While sitting in the hair salon on Friday morning, Jen’s cell phone rang. Once she fished it out of her bag, she recognized Drew’s number and answered it immediately. “How’s my best friend?”
“I’m good, thanks. How are you doing?”
“I’m okay. What’s up? And how is your dad?”
“He’s improving, but it’s a slow recovery,” Drew answered. “It’s more of a marathon than a sprint.”
“I’m sorry, Drew,” Jen said. “I’ve been praying for him.”
“Thanks,” Drew replied. They were quiet for a moment, before Drew took a deep breath, and said, “Jen, there is something I wanted to tell you, though.”
Jen’s heart was racing, hoping Drew was calling with the news she had been waiting for – that he was moving back to New York. “I’m all ears,” she said, hopefully.
“Um…well, I met someone recently.” He took a deep breath, and said, “Her name is Collette.”
Jen’s entire body froze, and she was momentarily unable to breathe. When she recovered, she asked, “How did you meet her?”
“She moved her business into the suite next to my father’s office. She makes custom gift baskets,” Drew replied. “We’ve gone on a few dates, and I wanted to call to tell you, because I didn’t want you to hear about it from someone else.”
Although she felt as though she had been punched in the stomach, Jen heard herself tell Drew that she was happy for him. As they finished their conversation, Jen tried to keep her voice steady and her tone light, despite her heart being heavy with grief. It really is over now, she thought. We’ve both moved on.
After leaving the salon, Jen walked across the parking lot and into the supermarket to pick up the groceries she needed for the weekend. Thank goodness I made a list, she thought, realizing she was too distracted by the phone call from Drew to be able to concentrate on her shopping. I can’t have Vince see me like this, she said to herself as she checked a carton of eggs before placing them in her cart. As soon as I get home, I’m going to run on the treadmill to clear my head and get Drew out of my mind.
When the buzzer rang to alert her that there was someone at the driveway gate, Jen punched some buttons on the security system monitor and confirmed it was Vince. She remotely opened the gate, and waited at the front door as he drove up the driveway. It was the first time that she had seen Vince drive, and was intrigued as he brought a black sports car to a stop in front of her house.
In response to the quizzical look on her face, Vince chuckled, “You didn’t think I could drive, did you?”
Jen laughed as she walked towards him, welcoming him with a warm hug and lingering kiss. “It’s just that I never saw you behind the wheel before. That’s an amazing car. A Lamborghini Aventador, right?”
“Yes. It’s one of my many cars,” Vince explained, as he removed a small overnight bag from the passenger seat. “You’re interested in cars?”
“Very much so. I learned a lot about them because my uncle, my mom’s brother, has a mechanic’s shop out here, and he specializes in exotic cars. Can I drive it sometime?”
You never cease to amaze me, he thought, before replying, “Sure. Why not?”
“Can’t wait,” Jen said, as she escorted him inside the house.
Vince placed his bag in the foyer, and followed Jen into the great room, where a fire was burning in the fireplace. He inhaled the herb-scented aroma coming from the kitchen, and asked “What’s cooking? It smells delicious.”
“A pork tenderloin coated in rosemary, thyme, and garlic, and wrapped with pancetta. I made some roasted carrots and potatoes, too. It should be ready any minute. Hope you like it.”
“I’m going to love it, I’m sure.”
After using the restroom, Vince wandered around the first floor of Jen’s house, taking in the rustic-yet-chic decor. She is so independent, so different from all the other women I’ve dated, he said to himself as he thought about the many women in his life who had begged him to buy or rent them homes in the Hamptons. I have to keep her, and make her mine.
Vince returned to the kitchen, where he found Jen setting the table, and asked, “Can I help you with anything?”
“Thanks. Can you open this, please?” she asked, handing him a corkscrew and a chilled bottle of white wine.
Removing the cork, he asked, “Is this local?”
“Yes. It’s the Brick Kiln chardonnay from Channing Daughters in Bridgehampton. I love it – it’s one of my favorite wines,” she said, as Vince filled their glasses.
Jen carved the roast, plating it on a large white platter along with the roasted vegetables, before placing it on the table in the breakfast nook. “Like you, I prefer to eat informally in the kitchen. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. This is perfect, Jennifer,” Vince replied. He narrowed his eyes, observing Jen as she retrieved some serving utensils from a drawer, and thought, she’s regaining her confidence, because she feels she is back in control. I have to find a way to get her back under my control, before she starts thinking about moving back to Brooklyn.
Jen returned to the table and, after serving Vince and then herself, she sat down and raised her wine glass in a toast. “Welcome to my home, and my favorite place on earth, Vince. Here’s to a great weekend!”
They touched their wine glasses together, and Vince replied with a toast of his own. “Thank you for inviting me here, Jennifer, and for cooking such a beautiful meal. Here’s to this weekend, and many future weekends spent together.” After taking a sip of the wine, he said, “This is delicious. It’s buttery, but not oaky.” He picked up the bottle and inspected the label. “Since this is your favorite, let’s order a case for home.”
“I’d love that,” Jen said. “Thanks.”
As they ate, Jen outlined some ideas she had for the weekend, but Vince found that he was only half-listening to her when she mentioned a few suggestions as to what they could do together, because he was focused on only one thing. I don’t care what we do, Vince thought, as long as we sleep together.
He snapped back to attention when she asked him which restaurant he would prefer to eat at the following night. “It doesn’t matter to me, Jennifer,” he said, as he covered her hand in his. “Whatever makes you happiest.”
“Okay, then I’ll call Almond and see if I can get a reservation for around 7:30,” she said. “It’s my favorite restaurant.”
“Whatever you want, my love.” As long as I get to have you, he thought.
After they cleaned up the kitchen, Vince asked Jen to give him a tour of the rest of the house. She brought him downstairs, showing him the lower-level guest room, in-home gym, sauna, wine cellar, bar, pool table and home theater. “This is a perfect man cave. I’m a little surprised that you have all this, being a single woman.”
“Actually, it all came with the house. I was able to negotiate a deal that included all the furniture and electronics, so the house was ‘turn key ready’ for me. I had gotten the seller down as far as he would go on the price, but I wanted a better deal and thought getting everything in the house was a good way to add value for me.”
Vince raised his eyebrows, surprised by Jen’s negotiating skills. “I love it. On top of everything, you’re a good businesswoman too. You never cease to amaze me.”
They climbed the stairs back up to the main level of the house, and Jen opened the French doors leading from the kitchen to a large patio overlooking the backyard’s in-ground pool, spa and built-in fire pit. “This is my favorite part of the house – the outdoor part,” she said. “I can’t wait until the weather is warm enough to open the pool.” After standing outside for a few minutes, Jen began to shiver, and pulled her cardigan tightly around her. “It’s a little chilly out. Let’s go back inside.”
Once they stepped back into the kitchen, Vince pointed towards the stairs to the second floor. “What’
s up there?”
“Four more guest bedrooms.”
I’ll be damned if I’m sleeping in a guest bedroom tonight, he thought. But it has to be her idea, her suggestion that I stay with her. “So where do you sleep?”
“My bedroom is down the hall. Let me show you.”
Vince followed Jen past the great room, down the hallway, and into the first floor master suite. He was pleased when he noticed a set of French doors in her bedroom leading to the patio overlooking the back yard. Play on her fears, he told himself, as he tried the lock on the French doors. “Aren’t you afraid to stay here alone? These doors can be easily compromised.” He watched Jen carefully, as she shuddered and a look of panic crossed her face.
Taking her into his arms, he tried to re-assure her. “I didn’t mean to upset you, my love. The lock seems fine, and you have a good alarm system for the house,” he said, as he held her tightly. “And besides, I’m here to protect you. I’ll keep you safe.”
Jen was quiet and ill at ease the rest of the evening as they watched a television show about celebrities tracing their family trees. When she put down her knitting needles to yawn, Vince suggested they turn in for the night. He stood up and asked, “Where do you want me to stay? Upstairs or downstairs?”
She didn’t answer him at first, instead pretending she was busy putting her knitting away for the evening. I’m not sure that I’m ready to have him back in my bed yet, Jen thought. But I’m so scared, now that he pointed out how easy it would be to break into my bedroom. I don’t know what to do. Finally, she stood up, took a deep breath, and said, “Neither, Vince. I want you to stay with me.”
“I will, Jennifer, but only if you’re sure you are ready,” he replied, staring at her intently.
“I’m sure.”
Jen turned off the television, before checking the locks on the doors and setting the alarm. She walked down the hallway and into her bedroom, and found Vince exiting the bathroom, wearing only his boxer briefs.
“Hope you don’t mind that I looked through your drawers to find some toothpaste,” he said.
“No problem, Vince. I’ll just be a minute.” Jen closed the door to her bathroom behind her, thankful to have a minute or two of privacy. After washing up, she changed into a matching pink cotton camisole and pajama pants set, and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Cute, but not sexy, she thought.
When she re-entered the bedroom, she found Vince sitting up in bed, and a fire lit in the gas fireplace. “I couldn’t resist a fire, once I found the remote control,” he said.
Jen smiled at him as she turned back the covers, climbed into bed, and turned over on her left side, facing away from him.
“You should see how beautiful you look in the light of the fireplace,” he said.
Vince reached out and pulled her towards him with one hand, while smoothing her hair with his other hand. Jen squirmed slightly when he gently kissed her bare shoulder, which Vince took as a signal that while she welcomed him in her bed, she wasn’t quite ready to make love yet.
When he kissed her shoulder again, Jen turned over and looked up at Vince, the corners of her mouth turning up into a shy smile. You have no idea what you do to me, he thought, as he slowly leaned in and kissed her softly on the mouth. “Sweet dreams, my love,” he said, kissing Jen once more before extinguishing the flames in the fireplace and drifting off to sleep.
The following morning, Vince woke up first and slowly sat upright, being careful not to wake Jen, who was peacefully sleeping beside him. It took every ounce of self control for Vince not to reach out and wake her with kisses all over her body. Take your time, he reminded himself as he stared at her. I could watch you sleep all day.
He watched as Jen stirred, rolled over onto her back, and opened her eyes. “Good morning, beautiful,” Vince whispered as he snuggled up next to her, softly kissing her lips.
“Good morning. How did you sleep?”
“Really well, thanks. This is a very comfortable bed, and it was good to have you sleeping next to me again.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. “How did you sleep?”
“I always sleep well here,” she replied, as she remembered having a dream about Drew calling to break the news to her that he was in love with his new girlfriend, and that they were getting married. Forget about him, she thought as she shook her head to banish the memory of her dream. He’s clearly moved on.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she replied. “It’s just that I’m surprised that it’s already 9:00, and that we slept so late.”
“I think you slept late because it’s the first time you’ve been able to really relax and let your guard down since the break-in at your apartment,” Vince said, before leaning down and kissing her, softly at first, and then more intensely. He pulled back from her and looked into her deep brown eyes, which seemed to hold more questions than answers. “How do you feel?”
“What do you mean?”
Vince propped himself up on his left elbow, and let the fingers on his right hand lightly trace patterns from her lips to her neck, down to her chest and over her breasts, causing her breathing to become shallow. He continued to slowly move lower on her body, until he slipped his right hand under her camisole. When she didn’t stop him, he moved his hand up her torso until he touched her breasts.
He felt her heart beating rapidly as he softly traced an outline around one nipple, and then the other. He continued to lightly tease her nipples with his fingers, until they were standing upright and at attention. He leaned in to kiss her, before asking, “I mean, how do you feel about us resuming a physical relationship?”
Jen didn’t answer him at first, but the sounds of arousal involuntarily escaped her lips as Vince continued to caress her breasts. By the time his hand moved back down her torso, underneath her pajama bottoms, and between her legs, he found she was slick with desire and had already soaked through her panties. “Are you ready?”
“I’m ready,” she simply said, as she wrapped her arms around Vince’s shoulders and pulled him in closer towards her.
It had been over two weeks since they last made love, and their overwhelming need for each other made it feel more like the first time. Vince was desperate to consume and possess her, while Jen was determined to banish the images seared in her brain from her dream about Drew.
When they were spent, Vince collapsed on top of Jen, and then rolled over, pulling her on top of him. Reaching up, he pushed her hair back from her face, and said, “I love you, Jennifer.”
Jen closed her eyes, and felt a surge of gratitude towards Vince, as she thought back over the events of the last few weeks. It was Vince’s arrival that scared off the intruder and prevented me from being raped, or worse, during the break-in, and it is Vince who has committed to protecting me and keeping me safe. He’s really been my hero, she thought, with a new-found appreciation for the man who held her in his arms. Opening her eyes, she looked deeply into his eyes, and quietly replied, “I love you too, Vince.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that for a long time,” Vince said, as he clutched her tightly. “You have no idea how happy you just made me.”
Jen leaned in to kiss Vince again, wrapping her arms and long legs around his body. “Mmm…you’ve been so good to me. All I want is to make you happy in return. I love making you happy.”
“And I love making you happy too, Jennifer.” They lay silently in her bed amid the tangle of sheets, their bodies intertwined, with Jen’s head resting on Vince’s chest, as they breathed in unison. You’re finally mine, Jennifer. He silently vowed, and I will make you mine forever.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Later that day, Vince and Jen strolled down Main Street in Southampton, on their way to Silver’s for lunch. “The best bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich anywhere,” is what Jen had promised, and after taking his first bite,
Vince readily agreed.
While they ate, Jen filled him in on the history of the restaurant. “When I was a little girl, Silver’s was also a newsstand that carried many foreign magazines, and I’d come in with my mother to purchase them, especially the French fashion magazines. I fell in love with fashion and the French language way back then, and I spent hours looking through those magazines, clutching my little French-English dictionary so I could get help with the translation when I didn’t know the words.”
“How would you rate your French skills now?”
“I’m definitely not fluent,” Jen replied. “But I studied it throughout school, and I’ve spent a lot of time in Paris, so I guess I’m fairly conversational in it. Do you speak any other languages?”
Anything But Mine Page 13