Me And Mrs Jones

by Marie Rochelle

  Allan’s light brown eyes narrowed at her. “I think you’re a fool to even be out in public with someone so much younger than you. Every time someone looks in your direction just remember they’re laughing at you thinking someone like your date is truly interested in an old woman like you. Have a great day,” he spat then stormed out leaving Renee staring after him in utter shock.

  Renee was astonished by the fact a total stranger had enough nerve to hit on her when he saw she was with another man. Yet, when she turned down his advances he turned on her like he had a spilt personality.

  What was wrong with people today?

  Did he truly think that his tirade would mess with her mind so she would doubt what she had going on with Travis? He wasn’t anyone to her at all and his unwanted opinion didn’t have any effect of what she was going to do with Travis.

  Something clicked in her mind when Allan was snapping at her a few minutes ago; she wasn’t interested in what other people thought about her relationship with Travis. Renee wasn’t about to allow Allan or any other closed-minded person to get involved in her business. She was beginning to recognize her own needs and the undeniable truth was Travis brought a passion back to her life that had been missing for a while now.

  Sitting outside on the restaurant patio, Renee wondered how she was going to keep things going in the direction they were with Travis. She liked the spur-of-the-moment attitude Travis possessed. It was something she wouldn’t ever get tired of anytime soon.

  All day long the only thing she’d thought about was the ecstasy she felt being held against Travis’ strong body while they danced the night away in the park. Travis wasn’t aware of the burning imprint he left on her long after their date was over.

  Hours after he was gone, she still felt the warm heat of his kisses and hands on her body. Travis knew how to get her body to the burning point without putting a lot of effort into it.

  “What has you in such deep thought?” Travis’ voice whispered against the side of her neck. Coming around her, he retook his seat. “Sorry it took so long. I got sidetrack by a customer who wanted to know if I would be interested in doing a family portrait for them.”

  As Renee gazed at the handsome man across from her, she realized how lucky she was to have Travis in her life. He wasn’t trying to be anything he wasn’t with her and she liked that the most about him.

  As happy as Renee felt at this very moment, though, Allan’s words suddenly came rushing back to her. He’s only using you until someone younger comes along. You can’t believe he really wants an older woman like you?

  This was only their second date. However, Renee felt like she was having a date with someone she had been dating for months or even years. Travis put her at ease and she knew it would only get better between them.

  “I was just thinking about you,” she answered, honestly.

  “Care to share your thoughts with me?” Travis smiled at her, leaning across the table. “I would love to know what is going on in that beautiful head of yours.”

  All of Renee’s doubts left her mind when Travis smiled at her like she was the only woman in the world. He wasn’t using her until someone better came along. He was interested in what was simmering beneath the surface with them. Allan wanted to put reservations in her head and she wouldn’t give him that power over her. If she had enough strength to get rid of her lying, cheating husband, Renee wouldn’t allow a total stranger to gain any hold over her.

  “How about you walk me back to the gallery and I can fill you in.”

  “I would love to.” Getting up from his seat, Travis came close, looking down at her intensely as he held out his hand. “Come on. Let’s go beautiful. After I take you back to work, I need to finish up some extra paintings. So, I might not be able to have dinner with you tonight. Is that okay with you?”

  Pulling her out of her seat, Travis walked with her back through the restaurant and then out the front door. Once they were outside, he held her hand as they went back in the direction of her gallery.

  “I understand that you need to finish up your work. How about we decide to do something tomorrow?” Renee was already thinking about what she could surprise Travis with since he had already taken her out to eat twice. This would be the perfect time to amaze him with a little gift of her own.

  “Spending the day with you tomorrow sounds wonderful,” Travis answered as he glanced down at her. “It will give me something to look forward to while I’m out in the woods by myself.”

  “Don’t you get lonely way out there all alone? Do you wish that you had another person out there with you?” Renee asked as they stopped in front of her place of business.

  “Most of the time it doesn’t bother me during the day because I stay so busy painting the scenery or working on a new idea, but at night when I’m alone in my tent I do miss having someone there next to me,” he admitted. “I wish that I could talk you into coming out there with me. I know you’d love it so much. Do you know how stunning you would look out there in the beauty of nature?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  What are you so scared of? A little voice asked inside of her head. Haven’t you been waiting to break out of your shell for such a long time?

  Spending the night in the woods with Travis would absolutely be the best way to break out of the same old tired routine she had placed herself in over the past couple of months. She would get to see and experience what gave him his inspiration. Most artists didn’t reveal their muse to everyone, so she should feel very blessed that Travis was willing to do that with her.

  “After giving it some more thought, I think it would be wonderful to go with you,” Renee said hoping this wouldn’t be a mistake on her part.

  “I still need to work on a couple of things here and leave some instructions for my assistant Cruz. In addition, I need to get a change of clothes from home. I can’t put the same clothes back on from the day before.”

  His face spilt into a wide grin. “Baby, I promise you that you will love it. I can’t wait until tonight when you’re wrapped in my arms looking up at the stars,” Travis said. He rested his hands on her shoulders, causing her body to tingle from the light contact.

  Why must Travis’ every movement remind her of his animal magnetism? She was having a hard enough time not kissing him as it was outside in front of her shop. But she decided not to do it since she didn’t want everyone in her personal business.

  “Travis, I know you’ll make it perfect for me. I have no doubt about it,” Renee answered, running her finger down the front of his shirt. God, she had to get away from him before she lost control.

  “I better go. How about you meet me at my house and I can follow you to your camp from there?” Renee suggested. “I’d rather drive my own car just in case. I never know when it comes to the gallery.”

  Pulling her to his hard chest, Travis ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “Renee, I don’t care if you drive your own car. All I care about is tonight when I turn over and you are there next to me.”

  Travis’ soft spoken words wrapped Renee up in a cocoon of euphoria. To other people it might seem like they were moving too fast, but it was just at the right pace for her. She wasn’t over thinking anything going on between them. All she was doing was living in the moment which was a huge change from her usual well thought out life.

  Moving Travis’ hand away from her lips, Renee took a step away from him. It would be for the best if she put some distance between the two of them. He might have forgotten they were on a public sidewalk in plain view of everyone, but she hadn’t.

  “Stop trying to tempt me into doing something bad,” she scolded, lightly. “Now, let me get my work taken care of and I’ll meet you at my house around three o’clock.”

  “I’ll back off for now, but once you get out there at my camp you’ll be in my territory and I’m not going to let you go until I’m good and ready.”

  He looked at her and the double meaning of his gaze was very obvious. “E
njoy the rest of your day at work. I’ll see you later on at your house.” Travis winked at her and then turned around heading back in the direction his jeep was parked at the side of the street.

  Standing back Renee noticed how every woman stopped and did a double look at Travis’ tight ass in his jeans as he sauntered past them, but not once did he ever take a second glance at them.

  Yes, ladies look all you want, but Travis is going to be with me, Renee thought as she turned away.

  Unlocking the gallery door, she went inside closing the door after her. She had to get her mind off of Travis for the next couple of hours, but it seemed easier than it honestly was. He had taken root in her head and she wasn’t about to let anyone or anything take Travis away from her.

  Their initial taste of intimacy had pleased her and she wasn’t ready to let go until she got the entire meal.

  Travis stimulated her mind along with her imagination in a way that kept her interested in him longer than any other man had since her divorce. He had a way of sparking her inquisitive side by allowing her glimpses into parts of himself that he kept from others.

  He didn’t brag a lot about how he found inspirations that drew him to paint amazing pictures, but how it just seemed to call to him from somewhere deep inside. She couldn’t help but be more curious when Travis did things like that to her.

  Walking around the room, Renee placed her purse down on one of the showroom tables and then made her way over to one of Travis’ paintings that Cruz already had hung up. Standing back, she took her time looking at it wondering what Travis had been thinking when he decided to paint this specific waterfall.

  This particular showing of his talent was a lot more intimate and fascinating that his other two works of art. The way the water glistened on the canvas called to a collector to stop and take notice like the hypnotic water had a secret only it could tell you...and you wanted to be that one person it told.

  With this upcoming show, Travis’ name would become more recognized in the community with the bigger art buyers. He would get to learn who the significant players were and then the right person would start calling on him to do more work for them.

  Renee sensed that Travis might be a little uncomfortable socializing with a lot of unfamiliar people, but he didn’t have to talk and sell his work a lot. Most buyers just wanted a chance to mingle with the artists for a few minutes to get a sense of who they are.

  She really wanted everything to go well for Travis. He was bringing so much into her life and she only wanted to do something for him. This was the only thing she could think of.

  The more people saw him at the opening, the easier it would get for him. The bell ringing above the door as someone entered the gallery dragged Renee’s attention away from Travis’ painting.

  “How can I help you?” she asked, turning around with a friendly smile on her face, but it slipped instantly when she saw who was standing inside of her gallery. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

  “Hello, Renee,” her ex-husband Robert said. “You look good.”

  “I don’t care how you think I look,” she snapped. “What are you doing here at my gallery? We haven’t spoken since the divorce and I want to keep it that a way.”

  “I need to talk to you. I was going to talk you when you were outside, but you were with that young guy,” Robert said walking towards her which made Renee take a step back. “I guess the rumors I heard are true. You’re dating someone younger than you.”

  The heavy dose of sarcasm in Robert’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by Renee. “Why do you care what I’m doing? You’re married to Shelia now and by the way the alimony payments will stop. Shit! Did you think I wouldn’t find out about your quickie marriage? We live in a small town. You can’t keep secrets because word travels fast.”

  “That’s why I’m here. I want to tell you something about my marriage to Sheila. If you’d just give me a few minutes,” Robert said.

  “Get out of my building.” Renee was so pissed that she was almost shaking from it. How dare Robert show up here and ask her for anything after the way he had treated her?

  “This place really looks amazing. I guess you got everything you wanted after our divorce.”

  She knew what Robert was doing and she wasn’t about to fall for his game. Anytime during their marriage when he realized she was annoyed by him Robert would try coaxing her into a better mood with false compliments, but now that ridiculous tactic no longer worked on her.

  “Robert, you need to leave. I don’t want you here. If you need to talk about anything involving your life, than do it with your wife. Remember I’m your ex-wife now and I’m no longer interested in anything going on with you.”

  Storming around Robert, Renee made her way to the front door and flung it open. “Leave now and I’m not telling you again.”

  Robert’s hazel eyes narrowed and his back became ramrod straight as he slowly made his way towards her across the room. The atmosphere in the room changed so suddenly that it made her shiver. Her ex-husband didn’t like to be ignored in any sort of matter. When he wanted your attention he expected to get it no matter what you were doing.

  Instead of breaking eye contact like she would have done in the past, Renee held Robert’s gaze until he was standing right in front of her. His eyes searched her face like he was trying to read her thoughts, but he wasn’t going to see any kind of expression because she was done with him. He was her past and that was where his worthless ass would stay.

  “I’ll let this go for now, but Renee you will talk to me. We have some things to work out but I know whatever you have going on with that young boy isn’t serious. The two of us have a history together and I have earned the right for you to at least hear me out,” Robert said as he walked past her out the door.

  Smug bastard, Renee thought as she slammed her gallery door closed. Her ex-husband was out of his mind if he thought for one moment she was going to give him the time of day. He was in her past for a reason and that was where he was going to stay.

  There would have been a time that seeing Robert would have sent her into a tailspin, but not anymore. She was even stronger now than when she’d filed for her divorce. If Robert was having any kind of problems or second thoughts it was too damn late for him to be showing up now with them.

  Nothing he could have told her would have erased the horrible way he lied; cheated and mistreated her during their marriage. Robert was still a boy only in a man’s body. She felt truly sorry for him because he would always be searching for something and never would realize when it was right in front of his face.

  Shaking her head, Renee strolled away from the door allowing her mind to drift back to Travis and the wonderful lunch they’d shared. Dana was right. She shouldn’t be nervous about dating Travis. He was a good man and as long as he was treating her with the respect she deserved, then everything would be right in her book.

  Renee couldn’t deny that in the short time since Travis had entered her life everything had heightened around her. She loved getting up in the morning, but she got just a little more enjoyment out of it because of Travis.

  He definitely had a zest for life and a sense of adventure her ex-husband never thought about exercising in all of the years they were married to each other. Renee knew she wasn’t ever going to be bored while she was spending time with Travis.

  Today was her first time going to the small intimate restaurant Travis had taken her to because she wasn’t big on going out of her routine. Honestly, the change of pace had been very nice and eye-opening to her.

  Another thing about Travis that she was getting increasingly fond of was his directness about his intentions towards her. He’d made it known the first time that they met he was totally interested in getting to know her better. At first, all of his bluntness had made her want to turn and run in the opposite direction, but now she couldn’t imagine Travis not being around her.

  She was going to go with it and see where it might lead the two
of them. If Travis’ instincts toward relationships were on the same level as his painting intuitions then she was in for a very good time.

  Travis was trying to seduce her with little things and they both knew it. He challenged her by showing her a different side of a man, the caring side that wanted to know what was going in her heart and mind. He made her feel sexy no matter what she was wearing.

  He somehow excluded this undeniable sex appeal that fascinated her and any other women within ten feet of his body; however, Travis never looked in their direction. His eyes always were trained on her making sure she was alright during both of their dates.

  One thing was for sure, Renee didn’t doubt that she would never be in a rut when Travis was around. He was going to keep her on her toes and the thought excited her to no end.

  ****

  Walking around his huge apartment studio, Travis perused the paintings hung on his wall as he tried to pick out which one he wanted to give Renee as a present. He knew it was only their third date, but he wanted to give her something to remember it by. She was already making his day by agreeing to spend the night with him camping.

  Renee wasn’t aware how exhilarated he was by the ‘chase’ of getting her to even go out with him more. When he’d first mentioned taking her out on a date, he’d seen the doubt in her eyes but he wasn’t the type of man to allow that to stop him. She was slowly opening up to him yet he was going for something bigger than that with Renee.

  Everything about Renee was so different from other women who were constantly flirting with him even after he had told them he wasn’t interested. She had this confidence about her that seemed to pour from every single pore of her beautiful body.

  How could a man not take notice and be drawn to something so sexy?

  The other night when he was at her house and they started making out on her couch, it took everything he had in him to stop. Renee wasn’t aware of how long it had been since he’d made love to a woman. He didn’t want to scare her off by coming on too strong from his intense need to be with her.