You and Only You
Brooke Young
For my amazing husband, it's always been you and only you.
You and Only You
Copyright © 2018 Brooke Young
All rights reserved.
1
Jack Ashford watched Berkleigh Woods enter the luxurious Grand Wailea lobby. Sitting nonchalantly, while casually sipping his bourbon with one ice cube, his chiseled arms resting comfortably on the bar in the Maui hotel, he texted his boss, “She’s here.”
Ding! His boss replied immediately, “Excellent. Get what we need, Jack. There’s not much time left.” He tucked his phone away, left a generous tip, and slipped over to the elevator awaiting his first opportunity for things to fall into his place knowing his plan had to be flawlessly executed.
Berkleigh thought that her spirits would’ve been brighter given the amazing spring-like weather and the tropical location of the annual conference. Though she resented the “booth bunny” stereotype bestowed upon her by a sea of drunk, over-confident men, she proudly enjoyed settling into her recently awarded promotion of SVP of Sales. The anticipated behavior she was expected to endure didn’t help matters, especially, when her clients reeked of cigar smoke and cheap whiskey. The idea of it heightened her disdain of men, something she has felt since her childhood.
Her distrust was refueled about two months ago after finding her now ex-boyfriend orally satisfying a woman in their bed when she unexpectedly returned early from a business trip. After that, she wrote off men entirely. She wanted so badly to be able to trust just one man in her life, at this point, she did not see that happening anytime soon. Therefore, she consciously decided to focus solely on her career to ensure her own financial security since she refused to follow in her mother’s footsteps after her father left them to fend for themselves. Settling for an unhealthy relationship strictly for monetary assistance, like her mother elected to do, was simply not ever going to be an option. Berkleigh didn’t need a man to take care of her, at least financially speaking. Cramming her conference packet slightly into her laptop bag she sighed heavily, another conference, same people, same conversations, and the same old schmoozing BS.
Berkleigh checked into the hotel and headed to her room. The thumping sound of her rolling luggage, along the marble floor, matched her 5’8 long gait as she walked toward the elevator. The strap of her purse had trapped some of her sugar-cookie blonde hair that fell to the middle of her back. Freeing it and pulling it over her opposite shoulder, her flowing, long mane covered one noticeably perky breast.
As she approached the elevator, the doors began to shut until a long, muscular arm halted them and forced them to automatically reopen. Berkleigh offered a smile and a polite nod to express her gratitude to the man that held the elevator for her. As she made eye contact, she blushed observing what a great-looking man he was. She went to press floor 14 and saw the button was already illuminated. Hmm, handsome stranger is on my floor.
“Oh, you’re with the bank conference, as well?” his smooth, sexy voice interrupted her thought as he nodded toward her conference packet that was sticking half-way out of her bag.
Smiling her one-thousand-watt smile, “Yes, this is the biggest conference of the year for my company.” Aware of the warming sensation that bolted through her body due to the mere sound of his deep voice, she attempted to compose herself. The doors closed ensuring the two would travel to the fourteenth floor alone, “Going up.” He quipped, little did she know that a part of him was “going up” as he was immediately stricken by her beauty. His boss had warned him, but the photos did not do her justice.
“What do you do?” Handsome, with a gleam in his mocha-colored eyes, asked as he casually leaned one shoulder against the elevator wall. He already knew the answer since she was one of the reasons he was sent to the conference.
“I’m in sales for a data processing company, what about you?”
‘Sexy Stranger’ stated that he did some sort of bank consulting, Berkleigh, barely listening, as she was preoccupied with his immediate charming demeanor. No pungent cigarette smell coming from him. On the contrary, the sexy smell of his cologne awakened a desire she thought had vanished toward men back on that fateful day she ended her last relationship.
She stuck her hand out, “I’m Berkleigh.” His well-groomed, large hand received hers. Allowing his handshake to linger as his stare remained steady on her sky-blue eyes, “Berkleigh…it’s a pleasure to meet you…love the name.” His eyes crinkled when he smiled which made him even more handsome, “I’m Jack Ashford.”
She loved how her name sounded coming from him. The heat from his touch instantly aroused Berkleigh, “Nice to meet you, Jack,” her voice was surprisingly thick with desire. By the time they ascended nine floors, she imagined hitting the stop button, seductively pushing him against the wall, and forcefully parting his lips so her tongue could explore the taste of his mouth. The sexual tension she was feeling was as hot as molten lava in a Hawaiian volcano on the verge of eruption. What the hell is wrong with me? Get a grip! She chastised herself.
DING! As the elevator doors opened on the 14th floor, Jack gestured with his left hand which was noticeably missing a ring and had no apparent tan line.
“After you, Berkleigh.”
The bankers were notorious for removing their wedding rings when they attended conferences oblivious that their tan lines gave their relationship status away. Berkleigh exited and thanked Jack as she dug through her purse to find her key. Proceeding toward her room she was aware of his strong, virile presence close behind her.
As she placed her key card into the holder that would allow access to her room, she boldly turned one last time with the sole intent to take in Jack’s impressive physique. “I’ll see you at the conference, Jack.” She saw him stop at room 1469, the room next to hers.
His eyes squinted into a smile, lit with mischievousness. Flirting, “Looks like we will be neighbors for the next few days.”
Berkleigh eyes shining, her mood having improved a little, “It appears so,” as she made her way into her room.
Smiling as he entered his own room, Jack was pleased that his plan had so easily been set in motion already. He cocked his head, surprised at just how beautiful Berkleigh was. Taken aback by this, he made a mental note that he was going to have to remind his boss that he needs to be better informed in the future. Comparing her looks to the actress Blake Lively, she could be Blake’s twin, except Berkleigh’s eyes were a brighter blue. Things just got a little more interesting. Noticing her response to him in the elevator, he shifted in his pants to make room for his gifted, and now hard, shaft. Not bothered at all by his own instant response to their brief encounter in the elevator, he cracked open a beer.
◆◆◆
It took Berkleigh ten minutes to unpack her suitcase. She sent her best friend, Laura, a text. “OH.MY.GOD. You should see the man I just met in the elevator….yum!”
Ding! “Get yourself some! You’re long overdue!”
Now grinning as she typed her response, “Don’t be ridiculous…no way, not at a conference. Okay- well maybe. ☺”
“That’s my girl! Jump back on the horse.”
“From the way it looked like in his pants, he is hung like a horse….giddy up!”
“Dang, someone is smitten!”
“Like a kitten…. Maybe he can make me purr.”
Giggling as she grabbed a cold Corona out of the mini-bar, she proceeded out to her patio. The views from her room were extraordinary. Palm trees bordered the several pools below her room, complimented by an array of colorful flowers domestic to Hawaii. Beyond the pools, she could hear the vast, calm ocean gently crashing against the sand.
Between her brief encoun
ter with Jack and the view, any remaining irritability she felt instantly dissolved as she took a drink, “Wow, this is incredible,” she said out loud.
Interrupted from her thoughts, she heard his sultry voice call out, “Hey neighbor!”
She peeked around the small wall divider that afforded hotel guests some level of privacy. He had changed and looked sexy in a black t-shirt that seemed to hug his muscular body in the right places paired with jeans that Berkleigh could only imagine embraced a beautifully, tanned six pack. Jack was enjoying a cold one, as well.
“Hey yourself,” she teased, surprising herself. Typically, her demeanor was always professional, not flirty, especially at conferences.
“Don’t you just love these events where you to have be ‘on’ for hours schmoozing everyone?” he asked sarcastically.
Berkleigh rolled her eyes and let out a disgusted snort, "Between you and me, I am so over these conferences. Quite honestly, most of the men in this industry are crude. They think that I have to tolerate their unwanted advances because they’re my clients or something.”
Jack raised his hands in a retreating manner, “Well, rest assured, I’m the exception-not the rule. I won’t behave like that, I promise. Cheers,” his eyes smiled at her. He lifted his beer toward her.
Ummm, please do! Go figure the one guy I would welcome flirtatious behavior from behaves like a gentleman. “Cheers,” she responded in kind and tilted her can in his direction.
The scent of his cologne drifted in her direction, heightening her awareness of his raw masculinity. Geez, if he only knew! Jack’s cell phone rang, and she heard him go back into his room.
She thought about calling her therapist for an intervention. She had been working tirelessly learning to redirect her need to use her sex appeal to control men and to not confuse sex for love. So far, her therapist’s efforts have been futile.
Against her better judgment, she opted not to contact Dr. Kim, instead, she allowed her thoughts to roam back to her sexy neighbor. For some reason, her body instantly craved Jack in a way that made her feel alive.
There was something about the way he carried himself, his demeanor portrayed the type of self-confidence a man exhibited when he was the complete package. The thought of the word package forced Berkleigh to think of other parts of Jack. The hair on her arms stood on end as heat rose between her legs, a throbbing sensation she knew Jack could easily make go away.
Shrugging, she chalked up her out of character thirst for him to her lack of intimacy- which had been a long time. Not to mention, her ex-boyfriend’s love making skills were sub-par at best when they were together, so the truth was she hadn’t been truly satisfied in a while, if ever, for that matter.
◆◆◆
Deciding that she had time to enjoy one more drink before freshening up for the opening reception, Berkleigh went inside to grab another beer and made her way back to her patio. Leaning back, warmth from the sun spread over her body, the view certainly helped lighten her mood.
She casually glanced over the wall that separated her and Jack but didn’t see him. Laughing as she took a sip of her ice-cold beer…Seriously if he only knew this instant effect he has had on me!
Interrupting, once again, Jack, the subject of her thoughts, reappeared outside, peeked around the wall and lifted a new beer, “Looks like great minds think alike.”
Berkleigh, caught off guard, startled, blushed as she attempted to compose herself, “Oh you startled me, I was day dreaming a bit, I guess.”
Jack tilted his head weighing her words suspiciously. He noticed a glint of light in her eyes. “Good dreams, I hope.” His heart pounded, he knew she was going to give him a run for his money. God, she is gorgeous.
She smiled sweetly, “How can they not be with my view?” Holy shit! Where did this sudden boldness come from? “I’m going to head in to freshen up before the cocktail reception. Are you by any chance going to the event afterwards?”
“Indeed, I am. I will be leaving the reception early to meet with potential clients there at the bar. I heard most of the bank execs will be there, are you planning on making it?”
Berkleigh drew in a breath while lifting her eyebrows. Her pursed lips released the deep breath, “Unfortunately, I am expected to be there.”
Her smile conveyed her genuine sentiment that followed her frustration, “but I’m glad to hear a friendly face will be in the crowd. See you in a bit, Jack.”
“See you soon,” he replied.
She disappeared into her room, so Jack took a seat and contemplated his next move, shaking his head, knowing he was no doubt heading for trouble with this one.
◆◆◆
As Jack got ready for the reception, he couldn’t help but think about his beautiful neighbor. He was hoping to have an opportunity to talk with Berkleigh more at the bar. Perhaps get to know her a lot better he smiled mischievously. He was not a “one-night stand” kind of guy but he saw the way she looked at him with her aqua blue eyes. He had observed her demeanor in the lobby and witnessed a noticeable change in the elevator. There is a reason his boss sends him to gather information from the ladies. Jack’s effect on women is second to none, sometimes without saying a word.
He reminded himself that he was at the conference for a specific purpose. It was important that he not allow himself to become distracted. He had also vowed to never hurt a woman for the sake of obtaining information again.
As he changed into his black pin-striped suit, tailored precisely for his sculpted build, he imagined how smooth Berkleigh’s lips would feel against his, how her breasts consumed by his mouth would respond while he gently tugged at her nipples with his teeth. The sweet smell of her perfume ignited every fiery impulse in him. He could practically taste her as he envisioned exploring every part of her toned and tanned body with his tongue and how her lubricated opening would receive his well-endowed cock.
Jack’s carnal hunger was instantly triggered when he saw the intense longing in Berkleigh’s eyes. It had been a while since he had been with a woman, by his choice, not for a lack of women throwing themselves at him.
He took a final glance at himself in the mirror, and said out loud, “Jack Ashford, Banking Consultant with J. Michael Hawkins and Associates.” Pausing for a moment, he shrugged, “Sounds legit.”
He poured himself a 25-year-old Macallan, checked his pocket for his room key and left for the reception, drink in hand.
◆◆◆
Berkleigh arrived at the cocktail reception around 6:40 pm, fashionably late, noting that both networking conversations and drinking were already in full force. Instantly observing the typical ‘boys club’ in the corner, where adult men lied about their golf score and bragged about the women they had supposedly bagged, she made a mental note to steer clear of that group. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes- here we go again, sometimes I’m not sure the money is worth this.
She spotted the makeshift bar area, straightened her black, above-the-knee cocktail dress and walked elegantly in her three-inch Christian Louboutin open-toed heels that offered a glimpse of her classy French pedicure. Berkleigh clearly caught the attention of many admirers, though she was oblivious to it.
As she ordered a cabernet from the bartender, Fred Anderson, CFO and long-time client approached her with a cheesy pickup line, “Hey beautiful, do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?”
Fred began to laugh obnoxiously at his own joke and Berkleigh could smell the cheap whiskey he had been consuming. And it starts.
As she made small talk with him, he attempted to move in on her personal space. Too close for her comfort, she backed away and noticed Jack enter. He had the sort of presence that seemed to command the attention of the room. Their eyes met, and he immediately offered her a look of sympathy knowing the frisky bankers’ nauseating antics had begun.
One of his greatest annoyances was the way most men acted toward women, in general. This conference was clearly going to be no exception
, especially given how beautiful Berkleigh was. Jack felt strongly about men respecting women and the scene playing out before him left him feeling agitated. For him, it was okay to admire a beautiful woman from a distance, but these bankers took it to an entirely inappropriate level.
Berkleigh felt a sense of relief as Jack approached them, he introduced himself to Fred, “Good evening, I am Jack Ashford with J. Michael Hawkins and Associates.”
He responded cordially back, “Hi Jack, Fred Anderson, CFO with US Trust and Bank. Good to meet you.”
Jack smiled and turned his attention to the dazzling beauty standing in front of him, “Berkleigh, I’m sorry to interrupt here but I have a couple of people I would like to introduce you to.” He winked at her, indicating he was ‘rescuing’ her from Fred, and then turned his attention back to Fred, “do you mind if I steal her away?”
Fred replied, “Careful, Jack, about using the word ‘steal’ around a bunch of bankers!” Fred proceeded to laugh loudly at yet another lame attempt at a joke.
Jack, being a gentleman, laughed politely then excused the two of them. He escorted Berkleigh through the crowd, her desire ignited by the simple touch of his hand to her nicely toned and semi-exposed lower back. “Thank you, it’s seriously gotten so old with these guys,” she said with sincere appreciation.
Jack smiled and replied, “You’re welcome. I really felt sorry for you when I got closer. I could smell how strongly his breath reeked of cheap whiskey.”
Berkleigh, whose bright blue eyes were sparkling as she looked at him, asked pointedly, “May I buy you a drink, it’s the least I can do for saving me back there?”
Jack regrettably declined, “Thank you but I have to head outside to the other bar for my meeting in a few minutes. How about you let me buy you your first drink out at the bar later?”
“Sounds great. So what kind of consulting….” She was attempting to make small talk but trailed off as Jack’s cell phone rang. He put one finger up as he looked at the caller ID. He politely excused himself and walked away to take the call.
You and Only You Page 1
