First Class to New York

by Harmon, AJ

  “But sadly,” Matt started getting out of bed, “I have been in this bed too long.” He looked at the clock. “Way too long,” he added.

  It was only 7:10. He must be an early riser, she thought.

  “That’s too bad,” she whispered, and stretched her arms, trying her best to look tempting in the process. “I could stay here all day,” she purred. I can’t believe I just said that!

  Matt laughed, “That’s too bad. Cuz if you had gotten up, you could have joined me in the shower. Matt turned and walked in to the bathroom, giving Janie a perfect view of his sculpted ass.

  “Oh,” she pouted, then bit the inside of her cheek and climbed out of bed and followed him into the bathroom.

  9.

  If there was ever a perfect day, then Friday was it for Janie. After an extremely pleasurable shower with Matt, he had gone off to work and she had had ventured out to taste the city, literally. She wandered aimlessly through the streets, lost in the magic that was New York. She had a slice of pizza, the New York way, folded in half. She had a cupcake at the little bakery she had seen on the Food Network. She had a ‘Manhattan’ in the afternoon in a swanky bar. She walked into Tiffany’s and gushed over the magnificent pieces locked under glass. She went to Macy’s and imagined what it would be like at Christmas time. And by the time she returned to the hotel, she was pooped. It had been a glorious day!

  Matt had called while she was in Tiffany’s and had chuckled when she told him where she was. He asked her what she was buying and she had scoffed at the idea she could even afford one of the little blue boxes, let alone anything to go inside it! All her expendable cash had been used to pay for the hotel!

  “So why are you there?” he had asked.

  “Because every girl dreams of untying a white ribbon and opening the blue box to find a beautiful treasure underneath,” she had explained.

  He told her he would be by at 5 o’clock to pick her up and to be waiting in the lobby in comfortable clothes. She was intrigued and asked him where they were going and why meet in the lobby?

  “Because if I go up to your room we won’t come out in time to get where we need to be?” he responded frankly.

  Janie giggled.

  *****

  Right on cue, a black BMW pulled in front of the hotel and Janie bounded out onto the sidewalk. She was dressed in jeans and Keds and her white t-shirt and argyle sweater.

  “Well, look at you!” he smiled. “I like that sweater and I like that t-shirt,” he winked. “But I think I prefer it wet!”

  Janie blushed a deep red and Matt laughed. “How can you be embarrassed by that now? I’ve seen you wet, very wet,” he said.

  Janie gasped and Matt grabbed her and pulled her to him and gave her a big juicy kiss, and then all but shoved her into the backseat of the car, laughing. He ran around to the other side and jumped in and Ray pulled out into traffic.

  Matt opened a bag and handed her a ball cap. “You’ll need this tonight,” he grinned.

  “Why?”

  “Because,” he said.

  “Is it going to be windy?”

  “I don’t think so,” he said, still not giving anything away.

  Janie looked at the blue cap, the Yankees logo embroidered on it. “I don’t wear hats,” she frowned.

  “Just put it on,” he said, and pulled another out of the bag and put it on.

  Matt was in jeans and tennis shoes and a blue polo shirt. And now, a ball cap on his head. He is gorgeous! she thought.

  “Okay, for you, I will wear the cap,” and she used the elastic hair tie she usually wore on her wrist, for occasions such as this, to put her hair in a ponytail, and she donned the cap.

  “Perfect!” he grinned.

  They drove for several minutes and Janie asked multiple times where they were headed. Each time Matt grinned and told her to be patient.

  “We are driving over water,” she stated.

  “Very good observation,” he chuckled.

  “So we are leaving Manhattan?”

  “Another good observation.”

  “Matt?”

  He chuckled and didn’t answer.

  “Ray? What borough are we in now?” she asked.

  “The Bronx.”

  Janie turned to Matt and raised her eyebrows.

  “Do you know any more than you did before?” he teased.

  “No!”

  They travelled for a few more minutes, the traffic congested and crazy. And then she saw it. Janie’s mouth dropped open and she squealed with delight. “Yankee Stadium! It’s Yankee Stadium!”

  The car came to a stop and Matt jumped out and ran around to open her door but he was too late. Janie was already out of the car and throwing her arms around his neck, laughing.

  “This is awesome!” she cried.

  “I hoped you would like the surprise, but you have outdone all my expectations,” he grinned.

  “Oh I LOVE surprises!” she could not stop smiling she was so excited.

  “Well, let’s go watch a ballgame,” he said and grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the gate.

  *****

  Of course he has a suite, she thought. And of course it’s right behind home plate.

  The stadium attendant showed them in and left them in the comfortable room. It looked to Janie to seat about 20 people.

  “Is anyone else coming?” she asked.

  “My brother Mark and some of his buddies, I believe.”

  “Oh,” she replied. So she got to meet his brother. He was the one Maureen was going to see when they met in the lobby of Matt’s office building. That seemed like a month ago and it had only been three days.

  “I can’t believe how quickly this trip is flying by,” she frowned.

  Matt pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist and looking down into her eyes. “Don’t think about it. Just enjoy the moment.” And he kissed her, and she kissed him back.

  He smells divine, she thought. And he tastes even better, her tongue dancing with his, enjoying the moment just as he had commanded.

  “Ahem!”

  Janie jumped at the intrusion and Matt slowly pulled back from the kiss.

  “Impeccable timing. Thanks,” Matt grumbled, not looking away from her. “Janie? This is my brother Mark.”

  Janie turned to Matt’s brother and was absolutely speechless. It was like she was looking at Matt’s twin! Mark was a tad shorter than Matt, and his hair not quite as dark, but he had the same deep blue eyes, the same mouth and the same chin. “Ah, nice to meet you,” she stuttered.

  “It’s a real treat to meet you, Janie.” He smiled and it was the same smile too. “I have heard so much about you.”

  “You have?” Janie blurted.

  “Yes, from our mother,” he said.

  “Of course you did,” Matt shook his head.

  Mark introduced his friends, most of them from Matt’s company.

  “So you work for Matt?” she asked.

  “He works with me,” Matt interrupted.

  “Yeah, I work for my brother,” Mark grinned. “He is the brains but I get everything done.”

  The waiter appeared with trays and trays of food; nachos, meats and cheeses, chips and popcorn, and a myriad of other unhealthy but delicious treats. Mark was at the fridge pulling out beers for everyone and Janie was in heaven. A Yankees game with Matt! Could this trip get any better?

  *****

  At the bottom of the third inning, the waiter arrived again with more food and took their orders for dinner. Apparently, there was a steakhouse in the ball park and Janie’s mouth just watered reading the menu.

  The Yankees were up 2-1 and the game had been exciting so far. Janie was sitting in the front row of seats wishing Adam were there to watch it with her. He had loved baseball since he was tiny. Her mind flooded with memories of Adam and Robert sitting on the couch watching the game, Robert explaining what each man did on the field and why the batter couldn’t run to first base when the ball w
ent into the stands behind him. Janie smiled.

  “Enjoying the game?” the silky voice asked.

  “Mmm, it’s wonderful,” she replied. The suite erupted in cheers as another run was scored and Mark handed her another beer. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered.

  “What?” asked Mark.

  “You two,” she said, looking from one brother to the other. “It’s like looking at twins.”

  Matt grimaced, “We used to get that ALL the time growing up.”

  Mark added, “Yeah, it drove him crazy!”

  “Why?” Janie looked at Matt.

  “Because I was older. I’m the oldest!” he said.

  “Barely!” replied Mark. “We’re thirteen months apart,” he clarified.

  Janie’s mouth dropped open.

  “Hey! We’re Catholic,” he laughed.

  Matt looked at Janie. “You have twins. How can you look so horrified at that,” he grinned.

  “Yeah, but I only got pregnant once!”

  The night continued with laughter and fun and congratulatory drinks when the Yankees beat the Marlins 6-3. Mark and his friends left and Janie and Matt sat and watched the stadium empty and finished their drinks.

  “Matt, this was wonderful, truly a wonderful surprise. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Your reaction was worth planning many more surprises,” he grinned.

  “Well if they’re anything like this, go for it!” she laughed.

  *****

  Voluntarily, purposefully, Janie sat in the middle of the backseat on the drive back to the hotel. Their bodies touched from their knees all the way up to their shoulders and Matt had held her hand, a goofy grin on her face firmly in place. They rode in comfortable silence, Janie still partially in shock and just plain happy after one of the best evenings of her life.

  Matt opened his door at the hotel and climbed out of the car, Janie following. She started for the hotel door and Matt stopped her.

  “I need to say goodnight here.”

  “Why?” Janie couldn’t hide the disappointment she felt.

  Matt chuckled, “You’re insatiable.”

  “Don’t you want to stay?”

  “More than you know,” he said and pulled her to him, his hands holding her face gently, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. “But I need to get a bit of work done tonight so that I have ALL weekend with you. I was hoping it would wait till Monday, but no such luck.”

  Matt kissed her softly and released her. The doorman opened the door and Matt pushed her towards it. “Get a good night’s sleep Janie. You’re need gonna it.” He winked and got back in the car.

  Janie stood on the sidewalk and watched the car pull away. She turned back to the doorman, still holding the door for her.

  *****

  Saturday morning came slowly for Janie. She hadn’t slept very well, waking every couple of hours, very aware she was sleeping alone. After getting married, it had taken her weeks to get used to someone else in her bed, and after Robert had died, it took months getting used to sleeping alone. It was unnerving to her that after only two nights with Matt she was used to him next to her, that him not there was odd.

  Janie showered and waited for instructions from Matt. What were they doing today? What should she wear? Looking out the window, Janie could see people headed in to the park; families, joggers, couples, were all going to enjoy a spring day in Central Park.

  I could live here, she thought. I could spend all my Saturdays with Matt.

  The thought scared her. What was she thinking? Live in New York? Spend Saturdays with Matt? She was here on vacation and Matt was not an option. He had made that clear. But did she want more than just a couple of weeks? Did she want a relationship? Was she ready for that? With Matt?

  Janie picked up her phone at the sound of an incoming text message. It was from Matt. He was picking her up in an hour and wear clothes appropriate for sailing.

  Sailing!? Janie had never been on a boat before.

  *****

  Once again, Janie met Matt as he pulled up to the hotel. Trying to contain her excitement she casually walked out to greet him. He kissed her swiftly and ushered her into the car, and they headed for the pier.

  Once there, Matt and Janie walked in between some massive boats, but Matt corrected her. They were yachts. He grinned and stopped in front an impressive looking yacht, and she was speechless.

  “What do you think,” he asked.

  Janie didn’t know what to say, so she just followed him aboard.

  “Of course you have a yacht,” she said, gaping around at the plush interior.

  “Actually, it’s mine,” a voice said behind her.

  Janie whipped around to see Ryan sitting at a bar smiling at her.

  “Actually, it’s mine!” laughed Courtney, seated behind her husband. “Well, actually,” she said, “It’s my dad’s,” and she jumped off the stool and greeted Janie with a hug.

  Janie hugged her back and said hello to Ryan and the captain appeared and Ryan gave the order to head out.

  “Matt said you hadn’t seen the lady yet,” Ryan turned to Janie.

  “The lady?” she asked, completely not understanding.

  “Lady Liberty,” he answered.

  “Oh! No, I haven’t.”

  “We’ll fix that today!” Courtney smiled. “Sit back and enjoy.”

  Ryan asked Matt a question about a project and Courtney headed off to tell the staff something, so Janie walked outside on the back deck and watched as the boat was maneuvered away from the crowd of other boats.

  Yachts, she corrected herself. Who owns a boat like this? Who could afford a boat like this? she thought. She walked to the edge and leaned on the railing, feeling the soft wind against her face. I am so out of my league here! I must have fallen down the rabbit hole.

  The vessel picked up a little speed and the breeze felt good. She pulled her sunglasses down on to her nose and breathed in, torn between the excitement of the adventure and feeling like the new kid who just didn’t fit in.

  Courtney came and stood next to her and handed her a cocktail glass filled with pink liquid. They sipped in silence for a few seconds and then Courtney spoke.

  “I don’t want to speak out of turn,” she began, “and I have no idea what’s going on with you and Matt, but I really like you Janie. I think we could be friends.” Courtney smiled and continued, “I have known Matt for about 12 years now, and he hasn’t once asked Ryan to take out the boat. He sounded like a schoolboy he was so excited about you seeing the harbor.” Courtney laughed at the memory. ”I just wanted you to know that you seem different, he’s different with you.” She tilted her head and looked at Janie.

  Janie didn’t know how to respond to that! “I’m different than what?” she asked.

  “Than the women he normally dates. Not that I’m privy to much of Matt’s private life,” she added. “He’s a hard shell to crack, but you may just be the one to do it.”

  “Oh I’m not cracking any shells,” Janie rebuffed. “I’m just here on vacation for two weeks and I met Matt on the plane and he is showing me the city and then I go back home and there’s really nothing more than that.” Janie was flustered. Matt had made his intentions clear. ‘I would like to keep seeing you till you leave. No strings, just enjoy our time together. And then when you go home, there won’t be any awkwardness, you won’t have to feel bad about dumping me.’ Janie had understood him. They can have a great time but there weren’t any feelings involved, no relationship, because once she stepped on that plane, he was back to seeing other women, back to being the playboy. And she went back to being alone.

  Courtney just smiled and took another drink. “Well, I’m not so sure about that.”

  Matt and Ryan joined them on the deck and they spent a wonderful day on the water, enjoying the sights, especially the Lady herself.

  *****

  The voyage came to an end as the boat headed back to the pier and Matt and Janie said their goodb
yes. As Courtney hugged Janie, she whispered in her ear, “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Janie. He is a different man with you; better. Crack that shell!” and she withdrew and gave Janie a big smile.

  As Matt grabbed her hand and helped her off the boat, Janie tried to take particular notice of his expression. He looked happy but she didn’t know what he looked like before, so what did she have to compare it to?

  She chewed on the inside of her cheek and Matt laughed. ”Okay, what’s bothering you?”

  “Why do you think something is bothering me?” she frowned.

  “I’ve known you long enough to have picked up on some of your signs,” he grinned.

  I’m supposed to crack your shell. You look at me differently than the others. You’re a better man with me! Janie grinned. Oh yeah, just tell him that! She laughed. “That was a fabulous surprise, but, I’m kind of bummed it’s not dark yet. That I didn’t see the Statue of Liberty at night. Not that today wasn’t wonderful!”

  “Your trip isn’t over yet. There’s still plenty of time.”

  There was something in his voice. A promise maybe?

  “Just four more days,” she whispered.

  Ray met them at the pier and drove them to back to the Ritz Carlton. He got out and pulled a garment bag out of the trunk and handed it to Matt, then got back in the car and left.

  “Are you moving in?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

  “Do you want me to?”

  Janie’s heart stopped and her first thought was YES!

  Matt explained, “We can’t go to dinner with me looking like this!” he laughed. “A change of clothing would be appropriate!”

  Janie smiled and accepted his hand as they went in. “So a shower and then dinner?” she asked.

  “I like the way your mind works,” he winked.

  *****

  Dinner was a quiet affair just a block or so from the hotel. Matt had given Ray the night off so they walked, arm in arm, to and from the restaurant.

  Returning to the hotel, Matt talked about one of the buildings they had passed and how it had been the first commercial building he had bought that was over ten floors high. He sounded very proud and Janie felt proud too.