by Lauren Wood
“I wonder what kind of trouble you get into.”
He could wonder all he wanted, but I didn’t really want to talk about it. Rick had a satisfied smile on his face and it made me shiver a little inside. What was going on in that man’s mind?
“Nothing too major, but I find it better to stay busy and focused.”
“Do I mess with your focus?”
“Yes.”
I answered too quickly because it surprised him and made him chuckle. I liked the deep sound, but my face started to get hot.
“I don’t mean to.”
I looked up at him finally and asked him what he was doing right now.
“What do you mean?”
“I am here trying to get these reports done and you are killing my focus.” I didn’t tell him why or how he was doing it. I didn’t think that it was necessary.
Rick smiled a little wider and if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that he actually liked the idea of it.
“Why are you smiling Rick? If we don’t get them done, you are the one that is going to be late.”
“There is no timeframe on these. These reports have already been gone through.”
I set the pen down and took a deep breath. Did he just say what I thought he said?
“What?”
“Now, now. Don’t get mad. You have been avoiding me like a leper for weeks. What was I supposed to do?”
I knew that what he said was true, but I still was not okay with him lying to me to get me here.
“Rick, are you being serious right now? You really told me that to get me here and this doesn’t even have to be done?
I was sure that I had heard it wrong, understood it wrong, something. He couldn’t have really done that, could he? I mean, that didn’t make any sense and I couldn’t imagine a grown man going to such lengths to get his way. I had underestimated his resolve in a big way.
“It’s not like that Claire.”
It felt just like that and I started to get up because I was so frustrated at him right now. I couldn’t believe that he had done it and the worst part was that he didn’t seem to have a lick of remorse. He was actually smiling and trying to defend what he did like there was really a reason to justify his actions.
“It’s not like that, really.”
“Then what is it like because I would really like to know what kind of excuse you have for this. You are taking advantage of the fact that you are my boss and I don’t appreciate it Rick. I thought you were better than this.”
Rick sighed and I could tell he was as frustrated as I was. I didn’t know why though. It wasn’t like I had done something to him after all. He was the one that had tricked me to coming to work on my day off, all for what? Did he really think that I was just going to fall into his lap?
“I just wanted to spend some time with you.”
“I have told you before when we were in Prague that it wasn’t a good idea.”
Rick told me that I didn’t know what I was talking about and so help me that pissed me off even worse.
“I do know what I am talking about Rick. I know how I feel. I am the one feeling it. Just because it doesn’t fit into your plans, doesn’t make them any less true.”
“Then why do you melt when I kiss you?”
I got a little nervous as he asked me that question. I was worried that he would try to prove me wrong and I was sure that he was going to kiss me again. When he moved towards me, I took a step back.
“If it means nothing, let me kiss you.”
I shook my head even though the words didn’t want to come out. I wanted to feel his lips on me again, I really did, but he scared me to death. I don’t know what it was about Rick, but I knew that unless I did something drastic, I was going to fall into his trap again. Maybe I wanted to.
“That is not how it works. That doesn’t even make sense.”
“Yes it does. Kiss me and prove to me that it means nothing to you.”
I wanted to do just that, prove him wrong, but we both knew what would happen if he got his hands on me. I wouldn’t be able to stop him because my body would take over and I would let him have his way with me.
“I am going to go if there is not any work for me to do. I do have plans today and I would like to get to them Sir. I will see you on Monday.”
Rick didn’t try to stop me and for a moment I wanted him to. Why was he so keen to let me go? I really didn’t make much sense some times.
***
I opened the door and sighed to myself. “Thank goodness you are here.”
“What is going on Claire? You sounded scared on the phone.”
I was scared. Jack showed up out of nowhere and started pushing us getting back together. He pushed so much that I had called Rick out of desperation. I told Jack that he was my boyfriend and when he finally realized that Rick was on his way, he finally left. Now that he wasn’t there and Rick was, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to tell him the truth, but I knew I was going to have to give him something.
“Sorry to have called you Rick. My ex was here and I didn’t know any other guy to call. I know that isn’t professional…”
He stopped me and asked me if I was okay.
“Yeah, I just wanted him to leave. I told him I had my boyfriend coming over and when I called you he finally left. I am sorry that I didn’t call you back and you had to come all the way over here.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t know that you had an ex from here.”
“I don’t. He is from my hometown. He was one of the things that I left behind when I moved here.”
“Oh.”
I felt embarrassed and the way Rick was acting, you would have thought I had exes coming out of the woodwork.
“Is this the first time that he has been here?”
“No, he came once before and I sent him away. That was a couple of months ago.”
“He wouldn’t hurt you, would he?”
I thought about how mad he would get. “I don’t think so. I just wanted him to go. Like I said, I am sorry that I dragged you into this.”
“I don’t mind. Do you want me to stay around a little while to make sure that he isn’t going to come back?”
“You don’t have to, really.”
“I want to Claire. I don’t want anything to happen to you and I bet you will sleep better if I am here.”
I started to tell him no. There was no way that I was going to feel safer with him here. I looked to the only bedroom in the place and he told me that he was perfectly fine to sleep on the couch.
“No, I couldn’t ask that of you Rick.”
“I insist. I go above and beyond for my employees.”
I knew that it wasn’t because I was his employee. He had his reasons to stay, but I wanted him to. I didn’t know if Jack was going to do something stupid again or not. I really just didn’t know with him.
“Well let me get you some pillows and a blanket. The couch isn’t that comfortable, especially for a guy like you.”
“I will be fine. I have slept on worse.”
I wasn’t going to argue with him because I really did want him to stay. I knew that I would feel safer this way. I may feel super bothered that he is here, but right now I wanted to feel safe.
Chapter 15
Rick
“Claire? Why aren’t you answering your phone or your door?”
I sat up and thought I was seeing double. It was Claire standing there in the doorway and then I looked over and saw Claire lying next to me. She had woken me up in the middle of the night and had me come lay with her. I wasn’t sure why, but I took the opportunity to hold her for a little while before we both drifted back off to sleep.
Now I was trying to figure out if I was seeing things or if there was another Claire.
“Who are you?”
The second Claire that was in the bedroom doorway wanted to know who I was, while I wanted to know the same thing as she did.
“Rick.”
I sat up and pushed the covers off of me. I wanted Claire to wake up and set this all straight because I didn’t know what the hell was going on.
“Claire?”
The woman shook her head and came towards me. “Haven’t I seen you before?”
It was then that I knew who she was. “Amber?”
“Guy from the club that came to my dressing room.”
Now I didn’t want Claire to wake up and hear about me being in that kind of place. I don’t know why, but I didn’t want her to look at me like that.
“Yes.”
“So you finally told my sister that you like her.”
“Your sister?”
“My twin.” I was floored and I looked back to Claire’s sleeping form and her blue eyes opened, the same as the ones staring at me from the doorway. This was strange. There were two of them and apparently, they were very different.
“Wow.”
“Claire wake up and tell me why you have a man in your bed.”
Claire started to move around a little bit and she smiled up at me before she realized that Amber was standing there.
“Hey sis. What are you doing here?”
Amber held up some coffee and smiled. “We are supposed to go shopping, remember?”
Claire sat up and rubbed her eyes. Even in the midst of everything, I loved to see her that way. She was makeup free and her yellow hair was all tussled. I got to look at her until she realized that I was staring.
“Oh.” Did she just realize that I was in the bed with her? It looked like she did and if I didn’t know any better I would say that she wasn’t all that happy about it. Did she not remember coming to me the night before to lie down with her?
Claire turned to me and introduced me to her sister. “Rick, this is my sister Amber.”
“Yes, we have already met Claire. He was the one that thought I was you. Can you imagine? Claire as a stripper?” Amber started to laugh and though it was a little funny that I had mistaken one for the other, I didn’t feel so bad now.
“Oh, this is the guy you were telling me about?”
I didn’t want to look over at Claire because it was now known that I had gone to that club and I was there to see strippers. I wish that I hadn’t now, but I had to say that I liked the red glow on Claire’s face. I had a feeling that Amber would have found it hard to blush like that. How could two women that looked identical, be so different?
Claire got up and mumbled something about getting a shower in and getting dressed. Amber followed her out of the room and I was left in the bedroom, reeling from the news. I couldn’t believe that Claire had a twin. While her sister would be more my style in the past, I was in love with Claire. I didn’t realize it until just then though. Why hadn’t I seen it before?
Getting out of the bedroom, I went to the door and got my shoes on. I was about to leave when Amber stopped me.
“Where are you going? Are you really going to sleep with my sister and leave?”
I was at a loss for words. Amber’s face was so serious that I didn’t know what to say.
“I didn’t sleep with her, not like that.”
Amber smiled and waved me off. “Oh, I know.”
It made me wonder how she knew. Why wouldn’t Claire sleep with me like that?
“What are you doing here then?”
“She called because Jack came over and I guess calling me over got him to leave.”
Amber sighed and sat down at one of the bar stools at the counter.
“Yeah, it is my fault because I told him where she lived. I thought after Claire got over her issues, they would get back together, but I guess he is just too pushy.”
“Her issues?”
“Yeah, she wanted to wait until marriage and he didn’t.”
I almost asked her if her sister was a virgin, but I caught myself. I shouldn’t be asking questions like that after all and I think I knew that to be true. It made so much sense as to why she wasn’t responding to me in the way that I was used to. It had baffled me to no end, but now it all starting to make a little more sense to me.
“Well I was happy to help.”
“I bet you were. Haven’t seen you at the club Rick. When are you coming back?” She had a grin on her face and I could tell that she enjoyed razzing me.
“I don’t usually go to places like that.”
“Really? That is not what I heard.”
So much for confidentiality in places like that.
“I assure you that it isn’t like that Amber. I shouldn’t have gone…”
“Don’t worry Rick. Your secret is safe with me. I haven’t seen my sister this close to someone in a long time. As long as you are good to her, I have nothing to say.”
She was talking to me like Claire and I was dating. I didn’t correct her and if I was honest, I liked the idea that she used me to get rid of her ex. In her past was where Jack needed to stay as far as I was concerned.
“I won’t do anything to hurt your sister.”
Amber looked at me for a time, judging if I was telling the truth or not. I could tell that she was protective of Claire and there was something else there, but she didn’t say much else before Claire was out and walking into the bedroom in her towel. I got a glimpse of her lithe body and I could envision Amber’s body in my mind. Now I knew that they were identical, that meant that everything about them was going to be the same. I closed my eyes with the thought.
I told myself I was just going to wait around to tell Claire goodbye. I didn’t want to go, but I had things to do as well. It wasn’t every day that I had such a good wakeup and heeding Amber’s advice, I told Claire that I would see her later.
“Bye Rick. See you around.”
She smiled at me and did a little wave that made me a bit uncomfortable. I left the apartment not sure what to think of everything. I was absolutely floored to think that she was a virgin. It made sense, but to see her and how beautiful she was, it really didn’t make any sense at all to me. I kept wondering to myself, how? Claire was gorgeous and it seemed to me that she would have all kinds of suitors.
I drove back to my place and I couldn’t get the damn woman off of my mind. I was really going to have to work on that. Knowing the truth though helped me in a massive way. My ego had taken a hit every time she denied me, but now that had changed. Now I knew why she didn’t move forward with me, she didn’t know how.
Was Amber serious when she said that her sister was waiting till marriage? That was a hard thought to think and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Claire was already the one person I wanted and unless I could do what no one else could do, I would never have her. Marriage wasn’t even an option to me, not even something I would consider.
I was just going to have to wear her down on it and convince her that I was worth the risk. I would make her feel so good that she would never avoid me again. I was now even more bound and determined to have Claire in my arms and in my bed.
Chapter 16
Rick
“Don’t get mad at me boss.”
I looked up at Caroline and didn’t know where she was going with this. When someone said such a thing to me though, I didn’t think that it was going to be a good thing.
“What?”
“Promise you won’t be mad at me. Just remember that I am just the messenger.”
I told her that I wouldn’t get mad at her, but I really wanted to know what the problem was that made her approach me in such a way. It couldn’t be that bad, could it?
“What?”
“I just heard from the rumor mill that you are going to be called in front of the board about your conduct.”
I chuckled a little bit and relaxed slightly. There were a lot of things that the board wanted to talk to me about, but they never had enough proof to get anything done. They had ideas of what I was and wasn’t doing, but it was all rumors and conjuncture.
“Why didn’t you say so Caroline? You had me really worried for a minute there.
”
She didn’t seem to get why I was so relaxed and she finally asked me what I was grinning like an idiot about. I tried to explain to her that everything was going to be okay, but Caroline didn’t share my relief at all.
“It is about you and Claire. I have a feeling that you are going to want to watch yourself on this one. There have been several inquiries made to some of the other staff. I am not saying that anyone is going to say anything, we all love you here, but if you have something that is going on, it needs to stop right now and we are going to have to hope that something is not able to be proven.”
I felt like this was coming out of nowhere. I had come to work today expecting just another day. I hadn’t expected to hear all of this and even though Caroline was just the messenger, I could see why she wanted assurances before she said anything. I was angry with her, even though I knew she had nothing to do with it. I was pissed off and I wanted to take it out on someone. The fact that it was about Claire and most likely true made it one hundred times worse.
“Thank you Caroline. Was there anything else?”
She was looking at me as if I was going to lose it any minute. I wanted to, if that was not clear, but I was going to hold it together. I had a feeling that the peace in my life wasn’t going to last long, but I hadn’t thought that it would have anything to do with Claire. I hadn’t even secured her in the way that I wanted and now I had to answer to whatever it was they had heard. The board was the bane of my existence half of the time and I had a feeling that this was going to be one of those times. Something bad was going to happen, I just had a feeling.
I sat and stewed until the appointment. It could have been many things that was a matter. Namely, it could be that I had given her too big of clients too early on. She had proven to be a damn good consultant though. Maybe it was the fraud she had uncovered with the last few companies we had done. It could have been a lot of things, but I never expected it to be about us.
***
“I am sorry Sir, can you please repeat yourself for the record?”
I looked to the older woman that I couldn’t remember her name. I had hired on all of these people in one way or another, how strange to be in front of them now as if they were my firing squad.