by Starla Kaye
Her thoughts shifted to Kendra again. If she could just have one night of bliss, it would be enough for her. Hopefully. Kendra had gotten that from her arrangement. She’d ended up being in love with the two men she now shared her life with, marrying one of them after ending up pregnant by him from their first time together. The other man she loved almost as much, and the three were happy as a family unit.
Essie wanted to experience wild, abandoned sex for one long night, but she didn’t want to end up pregnant from the experience. Protection would be key on both sides. She was on the pill. Maybe she should take along a box of condoms, just to be safe, in case the man failed to bring some.
She jotted a note on her calendar to take care of the matter. A glance at the wall clock told her it was time to get back to work. With no enthusiasm, she got up and walked into the lab. One of these days, she would gather enough courage to quit this job.
***
“I had a few minutes, and thought I would check in with you,” Jackson said, sounding both curious and impatient from across the phone line.
Trevon glanced toward the main workroom, where four men, two women, and his partner were gathered around a large blueprint of their biggest project to date. The plans had recently been approved, and news about their achievement circulated around the city.
When Ed looked in his direction, Trevon held out his cellphone. “I need to take this call. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt you at work,” Jackson apologized. “Like I said, I wanted to see how it was going.”
Trevon had a strange feeling about this, worrying a little as he walked into his office and shut the door. He moved behind his large, ebony desk covered with Post-it notes and other scraps of paper he jotted down ideas on to deal with at some point. “This is about Madame Evangeline, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Did you get a message from her?”
“She sent me an email a little while ago, but I haven’t read it yet.” He sat and brought the computer monitor back to life. “I thought maybe she had turned me down.”
“Absolutely not, particularly since I recommended you.”
Trevon wondered if that was good or bad. “You aren’t setting me up for—”
“No, I was concerned about you when we talked about this matter.” Jackson sounded sincere. “Why don’t you read Madame Evangeline’s email first? I’ll wait.”
Feeling cautious, Trevon went to his email account and located her message. He opened it, “All right, I’m looking at it.”
Trevon,
I’m so pleased Jackson sent you to me. Your request is something of a challenge. The description of the woman you are interested in spending time with is quite specific, right down to her appearance. As if this was someone from your past. I finally asked Jackson what he knew about the matter. I have a much better understanding now, but it may take me a few more days to find your match.
Madame Evangeline.
“It looks like she is taking me on.” He thought about his description of the woman he envisioned being with on this date. He groaned. Damn. Essie again. He must have described her. “She said she talked to you about my request, about the woman. What did you tell her?”
Jackson took a second before he said with caution, “I told her about Essie, about how you know how much you fucked up with her.”
“Great.” Trevon ran a hand through his hair. “She probably thinks I’ll ‘fuck up’ with another woman, too.”
“No. She believes you’ll behave better now. And she hurt for you. She has a very tender heart.”
Sympathetic, perfect. He didn’t want to be pitied. All he wanted in this arrangement was to spend time with a woman who might want to be seduced by a romantic man. He hadn’t shown that side of him in a long time…not since when he and Essie had first begun dating. Somewhere along their way together, he got too lost in the other demands in his life. He had ignored the romantic side because it took too long. And with his other women…well, they only wanted wham-bam-thank-you-sir time. Once more he thought about feeling used by them, like he’d become just a personal sex toy to them.
Jackson snorted. “Personal sex toy?”
“Hell! Did I say that out loud?” Trevon groaned.
“Sure did.” Jackson hesitated. “Most men wouldn’t mind.”
His hand threaded through his hair once more. “None of my women have said as much, but it’s in the way they treat me. Like they can flip my switch and turn me up to fast and furious.” Which usually worked.
“Cheese with that whine?”
Jackson’s attitude annoyed him. “You’re hi-lar-i-ous,” he dragged out the word. “Anyway, Madame Evangeline appears to be searching for the woman I requested.”
“Yes, she is. She has great instincts,” Jackson said, serious as always.
“Do you know something you aren’t telling me?”
“Evangeline doesn’t confide in me. Sometimes I wish she would, especially when it involves an old friend of mine.” He took a second before adding, “I’m as curious as you are about what happens, who she finds for you. Give me a call when you find out.”
Before Trevon could respond, Jackson disconnected in his typical abrupt manner.
***
The quiet ding of her cellphone alerted Essie to a new email. After eagerly reading a couple dozen unimportant emails already this morning as she hung around her condo, she hesitated to check it out. She didn’t want to be disappointed again.
But she couldn’t resist. She muted the movie she’d been sort of watching and reached for the phone on the end table beside her. Please, please, please let this be from Madame Evangeline.
A glance told her it was. Her heart did a flurry of beats.
Dear Essie,
I have found the perfect man for you. He is flexible on whether this is for one night or the weekend.
As anticipation curled through her, she studied the rest of the message.
According to Kendra, I know you have been to the Kauai Driftwood Beach Resort before and liked it very much. So that’s where I will send you two. Unless you can’t manage it, I have made reservations for one of their best condos for next weekend. Let me know if I need to change the date.
Essie closed her eyes and leaned back to contemplate what she’d read so far. Next weekend. Awfully soon. Those heart flutters sped up. Still, the weekend would be good for her schedule. And she did like the resort.
Opening her eyes, she returned to the message.
I have contacted Trevon Chanders, the man I’ve decided most meets your requirements. He will check his schedule and get back to me later today. But he’s fairly certain that will work for him. Could you please shoot me back a response?
Madame Evangeline
Once more Essie sat back and closed her eyes to contemplate the message. Next weekend. The resort she had been to several times and enjoyed. A man believed to suit what she requested. Oh wow! Now it was all so real.
What name had she said? She glanced back at the email. Trevon Chanders.
Of course, there were a number of Essie Reynolds she’d learned after googling her name. So there might also be many men with that name. Right?
After a second, she blinked her eyes, her heart hammering. No, it couldn’t be him. How could this happen?
Trevon Chanders—co-owner of the prestigious architectural firm in Houston—had recently gotten approval for the design of an exclusive gated condo community on the outskirts of the city. The news was all over TV, the radio, and in the newspaper. She’d read every bit of it, listened to each word said. The Houstonian multi-millionaire constantly appeared in the society pages. He traveled with gorgeous socialites, sexy ones. Women so unlike her: a mousy, somewhat introverted chemical engineer. Why would he need the services of a matchmaker?
The self-description bothered her. It wasn’t true any longer. She sported a new, flirty short haircut. Her hair color had changed to almost black, far from “mousy.” She’d
even taken a class about being more confident in yourself, about being more assertive in dealing with the world around you. And she’d already stood up to her parents. Go me!
The new her could handle Trevon Chanders.
But maybe this wasn’t the man she knew. It could be some nerd by the same name. Of course, she, too, was on the nerdy side. He could be a timid man who convinced Madame Evangeline he wanted a match with a sexy woman. He could have told her he could give the woman a “really good” time. Maybe he would turn out to be as disappointing in bed as Daniel.
Sexy woman? She wanted to be that, at least one time in her life. But could she pull it off? Why not?
What the heck are you thinking? Her rambling thoughts slid to a halt. She knew in her gut that this man was her Trevon Chanders. No! He didn’t belong to her anymore, not after being apart almost three years. She’d called things off. And he’d let her. She didn’t want anything to do with him again. Lie. She wanted…. What?
She wanted one more night with him—sad, but true. Then she would move forward with her plan to find a man for a suitable husband. Which wouldn’t be the likes of Trevon.
Decision made, she wrote a response.
That weekend works for me. I look forward to hearing Trevon Chanders has also accepted the date.
Essie Reynolds.
Did he even know he was being matched to her? What a bizarre situation. Karma. Not hardly.
With renewed determination, she hit SEND. Putting aside her laptop, she hurried to her bedroom. She needed something to wear to knock him on his ass. Let him see the new her, the wilder woman. Let him get a taste of the woman he’d let leave who could now hold her own with him in the bedroom.
Hmmm. Maybe she was taking her “revenge” too far. She wasn’t experienced with tantric sex or anything the least bit sensual or even mildly kinky. But she could sure read up on all of it? Research, research, research. Watch out, Mr. Trevon Chanders!
***
Next weekend? For some reason, Trevon hadn’t thought an arrangement could be made this soon. He glanced at the calendar on the computer screen in front of him. As he’d told Madame Evangeline, that particular weekend worked for him.
He looked toward the wall of windows in his office, and his thoughts turned inward. Could he find the romantic in him again? Or would it be a bittersweet experience because he would be thinking of Essie the whole time? Which he needed to stop doing, but couldn’t seem to manage.
Decision made, he sent back his response.
I accept. If the woman agrees, I can assure you we will have a mutually enjoyable time.
Trevon Chanders.
He tried to focus on work again; he had so many phone calls to return, so many emails to answer. A daunting list. Yet, as he went from one task to another, he waited in anticipation for the matchmaker’s return message.
As he started to shut down his computer to head home, an email popped up from the woman. He steadied his nerves and opened the message.
My dear Trevon,
The wonderful woman I have matched you with has agreed to that date, as well. I will make travel arrangements for you both and let you know the particulars. All you need to do is go to the Kauai Driftwood Beach Resort, meet this woman, and have a good time together. Both of you.
His heart beat faster at the reality of what was happening, both exciting and a bit unnerving. He hoped he could pull this off. Whoever the woman might be, she deserved his best. He never intended to treat another woman as badly as he had treated Essie.
A last look at the email made him see a final statement.
Your date for this special night—or weekend, whatever you two decide —is Essie Reynolds. After some consideration, I believe she is the woman you need time away with. I hope I’m right.
How had the matchmaker managed to find her? Get her involved with this matchmaking craziness? Jackson said he’d mentioned his previous relationship with Essie to the woman. Trevon had been uncertain about that admission, but now…. Now, he owed his friend a bottle of his favorite, very expensive wine. A case of it.
Essie must have agreed to the one-night stand date. Why? She’d hardly given him a hint of a smile the times they’d seen each other since their break-up.
Did he care about her reasoning? No. Getting another chance with the woman stuck in his heart was all that mattered. He would not blow it this time!
Chapter Three
The warm evening breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean a couple of hundred yards away to Trevon. He sat at one of the Driftwood Terrace Restaurant’s outside tables, sipping a glass of beer as he waited for Essie to arrive. Relaxing for a while felt damn good.
He’d gone a hundred-plus miles an hour since making the final arrangements with Madame Evangeline in order to get away for these few days. When even more issues with their new project came up yesterday, he’d worried about having to back out. But no way in hell he would he have done that. So, he had scrambled to get everything back on track with the deal. It had all come together only hours before having to get to the airport in Houston this morning.
A weak headache lingered, a result of too much stress and flying for over twelve hours today. It might be around ten o’clock at night here, but his body knew it was 3:00 a.m. his time. No doubt Essie would feel just as exhausted by the time she got to the resort, which should be any time.
He took another chug of the beer, trying to remember when he’d last drunk one. Somewhere along the line, Scotch on the rocks or a good wine had become his drink of choice. He liked this change of pace. Curious, he wondered if Essie still liked Cabernet Franc. In case she did, he’d bought a bottle at a shop in Lihu´e on his way to the resort.
In the spattering of lights around the grassy area just beyond the restaurant, he watched a pair of wild chickens pursuing each other. The feral chickens were unique to the Hawaiian Islands, this one in particular, and ran freely around the grounds. He found them entertaining, as did the children chasing after them. What would Essie think of them? Would she like this resort? He had been to nice ones on Maui and Oahu, but this was his first time to Kauai. He liked the slower pace, the less touristy feel here. Would she? Of course, they were only going to have tonight and tomorrow together, unless they decided to take advantage of having the condo for Sunday, too. Time would tell, but he liked the idea.
A toddler boy scurried down the sidewalk not far from him. His harried-looking young mother raced after him. Trevon smiled. He liked kids, but he didn’t see himself as a family man. He couldn’t remember if he and Essie ever talked about children. His recently engaged twin brother and Tanya were chatting about babies. Better his ex-football playing brother than him. Maybe someday, with the right woman. Yet, he supposed, at forty he should be giving it a lot more serious thought.
Essie. She hadn’t been far from his thoughts for a while, even more so since making this arrangement. Anticipation passed through him, along with a sense of unease. He wasn’t sure what to expect. He he hoped to earn a second chance with her. She wouldn’t make this easy for him, but he could face the challenge. He was sure they would end up in bed together, but he planned to do everything different this time…better. He wanted to seduce the hell out of her.
He yawned. What would she expect of this first night together? Some initial breaking-the-ice conversation? Maybe a simple kiss? More? He was tired. He didn’t know how much “more” he could handle tonight. But he would give his best shot at whatever she wanted. Otherwise, he would like to sit on their lanai and talk for a bit then get some sleep and let their real time together start in the morning.
Where was she? He had claimed this spot so he could watch the resort grounds and see the entrance, too. As he glanced in the lobby’s direction, he spotted a new group of guests who had arrived on the airport shuttle and were lining up to check in. He sat up straighter and studied the various women in the group. A silver-haired senior with a weary-looking older man. A pair of blonde, peppy, cheerleader types. Then a
dark-haired woman in a form-hugging white dress stepped into the line.
His gaze widened, and he switched to full alert mode. Instant attraction. Definitely nice. A man would have to be dead not to appreciate that. It’s not Essie, though.
He forced down his automatic interest and sipped his beer again. Still, he struggled to pull his gaze away from the hot babe with the short hair.
He sat back and prepared to wait some more. He watched for a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, black-rimmed glasses, and probably wearing nice traveling slacks or maybe a modest dress. Something conservative, like Essie.
Maybe she was still on the shuttle bus.
***
The back of Essie’s neck tingled, as if someone stared at her. She had gotten quite a few looks during the long flight and in the four airports today. Some approving, some interested, and some heated. Her face flamed at the reactions, having never experienced anything like this before. Whenever she traveled—which wasn’t all that often—she never tried to draw attention to herself. Blend in had been her mantra for so long.
Clearly, an updated hairstyle along with more vibrant coloring, having a professional cosmetologist help with her makeup, more than a few hours spent this past week at the gym sweating bullets and toning up, and an investment in a sexy white dress were paying off. Good, right? Yes, but still unnerving.
She was reluctant to turn away from the friendly older man checking her in and continue with her performance as a remodeled Essie Reynolds. The new her still felt off, like clothes in the wrong size or something. What would Trevon think?