A Gentleman's Affair

by Linn, A. J.

  “Tell me about your club, though. Do you have live music? A deejay?” She is a curious little one, isn’t she?

  “We have a deejay. So, you like jazz?” Subject change…and fast.

  “Not really,” she laughs, then continues, “I mean, I can handle listening to it in a club, but I don’t own any CDs or listen to it on a regular basis. It’s sort of all over the place. You know what I mean?”

  For the first time since we met, she breaks out in the most adorable giggle that I’ve ever heard. One of those I’m-embarrassed-but-able-to-make-fun-of-myself kind of giggles. I have to admit, I could easily become addicted to that giggle of hers.

  “I do, actually.” I smirk, turning into the parking lot of the club. “We’re here,” stating the obvious like an idiot as I unfasten my seat belt. I get out and pause before going around to open her door, taking in a deep breath. This definitely feels like a date.

  Hello rule, I am officially breaking you now.

  We enter the club and, immediately, I recognize the song that the band is playing. A Coltrane tune, “It’s Easy To Remember”, a favorite of my dad’s. He is a big Coltrane fan. Mom never cared for it much, but she humored him.

  So we find a table and order two beers. We sit quietly through the song, respectfully listening as the band wraps up their set. One thing Dad taught me is that you never talk while jazz is playing.

  After the applause dies down, I turn to Scarlett and notice that her eyes are filled with tears. She realizes that I caught her and starts to laugh, blotting the tears away with a napkin that she pulled out from under her beer bottle.

  “Are you alright, Scarlett?” I ask as I pull a handkerchief from my pocket. “Here, use this.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry,” she smiles, followed with a small chuckle to offer me some reassurance. “I’m fine, thank you,” she nods, taking the handkerchief, dragging it under her eyes, and covering it with running mascara. “That song… It was my mother’s favorite.”

  “Was?” I immediately feel the weight of that word hit hard in the pit of my stomach.

  “Yeah. I lost her a few years ago.”

  I can see that she’s doing her best to keep it together, but the smile on her face is forced as she continues to fight back the tears.

  “I’m sorry, Scarlett.”

  Alright. How insane is this? Who could have ever imagined that we would have this in common? I find myself at a loss for words. And the song? That isn’t a very common song. This is too weird.

  “It’s okay.” She manages a slight smile. “And I’m sorry I got all emotional.” She begins to laugh and wipe away a lingering tear from her eye. “I didn’t mean to put a damper on the night.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You haven’t spoiled anything. Do you want to leave?”

  “No way. You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” she says, laughing as she shakes her head. She then picks up her beer and takes a swig.

  “Alright then, good.” Smirking at her adorable remark, I pick up my bottle and join her. Our eyes never leaving one another’s, it is as though we are secretly toasting our mothers as we drink.

  The band returns to the small stage of the dark jazz club and begins to play. I am grateful right now for the loud music, as it came at just the right time. I think we both needed a mood changer. Another round, or four, of beers down, I can see Scarlett beginning to relax and get into the music.

  “I think I’m starting to like this jazzy stuff now. It’s catchy, right?” she blurts out rather loudly, snapping her fingers, speech slurred, giggling.

  “Yes it is,” I laugh, watching her enjoy herself.

  “It’s like…ba da bum, ch-ch-cha,” she is now using the table as a drum, her fingers the drumsticks, and she is getting louder by the second as she follows along with song with her jazz noises.

  “Yes, it sounds just like that,” I laugh. “Maybe we should get some fresh air,” I suggest as I stand and offer her my hand.

  “Do they have that same jazzy music outside too?” She leans into me—correction, stumbles into me—whispering.

  “No, they don’t,” I laugh as I hold her upright. “But they do have fresh air.”

  I catch the waitress on the way out and settle the bill. I lead Scarlett and her adorable “ba da bums” outside. She jazzed her way through the club, even stopping at one point to cheer on the band. I am liking this non-business side of her more and more by the second. She knows how to have fun, just on the brink of embarrassing herself, but in a cute subtle way.

  Rebekah who?

  I pour Scarlett into my hummer and drive to La Fuga. Clearly she is in no position to drive herself home, and I have no idea where she lives. When we arrive at my hotel, I drop her off on the black leather couch in the lobby and head straight to the desk to have Sarabeth check for a vacant suite for Scarlett. She checks the computer then hands over a key card, and I hurry back to the lobby to gather up the cute drunk girl and lead her quickly towards the elevator.

  “This doesn’t look like my apartment, Donnie,” she says, as she holds the wall up with her body.

  “That is because we are at my hotel, Scarlett,” I chuckle. Wow, she is pretty hammered. “You are in no condition to drive yourself home.”

  “I am not,” she blurts out, crossing her arms in front of her.

  “Exactly,” I laugh.

  The doors finally open and we get in. She walks right up to one of the mirrored walls inside of the elevator and stares at herself, a confused look on her face.

  “I look like shit. Do you have any makeup I can use to fix my face?” She shoots me the most serious of looks, and I can’t help but laugh and tease her just a bit.

  “Oh yes, I have an entire collection at my place.” I smirk.

  The doors to her floor open, and I lead her out and down the corridor. We reach her suite and I slide the keycard in and open the door.

  “Why don’t you get settled, and I will be right back with a few things for you, alright?”

  “Are you getting the makeup for me?” she slurs out with her drunken verbology.

  “Yes,” I laugh. “Stay here. I will be right back.”

  I take the private elevator up to my penthouse, go to my bedroom and grab a pair of sweats and a t-shirt out of my dresser. I stop at my refrigerator for a bottle of water, take a box of crackers out of the cupboard and head back down to her suite.

  I stand at her door and knock, hoping that she hasn’t passed out already. She opens the door and lets me in, a huge smile on her face.

  “Yay! You came back!” She giggles.

  “Of course I did.” Ahh, there is that giggle again. Laughing as I enter the room, I walk over to the bed setting everything down. “I brought you something to sleep in and some crackers to absorb the alcohol.”

  “Aww Donnie, you’re so sweet,” she smiles as she picks up the t-shirt. “Venezia?” She looks at me confused.

  “I got that during a trip to Venice with my parents. I hope it’s alright.” I smile.

  She holds the shirt close to her and smiles, nodding her head. “I think so. It’s cozy,” she laughs.

  “Alright. I will let you get some sleep now.” Shaking my head and laughing, I start to walk toward the door, but she rushes past me and spreads her arms wide across the door, blocking me.

  “No, don’t go. Stay with me just until I fall asleep? Please?” She puffs out her bottom lip as she whines in the cutest voice.

  “I don’t know if that is such a good idea, Scarlett.” Especially after four pitchers of beer. Especially since I am insanely attracted to you. But she looks so adorable when she begs, and I am only human. Knowing me, I will probably give in.

  “Come on, I’ll be good,” she giggles, now puffing out the lip in a more dramatic fashion. Christ…

  “Fine. But just until you fall asleep.” So I gave in, easily too, I might add. Look at her! How could I refuse? She takes my hand and drags me back into the room, smiling widely, clearly proud of her sma
ll victory.

  “I’m going to change. You stay here.” She gathers up the clothes and walks into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. “Don’t leave!” She yells from behind the door.

  “I’m right here,” I yell back.

  Drunk Scarlett is irresistible as hell. Laughing, I sit down in the chair across from the bed, wondering what I have gotten myself into.

  She emerges from the bathroom, my clothes hanging off of her small, sexy frame, yet looking as beautiful as ever. I do my best not to stare, but fail miserably. She is hammered…it’s not like she is going to remember any of this anyway. Stare on, Donovan. Stare on.

  “How do I look?” she asks as she twirls once across the floor.

  “No comment,” I tease.

  “Not nice, Donnie,” she laughs as she tosses her clothes on the floor and climbs on the bed. “Do you want to watch TV?”

  “Sure, we could do that.” I get up from the chair and turn on the TV, picking up the remote control and tossing it to her before going to sit back down in the chair.

  “You know, you could sit on the bed with me,” she begins to laugh as she changes the channels. “I said I’d be good.”

  “I am a big boy, you know.” I shake my head and laugh for about the hundredth time tonight. “I can resist you, Scarlett.”

  “Even dressed like this?” She pulls at the over-sized shirt, laughing.

  “Especially dressed like that,” I laugh right along with her.

  “Okay, stay in the chair, see if I care,” she replies playfully, her eyes getting heavy.

  “Go to sleep, Scarlett.”

  “I’m not tired, Donovan.”

  “Yes, you are. I can tell.”

  “Don’t boss me, Dad,” she says in her sassiest voice yet.

  “Watch it little girl,” I tease back.

  “Little girl?” She laughs, and I can see that she is fighting the urge to close her eyes and surrender.

  I get up and turn off the light. She will be out in about two seconds from what I can see. She mumbles some incoherent shit that I am unable to interpret and finally drifts off. I walk over to the bed and sit down next to her, removing the remote from her death grip.

  Pushing a strand of hair off of her face, I take the throw blanket that is at the foot of the bed and cover her with it. She snuggles up under it, smiling as she whispers, “Thank you, Donnie,” before completely passing out. I sit and watch her sleep for a moment, before getting up to leave.

  I open the door as quietly as possible, but all of the sudden sleeping beauty comes back to life and blurts out, “You promised to stay,” followed by some adorable snoring.

  I suppose that I did sort of promise to stay, so I walk back into the room and over to the bed, taking a pillow from the bed and setting it on the floor, suddenly realizing just how tired I actually am.

  The things that a real gentleman will do…including sleep on the floor when he has a luxurious penthouse apartment just floors away.

  The things that a real gentleman will do…to impress the right girl.

  Chapter Sixteen

  ~How do you like your eggs?~

  When I wake up, still on the floor, Scarlett is showered already, apparent by the towel on her head and fresh clothes. My head is throbbing and my body aches from sleeping on the floor, but I don’t mind one bit. Last night was worth it. It seems that Scarlett and I have moved into a friendship as well as a working relationship. No complaints here.

  “Good morning,” I yawn, still tired and slightly hung-over. “How did you sleep?”

  “Pretty good, considering….” She won’t look at me. I am assuming that she is somewhat embarrassed by last night. I need to tell her not to be. We had a good time. No harm done.

  I stand up, stretching, hearing a crack. Time for a massage, perhaps? More like time for food.

  “Are you hungry? I need to eat something, and I would love for you to join me, unless you have plans.”

  “Not really.” She unwraps her towel, picking up a comb. “I don’t think I could stomach food yet. Thank you, though.”

  “Alright then. I will leave you to your day.” I try to catch her eye, but she still won’t look at me. I walk toward the door, and she reaches out to touch my shoulder, but her eyes are fixated on the floor.

  “I just wanted to say, I’m sorry for last night. I don’t really remember a lot, but I have the feeling that I wasn’t being very professional.”

  “Scarlett, we were out as friends, so professional behavior wasn’t exactly necessary.” I smile, trying to reassure her. “You were actually a lot of fun, so please don’t worry about anything.”

  “Okay, but…” she takes a long drawn out pause, followed by a deep breath. I quickly interrupt.

  “But nothing. Come and get some breakfast with me, please? It will make you feel better.”

  “Fine. You’re probably right.” Finally a smile. The smile that seems to always light up the room. “I just need to dry my hair.”

  “Perfect. I will run upstairs and get cleaned up myself. Meet me in the lobby in about twenty minutes?”

  “Sounds good.” She smiles, but the green tint to her face reminds me that she is not doing so well. She walks into the bathroom as I leave to go upstairs.

  I take a ten-minute shower, quickly brush my teeth, and get dressed in shorts and a dark gray t-shirt. After smoothing my now longer, in-need-of-a-cut hair, I make my way downstairs to the lobby and find Scarlett slumped down on one of the leather couches. Shit, she looks like hell.

  “Are you alright, Scarlett?” I ask, noticing the queasy look on her face.

  “No.” She manages a laugh as she struggles to stand.

  “Are you still alright to eat something, you think?” I ask, concerned that she is seconds away from throwing up.

  “I’m okay. Food actually sounds good all of the sudden.”

  “That is a good sign.” I nod, leading her to the hotel restaurant. “Just something light to soak up the keg of beer that you drank last night?” I tease. It was only a pony keg.

  “Funny,” she laughs.

  The hostess seats us and pours two cups of coffee, which Scarlett quickly goes for. I obviously know the menu, so I drink my coffee as Scarlett searches for something to soothe the queasiness in her stomach.

  “Everything looks so good, but nothing sounds good,” she says as the green tint to her face begins to turn to a pink flush color.

  “You don’t look too good.” I catch Cassidy’s, one of my waitresses, eye and call her over, asking her to bring toast ASAP. She takes one look at Scarlett and nods before going to put in the order.

  “Thanks, Donovan. I’m so embarrassed right now…” She hangs her head in shame. She is so adorable right now that I can’t help but laugh.

  “Yes, you should be, Scarlett. You might just be the first person in the world to have a hangover.” I wink, hoping that she eases up on herself.

  “Funny.” She folds her arms in front of her on the table and buries her face. I hear an actual laugh slip out of her mouth before she looks back up. “Can I tell you something?” Her smile fades into a frown.

  “Of course… anything.” I smile, and thankfully the toast has arrived. I give Cassidy my order, asking Scarlett if she needs anything else first. She shakes her head as she picks up the toast.

  “This is good for now, thanks.” She takes a bite, chewing slowly, still looking nauseous.

  “So, you wanted to tell me something?” I drink my coffee, glancing at her, brow raised.

  “Umm…yeah. So, this is kind of personal, and I wouldn’t have brought it up if it weren’t for last night…” She pauses, clearly waiting for me to tell her that it is alright for her to continue, which I do.

  “A few years back, I sort of had a little drinking problem, and last night was the first time I’ve had anything to drink for awhile.” She looks away, tearing off small pieces of toast, waiting for my reaction to her tiny confession.

  “Christ,
Scarlett. Why didn’t you mention this to me last night?” Great! Now I am the reason for her falling off of her wagon.

  “Donovan, I wasn’t a full blown alcoholic or anything. I never had to drink. But when I did, well…as you saw, I act like an idiot.”

  “You were not an idiot at all last night. Not in any way, alright?” I try my best to convince her, my face serious yet reassuring.

  “See, that’s the thing…I never remember past a certain point. I sort of black out,” she admits freely, yet I can see the struggle in her eyes to do so.

  “I see.” I nod as I fully dissect her confession. “Well, I appreciate your honesty, but your past is really none of my business. Everyone has a few secrets.” I certainly do…

  “I know, but I just wanted you to know, that’s all.” She forces a slight smile.

  She finishes up her second piece of toast, and the color in her face begins to return. Cassidy sets down my plate piled high with scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon and biscuits with gravy. Drinking gives me an appetite, clearly. I dig right in, and Scarlett makes a face at my plate.

  “Scrambled eggs?” she asks. “I’m sorry, but that’s the last thing you should eat after drinking,” she laughs.

  “What is wrong with scrambled? How do you take your eggs?” I reply, holding a large forkful of eggs close to her face, laughing as she squirms at the sight of them.

  “Stop, I’m going to throw up,” she laughs as she helps herself to my potatoes.

  “Well, I see that not only has your sarcasm returned so has your appetite.” Winking, I scoop some of my potatoes onto her small plate.

  “Mmm…” She smiles wide as she practically inhales them.

  “Can I get you a real breakfast now?” I ask, laughing.

  “Mmm…” she nods.

  “Alright,” I laugh. Excuse me, but I have to say this again…she is adorable. “What would you like?”

  “Pancakes,” she says, lighting up, all the color returning to her beautiful face.

  “Pancakes, it is.” I wink at Scarlett, then call over Cassidy and order her a short stack. “Tell them to get that right out, will you?” I add.