by CJ Hawk
The entire time at the spa, I could think of nothing more than Trey and is he really the ideal man for me. He is so laid back, and I'm so rigid. He is cool surfer style, and his spoken demeanor is opposite of my professional manner and ideals in conversations. Although I did notice that when we were together, we both rubbed off on each other a bit.
By the end of my spa treatment, I had three hours before the client dinner tonight. I decided that I would call Trey and ask him if he would like to attend, but first I needed to apologize. He deserved that and I deserved to tell him the truth about my fears and apprehensions. I knew it would allow me the peace of mind if he truly knew where I stood in this inability to commit to a relationship of marriage and kids. It was a scary notion, sharing how I thought about it. To share it with someone who might turn me away with disdain or decide I was not worth the patience it would take to make our relationship run smoothly. Because I knew, it would take a strong man to deal with me and help me accept the things I have just been too scared to accept. One of them being in a committed relationship and the other was raising a kid, even if it was not my own.
While trying to find the courage to call Trey, I banged my cell phone against my forehead gently tapping it as I become more upset with myself over the fact that I should have been more considerate with Trey's feelings. Not only his, but Lorna's, my employees, and men from my past. I had just realized that life's hard lesson had caught up with me, and I was going to have to step up and take a leap of faith.
The first call had his cell phone answering with a voice mail. Not unusual for a guy like him. I didn't want to take it too personable, so I left a brief message that I was sorry about the way things ended.
It didn't take me but two minutes to decide to try again. This time I left a message that I had done some serious thinking and would like to talk. Shortly after I hung up, I decided that if he called, then I would do whatever it took to convince him that I wanted him back. That I wanted an 'us' and my career was due for a bit of readjusting, like actually letting my employees do their job instead of controlling everything.
Just as I felt like a light just lit up my soul, my cell phone rang as I was staring at the cocktail dress choices on my bed for tonight. I looked at the caller ID, and a small amount of elation deflated as it was Zach and not Trey.
"Hey Jennifer. Just wanted to touch base. I wanted to let you know that Bill is out of the hospital and recovering with a broken leg. He told me to tell you thanks for the gift basket and connection to a producer in LA. I guess you left him a stellar recommendation."
I smiled internally. I didn't have the best Hollywood connections, but I had a few. Bill was a great actor, and I felt I owed him some type of work. I cleared my throat of the emotion I was feeling, more for Trey then Bill, yet it was all there bundled up and ready to explode. "Hey. Tell Bill I miss him but things could not have gone better in Japan."
I heard a pause on the other end of the line before he spoke. When he did speak up, you could hear the awkward tension in his voice. "Well. I guess. Uhm. What I need to ask next is really just business, but I need to ask since we do have a contract with you. Your schedule shows a client dinner tonight, and I wasn't sure if I should find someone with such notice."
I quickly stopped him from going any further. "Zach. I kind of messed up. I think Trey and I had something and well, I guess I just am not good at this relationship thing. I won't be needing any more escorts. I don't expect a refund. You fulfilled your end. I guess what I am saying is, I want Trey and I to try to work something out. Do you think he would come tonight? He's not answering my calls."
I held my breath waiting for Zach to answer. Maybe it was stupid of me to assume Trey felt the way I did or worse, to get Zach involved. Then his voice broke the silence with a comment that made my heart drop and shatter.
"Jennifer. He's hurt. He really cared for you. I haven't seen him in this deep with a chick since, hell, his ex. I guess you two really connected and well, he's kind of in a bad place now. He gave me his cell and took a long walk up the pier earlier. Listen. If I can find him, I will try to convince him to show up tonight. If not tonight, then maybe you can work in a way to reach out to him. His daughter will be here in less than two weeks, and I think it would be great if you two could get something going by then. She's a great kid. You'd love her. She's head strong and smart. She has a knack for business already by giving Trey and I, a few ideas for the new surf business we are opening." He paused as he said that last sentence almost dreamily. As if to say that sure making money for providing dates to women has been great but being in the surf again would be far better. I did an internal loud laugh and finally decided to break his rambling conversation that was starting up again.
"Hey Zach. Sorry to interrupt. I have to start getting ready for this cocktail function. Listen. If Trey gets back, please make sure he knows I left a few messages for him. If he shows tonight, I won't let him leave without knowing my true feelings. And Zach. I want to thank you, for everything, getting Trey to come to Japan opened up a whole new world for me that I didn't think could ever exist."
"Sure thing, Jennifer. Just remember, if he doesn't show tonight, doesn't mean he doesn't want to get together, just that he's hesitant. Give him a day or two and try something to convince him otherwise. I'm sure you can think of a few things because I have never seen him this way about another woman."
We hung up with only a few more words exchanged. I knew Zach was a great friend to Trey and likewise, the other way around. However, I wasn't sure if Trey was going to get my message in time to show tonight. I had to go. This local client was an annoyance but on occasion, I knew I had to do these things. Maybe after I get the Japan client settled into place, I will promote Cynthia so that she could begin handling some of my overseas clientele. Prez would have to deal with it, which I was sure she would actually approve. Cynthia had been bugging me for a promotion and overseas work as a break to her two kids and ex-husband who were making her nuts. The raise and promotion would allow her to get full time nannies and the break she was ready for.
With thoughts of a change in my career, which dress to wear, and a fantasy that Trey will take me back, I got dressed and ready to go in between making notes on my computer over how I was going to work a bit less and see Trey a lot more. That is, if he takes me back after my disastrous behavior.
Chapter Thirteen
The cocktail party at the beach house was humming with conversation that competed against the ocean waves. Valet took my car to park as I started to walk inside. Then the sight of Trey in a tux leaning against a wall by the front door stopped me. He looked incredible. He was dressed in his black tux, with his hair cut even shorter than Japan and a look to him that read mysteriously sexy. He had a cut drink glass in one hand and was looking at something on his phone in his other hand. I could have stared at him all night. However, I guess that connection we built in Japan caused him to look up at me with the most devilish grin, grazing his eyes from the top of my updo down to my four-inch stilettos. I wanted to grab him and steal him away from this night, yet I had a job to do.
I walked slowly towards him in a black slinky dress with a bit of apprehension. I watched him slip his phone into his pocket, and then I watched him take a quick sip from his drink and set it off on a table next to him. He walked towards me in that confident sexy stride that he has and his smile told me everything I needed to know at this very moment. He forgave me. My heart filled with elation and my eyes wanted to cry, yet the feel of his hand softly touching my face and pulling my head up for a quick kiss stopped me from displaying all my emotions in public. If anything, if gave me the strength to wrap my arms around him and show a public display of affection that bordered on erotic.
The sound of Prez's voice clearing behind me stopped us from taking our passion to a point of no return. I turned around and smiled triumphantly.
"Prez, this is my new boyfriend Trey. Trey Masterson. Trey this is Prez, my boss and this is her h
usband..." I didn't get to finish the introduction.
Prez's husband practically leaped past his wife and put his hand out to shake Trey's. "Well shit." He started out with. Not exactly professional, then I remembered, Prez telling me that her husband was awful at these functions. "Mike Brenner. Pleased to friggin meet you in person. You know I saw you surf in Australia back in..." They were off talking about surfing, and Mike's all holy then thou impressions of the great Trey Masterson.
I looked at them talking, while Trey gave me one of his smiles that told me that great things were coming later, and I turned to Prez. She spoke up before I could even say a word.
"Nice catch. Caught Intel about you two after you got back from Japan and why you were such a bitch this morning. I'll accept your apology later about my new cut after you get me the name of your meal delivery guy and personal pilates trainer you've been using but refusing to tell anyone. Must have been a dozey of a fight you two had, but making up is half the fun of it, right?"
I laughed at her demeanor. She knew me all too well. It wasn't often that I lost it over something as trivial as a man, but just seeing us together, she knew. Trey was not just any other man.
Somehow, the four of us made it inside and proceeded with our business mingling. Not but an hour later we all ended up in a corner accessing the room. The client seemed happy we showed, but our presence wasn't really expected to be there too long. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Prez's husband type something feverishly into his phone. Two seconds later, Prez got a text and held her phone up in excitement.
"Oh my!" She let out a fake exasperation. "I guess our son is running a high fever. The sitter wants us back now. I guess we had better go. You can wrap this up, right dear?" She was talking to me while I wanted to hand her the award for world's worst actress. I knew what was up. The two of them were bailing out so they could go spend some alone time while the kids were with the sitters. I actually, for the first time, wanted to applaud Prez for her handling of a large business, a husband as goofy as hers, and her two kids. She was frazzled at times and made bad decisions, like giving Cynthia that promotion two years ago. However, now that I was thinking from the opposite side of the fence, I realized, she was going to be the one to give me some of the best tips on how to make this all happen. Which might actually make my transition at work a bit easier, knowing that she just wanted for me all along, what she had. And from here, it doesn't look all that bad.
Within moments, Prez and her husband were gone. I did not have a chance to explain all that just happened to Trey when he leaned into me and whispered against my ear. "Kids can make a great excuse to get out of something boring, so that you can do what it is that you really want to do."
I turned to him teasingly with a whole lot of flirtation in my voice. "And that would be what? Surfing?" I raised my eyebrows in question as he looked at me as if he wanted to devour me.
"No. This." He said the word as he pulled me behind a curtained wall that catering was using for a service station and laid the most exquisite possessive kiss he had given me yet. My entire body melted into his. My hands went places that should not go in public. His hands were holding my so close to him; we could barely breathe through the kiss.
When we were finally interrupted by the sound of a tray of glasses crashing to the ground off in the kitchen, we both laughed and looked into each other's eyes. His next statement told me that everything was not only forgiven, but that we were going to work out perfectly.
"Want to use my daughter as an excuse that we need to go?"
I laughed. "Sure. It is after all been a late flu season and there has been that terrible spring cold breaking out among all the school-aged kids who employees have been calling in about."
Trey's smile of watch me, made me wonder if he could pull this off. He grabbed my hand and led me back into plan view of the room. He walked me over in a position by my client. Then he pulled his phone out of his jacket and proudly proclaimed that the sitter just sent a text, and they had to go. Without a blink, my client turned to me and laid a hand on Trey's muscular arm. I saw the sexual attraction my client had in Trey the minute I had introduced them. Then I watched him play her emotions next.
"You don't mind if we go do you? I'd hate to think that she is at home running a high temp, and we are here, having a wonderful time?"
"By all means." My client flirted out while batting her eyelashes at him. "Please. Go. I understand. You are such a great dad for putting your child first."
If my client could have let out an 'ah yes' at that moment of her tender admiration for my man, she would have. Instead, I grabbed Treys hand and let out a 'thanks for understanding' over my shoulder.
Waiting for the valet to get my car, we broke out in laughter. "I have to hand it to you. You know how to act."
He grabbed me up in his arms and laid a quick kiss on my lips. "I can do whatever it takes when I have an ulterior motive."
I wanted to undress him right there in the entry to the beach club, instead, the valet showed up with my car, and Trey opened the passenger door and told me to get in. He handed the valet a tip and then came around to the driver side of my door. As soon as he got in and adjusted the seat to his height, he turned to me with a wicked smile. "I took a cab, hoping I would get to drive you home. Now which place do you want me to take you to kiss and make up? Because we could spend the night talking about relationships and careers, or we can do what we do best."
"And that is?" I teased.
"Darling. I think you know exactly what it is we do so well. The rest of the relationship stuff, we can work on. I'm easy." He put the Mercedes in drive and started out of the beach club parking lot. I didn't care if he took me to his place or mine. I just cared that he forgave me, and as I reached for his right hand to hold, while he held my steering wheel in his left, I knew that this whole thing between us just felt right.
Trey put his foot on the gas and drove to his place as fast as possible. I assumed we came here, as it was closest. However, as we locked up my car under his carport, he explained.
"Coming here, keeps you from kicking me out." It was a teasing comment, but I heard the hurt behind it.
I took a step towards him and put out my hand. "I'm sorry Trey. That was wrong of me. I think we have a few things to work out."
"Yeah. Like you not kicking me out when you feel too emotionally attached. The fact that I want to call you my girlfriend and not be considered an escort. Besides, Zach and I decided to sell today. We sign the papers next week. So after that, I can't be your escort anymore."
I put myself up next to his body and felt his arms surround me. I looked up into his beautiful green eyes, which were barely lit by the carport light. "Trey. I may have done and said a few things that were wrong, and I might in the future, but just the fact that you showed up tonight and in Japan, tells me you have what it takes to keep me. I'm yours if you want me."
The side of his hand brushed the side of my cheek, lowered down to my neck with his fingertips, and then wrapped up in my hair. With a gentle sway of my body, I leaned in closer to him as he pulled my head up towards for a gentle kiss. I heard my soft moan as his lips gently touched mine. I felt the elation in my body jump for joy as I realized that this is where I belonged. His tongue pursued my mouth and caused tingling on my lips. Our bodies were pushing into each other; our breathing turned heavy, our hands pulling each other closer, holding each other together, and then he pulled away slowly with a smile in his eyes.
His voice held emotion, as he looked right at me and said with the sincerest of expressions. "Babe, you had me caught inside the minute I laid my eyes on you. I'm so far out; I don't think I can ever reach the shore."
I looked down and then back up into his eyes. I remembered him talking about that exact surfing expression while our naked bodies lay against each other in bed. I don't know who caught who first, but I can bet that we both want to be in this - together.
The End
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