Chapter Twelve
Marie
Three months later …
I stare at the glistening diamonds that light up my wrist. I’ve never owned a tennis bracelet before, but when Chris saw it in the display window of a jewelry store on Lexington, he said he had to buy it for me. He presented it to me one day while we were at home and Jenny was out running errands.
“It’s gorgeous and shines bright like you. It’s the perfect gift for the perfect woman,” he rumbles, his blue eyes glinting. We’ve been secretly dating for three months now, and I fall deeper in love with him each day.
“Chris, I love it! But you shouldn’t have,” is my shy murmur. “Besides, does it mean something?” I say, suddenly alarmed. Because doesn’t Mr. Jones only buy jewelry when he breaks up with someone? Panic races through my form in a hot rush.
But reading the question in my eyes, Chris chuckles deeply.
“You deserve it, sweetheart,” he growls in my ear. “And don’t worry. I got it because it looks good on you, and for no other reason. There’s no sub-text. If anything, I’ve only fallen in love with you more.”
I’m about to reply, my heart in my throat when suddenly, we’re interrupted.
“I’m home!” Jenny sings as she walks through the front door. We pull apart quickly to sit on opposite sides of the living room, my heart pounding furiously. Ever since our weekend getaway, our relationship has only deepened and grown more profound. Although we’re back to sneaking around once more, the two of us have been getting careless. Sometimes I cry out loudly as we make love, uncaring if his daughter hears. Sometimes, I don’t leave his bed until the day is almost light. Or even worse, Chris has started coming to my room too, our frenzied pants and breathless coupling impossible to miss. His sperm seeps from my pussy day and night, and it’s incredible that no one knows.
But everyone lives in a world of their own choosing, and Jenny either pretends not to see, or genuinely doesn’t notice.
“Hey, Daddy!” my friend sings while waltzing into the room. She hugs Chris tightly before turning to me. “Marie, the best thing ever happened to me today!” Her eyes are filled with excitement. It’s almost as if her mood is contagious. I feel myself growing happy without even knowing what her news is.
“What is it?” I ask gently.
“Jake Swanson asked me out on a date!” she squeals excitedly. “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!”
This is big news! Jenny’s always been so shy, with multiple questions about boys, so I’m happy that she’s finally been asked out. Jake Swanson is cute too, although not my type with his freckles and carrot-red hair. We scream together, jumping up and down in each other’s arms.
Chris looks on with amusement. “That’s great, sweetie. This is your first date, isn’t it?” he asks dryly.
“I know, I’m so excited! You were right, Marie. All I needed was a little confidence.” She glances at the diamond bracelet on my wrist and stops short. “Wow, that’s gorgeous.” She holds my wrist up to get a closer look. “It must’ve cost a fortune. Where did you get it from?”
I blush hot all over, wishing a hole would open up and swallow me whole.
“My parents sent it to me as a gift,” I lie. I try to divert her attention away from the bracelet. “Tell me more about your date. Where is Jake taking you?”
Fortunately, the thought of Jake Swanson is ten times more interesting to Jenny than my new piece of jewelry.
“He and Donovan Jenkowski are taking the both of us to Del Serafino for dinner tonight.”
I pause for a moment as Chris and I exchange puzzled looks.
“What do you mean us?”
“You know, silly! We’re going on a double date.”
Involuntarily, my eyes clash with Chris’ from across the room.
“Jenny, I’m not interested in Donovan,” is my gentle reply. “He’s not my type.”
But the pudgy girl can’t be dissuaded.
“Come on, Marie,” she begs. “You haven’t been interested in any of the guys at Bradford since you’ve been here. Donovan is a nice guy, and he comes from a wealthy family. I hear the Jenkowskis even own an island in the Caribbean. Imagine that!” she raves. “Maybe we can get invited on a weekend trip to the Caribbean! Woohoo!”
I’m completely frozen, unsure of what to say because Jenny has no idea what’s going on. It just looks like I haven’t been dating, but in fact, I’ve been having a full-on affair with her dad.
“Jenny, you can’t make someone else go on a date just because you have a date,” Chris interjects. I throw him a grateful glance.
But Jenny is insistent.
“Dad, Marie needs to get out there and mix and mingle with guys her own age. She’s only here for three more months. She needs to have some fun.”
“Um, I don’t know,” I mumble, looking down before desperately raising my eyes to Chris. “I just don’t know.” Because how can I go on a date with Donovan when I’m in love with Chris? I can see my man struggling to keep calm as his daughter dances a jig of happiness.
Plus, I want to be with Chris. We’ve never been out in public, just the two of us. We had that steamy weekend at the Carlton Hotel, sure, but we ended up barely leaving the suite. The plan had been to enjoy ourselves, and we did so to the max. I’m surprised I wasn’t pregnant after that week ended since Mr. Jones came in me so many times.
But the long and the short of it is that Chris and I have never been out, just the two of us together. We either stay home and cuddle or when we do go out, Jenny’s always with us so that things look kosher. She’s my best friend, and I love her dearly, but I’d give anything to go on a real date, in public, with her dad, especially because I love him so much. It’s a letdown to think that I have to be seen with Donovan Jenkowski, when I desperately want to be seen with Christopher Jones.
But Jenny’s clueless, and she starts wheedling again. “Marie, please. It’s just one night. Come out with us and have some fun. I promise I’ll make sure Donovan is a gentleman, okay? And we don’t have to call it a date. We can just call it hanging out. Do it for me. Please?”
It’s hard to say no to her when she’s doing puppy dog eyes with tears about to spring forth.
I sigh heavily while sharing another glance with Chris.
“Okay. I guess so.”
Immediately, my friend becomes buoyant.
“Yay!” She hugs me. “I’m going to go look for the perfect outfit for tonight,” she announces while dashing down the hallway to her bedroom. Chris and I are left alone with the silence hanging heavy and thick between us. I have no idea what to say.
“I’m sorry,” I finally manage. “Nothing will happen between me and this boy, I promise. I’m just doing this for Jenny because she wants it so much.”
Chris shakes his head resolutely. “I get it, but I hate the thought of you being out on a date with someone else.” I take his hand, squeezing it gently.
“I only want you, Chris. You know that.”
The billionaire’s about to speak when suddenly, Jenny’s voice sounds out.
“Marie!” she yells from down the hall. “Come take a look at this dress! Does it look good or bad?”
I whisper to her dad again, even while pulling away. “It’s her first date, Chris. It would crush her if it didn’t work out, and it sounds like she already has this whole thing planned.”
“I know,” he sighs before pulling me back quickly and planting a soft kiss on my lips. “But don’t you dare get handsy with this boy.”
“Marie!” Jenny yells again.
“Coming!” I call back to her. “I won’t,” I giggle, turning back to her dad. “And when I come home from this thing, I promise to let you do whatever you want to me.” I swish my hips as I walk away, teasing him. A groan escapes Chris’s lips as I shoot one last coy look over my shoulder before disappearing into Jenny’s room.
A tight black dress hugs the girl’s body. She’s lost weight since I first moved in, and she looks
really good. Not that she looked bad before, but I think the weight loss has boosted her self-esteem. Jenny spins around in the dress, twirling like a little girl playing dress up. “What do you think?” she asks eagerly.
“I think you look magnifique!”
“Thanks! I think I’m going to put on my red pumps. Ooh la la! What are you going to wear?” I’m not half as excited about this date as Jenny is. In fact, I’d rather do anything but hang out with Donovan for the night, so my outfit means nothing to me.
“Umm, probably just jeans and a T-shirt,” I mumble.
Jenny shoots me an exasperated look
“No way,” she says firmly. “You can’t wear jeans and a T-shirt to Del Serafino. It’s one of the classiest restaurants in this city. You need a dress, and hopefully a revealing one.”
“I won’t feel comfortable wearing anything revealing,” are my quick words. Thankfully, Jenny consents.
“Fine, but you do have to wear something dressy.” She puts on a pair of fire-engine red pumps. “What do you think?”
“Perfect,” I say. She smiles brightly at her reflection before turning to me once more.
“Go on now,” she says as she ushers me out of her bedroom. “It’s your turn. You have to go get dressed now.” I drag my feet all the way down the hall with my heart in my stomach.
Opening my closet, I sift through my clothes. There are some cute things, but “cute” is the opposite of how I feel, so I pull out a long, drab, olive-colored dress. The loose-fitting material hides my curves. It’s the perfect outfit to wear to go on a date with someone in whom you have zero interest.
I toss the outfit on and stare at myself in the mirror. The fabric resembles a sack, and my body looks absolutely shapeless. Good. I bundle my hair on top of my head in a neat updo. Tonight also calls for a bare face. I want to look as plain as possible so that hopefully, Donovan won’t find me the least bit attractive.
But then, there are the diamonds. They’re a reminder of my relationship with Mr. Jones. Should I leave them on? They don’t match this dress, for sure, but at the same time, I’m loathe to take them off.
Jenny bursts into my bedroom. “Are you ready? The doorman said they’re downstairs waiting for us.”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, shooting her a half-hearted smile. Jenny doesn’t even notice.
“Great! Come on!” she says, ignoring the tone of my voice. Chris and I make eye contact as she drags me past the living room, and I can feel the smolder in his gaze. Wow, he thinks I’m beautiful even in this ugly outfit.
Greetings are exchanged when we see the two boys. Jake is handsome, even with that carrot red hair. He has a winning smile and eyes only for Jenny. But Donovan isn’t my type at all. He’s tall, but he’s got seeping acne on his neck and a smirk that comes with having grown up rich. I die a little inside when I see him, even as I hold out my hand for a courteous shake. I can already tell that tonight’s going to be painful.
Jenny literally bounces up and down. “Yay! Should we go?” she chirps, smiling flirtatiously at Jake. “I’m so excited.”
The boy seems absolutely entranced by Jenny.
“Sure,” he says, taking her hand. “Let’s bounce.”
I take a deep breath. Basically, I’m sacrificing myself so that my friend can have a good time tonight. Jenny wants so badly for this to go well, and what’s a few hours? I’ll be home soon enough.
Pretty soon, we’re at the restaurant. Del Serafino is beautifully lit by candles on every tabletop and elegant white blooms. Donovan holds the door open for me. “After you,” he says courteously.
“Thank you,” I reply with a wan smile. I want to get this date over with as soon as possible so that I can go home to be with my man. Oh god, how long is this going to take? Our host seats us at a square table next to a large window, and discreetly, I try to scoot away from Donovan.
“So, how do you like America so far?” he asks me.
“It’s lovely, thank you,” I respond politely.
“Your accent is really hot,” he says as he moves closer to me. I literally hold my menu up in front of my face and stare at it intently to keep him from coming any closer. Jenny and Jake make small talk and exchange a few giggles on their side of the table. I’m glad she’s enjoying herself, but I just wish I didn’t have to be here as the sacrificial lamb.
“You’re staring at that menu awfully hard. See anything you like?” asks Donovan.
“Umm, maybe the eggplant parmesan.”
“Good choice.” He glances at my diamond bracelet and whistles. “That bracelet must have cost a fortune. What, do you have a rich boyfriend or something?” he jokes. Jenny and Jake both stare at my bracelet as well.
“No, my parents bought it for me,” I fib. “As an early graduation present.”
“Cool! My parents are buying me a white Lamborghini for graduation,” Donovan brags. He has no idea how completely unimpressed I am by him because Donovan is only a boy, while Chris is a real man. Chris doesn’t need his parents to buy him a car – he can buy it for himself with his own money.
I stare out of the window as Donovan drones on and on about the yacht his family owns and the different islands they vacation on every year. Evidently, this boy has been rich since birth and has no idea that listing all of the things you own is not only unattractive, but downright unappealing. The only time I perk up is when the waiter brings our food over to the table. Hopefully, if Donovan is eating, he won’t do as much talking.
And frankly, the eggplant parmesan is the most enjoyable part of the evening for me. It’s flavorful, and the rich taste of the eggplant is set off perfectly by crunchy breadcrumbs baked into the crust. Jenny, on the other hand, can’t stop smiling and barely tastes her food because she’s so into Jake. It warms my heart to see her having such a great time on her first date. Jake is a nice guy, and he’s obviously a good kid. So I guess this was kind of worth it. Maybe.
Soon, dinner’s over, and we pull up to the penthouse in Jake’s car. I feel relieved. Freedom is close. Jake opens the car door for Jenny, and Donovan opens the car door for me.
“I can walk you upstairs if you want,” Donovan offers.
“No, thank you,” I decline politely. “I’m really exhausted. I just want to hurry upstairs and get into bed.”
“Okay, for sure. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”
“See you tomorrow,” I say as I wait off to the side for Jenny. She blushes as Jake kisses her goodnight.
“Goodnight,” he says to her.
“Goodnight,” she says with a gigantic smile.
Finally, the boys are gone. Once we’re alone, Jenny hugs me tightly. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” she giggles. “Tonight was the best night ever. I had my first date and my first kiss!”
“You’re welcome,” I reply softly. I’m extremely happy for her on this night of firsts. “Jake seems like a really nice guy.”
“He is!” she squeals. “That’s why I’ve had a crush on him since the eighth grade. Thank you for making this night possible, Marie. You’re my best friend, and you totally came through for me!” But the words make my heart sink slightly because although Jenny doesn’t know it, I’ve been sneaking around behind her back. She wouldn’t be calling me her best friend if she knew what I was really up to. I gulp, shooting her a shaky smile.
“You’re my best friend too, Jenny,” I say in a wan voice.
We take the elevator upstairs as my friend babbles on and on about the date before unlocking the front door.
“He’s so cute isn’t he? I wonder if he was born with red hair, and if he’s red down there as well,” she giggles. But then my friend turns to me. “Try not to make any noise. I don’t want to wake up my dad,” she whispers. I nod in agreement, but I secretly hope Chris is awake and waiting up for me. Unfortunately, the lights are all off. My hope fades away. “I’m going to bed.” Jenny hugs me again. “Thanks again, Marie.”
“De rien,” I murmur softly,
watching her walk down the hallway to her bedroom. She goes inside and closes the door behind her. Stealthily, I make my way down the hall before lightly knocking on Chris’s door. He doesn’t answer. I knock again. There’s no sound whatsoever, and with defeated shoulders, I turn to go to my own bedroom when a noise startles me. His door creaks as he opens it, standing in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs. Yes! I jump into his arms and kiss him. He carries me into his bedroom and closes the door behind us.
“I missed you,” he growls, his blue eyes glinting.
“I missed you, too. I couldn’t wait to get home, and honestly, I hated every minute I spent away from you.”
“Did you kiss him?” His stare becomes intense.
I laugh softly. “Of course not. I only went to support Jenny. You know that.” Fortunately, the tension eases out of his shoulders at the mention of his daughter.
“Did she enjoy herself?”
“Yes, she was very happy. She smiled the entire night.”
“Good. I’m glad,” he grins. His relationship with Jenny is precious, and I love how they’re so close. But then Chris’ eyes go a deep sapphire.
“I love you so much sweetheart,” he growls as he runs his fingers through my curls. “It killed me to know you were on a date with another man, even if he was a teenage nincompoop.”
I laugh throatily.
“I love you too,” is my answering mewl. “And yes, that boy was absolutely a teenage nincompoop.”
Chris’s eyes go darker, and he scoops me up into his arms and kisses my forehead. I stare into his striking sapphire gaze. He looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world, and that warms my heart. No one can understand our love because what we share is special and precious. This moment is perfect. This man is perfect.
But in three months, I’ll have to leave him and go back to France. I miss my small village, my family, and my two bulldogs Pierre and Elsa, but I don’t want to leave Chris either. I’m in love with him, and he means the world to me. It’ll break my heart if I never get to see him again. So how am I supposed to move on and forget about this man?
My Best Friend's Dad Page 9
