I twitched my lips from side to side while considering his suggestion.
“OK, I’ll text Mia and let her know I’m with you and that we’re in your car. There’s a small lake with some large oak trees about a mile from here. Is that OK?” I asked while texting Mia with my whereabouts. He got up and stood behind my chair. I was about to put on my backpack when he took it from me.
“Please, allow me.” A+ for impeccable manners.
“Thanks,” I said as I read Mia’s incoming text that she wanted all the details later.
We walked in silence to his car…what a car! He stood beside the vehicle and opened my door. I was slightly embarrassed as there were several guys staring at the car. I felt a blush traveling up my neck. Quickly, I slid into the seat. The white luxurious leather seat felt like butter, creamy and soft to the touch. It rivaled something that James Bond would drive in the movies.
“Nice car,” I commented. I was duly impressed.
“Thank you. Please note that we have something else in common. The appreciation of sport cars,” he said and started the engine. It purred to life as he skillfully backed out of the parking space. I directed him toward the lake.
“What kind of car is it, anyway?” Curiosity got the better of me, I just had to know. It was an older car, but in mint condition.
“It’s a 1974 Maserati Bora. It will reach speeds up to 170 miles per hour, 0 to 62mph in 6.7 seconds.” He clearly loved cars. He said he’d bought the car two years ago when he made his first big commercial real estate investment deal in Miami with money that he had borrowed from his grandfather. David’s dad took a risk on him by financing the deal, but Jordan proved that he was a savvy businessman and doubled the money.
We came to a stop in front of the lake. He put the car in park but kept the engine running with the air on high. He flipped off his seatbelt and turned in the seat toward me. I looked at the instrumentation since I didn’t want to stare in his eyes, but I was aware that he was looking at me.
“I am intrigued with you, Zoe. I would like to know you better and I promise not to bite.” My eyes flew up to his and I saw that he was smiling. “If I do, I promise you will like it.” The blush that was fading on my cheeks deepened and I turned my head to stare out the window. My heart was beating in staccato and my subconscious was doing a happy dance on the hood of the car.
He put his finger under my chin and gently turned my face back toward him. I was deeply attracted to him. But, I wasn’t sure that I was ready to have a boyfriend and I sensed that he was not one to be put off. What if he was demanding of my time? I needed to concentrate on school.
“I can see the wheels turning in your lovely head. Don’t over-think it. I’m just a regular guy and I would like to know who Zoe Caine is. I do know that I haven’t been able to get you out of my thoughts for the past few months.” His voice was calm and comforting and I wanted to give in to his request, but called on my last bit of common sense.
“I just don’t need the distraction right now, Jordan. I have two years of college ahead of me. I know you’re probably a nice guy and all, but…” I couldn’t seem to formulate my thoughts about all of my hesitations.
“So, that’s a yes.”
“Um…” I felt that I was losing this battle so I let my guard down and laughed.
“Great. I will work around your school schedule and study time.”
I nodded my head, giving in to a trial date this weekend.
He leaned in to me for a kiss. Even if I wanted to move, I felt that I was unable to do so. He was like a magnet that I was drawn to and I gave in to the moment of the light sweetness of his kiss. He brushed my lips once, twice, my eyes closed and I exhaled the breath I was holding, into a soft moan. His tongue slowly slipped into my mouth and swirled gently as if though he was giving me the choice to stop the kiss or go on.
I went on. I was drawn to this man and now totally intoxicated by his kiss. He withdrew and ended the sweetest kiss I had ever experienced. I relaxed back into the seat. I was not aware of meeting him halfway across the console of the car for the kiss, but I guess I had and it was well worth it.
I looked at him and he was smiling at me. I returned the smile, slowly shaking my head. “You are a smooth talker, Mr. Dawson,” I said.
“I think that is a firm yes. Dinner Saturday night then.” He smiled and put the car in drive. We drove back to my campus apartment.
Chapter 7
Present Day
“Hello, sleepyhead.” Jenna was gently shaking my shoulder to wake me up.
“Go away. It’s like 5 a.m. or something,” I muttered and opened one eyes to peek at her.
“Fine. I will take my coffee with me too,” she replied. That got my attention real fast.
“Coffee? I love, love, love you. You are my favorite sister.”
“I am your only sister, goofy.” She handed me the cup of coffee that I sipped on as if my life depended on it.
“Fresh ground, Guatemala blend, black with one Splenda, no cream,” I said, my eyes closed as I inhaled the aroma of the coffee.
“You are sick; you do know that, right? No one should know that much about something as insignificant as coffee,” Jenna said as she pulled out clothes from the walk-in closet for me to put on.
“Hey, don’t hate ’cause you can’t have any.” Since she was trying to get pregnant, Jenna has given up on most caffeine and alcohol as well. Which is why she was disgustingly sober today and I was sporting a dull headache.
“Oh, and take the ibuprofen on the nightstand,” she said. I must give it to her; Jenna always managed to look gorgeous. It seemed to come easy to her. She is perfectly made up and in a gorgeous summer pantsuit. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail that made her look cool and sophisticated instead of drab and boring. I complimented her on all of the above and she smiled and blew me a kiss.
“It is well past noon. Mia and Veronica are down at the pool nursing a hangover. Aunt Suzette has had breakfast and about to have lunch, David is off golfing, and you need to get out of bed if you want to make it back to Houston today.” Jenna laid out all this information and left the room while I shuffled to the bathroom for a shower and changed into the summer dress she decided on for me to wear. I shook my head. Still such a mother hen. No wonder I love her.
I phoned Robert on my way downstairs.
“Hello, sweets,” he said. “Hope your day is going well. I’m almost back home. I just checked in with Greta, mother’s nurse. She said that mother did well with her new medication and the physical therapist is with her now. I will see you on Tuesday for dinner at 7 p.m., since mother canceled on us for Wednesday. We can go to Fish since you like sushi. I can have a steak or something else.” Yup. Thoughtful and accommodating. Such a sweet man.
“OK, Robert. Sounds good. Give my regards to your mother. I will head home shortly and will see you Tuesday evening.” The phone went dead as he ended the call.
“She lives,” Aunt Suzette said as she rose up to give me a kiss on the cheek. I pulled her into a tight hug.
“Good morning or afternoon, I think.” I gave her a kiss and let her go back to eating her lunch. Jenna’s housekeeper guided me around the counter to show me the spread of food she had prepared for lunch.
“Oh my gosh, Juana! This all looks amazing. I love your cooking. Are you feeding the Texas 1st Brigade, or what?” She laughed and shoved a plate in my hand. Not needing much encouragement with food, I dug into the scrumptious offering and sat at the table. Just then, Mia and Veronica made their way in, fresh from their shower.
“Hey, Juana… I think there is a conspiracy here. No one called us in for lunch,” said Veronica, as she piled food onto her plate, grinning at Juana.
“It’s Miss Jenna. Getting pregnant, she drives us all crazy around here,” Juana said as she bustled around the kitchen. She loved to be complimented on her food and nothing pleased her more than to see everyone partake in what
she prepared.
We all jumped on the bandwagon, blaming Jenna for just about any silly thing we could imagine. She ate it up too, and chimed in about how much fun it was trying to get pregnant, but that it had already been three months, and she was ready to get pregnant already.
We finally said our goodbyes to Jenna. I texted David and thanked him again for everything. We piled into the limo and made our way back to Houston.
“So, Jordan Dawson was at your party, huh?” Aunt Suzette asked. She was as sharp as a tack.
“Aunt Suz…leave well enough alone. I hope never to see him again, good riddance.”
She chuckled. “So, I will have to be the one to tell you?”
“Tell me what?” I sat straight up in my seat. My eyes looked around at Mia and Veronica as if daring them to know something I didn’t, but clearly they did not know much more than me since they were all ears as well.
“Sweetie, Jordan apparently is moving his headquarters to Houston from Brussels,” she said calmly, as if though she were talking about the weather.
“What the f—-”
“Manners, dear!” she admonished me quietly as I was about to let the F-bomb fly, which would have embarrassed her and myself greatly.
“Who else knows about this, Aunt Suzette, and when did you find out?” My tone of voice was frosty and I was trying not to take my frustrations out on her.
“I found out last night. David told me. He asked me to tell you and I thought that since Mia and Veronica are your best friends and you would tell them…well, I thought that it would be OK to tell you now.” I saw that this has made her uncomfortable and I leaned over to her and squeezed her hand.
“I’m sorry for losing it. Really, I am.”
“Understandable, dear. David said Jordan told him about the move a few months ago, but David didn’t know how to tell you and he didn’t want to get Jenna involved, so he asked me to tell you.” Aunt Suzette had been there to hold my hand when Jordan’s relationship and mine went south. I imagine she knew I was still pissed at Jordan and may never get over his betrayal.
I looked at Mia and Veronica and saw that they were concerned as well. Jordan and I dated for a little over six months and they were there to pick up the pieces when he cheated on me with his secretary. Someone I had only met a couple times, but she made it quite clear that she and Jordan had been around the block a couple times and they were still an item.
I looked out the window of the car in dismay. I didn’t want to go through this. I didn’t want to live in the same town as Jordan Dawson. Why was he moving to Houston? Why move his whole company? Why now, after 10 years…just as my life was about to be settled into a nice, quiet phase with a perfect gentleman? I took a deep breath. I have friends and family around me. Everything will be fine. Houston is a massive city and big enough for both of us.
I have my business and employees that I’m responsible for. We didn’t move in the same circles and we have no friends in common. From what I tried not to hear about him, but inevitably did…Jordan lived a life of wealth, never lacking of gorgeous women on his arms, private aircraft jetting around the world and driving fast, expensive sports cars. We probably didn’t even know the same people. I could avoid him. No, I must at all costs avoid Jordan Dawson.
“You have an incredible amount of support around you, Zoe. We were there for you 10 years ago and are here for you now,” Mia said, squeezing my hand that was actually cold and numb now.
“Look, Zoe, Jordan will not be dealing with a young, naive 20-year-old girl now. You’re an accomplished business woman. He’s in for a big surprise if he thinks he can waltz back into your life and mess around with your head again,” Veronica, ever the practical voice of reason, said.
“Yes, so true. I have a lot of back-up and reinforcements if I need to ward off Mr. Dawson. Thank you both. Aunt Suzette, I’m sorry you were the bearer of bad news, but I love you for being concerned about me, even though I’m an adult.” Brave words when I actually wanted to burst into tears.
“No matter how old you are, you will always be my baby girl,” she said, smiling at me. Those words of love and comfort washed over me, calming down my racing heartbeat. God, I can’t wait to get home now. What will I tell Robert? He doesn’t even know about Jordan. There was never a reason for him to know. Jordan was always a world away from Houston.
At some point we would discuss intimacy and I would let him know that there was once a guy…a jerk, in my life. I planned to tell him there had only ever been one guy with whom I was intimate with. Not that that was so important or that Robert needed to know any details of my past personal life but I wanted to be open and honest with him. Fuck! I didn’t care at this point. I just wanted to be home and think, think… Why?
With great luck, and to my relief, I was the first one to be dropped off. We said our goodbyes, as the girls and Aunt Suzette help carry gifts from the limo into my town house. Although I’d told everyone to just bring themselves to the party, no gifts needed…I got many in the mail and those who did not mail gifts, took them to the party.
I went through the motions of settling back into the routine of a normal Sunday evening but my mind was not on the week ahead—it was on Jordan and his decision to move to Houston. More disturbingly are my thoughts of my response to his lovemaking, against a fence, in my sister’s front yard, on the lawn, my begging and pleading… God! What a mess! I was mad at myself for betraying Robert. He loves me. He trusts me and I blatantly betrayed that trust.
Later in the evening, Andre texted me and reported that he took back the administrative duties from the two nurses that were covering calls for the weekend and all was well. Some minor issues with a couple of nurses canceling their shifts but other nurses were happy to pick up the shifts and make extra money. I thanked him and got on the treadmill.
Three miles later, I decided to keep my little sexual escapade to myself and not worry about what Jordan would do with his company and his move to Houston. I planned to stay clear away from him.
My head hit the pillow and again sleep eluded me. I decided to be brave, but to do so…I must face the demons hiding in my attic. I got back out of bed and headed to my garage, pulled down the lever to the attic and clambered up the ladder. Flipping on the light switch, my eyes adjusted to the intrusive brightness and narrowed on the brown trunk that was a few feet away from me.
Gingerly, I reached for the handle of the trunk and pulled it closer. Taking a deep breath, I wrestled with the enormous box and pulled it slowly behind me. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t burned the contents. My conscience had not let me. As much emotional pain as he caused me, I had every right. But something, though I wasn’t sure what, prevented me from destroying all the gifts he had sent me over the past years.
I managed to pull the trunk into my living room. In the peace and quiet of my sanctuary where I was able to think clearly…I slowly opened the lid. With a deep breath, I pulled out the first item on the top. It is the last gift Jordan has sent me one year ago.
Don’t cry, I whispered, but my soft foolish heart would not listen. Tears gathered in my eyes as I opened the elegantly wrapped gift. My breath caught in my throat as I saw what that foolish man had sent me for my 29th birthday.
It is an 8x10 painting of me. How did he get this photo…I may never know, but will certainly try to find out since this picture of me was taken last summer. I was looking at the large structure of Hoover Dam, smiling with my hair blowing in the wind over Lake Mead. For my birthday last year, Mia, Veronica, Jenna and I went to Las Vegas.
There was a card with two heart intertwined with some sappy love words at the bottom. On the inside was a note that said: Enjoy the Bellagio cabana, dinner and shows.
I was pissed! That entire trip was paid for by Jordan. The chips were falling in to place now. I thought the first class airplane tickets and hotel came from David. No one questioned where the elaborate accommodations came from. I suppose we all assumed that
each other knew. The four-bedroom cabana at the back of the hotel came with its own private pool, a chef and housekeeper, limo and driver.
Setting it aside, I opened the other package. I was sure my neighbors heard my explicits from their quiet bedrooms as I stared at the antique books that I’m sure cost a fortune. They were Shakespeare’s Othello, Macbeth, along with All’s Well that Ends Well, the first Shakespeare book he’d given me that I returned to him when he proved that we had many common interests.
Every year since we broke up, Jordan had sent me birthday gifts by express mail with no return address. I never bothered opening them, as I did not see any reason why he should be sending me anything. I always felt that the gifts were sent out of guilt. To me, they were a clear reminder of the pain and embarrassment he had caused me. Try as I might, I could not bring myself to throw them away nor give them to someone else. I mean, how would I even start explaining the whats and whys of such personal items? So I always took the gifts and placed them in the old trunk. I suppose now was as good time as any to open them.
The second gift would have been for my 28th birthday. It was simple, elegant and timeless…a gold Cartier Ballerine watch. Stunned, I stared at the perfection and beauty of the timepiece. I had a Cartier and all these other exquisite items in my attic. What a foolish, foolish man. Surely he must know I would not have opened his gifts. Foolish, gorgeous, definitely sexy, and still dangerous, man.
I couldn’t open the other gifts. I was too emotional and his gifts evoked feeling in me that I no longer wanted to feel. I put it all back in the trunk and pulled it into my spare bedroom closet, but I took the watch and placed it in my jewelry box. I suppose at some point I must come to some conclusion about Jordan and what my true feelings are for him. I sat on my bed and turned my iPod music on to the soothing voice and sound of Enya. I allowed the music to take me back to more of my time with Jordan. To go forward, I decided that I must go back and relive the memories I have kept hidden in the recesses of my mind.
Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1) Page 6