Overdose: A British Bad Boy Romance

by Raven St. Pierre

  Red, polished fingernails that coordinated with her red-stained lips unclutched her purse for a second to fix her hair.

  She looked Zander over, never getting tired of the way he wore a suit. A breath hitched in her throat at the sight of him. Days when he’d come to her office for his sessions wearing work attire were always her most trying. He was already an impressively attractive man, but in a suit?

  She didn’t stand a chance.

  Blinking a few times to rid her mind of the fog that seemed to appear whenever Zander was present, she glanced up at the building they stood beside. It was unfamiliar and there wasn’t a sign visible to hint toward the purpose the establishment served.

  Zander saw the curiosity behind her eyes before the question even left her mouth. “What is this place?” she asked.

  He glanced back, peering over his shoulder, and a smile touched his lips. The plain, brick structure could have literally been anything, but he decided to show her instead of telling her.

  “Follow me,” he said, slipping his fingers in between hers. The gesture threatened to bring the haze once again, but Vanessa fought it, focusing on where Zander led her instead.

  The heavy wooden door at the entrance squeaked when it opened. She looked around, observing what she believed was once a restaurant. It had all the makings of one—a visible coat room off to the right, a large dining area void of tables and chairs straight ahead, and across the room a single door with a round window up top. Even if she hadn’t smelled the distinct scent of blended spices or heard pots and pans hard at work, she would’ve guessed it was a kitchen.

  Confused by the state of the place—clean and yet unfinished—and the pleasant aroma, she cast a questioning stare toward Zander.

  “Almost there,” he said, unable to hide the smile Vanessa’s bewilderment brought out of him. He rather enjoyed the thought of being able to surprise her.

  Without a word, she continued to follow, relying on trust at every turn. A narrow corridor led to stairs that took them up a level to the roof. The heavy door was opened for her and she stepped out, losing her breath immediately after.

  The setting was absolutely beautiful. Twinkling, white lights, red roses, and expensive linen set the scene for the evening Zander arranged for her. A single table for two with an amazing view of downtown Denver was front and center, surrounded by the thirty bouquets she managed to count before giving up.

  This was new to her… being catered to.

  Simon had never gone to such great lengths to make her feel special. Not even after dedicating a decade of her life to him or having his son did he see any reason to step out of his comfort zone like this. She was absolutely blown away by Zander’s gesture. And to think, he only called her a couple hours ago to ask if she was available.

  “This is… this is beautiful,” she uttered just louder than a whisper.

  Satisfied with how pleased she seemed, Zander spoke. “I’m glad you think so. Although, I didn’t do it all on my own. My brother owes me a lifetime of favors so I called on him, and the use of his van, to acquire the roses I ordered, but… the rest I threw together on my own.”

  That didn’t surprise her. This man was just full of surprises.

  “Shall we sit?” he asked, still holding Vanessa’s hand.

  Impressed beyond measure, she gave a nod and followed him one last time to the carefully set table.

  “Dinner should be ready in twenty minutes. Ramone is just putting the finishing touches on the meal.”

  She still had so many questions. Had he rented this place out? Was it even a functioning restaurant?

  Leaning in, holding the attention of those beautiful eyes of his, Vanessa decided to ask. “So… what is this place?”

  Zander chuckled, listening to the sounds of the lively city just beyond the ledge of the roof. “It’s a restaurant,” was the only answer he gave.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, playing coy. “Well, that was the part I already figured out, but… I mean… what’s the story behind it? Who owns it?”

  Now, that was a more direct question; one Zander could answer. “I do.”

  That was the one possibility Vanessa hadn’t considered. She honestly thought he knew someone and called in a favor.

  “It won’t be open for several months, as I only acquired it recently, but I envision it will be the talk of the town once it’s complete.”

  Doctor. Businessman. Gentleman. His defining characteristics had shifted quite a bit since their first session.

  “And you have a chef already?” she asked, still smiling.

  “You might say I acquired him from a prominent bistro not too far from here,” he replied. “I may have made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

  Vanessa knew all too well how persuasive Zander’s offers could be. “So, in other words,” she said, flashing a grin, “…you stole him.”

  “Fair and square,” he added without hesitation, sharing a laugh with his guest for the evening.

  “And what might this offer have entailed?” Vanessa inquired.

  She was interested in him, in his life. He enjoyed the tone of these questions far more than those passed his way within the four walls of Vanessa’s office.

  “For starters, he’ll have artistic license to structure the menu however he sees fit. A dream come true for any master chef,” he answered. “And, of course, he’ll be compensated well above and beyond what his former place of business could afford.”

  Her eyes danced around again, impressed with all the fine details.

  “How did you find it? This place, I mean. Was it listed or did you know the previous owner? What’s the story behind it?” she asked.

  Zander’s eyes were naturally drawn to the building just on the other side of the busy street below. It was a tall, massive structure; twenty-four floors of steel and concrete beneath a façade of granite and tempered glass. It had recently undergone some serious renovations that easily made it the most attractive building for miles.

  “This new development beside us,” Zander replied, giving a nod in the direction of the high rise. Vanessa’s gaze went there, too, now that her attention had been drawn that way. “I own it as well,” he explained, causing her eyes to stretch. “And spending as much time onsite as I have over the past several months, I noticed this place just sitting here—so much charm and character—just sitting here, falling victim to time and the elements,” he added. “I put in a few calls, found out it was available for a steal, and then I jumped at the opportunity. Seemed fitting to have a classy, upscale restaurant directly across the street from luxury apartment units,” he concluded with a shrug.

  When he finished speaking, he casually removed a perfectly chilled bottle of champagne from the metal bucket at the center of their table. Vanessa watched as he carefully withdrew the cork and then filled two glasses halfway. She accepted hers with a soft, “Thank you,” and then sipped the golden liquid as she thought on the information Zander just shared.

  He intrigued her something terrible; more than she was comfortable admitting. The effervescent, champagne bubbles awakened her taste buds as Zander awakened her curiosity yet again.

  He sipped from his glass as well before placing it down on the table as he swallowed, savoring the cool liquid. Vanessa seemed impressed that no expense was spared tonight, which made every cent he spent worth it. He didn’t typically bother with ‘courting’ the women in his life, mostly because none had ever demanded it. However, Vanessa was the first woman he’d met who felt worth the effort.

  At the thought of how abruptly these plans came together, and remembering his uncouth, last-minute invitation only hours before, he thought to apologize for any inconvenience he might’ve caused. The plan honestly was to make arrangements for the following night, but already he’d been chomping at the bit to see her again. Four days felt like forever—no contact, not even a phone call. Hell, even the few hours he had to wait tonight felt like a lifetime.

  “My apologies,
” he began. “It was thoughtless of me to ask that you meet me on such short notice. I’m sure it was difficult to find a sitter.”

  To his surprise, Vanessa casually lifted her hand into the air, waving off his concern. “I didn’t have to worry about that. Ryan’s with his dad tonight, so it all worked out.”

  That made him feel a little less guilty about being so persistent.

  “Well… good. I’m glad to hear it,” he replied, thinking it would be rude of him not to ask about her son now that he’d been brought up. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about the boy, but he admittedly hadn’t been around children much since… well… he was a child. Because of this, and because he wasn’t sure if Vanessa was even comfortable speaking with him concerning Ryan, he wasn’t exactly sure what to ask.

  “Your son, he’s doing well?” he finally forced out.

  Like before, Vanessa’s face was alit when the conversation shifted in this direction.

  “Very well, actually. Today was his first Boy Scout meeting, so he was super pumped about that. I could hardly get him to settle down for bed last night. He can’t wait to start earning badges.”

  Zander smiled, a genuine one. “Sounds like quite the ambitious little guy.”

  “You have no idea,” Vanessa countered, smiling as she sipped again. “He’ll be running that troop in a year, max,” she joked.

  “Well, if he’s even half as amazing as his mother, I’m sure you’re probably right about that.”

  She lowered her eyes to the table and smiled, coy, girlish. Zander ate it up.

  His head tilted to the side as he mirrored the expression. “What’s this I see happening here?” he asked, gesturing toward Vanessa from across the table. “What’s that thing you keep doing with your face?”

  The question brought out a robust laugh from what Zander believed to be the depths of Vanessa’s soul and, at the sound of it, his heart did something inside his chest. Something unfamiliar and he took a breath at the feel of it.

  Vanessa pointed at her lips, playing along. “Oh, you mean this? It’s some new thing I’m trying out. It’s called… is it a smile? Yeah, I think that’s what the kids are calling it. Am I doing it right?” she asked, playfully.

  The sound of her voice carried into the night air and Zander knew, if he wasn’t careful, he’d get carried away, too, thinking this was all because of him; thinking he was the reason she seemed so happy.

  “You’re doing it perfectly,” he finally answered, forcing his eyes to the linen tablecloth when he thought he was giving too much away with his stare.

  The pair grew still and quiet as unspoken thoughts passed between them. It was Vanessa who finally broke the silence.

  “This is all incredibly nice of you,” she said. The compliment was sincere. Zander could always tell the difference. “I appreciate all the trouble you went through for me,” she added.

  That statement led him to believe she wasn’t often made to feel like she was worth the amount of effort he’d put into the evening. It was difficult for him to understand how anyone could possibly think she wasn’t.

  “Please, don’t thank me. I’m honored you accepted my invitation.”

  Across the table, Vanessa sipped from her glass again and Zander noted there was still something else different about her; even aside from the extra smiles and easy laughter he was able to pull out of her. However, instead of doing their usual bit, the one where he’d manipulate his way into her psyche, Zander thought he might try a different approach. This wasn’t the first time he presented her with a forthright question. This was, however, the first time he didn’t have an ulterior motive.

  “You seem lighter this evening. It’s almost as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders,” he started. “Has something changed?”

  When Vanessa’s dark eyes left his and she smiled again, he knew there was something she wasn’t saying.

  “There’s a slight chance you’re right,” she said cryptically.

  Zander’s brow quirked and he was now listening even more intently than before.

  A shiny, polished fingernail rested at the delicate cupid’s bow in the center of Vanessa’s top lip. She left it there a second, contemplating something. What that something was, Zander could only guess.

  “I wasn’t going to bring this up, but…” She paused and weighed her words, ultimately deciding there was really only one way to deliver them: directly.

  “My um… my divorce is final. As of four days ago,” she added, acknowledging the fact that Zander may have been on to something; she did feel lighter.

  “Well, I’m not entirely sure this is appropriate, but it feels like congratulations are in order,” he said, lifting his champagne into the air.

  A gentle laugh slipped from Vanessa’s lips hearing the less than conventional response to her news.

  “Thank you,” she replied and then her glass met Zander’s at the center of their table. Both took a sip right after as they lingered in a gaze.

  ‘She was free,’ Zander thought to himself. Although, in his mind she had been ever since he discovered the paperwork was already filed. The difference was, he got the impression Vanessa now realized this freedom as well.

  A thought occurred to him and he responded with words that went completely against his nature. “In all seriousness, you seem to be handling the change well, but is that really the case?”

  To him, Vanessa was better off unattached, so sulking about it seemed unnecessary from his perspective, but, then again, he didn’t know the ins and outs of what caused the marriage to decline. All he’d seen was how unhappy Simon made her and that was enough to bring him to this conclusion. However, his awareness that he typically evaluated life events differently than most, he knew it was right to ask this question. His logical mind painted the world in stark, contrasting colors, only black and white. There were very few gray areas. Still, he was sure her way of thinking wasn’t as cut and dry, so it was quite possible Vanessa did in fact mourn the loss even if only a little.

  She gave his question some thought and he watched her eyes glaze over just a touch as she stared at their city’s lights.

  “You know, being honest, it’s still all somewhat surreal,” she started. “You spend so many years with someone and, whether we like it or not, that person becomes a part of who we are. My identity was sort of intertwined with Simon.”

  The analogy made Zander shift in his seat, beginning to regret his decision to pry; however, that feeling was fleeting as Vanessa went on to explain.

  “But… I began to see, as the days passed, being without him is good for me.”

  There it was… that realization Zander hoped she’d have eventually.

  “The first few months after I made him leave were the hardest. There was just so much doubt—wondering if I reacted too harshly, questioning whether I should have endured it for my son.” She stopped there, at the mention of her son. Zander had long since figured out that was her soft spot. This fact was only emphasized now as he watched the range of emotion cross her face.

  “It just took me some time to realize that putting Simon out wasn’t me being selfish. If anything, I owed it to Ryan. I owed it to him to be at my best, to be in a good head space,” she added, blinking as she thought. “And I couldn’t be either of those things if I stayed with Simon.”

  Zander sat in silence, fighting to suppress the questions gnawing away at him. He wanted to know what the final straw was, wanted to know if the old man had been stupid enough to do what he was beginning to suspect—cheating. Had he really been that foolish? To allow a woman this beautiful, this intelligent, to slip through his fingers out of greed? Had Simon really allowed himself to think she wasn’t enough?

  The thought was so absurd Zander began to wonder if he’d jumped to the wrong conclusion. Maybe other women had nothing to do with the separation at all.

  But then he saw that look.

  It was subtle, but it was there in Vanessa’s eyes now as she lingere
d in a thought after letting Zander in more than he expected her to. It was the look of a woman who’d been jilted; the look of a woman whose confidence was waning; the look of a woman who lacked self-assurance. However, the expression washed away the very next second as if she suddenly became aware of it, too. She hid behind another one of those infectious smiles, but this time Zander knew it was nothing more than a mask. A mask set in place to hide unspeakable pain, rejection.

  “And what of your practice?” Zander thought to ask next, unable to hold that particular question in. Seeing the hurt Vanessa carried made that impossible because he couldn’t imagine her continuing to work with Simon every day under such circumstances.

  She took a breath before answering. “I actually just recently presented the idea of dissolving it,” she said. “He didn’t want to hear that, but I don’t see any other way for either of us to move forward.”

  Zander couldn’t have agreed more.

  “Now that he knows what my plans are, I just need to figure out what my next move is.”

  “What about Dr. Keiser?” Zander asked. “He’s got space available and no one with your particular expertise working in his practice.”

  While Zander wasn’t completely sure what the nature of Vanessa’s history with Dr. Keiser was, he did know the man thought highly of her. So much so, he didn’t hesitate to refer Zander to her for treatment. Hers was the first name mentioned, actually.

  Vanessa gave Zander’s suggestion some thought. “Maybe I’ll give him a call next week and find out more.”

  There was a quiet moment between them, but then Vanessa spoke again. “What’s your connection to him, if you don’t mind me asking? Dr. Keiser, I mean.”

  Zander smiled a bit, finding it interesting that she thought he’d mind this question, considering all the others she’d asked during his sessions.

  “He’s somewhat of a mentor,” Zander replied. “He’s an old friend of one of my professors at Oxford. When I came to the States, he took me under his wing and hasn’t been able to get rid of me since,” he added with a smile.

  Vanessa smiled, too, realizing their connection to Jim was similar. With so many years of experience and a reputation that precedes him, Dr. Keiser had rubbed elbows with some of the best in their field. It was the head of the department who first introduced them. He mentored Vanessa the first few years and remained a good friend long after that.