“Anyway, again, if you should find it, I would appreciate it if you would let me know,” he said finally.
“We’ll do,” Gene answered amiably. Kyle said thanks, then, much to Leigh’s relief, turned on his heel and walked away.
“Well spoken man,” Gene observed after he had gone. “Does he work in the plant?”
“Yes,” she answered, seething inside. “Yes he does.”
“Anyway, as I was saying…” Gene continued.
She glanced at Kyle walking away, as Gene picked up where he left off. I hope he got his jollies out of that, she thought, and determined then she would see him later today, one way or the other.
# # #
Leigh looked at the clock on the wall of her office: 2:14 pm. In another minute, the bell would sound for second break, and there was a certain person she was determined to see. She laid down her pen and stood. He may not show again, she thought, but if she had to she would walk over the entire plant and yard to find him. As she walked downstairs, she heard the bell ring, and upon arriving at the break room she peeked in; he wasn’t there. She closed the door and looked around the immediate vicinity of the plant; he was nowhere in sight.
Where are you, joker? Then she went for the door that led down the hallway to outside. When she opened it, she found him leaning against the wall, his arms folded. He looked over at her as she walked up.
“Hey there,” he said, smiling and unfolding his arms.
“Hello Kyle,” she responded. “What are you doing out here? Hiding?” He laughed and stuck his hands in his back pockets.
“No. Should I be?”
“I would if I were you,” she replied. She assumed a posture of confrontation, hands on her sides, but her eyes were soft, belying her body language. “So, did you have fun this afternoon?”
“Yes I did, actually,” he responded, grinning. “You weren’t sweating were you?”
“You’re so funny.” She looked around to check who might be watching, but they were alone in the hallway. When she looked back at him, he was beaming that sexy smile. She melted, as usual. How could any woman possibly stay upset at this gorgeous man? “I didn’t know what you were up to,” she continued. “It was nerve wracking, honestly. But that was the desired effect, right?” He pushed off the wall and stood in front of her.
“And what, exactly, were you nervous about?” he asked, searching her eyes. She folded her arms across her chest, and glanced around furtively again. She looked back up into his face.
“Well…..you know, that’s a good question,” she replied. “Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you were the one who invited me to the races the other night; and that I went, and that Gene may have recognized you, and if he had, he might have gotten a little suspicious,” she finished, taking a breath. “Does that make sense?”
“Suspicious?” he questioned. “Of what?”
“Well. . .you know. . .” she stammered.
“Afraid I don’t,” he replied. “You’ll have to spell it out for me.”
She simply stared at him. He was impossible.
“Maybe it has something to do with how you feel about me,” he offered, stepping closer to her. She stepped back.
“Oh, you think?”
“You tell me.”
He’s so confident it’s ridiculous, she thought. There wasn’t a single indication on his face that he doubted what he was saying, and she was sure she couldn’t convince him otherwise. Or yourself, a voice added in her mind. She didn’t need that commentary. It was time to change the direction of this conversation.
“Well, the reason I wanted to see you,” she said, “was to tell you how much I love your book!”
“So you’re enjoying the story?” he asked, smiling.
“Yes, I think it’s wonderful!” she exclaimed.
“Thanks,” he said. “I was hoping you would like it.” He turned toward the door. “Let’s take a walk outside, what do you say?” he asked.
Not a good idea, she thought. I’ve relayed the message; time to cut out.
“No, I really need to get back. . .” she started.
“Just for a minute,” he interrupted. “Some fresh air.” She looked at her watch, then at his pleading eyes. When he turned those peepers on her, she had no spine.
“Alright,” she agreed. “Just for a minute.”
They walked toward the door, Kyle in front. She was following close behind, and when he turned around suddenly she ran into him full body. He caught her at the crook of her elbows, and she felt his grip tighten on her arms.
“It really means a lot to me that you like my writing,” he said sincerely.
He continued to hold her arms, and his mouth was dangerously close to hers. The aroma of whatever cologne he was wearing, manly and seductive, drifted into her nostrils. She felt an uncontrollable excitement seize her; despite her attempts to rationalize and create distance, nothing had changed since the last episode between them. Once alone with him, she was totally powerless against the force of desire she felt, a desire that came when a man and a woman, both extremely attracted to each other, were in close proximity. She breathed him in, and as true as anything she had ever felt, she still wanted his kiss, the lips of this sexy, rough boy writer on hers. But then he released his grip on her arms, and stepped back. She let out a sigh, and blinked, perplexed. What is he doing? Why does he always stop? It was driving her crazy! He turned and walked outside and she followed in a daze.
“It would be nice if someone I’ve submitted to felt the same.” She gathered herself, attempting to switch emotional gears, something it paid to be adept at with him.
“I don’t know why they don’t,” she responded, still breathing a bit heavily as they stopped just outside the door. “Kyle, you are really, really good, and I mean it.”
“Thanks again,” he replied.
“So what are you going to do with this one?” she asked.
“Submit it, when I’m done,” he replied.
“You’ll make it with this one, I guarantee it!” she exclaimed. “Just hang in there, Kyle.”
“It’s tough,” he said, smiling bitterly. “I was really confident about the last one. When I got the last rejection, I almost fried the manuscript. I mean, I lit it up! I swore to myself I was through with all of it at that point!” He laughed and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “But here I am, finishing up on the story you’re reading now, and hoping again. Isn’t that something?”
She listened closely as he poured out his feelings to her, and she was shocked when she heard him say he had almost burned one of his manuscripts.
“How could you do that?” she asked.
“I was just frustrated,” he said. He looked at her and saw the genuine care and concern on her face. If I had this beautiful woman beside me, I could do anything, he thought.
“Well, I’m here to tell you you’re awesome!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “And don’t go burning anymore of your manuscripts, got it?” she admonished, wagging a finger at him.
“Yeah,” he responded, “got it.”
“I’ve got to go, Kyle. Take care.”
She smiled and began turning to head back in, getting away while the getting was good. But he reached out and grabbed her arm boldly, pulling her tightly up against his body. She gasped aloud, and his unexpected force lit her fuse immediately, sizzling through her. Her face flushed red with excitement.
Kyle didn’t know what he was doing here; it certainly wasn’t part of his plan, but he just couldn’t hold himself back any longer. Only a man with ice water in his veins could resist such a beautiful woman that was so ready to be kissed. He reached up and touched her cheek with his fingertips, lightly brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear while he gazed steadily into her eyes. He traced his finger along her baby soft cheek, and his intimate caress, the touch of a lover, sent shockwaves through her, and she trembled noticeably. Hot blood rushed to her mid section, and as h
e continued to look deeply into her she could see the hunger in his eyes, could feel his hot breath on her lips. Kiss me! her mind screamed, past the point of caring about any consequences. Make me yours! Her lips and body begged for the satisfaction this sensuous man would bring, no matter the outcome. Her arms floated up, encircling his neck, and he placed both of his hands on the small of her back. It’s too much, she thought resignedly, too powerful to stop. Kyle gently squeezed her lower back, feeling her supple skin through her blouse, wanting it off her, every last stitch of clothing, so he could touch and taste every luscious inch of her body. No reason to wait anymore, he thought. It’s time…
Just then, the bell ending break sounded loudly through the speaker over the door. It had the effect of snapping her out of her delirious state, reminding her suddenly of where she was and what she was doing, how willing she was to surrender everything and give herself entirely to him. Shocked at her uninhibited thoughts and the overwhelming force of her desire, she pulled away and staggered back, drained of strength.
“Break’s over,” she said hoarsely, barely above a whisper.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Leigh, I …” he began. But before he could say more, she turned and ran away. She didn’t slow down until she was back in the safe confines of her office, where she slammed the door behind her and sat with her face in her hands, tears welling in her eyes. Her mind was a storm of confusion and she ached with unfulfilled need, her body literally hurting. She knew beyond doubt that she would not have denied him anything if they had been in an opportune place. She would have given no thought to her commitment, willing to abandon an almost decade long relationship with no hesitation whatever.
And it was no longer a purely physical attraction; she cared about his dreams, about his thoughts, about him. What she had considered only playful flirtation she could control was becoming a very real matter of her heart. How did she get to this torturous place? She realized fully that if she didn’t slow this train down – no, get completely off of it – she would reach a point of no return. The flame she had danced around would blaze and consume her. And just why is that a bad thing? that pesky voice spoke up in her mind. But she closed it off quickly, clapping her hands over her ears in a fitful gesture. Stop! Stop it!
In the face of recurring fantasies about Kyle of late, she had battled back, reminding herself over and over again of the reasons why she and Gene were right for each other; their solid, proven background, their families. She now white knuckled and held fiercely to those facts, sailing against the tidal wave of desire she felt for Kyle. A few moments of flirting cannot stack up to years of development in a relationship, she thought resolutely. She pulled a tissue from the box on her desk and wiped her eyes, sitting up straight and breathing deeply.
She realized today’s scenario could not be repeated. She would have to avoid him at all costs, and this time for real. No more games; her mind was set. She could not see him again, or tempt herself any further. There was simply no other way if she were to stay committed to her engagement, something she was determined to do. With that conclusion, she threw herself into her work.
CHAPTER 14
“So, Leigh, what do you think of moving to New York?” Joseph Sykes asked, seated comfortably in his leather chair in the drawing room of the Sykes home. It was Thursday evening, and having finished a palatable dinner with salmon as the main course, Leigh sat on the love seat with her fiancé, opposite Mr. Sykes and his wife, Myrna. Leigh genuinely loved Joseph and Myrna; they had always treated her like one of their own, and after her father had died, she had begun to subtly substitute Joseph in his stead as a father figure.
And she was well aware of what this gathering was about; namely, persuasion. She assumed Gene had informed his father of her reluctance to move to the Big Apple, and she was here now for enlightenment. But she would be a hard sell; she had visited “the city that never sleeps” before, and being a native of the Upper South and Charlotte, she just didn’t care for the frenetic lifestyle.
“Not much,” she responded truthfully. Joseph raised his eyebrows, looking at Gene, and the latter shook his head slightly.
“Oh, it’s not all that bad, once you become acclimated,” he advised, smiling. “There are benefits.”
“Such as?” she asked, smiling back.
“Shopping!” Joseph answered, chuckling. Leigh and Myrna smiled at each other, and Gene gently elbowed her.
“He has a point, Leigh!” Myrna opined. She did, of course, enjoy shopping. She was female, wasn’t she?
“True,” Leigh agreed. “But it’s. . . it’s just not my style,” she said, sighing. “I’ve been, you know, and I do love the shopping! But that’s just visiting.” Joseph sat his drink down and leaned forward.
“I understand your hesitance,” he assured, “but keep in mind it’s only for a little while. It’s a new practice, and I really want Gene up there to grow along with it. I know you’ll be an invaluable asset to him.” She glanced over at Gene, who was eagerly nodding his agreement. “I’ll be retiring before long, Leigh, and when I do, Gene will take over here in Charlotte.”
“That’s right hon,” Gene agreed. She looked at Myrna, but she had her head down.
“So when do you plan on retiring?”
“Well. . .two, three years, tops,” Joseph said. But she was doubtful. She couldn’t imagine Joseph Sykes ever retiring. He may talk about it, but doing it was another matter. Besides, once they were there, Gene would grind in. They would be there for life.
“I’ll think about it,” she responded.
“Good!” Joseph exclaimed. “That’s all we can ask, right son?”
“Right!” Gene replied, putting an arm around her.
“You’ll be happy, honey,” he said, looking into her eyes. Looking back into his eyes, she was not entirely convinced. While they were occupied, Joseph leaned over and whispered in his wife’s ear, and she nodded.
“Son, come help me with something, will you?” Myrna said, rising.
“Huh?” Gene responded.
“Come give me a hand,” she said, raising her eyebrows.
“Oh,” he replied. “Okay.”
After they left the room, Joseph rose from his chair and sat down on the love seat beside Leigh. He put his arm around her and hugged her tight.
“My dear Leigh,” he said, and she laid her weary head on his shoulder. He released her, and she looked into his kind eyes.
“So how are you doing?” he asked gently. “You’ve got a big day coming up.”
“I’m doing fine,” she replied, smiling. “Lots of planning, you know.”
“Oh yes,” he chuckled. He stared at her great beauty for a moment, thinking of how fortunate his son was. It simply didn’t seem right to him that they were in their twenties, so grown, so adult. “You know, it seems like only yesterday when you and Gene were little children,” he said.” We had a lot of fun, didn’t we?”
“Yes we did,” she responded, smiling.
“Do you remember the time when we all went to Aspen on the ski trip?” he asked. She did indeed. It was her father’s first attempt at skiing, and it had taken plenty of persuasion. She and Gene had both taken lessons in Virginia, but Austin Thompson had been steadfast in his refusal to take up the sport. But he couldn’t let Joseph show him up, so he tried. He got turned backwards almost from the beginning somehow, and went down the beginners slope that way a good distance, fighting for his balance, arms flailing. It had been comical, and thankfully, he was unharmed. She laughed aloud, remembering.
“Your father was always one stubborn man,” he said, laughing.
“Oh yes!” she agreed. After they had both quieted, she stared somberly into the flames crackling in the fireplace. Joseph noticed a tear in the corner of her eye, and he wiped it away with his large thumb.
“We all miss him, Leigh, and I know you do,” he said sincerely. “I know you would give anything to have him here for your wedding.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and he
hugged her tightly as she wept.
“But he will be there in spirit, hon,” he soothed, “and he would be so proud of you and Gene.”
Leigh knew that was true. Her father had always encouraged them, and she so wanted to honor his memory. She sat up straight and looked determinedly into her future father - in - law’s eyes.
“I’ll go,” she told him, sobbing. “We’ll make it work!”
“That’s my girl,” he praised. “And the change will do you good, believe me.”
He’s right, she thought, laying her head on his shoulder. A change is just what I need!
Joseph told Gene the good news of her acquiescence later, and they celebrated with cigars and scotch. And Leigh, back at home, talked excitedly with her mother about the wedding for the first time in weeks. She was as sure as ever now of her future, back on track with her life. Her trysts with Kyle had been relegated to their proper place as nothing but fantasy. There was no place for such things in the real world.
CHAPTER 15
Two weeks had gone by since Kyle had last seen Leigh, and he had spent that time working feverishly on the final chapters of The Fishing Trip. On this Friday night he would finish it. He planned to have it in the mail to his agent tomorrow morning, and as he cruised along on his way home from work, he thought of Leigh and her positive response on the several chapters he had given her. He was thrilled that she loved the book, and her kudos had inspired him all the more to finish it. He certainly needed something to take his mind off the fact that they had come so close to intimacy after the intensity of their last encounter. When he had grabbed her and pulled her to him that day, he had ultimately realized he’d waited long enough, and fully intended to kiss her. He had seen in her eyes that she was ready for the taking. If not for that damn bell, he may be with her now.
When it didn’t happen, and she ran away, he knew she would keep on running from the terrifying thought that she was falling in love with him, and probably intended to until she tied the knot. He had not attempted to contact her since, again shrewdly calculating that it wouldn’t be prudent, that it would do more harm than good. Better to back off and give her some time to digest it all. She was smart, and he trusted she would ultimately heed her true feelings. Another opportunity would present itself, he believed, and there was still time.
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