By My Side, page 17
“No, I don’t.” He wasn’t in the mood for her today. He was never in the mood for her. The sight of her usually made his mood dip further for a number of reasons. One being he found her annoying and the second being he thought she was sexy as hell.
Not that he’d ever thought he’d go for a woman who could rock a tool belt. He liked her pixie hair cut, wide hips and full lips. She was beautiful and strong and more than once he’d imagined her riding him like a jackhammer. She could pound him into the ground and he’d enjoy every minute of it, which really got to him. Quitting his job to restore and run a B&B was one thing, getting involved with a woman like Sandra was completely insane.
Unfortunately, he was feeling more than a little crazy whenever she was around. “What do you want?”
“Do you want the good news or the bad news? No, scratch that, there’s no good news. Only bad news and worse news.”
He sighed. “Just tell me.”
“Remember when you said you’d take care of the materials and all you wanted me to do was put the gazebo together?”
He nodded. It seemed simple enough.
“You ordered the wrong wood.”
He froze. He took a deep breath. He wouldn’t panic. “Okay, what’s the bad news?”
“That’s the bad news the worse news is that some of them are measured wrong.”
Jacob jumped up from his chair and swore. He rushed outside, the chill of winter not cooling his heated skin. Anger and humiliation threatened to burn him as he stared at the delivered material resting in the center of the bare garden. Some of the material sat in neat packs while others were laid out on the ground. They looked fine to him. They looked like they’d fit together.
But they wouldn’t. They were wrong.
“If there were longer pieces I could saw them down,” Sandra said, “and work with them, but many are too short.”
He’d tried to save money but he’d end up spending more. Because he was an idiot. Because he didn’t have Trey to cover up his mistakes for him. The gazebo had been Trey’s idea. He’d said it would be a nice addition to the garden. Give people a place to sit and enjoy the foliage of the Shenandoah Valley in the fall and the lush sights in the summer.
His heart twisted. He missed his friend. He missed the life he thought he would once lead. He missed not feeling like he had a threatening storm cloud over his head, threatening to soak him in regret.
But this was bad. He’d exposed himself to a person like Sandra. She saw a side to him he’d never wanted her to see. Now she knew he was stupid. That he was terrible with numbers. Always had been.
After years of thinking he was an idiot he’d finally gotten a diagnosis in college but that hadn’t made life any easier. His parents had expected even more.
As if having a learning disability were to make you a genius in some other way. They expected him to be the next Richard Branson, but he’d proven himself to be ordinary. No hidden genius. Still an idiot.
Just one with a diagnosis.
“I’m sorry.” He ran a hand through his hair. He’d wasted not only his money, but her time. She’d have to fix his mistake and she had another job scheduled. Maybe he should quit. Maybe he was in over his head. Maybe…
“So this is what we’re going to do.”
She was talking. Talking as if this wasn’t a catastrophe, as if the guy who’d hired her wasn’t a complete fool. “What?”
“We can work with what we have. It will take some creativity, but it will be manageable. So you can stop looking like someone torched your Porsche.”
He glared at her. “Stop saying things like that.”
“But it’s true. This isn’t a big deal.”
It was a big deal. She was lying to help him save face but it didn’t change the fact that he’d done a major mess up. “I’m sorry.”
“So what happened?”
He stared at the material on the ground. “I’m just stupid, that’s all. I’ll compensate you for your extra time.”
“You’re not stupid. I said the material was wrong, but I didn’t say it was bad. Actually it may even turn out better than I’d planned.”
He spun to her. “Really?”
“Yes, really. So what made you choose this kind of wood?”
“My choice really was a mistake. I must have entered the wrong item code or something. I’m…I’m really bad with numbers.”
“You can’t be that bad, your cheques never bounce. You pay on time.”
“Money’s different.”
“How about cooking?” She made a face. “Do you know how many pints go into a gallon? Or how about ‘For each pound of roast beef cook at X temperature.’”
He laughed. “Can I assume cooking isn’t your strong point?”
“That’s putting it mildly. I can manage the basics like boiled water and instant noodles, but beyond that I’m lost.”
“Cooking is actually something I’m good at.” He clasped his hands behind his back and flashed a satisfied smile, glad he had something to brag about. “The next time you need help in the kitchen, give me a call.”
She blinked, parting her lips in surprise. And the cold air tainted them red. Kissably red.
Jacob felt his face heat again, but not from embarrassment. He liked surprising her and leaving her speechless. He took a step back and cleared his throat. Flirting with his contractor was not smart. He pointed to the items on the ground. “Are you sure this mess won’t put you behind schedule?”
“I’ll talk to my boss.” Sandra pulled out her cell phone, pretended to dial it before she placed it by her ear and said, “Hi, Sandra? Yes. I’ve got a situation here that’s going to take time. It’s the Jacob Kim project. No, not that one. We’ve already finished most of the work inside, it’s the gazebo. Uh…huh. There’s a little trouble,” her eyes slowly measured him from head to toe like he was a project she was getting ready to work on, “but you know I like a challenge.” Jacob swallowed, her assessing eyes felt like a hot caress. He shifted his gaze to her grey Ford truck. “Uh…huh,” she continued. “He even said he’ll cover for our time. Right. Right. Okay, I’ll tell him.” She put her phone away. “She must like you because she said it’s fine. On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You cook me dinner. I want to find out more about these skills of yours.”
He winked and said in a smooth voice, “With one bite you’ll know.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Do we have a deal?”
She was crazy, but his mood hadn’t dipped. In fact, for some reason he felt better than he had in a long time. “Yeah. It’s a deal.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
She’d been summoned.
Her father wanted to see her.
Alicia looked at the message on her cell phone and resisted the urged to bang her head on her office desk.
It had been almost four months since Belize and she still hadn’t fully adapted to the dull days at the office. Every day she found herself gazing at the beach scene on the wall wondering when her next vacation day could be. The last thing she wanted to do was add another boring meeting to the drudgery of her current life, but she had no choice.
Her father welcomed her into his spacious office, motioning her to sit down on one of the chairs facing his desk. The fact that the meeting wasn’t in the conference room was a good sign. That meant it wasn’t too formal. She sat down beside her stiff-faced mother, dressed head to toe in Chanel, her light brown hair in a French knot updo, and saw a light sheen in her eyes. Oh no. Were they tears? She hoped not. Tears were not a good thing. Alicia frantically wondered what her father was going to say, what she’d done wrong.
Her father sat behind his desk, clasped his hands together and flashed a wide smile. “You’re a natural.”
Alicia gripped her hands in her lap. Something was very wrong. She’d never seen her father smile at her like this before. “I’m sorry?”
“I’ll admit I was hesitant at first but you’ve proven yourself beyond all our expectations. You’re a true Fox.”
Alicia turned when she heard her mother sniff and watched her dab her eyes with a handkerchief. Her mother was crying. This was bad. “Somehow in my heart I knew not to give up on you,” she said.
Alicia looked at her parents confused. “I-I don’t understand.”
He spun his computer screen to her. “Our sales have increased three hundredfold thanks to your inventive marketing. Three hundred percent! Numbers like that are unheard of in an industry like ours. Especially with a business as old as ours. But that’s not all, thanks to some of your insights our distribution system has improved and there’s a renewed sense of purpose and energy you’ve brought to the business. In several years I see you running the business and I’ll happily step down knowing it’s in good hands.”
Alicia rested a hand on her chest. “Me? Run MedForm? Are you mad?”
Her parents laughed. “The thought surprised us both,” he said.
“Never in a million years would we have ever considered it,” her mother added.
“But we can’t ignore what you’ve managed to do in less than a year. As they say, The proof is in the profit.”
Alicia doubted anyone said that. It was likely a saying her father made up. She licked her lip. “I’m not sure—”
“There’s no need to be humble and I’m sure you’re concerned that this is an anomaly. But it’s not. If it had only been one ad I would have conceded, but you’ve done seven. All successful. It’s not a fluke.”
“But the ads feature—”
“A very attractive man,” her mother said, “but you were able to make it about the clothes and our brand. That takes skill.”
“Plus, as we mentioned, the other divisions like working with you, your ideas for fulfillment and software upgrades have been sound. We can’t stay stagnant. The future of this company depends on you.”
Her mother nodded. “Absolutely.”
Alicia moved to sit on the edge of her seat eager to get them to understand the mistake they were making. She’d been able to make certain suggestions only because of all the different types of businesses she’d worked in and the one she’d tried to run. She wasn’t a natural at anything. She’d gotten lucky. “But Pauline and Edwin—”
“Will support you.”
Alicia scoffed. “Not bloody likely.”
“We understand that Pauline may be a little disappointed—”
Alicia’s voice cracked at the understatement. “A little disappointed? That’s like calling a bullet wound a little cut.”
“But once she understands it’s our decision,” her father continued, “she’ll recognize that our decision is what’s best for the company. And what’s best for the company is best for all of us.”
Anxiety quickened her pulse. “But I don’t want—” She stopped. She couldn’t tell them what her heart was screaming. I don’t want to run the business. I don’t want to be here! “I don’t want to let you down.”
“You won’t. You’ll have plenty of time to grow into your new role. I don’t plan to go anywhere for a long while. We just want you to keep it up.”
Her mother covered her hand. “I don’t know why you stayed away so long when this is where you belong.”
Alicia walked back to her office in a stunned haze. Where she belonged? This boring place? This place where she had to drink copious amounts of coffee and use the thought of being with Trey at night and on the weekends just to keep going? She’d never seen her father so proud, her mother so relieved.
This is where you belong. Shouldn’t she be happy? Thrilled? Instead she felt depressed. How could this place, a place that felt so ill-suited, be the right place for her?
How could she be succeeding at something she found so tedious?
Why had none of her other ideas worked when she’d been on her own? Was this really her destiny?
Alicia walked into her office and collapsed behind her desk. She opened a desk drawer and lifted the gemstone Trey had chosen for her.
He was still her secret. Her family didn’t know about Trey and she wasn’t sure when she’d tell them.
She wanted this part of her life untouched by their critical eye. She could just imagine Pauline’s smug grin silently saying ‘Oh so that’s how you got him to do so many poses.’ They’d naturally want to know how they met (she’d lie) and how long they’d been dating (she’d lie about that too) and then they’d silently wonder what he was doing with her.
At first glance Trey was the perfect example of the kind of man they’d want her to be with. He fit in perfectly with the image they wanted her to have. He was stable, dependable, employed. But then they’d find out he was the adopted son of a white man named Carl who supposedly had ‘the gift’ and that he had a hard time relating to people.
Alicia held the gemstone so that it could catch the light and remembered the spring evening when Trey had gifted it to her and had shown her another side of himself that not only shocked her but left her in awe…
Chapter Forty
“I think I’m lost,” Alicia said into her cell phone as she surveyed her surroundings. She was in one of Virginia’s moneyed zip codes, having passed a country club, golf course and private academy (that had been her school’s rival) as a not so subtle hint of where she was, but she now saw nothing. “Yep, I’m definitely lost.” She’d parked her car on a narrow road after driving what seemed like miles. Her cell phone kept telling her ‘You have arrived’ but all she saw were lush manicured grounds and a winding pea gravel drive that stretched on with no houses in sight.
She really hadn’t wanted to be late for her first luncheon at his house. They’d eaten out and at her place plenty of times (she’d even hired a housekeeper for Trey’s sake), but this was the first time she’d see his place and now she couldn’t even find it. She felt like an idiot.
“You’re not lost,” Trey said. “Keep driving.”
“But—”
“Trust me. See you soon.”
Alicia scowled at the disconnected phone. He had higher hopes than she did. She got back in her car and continued along the pea gravel path that eventually curved in front of a soaring building with large windows.
The front door opened and Trey met her with a grin. “I told you you weren’t lost.”
She stared up at the house. “I didn’t know a geological consultant made this much.”
“Well, it’s more like my company makes the money,” he said in a dismissive tone. He held up his hand. “Don’t ask, you’ve never heard of the company and that’s fine with me as long as it does what it’s supposed to.” He took her hand. “Come inside.”
She hurried after him, half afraid she’d get lost, as he led her through the formal reception area to the family room where French doors welcomed them to a covered veranda and outdoor stone fireplace. He gestured to a small dining table covered in peach colored linen and an elegant table setting. In the distance she heard a frog before she saw a robin fly over a tranquil private pond.
His personal chef (he had a chef?!) served them poulet aux noix a Haitian dish of well-spiced chicken and cashews, its golden brown sauce heightened the bright red of the diced tomatoes, purple onions, served next to a bed of white rice and green peas.
She knew Trey had money, (the suite in Belize had been a clue, however she’d suspected he’d gotten a wedding party discount). She had never realized he had this much money. Enough for a house staff, garden crew and acres of land and now she knew he wasn’t just a consultant he owned his own company. He was a self-made man.
While she’d had everything handed to her in life.
Instead of enjoying herself Alicia felt small and insignificant.
Suddenly the golden yellow maxi dress she wore felt garish, her shoes too showy, as well as the glitter nail polish she wore. She was whisked back to the numerous awkward family dinners full of proper etiquette and decorum. She’d always managed to mess up somehow—whether it was her clothes, food selection or behavior.
She didn’t feel worthy of the magnificent house, picture perfect landscape, the delicious food or the handsome, successful man sitting across from her. A seize of insecurities (this will never last, you don’t belong, you’re so stupid, how could you have not known he was this rich? This was the guy whose dry cleaning you’d offered to pay for?), made her eager to run.
It felt like the only place she felt she could be completely herself with him was on holiday or in her comfortable, cluttered apartment.
Not here.
So to combat those feelings she did what she did best. She pretended she felt the complete opposite.
Similar to how she pretended at work that she wasn’t silently dying every day, here she’d be happier than ever. She’d be even bubblier, brighter than she’d ever been before. She wanted to make him laugh and smile, she wanted him to remember this time with her as one of the best he’d ever had.
But her efforts didn’t seem to be working because Trey would only briefly look at her before his eyes shifted to gaze at the late afternoon rays melting into the still waters of the pond.
“Am I boring you?” Alicia said, trying not to sound hurt.
Trey glanced down at his plate then looked at her. “Bored?”
“Yes, sometimes you look bored. You look like you want to be somewhere else.”
He shook his head. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Then why don’t you look at me when I’m speaking?”
“I look at you.”
“Not always. Definitely not now. You seem to find the pond more interesting. I can see why. It’s certainly more beautiful.”
“Don’t do that,” Trey said in a quiet voice. “It hurts me when you put yourself down. It’s like you’re making fun of me.”
Alicia blinked surprised by that conclusion. “How does that make any sense?”
“Isn’t making fun of something or someone I care about making fun of me too?”
Alicia forced a laugh, uneasy. “I was just kidding.”
