by KB Winters
It was all the more frustrating when I could see that he’d logged into the website the day after I’d sent him the first email. I had no idea if he’d even read the other two, but the fact that he’d never sent back an email saying something was more than a little discouraging. It didn’t help that my mother had been breathing down my neck since then. The woman had even sat beside me as I sent Davis a reply email complete with an apology for taking so long to get back to him. The man had been a perfect gentleman telling me it was okay and that he was glad I hadn’t jumped on it, over-eager like some of the other women from the site.
If I wasn’t so intrigued by Blake and the attraction and chemistry that were there, I might actually contemplate dating Davis for real. He was everything my mother and the society women continuously said I should want. He was from a wealthy family and had gone to Harvard, graduating with a near perfect GPA. He had a more than steady job and was objectively very attractive as well as seemingly a nice person going by the number of pictures of him volunteering or attending charity functions. Davis was a perfect candidate to save my family’s business…and he seemed perfectly boring for me.
“Taylor.”
“Oh my fucking gawd,” I muttered to myself. Since the incident, I’d barely been able to get away from my mother and even my own room was more like a prison than a refuge. If not for the fact that our money was almost gone, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the woman had hired investigators to follow me around and keep an eye out on me. Even trying to go to the gym or dinner with friends warranted a Spanish style inquisition, and I was never really sure if she didn’t call up the places I mentioned going to just to make sure I was really there. It was akin to torture.
I stood up from my chair. I knew if I didn’t answer my mother, she’d barge into my room once again spouting off demands and accusations that would ruin what little good mood I had left. My slippers were silent as I padded down the long hallway and down the wooden stairs. The further I got from my room, the more I felt the weight of my family’s future and my mother’s demands pushing me down. When I stepped into the lounge, I wasn’t surprised to see her seated in the loveseat with a glass of wine in her hand. Daytime drinking was quickly becoming a daily occurrence for her.
“A boozy brunch already? Really, Mother, couldn’t you have invited some friends over so at least you could pretend to be a social drinker rather than a budding alcoholic?”
Her countenance didn’t change with my words which was a surprise until I walked around the couch and spotted the empty wine bottle on the other side of her legs. With a sigh, I let myself drop down into the chaise across from her and waited for her to speak. It wasn’t a long wait.
“You have ruined your life.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
She waved her hand before taking another generous sip of wine. She didn’t look at me, instead turning her gaze to the large windows that showcased a wide view of the grounds. “Your father and I had always agreed that out of our two children, you had the most potential to do well for yourself and possibly take over as CEO at Vanderfelt Enterprises.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
She looked up at me sharply. “I’m talking about doing something with your life other than having sex with men who don’t have a penny to their name. You were so driven as a child learning anything and everything—”
“Until you started telling me I was going to scare off some potential man mother. Did you forget our little chat when I was twelve about how I shouldn’t challenge boys or make them feel inferior to me, whatever the fuck that meant?”
“Watch your mouth. You sound like a tramp.”
“Only to you.” I scoffed.
“Do you talk like that in front of others? Or do you treat them better than you treat me?”
“Oh God woman! Give it up!”
She sighed, “And of course I didn’t forget our little chat. It was a very important lesson designed to help you understand your role—”
“My role?” I exclaimed, standing from my seat. My voice was high and tight with indignation and I had finally had enough. “My role, as you so eloquently put it, was to be no better than a coffee table. Dependable and nothing more than a prop to bolster some man’s fragile ego. You prepared me to be—no. You know what, forget it. You’re drunk right now and on one hand I get it mother. Father killed himself and you have nothing to fall back on. Life isn’t going the way you had always planned and it’s partially my fault for trusting the wrong man, but I don’t deserve this.” I turned from her and began walking back in the direction of the staircase.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” My mother shouted. I could hear the sound of glass shattering behind me, and though I paused, I didn’t turn around.
“I’m going to my room to message Davis because regardless of your reasons for pushing me in this, he is a good guy and that is something I need right now.” I glanced over my shoulder at where she was now standing in front of the window. “I would never put you on the street mother, but I also can’t stand to even talk to you anymore. No matter what happens, our days of living together are numbered.”
I didn’t wait to hear her response. With purposeful strides, I walked quickly back up the stairs to my room. I hadn’t lied. Emailing Davis back and accepting his offer of a date was exactly what I was going to do. Blake obviously wasn’t going to respond to my emails, and I couldn’t afford to wait around any longer. I needed to get things going as far as dating and marriage in order to make my escape.
Chapter Six
“You’re awfully quiet today.”
I looked up from my glass. I wasn’t surprised by my friend, Gigi’s, words. I’d hardly said a word since sitting down at our normal lunch table at Panela’s which was highly unusual. “Sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize, Taylor,” said Constance. Her bright green eyes were filled with concern and she tugged lightly at her auburn hued hair. It was a nervous habit she’d always had—pulling at her hair when she was upset. “Your father died.”
“Yeah,” Gigi jumped in. “You’re allowed to be quiet and grieve however you need to. I didn’t mean to draw attention to it.”
I sighed softly before giving them a small smile. Gigi and Constance were two of my closest friends and probably the only ones who knew even half of what had really happened over the past few weeks. I’d met Gigi on the first day of private school and we instantly clicked. Constance and I met freshman year of college when we were paired up for an English project. Her home life was polar opposite to mine. She’d received a full scholarship for school which was the only way she could have gotten in. Her single mother was also raising three other kids and they had lived in a two-bedroom apartment on the far outskirts of town. Still, we had become great friends and when I moved back to the west coast, I was able to convince her to move with me. She was working as a research scientist at Stanford and had recently moved in with her boyfriend.
While Gigi and I had similar backgrounds wealth wise, she hadn’t gone to college. Instead, she started modeling full time and had married a fellow model a year ago. Despite the two of them seemingly not having much in common, our threesome worked and soon after meeting, Gigi and Constance became great friends as well.
“I’m fine guys, really. It’s just my mother getting all on my back. You know how she can be.”
Gigi shook her head. “Your mom has done a complete Jekyll and Hyde routine since your dad died.”
I snorted. “Tell me about it. All she ever talks about is me hurrying up and getting married.”
“But are you sure you really want to do that?” Constance asked. She was always my voice of reason, though this time, nothing would be talking me out of what I had to do. “You’ve always had this fairytale idea of the man you would marry.”
“Yes, well look how far that has gotten me.” I lifted my glass up and took a sip of lemon water. It was wonderfully refreshing thanks to the heat of the
day. I could feel the thin cloth of my dress sticking to my back. “No prospects and no boyfriend is where that has gotten me.”
“Prospects and boyfriends can be found,” Gigi said. “There’s no need to rush into either one of those. If you want, I can ask my agent for a list of casting calls coming up? Your look-book should be up-to-date and I know you could get more modeling gigs if you applied.”
I gave her a grateful look. “I know everyone says there is no rush, but I feel like there is. I’ll be twenty-six this year and what have I accomplished? I have no career and I’m single after a disastrous engagement that left my father dead.”
“That wasn’t your fault Taylor. He was an—”
“I know he was an asshole,” I said cutting Constance off. All of the words that had been locked inside of me were itching to break free. “But I should have seen it. I should have known that something wasn’t quite right, but instead I let him in and he destroyed my family, and by default me. I think…” I trailed off as I took a shuddered breath in. “I think he broke me.” My voice was soft and vulnerable and I had to blink quickly against the hot pulse of tears that threatened to fall.
“Oh, Taylor,” Constance sighed. She quickly leaned over to wrap me in her wiry arms. I glanced over in time to see Gigi’s brown eyes turn bright with anger. I knew she wanted to belt out some choice words about my ex, but I was grateful when she covered my hand with hers instead. Her silent strength and anger always made me feel better as did Constance’s motherly touch. “None of that was your fault.”
“Seriously. Stop blaming yourself no matter what Beatrice says,” Gigi agreed with a quick nod. “Karma is a bitch and your ex will get his in the end. Until then, please just think about things before you rush into them. Marriage isn’t for the faint of heart.”
I chuckled humorlessly. “Says the woman who’s married to the hottest and sweetest guy in the world.”
Gigi shook her head, but I could see a faint pleased blush spread across her lightly tanned cheeks. “Trust me. Things aren’t always easy, and you need a lot more than just love to keep things together. You have to be really ready and willing to do the work when it comes to marriage, Taylor. Are you sure you’re really ready to do that?”
I looked at her knowing deep down that she was right. Was I really ready to be married to someone I barely knew?
“I—Blake?” My gaze shifted in surprise and I stood up quickly. Vaguely, I could hear Constance and Gigi asking me a question, but all I could see was him. He took a step closer to our table and my breath caught on an inhale.
He was tall—much taller than I thought he’d be, even looking at the details of his online profile page. I had thought that he might be exaggerating about his height, but he easily towered over all of the other people walking by. A few of the women gave him a heated once over and I felt jealousy—hot and irrational—wash over me. I didn’t fight my body as it began walking towards him as if pulled by a string. I didn’t want to. All I wanted was to fall into his strong muscular arms and bury my fingers in his long dark hair.
“What are you doing here? I mean…wow. How’d you—”
“Hi, Taylor. You’re are so beautiful up close and personal.”
My heart had jumped up to my throat and I blinked at his words. I was beautiful? Had he not seen himself in a mirror? Did he really say that?
Blake chuckled and reached out to wrap a large hand around one of my wrists. “Yes, you are beautiful.”
I swallowed hard against the pounding in my throat. “Did I say that out loud?” I didn’t resist his pull falling into him and breathing in his uniquely masculine scent. “Sometimes I do that…speak before my brain can tell my mouth not—”
“May I?”
“May you what?” My palms went sweaty and my knees started to shake. He was here. In LA!
My scattered thoughts were cut off by the feeling of his lips pressing against mine. The brush of his neatly trimmed beard made me shiver, and I shook my hand free of his strong hold in order to wrap both of my arms around his broad shoulders. Even with my heels, I had to stand on tiptoe and angle my head up to press into the kiss.
I’d thought long and hard about how our first kiss might go. One look at him and a girl could conjure up some wicked ideas of a rough touch and a devouring pace.
What really happened was so sweet and gentle, it made me gasp at the feeling. I’d never been held so tightly or felt so safe before in my life. It was enough to make me tremble as I molded myself as tightly to him as I could. The kiss stretched on and the rest of the world fell away from my focus. All I could think about was more and deeper. I whimpered when I felt the first touch of his tongue against my lips before opening eagerly. He swept inside with a soft, but firm motion claiming me and igniting more of the need that always laid so dormant beneath my surface. A hard poke against my shoulder had me groaning softly that turned louder when I felt him move away.
“What?”
My voice was rough as if unused, and I turned to face the person who had interrupted what was the best moment of my life. Constance stood behind me, her cheeks flushed brightly, and I suddenly remembered where I was. Gigi stood behind her, a grin on her face and a gleam in her eye that I knew I was going to have to answer to.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” Gigi asked, her gaze centered over my shoulder where she was no doubt sizing Blake up. I reluctantly dropped my arms from his shoulders as I turned more fully around. I was pleased when Blake’s hold loosened but didn’t fall away even as I cleared my throat.
“Yes, of course. Blake, these are my best friends, Gigi and Constance,” I said gesturing at them. Constance gave a small smile while Gigi’s grin grew wider. I tried to ignore it as I continued introductions. “Guys, this is Blake.”
“Well, hello, Blake,” Gigi replied stepping forward and reaching out her hand. I could see Blake smile slightly as he reached out and shook her hand.
“Hello, miss.”
“Oh, such a gentleman.” Gigi’s gaze dropped quickly down to where Blake’s arm was still wrapped around my waist. “So does Mr. Blake have a last name?”
“Cunningham.”
Gigi’s eyebrows rose. “Is that right? Well, it’s wonderful to meet you, Blake Cunningham.”
Constance giggled softly before reaching out her own hand and shaking his. “It’s nice to meet you, Blake.” I smiled at her in thanks and we shared a look. Both of us knew that Gigi was like a dog with a bone when she wanted information, and right now Blake and I were in for it.
“So tell me, Mr. Cunningham, where did you and Taylor here meet? She hasn’t said a word about you which is a definite shame.”
“Gigi,” I hissed at her. She waved me off and I rolled my eyes, praying for a miracle.
“Well, it’s a pretty recent thing. We met online through a dating website.” I looked up at him in surprise at how truthful he was about how we met. Most people I knew made things up rather than admitting they met on a dating site. He looked down at me. “I saw her smiling picture and couldn’t look away.” I could feel my own cheeks heat up at his words.
“That’s adorable, Mr. Cunningham. Would you like to join us? We’ve already eaten, but I’m sure we could order some dessert.”
His eyes flashed over to her. “Please, call me Blake.” I could practically feel Gigi vibrating with the need to ask more questions, but I was saved by Blake. “And I’d normally say yes, but I came down here to surprise Taylor with a dinner and dessert of our own.”
“Really?” I asked in surprise. After his radio silence, this had been far from what I was expecting. An email maybe; but not a surprise date. He smiled down at me.
“Really. I got us reservations at Chez Martin for seven tonight.”
I blinked in awe. Chez Martin was a seriously impressive restaurant where even the wealthy had to get on waiting lists. Even with all of my family’s previous money I’d only eaten there once before.
“Wow. You came all
the way down here to take me to dinner? How’d you know I’d be here?” I looked over at Constance and if not for being in shock myself, I might have laughed at her uncharacteristic exclamation. Gigi also looked surprised and a tiny bit impressed. When I looked back at Blake, he was staring at me with a questioning look.
“Well? How’d you know?”
“You’re not very hard to find.”
“What? Are you stalking me?” A flash of sheer panic crossed my mind and I wondered what I’d got myself into. Was he a stalker? Or a killer? He must’ve noticed the worried look on my face when he answered me.
Blake laughed, his bright smile and the twinkle in his eyes lit up the whole room. “No, I flew into LA early this morning. I wanted to surprise you. I had no idea how—or where, but when I saw that you had checked in on Facebook here at Panela’s, I thought I’d surprise you.”
“And you did!”
“I did. And I was a little nervous…” He smiled that smile again. “…but, you haven’t said whether you wanted to go with me or not.”
“She does,” Gigi cut in before I could respond. She stepped over to us and put a hand on my shoulder pulling me back. I wanted to fight the motion and stay in Blake’s arms, and I could feel his hand tighten slightly before falling away.
I coughed. “I do,” I said finally. One look into Blake’s clear blue eyes and I was sold. “I’d love to go with you.” The smile that split his face made me warm inside and I was infinitely glad that Gigi, Constance, and I had done a little shopping before lunch. Blake’s arm snaked around my waist again and pulled me to him. Instead of being kissed on the lips again as I’d been expecting, he placed a chaste kiss on my forehead before stepping back.
“Perfect. I’ll send a car for you at your ho—”
“She’ll be at my place,” Gigi cut in. “I’ll have her message you my address.”
Blake glanced at her and gave her a barely perceptible nod of understanding. Just looking at his face almost made me melt into a puddle right there. “Great.” He looked back at me. “I’ll see you tonight.”