by T N Lowe
Chapter Four
It feels more like a memory rather than a dream. This time it was my sixteenth birthday, my mom insisted on throwing me a birthday party, telling me every girl needs a sweet sixteen. Mom is talking to Martin and some of the other adults that came to wish me a happy birthday and my friends have gone to get cake and punch. The golden-eyed boy from my fifth birthday comes to sit next to me again, but he is now a man.
“You have turned into a beautiful young woman,” he tells me kissing my cheek.
“Thank you,” I reply blushing and looking at my hands.
With two fingers under my chin, the golden eye boy makes me look at him. Then his eyes catch the necklace I’m wearing, the one he gave me for my fifth birthday. “You’re still wearing it?”
“I wear it every birthday.”
“I’m glad you like it, but here is something more fitting to a young woman,” he tells me handing me a large flat black box.
Opening it, I find a pearl necklace with matching earrings. “Oh my god, I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”
“It’s perfect for you princess.”
“But the cost “
“Means nothing to me. I bought this for you.”
“Okay, thank you,” I tell him wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him tight like I did when I was five.
The man kisses my cheek again, “Happy birthday princess,” then he leaves.
The alarm buzzes pulling me from my dream. Hitting the snooze button, I roll back on the bed trying to catch my breath and compose myself. Patrick is your boss, not some man from your dreams. Now get your butt out of bed and get ready for a work out with your hotter than hell boss. I sigh rolling out of bed dressing in a black tank top and yoga pants. Tossing a pair of jeans, boat shoes, and white t-shirt into a bag before pulling on my running shoes and walking to the resort.
Patrick is already in the fitness center warming up with Steve, one of the personal trainers the Resort Inn employees. “Good morning Lena,” Steve says as I approach them.
“Good morning,” I reply studying Patrick’s impressive muscular body clad only in a pair of basketball shorts and a muscle shirt. It’s going to be a very long hour.
“If you want to stretch next to Patrick, we’ll get started in just a few minutes,” Steve tells me.
I sit next to Patrick on the mat stretching out while Steve gets the equipment ready for us. “Good morning, Lena.”
“Morning Patrick. How was your night?” I ask trying hard to not think about my dream.
“Boring, just caught up on some paperwork and conference calls, you?”
“Just talked with my friend before going home.”
“A boyfriend?” Patrick asks with a look of something I can’t name in his honey brown eyes. Is he jealous of Martin? The thought makes me giggle.
“No, of course not, he’s my mom’s former boss and friend. I check on him now she is gone,” I say and the sadness I feel when I think about my mom doesn’t come.
Placing his hand over mine, he says, “I’m sorry. What happened to your mother?”
“She umm passed away from cancer six months ago.”
“Hell, I’m so sorry Lena. I would have never asked, if I knew. Please accept my apologies.”
“Of course, I know you didn’t ask to be mean. I’m still working through the grieving process.”
“If you need anything, please ask. I’ll help in any way possible.”
“Thank you, Patrick.”
Steve rejoins us, “Are you two ready? Lena, I will have you start on the treadmill while Patrick and I start in the weight room. After two miles come join us, okay?”
Patrick and I borrow an empty room to shower and change into clean clothes before the whale watching tour. Being the gentleman he is, he let me shower first, but now I’m sitting on the bed watching the morning news and trying not to picture him naked in the shower. He is your boss Lena, you need to stop thinking of him as a sexy as fuck man, I chastise myself. And as if he can read my thoughts, Patrick wanders into the room in only a pair of jeans, chest, and feet are bare. My imagination did not do him justice. His pecks are pure muscle and covered in Celtic tattoos that stop just above his elbows. He couldn’t have a six-pack like a normal man; he has to have an eight-pack with perfect defection, and the perfect V that disappears below the waist of his jeans. Hell, even his feet are perfect and sexy.
Patrick smirks when he catches me staring at him, “Like what you see?”
I look away my cheeks heating in embarrassment. I can’t believe I got caught eye raping my boss.
“Don’t worry about it,” Patrick says when he sees my embarrassment. “I spend a lot of time on my body, and I’m happy you like what you see.”
“It wasn’t professional of me, and for that I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I like the way you look too, Lena,” Patrick says pulling on a black t-shirt then stepping into a pair of boat shoes. “Okay, I’m ready when you are.”
Taking my hand in his Patrick leads me to the lobby letting it go as soon as we are in view of other employees. I ache at the loss of his hand but understand people would get the wrong impression if they saw us holding hands. When we exit the resort, he doesn’t take my hand again, but I can feel his hand hovering over the small of my back through the thin material of my t-shirt.
When we arrive at the docks Patrick checks in with the tour office when I hear someone call my name, looking around, I see Mike walking towards us. Leaving Patrick’s side Mike engulfs me in a bear hug. “It’s been too long. How have you been?” Mike asks stepping back to look me over.
“Good. How are things in the big city?”
“Real good. The law firm is working me hard, but I hope to make partner in two years.”
“That’s awesome, Mike.”
“Lena,” Patrick calls my name waving me over.
“Sorry, Mike I need to go. But it was good seeing you again.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I rejoin Patrick, “Is that your boyfriend?” Patrick growls.
“No! He is my mom’s friend’s son. I’ve known him for years; he’s like a cousin.”
“Good,” Patrick snaps taking my hand and leading me to a gray-haired man standing at the end of the doc.
“Good Morning, Mr. Love. I’ll be your captain for the day. If you and your girlfriend would like to board the ship, we’ll be leaving soon.”
“I’m not “I start to say, but Patrick cuts me off.
“Thank you, Captain,” Patrick says helping me on the ship.
As the ship pulls away from the dock, Patrick stands next to me on the rail, “Tell me more about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything,” Patrick says matter-of-factly.
“Well, I’ve lived in Bar Harbor my whole life; I started working at the Resort Inn when I was fifteen to help my mom with the bills. She was an attorney but in a small town like Bar Harbor she didn’t make much. Then when I was seventeen, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought and won but two years ago it came back, she fought for a long time but six months ago she lost that fight, and I miss her every day. But I think the worst part is now I’m alone, I have no one.”
“What about your father?” Patrick asks.
“He died before I was born so did my mom’s parents.”
“I’m sorry princess that is horrible.”
“Yeah well, that’s enough of my depressing story, tell me about you. And not the crap I can read on wiki.”
Patrick laughs, “Okay, I was adopted at birth by Quinn and Brianna Love. My dad is a Supreme Court Justice, and my mom is a stay at home mom. I have two brothers, Liam and Dylan who you've met and one sister, Riley. Liam is the only one of my parents' biological children. The rest of us are adopted.”
“That’s awesome. It must have been great growing up with such loving parents and siblings.”
“It really was. Dylan is my brother and best friend
. Liam and I get along, but we are always in competition with each other, which drives my mom nuts. Then there is Riley she drives us all crazy, but we love her.”
“So what made you create Kindred Corp rather than following in your father’s footsteps?”
“I wanted to build something, and I wanted to fix failing businesses, keep people working.”
“That’s admirable, Patrick,” I tell him taking his hand. He looks down at our joined hands I follow his gaze studying our hands seeing the difference between us but not caring. I only care about the way he makes me feel, and for the first time since my mom died I feel alive. Patrick dips his head towards mine like he’s going to kiss me; I close my eyes waiting for his lips to mine. But Patrick’s strong arms are around my waist, and we are falling. I land on his hard body with an “oomph.”
Opening my eyes, I ask, “What just happened?”
The captain comes out, “Is everyone okay, a whale bumped the boat.”
Patrick rolls me off him standing then helping me to his feet, “We’re okay,” Patrick yells back.
“I’m sorry Mr. Love,” the captain says.
“It’s okay, no harm done,” Patrick says moving us back to the rail to watch the whales. A large humpback whale breaches the water next to the boat, water splashing us when it goes back under water. “Wow, they are beautiful animals,” Patrick whispers.
“They really are. Look dolphins are following the boat,” I say pointing to the pod.
Patrick moves behind me his arms going to either side of me, his hands grabbing on the rail to box me in. Leaning down he nuzzles my ear whispering, “Best date ever.”
“Date?” I shout. “This isn’t a date, Patrick. I can’t date my boss.”
“Yes, you can date me. The company doesn’t have a fraternization policy.”
Turning to face him I hold on to his very large biceps and say, “No I can’t. Everyone will think I slept my way to the top or did something kinky to keep the resort open.”
“Who gives a shit about what everyone else thinks? The only people who matter are you and me. I really like you Lena, and I think you like me too. Please, will you go out with me?” Patrick asks.
He does not strike me as a man who is used to saying please or asking for what he wants. Patrick is the type of man who takes what he wants, but I can’t. “I’m sorry, but I can’t date you, Patrick.”
“I respect your answer, but I will wear you down. Have dinner with me tonight?” Patrick asks.
But before I can answer he presses his lips to mine, and my brain stops. All my thoughts, worries, concerns, everything is gone except for the feel of Patrick’s lips on mine.
Chapter Five
While I wanted to go somewhere in town where it would be less likely someone from work would see us. Patrick wants to go to El Petit Phare because he hadn’t tried their food yet and needed to. He convinced me it would not look like a date, because we have been spending so much time together. To everyone at work, it would appear I was helping him sample the menu. I made him promise no funny business, no holding hands or kissing, or anything else that would make this look like a date. He rolled his eyes and said he would try his best but no promises. This could all be a big mistake I think as Patrick drives me to my house to change.
As we pull up to my dingy looking gray townhome, I become self-conscious about our differences in social standings, just another reason we can’t be together. Patrick probably lives in some huge mansion while I live in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhome. Before I can open my door Patrick grabs my hand, “Lena,” he says sternly making me look at him. “Please don’t worry this is a nice home, and it’s only you; you don’t need a big house. It’s okay princess.”
The pet name startles me, that is what the golden eye boy from my memories called me. There is no way Patrick can know that. I smile to hide my surprise and give him a meek, “Okay.”
Moving his hand to caress my cheek, “There that is better. Now let’s get you changed for our date,” Patrick says with a large smile and flashing two large dimples I’ve never seen before. Opening his door, Patrick rounds the car and opens my door leading me to the front porch while I pull my keys out of my pocket to unlock the door.
“It’s not a date. Please don’t mind the mess, I wasn’t expecting company.”
Patrick laughs, “Princess I’ve been living with my slob brother for the past two months. Nothing you have in there is going to faze me.”
I open the door and Patrick follows me into the living room, “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll change and get ready.”
“Take your time princess, I’ll be here.”
His pet name makes me anxious, but I race upstairs. Throwing the closet doors open, I tear through my dresses trying to find the perfect one for a first not-date. Buried in the back is the last dress Mom ever bought me, a dove gray tulle V-neck, and three quarter sleeve cocktail dress. I shower quickly, blow dry my hair, put on a small amount of makeup, remembering Mom telling me makeup is only to accent a person’s beauty not cover it up. I pull on a black thong, then step into my dress sans bra because the V-neck dips between my breasts and it would show. To finish the ensemble, I put the pearl necklace and earrings I was given by the golden eye man then step into dove gray pumps before joining Patrick in the living room.
“Wow,” is all Patrick says when I walk into the room. “You look amazing princess. Don’t get me wrong you looked good in your work out gear and the jeans. But they didn’t do you justice like this dress does.” Snaking his arm around my waist, he pulls me towards him, crushing his lips to mine. We stand in the living room kissing until my stomach protests its hunger.
Chuckling Patrick pulls away, “I guess I should stop kissing you and feed you.” My cheeks heat in embarrassment, but Patrick doesn’t even notice. “I need to stop by my house to change then I promise I’ll feed you, princess.” Patrick drops his arm from my waist walking to the front door before leading me to the car and driving us to his home.
“Holy cow, that is a huge mansion,” I say as we pull up to the massive colonial brick home.
“It’s a family home. When I was younger, my family and my parents’ siblings’ families would meet us here for Christmas every year.” That must be where I recognize him, I’ve seen him around town during the holidays.
“Do your parents come from large families?”
“Dad has two brothers who each have three sons. Mom has one brother who has four kids, three girls, and one boy.”
“Wow, no wonder you needed such a big house, that’s a lot of kids running around.”
“Yeah it was packed, but we had some of our best Christmases here,” Patrick says with a look of nostalgia in his eyes. We exit the Porsche and enter the mansion. Patrick directs me to the living room sitting me on a large sectional couch, “Don’t get too comfortable, I’ll be back in less than ten minutes,” Patrick tells me rushing down the hall to what I guess is his room. True to his word, Patrick is back in ten minutes dressed in a black suit with a white button down his dark skin peeking through the thin material.
“Where is Dylan tonight?” I ask as Patrick navigates the Porsche to the Resort Inn.
“I think he said he was going out with a girl tonight,” Patrick says parking the car at the entry of El Petit Phare; taking my arm like the gentleman he is walking us into the restaurant. Philip, the maître d´ greets us, “A table for two, Mr. Love?”
“Yes, please,” Patrick answers letting go of my arm.
“Right this way, please Mr. Love.” Patrick follows Philip placing his hand at the small of my back guiding to our table. Philip pulls my chair out for me before placing menus and a wine list on the table and leaving us. Our server appears almost at once pouring glasses of water and asking if we would like a bottle of wine. Instead, Patrick orders the Maine lobster tasting menu, the traditional tasting menu, and the dessert tasting menu. The look on my face must say it all because as our server leaves Patrick asks, “What?”<
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I giggle and reply, “Are more people joining us because that is an insane amount of food for the two of us.”
“This is the easiest way for me to taste all the food El Petit Phare offers, who knows when I’ll be able to eat here again.”
Uneasiness overcomes me, I don’t know why; I didn’t agree to date him. But I want to. I want to let all my walls down and let him make me feel alive again. “What’s wrong princess?”
“Umm, I was just thinking about what will happen to us when you have to leave?”
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get there okay. I promise I will do everything in my power to keep us together.”
“But we are not together,” I cut in.
“We are together, Lena. Why are you fighting it?”
“Because I don’t know you. Yes, I’m attracted to you, but I think we should slow down and be friends first.”
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends.”
Patrick shakes his head, “If that is how you want to play this. We can do the friend thing for a while, but I’m telling you now I want to be more than just your friend.”
“How do you know? You just met me.”
“I just know. So how does the friend thing work?
“I should have asked earlier, how old are you?” I ask quickly.
Patrick shakes his head, “Out of that statement your only take away is to ask me how old I am? I’m thirty-one. You didn’t see that when you Googled me?”
“How do you know I Googled you?”
“Because that would be the first thing I would have done when I heard my company was bought.”
“I did but didn’t pay much attention to your personal information,” I lie. I read that Patrick was single then I was derailed by pictures of him and those damn golden eyes.
“Is it a problem, that I’m six years older than you?”
“No, it’s not a problem. Just took me by surprise, that’s all. I thought you were closer to my age.”
Patrick kisses my hand again but lets it go quickly when the server comes with our first course. As the server leaves us, Dylan arrives pulling a chair up to our table. “What are you doing here? I thought you were on a date?” Patrick asks annoyed at his brother.