I will. She seems very efficient.
She is. Where are you?
In my bedroom at your house.
Our house.
Our house. I'm looking up volunteer opportunities. I should have said I wanted to work all week so I don't go insane while you're gone.
You could always fly to Dallas to meet me.
Brenda smiled at the offer. I'd just be sitting in a hotel room all day. How is that better than here? I can do whatever I want here.
If you were here, we'd have all night to ... amuse ourselves.
Watching TV together?
I had something else in mind.
She chuckled. He was being silly and flirty, and she loved it. Oh really? Where are you?
In the back of a limo, heading to the hotel in Dallas. Sorry, I can't get naked here and send you a pic.
I don't recall asking for a naked pic. Why would you think I'd want that?
That's all women ever want from me. I'm just a sex object in their minds. It's my lot in life.
Brenda shook her head. That's terrible. I feel bad for you. I promise, I love you for your mind, not for your body.
Please—love me for my body. I beg of you.
Only if you promise to love me for my mind.
Oh, sure. Your mind and your honkers.
Brenda gasped before laughing hysterically. Did you really just refer to the part of my anatomy that will feed our children as honkers?
Would you prefer dairy section?
No. No, I wouldn't.
Too bad. At the hotel. Talk later. Think dirty thoughts about me.
Brenda stared at her phone in disbelief. What was wrong with him? I'll be around.
Eight
Brenda kept busy all day. She drove back to Plymouth right after lunch and walked the Waterfront. She stopped in at the small shop she'd worked in most of the summer and talked to the manager, catching her up on her life. They'd worked well together.
She stopped and got a box of saltwater taffy, and then walked along the beach for a few minutes. She would miss living this close to the ocean. Not that Weston was far, but it just wasn't the same.
Back at her apartment, she waited in the living room for the movers. She'd gotten everything she needed out in the earlier trip, and now she just needed to have everything else sent to a charity of her choice. She'd researched earlier and decided on Fresh Start Furniture Bank, a non-profit organization that provided furniture for people in need.
While she was waiting, she heard the ding of a text. She glanced at the screen and laughed. It was Daniel again. The man was certainly different in text messages than he was in person.
What are you wearing?
A smile.
We need to Skype. Right now.
Her phone started to buzz indicating a Skype call. She bit her lip, stifling the laughter as she swiped her finger to answer it. "Hi you." She said, a huge smile on her face.
"You said you were wearing just a smile," he said, frowning at her. "Why are you wearing clothes?"
"I didn't say I was wearing just a smile. I said I was wearing a smile. You didn't ask if I was wearing anything else!" She shook her head at him. "I'm waiting for the movers. Do you really want me to be sitting here in just a smile?"
"I'm on my way to a meeting. I thought maybe I'd get a little thrill on the way..."
"You know you have real issues, don't you, Daniel?" Brenda couldn't believe just how different he was now that he was away from her. She might need to insist he take business trips at least once a month.
"Hey, you married me for my body. You said you did!" He glared at her, a petulant frown on his face. "Did you lie to me?"
She laughed. "You're crazy. I like this side of you."
"Fly here and meet me," he insisted. "I miss you."
"You saw me ten hours ago. You can't miss me that much. If you'd been home, you'd have locked yourself in your office and ignored me that long."
He put his hand over his heart as if she'd stabbed him. "A mortal blow! The right answer would have been, 'I miss you too, sweetheart!'"
She could see tall buildings behind him. He was in the back of a car going somewhere again. "Where are you staying?" she asked.
"Hyatt Regency in Dallas. It's not too far from the speed dating site. Why? You wanna come share my suite with me?"
She laughed. "You're nuts, Mr. Axford. I think you just like flirting when there's no worry of follow-through. In a minute you'll be where you need to be, and then you'll ignore me again."
"I never ignore you. I work hard so I can get back to you sooner. See the difference?"
"No! What's your room number? In case I need to reach you?" she asked.
"Shelby's got it, but it's 2766. It's the presidential suite. Lots of room for two!"
She laughed, seeing from behind him that the car was stopping. "I'll daydream about you being there all alone, missing me."
He flashed her a grin, his white teeth flashing. "Imagine me naked. That's how I always imagine you."
He was gone before she had a chance to respond. Brenda wasn't sure if she was relieved or annoyed. She was happy for their time apart, something she hadn't expected. She was getting to know him in a different way, and she was enjoying this side of him a great deal.
She jumped when someone pounded on the door of her apartment. Rushing to the door, she swung it wide. "Are you my movers?"
The big man in jeans and tight T-shirt in front of her nodded. She could see a man standing behind him, dressed similarly. "Yes, we are. I'm Bob. This is my friend, Robby. Where we taking this stuff?
Brenda pulled out her phone, where she'd made a note of the address. "It's a place called Fresh Start Furniture Bank." She read off the address to him. "Everything that's left needs to go there."
"I'll take care of it. You going to stay around and watch?"
Brenda shook her head. "No need. I'm donating everything that's left." She planned to come back the next day to do the cleaning, so she would get her deposit back. "Has payment been arranged?" She and Daniel hadn't talked about that, but she was relatively certain he'd taken care of it.
The man nodded. "Absolutely. Some lady named Shelby gave me a credit card number."
"Sounds good. I'll be off then. Would you make sure that you lock the door when you leave?" Maybe she shouldn't trust him to lock it, but with nothing left in the apartment, there was no real danger.
"Yes, of course."
Brenda rushed down the stairs to her car, driving back toward Weston. Only one more trip to the apartment, and she would be done there. It was hard to believe that she would no longer live alone. That little apartment was the first place that she had ever had that was truly hers. She was sad to leave it in some ways.
She could hear her text messages going off again, but decided to wait until she got home before she looked at anything. It was strange to think of this house as home.
She pulled into the garage, and checked her text messages. Daniel again. The man was supposed to be working.
This meeting is boring. Want to send me pictures of the dairy section?
Brenda laughed out loud. I told you I didn't like dairy section.
You didn't like honkers either. What do you want me to call them? Your headlights?
Brenda couldn't believe she was having this conversation with her husband. Let's just call them Laverne and Shirley.
Okay. Which one is the Laverne and which one is Shirley?
Right one is Laverne.
Shirley's my favorite.
Brenda shook her head. Why do you have a favorite? You're going to make Laverne feel bad.
Fine. Just send me a picture of Laverne then.
What do I get in return?
I'll send you a picture of my joystick.
Pay attention to your meeting. Brenda got out of the car, ignoring the text message signals coming in.
She walked into the house, stopping in the kitchen to say hello to Mrs. Brinkley. "Everything is on i
ts way to a good charity. I'm completely moved in."
Mrs. Brinkley smiled. "That's great. I'm sure Mr. Axford will be pleased." She eyedI the phone in Brenda's hand which was going off every few seconds. "Shouldn't you see who's texting you?"
Brenda shook her head. "I know who it is."
"Someone you don't want to talk to?"
"It's just Daniel being obnoxious. I'll talk to him later. He's supposed to be paying attention to a meeting."
Mrs. Brinkley looked shocked. "He's ignoring the meeting for you? I've never heard of such a thing with that boy."
Brenda sighedside. "Trust me, the man is insane. I don't know how he ever gets any work done."
"Are we talking about the same man?"
Brenda threw her hands up in the air, indicating her confusion. "I don't know what happened to him. But he Skyped me, and it's definitely him."
"So what are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I need to go and clean out my old apartment. Other than that I'm done."
"Oh no. You need to call Shelby and have her hire someone to go do that for you. You don't need to be cleaning that old apartment."
Brenda laughed. "I'm used to doing for myself. There's no need to hire someone."
Mrs. Brinkley shook her head at Brenda. "Mr. Axford won't like that."
"I don't know. I don't think any of us really know that man. He's… different."
Brenda left Mrs. Brinkley in the kitchen, and went upstairs to change. She wanted to get a swim in before dinner time. She knew she needed to be careful, or she was going to get used to living in this kind of luxury.
When she got up to her room, she looked down at her phone. There were six more texts.
Does this mean you're not sending me a picture of Laverne?
Brenda, are you ignoring me?
This meeting is boring. Why won't you talk to me?
Fine, I'll sit here and imagine you naked.
Where are you? You're not responding to me. You're making me feel lonely.
If you are not nice, I'm going to start sending you to these meetings.
Brenda shook her head as she responded. No picture. Yes, I'm ignoring you. Because you need to pay attention to the meeting. Please don't. I'm at home. I will not go to the meetings in your place. Call me later.
Instead of changing her clothes, she picked up her Kindle. Going for a walk sounded better than swimming. She'd walk out to the little swing where she'd sat with Daniel on their wedding night. It would feel like he was close.
* * *
She was ready for bed, wearing blue pajamas with little yellow rubber duckies on them. She had her Kindle in hand, and she was reading another book. One benefit to being unemployed was that she'd get through her 'to be read' pile quickly. Of course then she'd have to start pestering all of her favorite authors for new books.
She had just started reading when she got a text.
Are you in bed yet?
Yes, but I'm not sleeping yet.
I miss you. What are you wearing?
Brenda shook her head. Are you going to ask me that every time we talk?
If I can't see you, I am. I need to be able to picture you.
Why?
I'm always curious about what's covering Shirley.
Covers. I told you I was in bed.
Her Skype indicator came on. She swept her finger to answer. "Hi you!"
"Hi there! You're wearing pajamas. Cute duckies!"
She laughed. "Glad you like them."
"You'd look better without," he told her. He looked tired.
"How'd your meeting go?"
"Better once I started paying attention to it. You're too distracting."
Brenda shook her head. "I was minding my own business. I'd just gotten home from letting the movers into my apartment."
"What did you decide to do with your things?" he asked.
"I moved my personal things, but I had them take the furniture to a charity that provides furniture to people who need it. There was no reason to try to sell it."
"I'm glad you're done there. I don't like picturing you in that tiny apartment."
"I just have to go back tomorrow to clean it."
"No, you don't. Mrs. Brinkley called Shelby, and it's been taken care of."
Brenda frowned. "I told Mrs. Brinkley I wanted to do it."
"Mrs. Brinkley guessed correctly that I would want someone else to do it. Every once in a while, I get to do what's best for you."
"Are you always going to be so difficult?"
He shrugged. "Probably. Does this surprise you?"
"Of course not."
"So are you going to show me Laverne? I like those names for them. Even better than dairy section."
Brenda blushed profusely. It was all fine and dandy to joke about it as long as he couldn't see her face. "No. Because if I show you Laverne, you'll insist on showing me your joystick."
He grinned. "You're getting to know me well. Wish you were here. I really do miss you."
She smiled. "I miss you too. I've been busy all day today, but I've done everything I need to do now. I would love to see you now that I've accomplished my tasks for the week."
"You really should join me here. The suite is huge. You could stay here in the room, or you could hang out in the pool area. There's even a big bar." He shrugged. "I'd even take you to meetings with me if you wanted to go. Wouldn't you like to see this new speed dating place that I'm opening?"
"I really don't want to get in the way."
He laughed. "You'd be helping me out. Everyone knows I'm a newlywed, and they're all teasing me because I didn't bring my wife. I think they think that you are a figment of my imagination."
She laughed at that. "I'm the one that imagines weird things. Not you."
"You really should come."
"I really can't. It would be strange." She didn't add that she wasn't a very good flyer.
He didn't say anything more about it. "I understand. Dream of me?"
She laughed. "After all those crazy texts today? What else would I dream of? Hurry home." She watched his face freeze and the screen went dark. She wished there was a way that she could surprise him.
She tried to imagine how his face would look if she got someone to let her into his suite in the hotel. She pictured the excitement on his face as he welcomed her in. He'd probably demand to see Laverne and Shirley, even as he whipped out his joystick. Crazy man.
She glanced at the clock on her phone. It was ten-fifteen. Was it too late to call Shelby? She scrolled through her caller ID, finding Shelby's number. Before she lost her nerve, she tapped her phone and called the secretary.
"Brenda, is everything okay?" Shelby's voice didn't sound sleepy at all.
"I have a favor to ask. Everything is already taken care of here, would you help me fly to Dallas to surprise Daniel? I need help booking the flight, getting to the hotel, and getting into his suite."
Shelby laughed softly. "I can't think of anything I'd rather do. Yes, I will be there in thirty minutes. I'm driving you to the airport myself." The phone went dead.
Nine
Brenda jumped up, changed, and started throwing clothes into a suitcase. She packed dressy and casual clothes, as well as a swim suit and some of the lingerie she'd gotten as a wedding gift. If she was going to surprise her husband, she may as well do it right.
She knew she was committing to consummating their marriage by surprising him this way, but she wanted to. She had fallen in love with the man through text messages, and she wanted nothing more than to show him.
She had everything ready fifteen minutes later, and she went downstairs to wait in the foyer. She'd spent little time in the house other than the kitchen, dining room, and her bedroom. She hadn't even found the room where her books had been moved yet.
She saw headlights coming up the driveway, wondering how Shelby had gotten in. She'd expected her to have to call, and Brenda didn't know what she'd have done then. She had no idea how to buzz som
eone in, or get them in any other way.
She opened the front door, and the whole house seemed to come alive, lights flashing and the alarm going off loudly. Mr. Brinkley, who she'd met briefly, ran down the stairs in a pair of blue striped pajamas. "Did you open the door?" he asked, obviously confused. The older couple was staying in the house while Daniel was away. She didn't know if they were house sitting or there for her safety, but she welcomed their presence in the house.
Brenda nodded. "I didn't know there was an alarm system. I guess I should have." What kind of idiot didn't know there was an alarm system on a house in Weston, for Pete's sake?
He quickly flipped open a panel and punched in a code. "Where are you going?"
She blushed. "I'm going to surprise Daniel in Dallas."
Mr. Brinkley smiled. "That's a wonderful idea. Have a good time!"
A tall slim woman in her mid-thirties met Brenda at the door. "You must be Brenda. I'm Shelby. I'm so glad we're doing this!" She took Brenda's suitcase from her, dragging it toward her car. "I have you on a flight to Dallas leaving at one, so we need to hurry." She waved to Mr. Brinkley as she put the suitcase in her trunk. "Get in!"
Brenda slid into the passenger seat, feeling a bit intimidated by the older woman. She seemed so together for receiving a call after ten asking her to spring to action. "How will I get to the hotel?"
"That's no problem. I've arranged a chauffeur to be waiting for you in the baggage claim area at DFW Airport. He'll have a sign with your name, and he'll help you with your luggage and get you to the Hyatt. The front desk at the Hyatt was informed of your arrival. You'll need to show them your ID, and someone will give you a key card to the presidential suite where Daniel is. I talked to his best friend, Seth, who's there as well, and he said the presidential suite is two stories. Just go up the stairs when you're ready. Your flight will land around three Dallas time, you'll be at the hotel about five. Daniel's first meeting isn't until ten."
Brenda nodded. "I think I can do that." She was more nervous than she'd expected to be.
Shelby grinned as she pulled to a stop at a traffic light. "Of course, you can. You're going to do great." Shelby chatted the entire way to the airport, telling her how thrilled she was that Daniel had married someone who cared enough to surprise him. "Every woman I've known him to date has expected him to do things for her, but she was never willing to do anything special for him. He's always had horrible taste in women."
Blushing in Boston (At the Altar Book 7) Page 9