Taking Chances (2 page)

As much as Tyler likes getting his own way and being the boss, a relationship is the one place he doesn’t want those things.  He wanted someone he was able to have a conversation with, someone who didn’t necessarily see things his way all the time.  He wanted a woman who could put him in his place when he needed it and could take as well as she gives, in other words he was looking for someone like him.  So far the only relationships he has had have been with women who just want the money and the lifestyle that came with it, they were “yes women” plain and simple.  His mother had always complained he need to lighten up, he needed to stop looking for the unattainable and settle for what’s in front of him.

His mother Julia Johnson has always been very vocal about Tyler’s personal life and the choices he should make. Julia is “old money” and believes strongly her boys need a woman of a certain class and social standing, although he did have to admit she was getting better about it sometimes.  Julia is British and both Tyler and Bryan hold dual citizenship and own property in both countries. Julia always told her oldest son he should be more like his younger brother Bryan.  Tyler shook his head at the thought.  Bryan had gone to school and graduated top of his class.  He had a steady girlfriend since he was 18, she was from a “good family” and she was perfect for him.  They married just out of college and settled into a good home in the right neighborhood and have the right friends who throw the best parties.  Bryan and Veronica live in England and he runs the UK office of the company.  He had talked to Bryan two weeks ago and found out they were expecting a baby.  It’s not that Tyler didn’t want any of those things, he did want to find a woman and spend a happy life with her and what could be a better adventure than having a kid?  He could just care less about all the other things.  He just hadn’t met the woman he wanted to do it with.  To be honest; he hadn’t met a woman he wanted to spend more than a short time with.

Breaking from his mental reverie he decided to end this phone call.  “I am not interested in excuses gentlemen.  You need to get in gear and finish down there.  I want that resort finished staffed and ready to open in under a year, if you are having trouble with the contractors hire new ones!  I will be down there in two days and I expect to see some movement in all the areas I already told you about or I will replace you both.”  Hanging up the phone he looked at the clock.  This was the first major project he is undertaking on his own from groundbreaking to open.  It was almost time to meet Dean for dinner.  After 4 months of having Jenna work for him he was determined to find out what she was all about.

Grabbing his cellphone off the desk he headed out of his office.  “Helena I’m leaving for the day.  As soon as you check all the files I gave you to organize and double check my travel arrangements for the Bahamas you can go and barring any disasters have a good few days off.”  Smiling at his assistant he headed out.

~~~

Dean and Tyler sat at the restaurant sipping their beers and talking while waiting for their dinners.  The two men had been friends for as long as either of them could remember.  Dean and his sister owned an art gallery in the city.  Sara, Dean’s sister, ran the gallery while Dean was an agent for a few hot artists.  The pair had met Jenna when she moved in with her Aunt when she was 7 a mere two days younger than Sara.  Dean was overjoyed when they finally talked Jenna into displaying and selling her art.

“Dean, all I’m asking is what’s the deal with Jenna.”  Tyler took a long sip of his beer before continuing.  “She’s hot, she’s funny, and she doesn’t just clean my home and cook my meals it’s almost as if she’s taking care of me.  It’s been 4 months and every time I see her or talk to her I find something else I like.  I find myself striving to be home early so I catch her before she leaves even if it’s just for a moment.  Are you going to help me out or am I on my own with her?”  Tyler looked pointedly at the other man while the waitress placed his steak fajitas down in front of him.

“I’m telling you she is not for you man.  Jenna is the kind of girl who needs stability she needs everything you, up to now, have avoided.  You’re a risk taker both in business and in your personal life.  You look for the next great thrill and the next way to have fun and explore new places.  Where you would wake up in the morning and decide today was a good day to head to the beach and you might just try parasailing, Jenna will wake up and decide today is a good day to walk to the bookstore and maybe read about parasailing.  I know she would like to be strong enough to try those things but she’s not.”  Taking a bite of the enchiladas he ordered.

“I mean she’s a lot of fun, but…” Dean sipped his beer as he looked for the right words, he hadn’t planned on telling Tyler everything about Jenna but now that he is showing interest in her he felt that he has to.

Sighing deeply Dean continued, “The reason Sara and I thought Jenna would be great as your housekeeper was more to help her than it was to help you.  When she was little her parents died.  It took almost 2 years for her Aunt Emma to be found due to some family feud or something.  So for all that time Jenna was a ward of the state and it was hard on her. Never having a stable home, moving from place to place with what little belongings you have in a bag and the fact that some of the people who are foster parents aren’t always the nicest people it took its toll on her. She doesn’t talk about it much.  As a result Jenna suffers from some pretty bad anxiety.  She can go weeks without leaving her home.  After her Aunt died she locked herself in for the better part of six months.” Tyler could see the sadness in his friend when he was talking about the woman who was practically his second sister.  “

Schedule and structure and familiarity are good for her they make her feel good as much as we know she wants to lead a life more spur of the moment and fly by the seat of your pants , she can’t.  That’s why we mentioned the job to her.  We needed to get her back out in the world but in a way she would feel comfortable.  Jenna doesn’t need to work.  Between the money and café her aunt left her and um other interests she has, she’s fine for money.”  Dean took another bite of his meal as he watched to make sure what he was saying was sinking in with Tyler.

“So what you’re saying is I’ve got my work cut out for me?”  Giving a sly smile Tyler looked at him.  “I’m up for it.  Don’t worry I’m not a complete ass; I’m not looking to have a fling or hurt her.  There’s something about this girl I like.  A lot.”

Laughing and shaking his head Dean looked at his friend.  “my my my could it be that the great Tyler Johnson, one of New York’s most eligible bachelors and king of the fling is ready for something more?”

“You never know man, you never know” rolling his eyes Tyler went on eating.  “Alright enough about Jenna.  How’s business with that new artist?  I was hoping to get a few bigger pieces to put in the penthouse of the downtown hotel when we remodel it next month.”

“I’ll see what I can do.  Were you looking for abstract or cityscape?”  Motioning the waitress for another beer Dean tried to keep from smirking at Tyler’s change of subject.  “Have you seen any of the abstract?  The artist says it’s what she sees when she listens to music or meditates”

“This woman seems like a real interesting person.  How on earth did you get mixed up with her?”  Tyler may not know a lot about art be he knows what he likes and this artist was something special.

“Sara just came across some of her work one day and fell in love with it.”  Dean had to hide a smile.  Tyler would flip if he knew that the artist whose work he loved so much he wanted to put it in his hotels was his housekeeper.

“Well, I’ll stop by the gallery and visit your sister and pick some stuff out.”  Tyler finished his dinner and motioned for the check.  “I have to run I want to hit the gym before I head home and get ready for my trip to check out the new site in the Bahamas.”  Paying the check he patted his friend on the shoulder and headed out of the restaurant.

“Just think it through Ty that’s all I’m saying.  She is special to us and I don’t know if she has it in her to put up with the constant go go go of your life and more importantly, how would your mom feel about you being seen with and involved with someone like Jenna?

Waving off his friend Dean turned to see what was happening on the TV screens by the bar while he finished meal.

All the way to the gym Tyler contemplated what Dean had told him about Jenna.  Was his attraction to her enough to try and be what Dean says she wants?  She really was a knock out.  Her hair was long and straight she had recently added some streaks of hot pink that added to her eclectic personality.  He has seen three of her tattoos the flowers on her forearm the little Koala bear on the top of her foot and the other day she showed up with a new one, her Aunts name in beautiful script on her neck.   

One day he would find her listening to classic rock, while she worked the next day it would be 80s pop or even some rap.  She kept his home clean and in perfect order, and don’t even get him started on the food she left for him.  He was used to ordering out or making his own food, and he wasn’t the world’s best cook.  But Jenna however left him culinary masterpieces.  Everything from coq au vin to perfect lasagna and she always left a nice little note taped to each container with the best way to heat the food up.  She very quickly learned what he liked and even made little suggestions for new things he might like to try.

Smiling to himself as he got out of the car and walked into his gym he had made his decision.  Jenna was going to be his.  He was going to get to know her, what do her tattoos mean, what does she do for fun, what can he do to make her give him more of those shining smiles and most importantly what can he do to make her comfortable and happy.  He wanted to lay his hands on that sweet little body; he loved watching the sway of her hips in the form fitting yoga pants and jeans she wears, the curve of her breasts under that tight little concert tee shirts she favors.  He ached to tangle his fingers in her long thick hair and taste her lush red lips.  The other important reason for making Jenna his was that she made him want to see what this commitment thing was all about, he wanted to take care of her and make sure she didn’t have anything to fear.  For the first time in his life Tyler was looking to the future and not just for business.  

As he changed into his shorts and shirt to workout in Tyler smiled knowing what he was going to do.  There would be no games.  He was going to let his intentions known to Jenna,  let her know she had nothing to fear that he wanted to keep her safe and show her the things she wanted to see.  Jenna was going to be happy she was going to see the world and do all the things she dreamed of he would make sure of it.
First he was going to do some research on anxiety and see if there were things he can do to make her comfortable and secure.

Chapter three

Tyler walked in his penthouse with his suitcase in hand.  The trip should have taken 3 days tops, instead it took him over a week.  The landscapers were lazy the electrician was a disaster and worst of all; his project manager was an incompetent.  After an extensive search through his data base he was able to replace his project manager.  The only good thing about his trip to the Bahamas was that he managed to get some parasailing and wake boarding in before he came home.

The first thing he noticed when he walked in was the music, smiling he noted it was Jenna’s favorite classic rock station.  Then the smell whatever it was that was simmering in the kitchen it smelled delicious.  Walking further in, he dropped his suitcase by the coffee table.

Jenna walked into the living room wiping her hands on a paper towel.  Looking up she saw Tyler and he was gifted with one of her shining smiles.  

“Oh your back already?  Dean told me he heard from you and that you were on your way so I thought I’d stop by and fix you a nice dinner and make sure everything was clean and fresh and nice for you.”  Walking to where she dropped his suitcase she picked it up.  

“There’s a pot of stew on the stove.  I’ll just unpack this and drop a load of laundry in for you and let you relax after your trip, is that ok with you?”

“That all sounds fine with me except, how about you join me for dinner?”  Undoing his tie and heading towards the kitchen he turned when he got to the door waiting for her response.

“Um well that’s nice of you but I really don’t like to take the late busses home.  Otherwise I’d be happy to join you.”  She smiles at him and walked to the small laundry room and set the suitcase on the counter.

Tyler followed her and watched as she unpacked his suitcase.  Separating his laundry then turning to carry his toiletries to his bathroom she stopped in front of him.  “Stay Jenna.  Have dinner with me.  You’ve worked for me for 4 months and I really don’t know anything about you except what I know from Dean and Sara.  When we are done eating I will personally drive you home and deliver you to your front door safe and sound.  Dean told me a little about your, about your discomfort with new things and changes and such.  You can trust me Jenna I won’t hurt you and I won’t let anything happen to you.”  He placed his hand on her shoulder smiling down at her.

Looking up into his eyes she nodded.

 “Alright just let me finish what I’m doing and ill join you for dinner.  Thanks.”  She walked into his room to put his things away.  Smiling he watched her go noting how perfectly those yoga pants fit around her beautiful curves before heading to the kitchen.

When Jenna returned to the kitchen Tyler had set the table for two.  Two bottles of beer two nice bowls of stew and on the side some of the French bread she picked up at the bakery.  He held a seat out for her and once she was seated he moved to sit next to her.