Derek

by Dawn Martens

  “Oh Derek. Don’t flatter yourself.” I stifle a laugh and see he’s staring at me with his intense eyes.

  Once I’m done combing his hair, I take out my scissors and cut away. With each clip, I start to feel calm, but then when he looks at me, everything tightens. I look up and see him staring at me. Desire in his eyes. I feel the same way. I want Derek. He pulls me in and I like to be around him, but I just cannot bring myself to trust another man. I sigh and finish up his hair cut.

  When we are done, he gets up, and takes out his wallet. “On the house. You bring me coffee and I’ll cut your hair.” Oh. My. God. Did I just say that? I don’t even like coffee. I look away, but Derek takes my hand and smiles. He gives me a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

  As he walks out of the door, I stand there with my mouth slightly open. What. The. Fuck. Did Derek just kiss me? I cannot take my eyes off the door. This is going to be fun. I run my hands up my face and turn away from the door to clean. A few moments pass before I come out of my stupor, and hand over the coffee to Erika.

  ~***~

  The next day is about the same; work is busy and I feel like I am on auto pilot.

  Everyone decided to come in today. I did so many cuts and colors. One lady wanted her hair cut short with blue highlights. I looked at my fifty year old, dark brown hair, green eyed, petite and slightly overweight client. I tried talking her out of it but she was convinced this was going to be good. Oh was she wrong. After I was done, she looked at herself in the mirror and cried. She got up and hugged me and I listened to her sob story for twenty minutes while my other clients waited.

  After the last client leaves, I make the decision to shut down the salon for an hour. I tell Erika to go relax and be back at one. I grab my purse and head to a small café across the street. I order two turkey sandwiches with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. The lady at the counter asks what type of roll I want. I stand there like an idiot. Well, he works out and is fit so he must like wheat or multigrain. She lets out a loud sigh so I know I am bothering her. I flash a smile and ask for both sandwiches to be on their multigrain bread. While she is making my order, I grab two bottles of water and two pieces of fruit. I pay for both orders and head over to where Derek is working.

  I walk over to the next street where his building is and stand in front of the large building. There are windows all over it and are at least eight floors to the building. “Ry get your shit together. It’s just lunch,” I mumble to myself. I raise my head high and walk up to the front desk. “Hi, I’m looking for Derek Tremaine. I have lunch for him.”

  The blonde eyes me up and down. I see her rolling her eyes at me. Bitch. “Who are you?”

  “Rylie.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” She mumbles to herself. What the fuck?

  Finally she tells me that he’s down the hall, second door on the left. I thank her and make my way down. I knock. “Come in.” I hear Derek annoyingly say.

  I open the door slightly, sticking the food in first. “I brought lunch.”

  I hear him laugh quietly, before I fully open his door. He comes over, gives me a hug and takes the bag of food. “Sit, we’ll eat together.” He says smiling.

  I follow him as he pushes the sofa to the corner and sits down. “What are you doing?”

  He pats the ground, “Picnic. Come on beautiful. Sit down with me.”

  I giggle. Wow he can really be sweet and adorable. A part of me wants to let him in. I have not been with anyone since Caleb and I think I can be happy with Derek. He’s sweet, sexy, caring and funny. I look into his eyes and feel safe. He takes out the sandwiches, water and fruits. When he opens the wrapper to his sandwich, he smiles. “What,” I ask?

  “Sweetheart, this is great.”

  “Yo-you like it?” God. Why am I such a loser? I look away and take my apple. I play with the stem and twirl it around.

  Derek takes my hand and runs his thumb over my hand, “Yes, this is very sweet of you. I love it all.”

  “Oh, the girl at reception is sort of a bitch.” I say breezily.

  Derek laughs. “Cecily? Yeah, any female that comes here for me, she acts like that too. Then for a week afterwards she acts like that with me. She’s been trying to get me to ask her out for months.”

  “Why haven’t you taken her out?” I say confused. She’s a beautiful girl.

  “Just looking for something different.” He says.

  I relax and it feels nice. I listen to him talk about his day and everything seems normal. He touches my face but I don’t pull away. Maybe this is a new start.

  Chapter 10

  Derek

  I touch her cheek and she leans into my hand. “You’re so beautiful.”

  “Derek,” she starts to say, “Who are you?”

  We laugh together. The sound of her laugh rings through my office. “I told you I changed. Now I guess I have to start showing you huh?” She looks away from me. I put my finger under her chin and move it back my way, “Don’t do that. You should never feel shy or nervous around me.” She gives me that beautiful smile.

  Before I know it, it’s 1 pm. “Oh shit, I have to get back!” Rylie quickly gets up and I get up with her. “Thanks for this Derek,” she touches my arm and fuck, I wish I could have kissed her just now. “I really had fun.”

  “Me too. I’ll see you soon okay?”

  “Okay.”

  I lean in and give her a kiss on her cheek. “Have a great day and think of me.” She blushes and heads out of my office.

  I stand there just looking at her as she walks away. That ass, damn.

  After Rylie leaves, I start to get back to work when I hear a knock on my door. I look at my appointments for the day, but see that the afternoon is clear. “Come in.”

  I don’t both looking up from my computer until the door slams. When I look up, Cecily marches towards my desk. Pissed.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “Are you fucking kidding me!? You turn me down, for that crack whore wannabe?” she screeches.

  I stand up from my desk and lean towards her. “Don’t you ever fucking talk about her that way, you have no fucking clue what she’s been through!”

  “Been through? Right, she probably did it to herself!” she says spitefully.

  “One more fucking word about her, I will see you fired! Rylie Sullivan is her name. You want to see what she’s been through, look her up!” I sit back down in my chair and go back to work. I can practically feel the steam coming off Cecily. She doesn’t say another word, just marches out the door and slams it behind it.

  Fucking bitch.

  ~***~

  Cecily

  I left Derek’s office pissed. He turns me down for some emo chick. How dare, he. I’ve been trying to get Derek for the last year, but nothing I do ever works. I even tried not being interested in him, thinking maybe he enjoyed the chase. Still nothing! Yet, he’s attracted to some bitch with tattoos all over her body, piercings in her face, and dreadlocks for hair! That’s bullshit! What’s he doing? Rebelling against Mummy? No way in hell his mother would approve of that bitch!

  I go to by desk and boot up the computer. Rylie Sullivan, I type into the Google search bar. Article after article pops up.

  Oh my god. That poor girl. Wait, what am I saying? She’s too damaged for Derek. He doesn’t need that in his life. He needs someone strong, someone that doesn’t come with that kind of baggage. While I feel bad for the girl, she isn’t the one for him. I am.

  She’s not even from money. Money sticks with money. Money doesn’t go for trash.

  And I will make him see that. Eventually. It’s only just a matter of time.

  Chapter 11

  Rylie

  I go to my closet and pick out my hot red maxi dress and pair it with my red strappy flats. I hate heels. They are just not for me. I look at the time, and notice that I’m running late. I quickly shoot Derek and Mel a text saying I’ll be there in ten. I call up a cab and wait out front f
or it to pull up.

  Ten minutes later, right on the dot, I pull up in front of the club. I pay the driver and hop out. Spotting Derek by the door and Mel in line.

  “Hey bitch.” Mel says. I pull her out of the line and we make our way up to the front, where Derek is.

  “Derek, Mel. Mel, Derek.” They shake hands before the bouncer ushers us threw the velvet rope and we’re immersed into the dim smoky lighting of the club. We slowly make our way over to a table, and take our seats. I turn to Derek.

  “How did you get us in here so fast?”

  “I’m friends with the bouncer.” He smirks at me then goes to the bar to place our order.

  “So that is Derek huh? Fuck, he is fine girl. What the hell you waiting for? Girl you better get up on that!” Mel says. Seriously, the way she talks, you would think she was from some ghetto town.

  “Yeah.” I say looking over in his direction.

  “You better tap that before blondie over there does.” She points over to Derek, and I see a blonde girl next to him, wearing barely anything, and shoving her tits into his chest. He shakes his head and steps back from her while she pouts and flaunts off. “Never mind, don’t think you need to be worrying about that.”

  I smile to myself and shake my head. Mel and I decide to go up to the bar and check it out. There is a hot bartender in a tight black tee and jeans. Mel is eye fucking him and I cannot help but laugh. He makes his way over to us, “What can I get you fine ladies tonight?” His brown eyes shine at us as he smiles mischievously.

  “Darling I want you, but if you can’t comply. Gimme two shots of royal flush!” Before the hot bartender can say anything, Mel gets on the bar, seductively pulls him to her and kisses him! I watch in amazement as my friend is practically tongue raping this poor guy, but then I see his hands getting fresh and even more tongue movement. Ugh. There goes my shot!

  I turn around to head back toward our table, but there Derek is. Standing in front of me. Before I can say anything, he grabs my hips, and drags me to the dance floor. Like a G6 is playing and everyone around us goes wild, but all I see is Derek. His eyes look deep into mine. I see desire and lust. I feel his fingers grip my hips tighter and tighter as we move to the music. I wrap my arms around his neck. Slowly and sultrily, I turn around and grind my ass into him. As I start moving down, his hands begin to roam over my body causing me to close my eyes and let the music take me away.

  “If you keep dancing like this I will take you right here on the dance floor,” he growls in my ear.

  I keep dancing. Daring him to do something. Anything.

  Derek pulls me in closer. His hips move in time with mine and it’s as though we’re together as one. The music stops playing and another song comes on. “Come on sexy. You owe me a drink!”

  We make our way through the crowd when some dumbass grabs my arm, “Come on. Let’s dance.”

  I pull my arm away, but before I can say anything, Derek pushes me to the side and punches the jerk in the face. “Listen fucker. Don’t you ever touch her again! Do I make myself clear?” Derek grabs the guy by the collar of his shirt and throws him into the crowd. I run up to Derek and pull him away.

  “Come on let’s go.” I take his hand and we head out of the club.

  The night air is cool this evening. There are people everywhere. Laughing. Smiling. Some are in groups walking in and out of the clubs. There is one couple making out on the side of the street. Damn some people just don’t care. I peek through the corner of my eyes and see Derek. He looks so mad. I give him more time to cool down before putting my hand in his. “You okay?” he grunts. I love this side of him. I wonder more about Derek and how we easily fit together. As we round a corner I can see a diner coming up and I am feeling hungry. “Come on, let’s go eat.”

  “What about Mel?” Derek says pausing our steps.

  “She’ll be fine, once she finds a man, I never see her again anyways.” And it’s true. The minute she latches onto a man at the clubs she’s gone, never to be heard from again until the next work day.

  We walk through the glass doors. There are empty booths everywhere. Perfect. It is nice and quiet here. An older brown haired woman greets us. “Two?”

  “Yes please,” I respond.

  She grabs two menus and some silverware that’s wrapped with a napkin, “Follow me doll.” We follow her to a booth in the back of the diner, and sit down on opposite sides. The hostess gives us our menus, “Look it over and Chy will be with you soon.”

  Derek puts the menu down and looks at me. “You alright?”

  I nod.

  “Sorry about tonight babe. I didn’t want this shit to happen. What the fuck? That prick deserved to get decked.”

  “Hey,” I start to say, “It’s no worries. Let’s just order some food.”

  A young red head comes over and we both order a turkey sandwich on a multigrain roll. When she leaves, I notice Derek staring at me. “Why do you keep looking at me?”

  He shakes his head, “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

  “Stop.” I look away. I can’t do this. I don’t want to drag him through this. “Derek,” I begin to say, “I just want us to be friends. Can you accept that?”

  “Not a chance. Ry you will be mine. Sooner than later. The first fucking in you give me, I’m taking it.”

  The waitress comes back over and puts our plates in front of us. She lingers for a long while, maybe she’s hoping Derek will notice her? She doesn’t look at me once, just keeps looking at Derek with a flirty smile. When he just brushes her off, she leaves in a huff.

  Now I’m not feeling all that hungry. I pick at my food as we eat in silence. When Derek is through, he pays for our check then drives me home in his black Toyota Camry. I sort of made fun of him for it. I was expecting some sports car, or super cool luxury car definitely not a Mum car. Derek turns the tables by asking me what kind of car I drive. And I instantly shut up. It’s not much cooler than his because it happens to be the same flippen car. Only mine is silver.

  He gets me home and walks me to my door. “I had fun, minus the face punching of that guy, but otherwise I had a really great time.” I say to him as I give him a small hug.

  I go to step back but he doesn’t let go. I am able to push back just far enough to look at him. “I’m not going to kiss you Rylie, because I don’t think you’re ready, but soon.” He leans in and softly kisses my forehead and leaves.

  Shit, maybe I’m in trouble here.

  ~***~

  Derek

  I’m driving home, thinking about our conversation. Maybe telling Rylie she was going to be mine was a bad idea. But I can’t help how I feel. The way she was moving on that dance floor. Fuck. It made me so hard. Maybe I came on too strong, I don’t want to scare her off before I finally have her.

  I’m almost twenty seven, it’s time to settle down. The more I get to know more about Rylie, the more I want her to be the one I settle down with. But, I have no idea how to get her to truly let me in. Maybe, I should talk to Mum. She’s a woman. Maybe, she’ll know what to do. I turn the car around and head to my parents.

  As soon as I walk in the door, my Mum walks into the foyer. “Hey Sweetie.” She says then looks at her watch. “What are you doing home so early?”

  I shrug, “I need to talk.”

  She walks up and takes my hand. We walk into the den and sit down on the sofa. “What’s wrong sweetheart?”

  “It’s that woman I told you about. I think... I know that I am falling for her.” I go on to tell Mum about everything that happened to Rylie or at least the parts that I knew.

  “Like I said before, she is still healing. You have to give her time. If not, you will scare her off.”

  “Bullshit.” My Dad says, as he walks into the room. “You give that girl time, she will run away. You keep at her. Every day! Don’t push her, but be there for her. Prove to her that you won’t hurt her like that bastard did. Be the man, I taught you to be.”

  “How do
I do that without pushing her away?”

  Dad shakes his head. “You be her friend, but make sure she knows that you want more. When she gives you an opening, you jump right through it.”

  “Your Dad’s right about most of what he said, but I don’t agree with the friend part. Yes, you can be her friend. But, she needs a woman to talk to. I know just the person.” Mum finishes with a smile.

  I head back to my room and think about everything that just happened. Is this seriously fucking happening? Why is this shit so hard? “I gotta get outta here,” I mutter. I change my clothes and throw on basketball shorts and a tee. I put on my sneakers, grab my iPod and head out.

  I walk into the night and start running. Rylie’s face, her voice, everything about her runs through my mind. I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s messing with me but I am not going to turn away from her.

  Chapter 12

  Rylie

  It’s been a week since that night with Derek. But he hasn’t brought it up. We still see each other every day. He brings me coffee, which I always hand over to Erika when he leaves. And I always bring him lunch. I snap my head up from my appointment book when I hear the bell over the door go off.

  “Rylie, your two o’clock is here,” Erika says as she walks a very pretty, middle aged woman towards my chair.

  “Rylie, this is Elizabeth. She’s up next.” She says and walks away.

  I shake Elizabeth’s hand and lead her into the chair.

  “Hello Elizabeth, I’m Rylie. What would you like done today?”

  “Oh sweetie, I know who you are. I hear about you all the time. That’s why I decided to come in.” Elizabeth says with a smile.

  “Well that’s great. I love it when clients send me new people. Let’s me know that I’m doing a good job.”

  “Oh it wasn’t a client. Well I guess he does get his hair cut here. So, that makes him a client. But, I think he is more of a friend.”

  I start to get a little nervous. I do not like the idea of one of my male clients thinking of me as a friend.