I could call Falcon! This would definitely give me a glimpse of the man whose company I craved. Plus, he said that he was an insomniac.
Excitedly, I called his cell. I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm. I was taking a chance, for sure. If I woke him, he might be angry. Then I would apologize and tell him to go back to sleep. But if he was awake? I really wanted his company and to share the news.
And who didn’t like shopping?
Falcon was a good sport. He didn’t get angry when I called, he picked me up and, after being dragged through many stores, I noticed that his large hands were perfectly designed to hold many bags.
“Are you sure you’re not angry? I know I dragged you out of bed, but you told me that you had trouble sleeping!”
He gave me a sly, but playful, look. “If it was anyone else…”
“I’m so sorry!” I laughed. “I didn’t want to wake Elizabeth…”
“So you woke me instead?” He interrupted and gave me an incredulous look, laughing at the irony.
“I would have woken up her whole family if I called—and I really wanted to go shopping! I’m going to FedEx everything home. It’s a lot of stuff. Too much to take on the flight!”
He looked up one arm and down the other, and then held the armload of bags up in the air for effect. “Really? You could’ve fooled me!”
“I am sorry.” I scrunched up my nose. “Are you really angry?” I bit my lip as insecurity gripped me.
He dropped his arms. “No. I’m just teasing you.”
His expression was playful so I smacked at his upper arm. The firmness hidden under his shirt nearly bruised my fingers and I blushed.
“Not funny, Fal.”
“I can’t help it, beautiful.” He laughed at my expense. “You’re just too easy.”
The look on his face assured me and I smiled.
“Ah,” he said returning my smile. “That’s better. It’s nine a.m. You want to grab breakfast?”
The truth was shopping had made me hungry, but fatigue was setting in as the excitement fizzled out. I was still reeling from the last event that happened when I was tired. Although I didn’t feel the same angst I did that night, I was winding down and was a little fearful that I would fall victim to my weakness once again.
“I’d better go back,” I explained. “I want to pack up all this stuff and get it out today. I’ll just order something in my room.” The look on his face told me that he didn’t like that idea and had one of his own.
“I’ll tell you what. We’ll eat breakfast at my hotel. I’ll call room service. I can help you wrap while we’re waiting for the food. Once we’re finished, I can call someone to get the packing supplies and you can ship from the hotel.”
“You don’t mind?” My heart tripped over his thoughtfulness.
“Not at all.” He winked at me. “…And I’ll have company for breakfast.”
I hesitated, but his pleading made him boyishly irresistible. My stomach fluttered with butterflies. Dare I push the fatigue knowing what might lie ahead? Something inside told me it was safe to take the risk.
I shrugged and looped my arm inside of his. “Okay, why not?”
The corners of his mouth lifted in a victorious grin.
“You may regret inviting me,” I warned. “Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day!”
I was happier than at any time in my life that I could remember. Days and weeks were passing by quickly and I found that I enjoyed Falcon’s company more than I cared to admit. I wanted to allow myself the freedom to get close to him, but there was a gnawing hesitancy ingrained in me from all the past hurts. Something about Falcon drew me in. I was so accustomed to planning everything out and days with Falcon were refreshingly spontaneous. Unlike most men I had met I couldn’t figure him out because he seemed to have no agenda. His only goal was to do things with me that we both enjoyed. He was kind, confident, and considerate. I spent more time on the phone with him in a few days than I did my family in a month. Thinking about being in someone else’s life on a daily basis made me feel strangely claustrophobic but, in reality, I didn’t feel that way with Falcon. Conversations with him were stimulating, and when I talked he heard every word. I had a preconceived notion that a man of his size and stature would be somewhat chauvinistic but he never patronized me. He said he liked seeing me happy. One day, when we were having coffee, the background music in the cafe was by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. My mom and dad loved their music and played it all the time. I hummed along with the tune while he watched, amused, leaning back in the chair. Three nights later, he asked if we could have an early dinner together, and at the end of our meal he surprised me by taking me to a showing of Jersey Boys.
Best. Night. Ever.
I found it necessary to extend my trip when a client of mine called. He had phoned the office and learned I was in Las Vegas. He and his wife were planning to fly out and they wanted to look for a retirement community where they could purchase a home. I phoned home to check on Aria and the baby and she assured me that they were fine. Although I felt a little guilty, when I told Falcon that I would be extending my stay, he did the same. I was happy at the prospect of spending more time with him. We had been seeing each other nearly every day for several weeks. I flip-flopped between spending time with him and Elizabeth; either I had lunch with Liz and dinner with Fal, or vice versa. Liz pressed me to meet him but I kept putting it off. It wasn’t because I didn’t think she would like him, but because I selfishly wanted to keep him all to myself. I had never done this before. It felt somehow dangerous to let Falcon through the wall of my inhibitions, but he fit so perfectly with my personality that I couldn’t help myself. He made me feel valued and beautiful. I so badly wanted to shed the walls I had built around me, but day-by-day I was constantly reminded that this was temporary. The logistics of where we both lived would kill whatever was left of the relationship when this trip was over. I promised myself that I could live with that because, for the first time, I felt like I was special. My issues and insecurities had always made me feel less than normal, but the way that Falcon treated me made me feel better than normal could possibly be—and it was intoxicating.
Elizabeth noticed the change in me, and wanted to meet the man who was making me happy. I gave in and Falcon made plans for the three of us. This was the night the two of them would meet, and I was nervous. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t given Elizabeth regular updates on my dates with Falcon, but she pressed for details and I hadn’t given her any. She could be as overprotective of me as Aria. The reason for this particular get-together was that she threatened to crash our next date if I didn’t let her meet him. Although I walked a thin line between apprehension and anxiety, I was glad she would get to know him. He had become my favorite, daily habit.
“Earth to Paige.” Elizabeth’s impatient tone interrupted my thoughts.
“What’s on your mind? We were laughing a minute ago and you zoned out.”
“Sorry.” I fumbled with the napkin then straightened and gave her my undivided attention.
“Is it him?”
I think I resented the question because her curiosity was maddening. She fixated on Falcon more than I did but, the truth was, she was right. I couldn’t hide it. The answer was evident by my surfacing smile.
“I knew it!” she exclaimed. “I can’t wait to meet this guy! Does he feel the same?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t think so—but maybe I know it will probably end when I leave. I helped him pass the time while he was here.”
Her tone was firm and her posture indignant.
“Don’t discount yourself, Chica. You’re smart and beautiful. He’d be an ass to take a woman like you for granted.”
“Please don’t say anything when you meet him tonight,” I pleaded. “Let’s just have a good time, okay?”
She scrutinized my sudden change and gave me an exasperated look.
“I’ve never seen you act like this, Paige. You’re excited on
e minute, and hesitant the next. Where is all this coming from?”
I drowned my emotions in my glass of iced tea as I slipped my apprehension under the cracking ice. I wasn’t sure how to answer her because I couldn’t articulate exactly how I felt. Falcon was more than I hoped for because I never dared to hope. I didn’t want Liz to see beneath the composed posture that hid my self-doubt.
Thankfully, she dropped the subject, although I knew it would be resurrected at some point, and instead she drew my attention to the sexy barista who was blatantly flirting with a customer. It was only a matter of hours before our date with Falcon.
For the remainder of lunch, Liz tried to lighten my mood with jokes and teasing—and she succeeded. I think the mood really lightened when she threatened to pull out all of her Latina charm and make Falcon forget about me—if that was what I wanted. She batted her long lashes in my face as she recounted the ways she could, and would, divert his attention. At one point she framed her beautiful light cocoa face with her fingers like in Madonna’s Vogue video. Any other woman would have made me feel the sharp pangs of jealousy, but Liz’s affection for me assured me that she was playing. She reminded me not to take myself so seriously and before I knew it my mood was more upbeat. Thank God for girlfriends! Women really do have the power to lift each other up, or rip each other up. It’s a choice.
I checked the time and saw that it was almost time to go. The dress I planned to wear was figure hugging and short, so I decided to add stilettos to create a triple threat effect. A part of me wanted to leave impressions that would make Falcon unable to forget me. Every time we went out I wanted to stamp a memory in his mind. Tonight was no exception.
I turned in the mirror, pleased that the dress I’d chosen showed off my assets and hid my deficits. Running my hands over my curves, I checked to make sure I looked as good in the front as I did in the back. I went to the mirror and popped gloss on my lips and combed my lashes with mascara to a killer length. My hair was super shiny and I pulled it to the side. Falcon commented several times that he liked it like that and the style was easy and sexy for me. My earrings and bracelet sparkled. I couldn’t help but remember the first time Falcon made me feel beautiful.
“…I think I’m looking at one of the most beautiful sights Vegas has to offer.”
“I’m not going to be able to eat if you keep this up.”
“Why? Because I think you’re beautiful? I thought most women loved compliments.”
“I’m not most women.”
Like then, this night promised that he would, again, make me feel like a princess—except that the villain in this fairy tale was hidden beneath my clothes. At least, when this was over, he would remember me as beautiful. For me, that really was a happy ending.
Although Falcon said he would send Jorge with the car, I insisted that Elizabeth and I would meet him. I used the excuse that I wanted to spend a little girl time with her before we met up with him. He didn’t argue the point with me, but I could tell that he wasn’t happy.
Men!
Just as I rounded the corner of elevator, Liz met me in the lobby. We had just stepped outside when I noticed a familiar looking man across the street. It took a minute to focus but as I did I recognized him. Mr. Dietz! He was a real estate attorney from back home that I had done some work with. We helped each other out whenever we could through referrals. We had only met in person a few times because most of our business was either conducted over the phone or via messenger. The last clients we had in common were Manny Vallega and his wife Marisol; the owners of The Vencedor Corporation. What a joke that was! Mr. Dietz and I were hired to liquidate all of the real estate holdings that had been procured in the name of that company. Though clients didn’t need to give us a reason why they chose to unload their properties, we were privy to this one. It was Manny’s contention that his wife had purchased the properties during a severe manic episode of a, then undiagnosed, bipolar disorder.
I didn’t believe that for a minute.
I was an expert at living through devious and black-hearted plans, but none could compare to the devastation Marisol schemed to perpetrate in the life of my friend Aria. She nearly killed her but, thank God, she didn’t succeed. She was a piranha, ripping and tearing at my social circle bit by bit, and wasn’t happy unless she left them bleeding. Her psychosis penetrated our lives with her depravity—and Mr. Dietz and I couldn’t wait to be clear of her. I had concluded my part of the liquidation in record time, at Mr. Dietz’s insistence. The whole deal left him preoccupied and nervous. I did as he asked without question, listing every property they owned. Many of them sold well below market value, but Mr. Dietz was grateful for my help nonetheless. He confided that Manny presented him with a Power of Attorney for Marisol and he was very anxious for any remnants of that particular time in her life to be put to rest. He was extremely anxious for her to move forward, saying it was necessary for her to heal.
I felt bad for Mr. Dietz. Manny and Marisol might have been able to dupe most people with that story but I knew better. Marisol had a morbid and unnatural obsession with Declan. She erroneous believed that Aria stole him from her. Of course, she conveniently left out a few facts, the biggest one being that she was married. She’d kept that little secret to herself, and Declan assured all of us that he never led her to believe anything existed between them. There was never any guessing as to who told the truth.
I never heard from Mr. Dietz after we’d concluded our business and, suddenly, it occurred to me that if he had continued to work for Manny his opinion of me might have been jaded by any remarks the Vallega’s might have made. Since I never ran into him at home, it only seemed fortuitous that he was right across the street. It would only take a moment to say hello, so I thought I’d seize the opportunity. I touched Liz’s arm.
“I’ll be right back. I see someone I know.”
She watched after me as I walked in Mr. Dietz’s direction. I had almost reached him when any thoughts of my good fortune scattered like dust in the wind. I quickly turned around and hurried back to Liz.
“Let’s go.”
She sensed my urgency and, although puzzled, came without hesitation. The former knot in my stomach now choked me with regret. I should have paid more attention because I didn’t notice that Mr. Dietz was walking with an entourage that included Manny, Marisol, and Blake Matthews.
I remembered how unnerved Mr. Dietz was when he worked for Manny, so why were they together? I began to rationalize that it was reasonable for an attorney to be with a client in Vegas, especially one with Mr. Dietz’s expertize in real estate. I mentally checked off rational explanations. He was their real estate attorney and Vegas was a hot spot.
There wasn’t really anything suspect about him being with them, but I couldn’t shake the ominous feeling in my gut. Something wasn’t right. Why was Blake with them? Other than being Marisol’s manager, they weren’t friends, were they? But I couldn’t shake the warning signals that ignited inside my brain. At one time Blake had been a good friend, but his courtesy died away each time I told him that’s all I wanted to be. A friend. Blake was a conundrum. He had more personalities than I could count. At first I thought he was a nice guy, but then I got to know him and my opinion changed. After Aria and I were released from the hospital, he repeatedly asked me out. With my habit of maintaining personal distance, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to encourage him when I knew there would be nothing there. The only thing we had in common was our mutual social circle and I didn’t want anything to complicate it. Time after time I politely declined his invitations but he was persistent and then eventually became pushy. If he and I were anywhere with our friends, he acted like he was there with me. It was obnoxious. All through the weekend at Aimee and Carter’s party he was possessive. He was used to getting what he wanted and, unfortunately, he wanted me. It became awkward and embarrassing. Finally, I couldn’t handle it anymore. I went to Aria to tell her that I didn’t want to go anywhere with our crowd
if Blake was going to be there, and I was counting on her to let me know if he would be. She refused to hear it and told her husband. Since Declan and Blake were friends and business colleagues, she asked him to intervene. Aria told me that everything had been taken care of. After that, Blake backed off. He called me once after and told me that I didn’t know what I was missing; that he could date anyone he wanted. I told him that he was behaving like an ass and to get over himself. We hadn’t spoken since then.
Liz and I were almost around the corner when I heard him. He was calling my name. I ignored him, but he only became louder.
“Paige!”
The sound of his voice sickened me. I walked a little faster.
“PAIGE!”
Liz tried to turn around but saw my reaction. I held her arm.
“Keep walking.” I felt the blood leave my head, leaving me spinning.
“PAIGE!!!”
There was no escape.
I took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. Liz looked confused and her eyes darted back and forth between Blake and me. He was nearly on top of us when I turned. A forced smile transformed my face.
“Hello, Blake.”
I prayed Liz could sense my discomfort and help me make a quick exit. She only knew Blake as “the guy who was being a pain in the ass.” I never mentioned his name when I said that someone was getting on my nerves; but she was a smart cookie. It wouldn’t take long for her to connect the dots.
“Didn’t you hear me?” It was evident by his condescending tone that he resented being ignored by me. He tried to mask his irritation by putting on his best, fake, overly whitened, smile. “Why didn’t you stop when I called?”
Unconsciously, I stiffened. Liz read me instantly and was on high alert. Ever the professional, I morphed into my capable business persona.
Same/Difference (The Depth of Emotion #4) Page 8