by Dawn Edwards
‘I’ll leave the ladies for you, the summer is still young,’ I joked with him.
‘Yeah, yeah…’ He hit my arm and took a seat, pouring some coffee.
‘Did you even get her name?’
‘Was I supposed to?’ he smirked.
‘You’re an ass sometimes.’ Abby tossed a grape at him, having overheard the back end of our conversation.
Breton looked to me, ignoring Abby. ‘We’re not actually working today, are we?’
I shrugged my shoulders. ‘If you’re up to it.'
‘Sure,' he sighed. ‘Let's eat first, I'm hurting too much for manual labor first thing.'
'Tell me about it…' I wasn’t up for much work today either, and I could have blamed my being distracted on a hangover, based on the amount I drank, but I was British. I was used to much more than that. Truth was, I hardly slept last night, even after Jessa left. I couldn't stop thinking of her, the way we just connected without any effort at all.
I hadn't seen her yet today but hadn’t been able to get last night off my mind either. Kathy carried a large tray of pastries, placing it on the table for us.
‘Morning,’ I greeted her and poured myself a cup of coffee. I was becoming a lot more comfortable in the house now, and Kathy and I got along well.
‘Well, this is a nice surprise,’ Colleen said to Breton as she came into the kitchen dressed in her usual stylish threads. I’d never seen that women less than her very best, even at 10 am on a Sunday morning. ‘I’m happy you are here also, Andrew, I wanted to ask if you are prepared for tomorrow.’
‘Yes, just have a few hours of puttering to do this afternoon, and then preparing for the caterers in the morning.’
Kathy put the rest of the food on the table, and I was instructed to join them. A few of the other guests were trickling into the dining room, where the food was. It wasn’t until I was pretty much done and getting ready to head back outside that Jessa came down in a pair of cut-off sweatpants and a loose t-shirt.
‘Oh, Drew, hi.’ She blushed and looked embarrassed, before looking around at everyone else, greeting them also.
‘Morning,’ I greeted her. She poured some coffee and sat next to me at the table, the only free seat. ‘I have your phone.’
‘Yeah, thank God you had it, otherwise, I’d be at the shop replacing yet another one.’
‘Seriously,’ her mother scolded. ‘I’ve never known someone so hard on gadgets.’
‘I’ll take the blame for this one,’ I interjected, even though her mother was only giving her a hard time.
‘And the save also,’ Jessa commented.
We exchanged looks. ‘Drew held on to my phone last night, and we walked home along the beach, the waves caught him off guard and he knocked me down. Luckily, he had my phone in his back pocket, but I got drenched, along with my purse.’
‘Which one?’ her mother asked concerned.
‘My small Coach clutch.’ She rolled her eyes at her mother’s ridiculous questions.
‘Andrew,’ Colleen addressed me. ‘You do plan on attending tomorrow also, don’t you? I know Steve has some people he wants to introduce you to.’
‘Oh, I hadn’t really planned on it,’ I said, taking another drink of coffee.
‘Good food and open bar,’ Breton commented with a smirk. ‘It’s not all that bad.’
‘Ok, sure,’ I folded. I couldn’t argue with an open bar and the chance to see Jessa. Unfortunately, I also knew Matt would likely make an appearance. But there was no way I was going to pass up the chance to network with Steve's friends and business acquaintances.
‘Perfect, it’s garden attire,’ Colleen told me as if I were supposed to know what that meant.
I was sure my face gave it away. ‘Jessa and Brett can take you to purchase an outfit this afternoon. Use your father's card,’ she told Jessa with a knowing look.
‘No, no, it’s fine, I can go get something,’ I told them.
‘I insist,’ Colleen said firmly, and I should have known. ‘Jessa, Breton, is that fine? Do you have the time?’
They both nodded.
Jessa told Breton he should stay home and do some computer work, and that she didn’t mind taking me. He nodded, and I suspected he knew that Jessa wanted to spend time alone with me but had the class not to blurt anything out.
After Jessa got ready for the day, I got in the passenger's side of Jessa’s Audi, and we headed to the mall. It was the first time I’d ventured there in the nearly 3 months since I’d arrived.
Once out of the driveway, I took her hand in mine and kissed it. ‘It was so hard not to do that when you sat down at breakfast.’
‘Thanks for not.’ She glanced my way, squeezing my hand back. ‘It’s not going to be forever.’
‘I hope you’re right, because I can’t keep it up.’
She laughed at me, looking down to my crotch. ‘I hope that’s not the case.’
She made me laugh. ‘That I have no problem keeping up. In fact, I have a problem keeping it down and keeping away from you.’
‘You’re not the only one,’ she murmured, and then went quiet but let me keep her hand in mine.
I kept looking over at her as she drove, wondering what was going through her mind.
‘It’s going to be stupidly busy,’ Jessa commented as we pulled into the parking lot, and she was right. We drove around for ten minutes before we found a spot.
We hit up Banana Republic, Macy’s and J.Crew.
‘I’m giving you free rein. I have no idea what garden attire is. Being a gardener, I’d show up in my work clothes,’ I joked.
‘You could show up in anything and look good.’ She winked at me as we walked back into J.Crew.
She picked out two suits. A light beige color, soft material, and a grey, almost white, with similar light summer material. She’d picked a few sizes and walked me back to the fitting rooms. ‘Here, see how these fit.’
In the dressing rooms, I looked at the price tags. Shit.
I put the beige one on first, keeping my t-shirt on and put the jacket over it.
‘What do you think?’ I asked stepping out.
‘The t-shirt really completes it.’ She smiled. ‘I’ll find you a shirt to try with the grey one.’
As I was changing, she knocked at the door. I was just in my boxers. ‘Yeah.’
‘Try this shirt,’ she said opening the door, and immediately closed it. ‘Sorry,’ she said.
I opened it a few inches and looked at her. ‘Jessa, I’m covered, don’t be a prude. Even if I weren’t, it’s not like you’ve never seen it before,’ I whispered.
‘I haven’t seen you,’ she hissed in a near whisper, blushing bright red, looking around to make sure the few people in the fitting rooms didn’t hear our exchange.
I opened the door and pulled her in. ‘That can be arranged.’
She squealed a giggle. ‘Drew.’ She hit my chest playfully. ‘Here, try this shirt. There are other colors too. And FYI, you’re gonna need white boxers, blue will show through.’ She gave me the once-over, reaching out and running her hand over my chest down my stomach, stopping at my belly button. It was a good thing, as I was already sporting a hard-on, but I made no move to hide it. I wanted her to know the effect she had on me. ‘Or you could just skip the pants, go like that. I for one would not complain.’
I smiled, proud of my body and for once not annoyed at the attention it brought me. She hadn’t mentioned anything that happened last night. I hope she remembered it. I was sure she did, since she knew about her phone. But she wasn’t making a big deal of it. I wanted to kiss her again, or at least talk about it.
I pulled her into my arms, pressing myself against her as her hands pressed around to my back. She fell into me comfortably, looking up to me, and I couldn't help but lean over to kiss her again. As soon as my lips met with her, she opened for me, welcoming the soft, sensual kiss, her hand roaming around my back to the nape of my neck, holding me against her.
&nbs
p; I wished that we didn’t always need to be behind closed doors to show her how I felt. I wanted the freedom to hold her hand, touch her, kiss her whenever I felt like it and not have to worry about if people would see or what they might say.
In short, I wanted her to be mine, both in private and in public.
There was a knock at the door. ‘How’s everything going?’ a sales associate asked. Jessa pressed her face into my chest, smiling and stifling a chuckle. I loved the sounds of her being happy and carefree, they didn’t happen enough.
‘I’m just trying on a few shirts right now, thanks,’ I said calmly, holding on to Jessa tightly.
‘Let me know if you need another size or color,’ the girl said, and then we heard her knock on another room and ask the same question.
Jessa tried to pull away, whispering, ’I should wait outside.’
‘Let me try the shirts on and tell me what you think first,’ I said. ‘Besides, I need some time for this thing to deflate.’
She snorted. ‘Good luck with that.’
‘You could help,’ I suggested with a raised eyebrow, running a hand over the swollen member in my pants.
Her eyes went wide in surprise and horror all at the same time. It told me that she wasn’t down with public fornication. I ran my thumb across her cheek. ‘It’s ok, cupcake.’ She let out a relieved breath. ‘I’ll never make you do anything you’re not 100% on board with.’
‘Thanks.’ She turned her head to kiss the palm of my hand before turning to hand me a shirt. ‘Now try this on.’
In the end, I got the beige suit as it fit better for me. I paired it was a light green shirt, no tie—I hated the things. Jessa took me to Macy’s where she picked out a pair of brown deck shoes and a new belt.
I tried to pay, at both stores, but Jessa insisted. ‘Either I pay now, or Dad will just add it on to your paycheck. This way is a lot easier on everyone involved.’
‘Can I treat you to lunch?’ I asked, and she nodded, a pleased look spreading over her face.
‘Of course, I love spending as much time as I can with you.’
I took her to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that Breton and I had visited a few times. They were Greek and had great wraps. It was my favorite place on the Cape, and different from the places she was used to, I was sure. But I was surprised when she told me she loved this place too.
My girl never ceased to amaze me.
‘As much as I’d love to spend the rest of the day here with you,’ I told her as we finished our wraps, ‘I must get home. I have a few things to finish before tomorrow morning when the Carters arrive.’ I dug my phone out of my pocket to look at the time and sent Breton a message to let him know I’d be home soon, asking if he was still able to help me out.
Chapter 24
DREW
SUNDAY MORNING, the catering vans arrived early. So early that they woke me up. It was the start to what was going to be a long busy day. I put on my work clothes and instructed them where things were to be placed and the paths to be used.
When all the set-up was completed, I tidied up everything in the yard then started to get myself ready for the big party.
I drove to a barber, got a much-needed haircut and a Turkish shave. I hadn’t had my hair this short in a long time and for years had sported a few days’ growth on my face. It felt weird to have my face exposed and little hair to strum my hands through. However, I knew that in the company I would be in this afternoon, first impressions were everything, and I would be judged on how I looked. If I wanted to look like a professional architect, then I needed to present myself as one.
I showered afterward and changed into my new suit. It fit perfectly, the material was light and breathed in the warm summer heat. I left the top two buttons of the shirt undone, and tucked the shirt in, exposing the new belt Jessa had also picked out for me. The shoes weren’t that comfortable, but they would do for an afternoon.
I liked what Jessa had picked for me, she had good taste, and the clothes made me look good and feel confident. I looked at myself in the mirror. Not bad, I just might fit in with the Cahills’ friends this afternoon.
I walked into the living room where caterers were already working away, however no guests had arrived yet.
‘May I help you, sir?’ one of the caterers asked me.
‘I’m fine, thanks,’ I told her, as I started up the stairs.
I made my way directly to Jessa’s room. When I got there, I stood in the doorway watching her put on her lipstick, appreciating the way she looked at her in her blue-and-pink dress. She had her hair up, already wearing her heels and jewelry.
She looked amazing. She was attractive, and I’d been drawn to her from the first time I met her, but seeing her like this, well, it was something all together inspiring. I’d seen her dressed up in cute dresses and flattering outfits before when she was going out to a function with her mother a few times in the past month, but not like this. This dress looked amazing on her even though part of it was still undone, and I saw the white lace of her bra.
‘Need help with that?’ I asked, pointing to her unzipped dress.
She turned around, and her mouth parted when she gave me the once over. ‘Drew, wow! You look…wow!’
My name falling from her mouth, breathy and hitched, I loved it. I wondered how it would sound from beneath me. I needed to stop myself before I got too carried away and I split a seam in the front of my new pants.
‘Yeah, I can clean up when I must. I just needed to find Brett.’ I flashed her my winning smile and entered into her room. She turned around and let me zip her up, looking up to my face in our reflections in the mirror, checking me out, taking in the changes in my appearance. From the look in her eyes, I couldn’t tell if she approved or not.
‘Thanks,’ she said and looked to the door where Matt was standing giving me a death glare. ‘Breton’s on his way with his mom, they’re bringing some things for the caterers.’
I wasn’t aware Matt was here and hadn’t noticed earlier today that he had made it. As of last night, when we all left the fire I had made on the beach, he still hadn't shown up. I had to say, I was hoping that he wouldn't bother, and I’d have another weekend of Jessa all to myself.
At least this time I basically knew where I stood as compared to Matt. I was the one who had a chance at a future with Jessa, Matt did not. Someday soon, I hoped to have enough of her trust for her to tell me what was going on. I didn’t like that he was here, but I also didn't think I was going to lose my shit as I basically did last time.
‘Ok, I’ll find him later,’ I told her and nodded at Matt when I left the room, making my way back downstairs where Colleen was briefing some of the caterers.
She embraced me in a hug and told me how proud she was of all my hard work and how good I looked. Zoe and John were out on the back deck with Abby, and I joined them in their discussions until the guests started to arrive.
Steve’s friends were all talking politics, handicaps and stock markets. None of which I knew anything about. I stayed close to Abby or Breton, and often Steve would pull me away and introduce me as his new landscape architect he’d brought over from England to transform his properties—he was selling me up to his friends; it was mutually beneficial.
He had a way to make me sound posh. I was from East London, and there’s nothing posh about that. But I guess to the Americans I did seem it, given my accent. Every time Steve pulled me aside, Matt gave me a look that indicated his disdain, but I could care less.
I finally felt like I was where I belonged.
I was being given business cards and was giving out my own cards that Steve had made up for me a few weeks prior. Never could I have imagined I’d be in such a situation, but here I was, rubbing elbows with the richest people in New England, in the most expensive suit I’d ever owned—I didn’t care if it was off the rack, and not tailor-made like most of the men I’d been talking to were wearing. I’d come a long way from East London and Primark specials
.
I felt like I had made it, my puzzle was finally starting to piece together.
Chapter 25
JESSA
‘OH, WILL IT KILL YOU TO SMILE?’ I scolded Matt with my back to the crowd of people. ‘At least pretend you’re having a good time.’ I smiled and turned to re-face the room of my parents’ friends, business associates, and neighbors.
Lord knew I was pretending; I was becoming a master pretender. But it was becoming harder by the day when the man I despised the most was standing next to me, and the pretending I had to do was to care for him and be indifferent to the sex-on-a-stick standing with my father on the other side of the yard.
I had to keep up the act, especially today; my insecurities were exceptionally heightened currently.
I feared doing or saying the wrong thing to some guest at the party. I hated social situations like this, especially when my parents were the hosts, as it meant that I was expected to interact with guests, know who they were and make fake small talk with them. I hated it and didn’t want to do anything, but I had no choice. Just like I had little say with Matt at the moment, for fear he might say something that could bring embarrassment to my family. Added to this, I felt insecure in my own skin at events like this. There were all the trophy wives and their daughters, all under a size 8, then there was me, a large 14—any bigger and I’d have to start shopping at specialty stores. As it was, I had a hard time shopping and finding clothes to not only fit, but to flatter my figure.
I knew Matt was uncomfortable and totally out of his element also, but at the same time, was happy to be here rubbing elbows with the rich, influential and powerful of the Boston business and social scene. I knew it annoyed him that he had to behave, that he had little control in situations like this, and it drove him nuts. If I weren’t so on edge, I might have enjoyed watching the bastard squirm.
I could see him getting pissed off and jealous of Drew. My father made no effort to hide the fact that he was parading Drew around like a prized horse. My parents had barely acknowledged Matt, and I knew he didn’t like that. Even the past few times that Matt had seen my parents either out here on the Cape or in Boston, they’d been as polite as usual, but they were not as interested in him as they previously had been. I didn’t know if they knew my feelings had changed. I knew Breton hadn’t mentioned anything to them, but perhaps they noticed the change in me or suspected whatever it was going on with Drew and myself.