The Thick of Things, page 4
As we drove away, I wondered about the men and their sanity. I’d never understood, even from Trent, how or why they enjoyed chasing after that small white ball for three to four hours at a time. I’d never had much of an aptitude for the game, but I supported Trent by going to some events with him—especially those out of town when he was staying at a nice hotel.
We delivered the rest of the lunches in good time and went back to the club house. My next stint was in the scoring tent, which would keep me occupied until the end of the day. Usually, I’d help in the morning and use the afternoon to read or simply relax. Since I was alone, I didn’t need that much time. Staying occupied ensured that my mind would be kept busy. I feared that if I left any empty spaces in my day, my memories would flood in and overwhelm me.
My life in Kingston tried to intrude on my thoughts, but I closed the door on the ordinary. I was learning how to stay in the present. The end of the week would be time enough to think about all the things missing from my life when I returned to the city.
After a quick lunch of grilled chicken salad, I gathered the items I’d need and went to sit with Kay in the gazebo assigned for scoring. Some part of me hoped Douglas had already passed through, but I knew that based on where I had seen him on the course, he would be turning in his scorecard in another hour or so.
The groups came in a steady stream, within ten minutes of each other. I didn’t understand how it was possible, but I knew the moment Douglas sat in front of me. The scorecard in my hand shook, giving away my state of mind. I lowered the card I was checking to the tablecloth and looked up and into his eyes.
He was sweating and his scent came at me over the table—cologne and a faint tinge of musk. It was sexy. The thought almost had me sighing and shaking my head at my stupidity, but I did neither.
He confirmed his scores with his playing partners and handed me the card. I did a cursory check to see if two of them had signed the card and then added the numbers, before I said, “Everything is correct. Perfect.”
His mouth tipped up and he said, “Pity my score wasn’t anywhere near that.”
“Tomorrow will be a better day.”
“Is that a promise?” he asked, getting to his feet.
I shook my head. “Nope. More along the lines of wishing you good luck.”
“I’ll take that,” he said, dropping the pencil he’d used in the designated box. He included Kay in his gaze. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” we said at the same time.
When he left, I did what I’d done at breakfast—kept my eyes fastened on the table.
“Nice man,” Kay said, when he was a few yards away.
I made a sound she’d take as agreement and got up. “I’ll take these cards to the office.”
“Okay, no problem.”
I didn’t have to do what I was about to, since we had an assigned runner, but I had to move. The short walk across the courtyard to the building would clear my head. In two minutes, I was handing off the cards to the electronic scorer.
When I stood outside the office, I decided to detour to the washroom. After I used the stall, I washed my hands and reapplied my lipstick. While I fluffed my hair, I smirked at my image. I didn’t need to be primping.
A second later, I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. I didn’t need a reason to look decent and knew myself enough to realize I’d feel better if I looked good. With my lipstick back in my pocket, I pushed the door and exited the air-conditioned space. The heat outside wasn’t unbearable, given the time of year. We were at the back end of October, which tended to be a rainy month.
My temperature moved a few notches when Douglas walked out of the men’s room.
One of his eyebrows quirked. “Are you stalking me, Khalila?”
Without missing a beat, I replied. “You should be so lucky.”
Douglas laughed and wedged his shoe bag under one arm. “What other explanation do you have for being here this minute?”
As I slipped past him, I said, “When nature calls, I answer the cry.”
“If that’s what you call it nowadays…”
Hands to my hips, I faced him. The imp inside me prompted my next words. “If you’re asking for another date, why don’t you just say so?”
His smile drew an answering one from me.
“I believe I will.” Every trace of humor left his face when he asked, “Khalila, will you have dinner with me tonight?”
five
Our dinner of herbed lamb cutlets and roasted vegetables was scrumptious. The elegant décor and atmosphere inside the Mediterranean restaurant made it memorable.
The evening had flowed smoothly and Douglas and I were comfortable with each other, except for those moments when a sudden awkwardness descended between us. That had little to do with him and mostly to do with my state of mind. A funny comment or a change of subject was enough to make me forget my discomfort and focus on our conversation. I was grateful to him for that. Douglas was not only suave, but considerate.
As we chatted over glasses of Chianti Classico Riserva, the smooth, sweetish wine lulled me into a comfortable space. I was relaxed and everything was right with the world, for the moment anyway.
I listened keenly as Douglas talked about his work in investment management. He didn’t make information about markets and stocks seem like a mystery and it surprised me that for the most part, I understood what he was explaining.
When it was my turn to tell him what I did with my time, I hit a roadblock. I pulled in my breath and thought about it for a moment before I answered. “In another life, I was qualified as a counselor. My area of specialization was troubled teens, but these days I do a little of this and that.”
“What exactly qualifies as this and that?”
“Body butters, candles, soap, and writing.”
“You do all of that?”
Nodding, I spun my glass on the table and avoided his eyes, all too conscious of the fact that I hadn’t made anything in months. The other thing was that nothing outside of my writing could be considered an occupation. “They relax me.”
He arched both brows. “And you need that level of relaxation?”
I nodded a second time. “You could say that.”
The waiter interrupted our conversation, leaving a small folder with the bill on the table.
Douglas kept his eyes on me for another few seconds before flipping the folder open. “You have a lot going on, then?”
“That’s a way to put it.”
The waiter returned and while Douglas paid for our meals, I glanced at my watch. I wasn’t on a schedule, but wanted to be back in my room at a reasonable hour. The last thing I needed was Nica taking interest in my business. I had nothing to hide, but I also didn’t want anyone getting into my personal affairs.
That thought stalled me. I wasn’t divorced yet and here I was, playing a dangerous game. I no longer wore Trent’s ring, but I still considered myself married.
What would Douglas think if he knew about my situation? Come to think of it, I hadn’t asked him anything about his personal life. I opened my mouth to do exactly that, and he took my hand. “Let’s go.”
His grip around my fingers was comforting and I let my hand relax in his. This was part of what I liked about being half of a couple, the security of knowing I belonged with someone who had my back. Being on the same emotional wavelength was also something I treasured.
Before my mind ran away with me, I pulled myself up with a reality check. This was a nice interlude. Beyond that, I shared nothing with this man other than a delicious dinner and a simmering attraction that could get out of control if I wasn’t careful.
The night air was cool and fragrant. The scent of roses drifted from pink and white blooms lining the front of the building we’d just left.
Douglas unlocked his rental car, helped me inside, then went around to the driver’s seat.
The interior of the sleek silver Corolla smelled of new leather and the scent Douglas wore. After pulling in a deep breath and gathering my courage, I turned toward him. “D’you mind me asking a question?”
“That depends,” Douglas said. “Will I be offended?”
“Of course not. I just wondered why you’ve rented a car, since the hotel is all-inclusive.”
“My business takes me across the Caribbean and other places,” he said. “Sometimes, it suits me to rent a vehicle.”
“Where d’you find time for business on a trip like this?”
“Golf only takes four hours, plus or minus. The rest of the day is mine and an early tee time allows me to get other things done.”
I didn’t flatter myself by thinking he’d arranged the car specifically to take me out, but my curiosity wasn’t sated by a long shot. The more I found out about Douglas, the more information I wanted.
We didn’t speak much on the ten-minute ride back to the hotel and as we drew closer to the property, my shoulders tightened and I couldn’t sit still. My fingers tangled in the fringe of my purse as if my life depended on it.
Instead of dropping me off at the front of the hotel, Douglas parked the Corolla and assisted me to get out. I was grateful he didn’t attempt to take my hand but instead walked beside me, leaving some space between us.
As we emerged from the darkness, I scanned the lobby area. When I remembered the hour, I relaxed a little. At nine-thirty, most of the players would have settled in for the night, especially those with early tee-times tomorrow. The fact that I didn’t see anyone I knew wasn’t a guarantee that nobody we knew would see us, but the nearly deserted lobby reassured me.
I was about to tell Douglas goodnight and head for the elevator when he took my hand in his. “Have a drink with me at my place.”
“But—”
“Don’t question it. I enjoy your company.”
“I think—”
“You think too much. I’ve been watching you all evening, struggling with things you don’t need to be so concerned about. Who cares, for instance, if anybody sees us together? We’re two consenting adults.”
“I agree, but there are—”
“But nothing.”
He squeezed my hand and pulled me to a stop. We were now standing before the elevator that serviced the east tower, where my room was located. “You’re making this harder than it has to be. Come and have that drink. I’ll take you back to your room and we’ll call it a night.”
I didn’t question him, but walked to the other side of the lobby with him and waited as the west tower elevator descended.
We stepped inside and he faced me, standing with both hands in the pockets of his navy pants. The silver pinstripe in his midnight-blue dress shirt drew my eyes and I let my imagination roam. Since I met him a year ago, I wondered many things about him. Was his chest as broad as it seemed when he was dressed? How muscular was he really? Was the skin of his chest as bare as his head?
The discreet pinging sound the elevator made as it stopped dragged me from fantasyland.
Douglas held out his hand and I put mine into his.
The corridor was empty and the plush carpet was definitely a step above the patterned one on the floor where I was rooming. My fingers stiffened inside Douglas’s when I woke up to the fact that I had agreed to a drink with this dangerously attractive man in the privacy of his suite. If I’d been thinking clearly, I never would have ignored good sense and the safety of my room.
Douglas slid the keycard into the lock and motioned for me to enter the suite before him. While he dropped the car key on the table at the entrance and walked toward a granite counter, I examined the room.
A huge brass vase sat in the middle of a heavy table crafted from a solid block of wood. The brown and beige splashes of color on the drapes matched the fabric on the sofas, which formed a cozy cluster. A flat-screen television dominated a brown accent wall.
The room suited Douglas, and I smiled in appreciation as he walked back to me.
“What are you smiling at?” he asked.
I took the wineglass he held out to me. “I was thinking this room looks like you’d be comfortable in it.”
“I like a lot of space,” he said, “which is why I asked for that upgrade.”
“I wondered about that,” I said, sitting on the largest seat. Holding up the glass, I asked, “What is this?”
“The same wine you were drinking at dinner.”
Douglas sat beside me and put his glass on the table. I would have bet the amber liquid in the glass was cognac. I considered it a mature man’s drink, which fit Douglas to a tee.
“D’you mind if I turn the television on?” he asked, before picking up the remote. “It’s more of a habit than a necessity.”
“It’s fine with me.”
Douglas scrolled until he found the news channel he needed, then turned the volume to a low setting before sipping from the tulip glass. He returned it to the table and wearing the half smile that mesmerized me, he said, “It’s been a pleasure spending the evening with you. You’re a fascinating woman.”
I didn’t know what to say. It had been so long since I’d been in this situation with a man that I wasn’t sure how to react. To cover my unease I sipped the wine, which I knew would relax me more. “I could say the same about you.”
Douglas’s gaze shifted from the wide neckline of my black dress, down to the huge silver buckle sewn into the fabric, to where the skirt flared to cover my knees. I was glad I’d taken the dress with me as an additional option in case I had any impromptu invitations. Given the heat in his gaze, his next words surprised me.
“Where do you live?”
“Kingston.”
“And you volunteer so far from home because…”
As I shrugged, I tried not to squirm. “I-I’ve been doing it for a while, so it’s second nature.”
“I’m assuming you don’t have a husband or a man.”
My brows tipped and I ran a hand into my hair, as if that could tame the thick cloud around my head. “Why?”
Douglas studied my body slowly, and when his gaze came back to my face, I felt as if his hands had touched me everywhere his eyes had been. A sudden rush of moisture had me pulling my legs together.
“He’d be certifiable to have you here by yourself.”
“You say that as if I need a keeper.”
He laughed, a melodious sound that pulled a smile from me.
“The thought didn’t cross my mind. I was thinking if you were mine, I’d want to keep you where I could see you.”
I wasn’t sure how to take his comment. Was he the jealous or controlling type? I hoped not. Over my glass I studied him, wondering what his lips would feel like on mine and whether his moustache was soft or bristly. “You must be different from a lot of men.”
“What d’you mean?”
“Wouldn’t that guarantee my charms would wear off fast?”
Slowly, he shook his head. “I doubt I’d get tired of you any time soon.”
Curling the hair at my nape around my fingers, I said, “I’m not fishing for compliments, but what makes you think that?”
“At forty-five, I know who I am, what I like, and what I need.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Khalila. It’s exactly as I said.”
We watched each other as we drank from our glasses. When we placed them on the table, Douglas wrapped one hand around my arm and sat closer. He was going to kiss me.
My breathing went raspy and I licked my lip.
As Douglas’s lips covered mine, I sucked in a breath. His skin against mine was a teasing whisper and the hairs of his moustache were downy. He planted a soft kiss on my lips and then another.
My mouth opened and Douglas’s hand went to the back of my head, holding me still. His tongue met mine in a bold, demanding move. I made a soft sound in my throat and laid my hands on his chest. The cognac on his tongue and the wine in my belly made for a drugging recipe.
Douglas deepened the kiss and I knew if we didn’t stop, I would be in danger of doing something stupid. His other hand settled on my knee and my heart took off like a runaway train.
I laid my hand on his as a deterrent, but he made no move to take things further.
He continued to seduce me, laving my tongue with his in lengthy kisses that had me wanting more of him. With his fingertips, Douglas stroked the back of my neck in circles that had me squirming.
A warning bell jangled in my head, but I was too far gone to think about anything but how wonderful it felt to be with this man. Our lips separated and he laid a soft trail of kisses toward my ear, then sucked the lobe into his mouth. The brush of his moustache against my skin made me shiver.
This second would have been a good time to end what was sure to be a disaster if it went any further, but I was undone. The tip of his tongue traced my outer ear, and when he whispered my name, I raised my head to stare into his eyes. After a silent but intense exchange, I nodded.
He got up and stretched his hand to me.
I slipped mine into his.
His grip was firm, but not forceful. Douglas pulled me tight to his body, sharing with me the rigid proof of his desire. A gasp left me as my mouth opened under his.
My eyes closed, and all resistance fled.
Douglas—and the heat between us—was the only thing that existed now and I wanted him more than anything else for the longest time. I sighed again, knowing that at this point, there was no going back.
six
The lamp threw a soft glow on the floral drapes and the plush loveseat in one corner. As I scanned the room and the king-size bed, Douglas squeezed my fingers. I looked up at him, meeting his questioning gaze.
The intensity in his eyes had me struggling to breathe, and I let out a soft cry as he eased me close to his body. His lips whispered over mine and I eagerly opened my mouth to him, sliding my arms around his waist. After a slow exploration of my mouth that had me reeling, Douglas ran his hands down to my elbows and stared at me.
“What is it?” I asked.
