Found by Love

by Jennifer Bryan Yarbrough

  "For real? She's a knockout! Did you not notice the waiter couldn't keep his eyes off of her when we ordered our drinks?" Now I'm wondering what his type is. Surely he's not one of those kinds of men that are all about having a trophy at his side.

  "Oh I noticed and you're right. She is very beautiful but I'm more attracted to a strong independent woman that’s confidant about herself." She does have some self-esteem issues but I wasn’t sure how much I agreed with his assumption.

  "What makes you think that she’s not a confidant independent woman?"

  "It's all in her body language. I pay attention to things like that and the simple fact that she barely looks me in the eye, the few times I've spoke to her, lets me know that she lacks confidence or his hiding something and she reminds me of someone from my past."

  "Maybe if you tried to talk to her and not be such a stuck up and get to know her better you might feel differently about her.” He pondered what I said and nodded his head.

  "I guess you're right. Maybe that's why I always tend to be so closed off from people and have only considered marrying two women that were unattainable to me, women that I would have moved heaven and earth for. My timing always seemed to suck I guess."

  "Oh yeah? Only two? Haha... What happened? Were they both corporate lawyers who only wanted a quick fling because it was the only thing they wanted from you? Maybe the timing wasn't off at all and it just wasn't meant to be." His body tightened up and the heated look on his face made me regret laughing at him.

  "I think you're right Claudia and no they weren't corporate lawyers. One of them happened to meet my best friend five minutes before I met her. They got married and lived happily ever after. Well, until they died." Oh wow! So he had been in love with Jane. I've often wondered by the way he would describe her to me. He looked over at the table and I looked as well and saw Caleb headed towards us with a smile on his face.

  “And what about what the other one?” He got a somber look on his face and whispered into my ear before Caleb reached us.

  “That’s a story I’ll have to tell you later. Who knows? She could be in this room with us right now.” I didn’t have much time to react to what he said before Caleb interrupted but I didn’t miss the sad look on his face.

  "Do you care if I twirl my fiancé around the dance floor seeing as how you got her warmed up for me?"

  "She's all yours Chap! I'm going to go see if Josie wants to dance." He looked over at me and winked. "Someone pulled my arm and convinced me into coming out of my shell a little. I guess you have to start somewhere." Caleb looked between the two of us and nodded.

  "I guess so man. Go have some fun because Josie does look pretty bored over there."

  Mattie walked off and I put my arms around Caleb's neck and looked over at the table to see what he was going to do. I saw him extend his hand to Josie and she looked up and grinned at him and took his hand but let go and headed for the dance floor leaving him at the table.

  I chuckled because the look of shock on Mattie's face was priceless. He looked over at me and cocked his head and grinned as he headed towards the dance floor. I looked over at Josie and she definitely seemed to be quite confident to me.

  "Did you put him up to that Cruella?" Caleb's sudden question made me jump because for a second there I was so absorbed in watching the two of them.

  "Believe it or not he pretty much told me to mind my own business and to quit trying to play matchmaker. I guess he changed his mind."

  Caleb was trying to turn me in the opposite direction to where I couldn't see what was going on but I jerked him around to where I could see. He started laughing at me and started swaying to the music and it was then that I saw Josie wrap her arms around Mattie's neck and pull him closer to her possessively. I saw her whisper something in his ear and a look of lust come across his face. I giggled into Caleb's ear and he looked at me wondering why I was laughing and he looked over at the two of them dancing.

  "Hmmm. Maybe just maybe you were right and you might know what you're doing. I wasn't expecting that at all. Ya know... She is my cousin after all and I don't think he has the best intentions with her by the look on his face. I don't think you could get a piece of paper between them if you tried." I shut him up with a kiss and he gave me a heated look back when I pulled away.

  "Oh shut it Nerd Boy. Josie's a big girl and can take care of herself obviously and I love how she seems to be more confident than she acted when we first came in." He laughed and said something I never expected.

  "Well I guess you could blame that self-confidence on mine and Cash's shoulders after what we just proposed to her."

  "Hey! She's your cousin! You can't propose to her." I was joking of course and he laughed like I knew he would.

  "Oh you think you're so funny. No.. not that kind of proposal Cru. Gross!" He shivered and had to take a minute to finish what he was about to say. "Dad and Cash and I bought this place and we just asked her if she'd run it for us. You can only trust family with things like this and my Uncle Gregory owned a hotel in Georgia that Josie helped manage so we offered her the job. It took her maybe all of a minute to say yes and we just finished wrapping up the final details right before I came over here. Two birds, one stone." Funny how he threw my words back at me.

  "What do you mean two birds and one stone?"

  "Oh... Well. There's a suite that the manager lives in so now she won't feel like she's putting anyone out and has free room and board in with her salary. She's pretty happy right now."

  "Well I'm sure she is and that worked out pretty well and in her favor I would say. I had no idea you three wanted to buy this place. Actually I didn't realize it was for sale."

  "Oh like Cash says all the time, everything's for sale for the right price." He got serious and looked into my eyes and leaned down and grazed my neck with his teeth. "One of the perks of being an owner is that one of the presidential suites is always available for VIP's. Since there's not anyone important staying here tonight I put dibs in on the room for tonight. You interested? There's a very big Jacuzzi if I'm not mistaken and I know how you like big bathtubs." I looked up at him and nodded my head and purred making him pull me closer into his arms.

  "Oh most definitely! I'm very interested.... Nerd Boy." He growled into my ear and twirled me around the dance floor with excitement in his eyes.

  **********************

  The next morning Caleb and I rushed around to get out of the hotel because we wanted to show Grayson and Mattie around town some more. We also wanted to show Gray the cemetery where we would have his parents laid to rest for their final resting place as well as show him where he would be going to school.

  "Sweetheart? Do you care to run home by yourself? I've already called you a limo to be pulled around front. I need to go over a few things with Josie if you don't mind. Cash put me in charge of her signing some paperwork before her official job starts Monday."

  I looked over at him wearing nothing but a towel and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Will he ever not turn me on when I look at him? I sure hope not. He started grinning at me while he pulled his towel off of his body to dry his chest and shoulders off.

  "I really need to hurry up but I think I can spare five minutes if you would like to go another round, Cru." Oh he's the devil I swear with that devilish grin of his and his pearly whites shining so bright. I sucked in a breath and shook my head at him. "I see it in your eyes what you're wanting."

  "I really need to get home so that I can take a shower and change. I was not expecting to stay the night but I'm sure glad that we did. I had a lot of fun and it was nice to not have to worry about anyone waking up to your screams down the hall."

  I smirked at him knowing full well that it was I that was screaming out his name all night. Just when I think that sex can't get any better he takes me to places I've never been before and it's the biggest turn on. He walked over to me and kissed me hard on the lips and pulled me to him and then whispered into my ear while grazi
ng his teeth down my neck.

  "Oh baby. I'm surprised that the police didn't come barging through the door from your screams, especially when we were out on the terrace. You liked the possibility that people were watching you didn't you?" I shamefully looked the other way because I didn't want to admit it out loud but turned back around and nodded my head. "I could tell because you completely let yourself go and didn't hold anything back." He looked towards the door leading to the terrace and looked back at me questionably.

  "No! It’s absolutely not happening in the daylight!" I walked around his naked body to get my purse and leaned up to kiss him. "Baby, I need to go. I'll be waiting for you at home alright?"

  I knew if I stayed another minute in the room with him it would be hours before we came up for air. That's how it always is when we get started and Grayson was waiting for us. He grabbed my arm as I started heading for the door and the heat in his eyes made my knees weak.

  "Cru... Are you sure you don't want to stay? I could call room service to bring us some breakfast and maybe some chocolate covered strawberries and whip cream and oooh…. honey and biscuits. I'm not sure that I'll put the honey on my biscuits though and probably not the whip cream either!" I moaned and leaned against him and when he went to pull me closer I ducked out of his arms and practically ran to the door.

  "You don't fight fair ya know that?" I tugged the door open while he was standing there grinning in his birthday suit. I heard someone behind me and one of the maids was looking into the room and she squealed and jumped into the wall. She looked to be in her sixties and was staring right at his package with a big grin on her face. I stared her down as she continued down the hall. He was still standing there grinning from ear to ear begging me with his eyes to stay. "Well you just made her day! I'm not gonna lie. I'm a bit jealous that another woman has seen what you have down there. It'll be all over the hotel by 9 o'clock this morning."

  "Oh I'll fire her right now if you want me to. Let me go get my clothes on. I'm so sorry baby. I didn't mean to embarrass you."

  "What? I don't want you to fire her! Oh my God Caleb. Just... Just..." I pointed between his legs. "Put that humungous thing away before you make me change my mind and end up staying." I let out a big breath and sighed. "I really need to go home so that I can get ready. Do you promise to be good? Don't fire the maid Nerd Boy." I leaned up and gave him a quick peck on his cheek and walked out before he managed to change my mind.

  As soon as I was in the hall I leaned against the wall waiting for the elevator to come up and let out a deep breath that I didn't realize that I was holding. I looked around and the maid is heading back down the hall and she locked eyes on me and looked down. I couldn't help but giggle at what she saw and her reaction. When she passed me she looked me in the eyes finally and I could tell that she wanted to say something.

  "You are a very lucky woman. I would hang on to that one if I were you and never let him out of your sight." I put my left hand up in the air to show her my ring finger.

  "Yes I am and he only has eyes for me. Sorry you had to see that." She chuckled and nodded her head.

  "Oh don't apologize sweetheart. Thank you, for opening the door, because that made this old woman's day and made me reminisce time that I had with my husband. He passed away a few years ago and he was a fine specimen of a man, like yours, and reminded me of how lucky I was to have him. Congratulations on your engagement and have a good day."

  As she was walking off I said the only thing that came to mind and told her thank you. I could have said more because I could tell how lonely she was to not have her husband but it didn't seem appropriate because of the sweet smile on her face. I chuckled under my breath because somehow without even trying to Caleb had made her day in the same way that he always makes mine. Just for being him. The elevator doors opened and I gasped at who was standing inside and when we locked eyes he looked away. I hesitated and slowly walked in and stood beside him.

  "Good morning Mattie." I looked over and saw that he was heading to the first floor as well and let the doors shut us into our confinement for the next 14 floors. I felt his body tense up and his vein about pop out of his neck from the shock at seeing me.

  "Morning." Someone didn't seem too happy to see me this morning. I wanted to laugh but held it in because by the gruff way that he replied to me letting me know that he definitely didn't want to talk.

  "Are you heading to the house? You can catch a ride with me if you are. Caleb already has a limo waiting for me downstairs." He looked up to see how much longer our little ride was going to last and shook his head.

  "I have a cab waiting for me but thanks anyway."

  Wow! Not only does he not want to talk to me but he doesn't even want to ride in the same car with me. His demeanor has definitely piqued my curiosity and I wondered if he and Josie had spent the night together or if he stayed by himself all night. Maybe he's just hung over because when Caleb and I left to head to our room, he and Josie were still dancing and had the waiter refilling their drinks back to back.

  "Okay. I mean it's not like we aren't going to the same place and would save you money but if that's what you want to do then okay." The elevator doors opened and I rushed by him as quickly as I could to get away from his bad mood. "See ya at the house." I wanted to remind him that we were spending the day again with Grayson but maybe he needs some time to himself to think. I sure wasn't going to beg him.

  I walked through the lobby and saw Josie at the front desk looking bright eyed and ready for the day. She truly is a beautiful woman and the way that she is dressed today is more casual but sophisticated in her pant suit that accentuated every curve she has. I stepped up to the desk to say hello.

  "Good morning J. How's your morning going so far? Caleb should be down here in a few minutes. Congratulations by the way. I'm sure you're pretty excited huh?" One second she was smiling and the next second her eyes about popped out of her head and I noticed that she had looked behind me with a look of dread in her eyes. I casually turned to look and Mattie had finally walked by me. Yeah. Something definitely happened between them and it wasn't good from the body language that they're both throwing off. I looked at her waiting for her to compose herself and she shuffled some papers in front of her to distract herself.

  "It's going great and thank you but please call me Josie. I don't like nicknames Claudia." I laughed and shook my head.

  "Um okay, I’ll just call you Josephine then. Well, I guess I'll see ya around. Have a great day girl. You look really nice by the way." I turned and walked away as she told me thank you back and I nodded my head to let her know that I heard her. Talk about friction this morning, geez!

  I'm starting to not feel too offended that Mattie refused my offer of giving him a ride home. That was until I walked outside and I saw someone else getting into his cab and he was standing by the limo waiting for me. He shrugged his shoulders at me and opened the door for me.

  "So... Does that offer still stand? I felt sorry for the guy that's trying to get to the airport before his flight leaves so I was nice enough to give him my cab." I stood there and stared at him and looked him in the eyes and I was worried about what I saw back and wondered why he seemed so upset.

  "Sure. Do you think you can handle an hour long drive with little old me?" He shrugged his shoulders and motioned for me to get in.

  "Probably not but I think I'll survive. Maybe the driver has a lead foot and we'll get there faster." I let out a big sigh and climbed into the limo and put my seat belt on and waited for him to get in while he did the same. I looked up into the front seat and noticed that our driver was quite elderly and pointed at him to Mattie.

  "Oh I doubt that he has a lead foot, haha. Looks like you're stuck with me for the duration." He finally smiled at me and seemed to relax in his seat. I shot a quick text to Caleb, letting him know that Mattie was riding with me to the house, because I sure didn't want him having any jealousy issues if I forgot to tell him and he found out later and he
texted me back immediately.

  That's fine baby and tell him to

  keep his hands to himself! Haha

  JK. I'm not worried. Why

  is he still here I wonder?

  Well great! Me and my big mouth and I'm not even going to ask Mattie in the mood that he was in earlier, especially since he's finally sort of talking to me. I shot him a text back with the most logical explanation that didn't include Josie.

  It was late and he didn't want to

  wait for a ride home so he decided

  to get a room. No biggie. See ya

  when you get home. Muah!! Xoxo

  There! That should keep him from asking any further questions. I put my phone in my purse and looked over at Mattie who was looking around everywhere but at me.

  "Claudia? Can we please just have a quiet ride home? I really don't want to talk about it." He finally looked at me and I could see how tired and stressed out he was.

  "Sure we can but what IT are you even referring to because I don't remember asking a question." He shook his head and smiled his devilish grin at me which had me laughing. He pointed his finger at me and laughed and leaned back in his seat and let out a big sigh.

  "Good. Let's keep it that way. What are the plans for the day? We are going to the cemetery right? I guess I need to get things started on my end to have Thomas and Jane moved here."

  "That would be great because I know that Grayson wants them here as soon as we can get it done and yes, we are going to go to the cemetery so that he'll see where they're going to be laid to rest." I felt him tense up and immediately look out the window. "Are you okay with all of this? I've been so worried about Grayson that I haven't thought to ask you how you feel about moving them here." He shook his head and looked back at me with a sad look on his face.

  "I'm not going to lie to you Claud. I feel like I'm losing them all over again and I don't know what to do about it because I know that it's the best thing for Grayson." I reached over and grabbed his hand and he squeezed mine in return.