Thalia Lake - Choosey Lovers

by Unknown

  Satra thought the meeting was starting to wrap up, but they got on another hot-button topic – how and when to announce the merger to the public. That was out of Satra’s realm, and her bladder needed relieving after having 2 cups of coffee and a glass of water. Besides she needed to call her mom to get an update on her father’s surgery. It was driving her crazy not hearing anything.

  “If you gentleman will excuse me, I’m going to take a short break and check in with the office and make a few phone calls.”

  “Of course,” Grayson said as all three gentlemen stood up.

  Satra took her cell phone with her and walked out of the room and headed to the ladies' room. Shane watched her leave, once again entranced by the seductive sway of her well-rounded hips and bottom. Before leaving the ladies' room, she looked at herself in the mirror and checked her makeup and lip-gloss. She needed to reapply her lip gloss and cursed herself for not bringing her purse with her. She began checking her emails on her phone when she left the ladies room. While checking emails on her phone, she bumped into someone with a hard body and warm, strong hands.

  “Oh, I am so sorry!” She exclaimed.

  Her phone fell out of her hand and bounced off of the hardwood floor. The person bent down to pick it up, and when he stood erect she realized it was Shane.

  “Didn’t this happen to us already?” he asked smiling as he handed her phone.

  “It seems like you’re the only one I keep bumping into,” Satra said nervously, and offered an embarrassed smile as she took her phone from him and began examining it, looking for scratches and cracks and making sure it still worked.

  “This thing should be dead from all the times I’ve dropped it,” she said as she went back to checking her emails.

  “FYI, they do make cell phone cases, and I think you’re addicted to that thing,” Shane said half teasingly. He did feel she was addicted to her phone. He thought he was bad, but Satra has him beat.

  “Ha, ha about cell phone case Mr. Smarty Pants,” Satra said squinting at Shane. “This cell phone is a hard habit to break, but it’s a necessity and a life saver,” Satra said as she continued to look at her phone.

  Covering her hand with his to get her attention, Shane asked in a soft voice “Are you okay? And I mean really okay because you don’t seem like you are.”

  Satra didn’t know what came over her, but her emotions got the best of her. Was it the genuine concern he showed for her, or how soothing and caring his voice was, or the feeling of his warm hand on top of hers? All she knew was at that very moment she realized how much she missed him, missed his touch and needed to be in his arms.

  “Talk to me Satra, what’s wrong?” His husky voice pleaded softly to her.

  Still unable to look at him as the tears fell down her face freely, the words began to bubble forth.

  “I… I don’t know Shane. I’m so scared for my dad… I-I came home too sss...ssooon and my dad… my dad…” Satra sobbed.

  Shane was not expecting this. She was fine not even five seconds ago, and now she was falling apart. He knew the minute he laid eyes on her that she wasn’t okay. She put on a brave face throughout their meeting, but he had no clue she was this emotionally fragile.

  “It’s going to be okay, I promise. I know you’re scared, but your dad is going to be fine,” Shane said softly against her ear. His warm breath and the deep baritone of his voice vibrated in his chest, and it sent goosebumps all over her skin. Through her silent tears, she soaked all of him in, his voice, his warmth, his smell, but most of all his comfort. She missed him and needed him.

  Shane wanted to rain kisses all over her forehead and kiss her tears away. Instead, he reached into his suit jacket and got out his handkerchief. He handed it to her, and Satra used it to wipe the tears from her wet cheeks and nose. Then embarrassment set in.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this in front of you….again. I’m so sorry.” Satra whispered in between sniffling.

  Satra continued to sniffle as she tried to back out of his arms. Shane frowned down at her and refused to let her go. Satra kept her head down, refusing to meet his slightly angry eyes.

  “Look at me,” he demanded in a soft but stern voice. Satra looked up at him, not knowing what to do with her hands before deciding to rest them on his hard chest. He was holding her so close she had no choice but to place them there.

  “You’re treating me as if I’m some stranger off the street that you’ve cried on, and I don’t like it. I thought we were closer than that, that we were at least friends Satra.” He hated saying the “f” word with her, but for now that was their reality whether he liked it or not.

  Her embarrassment now turned into shame. He was right, and she hated that she hurt his feelings this way.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. It’s just… I’m at work, and I’m having a meltdown in front of you. This isn’t like me. I’m not usually a cry baby.”

  “It’s not every day that you have a family crisis either Satra so cut yourself some slack. You’re allowed to be human and to show your emotions. If I didn’t care about how you were doing believe me, I wouldn’t have asked.”

  With his kind reassurance, the words began to bubble out of her.

  “I….I just feel like I came home too soon. I let my parents talk me out of staying for a few more days, and I’m really ticked with them and myself for listening to them. I had hoped that drowning myself in work would keep me distracted, but it’s not. I can’t stop worrying.”

  Shane knew he had to do something to try to take some of her stress and anxiety away. Anything to make the tears stop and the sadness disappear from her beautiful eyes. In a matter of moments, he thought of a plan, but he wasn’t sure she’d go for it. He decided to feel her out instead.

  “You can still go home,” Shane said thoughtfully.

  “I know, Grayson said the same thing. He told me I could go back today if I wanted and take the extra time off, but I thought I would try to be patient and wait until Friday to fly out and spend the weekend with them.”

  That wasn’t what Shane was talking about, but he rolled with it anyway.

  “Well, that’s two options you have at least. You’ll be home again in no time,” Shane said, trying to be encouraging.

  “Yeah, but my biggest fear is something happening to my dad again and I’m not there. I don’t want to experience that feeling again Shane. I know stuff like that is out of my hands, but you saw me in South Carolina.”

  Looking her in her eyes Shane said in a stern voice “First you need to stop thinking that something bad is going to happen again to your father. Second, what have I been telling you over and over? Everything will be fine. You just have to start believing it.”

  Shane didn’t realize that his hands were now massaging her back in a slow, circular motion. Satra knew the gesture was meant to bring her comfort, but it was driving her crazy. It felt so good. She had to clear her throat before she could speak.

  “You’re right; I do have to stop thinking so negatively…”

  Before she could finish her thought, her cell phone began to ring. She looked down to see who it was.

  “Its my mom, I need to take this,” she said as she backed away from him, forcing him to let her out of his arms. She walked further into the lobby and talked quietly to her mother while Shane decided to use that moment to go to the restroom. He needed to calm his nerves and get his emotions under control.

  ‘No touching, remember Shane?’ He chastised himself once he was inside of the men’s room. He didn’t know what it was about her that had him touching her every chance he got. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tight when she first walked into the private dining room. Satra awakened a strong need in him that Shane never felt before. He’s usually so cool and calm and in control of his emotions. She was the complete opposite of Kate. She was warm, caring, sweet, strong but right now very fragile. He felt so protective of her, territorial almost. He’s nev
er felt this way towards a woman before, not even the woman he thought he loved, Kate.

  “Hi sweetie” came Sharon Sinclair’s tired but relieved voice, “I can’t stay on the phone long because they are taking your father to recovery as we speak, but I talked to the doctor and he said everything went fine, and he had more blockage than he thought, so it was good that he had the stent put in now versus later. He should be able to come home tomorrow, and I’ll call you again then okay?”

  “Ok, that’s great news ma. I’ll wait for your phone call. Tell daddy I love him, and I love you too.”

  “I will, and I love you too baby. I have to go now, bye.”

  “Bye ma,” Satra said quickly before her mother hung up the phone.

  When Shane came out of the restroom, Satra had just wrapped up her phone call with her mom, and she looked relieved. ‘Please let this be good news.’ Shane prayed.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked as he approached her, his heart beating fast.

  “Yes everything is good. Mom was just calling to tell me that the surgery went fine, and they were taking him to recovery. He’ll be in the hospital for another day or so, but it looks like it was a good idea to have his surgery now rather than later. He had more blockage than they thought.”

  That was good news, but the sadness and worry were still in her eyes. He decided to go ahead and share with her the plan he came up with. She may object to it, but he felt he had to give it a shot. If it would take the sadness out of her eyes and make her smile that beautiful dimpled smile that always turned his heart into mush, he’d do it. Satra saw that Shane was mulling something over in his head as he looked off into the distance behind her.

  He brought his eyes back to hers and said, “I’m glad to hear that everything went well with your dad, but what if you could go see your dad tonight?”

  “There’s no way I’d find a flight that could get me there tonight, and if I did it would cost an arm and a leg,” Satra said dismissively.

  “Not if you used my private jet.”

  His stomach was in knots. He didn’t want her to think he was flashing his wealth or trying to impress her with having a private jet. His offer was pure and genuine.

  Satra was in total disbelief.

  “Private jet? You have a private jet?” she asked with her eyes wide in surprise.

  “Wow. She still doesn’t know,” Shane thought to himself. He stood there and watched her but said nothing. His face said it all. He was dead serious, and he wasn’t smiling, his dark eyes boring into her own. Then the light went on in Satra’s head.

  ‘His family is rich - of course he has a private jet!’

  Not able to bear her silence any longer Shane said, “There’s no angle or ulterior motive on my part Satra. I don’t want or expect anything in return from you. I just want to help you out so you can be with your father.”

  ‘Is this man a mind reader now?’ Satra thought to herself. She looked at him in amazement, not only because he read her mind, but also at how selfless and kind he was being to her - again.

  “Shane I couldn’t…It’s very sweet and generous of you but…”

  “But what?” Shane asked impatiently, his eyebrows furrowing further as he searched her eyes. Her rejection wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

  “Listen to me,” he said softening his tone. “You’re miserable; I saw it in your eyes the moment you walked into the dining room. You don’t want to be here, and I don’t blame you. Just fly home, spend some time with your dad and when you’re ready fly back. You can fly back tonight, or you can fly back next Monday – it’s totally up to you. I simply want to help you see your dad, and my jet is at your disposal.”

  I just want the sadness out of your eyes.

  Where did he come from? She searched his eyes for a moment before speaking. How could she say no to him?

  “Why are you always so nice to me Shane Evans? Every time I think I have you figured out, you do something so unexpected and sweet.” Satra was getting emotional again, and she looked down at her hands and began fiddling with her fingers to try to keep the tears at bay.

  “I don’t like seeing you sad. I don’t know what else to tell you,” Shane said in a soft, sincere voice.

  It wasn’t that simple for Shane, though. Satra had no clue how out of whack his emotions were since the first day he met her. He’s putting up a hard fight against what his heart wants and what his body longs for, and they both want Satra.

  There was more he wanted to say, but this was not the time. She’s vulnerable and longing to be with her father, and he didn’t want to add to her anguish. Satra could tell he wanted to say more as she met his gaze.

  “I’ll send a driver to pick you up from work at 5:00pm, or did you want to go home first and change?”

  The decision was made, and Satra wasn’t about to object to it no matter how bossy Shane was being at the moment. She knew his heart was in the right place.

  “No, I don’t need to go home, and let’s make it 4 o’clock. I’ll tell Grayson I have something to do.”

  “Four it is.” Shane smiled and turned to walk away.

  Satra, still feeling emotional by his kindness and generosity, gently grabbed him by his hand to stop him. Her touch sent warm shivers throughout his body, and he stopped in his tracks to look back at her.

  “I feel like a broken record I’ve been saying this to you so much but thank you. You’ve been ridiculously kind to me, and I don’t know how or when I can…” Satra began in a soft voice, but Shane cut her off.

  He smiled and gave her hand a gentle squeeze and simply said, “You’re welcome.”

  He turned on his heel and walked away, heading back to the dining area. Satra stopped at the ladies room again to check her eyes to see how red they were and to see if her mascara did its job by being waterproof. Her eyes were a bit puffy, and the redness was gone, and thankfully her mascara didn’t run. She wet a paper towel with cold water and patted the puffiness hoping that would help before she headed back to the meeting.

  The lunch meeting went longer than expected, but they got a lot accomplished. Shane looked for any changes in Frank Di Amato’s demeanor or verbiage that would give credence to his suspicions that he was up to something underhanded with Lucas and Daniels. He listened and watched him closely, so closely that it made Satra wonder what was going on with him. She was still so happy and surprised at the fact that he was letting her use his private jet to see her father that night that she could barely pay attention to everything that was being said.

  ‘Maybe my mom and Alinna are right. Maybe Shane is finally my Mr. Right. He’s done nothing to prove otherwise, and as far as I know he hasn’t lied to me.’

  Not to mention the fact that she always felt so drawn to him. She loved it when he touched her or held her in his arms, yet it drove her crazy and made her heart skip beats. Their attraction to each other was undeniable, and it was strong. It wasn’t just physical either. Yes, Shane is extremely handsome and built like Superman, but that wasn’t what attracted her to him initially.

  It was that night in the gardens in South Carolina when they talked for hours and shared very personal things about themselves. It was how easy he was to talk to, his sense of humor, but most of all it was his kindness. Shane had a beautiful soul and a pure heart. Underneath the tough business exterior and no nonsense that he exudes in the boardroom lays a kind, caring, passionate man who as far as she knows, is honest. Those were all qualities that Satra held in high regard, qualities that her parents raised her and her brothers to have and to look for in others. She never saw this in Matt or her other exes. Nor did they make her feel so safe and protected the way Shane does. She believes him when he tells her everything will be okay. It was his confidence and self-assuredness that she depended on during her weakest moments. She looked at Shane with such gratitude, wishing there was some way she could repay him.

  “I’ll figure something out later,” she said to herself.

  The meeting
finally wrapped up and everyone was standing up gathering their things together. Satra walked out of the room first, and Shane was closely behind her, followed by Grayson and Mr. Di Amato, who were still discussing business. When she reached the front door, Shane stepped closely behind her and reached around to hold the door open for her. He whispered close in her ear in his deep, sexy voice “Four o’clock?”

  Feeling his warm breath on her ear, his lips almost brushing her ear made her suck in her breath and hold it for a couple of heartbeats. She could feel the heat from his body he stood so close to her, and it made her dizzy with need. The temptation to lean back into him and letting his crotch feel the softness of her round bottom was so strong she had to bite the inside of her bottom lip. Instead, she turned her head slightly towards his face that had them so close they could kiss. Instantly recognizing her error, she quickly turned away and said, “Mmm-hmm,” before she walked through the door.

  Once outside of the restaurant Shane put on his professional voice and said, “It was good seeing you Satra. I’ll be in touch soon.” The moment didn’t go unnoticed by him. It took everything he had not to steal a quick kiss from her, a kiss no one would’ve noticed because it would’ve happened so quickly. Once again, it wasn’t the time or place.