by Kari Shuey
Leaning closer, Gavin took pleasure in her discomfort. “I think you would be surprised at what you don’t know about me. I tend to get what I want, Miss Russell… and right now what I want is standing right in front of me.”
He watched her blush slightly as the implication of what he said resounded within her. It had been so long since he’d had the opportunity to manipulate the emotions of a prospective love interest. Perhaps it was time to get back on the horse.
Gavin leaned back again and smiled. “I look forward to taking you out to dinner on Saturday. I have a few things I need to take care of… but by then my schedule should be wide open.” Gavin turned, and without signaling the conversation was over, proceeded to walk to his room. He paused, turned around, and glanced back in Abby’s direction. “Wear something nice.”
Chapter 9
After chatting with Oliver, Abby chose to clear her head by walking around the property awhile. Abby had decided she needed to define the boundaries of her current relationship with Mr. Saxe. He was getting bolder with his advances toward her. To nip this in the bud she would have to make a choice: turn him down with no room for misinterpretation, or she could allow the two of them to discover the hard way there was nothing between them. Either way, this back and forth would come to an end and she could commence with her boring life.
Romance was something better left to the writers of the world and not those participating in it. At least in the storybooks, she could count on a happily ever after. The here and now couldn’t promise her that. And on top of the lack of guarantees, Abby needed to consider just how likely it could be that Mr. Saxe was deeply implicated in a major criminal investigation. If she allowed herself to get close to a criminal, it increased the probability that she would be involved in future unlawful acts – or worse, fearing for her life.
So, on her way to Mr. Saxe’s office she went. Standing outside of his office, she argued with herself. She needed to knock and alert him to her presence. The door, sinister, stood before her as if warning her to run. The man behind this door was someone she didn’t know and couldn’t trust. Abby had never been the kind of girl to abandon something she set her mind to, instead she did everything in her power to overcome it. Mr. Saxe was just one more hurdle to a more secure future.
The door opened and Mr. Saxe stepped out, not realizing she was there. When he was dressed down, he was definitely her type. The I couldn’t care less look suited him. It almost seemed like the suit was a mask… something to hide who he truly was. So here he stood, mussed yet alert. His grey eyes were bright and he appeared he was on a mission. Initially, she felt the urge to step to the side and apologize for getting in his way. Choosing to stick with her original plan and confront him, Abby made eye contact. It was difficult to focus on her thoughts, his masculinity distracting her.
When he spoke to her, his voice was low and seductive. A lesser woman would have likely stuttered over the script she had prepared in her head. Despite the inference that this wouldn’t work out, he wasn’t hindered. And as if by a will that was not her own, she had accepted his request for a date. Abby felt betrayed by her heart. This didn’t make sense, she knew this wasn’t a good idea. Keeping her distance was one of the smartest things she could have done… yet her heart rebelled. Hoping nothing would come of this date she needed to ‘wear something nice’ to… Abby remained watchful as Gavin walked away. Feelings of defeat and excitement intermingled, and she started to feel sick to her stomach. In a few short days, she would be going on a date with someone who was likely the wealthiest person in the state.
Not knowing what to do, she stayed glued to the spot. For Abby, this moment in time was frozen. It was as if reality itself was bewildered and needed to catch its breath. Abby shook her head to clear it and made her way back to the kitchen. She had a shopping list to put together. On that list she would need to put a note to find something ‘nice’. What did that mean anyway? Couldn’t she simply wear a cocktail dress, or would she be required to find a formal gown? Did she even own something that could be considered a cocktail dress? Probably the closest thing she had was a dress she had worn to one of her friend’s weddings – which she felt was more of a casual style anyway.
Abby looked at the credit card Gavin gave her on her first day. Would he be willing to spring for a new dress? Well, with the way he practically cornered her, it was the least he could do. She looked towards Gavin’s room and then grabbed her computer off the counter. After a quick internet search for a more formal dress, Abby was pleased to find something that matched her style. The online store was a bridal shop with great reviews and the ability to expedite shipping. She’d receive the outfit on Friday afternoon, just in time for a Saturday date.
The dress Abby ultimately fell in love with was stone grey in color. The v-neck cut bodice had a lace overlay and was form-fitted to the body. It flowed into an A-line waist and flared out to the knee in pleats. Not the most formal of dresses, but Abby wasn’t really the formal type. The best part was that she already had a pair of shoes that would complement the outfit.
Making the purchase, Abby smiled to herself. Maybe this date wouldn’t be as bad as she thought. Curiosity got the better of her and her thoughts drifted to what he was planning for their date. He’d been so insistent that he must have already thought about exactly what he wanted to do with her.
Abby wanted to talk to someone about this. This whole situation from the time she started her new job. Lori was still gone on her work trip; her current investigation was taking longer than she expected and she said she couldn’t call. They’d texted a little, but Abby thought it would be better to leave all the major details for when she could talk. Lori would probably be unhappy that Abby was letting Mr. Saxe get close to her anyway. She’d likely accuse her of breaking their pact. It would be better to wait until Lori returned before dropping this bit of information in front of her. Lori didn’t know when she would be coming back to Idaho but promised they’d have a girl’s day as soon as they could. Calling Owen wouldn’t be such a great idea either. He wouldn’t like the fact she was getting closer to Mr. Saxe. There would be a heated conversation which would ultimately end in both of them angry with each other… and possibly her mother being informed. It didn’t matter that Abby was a grown woman who could take care of herself… her mother didn’t know boundaries. She would insist she quit her job as well.
No, Abby wouldn’t be able to share this information with anyone right now. She would have to fret and mull over every little detail in silence until the day she could share it with her best friend. Then, she could purge every thought and every shared moment she had with the infamous Mr. Saxe.
Pulling herself back to the present, Abby looked back down at the grocery list. Her job was never done, and she needed to head out for groceries. It wasn’t the worst part of her responsibilities… but at the moment she really wanted to stay put and daydream about her own little Cinderella experience that would occur in a few short days. Even though she didn’t think it was a smart decision, and despite the fact that she planned on ending everything before it could go further… she allowed herself to experience one night of fantasy.
A sigh escaped Abby’s lips. She picked up the list, grabbed her keys and headed out the door. A quick trip for groceries, and then she could come home and look up videos on how to do her makeup.
***
Over the next two days, Abby barely saw Mr. Saxe. He would go into the office early and ended up working late. She’d prepare a meal for dinner, but they wouldn’t share it at the table together. He apologized for not being present and told her he was looking forward to Saturday. With each passing hour, Abby found herself getting increasingly more anxious. The butterflies were a constant sensation as she imagined what the date would entail. The only detail she got from him was that they would be leaving around 11 AM and may not get back until late that evening. She couldn’t think of anything that would take so long for a date. Attempting to figure out his secret
plans, she took to her computer to search for high-end restaurants or activities that were farther from home. Not even the nice restaurants in Salt Lake City seemed like they were on par with how he wanted her to dress. Stumped, Abby gave up being a sleuth and gave in to his desire to surprise her.
Lately, Oliver seemed to linger when he worked in the yard. It was nice to chat with him when she got a moment or two, but recently Mr. Saxe had given her a few extra responsibilities. On Thursday as Abby cleaned the windows and the window trims, she noticed Oliver taking additional time at the far end of the property near the gate. To say he looked upset was an understatement. What looked like a heated argument between Oliver and a man she didn’t recognize ended with Oliver stalking off and the visitor doing the same. Curiosity ate at Abby as she weighed the consequences of confronting him. It was likely nothing.
Friday afternoon finally arrived and Abby anxiously waited for her package to be delivered. She occasionally watched out a window in the front of the house that allowed her to see the gate at the edge of the property. Did the deliverymen have to check in with Windsor in order to make the delivery? Or maybe they just dropped off the package at the gate and drove away. But with the current state of package theft being what it was, that didn’t make much sense either.
The main house phone rang for the first time since Abby had started working. She cautiously approached the device and picked it up. “Hello?” she asked tentatively.
“Miss Russell, there is a delivery driver at the gate with a package. The recipient says Abby Russell. Did you order something?” Windsor’s gruff voice on the other line sounded irritated.
Hoping she didn’t do something wrong, Abby swallowed. “Yes… I ordered something a few days ago. Do I need to notify someone before having something sent here?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line as Windsor appeared to be considering what he should say to her. “No, just let me know next time so I don’t get surprised. I will retrieve your package and leave it on the front porch.”
Before she could tell him she was capable of accepting the packages at the gate let alone say thank you, he’d hung up the phone. Windsor took his job way too seriously. Sure, there was an awful situation that he failed to prevent a few weeks ago… but really, what more could he have done? From what she understood, at the time of the murder, all the surveillance had been happening on-site at Securitech. There was only so much he could have done remotely. Yet, his over the top concern unnerved her. Was the danger still imminent?
There were footsteps near the front entrance and the sound of a box being dropped by the front door. Windsor didn’t bother knocking or ringing the doorbell to alert her to the delivery, and she chose to wait a few minutes to make sure he was gone before opening the door to recover what she had been looking forward to all day. Quicker than a chipmunk with a nut, Abby scurried to her room to try on the dress. She wanted to see the complete ensemble in the full-length mirror she owned.
Shutting the door quietly like she had a secret she wasn’t going to share; she tossed the box on the bed. She kicked off her shoes and quickly undressed. It took only moments to put on the delicate outfit and when she turned around to admire it, she was surprised at how well it fit. Not only did it fit, but it showcased her favorite features. The steel color complimented her red hair and the bodice hugged her torso in all the right places. No wonder this dress had gotten rave reviews. She couldn’t wait to watch Mr. Saxe’s reaction to the outfit – as he usually saw her in casual attire. One simply does not just clean a toilet, one must clean a toilet in the most comfortable jeans and t-shirt available.
Allowing herself to feel giddy about tomorrow, Abby stepped closer to the mirror. She swayed this way and that, turning slightly to view the way the dress looked from behind. “Good evening, Mr. Saxe. Why thank you, I like it too.” Laughter erupted from Abby’s lips as she realized just how silly she was acting. She wasn’t in high school anymore. She needed to act her age.
Carefully, she placed the dress on a hanger and put it away. Abby knew it was time to get back to business and manage everything she needed to get done before her day off. Tomorrow she could play dress-up and make-believe. Tomorrow she could be a princess until the clock struck twelve. Then she would return back to her life as a housekeeper.
Chapter 10
Gavin was undeniably nervous. Today he would be taking the girl he was infatuated with on their first date. He didn’t trust women easily, but he knew opening up was just the first step. They might not even work out, and he knew without a doubt he was far from sharing any private information about him or his past. Tonight was going to be a fun, free of obligation kind of night. He’d planned the perfect getaway. Wanting to impress Abby was at the forefront of his mind. He’d been in a position of power for a good many years now, and he’d not taken advantage of it once. The reserved part of him held back on things like this, which he felt is what made him so successful. In order to maintain that kind of achievement, he needed discipline and a drive that didn’t come naturally to most men… not even him. So tonight he was allowing himself a ‘cheat’ kind of weekend.
It was eleven before he knew it and Gavin was just tying his necktie when he heard a faint knock on his bedroom door. “Yes?” he called.
“Sir, I will have the car waiting for you when you are ready.” Windsor had insisted on driving them. Gavin appreciated this as he’d rather focus on Abby, but he knew the real reason was for security purposes.
“Go ahead and pull the car around. Thank you, Windsor.” Gavin called back. With one last look in the mirror, Gavin shut off the lights and walked out into the main living space. Abby wasn’t out of her room yet. He didn’t know what to do now. Should he wait by her room? Maybe he should go out to the car and wait there? Standing awkwardly by the front door, he put his hands in his suit pockets and fidgeted.
Her door was heard opening and then closing. The sound of her heels approaching had Gavin’s nerves on edge. Then she walked into the room and his heart stopped. The air had left the room and he couldn’t breathe. She looked incredible. Her strappy shoes wrapped around her ankles, showing off her slender feet. From there, the bottom of her dress floated at her knees and cinched around her waist. The dress flattered her in every way and as his eyes drew her in, he couldn’t help but stare at her. The red hair he’d grown accustomed to seeing in a ponytail or messy bun was now half pulled back into a loose bunch of curls and the red wisps framed her face gently.
Gavin realized his mouth was hanging open and he tried to save face with a compliment thrown her way. “You look absolutely incredible.”
Pleased to see her blush, Gavin approached her and held out his hand. She hesitated, as if demonstrating she hadn’t signed up for hand-holding on this date. Rather than let her decide, Gavin grasped her small hand in his and pulled it around his arm as they exited the house.
Windsor pulled the car up to the front door and was waiting patiently inside. He was such a good right-hand man. Gavin could always count on him to be exactly where he needed to be. They were like brothers, but closer. Not only did he follow him all the way from California, but he also continued to be a sounding board for everything from business to his budding interest in Abby. They’d seen each other through quite a bit more than the average person would deal with in a lifetime… and their lives weren’t even halfway over yet.
Gavin opened the door for Abby and helped her into her seat. Shutting the door gently, he practically skipped around the back to enter on the other side.
“So, are you going to tell me where we are going yet?” Abby’s tone held a note of exasperation, but Gavin could also hear a great deal of excitement she wasn’t able to mask. He was slowly winning her over and he couldn’t wait to see what the night would bring.
“Not quite yet.” Gavin looked at Windsor in the rear-view mirror and nodded at him to go ahead. Windsor knew the plan for the evening. They’d gone over every detail so if Windsor needed to contact
Gavin, he’d know when the acceptable moments would be. They were still dealing with the issues he’d discovered a few days ago, and any new developments needed to be reported immediately.
Gavin reached across the seat and took Abby’s hand in his. He watched her for a reaction and was somewhat disappointed when she pulled it away from him and placed it in her lap. She was obviously still being cautious around him. But, Gavin was determined to make the most of the quiet ride and try to read the mysterious woman beside him. The ride would only last a few minutes anyway, but boy… was she in for a surprise.
***
Abby was secretly thrilled when she walked out of her room and Mr. Saxe reacted in a very masculine way. It was quite obvious he appreciated the time she took to prepare for the date. She was a big advocate for strong women. She also knew they were fully capable human beings… but sometimes, a girl needed to strut her stuff and relish the effect she had on the opposite sex.
The sly smile that crossed her lips as they settled into the car vanished the moment he reached for her hand. It felt foreign to have someone touch her so casually. She had fantasized over this moment for the better part of three days and now that it was here, she was unsure of what to do or how to behave. Her stomach knotted up, and she felt somewhat lightheaded. As her nerves got the better of her, she wondered why there wasn’t some kind of road map to tell her which way to go.
She prayed she was making the right decision and regret would not be part of her story.
The car made a familiar turn and Abby realized they were heading straight to the airport. The airport?! Where on earth did he think he was going to take her? Windsor drove them past the typical entrance and to a part of the airfield she did not recognize. There were private planes and what she assumed were planes meant for transporting only goods. Windsor pulled up in front of a plane that was getting prepped by a few crewmen and had stairs leading up to its door. She turned to Mr. Saxe abruptly. “No.”