Feeling like a total pile of elephant dung, I mercifully leaned into his slight hug.
“You should have insisted that Jenna put a couple hours limit on the party.” I was nodding my head in agreement as a full on headache attached itself to my aching temples.
“I’ll walk you to your car.” Like a good and dutiful girlfriend, I held his hand in mine and we made our way outside. I took a detour to the side where there were a few green oak trees and pointed out the nice night and great weather we had in May.
I purposely stood behind one of the trees and pulled Robert in a close embrace. My plan of seduction firmly in place, I rubbed my chest on his and looped my arms around his neck while kissing his lips.
“Um, Rob, I am feeling a little reckless right now.” How do I tell him he can, um…
“My poor love. You are tired, sweets. We are just not into wild and crazy things.” Well hell. So much for that seduction scene.
He carefully removed my arms from his neck.
“You will feel more like yourself tomorrow,” he said. Such a good and considerate man. He took my hand and led me back to the party that had started to dwindle. I was met by more hugs and cheers. The party buses were lined up in the driveway. Most of my friends and acquaintances lived in the Houston area. Jenna, ever the party planner, rented limo buses to and from Austin complete with hotel rooms. Aunt Suzette, Mia, Veronica and I were staying at Jenna and David’s home.
Robert gave Jenna a peck on her cheek while chastising her about the party that lasted way too long and wore me out. His concern for me was touching and I reassured him that I would go straight to bed. Jenna tried to suppress a smile. The caterers and cleaning crew were busy with the after party duties so we headed into the house. Veronica and Mia were singing out of tune and wobbled upstairs as I went to the kitchen for a glass of water.
“Great party, love.” David came up behind Jenna and placed both arms around her while nuzzling her neck. Jenna giggled like a schoolgirl as he whispered something in her ear. It didn’t hurt that Jenna is elegant and beautiful. She also has a doting husband who was completely in love with her. Our parents would have liked David; he’s a good person and Jenna is deservedly happy. I rolled my eyes at them but was smiling as I took a sip of water. They both laugh at me as I teased them about too much public displays of affection.
“Thanks again for the party. I had a great time, and catching up with my friends was a bonus.”
“Good, sweetie. That’s what I aimed for. For you to have fun; since you work so much, it seemed like a good time to throw you a party,” Jenna said, leaning into David’s embrace.
“By the way, Zoe, it was good to see Jordan again. I knew he was in town to see David for business but I’m glad he could stay for the party.” I looked over Jenna’s head and squinted my eyes at David. Suddenly he was restless, shuffling his feet. He knew I wanted nothing better than to never set eyes on Jordan again.
“Sorry, Zoe. Look, the poor guy was dying to see you. He has tried many times over the past few years and, well, I just felt sorry for him. Don’t hold it against me for not telling you he would be at the party. Please? Say you forgive me.” I saw that he was honest and did feel bad to be put in this situation, so I nodded my head.
“OK, David. All is well. He did say he was sorry for leaving without telling you goodbye and that he will be in touch.”
“So you did talk to him then?” asked Jenna.
“Yeah, I talked to him. Nothing resolved and good riddance to him and his endeavors but I am happy to move on with my quiet life as it is.” They both knew that Jordan and I had been an item when I was in college and that he hurt me. Although he still did business with David in banking, I did not want to hear about him and what gorgeous women he had hanging on to him.
“Well, I’m glad you moved on. I just want you to be happy, Zoe. You deserve it,” said Jenna.
“Keep an open mind. Sometimes the best things in life are right in front of us. Don’t let hurt keep happiness and fulfillment away.” David said in a quiet tone. He was looking at me and I tried not to read too much into what he said, but I knew what he meant just the same.
“Goodnight, you two,” I said.
Jenna kicked off her shoes and bent down to pick them up. David spanked her on her ass. She yelped and giggled while running down the hall and up the winding stairway as he ran after her.
After a quick shower, I slid into bed. I pulled my iPad off the night stand and updated my Facebook status about the party. I saw that several of my friends had already posted photos of the event and chatted about it. At this moment I felt thankful that I had so many people in my life that loved and cared about me.
Again, I thought of my parents and knew they would be proud of Jenna and me, and grateful to Aunt Suzette for being steadfast in our lives while raising us as her own. I turned out the lights, but sleep eluded me. My mind drifted back to my past relationship with Jordan.
Chapter 6
Ten Years Ago
After Jenna’s June wedding, I headed back to Houston with Aunt Suzette and settled into my job at The Busy Bee Bookstore. The weather was typical for this time of the year in Texas—hot and humid. I spent a couple days with Mia at her father’s mansion in River Oaks, a ritzy area of Houston that reeked of old money.
Mia’s mom had left her dad for a doctor from New York when Mia was 12 and her brother, Trevor, was a senior in high school. Her mother divorced the doctor after two years of marriage and came back to Houston. She convinced Mia’s dad to take her back, but six months later she left again and went to Paris with another man. Her father continued to raise Mia and Trevor. He never remarried, although he was never lacking for female companionship.
Mia, Veronica and I settled down at the pool with ice cold drinks and lazily talked about friends, school and life in general when I got a text from Jenna asking me to give her a call. She and David had been back in Austin for a few weeks after their honeymoon and were settling into their condo as a new married couple.
“Hi. How’s married life?” I asked as soon as she answered the phone.
“Loving it. My man is the absolute best! I am so in lust…I mean, in love with him,” she said giggling. We chatted for a few minutes while catching up on the past weeks and memories of her wedding.
“Um…so, David asked me to tell you something.” I sat up in the lounging chair wondering what the heck?
“OK. What’s the something?” I asked.
“He’s been doing some business with Jordan Dawson and I know you don’t know who Jordan is. I’ve met him several times, but he always had a different girl with him so I thought he was like taken or something. Anyway, Jordan told David he danced with you at our wedding and now…ummm…”
“Whoa…slow down. I did dance with Jordan, but I think he felt sorry for me since I was staring at him like the entire evening. And yeah, he was with a drop dead gorgeous woman,” I said.
“Well, he asked if David would give him your phone number but Jordan wanted to know if it would be OK with you first, which I think is rather sweet. So…?”
“Hmmm. I don’t know, Jen…I mean, the guy is gorgeous, charming and sexy, that’s for sure,” I said as I recalled our dance and how mesmerized I was with him.
“But, I am not sure that I’m his type. We probably have nothing in common and I am way too busy with school.” I tried to stay calm hearing that he was interested in me and silently doing a happy dance, but I was also trying to be cautious. I didn’t have any desire to have a one-night stand, and since I’d only had a couple boyfriends in high school that only got as far as first base with me, I felt way out of his league.
I had been kissed and my last boyfriend went as far as rubbing and touching my breast. That was the extent of my sexual experience and I’m sure that someone like Jordan would not be satisfied with a few kisses. To put it mildly, he scared the shit out of me.
“As much as I’m flattered,
I must say no, Jen.”
“OK. You need to follow your instincts, although he is a very nice person and I wish you would at least go on one date with him. He lives here in Austin and Baylor isn’t far away, but I’ll tell David to let him know you’re not interested,” Jenna said. I think she thought I would change my mind, but I stood firm and changed the subject.
“OMG! You totally did not turn down that Jordan guy!” exclaimed Mia.
“Eavesdropping?” I asked and jumped in the pool to cool off. Veronica and Mia jumped in as well and peppered me with questions about the conversation with Jenna. Since we started college, Mia’s had a couple boyfriends but she got bored with them quickly, and Veronica hadn’t had a boyfriend since she was in eleventh grade.
“Come on, Zoe, live a little. Jordan could easily be on the cover of GQ magazine. He oozes sexuality. Honest to God, the man has all the right stuff!”
I ducked my head under the water and Veronica stop twirling around and looked at Mia.
“Why couldn’t it be me?” she asked with a sigh. We continued our conversation about hot guys and the debate of who was the hottest of all our guy friends.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The summer passed quickly and I headed back to school in September. I was thrilled that I’d done well in college. I was a junior this year. This semester, I will start going to the hospital for clinicals, which is direct contact with patients. Mia, Veronica and I were living in a campus apartment now and we were thrilled that we had individual bedrooms and bathrooms.
Veronica was always the first one to get up in the morning so she makes the coffee for us and tea for Mia. We chatted for a few minutes while the coffee was brewing when the phone in the living room rang. Mia picked it up as she was on her way into the kitchen.
“Zoe…that was the front office. There is a delivery down there for you.”
I arched my brows. “Really? This early? I don’t remember ordering anything. Maybe Aunt Suzette sent me something or maybe…”
“How about, maybe you can go and find out what it is,” Veronica said, rolling her eyes. Her long silky black hair hung over her shoulder past her perfect voluptuous breasts. Swear to God, the girl was blessed with an amazing curvy body.
“You don’t have time, chick,” Mia chimed in, looking at the clock on the wall.
“Oh, God. I’m so nervous and excited at the same time. I can’t believe we’re finally starting clinicals, hands-on patient care,” Veronica said as she pulled bagels out of the toaster oven for us and I shoved a banana in their hands.
We gulped down out breakfast, showered and donned our student hospital scrubs with a huge patch on both arms with the word STUDENT sewn on just in case someone could not identify us from a real nurse despite the deer in the headlights look we were bound to have on our faces, especially during our first clinical semester.
We made our way to the hospital and met with the instructor. There was a pre-clinical conference, then we were paired with a nurse and observed her in action. The day flew by and we were convinced that we’d never achieve the level of skill that we observed today, but the instructor gently reminded us that it was only our first day and we had two more years before the state would trust us with a license.
Back at the apartment, I went to the pool to reflect on my day. Other students were milling around. Mia was passed out on her bed and Veronica went to the library. My phone rang.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Hi, is this Zoe Caine?”
“Yes.”
“There are two deliveries in the front office for you. Kindly pick them up.”
I put on my cover-up over my bikini and went into the office. The girl at the front desk went around the corner and came back with two brown packages and handed them to me. She plopped back down in the chair and continued her assault on a piece of gum. I occasionally received care packages from Aunt Suzette and Jenna but they always come in the mail. Back in my bedroom, I opened the first package and furrowed my brows.
“What the hell is this?” I muttered, as I looked at the contents. Three tickets to Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well play at the Winedale Historical Center in Round Top, which is two hours away from my college. There was also a note. I quickly scanned the message.
What we have in common…Shakespeare. Enjoy a trip with your friends to Winedale. The students of the University of Texas will perform. I have seen them in action and they did a great job of Othello when I attended in my senior year at UT. I will send a car and driver as well and dinner will be provided. Enjoy. ~ Jordan Dawson.
There was also a phone number and an email address. The second package contained three small battery operated fans, three seat cushions and a leather bound book of Shakespeare’s play All’s Well that Ends Well along with three copies of the screenplay that we would be attending. Another note was attached: Although lovely and appropriate for the play, it is an open-air theatre and I found that a fan may be necessary as the weather can be quite warm.
I didn’t know what to do. Stunned, I call Jenna.
“Hi, Zoe. How are your classes and your first day of clinicals?”
“Jen. Oh my God…so that Jordan guy, he sent a package for me here at the school and I don’t know what to do. I mean, I don’t know what it means or anything and there is a note too.” I quickly read her the note. I was excited but scared as well, and if I was honest with myself, I had thought of him a lot over the past couple months.
“Really? He just won’t give up. I told him what you said when he asked for your phone number. Not like verbatim, but I did mention to him that you didn’t think there would be much in common between you and him. Guess he took it to heart and wanted to prove you wrong.”
“Well, I will send him a text and thank him, but I’m not sure that I will accept it. I need to think about this, plus with something new like clinicals starting, I don’t need any distractions.” I walked to the patio and looked outside while twirling my long auburn hair, a nervous habit of mine.
“I can find out more about him if you like, Zoe.”
I blew a long breath through the phone as I contemplated my response. “No. I will think about it. Thanks, Jenna, love you and say hi to David for me.” We chatted about my day at the hospital and her settling into married life. I hung up the phone as Mia came out of her room. I told her about the packages and she flipped out with excitement. Veronica had the same reaction when I told her. I texted Jordan.
Thank you for the tickets. I love Shakespeare, as you must know. I’m not sure I can accept gifts from someone I don’t know, but it is a nice gesture. Regards, Zoe Caine.
I pushed the send button and in less than a minute my phone beeped with an incoming text.
Give me a chance to prove that we do have many interests in common, Jordan texted back.
I smiled at his quick response, but wanted him to know I was not playing hard to get and was not one for playing games.
I have a crazy, busy semester. Thank you for the kind thoughts. I will speak with my roommates tomorrow about attending the play. No need to send a car. Where can I return the other items?
I was shocked at his response.
I will send someone to meet you at Starbucks on your campus tomorrow afternoon. Will 4 p.m. work for you?
I was little leery and responded with one word.
Fine.
I told the girls what I planned to do. Although disappointed, they were happy that I kept the three tickets.
After class the next day, I walked to Starbucks. The heat was unbearable and I was sweating. Luckily, it was only a 5-minute walk from my lecture hall. Happy to slip into the cool air of the store, I got a cup of ice water and a cafe latte. I turned around to look for a seat when I spotted Jordan coming toward me. I stopped and simply stared at him. He was just as handsome as I remembered him to be. His long lean frame came toward me as those brilliant blue eyes took in my appearance.
Suddenly I was aware of my worn jeans with holes on both thighs, my Nike tennis shoes, a grey Gap T-shirt, and my long hair sticking to my neck. There were two girls in front of me that were outright gawking at him but he is focused on me.
“Here, let me help you with that.” His voice was low and maybe it’s just me, but I thought even just those few words were sexy. We were attracting attention now and I quickly took the seat at the table in the corner where he’d been sitting. I tried not to stare at his brilliant white shirt, grey tie and dark blue slacks. He must have discarded his suit jacket due to the heat of the day. He looked nothing like a college student. I briefly wondered what the other students were thinking of us.
“I thought you were sending someone?” I asked, making it sound like a question. I was also a little annoyed since I was caught off guard meeting him again.
“I’m sorry, Zoe. I just wanted the opportunity to meet you under different circumstances. Am I forgiven?” His piercing blue eyes look honest and I gulped down the cold water while thinking of an appropriate response.
“So, why did you want to see me?” I asked. Since he went out of his way to seek me out, I felt that I needed some honest answers.
“Can we take a walk?” His eyes scanned the room.
“In this heat? It’s 95 degrees outside,” I said, as I had no intentions of strolling around campus unless I had to. I arched my brows and looked at him. He was smiling.
“You are aware that you are drinking a hot beverage and it’s 95 degrees outside.” I wanted to argue with him but it made sense, so I scoffed and took another sip of the super-hot liquid. He took a sip of what appeared to be iced tea in his cup.
“I’m addicted to their latte and I desperately need the caffeine,” I said in defense of my beverage of choice.
“If I promise not to kidnap you or harm you in any way, would you feel comfortable with sitting in my car while we talk? I’ll keep the air on.”
Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1) Page 5