by Christa Lynn
“What the hell?” I say to myself, as I head towards the elevators. I meet Tim in the hallway. “I’ve gotta run downstairs real quick, I’ll be right back,” I tell him as I keep walking.
“Ally, is everything okay?” He asks, concern filling his eyes.
“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I get back up,” I say, as he steps into the elevator with me.
“I’ll come with you, you look kinda spooked,” he says, and I nod, because he’s right, I am spooked.
The elevator doors open, and I step in to the parking garage, Tim at my heels. He’s staying so close to me, that when I stop and turn around, he almost hits me. “Tim, really? You don’t have to walk so close to me,” I say with a chuckle. He backs off, but not by much.
I walk up row C and stop dead in my tracks in front of parking spot 6. There sits a shiny black Nissan Maxima, with one Jackson Bentley leaning against the driver side door, looking as smug as ever.
Tim is behind me, and I can’t speak. Jackson just looks at me, smiling, and I struggle to make my lips work. Tim nudges me from behind, and I finally find my voice. “What is this?”
“It’s a car, Ally. The one you were looking at last night.”
“I can see that, but why is it here and why are you here?” I ask, knowing the answers to my questions. Still, I need to hear him say it, because we all know what assuming does.
“Click the remote and unlock the doors, Ally,” Jackson tells me as he pushes off of the door, stepping back. I click the fob, and the lights flash, indicating the doors are now unlocked. Jackson opens the driver side door, and motions me forward. “Get in. See how it feels.”
“Why would I do that Jackson?”
“Ally, don’t be silly. This is your car. I bought it for you.”
“You what? Why? I told you I could do this on my own, and I don’t need you saving the day. Jesus, doesn’t anyone listen to me anymore?” I scream out, turning to Tim, hoping for a little help, but he’s disappeared and I see him getting back on the elevator. Great. “Thanks for your help, Tim!” I holler towards him, as the elevator doors close. I know he heard me, but he made no effort to come back.
“Get in, Ally.”
“No. I’m not accepting this, Jackson,” I say as I reach my hand out, holding the key fob in my hand. “I will do this on my own, you can keep it.” But he doesn’t take the key from me.
“Yes, you will accept it. Consider it an apology,” he says.
“Really? If you wanted to apologize, then apologize! Send flowers, or a note, but a fucking car? I can’t believe this.” I say as I turn my back to him, running my fingers through my hair. He comes up behind me, wraps his arms around me, and pulls my body against his, but I struggle free and move out of his arms. His touch makes me weak, and right now I need to be strong.
“What’s the catch, Jackson? No one buys someone a car as an apology. I’m not accepting it, I can’t.” I tell him, while shaking my head, my fingers fiddling with the key fob. “I won’t feel obligated to you, or anyone else, I am not a charity case. I make good money now, and can afford my own car, damn it. Even Tim walked away from this cluster fuck, Jackson. Thank you, but no thank you.” I tell him as I try again to hand him the key, but he’s not reaching out to take it. So, I take the mature way out and throw the key at him, the clinking sound echoing throughout the parking garage, and I walk away.
There. That ought to show him.
My heels clicking on the concrete deafen me, pounding in my ears. Or is that my heart beat? I can’t be sure, but I continue my march towards the elevator doors, alone. Jackson is not following me, and he’s said nothing. My face is hot, and I’m sweating I’m so angry. Maybe I need to take some anger management classes, because this is getting ridiculous. After the sweet, hot night, Jackson and I had, I thought things were changing for the better, but then he goes and does this. I can’t handle it.
I get back to my desk, and start working, though my mind is all over the place. I decide to skip lunch, even though my stomach is rumbling. I can’t imagine I would be successful keeping anything down right now. I’ll grab some crackers later.
As I’m finishing up a spread sheet, Tim walks in, and sits down. “What was that all about, Al?”
“You know, I could have used your help down there, Tim. But you took the cowardly way out and left me there hanging.”
“It seemed like a personal matter. I didn’t figure you’d want me around during that. What happened, by the way?” He asks.
“What do you think happened? He wouldn’t take the key back, so I threw it at him, and left. I’m not taking the damn car.”
“Why would he buy you a car, anyway?”
“Heck if I know, he said it was an apology. For what? I’m not sure, there have been so many infractions, that I don’t know what the apology is actually for, and I didn’t stick around for him to tell me. I thought he was.......” I fade off, not sure how to continue. “We’ve got this...love, slash, hate, relationship, I think. He says he loves me,, and I think I hate him.” I laugh at that. “I really don’t hate him, I just hate what he does sometimes.”
“Is he violent towards you, Ally?” Tim asks, concern written all over his endearing face.
“Oh no way, if anything he’s the exact opposite. He’s possessive, demanding and totally adorable. Gosh I am such a mess.” I mumble, placing my head in my hands, tears threatening to spill out all over my keyboard.
“Sounds like he’s got your heart tied up in knots, Al. Maybe you should give him a chance to explain.”
I shrug my shoulders, more confused than ever, since it was Tim that once told me to stay away from him while pushing me to have dinner with him. He hasn’t helped matters much.
“There’s nothing to explain, Tim. He bought me a car, for Pete’s sake. A car! He could have sent a card, or just told me he was sorry. I’m not sure he knows how to explain anything, he just does things thinking his overbearing methods will make it all right, when it only makes things, worse.”
“Well, don’t give up on him just yet. If he bought you a car, then he has some strong feelings for you. Hell, I didn’t even buy my wife a car, until we’d been married for three years,” he chuckled. “What does Heather say about all of this?”
Flashes of light blink in my vision, and I almost get dizzy over it. “Haven’t told her, because the bitch stood me up this morning.” I say as I pop my hand over my mouth. “Sorry about that, she just made me angry this morning, and I haven’t spoken to her all day. She’s another one that likes to interfere too much. Do people really believe that I can’t take care of myself?” I ask him, truly wanting an honest answer.
“I don’t think that’s it, Al. I think people want the best for you. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and you deserve to be happy and cared for. Don’t think too much about it, and just go with it. But be careful, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I think that’s what the problem is. What they’re doing hurts, and when I ask them to stop, they just keep going. Last night I was with Chase at the dealership looking at cars......”
“Wait, who is Chase?” Tim asks.
“The undercover cop that Jackson had hired to protect me, when all that mess with Madison Stone was going down. Jackson was helping investigate the drug runners that supplied her with the fatal dose. He came to see me yesterday as I was leaving, and he took me to the dealership since my car died. We were looking at cars, when Jackson showed up, thanks to Heather.”
Tim just sits there, nodding like he knows exactly what I’m talking about. Course, I know he doesn’t, but I guess when you have nothing to say, it’s best to keep your mouth shut. Seems I have that problem too, whenever Jackson is involved, but I continue.
“There was a showdown in the parking lot, and I called Heather to come get me, leaving Jackson standing in the parking lot. Then, this morning Heather was supposed to bring me to work and she never appeared, but Jackson did. They seem to be working t
ogether, and it’s driving me crazy. Maybe Heather and Jackson would be a better couple, because I can’t handle it.”
Tim laughed at that thought. “Maybe.”
My phone rings, and its Carly advising us our two o’clock appointment is here. Tim and I get up, and head to the conference room, while Carly shows them into the conference room.
After three interviews and no prospects, I sit back down at my desk prepared to call a taxi, to take me home. Well, not home exactly. I need to go buy a car,since I ever so politely turned down Jackson’slittlegift. About that time, Carly comes flying in to my office, to tell me someone is here to see me. The look in her eyes told me exactly why she didn’t just call. “Send him in, Carly. I guess I need to face the music.”
A few short minutes later,Carly arrives with Jackson in tow. The look in Carly’s eyes tells me she’s smitten with him and extremely jealous. One of those“You go girl!”looks. I roll my eyes back at her and her sneaks off, back to her desk. Or at least I hope she goes back to her desk, because I have a feeling this conversation is about to get ugly.
Jackson closes the door, and proceeds to sit down in the chair opposite my desk, while looking around the small room, taking it all in. “So, this is your office huh?” He asks, his eyes locked on a generic piece of artwork on the wall. “You’d think it would be designed better, considering this is a design firm.”
“Yeah, well. I just moved in, and haven’t had time to do anything with it yet. We’ve been interviewing all day and between that and the Perimeter project, I have no time. Once construction begins, I’ll have time to put my own personal touch in here.”
He sits there quietly as he places the key fob to the car on my desk.
“Jackson, I’m not.....”
“Ally, please. After all I’ve put you through, with the investigation and the danger that put you in, please, accept this as my apology and a congratulations. I want to do this, and I’d really like for you to accept the car, no strings attached.”
“Strings? Of course there are strings, there always are. I just.....” And I drift off, because that’s all I’ve got at the moment. I’m tired, stressed and done with this day. But then, the light bulb goes off in my tiny brain.
“I’ll accept the car on one condition.” He looks at me with his brow raised, like he can’t believe I just issued a challenge. “I make payments to you, until it’s paid for.”
And he actually laughed!
“No, no conditions Ally. The car is yours, titled to you, and paid for in full.”
“But....”
“No butts, Ally. Unless it’s your bare butt in my hands.”
Whoa. Where did that come from? “Shhhh, I am at work you know. They just fired a girl yesterday for harassing employees, I don’t need to be next.”
“But you aren’t harassing me, and I’m not an employee,” his emerald green eyes glazed over and dilated. “You ready to get out of here? Cause I need to have you to myself tonight.” Jackson says as he stands from his seat, and my eyes scan his body, from his sexy lips down to his.....hello there.
“Umm, yeah. I guess we should go,” I smile as I grab my things and shut down my computer, suddenly no longer angry about the car situation. Oh, we’ll discuss it some more, but right now, I’m ready to get the hell out of here and move on to something a little more fun.
He motions his eyes to the key fob on the table, then looks back up at me. “You drive.”
Chapter 6
We head down to the parking garage, the Maxima is still parked where it was before, like he never left the garage. I’m sure he did, but he left the car right where it was. He knew exactly what he was doing. I click the fob, and the lights blink, causing a shiver to run down my spine. This is really mine! I get excited for a second, and then that shiver settles in the pit of my stomach. This is really mine, and Jackson bought it....not me.
I freeze in my tracks, staring at the car. Jackson nudges my back, but I can’t move. My feet are stuck to the concrete. “Ally, are you okay?”
I nod, because my mouth won’t work, again. Damn this thing must be attached to my feet. I need to find the foot and mouth store and exchange mine for ones that works, because they’ve been malfunctioning too much lately, and it’s time for an upgrade.
“Ally, what is it?” Jackson whispers in my ear.
“I can’t accept this Jackson, really I can’t. It’s too much, and you won’t let me repay you. I know you said there isn’t a catch, but really? Why would you buy me a car?”
“Because I love you, and you deserve it. You went through hell because of me, and I want you to have it, please accept it?” He says, as his hot breath caresses the sensitive skin below my ear. How can I refuse this man anything, when he does that? Those shivers come back, and now I’m shaking.
“Get in the car, Ally. Let’s go home.”
I nod, and am actually able to move my feet this time. “But this conversation isn’t over, Bentley.”
He chuckles under his breath, and I get the feeling that this conversation is over, because he’s not going to let me win this argument. I suddenly realize, I haven’t heard from Heather all day, nor have I bothered to check my phone. I pull it out, before getting in the car, and I’ve missed six text messages from her.
H - I’m sry, call me
H - Ally, pls!
H - U rnt 4givn me R U?
H - ALLY!
H - C’mon babe, tlk 2 me
H - Now I’m worried, CALL ME!
Shit, I’d better call her. “Hand me your phone Ally.” Jackson says, as he opens the driver door and gets in.
“I thought I was going to drive?”
“You are.” He says, as he cranks the car.
“How’d you do that? I have the key right here.”
“Ignition is keyless. All you have to have, is the key on your person, or in your bag. The doors will automatically unlock as you get close. You just press the button here, with your foot on the brake and there you go. Now hand me your phone.”
“Geez, bossy tonight,” I say, as he smirks back at me. “What do you want with my phone?” I ask, as he swipes the unlock screen and starts doing something.
“Syncing the Bluetooth. When someone calls you, you press this button here,” As he points to the little button on the steering wheel,” and the person calling you is on speaker. It’s totally hands free, so your hands remain on the wheel,” he says, as he gives me a look.
“What’s that look for?” I tilt my head to the side.
“I know how you love your phone, and now you have no excuse to pick it up while you’re driving. Safety first.”
You have got to be kidding me, right?
Right.
“Okay, I’ll be good,” I say with a shy smile, like a kid waiting for ice cream after dinner.
“Now, get in and adjust the seat and mirrors, then take us home.”
“Home? Whose home? Mine, I assume, because that’s where I need to go.”
“Yes, your home Ally. I’ll have James pick me up later. Much later.”
I get everything adjusted, and pull out of the parking garage. Damn, I love this car. Or maybe I was just so used to my old car, that a tractor would feel good. We cruise up the interstate and traffic slows at the same place it always does. It’s then I realize I left the Peach Pass in my old car.
“Damn traffic,” I mumble under my breath.
“You need to get a Peach Pass,” Jackson responds from the passenger seat.
“I had one, but I left it in the old car. I’ll get another one, because this crap is crazy.”
We poke along at about twenty miles per hour, and after a grueling hour and a half, we finally pull in to the parking lot. “Geez, that was rough. I really have to get another pass, soon.” I say as I smile at Jackson, who is staring at me.
“Like the car?”
“Yes, thank you. But you still shouldn’t have done it. It’s too much.”
“Nonsense, Ally. Nothing is
too much for you, sweet girl,” he says, as he leans in for a kiss. He slants his mouth over mine, and presses his tongue against my lips. Parting them, I allow him in. As his tongue tangles with mine, his palm is pressing against my thigh, gently squeezing and drifting upwards under my skirt.
As his hand gets closer to glory, I scoot back a little and open my thighs, just a bit. I feel him smile against my lips, and he indulges his fingers, pressing the pad of his thumb against my clit. Letting of a soft moan, he pulls back. “Maybe we should take this inside. Wouldn’t want to give your neighbors a show.”
“Yeah, I think you may be right,” I acknowledge as I look out my window, which has steamed up a bit from the heavy breathing. Two kids are standing on the corner, giggling and nudging each other in the side.
Embarrassed, I unfold my body from the car, and Jackson does the same, meeting me around at the driver side to escort me down the breezeway to my apartment. His hand on my back, we walk rather quickly towards my door, while I dig in my purse for my keys.
My hand is shaking as I try and insert the key, so Jackson takes it from me and nudges me aside to open the door. He does this smoothly and before I know it, I am pressed up against the closed door, my keys jangling as they hit the floor, along with the thumps of my purse and briefcase.
He pulls my face towards his, wrapping his left hand around the back of my neck, and gently tracing my cheek with the other. His thumb brushes along my lower lip as he leans in to suck it in to his mouth, gently biting and then tonguing away the sting. He likes to do this, and I love it when he does, so I don’t protest the minor pain.
His fingers leave my cheek and trace a path down my neck, to my shoulder, then tickles down my side, gently grazing the curve of my breast. Sucking in a breath, I throw my head back, and press my hands against his chest. I find out then that my fingers have a mind of their own, as I start pulling the buttons of his crisp white shirt open, exposing his slick skin, and light dusting of hair. I allow my fingers to follow the skin downwards, as I pull his shirt out of his pants and tackle the last two buttons.