First Class to New York (22 page)

“Good morning,” he whispered. “How are you feeling?”

“Um, better.”

“Good,” he smiled.

“Uh, you didn’t have to stay,” she said, sitting up and
swinging her legs off the bed.

“I know,” he said simply.

Janie stood and walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
She needed to get this over and done with before she lost her nerve. Taking a
few deep breaths, she opened the door and walked to the sofa and sat down. “We
need to talk,” she said.

“Okay,” he replied. He swung around in his chair to face
her, an expression of uncertainty on his face.

“I go home tomorrow,” she began, looking down at her hands.
“And I want you to know how wonderful this trip has been, how wonderful it was
to meet you. It has been a wonderful adventure and I will treasure these
memories forever. And, um, I’m really relieved that you’re not looking for
commitment or a relationship of
any
kind. It has made the last few days
carefree and fun. It would make this unbearable if one of us held some kind of
ridiculous notion that this could be anything more than just a brief
interlude.”

Janie took a breath and continued. “I would like to think
that we can think of each fondly in the future, I certainly know I will.” She
tried to smile willing herself to sound lighthearted, something she certainly
didn’t feel. “I guess I just wanted to say thank you. It’s been fun.”

Matt didn’t move. He didn’t blink. Janie wondered if he was
even breathing. He just sat there, stone-faced. Finally, after what seemed like
an eternity, he stood and walked to her, stooped and kissed her softly on the
cheek. “You’re welcome,” he said. “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Wheels up at 7:10,” she smiled, desperately trying to hide
all the emotion she felt. “and then it’s back home and my new life.”

“I’ll be her at 5 sharp.”

“Matt, it’s fine.  I can get a taxi,” Janie offered.

“That was part of the deal, right?” There was no emotion in
his face at all. “I’ll be here at 5.” And with that he turned and left.

*****

Matt stepped into the elevator, the last few minutes like a
horrific scene of an accident; you can see it but you can’t believe it is
happening. He had just sat there, hearing his words as she spoke. Protecting
himself had just cost him the one thing that meant more to him than he could ever
have imagined.

She doesn’t want me
, he thought, as his hand gripped
the little blue box in his suit coat pocket.

*****

Janie stood in the shower, tears streaming down her face.
She had done it; she had let him go, not that he was hers to begin with. She
had done what he wanted; she had played by his rules. And it had broken her
heart. Now she just had to get through one car ride tomorrow morning and then
she could go home and put Matthew Lathem behind her. She wouldn’t ever be able
to come back to New York; it would be way too hard. But that didn’t matter now.

Wrapped in the hotel robe Janie threw her suitcases on the
bed and began the task of making everything fit. She had bought souvenirs for
the boys, for Katy, for her two sisters, for her mom, for the neighbors
bringing in her mail. There was the exquisite crystal vase that Matt’s flowers
had come in. She certainly wasn’t going to leave that behind, his note tucked
inside.

The she had the elegant navy blue gown she had worn to the
fundraiser.
That was a lifetime ago
, she thought as she folded the
delicate fabric. Putting each piece of clothing in the bag, she reflected on
how she was a different person than when she arrived just two short weeks ago.
She owed that to Matt. He had changed her for the better and she would always
love him.

Her phone rang and Janie welcomed the distraction.

“You know just when to call!”

“You okay Janie? I’m worried about you,” Katy replied.

“I did it!”

“You did what?” Katy didn’t know what she was talking about.

“I told him it was just a fling, nothing of consequence.”

“And what did he say?”

“Nothing. In fact it was weird, no emotion in his eyes, in
his face, just blank.  He kissed me on the cheek and said he’d pick me up in
the morning to take me to the airport.”

“He didn’t say anything?”

“Nope.”

*****

Katy, much wiser in the ways of men, was struggling with the
idea that Matt wasn’t obviously relieved at Janie’s brush-off, if he had truly
meant what he’d said. But then what did she know? She’d never even met the guy.
She spent much of the day stewing over it, so much so that she almost gave the
wrong medication to a patient.

On her lunch break, she googled Matt and found his company
online. Janie was right; he was gorgeous. But that didn’t matter because he had
screwed with her friend. Her friend who had gotten married at the ripe old age
of nineteen and had lived a sheltered existence up until a couple of years ago
when the shit had hit the fan, so to speak. She knew Janie would be livid with
her, but it wouldn’t matter because she was coming home and would never see
Matt again. She just couldn’t sit by and let him hurt her like that. She
wouldn’t just sit by without somebody telling him he was an ass. And if Janie
wouldn’t do it then she would.

She pushed the ‘call’ button on her phone and waited for
someone to answer.

“MEL Holdings. How may I direct your call?”

“Matt Lathem, please.”

“One moment.”

“MEL Holdings. How can I help you?” came another voice.

“Please connect me to Matt Lathem.”

“And what might this call be about?”

“It’s personal. It’s regarding his dating habits.”

“Oh, well, just a minute please.”

“Mr Lathem’s office. How can I help you?”

“Goddamnit! Can somebody please put Matt Lathem on the
phone?”

“Excuse me ma’am. This is Mr. Lathem’s secretary. What is it
that you want?” the voice was stern but professional.

“Look, I’m a friend of Janie Anderson’s and I need to speak
to Matt. Please?”

“Oh, I see. Well Mr. Lathem actually wasn’t in the office
today. I expect him in tomorrow. Can I give him a message?”

“No, I need a number where I can reach him.”

“I’m sorry but I cannot give out that information. But I
would be happy to pass on the information.”

“Please ask him to call Katy. It’s
very important
!”
Katy left her number with the secretary and hung up.

She would give him a piece of her mind if it’s the last
thing she did.

Janie spent the rest of Wednesday packing up her things. She
must have checked the dresser and the closet a hundred times making sure she
hadn’t left anything behind. Ordering room service, she mindlessly watched some
television and picked at her salmon.

It’s good
, she thought.
But why would I order
salmon when I live in Oregon and can have the best salmon anytime I want?
 
She just didn’t have much of an appetite. She was ready to go home.

Janie changed into her pink baby-doll pj’s and crawled into
bed about 8:30, and she set the alarm. She needed to be up really early and she
didn’t want to keep Matt waiting. She needed to be calm and collected when she
saw him and be able to keep all of her emotions in check.

She’d only been in bed for about ten minutes when she was
startled by a knock on the door. Jumping up, she padded to the door and cracked
it open. Janie’s mouth dropped as she stepped back and opened the door wider.
Matt!

He half smiled and Janie couldn’t breathe. How could he be
so dangerous? All strength just dissipated from her body and she leaned on the
door.

“Hi,” he said.

*****

It had been one of the worst days of his life! Matt had
walked out of the hotel feeling like he had just been sucker punched, hard. How
had he let this happen?

He hadn’t gone back to work. For the first time in eighteen
years he had called Angela and said he was sick and wasn’t coming in. He had
gone home and had spent most of the day in the gym; running, weightlifting and
beating the crap out of the punching bag. By three o’clock he was physically
spent and had taken a long hot shower. Thoughts of Janie filled his mind and
when he closed his eyes he could see her huddled on the floor sobbing. Looking
back, that’s when he had let his guard down. She was like a wounded bird and he
had wanted to comfort her and to somehow make it all better.

Matt wandered aimlessly through his apartment. He tried
watching TV and turned it off after ten minutes. He tried reviewing the roll of
blueprints on his desk and gave up after fifteen minutes. He sat at the piano
and lifted the lid to stroke the ivory keys, but he didn’t know how to play so
he walked outside and stood looking at the view. He pulled out his phone and
found the one picture he had taken of Janie. She was grabbing her dress and
laughing and her eyes were alive and she looked so happy and beautiful.

He couldn’t tell her how he felt. That was out of the
question now that she had made her declaration of it being ‘unbearable’ to be
anything more than just a fling.

That’s what I asked for, right?
Matt was furious with
himself. But he couldn’t let her leave without telling her how he felt. So if
he couldn’t tell her with words then he would have to find another way.

*****

 ‘You’re early,” Janie looked at her feet and stepped back,
opening the door for Matt to enter her room. She reached for the lamp switch
and a soft glow lit the room.

He chuckled, “I guess I am.”

He moved into the room and Janie was suddenly aware she was
wearing her pajamas. She closed the door and moved to the bed searching for her
robe.

“I know you’re leave in the morning and I know you aren’t
interested in this being anything more than a fling, but I thought… I wondered
if I could spend your last night in New York with you.”

I do want more! I want so much more! You’re the one who
doesn’t want more! You’re the one who can’t commit to anyone!
Janie tried
to remain calm on the outside while she was screaming on the inside. She looked
up at him and searched his face for a clue; a clue to anything. She only saw
deep blue eyes with no hint of anything.

“I’d like that,” she whispered.

Matt removed the lightweight windbreaker he was wearing and
hung it on the desk chair. He took the couple of steps toward her and took her
face tenderly in his hands, his fingers in her hair. Slowly his head lowered,
his lips grazing hers. Gently at first he kissed her, but the passion built
quickly and they locked in a heated embrace. Janie’s hands glided up and down
his back, pulling him closer, lost in the fiery moment.

Matt’s hands traveled down her neck and down her back and
lifted the top of her pajamas and ran his hands over her flushed skin
underneath. Janie pulled on his polo shirt tucked in to his jeans and followed
his lead, finding smooth skin under the fabric. His body was rock hard but his
skin soft and warm. Her hands explored his back, committing each inch to
memory.

Tongues danced and their bodies pulsed with desire for each
other. Matt’s fingers ran up her sides and stopped on the full fleshy mounds of
her breasts and Janie gasped at his touch. He pulled back from the kiss and
looked into her eyes, his full of desire.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered.

Janie lowered her lashes and grabbed the edges of his shirt,
lifting them up, forcing his arms up to remove it over his head. He threw it on
the floor and Janie caressed his chest. She ran the back of her fingers up the
trail of hair that began at the waistband of his jeans and over his taut
stomach. She circled his sternum with her fingernails.

Once more
, she thought.
Let me love him once more
and then I will let him go like he asked.

Matt lifter her pajama top over her head and scooped her
into his arms, cradling her against his chest. He took three quick strides and
gently laid her down on the bed. He kicked of his tennis shoes and slowly
climbed over her, tenderly kissing her again. He lowered his body onto hers,
her legs parting to let him lay on her, accepting his weight.

He kissed her and their bodies melded together. Leaning on
his elbows, Matt played with her hair as he deepened the kiss, shooting his
tongue into her mouth, tasting every inch of her.

Janie could feel his erection as the metal zipper of his
jeans pushed into her thigh. It was arousing to her to know he was turned on
and her body begged for his hands. She arched her back into him and he
responded by trailing kisses down her neck and taking each sweet nipple into
his mouth and gently sucking, softly biting, obeying her silent request. She
ran her fingers through his hair, grabbing the silky strands and holding him to
her breasts. She inhaled his scent, knowing this would be the last time she
would smell his unique and glorious smell.

Matt continued his trail of kisses over her belly and down
to her pajama shorts. He moved the fabric down her body and Janie lifted her
hips as he pulled them down her thighs. He rolled back onto his knees and
pulled the garment form her legs.

Janie had never thought of herself as sensual. But as she
lay on the bed, completely naked, entirely exposed, with Matt kneeling between
her legs in just a pair of jeans, looking very aroused, the revelation came to
her that she was in fact a very sexual creature. Matt had awakened in her the
desire to not only receive intense pleasure but to give pleasure in return.

With a new-found sense of confidence, Janie sat up and
placed her hands on Matt’s chest. “Lie down,” she purred.

Matt’s eyes opened and a wide grin emerged across his lovely
face and she pressed him down to the mattress, fully stretched out on the bed. Janie
boldly straddled him and clasped his hands in hers, lowering to kiss him,
pouring as much love as she could into that single moment. As her lips touched
his, her breasts grazed his chest and she felt the jolt through his body.
Following his lead, she trailed small delicate kisses down his chin and across
to his ear, nipping on the lobe and breathing ever so softly and he shivered
and squeezed her hands. Then she kissed down his neck and across his shoulder
and down his chest, stopping at his nipple and she imitated him by gently
biting and sucking and pulling and his breath gasped and she felt very
satisfied.