by J. L. Ryan
“Really?” She said it out loud. The car had been giving her issues for a while now, but it was not the day. Of all days, not the day.
She jumped out of the car and shut her door with a bang. Now she would have to call someone and try and get the thing towed over to a garage. She hastily called Montgomery Enterprises.
After ten minutes of dealing with some snotty girl she passed on her message. He was probably laughing at her misfortune and happy she wouldn’t be there to get in the way. She kicked the curb on her way back into her room and waited to hear from him.
Oh man, she was going to be angry, he smiled slightly thinking about her reaction. He wouldn’t doubt it if she was kicking in the side of her car right now. He hung up his phone and looked around the penthouse for his coat. He decided to try and get on her good side and so he sent her a text asking where she was staying.
Perhaps there was some way he could put her back in a good mood before he arrived. He made his way downstairs and to his personal car. He liked to venture out on his own sometimes and today was the perfect day for it. He glanced up at the sky and frowned. It was probably going to snow later today. They weren’t going to have much time if he didn’t hurry. He pulled out onto the highway and made his way into town.
She was puzzled by his message, at least she assumed it was him. It wasn’t like he had said “hey, it's Montgomery.” She was frustrated by the whole situation and her lack of expertise when it came to cars. She needed to take a class or something. This was an awful situation to be in.
She saw him pull up before she even looked at who was driving. The red sports car was sleek and shiny and she knew it could only belong to Montgomery. She walked towards him from the lobby as he got out. He was handsome in black denim and a polo shirt. He had on a black coat and gloves, which he took off as he made his way over to her. He even had a sexy sway to his walk. She rolled her eyes, disgusted with herself.
He tried to gauge her mood as he made his way over to her. She had her arms crossed again, a sure sign she wasn’t happy. Her jeans were tight, perfectly tight. She had rounded hips, he wanted to touch and her mane of hair flowed down past her shoulders. He wondered what it would feel like if he put his hands in it. Instead, he gave her a smile.
“I figured I could just pick you up and we go together. Saves time and gas.”
“You could have told me you were coming. Or said who you were when you text me, you know?”
“Sorry, I was in a hurry.” He frowned at her slightly. She really was always in a foul mood. “If you’re coming I suggest we get going.” He turned and headed towards his car.
She felt bad immediately. What was wrong with her, she was never this short tempered. She followed him to the car and slid into the seat, buckling up as he shut her door for her. She waited until she was inside before addressing the topic at hand.
“Listen Montgomery, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just so concerned about Nana. This car situation just pushed me over. I appreciate the ride, really.” She gave him a quick glance as he buckled up.
“My pleasure, and please call me Jacob. Using my last name reminds me of high school football. I don’t want to revisit that.” He grimaced slightly and she smiled.
They made their way to the water treatment plant near Daniel Island. It had been a huge undertaking for the company and he had overseen every aspect of the project. He had educated himself about the filtration process, but he wished now that he had learned more about the engineering of it. It was a gleaming metal unit attached on one side to the building that held the support offices and the staff who maintained it.
They made their way down and into the building. She had never been this close to it before and was in awe at the mechanics that went into running something of this magnitude. He asked for Benjamin Astren the manager of the plant and they were quickly greeted by a round man with a face as red as an apple. His happiness was almost infectious as he pumped both of their hands and led them into a control room. Most of what he said made no sense to her, but she took in every aspect of the system and how it worked.
“This channel here, do they lead strictly to Daniels Island or does it cover something else as well?” Both men turned her way and Benjamin answered.
“This filtration channel strictly runs to Daniels, more specifically the smaller end of Beresfor Creek. You can see the larger system pumps into the larger area of Beresford and then branches to Nowell Creek.”
She looked over the system more before following them down towards the actual filtering controls. If the filtering channel ran strictly to Daniels Island than the issue would have to be central to that one run. She moved towards the huge pumping filters. They were massive and connected the water in the creeks into the system and then back into the holding tanks that would then pump water to the homes where they were directed. The whole set up was beautiful, even if it was making people sick.
“I have set up something for you both. I understand that there has been some concern on your part Miss Randolph about the water content. I have some instruments here, and if you would like to I’d be happy to allow you both to take your own samples and run them through the testing equipment. I think this could help with what you’re looking for.”
She smiled at him and readily agreed. They spent the next two hours moving and testing water both filtered and unfiltered. They talked about life in general, her work and his and she found that he really wasn’t too bad to spend time around after all. He was still a rich snob, and a bully, but he wasn’t as bad as she originally thought.
He was feeling the same way. She was a strong and smart woman and, unlike most women he knew, she didn’t care that her clothes were wet and messy. She was on a mission and was all businesslike about it. She needed to know the truth. He loved the tinkling sound her laugh made when she wasn’t trying so hard to be stern. He wanted to kiss her, right there with water spraying on them in the frigid air.
Even in these temperatures he was on fire thinking about it, about her. Eventually they were done and what they found left them both puzzled. There was no indication of any levels of negative or harmful properties in the water. What was being sent into Daniels Island was as pure as it could come.
What bothered him was the lack of an Hd5 filter he had specifically asked for on the system. It hadn’t been put on the system and he had a pretty good idea why. The bored had fought him on the cost. They both left the plant lost in thought. After an audible sigh coming from her he glanced her way. She was upset and visibly so.
“I know you wanted, needed even, something to be there in that water. I had it tested over and over again. I also know, given your personality you wouldn’t believe me unless you did the testing yourself.”
“What do you mean my personality? Contrary to what you may think I am a very pleasant person to be around.” He gave her a look with a half grin and she knew she was delivering him exactly what he had been referring to.
“Yeah, okay, I get it, I can be… difficult. It’s just Nana, it doesn’t make any sense at all Jacob. She is fine then goes home and then is sick again and everything they test at the hospital says it’s in something she drinks. She only drinks water, I know that for a fact. That’s all she has ever drank.” She tapped her fingers on her lips in thought.
“I’m not sure what it is, but I’ll continue to keep digging. I like it when you’re not angry at me.” He smiled at her again.
She felt the heat rising in her face. He had the most unusual ability to make her blush. She usually had a firm control on it. He turned left as they entered town and she frowned. This was not the way to the hotel. She felt the panic start building and she gripped the handle of the car door.
“Where are we going?” She gritted out the words. He turned to see her white faced and gripping the door. What was wrong?
“Hey, you ok? I was going to stop off for lunch, that’s all. There is a diner right there see?” He pointed ahead and she could see the
building. She relaxed and pulled her hand off the door handle.
“That’s great, I’m starving.” She gave him a weak smile and he frowned. Something was not right and he intended to find out what it was.
She excused herself to go to the bathroom once they were inside. She splashed some water on her face fighting the tears she didn’t want to come. When would she ever stop being afraid? It wasn’t often, but when the panic would set in, it was hard to shake off. Jacob wasn’t going to hurt her, she knew that.
There was something about the day Evan had disappeared and the way the man had grabbed her. If he hadn’t come along she might have made it home. She stood and used a paper towel to blot dry her face. She pushed her mass of hair back and pinched her cheeks for color. She frowned slightly. Was she really in here primping for Jacob Montgomery? She turned and made her way into the restaurant.
He noticed the color had returned to her face as she sat down. He continued to watch her as she ordered food and he gave her a smile once he had done the same. They made random small talk and he smiled again.
“What are you smiling at Jacob?” she leaned forward in the booth slightly.
“Nothing at all Amelia, I am appreciative of how you do things that’s all.”
She frowned again, that didn’t sound very promising. “What do you mean how I do things?”
“I’m just used to women being a certain way that’s all. I like you better.” He flashed a smile at her again and she blushed.
“What’s wrong with me that I’m not like other women?” The words were no sooner out of her mouth and the waitress delivered the food. She looked down at the massive meal before her. Chiliburger, fries, milkshake and cherry pie. She took a gulp and blushed as she looked up at him, “Point taken.” His laughter was loud and she joined in with him.
“You are too much Amelia.” He wiped at his eyes and started to attack the food on his side.
They hadn’t been eating long when a leggy blond came into the diner. She gave a once over around the room until she found who she was looking for. Amelia knew trouble when she spotted it and this was definitely going to go badly.
The blond stopped at the table and made eye contact with Amelia. The two instantly disliked each other. The air surrounding the blond was enough to make you choke. She held her head up high and had a disgusted look on her face as she glanced around at the other patrons in the room.
“Jacob, darling.” She said it sweetly and he gave a start as he glanced up at her.
“Jessalyn, wow, what are you doing here?” He stood up quickly and glanced over at Amelia.
“I called the office and they said you were stopping here on your way back, I had to see you darling, and something important has come up.” She looked down her nose at Amelia before adding. “Darling, what are you doing in a place like this?”
He gritted his teeth and introduced the two. “Jessalyn this is Amelia, Amelia, Jessalyn.”
“Nice to meet you.” Amelia managed to get out. She received a half smile from her counterpart.
“Jessalyn, now is not a good time we are working on some business together and I’m driving.”
“Really Jacob we need to talk, it looks like there is another person here with you, ” she gestured at all the food on the table, “Can they not take her home, I really need to chat with you.” She felt the sting of the words and noticed he had the decency to look angry.
Before he had a chance to make it worse, she decided to chime in. “Jacob its fine, I can find my way to the hotel, it's just around the corner. Go its fine.” She leaned back in the chair, noticing the pained look on his face.
“No, it’s not right here.” He threw her his keys. “Drive it to your hotel and I’ll come get it later. I’ll just ride with her.” Before she could turn him down he left and escorted blondie with him.
It wasn’t really about what she said. It was really about how this woman was the type Jacob was obviously interested in. She never wanted to be like that. She would take her jeans and a chili burger every day of the week before she would show up and look down her nose at the world. She finished her lunch and decided to take the sports car for a ride to the hospital.The rest of the evening flew by for them both.
Jacob's head was reeling and he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. Jessalyn had come back here just to tell him she may be pregnant. The last thing he needed was a baby with a woman he didn’t love. It changed his entire thought process. If it was his of course he would be a good father. There was nothing more important than that. She was going to the doctor tomorrow and then he would know what was going on.
He looked over at his clock. 8 pm. Amelia was probably wondering when he was coming to get his car. He loved that car, he was still surprised he had given her the keys. He tried to call her but no answer. He smiled. She had been carefree and relaxed. He liked her that way. Whatever had caused her to panic in the car is what concerned him. Something wasn’t right there and he decided to look into it. He sat forward and opened his computer.
Her back was killing her. All she could think of was the pain she was feeling and her eyes flew open to investigate the culprit. She was draped across the chair in Nans room and the blanket someone had draped over her had twisted itself into the nuisance currently digging into her back. She glanced at the clock and yawned. It was 10 o'clock. She needed to get back to the hotel.
She felt around the table for her keys and frowned at the weight of them. Suddenly her eyes opened wide. She still had his car. Damn. She jumped up carefully tiptoeing out of the room and rushed out to the car. She slipped into his cool leather seats. It was only then that she noticed the snow was falling. She grabbed around for her phone and noticed he had called. She decided to text him in case he was asleep.
“Fell asleep, sorry. Your car is at my hotel whenever you want it.”
She carefully made her way through town with a smile on her face as the snow fell gently in waves. She had just pulled into a spot and jumped out when she heard something behind her. She stopped.
“Hey beautiful come hang out with me.” He was drunk and walking towards her car. He was halfway between her and the hotel. She grabbed her purse and started to run past him. He reached out and grazed her arm and she went into a full panic. She sprinted past him and ran into something hard and warm. She looked up and Jacob was the last thing she saw before she fainted.
Warmth. She always loved it. She snuggled down into the blankets and sighed. She had been having the most wonderful dream about Jacob kissing her. Jacob! She sat up with a start. The last thing she remembered was looking up at him.
“Hey there sleepyhead.” He was comfortably draped out in a chair beside her bed and reading through some paperwork. She looked over at the clock. It had only been an hour since she left the hospital.
“What happened? What happened to that man did he leave?” She was frantic now and shaking like a leaf. He walked towards her and wrapped her in a hug.
“He is gone, Amelia, I called the police and he is gone.” He felt her relax in his arms. She smelled like lavender.
He wanted nothing more than to stay just like this. She raised her head to look at him and it was more than he could take. He crushed his mouth to hers. Tasting and exploring. He had wanted to kiss her since the elevator and it was better than he had expected. He felt her let go and he deepened the kiss. He slid both hands into her hair and pulled her head closer still. They fed on each other’s lips until finally the kiss broke.
He stared at her, wanting her. He couldn’t remember a time in his life where he wanted someone more. She was panting, having been as rocked by the kiss as he. Not like this, he wanted her but not because she was vulnerable. He stood and walked over to the window. The snow was falling and it was getting deeper by the moment. If he didn’t leave now he would be stuck here.
“Jacob, are you going to leave? You don’t have too, if you don’t want to.” She wasn’t sure if she was motivated by fear or desire. She just did
n’t want him to leave.
“I don’t want to leave, Amelia. I’m rarely one for doing the right thing, trust me.” He glanced over at her. “You’ve had a rough night, I don’t want to take advantage of you. When we make love I want it to be because you want to.” The last words he spoke as he looked at her.
She needed no other convincing. She wanted him. He had been there for her, and stayed to make sure she was ok. He had helped her try to find out the problem with the water. He had been there. She stood beside the bed and took off her pants as he watched her.
She climbed back onto the bed on her knees and pulled her shirt over the top of her head. She rid herself of the rest of her clothing quickly and he was afraid to move. She was perfect, if he moved he was afraid he would ruin it somehow. He managed to say her name through gritted teeth.
“Amelia, are you sure?” At her nod, he quickly made his way over to her. He covered her in kisses and so started a night they would never forget.
The sun was almost angry. That was the only thing she could think of at the intrusive way it beamed in on her. She glanced at the clock and was shocked it was 9 am. She never slept this late. She tried to sit up and felt the chill in the air. Suddenly the previous night flooded her memory. She looked around her. She was in a tangled mess of sheets, and she was alone. She wrapped one around her and made her way over to a note on the table.
"Be back soon, getting breakfast. Shower. We need to talk." J
She smiled as she made her way to the shower. Gone were the fears of the night before. She knew she would have to explain it all to him in time. She frowned, in time? She would be a fool to think this was anything more than a one time thing. Especially after meeting “blonde and leggy” yesterday.
