by R. C. Martin
He walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my flowers. As I admire the bright, yellow petals of the sunflowers, I don’t even waste my time entertaining his comment. Going to dinner with Judah would be like willingly walking into the lion’s den. I’m not that brave. I’m not that stupid.
And yet, while I stare at the bouquet in front of me, I can’t keep the smile off my face as I wonder what kind of flower he’ll choose for me tomorrow.
“All right, here’s your key to the building,” says Andrew, handing over the shiny, new piece of metal. “This is long overdue.”
“Thank you,” I reply with a smile, reaching for my personal set of keys to add it to the ring.
“Now, you’re sure you can handle this?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. He’s never let me close the gallery all by myself before. However, I’ve seen him and Geoff do it a thousand times. “Yes. I’m sure. Stop worrying,” I insist.
“Andy, we’re going to be late if we don’t go now. Friday night rush hour will start any time now. Teddy will be fine. Let’s go.” Geoffrey flips his wrist, looking for the time, and then lifts his eyebrows expectantly.
Tonight, my artsy men have been invited to an art exhibition at a gallery down in Denver. It’s actually a pretty big deal that they were invited. Andy says that it means MTA is being recognized as a gallery of note in the Colorado region. I know he’s both excited and nervous to be attending and representing the business he built from the ground up.
“I’ll only be alone for three hours. I know the alarm code, I have a key, and I have both of your cell numbers programed into my phone. Everything will be fine. Would you just get out of here, already?”
He studies me for a moment, his hazel eyes searching for reassurance. He must find what he’s looking for because his expression softens before he gives me a nod and turns to meet Geoffrey at the door.
“You’ll call—”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” I watch as Geoff grabs him by the arm and starts ushering him out the door. “We have to go pick up Carrie now,” he tells me from over his shoulder. “I’ll have to deal with both of them acting this way when they leave Steven with her parents. Her parents! As if they don’t know what the hell they’re doing.”
I giggle and he rolls his eyes. “Have fun, tonight!”
“Text me a picture when those flowers arrive,” he calls out with a parting wave.
My smile slips at the same time that my stomach begins to tingle. For a moment, I had forgotten about the fact that I’ve yet to receive a delivery today. It’s getting late, and usually it would have come by now. I’m not really sure what that means—if it means anything at all—and I try and convince myself not to worry about it. Realistically, I shouldn’t be surprised if he’s given up. Judah has been sending me flowers going on two weeks now, and the last three bouquets have resulted in nothing but silence from my end. For all he knows, I could be throwing away his gifts.
I’m not, though. I could never. No one has ever made me feel as special as he does.
Then again, I remember what it feels like to be nothing more than a piece of ass. I won’t deny that I’m afraid he’s capable of making me feel like that, too. It would be different, of course, but still. Whether I offer myself willingly or not, I know that I’m worth more than just sex.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when a couple walks through the front door. I greet them, and it isn’t long before we’re lost in conversation and I’m showing them around, hoping to help them find what they might be looking for. There’s a steady flow of traffic through the gallery until around six, and then it gets quiet again. I wish it had stayed busy. The lack of activity gives my mind the freedom to wander; and as I admire my red tulips, and my arrangement of sunflowers, calla lilies, roses, and hydrangeas—I had to look those ones up yesterday—I think about Judah.
Every time I walk away from him, there’s a part of me that fears I’ve seen the last of him. I’m not entirely sure why that possibility is so disappointing, considering I know what the man is after, but it’s a feeling I can’t shake. My body isn’t so quick to forget what it feels like to touch him, or to be touched by him, or to even just stand beneath the intent gaze of those dark, grey eyes. He makes me short of breath just by being in my presence, and there’s something romantically magical about that. Though, regardless of how my body responds to the man, I think this time he really has given up. No flowers surely means that he’s moved on to another.
When my phone chirps, alerting me to the seven o’clock hour, I sigh, trying to shove aside all thoughts of Judah before I stand and start closing up shop. It takes me about fifteen minutes, which is longer than usual, but I go over everything twice—just so I can tell Andy that I did.
As I’m getting ready to set the alarm, I hear the rain pelting against the front windows. I look down at my outfit and frown. I’m wearing a simple, sleeveless white dress with an eyelet hemline that hangs around my knees. My pink blazer is light, the cuffs rolled up my forearms, and I’m wearing one of my favorite pairs of platform heels—the yellow ones my sister bought me when I graduated in May. They’re not exactly meant for running—but I have no umbrella.
With a groan, I resign myself to the fact that I’ll likely be a soggy mess by the time I make it to my car. Nevertheless, I have no choice. Colorado weather is extremely unpredictable. This rain could last five minutes. Or it could last an hour. I’m getting hungry, so waiting out the storm isn’t really an option.
I set the alarm and then scurry outside, locking up behind me. It takes me a couple minutes to walk the distance to my car. When I manage to get inside, I throw my keys and my purse in the passenger seat before I let out a long sigh. I’m already starting to get cold, but I decide to send Andy and Geoff a quick text, letting them know everything went fine. Only, when I look through my purse for my phone, I don’t see it. I check again and then remember that I left it on my desk.
I curse myself under my breath before grabbing my purse and hopping out of the car. Habit has me locking the door from the inside before I slam it shut and hurry my way back to the gallery. When I go digging inside of my purse for my keys, I can’t find them. I gasp when I realize that I’ve left them in the front seat of my car. My car that is locked.
“Fuck,” I whine, my mind in a panic as I try and figure out my next move.
With my phone locked in the gallery, I have no way to get a hold of anyone. Even if I borrowed someone else’s phone, it would do me no good! I don’t have any phone numbers memorized. Not a single one.
Actually, that’s not true, I remind myself.
I do recall my home phone number from when I was a kid. My parents made Harper and me memorize it before we started kindergarten. It’s been seared into my memory for the rest of time. But that doesn’t do me a damn bit of good now because we moved when Harper started high school and we got a new number. By that time, we each had a cell phone. I didn’t need to memorize anyone’s phone number.
With the rain still pouring down on me, I have enough sense to find shelter while I try and figure out what the hell I’m supposed to do next. I could call a lock smith, but I’m not really sure I have the patience or the funds for that. Geoff has both my spare keys—to my car and to my apartment. Maybe if I could figure out a way to get to his building, I could wait it out. There’s a nice old lady who lives in the condo across the hall from his. If she’s home, I’m sure she’d take pity on me and let me squat with her for a few hours. Though, I have no idea when I should expect him back. The fact that Andy and Carrie left Steven with her parents, and not just the sitter, means that it’ll be a really late night.
By the time I duck into a local coffee shop on the corner, I’m dripping wet. I plop down into the nearest chair with a sigh, setting my purse on the table in front of me. My mind is racing, trying to see if I can think up a plan. Sarah pops into my mind. Little Bird Café is only a couple blocks away. I could wait out the rain and then walk o
ver there to see if she’s working. If she is, she could give me a ride to Geoff’s place. If she isn’t—her fiancé is the cyclist type. No way he could be of immediate help.
I groan, irritated with myself for being so absentminded—twice! I feel completely stranded, and all my ideas feel pretty half-assed. Thinking that a warm cup of coffee might help, I dig through my purse for my wallet. Just underneath it is a business card. Judah’s business card. At this point, I’ve got a growing stack of them—he sends one with every note—and this one just so happens to be in my purse. I pull it out and stare at it, pinching my bottom lip between my fingers. Right now, I’m feeling pretty desperate, but I can’t decide how desperate.
Logically speaking, the phone number in my hand is my best bet. Sarah, Brandon, the old lady who lives across the hall from Geoffrey, they are all just possibilities. Judah, on the other hand, is a concrete chance. At the very least, he’s a ride—even if I have to sit outside Geoff’s door until he comes back.
I clamp my eyes closed, my stomach in knots as I contemplate this plan of action. Then, deciding that I can’t stay here all night, I head to the front counter. I order a small, black coffee and then ask if I might use their phone. The barista hands me the portable device and I take a deep breath before I dial.
My concentration is broken when my phone starts to ring. I scowl, looking at the time in the top corner of my computer monitor. I am surprised to see that it’s so late. Glancing out of my office door, I notice that the other offices are empty and dark—save one. I’m not sure if it’s Logan or Brittany that has chosen to stay and work late. Considering it’s a Friday night, I’d be surprised if it was either of them.
I don’t think anymore of it as I shift my attention to my phone. I don’t recognize the number, but that doesn’t stop me from swiping my finger across the screen and bringing the device to my ear.
“Judah St. Michaels,” I answer.
At first, I’m met with silence. Then I hear the person on the other end take a breath before I hear, “Hi, Judah—it’s…it’s Teddy.”
I don’t fight the slight smile that plays at my lips just from hearing the sound of her voice. She’s been ignoring me all week. Had I not been so busy today, I would have tried to put some thought into a way to up my game—but it appears the effort would have been unnecessary.
“Teddy. It’s good to hear from you.”
“Uh—well, you might not think that in a second.”
A frown tugs at my brow as I push away from my desk, leaning back in my chair. “Try me.”
“So—okay, well, what happened was, I am stranded. I locked my phone in the gallery, and then locked my keys in my car, and it’s pouring rain outside, and so I’m soaking wet and in desperate need of your help. Yours is the only number I can find, and I know that this is probably weird, but I don’t know what else to do. A friend of mine has my spare keys, so if you could just give me a ride to his condo, I would…I guess I would owe you.”
Her words come out in a rush, and her shy tone is coated with something else—something I can’t quite identify. Whatever it is, I don’t like it, and it compels me to do whatever it is that she needs in this moment.
“Where are you?” I ask, pushing my shoulder up to keep the phone to my ear as I save my work and power off my computer.
“I’m at a coffee shop. Uh—shit,” she sighs, sounding defeated. “That doesn’t help you, there’s a coffee shop on every corner. Hold on.”
She’s frazzled, and I imagine that wherever she is, she looks both cute—in that innocent way that only she can manage—and sexy as fuck, drenched from the rain.
“Cups! I’m at Cups. It’s on the corner of—”
“I know where it is,” I assure her, sliding into my jacket as I head out the door. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Really?” she asks, sounding relieved.
“Yes, Teddy. Really. Sit tight.”
“Thank you.”
As we disconnect, I look over to the last lit office and spot that it’s Brittany who is here working late. I know it’s no big deal if I decide to leave her here alone. After six o’clock, our doors lock automatically, which means there is no issue in being worried about her forgetting to lock up. However, as the second youngest member of my staff, and certainly the most outgoing, I still can’t understand why she’s working past seven on a Friday night.
“Brittany—I’m headed out.”
“Oh, yeah.” She smiles at me as she stands, obviously less immersed in work than I thought her to be. “I’m finished for the night, too. We can walk out together.” I don’t say a word in reply. Instead, I simply wait for her to meet me outside of her office before we both head for the exit. “So, where are you off to tonight? If you’re looking for company…”
She lets the tail end of her sentence trail off as she looks up at me. I arch an eyebrow at her, intrigued by her boldness, but not the least bit interested. At least, not right now.
“I’ve got plans,” I tell her, holding open the door. “And I’ve got company.” Her lips fall in a pout, and I offer her a smirk—not because she amuses me, but because the fact that she thinks a turn of her lips will change my mind is laughable. “Better hurry,” I insist, nodding out the open door. “You don’t want to get too wet heading to your car.”
She coughs out a sigh, her mouth falling open as she stares at me. I think the look is supposed to speak of her shock, but she doesn’t fool me. Her eyes are playful and flirtatious, and they immediately make me think of Teddy—of the way her brown eyes grow wide when I’ve surprised her, and the way her cheeks turn rosy in embarrassment. Knowing that I’m just minutes away from seeing her fills me with a new sense of urgency.
“Have a good weekend, Brittany,” I say, hoping to get her moving.
She blinks and then winks at me. “You too, Judah,” she concedes before hurrying out into the rain.
I watch her only for a moment, until I’m reminded that the woman I’m after has far more to be desired. I pop the collar to my jacket, hoping to shield my neck from the downpour, before I shove my hands in my pockets and make my way to my Porsche. After I climb inside, I reach my hand into the backseat, hoping to find an umbrella for Teddy. When I find it, I waste not another moment before I’m off.
It takes me less than ten minutes to get to my destination. I pull up to the coffee shop just as someone else is pulling out of a parking spot directly in front of the entrance. As I turn my car off, I reach for the umbrella, opening it as soon as I climb out of my vehicle. Stepping up onto the sidewalk, I look through the storefront window and spot Teddy right away. For a moment, I’m paralyzed with wonder. She looks even more ravishing than I had imagined.
She’s sitting alone at a table for two. Her vibrant, red hair is a wavy mess piled on top of her head, a single, missed strand falling down her back. From where I stand, staring in the rain, I admire her profile, appreciating how everything about her—the lines of her body—give voice to her feminine grace. She’s like fine china, meant for show, and enjoyed only on special occasions.
And when I enjoy her, it will most certainly be a special occasion.
Even from here, I can tell the tip of her fine nose is pink. She’s shivering, a clear sign that the small cup she has in her hand is doing nothing to warm her up. That frees me from my trance. It’s time she gets out of those wet clothes.
As soon as I set foot inside, her head snaps up and her gaze crashes into mine. She sucks in a quick breath and offers me a shy smile as she stands upon my approach.
“Thank you,” she says before I can utter a single word. “I’m sorry if I’ve ruined your evening. I really appreciate you picking me up.”
I can tell that she’s attempting to hide the fact that her teeth are chattering. She fails miserably. I hardly stop to think before I’m shrugging out of my suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders. She looks up at me in surprise, her eyes widening, just like I remembered.
My mind wa
nders for a fraction of a second, and I try and imagine what her face would look like whilst in the middle of an orgasm. The thought makes my dick pulse, and I’m quick to reign in my mind.
“Come on,” I tell her. “It’s time I get you out of here.” She follows without complaint and I escort her to the passenger side seat of the Porsche. As soon as I’m in my own seat, I start the engine and blast the heat, shifting all the vents in her direction.
“Thank you,” she chatters.
“Where’s our first stop?”
She turns to look at me, tilting her head as she asks, “First stop?”
“Yes. Where is this friend’s place of residence? I’ll drive you there, wait for you to gather your extra set of keys, and then take you back to your car.”
“Oh. Um. Well—you don’t have to do that,” she insists, shaking her head at me. “I mean, my friend, he can take me.”
“That won’t be necessary. I can drive you, Teddy. I don’t mind. Now, where are we going?”
She hesitates, tugging my jacket tighter around her. “Don’t you have, like, plans? It’s Friday night. It’s still early and I don’t mean to keep you.”
“Theodora,” I murmur, reaching for her chin. “I said I don’t mind. Where is our first stop?”
She makes a whimpering sound and it goes straight to my dick.
“He lives off of Harmony and Lemay,” she informs me. “But he’s not home. I’ll have to wait for him. So, see, you only have to make one stop.”
I frown at her as I process everything she just said. “Let me get this straight. You want me to take you clear across town only to leave you until your friend gets home? Dressed like you are now—in soaking wet clothes?”
“Mmmhmm,” she hums, attempting to look away from me.