She allowed herself a glance at him now that her head was clearer, and saw that he had a vacant look in his eyes. He seemed so sad all of a sudden.
“Are you okay?” she asked, concerned.
“Oh, yeah.” He ran a hand across his tired eyes. “It’s just getting late and tomorrow’s going to be a busy day for me. You can call me if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to call, even if it’s just to talk,” he said empathetically.
“Thank you,” she said. She picked up her glass as she raised herself from the floor on uneasy legs. After making sure that she could stand on her own without fainting, he turned to leave. “Trevor?” She halted him with her voice.
“Yes Panzi?”
“Thank you, for everything.” He understood what she couldn’t say. He nodded and left quietly.
Panzi closed and locked the door then went into her bedroom. She lay down, but couldn’t sleep. Memories of Trevor Grant engulfed her mind like fiery flames. She thought back to the first time she’d seen him. There was still this feeling of duality about him, as if he was two, different men. Which man was real? Was it the one who had come charging into her shop ready to take her head off? Or was it the one who had helped her deal with her grief of losing her aunt? One minute he was almost strangling her, and the next he was offering her a shoulder on which to lean.
Will the real Trevor Grant please stand up?
With that thought on her mind, Panzi let the arms of sleep enfold her.
* * *
The next day Panzina called Palm Shores Nursing Home and volunteered her services for two weeks. When she went in, Mrs. Stearns was delighted to see her. They hadn’t seen nor heard from each other since Gertrude’s funeral.
“How are things with you, Panzina darling?” Mrs. Stearns asked, gently, giving Panzina a motherly hug.
“I’m holding up,” Panzina replied, comforted by such a gesture of kindness.
“We sure do miss Gertrude around here,” Mrs. Stearns told her. “She had such a sunny personality. It’s not the same without her.” She gave Panzina a sad smile. “Mr. Gnome is lost without Gertrude.” She nodded towards an elderly gentleman who sat with a dejected look on his face. He gazed at the television, which played an episode of a talk show. Some of the other residents played board games or cards nearby. “Gertrude was the only person that he would talk to. He hasn’t been here as long as the rest and he feels as if he isn’t a part of the group. Gertrude used to pull him out of his shell and get him involved in the activities. When she took to her bed, he came to see her everyday. Since she’s passed, he won’t say a word. He just sits there all day, watching talk shows and soap operas. Hopefully, you can do more than we can. We are short staffed and can’t spend a great deal of time with each patient. It’s all we can do to take care of their medical needs, but Lord knows they need so much more than that.” She sighed deeply. “I just wish that I could do more, but I can’t.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” she told the nurse. Mrs. Stearns wished her luck and went about her usual rounds.
She remained busy all day and time passed quickly. She hadn’t realized how enjoyable it was to be around people who longed for company and craved attention. She read to the patients, helped sew curtains, and even joined in on a game of bridge, which she knew nothing about. She had even managed to get Mr. Gnome to warm up to her a little. He’d actually updated her on the on-going drama on her favorite soap opera. When the time came for her to leave, the patients were genuinely disappointed to see her go. She did produce smiles when she promised to return the following day.
* * *
She stepped through her door and immediately saw the blinking answering machine. It indicated that she had a message. She went over and pushed play to listen.
“Panzi, I’ll be over in fifteen minutes. Don’t bother to change. We’ll grab some burgers or something and go to the park.” Trevor’s voice stated over the machine. Panzina smiled happily and waited for him to arrive, which didn’t take long. Even though he’d told her not to change, she rushed into the bedroom and threw on jeans and a tee shirt. His timing was impeccable. He arrived just as she’d finished dressing.
Trevor looked great, as usual. He wore jeans and a tight-fitting muscle shirt. Panzina felt completely at ease in her Polo jeans and logo tee shirt. She wore open-toed sandals with a medium heel. Her hair was pulled away from her pear-shaped face in a French braid. To Trevor she looked simply beautiful. His eyes appraised her figure with admiration.
“Did you go to the nursing home?” he asked as they walked towards his car.
“Yes, and I enjoyed myself very much,” she answered. “Those nice, kind souls just crave attention. I think more people should take an interest in the elderly. They get so lonely that at times they feel forgotten,” she told him.
“That’s true,” he agreed.
Again, he got that far-away expression on his face that Panzina had caught a few times before. She wished he would open up to her the way she had with him.
“Trevor?” She touched him on the sleeve and he seemed to come back from his thoughts. She was tempted to inquire about what was bothering him, but didn’t want to pry. Instead, she asked him to tell her about his business.
“How did you become interested in fashion designing?” she asked.
“Well, it goes way back,” he said. “It started when I was sixteen years old. I come from a rather large family,” he explained as he opened the door and helped her into the car. He got in on the driver’s side, and put the key in the ignition. “Being the middle child of seven children,” he continued, “Well you can believe that getting new things was rare. The summer of my sixteenth birthday I began working for a woman who was a seamstress. While I cleaned up her shop I’d watch her at work. I became fascinated with what she was doing and wanted to know more. I asked her to show me how to sew and she did. I was always an excellent art student and loved to draw. I started making sketches and created my own designs. The next year I was the best dressed guy in school,” he said proudly. “They called me “Trevor Sharp” because I was sharper than a tack!” He smiled, remembering. “The rest is history, so to speak. I went to an art school for two years and got a degree. I was able to open my own business after only six months. My success is all owed to God,” he ended.
Trevor drove until they came upon a beautiful park that was picture-perfect and breathtaking. Panzina stared at it in wonder. It was complete with ducks waddling around a pond. She could see sailboats on the water and kites in the sky. It was simply lovely!
“This is so pretty!” she exclaimed, opening her door and jumping out of the car before Trevor had a chance to get out and open it for her.
“There’s a hot dog vendor,” he pointed. “Are hotdogs okay?”
“That’s fine with me. I’ll love to eat hotdogs on a day like this!” she said enthusiastically. Trevor returned the smile she sent his way.
Once they had purchased hotdogs, French fries, onion rings, and Cokes, they found a picnic table in the shade and sat down to feast.
“Tell me how you became so interested in flowers,” Trevor said, taking a bite from his hotdog. “I’d think a young lady your age would be at a university studying law or medicine.”
“I had the opportunity but college life isn’t for me,” she replied. “I’ve never had the urge to romp around on a college campus. I have always loved flowers and plants, even as a child. I knew that taking care of them was what I wanted to do in life. Thankfully, Aunt Gertie had similar interests. I guess, I got my green thumb from her,” she ended and took a bite from her own hotdog. Somehow, she bit into it in such a way that juice, along with mustard, flew across the table and squirted Trevor. “Oops!” Panzina held back a giggle, as she stared at the spot on his shirt. “Sorry.” Trevor scrubbed at the mess with a paper napkin. The more he wiped, the wider the stain grew. After swallowing her bite, Panzina couldn’t hold in her laughter. He finally gave up on getting the mustard out. “I’m sorry,�
�� she apologized. “I mean it.”
“No, you don’t.” Trevor had a glint in his eyes. “You did that intentionally.”
“It was a mistake, I swear!” Panzina started to laugh again.
“I’ll pay you back. Don’t worry.” He smiled in a mischievous manner.
“It was an accident.” She continued to chuckle. “It really was.”
“Right.”
They walked around after eating and Trevor bought ice cream cones.
“I’m going to get fat,” Panzina complained. She stared critically at the double scoops of chocolate chip, ice cream.
“You could use some weight.” Trevor eyed her figure in the tight jeans that clung to her small hips. “You’re bony!”
The hand that led the cone to her mouth stopped in mid-air.
“Bony? I’m not bony,” she exclaimed. “Bony is like –like a skeleton.”
“Exactly,” he stated, smirking deliriously.
“I may be thin, or small, or petite, but bony?” She placed her hand on her hips and gave him a mock look of anger.
“Yeah. Bury you in the back yard and a dog will come dig you up. Face it, you’re bony!” Now, he was laughing with her.
“Trevor!”
“But you’re beautiful,” he said suddenly and became serious. “So, very beautiful.” His words were like a soft caress of wind off the water. Panzina gazed into his hazel eyes. She leaned forward and braced her body for the moment that his mouth would touch hers. Her lips parted in anticipation and her eyes closed.
“Got it!” Trevor said and laughed. “You had some ice cream on your nose.” He noticed the dumbfounded expression on her face. He knew that she’d been expecting a kiss. “Told you I’d pay you back!” he said, lowly.
“Trevor!” She couldn’t believe it. Panzi laughed along with him but inside she felt disappointed. How she had wanted to taste those sensual lips of his again, to feel his strong arms around her. She’d wanted it so badly.
“Are you tired?” Trevor asked as they walked back towards the car.
“No. Why?”
“I was thinking of going down to the pier. Do you mind?”
“I’d love to go,” was her soft reply. He opened the door and Panzina climbed in.
Trevor skillfully drove through the traffic on Interstate 275. He got off on the downtown exit, which led directly to the pier.
All was quiet. Couples walked slowly along holding hands.
How romantic. She and Telvin had never done this.
Trevor pulled up to the valet parking area. They waited for the attendant, who ran over immediately. Trevor handed the eager young man his keys.
“Nice ride,” the young man commented as he gazed enviously at the latest model Mercedes. Trevor shrugged off the compliment and Panzina smiled at his modesty. From each encounter she discovered more redeeming qualities in Trevor.
“Panzi, do you want to catch the shuttle?” he asked.
“No. I’d rather walk,” she told him. So, the two declined taking the shuttle that would get them to the pier in mere minutes; they opted to walk and enjoy the evening.
The sun setting over the horizon made a beautiful picture. It was postcard perfect. A cool, salty breeze blew in from the ocean.
“You come down here often?” she asked.
“I’m here often for work purposes, unfortunately, not for leisure. However, I do enjoy it when I get a chance to come. It’s relaxing.”
“Yes, it is.” She stopped to look over the seawall into the murky, water. Trevor watched her. He thought about how it would feel to touch her smooth skin. What would her soft body feel like close to his? She turned and caught the heat in his gaze. Her heart stirred. He was so handsome! Something she couldn’t read smoldered in his eyes.
“You do water sports?” he asked, shaking the erotic thoughts from his head.
“No, I’m afraid not. My fiancé isn’t the outdoors type. He doesn’t like to do anything except vegetate on the couch in front of a ball game.”
Telvin sounds like a regular bore.
“Let’s take a walk.” He changed the subject quickly, as the mention of Telvin irritated him. He saw no reason to bring Telvin to the beach with them, so he wouldn’t. Three’s a crowd.
“Okay,” she answered. “It’s such a beautiful night.”
“Yes, it is,” he agreed. “Perfect.” His eyes searched hers as he spoke the words. Panzina looked out over the water and tried to avoid his gaze. That was impossible. She found herself drawn to his beautiful face again and again. His eyes seemed to have a hypnotic effect on her.
They took off their shoes and felt the cool sand between their toes. They walked for a moment, fingers entwined. Panzina broke away and ran towards the waves. As the foamy, wet, water touched her bare feet she let out a startled yelp.
“It’s cold!” she gasped. Trevor’s rolling laughter echoed through the night air.
“It’s tolerable.” He waded in up to his ankles.
“Is it?” She had an impish glint in her eyes that he couldn’t see in the darkness. Trevor found himself getting a full face of cold, salty water.
“You!” he spluttered. “I’ll get you for that!” He wiped the water from his face and eyes.
Panzina took off running along the sandy shore. She knew that he’d pursued her when she heard his footsteps slapping against the sand. She ran even faster. Their laughter floated on the wind.
Trevor caught her when she stumbled over an unseen sandcastle someone had built earlier in the day.
“Are you okay?” he questioned, placing his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m fine.” She looked at him and doubled over with laughter once again. “But you’re all wet!”
When she’d fallen, Trevor had sunk to his knees in the sand near her. Now their faces were inches apart. Panzina’s laughter faded away as he bent closer and claimed her lips.
“Panzi,” he groaned. “Sweet, little Panzi!” His body pressed against hers as she sank into the soft sand. Her heartbeat accelerated as she returned his kiss. His mouth switched to her face then he kissed her eyelids, nose, chin, and went lower.
The fire spread throughout her body and it felt like it would consume her. Never had she felt so aroused. She moaned aloud as Trevor’s hands found her breasts. She began to tremble.
“I want you,” he breathed. He ran his fingers through her hair, which had fallen free of its braid.
A warning bell sounded off in the back of her mind but Panzina chose to ignore it. Instead, she leaned even closer into Trevor’s embrace, reached under his shirt and touched his firm chest with inexperienced hands.
Trevor’s head lowered and his lips replaced his hands. Panzina gasped in sheer delight as his tongue traced kisses down her neck. The pleasure was exquisite. She felt for sure that flames from the heat he’d caused would engulf her entire body.
A shout interrupted the stillness of the night. The noise caused Panzina and Trevor to break apart. Panzina hurriedly rearranged her disheveled blouse and tried to put some sort of semblance to her hair by raking her fingers through it.
“Here Rex! Here boy!” The voice called out as a dog rushed into the water to retrieve a tennis ball thrown by its master. “Come on boy!”
Trevor sighed loudly. He wasn’t sure if he was glad or sorry that they’d been interrupted. He could tell by the look on her face that Panzina had regrets.
“I guess it’s time to go,” he said quietly and stood up. It was impossible to hide his desire for her as he brushed the sand from his clothes.
He walked quite a distance and picked up their discarded shoes.
“Well? Are you coming or not?” he tossed over his shoulder when Panzina remained in the same spot.
Her mind whirled. What had almost taken place? Would she have surrendered to him completely if it hadn’t been for the stranger and his dog? What was wrong with her? She felt betrayed by her own body. If she didn’t watch out, she’d give away what was hidden in her
heart.
She got up slowly and brushed the sand from her own clothes. Her heart was in turmoil as she followed the retreating figure of Trevor. She felt light-headed, as if she’d been drinking intoxicating wine.
They rode home in complete silence. Panzina refused to even look at Trevor. She was too embarrassed. She had behaved worse than some wanton hussy back there on the public beach.
Her behavior had been appalling, though Trevor had been equally as appalling. She thought that she had loved Telvin but she hadn’t given him so much as a thought while she’d been wrapped in Trevor’s embrace. What was it about the man that left her insides hot like molten lava?
She cast a quick glance at him and saw his clenched jaw. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. She wondered what thoughts ran through his mind. Was he feeling regret? Or longing?
Panzina sighed and stared out the window. She couldn’t believe that she had acted so out of character. Aunt Gertie was probably rolling over in her grave and kicking the top off her casket! After all, she had promised the woman that her favorite niece would indeed proudly wear white at her wedding.
She was glad that the night was over when Trevor pulled up in front of her house. A perfect evening had been completely ruined by a moment of passion again. She’d never be able to forget the way she’d behaved and she was sure that Trevor wouldn’t forget either. Though she imagined it would be for different reasons.
“Good night,” she told him stiffly and hopped out of the car. She slammed the door closed before he could reply. She hurried inside the house and slid the lock into place. She leaned back against the door and fought hard to gain control. Had she ruined everything? Could there have been something- perhaps a chance for them? If only she had…
“No!” her mind cried out. There would have been no relationship established if she’d given in to Trevor. It wouldn’t have guaranteed her love. Sex did not mean commitment, not in the real world.
She tried to jar her memory. What had he said? The words came back to her in a rush, making her heart pound.
“Women of today are out to get all that they can get. They don’t care about Trevor Grant, the man. They want Trevor Grant, the millionaire.”
Panzina's Passion Page 8