Drew added, “Well, I guess you can ask him on your ‘date’.”
Jen laughed for the first time since the auction concluded, as she said, “Yeah, I guess I can.”
“So, Jen, you probably should go out and meet him. He just paid a pretty penny for you,” Mike said, as he led Jen back into the crowd of people and press angling to get a photo of her.
Jen opened her computer the following morning to find that she was dubbed the “$100,000 Woman” on all the gossip websites. One of the local tabloids had a full description of the events of the previous evening, and even ran a photo of Vince kissing her hand when they were introduced. “Ugh,” she said in disgust, as she placed her laptop on the coffee table and answered her ringing phone.
“Hi, Mom,” she said. “I guess you heard what happened last night.”
“It was on the news this morning.” Concerned about her daughter, Grace LaBella asked, “Are you okay?” I wish you’d chosen another career path, Grace thought. This is the worst thing for your anxiety.
“I’m a little shaken up, but, yes, I’m okay,” replied Jen.
“What was it like seeing Chris for the first time since you broke up?
“It was pretty awkward,” Jen replied. “I’m so grateful that Drew was with me. Chris got drunk, and told everyone who would listen to him that we used to live together and that he still loved me. He really embarrassed himself, Mom. It was actually painful to watch.”
“Well, I’m glad Drew was there for you. It sounds like he’s been a good friend to you, Jen.”
“Yes, he has. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him,” she said with a sigh.
“So, tell me about the billionaire,” Grace asked. “What’s he like?”
“Umm…well, he’s in his late 30s or early 40s, I think, and about six feet tall, with dark hair and brown eyes. He’s very Italian-looking, and he seemed polite, and somewhat formal, or serious. I didn’t spend that much time with him, though, so I don’t really know what he’s like.”
“When are you going out with him?”
“I don’t know. His people will work it out with my agent. It all depends on our schedules, I guess. The whole thing is a little weird.”
Grace agreed. “I know you never thought anything like this would happen, and that you thought you would be able to control the situation, with Drew bidding on you, but there was always a chance he wouldn’t win. Just relax and have a good time when you go out with him. You never know what will happen.”
A few minutes after hanging up with her mother, the phone rang again. “Hey, Drew,” Jen said, as she answered the phone. “I’m on my way down.”
“Actually, you might want to skip our run today. There’s a crowd of photographers camped out in front of your building.”
“You’re kidding me,” she said, walking towards the living room window.
“I’m not kidding. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go running with me today, because they’re just going to follow us. How about I pick up some lunch and come over, instead, after I’ve showered? We can just hang out for a while,” he said.
“That sounds like a great idea. Thanks, Drew.”
That afternoon, Drew arrived at Jen’s apartment carrying a plastic bag from Clark’s, the local diner. “That smells delicious,” Jen said, as Drew placed the bag on her dining room table. “What did you get?”
“A cheeseburger and fries for me, and a Greek salad with extra feta and grape leaves for you,” he said as Jen removed the take-out containers from the bag.
“Thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver,” Jen said, giving Drew a hug before sitting down and digging into her salad.
“It’s a good thing you decided to stay inside,” Drew said. “There are still some photographers hanging around, but at least there are less now than there were earlier this morning.”
“I can’t believe they’re still here. I feel so trapped,” Jen said.
“I think you need to get out of here for the weekend,” Drew said. “You know, disappear until another, more interesting story breaks.”
“You’re probably right,” Jen agreed, as she stole a single french fry from Drew’s plate. “Want to see my house in Southampton?”
Grinning ear to ear, Drew answered, “Absolutely! I’d love to.”
Together, Jen and Drew hatched a plan to get out of town without being noticed by the paparazzi. Drew left her apartment, and once he was gone the doorman told Jen that most of the photographers left the front of the building soon afterwards.
Thank God, Jen thought, as she dialed her garage to explain that Drew would be picking up her car that afternoon.
A short time later, Drew brought Jen’s white Mini Cooper convertible to her apartment building’s service entrance on Pineapple Street, which the doorman had opened to allow Jen to exit without notice.
“Remind me to give him a huge tip at Christmas,” Jen said, as she got into the passenger seat of her car and waved goodbye to the doorman.
Two hours later, as Drew navigated the curves on Edge of Woods Road in Southampton, Jen said, “We’re almost there.” Pointing to the small white sign with “Deer Run” painted in green letters, she said, “It’s the driveway on the right.”
Drew punched in the code Jen gave him for the gate, before driving up the driveway. “Wow, that’s a great house,” he said as he turned off the ignition. “Why did you name it Deer Run?”
“I actually didn’t name it. The prior owners did,” Jen explained. “There’s a deer trail towards the back of the property,” she said, pointing. “The back of my property borders on town land, and on the other side of the town land is the back of my family’s farm.”
“Well, you’re definitely safe from the paparazzi now,” Drew said, as he continued to look around. “You can’t even see the road from here.”
“Just the way I like it. Come on in,” Jen called out over her shoulder as she made her way up the front steps. Once inside, they dropped their bags on the foyer floor and Jen took a deep breath. “Thank you so much for being my friend, and my hero, these last couple of weeks,” she said. “I don’t know what I ever would have done without you.”
Drew smiled his trademark lopsided grin, shook his head, and replied, “One thing’s for sure, Jen…there’s never a dull moment around you.” He reached out for her, pulling her into a tight embrace, smoothing her hair, before leaning down to kiss her on the top of her head.
Jen lifted her head, looked deeply into Drew’s large hazel eyes, and hesitated a moment before softly kissing him on the lips. Just as he was returning her kiss, the phone rang. “That must be my parents,” Jen said, as she walked towards the kitchen to answer the phone. “I told them we were on our way out here.”
Ten minutes later, Grace and Peter LaBella walked through Jen’s front door with a roasted chicken, asparagus, foil-wrapped baked potatoes, warm bread, and two bottles of chilled chardonnay from a local vineyard. “Dinner for four,” Grace said with a smile, holding up the canvas bag containing the food.
Jen rushed to hug her mother, a former Southampton High School homecoming queen, who met Jen’s father while she was working as a nurse at the Manhattan hospital where he was a surgical resident.
“Mom, Dad, this is my friend, Drew Crawford,” Jen said.
Drew shook hands with Jen’s parents. “Just so you know, I’m not the billionaire you read about in the newspapers,” he said with a chuckle, putting everyone immediately at ease. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. And I now know where Jen gets her looks from,” he said, smiling at Grace.
Conversation flowed easily over dinner. Grace and Peter knowingly exchanged glances, as Drew and Jen completed each other’s sentences. After they finished eating, Peter and Drew went down to the basement to pick out a board game while Jen and Grace loaded the dishes into the dishwasher. “Drew i
s so nice, Jen, and you obviously like each other. Is he the friend you go running with?”
Grace watched as her daughter blushed and nodded her head. “He seems to really be interested in you, and you’re interested in him too, I suspect.”
Jen nodded again, and whispered “I do like him, Mom, I like him a lot, but I’m really not ready to move on yet. I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“Then just take your time. I have a feeling he’ll be patient and wait until you’re ready,” Grace said just before Peter and Drew arrived back in the kitchen with the game Scattergories.
Later that evening, after her parents left, Jen locked the front door and turned off the driveway lights. Turning towards Drew, she said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. I think I’m just about ready to turn in for the night.”
“Umm…Jen?”
She yawned, and replied “Yes?”
“One question: what are the sleeping arrangements?”
“Oh. Oh, right,” Jen replied, nervously wringing her hands. “I didn’t think about that.” Jen walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Drew. “What do you think?”
“Whoa, Jen,” Drew said, holding up his hands. “This isn’t about what I think, because you know what I think. I’m crazy about you, and I want to be with you. Very much. The important question is, what do you think?”
Jen shook her head and looked at the floor. “I don’t know. I want to be with you, too, but I don’t want you to be my rebound guy.”
“And I definitely don’t want to be just your rebound guy. I want to be with you, but only when you’re ready.”
“So you think we should wait?”
“Jen, I think patience is a virtue. Whether it is tonight, next week, or next month, I’ll be here for you when you’re ready. I care about you, a lot. You’re my best friend. So, take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” Drew stood up and, gesturing towards the staircase, asked, “So, which bedroom should I take?”
“Umm…pick whichever one you want. There are four upstairs. My bedroom is down here,” she said, standing up.
Drew kissed Jen on the top of her head, then on her lips. “Good night,” he said, before grabbing his duffel bag and climbing the stairs two at a time.
Jen watched him go up the stairs, and then returned to the kitchen to place the last couple of dirty wine glasses in the dishwasher. When she was done, she turned out the lights and walked towards her bedroom, glancing up the stairs in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Drew.
For a moment, Jen thought about running up the stairs and jumping into bed with Drew, but knew deep down that he was right. Patience is a virtue, she thought with a sigh. She walked down the hallway to her bedroom, closing the door behind her, but was unable to get Drew out of her mind as she conjured up a mental image of him lying in bed. I know he is right, that we need to be patient, but I’m not sure I can wait that much longer.
As Jen climbed into bed, she was bathed in the moonlight shining through the French doors leading from her room to the rear patio. Lying on her side, she gazed up at the night sky but, despite being exhausted, she couldn’t fall asleep knowing Drew was right upstairs.
Her mind wandered back to the morning just two weeks earlier, when she walked in on Chris and Vicky in bed, and she felt sick to her stomach. It seems like a lifetime ago, and just yesterday, all at the same time, that my world came crashing down around me, she thought, as she turned over on her back and stared up at the ceiling. She felt a catch in her throat, and her eyes filled with tears that slowly rolled down her face. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she realized that she wasn’t ready yet to begin a physical relationship with Drew if she was still shedding tears over Chris. I’ve got to get the “date” with Vince Moscolo over with as soon as possible, she silently vowed, as she tossed back and forth, unable to sleep. Then I can make a fresh start with Drew.
CHAPTER FIVE
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Jen and Drew went on frequent dinner and movie dates in addition to their daily runs, with the understanding that they would move cautiously, and not rush their relationship. “Patience is a virtue,” was Drew’s mantra, as he and Jen held hands, kissed, and cuddled together, but nothing more. But the waiting is killing me, he thought.
He and Jen skated arm in arm at Wollman Rink on the last Friday before Christmas after he finished work at a nearby television station, where he was employed as an assistant producer and substitute sports reporter. “Want to get some hot chocolate? I’m freezing,” Drew asked, as they left the ice rink.
“That sounds perfect,” Jen said, as she followed Drew to the concession stand. While he placed their order, she stole a quick sideways glance at Drew’s handsome profile. You’ve become such a big part of my life, she thought.
While they sipped their hot chocolate, Drew asked, “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow? I’d love to see you again before I head home to California on Sunday.”
“I think I’m going to pick up a Christmas tree,” Jen replied. “Want to come over in the afternoon and help me decorate it? I’ll make a nice dinner, and we can spend the day together.”
“I’d love that,” Drew said, as he put his arm around Jen and kissed the top of her head. “I’m going to miss you while I’m back home.”
The following afternoon, as Jen stared out her living room window at the Manhattan skyline, watching snow flurries swirl in the wind, she realized that she was slowly falling in love with Drew. I can’t wait for later, she thought as she pulled her cashmere cardigan tightly around her body. Tonight is the night. Tonight we’ll finally be together.
Drew arrived at Jen’s apartment with a bottle of champagne and a sprig of mistletoe. “All the ingredients for a perfect celebration,” he said, as Jen greeted him with a hug.
“Thanks for the champagne,” Jen said, as she placed it in the refrigerator. “We can have it later with dinner, but let’s make use of the mistletoe right away,” she said, as she placed her lips on his.
Drew pulled Jen close, not wanting to let her go. I have no idea how I’m going to get through the next ten days without you while I’m home for Christmas, he thought, as he held her tightly.
Jen put on some Christmas music, and together they sang along with all the classic tunes of the season while hanging ornaments on the seven foot tall Frasier fir she had picked out earlier in the day.
“You’re good at so many things, Jen, but you really can’t carry a tune,” Drew teased, as she sang along to the Christmas carols.
Laughing, Jen agreed. “I know, right? You have a much better voice than I do,” she said, as she took a couple of steps back from the tree, assessing the decorations. “I think we’re just about done,” she added, as she reached into a box and handed Drew the star for the top of the tree. “Can you put that on top? I can’t reach it.”
Drew reached up and placed the gold star on top of the tree, just as “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Vince Vance and the Valiants came through the speakers. Drew grabbed Jen from behind, and together they began to sway to the music.
“I’ve always loved this song,” Jen said.
“Me too,” Drew agreed.
After a few moments, Drew turned Jen around and pulled her in towards him, and she reached up and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close against her body.
“You know, this song says it all, because you’re all I want for Christmas,” Drew said, as he continued to hold her tightly, caressing her back and running his hands through her long hair. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, then tilted her chin up so he could gaze into her brown eyes.
Drew lowered his head, and lightly kissed Jen on the lips, and she returned his kiss without hesitation. Softly and slowly, they continued to kiss, allowing their lips and tongues to explore each other’s mouths, and their hands to explore each other’s bodies in ways they
had not done before. “Oh my God, Jen,” Drew moaned. “I want you so much.”
The desire for Drew that had quietly burned inside Jen during the weeks leading up to that moment exploded into an inferno, consuming her with a passion unlike any she had previously experienced. Overwhelmed, she took Drew’s hand and said, breathlessly, “I think we’ve waited long enough.” Leading him towards her bedroom, she beckoned, “Come with me.”
Jen and Drew lay down together on her four-poster king-sized bed, and held each other tightly, not wanting to rush the moment they had both patiently waited for. Drew ran his hand down Jen’s body, beginning at her forehead, lightly touching her with the tips of his fingers, lingering at her lips, mouth and ears, before slowly tracing a line down the side of her neck. He took his time, slowly moving his hand down her chest until he reached her breasts, and ran his fingers in circles around each of them, causing her pulse to race and her breathing to quicken. Just as Drew leaned in to kiss her, their reverie was interrupted when his cell phone rang.
Anything But Mine Page 3