by Sharon Kleve
Gwen watched him turn and leave the room without another word. The three condoms sat on the pale wood side table by the door, their presence accusing her in their silence.
Was he telling the truth? Could she trust anything he said? She didn’t know him although deep down she trusted Janis’s instincts. She’d never been wrong before but, Gwen paused, in her thinking, there was always that mythical first time.
****
Rob opened the fridge. He found a lot of food in it although he felt sure the slim Gwen didn’t eat very much. He extracted a couple of eggs and a large slab of cheese. Gwen hadn’t eaten that morning and he guessed even she wouldn’t turn her snooty nose up at one of his world famous omelets.
“These are yours.”
Rob turned at the sound of Gwen’s voice.
“Perfect timing. Sit yourself down.” He grinned at the awkward way she held the trio of condoms in her hand.
“I didn’t come down here for…” she began, but he interrupted before she could turn the food down.
“You saved me a trip upstairs and you haven’t eaten since last night.” He lifted the perfectly golden omelet onto the plate and pushed it toward her. “No one in the history of all time has ever refused one of these. It would break my heart if you were the first.”
“I wouldn’t want to be the first,” Gwen hesitated
“Let me have those.” He moved quickly, and removed the condoms from her palm before he pulled out her chair. He eased it back in as she sat down. “I’ll put them somewhere out of the way,” he told her as he exited the room, aware of Gwen’s eyes on him. Once the offending items were hidden in his top drawer, he returned to the kitchen, noting that Gwen tensed up when he returned.
“This is very good,” she said through a mouthful as though her hunger caused a dip in her manners.
“Told you.” He grinned and sat down opposite her. “Do you want tea or coffee?”
“I don’t usually drink a lot of either,” she confessed as though the beverages were a secret she didn’t want him to know about. “I drink mostly water with a slice of lemon.”
“I can do that.” He stood slowly so as not to startle her. “But my coffee can only be believed once drunk. You won’t regret it, I promise you.”
“You make a lot of promises,” she said, her eyes full of something he couldn’t read. What did she want from him?
“And I never give a promise I can’t keep.” He lifted the coffee pot, swishing the dark contents invitingly. “Can I tempt you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he filled a large mug with the aromatic brew and slid it in front of her. The bowl of sugar and jug of fresh cream went ignored as she lifted the mug to her lips. The smile that greeted him was reward enough.
“You have a way in the kitchen,” Gwen commented as she set the mug back down on the table. “Perhaps I should sack the maid and keep you instead.”
“I don’t do laundry.”
“Not even your own?”
“Only if I’m not at home. Otherwise, Doro insists that it’s her washer and only she can handle it. Apparently they understand each other,” Rob confessed, knowing he was perfectly capable of handling any household chore, but he also knew Doro needed to feel needed and if washing a few of his things made her happy, he wouldn’t protest. Besides, she was better at it.
Gwen’s unexpected laugh felt like a beacon of hope running through his chest. He liked how her mouth curled and her eyes crinkled. When she laughed, she was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever seen.
“Your aunt has an understanding with the washing machine?” Gwen wiped the tears from her eyes.
“That’s what she says, and believe me, I’m not brave enough to argue.” Rob wanted to hear more of her laughter; it was a delicious sound.
“Is your real name Robert?” Gwen took another sip of the coffee.
“Don’t laugh,” Rob grinned. “It’s Roberto.”
“Roberto Denning.” She seemed to be tasting the sound of it on her tongue.
“Awful, isn’t it?” How could he keep the moment going? He didn’t know what he wanted from her, but he silently begged time to stop so they could talk like this forever. He liked talking to her when she wasn’t shouting at him, or trying to throw things in his direction. “Mama insisted on Roberto, although Dad never called me anything but Rob.”
“I like Roberto.”
“Maybe you could use it for one of your heroes.” Had he really said that? It was crass of him to expect her to include him in one of her books. “Or am I not hero material?” Rob wished his mouth would keep quiet until his brain had a chance to catch up.
Gwen laughed again.
“Well, you’re tall, good-looking and pigheaded enough.” She frowned as though considering it.
“Pig-headed?”
“Stubborn.” She nodded.
“Are all your heroes tall?”
“Oh yes, they have to be tall.”
“What about the short guys, don’t they get a look in?”
“There’s a formula to write a good romance.”
“Is there?” Rob rested his chin on one of his hands as he prepared to listen. He liked the sound of her voice almost as much as her laughter.
“Oh yes,” Gwen said, her eyes growing a little distant. “My readers like to know what they’re going to get. The hero has to be tall and dashing, but he’s always prepared to offer his life to keep the heroine safe.”
“Sounds about right,” Rob said and nodded. Wasn’t that the real reason Janis hired him? She’d told him something worried Gwen. She overreacted to situations which didn’t warrant her concern. He was beginning to agree with Janis. “What about the heroine? What’s so special about her?”
“She’s pretty, although not always beautiful. My readers like to imagine that they could be her; that they could attract one of my heroes. She’s sassy and self-opinionated and gets herself into some kind of trouble, which Mr. Hero has to get her out of.”
“Which isn’t anything like real life?” Rob grinned because it sounds just like their situation and he was determined to be the hero who saved the sassy, self-opinionated heroine.
“It’s make-believe, not real life. There’s no knight on a white charger waiting to save me from the dragon,” Gwen snapped. “Anyway, I need to get back to work. Thank you for the food, Mr. Denning.” She stood and gazed almost wistfully at the empty coffee cup before she walked up the stairs.
As he rinsed the china, Rob thought about the oasis of calm he’d enjoyed. . He noticed how defensive Gwen had become. Shouldn’t a writer believe in her own words? Why would she be so dismissive of a happy ending? He wanted to be the hero Ms. Gwen Lancaster so obviously needed.
Chapter Nine
Gwen swiveled her head from side to side. The familiar ache had returned to the back of her neck. Of course, it didn’t help that she’d sat there all day at the desk trying to finish Chapter Eight of the ‘Lost Lover.’ But instead of focusing on her characters, her mind kept going back to Denning and his damn sexy smile.
She thought back to their conversation in the kitchen hours before. She had to agree with Janis’s idea; he was perfect hero material. His height was spot-on because every hero needed to tower over the women in her books. He was well-toned, very handsome and arrogant enough to deserve a place between the pages. She liked the thought of an Italian lover; a cross between Romeo, Shakespeare’s hero and perhaps a modern day bodyguard. The heroine, of course, would have to be a blonde to set off his mass of dark tumbling hair and much smaller than him so she would feel protected by his presence. Yes, she thought, this could be her next bestseller.
What was she saying? Why hadn’t she seen it before? Her new hero was Denning and she’d written herself into the role of the dimwitted heroine. How sad must she be if sh
e daydreamed about the hired help?
She lifted the house phone to her ear as it chirped for attention.
“Hello?” She didn’t recognize the number.
“What are you playing at?” The voice growled.
“Jeremy?” Why was he using a new number?
“You couldn’t wait to get me out of the country before you started to show off your new lover. What kind of bitch are you?”
“I don’t understand,” Gwen stammered, her eyes immediately filling with stupid tears. What had she done to cause this venomous attack?
“Listen to me and try to understand. I know it will be difficult for you. Ditch the stud and stop trying to ruin my life.” Jeremy ranted down the phone while Gwen tried to absorb the venom in his voice.
“I’m not trying to ruin your life—” she tried to explain, but Jeremy cut her off.
“I’m not asking, I’m telling you. Get rid of the boyfriend or I promise you will regret it!” he threatened and hung up.
Gwen looked up as the door opened and caught Denning watching, his eyes brooding. She gasped, still reeling from Jeremy’s unanticipated attack. How long had Denning been there and how much had he heard?
“Are you all right?” he asked, stepping forward
“Do I pay you to eavesdrop on my private phone calls?” Gwen hissed, throwing the house phone on to the couch as she stood to face him. “You have no right…”
“I wasn’t listening,” Denning began but stopped. “This came for you.” He held out a large brown envelope and Gwen’s heart dropped. The other photos had come in an envelope like this too.
“I don’t pay you to deliver my mail and I would prefer that you left where it was. Go away and do something to earn your wages.” She waited only until Denning closed the door behind him before she turned to the envelope he’d left on the side table. She tried not to think of the flash of pain in his eyes when he’d turned away. She knew she could be cruel with her words, but she didn’t want him to get any ideas about her. He was only here for a few more days, and then her life would go on without him.
****
Rob sat on a kitchen chair, his coffee slowly growing cold in front of him as his eyes appraised the clock. Gwen had been up there for hours on her own with the mysterious package and by the haunted look on her face, it wasn’t a desired delivery. He’d not approached her again since her curt dismissal but she had a film showing to attend and time was getting on.
As he’d approached the room, he’d heard her on the phone to someone although he didn’t know who, but whatever had been said had distressed her, if the flush across her cheeks and the unshed tears in her eyes were anything to go by.
He should have grabbed the phone and warned the caller off. If he’d been her boyfriend, he would have done just that. Remembering his role in Ms. Lancaster’s life, he shook his head. It was a stupid thing to think. He wasn’t her boyfriend. He wasn’t anything to her except someone to drive her car.
He didn’t feel like a driver. He wanted…oh damn, what did it matter what he wanted? This job was only for a few more days and then he was off again. He couldn’t afford to get involved with the woman no matter what secrets she kept. He had no rights over her, no call to get tangled in her life.
“Are you ready?” Gwen stood in the doorway, much as he had done during the phone call and he felt a blush cross his face as though she’d heard his thoughts.
She wore a long pink gown, a halter neck which left her slim arms bare. But as she turned, he saw the slender lines of her naked back exposed by the deep dip of the dress. How sexy was that?
Rob followed her back up the stairs, his eyes captured by the seductive sway of her hips as she slowly climbed each step. By the front door, she stretched to gather the ivory stole from the banister, but Rob beat her to it and laid it across her beautiful shoulders. He smiled to her soft gratitude and leaned past her to pull open the door.
“Are you sure I’m meant to accompany you tonight?” Rob asked as he climbed after Gwen into the back of the slinky white limousine. Gwen seemed to glance nervously at him as she took her seat. “I mean, I’m only the driver,” he added, trying to erase the fear from her face.
“Don’t be silly,” Gwen muttered. “Janis wanted you to accompany me and that’s what you’re paid for.”
Rob saw the flicker of fear cross her face before she covered it with a veneer of indifference. He wanted to grab her, to shake the secret out of her, but couldn’t, knowing she would flee from him, would turn that distress onto him. He couldn’t live with himself if she feared him too.
“I’ll try not to show you up,” he said, soft and low but offering more than just gentle words.
****
Gwen lifted her head high as she stepped out of the limo as Denning offered his hand to help her out. It appeared to be a gallant move; one of chivalry or of love. He was the perfect suitor; tall, handsome, protective and caring. What woman wouldn’t want such a male in her life?
She flashed him a huge smile, amazed that the grin he offered in return resonated through her body, heading straight down to her toes. Why did he have such an effect on her? She barely knew him.
Lights flashed all around them; frenzied photographers eager to fill the front pages of the new romance between Gwen Lancaster and this unknown good-looking man, and excited fans wanted to get closer to her. Gwen grabbed onto Denning’s arm as though she wanted nothing more than to feel his body up against hers but he felt the tremor flood her slight frame as he slipped his protective arm around her shoulder.
“I’m here,” he whispered, his lips close to her ear, his words more than just a promise. She knew he would be there for her. The sincerity in his words filled her with hope. Why couldn’t she have met him as a man and not as an employee? Would he have looked twice at her? She’d bet he would have beautiful women throwing themselves at him. “What film are we seeing?”
Gwen smiled to herself. Denning would hate the romantic movie they slowly walked down the red carpet to see. He didn’t strike her as a romantic type. His reaction would be a pleasure to see. She only hoped he wouldn’t fall asleep.
“It’s called ‘True Love.’ It’s Marianna Christianno’s latest release,” she whispered back as they walked together to their seats. “It’s a weepy romance; you’ll love it.”
“You’re kidding me…” Rob gasped as he sat down next to Gwen in a red velvet seat. “I hope I don’t fall asleep.”
****
“You were snoring .” Gwen glanced at Rob’s face as the lights went on and the audience stood and applauded.
“I don’t snore,” Rob muttered, as he traced a hand over his face and turned to look into Gwen’s amused eyes. Her mouth was creased in a warm smile and he found he wanted nothing more than to experience the softness of her lips. Would she let him kiss her?
“You were asleep, how would you know? Maybe your multitudes of lady friends don’t tell you the truth.” Gwen’s smile chilled a little at the thought of the many women Denning was sure to have bedded. She shouldn’t feel like this, she had no right. He was her driver, not her boyfriend.
“I don’t have multitudes of lady friends,” Denning said to reassure her before he realized his tone was gruffer than he’d expected.
“Of course. You’re a one woman man,” Gwen muttered, as though she didn’t believe him. She’d already met the horrendous Melissa. How many more ex-girlfriends did he have in his background?
“Actually…” he began about to explain that his job didn’t allow for personal relationships and he’d met Melissa while on sick leave, during recovery from a car ambush on one of his riskier assignments. Before that, he hadn’t been out on a date for nearly a year. The very nature of a personal security job didn’t allow for associations with the opposite sex.
“Why, it’s Robert
Denning and his latest mistake.” Melissa stepped in front of Gwen as they made their way to the exit. She towered over Gwen in sharp high heels which forced her hips to sway aggressively from side to side as though if she stopped she would topple over. The long black dress she wore adhered to her skin as though spray painted on, the lines of her jagged hips evident beneath the thin fabric. Her breasts, as before, were on display as the low cut bodice of the dress strained to keep her on the right side of decent.
“Melissa, how wonderful to see you again.” Gwen held onto her smile; many years of practice made her action almost automatic. “How strange, we were just talking about you.”
“Nothing good,” Rob hissed as he moved in between the two women.
“And we were talking about you, weren’t we, Jeremy?” Melissa nodded her head at the man who stood just out of Gwen’s sight. But as he stepped forward, Jeremy’s furious eyes focused solely on her face. “Again, nothing good.”
“Jeremy, I didn’t know you were back in the country,” Gwen stammered, unable to believe the hatred in her friend’s eyes. First the heated telephone call and now this. What had she done to deserve this?
“If you’d answered your phone, you’d know I flew in this morning. I waited for you at the airport but you didn’t show and then I read in the papers that you’d taken up with him.” Jeremy’s caustic glare turned to Denning who stared back at the shorter man, amused.
“My phone? Oh, it’s broken,” Gwen faltered in her speech as she tried to gather her thoughts. She’d never heard such a cruel tone from Jeremy before.
“What did I tell you?” Jeremy leaned in past the stranger to hiss his question into Gwen’s ear as Melissa watched with an entertained grin. “I warned you. This is on your head now.”
“Mr. Winters, Jeremy, could we grab a word?” A man with an overlarge microphone moved in past the crowd now that filtered out of the theatre. “Is it true that you and Ms. Lancaster are no longer together?”
