by Katie Dowe
She looked at him for a moment and then shrugged. “I have not found the right person yet.”
“Isn’t this arrangement going to mess things up?”
“I don’t think so.” She sipped her wine to cool her parched throat. She could still feel his lips on hers. “I believe in fate.”
“I see.” He leaned back against the upholstery. He had worn a steel grey suit and rich burgundy tie and his burnished hair was brushed back from his forehead.
“What about you?”
He looked at her and shrugged. “I have been too busy working. Heywood Estate is my first love and what woman would put up with that?” he asked lightly.
She was about to say a woman who loves you, but she refrained. “So what’s next?”
His strong fingers toyed with the stem of the glass. “There is a charity function at the Royal Palm Hotel that the wives of the members of the club put on annually. I would like you to come with me.”
“I have seen them showcased in the papers a lot of time. They are very powerful women doing a lot to give back.”
“And very soon you will be one of them,” he told her with a faint smile.
“Sounds scary!” she said with a nervous laugh.
“I have a feeling that nothing scares you.”
He took her home at almost eleven and Lionel was simply salivating as he watched them leave. Garth had his hand on the small of her back as they left the restaurant and his head bent attentively to what she was saying showing a level of intimacy that could not be missed at those who were looking at them.
He took her home as she had taken a cab to the restaurant. He walked her to her door and waited until she had unlocked it and opened the door. Olivia hesitated just inside the doorway and waited for the next move hoping he would kiss her again but to her disappointment he nodded to her and made his way down the steps. She went inside and locked the door, pulling the drapes aside to peek out at him. He had driven a silver Mercedes and she watched as he pulled away from the curb.
Olivia kicked off her shoes and padded into her bedroom. He had kissed her or rather she had initiated it but it had been so potent that she had almost melted into a puddle opposite him. His breath on hers, his tongue touching hers and the feel of his mouth on hers had almost left her asking for much more! She had been kissed before several times and had been with a guy in college and a brief affair with a client but nothing had prepared her for this in any way!
*****
Garth placed his keys onto the key holder just inside his doorway. He had always been neat and tidy and the housekeeper who came in daily knew that he never liked to see anything out of place. He went into his bedroom and slowly took off his clothes. He had been ignoring the erection that had been boring a hole in his pants ever since he had kissed her and he was determined to ignore it now. He stripped down to his underwear and went straight into the bathroom. His bathroom was almost as large as his bedroom and had a full length bath, a large shower install, and a Jacuzzi. He stepped into the shower install and turned it onto cold and allowed the water to beat down on him from head to toes ignoring the freezing cold. Within a few minutes he felt in control enough to step out and grabbed a towel wrapping it around his waist. He was not one to give in to emotions and had decided a long time ago not to let emotions get in the way of anything. He had seen men go down in business because of lack of control and he was determined not to let that happen to him. So he had felt the intense heat when he kissed her, correction: the surprising intense heat and it had shocked him! But he was chalking it down to the fact that he had not been with a woman for a while now and Olivia Bailey with her petite figure and pouty lips was quite attractive!
Chapter 3
Olivia selected the dress carefully. She was not one to go out much but when she did she went all out. She had ordered a Romano’s online and had deliberately forced herself not to look at the cost. She could well afford it. He had invited her out to the upscale Royal Palm Hotel where there will be women there who knew the heights of fashion. She had seen Monique Romano just last weekend featured in one of the fashion magazines wearing a stunning Celtic blue dress that appeared to be draped around her body giving it a stunning effect. It was one of their latest and she had admired it and wondered if something like that would fit her. She knew the price was off the charts but she loved it. The dress she had ordered was blue as well: a tiffany blue dress with a fitted bodice and a skirt that drifted gently down to her ankles. She had tried it on and looked at the transformation in the mirror. A hammered gold necklace and dangling earrings will have to do. She could not help but wish she had diamonds! She had read up on the benefit dinner. It was a charity that targeted abused children and the wives did it every year. There would even be Prince and Princess Alexander Costa in attendance and that made it even worse. These people were ones who lived the kind of life that she could only imagine! Garth had also told her that his mother and uncle and aunt would also be there.
“Okay, Olivia,” she said after taking a deep breath. “You are doing this because you also want something. It is going to be beneficial for both of us so get a hold of yourself! There are just people; okay, they are people who have oodles of money and that amount of money tend to make them behave as if they are better off than normal citizens. You can do this!” She stared at herself in the mirror and almost called Garth to tell him there was no way she could go through with it!
*****
Olivia was not the only one having doubts! Garth stood before the full length Cheval mirror in his large bedroom and stared at himself. He had buried himself so deep in work that he had managed to forget that he was in a relationship of sorts, a relationship he did not need at this time. He kept remembering the taste of her lips especially when he was in bed and trying to get to sleep. He had thought it would have been so clear cut and easy. His father had died and as much as he missed him he had worked hard to take over from him. He was not thinking about marriage as much as he was going to be thirty-two in January. He was not one of the men who thought about carrying on the family name. There was still time enough for that. Now he was going to be required to invest into a relationship he did not want! All because of his grandfather’s stupid stipulation! Now on top of everything she was popping into his head at odd hours of the day! He shook his hands to get rid of the tremors and went back to tying his bow tie. He had chosen to wear a dark blue tuxedo which went well with his burnished blonde hair and brought out the blue flecks in his moss green eyes. He looked at himself for a moment longer and then went to get his coat. It was time to get the show on the road!
*****
He got out of the silver Mercedes Benz and swiftly opened the door for her catching a whiff of her flowery scent. She looked regal and stunning and he could see parts of her generous bosom. He should have told her that she looked lovely but the words were strangled inside his throat. He sat in the driver’s seat and made his way uptown. “How are you?” she asked him after a few minutes.
He glanced at her briefly and felt the desire kicked him in the gut as he looked at her nude colored lips. “Fine,” he said a little curtly.
“Something wrong?”
“No.” He shifted into gear and made a right turn.
“Monosyllables are nice when you are in a desperate situation and someone is trying to pry secrets from you but with us I think we should practice actual sentences.” Her voice was amused and he had a feeling she was laughing at him.
He looked at her briefly and a reluctant smile played around his mouth. “You are right.” His eyes swept over her bosom. “You look lovely.”
“Was that so hard?” she teased as she eased back against the leather.
“Kind of,” he said softly.
“My day was one from hell! I showed five houses in driving rain and did not get a sale. One couple sounded as if they were going to be buying and at the last minute changed their minds claiming that they were holding out for the perfect house and the ones I show
ed them did not speak to them. I wanted to tell them that if the house started talking I was getting the hell out of there!” She turned to look at him in surprise as his deep laughter sounded inside the car. The laugh transformed his usually sober face and his white teeth glistened against his tanned skin. Lord, he was handsome, she thought her breath quickening.
“You laughed,” she said in wonder.
“I did.” He had pulled up outside the hotel and a valet was hurrying towards the vehicle. “Don’t look so shocked. I actually know how to.”
*****
Blake Heywood stiffened as he saw his nephew walk into the room with the stunning African American woman on his arm. His eyes narrowed as he saw her lean over to whisper something to him and the way he smiled down at her. Blake felt a stirring inside his groin as he looked at the girl’s stunning figure. He did not recognize her and wondered who she was. He scoured the room looking for his wife and saw her standing with some other women deep in discussions. He signalled to the waiter and put away his glass and walked over to them.
“Garth, my boy.” His voice boomed with fake joviality and Olivia felt Garth stiffen against her.
“Uncle Blake, this is Olivia Bailey. Olivia, this is my Uncle Blake.”
“Very nice to meet you, sir.” She extended a hand and he took it in both of his holding it longer than necessary.
“Calling me sir makes me feel old,” he said with a smile, feeling a bit offended when she pulled her hand away. “And who are you? I have not seen you around these functions.”
“I have not been around these functions. I sell houses and Garth and I met during that time.”
“Ah, I see.” His dark blue eyes probed them as if trying to find the truth.
“If you will excuse us?” Garth said politely, taking her arm to lead her away. “I promised Olivia I would introduce her to the wives.”
“I will see you some other time,” Olivia said, flashing her smile that had him blinking. “Very nice to meet you.”
“How did I do?” she whispered to Garth as they walked away.
“Like a pro,” he said with a faint smile, feeling his uncle’s eyes boring into their backs. “He is going to be wondering what is going on the entire night.”
Olivia had fun! The ladies made her feel at home and Margaret Heywood with her soft upswept dark brown hair and moss green eyes looked at her in understanding. Princess Diana was unlike any princess she had ever seen, not that she had ever met any for that matter! The woman was down to earth and frank as were the rest of the wives.
“A Romano’s,” Monique said with her gentle smile as soon as they were introduced. “Very nice.”
“I saw your picture in the magazine wearing that number and I wished I could afford it,” Olivia said with a laugh after she had gotten over her initial shyness.
“I am sure you can. The one you are wearing is an expensive one, not unlike the one I was wearing.”
“So how did you meet Garth?” Leesa asked her curiously. The woman was in her late forties and still managed to look like a sleek international model.
“I am a real estate agent,” she said casually as if that explained it.
“I see.” Leesa looked at her for a moment and then over to where her husband was talking shop with Garth and several others. “My husband tells me that Heywood Real Estates is responsible for most of the office buildings in the country.” Her expression held a softness to it that could not be mistaken.
“And your husband sells prime real estate buildings and apartments that someone like me can never afford.”
Leesa looked at her in amusement. “He is actually doing a project with the government to build low income house for people like you.”
“Good one,” Olivia said with a laugh.
*****
Selene watched her with fury in her blue eyes. Where on earth did she come from and why were they embracing her as if she was a long lost friend? When she had first married Blake, she had tried to be a part of the various wives of the members of the Elite Club and had gotten a few nods here and there. The tide had shifted somewhat starting when Patrick Copeland had married a black woman. There had been nasty rumors that he had been forced to do so because she had gotten pregnant because of a one night stand and there had been bets as to how long they would stay together! But they had beat all the odds and appeared to be very happy with three sons. Right after that there had been Bradley who had married international model Leesa. The women had formed a very tight clique that did not include a lot of white women including her as much as she had tried to become a part of the circle. She had complained to her husband that there was some bias going on and he should speak out against it. Blake had told her that he had better things to do with his time than to approach a bunch of women claiming that his wife was feeling left out. “Go get your own friends,” he had told her coldly.
Now Garth had walked in with this – this woman on his arm and she was pretending as if she belonged! What were they up to?
Someone jostled her and she was about to turn and blast the person when she saw that it was her husband. “You look like you are about to blow a fuse,” he said casually as he wrapped his arm around her waist. He had not bothered to tell her that the candy pink dress she was wearing lacked class and was too tight. He did not give a fig. “Where did she come from?”
“She is a real estate agent.” He looked over to where the woman was sitting with the rest of the wives and admired her bosom. Very, very nice, he thought. “Maybe she is just a date he picked up for the evening.”
“We both know that’s not true,” Selene said, looking over at the girl resentfully. She was a little nobody but managed to look as if she belonged.
“Why don’t you try and be her friend and see what is going on?” he murmured.
Selene looked up at him and saw the look on his attractive face. “You want to sleep with her.”
“She is extremely attractive,” he said, not trying to deny it. He looked down at her and laughed softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t be thinking of her when I am screwing you later.”
“You are disgusting.”
“But you love me or you love what I can do for you.” His tone was soft and menacing as his hand drifted down and squeezed her buttocks tightly. She was not wearing underwear and he smiled at that. “Meet me in the men’s room in a few minutes. I have an urge to feel you wrapped around me.”
*****
“Did you have fun?” he asked her casually as he took her home that night. He had watched her at intervals and had seen how well she fitted in. They had danced together and to everyone watching they looked like a couple. The press had been there in full and he was sure they would report that she was his latest love interest.
“Oodles of fun!” she said with a laugh as she stretched out her legs. She had kicked off her shoes as soon as they came into the car and he had had to refrain from saying anything to her. He was not used to behavior like that and he supposed eventually he would have to tell her. “I got an invitation to visit the palace in Costa Land,” she said with a sparkle to her dark brown eyes. She made friends easily and he had realized that as soon as she had gone into the hotel ballroom. “Have you been there?”
He nodded.
“So tell,” she demanded as she turned to him. He was driving at leisurely pace and did not think to pick up speed even though it was almost midnight. “What does it look like? Does it look all palacy and elegant or does it look dark and foreboding?”
“I have a feeling you have read a lot of historical novels,” he said in amusement.
“Busted,” she admitted ruefully. “Spill.”
“The architecture is great and the stones are from two hundred years. The stones have been mellowed by the sun and give off this other worldly appearance.”
She looked at him in disgust. “Really? Are you trying to sell me the place or are you actually trying to buy it?”
“I doubt I could afford it,” he said in amusemen
t. “It’s incredibly beautiful with rolling hills and quaint houses. It is a small country and the people are very warm. You would fit in there.”
“Why don’t we run away and live there?”
“I have my own home and I happen to like living in America.”
“So do I. So visits then?”
He glanced at her and nodded. “Here we are,” he said as he pulled up at her gate. He left the engine idling as he stared in front of him. “You did well back there.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. “Would you like to come in?”
He turned to look at her, his expression unfathomable. “Why?”
“No need to be suspicious ‘O Dark One,’ “she said dryly. “I was just inviting you in for coffee.”
“It’s late-”
“I get it. Your silver Benz will turn into a pumpkin soon.” She hugged her jacket closer to her and opened the door.
“Olivia?”
She stopped as she was stepping out.
“Thank you.”
She nodded and got out closing the door behind her.
He watched her as she went inside and closed the door behind her. He waited a few more minutes before driving away.
*****
He rolled over and reached for the phone groggily, squinting as he looked at the time. He had not fallen asleep until the early hours of the morning, spending time turning restlessly and trying to pump up his pillows to get a more comfortable position.
“Mother, this is not a good time. I was actually sleeping.” His voice was impatient as he answered.
“You left before I could talk to you and that delightful Olivia,” she said softly. “So it is actually her?”
“Yes.” He bit off an impatient sigh knowing his mother was already hearing wedding bells and grandchildren. “It is a business arrangement, Mother, so don’t start looking for more.”
“One can always hope,” she said lightly. “She is a beautiful girl, Garth.”
“I suppose she is.” He got off the bed knowing he was not going to go back to sleep now. “I suppose we should plan to have dinner with you and later with Uncle Blake and his wife.”