Dive In Deep

by Parker, Ali

  Trent’s world was very different than my own. He lived in a world where he had a personal driver, a mansion, and enough money to buy a country. My world was my tiny rented condo, no car, and a job that didn’t pay very well—yet. I hoped it would one day, but it would never put me in the same realm as Trent. He was out of my league.

  “Good try, Sade,” I grumbled, wrangling my mattress onto the bed frame. “Shoot for the stars and fall on your ass.”

  It took me most of the morning to get my room in a semi-livable state, with most of my clothes unpacked and put in the drawers or hung up in the closet. I hung a couple of pictures before moving back into the living room and grimacing at the mess that awaited me there. I had a single couch that had seen better days, but it was functional and would have to do.

  My phone rang, the sound echoing around the room through my speaker. I rushed for it, hoping it would be Trent. It was Khloe.

  “What’s up?” I asked her.

  “Nothing. I’m bored. I hate that we can’t hang out anymore.”

  I laughed. “Me too. It feels so weird to be alone.”

  “I know. I keep thinking I need to pick up my dirty clothes before you bitch at me. Then I remember you’re not here!”

  I giggled again. “Nope, you can be a slob all you want, and no one is going to be there to nag. I just hope you don’t let it start growing things.”

  “I’m not that bad,” she retorted.

  “If you say so. Have you found anywhere to run yet?” I knew that had been at the top of her list.

  “No. I’m going to check out a café near my apartment and try to meet some people. How about you? Have you heard from lover boy?”

  “Yes, I have.”

  “And? Is he offering to marry you and whisk you away from your boring life of medical research?”

  “No, and it won’t be boring,” I told her.

  “If you say so. Have you thought about seeing if you can find a job closer to him?”

  “No, I don’t think we were serious,” I said, not trying to sound negative but wanting to be realistic. “It was a summer fling. You girls kept telling me to get out there and have fun. I did. I had fun, and now it’s time to get real. Trent is not the kind of guy who settles down and marries a girl like me.”

  “Maybe not, but he was sure into you.”

  I smiled, thinking about the way his face lit up when he saw me at the pizza place. “I know, and I was very into him. I guess it was one of those right people, wrong time kind of situations. Maybe we’ll see each other again down the road.”

  “I think you can pretty much bet your ass on that,” she said. “I’m going to run. I just wanted to check in with you and tell you I miss you and I hope your job is everything you’ve wanted.”

  “Thanks for checking in. I miss you. I’ll text you when I get home tomorrow.” I ended the call.

  I was hungry, and I had nothing to eat. I searched through the pile of boxes until I found my purse and a matching pair of shoes. Then, I was out the door to do a little exploration of my new neighborhood. I had chosen the condo because it was within walking distance to everything. I planned on buying a car soon, but in the meantime, I was relying on my feet and public transportation.

  The walk reminded me of Trent. Hell, everything reminded me of Trent. If I was with him, he would have insisted his driver take me around. I can’t say I minded being spoiled. It had been nice. I saw a grocery store across the street and jogged over. I was going to eat my feelings—just for tonight, I promised myself.

  I picked up a pint of ice cream, a Lean Cuisine, and some granola, something else that reminded me of Trent. I tossed a few more things in my basket, including coffee for the morning, before checking out. Then, it was another lonely walk back home. Back home where I would sit in my condo by myself and have no one to talk to.

  It was after five when Trent finally texted me. I had sent him one earlier, and his message back had been kind of short. I assumed he was busy and left him alone. I knew it was bound to happen. We’d probably text for a week or two, and then eventually, the texts would just stop. I would be out of sight and out of mind. He would be moving on to the next woman staying in his hotel.

  Unpacked? His first message read.

  Nope. Not all the way. I got tired and bored unpacking.

  Who needs clothes? He wrote back with a winking emoji.

  I giggled, appreciating his humor. We texted back and forth a bit more before he had to feed Leia.

  That night, I climbed into bed, my phone sitting on the nightstand just in case he called. I had just closed my eyes when the text message alert chimed.

  I snatched the phone and read the message. “Have a good first day at work,” I read aloud, smiling big as I did. It was simple and sweet and told me he was still thinking about me.

  The next morning, I woke up early for work. It was a big day, and I was filled with nervous energy. I took the time to iron my slacks and blouse, not wanting to appear disheveled on my first day, even if I was going to be wearing a lab coat.

  I only drank half a cup of coffee. I already had nervous jitters and didn’t need to make the situation any worse. I checked my phone, saw there weren’t any messages, and shoved it in my purse. I couldn’t afford to be distracted by my love life, or lack thereof.

  I headed out the door. Knowing I had about a mile walk ahead of me, I had chosen a sensible pair of pumps with a low heel and plenty of padding. I stopped at a coffee cart and bought a coffee, knowing damn well I wasn’t going to drink it but wanting to appear cool and confident when I walked through the doors for my first day.

  “Good morning,” I said, greeting the receptionist out front.

  “Hi, you must be new,” she said, smiling.

  I wrinkled my nose. “Does it show?”

  She laughed. “I’m Amber. It shows because only the newbies come in here looking bright and cheerful. I’ll take you back and show you where to get your security pass.”

  “Thank you. I’m Sade, by the way.”

  She nodded. “I know. I had you down for starting today.”

  “Ah, so you knew I was coming,” I joked.

  “Yes, and you do look way too chipper for a medical research specialist.”

  “I am going to love this job,” I promised her.

  “I’m sure you will,” she said in a way that made me feel like she was patting my head.

  She led me around, introducing me to a few faces before leaving me in the hands of one of my coworkers. I was given a tour of the facility, sat through a safety orientation, and then showed where I would be working.

  All in all, it was an incredibly boring day. I was excited for when I had my own routine. Despite what Amber said, I did think I would be one of the few that truly enjoyed my job and looked forward to going to work every day.

  At the end of the day, I prepared myself for a long walk home. I remembered I still had no real groceries in the house and stopped at the same market from the day before and picked up a few more things. That was one of the downfalls of not owning a car—grocery shopping was done over days, not one single day with one big haul.

  After picking through some of the fresh fruits and grabbing what I needed to make myself sandwiches for lunch tomorrow, once again another Trent reminder, I headed across the street. I was hoping Trent would call or text. I didn’t have an exciting day to share with him, but I wanted to talk to him, to hear his voice. Truthfully, I just wanted to know he was still interested in me.

  I told myself not to get my hopes up. It was something I always did. It was my way of preparing myself for disappointment. I moved through the courtyard, fishing out my keys, and felt someone staring at me. Fear raced down my spine. I looked up, ready to stab whoever it was with my keys, and saw Trent sitting on my front step.

  I blinked several times, making sure I wasn’t seeing things. I stopped moving and stood staring at him with total disbelief.

  I couldn’t believe he was there.

/>   Chapter 23

  Trent

  I stared at her, unable to stop grinning as I watched her shocked expression change into a small smile. I got to my feet, dusted off my butt, and grabbed the bouquet of flowers I had picked up for her.

  She was staring at me, shaking her head. “You’re here?”

  I nodded, looking down at my feet. “It appears to be that way.”

  “You’re here. I don’t understand. How?”

  “Well, as it turns out, it only takes me about an hour to get here by helicopter,” I said with a smile.

  “You flew here?” she gasped.

  “Not me personally. I lost my wings in the war.” I winked.

  She slapped at me. “I can’t believe you’re here!”

  “I am. Are you going to invite me in or stand out here staring at me all day?”

  She shook her head. “I’m absolutely blown away. You amaze me.”

  “Can I have a hug?” I asked.

  She lunged at me, throwing one arm around me, her other hand holding her bags. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “I’m glad to see you, too. Here, you take these.” I handed her the flowers. “And I’ll take these.” I took the bags from her hand and followed her up the few steps to her front door.

  She turned the handle and stopped, turning to look at me. “I haven’t actually unpacked,” she said with a grimace.

  “That’s fine.”

  “Be careful,” she warned, pushing open the door. “There are quite a few tripping hazards.”

  I followed behind her, stepping around a few boxes before closing the door behind me. It was a small space, but it wasn’t like she needed anything big just for her. I followed her into the kitchen and put the bags on the counter as she stood in the center, holding the flowers and looking perplexed.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked her.

  “I don’t have a vase. I mean, I might, but it’s probably in a box.”

  “How about a glass or a jar?” I offered.

  “A glass! I’m sorry. They are so pretty and deserve a nice pretty vase.”

  I chuckled. “I should have bought them in a vase.”

  I watched as she filled a tall glass with water before stuffing the bouquet inside. “I wish I had something to offer you to drink, but I have nothing—literally. I just stopped at the store to grab some stuff for sandwiches. I don’t suppose you want a sandwich?”

  “No, I want you.”

  She stopped moving around the kitchen and walked toward me. I gave her a proper welcome kiss before she took my hand and led me around more boxes to her couch that was nearly buried. She leaned against me.

  “I missed you,” she said. “I know that sounds ridiculous, but I missed you.”

  I laughed. “I hired a pilot to use the helicopter to bring me here. I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all.”

  “How long are you here for?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure,” I said. “Probably just the night. It was kind of a spur of the moment trip. I do have to get back to work, but I wanted to be here when you got home from your first day at work.”

  She laughed, her hand resting against my chest. “You could have just called.”

  “I could have, but then I wouldn’t get to see you.”

  “You could have Skyped,” she pointed out.

  “Yes, but then I wouldn’t be able to hold you. How was your day by the way?” I asked, remembering my real reason for flying over.

  “It was good. A little boring, but I think once I get into the swing of things, it’s going to be great. I dressed up, and when I got there, everyone else was wearing scrubs. I need to get some for next week when I start actually working. Today was orientation and the tour and getting my security badge.”

  “I think you’re going to look hot in scrubs,” I told her, a doctor fantasy coming to mind.

  She giggled. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “I am. Why don’t I take you to a nice dinner to celebrate your first day on the job?”

  “I need to shower first,” she said. “I walked to and from work, and it was kind of warm.”

  “You don’t stink, but go ahead. Shower, and I’ll find us someplace to eat.”

  “I don’t have a car, and without Bentley, I think our options are limited, unless you want to grab an Uber,” she said, leaning forward on the couch.

  “I don’t mind a walk. In fact, I would prefer to walk. I like walking with you.” I pushed a lock of hair from her shoulder.

  She smiled and nodded. “Then happy searching. Give me twenty minutes, and I will be ready to go. I am actually very hungry.”

  “Good. We’re celebrating tonight.”

  She stopped and turned around, pointing a finger at me. “No champagne. I cannot go to work with a hangover.”

  “No champagne,” I agreed, holding up one hand. “Maybe a glass of good wine.”

  “That, I can do.”

  She disappeared down a short hall. I pulled out my phone and did a quick search, pulling up restaurants that were within walking distance. There was a steakhouse not too far away. The reviews were good.

  I called them and asked to make a reservation. They tried to tell me they were booked. I offered a hefty tip for a small table for two anywhere in the place. They promised there would be one waiting for me in thirty minutes.

  I was in the business. I knew there was always one or two tables left open. It wasn’t hard to pull a table out and move some things around to accommodate a guest. Money talked.

  I checked my email and sent Richie a text, letting him know there was a good chance I would be in tomorrow afternoon. He’d been less than thrilled when I told him what I was doing, but he liked Sade and was rooting for us.

  When she emerged from her bedroom, she looked too good to be true. I wanted to haul her ass right back into her bedroom and strip off the pretty dress she had put on and make love to her. I got to my feet, silently cursing the damn boxes between us, and stepped around them.

  “You look stunning,” I said in a deep voice. “It amazes me how fast you can get ready and how effortless you make it seem. I love this dress.” I ran my hands over the fabric that clung to her breasts, sucked in at her waist, and flared over her hips. It was perfect on her. She was perfect.

  “I’m a low-maintenance kind of girl,” she said with a laugh. “Years living with an Army dad will teach you how to get ready in a hurry. He didn’t appreciate the requests for one more minute.”

  I shook my head. “No, I can’t imagine he would.”

  “Did you find a restaurant?” she asked.

  “I did. I have a reservation, which we should probably get a move on before they give away our table.”

  “I’m ready. Let me grab my purse.”

  We headed out, walking hand in hand on the warm summer night. My leg was a little stiff, causing a slight limp, but I didn’t mind. I loved walking with her. It made me feel closer to her, like we were headed in the same direction in a figurative sense rather than a literal. We were a team.

  When I gave my name to the hostess, I made sure to slip her a hundred-dollar bill. She smiled and led us to the table that was kind of out of place, but it worked.

  I ordered two glasses of their finest wine and settled in, my hand holding hers on the table. “I like the area.”

  “Have you ever been to Fresno?” she asked.

  “Nope. My first time. I like it here.”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “My dad wasn’t thrilled with my choice, citing all kinds of statistics on crime and such, but I think you just have to be prepared and keep your eyes open.”

  “I’m not going to lie,” I said. “I worry about you as well. But I did a little scouting around your area, and it seems safe enough, but in the winter when the days are shorter, you have to take a cab home or get your own car.”

  She burst into laughter. “I’ll keep that in mind. How is Leia? She must be missing you terribly.”

  I smiled, apprec
iating the fact she asked after my dog. Most people didn’t care. “She’s good. Mira, my housekeeper, will be there tonight. She pretends not to like Leia, but I know she loves her.”

  “I don’t understand how anyone couldn’t love Leia. I miss her little doggy kisses.”

  “I don’t know if I would call them little, but if you’d like, I could imitate her kisses,” I offered.

  She burst into laughter. “I cannot even imagine what that would look like.” She leaned forward. “But I think I would like what it would feel like.”

  I felt the bolt of lust shoot through me, reminding me why I had flown over the state line to see her. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since she’d left. My dreams had been filled with visions of her, naked and writhing in my bed as I showed her the many ways to achieve an orgasm.

  I had worn myself out that night, but I wanted her again and again. I was addicted to her. It wasn’t only the sex with her. I had worked that out after a lot of thought yesterday. It was so much more, which was why I had decided I had to see her in person.

  Our wine was delivered. “To a great first day,” I said, toasting her glass.

  “Thank you.” She sipped from her glass before putting it down and leaning forward to look at me. “Okay, why don’t you tell me why you’re really here?” Her tone was deadly serious.

  I sighed. “Am I that obvious?”

  She nodded. “You did not come all this way to eat at a steakhouse that couldn’t dare compare with what you have in your own hotel, and you could have called to ask me about my day. Something is up. What is it?”

  I licked my lips, not entirely sure how to broach the subject. “You’re right. I wanted to talk with you, but I felt it would be better to do it face to face.” Her face fell. I could see the hurt in her eyes. I reached for her hand. “Sade.”

  She pulled her hand away. “Don’t. You didn’t have to come all the way out here to say anything. You could have saved yourself the time and trouble and just sent me a text message. Hell, you didn’t have to do anything at all. You could have just let it go.”