malcolm replied, coming to Sabrina’s aid and tying it for her. He lingered a moment longer than necessary, breathing in Sabrina’s sweet scent before stepping away. He was infatuated with this woman and her spitfire of a daughter. But Jasmine was anxious to begin her tour and spurred him along. She didn’t notice the appreciative glance Malcolm sent her mother’s away, but Sabrina sure did.
Sabrina exhaled. She’d been holding her breath when Malcolm had stood behind her to tie her apron. The hairs on her neck had stood up at attention. How was it that a tiny action like that made her all hot and bothered? Blinking, she shook her head and began gathering all the ingredients and spices to prepare her delicious Italian meatloaf. When she was finished, Malcolm would be salivating and not just for her.
It didn’t take long for her to mix all the ingredients and form a loaf to put in the oven. When Malcolm returned to the kitchen without his companion, who’d gone upstairs in search of board games, he found Sabrina cutting up potatoes.
“So?” Sabrina looked up from her task at the kitchen sink. “What do you think?”
“Your parents have a lovely place,” Malcolm replied, “very lived in and homey.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more.” Sabrina placed the potatoes on the stove to boil. “It’s why I came back.”
“For the sense of security that only your parents could provide?”
“Yes,” Sabrina replied, grabbing salad ingredients out of the fridge. How does he always seem to know what I’m thinking?
“And has being home done that?” he asked, leaning against the counter to watch her.
“It has,” Sabrina answered nervously. She could feel Malcolm’s eyes on her as she cut up the vegetables, so she kept her eyes focused on the task at hand. “I’ve never felt so safe.”
When she finally turned around, their eyes made contact and locked together, causing Sabrina’s emotions to spin out of control. Malcolm’s close proximity was causing her body to go haywire. Her heart thumped loudly. She quickly turned back around to the sink to rinse the salad ingredients.
Long before she felt his breath on the back of her neck, Sabrina sensed Malcolm behind her.
“Have I told you how much I appreciated your help the other evening?” he whispered in her ear. “I was really torn up and you pulled me out of a rough place.”
“Ummm, no, I don’t believe you did.”
“Then by all means, let me say thank you.” Slowly, he began to massage her shoulders with his strong, narrow fingers until he felt her relax. He heard her sigh deeply as she turned around to face him. Malcolm wrapped his arms around her midriff, gathering her closer to him. He regarded her quizzically for a moment, gauging whether to pursue his impure thoughts. Resting his forehead against hers, he lightly brushed his lips across her forehead, trailing soft kisses down her face until his mouth was a hair’s length away from her lips.
“I want you so much, Sabrina,” he said huskily.
“I want you too.”
He paused for what seemed like an eternity before smothering her lips with demanding mastery. Sabrina’s mouth parted in response and she drank in the sweetness of his kiss. When she wound her arms around his neck, Malcolm stepped forward and clasped her body tightly to his, pressing her against the counter.
He fused his lips with hers, and her breasts, stomach and thighs melded like perfection against his rock-hard body. When she gripped his back and purred like a kitten, Malcolm nearly devoured her … that’s until he heard tiny footsteps on the backstairs leading into the kitchen. They both pulled away quickly, startled by the interruption.
Reality came whirling back to Sabrina when Jasmine, oblivious to their interlude, bounded into the room.
“I found the games, Malcolm.” Jasmine sat the boxes for Life and Monopoly on the kitchen table. “Grandma had these upstairs in the guest closet. Do you want to play until dinner’s ready?”
Shaken, Sabrina refused to look Malcolm’s way even though she could feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of her head. She scooted over to the sink, desperate to get away from him. Being near the man was dangerous to her sensibilities.
Malcolm felt bereft after Sabrina moved out of his embrace. He’d been so ready for that kiss and the promise of what it offered—a chance to hold and caress Sabrina in his arms again. Sabrina roused a passion in him that he hadn’t felt in a long time and he wanted more, which is why it was probably a good thing that the little shrimp interrupted them. He looked down at Jasmine, who was pulling on his shirt. She was bubbling over with excitement at having a playpal.
“Malcolm,” Jasmine said, fast getting annoyed from his lack of response, “don’t you want to play with me?”
“Of course I do, sweetheart.” Malcolm bent down to her height. He walked over to Sabrina, who stood at the sink, and whispered in her ear, “I’ll be in the other room if you want me.”
Sabrina rolled her eyes as a smile lit up her face. Of course she wanted him! That much was obvious. If Jasmine hadn’t interrupted, she’d have been ready to offer herself up to him on a silver platter. He probably thought she was a tease seeing as how only a few weeks ago she’d stressed friendship. With all she had going, she had no business even contemplating getting involved with another man, let alone someone as commanding and charismatic as Malcolm Winters. She could easily have her heart broken and Sabrina didn’t want a repeat performance of Tre Matthews. She was just now getting over that mistake. She needn’t make another, but she wasn’t sure she could resist the pull she felt toward Malcolm.
She managed to finish dinner by banishing all thoughts of him from her head. Forty-five minutes later, an Italian meatloaf, mashed potatoes and salad were on the table.
“Ready to dig in?” Sabrina asked, stopping by the living room to check on Malcolm and Jasmine, who’d been surprisingly quiet throughout her dinner preparation.
“Yes,” Malcolm replied, looking up from the Monopoly board. He’d been trying to get out of jail after little Ms. Jasmine had trounced him for the majority of the game. “I’m starved,” he rose to his feet.
“So am I,” Jasmine said as Malcolm lent a hand to help her up. Together, they walked toward the dining room, where Sabrina had already set the table and laid out supper.
Before they began, Sabrina stopped Malcolm and reached for his hand. “Let’s say grace.”
“I’m not really into that,” Malcolm retorted and snatched his hand away.
“What’s that?”
“Religion.”
“Then maybe you should be,” Sabrina returned, grabbing Jasmine with one hand. “Have you ever thought that some prayer might help you get over the traumatic events in your life?”
“No, I haven’t. Although my mother attended services, it was more for show than anything else.” Malcolm wasn’t all that sure that he believed in God anymore. There was something wrong with a world that would take his brother.
“I understand you’ve lost your faith, Malcolm, but a little faith might be good for your soul.” Her other slender hand reached out again and grasped Malcolm’s strong massive hand. He resisted, but Sabrina held on firmly.
At first, Malcolm didn’t know how to react to Sabrina’s spirituality, but he soon followed suit when she and Jasmine bent their heads in prayer. “Lord, we thank your for this food we are about to receive,” Sabrina began, “and we pray that you will see your way to guiding those that may be lost back home to your safe haven. Amen.”
Sabrina glanced up and looked over at Malcolm. His expression was unreadable, but he did say, “Amen” before digging into his meal.
Dinner was uneventful. Malcolm and Sabrina tried to ignore the sexual pull between them by catering to Jasmine’s every whim. Sabrina could see how happy her daughter was in Malcolm’s company. It was so obvious to Sabrina that she missed that male companionship, that father-daughter bond.
Somehow, Malcolm was providing exactly what Jasmine needed and Sabrina was grateful. He didn’t seem to mind that Jasmine had taken a liking to him. He listened to all her stories and answered her endless questions. Sabrina glanced up from her dinner plate and made contact with Malcolm’s dark irises. When he smiled at her, she was hit with the full power of his magnetism and a delicious shudder heated her body. God, help me, thought Sabrina, he’s sexy as hell. Back in the kitchen, she’d wanted far more than just a kiss.
It was no mystery what he was thinking when he looked at her with those bedroom eyes. The good doctor wanted to take her to bed and she doubted she’d resist.
“Mom, what do you think?” Jasmine asked.
“What was that, baby?” Sabrina shook her head to clear her thoughts, which was close to impossible since Malcolm hadn’t taken his eyes off hers. Wherever she moved, his eyes followed.
“Malcolm said he’s remodeling his house, and I thought maybe we could help. He’s painting his parlor on Saturday, isn’t that right, Dr. Malcolm?”
“Yes, it is, Jazzy,” Malcolm answered, turning his gaze from Sabrina for a moment and leaning across the table to squeeze Jasmine’s nose.
“Hey, stop that.” Jasmine laughed.
“Oh, this,” Malcolm said, squeezing it again.
“Stop!” Jasmine pushed his massive hand away when he attempted it again. “Mom!” She pushed her chair and prepared to run away, glancing at her mother for help.
“Hey, you.” Sabrina smiled at Malcolm. “You wanna give it a rest?”
“Why? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to try and stop me?” Malcolm teased. “‘Cause if so, I’d sure like to see you try.”
“You think I can’t?” Sabrina asked, rising to the challenge. “Well, I’ll show you.” She boldly lunged at him. Malcolm halted her assault by swinging an arm around her middle, landing her directly in his lap. Sabrina used the opportunity to tickle Malcolm’s center, and he let out a hearty, masculine laugh. “Jazzy, help,” Sabrina called out to her daughter.
Jasmine assisted and pretty soon they were all tickling each other. Sabrina and Jasmine managed to push Malcolm out of the chair and onto the floor. Their loud laughter drowned out the noise of the front door opening and closing.
“Ahem,” Beverly and James Parker said loudly, coughing from the doorway. They were rather surprised to find their daughter and granddaughter sprawled across Dr. Winters.
“Excuse us,” James said, grabbing his shocked wife by the arm and leading her to the living room.
“Did you see …?” Beverly began. She couldn’t believe her daughter’s behavior.
“Yes,” Sabrina heard her father say. “And she’s a grown woman.”
Sabrina heard every word from her location across Malcolm’s chest. It was pretty hard not to. Her mother made no secret of her displeasure.
Malcolm rose and helped Sabrina and Jasmine to their feet. “Listen, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean any disrespect to you and your family.”
“It’s okay.” Sabrina rearranged her clothes even though she was completely embarrassed at being found in a compromising position by her parents.
“Jasmine, why don’t you go into the living room with Grandma and Grandpa while I show Dr. Malcolm out?”
“Do I have to?” Jasmine pouted, folding her arms across her chest. “Can’t I stay with you guys?”
“Go on, Jasmine,” Malcolm warned. “Do as your mother ordered. We’ll see each other real soon.”
“Promise?” Jasmine’s big eyes fixed on Malcolm and he knew he was a goner.
“I promise.” Malcolm crossed his heart.
Sabrina glanced back and forth at the two of them. An alliance had been formed before her very eyes. Sabrina watched Malcolm give Jasmine a bear hug before she disappeared into the living room.
“You have a wonderful daughter,” Malcolm told Sabrina once Jasmine left.
“Clearly the feeling is reciprocal,” Sabrina replied with a smile. “She adores you.”
“And I her,” Malcolm replied, “but she’s not the only one I like.”
Sabrina didn’t respond to Malcolm’s flirty comment, instead she said, “Let me fix you a plate to take home.”
“That would be great.”
Sabrina fixed Malcolm a Styrofoam plate filled with leftovers, covered it with aluminum foil and handed it to him by the back door.
“Thank you, Sabrina, for a wonderful dinner. It was surely better than eating dinner alone. I really enjoyed myself.”
“So did I.”
Malcolm was leaving to turn away, but thought better of it and swooped down to plant a ravishing kiss on Sabrina’s lips. Before she had time to protest, he broke the barrier of her lips and teeth and plundered her mouth. Sabrina had no choice but to surrender completely to his masterful seduction.
It was divine ecstasy and when he finally pulled away, she had a burning desire and an aching need to be with him.
“I can’t take this anymore, Sabrina. You’re driving me insane.” Malcolm inhaled to force some air into his lungs. They had reached the point where their relationship had to be resolved. “It’s time we became lovers.”
Sabrina nodded. “I think so too.” The admission was dredged from a place beyond logic and reason, a place that was base and primitive.
Malcolm smiled broadly. Finally. “Well, I look forward to that time,” he stated and quietly closed the door behind him.
Sabrina stood and stared at the door several long moments before bringing her fingertips to her lips.
Chapter 13
“Hello?” Malcolm answered the phone beside his bed.
“Malcolm, darling. Don’t be such a grouch. It’s your mother.”
“Mother?” Malcolm wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat upright. “What are you doing calling me this early?” He pushed the pillows back with his fist and leaned against the headboard.
“It’s nearly noon,” Dinah returned. “Aren’t you a morning person? You’re usually up with the roosters.” She remembered her son’s habit of getting up early for his morning exercise.
