Unexpected Chance

by Joanne Schwehm

  We were in the air and were being served dinner, which I had never received on a plane. The flight attendant brought me my tray, and there was a white orchid in a vase. I looked up at her and she smiled; then she looked at Alex and winked. My smile broadened knowing he’d done this. He was the ultimate romantic boyfriend.

  The dinner was actually good, which surprised me since I’d heard horror stories about airplane food. I had a glass of wine too, it was awesome. I took the flower out of the vase and held it when my tray was removed. I turned to thank Alex, and he was sitting in his seat with his left leg bent over his right and his chin propped up in his hand. He had the most genuine smile. He definitely looked pleased with himself, but there was something else: contentment.

  “Thank you for the flower. I love it.” I had it in my hand, so I lowered my nose to it and inhaled. “This scent. . . I love that it reminds me of you.” I smiled and turned back into my seat. I put my headphones back on, closed my eyes, and held the flower to my cheek.

  The sky was darkening; it was getting late. I reclined my seat and looked up to see the fasten seat belt sign turn off. I smiled. I covered myself with the blanket and settled into what I now considered my bed for the night. I heard Alex talking to the flight attendant. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she had a huge smile on her face when she walked by me.

  I smelled him before I saw him. I needed to ask what cologne he wore, or maybe it was just the scent of my orchid. I rolled to my side, and he slid in next to me. We were facing each other. “Hey, babe,” he whispered.

  God, he was sexy as hell. “Hey, what are you doing?”

  “Kissing my girl and then going to sleep.”

  “I don’t know that the flight attendant would approve.”

  He was kissing me on my neck and around my ear. “She lives in the city, so I offered her unlimited VIP access to the club if she ignores us. I told her I didn’t want to get her in trouble, but if she could do what she could, it would be appreciated.”

  He looked proud of himself that he was able to work this out. He covered himself with the blanket and held my hand until we started our descent. Sadly, he had to return to his seat, but we’d been lucky to lie next to each other all night.

  Chapter 15

  The sun was shining, and the city of Tuscany was amazing. This had to be one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. The landscape of rolling hills and bricked streets was just amazing. Everything about it was fantastic, even the people; they were all so nice and friendly. It was different from New York. There weren’t horns blowing, and people weren’t racing around, not caring about who was in their way.

  It was calm, almost serene. Alex was holding my hand and Brett was holding Julie’s as we walked into the villa that Alex had rented. I couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was. The marble foyer was grand, but not over the top. There was a country-style kitchen and an expansive living area with couches and occasional chairs. The home was decorated in rich earth tones; it was welcoming and warm. Julie loved the villa as well. “Dude, this place rocks! Thank you so much for bringing us here! Look. You can see the sea and there is a pool; it’s unbelievable, Alex!”

  Alex laughed. “I’m glad you like it and that you and Aubrey could join us. Your marketing strategies are the key for us being successful; we need you both here for this.”

  Julie realized she’d just called him “Dude.” “Um, yes, of course, Alex, I didn’t mean to imply that we were on a vacation.” She stepped into her professional persona. “We’ll work very hard to make sure that this venture is a success. That’s our primary goal and objective. We’re here for you and your business, sir.”

  What the hell had just happened to her? Was it jet lag? All the three of us could do was stare at her. Brett had his head tilted to the side like a dog when you call its name. I think if he could have made his ears move he would have. I stood there with my mouth slightly opened. Alex had one arm across his chest and the other hand propping up his chin. He looked the most serious, and he was the first one to laugh. Brett and I followed.

  “Geez, Julie, lighten up!” Alex was laughing. “I know this is technically a business trip, but we’re all friends, and I want us all to have a good time while we’re here. Although, if you could refrain from calling me “dude” in front of potential business associates, that would be great. He shoved her shoulder.

  ~*~

  We spent the next few days visiting wineries in Northern and Southern Italy. Between the wine and the food, I was sure I gained ten pounds. Alex and Brett made great contacts with some of the wineries, and Julie was busy taking photos and gathering the necessary information she would need to come up with a great marketing plan. I was helping Julie. My experience really wasn’t needed until Julie wrote all the copy for the plan. When we were leaving Sicily and on our way to Paris, I was a nervous wreck. I could only imagine what my parents were going to think. I told them I was coming on business, but I knew that when I introduced Alex as my boyfriend it would be a surprise to them. Hell, it was a surprise for me.

  We checked in to the hotel where Alex had rented us a suite. The hotel was amazing. The lobby was incredible, adorned with copper and beautiful columns. The staircase was curved and expansive. I imagined a bride coming down the staircase while the train of her white gown followed behind her. We took this grand staircase to our suite; all the while I was imagining me in that flowing gown. I looked over at Alex, so self-assured and amazing; yeah, I could definitely picture it.

  Alex unlocked the door to our room, and before I could look around, he lifted me up. My legs instinctively wrapped around him, and he grabbed me and pushed me up against the door. I could feel the panels of the door on my back. I instinctively reached for the doorknob for support, but he whispered that he had me. Boy, did he have me! I tightened my legs around him, and my elbows rested on his shoulders, my fingers in his hair.

  “I need you, Aubrey, right now.” He feverishly kissed me; his tongue darted in and out of my mouth then down my neck, sucking my pulse. I felt his arousal press between my legs. His hands kneaded my breasts; I was going to lose it.

  “Ahhh . . . Alex . . . I’m . . . going . . . to . . . ahhh. I want to feel you, Alex.” I lifted his shirt off, and he followed suit with mine.

  He pulled down the cups of my bra, freeing my breasts, which welcomed the cool air. Our chests rubbed together while my hands explored his back. He had me pinned so tightly against the door that I thought I could go through it. His thighs held me up so that I hardly needed to hang on.

  I moved my hands to his pants; I needed them off. He sensed my need for him. He gripped me around the waist and carried me to the bedroom. He tossed me on the bed, stepped back, and looked at me. I was lying there in just my jeans and my bra, which was only half on; my eyes were fixed on him.

  His gaze became animalistic. “Strip for me.”

  My heart pounded at his voice and command. “What?”

  “I said, ‘Strip for me.’”

  I stood up next to the bed. Alex leaned against the wall a few feet away. He had his arms crossed, and his eyes were full of lust. I focused on him. I wasn’t sure I could do this, but I wasn’t going to let him down.

  I stared into his eyes. I licked my lips and ran my hand down my stomach until I reached the button on my jeans. I slowly unbuttoned them, turned around, bent over, and lowered them. I heard him take in a breath, and I knew I was affecting him. My ass was in the air, and my hair was grazing the floor. I took the opportunity to look around my leg and glance at him as I stepped out of my jeans. He looked as if he were in a trance. Good. This was working. I reached for my panties and lowered them next. I stood and turned to him. I slowly walked toward him, unhooking my bra in the process. I lowered the straps with my fingertips, one arm at a time. I held on to the strap with my index finger and extended my arm. I dropped the bra to the ground, and it landed at his feet. His eyes followed it all the way down. I stood there naked. His eyes roamed my bod
y. “You’re beautiful.”

  He quickly removed his jeans and boxers. He picked me up, and I found myself pinned to the wall that he had just leaned on. My left leg was supported by his right arm. He thrust two fingers inside me. I bucked up against him. I needed him.

  “Take me to bed.”

  He spun me around, and before I knew it, I felt the cool sheets against my back. He flipped us over and moved me on top of him. His hands were kneading my breasts, and I was rubbing my sex up and down his stiff length, coating him. He felt amazing; I felt . . . Alex.

  I took his arms by the wrists and held them down on the mattress. I positioned myself so his erection was pushing into me. I took him all the way in and felt completely full. I lay on him, chest to chest, and kissed his jawline, feeling his light scruff on my lips. I kissed the corner of his mouth and he smiled. I straightened my arms to look at him. I couldn’t get over the beauty this man possessed. He had a light tan from all the outdoor winery tours we’d enjoyed, and he was sporting a five o’clock shadow, which looked beyond sexy.

  I straightened myself and sat up on him. I threw my head back and started to raise and lower my hips. I rode him until I could feel myself tighten around him. I knew I was reaching my peak. I moved faster with determination.

  He put his thumb on my clit and rubbed it. “Massage your breasts, Aubrey.”

  I did. It felt good and odd at the same time. I’d never touched myself, well, not when I wasn’t alone, so I stopped.

  “I said, ‘Massage your breasts, Aubrey.’”

  Again I complied; it did something to both of us. His hands went to my hips, and his fingers gripped my ass. He was making me go faster, and he was thrusting into me. “Alex . . . I . . .”

  “You feel so good, babe. Come for me . . . now.”

  We both exploded. I could feel his heat, and I was clenching and shaking around him. I felt sated and exhausted. I collapsed on him. He held my face in his hand, holding my hair back. “The things that you do to me, babe, and the way you make me feel are incredible; you’re incredible.”

  I honestly didn’t ever think I’d ever get sick of hearing those words. He thought I was incredible. Why couldn’t I just say it? I love you, Alex. See, I could think it, but I couldn’t get the words out.

  I kissed his lips. I didn’t want this feeling to end, but I eased him out of me and got out of bed. I grabbed his hand and tugged it toward me. “Let’s shower; we’re meeting my parents soon, unless you’ve changed your mind.”

  In a way, I hoped he had. My mother could be difficult, and that was putting it mildly.

  “Never, I want to meet them and thank them for you.”

  “Are you real?”

  He was pulling me toward the bathroom. “Come shower with me, and I’ll show you how real I am.”

  I followed him into the shower where we made love again.

  Chapter 16

  We were meeting my parents at a small intimate restaurant that our concierge had told us had delectable French cuisine. The owner was an American, which was good because some of the menus I looked at were rather scary to me, but this one looked great.

  My parents were already there when we arrived. My mom saw me and waved so I would see her. I kept hoping that she would keep her cool once she met Alex and Brett. Both were wonderful male specimens, and a woman would have to be blind not to notice. They knew Julie, so that helped me relax. She knew how to handle my mom better than I did on most days.

  We walked up to their table, and my mom pulled me into a hug. “It’s so great to see you, honey.” Then Dad hugged me while I was still hugging Mom. She looked over my shoulder. “Hi, Julie, sweetheart, you look beautiful.” She really did. She had on a blue-and-white striped maxi dress, and her hair was perfectly cascading over her shoulders.

  “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan, it’s great to see you.”

  “Oh, Julie, please call us Tom and Jill.” Julie just smiled.

  I grabbed Alex’s hand and brought him closer to my parents. “Mom and Dad, I’d like you to meet,” I took a deep breath, “Alex Logan . . . my boyfriend; Alex, these are my parents, Tom and Jill.”

  Alex shook both of their hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for letting us join you for lunch.”

  Mom looked at Alex with wide eyes and then to me. “It’s our pleasure. We were unaware that Aubrey had a boyfriend. I thought you were all business associates.”

  Oh boy, here we go. I pulled Brett into the picture. “This is Brett; he works with Alex and also happens to be Julie’s boyfriend.” If I had to go through a ration of shit, I thought I’d bring Julie along with me. They shook hands and we all sat down.

  Mom started on her maternal inquisition. “So Alex, Aubrey told me she was coming to Paris to go to some vineyards. What type of business do you own?”

  “I own a night club in Manhattan called The White Orchid, and we’re expanding to include a wine room. That’s why we’re in Europe. Julie and Aubrey are heading up the marketing efforts.”

  I saw my mom’s nose turn up.

  “A night club, hmm.” She leaned over to my dad and in a snotty tone said, “Tom, he owns a night club.”

  “Yes, I heard him, Jill.” My dad took a sip of what I assumed was a Manhattan.

  I just smiled at Dad and squeezed Alex’s hand. He squeezed mine back, turned to me, and smiled. I shrugged my shoulders.

  The waiter came to our table and handed Alex the wine list. “Would everyone care for some wine?”

  I nodded and said that sounded great and looked at the others at the table. Luckily, we were all in agreement, so Alex ordered two bottles, a Chardonnay and Bordeaux.

  I was really hoping my mom would get off her high horse and stop thinking Alex owned a seedy club. But of course, I had no such luck and neither did Alex. “So this club you have, it must keep you busy and your hours must be . . . long,” she glanced at me, “and difficult.”

  Alex sipped his water. “Yes, it does keep me busy, but between Brett, our other partner, and me, it isn’t too bad.”

  “I can’t imagine that it’s very profitable. Is that why you want to expand to try to make more income? In today’s economy, you need to be careful how you spend your money.”

  I wished I could crawl under the table right then. I repeated, “Please be done, please be done,” over and over in my head. No such luck.

  The ridicule continued. “And I can imagine all types of women must come in and out of there.” She actually used finger quotes when she said “types.”

  “Mother!” Oh my God, really? If Alex wanted to stay with me after this, it would be a miracle.

  “Jill!” My father was trying to intervene, but to no avail. She had to continue her interrogation.

  “I’ve heard the name Logan before.” She looked deep in thought and sipped her wine until the apparent light bulb went bright. “Are you related to Jack Logan of Logan Industries?”

  Alex fidgeted in his chair. I glanced over at Julie and Brett, who were pretending to peruse their menus. I was willing Julie to save me, but she looked nervous. She never looks nervous.

  “Actually, Jack Logan is my father. Logan Industries is his company.”

  My father nodded in acknowledgement. My mother couldn’t leave it alone; she had to keep going. “So your father owns one of the most successful companies in New York, and his son owns a night club? What does your mother think of all this?”

  That’s it. I felt like throwing up. My lips thinned as I glared at my mother. “And Alex own one of the most successful night clubs in Manhattan.” Just then the waiter returned with the wine. Alex tasted the red and I tasted the white. Alex nodded to the waiter, signaling that it was good, and I did the same, except I swallowed my taste like a shot. The waiter poured the wine after asking who wanted red and white. He stepped away from the table since he could tell we weren’t ready to order.

  Alex swallowed a sip of wine and looked at my mom. “Actually, my mom passed away, so I honestly do
n’t know what she would think. I hope that she would have been proud of my decisions, but I guess I’ll never know.” He was trying, but he was starting to get defensive, not that I could blame him.

  My mom paled. I looked at Alex as he glanced at me. He looked completely on edge, not a look I was used to seeing on Alex. “I’m proud of you, Alex.” I kissed him on the cheek. He visibly relaxed and smiled.

  My dad cleared his throat. The tension was so thick that a knife would have no hope of slicing through it; you would need a chain saw. He put his hand on my mother’s. “We’re sorry for your loss, Alex. “So where have you kids been so far?” I was so thankful for my dad.

  Julie chimed in. “We went to Tuscany and Sicily before coming here. We stayed in the most fantastic villas that Alex rented for us—just total red carpet treatment all the way. We even flew first class.”

  All of those things didn’t matter to me, but Julie knew they would matter to my mom. At this point, I didn’t care what or how my mom felt. I was so embarrassed by the way she was treating Alex. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he left me right then and there.

  The waiter came and we placed our orders. I didn’t even want to eat; my appetite was completely gone. I wanted to leave; that was all I wanted to do: leave and be alone with Alex and do some damage control. My head just spun; I was praying not to have an anxiety attack.

  Brett and my dad were talking about baseball and how my dad misses going to games back in New York. Julie chimed in with her two cents every once in a while. My mom looked at me and then to Alex, who was looking into his wine glass as if he had a lot on his mind and he was waiting for the wine to speak to him. He probably did have a lot running though his head; the main thing probably was how to get the hell out of here. “Will you excuse us, please?” I stood and held my hand out to Alex. He took it and I led him out of the restaurant.

  We stood on the cobblestone street, and I turned to look at him. “Alex, I am so sorry my mom is acting this way. I am completely mortified. I don’t know what has gotten into her.” I hugged him and rested my cheek on his heart. It had such a steady and calming beat. “Please know that I am very proud of you. I don’t care about the expensive lifestyle. I would live in a shack if it meant I could be with you. Please tell me you know that.”