Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1) (7 page)

Back at the apartment, I went to the pool to reflect on my day. Other students were milling around. Mia was passed out on her bed and Veronica went to the library. My phone rang.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Hi, is this Zoe Caine?”

“Yes.”

“There are two deliveries in the front office for you. Kindly pick them up.”

I put on my cover-up over my bikini and went into the office. The girl at the front desk went around the corner and came back with two brown packages and handed them to me. She plopped back down in the chair and continued her assault on a piece of gum. I occasionally received care packages from Aunt Suzette and Jenna but they always come in the mail. Back in my bedroom, I opened the first package and furrowed my brows.

“What the hell is this?” I muttered, as I looked at the contents. Three tickets to Shakespeare’s
All’s Well that Ends Well
play at the Winedale Historical Center in Round Top, which is two hours away from my college. There was also a note. I quickly scanned the message.

There was also a phone number and an email address. The second package contained three small battery operated fans, three seat cushions and a leather bound book of Shakespeare’s play
All’s Well that Ends Well
along with three copies of the screenplay that we would be attending. Another note was attached:
Although lovely and appropriate for the play, it is an open-air theatre and I found that a fan may be necessary as the weather can be quite warm.

I didn’t know what to do. Stunned, I call Jenna.

“Hi, Zoe. How are your classes and your first day of clinicals?”

“Jen. Oh my God…so that Jordan guy, he sent a package for me here at the school and I don’t know what to do. I mean, I don’t know what it means or anything and there is a note too.” I quickly read her the note. I was excited but scared as well, and if I was honest with myself, I had thought of him a lot over the past couple months.

“Really? He just won’t give up. I told him what you said when he asked for your phone number. Not like verbatim, but I did mention to him that you didn’t think there would be much in common between you and him. Guess he took it to heart and wanted to prove you wrong.”

“Well, I will send him a text and thank him, but I’m not sure that I will accept it. I need to think about this, plus with something new like clinicals starting, I don’t need any distractions.” I walked to the patio and looked outside while twirling my long auburn hair, a nervous habit of mine.

“I can find out more about him if you like, Zoe.”

I blew a long breath through the phone as I contemplated my response. “No. I will think about it. Thanks, Jenna, love you and say hi to David for me.” We chatted about my day at the hospital and her settling into married life. I hung up the phone as Mia came out of her room. I told her about the packages and she flipped out with excitement. Veronica had the same reaction when I told her. I texted Jordan.

I pushed the send button and in less than a minute my phone beeped with an incoming text.

Give me a chance to prove that we do have many interests in common,
Jordan texted back.

I smiled at his quick response, but wanted him to know I was not playing hard to get and was not one for playing games.

I was shocked at his response.

I was little leery and responded with one word.

I told the girls what I planned to do. Although disappointed, they were happy that I kept the three tickets.

After class the next day, I walked to Starbucks. The heat was unbearable and I was sweating. Luckily, it was only a 5-minute walk from my lecture hall. Happy to slip into the cool air of the store, I got a cup of ice water and a cafe latte. I turned around to look for a seat when I spotted Jordan coming toward me. I stopped and simply stared at him. He was just as handsome as I remembered him to be. His long lean frame came toward me as those brilliant blue eyes took in my appearance.

Suddenly I was aware of my worn jeans with holes on both thighs, my Nike tennis shoes, a grey Gap T-shirt, and my long hair sticking to my neck. There were two girls in front of me that were outright gawking at him but he is focused on me.

“Here, let me help you with that.” His voice was low and maybe it’s just me, but I thought even just those few words were sexy. We were attracting attention now and I quickly took the seat at the table in the corner where he’d been sitting. I tried not to stare at his brilliant white shirt, grey tie and dark blue slacks. He must have discarded his suit jacket due to the heat of the day. He looked nothing like a college student. I briefly wondered what the other students were thinking of us.

“I thought you were sending someone?” I asked, making it sound like a question. I was also a little annoyed since I was caught off guard meeting him again.

“I’m sorry, Zoe. I just wanted the opportunity to meet you under different circumstances. Am I forgiven?” His piercing blue eyes look honest and I gulped down the cold water while thinking of an appropriate response.

“So, why did you want to see me?” I asked. Since he went out of his way to seek me out, I felt that I needed some honest answers.

“Can we take a walk?” His eyes scanned the room.

“In this heat? It’s 95 degrees outside,” I said, as I had no intentions of strolling around campus unless I had to. I arched my brows and looked at him. He was smiling.

“You are aware that you are drinking a hot beverage and it’s 95 degrees outside.” I wanted to argue with him but it made sense, so I scoffed and took another sip of the super-hot liquid. He took a sip of what appeared to be iced tea in his cup.

“I’m addicted to their latte and I desperately need the caffeine,” I said in defense of my beverage of choice.

“If I promise not to kidnap you or harm you in any way, would you feel comfortable with sitting in my car while we talk? I’ll keep the air on.”

I twitched my lips from side to side while considering his suggestion.

“OK, I’ll text Mia and let her know I’m with you and that we’re in your car. There’s a small lake with some large oak trees about a mile from here. Is that OK?” I asked while texting Mia with my whereabouts. He got up and stood behind my chair. I was about to put on my backpack when he took it from me.

“Please, allow me.” A+ for impeccable manners.

“Thanks,” I said as I read Mia’s incoming text that she wanted all the details later.

We walked in silence to his car…what a car! He stood beside the vehicle and opened my door. I was slightly embarrassed as there were several guys staring at the car. I felt a blush traveling up my neck. Quickly, I slid into the seat. The white luxurious leather seat felt like butter, creamy and soft to the touch. It rivaled something that James Bond would drive in the movies.

“Nice car,” I commented. I was duly impressed.

“Thank you. Please note that we have something else in common. The appreciation of sport cars,” he said and started the engine. It purred to life as he skillfully backed out of the parking space. I directed him toward the lake.

“What kind of car is it, anyway?” Curiosity got the better of me, I just had to know. It was an older car, but in mint condition.

“It’s a 1974 Maserati Bora. It will reach speeds up to 170 miles per hour, 0 to 62mph in 6.7 seconds.” He clearly loved cars. He said he’d bought the car two years ago when he made his first big commercial real estate investment deal in Miami with money that he had borrowed from his grandfather. David’s dad took a risk on him by financing the deal, but Jordan proved that he was a savvy businessman and doubled the money.

We came to a stop in front of the lake. He put the car in park but kept the engine running with the air on high. He flipped off his seatbelt and turned in the seat toward me. I looked at the instrumentation since I didn’t want to stare in his eyes, but I was aware that he was looking at me.

“I am intrigued with you, Zoe. I would like to know you better and I promise not to bite.” My eyes flew up to his and I saw that he was smiling. “If I do, I promise you will like it.” The blush that was fading on my cheeks deepened and I turned my head to stare out the window. My heart was beating in staccato and my subconscious was doing a happy dance on the hood of the car.

He put his finger under my chin and gently turned my face back toward him. I was deeply attracted to him. But, I wasn’t sure that I was ready to have a boyfriend and I sensed that he was not one to be put off. What if he was demanding of my time? I needed to concentrate on school.

“I can see the wheels turning in your lovely head. Don’t over-think it. I’m just a regular guy and I would like to know who Zoe Caine is. I do know that I haven’t been able to get you out of my thoughts for the past few months.” His voice was calm and comforting and I wanted to give in to his request, but called on my last bit of common sense.

“I just don’t need the distraction right now, Jordan. I have two years of college ahead of me. I know you’re probably a nice guy and all, but…” I couldn’t seem to formulate my thoughts about all of my hesitations.

“So, that’s a yes.”

“Um…” I felt that I was losing this battle so I let my guard down and laughed.

“Great. I will work around your school schedule and study time.”

I nodded my head, giving in to a trial date this weekend.

He leaned in to me for a kiss. Even if I wanted to move, I felt that I was unable to do so. He was like a magnet that I was drawn to and I gave in to the moment of the light sweetness of his kiss. He brushed my lips once, twice, my eyes closed and I exhaled the breath I was holding, into a soft moan. His tongue slowly slipped into my mouth and swirled gently as if though he was giving me the choice to stop the kiss or go on.

I went on. I was drawn to this man and now totally intoxicated by his kiss. He withdrew and ended the sweetest kiss I had ever experienced. I relaxed back into the seat. I was not aware of meeting him halfway across the console of the car for the kiss, but I guess I had and it was well worth it.

I looked at him and he was smiling at me. I returned the smile, slowly shaking my head. “You are a smooth talker, Mr. Dawson,” I said.

“I think that is a firm yes. Dinner Saturday night then.” He smiled and put the car in drive. We drove back to my campus apartment.

Chapter 7

Present Day

“Hello, sleepyhead.” Jenna was gently shaking my shoulder to wake me up.

“Go away. It’s like 5 a.m. or something,” I muttered and opened one eyes to peek at her.

“Fine. I will take my coffee with me too,” she replied. That got my attention real fast.

“Coffee? I love, love, love you. You are my favorite sister.”

“I am your only sister, goofy.” She handed me the cup of coffee that I sipped on as if my life depended on it.

“Fresh ground, Guatemala blend, black with one Splenda, no cream,” I said, my eyes closed as I inhaled the aroma of the coffee.

“You are sick; you do know that, right? No one should know that much about something as insignificant as coffee,” Jenna said as she pulled out clothes from the walk-in closet for me to put on.

“Hey, don’t hate ’cause you can’t have any.” Since she was trying to get pregnant, Jenna has given up on most caffeine and alcohol as well. Which is why she was disgustingly sober today and I was sporting a dull headache.

“Oh, and take the ibuprofen on the nightstand,” she said. I must give it to her; Jenna always managed to look gorgeous. It seemed to come easy to her. She is perfectly made up and in a gorgeous summer pantsuit. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail that made her look cool and sophisticated instead of drab and boring. I complimented her on all of the above and she smiled and blew me a kiss.

“It is well past noon. Mia and Veronica are down at the pool nursing a hangover. Aunt Suzette has had breakfast and about to have lunch, David is off golfing, and you need to get out of bed if you want to make it back to Houston today.” Jenna laid out all this information and left the room while I shuffled to the bathroom for a shower and changed into the summer dress she decided on for me to wear. I shook my head. Still such a mother hen. No wonder I love her.

I phoned Robert on my way downstairs.

“Hello, sweets,” he said. “Hope your day is going well. I’m almost back home. I just checked in with Greta, mother’s nurse. She said that mother did well with her new medication and the physical therapist is with her now. I will see you on Tuesday for dinner at 7 p.m., since mother canceled on us for Wednesday. We can go to Fish since you like sushi. I can have a steak or something else.” Yup. Thoughtful and accommodating. Such a sweet man.

“OK, Robert. Sounds good. Give my regards to your mother. I will head home shortly and will see you Tuesday evening.” The phone went dead as he ended the call.

“She lives,” Aunt Suzette said as she rose up to give me a kiss on the cheek. I pulled her into a tight hug.

“Good morning or afternoon, I think.” I gave her a kiss and let her go back to eating her lunch. Jenna’s housekeeper guided me around the counter to show me the spread of food she had prepared for lunch.

“Oh my gosh, Juana! This all looks amazing. I love your cooking. Are you feeding the Texas 1st Brigade, or what?” She laughed and shoved a plate in my hand. Not needing much encouragement with food, I dug into the scrumptious offering and sat at the table. Just then, Mia and Veronica made their way in, fresh from their shower.