A Gentleman's Affair (14 page)

My cell interrupts our meal. I look down.
It’s a call from Rebekah, and it quickly brings me back to reality.
I mouth, “Excuse me” to Scarlett and answer.

“Hey baby…” Instantly I feel weird about
calling Rebekah “baby” in front of Scarlett. But why? “No, don’t
worry about it,” I reply, talking quietly into the mouthpiece.
“I’ll call you later when we can talk, alright?…Perfect, talk
soon.” I press “off” and take a long guzzle from my glass of
beer.

“Is everything okay?” Scarlett asks, brow
raised.

“Yes. Nothing that can’t wait,” I respond,
wondering why I decided to shrug it off in the first place. I try
to tell myself that it’s rude to take a call while out to lunch
with a friend…business associate, rather. But I know better. I’m
actually enjoying the company that is across the table from me
right now, against my better judgment.

Hello Confusion. Nice to meet you. My name
is Donovan Hart. Ugh…

We finish lunch and are back to the shopping
extravaganza of the year. With most of the furniture pieces for the
lobby and suites taken care of, we decide to look for new desks for
Patrice and myself for the office.

I can’t help but think about what Scarlett
said regarding my “eye sore” of a desk as we walk into the next
store. It may be, but that old eye sore was my mother’s desk in
college and I will move it to my penthouse, but I will never part
with it. I did think about explaining about the desk to her but not
right now. Now, we shop.

After looking at every desk in the showroom,
we finally decide on two matching dark cherry pieces: one for the
reception area, one for my office. Scarlett finds a tall file
cabinet to match for the reception area that will go near Patrice’s
desk to complete the look. The new pieces will be great, and I know
that I need to do this. It’s just time.

I sign the receipt for the furniture and my
bank account takes another huge hit. The two executive desks
and file cabinet cost almost as much as the Cobb salads we had
earlier for lunch. Well alright, not almost as much, but pretty
close.

Scarlett is really enjoying spending my
money, but I have to call it a day. Shopping takes a lot out of
me…because it’s extremely boring. Scarlett goes over a very long,
detailed list of all of the things we still need for the hotel,
explaining that we have to choose paint and carpet ASAP and that
the painters need to get in there, as well as the carpet guys. And
in an interesting twist, it is she who digresses this time instead
of me, “Dinner?” she suggests. But I know that this is just her
evil plot to keep me out shopping awhile longer…and for paint, no
less. 

“Scarlett, you don’t play fair at all,” I
say with a laugh. “But it has been almost three hours since we ate
those salads that were suited for people who dislike the feeling of
being full, so sure.” Smirking, I shove my wallet into the back
pocket of the last pair of 300 dollar True Religion jeans that I
will ever be able to afford and escort her out of the store.

“True,” she laughs. “I don’t really even
like salad. I’m more of a steak-and-baked-potato girl.” She gives
me a playful wink as she continues to laugh.

Hold the fucking phone here just a minute…
Did she actually just wink at me? Scarlett is flirting with me? Oh
fuck. Talk about being caught off guard…

“Steaks sound good to me,” I choke the words
out, still stunned by the wink from the hot girl that I’m doing
business with and am not allowed to flirt with…Ugh.

I should have titled this chapter
“Ugh”. 

“Are you okay?” she asks quizzically as we
walk down the sidewalk towards our cars.

“Yes,” I respond with intentional
directness. And stop flirting with me, please. I attempt to send a
Jedi mind trick her way. “Any place in particular that you’d like
to eat?”

“Have you ever been to Duke’s?” Duke’s?
Louisa? Bad memories, great food.

“It’s one of my favorite restaurants,”
I respond, ignoring the images of that hot fucking mess,
Louisa.

“Good. Should we take one car?”

“We could do that. I’m parked just up
ahead,” I nod as I lead her to my Hummer, catching a whiff of her
perfume as a strong breeze blows past us. Beautiful ladies that
smell good have always been my weakness…

“This is yours?” she asks as I unlock the
passenger side door and open it for her. 

“Well, it better be. I do have the key,” I
tease as I close the door, walking around to get in.

“It suits you, Donovan.” She smiles as she
settles in and fastens her seatbelt. Fuck, now my Hummer is filled
with her perfume. Just drive, Donovan. Just drive.

We arrive at Duke’s and the smell of food
now overpowers the smell of her perfume, so for that, I am
grateful. We are seated near the window, and the ocean view,
accompanied by the setting sun, is the perfect setting for a
romantic dinner. Which I have to continually remind myself that
this is not.

My cell goes off, so I look to see who it
is. Fuck, it’s Rebekah. Yes, I forgot to call her back. I let it go
to voice-mail, not wanting to be rude twice in one day. I set
my phone aside and look over the menu. 

“What are you having?” Scarlett’s sweet
voice interrupts my thoughts of Rebekah’s call.

“Steak, of course,” I set my menu aside as
the waitress comes over to the table asking what we would like to
drink.

“A bottle of Veuve Cliquot, please,” I nod,
before looking back at Scarlett with a grin. “I’m sorry, is that
alright?”

“It’s actually my favorite,” she grins back
at me, her beautiful brown eyes wide. The server disappears to get
our order and I ask Scarlett if she is ready to order.

“Definitely. I’m starving,” she adds. Good.
A girl that willingly admits she has an appetite. No more salad
here. The server comes back and pours the champagne then takes our
orders. We both pick up our glasses, clink them together. “Cheers,”
we say and take a drink. What the fuck was that? Why is this
feeling like a date all of a sudden? Abort! Abort!

But I can’t abort. I don’t even want to.
Again I remind myself that this is not a date. It is just two
incredibly good-looking people enjoying a simple meal together. In
a dark romantic restaurant. With expensive champagne…and candles on
the table. We should have gone to McDonald’s. 

Through dinner the conversation moves beyond
valances, swag curtains and carpet. We talk about where we grew up,
sharing humorous tales from our childhoods. We move onto dessert,
not to mention a second bottle of Veuve Cliquot.

As we dig into the pineapple
upside-down cake drizzled with rum and caramel sauce, the
conversation becomes even more intimate. Now we are even discussing
past relationships. Maybe it’s the champagne. Maybe it’s the rum
sauce. Maybe it’s the company, but Rebekah feels miles away at the
moment. Aside from the fact that she actually lives miles away, I’m
fighting to hold onto any memories of our weekend
together.

After dinner, I need to call her
back…Ugh.

After dropping Scarlett back at her car, I
decide to take a drive up the coast before going home and calling
Rebekah back. I have some thinking to do, and for some reason,
driving with extremely loud music blaring always seems to do the
trick.

I place a disk in the CD tray, hit “close”,
relax back and drive. This is “Donovan Hart 101 for Head Clearing”.
Great music and a drive up highway 101...

“Donovan 101” has failed me for the first
time in my life. The drive did nothing to clear my head. I am now
more confused than ever about things with Rebekah. I have never
been cut out for long distance relationships but I thought that she
might change that. With her having to cancel Vegas, it just gave me
a glimpse of what the future would hold for us if we continued to
see each other. Weekends alone. Trips cancelled. Sex only when we
are in the same city. This is what I mean. Long distance is never
good. But on the other hand, am I jumping the gun here? It was only
one trip that was cancelled. Is she worth a little more time to see
this through? Clarity, please…

So I pour myself an extra strong Jack and
Coke, change into my black sweatpants and settle back on my bed,
taking a deep breath before I make the call.

“Hello?” Rebekah answers on the second ring
and she sounds out of breath.

“Hello, sweet girl. How are you?”

“Fine, I was just walking out. What’s up?”
she asks, seemingly in a rush.

“What’s up?” I reply, confused. “Um, I’m
returning your calls, that’s what’s up.”

“Oh right,” she laughs. “Sorry, I’m on my
way out. Can we talk tomorrow?”

“Of course,” I respond, even more confused
now. “Enjoy your night, Rebekah.” Click. Yes, I said, “click”. I
hung up. Sue me. She doesn’t have time for me now? Maybe this was
just what I needed. This isn’t going to work…I know that now.

Clarity.

Chapter Fourteen

~Rules are made to be broken~

The weekend is here and there are no
bachelorette parties, weddings or shopping trips to deal with, so I
decide to go across the street to Joe’s for breakfast before
meeting some of my employees at the beach for a game of
volleyball.

Joe’s is crowded, as it always is on
Saturday mornings. Molly greets me with a bright smile and as
usual, saw me coming and held my favorite table for me. I swear
this girl has ESP.

“What are you having today, handsome?” she
asks as she pours my coffee. She is always so bubbly and always
very happy to see me. Again, too young…

“Bring me a number two, please,” I give her
a wink as I hand back the menu. “How is life treating you,
Molly?”

“Oh my god! I haven’t told you, huh? I have
a boyfriend…I know, finally right?” She blurts out, laughing.

“Good for you, Molly. Is he worthy?” I reply
in a playful tone before taking a sip of my coffee.

“Uh, I think so? Here, let me show you.”
Still laughing, she pulls her cell from the pocket of her apron,
sliding her finger along the screen before practically shoving it
in my face. “Cute, right?” She smiles wide, beaming as she shows me
a picture of him. I love how her eyes are lit up with such
innocence and excitement.

That is how it should be when you begin a
new relationship. I really envy her right now. I was hoping to have
that with Rebekah. Well, not the innocence part…I haven’t been
innocent since I was fifteen.

“Yes, he’s pretty dreamy,” I tease,
laughing. “Where did you meet him?”

“Shoot! Let me get your order in… I have to
tell you the whole story. I’ll be right back, ‘kay?” And she is
off, practically skipping through the diner towards the
kitchen.

I can’t help but feel excited for her. She
is a sweet girl. She deserves this. We all deserve this. As I
glance around the diner, I see happy couples holding hands, lost in
each other’s eyes. Then there are the couples that don’t talk
during their meal. I do not want the latter. I would rather stay
single. 

There is a group of young girls at a table
in the corner booth. They are all dressed in beach gear, most
likely discussing the many possibilities of their weekend. Then
there is the lonely guy at the bar. He reminds me of my dad and of
how I don’t want to end up. Old and alone.

Molly comes back and explains that it’s too
busy right now for her to talk but “Oh my god, really quick I have
to tell you that he is a doctor.” She makes a fist and holds it out
in front of me. “Pound it,” she laughs. “Shoot, I have to go. Be
right back…”

And there she goes again, pounding
incomplete and back to work. I shake my head as I laugh and finish
my coffee.

Molly sets down my breakfast, then refills
my cup. “Enjoy your breakfast, handsome.” Just as I look up to
thank her, who walks into the diner? You guessed it. Scarlett. Of
all the places in all the world, she walks into my diner.
Coincidence? Fate? Either way, I am happy to see her.

I hold back for just a moment, making sure
that she is alone before getting up to go say hello. She is looking
around the room for… a free table? A date?

Her eyes scan the diner then stop on mine.
We have what is known as a “moment”. I have never had one of those
before. I have heard about them though. I have to admit that it was
actually pretty cool.

Snap out of it, Donovan. I finally blink,
then I wave her over, mouthing, “Join me?” I point to the empty
bench in the booth, with a huge grin on my face, of course.

She keeps her eyes on mine as she walks over
to the table. “Are you sure?” she asks, now standing before me. And
I have to mention that she is not in her usual work garb, but she
is wearing tight cut-off shorts and a light pink figure-hugging
tank top. I try my best not to let her catch me checking her out.
But trust me, I am checking her out.

“Yes of course. Please, sit…” I manage to
spit out, then I catch Molly’s eye and wave her over to get
Scarlett’s order, unable to stop from smiling like a
jackass. 

“Thanks…as long as I’m not intruding.” But
before I can answer, she sits, a vision of lovely sitting across
from me.

“Not at all.” I flash her a smile. “I’m
happy to have some company.”

Molly comes over, looking at me, a bit
confused by my new breakfast companion and takes Scarlett’s order
before pouring coffee for us both.

“Me too. I hate eating alone.” She smiles
before taking a sip of coffee, then continues on, “Don’t you
usually work on Saturdays? I would imagine this is a crazy day at
the hotel.”

“I do, yes. But my manager can handle things
without me for a day.” I wink before I can stop myself…shit, I did
it again. I have to stop winking at her.

“Sure, you need a break too sometimes. So,
what are you up to today?”

“After I finish eating, I will be meeting
some of my employees down at the beach for a game of volleyball.
You?” Stop staring at the poor girl, Donovan. Eat your
pancakes.