Ty frowned, “Guess not.”
“I’m going home to make some phone calls and see what I can do. Stick close to Kelsey. Maybe Red will call her and we can get a lead on her location, and bro I don’t think she was kidding about going after Susan. Best keep an eye on her.”
“I have no intention of letting her out of my sight. Marcus, what are you going to do if we find her and she doesn’t want to come home?” Ty asked as he walked his brother to his car.
“Right this minute, I can’t think straight, but for some reason duct tape keeps popping into my mind. I hear it comes in pretty colors now,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I guess after I kiss the fight out of her, I’ll spank her sorry little ass for not even having the courtesy to ask me if it was true and then I’ll bring her home. After that, I plan on spending the rest of my life kicking my own ignorant ass for taking her for granted and being such a fool.”
“I hope you get the chance,” Ty relied. “I think I was a little too hard on her myself. That red-headed terror kind of grows on you, doesn’t she?”
Marcus went home, grabbed a Pepsi from the fridge and headed upstairs. All of Bianca’s things were gone. On the bed was the heavy mahogany hair brush and he wondered whether her husband dealt with Bianca’s behavior in an appropriate way. If his own situation wasn’t so dire, he could almost feel sorry for the other man.
Stripping his clothes off, he got into the shower, hoping the cool water would help him focus, and then threw on some sweats and a tee. In his office, he began by calling his credit card company to see if any recent charges had been made.
He quickly learned Susan had used the card near Albany for gas, so at least she made it out of the mountains. She also withdrew money from an ATM at the same location. Calling the Quick Stop, he spoke with the manager and was relieved to find they did have security cameras. After giving him a description of Susan and her car, the young man agreed to review the tapes and get back to him.
Wanting to cover all the bases, he then called Sam and gave him a brief rundown on what was going on.
“Do you think she’ll head back here?” Sam asked.
“I have no idea what she’ll do or where she would go,” Marcus sighed, running his hand through his hair as he paced his office. “She’s unpredictable at best, and now she’s angry and hurt, even though there’s no reason for it. It wouldn’t surprise me if she came to you and demanded you make another match for her, just to spite me.”
“I have to tell you, Marcus, this just doesn’t sound like the Susan I know. I’m surprised she didn’t toss that woman out on her ass and wait for you to get back so she could leave you in style. Running away is out of character for her, especially leaving Kelsey in the dark. Are you sure there isn’t more to this?” Sam asked, his concern evident in his tone.
“I’m not sure. We had a long talk before I left, and I know she’s been feeling lonely and neglected, but we talked about making some changes when I got back. I thought we were on a solid footing, and although I was disappointed that she didn’t want to come on tour with me, I understood her point. That being said, I feel guilty as hell for working so hard she could even question my devotion to her. I want to beg her forgiveness for not realizing how much she needed me and not being available to her, and then I want to spank the daylights out of her for doubting my love. What a fucked-up mess I’ve made of things,” he said hoarsely.
“Take it easy, buddy,” Sam said. “I’m sure Susan loves you and you’ll get this straightened out, but first we have to find her. Let me make a few phone calls and see what I can do on my end. Do you have any clue on her location?”
“The only thing I have right now is a credit card use outside of Albany. I’m waiting for more information, but currently that’s all I have to go on. If she would only contact Kelsey, or call me and give me a chance to explain…”
“Maybe she will when she cools off. Susan’s impulsive, but she’s no fool. Let me know if you hear anything and if I’m able to get any info, I’ll call you. I have a friend who’s an investigator. I’ll see what he suggests.”
“Thanks, Sam; I appreciate anything you can do. Talk to you soon.”
Chapter Seven
Sam hung up the phone, still in shock. For as much as he prided himself on knowing women and the way they think, this caught him totally off guard. He couldn’t even imagine the agony he would be in if Johanna took off in a fit of anger. They’d had their up and downs in their relationship and at one point he was ready to throw in the towel, but thankfully, Jo took matters into her own hands and now they would be married in a few weeks. He couldn’t wait to slip that ring on her finger and make her his forever. Seeing what Marcus and Susan were up against scared the crap out of him. They were very much in love, yet it had only taken a misunderstanding to send Susan fleeing the nest.
Although he’d intended to take care of some paperwork, Sam picked up his keys and left his office. Suddenly, attending to his baby seemed like a much better idea.
He thought about calling Erica. She and Susan had developed a real friendship in Vegas, but Erica’s vacation officially started at midnight last night and he had a feeling John would be keeping her quite busy if last night has been any indication. When they returned to the party, John never strayed more than a few feet from her side, and even then he never took his eyes off her.
“Get everything settled?” Sam asked John while they waited at the bar for a drink.
“For the time being,” John replied. “She’s agreed to give me the opportunity and the time, now I need to do my best to give her what she needs. After that, we’ll see.”
“I wish you luck, John. I can’t believe I’ve worked with her all this time and never realized how damaged she is inside, or how alone. Hopefully, with love and attention, she’ll let you in. Take good care of her, John, and for God’s sake, let her have some fun,” Sam said before taking a sip of his fresh drink. “Just not the kind that involves lap dances and G-strings,” Sam teased.
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” John assured him. “The only lap she’ll be around for the next month is mine. Whether she’ll be on it, or over it, remains to be seen.”
“My guess is that both would be beneficial, each in their own way. Let’s get together for dinner soon,” Sam suggested.
“Give me a week or two to get Erica on track and we’ll meet for a night out,” John answered, his eyes scanning the room.
“No one else here that interests you?” Sam inquired, watching John’s face closely.
“Not a one, Sam. As lovely as some of your guests are, I…”
“No explanations are necessary, buddy. I felt the same way the moment when I met Johanna. Enjoy the rest of the party, and please, feel free to call me if there is anything I can do to help. We have several highly qualified counselors on call at all times.”
“Thanks, Sam,” John said before moving toward Erica, who was making her way to the veranda. Following her out the French doors, he found her in a dimly lit area, her hands gripping the railing.
“Everything alright?” he asked softly as he stood quietly behind her right shoulder.
“JB, are you sure this is a good idea?” she whispered into the cool night air, a tiny shiver passing through her frame.
“Yes.”
“But how can you be, sure I mean?” she continued, staring into the shadows. “Doesn’t the entire plan strike you as slightly bizarre?”
“No.”
“That’s it? Just ‘no’?” she demanded, spinning around and looking up into his eyes. “The fact that I’m a grown woman has no bearing on this whatsoever?”
“Of course it does, sweetheart. It’s because you’re a grown woman entering into our agreement freely, which makes all the difference in the world. I have no interest in children, and, in fact, I’m not sure I even want any of my own at this point. When I look at you, I see a beautiful, remarkable woman, with a child’s broken heart,” he sighed, cuppin
g her cheek in his large hand. “I think we need to see what we can do to mend that heart a little before we move forward with a grown-up relationship. Besides, what makes you so sure you won’t like being my baby girl once in a while?” he teased, smiling.
“Once in a while, it might be fun in a kinky sort of way,” she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. “But you want to turn me into a three-year-old for a whole month,” she hissed.
John laughed, a deep masculine sound that melted something inside her as he tugged her into his arms and pressed her head against his chest.
“Erica, I’m not going to lock you in my home, strip your clothes off and put you in a romper,” he said, the humor leaking out of his voice. “We’re going to take this slow, see what works and what doesn’t. I want you to feel safe and cared for, but if something makes you feel…well…yucky, we’ll make adjustments.”
“Yucky? Did you just say yucky?” she demanded, dropping her head and groaning in mortification.
“I guess I did,” he smiled. “Just trying to get in the right mindset, I guess.”
“Oh my God, I think I’m in way over my head,” she sighed as another shiver passed through her.
John picked her up and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, patting her bottom gently as he set her down. “Stop worrying so, sweetheart; don’t you trust me at all?”
“I do, mostly, and that’s a big problem in my mind,” she admitted as she took his hand and tugged him into the lounge.
It was well after midnight before Sam realized that Erica was still there. Most of the tentatively matched couples had moved on to other pursuits, leaving just a few having quiet conversations or dancing to the slow, bluesy music.
“Erica, you did a wonderful job tonight, as always,” Sam said. “I think this is the most successful meet and greet we’ve ever had, at least it may be if things work out as I expect them to. Why don’t you go on home now that you’re officially on vacation?”
“I don’t mind hanging around to help, Sam,” she said, picking up a few glasses and placing them on a tray.
“Nonsense,” Sam replied, taking the tray from her hands and winking at John. “We have plenty of staff here, so there’s no need for you to clean up. I’ll have the car sent around.”
“No need for that, Sam,” John interjected, placing Erica’s wrap around her shoulders. “I’ll take her home.”
Erica turned around to argue but snapped her mouth closed when she saw the expression on his face. His eyebrow rose in warning as he glanced pointedly at his watch. He might as well have said, "You’re on my time now, baby." Her feet were pleading for mercy, her nerves were frayed, and she vaguely recalled that he had said he was going to spank her for something she’d done earlier in the evening -- oh yeah, lying. For a moment she had a fleeting urge to give him a good kick in the shin and run like hell, but as though he sensed her approaching meltdown, he spun her around, guided her to the foyer and propelled her out the door.
“Good night, Sam,” John called over his shoulder, “and tell the others we’ll see them soon.”
“Geeze, I’ve heard of the bum’s rush, but this is ridiculous,” she grouched as he installed her in the passenger seat of his car.
“I would call it the naughty girl’s hustle,” John replied calmly as he slid into his own seat after walking around the car.
“I don’t see what the big deal was with Sam’s driver taking me home.”
“The big deal is we have unfinished business, and a true Southern gentleman always sees his girl home.”
Slumping back into the comfort of the leather seats, Erica toed off her shoes, sighing in relief. “Well, far be it for me to call into question the chauvinist’s code of conduct,” she said with a yawn.
“My, my, only a little after midnight and you’re already into brat mode; how interesting,” John observed conversationally.
“I’m not a brat, I’m a tired woman who has worked her ass off for the last three weeks,” she insisted with another yawn.
“That’s no excuse for poor manners,” he said. “Why don’t you just close your eyes and relax like a good girl.”
“Alright, I will,” she snapped back, “but because I want to, not because you told me to.”
John smiled in the dim light from the dashboard and maneuvered his way through the dark streets. The next month should prove interesting.
She was sleeping when he pulled into the parking lot of her building. Shutting off the car, he made his way around to her door and opened it. Picking up her heels, he put one in each of his pockets, placed her purse back on her lap and gently scooped her into his arms. Giving the door a hip shot, he moved toward the high-rise. Thankfully, someone coming out held the door for them, and he walked swiftly to the elevator and touched the button.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Erica snuggled closer in his arms and surprised him by whispering, “Please don’t spank me tonight, JB. I’m really tired.”
“It’ll help you sleep,” he offered as the door slid open on the 10th floor.
“I don’t need any help,” she pouted, her hand gripping his jacket.
“Alright then, it’ll help me sleep,” he said with a grin.
“How will slapping my ass help you sleep?” she demanded with a snort, her head popping up as they reached her apartment.
“I sleep better knowing I don’t have any unfinished business or obligations hanging over my head. Get out your key.”
Erica opened her clutch and handed him her key as soon as he set her on the floor. Barefoot, she entered her apartment when he unlocked the door and swung it open.
“Really John, this is ridiculous,” she snapped, moving into the living room and tossing her bag on the coffee table. “I’ve already agreed with your outrageous plan; what more do you want?”
John quietly watched her, taking note of her flushed face and trembling hands.
“Let me get a good night’s sleep tonight, and I’ll be nice and fresh in the morning.”
“You’re already quite ‘fresh,’ sweetheart, which is why you are absolutely getting spanked. Lying and dishonesty will not be tolerated. Now go get undressed and into your pajamas. Dragging this out is not accomplishing anything.”
“This is about control isn’t it?” she demanded. “You want to assert some kind of authority over me and puff up your male ego in the process,” she hissed. “Well I won’t have it. I swear I’ll scream this place down if you lay one hand on me!”
John smiled. “That’s likely true in any case, but the longer you take to get moving, the more certain it becomes. This isn’t about control or power, or the fact that physically I can make you do about anything I want. It’s about trust and respect, but more importantly it’s about consistency. If you learn nothing else from our agreement, you’ll learn that I mean what I say. I don’t play games, or make promises I have no intention of keeping. I’m steady and determined and committed,” he continued, walking to her and placing his hands on her shoulders.
“I may not be the most attractive man you’ve ever been with, or the wealthiest, but I don’t lie and I don’t shirk my responsibilities, and you, Erica, became my responsibility at midnight. Now go get undressed and be back here in five minutes or I’ll have to help you.”
Erica tilted her head back and looked into his eyes as she bit her lower lip. He meant what he said, that much was clear, and she didn’t really see a way to get out of submitting to a spanking. Twisting out of his grasp, she stomped her way to her bedroom, the sound lost in the plush carpet, and slammed the door behind her.
John took off his dinner jacket and draped it over a chair as his eyes traveled around the room, which was beautifully decorated with a sophisticated flair. He moved about the space, taking in every detail before ending up at the large floor to ceiling window that looked out over the city. It was an impeccably clean, perfectly coordinated space but he couldn’t fail to notice there was not one possession to clue an observer into what k
ind of person lived there. No photographs graced the walls or mantle; no knick-knacks adorned the surface of any piece of furniture. It was as though it was staged, with its pristine white carpet and white leather furniture. The only color in the entire room was a burgundy glass vase on the table in the dining room.
Wandering, he searched for even one small item of memorabilia, something of sentimental value proudly displayed, but there was nothing, not even a pair of earrings tossed in a dish on the stand in the foyer, as his mother and sisters were likely to do. There was no mail lying about, no magazines, no books. It was sterile environment, frozen in perfection, just like Erica. He wondered what she would think of his country home on the lake.
Glancing at his watch, he realized well over five minutes had passed and started toward her bedroom just as she opened the door.
“Let’s have a drink,” she said as she sailed past him, leaving a trail of perfume in her wake.
His eyes were glued to the sway of her hips, as she walked to a cabinet and opened the door revealing bottles of liqueur. The black satin gown she wore left little to the imagination, the back nearly nonexistent all the way to the top of her bottom cheeks.
Picking up a remote she touched a button and the fireplace sprang to life, bathing the room in a warm glow.
John grinned; watching her in action was always enlightening. She slowly mixed a pitcher of martinis and took two glasses off a shelf, pouring the drinks. Taking a glass in each hand she turned to him with a sultry smile as she artlessly shrugged one shoulder and let the strap of her gown slip down her arm, revealing the curve of her breast.
“Oh dear,” she sighed helplessly. “I seem to have had a wardrobe malfunction. Would you mind?” she inquired, looking at her strap.
“Not at all,” John replied, struggling not to laugh at her blatant attempts to distract him from his spanking mission. Slowly he let his hand glide from her wrist up her arm, putting the strap in place and caressing her smooth skin in the process. The shiver that passed through her pleased him, but her manipulation technique left a lot to be desired, especially since he’d warned her in Vegas against trying it again. Apparently, a reminder was in order.
The Last Match Page 7
