Chadwick's Rare Find (An Intriguing Romance Novel) (6 page)

Mrs. Jordan rose from the table.  She and Adanna had been quietly watching the byplay between Vana and Brittany and they conceded with grins that it was not a stalemate.  Brittany had outwitted Vana in this conversation.  

“I will bring him to the library, Brittany.  We will meet you there.”  Mara walked out of the kitchen rubbing her hands together.  It had been too long since she had had any real excitement in her life.   She was glad the humdrum of it all seemed to be ending for a spell anyway.  Brittany was a firecracker.  She had stood Vana down like a pro.  That hardly ever happened.  Now en route to get her husband, Mara rubbed her hands together again in anticipation.  

Before following Mrs. Jordan out of the room, Brittany looked back at Vana and Adanna.  She almost laughed.  Their expressions were totally different.  Adanna gave a warm smile.  Her eyes held a knowing look that made Brittany nervous.  Vana on the other hand didn’t smile.  She only stared as if she had something weighing on her mind or something she was trying to figure out.  

“Bye now, girlies.  I’m off to work”.  She waved at them as she headed back the way she had come. 

#

Upon entering the library, Brittany pulled her hair back into a pony tail.  She put on her pink smock.  She set the music to a volume that was to her satisfaction.  Settling into a chair, she waited and waited.  After about forty-five minutes of waiting, she had begun to get irritated.

Once again, stepping into foyer, she looked both ways before she went to the staircase. Brittany knew she should not be snooping about.  She felt only a small twinge of conscience for her actions, because Mr. Jordan’s tardiness had brought her to this.  She would satisfy her curiosity and claim she had gotten loss, if anyone wanted to know why she was looking into their rooms. It didn’t matter to her that it wouldn’t explain what she was doing upstairs.   She had reached the landing.  There was no turning back now.  Brittany approached the first door and knocked softly.  There was no answer.  She opened it and peeked in.  Chadwick lay across the bed on his stomach in a pair of black jeans and white T-shirt.  His feet were bare.  His big arms hugged a pillow and he seemed to be in a deep sleep. Brittany’s first instinct was to shut the door and run, but she was pulled into the room by some unseen force.  She didn’t realize that she had been looking for him, until she saw him.  Stepping softly into the room, she shut the door behind her. 

Chadwick knew she was in his room.  He just couldn’t believe it.  He had come awake the minute the door opened.  He heard her hesitation before she stepped in and shut the door.  What was she doing?  How had she found him?  Questions raced through Chadwick’s mind.  Why wasn’t she in the library giving his father a massage?  He lay still and waited.  

Brittany realized that she wanted Chadwick; not as a friend, but as a woman would want a man.   If the warm flutters running through her stomach and down into her feet to curl her toes was any indication of her desire, then her desire for this man was monumental.  She had seen enough to know that he knew how to treat women.  He had already shown that with his patience in dealing with her and her sister’s at McDonald’s.  If she closed her eyes she could still feel his arms around her in the booth and the warmth of his body settling over and around her. Brittany knew plenty men, but none had affected her like Chadwick.  He had gotten underneath her skin the moment she saw him unconscious in his car.  

“You should go back to the library.”  Brittany jumped when she heard his voice. How long had he been awake?  

“I’m lost.” She stammered stupidly. How long had she been standing there staring at him.  Brittany could feel her face burn from embarrassment.  He had to think she was crazy. 

“Go back to the library, Brittany.  I will come get you after you finish daddy’s massage.”  Chadwick had not turned over. He wouldn’t look at her.  Brittany began to wonder if something was wrong.   She stepped closer to the bed. Moving around to the side of the bed she laid her hand on Chadwick’s back.   He flinched.  She snatched her hand away. 

“What is wrong with you, Chadwick?”  She asked. 

“Nothing,” Brittany could hear the strain in his voice.   He turned his head and looked into her eyes.  The fire in his eyes sent an electric shock through her.  The room suddenly seemed smaller and warmer.  

“I will see you after the massage then,” she said breathlessly as she backed towards the door.  His eyes never left her and Brittany had to focus hard on standing up straight, not stumbling, and getting through the door.  Once through the door, she pressed her hand against her stomach in a futile effort to still the fluttering in her stomach. She almost ran down the stairs and back to the library. 

#

Chadwick jumped out of the bed.  Storming into the bathroom he turned the cold water on, stripped, and stepped into the shower.  He had never been so embarrassed.  He could not seem to control himself around Brittany.  What did it all mean?  Should he be running away from her or to her?   He wasn’t sure if he liked being out of control.  Where would it lead him?  He knew what women with that kind of power could do to a man. It was not a pretty picture.  He did not want to be ruled by his desires or by his woman.  He prided himself in being a strong-minded man.  Brittany was throwing seeds of doubt over his long held impression of himself.  

Even so, he couldn’t help but feel excited.  He had felt the sexual tension between them.  He knew that she wanted him.  He just had to convince her that she could trust him with her feelings.  Again, he wondered why she had such a strong aversion to wealthy people.  He wondered what terrible incident in her life had resulted in her hatred of rich people. 

#

Mara was wondering where Brittany had gone.  She had all but dragged James to the library.  He was sitting in a chair glaring at her from across the room.  He had a white terry cloth robe on.  Mara had made sure that he only wore briefs beneath it.  Now he sat with his bare legs crossed at the ankles and hands folded in his lap.  Mara struggled to keep from laughing.  One would think he was about to undergo invasive surgery.  She had done everything but hit him in the head with a frying pan to get him downstairs. Mara was secretly hoping the full body massage would relieve her husband.  He had been tense for too long and this was causing problems in their bedroom.  Maybe tonight things would be different now. 

She looked up as Brittany rushed into the room. Mara knew instinctively that she had been with Chadwick.  Brittany’s light skin was mottled across her cheeks and chest area.  One hand was pressed against her stomach and her eyes glittered.  

“Are you okay, honey?” Mara asked. 

“Oh, yes.  I got lost.  This house is huge, but it is decorated really nice.  I really like Adanna’s style.” Brittany could not hide the tremor in her voice. Realizing Chadwick was in a sexually aroused state because of her had started a riot of emotions within her. 

 Brittany heard a grunt from across the room and turned to see a man, who clearly was Chadwick’s father, sitting in a chair.  She did not miss the warning look that Mrs. Jordan sent him.  He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and stared. 

“Thank you, dearest.  Make sure you tell Adanna that you like her decorating.  She will be ecstatic.  Well, Brittany, this is my husband, James, your client for the evening.”   Mara pointed at James who pressed his back into the chair as if he could disappear through it somehow.  

Brittany was used to this.  Most of her clients were regulars who knew how to accept the wonders of a massage, the wonders of human hands kneading tired muscles and rejuvenating weary spirits.  Then there were the ones who viewed a massage as a passage to inhibition.  These people felt that massages should be reserved for people who were pleasure seekers and immoral.  

Brittany had experience with both types of clients.  She knew what to do with Mr. Jordan.  She would have to take control.  She would treat him as a patient instead of a friend.  She would have to be totally impersonal.  This was the type of client that Brittany loved most.  She did not have to give anything of herself; only the labor of her hands.  

“This way Mr. Jordan.  You may keep your robe on.  Please untie your belt though.   Onto the table please.  No, no, face down.  Place your face over this opening.  Yes, that’s it.” Her voice had taken on a monotonous tone, buzzing with quiet authority.  This was her show.  She knew what she was doing. She had him on the table, face down without a word of dispute.  Brittany glanced over Mr. Jordan’s body to look at Mara.  Mara bucked her eyes and raised her eyebrows in disbelief.  Brittany gave a shooing inflection of the hands and Mara spun around and exited the room. 

She was a professional.  She had worked long hard hours to gain her credentials.  She had done everything expected and even more to become the best there was in this business.  Mr. Jordan was typical and could be handled easily.  Did Mrs. Jordan think she was anything less than capable?  Brittany gave it no more thought as she focused on Mr. Jordan’s hands.   She still had not heard him say a word.  She could sense the tension in him and so decided to put her all into his treatment.  He seemed to need it.  

She had worked on Mr. Jordan for an hour and her arms and legs were aching.  Her hands felt cramped.  She was ready to go home.  

“Mr. Jordan,” she whispered.  

“Yes,” he said. 

“How do you feel?” 

“Defeated,” another one word reply.  It was enough.  Brittany’s mouth opened and she laughed hard.  She laughed even harder when she saw the table shaking and realized that Mr. Jordan was laughing too. 

“Good for you, Mr. Jordan.  I will leave you now.  Tell Mrs. Jordan I will be in the kitchen waiting for her to tell me when it’s clear for me to pack my things.”

“Don’t leave yet.” James rolled over and tied his robe before he climbed off the table. 

“I hear you and my son had an accident. Are you okay?” He seemed honestly concerned.

“It wasn’t that bad.  With the way it happened it could have been worse.  We were very fortunate.”  

James watched Brittany from through his eyelashes.  Her beauty was undeniable, but it had not complicated her.  She was open and friendly.  He liked her.  He could see this woman and Chadwick together.  

“Do you make good money in this business?”  James watched for her reaction to his pertinent question.  

“I’m not wealthy, Mr. Jordan.  But I do enjoy financial freedom enough to do some of the things I want to do and buy some of the things I want to have.  I’m a content individual.  It doesn’t take a lot to make me happy.”  

Brittany’s answer couldn’t have been more perfect.  James was impressed. “I will come get you myself when I am dressed.  I want to talk to you.”  He said.

“I don’t think you understand what a full body massage will do to you.  Once you get showered and redressed, you will be half asleep.  These type massages have a latent effect.”  

“Oh, in that case, I will talk to you tomorrow when you come back for dinner with us.”  He said. 

“Another summons, hmm.    I will have to see about it.  You go get some rest.  Have a good evening, Mr. Jordan,” was all she said as she left the room. Her life was taking on layers of intrigue.  She wondered what interesting thing would happen next.  

Chadwick was in awe of Brittany.  He couldn’t believe the easy conversation he had just heard between Brittany and his dad.  His dad had been nice to her.  He had even shown deference to her by not bullying her into having dinner with them.  Chadwick leaned against the wall. He crammed his hands into his pockets.  What was going on here?  Brittany was too sweet to be a witch.  He wasn’t sure if he believed in all that hoopla about powers and jinxes anyway.  But he knew one thing for sure.  Brittany Bradfield had power over men.  He and his dad had proven that without a shadow of a doubt.   

After the incident with Brittany in his bedroom, Chadwick had left his room to find his sisters. They were in the den watching a movie.   When they saw him, they were eager to talk about Brittany.  Vana was not completely sold on Brittany, but she couldn’t find any real fault with her.  She was leaning towards declaring Brittany’s extraordinary beauty a failing, which was ridiculous.  So, Chadwick stopped listening to her. This made Vana mad.  Adanna had only good things to say.  She told him how Brittany put Vana in her place, which helped explain Vana’s attitude.   He would deal with her later.  

Now standing against the wall, he could hear Brittany’s long-legged strides coming towards the door.  She came out and stopped immediately when she saw him.  Their eyes met and memories of their recent encounter flared between them. Chadwick knew she had watched him, as he had lain across his bed. He could feel her eyes on him.  The memory of it stirred his male desire.  Forgetting where he was or what he was supposed to be doing, Chadwick’s eyes traveled the length of her as she stood in the hallway.  He came off the wall slowly.  He stalked her until she was up against the same wall he had come off of.  Only a breath separated them when he stopped.  He looked down into her caramel brown eyes.  His gaze traveled down her throat to the swell of her breast.  Breathing in her essence, his eyes rose to her lips.  She licked them.  He watched, like a man under hypnosis, as her throat convulsed with a swallow. 

“Since you aren’t going to kiss her anytime soon, I suggest you help her get her equipment together.  It’s late and I know she is tired after working on my old bones for over an hour.”  His dad’s voice intruded like the sound of a canon.  Chadwick jerked upright.  He balled his hands into fists and faced his father. 

“You’re right, Dad.  Brittany must be very tired.  Let me help you pack up, Brittany,” he said through clenched teeth. Chadwick gave his father a glacial stare. With his hand in the middle of Brittany’s back they entered the library his father had just exited.  

“Brittany, do you want me to get one of the girls to take you home or are you comfortable with Chadwick taking you?”  Chadwick couldn’t believe his dad’s perfidy.  He was inwardly seething.  He knew if his father said one more thing, he would lose control completely.  Both he and Brittany had turned back around and were staring at his father.