“So you’ll come, then?” were the dreaded words I heard come from my mother’s perfect crimson-stained lips.
“Sure thing. I was just telling Aspen here that I was going stir crazy on account I’d been stuck here for two weeks. Dinner with the family sounds great!”
“You’ve been staying here for two weeks?” It was the first time in a long time I’d seen my mother at a loss for words. Her perfect temperament slid off balance. Her fingers gripped the seat of the chair cushion and her lips formed a tight line. It gave me a great deal of pleasure to see her slip off her pedestal. Point for Hank!
“Yes, ma’am! Aspen’s been taking real good care of me.” He threw a wink my way. “So don’t you worry yourself none.” Oh Hank. She didn’t give a damn about him and his health. She was worried about what it would look like for others to find out that he was staying with me. To her it was as if I’d taken in a filthy stray.
“Excuse me … ” I butted in.
“Oh, it’s settled then. Darling, your friend Mr. Jensen is going to attend our dinner party at the estate.”
“You know, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Hank’s treatments have been exhausting and … ”
“Oh nonsense. The man obviously wants to get out, don’t you, dear?” The sweet man ate it up. It was like watching the evil witch give Snow White the poisoned apple.
“Absolutely. Angel, you know I’m doing heaps better. ‘Sides, I’d love to meet your family.” He dug into his pasta, happy as a clam. Poor guy just didn’t know any better. She was planning to feed him to the society mavens and make a spectacle of him. My mother was nothing if not imaginative in her attacks.
Her plastic smile was on full display, her emotionless mask making her appear even colder.
“Angel?” she asked, her eyes pointed and squinting.
“Hank likes nicknames.” I didn’t really need to defend his pet name for me, but my mother brings out the psycho in anyone within a ten-foot radius. Hank seemed completely immune, just eating his dinner with fervor.
I pushed my plate away, no longer hungry.
“I’m glad you didn’t eat all of those carbs. You’re not as young as you used to be. You’re close to thirty. A good man doesn’t want a fat wife, remember that, dear.”
I held my breath and counted to ten so I wouldn’t throttle her.
“Hey now, she’s got nothin’ to worry about in that department.” His eyes bored into mine, heated desire pooling in those honeyed depths. “Her body is fantastic.” His gaze scanned my plate. “You’re not hungry, Darlin’?”
My mother was stunned, mouth agape and eyes wide. If there was a doubt to the extent of our “relationship” before, there definitely wasn’t now. The thought actually thrilled me. Knowing she’d spend hours on end fretting over my lack of social class and snubbing my nose at my proper upbringing would give her a heavy dose of anxiety. Maybe she’d rethink that invitation and call it off.
“Not anymore, thank you, Hank. Mother, if that’s all, I’ll see you out.” Hank stood when I did, the consummate gentleman. He walked us both to the door.
“Mrs. Reynolds, it was good to meet ya.” Hank brought her hand to his lips for the second time that evening. I made a mental note to have him wash his face before he kissed me again.
“It sure was a surprise meeting you. Thank you for assisting Aspen. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Mr. Jensen.” Her saccharine sweet tone made me want to gag.
“Goodbye, Mother,” I said, trying to close the door. She air kissed both sides of my cheeks. When she was gone, I leaned against the door with a heavy thud and closed my eyes.
“What’s the matter, Darlin’?” Hank’s fingers traced the edges of my hairline. Home. His touch was becoming a necessity, something I craved and I leaned into it until his large hand was cupping my jaw.
“Hank, what’s happening between us?”
“What do you mean? We’re enjoying each other’s company. Immensely, I might add.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, his hands gripped my hips. “And I’m healing up. Gettin’ stronger every day.” He thrust his pelvis against me playfully.
His response was exactly why I hadn’t allowed myself to fall, to feel something more for this beautiful man. When he was healed, he’d go back home to his ranch, to his real life.
“I’ll make excuses about the event tomorrow. There really is no need for you to attend. I, on the other hand, will not be able to avoid it. If she paid a visit that means my father will be next if I don’t show.”
His face scrunched up, his mouth twisting into a grimace. “Why wouldn’t I go? I meant what I said. I’d love to meet the rest of your family. I met your wacky sister and your mother seemed nice enough.”
“Don’t let her fool you. She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She only came here to check you out.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t care. Doesn’t bother me none. But we’re going to that shindig.”
This was going to be a disaster. Hank would be his fun-loving, straightforward cowboy self, and my family would be ready to pounce. It was like throwing a steak in a tank of piranhas.
“Hank, this is not like a family barbeque.” I blew a frustrated breath over my forehead. “It’s a high society social gathering. The place will be chock full of high-powered executives, politicians, people with more money than God … ”
“Are you saying I won’t fit in, Darlin’? I can hold my own.” His gaze searched mine. The next four words shook me to my core. “Do I embarrass you?”
“Of course not! No, I … no. I just don’t think you’ll enjoy yourself.”
“And you will?”
“Well, no. But I never do. Being with my family is a necessary evil.” I slid my hands over his broad torso, trying to express how very much I didn’t want him to be near that kind of evil. He gripped my hands to his chest.
“Angel, I’m going to escort you to that party. I’m going to dance with you in front of your family. I’m going to show you that you can have fun anywhere as long as you’re with the right person.” Was he even real? It wasn’t possible that there was something so good in the world.
“God, Hank, I could get used to you so easily.”
But I won’t
.
He laughed and kissed me, tentatively at first, then pulled an inch away, our breath still mingling. “I should hope the hell so. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. You’re stuck with me, Angel.”
“Do you mean that?” I whispered, keeping my eyes closed tight, not wanting to see his response. He kissed each eyelid and leaned his forehead against mine.
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”
***
Ever since her mom visited yesterday, Aspen acted differently. She seemed almost sad when she got ready for work this morning and left for the office. We didn’t make love. She said she had a headache and scampered off like a scared kitten to the washroom to shower and get ready for work.
Alone.
She barely pecked me on the lips as she left. Thinking back, that may have been the first morning we hadn’t made love since I moved in. Had I really moved in, or was I just staying here? I thought things were progressing nicely between us. When I wasn’t with her, I wanted to be. But maybe she didn’t feel that way.
Something was off. When she left this morning, it felt like she was stepping back from me. All I knew is that she held my heart in a vice and my balls in her grip. All she had to do was bat those pretty eyelashes and I was damn near putty in her tiny hands. Whatever it was, I was gettin’ to the bottom of it tonight.
A knock sounded on my bedroom door. Technically I hadn’t actually slept in the room yet, but it held all my clothes and things. It was probably the therapist. That girl was a looker, but nothin’ like my girl. One thing they had in common though was the over achieving. She was set on pushing me just to my breaking point every day with my treatments and Aspen encouraged her. I didn’t look forward to it, but if I was honest with myself, the progress I was making did give me something to smile about.
“Come in,” I hollered, a smile plastered across my face. Thinking about my girl did that.
“Hello, Hank.” Oliver strode in, a fierce set to his thin lips. He went straight to my closet without a word and swung the hangers on the rod from left to right with a quick, practiced hand.
Such a strange fella. He’d pause a moment on one piece or another, then continue smacking the hangers around. He was Aspen’s best man-friend, not mine. I was making an effort, though. Seemed as if the guy was happy, my woman was happy. So, I did what any hot-blooded American man who wanted to keep getting laid would do: I decided to befriended the guy. Well, sort of.
“Mind telling me what you’re doing there Buddy? Aspen’s already at work. Shouldn’t you know that?” He smiled secretively. I didn’t particularly like his face, especially not when he was hiding something.
“Well, cowboy, our Aspen tells me you are going to the Bright-Reynolds estate to attend a social gathering. Everyone who’s anyone will be in attendance, including yours truly.” He pulled at my clothes, a deep frown set to his pinched features. “You don’t have anything suitable. Just as I thought. We’re going shopping. I’m rescheduling your therapy for this afternoon.”
“Shopping’s pretty much the last thing I want to do today.” I crossed my arms over my chest as best as I could with a busted shoulder and tried to look menacing.
“Too bad.” His eyes turned to look me up and down. “What, pray tell, do you plan on wearing to a formal social event? Aspen will be dressed in Versace. You can’t be a prince going to the ball dressed in Wranglers.”
“And why the hell not?” Who was this guy anyway? Just because he dressed my girl didn’t mean that rolled down the chain of command to dressing me now.
“Because you’ll embarrass her. Is that what you want?” His words ripped right through my heart. That was the absolute last thing I wanted to happen. I was certain that when I met her family I’d win them over with my Southern charm and chest full of party jokes. I had a good one planned for the evening, too. Either way, it was important that I impress her family tonight. Being from different worlds was hard on any relationship, but more so on women because they tended to have the innate need to please. Boy, did I want to please my angel.
“No, I don’t. Lead the way, Buddy.”
“Thank you.” He seemed to relax. Then he sized me up with a bright white smile. I wondered if he used those toothpaste strips that were meant to make your teeth so bright they could glow in the dark. “Now, I know exactly what designer we can have tailored to fit that broad chest and those massive biceps in a jam. Jeez, how much do you work out, anyway?”
I laughed aloud as he led me out of the apartment and into the elevator. Before long, we were pulling up to a store smack dab in the middle of Fifth Avenue, the heart of New York City. I looked over the building. Oliver was grinning so much I worried that his face would stick that way.
The building was gray stone with bars running down the first stories. Golden letters popped out of the building’s side, prominently displaying “ARMANI / 5
TH
AVENUE” in big block letters.
“Looks like a jail,” I said. Oliver looked like he’d forgotten I was with him.
“If that’s jail, then lock me up, honey, and throw away the key!” He grabbed onto my forearm and tugged me toward the entrance. He was obviously excited. Reminded me of when Butch was about to get a meaty bone. He’d wag his tail and turn around in furious circles landing in a heap at my feet when his excitement ebbed. Oliver was kind of like Butch but I feared I was the meaty bone in this scenario.
After trying on six suits, I’d about had it. I was at my boiling point. Aspen was going to pay dearly for this—preferably on her back with her thighs around my ears.
“Oh, Hank, this is the one. This is it!” Oliver screeched.
I stood on a raised circle facing three large mirrors. They were tilted so that one could see the clothes from every angle. A small, hairy looking fella was standing in front of me measuring my inseam. He gripped my balls and shoved them to the side.
“What the heck, partner?” I jumped back, covering my crown jewels. “This ain’t no doctor’s office. Touch me again and I’ll punch your teeth out!” The man rattled off something in a foreign language. Oliver went over and appeased the man.
Oliver rolled his eyes and came back over to me. “Hank, he’s a tailor. They have to measure your inseam or your, um, bits will be uncomfortable. He got what he needed on the pant, so can he finish with the shoulders, arms and waist? You going to be a good boy and keep your paws to yourself?” I squinted my eyes at him but got back on the circle. “We don’t have a lot of time as it is.” He sounded completely exasperated. The feeling was mutual.
“Sorry. Not used to this type of thing. Just get it done, then,” I told the man with the accent. He hemmed and hawed until he finished sizing me up. Lord knows what the hell he had to do. The suit fit just fine; a little tight in the chest and shoulders, but I could remedy that by leaving it unbuttoned. It was the largest size they had on hand. I could make do, but Oliver was not okay with that option. He said I had to look the part. Whatever that meant. It wasn’t like I was trying out for a Broadway show.
Oliver picked out several shirts, more than I needed for the evening. Instead I scrolled through my phone and texted Aspen.
To: Aspen Reynolds
Your boy is dressing me up nice for the evening. You owe me. Big time.
I watched Oliver grab several ties and match them up with the brightly colored dress shirts. I overheard him telling the sales girl that we wanted the same suit in black and a pinstriped pattern and to charge everything to Aspen Reynolds account. Before I could disagree my phone pinged.
From: Aspen Reynolds
Are you being nice to him? How shall I pay up?
Oh, she wanted to play. Very nice. It took me a few moments but I decided honesty was always the best policy.
To: Aspen Reynolds
You. Naked. I’ll handle the rest.
Without even a chance to put the cell phone into my pocket, it pinged once more.