The time on the lower right corner of his computer monitor clicked to 3:45pm and like clockwork, the bells chimed through the intercom. Heart pumping, Colton pushed himself up from his desk and headed up front where Jamie was trying her best to keep Paige from going to the back rooms. Paige had a determined expression on her face and her hair seemed much wilder than normal, which only added to the irate glare aimed at Colton’s worker.
“He’s my friend, I have access to the back,” Paige was saying.
“No, you don’t,” Jamie retorted; her voice crisp and professional. “I will get him for you, but you can’t go to the back. No customers are allowed in the back.”
“I’m not a customer. I don’t have money to buy anything. I’m a friend,” Paige insisted.
“I’m here,” Colton called, hoping to put out any potential arguments that might be rising between the two of them. Jamie stepped aside and Paige smirked triumphantly. Colton didn’t miss the roll of Jamie’s eyes as she returned to her place behind the counter. As Paige stepped toward Colton, she looked around with critical eyes. She stopped a few feet in front of him and put her hands on her narrow hips.
“Why does it seem different in here?” she asked her frown growing.
Colton glanced around the display room and sighed. It was different because he’d been talked into a remodel. New tile flooring, new shelves, fresh blue-hues painted on the walls, new display cases—new everything. All were Cara’s ideas, but the place hadn’t been redone in a few years and it was on Colton’s list of things to do. When Cara offered to help, he let her and crossed one thing off of his list. It had cost him much more than he’d originally planned on spending, but the place did look nice and he was thankful that she’d lent her expertise. Minnie responded to the place the same way Paige was, with a frown of displeasure. She said that Cara was encroaching on Colton’s territory, finding sneaky ways to return to the business. Colton didn’t see Cara’s help in that way, but he promised to keep his eyes and ears open for signs that Cara was trying to “takeover” as Minnie insisted.
“We made some renovations,” Colton answered. As Paige twirled in a circle the skirt of her uniform billowed out. Her lips formed a little ‘oh’ and she nodded and looked around with a less critical eye. Finally she nodded and shrugged indifferently.
“Looks, good, I suppose,” she said as she started to take off her backpack.
Colton put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. “I’m not going to sign anything, Paige.” She stepped away from his reach and took off her backpack anyway. He frowned as she clutched the bag to her chest with one arm and rooted through the overstuffed contents with her other hand. As she did this she walked around and examined the place. Colton fell in step behind her and watched as she looked at the new flower arrangements, checking the price tags on a few. Her eyes bulged at the costs, which had gone up as well, but she didn’t say anything.
When she finally dropped her bag she had a copy of the contract in her hand. Colton crossed his arms over his chest and pressed his lips together to keep from losing his temper and yelling at her.
“You do realize that you’re being a jerk, right?” Paige asked after a minute of silent stand-still. “I mean, honestly… why not just sign it?”
“I have… five days, I….”
Paige wasn’t interested in hearing his explanation, “Zoe wants to move on, I think. This Ben guy is kinda cool—he’s a doctor…”
Colton flinched, “He’s a doctor?”
“Why are you shouting, it’s not that big a deal,” Paige said as she moved around possibly to get away from him. Colton followed her. He hadn’t expected to be so shocked. Ben.
The guys name was Ben—somehow knowing his name made everything a bit more real.
Perhaps part of him hadn’t believed anything that came out of Preston’s mouth, and now here was Paige confirming this new guy in Zoe’s life by giving him a name. Colton wished the guy had remained nameless, maybe then it would have been easier to ignore.
“I… didn’t realize I had shouted,” Colton stammered. “The guys a doctor?” He asked skeptically. He didn’t know why that news had hit him so profoundly. It wasn’t that he couldn’t take care of Zoe on his income—he made good money. Very good money, actually. But a doctor—that was far more prestigious than Colton’s gig. Doctors and landscape architects really didn’t compare, did they? Would he really be able to provide for Zoe like a doctor could?
“This guy’s a doctor?” he scoffed.
Paige was staring at him curiously. “Yeah, I guess she met him a while back at Rylie’s.
That day that she was supposed to meet you for the first time but Preston came instead.
She bumped into him then. At the time it was nothing. Then they ran into each other at the Bodies exhibit a few days ago. Oooh, Colton, Have you been to that exhibit? It’s fantastically gross, but educational and amazing. There was this one body that….”
“So what he asked her out?” Colton interrupted.
Paige nodded. “They went out and they clicked. I guess she’s sorta into him—she says he makes her happy. He’s really funny, she says.”
Shit, a funny guy? Colton crossed his arms and gave himself a little hug. He could possibly compete with a doctor, but was he funny? Could he make Zoe laugh? Funny guys were dangerous. Paige delicately touched the petals to a daisy and continued her non-stop rambling about the Bodies Exhibition. She said a lot, but Colton didn’t really hear anything.
Zoe and Ben the doctor?
Colton felt baffled, threatened, and scared. Could this guy pull Zoe away from him forever? If he did it would be Colton’s own fault, he shouldn’t have given Cara a second chance when he knew deep down that very little had changed between them. After a moment his conscious mind pulled him back to the present conversation and he found Paige smiling up at him. She looked so innocent and cute. The look irritated him and he felt his frustration bubbling over. He tried his hardest not to take it out on the kid, but there was no hiding the aggravation in his tone.
“I feel like you pop into my life only to torture me,” he said. “Is remotely that possible, Paige?”
“That’s not my intent,” she answered. For a moment he thought he saw her look guilty, but that look disappeared and was replaced with defiance, a look that he’d seen many times on Minnie’s face. “Look, I care more about Zoe than you, okay? I do like you a lot and want you to end up with Zoe. But I just don’t get why it’s taking you so long to decide and to realize that you don’t belong with Cara.” Colton sighed. “It’s complicated, kid.”
Paige’s brow wrinkled. “I realize that you threw that ‘kid’ in there to patronize and remind me that I’m young and not an adult, but even young kids can be observant and understanding about love. We know how to love and how to spot love a mile away. And it’s not just fairytale love either—I know what two people in love look like! Adults are usually blinder to these things and need a push in the right direction.” Colton felt exhausted. “I’m tired of being pushed.”
“Well then make up your mind already and we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Paige said. “I swear Colton—you’re sorta acting more childish than I am and—” suddenly a serious expression fell on her face and she paused as if she were listening to something. In a very serious voice she murmured, “I sense evil.” Colton raised an eye brow and couldn’t help but smile at the serious expression on her little face. A second later the door of the shop opened, the bells jingled, and Cara entered.
Paige looked over her shoulder and the in an unsurprised voice, said, “Hi Cara.” Colton covered his face with his hands, mostly to hide the huge smile that spread across his face. He didn’t want to encourage Paige’s obvious disrespect and attempt at humor.
When he dropped his hands and looked down at her, he found her she staring at her chewed fingernails with a satisfied smirk. Cara approached them hesitantly and then put on a brave, somewhat fake face.
“Hi Paig
e,” Cara said with a guarded expression. “What are you doing here?”
“Just stopping by to say hello,” Paige answered as she shoved the contract back into her bag. Colton could see that she was debating something in her head, probably the thousands of cruel or troublesome things she could say to screw with Cara. Shockingly, Paige took the high road and said goodbye and left the shop.
Cara was visibly relieved. Colton was curious.
“Are you wearing that?” Cara asked as she pointed to Colton’s jeans and t-shirt. “I… did tell you that we’re meeting my parents for dinner, right? The restaurant has a dress code….”
“Yeah, I have something to change into in the back—hang on,” he brushed a quick kiss to her cheek and ran after Paige. For someone so small, she’d gotten pretty far; he had to run two blocks to catch up with her. He grabbed her shoulder, which was a mistake. She screamed, whirled around, and kicked him as hard as she could in the shin. It hurt so much Colton’s eyes watered. Pain shot up into his knee and higher to his thigh; his foot went numb as the spot she kicked throbbed.
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry!” Paige wailed. “I’m sorry Colton! You scared me! You don’t grab people like that.”
Out of breath from the run and in incredible pain from her kick, Colton hobbled to the building they stood in front of and pressed his forehead to the cold bricks. He heard her tell a few people that she was fine and after a moment she was standing at his side staring up at him with worried eyes.
“It’s my fault,” he said after a minute. “I shouldn’t have grabbed you—great self defense move.”
“Minnie taught me,” Paige answered nibbling on her lower lip. “Are you okay?” He closed his eyes tight and took slow, deep breaths. “Wow, it really hurts.”
“I’m sorry,” Paige whimpered. “But why didn’t you just call my name?”
“I obviously wasn’t thinking,” Colton answered as he finally pushed away from the wall.
“It’s fine, honestly,” he patted her shoulder. “Um… I just wanted to tell you that I’m not going to drag this out much longer and hurt Zoe. That is the last thing I want. I’m glad that she’s happy with this doctor—well... no, I’m not glad about that at all. Look… I’m not ready to sign that contract. So, don’t ask me again. I’ll let you know when or if I want to, okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” Paige nodded. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your face is sort of red.”
“I’m fine,” Colton said. “Get home runt.”
He turned and hobbled away glad that he had the pain in his leg to focus on rather than the acute fear that convinced him he’d lost to some doctor Zoe forever.
Colton hated fine dining restaurants.
The food was generally good, but fine dining just wasn’t his cup of tea and he didn’t like the company. Cara was trying her hardest to change things about her life, but her mother certainly wasn’t. The moment he and Cara arrived at their reserved table in the restaurant, Justine Imoora made a subtle comment about Colton’s non-existent tie and patronizingly reminded him that ties were important in fine dining. Cara hushed her mother, but it did very little to change Justine’s mind or the disapproving looks that she sent him occasionally. She even went as far as apologizing to their waitress for Colton’s appearance. Richard Imoora was as always more pleasant and cared less about appearance than his wife. Richard didn’t comment on Colton’s missing tie, they simply shook hands and Richard returned his attention to the sommelier who was presenting different wines for the evening meals.
“We already ordered for you both,” Justine said when Colton asked their waitress for a menu. In that instant he was reminded of another thing he hated—being treated like an ignorant kid. Justine glared at Colton’s chest a moment longer and then turned toward Cara. As she spoke to her daughter, Justine smoothed back a single fly-away strand of Cara’s hair. “Darling, I spoke with Alex for you—he’s drawing up papers and Reginald will handle the money change. Have you spoken with Colton about the new location?” Colton’s stomach tightened. “I think I’m a bit lost here.” Cara looked uncomfortable. “I… I mentioned to Mom that you and I had talked about going into business again,” Cara flinched and bit the corner of her lower lip. Her helpless expression said enough, she hadn’t had anything to do with Justine’s takeover. As usually, her mother had jumped the gun and taken things into her own hands. Cara rubbed Colton’s knee, her version of an apology. She turned back to her mother and with a weak voice said, “Mom, I told you that nothing was for certain—we haven’t even had a detailed conversation about it. You’re jumping the gun, don’t you think?”
“He’d be foolish not to take you back,” Justine exclaimed. “Why would you be talking to the Gracie Smith or the Arnold Grenic then if you weren’t serious about going into business together? It wouldn’t hurt to put some figures on the table and scout out possible new locations in the Hamptons. You will have a much smoother transition that way. Trust me. I’m doing you both a favor.”
“Mom,” Cara sighed.
“Justine, leave these kids alone, they’re still trying to figure out if a relationship will work between them,” Cara’s father scolded. “Ah, here’s the last of our party has arrived.” Cara turned and gasped, “Jean Luc!”
Colton turned and for the first time laid his eyes on Jean Luc Laurent, the French architect that Cara had been working with for the past year. It had been weeks since Cara returned home with Laurent and Colton had yet to meet the man face-to-face. Sure Cara talked his ear off about the guy and tossed his name around generously to the potential clients whom they’d been talking, but never went as far as setting up such introductions.
She seemed shocked and a bit frightened to have the guy standing before them now, dressed head to toe in an expensive suit that was tailored to his slender, athletic body.
From the look of the man, Colton was having a hard time believing that things hadn’t gotten physical between them. Laurent was either Colton’s age or in his late thirties. He was handsome, and Colton could admit that some women would probably find him sexy in young Brad Pitt, type of way. His dark black hair was cut short and styled fashionably.
At first glance you would have thought that he used tanning beds and wore bright green contacts, but he was all natural according to Cara.
As Colton watched Cara rise from her chair and move into the arms of this man, he realized that despite the guy’s good looks and Imoora approval, Colton wasn’t at all threatened by him. He watched Laurent kiss each of Cara’s cheeks, his big tanned hand lingering at her side a moment longer than was necessary. He spoke to her in a low whispering French and smiled in the way that was very sexual; a way that made Cara blush a deep red and turn away from him quickly as if she’d been caught doing something naughty.
“Colton, this is Jean Luc,” Cara said breathlessly.
Colton stood slowly and extended his hand to the other man. The only thing that Colton had on this guy was height; he was about four inches taller than Laurent. Everything else, though, Colton felt he paled in comparison. Jean Luc sat on Cara’s opposite side and filled the dinner conversation with tales of his work with her in France. He occasionally reached over to touch her, either her hand and arm or even her cheek, and though the touches were anything but innocent, Colton still felt nothing. No sting of jealous, no tingling suspicion that something other than professional encounters had been going on between the two of them. He felt nothing his lack of response both shocked and surprised him.
“I’m sorry,” Cara whispered after their first course had been taken away. “I didn’t know he was coming.”
Colton shrugged, “Is there a reason why I should be worried about him?” Her cheeks flamed as she shook her head no. “I just… we hadn’t really talked much about Jean Luc and I didn’t want you to think that I was hiding anything. What I mean to say is that I’d hoped to introduce him to you differently.”
“This is fine,” Colton said with a shrug. “Don’t worry about it.�
� Cara’s eyes searched his for a long time before she sat back in her chair. Not once did she look comfortable around Jean Luc, an observation Colton noted and tucked away. He wasn’t a blind man, he had a feeling that something had happened between Cara and Jean Luc, no matter how brief, and he didn’t care. He even thought that something might be happening now and still didn’t care.
“Colton,” Cara’s hand slipped up his arm later that evening as they walked up the street from where they’d left her parents and Laurent standing outside the restaurant waiting for cabs. Laurent had offered to share his cab with Cara and Colton. He didn’t need verbal confirmation that something had been going on between them, what he saw was enough.
Colton had watched the Frenchman kiss her cheek goodbye, he noticed the lingering heated look they’d both shared, and Cara’s embarrassment.
“Can we talk about this?” she asked.
“Talk about what?”
“About Jean Luc,” Cara answered. “I know… how this must seem, but I promise you that nothing is going on between us now.”
“But there was something,” Colton said.
She nodded. “It… was short lived… but it happened. And I’m sorry… I’m very sorry about it all.”
“Did it happen before or after you left for France?”
“A-after,” Cara stammered, “several months after. I… we… never meant for things to get out of hand. I felt bad because I love you and knew that I’d come back here after a few months and we’d start again. I felt like I cheated. It was a lot of guilt to carry around, but… I don’t know. I didn’t mean for things to be so out of control with Jean Luc.” Colton stopped and stared into her eyes. She leaned into him, her arms wound around his waist; her eyes watered, “And now Cara?”
Microsoft Word - Starter Boyfriend.doc Page 39