by Dawn Edwards
There was a small Italian café that had great panini, coffee, and biscotti not too far from work. I copied the address and texted it to Drew.
He replied almost immediately.
DREW: What time works for you?
JESSA: I’m flexible
DREW: I’m hard
I had to re-read the text a few times. I snort-laughed, causing a look from Amber. I just shook my head to dismiss it.
JESSA: WHAT?!?
DREW: Oh, we’re not talking dirty???
I stifled a laugh.
JESSA: I meant, I’m flexible with my time. I can work around your meeting.
DREW: oh, ok. My bad! The meeting is at 230
JESSA: Does 1 pm work for you?
DREW: Sure, I’m just about to leave the house, I’m meeting up with a friend for a late breakfast, in Quincy. I’ll head over afterward.
JESSA: sounds good
DREW: so, to clarify, are you just flexible with your time???
JESSA: I’ll see you at 1 at Biscotti
DREW: sure thing cupcake, but so you know, this isn’t over ;)
It was hard to concentrate on work for the rest of the morning, not because I was nervous about seeing Matt that evening. No, it was because I was going on a ‘date’ of sorts with Drew in four hours.
I had never cheated, never thought I would, but I didn’t even feel like this was cheating. I had no intention of continuing my relationship with Matt and was only with him at the moment to buy Breton some time to figure what the hell was going on.
I told Amber and Zoe I had an errand to run over lunch when they took theirs at noon and I continued to work through. I left before they came back and drove the 10 minutes to the café.
I saw his green van in the parking lot when I pulled in. I looked at the dashboard and saw that it was five minutes to one. I pulled out my phone to check that we had, in fact, agreed on one, and not twelve thirty. I appreciated that he was on time—early even.
Matt had always given me grief about getting times mixed up, so I was self-conscious about it now. He always told me that I thought too much of my self and showed that by making people wait. That just because I was rich, it didn’t make my time any more valuable than others. But I didn’t think that at all, and he was the only one who ever accused me of not being on time. He had told me on more than one occasion that I didn’t love him enough and showed it by not respecting his time.
I gave myself one final look in the mirror and pulled the hood of my jacket over my head to protect my hair, which, thankfully was still looking presentable. I ran into the café and saw him sitting at a corner table almost immediately. The door dinged when I walked in, causing him to look up. I was greeted by an instant smile when he saw me. My heart fluttered and the pressure started to build between my thighs.
I was sure there wasn’t a girl alive that wouldn’t want any guy, let alone this guy, look at her like that. He stood and started to walk towards me.
He was gorgeous. I’d taken notice the first day I’d met him, dressed in a suit he looked hot. Over the past few weeks, he’d been in loose work pants or fitted jeans. But today, he was shaven, his hair styled; he wore a grey Chambray shirt with a pair of black chinos and all black Nikes. It was a good look. I was sure I wasn’t the only one to take notice. God, I just hoped I could concentrate enough to talk through lunch. Even the first time he’d joined us for dinner, I was unable to have a proper conversation with him. His eyes were just perfect, and his accent was like a dream. And he didn’t look half as good then, as he looked now. I’d grown somewhat accustomed to him, but I still blushed nearly every time he smiled at me, and the tingling just seemed to intensify with time, my body wanting more and more each time he was near me. I felt a physical chemistry; I hadn’t ever felt it before, so I wasn’t sure, but from what I’d heard other people and what I’d read, this had to be it.
‘Hey,’ he said, looking a bit awkward, as I was taking my wet jacket off. He looked around, then leaned in and gave me a hug. I wasn’t expecting it and only managed to get one arm around him.
‘You look amazing,’ he whispered as he pulled away from the hug, taking my jacket from me and placing it on the chair across from the one he was just sitting in.
‘Thanks,’ I replied, knowing my face was beet red. I had my hair wavy, light make-up on and a pair of fitted light grey ankle pants, a light blue top, with black heels and my black Burberry rain jacket. ‘Sorry I’m late,’ I apologized, a natural reflect for me. Even though I knew I wasn’t, I hated the thought I’d kept Drew waiting for me.
‘You’re not,’ he said looking at his watch. ‘You’re on time, it was me who was early.’
He smelled amazing. I looked up to him and smiled. It was odd to be out in public and not be chastised for being late or for what I was wearing.
‘You first.’ I stepped out of the way, for him to lead the way up to the counter to order our food.
‘No, please.’ He stopped. ‘The view from back here is too good to miss.’ Unashamed, he glanced at my ass.
He laughed when I blushed. I walked up to the counter, ordering my sandwich and a coffee, while he ordered his own and took the table number the waitress gave him. I had pulled my wallet out of my purse as he was ordering. When he saw me, he nearly growled, ‘Don’t even think of it.’
I’d never heard his dominating voice, it sent shivers of promise through me.
While I didn't know him well, I knew there was no arguing with this man. But it wasn’t the same way that I couldn’t argue with Matt. Drew was all alpha, a real alpha, and that made my girly parts quiver again.
I dropped my wallet back in my purse and took a step to walk back to our table as Drew placed a hand on my lower back as if to lead me.
When we sat down, he wasted no time. ‘How’s your day been so far?’
‘Really can’t complain.’
‘No?’ he raised an eyebrow.
‘Well, there was a pervert texting me earlier, but aside from that…’
He laughed out loud, his smile showing off a slightly imperfect smile, but it reached ear to ear.
‘How was yours?’ I asked. ‘You had breakfast?’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, with my friend Will, we went to university together. I live with him and his girlfriend—well, technically, I live in your guest house…’
‘If you can call it that,’ I interpreted. I was so embarrassed he was there, but as my parents said, he would have had to pay out the ass for rent or commute from Boston every day, which was why they offered him the use of the guest house after Breton told Dad he would be late one day due to traffic. Drew had even offered to pay rent, but my father flat-out refused it.
He’d been busy, never stopping all week. He was at it when I got up, and I was sure he was still at it when it was dark out, only I couldn't see him. My father and mother both had good things to say about it, which, coming from them was a near miracle in itself. My mother was in full mothering mode with him, making sure he was eating, sleeping and otherwise well taken care of.
‘I like it actually,’ he confessed.
He was so humble; I loved that about him. He wasn’t embarrassed about his old van. The vanity of it not fazing him at all. Simplicity was a virtue not common these days, and one many overlooked. But one I thought was very important.
‘To each their own,’ I replied.
He looked up at me, alarmed. ‘One second,’ he said, reaching for the top of my head. ‘Ahh, yes, just as I thought.’ He patted the top of my head. ‘Not to worry, it's only your princess showing.’
I rolled my eyes, but I knew I deserved it for my comment. I was privileged and I knew it. I just thought I’d done a better job at hiding it. I guess it was just so comfortable around him that I let my guard down. Our food and drinks were delivered.
‘I’m starving,’ I said to him, looking down at my food and starting to dig in. I wasn’t self-conscious about eating in front of him like I was around Matt and most other peop
le.
We chatted the entire time, about his proposal for the departure terminal, how my father offered him a job and about the friends he had lived with until last week.
‘I hope you can make some more friends on the Cape.’
‘I’ve got you, right?’ he asked, looking seriously at me.
‘Of course,’ I replied, unconsciously reaching across to him to reassure him, placing my hand over his wrist.
He looked down, studying the contact, then took my left hand in his, fingering my engagement ring and turning it around, so that the small diamond was facing down, removing the reminder of my engagement to another man.
‘I’m…’ I started, but he cut me off.
‘Sorry,’ he looked at me. ‘I just can’t deal with that right now.’
He wasn’t the only one.
‘Breton mentioned going out Friday night, a bunch of his friends will be back in town.’ He looked up to me, changing the subject. ‘You game?
‘Ugh,’ I moaned. ‘I’m not really into that scene.’
‘For me?’ he asked with puppy dog eyes.
I couldn't help but laugh at him, looking down at our hands still intertwined. ‘For you,’ I said, ‘I’ll think about it.’
He nodded, bringing my hand up to his lips and placing a quick soft kiss on my knuckles. ‘I’ll take it.’ He let go of my hand and the loss of his touch did something to me, like a part of me was missing, yet the physical connection was only a few short minutes. I could get used to the emotional safety of his touch.
To distract myself, I dug my phone out of my bag. It was later than I thought it was. ‘I really need to get back to the office,’ I told him, and he nodded in agreement.
The rain had stopped while we were eating, and he followed me out to my SUV. ‘Thanks for lunch,’ I told him, not wanting to leave but knowing I really had to get back to the office
‘No, thanks for joining me.’ He reached out and locked his finger around my pinky. ‘I really enjoyed it.’
‘We could do it again sometime?’ I suggested, so nervous that my voice cracked.
He cocked his head to the side. ‘That’s a given, cupcake.’
My stomach fluttered and my apex tightened.
He studied my face intently for a moment, and I didn’t want to lose the connection of our fingers or stop looking at his face. He was so hot.
‘Can I ask you a personal question?’ he asked me, sounding a bit unsure of himself, but I nodded. He took a deep breath. ‘How do I impress your dad?’
My dad?
He wanted to know how to impress my dad. What the fuck?
‘My dad?’ I repeated, unable to hide the anger in my voice, and I saw him recoil at that. I pulled my hand free of his touch. ‘This is about my dad?’
‘Cup…’
‘Don’t,’ I yelled, pointing a finger at him. ‘Wow, you really had me fooled, you know that?’ I spit, digging in my purse to find my key fob to unlock my door. ‘Just when I thought you were different from all the rest...I should have known. God, I’m so fucking stupid sometimes,’ I said, opening the door and getting in.
As I went to slam the door shut, he held it. ‘Jessa, it’s not like that…’
‘Just stop, okay? You’re not the first.’ I couldn't even look at him. Instead, I started the engine, loving the purr of it when it came to life. ‘You want to know how not to impress my father?’ I looked at him straight in the eyes.
‘I can guess…’
‘Well, let me take the guesswork out of it. Flirting with his engaged daughter and leading her on, that’s a sure-fire way to really piss him off, so I suggest if you want to keep your job, close my door and let me be on my way.’
‘I’ll see you later,’ he said, closing the door and stepping back, allowing me to back out of the parking spot. I didn’t even bother to look at him as I left.
I’d had so many guys, and even girls, try to either be my friend or date me over the past few years just in hopes of getting in good with my father and get a coveted position with Cahill Global. It was a leading factor as to why I had very few friends. Amber’s father was my father’s best friend and lawyer, we had grown up together, hung in the same social circles, but somehow managed not to get caught up in all of its silliness. She was down to earth, yet a bit entitled, but that was only to be expected growing up as we had.
Zoe was also an exception. She showed no interest in my father’s business or his company; she was focused on sex, school and swimming, and very little else. It was my father who approached her about working for him, and then subsequently sponsoring her and eventually the US Olympic swim team. It was a taxable write-off for him, and it kept my friend close to me. Win-win all around.
At least Drew made his intentions clear to me, I was just a fool for not seeing it sooner. I typically only thought business guys were after him, but it appears sharks came in all forms.
I arrived back to the office, and after the concerned looks Trish at reception gave me, I smiled at her and tried my best to compose myself before I reached the office I shared with my friends.
They looked up at me as I walked in. ‘Your Dad was looking for you,’ Logan told me as I was taking off my jacket.
‘Thanks,’ I said to him, sitting in my chair and logging onto my computer to see if he had sent an email. There was nothing from him, but one from a vendor I had been waiting on. I clicked that, wanting to reply as soon as possible, when there was a knock at the door.
I looked up to see Drew standing in the doorway.
‘Hello,’ Zoe said in an overly friendly voice, spinning around in her chair.
He nodded to her, ‘Hiya,’ then looked at the others, nodding, before looking at me. ‘Have you seen your dad?’
‘Was Trish not at her desk?’ I asked him flatly.
‘Yeah, she was…’
‘Well, that’s her job, you know, maybe go ask her. I’m not my father’s secretary, just his daughter.’
‘Jessa,’ Zoe scolded me.
I turned to her, annoyed. ‘What?’ I shrugged. ‘I just got back to the office, how am I supposed to know where he is.’
‘Sorry for disturbing you,’ Drew said, and I saw out of the corner of my eye as he turned to leave.
‘Sorry for my friend being a rude bitch,’ Zoe said, ‘but so you know, you’re welcome to disturb me anytime.’
Zoe and Amber laughed, knowing full well they both had boyfriends.
He laughed, poking his head back through the door. ‘Amber, you may want to give her a copy of the HR guide.’
‘She’s a lost cause,’ Amber replied deadpan because it was completely true.
I heard my father’s voice. ‘Andrew,’ he said in his friendly tone, not his formal professional one. ‘Have you seen Jessa?’
‘She’s at her desk,’ I heard Drew reply from the hallway, and a moment later my father appeared at our door.
‘Darling, I’ve been looking for you,’ he told me, walking into the office.
‘Yes, Logan told me, I just got back and had a pressing email to reply to.’
‘Late lunch?’ he questioned, putting on his jacket that he had been carrying.
‘Had an errand,’ I lied and changed the subject. ‘What did you need?’
I noticed that Drew was loitering in the hallway, watching the exchange.
‘I have a meeting with the private departures management team this afternoon, and I thought it would be a good idea for you to meet them and start forming a working relationship with them. It will be great for you to network and expose you to more of the operations side of things with the company.’
I knew what this meant, it meant that I would have to endure the meeting with Drew.
‘I have a lot of work…’
‘The invoices can wait, put your jacket on.’ He looked to Zoe. ‘Zoe, sweetheart, if you don’t have anything pressing, this might be a great learning and networking opportunity for you also.’
‘Sure, what’s it for?’
she asked, already putting her jacket on; she never questioned my father.
I rolled my eyes and tugged my jacket back on while he explained the proposed renovations to the terminal.
I watched and listened to Drew for nearly two hours. He commanded the attention of everyone in the room. He was hot, and he was going to be powerful. It set every fiber of me ablaze, even if I was mad as hell with him.
It was nearly time to leave for the day when we got back to the office, I didn’t even bother to go back to my desk. I instead got in my car and headed home to the townhouse.
* * *
I was surprised to find Breton in his bedroom across from mine at the Boston townhouse.
By the looks of things, he had been busy today. All his walls were covered with papers; the ones I gave him, new ones he’d printed and ones with notes written by hand on them. He didn’t have a proper job per se, but he did take on a lot of technical jobs. This job I saw was being taken to a whole new level, and he was also doing this pro bono. He had just woken up and was drinking a large energy drink.
‘You’ve been busy.’ I nodded towards the two walls commandeered by papers and the three computers ‘doing their thing’ as Breton often put it.
‘You don’t know the half of it…’ he paused. ‘Drink?’ I shook my head. ‘Sit down, Jessa,’ he instructed. I sat in one of the wheelie computer chairs, and he sat across from me. ‘I feel so stupid,’ he started and looked as if he were in a lot of pain—emotionally. ‘I did checks on him in the past, he came up clean besides the parking ticket and the speeding fine. But then I was just going off the information I had. Name, date of birth, address…’ He paused. ‘Jessa, it’s been like peeling an onion, the past three days. I’ve hardly slept. From what I’ve uncovered, his real name is Justin Taggart.’