“Where are you?” Alana asked.
“Oh, crap, sorry, I totally forgot! Last night was . . . interesting to say the least,” she said.
“I don't want to hear about it,” Alana said, laughing a little, but meaning it. She couldn’t help the little green devil inside her; jealous that Marie had been able to enjoy herself while she had wallowed in a pool of self-pity.
“I really think you do, but that's a story for later. How was the rest of your night? I did try and find you but you had already gone.” Marie’s voice was gravelly with sleep.
“Yeah, not much. There was one guy that came up to me but he was just, well, like everyone else really,” Alana lied. She didn't want to tell Marie that she had blown yet another opportunity to date a respectable (very possibly rich) gentleman. “So, I just left.”
“That sucks, well, another time. There are always more fish in the sea! Oh, by the way, can you do me a favor?” Marie asked.
“Depends what it is.” Marie began to run in place. The air was cool and crisp. She needed to warm up.
“Do you remember Dylan?” Marie queried.
“Your little brother?”
“Yeah, well, he's coming to stay with me for a while and he's coming today. I don't think I'm going to be able to make it back in time to meet him. He just told me he's going to be there in about half an hour. Do you mind just letting him in? You should be done with your run by then, right?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“You're a star. I'll catch you later,” Marie said, and hung up.
Alana shook her head. Obviously, Marie was enjoying herself while, once again, Alana took up the slack. Ah, not fair. I’m just feeling hard-done-by, she realized. Taking a deep breath, she pressed play on her iPod, the soles of her sneakers slapping against the sidewalk as she ran around the neighborhood. She lived in a nice suburb just outside the city, which afforded her the best of both worlds. She'd lived in the inner city as a child – in the slums, actually. She’d hated how grimy, greasy and disgusting her neighborhood had felt. The air was much cleaner in the suburbs, and the crime rate was lower. It was just a better class of people, she told herself. As she ran along she watched the cars glide by on the smooth, wide roads, and she nodded at people walking their dogs. Respectable people with expensive dogs. It was a bright and sunny day and, as she ran, she felt better about herself. There would always be well-heeled men around and eventually she would find the right one.
Her music soothed her soul, and while she ran she considered the possibility that she was too old for clubs and bars, and that she should stop going to them. But she didn’t know how else to meet eligible men. Internet dating sites would be filled with desperate losers, wouldn’t they? Sadly, most suitable men that she’d find desirable had already been snapped up. The only eligible men left were either the bad eggs, or were divorced, and she wanted someone who was pure. That's probably why she ran away from Jack, she told herself. He was the kind of man that had to have been married at some point and a divorcee wouldn't do. Too much baggage. And what would people think? No, she would just have to be a little more patient. The right man would present himself.
She glanced down at her watch and turned towards Marie's place. What she really wanted to do was go back and have a cool shower to relax and rejuvenate herself. Ah, well. She could help Marie out. She tried to think about the last time she’d seen Dylan. He was a good few years younger than Marie, and must have been about twenty-four or twenty-five now. Alana had last seen him when he had visited a few years ago. She didn't remember much about him. He’d been skinny, a cocky kid interested in cars and video games and fighters or some stupid thing . . . She didn’t look forward to seeing him. She’d make it quick.
Alana liked her routine. It afforded her structure in her life; a barometer of her success. As long as she kept everything organized she could achieve her goals. Sweating, cheeks flushed, she made her way to Marie's house and opened the door, for the two of them had given each other their spare keys in case of emergency. There was no sign of Dylan yet so Alana poured herself a glass of water and waited . . . and waited . . . and then waited some more until she grew frustrated. Time was ticking by and she didn't even have Dylan's number to check when he was going to be coming. She tried calling Marie again but there was no answer. She was probably too busy with the guy she had met the previous night to answer the phone. Alana exhaled quickly and tapped her fingers on the kitchen island surface. She hated sitting there in her own sweat and wanted to cool off. Well, it was Dylan's fault that he was late, so if he had to wait outside while she took a shower then so be it.
Carefully locking Marie’s door again, Alana moved through the modern little home to the bathroom and turned on the shower, waiting for it to warm to the perfect temperature. She peeled off her tight clothes and stretched out her muscles, then stepped into the shower where the powerful water slashed at her body. Closing her eyes, she instantly felt the tension melt away. Grabbing the soap, she watched the suds form on her body, lathering on her skin, then washing away, sliding over her curves. She closed her eyes as she let her hands wander over her body, gasping as arousal took hold of her. Suddenly she heard a clattering noise that startled her.
Straining her ears through the sounds of the water, Alana's throat ran dry. Could it be a robbery? Another noise made her heart leap. Quickly, she turned the shower off and stepped out, wrapping a towel around herself. She looked around for anything she could use as a weapon but there was nothing; only some hair straighteners, She picked them up, wielding them like a bat. Slowly, she opened the door. She couldn't just hide in the bathroom. Tip-toeing out, she looked around. She made her way to the kitchen peeked around the corner. There a big, tall, dark-haired man stood, facing away from her. Hands trembling, she approached and proceeded to whack him. “Get out! Get out! I’m going to call the police!” she cried.
“Whoa whoa! Hold on!” the man said, firmly grabbing her wrists. She looked up at him, terror-struck. He was huge. A towering bearded giant, who looking like a Viking. Yet his terrible mouth turned into a smile and his eyes lit up with recognition. “Alana!” he exclaimed, reaching out to hug her tightly. Alana stiffened, then looked at him again, this time more closely.
“Dylan?” she gasped, astonished, for this man looked nothing like the boy she remembered. He had been a geeky, lanky kid! Now he had grown into his body. His biceps bulged and his shoulders were broad. Thick dark hair fell down to his shoulders and his strong chin was covered with dark stubble. Alana felt a quivering throughout her body, though she would have said he was not her type at all.
“The one and only,” he said, smiling widely at her, grabbing her hand and shaking it. “Do you mind putting those things down?” he glanced at the straighteners.
“Oh, yeah, sorry about that,” she said, blushing. How could I have not known it would be Dylan here? She placed them on the counter, and caught his eyes scanning her body. With a jolt, she realized that she was only clad in a towel, and that flecks of water were still trickling down her exposed flesh. A flush crept across her cheeks and her ears turned red, but she didn't hate it, though she knew she should. “What are you doing here?” she asked him. Marie told me you were coming about half an hour ago? Couldn't you wait at the door like a normal person?”
Without waiting for an answer, Alana turned heel and hurried into Marie's bedroom, grabbing a tee-shirt from her drawer, listening to Dylan speak as she pulled it over her head, the towel now tied around her waist. She felt a little more respectable.
“You know what my sister is like, she's always forgetting. I did knock but I guess you didn't hear me. With Marie it could have been hours so I thought I'd see if there was a way I could get in. Guess people aren't that big on security out here.”
“We're not used to people climbing in our windows, no,” Alana said, turning, startled to see him leaning against the frame of the door. He folded his arms across his wide chest and Alana pushed past him, moving back out in
to the lounge. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“Just thought I'd come and stay with Marie for the summer. I can't face going back to my parents you know, not after being so free.”
“Free?”
“Did Marie not tell you? I spent the last six months in Africa working with kids.”
“Why would you want to do that?” Alana asked, turning up her nose. Nothing sounded worse to her!
Dylan laughed. “Because it felt good. I loved it.”
“Yeah, but didn't you miss things like electricity and showers and clean clothes?” Her eyebrows furrowed as she cocked her head to the side.
“I think a lot of what people think they need are just things they want, or they're used to. It’s amazing how well we survive without all of that. It was a fantastic experience. It really opened my eyes. I think everyone should do something like it once in their lives, just to get a new perspective of the world.”
Alana nodded, rolling her eyes. “I think my perspective is good enough, thank you.”
“If you say so,” he said, grinning. He had changed so much since she had last seen him. There was an aura about him, a self-assurance that was magnetic and she gulped, knowing that she shouldn't be attracted to him for so many reasons.
“So, you didn't want to go home?” she asked
“No, I couldn't handle being there again, having to listen to my mom fret about what to have for dinner. I figure at least while I'm here I can be my own person until I figure out what I want to do next.”
“Like maybe getting a proper job? A career?” Alana smiled feeling very much the wise old guru.
“You know, I don't really think that kind of thing is for me,” he said, his eyes gleaming. “I might go to Thailand or China and teach English, or help out on farms in Argentina. I haven't really thought about it too much yet.” He looked directly at her and smiled. “How are you anyway? It's been a while since I last saw you. What have you been doing?”
Alana almost glared at him and had to pause for a moment. She had no news to tell. She hadn't done anything impressive. Her life was stagnant. She faltered a moment. “Just this and that, usual things, I'm sure you've heard plenty from Marie.”
“And your love-life?” He smiled wickedly, his dark eyes dancing with mischief.
Again, Alana felt uncomfortable. “Actually, I met a very nice man last night,” she said. Dylan looked at her, his eyes twinkling. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't like the way he was looking at her.
“That's good, I hope it works out well for you,” he said. Before he could say anymore Alana excused herself, returned to the bathroom to dress and left, breathing deeply. The sheer force of his presence was suffocating and her heart raced. She could not be attracted to this kid! A kid so opposite from what she was looking for. She could never be with someone like him. He was a wild man who did not have his head screwed on. Really, who would spend their time working on a farm in Argentina when they could be saving up for a car or a home? He was wasting his life and he didn't even seem to care. Unlike Alana, who cared a great deal.
She returned home with a lot on her mind, for the questions that Dylan had asked her made her think about the state of her life. On a day to day basis she could always tell herself that she was moving forward, but when it came time to look at the last few years it was clear that she hadn't made any progress at all. She didn't know why she’d lied about Jack to Dylan either. She just hated to think that Dylan might find her life empty and hollow.
When she returned home and turned on her computer to check her email a surprise was waiting for her, though, an e-mail from a very unexpected source.
Chapter 3
Ms. Masterson,
I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable last night. I've been trying to think of anything I did to make you run away but my mind is drawing a blank. If I offended you I am sorry, and I would like the opportunity to make amends. Dinner? How about the Azure Restaurant tonight at 7:00?
, J Martin
It was only a short email, but it made Alana's lips curl into a smile. This was the kind of man she needed, someone who would chase her even when she freaked out. Obviously, a take-charge guy. She had no idea how he'd managed to get a hold of her email address, but she didn't care. It showed that he was determined, and it had been a while since she had been chased. Quickly, she dashed out a reply and then sat back in her chair, placing her finger between her teeth and thinking about the future. Maybe this is what she had needed all along, and she had been given a second chance. She wasn't going to waste it.
That evening she put on a little black dress and caught a taxi to Azure Restaurant. It was in the heart of the city, a place where only the wealthiest frequented. Silver earrings dangled from her ears and she had pulled her hair up, revealing her slender and graceful neck. Jack was already in the restaurant, looking perfectly at ease, chatting with the waiter. A man who belongs in this kind of place. He looked even more handsome than he had the previous night. He rose and kissed her on the cheek. His lips were soft. His aftershave smelled crisp and expensive. He pulled out a chair and ordered a bottle of wine from the server.
“I'm glad you came,” he said, smiling, looking at her with appreciation gleaming in his warm, blue eyes.
“I was hardly going to pass up the opportunity,” she replied. “Besides, I’m curious as to how you got my e-mail address.”
“Oh, a man has his ways,” he said mysteriously, then chuckled to himself. “It just took a bit of searching really. You told me your name and nowadays that's enough to know a lot about a person. But when Cinderella doesn't even leave you a slipper what is a man to do?”
“I am sorry about last night. I think the drinks got to me. I should probably stay away from it.” At this point the server returned with the wine and they both burst out laughing. The server raised an eye-brow and hesitated. Jack nodded, smiling amiably at him, and he proceeded to pour a little into a glass. Jack sniffed the cork, tasted the wine, and gave an approving nod. “Well, maybe after tonight,” Alana said when they’d given him their orders and the server had gone.
“So, what did happen? I mean, it seemed like you had something on your mind.” How could she resist his kind, concerned expression as he leaned toward her, looking into her eyes.
Alana took a sip of wine and mulled over whether to tell him the truth or not. In the end she decided that it had been a long time since she had enjoyed a real conversation with anyone. She might as well be forthright. “I was just fed up with that scene. I looked at those girls and I remembered being one myself ten years ago.” She paused to look at him, gauging his expression. He continued looking at her with open interest. She continued, “and it just made me sad that nothing has changed in my life. I don't feel like I've accomplished much at all.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled. “I'm sure that's not true, but I think it's a natural worry when you get through your twenties. I felt that way for a while but, to be honest, my thirties were probably the best years of my life.”
“Really?” She blinked.
“Oh yeah, I had been through that awkward stage, I knew my place in the world, and I was ready to move forward and get to where I needed to go. Now I feel comfortable in my own skin. Usually.” He winked at her, chuckling.
“It shows,” Alana said, smiling coyly behind her glass of wine. The food was delivered to the table, steaming succulent meat and crunchy roasted vegetables. It looked and smelled divine. There’s nothing like fine dining, she thought. Through the meal they continued to talk non-stop. It was one of the easiest conversations she’d ever had. She learned that Jack was the owner of a fortune 500 company, that he owned properties in various countries and often traveled between them, spending a lot of time away. This was the life Alana wanted. This was the kind of travelling. Not like Dylan who wanted to live in a mud hut!
The food and wine were delicious, as was the company, and she soon found herself drawn to Jack, who was witty, charming, and sophistic
ated. He had an easy manner about him. No wonder he’s been so successful in life! He was so good with people. So why is he still single? Alana vowed to put a hold on her feelings for she feared that he may have a dark past with a possible marriage or two lurking in the shadows.
“So, Jack, tell me a little bit more about your life, a man like you must have a lot of admirers, but I don't see a ring on your finger.” She twirled a finger in her hair, inclining her head as she looked at him enquiringly.
“No, I've never really had time for marriage, sad to say. Well . . . there was one close call but that . . . that didn't work out,” his eyes quickly darted away, spiking Alan’s curiosity. “I spent a long time building up my company.” He looked up at her, clearly uncomfortable for the first time. “In life you have to make sacrifices. Relationships were one thing that I never quite figured out. But I've made the decision that I'm going to . . . “He paused, looking into her eyes. “I’m going to pursue it. It's time in my life where I need some companionship, where I want to build something with someone.”
He slid his hand across the tablecloth to meet hers. His skin was softer than Dylan's, she noticed. His grip less firm. (Why am I comparing him to Marie’s brother?), but his blue eyes shone in the restaurant. The flickering candlelight cloaked his face in an orange hue, and Alana knew him to be sincere. It was what she wanted as well, so very very much. It’s almost too good to be true! She smiled and linked her fingers with his.
“Shall we get out of here?” he asked. Alana nodded. Jack paid the bill then led her out of the restaurant into the cool night air. They strolled down to the river where the silver moonlight shone against the rippling dark water. Alana shivered and goose-bumps prickled her arm. Jack wrapped his jacket around her shoulders, enveloping her in his warmth and his scent. She looked up at him with her wide brown eyes wondering where this man had been all her life. It was as though he had stepped out of her dreams, her fantasies, and now he was real, standing beside her. She slipped her hand into his and leaned her head against his shoulder, breathing in deeply. She felt supremely happy.
Naughty Ladies! Spicy Romance Collection Page 23
