Destination D (18 page)

“Hey, it's no big deal—really,” he said, sensing Dee's uneasiness. “Hey, let's finish up here and take a walk on that beach. I want to see that pretty face of yours in the moonlight.” Steve motioned for the waitress to bring the check.

As they headed toward the beach, Dee took off her mules and rolled her pants up to her thighs. Steve watched each curve of her leg as she slowly worked her pants up the other thigh. A breeze wisped through her hair so she pulled it off of her face and braided it.

Steve had already taken his shoes off and rolled his pants to just above the ankles where Dee could see the curly strands of hair wrapped around his legs. The same locks of curls could be seen through his partially unbuttoned shirt.

“All set?” he said, waiting for Dee's nod of approval. “So, let's run!” He grabbed her purse and pulled her hand like a little boy on his first day at the beach. The wind felt good blowing across her face. She laughed at how playful he was as he jumped through the small waves and lifted her up and down, swinging her until the waves were large enough to fall over them and drench them completely.

“Oh, no!” Dee screamed and laughed. She was enjoying the cool wetness more than she thought she would. The salty water trickled into her mouth as a sudden gush of rain droplets broke from the sky, rinsing the ocean's salt from her lips.

Steve stood back and looked at her like she was a rainbow that had just appeared. He stroked the wet locks out of her face. Her face looked as if it had just been sketched by an angel. Dee watched his eyes focus intensely on her wet clothes that were now showing a silhouette of her lace undergarments. She looked so sexy and radiant that he reached toward her and sealed her moist lips with a fateful kiss.

“So, what field of medicine are you studying?” Charles, the driver, said, breaking Dee's reverie. She immediately brought her thoughts back to her present day in New York while she uncomfortably witnessed Charles maneuver and loop his way through the sluggish traffic. The Midtown Tunnel looked like a cabby's convention with the yellow cabs lined tightly up against the walls with everyone moving nowhere.

“I'm sorry, what did you say?”

“I said what field of medicine are you studying?”

“Oh, pediatrics.” The sound of her voice was so assertive that she amazed herself.

“That's great. We need more doctors to care for children.”

“Do you have kids?”

“Four kids and twelve grandchildren,” he said proudly, flipping open the visor on the passenger's side and pulling out a steady stream of pictures.

“Wow!” Dee squealed in amazement. “You sure have a big family.”

“Yes, and every single one of them are in and out of the pediatrician's office on a regular basis,” he mused. Charles picked up his cellular phone and voice-activated Steven's number. “Mr. Cushman, I'm stuck in the tunnel. It may be another thirty minutes before we get out of here—sure thing, sir, I will.”

“So, what did he say?” Dee asked, wondering why it was so urgent that he contact Steven because he was in traffic.

“He said that if it was more than a half hour, then just to take you straight down to The River Café in Brooklyn.”

She stroked her camel hair sweater and black jeans and looked down at her casual boots and brown suede fringed jacket. “I'm not dressed for dinner.”

“You don't have to be dressed up to go in there. This is New York. People wear a little bit of everything. You'll see. You look fine.”

Dee glanced down at her watch. “Did he say why he wanted to go there so early?”

He politely shook his head. “I'm just the driver, Ms. Mitchell.”

Dee stared out her window and was happy that she did not have to get out in traffic every day. The traffic in Atlanta was bad, but at least she felt confident enough to drive in it. She could never drive in New York. It was just too packed.

All of a sudden there was a break in the traffic and Charles took off like a sprinter just out of the blocks. “Finally!” Charles said, honking his horn in relief. The utility vehicle that had stalled had been moved over to the side of the street. “Well, it looks like you'll make it on time to Mr. Cushman's office after all,” he said as he continued uptown.

Steven's fiftieth floor office was well appointed and had a panoramic view of Manhattan. The office was filled with wall-to-wall mahogany paneling. No expense had been spared on the parquet floors, plush carpet, or elaborate chandeliers that sparkled from the domed ceilings, Dee decided. Steve was truly at the top of his game. He owned and ran one of the largest public relations firms in the country, Cummings and Associates.

When Dee got off the elevator, the double glass doors opened to the grand marble foyer and the perky receptionist greeted her politely. “Good afternoon. May I help you?”

“Yes, I'm Deir—I mean, Debra Mitchell, I'm here to see…”

Before Dee could finish her sentence, the receptionist stood up and shook her hand. “Oh, hi! Let me take you back to his office.” She wore a black and white couture dress and matching leather pumps. Dee felt a little self-conscious as she looked down at her casual attire. “I'm Mildred, by the way. He's been anticipating your arrival. How was your flight?”

“On time,” Dee joked. She could count the times on one hand when her flights landed on time at LaGuardia.

“That always helps,” Mildred interjected in a lively voice. “Come on, Steve's office is right this way.” All eyes were on Dee as she followed Mildred past the cubicles. The office consisted primarily of women straining their necks to see who Steve's new lucky lady was this time.

Steve's name was stenciled in gold on a black lacquered nameplate centered in the middle of his door. Mildred tapped on the door lightly, easing it wide enough to poke her head in. “Knock, knock.”

“Hold on just a minute, Bruce. Mildred just walked in,” he said muting the phone.

“Ms. Mitchell is here to see you, sir.”

“Great! Mildred thanks for showing her back here,” he said raising his forefinger for her to give him a minute. “Hey, Bruce, we'll see you later; that special guest I was talking about has just arrived.” He quickly hung up the phone, brushed his fingers through his hair, buttoned the top button of his shirt and adjusted his silk tie. He stood up in front of the large picture window, gave himself a quick once-over in the reflection, and then motioned for Mildred to let Dee in.

“Come here!” Steve said, grabbing Dee around the waist and hoisting her in the air.

“Steve! Put me down!” Dee giggled.

He gently placed her back on the floor and turned around to lock the door. Dee looked suspiciously into his bright blue eyes. He stared at her for a few seconds before pulling her face close to his. He planted a kiss on her lips that left her feeling light-headed.

“Wow!” That is certainly a warm welcome!”

“Sorry about coming on so strong, but a guy can't help it when you're so irresistible. Here, have a seat next to me.” He pointed to the padded chairs in front of his desk gesturing for her to sit down. “So tell me. How are things going?”

“Busy, very busy,” she answered vaguely, knowing where the conversation was headed.

Steve heard the trace of trepidation in her voice. “You're still going to graduate on time, right?”

Dee's eyes shifted toward the awards lining his shelves. “Yes, and I'm still interviewing with various hospitals. My, my, my, these are impressive.” She hopped off her chair and walked over to the awards, trying to change the subject. “Most Distinguished Public Relations Professional of the Year, Highest Ranking Revenue Achiever! You are the
man,
aren't you, Mr. Cushman?”

“It's nothing,” he said, pulling a cigarette from his pocket.

Dee turned her nose up in disgust. “Steve, I thought you gave up those nasty things!”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot,” he winked teasingly, placing them back in his jacket pocket. “I've got a surprise for you later today. I'm glad you were able to stop by here first.”

“Me, too. Although if I knew that I was meeting you at your job instead of your place, I would have spiffed up more,” she said, holding her hands out to display her clothing.

“You look good to me.” He pulled her toward him again and placed his arms around her waist. “But you may want to spruce up a bit before the surprise that I have for you at The River Café.”

“What's going on there? Charles mentioned it to me on the way over here.”

“Well now, if I tell you, it won't be a surprise, now will it?”

Dee looked at him suspiciously. “Okay. Do you want me to change here or are we going back to your place?”

“Right
here
is fine with me,” he said, pointing to where she was standing and eyeing her as if she were a Cheshire cat.

“Very funny, Steven. I think I'd rather get dressed in the ladies room down the hall.”

“C'mon, I'll walk you there,” he said, pretending to be disappointed. He took her hand and escorted her down the hallway. All eyes rose again above their cubes and Dee could hear faint whispers.

“Damn, she's gorgeous.”

“Yeah, Steve certainly knows how to pick ‘em.”

Dee smiled and shook her head, trying not to show her embarrassment as she walked past the men and into the bathroom. Steve entered one of the cubicles and politely interjected. “Next time could you guys at least wait until she's passed before you start gossiping?”

“I'm so sorry, Mr. Cushman. It won't happen again, sir,” said David, one of his favorite junior account executives. His face red from embarrassment, he rushed to get busy with the paperwork that was stacked on his desk. Steve knew he'd meant no harm, and turned his back to him so he wouldn't see him grin.

When Dee came out of the bathroom, she looked both stunning and chic. She'd pulled her hair back into a tight French braid and wore a fitted black knit dress with a low back and neckline. As she sauntered back down the hallway to Steve's office, she glanced over at the two men who'd been talking about her earlier and decided to have a little fun with them.

“Hi, I'm Debra.”

David and Matthew seemed startled by her presence.

“Hello, Debra, nice meeting you. I'm David and this is my co-worker, Matthew,” he said, feeling a little awkward.

“Hi,” Matthew replied with a sheepish grin.

“So, what's that I heard you say earlier about Steve knowing how to pick ‘em?”

David's face blushed red as a trick deck of hearts. “Um, that wasn't Matthew. It was me. I just meant that all the other…”

Dee raised an eyebrow. “Oh, please continue.”

“I mean that he has some really nice ladies that come through…and…” At that moment it appeared to Dee that David wanted the floor to rise up and swallow him. He started fumbling with his bow tie, still trying to figure out what to do with his hands after he took them away from his mouth.

“Hey, guys, how's the research going on the Brooklyn account?” asked a young woman who seemed to appear from nowhere. She was sharp, poised, and very focused. She extended her hand to Dee. “Hi, there, I don't believe we've met. I'm Nancy.”