Taking Chances (7 page)

Everyone went inside and took the table in the back corner. Their waiter Thomas came over and poured them all water and while he opened the wine he let everyone know what was planned for tonight’s meal.

“Hello,
Jenna has set up the menu for the table tonight.
I will start you off with; warm goat cheese and caramelized onion tartlets. Then a warm beet salad and the main course will be a beef bourguignon.” Thomas looked around the table to make sure that everyone was happy with the selection.

“If you would prefer something else please have what you want.” Jenna added nervously.

“That all sounds amazing, really, I love tartlets.” Alfred added sipping his water.

“Jenna this is really nice, the
place lives up to his name so eclectic and tasteful and that mural is amazing. Is that by
the
artist you are always talking about Ty? If so than he is every bit as amazing as you said he was.” Julia looked to her eldest son and sipped her wine.

“Yes mo
ther it is by the artist I have mentioned. I am currently trying to get
her
to do all the work for the penthouse renovation downtown.” Squeezing Jenna’s hand he kept talking to his mother about the mural and his plans for downtown.

Tyler’s father Alfred who was seated on Jenna’s right sipped his wine and turned to Jenna. “So what is it you do Jenna? Tyler explained to us that you do not really need to be a housekeeper you just do it to occupy some time.”

“Well actually, I became Tyler’s housekeeper because my friends whom I believe you know, Sara and Dean
, well they were worried about me after Aunt Emma died. I have…well I have an anxiety disorder.
When my Aunt died I was really lonely and scared and I wouldn’t leave my apartment.” Pausing to look around she realized that they
were all looking at her. She swallowed, took a deep
breath and continued.

“Sara knows that when my anxiety is acting up I find comfort in schedules and routines. She told me about Tyler needing a housekeeper so she told him I would be interested in the job.
I mean I don’t really have to work. I have the café and the royalties from Aunt Emma’
s cookbooks, my home is paid for and I...”
She
looked around one more time and let her eyes settle on Tyler. He nodded reassuringly.
“I am an artist and I make a very good living selling my work.” She grabbed her wine and sipped it.

“Oh really?
An artist?
What kind of work do you do?” Julia asked, apparently
Jenna had piqued her interest.

“Well I work mostly in charcoals and pastels but I work in every medium. I painted that mural right there.” Pointing to the mural they were talking about earlier.

“Oh! That’s your work? I
can’t believe that I am acquainted
with a top artist. This is amazing you really must let me have you over for a small event to promote your work darling!” Julia chimed in happily getting the attention of Veronica. They started talking to each other about who to invite and where to have it and how it would be the nicest party. Clearly the two women loved being fabulous and letting people know it.

Gripping Jenna’s hand Tyler was just about to jump in when to his surprise his brother did instead.

“Clearly Jenna is not comfortable with the attention you two are going on about giving her. She is a very talented artist there is no doubt about it. However she uses a symbol instead of her name.
She trusted us with her secret and I think instead of trying to push her into doing something she doesn’t want we should be grateful
for her trust and thank her.” Taking his wife’s hand and smiling Bryan said his peace.

“I agree, Julia let the girl live her way.” Alfred Johnson spoke to his wife as the appetizers were
set in front of them.

“Thank you Mr. Johnson.” Jenna was slightly choked up that not only did the two men stand up for her and understand her wishes and reasons but the two women seemed to nod in agreement.

Tyler couldn’t stop smiling as the small talk continued around the table. Everyone was wowed with the meal and made Jenna feel very comfortable. Jenna was luminous as she spoke about her work and her aunt and just had a nice time. It was clear his family was accepting of the woman he was choosing to be with.

As the waiter came back over at the end of the meal he asked if anyone would like desert.

“Tonight we have Pavlova
with fresh fruit, crème Brule, and a nice pear tartlet.” Taking everyone’s order Thomas smiled and went to get their food.

A short while later the group left the café. Julia and Veronica hugged Jenna and they all discussed a time to meet for a nice lunch just the girls. Alfred embraced her and Bryan said a very nice goodbye smiling genuinely at her.

Waving the car off Tyler put his arm around Jenna and they walked to her home.

“They loved you.” Tyler whispered as he kissed her temple.

About an hour later they entered Tyler’s
apartment. Jenna took Oscars leash off and let him run around. The small dog went crazy i
n his new environment. He had t
o smell every surface and explore every corner. Jenna noticed a big plush dog bed covered in toys
in front
of the windows in the living room. Turning to
Tyler she smiled.

“Are you trying to spoil him more than he already is?”
She asked laughing

“You are right it’s
addicting. I ran into the pet store to get my little friend a bed and maybe one new toy
and they all just looked like so much fun. Before I knew it I had a huge pile.” He pulled her down to sit on the couch next to him.

“I have a present for you.” Grabbing a large envelope off the table he handed it to her. He watched as she opened it.

She opened the envelope and saw laminated passes for the concert she wanted to go to but was too scared to go to Atlantic City for. She shook her head in disbelief.

“I know you are unable to stand in the middle of a large crowd so…I called a friend of mine who is the manager of the casino and hotel where the concert is being held. These passes are so we can go backstage and watch the concert from the side of the stage with the very V.I.P’s. We will be taking a limo to Atlantic City, when we arrive I have set up a surprise for you then we will see the concert and spend the night in the penthouse suite. If you’re feeling up to it maybe we can explore a little. With it being November it’s a little too cold to go on the beach but we can do anything you want.” He ran his fingers through her silky hair as he explained his plans to her.

“I cannot
believe you went to this trouble for me. Nobody has
ever
put so much thought into a gift for me.
Thank you.” Turning and wrapping her arms around his neck she kissed him deeply. The couple stayed in the embrace enjoying the feel of each other until they were interrupted by Tyler’s cell phone.

“YES? He did what?! Send the file to my computer and get him on the phone with me in ten minutes!”
Kissing her cheek he apologized. “I’m sorry; there is a major problem with my project in the Bahamas. Make yourself comfortable and I will finish this as soon as I possibly can.”

“You do what you have to do. Oscar and I will just relax.” She nearly fell of the couch laughing when she saw Oscar take off to go in the office with him and heard him tell the small dog not once but three times to get out of his office chair
. “See what happens when you spoil a dog, they become your shadow.”

While waiting for him to do his work Jenna grabbed one of her sketch pads and worked a little more on the sketch she started last time she was here. The view from the couch was amazing, especially at night when the city was lit up in the background of the park.

After about a half an hour later she got up and stretched then checked to see how close to if he was still working. He was sitting at his desk with Oscar asleep on his lap while he talked on the phone. Smiling she made her way down to the bedroom and grabbed the nightie she purchased last week and headed into the bathroom.

Chapter ten

One aggravating hour later Tyler and his new shadow Oscar left his office.
Didn’t see Jenna but the bedroom light was on so he figured she was in there.
He grabbed Oscar’s leash and the two headed out for the last walk of the day.

When they returned a short time later he still didn’t see Jenna. Letting the dog off the leash he took off his gray wool pea coat and hung it on the hook by the door. Walking deeper into the penthouse he looked around for her.

“Jen?
Where are you?”
Seeing a light on in the bedroom he headed that way.

When he walked in the bedroom he stopped and a large smile crossed his face when he saw her. She was walking out of the bathroom wearing a soft blue silk nightie with spaghetti straps that fell
mid-thigh
. Licking his lips he moved closer to her.

“You look amazing.” Moving closer to her he put his hands on her hips and pulled her against his chest.

She looked up at him and grinned. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I’m sorry I took so long on the phone but Oscar and I had an emergency to d
eal with.”
Smirking at her he ran his hands over the soft fabric.

“He is a big help when you’re
trying to work isn’t he?”
Her
fingers were slowly working on the buttons to his shirt.
Teasing him as she undoes them.

Nodding dumbly he swallowed the lump in his throat while her hands worked their way down his shirt. “When I finally got him out of my chair and sat down, he
hopped right up on my lap. I felt like the Godfather petting him while I yelled at people.”

His head fell back and he moaned when her soft hands parted his now open shirt and rand down his chest and over his abs. Next he felt her silken lips on his hot flesh. She kissed him all
over and every so often her tongue would sneak out and tease him.
Burying his hand in her thick beautiful hair he pulled her head up and kissed her hard his tongue battling hers.

“You make me crazy Jenna. The sight of you in your tight pants the way your hips sway when you move. All those smiles you give me, the smell of your shampoo and most of all those hypnotic eyes you have that seem to look right into my soul.” He finished his declaration with another kiss.

Jenna pushed his hands away and took a small step back. Her nails ran teasingly down his abs to his belt. Unbuckling his belt and then undoing his pants she never broke eye contact. He let her push his pants off leaving him there in just his boxer briefs.

She took in the sight of him standing in front
of her in just his boxer briefs and smirked. God he was sexy she thought to herself. He opened his arms and she walked into them her lips placing a line of soft kisses across his chest and up his neck. She nibbled playfully at his strong jaw while his hands ran up her back to her shoulders.

Tyler pushed the straps to her nightie off and it fell to the floor. Jenna stepped out of her nightie and stood naked
in front
of him. He picked her up and placed her on the center of his bed. Crawling over her he
gently laid with her kissing her neck and her lips, his
hands exploring her soft sexy body.

“You are amazing princess.” He whispered as his lips hovered above her breasts.

Jenna
shivered at the combination of his words, his touch and the feel of his hot breathe on her nipples. She reached out and ran her fingers through his hair.
He
kissed his way from her breasts to her belly button then looked up at her and smiled. Rubbing his hands on her thighs he pushed them apart and tasted her.

“Tyler.” His name was a whisper. She shivered and moaned.

Tyler brought her to the brink with his mouth. Looking up at her and smirking wickedly he pushed her over the edge. Jenna moaned loudly saying his name over and over.

Crawling back up her he cupped her face between his hands. Kissing her sweetly she whispered against his lips. “Tyler I’ve fallen in love with you.” His kiss deepened at her admission.

“That’s good princess because I took that fall a while ago.” Winking at her he stripped of his boxer briefs and they made love, slowly, sweetly, completely.

~~~~~

Jenna came away slowly. Lying with her cheek on Tyler’s chest, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest while he slept was so hypnotic
.
Her one leg was hooked over one of his powerful thighs and her hand was resting on his abs.
She could very easily get used to waking up this way every
morning.

Slowly Jenna eased out of bed and walked naked to the bathroom. Seeing his robe on the hook she grabbed it and wrapped herself in it
.
After washing her face she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She could still feel his lips on her body. He made her feel sexy, safe and cherished.