by Parker, Ali
“I’ll be out in a minute,” she said and walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
I blew out a breath and adjusted my erection. There was a knock on the door a few seconds later. I opened it and took the cart from the waiter after tipping him. I sipped the coffee and waited for Mae to emerge.
She walked out of the bathroom in her bra and panties. I slapped a hand over my face. “Mae, you are killing me.”
“I was going to wear jeans, but then you said shorts. I don’t have shorts in there. Sheesh. Down boy.”
I watched as she rummaged through her suitcase with no real hurry. I had a feeling she was doing it on purpose. She looked up and caught me staring. Her coy smile confirmed my suspicions. “You’re playing with fire, woman,” I growled.
She giggled and turned on her heel before strutting into the bathroom. I stared at her pert ass and knew I was hooked. I couldn’t imagine any scenario where I willingly walked away from her. It was another ten minutes before she came out of the bathroom looking beautiful as ever.
We ate a quick breakfast before we were escorted to the beautiful Ein Gedi. I took her hand in mine as we walked onto the trail. “This is just absolutely gorgeous,” she exclaimed. “I’ve read about this place and I have seen pictures but seeing it in person is a million times better.”
“I love the waterfall. I remember the first time I came here, and my mind just couldn’t understand how all this beauty could be in the desert.”
“A real oasis,” she exclaimed. There was a scream up ahead, followed by laughter. “What is that about?” She looked a little nervous.
“I would imagine that is the sound of crazy people cliff jumping,” I told her with a shake of my head.
Her eyes widened. “No way! Seriously?”
“Yes. It’s a thing.”
“I want to see!” she cried out, practically dragging me up the trail.
Sure enough, there was a group of young people waiting to take their turn. I couldn’t begin to understand why they would want to do something so dangerous and stupid. “Dumb,” I muttered under my breath when a young woman took her turn.
Mae turned to me, her eyes wide. I shook my head. She grinned and nodded. “Oh yes. I am so doing it.”
“Mae, that is crazy. And stupid.”
She looked over the edge at the girl climbing out of the water. “She did just fine.”
As if to prove me wrong, another young lady plunged into the water. “Mae, please don’t. You are going to give me heart failure.”
“Live a little!”
I watched as she took off her shoes and then her socks. “Mae, what are you doing?”
She pulled off her sunglasses and stuck them in her shoes as well. She was going to do it. “Are you coming?” she asked.
“Fuck no!” I said a little too loudly.
She leaned up on her toes and gave me a kiss. “Please? It will be fun. It will be something new. When you are old and looking back at your life, this is going to be a moment you think back on with fondness.”
“You’re assuming I will make it to old age. If I jump off that cliff, there is a good chance I won’t see old age.”
She burst into a fit of laughter. “I’m going to do it. I would hate to die alone.”
I groaned. “Your brother is going to kill me.”
“Not if you are already dead,” she shot back as she moved to take her place in line.
I couldn’t let her do it alone. I was probably going to regret it, but I found myself taking off my shoes. I had witnessed plenty of people take the plunge, and never once did I ever think it would be fun or a good idea. I joined her at the top. She took my hand in hers and gave it a good squeeze.
“Are you really going to make me do this?” I asked.
“I’m not going to make you do anything. You want to do this. You will never feel more alive than the moment you jump off that cliff.”
I frowned at her. “How do you know? Have you done this before?”
“Yep. In college. Like I said, I did a little living.”
“Then let’s do this.”
Thirty seconds later, I was sailing through the air and then splashing into the cold water below. When I resurfaced, I heard myself shout. Mae came up for air a second later. She swam toward me, throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me soundly.
“Wasn’t that amazing?” she asked, slightly out of breath.
I had to agree it was pretty damn good. “Yes.”
We swam to the edge of the water and climbed out. “Want to go again?” she asked.
I burst into laughter. “I don’t think I want to tempt fate. Once was good enough for me.”
She looked so alive, so beautiful, so perfect as she bounced around. The jump was a rush. I felt good, amazing, and it was all because of her.
Chapter 19
Mae
I was sad to be leaving Israel, even if I did look forward to seeing Hayden. Our time together was too short. In a different world, we could spend an entire week together. We weren’t in a different world. We were in a world that included responsibilities and the feelings of others that had to be considered.
Patrick. He was thinking about Patrick. I sensed his hesitation. I was not going to live in my brother’s shadow forever. He did not get to dictate who I spent my life with. I was too damn old for that nonsense.
I looked over at Tyson sitting on the far side of the backseat of the car. He was staring out the window, looking completely lost in thought. “Penny for your thoughts,” I said.
He turned to look at me with a soft smile on his lips. “I don’t think they are worth even that.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Good.”
It didn’t seem good, but I wasn’t going to pester him. We boarded his jet, settling into the same seats we sat in on the flight over. Once we were in the air and things had mellowed out, I relaxed a little. I got to my feet and stretched my legs before moving to the couch. Tyson was still lost in thought, staring out the tiny window. There was nothing to see, which told me he was getting caught up in his own head.
“Thank you for all this,” I told him, hoping to engage him in conversation.
He looked at me and smiled. “You are welcome. Did you enjoy yourself?”
I gave him a funny look. “You know I did.”
“Good.”
“This trip made me realize why I do what I do.”
He got up and moved to sit on the sofa with me. “What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “I love history. I love the old stories. I love the tangible evidence. I think I’ve always loved it, but I got caught up in the business of trying to make money. I let Patrick’s forced acceptance influence my own feelings.”
“I certainly understand how you feel,” he said with a small laugh.
“This trip has changed me. It’s inspired me. I want to talk to Patrick and suggest we make some changes. We’re going to be your competition.”
He slowly nodded. I still sensed something was off. “After witnessing you in action, I think you are definitely going to be very stiff competition.”
“Patrick took on the company because he was the oldest and he had the means to take it over. I was too young to understand what was happening to the business. I’m glad he stepped in and saved it, but he did it out of obligation. Even when we were younger, he showed no interest in helping out with the cataloging and photography.”
“You did?”
I nodded. “I spent the bulk of my summers working alongside my dad. I loved it when he would get shipments in. I would get up early and go to the shop with him. He would let me use the pry bar to open up the crates, which always made me feel important. It was like opening gifts on Christmas morning.”
“You and your dad were close?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Yes and no. I think I kind of forced myself on him. He tolerated me. I don’t think he ever really thought of me as daddy’s little girl, but I wanted to be
that girl. I wanted to do the daddy-daughter dances and spend time with him. I know I pestered him.”
“You could not have been a pest. No way. I’m sure he enjoyed his time with you.”
I slowly shook my head. “I don’t think he did. It never stopped me though. When I want something, I am not easily put off.”
He chuckled. “That, I believe. You were always a stubborn thing.”
“Hey, I’m not stubborn. I’m strong-willed.”
“I’ll agree with that.”
“When I look back at my childhood, I realize it was the business that made me happy. It’s in my blood. Maybe not as strong as you have it, but the business is more mine than Patrick’s. I know it’s his name on the deed, but it’s really mine.”
He looked like he swallowed a pepper. “What do you mean?” he choked out.
I wondered if he was genuinely concerned about me being his competition. I could never truly compete with him. He had endless funds and connections that I didn’t have. “I just mean that Patrick will still play a role in the business, but I am going to talk to him about trying to grow it a bit more. Not anything huge, but maybe an auction here and there.”
He nodded. “I see. That sounds like a good plan.”
“Do you want something to drink?” I asked him.
“No thanks. I think I’m going to stretch out for a bit.”
“Tyson, is there something wrong?”
He got up from the couch and looked down at me. There was a sense of sadness about him. “No. I’m just tired. Jet lag. I’m just going to catch a quick nap. There are plenty of movies for you to choose from.”
I nodded. I was clearly being disinvited from lying in bed with him. I tried not to be hurt by it. The moment we stepped foot on the plane, his mood had changed. I let him go and moved to grab the remote. I could entertain myself.
It was the plane jerking my head forward that woke me up. I blinked several times and looked around. Tyson was sitting on the couch with his tablet in hand. He looked up at me and smiled. “We’ve just landed.”
“Oh. How long have I been asleep?”
He chuckled. “A few hours.”
I looked down and realized there was a blanket on me and a pillow propped against my head. “You?”
“You looked a little chilly. I didn’t want to wake you.”
I smiled. “Thank you. Are we back in Philadelphia?”
“Yes, we are. The car will be waiting for us.”
I waited until the jet stopped before I got to my feet. Tyson insisted on having his car take me home. “Thank you again for the trip,” I told him before getting out of the car.
“I’ll take your bags up,” he said in a wooden tone.
“You don’t have to,” I insisted. “I can manage.”
“I’m going to do it,” he insisted, and I knew there was no arguing with him.
We stood at my front door. “Well, thanks again.”
“I’ll call you,” he said, looking at me as if he was committing my image to memory.
I nodded, knowing he wasn’t really going to call me. I had to be okay with that. I was okay with that. We’d never talked about a relationship. I needed some time to figure things out and I wanted him to have the same time.
He walked away. I sighed, feeling a little bummed. I quickly pushed away the melancholy and grabbed my car keys. I was anxious to see Hayden. She would be getting out of school soon. I wasn’t sure what time I would be home and told her to go to Carrie’s after school.
“Hi!” I greeted Carrie when she opened the door.
“You’re back!”
I laughed. “I am. Is Hayden here yet?”
“Nope.”
“Good. Where’s Ben?”
“He’s at his playdate.”
I grinned. “Even better. I have adult talk.”
She squealed, clapping her hands together. “I knew it! I want all the details.”
She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the couch.
“He is so handsome and kind and a total gentleman,” I said.
She waved a hand. “Yeah, yeah, get to the good stuff. I’m a single, celibate mom. I need to live vicariously through you. What happened? Did you share a room?”
“No. Not technically, but yes.”
She pushed my shoulder. “I knew you had the hots for him.”
“I’ve always had the hots for him,” I said with a laugh. “That was never a question.”
“Does this mean you guys are a thing?”
I shrugged. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not? You like him and he obviously likes you. He whisked you away on his private jet. That’s kind of awesome.”
“I think he is still worried about Patrick.”
She rolled her eyes. “That is the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time. It isn’t like you are some naïve child making googly eyes at his friend. You are a grown woman and you have described Tyson as a good guy. Why wouldn’t he want you to be with him?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I don’t think that he would have a problem with it. Patrick is different now.”
She scoffed. “Not that different.”
“Anyway, I’m not going to mention the situation with Tyson. Not yet.”
“Good plan.” The door was pushed open, Hayden and Ben coming through.
“You’re home!” Hayden shouted.
Carrie got up to greet her son. She threw her arms around him as I gave Hayden a hug. “Did you have a good time?” Hayden asked.
“I did. I had a great time. I got to see some cool things. One day, I would love to take you back there.”
“I would like that,” Hayden said.
“Did you pick up Ben?” I asked her.
“His playdate just happens to live on the second floor,” Carrie explained.
“And I am friends with Mark’s big sister,” Hayden answered.
I looked from Hayden to Carrie. Clearly, Hayden had gotten along very well without me. “A friend?” I asked. “Who is this?”
Hayden shrugged. “I know her at school. Monday, I rode the bus here with her. I didn’t even know she lived here.”
“I know Mark’s mom from the Mommy and Me Program,” Carrie explained. “We all had pizza last night.”
“That is awesome. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“We have to come to Mark’s birthday party in two weeks,” Hayden exclaimed. “I’m going to get my stuff.”
Ben followed her down the hall to the bedroom she was sharing with him. “She seems happy,” I said.
“She is happy,” Carrie said. “Ben loves her. And she is an excellent babysitter. In another year, I think I might just have to start borrowing her. Maybe I can actually date again.”
“I think you absolutely should,” I told her. “And Hayden would love to babysit. It will teach her some responsibility.”
“You’ve done the right thing,” she whispered. “She’s a smart girl and very mature for her age. I’m glad you rescued her. She is too. We had a very in-depth conversation that first night. I hate what your parents did to her. It’s a miracle she isn’t wild.”
I nodded. “I know. I hope I can keep her on the right path.”
“You are already doing a million times better than your parents.”
Hayden came back into the room. Ben was carrying one of her bags. “All right, we should go. Thank you, Carrie and Ben, for taking care of her.”
“Can Hayden live with us?” Ben asked.
Me and Carrie both burst into laughter. “I would be lonely,” I told him. “But I will make sure she comes to visit. Now that she has a friend in the building, I think she will be here a lot.”
Hayden bent down to give Ben a hug. “I’ll miss you, buddy, but I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, Hayden,” he said with a wave.
Hayden and I left, getting into my car. “Should we stop and get something for dinner?” I asked her.
“If you are tired, I can just
make some mac and cheese.”
“I slept most of the way back,” I told her. “We need to get some groceries.”
“Okay,” she answered.
I looked over at her. She was a different girl than she had been a month ago. There was a new light about her. I was happy I was part of that change.
Chapter 20
Tyson
I was sitting at my desk in my office, going through a new list of recently uncovered artifacts in Rome. It always amazed me that there seemed to be an entire city underneath the earth we walked. When I was young and dumb, I kept thinking the antiquity business would be a losing field. People would grow tired of the old things that cluttered the shelves.
They never did. In fact, my business had only grown with each passing year. There had been a renewed appreciation for the past. Everyone wanted to own a little piece of history and most of them were willing to pay a high price to get their hands on that history. It allowed me to grow wealthier while increasing my own collection.
“Knock, knock,” I heard Alec’s voice call.
I got up to greet him. “I wasn’t sure I would see you today.”
He smiled and took a seat. “I figured I would pop in.”
I laughed. “Does that mean you are popping out soon?”
The look on his face told me that was exactly what it meant. “How was the trip?” he asked.
I was happy to talk business. Anything except what I knew was coming. “Samuel was quite the character,” I told him.
He laughed. “I’m afraid to ask what that means.”
“It means he didn’t have what he claimed. Then, he tried to rob me blind.”
“What? No way! Samuel has always been fair.”
I shook my head. “Not this time. I was ready to walk away empty-handed, but Mae convinced him to take half of what he was asking.”
“Mae?”
“Mae Kendell,” I answered.
He had a peculiar look on his face. “Kendell? Isn’t that the name I gave you?”
“It is.”
“I feel like I just walked in at the end of a movie. What did I miss?”