Abandoned but Not Alone (23 page)

“
You have got to be kidding me. Do you
honestly think the dimples are going to work right now.  Well it
’
s too late, I gave you a chance to
apologize, you blew it, and I
’
m leaving.
”

Jason was
stunned and really worried now; his dimples never having failed him where a
woman was concerned. Up to this moment he had harbored no doubts that he could
talk her around.

“
Come on Angel, don
’
t go
–
I need you.
”

“
No Jason, what you need is some manners.
”

“
Yes ma
’
am I think you may be right, will you please stay and teach me?
”

“
Don
’
t you patronize me, I
’
m not your
mother, get her to
…”
Aviva
broke off midway through her tirade, realizing what she had just said.

“
Oh Jason, I
’
m so sorry, I didn
’
t mean
…”

“
It
’
s okay, I know what you meant.
”

Reducing
the distance between them, he pulled her hands from her mouth and kissed each
palm, looking deeply into her big brown eyes.

“
Please stay with me.
”

“
I don
’
t know if this is a good idea. Maybe it
’
s all happening too fast and you have so much to deal with right
now.
”

“
If you leave me, I promise you right now,
I
’
ll never speak to the
Kingdoms for the rest of my life.
”

“
You
’
re trying to use your family to blackmail me?
”
Aviva asked incredulously.

“
Yes
…
is it working?
”

“
Jason King, don
’
t you have any shame?
”

“
Where you
’
re concerned, no ma
’
am I don
’
t. Stay with me and I
’
ll meet with them
–
set it up, I
’
ll meet them.
”

“
You should want to meet with them for
you, not because I want you to.
”

“
Whatever you say, Angel.
”

“
Jason
…
you
’
re
–
impossible.
”

“
Yes ma
’
am, I get told that a lot.
”

Exasperated,
Aviva rolled her eyes and pulled her hands away from Jason
’
s grasp.
“
I
’
ll think
about it while I
’
m out. My
taxi should be here by now.
”

“
Ah
…
about that....I canceled it.
”

“
What
…
why
–
you total
control freak, you better go and order me another one right now!
”

“
Where are you going?
”

“
Where I
’
m going is none of your beeswax, just call me a damn cab!
”

Jason once
again fought laughter;
‘
none of his
beeswax
.
’
This woman
was priceless. Even with his life in a state of flux and them in the middle of
their first argument she still made him laugh. But she was still not leaving
his house until she told him where she was going and more importantly, when she
was coming back.

“
Aviva, where are you going?
”

With a sigh
of exasperation, she decided to answer him. If one of them didn
’
t back down they would be throwing barbs
at each other all day long and she had things to do.

“
I
’
m going to view the apartments I told you about.
”

“
I thought we agreed that you were going
to stay here, with me.
”

“
I didn
’
t agree to that; I only agreed to think about it.
”

“
So does this mean you
’
ve made up your mind? Is that why you
’
re going on these viewings?
”

“
Stop pushing me Jason, you
’
re getting on my nerves. I
’
ll make up my own damn mind in my own
damn time. Now call me a taxi!
”

He wanted
to tell her no, but he knew if that word came out of his mouth she would start
packing again. He also realized he needed to back off a little, give her some
space.

“
I
’
ll go one better than calling you a taxi.
”
At her look of suspicion, he hurriedly
added,
“
You can drive one of
my cars; they
’
ve all got
a navigation system, so you should be able to find your way around town.
”

Cars, just
how many did he have, I bet they're expensive. Aviva looked at him from under
her eyelashes, a calculating look in her eyes.
“
I can drive whichever car I like?
”

Jason didn
’
t like the look
–
she was up to something, he decided to tread carefully.
“
Of course I
’
ll choose which car you can use.
”
Okay
,
he decided when she folded her arms across her
chest, raised her eyebrows and began tapping her feet,
wrong answer
.

“
Okay, you choose, you can drive whatever
car you like.
”

“
Now we
’
re talking!
”
Aviva
laughed, rubbing her hands together.

“
God help me.
”
Jason mumbled under his breath.

“
I heard that!
”

~~~~~~~~~~

Stepping
into the garage, Aviva was stunned. Displayed before her was a gleaming
showcase of new and vintage cars, all shown to their best advantage under
individual fluorescent spot lights. The cars were displayed on three huge
circular ramps, a slope before them so they could be driven on and off with
ease, all parked facing forward. For the most part, she had no idea of their
make and model.  Good Lord, no wonder he had hesitated before promising she
could drive whichever car she liked. Rubbing her hands together again, Aviva
was ready for some fun.

Deciding to
mess with his mind, she began walking around the ramp closest to the door by
which they had entered the garage. This ramp contained vintage cars dating back
from what she felt sure was the 1930s. Coming to a stop before a white car that
had immediately caught her eyes, she inquired as to its make and model.

“
So Jason, my good man, please be so kind
as to tell me about this particular car.
”

“
That is a 1926 Duesenberg Model A
Speedster.
”
Jason
responded swallowing nervously.

Watching
him surreptitiously from the corner of her eye, she saw him blink twice very
quickly when she stopped in front of the Duesenberg, before answering. Okay,
that was a good reaction, let
’
s see if I
can up the ante. Continuing her slow perusal, Aviva hesitated before what even
she could tell was a black and white Rolls Royce. Risking another glance at him
she found him looking at her. Okay, so he was on to her, so what, she wasn
’
t finished messing with him.

“
And this one?
”
Aviva asked, coming to a halt, a twinkle in her eyes. Oh yes
she knew this one too but she wanted him to have to tell her. Aviva wanted to
laugh so badly she had to turn away when sweat broke out on his forehead.

“
That is a 1937 Bugatti 57S Atalante Coup
é
, one of only seventeen made.
”

“
How much would such a vehicle cost?
”

“
Around $4 million.
”

“
Does it work?
”

“
Does
…
did you just ask me if it works? Of course it bloody well works!
”

“
Okay, okay keep ya hair on, jeez.
”

Turning
away from the vintage selection, knowing she didn
’
t really want to drive one of them
–
today.  Walking over to the more modern, but she was sure, no
less expensive selection she circled the ramp, eyes searching. She could feel
Jason breathing down her neck and when his breath changed she came to a stop.
This was the one, the poor man was nearly hyperventilating.

“
What
’
s this one called, Jason?
”

“
That is a Bugatti Veyron Super Sports,
the fastest legal street car anywhere in the world.
”

“
Is it expensive?
”

“
Yes, it
’
s worth
…”

Holding up
her hand to silence him, Aviva shook her head, enjoying every last minute.
“
The price doesn
’
t matter, I
’
ll take it!
”

“
Come on Angel, I was thinking more along
the lines of the Bent
…”

“
No really Jason, please don
’
t try to persuade me towards something
else.  My mind is made up.  I want that one. Now be so kind as to bring me the
keys, I have appointments to keep.
”

Jason was
reluctant to hand over the keys, but he knew he was already skating on thin ice
and he needed to regain his standing where she was concerned. Dragging his
feet, he strolled over to the cabinet containing the keys for his cars and
withdrew the set that matched the Bugatti she had selected. He wondered how
long she had been driving but refrained from asking. He understood he was being
punished for his earlier transgressions. If he had to suck up 2.4 million
dollars of damaged car, then so be it, he was in a corner, he knew it and she
knew it.

“
Be careful Angel, and I
’
ll see you later
”
were the last words Jason spoke to Aviva before she peeled out
of the garage at a breakneck pace, sunglasses in place and the sunroof down.
What the hell, this was a whole lot of car and if the truth be told she was
almost messing her pants at the magnitude of the car
’
s horsepower
–
but he
didn
’
t need to know that.

Carlos
called Aviva just after her last viewing, suggesting they meet up for a coffee.
He named a coffee bar located off the beaten track that would offer him some
anonymity.  Aviva found the place without too much trouble thanks to the cars
navigational system. When she arrived he was already there, spotting Aviva he
rose to his feet in greeting, kissed her cheek and held out her chair so she
could be seated.

“
What would you like to drink?
”

“
A cappuccino please.
”

Placing their
order, Carlos turned to look at her, his gaze penetrating, summing her up. 
“
How are you feeling today? You were in a
bad way the last time I saw you.
”

“
Don
’
t remind me. I think I was just in a panic about singing in
public and drank more than I realized.
”