“Thanks for trusting me.”
He disappeared into the bathroom and then crawled into bed and wrapped his body around mine. His legs intertwined with mine, and we slept like that.
Chapter 14
Bo
I woke in the morning to the sound of the shower. I looked at the clock. It was 5:00 a.m. I rolled out of bed throwing Jason’s large T-shirt on and quietly made my way downstairs. Bo wasn’t as quiet. He shook, creating a jingling sound from his collar and strutted behind me, his tongue hanging out.
In the kitchen I kept myself busy, not wanting to dwell about Jason’s departure. I packed him a lunch, and started on breakfast. He came downstairs minutes later with a friendly smile on his lips.
“You made me lunch and breakfast?” His surprise made me giddy. I was happy I could please him so easily.
Before I had time to answer his question, he pinned me to the counter with his body. His front pressed against my back. He reached around me to start the coffee maker and then stepped away. I was stunned by how much that small action turned me on. I squeezed my legs together and crossed one arm over my chest to hide my aroused breast. I continued moving my busy hand like nothing ever happened, except now I needed a tissue to wipe my wet, naked sweet spot.
My thoughts changed and I began to think about how much I could clean and organize when he was gone, my hands would stay busy. Bo needed a bath for sure. I gave Jason a sweet smile before I placed a plate of eggs and a bowl of oatmeal in front of him.
He eyed me as I rounded the counter to sit next to him. I rested my head on my crossed arms and watched him eat. He would pause occasionally and smile at me. He placed his hand on my upper thigh, his fingers making lazy patterns. I felt like the luckiest woman on Earth.
“Thank you.” He smiled at me. It instantly warmed me, making me feel cherished. I suddenly became uneasy, thinking about him leaving. I shuffled off the stool, took his plate, and he grabbed me and pulled me close. He hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear, “I will miss you so much.” He held me for a long while and then got up and walked away without looking back. It made me sad.
I reluctantly made my way back to his room. I was dreading him leaving, scared to be alone again. I made the bed and cleared the floor. I lay on the bed pulling the collar of his T-shirt over the bridge of my nose and breathing in his scent while he packed. I stared at the ceiling fan. My mind was busy and I thought, “Was he always missing his closet door? That ceiling fan was really dirty. Was Jason going to miss me as much as I missed him? What could I sneak in his luggage to make him think of me?” I rolled over onto my side and glanced at the pillow I had been using the last few nights. I slipped the case off the pillow and folded it neatly. I walked over to where his luggage was and shoved it under some shirts. I wondered briefly if I had time to repack his things, his bag was extremely disorganized. I quickly zipped it up when I heard him emerge from the bathroom. He gave me instructions on what to feed Bo and told me to take him to his work every day and pick him up. He grabbed his bag and headed downstairs without looking at me again. I got up and walked after him. He showed me the alarm code and made me enter it twice. Then he went straight to his Jeep and threw his luggage in the back. Bo stayed by me. Jason jumped in his Jeep, and I felt anxiety fill me. It was all happening too quickly. My heart started beating hard as he fired up the Jeep and began backing out of the driveway. My world started to darken. I felt my lip start to quiver, and my eyes filled with water. He drove away, and I stood there, trying not to cry. I slowly made my way up the stairs to the front door. I kept going over everything in my head, maybe he thought he said bye. My body folded in as I settled at the bottom of the stairs leading to the bedrooms. I rested my face in my hands. I let a tear drop and then another and after that I couldn’t stop the crying. Bo sat next to me and put his head on my knee.
“Bo I don’t cry. He makes me like this, weak and soft.” Bo just stared.
My pity party was short lived when I heard the front door open. I nervously looked over as Jason stepped through the door.
“How come you didn’t set the alarm?” He looked angry when he said it, taking large strides toward me.
I said nothing and tried to wipe my eyes with the bottom of the large shirt I wore. I stood up fast, awkwardly smoothing the now damp shirt down my thighs.
“I forgot something.”
“Of course.” I moved to get out of his way and he stopped in front of me. My face snapped up and my eyes locked with his eyes, and he kissed me, a long, passionate kiss, and my knees weakened. He was so good at that. I sighed when he stopped kissing me. He snuck his hand under my shirt and squeezed my naked butt cheek.
“I needed one for the road.”
“You are an asshole, you know that?” The smile on my lips told him otherwise.
He kissed me again and then left. When the front door closed, I started laughing hysterically. I couldn’t stop. I was being such a nut case. Who was I? This was the first time someone had left me, and I was freaking out. I found that funny. I sat there and my grandfather popped into my head. All right maybe it wasn’t the first time someone I cared about left me, but I still didn’t like it.
I got up and put on my running shoes on and took Bo out for a morning jog. We ran around the lake, and I took my time and did my own meditating. It was nice.
After I was ready for work, I went to the coffeehouse. When I got there, I urged Bo to get out. He hesitated, but did as I asked and walked close by my side. Bo was so big compared to me. He stood all the way to my hip, and when he brushed against me, it would almost knock me over. I was laughing at my wobbly-looking legs as I opened the door and stepped aside. Bo walked in, tall and proud, right in front of me. I made my way to the table where I normally sit and let Bo into my booth first. He hopped up, turned around, and I sat down. I pulled my laptop out and set it on the table. Bo lay down right at my side. He rested his large paws and head on my lap, and I scratched him behind his ears.
I worked on the details of my fantasy. I made a list of things to get and things to reserve, followed by a list of people to call, and appointments to make. I was charged and excited about what I wanted. For the first time in a long while I had a plan. I had a mission, and it took over all of my thoughts.
I felt Bo’s head a few times, then his ears raised and a growl sounded from his throat. I dismissed it and rubbed the area right behind his ears again. I glanced over at Mike. I wanted to ask him a favor. His eyes were large as he gawked at Bo. I waved him over, and he approached my table slowly.
“You can’t bring that dog in here.”
I looked at Bo. He was perfect.
“Is it a rule? Bo is a great dog.” Bo’s eyes opened and he peered up at me. He had the best puppy dog eyes.
“Katarina, I have a store full of law students looking for a reason to use their new skills.” I heard panic in his voice.
“No problem, Mike, I will drop him off first tomorrow.”
He was still looking around. He looked paranoid. I ignored it and began asking my favor. Mike’s parents had a ranch, and on the lower half, there was a maze made out of really tall bushes. I wanted to use it, but wanted it to be private. He was all for it. He told me his parents were away and it was at my disposal. I think he would have said yes to anything since he was trying to rush me to leave. It made me smile to think of how afraid everyone was of this adorably large dog.
“Shit, Katarina, you didn’t bring a leash?” He was clearing the way for me to leave.
“Mike, I don’t need one. Bo stays right by my side.” I grabbed my things and threw them in my bag, and Bo hopped down from the bench and strutted leisurely by my side all the way to the car. His head held high, tongue hanging out, he looked up at me, and I praised him as he got in my car. I drove him to Jason’s work and was reluctant to leave him with just anyone. The short haired lady I recognized from the last time I was here was behind the counter. She gave me a bright smile, bent down and said something
to Bo and they disappeared to the back where the offices were.
I hurried to work not wanting to be late two days in a row. When I got to work, I checked my phone. Heather had called and left messages, and Jason had left a text. I opened it.
Jason: It is crazy how much I miss you
A smile crept across my face, and it stayed there all morning. My friends at work found it entertaining and made jokes about it being stuck like that. My morning went by quickly, and Heather met me for lunch. Red was taking her on an out-of-town meeting, and she wanted to meet with me before she left.
Heather talked mainly about Red. They were hot and heavy again, and she was beaming. She was looking forward to her business trip with him and went on about her plans to “make him happy.” It made me wonder a little about our conversation the other night, if she had heard anything I said about him. I wondered if she believed what I had told her or believed his spin on what happened. It really didn’t matter, I decided, if she was truly happy. It had been years since the incident, and he could be a different person. I certainly was. I listened, and she told me all about their makeup sex, leaving nothing out. It grossed me out a lot, but I just smiled and nodded my head. She didn’t ask me anything about Jason, and I didn’t tell her anything. She ate, and I watched. Heather was very animated. She talked with her hands and turned her nose up at the waiter. She was always my entertainment, but this time I lost my appetite. I thought she would eventually change the subject and talk about something unrelated to Jared, but I was wrong. She continued, and I played with my food and eventually found the napkin on my lap much more interesting. She was quiet for a long period of time. When I looked up, she had a questioning look on her face.
“Oh, I am not sure.” I thought that would answer any question she had asked me. I knew I was wrong when she rolled her eyes.
“You and Jason should come out with us Sunday night when we get home. Red wants to get to know Jason more.”
I felt my eyes widen, and my head shake slowly.
“No, I don’t think that would be such a great idea, but I will talk to Jason about it.” I thought she was the craziest person ever to set Jared up for that kind of aggression. She definitely didn’t believe my side of the Jared story. I stood up, impatient to leave after that. It was hard for me to accept how selfish my friend was sometimes.
“Oh, are we leaving?” Heather pushed away from the table mimicking my actions. “You didn’t eat anything.”
I reached into my purse and pulled out money to pay for the meal, knowing that was my part in this friendship. I didn’t acknowledge her comment, and she responded with a huff. I turned to leave after that. I regretted missing lunch with my work friends. I said my good-byes and got into my car to head back to work. I watched her get in her car and talk on the phone. It made me sad to think of how far we had drifted. I drove back to work thinking about how different we were. Heather was like a sister to me, and now I felt nothing. I pulled out my phone to send her a text.
Katarina: Sorry about lunch got a lot on my mind. Have a great trip call me we will plan something.
She texted me right back.
Heather: K it was good seeing you.
That was ironic because I felt the exact opposite. I thought about my plans for the night Jason got home and texted her back.
Katarina: Could you do me a favor?
She texted, a smiley face and question marks.
Katarina: Could you get Jason and me on the guest list at Jared’s club for Friday night?
I knew Jared wouldn’t be there, and I also knew that it was probably the nicest place in town that Jason had never been to. Heather talked about it often, and it sounded very elegant. She texted me back right away.
Heather: Done.
That was all we said or texted to each other, and I still felt empty inside, like I had lost my best friend. Heather was the girl I knew better than myself. She was changing, and I was definitely not the same girl I had been a week ago. I recognized the changes in myself, the growing inside. I was more aware, more in touch with my own needs and I…felt.
The second half of my day went by fast. I finished up with the girls, and we all walked to our cars together. They were talking about evening plans. I envied them with their happy families and busy schedules.
I went by Jason’s work and picked up Bo. It looked chaotic. A lot of people with their pets were in the waiting room. The cute brunette at the counter was busy, with papers all over her desk. She didn’t notice me as I passed by her on my way to Jason’s office. I opened the door but didn’t see Bo. I walked down the quiet hall and knocked on another door that read Office. It opened, and Jason’s dad stood before me.
“Ah…hello, Dr. Riggs.”
His face split instantly in a huge grin. “You can call me Jackson.”
I was taken aback. My face must have said it, too.
“It’s my middle name. It’s what most people call me.”
I hesitated before walking into his office. Bo came running to me as soon as I stepped past the doorway, his body jiggling, doing the doggy circle dance.
“Hi, boy.” I bent down to pet him, then turned to Jackson appreciating the fact he left the office door wide open. “So it is really busy out there. Is there anything I can do to help?”
He looked at me, surprised. “That would be great. Can you go up front and ask Candy, the receptionist, if you can help? Maybe bring patients back and ask about their animals’ concerns?”
I smiled. I could do that. “All right, take a seat Bo, I’ll be back soon.” I scratched Bo’s back before I left the office.
I walked back to the front. Candy looked overwhelmed.
“Hi, Candy, I am Katie. Dr. Riggs seems to think I can help. He thought I could bring the pet owners back.”
Candy gave me an exhausted smile and showed me the schedule. She broke down whom to bring back and to what room. She opened the chart and showed me where to write.
I started and moved quickly. I was always a quick learner and could master most every task. Within a half hour, we had cleared out the whole waiting room. I peeked into the room I had seen Jackson enter, waved at him, and he thanked me, flashing me the same great smile he had on earlier. Bo and I loaded up and I lowered the top of car before we took off.
We went to Jason’s home, and I quickly shut off the alarm after entering the house and reset it. I had mentally started a list of chores that I wanted to tackle while he was gone. I moved about the house doing the laundry and changing the sheets. Bo attempted to follow me everywhere. I heard his grunts of complaint as I moved from room to room. I wasn’t always into cleaning, just lately. I grew up and my focus was on dance and then school and now cleaning. Cleaning is what I use lately to avoid and divert my thinking. It kept my mind and body busy. I shrieked when my phone started beeping, my adrenaline pumping.
My hand shook as I picked up my phone to examining it more closely. There was an alarm set on it. When I pushed the end button a note came up.
It’s 7:00 time to get nasty with the vibrator.
Jason set the alarm on my phone. What the hell? I studied the phone again reading it out loud this time. I blushed. He wasn’t even here and I was responding to him. I promised to try so I set the phone back down and I moved to the dryer and grabbed the sheets out and headed to the bedroom to make the bed. When I finished I sat on the edge of the mattress, trying to create a plan of action.
I removed my clothes and climbed under the covers. I reached in the nightstand drawer for the glass adult toy. I lay back, pushing the sheets down my legs. I closed my eyes and pictured Jason’s face, his eyes. I slowly brought my hands up to my mouth and made sure saliva covered two fingers on each hand. I grazed at my breast, trying to get all worked up. I pinched and rubbed, but it wasn’t the same. I needed Jason. I needed his laugh, his touch, needed his heavy breathing. I slid the dildo down my stomach, over my clit, and then positioned it outside my vagina. Before I pushed it in, I wet my fingers agai
n and slid them down my body. I made circles just like he did, pictured his tongue licking my fingers while drawing the circles. Then I moved the dildo in slowly and then out. I felt the stretching the toy was creating. I couldn’t picture Jason ever going this slow, but my body couldn’t handle fast, not with this. It felt mechanical and clinical. I repeated the movement trying to form a rhythm over and over, working up a sweat, but I was only growing more frustrated.
I finally got out of bed and looked at the clock. It was 7:25, and I was grumpy and irritable. I got in the shower to cool off, then went downstairs to finish my laundry and eat dinner. I decided to go shopping. I left Bo home and went to the mall.
I hit Nordstrom’s. I knew they had personal shoppers, or at least I had heard that. The store was empty. Most people had cleared out. I walked up to a cute young girl who looked very stylish and happy. Her smile could be seen two rooms away. I asked for help, and she perked up instantaneously. I knew this was going to be a successful trip.
The girl’s name was Cali, and she was more than helpful. She brought me a ton of dresses. I decided on a sexy, sparkly red one that had tiny straps and was tighter on top and fell over my hips. It had tiny tassels along the bottom. They felt like tiny fingers touching my legs when I was walking. The dress sashayed with my hips. Cali brought me a strapless bra and a garter and stockings to match the dress. She also walked with me to the shoe department, where she continued to dress me like a doll. She picked out four-inch red stilettos, which reminded me of my ballet dancing days walking on my toes. She walked me to the jewelry department and picked out some diamond-looking teardrop earrings and a matching diamond-looking necklace with a small flower in the center. She completed the outfit with a stylish purse that had a tiny flower on it. She was pleased, which made me very happy.
My Favorite Distraction (Distraction series) Page 20
