Be Mine (10 page)

She arrived a little earlier than usual and went to the locker room to change. She’d never been one to fuss with her looks before working out – she left that to the other girls. But tonight she took a little extra time picking out her sports bra and yoga pants for class. She pulled her hair into a messy bun and gave it a little extra love and attention. She wanted to look amazing, but she didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard.

She grabbed her mat and walked into the yoga studio, scanning the room for Penn. When she didn’t see him, she regarded the time and knew he was always one of the last in the room. But when class began and still no sign of him, she began to panic.

What if he’d changed classes? What if he’d changed classes because of her? Maybe he couldn’t take the rejection and decided not to come on her night any longer. But why the DVD to her doorstep and the note he wasn’t giving up?

Something was wrong. And when class was painstakingly over, she went straight to the front desk. She wasn’t going to be the least bit shy about asking where Penn might be.

“Excuse me,” she blurted. “I was looking for someone who usually takes the 6:30 class.”

“Yes?” the petite girl behind the counter replied.

“Penn? Penn Scott? It’s just that he hasn’t been in class the past few times and…”

“Yes?”

“Well, I was just worried about him, that’s all. I was wondering if he might be sick or something.”

“Sick?” she asked, as if Ellen was really taking up her time. “We’ve not heard anything about that. But I will say this…,”

“Yes?”

“You’re the third or fourth woman asking about him. He must be a hot commodity in that class,” she smiled.

“We’re just friends,” Ellen chimed.

“Yeah, sure,” she mumbled. “Such good friends you’re asking
me
where he is.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Nothing.”

Ellen walked away.
What a little bitch
.

When she finished changing to go home, she pulled her phone from her pocket and looked up Penn Scott, Chiropractor. His name and office number appeared with a blue link underneath. Ellen didn’t think twice before clicking it and watching her phone dial the number.

“You’ve reached the office of Dr. Penn Scott…”

As Ellen listened to the message drone on, she decided if Penn no longer came to where she was, she would go to him. “This is Ellen…ah… Moore. Ellen Moore,” she continued, using her maiden name to make the appointment. “Please call me back for an available appointment with Dr. Scott. Thank you.”

She hung up. There was no turning back now.

Sarah left the concert hall with her rose and note in one hand and Mike Montgomery’s business card in the other. She walked into the Starbucks on Vine just as dusk was setting in. As she approached the counter, the familiar young man who’d written on the cup for her was thankfully working again.

“How are you this evening?” he asked before she came into view.

“I’m good, thank you.”

“Oh, it’s you. I saw the cup had been delivered. I heard he got it okay,” he chimed.

“Yes. Thank you very much for making that happen,” Sarah said biting her lip, anxious to ask one more favor of the young man.

“What can I get started for you?”

“I have another request,” she half-heartedly begged. “I promise this is the last time I’ll ask you to do anything.”

“Sure,” he sighed loudly. “What is it?”

“I just want you to give him this,” Sarah said as she pulled an envelope from her pocket. Inside was a ticket to see her play Friday evening and a note.
If you’re up for a little romance, meet me here Friday night.

“Are you buying his coffee again?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Should I?”

“Nah, it’s been done,” he said with a smile. “Just so I know what I’m doing and how to pass these instructions along, this is for Mike Montgomery. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mind if I ask your name?”

“Sarah Brooks.”

“Hey, your face is on the billboard by the concert hall.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Wow, you’re someone famous or something.”

“No. Not really.”

The barista paused, acknowledging her awkward reply, but quickly recovered. “I’ll make it happen.”

“Thank you. It’s most appreciated,” Sarah said as she slipped a twenty into the tip jar and quietly walked away.

M
ike woke early finally ready to finish what he’d started. He didn’t know if it was his secret admirer that gave him the extra confidence to move forward, or if he’d exhausted his options of staying a shadow in Ellen’s life. Either way it was going down.

The wheels had been set in motion, and after his meeting with the billboard company there was no turning back. He was either going to dazzle Sarah Brooks or lose her forever.

The courier service delivered her final rose yesterday morning, and his billboard creation was to be installed today and then covered until Friday evening.

He showered, feeling more confident than usual, knowing that he was taking a new step toward being the person he wanted to be. After all, if it didn’t work out with Sarah, he could always pursue the girl who liked his smile at the coffee shop.

He hurried out the door of his apartment, pulling the lapels of his topcoat around his neck. Bitterly cold outside, Mike knew his first stop would be for coffee.

It was seven fifteen a.m., his usual time to grace the doors, and he was happily met with a smile from Lexi.

“Good morning, Mr. Montgomery,” she chimed with a huge grin on her face. “How are you today?”

“I’m good, Lexi. Since when do you call me Mr. Montgomery?” he laughed.

“Just seemed appropriate. I mean, you really look dapper today.”

“Dapper? Lexi, have you been sniffing something other than coffee this morning?”

“No,” she grinned. “What would you like? The usual?”

“Yes, please. Tall, café breve.”

“I’m on it,” she said, as she turned the scanner around to take his card.

“What’s got you so chipper this morning? I’m curious.”

“Oh, I dunno,” Lexi sang. “Here’s your coffee. And a little something extra.”

Mike stared at the envelope on the counter. “What’s this?”

“I guess you’ll have to open it to find out.”

“What do you know about this, Lexi?” Mike calmly demanded.

Lexi shook her head.

Mike walked to a table by the window and opened the envelope. Inside was a ticket to the symphony orchestra’s concert for Friday evening – the night he’d planned on coming clean with Sarah.

He slumped into the chair and wondered how in the world he could’ve gotten tangled up in something so amazing and complicated.

“Are you okay, Mike?” Lexi asked, still grinning from ear to ear.

“I…” he stuttered. “I don’t know what to do.”

“About what?”

“Lexi. Do you know who this is?” he asked as he held the note in his hand.

“I wasn’t here when it was dropped off,” Lexi replied knowing her answer technically wasn’t a lie. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“She wants me to meet her Friday evening for the symphony.”

“What does it say?”

“If you’re up for a little romance, meet me here Friday night.”

“Okay…” Lexi drawled. “So what’s the big deal?”

“I’m already going.”

“With whom?”

“No one. I’m going to watch Sarah Brooks. I’ve got something special planned for her.”

“Well, if this woman wants to meet for the concert, and Sarah’s playing the concert, you could do both.”

“What?”

“Meet
her
for the concert,” Lexi said touching the envelope. “See Sarah
after
the concert. You can do both.”

“Lexi, I don’t date. And you’re suggesting that I go out with two women in the same night. Can you see how I’m having trouble reconciling that in my head?”

“But if they never meet –”

“How do I keep that from happening?”

“You go to the concert. Watch with one. Say goodnight, and then do your thing with Sarah. Whatever…that might be.”

“I don’t know.”

“Hey, do you want this mystery woman to go away?”

“No.”

“Then don’t upset her by turning down her invitation. Seriously. You can do this.”

Mike rose to his feet in a daze. “I’ve gotta go, Lexi.”

“Don’t mess this up, Mike.”

Mike shot Lexi a smirk and shook his head. “I’ll try not to.”

“Good luck.”

“I’m gonna need it.”

E
llen left the office early in order to make her chiropractor appointment. She’d tossed and turned all night, wondering if she’d made the right decision to take matters into her own hands with Penn. She was so worked up when she arrived at his office, the receptionist asked her if she was in pain.

Ellen laughed nervously at her observation, replying, “Only the emotional kind.”

“I understand,” she said as she handed Ellen a clipboard with papers to complete.

As she filled out the forms, she used only her maiden name and the address of the office. When she was finished, she took the clipboard back to the front desk and smiled as she handed over the false information.

“He’ll be right with you.”

Ellen waited in the lobby and tried to think of what to say when she was face to face with Penn. Nothing was readily coming to mind. And now that she’d roped herself into this scenario, she was stuck.

“Ellen Moore?” the assistant called into the waiting room.

Ellen nodded and rose from her chair slowly. She was so nervous that everything she did seemed to happen in slow motion.

She was placed in a room with an exam table, chairs and one completely disturbing poster of a blue-eyed man without skin. She stared at the diagram thinking even he was going to judge her for what she was about to do.

She sat on the paper-covered table and waited. Ellen could hear Penn’s voice in the hallway, and it gave her a rush.

Without warning, Penn burst into the room with tremendous energy. “Good afternoon,” he said without looking up from the folder in his hand. “I’m – Jesus…”

“Hi.” Ellen gave him a sheepish wave.

Penn was silent. He stared at Ellen and blinked. A tiny smile was trying to make its way across his face, but shock was still in its place.

“Um,” Ellen paused, trying to fill the silence. “Jesus? I thought your name was Dr. Penn around here.”

“I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all,” he said, looking back to her chart.

“I used my maiden name. I was afraid you wouldn’t want to see me.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to see you?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s giving you trouble?”

“I’ve been having some pain.”

“Okay,” he said, moving in closer and wrinkling his muscular head, sincerely interested in her ailing body.

“Yeah,” Ellen replied softly. “I’ve had this pain in my chest.”

“Show me where,” Penn said with concern.

Ellen laid her open palm on her heart and softly patted. “Here. I’ve had it for a while. I tried meditation, yoga – lots of things. And nothing seemed to work.”

Ellen never took her eyes from Penn’s loving gaze, as her palm continued to linger over her heart.

“What would you like for me to do?” he asked as he moved within inches of her body.

Ellen slowly moved her hand from her own heart to his, wrapping her arm around his waist and pulling him between her legs as she sat on the exam table.

“Ellen,” Penn whispered. “Tell me what you want.”

Softly she leaned into him, tilting her face up, gently brushing her lips over his.

He gave in immediately. Dropping the folder to the ground, Penn wrapped his arms around Ellen, tightly embracing her.

As he pulled her close, she kissed him deeply, parting his lips with her tongue.

Penn groaned as their passion began to heat the room and then pulled away.

Smiling, he took her face in his hands, “Where did this come from? Wait. Never mind. I don’t care where it came from,” he gasped.

“You didn’t show up at yoga. So I had to come find you,” she whispered. “Where’ve you been?”

“Teaching a seminar. But if I’d known this would happen, I would’ve given up yoga months ago.”

“Thank goodness you didn’t,” she sighed between kisses.

He pulled her close to him and kissed her deeply, soulfully and felt his body awaken at her moan.

“So, the French thing worked on you after all,” he sighed as he stroked her back with his strong hands.

“No.
You
worked on me.”

“Listen, I know you don’t believe in the hearts and flowers holiday, but we’re only going to have this room for a few more moments before someone comes looking for me. So I’m asking you now, while I have you captive in my arms.”

“Yes?”

“It’s Valentine’s Day. Elle, be mine.”

She smiled and kissed his bald head, leaving a lipstick stain. “Okay.”

“Okay?” he nodded.

“Yes,” she sighed as she hopped off the table, nearly slipping as she fell back into his arms.