On Ellicott Street
ON ELLICOTT STREET
Davee Jones
EROTIC ROMANCE
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
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A Secret Cravings Publishing Book
Erotic Romance
ON ELLICOTT STREET
Copyright © 2012 by Davee Jones
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61885-163-5
First E-book Publication: February 2012
Cover design by Beth Walker
Edited by Kyle Lewis
Proof read by Julie Reilly
All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Secret Cravings Publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
ON ELLICOTT STREET
Davee Jones
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
As Cassie drove to the school, her blood boiled. It was the third time in a month her son, Joshua, had caused trouble. “He will be lucky if that principal doesn’t expel him!” she muttered under her breath. Her thoughts were muddled so she turned off the radio to shut out the excess distractions. She needed to clear her mind before she talked with the principal about the consequences her son faced.
As a single mom, she hated to think of how an expulsion would leave her child home alone. He would learn nothing from the incident and believe it was some sort of vacation. Cassie thought of what she did at his age, fifteen, and she remembered living quite differently. She made good grades, played on the school’s basketball team, boys were an afterthought, and she rarely disobeyed. Growing up in the Bible Belt, one did not have much choice. “But, obviously, times have changed.” Cassie sighed heavily several times as she reflected on her situation.
However, as she contemplated the situation, she realized she never really lived either. She continued on to college, got married, and had four kids. Then when her husband tired of their monotony, he stumbled out of monogamy, and they divorced. Her ex-husband moved to a city a few hours away and she only saw him when they exchanged the children for visitation. It hurt her because he acted as if she never had existed in his life. Now that they shared only one minor, she saw him even less.
He enjoyed his new freedoms too much, in her opinion.
Now, Cassie was forty-six years old, and she had the occasional gray hair to prove it. She envied her ex-husband because he seemed to find the life she never knew she wanted. He loved their children, yet, he found ways to enjoy his personal life as well. He took time for private moments and made no apologies.
She decided his sex life had also improved after he left their bed. Each time she saw him, he smiled slyly, almost contentedly. On one occasion, he even callously admitted her suspicions. “You know, Cass, an active sex life has done wonders for me. You should try it.”
As if she would try it—Cassie might as well not have a bedroom door because for seven years it had not been shut except to wrap birthday and Christmas gifts. With whom would she have this blazing love affair? Further, did she really want to risk the effort?
Cassie arrived at the school and took a deep breath before she got out of her car. Tears threatened her eyes as she suddenly realized the sadness she felt. She allowed a few tears to flow to avoid a runny nose, then wiped her eyes and marched into the principal’s office.
When the principal seated her, Cassie realized Joshua was not in the office with them. “Doesn’t he need to be in here so we can discuss the problem?” Cassie asked tersely.
The principal smiled, demonstrating infinite patience with Cassie. “I want to talk with you for a bit before we bring him in, do you mind?”
“Whatever.” Cassie’s immature nature took over her side of the conversation.
“Look, I know Joshua is a good kid; I want to help him. I think he needs a new activity to boost his self-esteem.” The principal studied Cassie’s face for any indication of cooperation as he continued. “Joshua’s main problem is acting out in class. He takes control away from the teacher by making jokes or snide remarks. It’s become a damaging and time-consuming trend on our part to maintain order in some of his classes. This is the third time this month he really got out of hand.” The principal sighed before he emphasized his final observations. “It’s beginning to rub off on some of the other students, and we cannot have that.”
“I’m not sure I follow you.” Cassie wanted to smack the smile right off the principal’s face. She was not in the mood for bargain bin counseling, or condescension. “What are you offering as a solution to what appears to be Joshua’s complete disrespect of authority?”
“We have a new program affiliated with the local community college. It’s called Channels. I would like to nominate Joshua as one of the first high school participants.” The principal got straight to the point to appease Cassie’s mounting irritation.
The thought of any assistance with Joshua intrigued Cassie. “Wow, this is not the discussion I expected to have with you, but I’m willing to hear more.” The principal used the next several minutes to eagerly describe the inaugural program in depth to Cassie.
The program essentially modeled a Big Brothers/Big Sisters type system. However, in the case of this arrangement, a college student received Humanities Credits for successfully partnering with a high school student struggling with their grades, behavior, or any other difficulties adjusting to secondary school. Cassie agreed to talk with Joshua and complete the paperwork later that night at home. She just hoped that Joshua would be as willing to try the program as she was.
Chapter Two
It relieved Cassie that Joshua was easily agreeable to participate. She believed all of the cooperation stemmed from essentially receiving no punishment. Joshua did not take punishment well. At that moment, it mattered little to Cassie why he was cooperating, just that he was. After Joshua decided he wanted to go to bed, she reviewed the online application.
The coordinator of the program was Ellicott Street. “Egad, he even sounds like a character from Revenge of the Nerds.” Cassie giggled as she rolled the name around her brain for a few moments. Cassie required relaxation as she worked through the tedium of the keystrokes, so she poured a deep glass of white wine. She read the obligatory in
troductions, completed all necessary fields, and applied her electronic signature to the online documentation.
As she finished, she noticed she had downed two glasses during the time she spent at the computer. It troubled her that the most relaxed she felt in months came from a bottle of cheap Moscato. She was far from alcoholic, so most of the time she never caught a buzz when she drank. Yet, such emptiness existed in her personal life, there were days she needed the escape that only seemed to come from a glass of wine. Her usual, most reliable method to relax came from a good night of cable T.V. and microwave popcorn. Tonight though, cheap Moscato held an invariable thrill this particular evening.
After Cassie signed off the computer, she decided to ready herself for bed. Hopefully, the quiet house might promote a successful night’s sleep. She softly walked into the bathroom. As she undressed she caught sight of her silhouette in the mirror. Normally, she threw her pajamas on so quickly, she never took the time to review her body. However, the wine ignited her sleeping sexuality, and her curiosity took over.
She grimaced at the pooch right below her belly-button, the result of four caesarean section deliveries. Her skin sagged below her breasts and any abdominal muscles she had were layered with firmly entrenched fat cells and stretched skin. She used her hands to pull her stomach firmly backward to resemble something more appealing to her mildly intoxicated eyes. She imagined a washboard in place of the pillowy exterior that truly existed.
She then focused on her breasts. Oh, goodness, what a road map. The stretch marks streaked across her mammaries much like the interstates from a U.S. atlas. Worse were her thighs and ass. Although the muscles underneath were firm and taut, years of exercise ensured that everything on top jiggled and lolled. No wonder I close my eyes when I’m naked. Cassie groaned. She believed it impossible someone would find her attractive, not at this point in life.
Well…maybe if the lights were out?
Who was she kidding; she had not been naked with another human being in years. Odds were it would not happen anytime soon, either. She chose to focus on her career, her children, gardening, anything but her personal life. Her romance came strictly in literary form. Over the last few years she had expanded her reading collection to include works most of her friends found too racy.
She recalled her attempt at joining a local reading club with a few of her acquaintance-level friends. As they worked through The Bridges of Madison County, she wept openly behind her bedroom door many times from beginning to end. After she read the book, she purchased the DVD and found new reasons to sob as the words came to life on the screen.
The captivating, yet sad, story details the life of a 1960s housewife, Francesca, from Madison County, Iowa. Born in Italy, she later married a US soldier who brought her back to the States with him. The temporary arrival of a National Geographic photographer, Robert, changed both Francesca and Robert permanently when they fell in love during their brief four-day affair. Robert was in Iowa photographing covered bridges for a photographic essay. Francesca’s husband, Richard, and their children were coincidentally away at the state fair, giving them the privacy necessary to bond forever with a love more intense than they ever expected. Although deeply committed to each other until the end of their days, they never saw each other or spoke again after their affair.
She felt like that housewife, stifled and unrealized. Her only consolation was that by the time the group read this book, she was already divorced. However, the majority opinion of the group appalled her. She sat as silent as Lucy Redfield, one of the story’s pivotal characters, as the women chastised and condemned Francesca Johnson for cheating on Richard and choosing that wayward hippie, Robert Kincaid.
“Well, at least she had the common sense to stay on the farm with her family,” one participant sarcastically drawled.
“I can’t believe her kids eventually took her side.” Another narrow minded view revealed.
“What a tramp!” An obese woman barked her disregard as she stuffed her face full of queso dip.
Cassie looked toward the ill-mannered woman with ill-disguised contempt. Like anyone would risk getting you naked!
The women in the group did not ask her opinion as Cassie sat silent the entire time they ripped the book apart. She had a feeling they believed she secretly desired that hippie, and was a bit weird for it. She decided after that book, she would not return to the group. Not that they would miss her much anyway, her silence indicated as much disagreement with their point of view as if she had openly said anything. It was the final time she saw many of those women.
Cassie closed Memory Lane of the reading group and briefly thought of locating a good book to read. Instead, she fell into bed hoping for sleep, mentally willing the next day to be better as she pulled the covers up over her body. She hoped the organization she found for Joshua would be successful, for both their sakes. Her thoughts turned momentarily to a handsome, dark stranger whisking her away, and she fell asleep clutching a small throw pillow.
Chapter Three
The program required an entrance interview with Joshua and the academically sounding Mr. Ellicott Street. Joshua’s appointment was set for the following Saturday. Cassie pictured a graying, pudgy middle-aged man in glasses and a bow tie. Cassie and Joshua would attend together for the first part of the interview, but Cassie and Joshua would each be alone to glean personal details the remainder of the time. As they drove to the community college for the meeting, Cassie attempted to encourage Joshua. “This will be a great experience for you.”
Joshua, however, refused to be placated and protested that she would not be with him for the majority of the interview. “Mom, I don’t know what to say to that dude! Why do I even need to be there? You signed the forms.” He continued grumbling as she felt her annoyance boil.
Ugh, he sounds just like his father. Cassie tried to focus her attention on driving. Joshua sulked openly on his side of the car. Even worse, he looks just like him right now. She had to avert her eyes momentarily away from him out her window to avoid an involuntary expletive at the resemblance. She finally had more than she could stand. “Ok, Josh, here is the deal. You will speak with this entrance counselor, and you will participate in this program, because I’ve had my fill of you for a while!” Cassie almost growled the last words.
Joshua abruptly turned to his mother who rarely spoke to him in such a stern manner. He opened his mouth to speak and as his brow furrowed to begin an argument, Cassie gave him the solid look that he better just stay quiet. They finished the drive in angry discomfort and she felt relief only when they finally pulled into a parking place.
He exited the car hurriedly as if he knew where he was headed. It slightly amused Cassie when he had to stop in his tracks and actually follow her to the program office. Eventually, they found the correct room number and she gingerly turned the doorknob. They entered a brightly painted room with motivational posters lining the walls. Instead of garish, the room felt upbeat and inviting.
A young woman with a bright smile addressed them. “Hi! Welcome to Channels. I’m Mindy, can I help you?”
“Yes, this is my son, Joshua Stewart. I’m his mother, Cassie. We have an appointment.”
“Of course.” Mindy almost bubbled. “One moment and I’ll page Eli.”
“Eli.” Cassie carefully considered the Biblical, masculine name. It definitely sounded better than Ellicott. The image she previously conjured up for him vanished and before she had the chance to develop a new image, a gentle, masculine voice addressed her from behind.
“Mrs. Stewart?”
Cassie turned around and set eyes on the most beautiful human being she had ever seen in her life. Momentarily speechless, she searched for the word…what was it again? Oh, the word, “Yes,” she stammered. Cassie did not have one characteristic of Ellicott Street remotely correct. Eli was tall, muscular, flashed a beautiful smile, and had a beautiful head of black hair. He also looked very young.
He held his hand out toward Cas
sie for their formal introduction. Joshua even appeared interested when he discovered Eli was probably close to his own age. “It’s great to meet you both. I’m Eli, and welcome to Channels. We are very excited about this new opportunity to share with young people.”
“Thank you for seeing us so quickly,” Cassie managed to say articulately. “This is my son, Joshua.” She turned toward Joshua, who no longer appeared angry.
Joshua smiled as he stuck out his own hand. “Hi, I’m Joshua. You look like you play football.”
Eli grinned modestly before he replied. “Used to, Joshua, but that was several years ago.” Cassie secretly wanted to know just how many years as she attempted to calculate this beautiful creature’s age.
“Let’s head into my office and talk about our program, shall we?” As Eli opened his arm toward his office, he smiled at Cassie, inviting her inside. Josh bounded in, as gangly as any fifteen-year old would, unaware that his mother’s interest was quickly turning from his best interests to her own beating heart.
* * * *
Eli felt something vaguely intriguing as well, and he did not understand what it was about this woman who gave him such a start. She was just another mom from the program. However, as he held the door for her, he found he felt the urge to act a bit more chivalrous than usual.
The three of them talked for an hour or so, discussing parameters, requirements, and any questions either Joshua or Cassie had. Eli explained since this was such a new program, Joshua’s input would be instrumental in shaping Channels to the best program suited for youth. Eli heavily emphasized the importance of Joshua’s role, in turn stroking Joshua’s young ego and giving him a much needed boost.