The Desire to Touch

by Taylor, N

  “Will I do?” I ask half-heartedly, a big part of me is really excited and looking forward to seeing him again, but the other part knows not to get too excited.

  Lacey wolf whistles, “Nice casual effort Jones.”

  Meagan smiles walking up to me, “Look I still think he’s a jackass for the things he’s done, but I like the way he’s brought the old you back out and for that reason I think he’s good for you.”

  “Ok nice sentiments but it’s four minutes to seven and we have to run.” Lacey shouts running for the front door.

  I grab my handbag and we run to the lift, fate is on our side as someone leaves the carriage as we reach it and we get straight in.

  On the way down I put my phone in my bag and find a bangle sitting at the bottom, I grab it out and pop it on. Meagan elbows me in the ribs and I look at her, she is shaking her head at me smiling.

  “Bangle up Jones,” Lacey laughs.

  The butterflies start up in my stomach as the dial reaches the ground floor.

  “Come on,” Lacey grunts.

  “How long left?” Meagan asks Lacey who is watching her clock.

  “Seconds!”

  Next thing the doors open and Lacey runs off out of the lift.

  “Does she want to date him?” I whisper to Meagan who is walking arm in arm with me.

  “Don’t even joke, she’d jump him in a heartbeat.”

  We make our way past the reception and Lacey is leaning over the desk talking to Earl.

  “Ellie?” Earl calls.

  I look at him then at Meagan, “Don’t worry I’ll go and find Trey,” she says.

  “Hi Earl.” I say walking over to him.

  Earl smiles at me then looks at Lacey as if to say ‘go now’.

  “Chill…I’m going,” she snaps at him then looks to me, “Thought I’d better tell your Uncle we’re off out.”

  I smile at her but wonder why everyone is still treating me like I’m twelve, I suppose they’re only doing as they’ve been told.

  “Ellie, I’m under strict instructions to not let you go out alone.” Earl says looking around.

  “I’m not alone though - I’m with Meagan, Lacey, Trey and his bodyguard.”

  “I know, and to be honest I’d let you go but your Uncle is very insistent on you staying in.”

  “You can’t make me stay though.” Wow, where did that come from?

  “No,” Earl answers taken aback.

  “Right then, I’m off out and if there’s any issues I’ll sort them out when I get back. I’m twenty four not twelve and I can fight my own battles.”

  Earl smiles, “Right you are, are they the words you’d like me to tell Brendan?”

  “To be honest say what you want, I’m old enough and ugly enough to look after myself,” I smile.

  “Good on you, but expect a phone call from him.” He smiles, turning back to the computer.

  I turn on my heel and give my hair one last scrunch, hoping that’s enough to give it the extra volume needed. I walk towards the waiting area of the lobby and I see Trey sitting on one of the chairs, he looks up and smiles at me.

  “Thank you for giving me the chance, I know I don’t deserve it.” He kisses me on the lips taking me by complete surprise.

  I look around to see if anyone’s looking but no one seems to being paying attention, “Please just don’t mess me around.” I ask.

  He takes me by the hand and leads me to the door, “I won’t.”

  “Where are the girls?” I ask looking around as we reach the main door.

  “They’re in the car,” he frowns, “Your cousin seems to have taken a liking to my bodyguard.”

  “Don’t be pissy, I think he likes her too.”

  “That’s the problem.” He leads me out to the convertible waiting at the curb.

  Michael, Meagan and Lacey are all in the car waiting, Meagan is leaning into the front trying to talk to Michael who seems to be doing his hardest to not get distracted.

  “I’ll have a word with her,” I squeeze his hand as we reach the car, Michael jumps out and pulls the chair forward so I can get in.

  I climb into the back next to Meagan who has the middle seat and I sit behind Michael who is driving, Trey gets in the front passenger seat and turns to wink at me sending my heart all a flutter.

  “Earl ok?” Meagan asks.

  “I’m not allowed out,” I laugh rolling my eyes at her.

  “Dad?”

  “Yep, he’s being really over-protective at the moment and I’m starting to feel suffocated by it.” I grab my bangle.

  With that Meagan’s phone rings, Trey turns around to look at me.

  “If we’re going, let’s go now.” I say.

  “Ok,” he looks at Michael and mutters something that I don’t hear, the car pulls away and we’re merging into the early evening traffic of New York.

  “Yes I know but…we’re fine we have…Dad listen…” Meagan holds the phone away from her ear and passes it to me, “You deal with him.”

  “Brendan it’s Ellie, we’re out with Trey and his bodyguard so I’ll be safe ok I’m twenty four please let me have some freedom.”

  “You do not stray from anyone, you stay together at all times do you understand?”

  “Yes.” He huffs and hangs up, I pass the phone back to Meagan and cringe, “Sorted.”

  Meagan keeps her eyes forward and I catch that she’s making eyes at Michael in the rearview mirror. I pinch her leg and she laughs then looks away, I glance at Lacey and I can see she’s on her phone Facebooking that she’s in Trey Thomas’s car. Her face is all alight like a kid at Christmas.

  “Has this car got a dock?” Meagan blurts out.

  Trey leans his head back, “Of course.”

  “Great, put Ellie’s iPhone on so we can have some fairly decent music.” She laughs.

  I catch Trey looking at Michael and smile, I feel like I’m seventeen again out with the boys who have just passed their driving test, flying round in a H reg ford fiesta. With that thought I go all giggly and the butterflies do a little dance.

  “Pass your phone babe,” Trey looks at me.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Babe? In public, whoa that was unexpected and makes me blush. I fish my phone out of my bag and pass it to him with my right hand. He goes to take it but my jumper sleeve has ridden up and the bangle is up my forearm, the light from the streets illuminates my wrist. Trey takes my phone and his eyes lock onto my wrist at the same time as I spot it’s on show. We look up from it and to each other at the same time. Shit! There’s that look in his eyes, the same look everyone gives me when they think I’ve done this to myself. It takes all my strength but I smile at him and retract my hand, he smiles back and the look of pity empties from his face quickly.

  “Anything in particular?” Trey asks.

  “Let me see what’s on there,” Meagan starts scrolling through my playlists and I pray she doesn’t pick something uber cheesy, “Oh yes!”

  She hands it back to Trey and he plugs it in, Fun – We Are Young starts to play at top volume.

  Whenever this song is on in the apartment we turn it up loud and sing along, Meagan starts bouncing to the music making Lacey and I laugh. We all start singing I look out of the window as the lights pass by and a gentle spot of rain starts to run across the windows. I look at Meagan who is singing and dancing with Lacey, then she throws her arm around me for the female solo. I look to Trey and he has turned slightly in his chair watching me, instantly I feel embarrassed but I carry on.

  We pull up at an executive car lot where all the lights are off but for one solitary office light that glows dimly in the forecourt.

  “Why are we here?” I tap Trey on the shoulder.

  “Wait and see,” he smiles.

  Michael says something to Trey and he gets out of the car. A man in a very expensive looking suit approaches the car.

  “Good evening Mr Thomas, everything is ready for you as requested.” The man smiles and w
aits for us to get out.

  Michael returns and nods at Trey, “Ok come with me.” Trey says.

  We all get out of the car and walk across the dark lot, we reach a glass door and go through a car show room to a room at the back.

  “I will be in my office if you need me Mr. Thomas,” the man says.

  “Thank you Cole,” Trey replies and the man walks off into his office.

  “Why are we here?” I ask again.

  Trey walks up to me and places both his arms around me interlocking his fingers behind me. “I want you to choose,” he says, his sparkling blue eyes searching mine.

  I look up at him, “Choose what?”

  He kisses me on the lips and then his tongue enters my mouth searching for mine, I go weak at the knees and inadvertently groan as the current is there again pulsating through my body. I place my hands on to his chest and I hear his breathing become shallow and a feral growl rumbles in his throat.

  “Eww, get a room,” Meagan laughs.

  “I have missed you and these beautiful lips of yours,” he whispers pulling away.

  I am speechless again, rendered mute, my eyes are still closed and I’m reliving the kiss for as long as I can.

  “Choose what?” I croak out smiling, slowly opening my eyes.

  “To new beginning’s,” he turns around and behind him are five sparkling brand new cars.

  “You want me to choose a car?” I ask stunned.

  “Well I’m down by three now so yeah I want you to help choose them.”

  “But why?”

  “After that night I realised you were right, you can’t move forward whilst looking back eh? So a fresh start means new things that aren’t tainted by my old ways.” He turns back to me, “I meant it when I said I would prove to you we could work at it.”

  I smile at him and my heart beats rapidly deep in my chest.

  “Do we get to drive them?” Lacey squeals.

  “No,” Trey laughs, “Well, you can.” He raises his eyebrow at me.

  “Not on your life,” I shake my head stunned by the magnificence of the five beauties that stand before us.

  “Surely you know what ones you want?” I ask walking around the first car, which is a Ferrari.

  Meagan and lacey are sitting in the other cars laughing to each other.

  “No,” Trey shakes his head, “I told Cole I was looking for some new cars and he arranged to have some for me to look at. But I want you to help me choose, I like all of these.”

  I open the door and sit inside the beautifully polished beast. “This costs more than I will see in my life Trey, I can’t choose for you.” I shake my head in disbelief.

  “Sure you can,” He kneels down beside me smiling his beautiful ear-to-ear smile.

  I look back at the perfectly crafted interior of the car, “Well this one’s…nice?”

  Trey laughs and walks over to look at one of the other cars, the passenger door of the Ferrari opens and Meagan jumps in next to me.

  “Oh my God! Can you believe we’re here, looking at these cars? Tell you what, I’m savoring this moment as it’s as close as I’ll ever get to one in my life.”

  “It’s all a bit surreal and I know jack about cars,” I look at her and cringe.

  Meagan stops stroking the seat she’s sat in then she looks at me, “I found out why he donated his cars to the AACR.”

  “Right?”

  She looks around then leans in, “Because of Aunty Sue.”

  “Mum? But why?”

  She shrugs her shoulder, “Nice gesture and to be fair I think it’s a really nice thing to do.”

  I remember back to our brief conversation in the lift the first night we met and I told Trey about my mum, he really is trying and that makes my heart melt more. I look through the windscreen and see him talking to Michael looking over the other cars.

  I agree with her with a nod and a sigh.

  “He is beautiful,” Meagan sighs.

  I look at her then realise she is looking at Michael, who in turn is looking back at her and just idly nodding along with whatever Trey is saying to him.

  “Yeah about Michael, while he’s working he needs to keep his attention on Trey and the area around. His job is to keep him safe, Trey is worried that he likes you and he’ll lose focus doing what he’s done for years and been so good at.”

  “He likes me?” She scream-whispers.

  “You got that from everything I said?” I laugh.

  “Wow he likes me and…”

  “No Meagan listen,” I grab her hand to draw her attention away from Michael, “If Michael can’t focus on his job then Trey will have to let him go because he’ll be no use. It’s fine that you two like each other but you need to not distract him so much.”

  “Oh I see, he’d get fired?”

  I nod, “He has tomorrow night off though.” I wink.

  A smile spreads across her face and she jumps out of the car.

  “Meagan!” I call after her, I know how flighty she can be and I need to make sure she’s at least heard some of what’s been said.

  She leans her head back in the car, “Yes, don’t worry, I know, tone it down.” Her smile grows and she runs off to see Lacey who is sprawled across another one of the cars.

  I look over at Trey and our eyes meet again, I smile a coy smile and look away to hide my embarrassment.

  Personally I don’t have a clue about cars, this one looks nice and the silver 4x4 looks ok, oh I don’t know I’ll just close my eyes and point if that’s what he really wants.

  I climb out of the car and pull my cuffs down over my hands, I can see Cole is on the phone in his office but he looks out of the window and smiles at me. I return his smile and walk over to Trey and Michael. As I reach them Trey turns to me and smiles, he places his arm around me and keeps me held in his embrace while he resumes the conversation with Michael about the cars.

  “So what do you think?” Trey asks.

  “Well I know nothing about cars but the Ferrari is pretty and that silver BMW 4x4 is nice too.”

  Trey laughs, “The pretty Ferrari and the shiny BMW it is,” he looks at Michael and they smile at each other, “Have you decided on the third car?”

  “No, I think you should let those two choose, they seem to enjoy cars more than I do.” I point to Meagan and Lacey who are taking a multitude of posed pictures using the cars as props.

  Trey signals to Cole that we are done and he exits his office removing the hands free headset from his ear.

  My phone starts to ring and I reach into my bag to pull it out,

  “You won’t get much reception in here,” Cole says smiling.

  “Oh ok,” I look at the phone and see it’s Brendan calling, “I’ll just pop outside and call him back, I won’t be a minute.” I say to Trey whilst turning for the door.

  “Michael will come with you.” Trey offers.

  “No, honestly I’m only going out the front, I’ll be five minutes then I’ll come back in.”

  “There’s an intercom by the main door, buzz and I’ll let you back in.”

  “Thank you,” I say to Cole and head for the door.

  I walk through the eerily dark, deserted car showroom to the glass doors and exit out into the cool evening air. I walk away from the building and try to redial Brendan to see what he wanted but the phone just rings out, well if it had been that important surely he would’ve left a message?

  I take a deep breath in and fill my lungs with the crisp air, then the chill starts to penetrate my jumper, why do I always forget to bring a coat with me. I turn to head back into the building and my phone starts ringing again, I see it’s Brendan so I answer,

  “Hi, everything ok?”

  “Yeah just ringing to see why all the windows are open in the apartment?”

  “Oh I don’t know, Meagan cooked dinner so it may have been before we left that she decided to air the place out.”

  “Ahh well if Meagan cooked then that explains it. Are you a
ll ok?”

  “Yes we’re fine, I have just popped outside to ring you back because there’s no signal in the building.”

  “Are you alone?”

  “No,” I know he’ll get angry after the little conversation we had earlier, “Michael, Treys bodyguard is with me.”

  “Ok,” I hear him relax, “Ok well I’ll see you later on.”

  “Ok bye.”

  “Bye.” He hangs up.

  I turn around to head back towards the building when a man’s voice calls to me from the road, “It’s very cold and dark to be out here alone.”

  I turn back to see two men walking into the lot, Shit!

  “Are you ok?” The man asks again and I hear that he has a British accent.

  The men draw closer, under the dimmed streetlight they approach, “Yes I’m ok thanks I’m just heading back in.”

  “Ahh a fellow Brit, here to see Cole and his emporium of cars?”

  Well he knows the man inside, this puts me at ease, “I’m with a friend who’s looking for a new car.”

  “Well please let me escort you inside, as I said it’s very dark out here.” The man says. His friend appears to hang back behind him.

  “Honestly I think I’ll be ok it’s only ten steps to the door.” I smile, hoping I can blow him off.

  “No. I won’t hear of it.” He orders.

  We walk towards the door, which isn’t far away, but the closer we get the further away it seems to be. I press the buzzer as per Cole’s instruction.

  “So where are you originally from?” The man asks.

  “Southeast England.” I answer quickly hoping for the door to be released soon.

  “Ah I know the county well, whereabouts? I’m from Kent.”

  Oh no, he’s offering information which suggests he wants a full-on conversation. He seems ok though, if he was going to abduct me surely he would’ve done it by now and not walked me back to where my friends are?

  “A town in Surrey,” I try to be as vague as possible.

  “I used to go out drinking around there years ago,” he chuckles, “Fond memories and always a pleasure to meet a fellow Brit.”