by Jenna Tyler
Alyssa and I agree on an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms, and try to decide on what we want for our entree. “Have you had the lasagna here?” I ask.
“Yes, it's good. I was thinking about having the baked ziti this time.”
I swear, Alyssa and me are two of a kind. “A girl after my own heart. I usually order lasagna or the ziti. They are my safe choices. What do you say I order the lasagna and you order the ziti, then we share them?”
“Sounds perfect. You know, it is starting to feel as though we were meant to meet,” she says.
“I am feeling the same way. We're very similar. You're a younger version of me.”
As we finish up our dinner, a strange sensation runs through me. A minute later, someone approaches our table. Without looking up, I say, “We'll take our checks now.” I look at Alyssa and see that she is staring, mouth open.
I hesitantly look up to see a set of Caribbean blue eyes looking back at me. Of course, he is well-dressed and looking perfect in every way. “Oh,” is all I can muster up.
A devastatingly handsome smile is radiating at me. “Good evening, ladies,” he says.
“Uh. Hi,” I say, still shocked. I guess I shouldn't be too shocked. Apparently, he is a creeper. “Still stalking me, I see.” Alyssa is still gaping.
“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” he asks.
“Uh. Sure. Drew, this is Alyssa. Alyssa, my stalker extraordinaire, Drew.” Drew holds out his hand and when she reaches for it, she knocks over what's left of her drink.
“Oh, shit!” she yells.
Drew laughs. “I see why you two are friends. Nice to meet you, Alyssa.”
Rolling my eyes at him, I retort, “Well, maybe you should stop making all of us ladies so damned nervous. Remember, you were stalking me and you made me run into you so I think I am entitled to be nervous. Maybe I should call the police.”
I notice that Alyssa, while she cleans up the spill, is trying not to seem like she is paying any attention to us.
He leans down to whisper in my ear and I bite my lip. “You are very cute when you're defensive, and even more so when you bite that lip of yours, Rebecca.” Something deep in my core tightens and yearns as his breath flutters against my ear.
Pleased with himself, he stands back up. “It was nice to see you ladies again. Enjoy your dinner. I will see you in the morning, Rebecca.” I sit there dumbstruck as he walks away, no doubt with a smirk on his face. Good thing I'm already seated or my knees may have buckled.
Alyssa is cleaning herself up and looking at me curiously. “He's impossible!” I exclaim.
She finally gains her bearings and says, “Impossibly perfect. And he has got the hots for you. I could feel the heat over here.”
“This was the first time he’s flirted blatantly. He was brazen. Tomorrow could prove to be more interesting than I thought. I'd better be on my game.”
Once we compose ourselves, we go to pay our checks and find that Drew has already paid for us. Boy, he's really got the sneaky stalker thing down pat. Alyssa and I walk back to our apartment complex, say goodnight, and go to our respective apartments. I need to get some sleep tonight, but once again, “Mr. Tall Water” has hindered that from happening. He is challenging and, I sense, likes to be challenged.
I lay in bed thinking about his beauty, and I think about what might be going on under those clothes. Is he totally ripped? Or just toned with a little definition? I wonder if he has gnarly feet, or if they are as pretty as the rest of him. Is his butt firm or jiggly? I suspect this kind of thinking will either get me nowhere or it will make me need a shower. Hmmm. A hot shower might not be such a bad idea.
Still lying there, I think about getting up and “taking care of business” in the shower. I also ponder just staying here in bed and doing something to make me feel better. Choosing option one, I grab a “toy” and head into the shower. Taking care of business lately, with Drew on my mind, is so much better than thinking about some random guy.
Feeling a bit more relieved and a little more tired, I try the whole sleeping thing again. As I start to drift off, I’m positive that Drew will star in a dream or two.
* * * * *
I spring up into a sitting position from a dead sleep. I notice that my heart is racing, I am almost out of breath, and I am sweating. Whoa. I wonder what that is all about. Not remembering my dreams can sometimes...well…suck.
I look at the time and see that it is only thirty minutes before my alarm is supposed to go off so I get up and figure the extra time might do me some good this morning. I make coffee and snack on a bagel. I wanted something light, just in case Drew makes my stomach tie up in knots the entire day. I take a quick shower to wash off the sweat from the dream I wish I could remember. It must have been really good for me to wake up panting.
I lotion up my legs and elbows, spray a little perfume, and brush my teeth. I grab a pair of black lace-waist panties that I got from Victoria's Secret. I might as well have pretty ones in the event something occurs. I suppose I'd better match the bra with the panties. A matching set is a turn on, right? They make a girl feel sexy, regardless.
Now with the undergarments out of the way, I can go for the wardrobe I already picked out. I am beginning to rethink the jeans. Maybe I should wear jean shorts. Decisions, decisions. It might be cool outside wherever we may go. In Florida, I would have gone with the shorts, but I opt to stick with the jeans. I slide those on, having to do a little wiggling to get them in place. Next was the bright orange t-shirt. Giggling, I look myself over in the mirror. I look like I'm going to a football game.
With my socks and tennis shoes on and my backpack ready, I'm all set. I guess that extra time did help out because just as I sit down on the couch to wait, the doorbell rings. There goes my stomach, which is now balled up into a tight little bundle.
I stand up, take a deep breath, and walk over to the door. One more deep breath, then I open it. Drew is standing there with one arm against the door frame, as if he's holding it up. I take a long, slow look at his attire…t-shirt, gym shorts, and tennies. Gym shorts? My eyes travel back up to his face. I notice a little stubble. I like that he lets his beard grow out a little when he's not at work. Or maybe it's his five o'clock shadow I keep seeing. It's sexy, whatever the case. Maybe it means he's not all business all the time.
Our eyes meet. I swear those eyes could make me orgasm all by themselves. “Good morning, Rebecca,” he says.
“Why do you keep calling me Rebecca? I told you, I go by Bec or Becca.”
“It is your name, is it not?” I sigh in exasperation. He’s already wearing me out. Pick your battles, Bec.
He grins as he reads my face. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. Let me just grab my bag and jacket.” I get my stuff and grab my keys off of the counter, then close and lock the door. “Okay. All set.”
He holds his hand out to usher me ahead of him. Since I am the first to arrive at the elevator, I push the button. The doors open immediately and Drew puts his right hand on the small of my back to urge me inside. We step in and he pushes the button for the ground floor.
The ride down is a little awkward. Neither of us is saying a word, but I feel something happening between us. It's a very strange feeling and I've never felt it before. It's as if I'm being pulled to him. It makes my core tremble.
Finally, we get to the ground floor and the elevator doors open. We step out into the lobby and then exit out onto the sidewalk. Drew places his hand on the small of my back again and leads me in the direction he wants me to go.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“To my car. Unless you want to walk everywhere we go today.”
“Uh. No. Cars are good.” He leads me to a black Hummer with really dark tinted windows. “Not exactly energy conscious, are ya’?”
“This is one of my splurges. I don't drive it often. Are you an energy conscious woman?” He opens the passenger door for me and I hop in. The interior is tan leather, of course. Be
autiful. He’s still holding the door open, waiting for my response.
“I try to be. I recycle a lot. I don't own much to do much else. I also walk instead of taking my car sometimes.”
“How very green of you.” He shuts the door and walks around the vehicle to get in the driver's seat, another stupid grin on his face.
“Where are we off to?” I ask, trying to get the answer I was hoping for from my previous question.
“I thought we'd go to the beach and hike the cliffs a little before it gets too hot.”
“Sounds good. It was on my list of things to do before I start work.”
“You work?”
“Well, I am not rolling in the dough so, yes, I have a job, but I don't start until Monday. I've been a lady of leisure for the past couple of weeks.”
“Where at?” he asks.
“You mean to tell me that you haven't stalked that out yet?” I ask with a fun, sarcastic tone.
He pulls out into light traffic on this beautiful Saturday morning. Quickly hitting the interstate, we head west to the shore. I take a mental inventory to remember that I, in fact, packed my camera. I guess there is always my cell phone if I had forgotten it. “Such a smart ass you are. Not at all how you appear,” he quips.
“Better than a dumb ass, I always say. How long does it take to get to the beach?”
“Not too long. A couple hours maybe, if we hit any traffic. Why? Are you fed up with me already?”
“Getting there, but I enjoy a challenge as much as the next guy. Shall we get to know each other, or do you just want to joke around all day?”
“I didn't just ask you on a date for your witty comebacks.”
“You didn't? Shocking. Why did you ask me out then?”
“At the deli, you intrigued me. You seemed so shy and nervous. No one is usually like that with me until I approach them,” he says.
“Cocky, are we? Why would you think that my actions had anything to do with you? You know the saying about assuming, don't you?” I say with one eyebrow raised.
“I wasn't sure of it at the time, but the next time I saw you, I felt the same energy from you as before. And the night we bumped into each other, there was a more intense feeling when I was near you. I know you felt it, too, because your heart started beating faster.”
“That could've just been from running into you....twice…or the alcohol.”
He let out an exasperated laugh. “You know, you can say you felt something. I won't hold it against you.”
I stare out the window for a minute before saying anything else. The scenery really is beautiful here. Very green. A lot different from the flat land and sand of Florida.
“Okay. I did feel something, but I thought it was only on my part. I had a few drinks and I didn't know if it was imagined or whatever.”
“Thank you,” he replied. “A little seriousness from you is nice. But I also enjoy your witty comebacks.”
“Okay. We'll mix it up a little. A little serious now, but I can't guarantee a little sarcasm won't slip in there. But the same goes for you.”
“Deal.”
“I will be working as an office manager at a doctor's office starting on Monday.” See? I can do serious.
“Is that something you enjoy doing?”
“It will pay the bills and that's all I need.” Drew gives me a look as if he doesn't know what I'm talking about. Maybe he doesn't. Maybe all he thinks about is money. I think I might ask him that as part of our “getting to know each other” question and answer period.
“Are you passionate about anything? Or anyone?”
Well, as a matter of fact, I am. “Yes,” I answer, and hesitate before continuing. “My daughter and…uhhh...reading.” His eyebrows shoot up. I laugh.
“You look shocked. What part is shocking? That I have a child? Or that I can read?” Oops...there's that sarcasm again. My bad. He doesn't look concerned at my snarky comment. “Sorry. I told you my sarcasm slips out. I made no promises.”
That beautiful face looks at me with a sincere smile. “That you have a child. A daughter. You don't act like you have a child, nor look like you have one. I am just surprised. Where is she? I haven't seen you with anyone, other than Alyssa.” Damn gorgeous stalker that he is!
I return his smile. He has so many different smiles, but this one is truly amazing. How can anyone be so perfect to look at? I try to sigh quietly.
“She's a freshman in college back in Florida. She left to go grow up, and I left to go be happy. Or happier. I don't know. I wanted to try something new for a change.”
There’s another look of shock on his face. “She's in college?” His voice is louder than it needs to be. “You do not look old enough to have a daughter in college. You must have been a teenager when you had her.”
A giggle escapes me, then turns into full-on laughter. “Like I haven't heard that before. I had her when I was twenty-two. Not a teenager, but still young enough. It was great, though. I was still young enough to do all kinds of fun things with her and not have to worry about looking like an idiot doing it. We kind of grew up together. Might I add that you don’t look old enough to have a very successful business.”
His brows furrow when I turn it around on him. “I am old enough,” he says coldly, keeping his questions coming. “So if your daughter is a freshman, that should make her about eighteen, right? And you had her at twenty-two, so that makes you...?”
“Forty. You have a problem with age or something?”
“No, no, no. You are just not the age I thought you were. You look so much younger. And you hang out with a college student. I guess it all just threw me off.”
I wanted to roll my eyes so badly, but I just smirk. “Look, if you have a hang up or something, you can just take me back home. I am okay with it.” An emotion crossed over his face. Was it anger?
“No, I don't have a hang up. It does bother me, however, that you are so quickly willing to go home because of a misunderstanding. I won't be taking you home until we are done with our date…maybe not even then.” Oh, there's that wicked grin. Naughty man coming out to play.
“Oh, really?” He reaches over and grabs my hand. Oh, my god. There it is again. That feeling that shoots through my entire body and lights it on fire. My core tightened. Bringing my hand to his mouth, he gives the back of it a light kiss and looks at me in the process. Oh. Sweet. Jesus. Then he entwines his fingers with mine.
“You should breathe. It really is quite good for you,” he says sarcastically. I exhale quietly, trying to play off that I was holding my breath…unbeknownst to me, I might add.
Gathering my thoughts, I simply ask, “Why are you holding my hand? We barely know each other.”
Drew looks at me, curiously. “I wanted to. Do you not want to hold my hand?” Was that a sad look in his eyes?
“It's not that I don't want to. I thought maybe it might be too soon or something. Unless this is a typical Drew Chambers kind of thing on dates.”
He raised a mischievous eyebrow. “You think I date a lot, do you?” He laughs. “I hardly ever date. All the girls I meet are usually just after money or publicity. Or just to say they went out with me. Never a real relationship.” I wonder if he has commitment issues. I'm sure a guy of his status does, especially when he can pretty much do whatever he wants.
“How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?”
“Thirty-two.” Now I'm the one with the shocked face. He smirks. “You have a problem with age or something?” Using my own words against me, he laughs harder.
I give him an evil look. “I don't have a problem, but I see why you acted the way you did when you found out my age. We have a bit of an age gap here. I will completely understand if you don't want to pursue anything with an older woman.”
He whips his head in my direction and has a nasty look on his face, and a fire in his eyes. I tense up, a little scared. He’s still holding my hand, but with a little tighter grip. My pepper spray is just in my backpack a
t my feet, easily accessible.
All of a sudden, his face calms. He takes a deep breath, I'm guessing to choose his words wisely. “I thought we already established that I didn't have a problem with your age. The connection between us has nothing to do with age. You are a beautiful, independent woman with a good head on your shoulders. Also working in your favor is the fact that you had no clue who I was when we met.” A sly, cocky grin appears across his face.
I am tempted to test the waters to see what the fuck is up with his emotions. Quickly, I debate on this in my head. Yep, I'm going to do it. “What was that?” I ask.
“What?”
“Your face just showed an array of emotions in a matter of seconds. Do you have anger issues?”
“You read my emotions pretty well. Usually, I hide them and no one is the wiser, but you can see it all. Interesting.”
I whip my head towards him and say, “You didn't answer the question.”
“I don't like being doubted. Definitely not more than once on the same issue. But yes, I can get...testy.” All the tension and being cooped up in this Hummer is starting to get to me so I'm a little edgy now.
“Are we almost there?” Another laugh roars out him. A hand on stomach, head back kind of laugh. Awww, his playful side. I think he would have dropped to the floor and let the laugh roll him around if he could. So cute. I like him this way. It's infectious and I start to laugh.
Minutes later when we've calmed, he says, “Thanks for that. I needed it. You sounded like a little kid on a long road trip. I don't know why it made me laugh so hard, but it did and I'm grateful.”
“I like this side of you. It's very sweet and endearing.” He pulls my hand to his mouth again and gives another kiss. “So…are we there yet?”
After another look and a giggle, he replies, “Yes. We are taking the next exit, then it's another five to ten minutes.”
“Can we stop and get some drinks and use the restroom before we start our hike?”
“Yes, ma'am.” His eyes dart to me, searching my face to see if I'm offended.
Looking at him with a comforting look, I raise his hand to my mouth and kiss it. “I know you weren't being a smartass that time.” I chuckle. He looks surprised that I kissed his hand. Hey, two can play that game. Not to mention the closeness is soothing. This is going to be fun.