Just Between Friends Read online

  "How about we take it one step at a time?" He found it hard believe he was making the offer. I've never gone this slowly with a woman , but there's something different here.

  "What?" Is he serious?

  "Go out on date with me, Bella. No hanky panky, I promise.” He moved closer to her, his voice pleading. "I promise to behave."

  Not sure if she could believe what she was hearing, Bella felt some progress might have been made, but her instinct told her she should press the issue. "Seth, listen to yourself. You've never done the dating thing. You're about a series of one-night stands, love'em and leave'em. Why would you suddenly date me?"

  When he responded his voice got low and very serious-sounding. “Because it's what you want, Bella, and I need you.”

  The answer was more than she'd hoped for and it encouraged her to push further. “And while we're dating, you'll only date me?” The quickness of his answer astounded her.

  “Done. Only you, I promise.”

  "Seth, go home. It's obvious you need some sleep as you're a different person than the one I know." She turned, opening her front door to leave him, but he cried out in the most desperate, pleading voice she'd ever heard.

  "Isabella, look at me, I'm begging you to give me just a chance. If I go home now, without a spark of hope, how will I sleep?” He placed his hand on his stiff erection, to show her his naked need.

  Turning around, she frowned. "Now you're backtracking big time, Seth, putting on a sexual display. Are we still in disagreement about this being all about sex?”

  "I'm sorry. It's just I knew this little girl, Bella, and she was my best friend but now she's a grown woman, Isabella and she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I want to know her better. Please give me that chance."

  Hope and skepticism warred inside of Bella. Skepticism warned her about the Seth she knew and, a voice hissed in her ear, he only wants in your panties. Hope whispered softly in her other ear, championing her desire to believe he could change and more importantly, he would change for her love. In the end, there was only once choice to be made.

  How can I not take the chance to win his love? Would I ever forgive myself if I said no?

  "I'm not going to decide on anything tonight, Seth. I'm tired and it's been a long day, but come over for coffee in the morning and we'll talk more."

  * * * *

  When Bella came downstairs, the next morning she found Seth in her kitchen sipping on cup of coffee and reading her paper.

  Making himself at home but at least he's not all over me.

  Pulling out a can of Coke, her preference over coffee, and popped the top. Guzzling down half of the cool beverage, she found herself surprised he hadn't acknowledged her presence. Glancing at the clock, she saw that auction time was nearing.

  “Ready to go?” She pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

  “No, not really, but I suppose we must.”

  As she headed towards her car, he followed her. When she opened her door, she saw he was waiting beside the passenger door. “What are you doing?”

  “I thought we could ride together. After all we're going the same place.”

  “Oh, did you now?” Laughing, she got in and leaned over the seat to pop the lock for him. As she reached down to start the car, he covered her hand with his.

  “Wait, Bella, we need to talk.”

  “Seth, can't it wait? I'm still thinking about this, and you haven't done anything to convince me changing our relationship is my interest. Do you ever plan to talk about anything but the hard thing between your legs? Now, we're supposed to be at the charity auction in a half hour, so I suggest you think of what you're willing to do to impress me that doesn't involve your dick.” Bella was firm and Seth could see she wasn't going to allow him to backtrack from his promises last night.

  “Okay, Bella, but please don't take forever to decide.”

  “Well, that's entirely up to you, Seth. Show me what I'm missing and perhaps I'll take the chance and become your girlfriend.”

  As they pulled out of the driveway, she glanced over at him. He had a very thoughtful look on his face, one she'd never seen before. Maybe, just maybe, he's beginning to understand.

  When they arrived at the charity auction, Bella was ushered back stage for her part in the auction. They'd convinced her to be auctioned off to the highest bidder for charity, the winning bidder getting a date with her. The other nurses had assured her it was a good way to meet a guy, but she wasn't sure she believed them. Handed a slinky dress to change into, she sighed, but it was all for a good cause, she told herself.

  Dressing and getting made up was a whirlwind and before she knew it, the announcer was introducing her to the crowd.

  “Our next bachelorette is a full-time nurse who loves working with children, going to the drive-in, and being outdoors. Please welcome, Isabella.”

  Straightening, she walked out, pasting a big smile on her face.

  “And here she is, the lovely Isabella. If you bid on her, you'll get an evening of her time, which you'll spend having a romantic picnic, followed by a midnight stroll down by the waterfront. Who would like to start the bidding?”

  Isabella tried to see out into the crowd but the bright stage lights blinded her .All she could hear was male voices calling out bids. The bidding started at five hundred dollars and appeared to be ending at eight hundred.

  “Eight hundred, going once, going twice...”

  Bella felt relieved it was over.

  “One thousand!” The voice was clear as a bell to Bella. Seth's voice echoed out from the back of the room.

  He just bid a thousand dollars–for me.

  “One thousand, going once, going twice...sold to the gentleman in the back. If you want to come up and escort your date off the stage, sir, you can make your payment to the cashier.”

  Striving for patience while Seth made his way to the stage, Bella smiled, but when he stepped onto the stage to retrieve her, all she wanted to do is kick him.

  If he thinks this is his way into my panties, he is sadly mistaken.

  “Relax, Bella, nothing is going to happen that you don't want to happen.” Escorting her like a gentleman down the stairs, he placed his hand on the small of her back. By the time they got to the cashier's desk, Isabella thought perhaps she should cut him some slack, but then he slipped up.

  Pulling out his checkbook, he wrote a check for his bid but as he handed it to the young lady behind the desk, he smiled and winked at her. When he turned back to Bella, he saw she was frowning.

  “Now, what did I do?”

  “Nothing you don't always do, Seth Anderson, it's just your nature. My problem was thinking I could make it go away. Don't you have to change now for your turn on the auction block?”

  “I will in a minute, Bella, but tell me, why are you angry?” Sitting down on a bench near the changing room, he beckoned her to join him, but she went inside to get out of her dress.

  “I'm not really that angry, Seth. I'm flattered at the thousand dollars, but is it just money you're willing to spend to satisfy your lust for my body, or do you want to go on a romantic date with me? It's your inconsistencies that have me so confused. You spend a thousand dollars on a date with me, but as you're paying for it, you flirt with the cashier. Which Seth do I get, the romantic, or the hopeless flirt, the one who wants every pretty face he sees?” She struggled with the zipper on the back of the dress and gave him a stern eyes to go with her words.

  “Bella, you wound me. You don't think I can have a serious relationship?”

  “Seth, how long have your most serious relationships lasted? Maybe three months?” She puffed as she twisted her arms behind her back, still fighting with the stubborn zipper.

  “Sixteen years.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I've know this wonderful person and friend for sixteen years, and now she's become a beautiful woman, and I want to move our relationship to the next level.”

&nb
sp; “That's different, Seth, and right now you're endangering that relationship big time, because you're treating it so cheap.”

  “A thousand dollars? I wouldn't consider that treating her cheaply.”

  He's right, that's not cheap. Maybe he does deserve a break.

  “Damn it, this zipper.” She hissed at her inability to loosen it.

  A sudden hiss of fabric and the curtain was jerked back and Seth stepped into the room with her. “Turn around.”

  “Seth, not here!” She looked around, expecting everyone's attention to be on them.

  “I'm not going to do anything here, Bella, but let me unstick that damn zipper before I have to go on stage.” He spun her around so he could get a good look at her zipper and began to work on it. “I'm going to prove you wrong, Bella. I'm going to show you I can have a serious relationship...with you.” He placed a quick kiss on the back of her exposed neck before exiting the changing room.

  As Bella stared at herself in the changing room mirror, she thought about what her mother had said about Seth just before she died.

  “You look after that boy. One day he'll make a great husband, Isabella, if you wait for him to grow up.”

  If Mom saw the romantic value and worth of Seth as a husband, why don't I? Am I not giving him the chance to change?

  Taking a long look at herself in the mirror, Isabella sighed. At first she was resigned, but then a smile lit up her face as the decision was made.

  I have to try it. If I don't I'll never know if he can be a great lover and husband. Besides, if he messes up, I can always kick his ass.

  When Seth took his turn under the spotlight, he listened as the auctioneer rattled off his statistics and what he was offering to a potential date. When the auctioneer opened the bidding, Seth wasn't surprised at how quick the bids climbed but the final bid shocked him-fifteen hundred dollars. Shoring up his patience, he waited for the woman to come and claim him, hoping it Bella had bid on him. He gulped when he saw it was Carmen, one of his cast-off former lovers. She beckoned him over as if she now owned him. Seth knew this wasn't a good thing.

  Bella waited outside the changing room for Seth to change out of his tux, which wouldn't have been bad except the blonde woman, Carmen was shooting daggers with her eyes in Isabella's general direction.

  Carmen paid the cashier and walked by Bella, warning her, “Don't interfere this time, Isabella -Seth is mine.”

  “Carmen, I didn't interfere the first time, he just dumped you. If you think you're going to change his leopard spots, be my guest. Seth is a big boy, he can decide for himself.” Bella couldn't believe she was angry because Carmen was back in his life, but she was.

  “When you fail, and you will, don't lay the blame on me.”

  About that time, Seth exited the changing room. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes, quite.” Wrapping her arm around Seth, she walked off, ignoring the seething Carmen.

  * * * *

  When Bella turned the key, shutting the car off in her driveway, she sat there in silence, not knowing how to tell him she was going to give him a chance. I don't want him to think this means I'm going to jump in bed with him right now, and Carmen is back in the picture, so maybe I shouldn't say anything. After all Carmen might win him back, she's so much more stunning than me, so there might be no need.

  “Penny for your thoughts, Bella?” Seth's soft voice drew her attention as he turned in the seat and rested his back against the car door.

  “Well, I don't know if they're worth that or not.” She laughed to break the tension.

  “Talk to me, Bella. I can tell there's something going on in that head of yours.”

  “Nope, actually there isn't. I did all my thinking for the day. I'm planning on relaxing on the couch and watching mindless movies for the rest of the day. Care to join me?”

  “Sure. But I have to run over to my house first. I'll be back in a few.”

  “Okay. See you in a little while.”

  No sense in telling him anything now.

  The real reason Seth had wanted to come home was to do the one thing he'd sworn he would never do. He was going to call his dad and ask for advice on how to woo Bella. Having made his mind up, he was going to prove to Bella he was capable of a serious relationship with her.

  Dialing his father, Seth laid out the situation to him. “So what do I do, Dad?”

  First there was his father's rich baritone laugh. “Well, it's about time, you realized what was right in front of you. Isabella has been waiting for you to grow up and see her as a beautiful woman.”

  “Come on, Dad. I need to know how to convince her I'm serious.”

  “Court her, Seth, shower her with affection, non-sexual affection at first and throw in flowers and candy, or whatever you young people give as gifts. Take her for long walks in the moonlight and be romantic.”

  “Aww, Dad, she'll see right through flowers and candy and I may end up with them thrown in my face.”

  “Seth, you're not listening. You know the girl. If flowers aren't her thing, find something that is. I didn't say it would be easy, but I know you're capable of doing it. The important thing is to show her she's more than a one-night stand. You need to show her you want to be with her a long time, that is, if you do want to be with her for a long time?”

  Seth paused. “Yes, Dad, I think I do, but I've never felt that way about a girl.”

  “Good, Mission number one, son, is to keep your dick in your pants for a while.”

  Seth almost choked on the water he had been drinking.

  “Dad, you're talking about my sex life.”

  “Yes, and nobody knows better than me about sowing wild oats. I was young once too, but when I met your mother, I knew it was time and she was the one. If you know that about Bella, be a man and don't let her down.”

  When Seth entered Bella's living room, he found her curled up in the corner of the love seat, flipping channels. Settling down next to her, he snuggled up close, but when she opened her mouth to speak, he hushed her.

  “Don't say it. We're just gonna cuddle and watch TV, no words, just relaxation.”

  Wow, maybe he is changing, . . . but for how long?

  Chapter Three

  Bella dozed off in the middle of the movie they were watching and when she awoke, she found she was stretched out on the couch in front of Seth. From the soft snores she heard from behind her, she knew Seth had dozed off too. Rolling over to face him, she looked up at his sleeping face.

  He does make me feel safe when he's around.

  Her peace ended as the telephone rang. Rolling over, she reached for the phone. Silent for a moment to listen, she laughed and told the caller. "You might want to take that up with Seth." Then she hung up the phone and Seth's interest was piqued.

  “Who was that?” Seth asked, his tone cautious as he sat up.

  In a grouchy just-woken-up mood, Bella answered, "Your freaking date." Walking over and turning off the television, she looked at the clock and was surprised to see it was almost supper time.

  Seth rolled his eyes. "Aren't you the one who talked me into auctioning myself off for charity? Besides if you didn't want me going out with another woman, you could have bid on me like I did you."

  Turning, blue eyes met green across the kitchen. Sighing, she set her soda down on the counter.

  "Okay, okay, forget it, Seth, I was just ribbing you. Who you date and when you date them, is not my call."

  "Is that right? What if it was your call? Say I wanted your permission?” Seth looked at her with a devilish grin, knowing he'd asked something she hadn't expected.

  "Why would you want to do that? You're a player, Seth, and players don't need permission."

  “Now you're ignoring the question. What if I don't go out with Carmen until you tell me it's okay?” Seth smiled knowing he was pressing the issue.

  “Why would that matter?” Isabella asked, but it was a stall to think about his offer.

  Would he really not go
out with Carmen if I didn't let him? Is he serious?

  “It should matter to you, Bella. I'm making the offer right here and now. I won't go out with Carmen until you say I can.”

  “But she paid for your time, to the charity, in front of hundreds of people. You can't do that.”

  “The hell I can't. I can stall her forever if I want.”

  Bella paused, unsure of her best friend for perhaps the first time in their lives. “Okay, I'll think about that one and I'll let you know.”

  * * * *

  Impatient as hell, Carmen waited outside in her car, fuming as she saw her man inside with the little slut who had stolen him away once before. Remembering how his arms felt wrapped around her, she knew Seth was the lover she wanted pleasuring her. The man had unbelievable stamina when he we was between her thighs and even his kinky little habit of tying her up made her wet with desire. Drumming her fingers on the steering wheel, she knew she'd have to convince the bitch that Seth was hers.

  * * * *

  Bella shut the lights off and watched Seth return home. Wandering into the living room and flopping down on the couch, she picked up the throw pillow Seth's head had laid on.

  It smelled like him, so manly and good. I do want him inside, but his manner is holding me back. I need to talk to Liz.

  Hugging the pillow tight, she picked up the phone.

  Liz had become a second mom to her since her mother had passed on; but more important than that, she was Seth's mom, so she would have some insight on handling her headstrong son.

  When Liz answered, Bella explained the situation to her.

  Liz's initial response, a soft chuckle, surprised Bella. “What's so funny, Liz?”

  "I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh, but I was wondering when that hard-headed son of mine would stop playing the field and see what had been right in front of him. Now that he has, he has to learn a whole new way to deal with women.” Liz had the advantage of knowing her son had already asked his father for advice, so she knew his attitude had changed.

  "He's behavior has been so strange as of late, telling me he wants my permission to go on this date with Carmen. It's so unlike the old Seth, it's freaking me out.”