Pieces For You (13 page)

I attempted to stand, but again Griffin prevented me from doing so.  I turned my body slightly to make eye contact and discovered the problem.  Griffin was excited, as in really,
really
excited—nice to know I still had it.  I was thrilled.  Not only did a man—one who knew what had happened to me—find me sexually appealing, but I had been so engrossed in our make-out session I didn’t even notice the shockingly large effect I was having on him.  Furthermore, now that I was conscious of the effect, I realized I was not freaked out by the contact. 

Hallelujah!  I clapped my hands and did a little happy dance.

“Not helping,” he warned.

“Oops!  Sorry, I’m just really excited.”

“No, I’m pretty sure that’s me,” he groaned.

“But
I’m
excited that
you’re
excited and your
excitement
is doing nothing but good things to me.  You get me?”

“Despite my limited mental functions at the moment, I actually understood that,” Griff said with humor.

Ev cleared her throat again, not hearing our whispered conversation about Griffin’s predicament.

“Ev, geeze!  Griff needs a moment to…um…coax the bear back into hibernation.”

“Aww, hell,” Griffin grumbled as Ev replied, “Overshare.”

“What?  I censored.”

“You need to talk to Thia about this animal fixation.  It’s really starting to concern me,” Griff said while shaking his head.

“Hey, I could have said ‘tame the hippo’…be grateful.”

“Keep talking about hippos.  It helps.”

“Like the big grey kind wearing a pink tutu and dancing around in Disney movies that are more appropriate for hippies on an acid trip than children?”

“Yes, exactly like that.”

He rewarded me with a quick peck on the cheek before finally allowing me to stand.  Ev rolled her eyes.  I couldn’t help myself; I leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

“Forget a horse…like a damn elephant.”

“Hello, queen of indecency, he’s my friend.  I do not want or need that visual.”

Griffin stood and Ev looked him straight in the eyes, fighting the natural urge to search for evidence of my claim.

“I expect this from her, but you Griffin?” she said, before spinning on her heel and walking away.

“Well, I may not be able to look Ev in the eyes for a month, but it was worth it.  Ready to work off some of this pent-up energy?” he asked, unconcerned.

“Lead the way.”

“I intend to.”

After our workout and highly anticipated rub-down, Griff brought me to California Pizza Kitchen for a famous BBQ chicken pizza with extra cilantro.  Yummy!

“I have to skip the gym tomorrow, I have dinner with my parents.”  I made a face as I said the word ‘parents’ to emphasize how much I was looking forward to the family powwow.

“Sounds like fun.  Ev gave me an overview of your situation.  I heard they’re a whole new breed of special.  Do you need back-up?”

Did he just offer to suffer dinner at the Whitney estate?  Either Ev did a piss-poor job of explaining the realities of my family or the man was a candidate for sainthood.

“I like you too much to subject you to the joys of a Whitney family dinner.”

“Okay, but it’s a standing offer.  If needed, I’ve got your back.”

“Thank you, but I’ll find another way to take advantage of you…I mean, of your kind offer,” I said with a saucy wink.

“Good.”  He cleared his throat, stalling.  “I wanted to invite you to dinner.”

I looked around the restaurant, at the food on our table, and then at him.

“Isn’t that what we’re doing now?”

“No.  I want to take you to dinner as my date.  Preferably when we’ve both had time to shower beforehand and aren’t wearing gym clothes.  What do you say?”

“Yes.”  The word was out of my mouth before my brain had any say—pure instinct.

“Are you free Saturday?”

“I’ll have to consult my calendar; I’m incredibly busy, you know.”  I thumbed through my imaginary calendar.  “Saturday is perfect.  Dressy or casual?”

“I know spending a fortune on dinner won’t impress you, but I would love to try Maroni’s.  The food is supposed to be spectacular and I’ve never had anyone I cared enough to try it with.”

“I’ve heard about it, but haven’t been either.  Can you get a reservation?  I heard they’re booked at least three months in advance.”

“I’ll take care of it,” he said with confidence.

“Okay, it’s a date.”

After dinner he drove me back to my car.  When we arrived, he came around my side to help me get out.

“You need stairs for this monster.”

“No,
you
need stairs, I have no problems.  Besides, I like having the excuse to help you get in and out.”

“Playa,” I accused without heat.

“Back in the day, maybe.  But I’m more interested in quality versus quantity these days.”

“Isn’t that exactly what a
player
would say?”

“I guess you’ll have to judge me by my actions and decide for yourself.”

“Smooth.”

“Call me after your parents’ tomorrow if you need anything.”

He said goodbye with a sweet kiss on the top of my head that did nothing to satisfy my desire for him.

Wednesday was business as usual at Higher Yearning.  Ev arrived midway through my shift with Meg. 

“Meg, do you try to upsell customers by offering additional items like pastries or a bottle of water?”

“Absolutely, I’ve even been cutting up a muffin before rush-time to offer a small sample, which increases sales of baked goods,” Meg replied proudly.

“Great idea.  I love that you took the initiative to try something new.  Just be sure that your sales tactics respect the integrity of our products and the decorum of Higher Yearning.”

Meg looked at Ev, her confusion evident.  “Did I do something wrong?  Oh my gosh, was there a complaint about me?” she asked, horrified.

Ev chuckled.  “No, you have been amazing, Meg—one of the best employees ever.  Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about.  As I said, I value initiative, but there are limits to how far we should push the envelope.  Yesterday, an employee—who shall remain nameless—decided to entice a customer by shoving her tongue down his throat.  It may ensure the customer’s return, but we are not a coffee brothel.”

Meg stared at me with her mouth hanging open.  She had been working yesterday but didn’t catch my lip-lock with Griffin.

“Don’t listen to her, Meg.  She’s messing with you,” I said, hoping to erase the shocked look on the poor girl’s face.

“So you didn’t make-out with a customer on the couch yesterday?” Ev challenged, clearly having fun paying me back.

“You, my friend, have a big mouth.  Yes, I kissed Griffin on the couch yesterday, but there were extenuating circumstances, and I didn’t kiss him to persuade him to buy more coffee.”

“Wait, the huge blonde hottie?” Meg asked, her shock replaced by envy.

“One and the same,” I answered, gloating.

“Sorry, Ev.  I believe in professionalism, but who wouldn’t kiss that gorgeous creature if given the opportunity?  I would have revoked her woman card if she had passed that up.  He is definitely the sexiest guy I have ever seen.”

“Hey, what about Hunter?” Ev protested.  “He’s drop-dead gorgeous.  Plus, he’s a total badass.”

I was convulsing with laughter at the ridiculousness of Ev selling Hunter.

“Oh, Hunter’s hot, too.  I guess I just prefer blondes,” Meg consoled.

“Clearly you haven’t had enough time to appreciate the wonder that is Hunter.  He’s supposed to stop by later.  After you study him more closely, you’ll see your mistake.  Trust me, there is no one hotter than my man.”

I leaned into Meg’s side and stage whispered, “Just tell her you made a mistake and Hunter is your favorite.  She won’t let it rest until you agree with her…believe me.”

Ev threw her hands in the air and headed toward her office.

After my shift, I changed clothes in the restroom—God forbid I showed up for dinner in jeans and a Higher Yearning polo.  I slid into a tailored Fendi pencil dress in cream with nude Louboutin pumps and a pearl necklace.  The outfit screamed ‘innocent and unsoiled.’  Maybe the clothing would help my parents see me that way, too.  As I exited the bathroom, Hunter was entering the shop.

“Any idea what the emergency is that required I get here by 5:00 pm?” he asked as I greeted him.

“It’s going to be so much better if you’re surprised,” I said and checked my watch.  “In fact, I can spare ten minutes and still make it to my parents’ on time for dinner.  Let me tell Ev you’re here.”

Ev darted from the back and grabbed Hunter’s arm.

“Don’t talk to her, she’s the enemy,” Ev scolded Hunter as they approached the counter.

He turned back to me and raised one eyebrow.  I only shrugged and positioned myself for optimal viewing.  Let the show begin.

“Meg, you’ve met my boyfriend Hunter, haven’t you?”

“Yes, we met last week.  Hello, Meg, nice to see you again.”

Ev wrapped her hand around Hunter’s bicep and ‘oooh’-ed.  “Have you been working out more than usual?  You feel extra ripped.  Feel this Meg, the man is rock solid.”

Meg and Hunter both looked at Ev like she had lost her mind, which of course she had.

“That’s not necessary, I believe you,” Meg said in a placating manner.

“Did you know Hunter saves lives for a living?  He is a real-life hero!”

Hunter stared at Ev for a moment before turning his gaze to me.

“What am I missing?” Hunter asked me, unable to puzzle out Ev’s agenda.

“Oh, no, you’ll get no help from me.  I am enjoying this way too much,” I replied.

Ev elbowed him in the ribs, demanding his attention.  “Wow, you’re wearing the new jeans we bought last weekend.  Your ass is spectacular in these.  Turn around and show Meg.”

“Okay, you need to explain why I feel like a pooch from ‘Best in Show.’”

“Evidently Meg hasn’t had an opportunity to really see you up close and personal because she claimed Griffin was the hottest guy she had ever seen earlier today.”

“And you are defending my honor by parading me around like a coiffed poodle to prove I’m hotter than Griffin?”

“Yep.”

Hunter shook his head at her, accepting her craziness for the compliment it was.

Hunter turned back to Meg and hit her with his megawatt smile, dazzling her.  Meg’s eyes widened, breathless at the sight.

“You don’t have to believe it, but if you could tell her what she wants to hear I would appreciate it.  Ev is so much happier when she wins and I don’t give her the chance very often.”

Turning to Ev, Meg said, “You’re right, Ev.  Hunter is the hottest guy I’ve ever met…and I’m not even lying to make you happy.”

Ev turned to me and stuck out her tongue. 

I had full confidence Griffin would reclaim Meg’s vote without even trying.  With a wave goodbye, I left for the hour-long drive to my parents’ home.

By the time I arrived at the main gate of the Whitney estate, my spirits were high.  I was ready to square off against Ev in the hot-guy battle and face whatever my parents had in store.

I clicked the remote to open the front privacy gate and drove onto the familiar grounds.  The property was meticulously manicured, as always, and the great lawn particularly green despite the New York fall.  I followed the meandering hedge-trimmed driveway around a replica of the Fontaine de la Concorde in Paris, finally arriving at the front entrance.  Up until four years ago—when I last lived here—I would have pulled around the left side to the garages.  Now I parked in front like the visitor I was.  The Whitney estate had never been my home—merely the museum in which I slept.

I rang the bell and waited for Thorngood, the current butler, to answer the door.

“Miss Whitney, welcome.  Your parents are awaiting your arrival in the drawing room.  Shall I show you the way?”

“No thank you, I remember how to get there,” I said dryly.

As I walked through the house, the setting sun caught my eye as it reflected off the bay, showcased by the expansive windows.  The beauty and warmth of the scene was a stark contrast to the cold, sterile feel within the house.  My heels clicked against the marble floors, effectively announcing my arrival as I entered the drawing room.  For the life of me, I could not explain why it was referred to as the ‘drawing room;’ none of us drew or were artistic in any way.

“Father, Mother,” I greeted as I entered.

They both rose as I approached, offering the customary air kiss near each cheek.  I can’t remember the last time I had experienced physical contact with either of my parents.  It was no longer something I expected or needed from them.  Any hope of connecting with them died after the attack, when they abandoned me to Ev’s care because it was too real for them to deal with.

“Thank you for joining us, Samantha.  Dinner will be served in an hour, but your father wanted to have a word with you first,” my mother said formally.

“It has come to my attention that you are considering testifying for the District Attorney in regards to the incident that occurred at Hensley,” my father stated without preface.