Anything But Mine

by Justice, Barbara

  Drew looked up and all color drained from his face, as he saw for the first time the woman whose voice he just heard. Despite his knees shaking, he managed to stand and introduce himself to the tall woman with long blond hair who had him believing he was seeing a ghost. “My name is Drew,” he said.

  “Nice to meet you, Drew,” she replied. “I’m Collette Sullivan. I’m moving into the office down the hall.”

  Stunned by her resemblance to Jen, Drew struggled to find his words. “I’m sorry, I just…um…let me help you with that.”

  “Thanks,” Collette said, handing him the box. She walked down the hallway, with Drew following her, until she arrived at the door to her office. “Come on in,” she gestured.

  Drew passed through the door, placing the box on a table next to some other boxes and wicker baskets, before looking around the small office space. “What kind of a business do you have?”

  “I make custom gift baskets,” Collette replied. “I used to work out of my apartment, but ran out of room, so…,” her voice trailed off as she looked at Drew and smiled, before continuing, “so here I am.”

  Drew stared at Collette, as an awkward silence descended over the room. Finally, Collette said, “I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a bit of a crazy day with the office move, and I could use a drink. I know a great place in my neighborhood. Want to join me?”

  Drew paused, debating whether he should go out with the woman standing in front of him who reminded him of Jennifer, or just call up some of his buddies from high school. Thinking back to the conversation he had just had with Jen, and the revelation that she was living with Vince Moscolo, he made a snap decision. “Yeah…sure, why not?”

  Drew followed Collette into the parking lot, where they got into their cars and exited the lot. After a short ride, Collette parked her car and signaled for Drew to park as well.

  “Here we are,” Collette said, as she walked towards Drew. “This is a fun place.”

  Drew held the door open for Collette before entering the bar and asking, “What can I get you?”

  “A cosmopolitan would be great. Thanks.”

  Drew ordered Collette a cosmopolitan, and a double vodka and tonic for himself. They drained their drinks, ordered another round and then a third, when a deejay started spinning some dance music.

  “Oh I love this song! Come on, let’s dance,” Collette said, as she dragged Drew out onto the dance floor.

  As they started moving to the music, Collette draped her arms around Drew’s neck, and Drew, in turn, placed his hands around her waist. She’s a little shorter, a little more curvy, and not quite as pretty as Jen is, he thought, as he caught a whiff of her perfume. But, damn, she even smells a little like Jen. He pulled her against his body, closed his eyes, and breathed in the familiar vanilla sugar scent.

  As they danced, Drew began to feel the effects of the vodka. He felt Collette’s lips on his neck, and responded by letting his hands roam her body.

  “Let’s go back to my place,” Collette whispered, as she nibbled at his ear.

  The alarm on Drew’s cell phone sounded early the next morning. He was dazed as he searched for his cell phone before retrieving it from his pants, which he found in a crumpled heap on the floor across the room. Where am I, and what the hell happened last night?

  He answered his own question when he turned around and saw Collette stirring in bed. Oh my God, I spent the night with her, he said to himself, as the drunken memories of the previous evening surfaced. Too many vodka and tonics, a few dances, and her resemblance to Jen is what happened, he thought.

  He was about to get dressed, when Collette turned over and opened her eyes. “Good morning, Drew,” she said, yawning.

  “I’m sorry, Collette. I didn’t mean to wake you,” he answered. Realizing he was standing next to the bed, naked, he quickly climbed back under the covers. “I’m a little confused, and embarrassed,” he continued. “Is this your apartment? I guess I was a little drunk last night. I don’t remember much of what happened after we left the bar.”

  “I was a little drunk last night, too,” Collette replied. “And, yes, this is my apartment, and my bed.”

  Drew hesitated, before stumbling over his words, “Did we…um, did we…?”

  Collette looked under the sheets. “Well, neither of us have any clothes on,” she said. “And then there’s this,” she continued, picking up a freshly-used condom from between the sheets.

  As Collette held the used condom up in front of him, Drew felt physically ill. “Oh my God…I’m so sorry, Collette. I can’t believe this happened.”

  “Me either. I don’t normally spend the night with guys I just met,” she said. “At least we used protection.” And at least you’re handsome, have a great body, and even when you’re drunk you’re good in bed, she thought. Otherwise, the $10,000 a month I’m being paid wouldn’t be nearly enough.

  “Yeah,” Drew muttered, as he hung his head, unable to look at her. What the hell did I do? I have to see this girl every day, now that her office is next door to mine. I’m such a moron, he thought, as bile rose in his throat. And a night of cheap, drunken sex doesn’t erase the fact that I’m still in love with Jen.

  “Do you want some breakfast? I make great scrambled eggs,” Collette offered, as she thought, I hope he takes the bait.

  “Um…,” Drew hesitated, as he looked over and saw Collette gazing at him with a hopeful look in her eyes. “Sure, that would be nice,” he said, not wanting to hurt her feelings.

  As they ate at her small, two-person table, Drew realized that Collette was trying hard to make the best of the uncomfortable situation, and felt a tinge of sympathy for her. She feels as weird about what happened as I do. After he finished his eggs and toast, he said, more out of guilt than desire, “Would you like to go out to dinner, or a movie, tonight? I feel like we got off to an awkward start.”

  “Sure. I’d like that,” Collette replied. Easiest money I’ve ever made, she thought.

  That night at dinner, Drew peered at Collette over glasses of sparkling wine and oysters on the half shell, weighing whether or not to get involved in a relationship with her. He half-listened as she talked about her business, nodding his head as she explained how she got started making gift baskets when she was in college, but his mind kept wandering to thoughts of Jen. I need to get on with my life, he thought. Jen did, and I should too.

  He realized that Collette must have asked him a question, because she had stopped talking and looked at him expectantly, as though she was waiting for him to speak. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “I said that this is a great place for a date. Have you ever brought anyone here before?”

  “No, I haven’t,” he replied. “I only moved back here a couple of months ago.”

  “You mentioned last night you were working in New York, that you stayed there after you finished college. What was that like?”

  “It was great,” Drew said. “I really miss her, and hope to move back one day.”

  “Her?”

  Drew stammered, “Uh…did I say ‘her’? I’m sorry, I meant ‘it’. I miss New York City. It’s a great place to live.”

  Collette tilted her head and raised her eyebrows, asking, “Who was she?”

  “Who?”

  “The girl you miss. She must be special, for her to be on your mind when you’re out with someone else,” Collette replied.

  Drew sighed, before explaining, “Her name is Jen. We were just friends, then we were more than friends, but it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over,” Drew said. “I’m sorry,” he continued, reaching for Collette’s hand. “I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings.”

  “Not at all. I’m the one who is on a date with you, not her. I’m the lucky one,” she said with a smile, before taking a sip of her sparkling wine.

  A parking spot opened up
just as Drew stopped his car outside of Collette’s apartment building, prompting her to ask, “Would you like to come upstairs?” When he hesitated, Collette said, “I know…it’s a little weird, isn’t it? We’re doing this all backwards – spending the night together, then going on a nice dinner date.”

  Drew chuckled, and the ice was broken. “You’re right, it is a little strange. I hardly remember any of it.” He continued, softly, “I’m sorry again about last night, Collette.”

  “No worries, Drew,” Collette said, fluttering her eyelashes while touching his forearm. “I had a good time with you tonight,” she said, moving her hand from Drew’s arm to his thigh. “And I wouldn’t mind continuing the good time upstairs with you,” she said as she leaned in close to Drew, who turned towards her, allowing their lips to meet in a kiss.

  When Drew woke the following morning, he was momentarily disoriented before realizing that the blond woman sleeping next to him was Collette. Damn, he thought, no matter what I do, when I wake up I’m still in love with Jen.

  “Hey, handsome,” Collette said in a sleepy voice, as she snuggled up next to him. “Good morning,” she purred, as she began to caress his manhood.

  “Good morning,” Drew exhaled, as he became aroused at Collette’s touch. “Mmm…that feels good.”

  “Good,” she said, softly, as she pushed back the sheets that covered them, revealing their naked bodies, before reaching for a condom in the nightstand drawer and placing it over his erection. “Let me make you feel even better,” she said, as she straddled him and slipped his hard shaft inside her.

  Later, in the shower, Drew once again felt remorse over repeatedly making love with Collette. What the hell is wrong with me? Get a life, and get over Jen, he thought, reprimanding himself as the stream of hot water pelted his body. Even though she isn’t Jen, no one is, and no one will ever be. She can’t be duplicated. But Collette is pretty, and nice, and she seems to like me, he thought. I could do worse, I guess.

  He toweled off and wandered back into the bedroom, where he dressed himself in the previous night’s clothes. Just as he finished dressing, he smelled the aroma of sizzling bacon coming from the kitchen, and started to feel alive, just a little, for the first time in months.

  Drew walked into the kitchen and stole a piece of crisp bacon from the paper towel-lined platter and popped it in his mouth. “Yummy,” he said, leaning down and brushing his lips against Collette’s cheek. “I could get used to this. You’re spoiling me.”

  That’s my job, thought Collette, as she smiled at Drew. That’s my job.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Jen rose early each morning to have breakfast with Vince, but went back to bed after he left for his office, not knowing what to do with herself or how to occupy her time. Still recovering from the injuries she suffered in the attack, her face remained bruised and puffy, making it impossible for her to return to work, and boredom was taking over.

  She held her hands in front of her and inspected her wrists, still bearing faint marks from where she was bound with rope, and thought, I’ve been sulking around this mausoleum of an apartment for an entire week, she thought, looking around the guest suite. I’m getting cabin fever. Although she hadn’t ventured outside of Vince’s apartment since she first arrived, she suddenly felt the urgent need to get some fresh air. Picking up the phone, she dialed the cell phone number Vince had given her, connecting her immediately to Pablo, her driver.

  “Hi, Pablo? It’s Jennifer LaBella.”

  “Yes, Miss LaBella,” Pablo replied, his voice having a just a hint of a Spanish accent.

  “Can you please take me on an errand? I’d like to go downtown to do some shopping,” Jen asked.

  “I’ll be right there,” Pablo replied.

  Ten minutes later, Jen was seated in the rear of a black limousine. She looked out the window as Pablo navigated the traffic towards Broome Street in SoHo, where he brought the limo to a stop outside of Purl, her favorite yarn shop.

  Jen stepped out of the car and into the sunshine, taking a moment to savor the contrasting feeling of the warm rays and cool air on her skin before stepping into the yarn shop. Once inside, she took her time fondling soft skeins of cashmere, silk and merino wool, before carefully selecting enough yarn for a couple of projects, including a scarf she planned on knitting for Vince.

  As soon as she arrived back at the Fifth Avenue apartment, she began working on Vince’s scarf, casting on with the deep charcoal grey cashmere yarn she had just purchased. She lost herself in her knitting, and didn’t realize the time passing until Vince walked into the library to let her know he was home and dinner was ready. When she finished the row she was working on, she joined him in the kitchen, where they had eaten their meals since she had moved in.

  “Pablo told me he took you downtown today,” Vince said, as Jen sat down at the table.

  “Yes. He took me to SoHo so I could pick up some yarn. It felt good to get out.”

  “I’m glad. This was a good first step for you, Jennifer, but you need to try to get out more. Your bruises are starting to fade now, and you’re starting to heal. We should make some plans for this weekend, maybe get away somewhere.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “How about showing me around the Hamptons? I’d love to see your house.”

  Vince grinned as he watched Jen smile and clap her hands. “I didn’t know how easy it was to make you happy. I’ll have to suggest we go to the Hamptons more often.”

  “Nothing makes me happier than being out east. It’s the place I feel most at home in the whole world.”

  Intrigued, Vince said, “Tell me why.”

  Jen lifted the napkin from her lap and dabbed at her mouth before answering. “It’s so quiet and peaceful there, Vince. Growing up, I spent every summer on my family’s farm, and most weekends too. I love the fresh air, the beach, and just simply being outside. And since my house is secluded and in the woods, I have lots of privacy.”

  “What are some of your favorite things to do there?

  “In the summer, obviously, I enjoy swimming, either at the beach or in my pool. And at night, I love sitting in my back yard by the fire pit, toasting marshmallows and listening to music. You should see how beautiful the stars are on a clear night,” Jen said, wistfully, as she smiled at Vince. “I think you’ll like it there. I’m surprised that you haven’t spent time in the Hamptons before.”

  “Actually, I’ve rented homes there most summers over the years. Whenever I’m there, friends and business associates have invited me to parties, benefits, the occasional polo match, and other social events. I’ve never thought of it as a place to just relax, though, especially during the off-season. I’m looking forward to it.”

  While finishing dinner, Jen and Vince discussed the logistics of traveling out to Southampton for the weekend. “I’ll leave early Friday morning, so I can run some errands and take care of the grocery shopping,” she said.

  “No, absolutely not,” Vince said, sternly, causing Jen to recoil. Realizing he sounded harsh, Vince softened his tone before continuing, “You can’t go out there alone for security reasons. What if the guy who attacked you knows where you live out there?”

  “It’s not like I’m listed in the phone book, Vince. I’m sure it will be okay.”

  Vince tried to hide his aggravation, and countered, “Why not let Pablo drive you out. You can relax during the trip, and you’ll have someone with you when you enter the house, just in case.”

  After debating back and forth, Jen finally managed to cajole Vince into letting her drive her own car out to Southampton for the weekend once she explained that she needed to take care of a few personal things out there, including getting her hair highlighted and trimmed. “I’ll have my housekeeper meet me there, so I don’t enter the house alone. I’m going to need her help for a few hours anyway on Friday.”

&n
bsp; “Okay, Jennifer, you win. You can drive your own car, but I’m sending a bodyguard out with you, in a separate car, and he’ll stay with you until I get out there.”

  “Is that really necessary?”

  “Yes. I don’t want to take any chances.”

  “Fine,” she said with a sigh. I know he’s just trying to protect me, but I wish I could have some time alone, she thought.

  “Does it make sense for me to drive out? Or should I take the helicopter? We’ll have two cars out there if I drive.”

  “Yes, but I can leave my car, and ride back with you. I’ll keep my car there through the summer. It doesn’t make sense for me to continue to pay for my parking spot in Brooklyn if I really don’t need my car here in the city right now anyway.”

  Jen’s comment simultaneously surprised and pleased Vince. She’s not planning on using her car in the city, so she must be planning on staying with me for the foreseeable future, he thought. She is becoming mine, little by little, step by step.