Falling For Her Boss

by Tracy Reed

  “Are we looking at the same person, because that is a full grown man.” She shook her head. “My, my, my. I’d get Jimmy a pair of white jeans if he could fill ‘em out like that.”

  “Niki?”

  “What?”

  “Niki, I…”

  She walked around the counter, wrapped her arm around my shoulder and turned me around to face the window. Phillippe was so close to Gabriella, they appeared to be locked at the hip. How dare he put his arm around her waist. That’s my baby. My sweet innocent baby girl, not some worldly grown woman.

  “Look at him.” He had taken his jacket off and it was worse than I imagined. “Girl, do you see that behind? Those shoulders? His back is massive and solid. Oh man, and his skin! His skin is incredible! It’s like looking at rich, black coffee. Ooo, I just got a chill.”

  “How do you know he’s solid?”

  “I checked him out when he walked out here. I saw his chest peeking out from his shirt. That’s all muscle.”

  “Niki!”

  “What? And those thighs. Uhm…uhm…uhm…” She patted her chest. “Girl, I bet he could bust a watermelon in half with those big, solid thighs.” She took a long sip of her wine. “I know you saw his guns.”

  “Yes, he has a nice build.”

  She stepped to the side and looked at me with a furrowed brow. “A nice build? Girl, our husbands have nice builds…well, yours does. Jimmy is working on either a keg, or he’s four months pregnant.”

  I laughed. “Niki…”

  “What? It’s the truth.” She sipped her wine. “Phillippe on the other hand…I gotta admit, I’m a little jealous of Gabby right now. Did you see his hands and feet?”

  “I don’t see it lasting.”

  “Obviously you didn’t see them in the hall.”

  I put my knife down. “What happened in the hall?” She had a devilish smile on her face. “Niki…”

  “Let’s just say if Jimmy kissed me like that, we wouldn’t be spending the afternoon with you and Jerry.”

  “What?”

  “The way they were going at it. And the French. I don’t know what he said, but it put a smile on her face.”

  “Gabby would never…”

  “What, make out with her hot, French boyfriend? You need to get your head out of the sand.” She turned her gaze back to the patio. “He’s a fine catch, and if I have anything to do with it, Gabby is riding this all the way to the finish line.”

  “Finish line?”

  “Marriage.”

  “No more wine for you.” I reached for her glass.

  “Stop it.” She swatted my hand. “You mean to tell me you wouldn’t want him for a son-in-law?”

  I thought about her words. Sure, he was attractive and my grandchildren would be beautiful, but I still didn’t know anything about this man with a body that should be outlawed. “They just started dating.”

  “Well, I’ll tell you this. It’s just a matter of time before he breaks open her cookie jar.”

  I almost dropped the bowl of corn salad. “What did you say?”

  “I said, it’s just a matter of time before she gives it up to him.”

  “I think that’s the most asinine thing you’ve said today.”

  “Second to you saying he has a nice build? Please…”

  “I know Gabriella.”

  She tapped me on the shoulder. “This is me you’re talking to. Do I need to remind you of what happened between you and Jerry?”

  “Damn.” I dropped my head.

  “That’s right. Memories, like the corners of your mind,” she sang.

  “Shut up.”

  “Okay, now I get it. That’s why you’ve been trippin’. You’re remembering what happened with you and Jerry. Well, my dear, if Gabby doesn’t have sex with that hot piece of dark chocolate, it will only be by the grace of God. If it were me, Phillippe would have had my panties on day one.”

  “Gabby’s not me, and she’s definitely not you.”

  We looked out the window at them on the patio. They looked very comfortable with each other. I saw the subtle glances, the gentle touching, the whispering, him brushing her hair back. They looked like lovers.

  “That’s true, she’s not us. But let’s be real, neither of us ever had a man that looked like that.” She topped off her wine and sipped. “I’m telling you, sis, your sweet little baby girl is probably going to give up the cookies to a man with thighs like solid marble pillars. And from the looks of his large beautiful body, it’s going to be a mix of pain and pleasure.” She smiled.

  “Damn.” I snatched her glass and finished it in one gulp.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  gabriella

  * * *

  I know Phillippe made plans for us this evening, but after that tense brunch, I really wanted to be alone. I was afraid to speak, thinking my thoughts about brunch would come pouring out like a flood gate.

  He reached over, lifted my hand and kissed it. “What’s on your mind?”

  Crap! I have two choices, either lie and say nothing or tell the truth about my feelings and thoughts about brunch. I was grateful for my sunglasses so he couldn’t read the look on my face. I inhaled and shifted a little, hoping to avoid lying. “Uhm…”

  He squeezed my hand. “Brunch wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

  Was he at the same brunch I was, because the tension level was insane. “Is that what you think?”

  “Mon amour, I’m sorry, I tried to be…”

  “It wasn’t you. It was my mother.” I still couldn’t look at him. “I don’t know why she was so…”

  “Rude…insolent…distant…cold…”

  I turned to face him. “Really?”

  “I’m sorry, baby, but she greeted me by saying ‘Oh, damn.’”

  “She didn’t!” It was worse than I had imagined. “Are you sure you heard her correctly?”

  “Oui.”

  He pulled over to the curb, turned the car off, and removed his sunglasses. He’s incredible looking. Every time I look at him, I wonder what I did that God felt I deserved this gorgeous man. I looked at him and he removed my sunglasses. He leaned in and gently pressed his lips against mine and a heat surge ran the length of my body. When he pulled back, I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him through half opened eyes.

  “Uhm…”

  “I don’t want you worrying about me and your mother.”

  “But I want you two to get along.”

  He stroked the side of my face. “We will.”

  “How? Because after what I experienced today, that doesn’t seem likely.”

  “I am going to do whatever I have to to fix this.”

  “You would do that?”

  He lifted my chin. “Yes.”

  I bit my bottom lip and kept blinking, hoping to push the tears back, but I lost the fight. He smiled and the tears came down. He pulled me to him and I cried like a baby.

  “Mon amour, shhh…shhh…don’t cry.”

  “B-but, but i-it’s…”

  “It’s all going to work out.” He rubbed my back. “I promise.”

  I pulled back and looked at him. “H-how?”

  “I don’t know. But I promise I will fix things with your mother.” He took his handkerchief and dabbed my wet cheeks. “Please stop crying.”

  “O-okay.” I sniffled.

  Today definitely didn’t go as I had planned. I trust You God, to fix this situation between my mother and Phillippe. I don’t understand why she has such a chip on her shoulder when it comes to him…only You know that answer. I like him a lot and…I’m not saying I think it’s love, because it’s way too soon. Isn’t it? But, I know I care for him deeply. Right now, I enjoy spending time with him. If it does escalate to something more, I’ll consider it a blessing. There are a lot of things I don’t know... like if he loves You. Maybe that’s the problem my mother has with him. Maybe she senses something I’m not ready to find out. I pray You protect my heart no matter what. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.

  I took a shower, put my robe on and sat in the window seat trying to relax. The quiet was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Yes…”

  “Gabby baby, it’s me. May I come in?”

  I exhaled. I really wasn’t in the mood to hear my mother expound on the many things she doesn’t like about Phillippe. But it’s better to get it over with now, so I can get some rest.

  “Yes.” I looked across the room at the door and watched as she entered. Looking at her, you would never know that today she had displayed a rude side I have never seen. She closed the door and walked over and sat on the side of the bed across from me.

  “How was your evening?”

  Like she really cares. “I wasn’t feeling well, so we made it an early evening.”

  “What’s wrong, can I get you anything?”

  “No, I’ll be fine.”

  We sat in silence a little while staring out the window at the clear dark sky. “Uhm…I want to apologize for my behavior at brunch.”

  “It’s Phillippe you should be apologizing to.” I turned to face her.

  “I know, and I will.”

  “I don’t understand you Mommy.”

  “I don’t understand me either.”

  “What?”

  “I was rude to Phillippe and that’s not acceptable, and it’s not me.”

  “He…”

  She held her hand up. “Let me finish, and then if you’re still angry, we will deal with it.” She exhaled. “Phillippe is a nice man. He wasn’t exactly the type of…I mean, you never dated much so I wasn’t that concerned about the young boys that came to pick you up for dances or church functions. Probably, because I knew them or their families. But, this man is a stranger. Someone neither your father or I know, and I think that’s what scares me.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “This is me letting go and trusting your judgment.”

  “You don’t think I’m capable of choosing a suitable boyfriend?”

  “That’s not what I said. How can I say this?” She stood up and paced a little, and then sat at the end of the window seat. “I think it scares me to see the type of man you’re attracted to.”

  “What?”

  “I always imagined the first serious relationship you would have, or the first boy you introduced your father and I to, would be a little more, uhm, simple looking.”

  “Simple looking?”

  “You know, like that boy you dated in college.” I started laughing. “What was his name?”

  “Are you talking about Todd Elliott?”

  “That’s him. Whatever happened to him?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I was expecting someone like him.”

  “So you don’t like Phillippe because of the way he looks?”

  “I didn’t say that. I was hoping you were exaggerating his looks.”

  “I told you he was tall, dark and very handsome.”

  “In my defense, you said something similar about what’s his name…” She was snapping her fingers.

  “Todd.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No, I recall saying he was tall and a nice guy.”

  “I wasn’t expecting…he looks like he just stepped off the pages of a magazine. My God, Gabby, that’s not a young man, but a grown ass man who has seen the world.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Did I say that out loud?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry, it’s just, he’s not what I was expecting.”

  “For the record, Phillippe, is only a few years older than I am, and I like the way he looks.”

  “Clearly.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I was just expecting something different.” She turned and looked out the window. “Look, I know you want me to agree with your decision to be involved with this man, but I can’t sign off on it.”

  “Why not?”

  She clasped her hands. “I don’t…he’s just too slick…too smooth…I…”

  “He’s done nothing inappropriate.”

  She turned. “I know that’s what you said.”

  “Oh, my God, you don’t believe me.”

  “I didn’t say that. It’s just…he seems…that’s a man that has experienced life and you…”

  “I can’t believe we’re back on the naïve thing. Yes, I haven’t dated a lot, but neither had you when you and Daddy got together.”

  “That’s true, but your father wasn’t flying me all over the world and…”

  “And what, treating me nice, like Daddy does you.”

  “I can’t help but think this is all a high stakes game of seduction and once he seduces you…”

  “I don’t believe you. I told you, we aren’t sleeping together.”

  “I know.”

  “Don’t you trust me?”

  “I trust you, but I also know how easy it is to be persuaded to do things when there are so many sweet temptations around.”

  “Temptations?”

  “Yes…shopping sprees in Paris, weekend trips on private planes, luxury suites, expensive dinners and…”

  “Yes, he bought me some clothes for work functions.”

  “Don’t insult my intelligence.”

  “What?”

  “Work functions? Who needs a Chanel suit and cocktail dress for work. And don’t even get me started on the lingerie.”

  “Yes, those things were gifts, but…”

  “It’s clear we aren’t going to see eye to eye on Phillippe.”

  “No, we aren’t.”

  “Just promise me you’ll be careful. I don’t want you so caught up in the fantasy, that you don’t see what’s really going on.”

  “What’s really going? What are you talking about?”

  “You need to ask yourself, what does a man like Phillippe want with a young girl who hasn’t experienced life?”

  “Maybe that’s what he wants…someone who hasn’t been jaded by all the trappings he can provide. When we’re together, I like the person I am. He’s exposed me to so much.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing.” She got up, walked over, lifted up my chin and brushed my hair back. “You’re my sweet baby girl, and I want you to be careful. Promise me, if you don’t feel comfortable about something Phillippe says or does, that you’ll talk to me?”

  I exhaled. “Yes.”

  She kissed me on the forehead. “Your Aunt Niki said she’s a little jealous of you.” She started towards the door.

  “Why?”

  “She said you struck boyfriend gold.” She smiled. “I agree with her that he’s very handsome. Well, actually she said he looks like he could bust a watermelon in half with his thighs.” We laughed.

  “Mommy, she didn’t?”

  “You know your aunt.”

  “She said it.”

  “She also said, your Uncle Jimmy, should thank you, because looking at Phillippe, put her in a good mood.”

  “Oh, my God.” I laughed.

  She opened the door. “Get some sleep, we don’t want to be late for church in the morning.” She stopped in the doorway. “You should invite Phillippe to come with us sometime.”

  “I’ll think about it. When he’s in town he usually spends Sundays with his mother and grandfather.”

  “Maybe they would like to join us.”

  “I’ll think about it. Thank you.”

  “Love you, goodnight.”

  “Love you, too. Goodnight.”

  * * *

  phillippe

  * * *

  I got off the elevator, looked up and saw my best friend sitting on the sofa in my living room, drinking a glass of wine.

  “Wine…not your usual beverage of choice.”

  “I’m trying to be more civilized.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “What makes you think I’m changing
because…okay…you’re right, but it’s a little soon.”

  I took my jacket off and placed it on the back of the sofa. “Good for you.”

  “I take it from your call asking me to meet you here, brunch didn’t go well.”

  “Well would have been good.” I sat down in the chair next to the sofa, and poured myself a glass of wine. The long sip was good, but to be honest, right now something a little stronger would have been better. “I was hoping when I got there, Gabriella was going to answer the door. Instead, it was her mother.”

  “Okay, so…”

  “On a side note,” I took another sip. “Mrs. Townsend is stunning. Wow. Gabriella is going to be incredible looking when she reaches that age.”

  “I know, her mother blew me away when I first met her.”

  “It’s genetic, because I met her mother’s sister.”

  “And?”

  “It was like looking at Gabriella age before my eyes. The curves on those women are unbelievable.” I sipped my wine. “How is it even possible one family could…”

  “What happened with the mother?”

  “She opened the door and said, ‘Oh, damn.’”

  “What? You must have heard her wrong.”

  “No. She opened the door, looked me up and down and uttered those two words and nothing else.” I sipped my wine.

  “You’ve got to be kidding?”

  “No. She didn’t say anything again until Gabriella showed up.”

  “Oh, man.”

  “Then, her father politely told me he would reserve his thoughts about me, until later.”

  “This isn’t good.”

  “Once he spoke his piece, he and I were good the rest of the afternoon. Later, he pulled me to the side and commended me for the contract I gave Gabriella.”

  “What contract?”

  That’s right, I never told Tony about our agreement. “In order to alleviate some of Gabriella’s stress, I told her if we break up, she wouldn’t lose her job. If she no longer wanted to be on my team, I would promote her to another division.”

  “Are you insane?”

  “No. It was the only way I…”

  “And you put this in writing?”

  “Yes. Garrett and Mr. Townsend, and now you, are the only people that know about our arrangement.”