Taking Chances (4 page)

“I don’t know. Maybe new pair of black skinny cargo pants with
my hot pink tee shirt and black hooded vest.
Oh, and my hot pink open toe platform pumps.”  Sighing deeply and looking to Sara for her opinion.

“I think that will be great, cute yet casual.  You should leave your hair down too.”  Smiling at Jenna she got up and smile.  

“I have to get to the gallery, you go home take a nice hot relaxing bath and then get ready for tonight.”

Jenna let herself out of Sara’s home and walked back to her place.  There was a smile on her face and for the first time in a while she wasn’t completely scared.  Her anxiety was there and always would be but she was determined to not let it run her life.

 Entering her home she closed the door and dropped her keys in the bowl on the table in the entryway.  Oscar her dog came running up and circled her legs.

“Hey Oscar, are you going to relax with me today?  Hmm?  How about I make us some bacon and eggs for breakfast?”  Smiling she headed to the kitchen with the little black dog trotting behind her.

~~~~

Dean Stanton marched into his friend’s apartment.  He found Tyler sitting on the couch in his living room with his feet up on the coffee table and a laptop on his lap, an action movie was blaring on the television.

“You know if you hurt her you will get my boot up your ass right?”  Flopping down on the couch beside his friend Dean added.   “I think you will be good for her I really do but you have to take it slow man, don’t over whelm her.”

Laughing Tyler closed his laptop and put it on the table.  “I won’t hurt her man I told her flat out.  Let’s see where this takes us.  Have some time and spend some time together, then we will take it from there.”

“I honestly can’t believe she agreed to that but more power to you.  The fact that you have date with her tonight proves just how much she is looking to change her life.  That makes me happy.  Jenna really is like a sister to me, I love her.”  Dean sat there with a smile on his face.  “So what are the plans for tonight?”

“We are going to have dinner at her café and from there I don’t know.”  Turning down the TV so he can talk to his friend Tyler adds.  “So, help me out here man is she a candy and flowers kind of girl?  What are those flowers on her arm?  Maybe I’ll bring some for her.”

“Those are a garden flower not a bouquet type flower.  They are called hellebores or Christmas roses.  She has them in planters on her front steps.  Jenna loves them they are supposed to relieve anxiety and bring tranquility that’s why she got the tattoo of them.”  Laughing at his friend Dean turns to Tyler.

“You’re going to have to go this road alone man.  I’m going to make you work for it, so you will appreciate her more.  I will tell you that she has a crazy sweet tooth when it comes to jelly beans and she loves animals she has this little black mutt named Oscar who is her shadow.”  Dean stood and looked at Tyler.  “I’ll see you later have fun tonight.”

“Bye man.”  Giving Dean a quick wave Tyler grabbed his laptop and turned the movie back up.  He opened a search engine and smiled as he typed his query.

Chapter five

Jenna scrutinized everything about her look in the mirror. All she could think of was the fact that Tyler was a gorgeous smart adventurous billionaire and he wanted to date her. She reached into her closet and grabbed her black hoodie vest. Putting it on over her tight hot pink tee shirt she smiled. She turned slightly and looked in the full length mirror; she fixed her sleek shiny straight hair and decided she looked perfect. Dr. Borden had told her this morning at their appointment that she should be herself and do what feels right so that is what she is doing. Oscar walked up to her and she picked him up, she scratched his head and held him close.

“Wish mommy luck Oscar. I am going on a date with a nice man.” She kissed his furry head and put the dog down. She grabbed her keys and headed out the door. It was a nice evening so she walked the few blocks to the café.

Tyler arrived at the café just before 6 and looked the place over.  It was great!  There was a small chalkboard on the sidewalk with the day’s menu it looked as if the menu changed depending on the day of the week and probably the time of the year seeing as how the menu looked like it was all whatever was in season.  

He stepped inside and was blown away.  There were quaint little tables and chairs a few small booths.  It was very eclectic and sweet with touches from all over the world and he’s guessing Emma’s travels.  He also saw touches of Jenna in the décor.  There were strings of lights around the place and small lanterns.  On the one wall there was a huge mural in the works and it looked like it was a tribute to Emma it actually looked like it was done by his new favorite artist.  He put the package he was holding down and sat at one of the tables in the front corner by the door.  In his research of anxiety disorders Tyler found that most people with anxiety disorder like to be near exits and aren’t fond of being in the center of a crowd.

A young waitress approached him and smiled while she put down a glass of water.  “Hi my name is Beth and I will be your waitress tonight.  Can I help you with anything?”

“No thank you Beth I’m waiting for someone.”  Beth smiled at him and walked away as

Jenna entered he smiled at her as she walked over and seated herself across from him.

“Sorry I’m late.  So what do you think of the place?”  She smiled looking around remembering all the fun she had here.

“You aren’t really late I’m just early.  This place is amazing it’s so comfortable and welcoming.  Here I brought you something.”  

Handing her the small wrapped package he got for her.  Watching her rip into wrapping on the box with a childishly exuberance.

Jenna threw her head back and laughed as she saw the gift Tyler had given her.  “So who was it?  Was it Dean or Sara who let on that I have a severe addiction to jelly beans?”

“It was Dean.  But he said that’s all the help I get.  From here on out I am on my own when it comes to getting your attention and impressing you.”  Smiling he noticed the waitress placing two fizzy pink drinks in front of them.

“Oh that’s my favorite thanks Beth.  This is sparkling water and blood orange juice it’s so good.”  Sipping the drink she watched him try it.  “Did you see the menu?”  Pointing to the three chalk boards placed around the place with the menu written on it so you can see one no matter where you sit.

“Well I figured you’re familiar with the whole menu so why don’t you order for us.  This really is good.”  Taking another sip of his drink he reached out and touched her hand.  “You look beautiful.”

Jenna blushed and forced herself to look up when Beth walked back over.  “We will start with the pretzels with warm beer cheese dip and then we will have the duck l'orange sliders with some zucchini fries.”

“Does that sound good to you?”   Jenna asked then took a sip of her drink.

“That sounds amazing I can’t wait to try it.  So tell me Jenna you obviously are an amazing cook who had a great teacher, is this what you want to do with your life?  Running this incredible café?  Dean told me you didn’t have to work for me because you needed the money he said you have this and other interests.  He is a very cryptic pain in the ass sometimes.”  Laughing he looks at her and waits for her reply.

“Well, I enjoy cooking but no I don’t work here.  I cook for pleasure and I don’t think I could handle the stress of a kitchen.”  Giggling she goes on.  “I do have other interests as Dean says but they head more to the art community.”

“Intriguing.  I too appreciate fine art.  There is this great new artist Dean and Sara got me hooked on.  I have one of his paintings in my office and one of his charcoal and pastels in my home.  They are amazing so simple yet there is a depth at the same time.  The artist doesn’t sign with his name he just draws this design in the bottom corner.  In fact that mural you have going on over there kind of looks like his work.”

Beth came over and placed the hot hand made pretzels with the dark beer cheese dip on the table and left with just a smile.

“I know the artist you’re talking about.”  Reaching in her bag she grabbed a pen and then a napkin off the table.  “It’s not just a random design you know.  The artists name is right there for you to see plain as day.”

Tyler ripped a piece off the warm soft lightly salted pretzel and dipped it in the rich and creamy beer cheese. He took a bite and he actually rolled his eyes. “This is amazing?” He immediately took another bite.

Getting back to the topic of discussion he sipped his drink continued their conversation. “What do you mean is there a code in it or something? Do you know the artist?”

“How are you at keeping secrets?” She looked at him and licked her lips nervously waiting for his reply.

“I can keep a secret better than anyone.” He folded his arms on the table and leaned closer,
intrigued.

“Well if you look you can actually see the artist’s
name.
Well
sort of its initials.” She grabbed a
napkin and a pen from her purse. He watched as she drew the symbol from the artwork then dissected it into three separate pieces that were a J.H.F and showed it to him.

“You see here it is.  This here is a J and the middle design is an H and this last one here is an F.  Jennifer Heather Flynn.” She bit her bottom lip nervously she waited to see if what she just showed him sinks in.  She saw the minute he understood and looked at her, the shock showed in his beautiful blue eyes.

“You mean to tell me that for the last 4 months I have had the best new artist in New York cleaning my apartment.  Why keep it a secret Jenna you have an amazing talent you should let the world know it’s you.  You deserve the recognition.”  Putting down the pretzel he was eating he reached across the table an
d cupped her cheek in his hand.
 “Are you afraid? Is that the reason you won’t share your identity with everyone?”

She nodded and savored the feel of his strong hand on her skin.  “I don’t think I would be able to handle being known and having to do all of the things that artists are supposed to do.  You know going to galleries and meeting people and just being out in the public eye.”

“That’s ok; you don’t ever have to do anything you don’t want to.  I was just wondering.  My god you have got such talent I love your work and would love to see more.”  His thumb stroked her cheek then he let his hand fall as Beth came back with their dinner.

“Hey Beth we are going to take this upstairs to my studio do you think you can get us more drinks.”  She grabbed the plates as the waitress grabbed them two more drinks and handed them to Tyler.

Tyler followed Jenna through the kitchen then up the back stairs to what was a loft.  When they entered Jenna put everything down on a table and took the drinks from his hands.  Tyler just looked around.  There were paintings and charcoal drawings there was even a few sculptures.   He walked around and looked at each one.

Making his way back to Jenna he wrapped his arms around her.  His one hand was making its way up her back, and he tangled it in her long hair.  Pulling her to him he kissed her long hard slowly and completely.  Jenna wrapped her arms around him and held on.  Kissing him back with all she had.   They stayed like that for who knows how long before Tyler looked down at her.

“You are an amazing person Jenna Heather Flynn an outstanding artist and stronger than you give yourself credit for.  The emotion and passion that comes across in your art is astounding.  I want you Jenna I want you so bad.  I want to touch every inch of your body and bring you pleasure.  I want to soothe your fears and show you the world I want to give you more subjects to paint.”  Running his hand down the side of her face, caressing her and praying she wants him the same way.

“Tyler I want that too.  I want to take a chance.
Aunt Emma, Sara and Dean and even the therapist I see from time to time are always telling me to try new things and go outside my comfort zone.
My heart is racing my mind won’t shut off and there is a part of me that wants to run and hide from you.
But I want to see where things can go with you Tyler.
“She leaned in and put her cheek on his chest and held on as if he were a lifeline she so desperately needed and just never knew it.

They spent the rest of the night upstairs talking and getting to know everything about each other.  She told him the horrors of some of the homes she was in before Emma took her in and about the amazing life she had with her aunt.  Tyler told her about his family and how he loved them but he just didn’t feel like he fit in.  He doesn’t have the need to be accepted and to have the best of the best and to let everyone know it.

They fell asleep on the couch in the loft in each other’s arms. It was the most perfect night in Jenna’s adult life so far.

Chapter six

Three weeks, it had been three wonderful weeks since that amazing date with Tyler.   Jenna had never felt this way before.  He treats her like she is a princess.  

First he took her to the Museum of Modern Art and
she was able to share with him why she loved art so much. Then they had a wonderful lunch. H
e showed her the construction for the remodel of the swanky downtown hotel.  So far with him holding her hand she felt she could conquer anything.  Her anxiety had only showed itself once when they were on their way from the museum and he treated her to a nice walk through the central park zoo.