Time For Love Box Set

by Karen Deen

  “Don’t worry about me. My life is full of excitement. Let me tell you, jumping a guy’s bones and making him beg for it are two of my favorite pastimes. You need to relax and let go a little. You don’t know what you’re missing out on.” Leaning back in the chair, she looks satisfied with her little piece of advice.

  “Urgh, can we just concentrate on the task at hand? How am I going to get out of lunch with Xavier today? I know! Maybe I can go home sick, with something highly contagious. Umm, vomiting or small pox. You know, something random.” I can feel my brain working at breakneck speed trying to sort out my problem. “Or maybe Mom is sick, and I need to care for her. That way he won’t be scared, he has already caught it from when he touched me this morning.”

  “Wait, what, he touched you this morning!?” Lilly screamed at me. “Back the truck up, woman, and start telling me what went on before I got there.”

  “Actually, this is all your fault.” I point my finger at her. “That’s right, you and your bright ideas. You ditched me this morning and now look where I am. Stuck in this predicament I have no idea how to get out of.”

  “You didn’t answer my question, lady. What the hell happened this morning?” Arms crossed and pinning me with her stare. There is no way Lilly is moving until I give her the whole rundown from leaving the door of my building, up to her walking into the gym. Counting to ten in my head to slow myself down, I start to tell her the story.

  “When he touched my hand, I lost all sense of reality. It was like he took over every sane brain cell I own and had complete control of my body. It’s totally crazy. This sort of thing doesn’t happen in real life, only in the books I read. There is no such thing as love at first sight. Is there? Am I just being silly, Lilly?” The look on Lilly’s face is one I’m not sure I’ve seen before. She looks totally at peace and so happy she’s emotional.

  “Lilly, why are looking at me like that?” For once she is silent. That never happens. Not from the time she was born. If she wasn’t crying, she was talking and if she wasn’t talking, she was yelling and so on. She’s freaking me out now.

  “Lesh, it’s finally happened. There is finally a man who has walked into your life that has totally unhinged you. You want to know if I believe in love at first sight? A few years ago, I would’ve said no way. Then Zach and Emily happened, Grant and Zara’s a work in progress, while Luke and Zoe, well, that was written in the stars. But I’ve still had a little doubt in the back of my head. My answer right now, right this minute after watching you, is that I absolutely believe in love at first sight. You have been shot with cupid’s arrow and it has you acting so crazy you have no idea what is going on. My cool, calm and calculated sister who has everything mapped out is jabbering like a lunatic about a simple lunch. Xavier, who has been shot with the same arrow, is madly messaging you and ringing me in a full panic because he upset you. The super hunk, who can have any girl he wants, is totally freaked out that you, the quiet nerdy girl, might run away after hearing some stupid gym bunny flirting with him. So, to answer your question of why I am looking at you like this, with so much happiness? I can see this turning into something special. Very special, I will say.”

  Today is turning into the most bizarre day of my life. First Xavier, now Lilly. Nothing is making sense. Maybe I need to go back to bed, close my eyes and start the day again. It will then be a normal day, not something from another universe, like this day has become.

  I mean, why would someone like Xavier even be interested in me, a ‘quiet, nerdy girl’ in Lilly’s words? It doesn’t make any sense, I get that. Then Lilly, being so soft, compassionate, romantic and saying mushy words about cupid’s arrows. That makes even less sense than Xavier does.

  “Alesha, just breathe, just calm down and breathe. That is all you need to think about. You’ll be fine at lunch. Just keep thinking you are in the gym. It’s simple.”

  “Simple for you. I can’t talk to him.”

  “So, let him do all the talking. Just nod yes or no. It will be enough. It will get easier, I promise.” I’m trying to do what she says and relax. The sweat running down my back is a good sign it’s not working.

  “Look, you have an hour before he is here. Let’s practice some questions to start a conversation. Ones that will keep him talking and you will feel like you have managed to say a few words. Pretend I’m Xavier.” She can’t be serious. How old does she think I am?

  “Really, Lilly, I’m not sixteen anymore. Plus, I have so much work to get done and so do you. Grant will be in here shortly looking for those contracts he wants reviewed. I’ll just cancel lunch, it will be easier.” Bumping my mouse to bring my computer back to life, I start to type hoping she will get the message.

  “You better not cancel lunch, otherwise I will bring Xavier here and sit him right in this office so you can’t get away from him. Don’t even think I’m bluffing. You know me better than that.” Unfortunately, I know she’s not joking. Her stunt this morning reminds me of what Lilly is like when she gets on a mission. The bad bit for me is that I am now her current mission. There is no way I am going to be able to get out of this lunch date with Xavier.

  “I don’t doubt you would. Which might be a little awkward for us both trying to get work done.”

  “Oh, just shut up and go to lunch. Get it over and done with so you can just relax and get on with getting to know him. He won’t bite, you know.” I can’t help but laugh at that comment.

  “So I keep being told. All right, I get it. Now can you get on with your work, so I can get on with mine, and so I can just quietly keep freaking out over here in the corner on my own.” I motion with my hand for her to get moving. That stupid grin on her face tells me she’s pleased with herself that she’s won the argument.

  Trying to concentrate on reading contracts is near impossible, so I decide to just change jobs. Entering invoices into the system needs far less concentration, or so I thought. Until I get to the end and realize I’m only one million, three hundred, and forty-seven thousand dollars out in the invoices I entered. I give up. I only have ten minutes until Xavier will be here, and while I know I have been to the toilet at least three times in the last thirty minutes, I need to go again. My nerves are going crazy. Grabbing my handbag so I can touch up my make-up, I am heading towards the doorway only to see Xavier exiting the elevator with Luke.

  “Crap.” I jump backwards and close the door as quickly and quietly as I can. “He’s here. He’s early. Why is he early? I’m not ready yet. I need to fix my make-up. What if I look crap?” Lilly places her hands on my shoulders and her face close to mine.

  “Just breathe, you look beautiful. You can do this. Remember, he’s here to grovel. He’ll do all the talking.” My heart literally feels like it’s about to jump out of my chest. Hearing the voices getting close, Lilly drags me away from the door so it doesn’t bang into me when Luke opens it.

  “Pull it together. You’ve got this, sis,” Lilly whispers as the door opens with Luke’s booming voice coming through it.

  “Sounds great, man, will look forward to it. Hey, girls, look who I found downstairs. Apparently, he has a lunch date with one of my good-looking sisters, I hear.” Great, thanks Luke. I can already feel my palms getting sweaty. Like I need any more embarrassment from you.

  “Ladies, nice to see you again. Are you ready, Ally? I am guessing you have a busy day, so we are on limited time for lunch?” That smile gets me every time.

  “No, you guys can take as long as you like. That’s one of the benefits of owning the company.” Luke winks at me thinking he is doing me a favour. Little does he realize he is making me want to crawl in a hole.

  “Umm, actually, Alesha and I have a tonne of work that we need to get to, Grant, so we are a little busy. Not everyone can slack off like you, big brother.” I want to hug Lilly for having my back. For all her little irritating things she does, when it comes to the crunch, she will always have my back. I need to shut this down before Luke gets any more bright ideas.


  “Hi,” I manage to quietly get out. “Let’s go,” are the only other words I can manage. Xavier grins at me knowing how much I’m struggling. He stands to the side of the door and waves me through with his hand.

  “Catch you guys later,” he calls over his shoulder.

  “Look after her otherwise I will beat the crap out of you,” Luke yells out as we head to the elevator. I can hear Lilly telling him to shut up and stay out of it. He thinks he’s funny, as usual.

  “In your dreams,” Xavier replies and just keeps walking beside me.

  The ride down in the elevator is silent. Xavier hasn’t said a word, which is kind of weird for him. Every other time I’ve seen him he always had something to say. God, I hope he doesn’t go silent on me at lunch. I won’t know what to do. Actually, that’s a lie. I know I’ll need to talk, which for me will be almost impossible. This is a disaster in the making.

  Walking out the front door of the building, Xavier touches my arm to grab my attention. I stop dead and look at him, wondering what he is going to say or do.

  “I thought maybe a picnic in the park might be nice. I have a basket packed in the Jeep. Will you let me take you to one of my favourite spots in the park?” That shocks me. Not at all what I expected from him. I’m not sure on what he has in mind but decide to just go with it.

  “Okay. If that’s what you want.” My answer brings a bigger smile than he had when he walked into my office.

  “I was hoping it was what you wanted, but I’ll have to show you and then hopefully you will fall in love with it as well.” Placing his hand on my lower back, he steers me to where his jeep is parked and opens the door for me. I giggle a little as I climb in.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Oh, nothing.” I can tell, though, he isn’t happy with that answer and stands waiting for me to tell him. “It’s nothing, really. Just that I had a thought of how my dad would approve. He is very big on men being gentlemen and opening doors for a lady. That is a big tick in the Stevenson household.” For some reason the words just seem to be flowing easily while I explain. Then I realize Xavier still has his hand on my arm from where he helped me in. He is slowly rubbing it as I speak. Instead of making me nervous, it’s strangely calming me.

  “If that is all I need to do to keep your dad happy, I’m a winner.” He pulls back, closing the door and running around to his door to jump in. Turning on the car he takes one look at me, about to say something, and then changes his mind and instead, looks behind us and reverses out of the spot.

  It dawns on me that Xavier is as nervous as I am. He might appear to be this super confident guy, but he is really trying hard to keep it together, too. It shocks me. I’m so wrapped up in my own dorkiness that I haven’t noticed the change in him. The park is only a few minutes from the office, so we settle into the silence again with the music playing on the radio keeping us company.

  Normally, I’m at home in my own silence. Today, I feel the need to fill the void. That never happens to me. I’m always the one to blend into the quiet space. Especially around a man! There is something about him, though, that is starting to settle me. Just his presence gives off a vibe today - different to the one in the gym. Maybe he is like me. His workplace is his stage to be what the world sees, just like my office is.

  Xavier may not be all he appears to be.

  The silence for once is making me more nervous than if there is talking. I know I’m doing it and can’t stop myself. Overthinking a situation is my worst habit. The energy I use up doing it would be better served trying to start a conversation.

  The sound of the radio turning off brings me out of my head to see we are parked in the entrance to beautifully green gardens. I’ve been to this park many times before but usually alone. I will sometimes just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the office and my family, so a sandwich on a park bench in the fresh air is good for the soul. It relaxes my thoughts.

  “Nice to see you like this place. Your smile kind of gives it away.” Not waiting for an answer, he is out of the car and at my door reaching for my hand. I think he has taken on board my comment about my dad. It’s funny how such a small gesture can show so much respect.

  I take his proffered hand and slide out of the car. It’s not quite so easy to get out of a four-wheel drive when you’re in a pencil skirt and wearing high heels. It’s not exactly the outfit you would normally wear on a picnic, but too late now. Xavier is wearing bone colored cargo shorts and a pale blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Everything about his look is oozing sexiness while I feel like the ordinary girl who is out of her depth.

  “I’ll just grab the basket and then show you where I like to go.” Before I have time to reply, he is back by my side taking my sweaty hand in his. “Have you been here before?”

  “I come here sometimes when I need time to myself. It is beautiful and peaceful.”

  “Yeah, me too. There aren’t many places where I can totally be by myself and just stop. I’m a pretty hyper person and tend to be on the go all the time. Sometimes, though, you just need to stop and take a breath. This is my place to do that.”

  My mind is trying to reconcile this quiet, peaceful Xavier with the one I have seen the last few times we met. I wonder how often he’s actually here in need of a recharge for the soul.

  We walk past the park bench I would normally sit on and continue down a path. I’m not sure where it leads. I’ve never ventured very far. Exploring is not my thing. As a creature of habit, I take the safe, known options every time.

  Stopping in the middle of the path, he turns to drag me off into the overgrown bushes. Where the hell’s he taking me? I hesitate for a moment, turning him to look at me.

  “Do you trust me?” was all he said in a lower-than-normal deep voice. It was a very controlling tone yet not at all scary.

  “It’s not the trust that’s the issue. I don’t really have the right shoes for a walk in the bush.”

  “Oh, shit, sorry, Ally, I wasn’t even thinking about your shoes. I’m such an idiot. I just wanted to take you to the place that makes me feel myself, so we can talk.” Looking into his soulful eyes I feel like I would actually walk ten miles in these heels right now to get to this mystery place. It’s obviously important to him and I wonder if he has ever brought anyone else here with him.

  “It’s okay, I’ll try to manage. Is it very far in?” I mean, I’m only wearing a three-hundred-dollar pair of shoes. Lilly would be horrified that my shoes were about to go off-road. To her that’s the equivalent of taking your luxury car on a gravel road.

  “Really? It’s only a little way. I have an idea. Can you hold this for me?” He places the basket in my hand and before I have time to speak, I’m squealing. Xavier is lifting me into his arms and walking forward. I don’t know what to say or do.

  I’m so close to him. His strong arms are wrapped around me. I can smell his cologne, which I decide is my new most favourite smell in the world. I should be freaking out right about now, but for some strange reason, I’m not. My biggest fear is that he will hurt himself carrying my weight. I’m not small and I’m sure much heavier than he would have been expecting.

  “Xav, please put me down, you’ll hurt yourself, I’m too heavy. I’m not little like other girls, like Lilly.”

  “Stop that. I lift three to four times your weight every day in the gym. Stop putting yourself down, it pisses me off.” With that, he comes to a stop in a little clearing. Slowly lowering my feet to the ground, he turns me to be facing him with no space between us. His hand cups my cheek while his other hand is resting on my hip, holding me firmly in place.

  “You need to see what I see - a stunning woman who fascinates me with her inner beauty. It baffles me why you don’t see the same thing.” His thumb caresses my cheek slowly. Sliding down, tracing along my lips.

  It’s like my world has stopped.

  There is no sound in the trees, no breath in my lungs or function in my brain. I�
�m totally mesmerized by his touch. “I promise I am going to make you see how exquisite you are.” His head drops a little lower. I’m panicking on the inside that he will kiss me. What if he does and I can’t move to kiss him back? What if I suck at kissing? What if my breath stinks? Why am I such a nut job? Really, Alesha, just frigging kiss the guy. Stop thinking for once. I close my eyes, waiting for impact.

  Then nothing.

  Silence. No movement. What the hell?

  Then he whispers, “Not yet, Ally, but soon, I promise. We need to talk first.”

  My eyes snap open and I stumble a little. I’m so confused.

  Chapter Ten

  Xavier

  I step back slowly and pick up the basket from her feet where it dropped. Taking her hand, I walk us towards the shaded area near the creek where there’s the big flat rock that acts like a seat. I lay out the blanket and lead her to sit. I sit down next to her, making sure I’m not too close but close enough. I feel her energy. My mind is a complete mess. I have no idea what’s going on. I want to kiss her so badly. But I’m scared if I do that she will panic and shutdown.

  “Ally. I know you must feel pretty confused right now. This is not how I wanted our getting to know each other to go. Not that I don’t want you here, that’s not what I mean. Jesus, I’m not starting this very well.” Running my hands through my hair I take a big deep breath. I can’t look her in the eyes, so I am focussing down towards the creek. The noise from the water bubbling over the rocks, never standing still, is surprisingly making the situation a little calmer for me.

  “It’s okay.” I feel her turn to look to me as I quietly try to get some confidence to continue. I need to work out what I want to say and how to make her understand what happened this morning.

  “I want you to believe me when I say, I meant every single word I said to you this morning. I like you, I want to get to know you and I will try never to hurt you. I can’t say that I won’t, anymore, because I already have. I’m sorry that Dana gave you the wrong impression. I have a feeling she did it deliberately. She’s a client who’s decided she has a thing for me, which is getting very awkward. She’s very clingy, but it’s hard to do much because she worries me. I think if I tell her to get lost, she’ll badmouth me and our business, all over town. We can’t afford for that to happen. So, I just keep her at bay and try to make sure she gets the picture, even if she’s a bit batshit crazy.” I take a breath and keep going before she has time to say a word.