“I wanted to tell you I love the tags you designed. You’re really talented, girl. Even without the free sample, I think your packaging alone could sell the product. Other than making the fudge, do you have anything else to do?”
“Not really. Jeff was a sweetheart and picked up a table and EZ-Up canopy for the swap meet when I was taking the food handlers class. They’re over at his house. I practically had to twist his arm to let me pay for it. He finally accepted my money when I explained I needed to treat this venture professionally and keep track of all my expenses. I still need to get some business cards, but I went ahead and printed some when I was at Staples, using business card paper”
“Ouch. I bet that was expensive.”
“It wasn’t bad. I needed something fast. I also found some cute plastic jars online, much cheaper than the glass mason jars. I can see eventually using something like that if I start shipping the product. Not only would it be cheaper, but they wouldn’t break.”
“You’re really getting into this thing.”
“I guess I am.” Lexi smiled.
* * *
“Did you get hold of her checkbook? Debit card, something?” Ethan Beaumont asked. “It’s been almost two weeks. She should’ve been home by now.”
Sitting in the car in the Albertson’s parking lot, Jeff held the cell phone to his ear as he listened to the ranting of his employer.
“I don’t think she has that much money,” he lied. “She really isn’t spending any. I don’t think it’s costing her anything to live with Angie. She doesn’t have a car, so it isn’t like she has any expenses.”
“The girl has to eat. She is sponging off her friend?”
“I didn’t say that.” Jeff wanted to suggest that this endeavor was futile, and it would be best if he simply came home, and Ethan forget about whatever plans he had for Lexi. But he didn’t want to go home. He knew if Ethan suggested that, he would quit and stay with her. Yet, he wasn’t sure how all that would work, since Ethan was paying for the house.
“Barnett, you have one week. Peters will be coming back from London sometime within the next two weeks, and I intend to have Lexi at home, waiting for him and prepared to accept his proposal. I’m not getting any younger, and when I die I want to know my company will eventually go to my great-grandchildren.”
“But, sir, can’t that still happen if Lexi marries someone else?”
“I don’t want the company I built from the ground up to go to some loser my granddaughter picks if left to her own devices. You never met her only two boyfriends. They were losers. Fortunately, it didn’t take much to buy them off and convince them to disappear. Peters already owns half of the company, and he’s the only one I trust. I don’t want to worry about my company when I’m gone.”
When you’re gone, you won’t be here to worry, Jeff thought.
“One week, Barnett. If she isn’t here by next Friday, come home, and I’ll handle it myself. And when you do come home, drop the car off at the office and pick up your severance check.”
Jeff sat in his car staring at the cell phone. At least now he knew; if he didn’t deliver Lexi, in one week he was officially out of a job. I need to tell Lexi, he told himself.
Chapter Fifteen
Standing under the showerhead, Lexi closed her eyes and enjoyed the steady pounding of the hot water as it pelted her back and ran down her body. Tipping her head back, she allowed the oncoming water to drench her hair. Stepping partially out of the steady stream, she opened her eyes and picked up a bar of soap from the small built-in shelf to her right. Giving her skin a thorough cleaning, she thought of the upcoming night with Jeff.
Remembering their scandalous moment in the spa made her tingle and smile. It had happened so quickly and spontaneously. She wondered if a preordained evening of intimacy would live up to that memory, or fall flat and strain their relationship. What is our relationship? She asked herself. Contemplating that question, she stood directly under the showerhead and rinsed her body before reaching for a bottle of shampoo.
Thirty minutes later, Lexi was in the bedroom, dressing for her evening with Jeff. Her hair was clean and dried, as was her body. Instead of denims, she decided to wear a cute, floor-length cotton dress she had picked up at the thrift shop. Its fabric’s bright print pattern reminded her of summer and trips to the beach.
Giggling mischievously, she tossed her bra and panties aside. No reason for underwear, she thought. After rubbing moisturizer cream into her skin, she slipped on the dress. She liked the way it fit; it felt comfortable.
She normally slept in the nude and didn’t imagine Jeff would mind if she did so at his house. Grabbing her robe and a change of clothes for the morning, she stuffed them into a small plastic grocery bag. In her purse, she put her makeup bag, hairbrush, and toothbrush.
After saying her goodbyes to Angie, she slipped on her flip-flops and headed to Jeff’s, carrying her purse and makeshift overnight bag. It was a short walk. She knocked on the door but didn’t wait for him to answer. It was unlocked, so she went inside.
“Hello!” Lexi called out.
“In the kitchen, Lexi!”
When walking through the dining room en route to the kitchen, Lexi tossed her two bags on the table and turned to face the breakfast bar. Jeff stood in the kitchen, on the other side of the counter, facing Lexi. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. On the tile counter before him was a large tray holding bites-size pieces of food.
“What are you doing?” Lexi asked. Whatever he was doing, it looked interesting and tasty. Still standing in the dining room, she leaned against the edge of the counter and looked at the tray. It held a random array of finger foods. Strawberries, grapes, chunks of cheese, smoked salmon, neatly rolled deli meats, and hunks of bread filled the tray.
“I’m making dinner.”
“I thought you were going to barbecue, but this looks more interesting.” She reached for a berry, but he swatted her hand away. Giving him a pout she pulled her hand back, but then reached out and successfully snatched a berry and quickly popped it in her mouth.
“Brat.” Jeff chuckled. “When I got to the store, I changed my mind about a barbeque. Thought I’d do something a little different.”
“Oh, I love salmon, almost as much as steak!”
“Keep your hands off the food or I’ll have to punish you.” Jeff said in mock seriousness.
“Now, that sounds kinda interesting. But where is the whipped cream for the strawberries?”
“Ah, whipped cream! Thanks for reminding me. There’s also dipping sauce for the bread.” Jeff walked to the refrigerator. She noticed he wore plaid pajama bottoms and his feet were bare. Lexi watched as he removed a small bowl from the refrigerator. It was filled with oil-based dipping sauce. He set it adjacent to the bread on the tray. Next, he took a can of whipped cream from the refrigerator and used it to fill a second bowl. That he placed next to the strawberries.
“Hungry?” he asked before leaning over the counter to kiss her. She met him half way.
After the kiss, she said, “Yes, but are you going to swat my hand again?”
“Not your hand. Maybe your bottom.” Grinning, he arched his brows.
“If I try to take any more food?”
“No, just for fun.”
“Jeffery Barnett, I never took you for a bully!” Lexi feigned outrage.
“Hardly.” Jeff gave her another quick kiss, then poured two classes of red wine. “Ready for dinner?”
“Where are we eating? Outside?”
“No. In bed.”
“Really?” Lexi smiled at the idea.
“Grab the glasses, and I’ll take the tray.” Jeff tucked the wine bottle under his arm and grabbed the food.
With a wine glass in each hand, Lexi followed Jeff to his bedroom. She paused at the doorway, surprised at the effort he had obviously made when preparing for this evening. A dozen lit candles sat on the dresser, their wicks flickering. Aside from candlelight, the room’s only illumin
ation came from the adjoining master bath.
Noticing a hint of lavender as she walked into the room, she guessed some of the candles were scented. Jeff put the bottle of wine on a nightstand and set the tray in the center of the bed. He took the glasses from Lexi.
The bed was turned down, revealing powder-blue sheets under the sapphire-blue satin bedspread. Four plump pillows, each tucked into a powder-blue pillowcase, were neatly arranged in two stacks at the headboard.
After taking the wine glasses from Lexi and setting them on the nightstand, Jeff sat on the edge of the mattress and gave it a little pat with his hand, gesturing for Lexi to join him.
“Clean sheets for my lady,” he said as she sat next to him.
“Wow, clean sheets, too. I’m impressed.” Lexi grinned, suddenly feeling shy.
“Don’t worry; I don’t plan to jump you… at least, not immediately. I thought it would be nice if we could just relax, talk a little, eat our dinner.” Jeff stretched out on the bed and leaned against one stack of pillows, watching Lexi.
She stood up and moved around the mattress, then sat down again and stretched out next to Jeff after kicking off her flip-flops. They fell to the floor. The tray was between them as she leaned against the second pile of pillows.
“Are you planning to feed me grapes, or am I supposed to feed you?”
In response to Lexi’s playful question, Jeff pulled a grape off its vine and popped it into Lexi’s mouth. He turned briefly and took one of the glasses of wine from the nightstand and handed it to her. She sipped the wine after eating the grape. Jeff reached for the second glass and took a sip.
“So, do you do this for all your women? I feel like I’m in one of those old Doris Day movies.”
“You watch Doris Day?”
“Mrs. Parks, our housekeeper, would watch them with me when I was younger. She was a big Doris Day fan.”
Lexi seemed reluctant to take any food so Jeff promised, “I won’t swat your hand.”
“Excuse me?”
“Go ahead, eat. Unless you want me to feed you.”
“This is very sweet of you,” Lexi took a piece of salmon.
“What can I say? I’m a sweet guy.”
Lexi chuckled, then helped herself to some cheese.
“Assuming you didn’t just watch Doris Day when you were a kid. What was your favorite non-Doris Day movie?” Jeff asked.
“That’s easy. Labyrinth.”
He laughed. “Damn, that’s my sister’s favorite, too. I liked it the first ten times I saw it, after that, not so much.”
“That is an awesome movie. I know all the words to every song.”
“You and my sister both. When you meet her you two can have a sing along.”
“Meet her?”
“Am I moving too fast?”
“Considering the spa, I think fast is what we do.”
“Any regrets?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t be here.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Lexi had just picked up a piece of cheese, and instead of eating it, she impulsively popped it into Jeff’s mouth. He reached up and snatched her wrist, holding her hand prisoner. After accepting the offered cheese, he gently nibbled her fingertip before sucking it into his mouth. His eyes never let hers.
“You have a finger fetish,” she said when he let go.
“I think you pointed that out before.” He chuckled. “But I promise, I’ve only been tempted by yours.”
“I feel special,” she laughed.
“You are.”
Lexi blushed at his comment. They continued to nibble on the food, taking turns feeding each other and sometimes feeding themselves. When they had their fill, Jeff sat the tray on the floor, then rolled over to look at Lexi. They lay side by side, facing each other, each resting their head on pillows while propping themselves up on an elbow.
Jeff reached out and ran a hand along the side of her hip. He took hold of her dress’ skirt and gently inched it upward, revealing first her feminine calf, then her knee and finally her lower thigh. Lexi silently watched as he tugged on her hem. At one point she lifted slightly to free the fabric. It slid higher.
Jeff moved his hand from the dress to her bare thigh, lightly massaging the area. Lexi reached out to make her own exploration, running her fingertips over his features, down his neck and along his bare chest.
When Jeff slipped his hand under the hem of her dress, he discovered she wasn’t wearing panties. Smiling, he massaged her bottom and pulled her closer to him. Lexi rolled atop Jeff and the two began to kiss as his hands moved freely over the bare skin of her buttock.
Lexi loved the way he kissed. She loved the way his hard body felt against hers. She loved the way he massaged her bottom. She wanted to remove the dress and feel his nude skin against hers.
“Lexi, wait,” Jeff pushed her back slightly, trying to catch his breath. One reason for the intimate setting, he wanted an opportunity to talk to her before… before this. He needed to explain to her about her grandfather so they could move forward without any secrets. He thought if he took extra effort—with the candles and food—she would be more receptive to what he had to say and not push him away.
“I can’t wait,” Lexi declared in a hoarse whisper. She showed him what she meant when, in the next moment, she reached between them and slipped her hand in the fly of his pajama bottoms. Jeff groaned as the hand wrapped around the already hard shaft.
Unable to think, Jeff forgot about what he needed to say and gave Lexi what she wanted. With a sudden movement, he rolled over, positioning Lexi under him with her legs open and the hem of her dress around her hips. It took minimal effort for Jeff to find his way inside her warmth, guided by the shapely legs wrapped around his waist.
* * *
Jeff woke before Lexi on Saturday morning. Sometime during the night, she had removed her dress. His pajama bottoms came off the second time they made love, but he put them on again when he took the food tray to the kitchen.
He still hadn’t brought up the subject of her grandfather. Nor did he find the right time after she woke up. He spent Saturday helping her prepare for the Sunday swap meet, promising himself he would tell her later. He just didn’t know when later would come.
Chapter Sixteen
It was still dark when they drove into the parking lot of the London Bridge Shopping Center on Sunday morning. Other vendors were already setting up their booths. Each parking space on the paved lot was numbered, designating merchant spaces. From Monday through Saturday and during the warmer months, the spaces were used for parking. On Sundays from September through May, the area became a bustling swap meet. It would be an hour before customers would be arriving, but the area already hummed with activity.
Storefronts, restaurants and lodge buildings lined the perimeter of the parking lot. To the south beyond the commercial buildings was a view of the London Bridge and to the west a view of Lake Havasu.
Jeff parked next to the space Lexi had rented and unloaded the vehicle, before moving it outside the vendor area. It was a little chilly, and Lexi was grateful she’d returned home that morning and changed into denims and a blouse and had grabbed a jacket. Instead of wearing flip-flops, she wore a pair of socks and jogging shoes. She had spent the last two nights with Jeff.
Before moving the car, Jeff and Lexi erected the EZ-UP and folding table. While Jeff moved the car, Lexi arranged her space, putting up the banners she’d made and setting out the pamphlets and business cards she’d printed at Staples. From the EZ-UP, she hung mini-posters with photographs of hot fudge sundaes. She’d purchased the images online from stock sites, as she hadn’t had time to take her own photographs.
Neatly, she placed the glass jars on the table, setting them in rows. Under the table she stored the ice chest with the fudge samples. By the time Jeff returned, she had finished arranging the table and was already sitting in one of the two folding chairs they’d brought along.
“You’re quick,�
�� Jeff told her. “It looks good.”
“Thanks. I’m excited!” Lexi grinned, then noticed Jeff was carrying a sack.
“What’s that?”
“I brought us some coffee and picked up a couple of breakfast burritos when I went to park the car.”
“You’re awesome.”
Jeff sat in the empty chair next to Lexi and handed her a cup of coffee and a burrito. Together, they enjoyed their breakfast while watching the hubbub of activity going on around them. Some vendors had elaborate set-ups and took considerable time arranging their displays. Lexi silently congratulated herself for the relatively easy and quick set-up.
The sun was just starting to rise when the first wave of customers arrived, but none seemed particularly interested in a free hot fudge sample. It wasn’t until around 10:30 a.m. that Lexi handed out her first one.
“So how do you put this on ice cream? It’s pretty thick. But it’s good,” one woman said as she spooned out the last of the fudge from the small plastic cup.
“It gets thicker when it cools, but right out of the microwave it’s very hot so you need to wait about five minutes before pouring it over your ice cream.” Lexi explained. She stood behind the table talking to the woman, as several other silent potential customers tasted their samples. Jeff sat in a chair behind the table, listening.
The lady who asked the question picked up one of the jars and looked at it. “So you make it with this?”
“Yes,” Lexi continued. “You add a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of drinking water to a cup like this.” Lexi held up the 8-ounce Pyrex measuring cup for the people to see. You microwave it for 40 seconds and then stir in two tablespoons of the mix and microwave for 42 seconds.”
More people were walking to the table, lured over by the “free hot fudge sample” signs. Jeff got up from the chair and started handing out samples as Lexi answered questions.
“That’s it?” the lady asked.
Sugar Rush Page 10
