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Six
months later
Jem
juggled the bags in her hands and her house keys. I
really should learn to make more than one trip.
“Hey, let
me give you a hand with that.” Chad’s voice reached out from
behind and swirled around her.
“Just get
the door, I’m about to drop all this.” Jem smiled as her now
healthy roommate dashed up the steps past her and opened the
door before turning back to her and took two of the bags.
“Thank you,” she breathed a sigh of relief as she was easily
able to readjust the remaining bags in her hands.
“No
prob.” Chad kicked the door shut behind him and eyed her ass
as she preceded him into the kitchen. “No problem at all,”
he muttered to himself. Shouldering through the swinging
door he asked, “Having a party or something?”
“Something like that,” she groaned.
Chad
smiled. He had come to long for the wide range of expressive
emotions to cross her oval face. “I hear a sister-dearest
story on the horizon,” he teased as he began to assist in
putting away the groceries.
Chad had
the lovely pleasure of meeting Camilla a number of times
since he moved in. It still amazed him that she and Jem were
from the same woman, they were polar opposites. A miracle
was that Cami’s bitterness hadn’t rubbed off on Jem. Cami
seemed to make it her life mission to make everyone around
her as bitter as she was. For the most part, Chad didn’t
really let her affect him, but the constant numerous jabs
and attacks on Jem were really beginning to rub him the
wrong way.
“Oh no,
why would you say that? Just because I have two days to make
up a big ass meal for her and her group of man-hating
harpies. And then after they snarf it all down and make a
mess of my home, they will flap their scaly little wings
back to their nests, leaving me to clean it up.”
Chad
almost choked. He faced the freezer and put away the three
half gallons of ice cream in his arms. “I take it you aren’t
a fan of these man-hating harpies then.”
“Lord,
no. I mean, men bother me from time to time, but to waste a
whole night complaining about it. Please, I have way more
important things to do.” Jem folded the last of the paper
bags and stored them before looking at the man in her
kitchen.
“Really?
Like what?” Chad had yet to see her go out on one single
date. While he…had left under the pretense of a date.
“Working
on my dream,” her response was immediate.
“You
know, I’ve heard of this dream but you still have yet to
tell me what it is.” Grabbing two bottled waters he handed
her one and leaned on the counter facing her as she sat on a
stool.
“I
haven’t told anyone.” Her sister’s mocking tone filled her
head, about how she wouldn’t amount to anything.
“Well,
don’t you want to share the idea with someone?” Chad asked,
taking a swig of water.
“Nope.”
Her hand fiddled with the bottle.
“Hey,
we’re roommates. You know you can tell me.” He watched her
reaction as one hand shoved through the bushy, unkempt hair
on his head.
Jem
looked up at him with her big brown eyes and he witnessed
the shimmer in them from unshed tears. “I know we are, but
if it’s all the same. I’m keeping this mum until it’s
finalized. Either one way or another. That way if it doesn’t
work out, I don’t have to keep telling people over and over
I’m a failure.”
He set
his water down with a thump. One hand reached out and
gripped her chin, forcing an eye connection. “Don’t you ever
let me hear you say you are a failure! Ever. Do I make
myself clear?”
The
seriousness in his tone stunned her. Then there was the
touch of his hand against her skin. Who knew her bookworm
roomie had callused fingers? Brand new feelings poured
through her body. Her throat was desert-dry and there was a
serious urge to lick her lips.
His
breath was minty, not overwhelming but perfect. His eyes
swirled with emotion as he waited for her response. But the
problem was Jem couldn’t find any words.
“Jem,” he
said. “I need you to answer me. I don’t ever want to hear
such words come out of your mouth again. Do I make myself
clear?”
“Clear,”
she managed to mumble. When did this man become attractive?
Grant Chadwick was a nerd. He was clean, but not clean cut
by any means. His hair was long and in her opinion in
desperate need of a cut. A beard was normally growing on his
face, and he was white.
“Good,”
his low timbre wound into her very fiber and stroked deep.
“Just so long as we are clear.” He let go with one hand but
his eyes held her just as surely as if it were still his
long, lean fingers imprisoning her head.
Chad’s
face was so close to hers, all Jem could think about was
kissing his firm lips. She got to witness his eyes as they
turned molten with a passion she was shocked by. Could it
be that he felt something similar toward her?
When he
pressed a napkin under her eyes, his voice was to how she
recalled it, just Chad. “Well,” he said, “that looks better.
Does it feel better?”
Jem
blinked rapidly unsure of what was happening. Then it hit
her, the cold chill that slithered up her spine. Camilla.
“What a
surprise!” The scathing tone raked across Jem’s skin.
“Figured you’d be all cozy with him.”
Jem
sighed. This was getting tiresome. “It’s fine. Thank you,
Chad.” She patted Chad on the arm in a way that hid her true
feelings that had begun to surface when she was around him.
Turning around, she looked at her sister who had come in
through the yard and walked free as can be into her kitchen.
“Hello Cami.”
Derision
filled her sister’s gaze. “Didn’t I tell you, you would end
up being his bitch? Better watch out or you will get knocked
up again, and we know…his kind won’t stick around to
help.”
Fire
snapped to life in Jem’s eyes. “You know what, Cami; you
just need to shut up with that kind of talk. Chad is a very
nice man who yes, is white, but it doesn’t matter to me. He
has been nothing but polite even though you come in here and
berate him for nothing.” She was standing facing off with
her eldest sister. “He has a right to be here, you…don’t. So
no more, Cami. You either learn to keep your damn mouth shut
unless you are saying something nice, or you stay away.” Jem
refused to look at Chad; she didn’t want to explain what her
sister meant.
Camilla
paled under her usual dark skin. Her mouth moved like a
fish, but no sound came out. Dark eyes raged against the
fact she was at a loss for words. With one deadly glare to
the both of them, she stomped out the door.
The
silence in the kitchen was just overwhelming. A new
intensity of sexual tension erupted and was between them.
Finally, Jem turned around and faced the silent man in her
kitchen, waiting for the questions to come. After holding
her gaze for a moment longer, he grinned.
A
mischievous grin that sent her insides to flipping. “Why do
I get the feeling that was the first time someone told her
off like that?” Chad bit back his question of asking her
about the pregnancy.
“Because
it would be the truth.” She shook her head amazed at the
question he asked. “I don’t get it. She is just like this
with men. All men. I don’t understand at all.” Jem shrugged.
Determined to escape before he changed directions with his
line of inquiry, she moved to the door.
“Go out
with me,” Chad blurted seconds before she pushed through the
door to the living room.
“What?”
Jem found her feet frozen to the floor. Surely I
misunderstood what he said.
“You
heard me,” his voice dropped low and found that timbre that
made her panties wet.
It’s
like he can just turn it on and off at will. “Why would you ask me that?” This time she turned and
faced him.
Chad
swallowed. Day in and day out for the past six months this
woman, this stunning woman had inched her way further and
further into the fiber of his very being. He loved seeing
her face first thing in the morning and was inordinately
pleased that hers was the last face he saw before he went to
sleep. There was something special about her, it seemed she
hadn’t even figured it out yet.
“Why
wouldn’t I? You are a beautiful woman…and one I really and
truly like.” Chad walked toward her.
Jem
swallowed back the wave of pain. A pity date. A
forced smile crossed her face. “Thanks, but I don’t feel
like being a pity date.” She pushed through the door and
disappeared from sight.
The pain
in her words dotted his skin like tiny pinpricks. Chad
pulled up and let her go. How could he expect her not to
believe he wanted more than a pity date from her? Looking at
his reflection in the sparkling glass of a window, he
groaned.
Why would
she think anything except that when he looked like he did?
She was probably embarrassed to be seen with him on an
official date. Sure they had gone out to grab a bite as
roommates, but never in the official “date” category.
Shaking
his head, he realized that he had been so focused on other
things, like getting his life back in order; his appearance
had sorely suffered the consequences. When had he begun
looking like a rag doll? After his leg had been busted, he
fell into a pity hole and hadn’t climbed out until Jem. But
he had still ignored his shaggy look. Time to fix that.
Leaving
the kitchen, Chad smiled as he heard the soft strands of her
voice filtering down the stairs. His Jem loved to sing. That
thought gave him pause, when had she become his? He didn’t
really have the answer to that, but as of late that was how
he had been thinking of her. His. And he liked how if
sounded.
Walking
slowly up the stairs, Chad stopped by the slightly ajar door
to her room; he had never been inside it. “Jem?” he asked,
respecting her desire to have him stay out of the room.
“What is
it?” Her voice was slightly scratchy like she had been
crying.
“Tonight,
six o’clock, I’ll pick you up for dinner.” Chad had been
about to ask her again and when he heard the evidence of
tears in her tone, it didn’t come out that way.
Silence
reigned for a few moments, before her door was swung wide
open. Chad eagerly took the opportunity to look past the
door and into the place that offered such sanctuary to Jem.
His verdant gaze took in the double bed, small dresser and
rows and rows of squares that were built into the walls.
The
cubbyholes were small but each one had a knickknack in it
and he could see a folded card of some type with each one.
Piles of books were on the floor and before she shut the
door on his quest, he had noticed some of them were on
starting and running one’s own business.
“I’m not
going out to dinner with you, Chad.” Her words were soft but
her tone, unyielding.
“Why
not?” He reached for her face, hesitating millimeters away
from her soft skin. Immediately the look in his eyes changed
and the tension was in full bloom.
“We are
roommates and…” she trailed off as the doorbell rang. “I’ll
get it.” Before he could answer, she scampered off down the
stairs.
Chad
leaned against her once again shut door and let his eyes
linger over where her tight jean-covered butt had just
disappeared to.
*
Jem
opened the door and her greeting fell short. On the steps
stood a tall buxom blonde woman dressed in clothes that Jem
knew she wouldn’t be wearing anytime soon. Not short of
winning the lottery.
“Can I
help you?” Jem finally found her voice and asked.
“Oh, how
quaint. Edward has a maid.” Cold blue eyes looked down at
her and she demanded, “I need to speak with Edward.”
Maid?
“I’m not a maid. I live here.” Jem braced an arm across the
doorway. Her dark eyes traveled down to the chauffeured
black Mercedes that waited for her visitor.
A
masculine voice from the stairwell reached both women. “I’m
going out for a bit, Jem. Can I get you anything?” Chad
stopped behind her and only Jem heard his muttered curse.
“What are you doing here, Brittany?”
Jem took
another gander at the woman before her. This was the
infamous Brittany? “I guess she’s here to see you, Chad.
I’ll just leave you two alone.” She stepped back and brushed
against Chad inadvertently and found her thoughts drifting
back to zones better left unexplored.
His hand
steadied her briefly before falling to his side. “No, you
don’t need to go anywhere. Brittany was just leaving.” There
was a coldness lacing his words that shocked Jem.
“Edward?”
Brittany’s mouth formed a small ‘o’ as she tilted her head
to the side. “Surely you don’t mean that. You can’t
possibly still be upset over that minor incident?” She
waved one finely manicured hand airily as if it were all
water under the bridge.
Chad
tensed. Shoving his hand through the messy locks on his
head, he tried to find the words and found he had no
possible way to say anything in a polite manner. “Do you
have any idea, any, of what those items meant to me?”
Baby blue
eyes rolled. “Please, it’s not like you can’t just buy more.
But, seriously babe. You have got to get cleaned up.
This…um…shaggy look is not you.” Brittany looked at the
building and added, “Buying a brownstone was a nice touch
though.”
Jem
wasn’t exactly sure what was going on. Why would a man need
a room to rent if he had the blunt to buy a house?
Brownstones weren’t a cheap purchase, she knew from personal
experience and she had bought hers a long time ago, during a
slump in the market. Not wanting to be around for this
“friendly” reunion, she left them alone.
Chad knew
he was going to have a lot of explaining to do to Jem.
Before he could excuse himself, Brittany wrapped a cold hand
around his arm and pulled him away from the house and to the
waiting car. When he tried to protest, she shushed him and
pushed him into the sleek car before climbing in after him.
Jem
watched the vehicle pull away not sure what she was feeling.
Sure, she had a brief fantasy that involved the two of them,
but at least now she knew where she stood. He had shoved her
aside the moment a pretty white woman showed up at the door.
At least her dignity was still intact.
The phone
rang and soon as she talked with her best friend, the sore
feelings she had felt toward Chad dissipated. Jem showered
while he was out and got dressed for her night on the town.
Being that he still wasn’t back after she was ready to go
out, Jem left and went out to meet Sandy at her house.
“Girl,
don’t you ever read the papers?” Sandy questioned her as she
tried on the ninth dress.
“Sure I
do,” Jem defended. “But only things that interest me.”
Sandy
rolled her eyes and looked at her reflection. “To long.” Her
hands immediately began removing the dress and searching for
another one. “Hon, Edward Grant Chadwick, is the black sheep
of his family. You know Chadwick Pharmaceuticals.” Sandy
pulled her head out of the closet and looked at the shock on
her friends face. “You had no idea, did you?”
Jem felt
faint. “Chadwick Pharmaceuticals? What the hell could he
possibly want to rent a room for?” Her mind conjured up all
sorts of reasons, most of which had her sister’s angry face
behind them.
Sandy
zipped up the skirt she had chosen and sat beside her on the
bed. “Honey, don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t let this ruin
how you feel about him.”
“I
don’t…I don’t feel anything for him,” Jem said vehemently.
A snort
of disbelief came from Sandy as she stood up and headed to
her vanity to put on some jewelry. “Okay, if you want to
tell yourself that.”
Jem
watched her friend. So confident, so outgoing, so opposite
of her. She was the one person who had been nice to Chad
when they met and the only person who hadn’t berated her for
allowing him to rent a room. “I want to tell myself that,”
Jem clarified.
“Well, in
your defense it’s no wonder you didn’t recognize him, he
looks nothing like he used to. That and he tends to stay
under the radar, hates people knowing how wealthy he is
before they know him. I remember one quote he gave that
dared someone to like him for him without his money.”
Jem
remained quiet. Suddenly filled with an overwhelming urge to
go seek solace in her room. Surround herself with all the
tiny little collectables that she was saving for her store.
Her dark eyes followed Sandy as she stood up and slipped
four inch heels on her feet.
“I’m
ready. You?”
“As ready
as I’ll ever be.” Jem walked to the door and waited for
Sandy to catch up.
“I hope
so,” Sandy muttered. “Because I have a feeling something is
about to change.” |
