London Falling (Falling #2)(11)
Instinct sent me jumping into the air in an ungentlemanly display of victory. Choking back the smack talk I felt bubbling to the surface, I dodged the ball as it bounced back and made my way over to Nathaniel’s limp form.
He had rolled over onto his back. His legs crooked up at ninety degree angles with his arms out in a wide T shape. Nathaniel’s chest heaved awkwardly as he tried to catch his breath.
I leaned over and held out my hand. He opened and closed his eyes a couple times. “Hey brother, you okay?”
“Aside from the deep mortification of losing to my older brother? Yes mate, I am.” He grinned and took my hand. I pulled him up and we did the manly hug, pat thing, reinforcing our connection.
My half-brother and I got along brilliantly. Ever since Dad died and I was forced to live with the Walkers full-time when I was a teenager, we’d been inseparable. We had two little sisters who were married off and making their lives back home. Their husbands seemed nice enough. Both hard working but one had shifty eyes, a true sign he wasn’t the gentleman he claimed to be. He made me uncertain about his intentions with my baby sister. However, sweet Emma always believed the best of all beings. Evan claimed to be a stand-up guy but Nathaniel and I didn’t buy it. I’d check in on my baby sister this weekend, make sure everything was roses and rainbows back home. Ella the second youngest was madly in love with her husband Ethan and had just had her first child six months prior. The fact that they all had ’E’ names was endless entertainment for Nathaniel and me.
“Hey, you heard from Em or El?” I asked.
“Yeah, actually, I spoke with Ella. She was really tired. Said the baby was colicky and she and Ethan were having a time of it.”
“I’ll send her some flowers; let her know we’re thinking about her.”
“Brill, mate! She’ll adore that.” His smile turned into a frown and he looked stroppy as we walked to the lockers.
“What is it?”
“Emma seemed out of sorts.” He opened his locker and pulled out his towel for the showers. I did the same.
“How so?”
“She didn’t say anything. It was just a feeling. She shouldn’t have married that wanker.” He said aloud what the entire family thought but wouldn’t dare mention to her. She was too proud and too young to listen. She had to learn on her own. But if that bugger hurt her, he’d have two very brassed off brothers to deal with.
I nodded as he sighed. “I’ll call her. Find out what’s going on. Maybe have her come to the States, pay us a visit?”
“Agreed.” My phone pinged, signaling I had a voice message. “I’m going to hit the showers. You coming?”
“In a minute. I’ve got a voicemail from an unknown number.”
“Okay, brother. I’ll catch you back at the office.” He headed toward the showers.
“Hey, Nate.” I used his nickname even though I made it a point to use his God-given name most of the time. I expected the same of him. He turned around. “Good game, mate.” He smiled and waved over his head as he left the lockers.
I typed in the code to my voicemail and heard the loveliest sultry voice. She spoke with an American New York accent that sent pleasurable chills down my spine.
“Hi, Collier, this is London. London Kelley. I received your message and was hoping to catch you.” Her voice pitched and glided like water flowing down a babbling brook. “I’m heading out to lunch with family and friends but would love to meet up with you some time. I think we have some unfinished business…” She let that word dangle and drift off. “Feel free to text me your availability at this same number. Have a lovely rest of your day.”
The call ended and I listened to it one more time, just to hear that voice smooth over my senses like chocolate drizzled over a sundae.
She asked when I was available. I scrolled through my phone planner. Tonight was the only night this week I didn’t have an engagement. It would seem presumptuous or eager to ask her out tonight. But there wasn’t another option unless I waited until next week. Finishing what we started last week sounded so very appealing. A week would be torture to my hardening prick.
Blimey! To hell with it.
I edited her phone number, filling in her name, then hit the text icon.
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
I received your message. Fancy a meeting tonight? My schedule is booked through the next week. Collier
After taking a rather cold shower to rid my burgeoning desire for a petite, tanned, Goddess with a name that matched my former home, I checked my phone.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
What did you have mind. I may have an opening this evening. LK
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
Dinner perhaps? Does 7 suit?
A smile split my face. This was the first time in a long time I looked forward to seeing a woman for an official date. Bonking a woman I met in the local pub had become commonplace. Downright humdrum. Anticipating taking a woman out brought me back to my college days when I was courting my ex-wife Claire.
Back then I was less wise in the ways of wooing a woman, though the chilling, creeping tingle of nervousness pricking the nape of my neck was familiar. The mere thought of being near London’s perfection had me blooming with need. In seconds her return text rang through, clearing my thoughts.