Sara's Unyielding Lover (The Lovers Series) Read online

  “I agree it gorgeous, but you know it’s not gonna go for $2,500. This is an amazing set and in great condition, a lot of people will be bidding on it I’m sure.” Jo Ann responded while looking around at the crowd seeing how many people were checking out this lot.

  “I know, I got a good settlement thou, I can splurge on one thing. I’ll have to be more conservative with the rest of the furniture I get, but this is it, this in the one I want.” She was dreamily walking in between each piece; Sara couldn’t help running her hands across the polished surfaces, opening drawers to peer inside.

  “We’ll make note of the lot number so we can pay attention during the auction. Now let’s go look for dining room sets if they have any. You’ll probably want to get a new couch thou I doubt an antique couch would be comfortable to cozy up to with a book and cocoa.”

  They walked around the auction house making note of all the lots Sara was interested in. There were a couple of dinette sets she liked. One in particular was a solid oak pedestal styled table with matching chairs. The chair backs were beautifully carved with flowers and vines, a perfect match to go with Sara’s dishes. She also found a couple of hope chests. She had always wanted one when she was younger.

  The auction was due to start, so they went to the registration desk and made sure everything was in order and got Sara her paddle with her bidding number. Jo Ann even registered, she had seen some antique Tiffany knock-off lamps that she thought were cute and would go perfect on the table next to her couch where she always sat to read.

  Walking into the auction theater the ladies took seats in the front to make sure they were seen properly by the auctioneer. The auction began with the whacking of a gavel bringing the room to order. This was Sara’s first time at an actual auction and she couldn’t believe how fast the auctioneer was talking, she could barely understand him, his words were so fast and slurred together.

  “Ok ladies and gentlemen we have before you lot #1599 an antique solid cherry bedroom suite. We’ll start the bidding at $2,500. DoI’ave $2,500, $2,500 heredoI’ave $2,600. $2,600 heredoI’ave $2,700?”

  Sara listened and tried to keep up with the auctioneer. She really wanted that bedroom suite but someone kept out bidding her. She had set here limit at $4,000 to pay anymore would just be ridiculous no matter how beautiful it was. She raised her paddle again. The bid was now at $3,300. She was getting close to her limit. Out of curiosity Sara looked around trying to find the bidder #766 who kept out bidding her. She saw the paddle #766 go up, looked to the hand holding the paddle and saw that it was a big tan hand of a man; she looked from the hand to the man’s face.

  “OH MY GOD! It’s him; he’s the one bidding against me.”

  She looked to the eyes that were no longer hidden behind the dark Ray-Bans. Emerald green eyes surrounded by long thick lashes, lashes that should make his eyes look more feminine but only accentuated his eyes. His gaze locked with hers and he gave her a big smile showing off both his dimples and a set of bright pearly whites and then he winked at her. He actual winked, when was the last time a man winked at her, she couldn’t remember. All of a sudden Sara heard the auctioneer shouting

  “I’ave $3,400 goin once goin twice...”

  Jo Ann turned to see Sara was once again in La La Land and lifted her paddle for her so she wouldn’t miss out but it was too late. The auctioneer called out “Sold to #766” He smacked his gavel and moved on to the next lot. Sara turned to look from the auctioneer to Jo Ann and back again. Finally her muddled brain began to work.

  “Oh no I lost, I can’t believe I lost.” She stated gloomily with a look of utter disappointment on her face.

  “Well what did you expect you weren’t paying attention, what were you staring at?” As Jo Ann asked she turned to try and pin point what had grabbed Sara’s attention yet again. Then she saw him, the hot guy from the parking lot and he was staring unabashedly at Sara with an upturned coquettish smile.

  “Turn around, stop looking at him” Sara quietly hissed while yanking on Jo Ann’s arm

  “He’s staring at you”

  “I know I can feel his eyes burning into the back of my head, during the auction he winked at me, WINKED!!”

  Chapter 5

  “Well maybe he likes what he sees” Jo Ann replied while making an exaggerated wink at Sara

  “Likes what he sees?”

  “What do you mean likes what he sees?” Sara quizzically asked Jo Ann with a dumbfounded look across her face.

  “Oh come on Sara you’re not stupid, you’re hot! Long raven Hair, coffee brown eyes and you’re built like a woman should be; soft curves not a flat stick. Just because your husband was an ass and took you for granted you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a desirable woman.” Jo Ann gently rubbed Sara’s arm as she ended her tirade.

  Sara let out a soft sigh.

  “You have to remember there was no one else, just Michael. I wasn’t allowed to date till I was in high school. Once I met Michael freshman year that was all she wrote. I saw no one but him, dated no one but him, flirted with no one but him. Then we got married, he’s the only man I’ve ever been with.” Sara’s eyes began to shimmer with unshed tears as she related the sorry sum of her love life to Jo Ann.

  “I wasn’t trying to upset you honey, I was just trying to open your eyes. You’re beautiful and obviously going by the look on that man’s face I’m not the only one who thinks so.” Jo Ann gave a slight nudge of her head in the direction of the man who was still staring at Sara.

  “I...I just don’t think I’m ready.” Sara shook her head with her eyes down casted.

  “Ok let’s just focus on the auction then, the lot with the dinette set you like should be coming up.”

  Conversation over, they both returned their focus back to the auction, Mr. Hot momentarily forgotten.

  “I won! I won! Wow I can’t believe I got the dinette set and at such a good price too.” Excitedly Sara clapped her hand against her bidding paddle.

  “Just wish I would have gotten that lamp. I can’t believe it went for $900 it was a knock off for crying out loud.”

  Jo Ann’s disgruntled look made her usually pleasant face look puckered like a cranky old lady’s. With the auction over they both got up and walked to the registration desk to pay for Sara’s dinette set and schedule a delivery time.

  “Well I guess if I want an antique bed I’m just gonna have to go browse the shops down town. There’s no way I can wait for the next auction. Sleeping on the floor is not fun.”

  As Sarah was talking to Jo Ann she felt someone standing very close behind her, so close she could feel the warmth emanating from their body. Then she heard a low deep voice right next to her ear.

  “I’m sorry you lost the lot and have to sleep on the floor but you’re more than welcome to come share my bed.”

  Sara shivered from the feel of his warm breath against her neck and let out a small gasp. Turning around she looked straight up into those emerald green eyes, eyes that were looking deep into hers as if he was trying to ferret out all her secrets. The top of her head just reached his shoulders.

  “Defiantly 6’4””

  “Excuse me?” She asked

  He grinned cheekily down at her.

  “I offered you a place to sleep, of course I’d be in bed with you and I don’t think we’ll be doing much sleeping” He replied as his greedy eyes looked up and down her small 5’2”frame, taking in her toned calves, soft curved hips, hips perfect for grabbing onto and riding all night. Slowly he went up to look at her flat tummy and the swell of her pert breasts, not to big not to small but a perfect handful and just enough to suckle without being over whelmed by flesh. He finally made it up to her eyes, pools of deep chocolate staring at him uncertainly.

  Sara couldn’t speak, she just stared gaping at him with her mouth moving open and close like she was trying to talk and her voice wasn’t participating. Jo Ann took Sara’s lack of speech as an invitation to interrupt.

  “
Hi, I’m Jo Ann and this is Sara and you would be?”

  Not breaking his eye contact with Sara he replied.

  “My name is Eric, Eric Morales, nice to meet you Sara.” he said with a small smirk enjoying Sara’s still shocked face.

  Sara didn’t miss the fact that even thou Jo Ann did the introductions; Eric completely ignored her and cut her out of his answer focusing only on her.

  “I hope you don’t have any plans you’ll have to cancel tomorrow because I’m taking you out to dinner. Now I need your number Sara so I can text you mine. Then I’ll need your address.” He boldly stated with a grin that once again brought out those sexy dimples.

  “Miss? Miss?”

  The older receptionist with short red hair wearing a blue shift dress behind the counter was trying to get Sara’s attention, she was up in line. Still speechless Sara just blinked rapidly closed her mouth without saying anything and turned to face the lady calling out for her. As she filled out her paperwork, set up her delivery time and handed over her credit card she glanced over her shoulder and saw that Jo Ann was talking quietly to Eric. As Sara finished paying she turned to face Jo Ann, she glanced up at Eric who still while he was talking to Jo Ann kept his eyes on Sara. The searing look he was giving her made her face flush a warm rosy shade.

  “Oh yeah he’s hot, he knows it too, God he’s looking at me like he wants to eat me whole.”

  Clearing her throat she moved her eyes away from Eric to look at Jo Ann.

  “Uhmm Jo Ann I’m all done, you ready to go?”

  Looking between the two Sara began to wonder and worry about what they were talking about. Eric kept his gaze on Sara; then he reached out and brushed the knuckles of his immense suntanned hand against her cheek.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, be ready by 5p.m., till tomorrow Sara.”

  Then he winked at her again, turned and walked out the door toward his big black truck; leaving a stunned Sara in his wake, while Jo Ann grinned and giggled wildly.

  Chapter 6

  It took a couple of minutes before everything that just happened sunk in. With a wicked glare Sara turned to confront Jo Ann.

  “What did you do? Why does he think he’s picking me up tomorrow? And how does he know where I live?!?”Her voice kept hitting high octaves’ as she screeched at Jo Ann.

  She actually looked kinda funny waving her hands around in the air with her face turning beet red. Jo Ann tried to stifle her laughter but with Sara making quite the little scene she had a really hard time. Finally after a few minutes she was able to get control of her laughter.

  “Ok, ok calm down Sara. He asked me about you. And before you say anything I asked about him before I gave him your info.” Jo Ann looked at Sara making sure she calmed before she continued.

  “Like he said his name is Eric Morales, He’s 31 he owns his own business, well actually businesses. He owns a couple consignment slash pawn shops. He gave me his business card.”

  She held out the hand that was grasping his card and handed it to her.

  “He seemed like a real standup guy and he was really into you, he wouldn’t take his eyes off you the whole time we talked. I know you said you didn’t think you were ready, but it’s been what almost a year since your divorce has been final. And weren’t separated even before that, I think you need to get out there and get a taste of what you’ve been missing.”

  Sara stared at the black business card embossed with gold cursive script.

  Eric Morales

  C.E.O

  Platinum & Gold Consignment & Pawn

  4500 University Ave.

  San Diego, CA 92105

  (619)555-GOLD [email protected]

  It was a high quality business card, she could tell by the weight and feel of the card. This was no print at home card, Eric Morales obviously did well for himself. Sara looked up from the card to Jo Ann’s apprehensive face. Hurriedly Jo Ann spoke again

  “I didn’t tell him your apartment number as kind of a failsafe, he said he’d text you and get it later. So if you really don’t want to go out to dinner with him you won’t have to and he won’t awkwardly show up at your door.”

  Sara shook her head and let out an indulgent chuckle; while putting the business card into the side pocket of her purse. She reached out to grab Jo Ann’s hand and gave it a soft squeeze.

  Sara let out a long sigh “haaaahhhh”

  “You’re right, I’m nearly 29 if I ever want to have kids before I’m 35 I’ve got to get out and start dating. I won’t find Mr. Right on my living room couch.”

  “See” Jo Ann confidently said as she hooked her arm around Sara’s shoulders, steering her toward the exit. “I know this will be good for you; you just needed a little push, plus he is smokin’ hot!”

  Laughing together the girls walked out to the parking lot to Sara’s car and drove home. After dropping Jo Ann off at her spectacular condo, she didn’t feel much like cooking. Cooking just wasn’t fun when you were cooking for one. So she stopped by a Greek restaurant she had found on her way to the office on Wednesday. They had the best lamb gyro she had ever tasted and they made a pistachio hazelnut baklava that she really should stay away from, but ended up ordering two pieces so she could have one in the morning with her tea.

  Thou it was a little lonely and awkward eating at home without a table to sit at; she decided to take her order home. It was Saturday night, date night and couples were out and about everywhere she looked. Back in her apartment she made a little picnic for herself in front of the T.V. Thank God her cable was hooked up on Tuesday or she truly would have had a boring Saturday. She went all out and ordered the movie package so now she had HBO, Cinemax, Stars and all the other movie channels to choose from.

  She settled on a rerun of Game of Thrones, it was an episode that she had only seen half of because she had nodded off while watching. Right in the middle of a very graphic sex scene that was so erotic she had actually stopped chewing her food; her cell phone went off with a text from a number she didn’t recognize. The simple text read: From (619)555-3994

  What apartment is yours?

  “Oh no! It’s him, what do I do? Should I text him back?”

  “God I don’t know how to do this...”

  Sara stared down at her phone chewing on her bottom lip as thoughts raced through her mind. She decided to play dumb. So she replied:

  Who is this?

  Ding la ding la ding her phone twittered again.

  From (619)555-3994

  You know who this is, which one’s your apartment?

  ***

  Eric sat in his brand new 2014 fully loaded and lifted Toyota Tundra, staring at the apartment complex in front of him, waiting for her text. He hadn’t been able to get Sara off his mind all day. He had left the auction house that afternoon filled with the vision of the way her soft rounded ass looked in that gray eyelet skirt she was wearing. He was so happy that he had listened to his cousin about hitting the auction today, he almost didn’t go. Debating whether to just relax in his back yard by the pool or buying some antiques for the consignment shop he was opening in La Jolla.

  The minute he had gotten out of his truck at the auction house he felt eyes on him. You didn’t grow up in his neighborhood without acquiring certain survival instincts and knowing when you were being watched was one of them. When he looked around and his eyes met hers and he was instantly hooked. The way she looked at him, with nothing but awe and wanting. Yeah he knew that look, plenty of women over the years had looked at him that way. He was humble but he was honest, he was a good looking man. Being of a mixed heritage of Mexican and Italian he was blessed with height, thick dark hair a lean physique and from his paternal grandmother green eyes. James had always said he’d lucked out with Nona’s eyes, genes are funny that way. James was almost identical to Eric he was only one year younger, 2 inches shorter and had mom’s brown eyes. “James...”He locked that thought away and focused all his thoughts back onto Sara.

  Going into the
auction house he had smirked at her thinking he knew her type ignoring the pull he felt from her eyes. But when he was walking around in the auction house he kept seeing her and he noticed that there was something really different about her. She had a sweet innocent look. She didn’t pile on loads of make-up; she had a fresh look to her. She looked young but he knew she had to be in her earlier to mid-twenties. So he began to slowly walk behind her. Far away enough for her not to notice him but close enough that he could study her. He wasn’t stalking, no he was just curious. As he watched her he saw that she had a very conservative type of body language. She was not trying to get attention or be seen; in fact she was oblivious to the heated looks she was getting from the men crossing her path.

  At certain times as he walked near her, he was close enough to hear part of her and her friend’s conversation. She was surprisingly sweet, sensible and she had the softest most feminine voice he had ever heard, there was something very delicate about her. She intrigued him, sparked his interest, he hadn't felt this type of awareness of a woman in a very long time, if ever. He found the more he saw and heard her the closer he wanted to be. As he watched her he slowly started to categorize her features; her smooth toned calves, the gentle sway of her hips as she walked, her sweet plump ass, her delicate manicured hands. Her hair was beautiful and long it fell to her mid back even though she had it pulled up in a simple pony tail; he was sure if he pulled the band holding her hair it would fall to her lower back, he loved long hair on women all the more to pull on as you rode hard from behind. To many women these days were going for those shorter haircuts. Her hair was a deep dark color almost a solid black but not quite; he could tell that it was natural she didn't go to a salon to achieve this this look; no this was all her.

  Her eyes were slightly almond shaped almost catlike and they were the color of such a deep brown they reminded him of the richest coffee. She had lighter skin then he did not pale or alabaster, it was slightly tinted as though if she did spend time in the sun she would have a nice bronzed tone. And her lips, well her lips looked delectable; the bottom one slightly fuller than then top but this didn't subtract anything away from them; no they still looked so tempting and so kissable.