Unfortunately, Florida’s economy was even worse than Maine’s. She had a degree from Colby, a top school, a 3.95 GPA and still had trouble finding a job.
She felt that unwanted twinge of home-sickness again.
She sighed and ate two chocolate croissants. I’ll call Tina when I get home today, she thought.
“Are you alright, Ms. Reese?” Enrique asked.
“Oh yes. I’m sorry. I guess I was lost in thought. These croissants are the best I’ve ever had by the way.”
“Thank you, Ms. Reese. I mean . . . Jennifer.”
“You’re welcome.” She picked up one of the Pecan pastries and ate that too. “I may as well confess. I have a sweet tooth.”
He laughed easily. “That’s okay. I also love sweets.”
“Tell me, what’s it like to work for Dorian?”
“It’s a dream come true. I come from Cuba on the boat. He was looking for a personal chef. I worked as a chef in my country, but never thought I would get the job.”
“Did he sample the food? I mean, he’s such a picky eater from what I’ve seen.”
“No. Mr. Devereaux did. He recommended Mr. Taylor hire me right away. I’m grateful to them both. Mr. Taylor has . . . very specific tastes.”
She saw a flicker of uneasiness on his face then it was gone. Perhaps he was uncomfortable talking about his employer, she thought. She said no more.
They were both silent for a moment. He poured her another cup of coffee and said quietly, almost reverently, “Mr. Taylor is a good man, Jennifer.”
“Ah, I see you’ve had your breakfast.” Ian came breezing into the kitchen, with his usual cheerful smile.
“Yes. It was incredible. Enrique is very talented. Can you please give me a ride home Ian? I have some things I need to do.”
“Of course, but you’re welcome to spend the day here if you’d like.”
“I’d love to but I really do have things to do at home. My boss expects me to have some paperwork ready first thing tomorrow.”
“Very well.” He paused. “I’m sure Mr. Taylor has informed you he will be picking you up tonight. I suggest you be ready. He’s not a man you want to keep waiting,” he said seriously.
Jennifer felt a stab of anxiety. She really didn’t know that much about Dorian Taylor.
Ian dropped her off around 1:30 pm. After spending time in Dorian’s home, her apartment appeared all the more drab, seedy and depressing.
She knew she should get some work done, but she was so tired. She laid on the couch with the TV on for background noise and fell asleep.
When she awoke, she had no idea how long she’d slept. What time was it? She heard the boom of thunder. Just like clockwork, the usual afternoon thunderstorms. It was 4:00 pm.
In four short hours she’d receive a text from Dorian.
It was Sunday and God only knew how late he’d keep her up. He seemed to be a night owl. She wasn’t.
She checked her phone for messages. She had one from Tina. Weird, she’d planned on calling her today. She dialed the Maine number, keenly feeling the 1,200 mile distance between them.
Tina picked up on the second ring. “Hey Jen, glad you called me back.”
“What’s up?”
“Nothing really. Just wanted to catch up. I miss you.”
“I miss you too. How’s everyone up there?”
“Same old shit. Oh, by the way. Guess who I ran into at Old Orchard Beach a few weeks ago?”
“Who?”
“Jesse Moore.”
Jennifer was silent for a moment. Jesse Moore. The one guy in college who she’d had a major crush on. He’d never even looked her way. “Really? What’s he doing now?” Like I care, she thought.
“He’s working for some big time lawyer in Boston. Anyway he asked about you.”
“You’re kidding. I didn’t think he knew I existed.” She’d watched the ruggedly handsome, blue-eyed, blond haired guy so much during her time at Colby she was on the verge of becoming a stalker.
“I know. Go figure. But he did! Asked where you were and how you were doing. He was really surprised when I told him you moved to Miami.”
“Surprised? Why?”
“Jen, we were all shocked when you left Maine. Especially for a place like Miami. Maine is still as boring as hell, but Miami is like, well an entirely different planet.”
“You have no idea.” Jennifer looked out the window. She’d heard police sirens and watched as the cops landed in the parking lot, got out and ran to the back of the complex, guns drawn. She locked and bolted her front door.
What had she been thinking moving here? She was used to wide open spaces and fresh air. A place where there was very little crime. She was quickly learning there were far worse things than boredom.
“Are you . . . okay? You sound funny. Was that police sirens I heard?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. And yes that was sirens.”
“You should move back, Jen. The farm seems so barren now with all the livestock sold off and the house sitting empty. Maybe Jesse is interested in you. That would be great, don’t you think?”
Ah, baiting me to come home with the promise of a man she’d really wanted.
In hindsight, he was a great looking guy and an asshole. Somehow, the two seemed to go together. She was over him. But her parent’s death and the sorrow of an empty home were things she wasn’t over.
She thought of the farm house, forlorn and lonely with no one to love it and care for it as her family had. It tugged at her heart to think of it. It still belonged to her. She wouldn’t sell the place. It had been in her family since her grandfather had built it with his own two hands.
The craftsmanship alone was impressive and the house, barn and pens which sat on over 30 acres of prime farm land would fetch a good price, even in this economy. She couldn’t sell it, just couldn’t. It was the one tie that bound her to Maine, to home and gave her roots. She’d never feel that way about Miami.
Then she thought of Dorian and how anxious she was to see him again. He was so different than anyone she’d ever known. It wasn’t just the sex either, well okay, it was partly the sex, but she sensed there was much more depth to him. Home didn’t have to be a place, did it? Couldn’t it be a person? Could that person be Dorian Taylor? Jesse was chopped liver compared to him. Actually, most guys were.
“I’ll be coming back up there soon. After winter though. You know how much I hate the cold. And . . . I’ve met someone here.”
“Really? That’s great, Jen! What’s his name? What’s he like?” Tina sounded excited for her.
Of course she’d sound excited. After all, the only guy she’d been interested in was Jesse and although she’d had a few boyfriends, the relationships didn’t last long. Jennifer always found something wrong with them. They were crappy kissers; they had issues and so on and so on.
“His name is Dorian Taylor.”
“That’s a name you don’t hear often. Hope he’s not a hedonistic bastard like Dorian Gray.” She laughed.
“He’s not; at least I don’t think so. He’s very classy (if you don’t count him saying a crude thing like I want to fuck your mouth.) He’s British, beyond gorgeous and he owns a successful computer software company, Taylor and Van Ness Incorporated.”
“Whoa! Did you say he’s one of the owners of Taylor and Van Ness?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“My God, girl! Do you live under a rock or what? That’s one of the biggest software companies in the world. They’ve been featured in Forbes and all kinds of financial and stock market magazines. It never shows the owners pictures though, which is weird and their names are listed as D. Taylor and M. Van Ness. No wonder I didn’t make the connection. I had no idea his name was Dorian.” Tina was speaking a mile a minute.
“You know I’m clueless most of the time, Tina.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot. You usually don’t get jokes either. I hear the guy is a computer genius. Maybe he can help you with your technological
impairments.”
They both laughed.
Jen knew full well she was clueless, klutzy and downright absentminded a lot of the time. She was famous for saying, “I don’t get it,” while everyone else was cracking up at some joke. And she was definitely technologically impaired. She’d considered herself lucky that she’d been able to get on e.Vampire.com’s website. Of course, Julie had completed the membership, pay-pal and profiles. She hadn’t.
“I’m going to see him again tonight.”
“Nice. I’ll expect all the juicy details. Oh, before I forget. I wanted to let you know the plow guy is set for the winter and he’s going to take care of shoveling the walk-way and raking the roof. The oil man filled the tank and I set the heat to 68, so you’re all set. No worries about our lovely Maine winters.”
Jennifer was glad she’d continued to pay the electric bill on the Maine house, knowing full well it was a must to keep the heat on or most likely come home to a catastrophe if the pipes burst.
“I can’t even imagine being cold right now. It’s always so frigging hot and humid here. The summers are totally unbearable.”
“So, come home and bring Dorian with you.”
“Maybe, once I get to know him better. We’ll see. I should get going. It’s almost 7 o’clock now and I have to get ready.”
“Holy shit! Have we been gabbing that long?”
“Yeah it has. I miss our chats. They’re always long, but never long enough.”
“Talk to you soon Jen. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“And what would that be? Later gator.”
Jen got off the phone and noticed she had a text message. It was from Julie. She really didn’t have time for her third degree right now, so she sent a quick message telling her she was going out with Dorian tonight and would see her at work in the morning.
At exactly 8:00 pm she got his text. Not a minute before or after. Good evening, Jennifer. I hope your day went well. I hear you had the croissants. Mmmm . . . I’m picturing your luscious mouth nibbling on them right now. What are you wearing?
She smiled, blushed and texted him back. They were yummy alright. I’m wearing clothes.
You’re wearing clothes? Are you being sassy with me? I’m on my way over there right now. I expect you to be wearing nothing but your bra and panties when I get there.
Why?
I have clothes for you to wear.
Seriously? Are you going to tell me what to wear, control freak?
I assure you, it’s for practical reasons only. You’ll see why when I get there. I’m ten minutes out. Talk later. Have to drive. No texting and driving. He’d added an icon, a face with a side-ways smirk and one eye winking at the end of the text message.
Just what the hell are you getting yourself into with this guy? Ms. Prudinsky stood with her arms crossed tightly across her matronly chest while she tapped her foot on the floor. Her face was a mask of disapproval. Jen didn’t want any part of her.
She’d take a risk for once in her life and allow this relationship with Dorian to unfold and see where it led. She ignored Ms. Prudinsky until the image in her head evaporated.
Taking off her clothes, she felt sort of sexy in the new black thong and skimpy lace bra she’d bought at the Bar Harbour Shoppes.
She looked out the window, waiting for Dorian to arrive.
Chapter 13
She heard a loud roar, a noise she was quite familiar with; the sound of a substantially sized motorcycle. A highly polished black bike, with gleaming silver lettering boasting the Harley Davidson emblem parked in her designated parking spot.
She watched as a man dressed in low cut black jeans and a tight black tee-shirt cut the engine and slid gracefully from the seat. He removed his helmet, shook his head and ran his hands through his hair.
Only one man she knew could move with such poise. His hair was tousled yet perfect. How does he do it? Her hair would look like holy hell after wearing a helmet.
Good God, the bike! She’d never been on a motorcycle in her life.
She opened the door before he knocked. “Hi,” she said breathlessly.
Shamelessly, he looked her up and down..
“I take it you approve?” she asked.
“I certainly do.” He stepped over the threshold and carelessly kicked the door shut, his eyes still on her.
She wanted to look down, away from the intensity of his gaze, but struggled to look him in the eye as he’d asked, no told her to do.
He held out an elegant boutique bag to her. “Here’s what you’ll be wearing tonight.”
She drew out a bright red tank top, a pair of black shorts and stylish short boots. The tags were marked with her exact size. “How did you know what size I take?”
“I think I got to know every square inch of your body last night. Don’t you?” His mouth turned up at one corner in that crooked and utterly sexy half smile of his.
“Thank you,” she said demurely.
He was at least a head taller than she, standing at 6’ or so. That smile, those strong upper arms so beautifully displayed under the black tee-shirt, those icy blue eyes, the manner in which he moved and the way he smelled, everything about him oozed sensuality. He also had a slight tan to his skin which hadn’t been there last night. The bit of color made him look even sexier, if such a thing were possible. Surely, he would be her undoing.
“Well? Go ahead and put them on. And then we’ll fix your hair. It has to be up so it won’t blow around in the wind. Have you ridden before?”
“No, and I have to tell you, I’m petrified!”
“Don’t be. Trust me.”
She put on the clothes and went toward the bedroom to collect a hair clip.
“Where’re you going?”
“To get a hair clip.”
“No. Come to me.”
She did as she was told.
“Turn around.”
She turned her back to him and felt his hands in her hair. He swept it off her neck. She felt his breath, warm and wonderful on her skin, felt his gentle kiss.
Deftly he worked her hair into a French braid and fastened it at the bottom.
“Shall we?” He took her hand and led her out.
Oddly, he’d never commented on the dump she lived in.
“Couldn’t you have picked me up in a car?” She stared at the monstrous machine.
“This is more fun.” He put her helmet on and adjusted it. “There. We’re ready to go.”
“Go where?”
“Wherever the road takes us. Just do what I tell you and you’ll be fine.”
He mounted the bike in one graceful movement. “Climb up,” he said. “Get as close to me as you can.” He took both her hands and wrapped them around his waist. “Hold on tight.”
She was up against his strong back, holding onto his rock hard torso with all her might. She felt her jaw, arms and legs tense up.
“Relax Jennifer. You don’t have to tense up like that. When the bike tilts don’t stiffen up, just go with the flow. Have you ever been on a horse?”
“Of course. I lived on a farm, remember? I love horseback riding.”
“It’s the same thing. You don’t fight the horse, you go with it. I’m a very experienced rider. I’ll take good care of you.” His voice was soft and soothing.
He seemed to know just the right things to say to calm her.
The engine roared to life and they were off. They flew out of the parking lot. She had her eyes closed so tight, they hurt.
She felt his elbow lightly poke her side. Jesus, he knows I have my eyes closed and wants me to open them!
He slowed a little as if sensing her fear or perhaps so she could see the sights. Whatever the reason, she was glad for it. She opened her eyes and glanced on either side of her. On her left was one of Miami’s many beaches. The water glimmered in the moonlight, the palm trees swayed. On her right she saw all the neon lights and colors of nighttime Miami blur together. It was breathtaking.
>
He sped up again. She held onto his waist even tighter, trying to remember to go with the movement of the bike. She thought she’d have a heart attack when he took a turn and the bike leaned to the left.
Again she felt him poke her.
She relaxed her death grip around his waist and leaned into the turn with him. Calm down Jen! He knows what he’s doing, she thought.
Cautiously, she lifted her head and felt the wind on her face, caught the scent of the ocean air. She felt a rush of adrenaline, thrilling to the speed and the feel of his back against her chest, his torso under her hands.
Finally, they stopped and parked on the soft shoulder of a deserted stretch of beach. He helped her off the bike and removed her helmet.
They walked down to the edge of the water. Neither of them spoke.
Without warning, he pulled her close and kissed her. Taking her hand, he pulled her down onto the sand with him. They sat side by side. He didn’t touch her again.
“Well? What did you think of our ride?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair. She was thankful he’d braided hers because it would be a massive mess. Unlike him, no amount of running her fingers through it could possibly fix it.
“Um . . . I liked it.” She was still reeling from the ride and that kiss.
He smiled. “I’ve a confession to make Jennifer. I’m a total adrenaline junkie. I love all kinds of thrills.” His voice dropped to a whisper “Speaking of thrilling, I still plan on fucking your mouth. I’ve not forgotten. Just looking at your pouty lips, the way the green flecks in your eyes sparkle like emeralds and having felt your body against my back makes me want to fuck you right here, right now. I’ll wait though.”
For a moment, she was speechless. He was so direct about what he wanted. It was a little intimidating. She was unsure of how she felt about the way he talked about sex. But her body wasn’t. It responded immediately to his words. Her sex throbbed and her nipples hardened.
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