by Ali Parker
It was the middle of March, and the rains weren't as heavy or frequent as they'd been the past few months. Brice pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked the upcoming weather forecast. No rain, it seemed, although the sun might not make an appearance from behind the clouds. Still, a country drive wouldn't be amiss, accompanied by an easy hike and romantic picnic. And maybe, just maybe, if he could keep her off her guard long enough, their day date would stretch into the night. And into the next morning, if his wish came true.
A thread of unease broke his concentration. Brice wasn't used to wanting more than one night from the women he dated. Granted, none of them had hit him like Janna had, a bold of lightning from the heavens that had burned away all other thoughts but ones of her. He'd warmed his bed with waitresses, socialites, and girls more impressed by his bank balance than his charm, but always with the clear proviso that it was a one-night-only deal. Then Janna had knocked him off his feet at the holiday party, and he hadn't yet recovered. Worse, he didn't want to.
Forcing his mind back to the issue at hand, Brice considered which car to take. Again, he had to be unpredictable. The Lamborghini, the Ferrari, the Porsche, all screamed "rich guy," which Janna would probably read as "overcompensating." He needed something exotic but not flamboyant. Something that he would enjoy driving around the country curves with his girl by his side. The Aston Martin DB5, of course. He'd do James Bond's vehicle of choice proud, and Janna was definitely pretty enough to be a Bond girl. She would put Pussy Galore to shame, he thought with a wicked grin.
His strategy of attack decided, he called his assistant Tony to put together a picnic lunch and then told him he'd be sending him a list of songs for a playlist that he should upload for tomorrow's cruise. He quickly typed up a list of songs, none of the conventional ones, of course, and sent it off to Tony's email.
Everything settled, Brice closed his laptop and leaned back again, trying to relax but unable to restrain the nervous energy that buzzed through him. He couldn't remember ever being this anxious about a date. Although he'd been with plenty of women, they generally came to him. He didn't even have to crook his finger and women were throwing themselves at him.
Not that a willing woman had ever been a problem with Brice. He'd given his heart to a woman who had been all too willing at first. He closed his eyes, remembering his life five years ago and the hurt he'd experienced. Hurt he thought he'd never get over, hurt he'd give anything not to experience again. All at the hands of a sadistic little gold digger named Evetta. Even thinking her name made his heart stop beating for a moment.
Evetta had been the perfect woman for him, or so he'd thought. Sophisticated, worldly, and exceedingly beautiful, she was a rich man's dream and Brice's own personal nightmare. They'd met at one of his father's charity functions. She'd been introduced by a colleague of his father, and before the hour was out, she was going down on him in the Gents. After swallowing his load, she'd tidied up her makeup and returned to discussing foreign politics with the Mayor of Portland. When she kissed both cheeks of the mayor's wife in the European fashion, he remembered where those lips had been and had gotten hard again.
After dating for only a month, they'd gotten engaged. Although his parents cautioned him not to move too fast, they seemed to approve of Evetta. And what wasn't there to approve of? She gave every appearance of the perfect rich man's wife. She looked good, dressed well, was intelligent, well-spoken, and a miracle in the sack. But appearances could be deceiving.
After sliding the six-karat diamond engagement ring on her slender finger and moving her into his seven bedroom condo in the Pearl District of Portland, things began to change. She became manipulative, isolating him from his friends and family, learning how to play on his emotions like pushing a button. She'd use her words, her looks, false tears and blatant lies to keep him trapped in her whirlwind of drama. Before long he was so caught up in her game that he'd do anything to keep her happy, to keep her moods from flying off the deep end.
Once she'd known he was hooked, she'd tightened the screws. Evetta would flirt with other guys in front of him, and she started getting phone calls late at night that she would leave the room to answer. When he asked her who was calling, she turned things around so that he felt guilty for invading her privacy.
She started going out and leaving him at home, then wouldn't tell him where she'd been when she got back, usually tipsy and smelling like smoke and another man's cologne. Brice confronted her, but Evetta turned the screws ever tighter, running to his own mother to complain of his possessive and overbearing nature. Then he'd caught her performing fellatio on an investment banker he knew through one of his charities in his own bed. Evetta had laughed as he'd thrown her out, swearing that things weren't over, that he could never get rid of her.
And she'd been right, initially. A month after they'd broken up, a month full of parties where he'd drank too much and too often woke up next to a random cocktail waitress or club rat, he'd received a message from Evetta. She was pregnant, and the child was his. She demanded that he see her and make things right.
Brice was shocked, disbelieving. He was also strangely elated. He remembered their time together in the beginning, how hot they'd burned, and how well-suited she was to his lifestyle. Maybe they could work out their issues, and perhaps a child would settle her. Brice met her at Huber's, an old restaurant downtown that offered authentic Spanish coffee with impeccable service, and she'd shown him a sonogram. Although he didn't know what all the dark shapes meant, apparently his child was somewhere in there, and a warm glow had spread over his body.
Evetta moved back into their condo, and Brice began designing the nursery. He wasn't a fool, and somewhere in the back of his mind alarm bells were ringing, but the chance of having Evetta back, the old Evetta, was worth the risk. He'd spoiled her rotten, buying her a new car, a little cottage on the San Juan Islands for family vacations, endless amounts of jewelry. Brice wanted her to know she was treasured and she loved the attention, but he could still see something restless in her eyes. As the days passed, she started pacing the floors like an animal in a cage, especially after Brice asked to come with to her pre-natal appointments. She wouldn't tell him when they were, and they had quarreled, Evetta calling him cruel and controlling. Not long after he'd returned home from a press function, he found all of her things gone.
It was devastating, to lose her again, and even worse to lose the child inside her, the one he'd already affectionately thought of as Junior. When she finally answered his calls, she told him that she couldn't live with him. He was too abusive. She still expected him to support his child, however.
He agreed unequivocally, but couldn't understand why she wouldn't come back. He was ashamed to admit it now, but he had begged her to come home. As the months passed, he kept her bank account full, but she wouldn't let him near her, wouldn't even tell him where she was staying. When her due date crept closer, and he still hadn't received word from her, he broke down and hired a private detective.
The P.I. tracked her to a high-rise apartment in Seattle. The pictures he provided were no less shocking than that very first blow job. There was Evetta, slender as the day he'd met her, pressed into the arms of the shady investment banker he'd seen fucking her mouth in his bed. There was no baby; there never had been. She'd been playing him again. When he finally got her on the phone to confront her, she'd laughed at him for being a fool.
"Sure I took your money, and you were only too willing to give it to me to preserve your little fantasy. You're never going to find the woman you want. She doesn't exist. No one is going to impress your uptight mommy and daddy, and still be the little slut you want in your bedroom. Men and their misguided love of the Virgin and the Whore dichotomy. Well, I don't play by men's rules. Good luck finding your imaginary woman."
Brice said nothing, blindsided by her attack. He was the one who was wronged, and here she was, turning the tables on him again. Before he could remember to hang up, her voice had reac
hed out and punched him right in the balls. "And Brice, honey, if I ever need a couple hundred thousand again, I'll make sure to look you up."
He'd held the phone to his head for minutes after she disconnected the call, his arms starting to ache before he remembered to lower it.
The memory of that inability to move prompted him to act now. He retrieved his phone from the desk and dialed Janna's number. They'd discussed getting together tomorrow, but they hadn't set a particular time. Brice hoped that she would agree to meet him early, so he could spend the whole day getting to know her. The phone rang, and he held his breath in anticipation.
"Hello?" Her voice was a breathy near-whisper.
"Janna? It's Brice. I was calling to confirm our engagement tomorrow."
"Engagement?" The tone was teasing, but Brice thought he heard a note of fear in her voice.
"Our date tomorrow. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind meeting early."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I was hoping I could pick you up around ten."
"Isn't that a bit late for dinner?"
He couldn't tell if she was teasing him or not. "Ten a.m. And I thought you had to be smart to get a Ph.D." If she were teasing, he would tease back.
"That's what they tell me, but you'd be surprised," she replied with a laugh. "And why should I let you drag me out at ten a.m. on a Saturday morning?"
"I thought we could enjoy the day together. Maybe do some hiking?" He held his breath as doubt assailed him. What if she wasn't the outdoorsy type? All of his careful planning and he could be blowing it right now.
"Are you just trying to get me alone in the woods and at your mercy?" Now she had to be teasing.
He laughed at her throaty tone. "You can't blame a guy for trying."
"A hike sounds nice. I'll be ready at 10."
"Good," he said and thought it came out almost like a purr. "I'll see you tomorrow."
* * *
The next day the sky was cloudy and gray, and Janna eyed it with apprehension. Not exactly hiking weather, but this was Oregon. You only had to wait a few minutes for the weather to change. Unfortunately, most of those changes led to rain, but a girl could hope. She turned from the window and back to her mirror. What did one wear on a first date that involved the outdoors? She hoped it was a pair of faded blue jeans, a worn sweater over an ancient t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "Smoke Daddy's Chicago BBQ," and some sturdy hiking boots. Oh, and let's not forget the boring green rain jacket.
Even if hiking gear wasn't that exciting, the thought of spending the day with Brice Masterson was enough to almost let her walk on air. And how out of left field was the hiking suggestion? She'd figured he'd pull up in some over-the-top stretch limousine and take her to someplace swanky, like Apriles. It was nice that he wasn't going with the rich guy clichés. Maybe she was jumping to conclusions. Maybe she was wrong about him.
Already thinking of letting your guard down? her insidious inner voice whispered. One date does not a reformed man make. Janna nodded, realizing the truth of those words. She'd followed the gossip, what woman didn't love gossip? She'd seen pictures of Brice with a multitude of women, a different flavor on his arm every week. Right now Janna was the flavor de jour, but it wouldn't last long. Best to enjoy it while she could, but she wouldn't surrender her heart. Janna straightened her sweater with a severe tug. Right, my guard stays up.
She checked the time, seeing that it was ten minutes to ten. Janna fidgeted, biting her thumbnail before deciding she couldn't wait in her room anymore. She grabbed her faded jacket and left her small quarters, descending the stairs and heading out to the wide front porch. The clouds still blocked out the sun, but she could see it struggling to peek out from behind their heavy grayness. She was staring into the muddled sky when the sound of grinding gravel brought her attention back to the ground. A silver sports car pulled up, and her heart skipped a beat. Only one guy in town would be driving around in 007's ride.
Her suspicions were confirmed a second later when his blond head popped out of the car, followed by that toned and arousing body. Janna headed down the steps to meet him, and he pulled her into a warm hug. "Good morning." His tone was husky, his green eyes almost glowing in the muted morning light.
"Good morning yourself," she said, momentarily tightening her grasp, then pulling away. "Nice ride."
"Thanks," he said, his smile boyish as he led her towards the silver bullet.
"You said we were going hiking," she teased, "but are you sure we aren't going to be pursued by super villains bent on our destruction, Mr. Bond?"
His smile slipped for a nanosecond, but then returned, wider than ever. "So you recognized the car? I may have underestimated you."
"Your mistake, underestimating the goddess of wit and virtue." Janna slid into the smooth leather seat.
"So virtue is back, eh?" He laughed, starting the car and backing out onto the road. "What a pity."
"That's right, Mr. Bond. My virtue is for God and Country alone."
She thought he growled good-naturedly at that, and the heat in his tone made her shiver. "So where are we headed?" she asked, abandoning the banter. The town faded quickly, giving way to the greenery of the Oregon forests.
"There's a spot I know of, a couple of miles off an old logging road in the park Caleb Hunt's developing."
"The land your family used to own?" He nodded. She knew he'd made a big donation of land to the state after the death of his parents, and Caleb Hunt was developing it into a state park. It was Brice's memorial to his mother and father, and Janna realized the level of affection he must feel for them. It was endearing, which meant it was dangerous. Better to change the topic.
"Oh I know, you've got some kind of hidden lair out there in the woods where you stash the pretty girls you sweep off their feet. And I'm to be your next victim. I swear to you, I will not go quietly!" She knew it was over the top, but she was uncomfortable, and her mouth always got away from her when that happened.
"Darn foiled again!" he said with his handsome half-smile. "Well, since you've ruined my devious plans, let's say we just enjoy the ride." He moved a hand over to the console and pressed some buttons. The sounds of the Talking Head's "Road to Nowhere" surrounded her suddenly, forcing her to smile. How appropriate.
She rested her head against the comfortable seat and took in the experience. She knew it was about an hour to the forest where Caleb and Dani lived, an hour spent in the smaller-by-the-minute car, trapped next to her ultimate fantasy of a man. And he'd made a playlist. Holy hell.
The Talking Heads gave way Golden Earring's "Radar Love," and Brice seemed to hug the curves and shoot the straight-aways in time with the music. A man who can really drive is so sexy. Janna couldn't help but lick her lips as she watched him shift gears. She almost melted when those molten green eyes sent her a glance that said he knew exactly what he was doing to her. It was infuriating. And exhilarating.
The miles passed and the music rolled. Janna couldn't help herself, she was singing along with Bruce on "Thunder Road." Before she'd realized how loud she was, Brice gave her a big smile. Her mouth hung open in embarrassment until he took up the song too. They ended in true epic rock fashion, then Janna collapsed against the seat in laughter. She laughed so hard tears started to appear in her eyes, and through the blur, she saw Brice give her a grin as if he was privy to some seductive secret.
Too soon it seemed they pulled onto a bumpy gravel road that led into the tall pines. Before long Brice was parking and shutting off the engine. The screeching chords of "Highway Star" cut off abruptly and the bubble burst. Time to face the world again. It wouldn't be too hard, Janna thought, with such gorgeous scenery as Brice Masterson.
* * *
Brice pulled on the backpack that contained the picnic essentials and locked up his car. So far the weather was holding. The air was slightly chilly, but with the trees blocking any wind, it didn't feel too cold. Besides, hiking next to this beauty was sure to keep hi
m warm. He gave Janna a jerk of the head in his direction. The path was narrow and unmarked, but he found it without fail.
When it was possible, they walked side by side, but most of the time they were forced to walk in single file, making conversation a little more difficult. The narrowness of the path coupled with the increasing altitude turned most of their talk monosyllabic. After about a half hour they stopped, taking a seat on some boulders and trading long pulls on the water bottle Brice pulled from his pack.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked with a smile that masked his underlying anxiety. Hiking wasn't for everyone, after all, and her ruddy cheeks and flyaway curls bespoke the effort of their ascent.
"Yep," she said with a nod and a smile. "I like hiking. You almost have to like hiking if you're a research biologist. I've got to go where the amphibians are."
"And do you enjoy being a research biologist?"
Her smile grew smaller, and Brice wondered why. "Usually," she said, looking off into the distance.
Before he could stop himself, his mouth kept speaking. "How about being a painter? Do you enjoy that?"
She looked at him again, and her blue eyes turned his stomach inside out. "Yes." It was whisper quiet, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and distract her from what was clearly a sensitive subject. Instead, he repacked the water bottle and suggested they keep going. She nodded, but the mood was less carefree than it had been. It was cloudy now, like the sky, cloudy and quiet. Brice was glad when they finally reached the clearing after another half hour climb. He'd felt her eyes on his back since their break, and they weighed on him uncomfortably.
Brice slowed when they pulled out of the trees and into the tall grasses. He waited until she reached his side to continue, and praying it wouldn't be rejected, he reached out his hand to grab hers. It was cool and soft in his larger hand, but it squeezed his back and he smiled, hoping the somber mood had been broken.