Meeting Mr Write

by Cassandra P Lewis

  “Romance, Ms Alvez….”

  I can’t help but smile as we walk back slowly along the sand, Jackson explains met the guy in the restaurant last night while his now fiancée was using the bathroom. He had looked pale and nervous and Jackson went over to ask if he was ok. He explained that he was going to propose on the beach the next night and looking down at the spot from the terrace was making it all very real, Jackson had bought him a drink and wished him luck before leaving to join us at Presley’s.

  We reach the BBQ and Pippa is dancing with two men by the fire, she sees me and smiles but no way is she leaving her new companions. Jackson gets me another beer and sits on the sand next to me

  “That wasn’t exactly what I expected” I blush

  “What were you expecting exactly?” he glances at me and hands me a bottle

  “Erm, I thought you wanted alone time, with me” I giggle and scrunch up my nose in embarrassment,

  “Oh” he laughs “I do Rosie, I really really do” he takes a deep breath and looks at me with the same hunger that I saw in his eyes last night “but you made it perfectly clear how you feel about me, so I figured it wasn’t worth trying”

  I smile at Jackson and then out to sea before sipping my beer.

  So much for ‘Tomorrow is a new day’.

  “Morning Sunshine” Pippa is chirpy today “so, feeling inspired yet Ms Alvez? Ready to spill?” she dives on the bottom of my bed like she did when we were teenagers and gossiping about boys we’d kissed,

  “Pippa, nothing happened, we talked, we drank, and that’s all!” I grimace, she’s certain there’s more “He fancies himself more than I do!”

  “Rosie, if I looked like him, I’d fancy myself too! Come on, breakfast, and then pool!”

  Despite my annoyance at her wake up call, Pippa knows me so well, and I am feeling quite inspired. I decide to take my laptop down to the pool with me. I get a frown from my best friend at the sight of it, “two birds, one stone Carvalho!”

  I am writing, hallelujah! Ok so it’s not making a lot of sense yet and it’s more a bunch of different ideas than a story, but it’s a start. My tummy rumbles and I check my phone, “Pippa, it’s almost twelve, fancy a bite?”

  “Yeah ok Rosie, will Mr Sony be joining us!” she sarcastically refers to my laptop “you’ve been tapping away all morning”

  “How would you bloody know, you’ve been snoring your head off”

  She laughs and I put Mr Sony down under my towel and head into the pool, we’re eating at the pool bar, when in Rome!

  After lunch I decide to go up to the room to write. I love the sun but it’s the middle of the day and it’s almost unbearably hot, air conditioning and a cold Fanta are required. Pippa has decided to go to the seven eleven near the hotel. She wants hydro cortisone cream because she’s been bitten by a mosquito…one bite, compared to my fifty, ok I actually only have about eight but they itch like crazy.

  When whirlwind Carvalho bursts into the room about an hour later she is like a kid at Christmas, “Rosie Alvez, I would be delighted if you would accompany me on a double date this evening!” I look at her like she has completely lost it “I bumped into Sven and Sebastian, The shexy shvedes from last night” she’s gone a bit Sean Connery, the girl is mad! “They want to take us out, dinner then party then who knows what!” she shimmies and bites her lip, excited at the prospect of ticking Sweden off her world map of conquests,

  “Pip, babe, I’m kind of on a roll…you go, I’m sure you can handle the both of them, but take your phone!” I give my best friend the ‘be careful’ look that she knows all too well,

  “Ahh Rosie” she tries to sound disappointed at the idea of going it alone, but I know her too well “well, if you’re sure!” and with a wink she grabs me and pulls me off my bed…”pool!”

  “Pippa, it’s wonderful to see you again, where’s the lovely Rosie?” I bump into Pippa walking in the opposite direction to me with two young blonde guys that look completely lost in her company.

  “Hi Jackson, Rosie is back at the hotel, seems she found some inspiration” she smiles at me, as though she thinks I’ve had something to do with it.

  “You mean to tell me you’re taking care of those two boys all alone? I don’t know whether to be jealous of them or worried for their safety” I feel it’s actually a little of both,

  “Ha! the latter Mr James!” Pippa laughs and I don’t doubt that she’s right.

  “I’ll leave you to your evening Pippa, oh by the way, where are you staying? Just out of travel writer’s interest of course!”

  “Oh of course Mr James” that smile again “Pakasai Resort, I’m sure you know it! Night Mr James” I do know it, I may just have to stop by, in the interest of gathering information.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Hello?” I answer the phone in the hotel room

  “Ms Alvez, a man in reception for you” The English is broken but understandable, certainly better than my Thai,

  “A man, for me?”

  “Yes Ms Alvez, you come down” I think that was a question but it sounds like an order,

  “Yes ok” Oh god oh god, I know it’s him, he’s just the right amount of arrogant to turn up at my hotel, wait how did he know I was staying here? I don’t know but bloody look at me, I’m a mess!

  I do the best I can in just under ten minutes and head down to the lobby, I have on a short sundress, I’ve pulled my hair into a high pony tail and quickly applied some mascara, Vaseline and blusher, and I’m done…I wish!

  “Mr James, are you stalking me?” he smiles making my stomach and everything below it clench delightfully,

  “I bumped into Pippa, she said you were all alone, I thought you could use some company, maybe some inspiration” he twists his mouth to the side as if to say I know you want me Alvez!

  “Presumptuous as ever Jackson! What did you have in mind?” I think I’m appearing calm on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m burning up.

  “Dinner? Unless you’ve already eaten?” his head is tilted and he’s looking up at me, almost as though he’s nervous that I’ll say no.

  “I haven’t” I smile, and for the first time I relax slightly in his company

  “Good” he looks up and grins like the Cheshire cat “you look sensational by the way” I gasp and blush, I didn’t expect that. Jackson holds out his arm in his best Mr Darcy impression, somehow I doubt he’s much of a gentleman, the wild child in me hopes he isn’t!

  “This place does the best Thai food Rosie, have you had much Thai since you’ve been here?” He is looking at me, a genuine soft look, like he’s really interested in getting to know me.

  “Some, I’ve never really eaten Thai at home so never know what to order, papaya salad maybe?” I tilt my head to the side and smile, he’s knows I’m reading his book and he laughs,

  “Indeed Rosie, indeed! Let me order for you, anything you don’t like? Allergies?”

  “Nope, I’m good to go” I smile and look up through my eyelashes,

  “I hope so” oh that grin, my god he’s hot, and he’s flirting with me! ‘Do it Alvez, just do it, you need it’ I tell myself.

  When the waiter comes over, without even looking at the menu, Jackson orders what sounds like an incredible amount of food, in Thai, no hesitation on the words or it seems, the pleasantries as the waiter laughs, and saunters off to prepare our order. Oh Mr James, you know full well that impressed me, and he looks thoroughly pleased with himself.

  “So, Rosie, how’s the book coming along?”

  “It’s not really, just playing with some ideas. Still, the juices are flowing” I smile and slightly bite at my lip, I notice Jackson’s lips part slightly and he swigs at his beer keeping eye contact with me. Am I actually flirting?

  The waiter arrives with a number of dishes, papaya salad, of course! Grilled red snapper, pad thai, sticky rice and more, all to die for, the fragrances of Thai food are completely intoxicating.

  “Wow, Jackson, this
is really impressive!” I’m genuinely excited at the prospect of trying all these new flavours, Jackson James included

  “Wait till you try it Ms Alvez!” his eyes flare briefly at me and we’re both clear that we’re not talking about food.

  Who would have thought I’d have such a great evening with Jackson James for company? But the fact is that he’s actually nice, really nice, we even exchanged phone numbers. He paid for dinner, he made me laugh, he listened to my sob story about Michael, why I brought that up I don’t know but the fact is, as obnoxious as he can be, he seems alright.

  He stands and holds out his hand for me to take, which I do, happily and we walk back towards my hotel. As we get closer the conversation dies out, I’m so nervous, am I really doing this? He comes in and leads me to the lift, not saying a word. I press the button for the third floor and as the doors close he steps toward me, pressing against the side of the elevator. I’m ready, I want this.

  “I would do very, very bad things to you Rosie Alvez” his right hand is on the wall above my head and his left skirts down my hip to the bare skin of my thigh, he looks intensely into my eyes, oh wow, I tingle and I’m ready “but not tonight” ‘WHAT!?’

  The elevator doors open and he takes my hand once more, we walk to my room, I’m confused and from somewhere I find my voice, “Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”

  “Ms Alvez, if I come in, you will get no sleep, and exhaustion is bad for writer’s block” He leans toward me again with a hunger in his eyes, I’m frozen against the door of my room “Soon Rosie, very soon!” he turns, and heads back toward the elevator and I’m done for, I’m horny as hell and he left me standing there, wanting.

  I’m frustrated in more ways than one as I get into my pyjamas and try to forget the chemistry between us, when my mobile sounds to alert me to text message, it’s Jackson ‘Soon x’

  I climb into bed and reach for my kindle, I try to read but my mind is whirring, all I see in my head is him, Jackson James. I’m exhausted and need to sleep so I pull the pillow over my head in an attempt to block out his beautiful face…

  “Why are you alone?”

  “What?” Pippa is just getting in, I reach for my phone, it’s five fifteen am,

  “Rosie, Jackson James, where is he? I told him you were here in the hope that he’d come and relieve some of your tension!” she has her hands on her hips and is staring at me alone in bed.

  “Oh, he did, well he came here, and then he left!” I blush “nothing happened”

  “oh” she’s pouting disappointedly

  “Anyway did you have a good night?” I ask through a yawn,

  “Hmm, yes very very good night, I conquered Sweden!” she salutes as though she is doing her bit for world peace. We laugh, and she falls dramatically onto her bed, I roll onto my back and thoughts of Jackson creep back into my mind. I need him, and I will have him. I’ve decided.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The phone in the hotel room rings, “Hello?” I look at my phone, its only seven twenty

  “Ms Alvez, that man, he here again” the receptionist from last night is still there,

  “Ok” I hang up…oh my god what is he doing here? I jump up; Pippa is sleeping off last night’s activities. Right Alvez, let’s do this. I shower quickly, pull on a coral bikini, denim shorts and a vest, I pull my hair into a loose side ponytail, brush my teeth and head downstairs.

  In the lobby, Jackson looks delicious; he has on low hanging linen shorts, a white shirt and sandals, hot!

  “Wake up call Mr James?” I question with a confident smile,

  “I’m going out for the day and thought you might like to join me, Pippa?”

  “Asleep”

  “The Swedes?” he asks, I laugh and roll my eyes “I’ll grab a coffee while you wake her, she’ll enjoy this too. Tell her not to forget her camera.” Oh and there was me thinking it would just be the two of us.

  I head back up to room to wake Pippa and after a bit of persuading, she’s up and dressed and we head back down to the lobby. There’s a car waiting and Jackson opens the door so that Pippa and I can enter, Steve is at the wheel and Jackson climbs into the passenger seat, I am sitting behind Steve, and Pippa behind Jackson.

  “Hey Steve, nice to see you again” Pippa smiles genuinely,

  “Hey Whitney, Mariah, hope you’re well” Pippa giggles and I smile, I’m a little embarrassed by my performance at the karaoke bar.

  “So, JJ” Pippa unashamedly steals Steve’s nickname for Jackson, “where are we going!”

  “Wait and see. You’ll get some great shots though sweetie” Jackson turns and smiles at me.

  We drive for about forty minutes and then pull into a bumpy driveway. In front of us is a building that looks like it has seen better days, its painted blue and green. There are rubber trees at the front and two dogs lazing in the sun.

  “Jackson, we’ve missed you” a small English lady walks out of the building towards us, arms stretched out calling Jackson in for a hug as he climbs out of the car.

  “Jean, it’s great to be back, these are my friends, Steve, Pippa, and this is Rosie” she hugs us all in turn. I’d say she’s early fifties, she seems very nice but I still don’t know why we’re here. There’s a sign on the building but it’s in Thai.

  “It’s lovely to have you all here, come on in then, they’re waiting” Jean looks excited to have visitors. Jackson smiles and retrieves a duffle bag from the boot of the car,

  “Come on in then, they’re waiting” he repeats Jean’s words with a smile and we follow.

  As we get closer to the door I hear the noise from inside, singing and children laughing. Jackson is smiling the most genuinely happy smile that I have seen from him and as we walk through the door he laughs and sweeps the little girl running toward him up into his arms. Jean comes over to where Pippa and I are standing slightly confused,

  “It’s a nursery. We take care of children whose parents are too poor to feed, clothe and educate them. Jackson is a great supporter”

  I’m shocked, I watch as Jackson goes to sit cross legged on the floor with more children, they seem to know him very well and he looks really happy. Pippa is inspired and heads in to take some photos; Jackson beckons me to join him.

  “They’re great aren’t they” he smiles while a little girl sits in his lap with a book.

  “they’re lovely Jackson, I have to say I’m surprised, you don’t strike me as the paternal type” he looks at me confused “I love kids, and I’m in a position to help”

  “Do they live here” I look around; there are maybe fifty children here, from babies up to about thirteen.

  “some do, mostly it’s just a place where their parents know they’ll get a good meal and are well cared for while they work” he lifts the small girl from his lap and stands, “they have a few kids here who don’t have homes, mostly the babies”

  We walk over toward a door at the back of the room and out into a garden, there are more children out here and I am stunned, all of these families are so poor that they have to send their children here just so that they can eat. I feel tears prick my eyes and Jackson notices,

  “Hey, don’t. look how happy they are” he smiles

  “Yeah but Jackson, they have nothing, it doesn’t seem fair” I manage to hold back the tears but the lump in my throat is going nowhere.

  “They have food and water, great families and the staff here are brilliant. They have clothes and shoes and toys, and smiles on their faces. Where we’re born is the luck of the drawer Rosie but it’s down to people like us to do our bit and try to even it out”

  A boy of about five calls Jackson by name, he’s holding a football and obviously wants to play. Jackson walks over and takes the ball from the boy, he says something points at me and the boy runs and takes my hand, he pulls me over to the grassed area where Jackson is already showing off his ball skills. “You ready to play Alvez?” he throws me the ball like he’s throwing down the gauntl
et,

  “Ahh, you may regret that James” I happen to love a kick around, I just hope everything Rafe taught me is still in there somewhere,

  “oh, have some skills do we?” he winks and grins that grin

  “Of course, I’m Spanish!” I shrug my shoulders and laugh as we’re joined by Steve and even more children wanting to play.

  Chapter Fourteen

  We played and ate lunch with the children, read stories, painted pictures and watched as Jackson handed out toys and treats from the duffle bag, he’s a regular Santa Claus.

  I’m sitting on the floor with two young twin girls; Jean tells me that they have just turned three. They’re playing with the Barbie dolls that Jackson has just given to them and it strikes me that regardless of the differences in our lives, they’re doing exactly the same as I was doing at that age, I watch them lost in their own world and feel calmer than I have in a while.

  Jackson surprises me leaning down from behind me and softly whispers in my ear so that he doesn’t disturb the twins “I want to show you something, come on” and he holds out his hand to help me up, but doesn’t let go as he leads me into a room to the left of the garden, there’s a charge between us that I can’t deny, but he scares me, I know it’s going to end in tears.

  We enter the room and I notice that there are six cribs lined up against the back wall, a Thai lady is feeding a young baby in a rocking chair at the opposite end to where we stand and she smiles at us as we walk further into the room. Jackson leads me by the hand that he is still holding and takes me over to the cribs.

  “They’re so young” I love babies, I always have, but I feel sad that these young lives are starting here, without family, then I remember what Jackson said, this place offers a better chance at a good life and I smile as a baby girl wraps her tiny hand around my finger. Jackson has let go of my hand and is now standing at the next crib, he leans and picks up a young baby boy, he can’t be more than a few days old.