by Heidi Sexton
“I want Brittany here tonight for supper. Her whole family should come.” This brought Chadwick completely awake. He turned back over and stared at his father.
“She can’t come here tonight,” Chadwick said.
“Why is that? I thought you liked her.” James crossed his arms over his chest and waited for Chadwick’s answer.
“I did not say I didn’t want her here. I just said she can’t come. She has a prior engagement.” Chadwick felt bad for lying to his father, but he knew after last night that he was not ready to share Brittany with his family. There were too many unanswered questions. He needed to know why she and her family hated rich people. He wanted desperately to know why she was still a virgin. At twenty-two with her looks and sexual attraction it was unbelievable that she was untouched. The mysteries surrounding Brittany were driving him crazy. He needed time and privacy to maintain his equilibrium. Any added pressure from his family right now would be ruinous. He had to keep Brittany away from them until he figured things out.
“Well, Mara is going to call her anyway. She might decide to change her plans.” Chadwick could not believe that his father was being so persistent. What was going on here?
“Dad, why are you doing this? I don’t need interference from you guys right now. Just back off. I know what I am doing.” Chadwick’s teeth seemed to be clenching more and more whenever he found himself in his father’s presence. He didn’t make a practice of being disrespectful to his father. But his dad was pushing it this time. Chadwick knew, though, that his dad could be as stubborn as he, when he wanted to be.
“I don’t think you know what you’re doing. First of all, that girl isn’t fast like those hussies you normally date. She doesn’t want your money, Chadwick. If you aren’t ready to settle down and get married, you need to leave this one alone. She’s the real deal.”
“Dad, how did you come to the conclusion that Brittany is any different from any other woman?” Chadwick had gotten nervous as his father talked. All this virgin business was making him edgy. Surely his father had not gained that much insight into Brittany just by one visit. He wasn’t sure what his father would take it into his head to do, if he found out Brittany was literally a virgin.
“How do you know whether water is clean or dirty? You look at it. All I had to do was look at her. She is as pure as clean water. You just make sure she stays that way.” Chadwick could only open and close his mouth in surprise.
“Dad, I have never misused a woman in my life. I definitely won’t start with Brittany. I want you guys to back off. There are some things that need working out and I have to do it on my own. I called my firm last night and told them not to expect me for a couple or more weeks. I’m going to spend some time with Brittany so we can get a chance to know each other better. I know I need to go slow with her and I will do that. Just please keep mom and the girls out of my business and you stay out of it too. Please.”
James looked at Chadwick and smiled. There was mutual respect and love between him and his son. He patted Chadwick on the shoulder and left the room confident that Chadwick could gain the heart of this special woman. The last time James had met a lady who was the whole package had been forty-one years ago and he had been smart enough to capture her heart, soul, and body. Surely, his son had the wherewith to do the same. If not, then he had a father and mother who knew exactly what to do.
#
Chadwick felt a little groggy, which was how he normally felt after taking sleeping pills. He had taken one last night after tossing and turning for hours. He had been unable to relax. Thoughts of the passionate kiss he and Brittany had shared kept going through his mind over and over again. Finally he had given up and decided to take something. He knew he would need his rest in order to deal with the days ahead. It’s funny how he always thought courtship was a time for fun and games, but now that he had met a woman who could be his prospective wife, he had turned serious and contemplative. This was no game. It was intense. It was the making of his future.
Chadwick had always been the catch in his dating. Now someone else was the catch. He felt as if he only had superficial things to offer. Good looks and money were totally inadequate for the baiting of Brittany. He had to bring it all to the table. He had to be the man he was raised to be, not the man that most young women expected him to be. Chadwick had been raised by two of the greatest romantics he had ever met. His Dad knew how to be a man and his mom was like no other flesh and blood woman he had known before Brittany.
Chadwick wanted what Mara and James had. Even though they had come from two different worlds, their love was solid. They didn’t just love each other, they knew each other. They knew the good and bad about each and loved the good and understood the bad. That took effort. Chadwick and his sisters had reaped the results. They had been brought up in a very loving environment and had never felt insecure or afraid about anything. Chadwick wanted he and his wife’s marriage to be just as good.
He had made up his mind about who his wife would be. His choice was made. Now he needed to set things in motion.
Reaching for the phone on the side table, he picked up Brittany’s business card. He decided to dial her cell phone. He had no wish to talk to Amber this morning or any morning for that matter. The phone rang four times before she answered.
Chadwick heard fumbling and then, “H- hello?”
It was Brittany. Her voice was deeper and more husky-sounding than usual. He had a vision of Brittany in a sexy negligée. Chadwick quickly stilled his thought. He had to remember that he was dealing with a real woman and not what his father called “one of his hussies.” If he was to control his actions around her, he had to begin by controlling his thoughts.
“Brittany, this is Chadwick. I’m sorry if I woke you.” He could hear her shuffling around.
“No. You’re fine. I need to get up anyway. What can I do for you, Chadwick?” Brittany felt a slow flush of surprise creep across her skin. He had actually called her. Squinting at her clock, she realized it was only nine fifteen in the morning.
“First, I want to apologize for last night. I let things get out of hand. If I offended you, I am sorry. It won’t happen again.” Chadwick felt he had said the right thing, but he began to wonder, when he was met with silence on the other end.
Brittany did not know how to respond to his apology. She had wanted that kiss badly and she had missed his touch when he had withdrawn from her. Brittany did not want to scare him away with her virginity. She wanted him to get to know her before he decided that she was not worth the wait. What could she do?
“Thank you, Chadwick. But remember I participated in the kiss too. I liked it. You’re a good kisser.” Brittany felt stupid for saying this. She squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment. Holding the phone tighter, she waited for his response.
Now it was Chadwick’s turn to be speechless. So, virginal babes had game too. With her husky voice and not-so-innocent comment, she was making it hard for him not to dive right in. For her sake, he needed to behave. So, he chose to ignore her remark. There was nothing he could say that would not lead them into uncharted territory.
“Brittany, I need to ask you something, but I would prefer to talk to you in person. Is it okay, if I take you to breakfast this morning?”
“It sounds serious. Is everything okay?” Brittany knew it was rude to question him when he had already expressed a wish to talk about it in person, but she couldn’t suppress her curiosity.
“Everything is just fine. I just need to see you this morning. You’re my new favorite tourist attraction.” He said evasively, but playfully.
"In that case let me improve my attraction by making you breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. We can eat on the patio.”
“That sounds nice. So, you can cook?” He knew he sounded typically male by asking the question, but he had to know.
“Of course, I can. I wouldn’t have you over here otherwise. I can cook anything. You name it and I am mixing it up, c
omplements of my mom. She was good at everything.” Brittany said proudly.
Chadwick heard her use of the past tense in describing her mother. It was hard to believe that Brittany’s mother might be dead. He could not imagine life even at thirty-five without his mom. Here was another mystery to solve.
“Will your sisters be eating with us?” On the one hand Chadwick hoped they wouldn’t be there, but on the other hand he knew it would be best if they were present.
“No, they will be gone to school by the time you get here.” Brittany couldn’t figure out whether he wanted to be alone with her or not. So, she didn’t say anything else.
“I’ll be there in an hour. Don’t try to sneak any restaurant food in. I have to warn you that I know all the breakfast foods from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Waffle House, IHOP, you name it, I’ve been there. Breakfast is my favorite meal too. So, no tricks.” Brittany was laughing before he could get finished talking.
“You just get yourself over here. When you wrap your mouth around my breakfast all that other stuff will be forgotten.” Somehow her innocent statement sounded suggestive to her own ears. So, when she heard Chadwick clear his throat and abruptly stop laughing, she was not surprised. She would have to be careful what she said around this man. For some reason, everything turned sexual when she was with Chadwick. What had she gotten herself into this morning? How was she ever going to make it through breakfast alone with Chadwick Jordan?
CHAPTER 9
Chadwick was true to his word. He arrived at Brittany’s house in one hour. He was completely taken off guard when Amber snatched the door open before he could ring the bell. He couldn’t speak. He was rendered speechless by the hostility emanating from her eyes. Before he could step one foot inside the door, she was out the door crowding him back down the stairs.
“You listen and listen well, because I won’t repeat what I have to say. My sister has not had sex and she will not be having any sex until she is married. If you don’t want to be married, you can leave now, because if I get wind of anything remotely sexual going on between you two without the benefit of marriage, I will personally see to it that your testicles are severed from your scrotum. Do I look like I am playing with you, Chadwick?” She was toe to toe with him and he could see the flecks of red in her eyes that probably came from staying up all night preparing this horrifying speech for him.
Chadwick put a hand on either side of Amber’s stiff frame and lifted her effortlessly out of his way. He proceeded past her, going back up the steps. Turning around he looked down at her.
“Amber, I personally think you are crazy, bipolar or something. When Brittany and I are married, you will never be allowed to be alone with our children. You can relax. I already know that Brittany is a virgin. I’m here this morning to see if she will consider dating me with marriage in mind. Your parents were not the only people who raised their children. I know what’s expected of me in this situation. I will take care of Brittany.”
Once again, Chadwick had left Amber with her mouth hanging open. He had reduced her well-thought out speech to the mere ranting of a crazed person. Amber could not decide whether to hate him or respect him. She followed him back into the house. She gathered up her purse and books. Chadwick could tell she was torn between leaving and staying. She looked at him and must have been reassured somehow, because she turned around and left. Chadwick just shook his head. Now he knew how Brittany had managed to stay a virgin. It would be interesting to find out why.
#
Chadwick could smell the tantalizing aroma of an elaborate breakfast coming from the kitchen. He crossed the living room and rounded the corner that lead to the smell of bacon and sausages. He found Brittany in rare form.
Brittany had everything cooking at once. She was flipping pancakes, frying bacon, and cracking eggs open in her typical style of kitchen mayhem. She liked it that way. Throwing hash browns into the bacon pan and mixing gravy for the biscuits, she barely spared a glance for Chadwick when he entered the kitchen. He stood watching the madness that would be his breakfast. She whirled around and reached past him for a spatula.
“Amazing,” was all he could say as he watched her obvious skill in the kitchen.
She flashed him a beautiful smile. “Why thank you, Mr. Jordan. We attractions do our best to please the tourists.”
Although Brittany was the best cook among her sisters, they hated for her to get anywhere near the kitchen. Unfortunately, Brittany made the most horrible messes when she cooked. Sticky stuff would be on the cabinets and floors. She never threw anything away. Egg shells, potato peels, and food wrappings would be everywhere. More often than not she would have to clean up behind herself. But anyone forced to clean the kitchen after Brittany cooked, came away more angry over the mess than satisfied with the meal.
A few more minutes of whirlwind seasoning, frying, and sautéing passed. Chadwick was amazed to see the abundance and varieties of food. After letting him help her take everything to the patio, Brittany excused herself and left him staring at the largest breakfast that had ever been placed before him in his life. When she returned, the apron was gone and she had changed into a white, v-neck, t-shirt, which was tucked into her jeans. With her hair in a ponytail, a simple silver chain around her neck and barefoot, she looked beautiful. Her face was totally bare of any makeup and she was gorgeous. Chadwick’s mouth went dry as he stared at her. She had to know she was exquisite, but she didn’t act like it. She actually laughed at his expression.
“What’s wrong Chadwick? Have I shocked you? We eat around here. Dig in!” With that she pulled out her chair and sat down. She pulled her legs up into the chair and sat Indian style. With both of her arms resting on the side arms of the chair she leaned back and stared at Chadwick.
“How old do you feel right now, Brittany?” The question obviously surprised Brittany, but it caught Chadwick unawares as well. It was something about the way she was sitting that prompted the question. Chadwick had never seen any of the women of his association sit this way. It made Brittany seem young and unaffected. She was even more appealing this way.
Brittany leaned forward and put her elbows on the table. Resting her chin between her hands she looked at Chadwick.
“Now that is a strange question. Let me see. How old do I feel?” Brittany took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Pursing her lips she made a sound like, “Um mmm,” which made Chadwick laugh. Biting into a piece of bacon, he watched her and waited for her answer.
“I feel twenty-two, which is exactly how old I am. How old do you feel?” She took her elbows off the table and proceeded to fill her plate with bacon, biscuits, gravy, and fruit. Chadwick continued to watch her. It was strange how every experience with Brittany was an event to him. He felt impelled to take it all in; storing it in his memory. He watched as she forked up some eggs and dipped her biscuit in the gravy. She was mixing her foods. He did that too. He wondered how people could enjoy a meal when they ate one food at a time. Nothing was better than a bit of biscuit and egg in your mouth at the same time. So, Brittany was a foody.
“I feel twenty-two too. You make me feel younger.” Brittany stopped eating and looked across the table at Chadwick. His voice was quiet; almost a whisper, but she had heard him clearly.
“That is so sweet, Chadwick. You really are a sweetie aren’t you?” Chadwick was looking acutely uncomfortable, which tickled Brittany.
“I am not a ‘sweetie’. I just like you that’s all.” He said defensively as he stuffed some hash brown into his mouth. Chadwick mentally made a note to ask Brittany to cook for him again in the next couple of days. If this breakfast was any indication of her culinary skills, he wanted more samples. The food was delicious.
“ How old are you anyway?” Brittany asked popping a grape into her mouth.
“I’m thirty-five.” Chadwick’s eyes bore into Brittany’s as he answered. Brittany could see the maturity in his eyes. This was a man of vast experience sitting at her patio table eating breakfas
t with her. He was wealthy and he was drop-dead gorgeous. Unable to look away, she watched as he sucked the juice out of an orange slice before biting the meat of the orange out of the peel. He licked his lips and Brittany sighed.
“Don’t do that.” Chadwick’s hoarse command shocked Brittany out of her reverie.
“Don’t do what?” she asked.
Chadwick had known that being alone with Brittany was not a good idea. If she were the type of woman he could throw up against the wall and take out his frustrations on, this would be a perfect setting. Instead he could only stare at her as she stared at him and do nothing. He felt like a schoolboy again. He wondered whether the fact that she was untouched made her more alluring. He quickly dismissed this thought, remembering their ride in the ambulance. He had wanted her then and he knew nothing about her at that time.
“Don’t stare at my lips, unless you want to find yourself in my lap. You may not know what to do with me, Brittany, but I definitely know what to do with you. So, be careful.” Chadwick was tapping his finger on the table. This had somehow caught her fascination too. Now she was staring at his hands.
“I thought you said you had something to ask me.” Brittany snatched her eyes away from his hands to look into his face. It was clear that he knew how inexperienced she was. She personally felt it was kind of rude for him to mention it, but she wasn’t steady enough to make an issue out of it right now.
Chadwick stood. They needed a distraction. Things were getting a little too heated, even for him. It wasn’t that he didn’t have control; he just didn’t have much of it when he was around Brittany.
“We definitely need to talk. Do you have any clients to see today?”
Brittany had stood when he stood. She was gathering their dishes. “No. I am still waiting on my car. They should be finished with it by the end of next week.”
“Good. I meant it’s good that you are off today. I want to take you somewhere special.”
