Something More (8 page)

Chapter 11

Carrie had only been to Guinevere’s home three times, and each time the lovely mansion took her breath. Old, but in such excellent shape. Decorated with elegant taste, some pieces dated back to England, no doubt. Quite simply put, her home was beautiful. Indescribable.

Carrie rubbed elbows with wealthy and influential people on a daily basis. They came in all shapes and sizes. Egotistical, self-important, condescending, she’d learned how to handle them all. When she met Guinevere at a clientele party given by her partners for the elite, the woman had intrigued her instantly. Guinevere was a woman who knew her self-worth and presented the confidence of one in complete control. Her mannerisms screamed old money and family history.

They became instant friends. Carrie’s new found friend was seventy-one and full of live. Smooth. Charismatic. In control. And . . . amiable. Add feisty, with a clever sense of humor. Did she mention outspoken? She’d analyzed Carrie in two seconds flat.

Live your life. My advice is stop worrying about whatever it is that’s keeping you from it.

She had lunch served on the patio, surrounded by a floral garden that she tended herself, upon occasion. Her gardener had his work cut out, but the thriving color spoke volumes of his capability. With so many aromas floating in the air, Carrie would have difficulty identifying each fragrance.

“I’m so glad you could join me.” Guinevere spoke as she poured tea. Carrie sincerely suspected the filigree China cups could not be replaced.

“I really need to give Brenda a raise. It took a lot for her to change my schedule.”

“I hope it wasn’t too difficult.” Guinevere sipped her tea. “I am glad to hear you speak of your assistant that way. Too many times a high executive forgets the
little
people.”

“I don’t think of anyone as little. I know how hard I worked to get where I am. And I’d be lost without Brenda. She’s my greatest asset. Besides, she keeps me grounded.”

“What do you mean by that, dear?”

Carrie placed the china cup carefully back on the saucer. “If I get too crazy, she calms me down. She’s a hoot. Sharp as a tack and a great sense of humor.”

“I hope you tell her you appreciate her.” Guinevere adjusted the brim of her hat to block out the sun.

“And give her a big head? She already knows how important she is. I can’t add to her ego.”

“I seriously doubt she has one.”

Little did she know
.

Carrie changed the subject. “So, where are you going?”

Guinevere added a dab of sugar to her tea. “I’m going to Scotland.”

“How wonderful. I’m jealous.” Even at seventy-one, the genteel woman stayed on the go.

“Would you like to come along, dear?”

She’d love to. One reason being she hated thinking of Guinevere traveling alone, which she did often. Yes, she could take care of herself, but still, she was seventy-one. Between Ginger, work, and Matthew, Carrie just didn’t have the time.

“I’d love to go, but I’ve too much going on.”

“You work too hard, dear.” Over the rim of her cup, Guinevere’s shrew gaze settled on Carrie.

“Now, how would you know that? I think you just want me to go with you.” She had developed a soft spot for the old woman.

“I would enjoy your company. I’m glad we made a friendship. Not many young people want to associate with my generation.”

Carrie leaned forward and winked. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”

A maid came over with fresh water. She spooned just the right amount of tea into a special chamber inside the pot and went away.

“Tell me about this new man in your life.”

Carrie pierced the old girl with what she hoped was a teasing look. “You’re fishing.”

“Have I caught a fish?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Carrie laughed and nodded in the affirmative.

“Well. Don’t keep me waiting.”

“I met a man at the airport.”

“When you came back from your cruise?”

“Afraid so.”

“Why on earth would you say that? This sounds delightful. What happened?”

The old girl was practically on the edge of her seat with curiosity. “You won’t believe how we met. The storm made it difficult for planes to land and several flights were late. It was raining buckets when I tried to get a cab at the terminal. I spotted one, ran for it and this man hijacked my taxi.”

“Oh dear. He left you in the rain? How rude.” Guinevere’s sympathy would have been appreciated if he
had
done that.

“No. He pushed me inside.”

Worry lines formed on her wrinkled face. “Were you hurt, dear?”

“No,” Carrie remembered her first glimpse of Matthew. “But, I was madder than a hornet.”

“Good for you. I hope you let him have it.” She gave a slight punch with her fist, if you could call it that. For everything Guinevere did, she did with aristocratic style and grace.

But her comment made Carrie smile.

“I was furious. Wet hair plastered in my face. He’d just shoved me in the car and jumped in behind me.”

“Oh . . .” Her hand fluttered over her chest. “How romantic.”

Carrie gulped her tea and wondered how she did not choke. Resting the cup in its holder, she sputtered, “Romantic?”

“He
is
the one we’re speaking of, isn’t he? We meet such interesting people when we least expect it.”

She didn’t know how to answer that. “Guinevere, you’re something else.”

“What’s his name, dear?”

Carrie lifted the linen napkin and dabbed her mouth. Just thinking of him gave a little boost to her pulse. His name rolled sweetly off her lips like the sweetened tea. “Matthew. He’s a hunk. He’s wonderful. And he’s gone.”

Silence stretched for a solid minute.

“My goodness. You do know how to go through men.” Guinevere leaned back in her chair and crossed her hands in her lap. “Back up. From the beginning, if you please.”

The image of Matthew, with dripping curls in the back seat of that cab, flashed into Carrie’s mind. She swallowed. “We were soaked to the skin.”

“This is getting interesting.”

“Really, Guinevere,” Carrie chastised.

“You forget, dear. I was also young once. And I’m not too old to remember.” She waved a hand. “Particulars, please.”

Carrie chuckled. She wanted particulars? “Our clothes were plastered and didn’t leave a lot to the imagination. I tried to close my suit jacket over my shirt.”

“I’ll bet his eyes were glued there. How exciting.”

“Guinevere!” Carrie pretended shock, when in fact she admired the elder woman’s brashness.

“Oh, pishaw. Go on.” She waved her hand in a rolling motion. “So you got all steamy?”

Carrie shook her head and spoke aloud. “I can’t believe I’m divulging intimate particulars with a seventy year old woman.”

“Seventy-one.”

“Seventy-one.” How close the two of them had gotten. Guinevere drew things from her like a teenager sharing secrets with her best friend. “Yes, I got all steamy. It took two dates before he acted, though.”

Guinevere gave a sharp nod. “Sounds like a gentleman.”

“Funny you should say that. He acted the perfect gentleman on our first date.”

Her mouth lifted in a grin and mischief lurked in her eyes. “I imagine that drove you a bit crazy.”

God love her.

“More than a bit. A hot, delicious man gave me a goodnight kiss at my door and then he walked away. I couldn’t believe it.”

Guinevere leaned forward as if to whisper. “Is he a good kisser?”

“A dream.” Carrie sighed.

“I heard that. Your voice had a wistful longing,” Guinevere sat back in her chair, her voice loud and firm.

“Probably lust,” Carrie said cynically.

“What happened next?”

Reliving the details made Carrie more excited than she would’ve liked to admit. “He sent me roses again.”

“Again?”

“The first day back, he sent roses to my office. A sort of apology for pushing me into the cab.”

“I suspect more than that. It may have been a way to keep in touch and see you again.”

“I’ve received countless bouquets. I love flowers and I enjoy them. Their fragrance gives me a sense of being outdoors. But this was the first time a foolish little thrill went through me. My reaction surprised me.”

Guinevere smiled and picked up her teacup. “You must like the man. Your emotions run close to the surface, Carrie, but you hide them well. You’re not a cold or unfeeling person no matter how unemotional you try to be.”

“The sharks would disagree with you.” She doubted anyone in her office thought of her that way.

Guinevere took a sip and returned her cup to the saucer. Then her eyes flashed and connected with Carrie’s soul. “A woman must be strong in a business world full of men. I have experienced that. But there is a difference between being strong-minded and hard-hearted. A woman can be iron-willed and sensitive. And if you have feelings for this young man, you should enjoy them.”

Confusion was as alien to Carrie as little green men in a spaceship. But she’d had a lot of befuddling moods lately. “I feel something for him. I’m not sure what.”

“You’re too analytical. Don’t question your thoughts. Try to relax.”

Carrie shook her head. “I told you the last time you said that, I don’t know how to relax.”

“Well then, let’s get to the part where you said he’s gone. What did you mean?”

“He came to New York for a business merger or something like that. He flew back to LA.” Carrie dropped her head. It wasn’t until she lifted it again that she realized Guinevere had been waiting to meet her gaze before she answered.

“How do you feel about that? Would he be worth plane fair?”

“Long distance involvements, Guinevere. They don’t work.”

“Sex and making love with a man are as different as the day and the night. Until you’ve been with a man who has shaken your heart, you have not
made love
. Believe me. There’s no comparison. No explaining or describing the emotional combustion that results from
making love
.”

This woman didn’t pull any punches. “And you’ve had that kind of love?”

She gazed over the fields of flowers and her voice sounded far away. “An everlasting love.”

Carrie sat in silence. What could she say after that? Guinevere had ventured into the past. Carrie would not intrude.

After a lengthy moment, Guinevere cleared her throat and turned to face Carrie. “You are a strong-willed woman, like myself. If this young man made a lasting impression on you, you’ll figure it out. Now, do you want to come with me?”

And that was that.

“Thanks for the invitation, but I’ll pass this time. When do you leave?”

“In two weeks.”

“Have a wonderful and safe trip,” Carrie said. “Anyone going with you?”

Guinevere’s voice took on a cautioning note. “Your protective instincts are showing.”

“Can’t help it. You’ve become important to me.”

“Thank you, darling. You are dear to me, as well. Call me in a few days and let me know how the romance is going?”

Romance
. Carrie gave a huff.

Chapter 12

“Matthew Corridon, line two.”

Carrie stared at the intercom. The tension in the office this past week had been unbearable. Insufferable for her employees, because they were on the receiving end of her frustration. Agonizing for her because she missed him. More than she could ever have imagined. Her, the cool professional and renowned hardass.

“Carrie? Did you hear me?”

“Yes, Brenda. Put him through.” She lifted the phone receiver. “Hello, Matthew.”

“Hello.”

Damn.
She’d heard many deep throbbing voices of attractive men, all trying to lure her to their bed, yet none had her reacting like this.
His
voice made her bones melt, akin to burning lava. The man could say hello like he’d just crawled out of bed from a day of lovemaking. Maybe he was in his bedroom. Lying on the bed. Naked.

“Carrie?”

She jerked to attention. “Yes. I’m glad you called.”

“You seem distracted. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time?”

“No. Of course not.” Unless he could read minds, he couldn’t know she’d been daydreaming a sexual encounter with him.

“How are you?”

Horney.

“I’m fine. And you?”

“I’m watching the rain. It’s pouring buckets.”

“So you thought of me?”

“I will have the image of you, soaked to the skin, forever in my mind. Even dripping wet, with your hair clumped on your shoulders, you were beautiful.”

The memory flashed in her mind of her clinging clothes exposing her nipples. She looked down to find them poking out now. Only this time it wasn’t from the cold rain. “That’s sounds like a left-handed compliment.”

“You are beautiful. I’d like to see you again.”

Her pulse raced.
“I’d like that, too.”

“How about next week? Maybe Wednesday?”

Next Wednesday would give her plenty of time to buy something sexy and plan her strategy for a full dose of Matthew. “Sounds fine. Call me when you get here.”

“That, my lovely lady, I will most definitely do.”

Carrie felt her spirits lift immensely. He had an alarming effect on her. At the moment, nothing else mattered. Six more days. She couldn’t wait to see him.

A sudden rap sounded on Carrie’s office door.

“Come in, Brenda.”

Her assistant strode in with a smile that showed quite a number of perfect white teeth.

“Yes?”

“You look better.” Brenda braced her weight on one leg, pointed the toe of her designer shoe out, and crossed her arms over her chest. “Actually, you look remarkable.”

Carrie frowned. “Is there a purpose to your interruption?”

“I smell something in the air.”

“Then get your nose out of the wind.”

“Ah, come on, Carrie.” Brenda melted quicker than a marshmallow over a hot flame. “Do tell.”

Carrie put her pen down on the desk calendar and leaned back in her leather chair. “He does have a governing influence on me. It’s scary how much.” She glanced at her assistant. She was not a soft touch and her assistant knew it. “What? No come-back?”

“Amazing how one phone call can change the most horrendous person into such an acceptable, agreeable, and somewhat pleasant individual.”

“Amazing how a cheeky assistant can look so happy while carelessly jeopardizing her job.”

Brenda sprinted to the leather chair in front of Carrie’s desk and perched on the end of her seat. “I can see in your face Matthew means something to you. Enjoy it. Don’t think it to death. I’ve never seen you with such a . . . I don’t know . . . relaxed, dreamy look about you. I’ve also never seen you on edge.”

Folding her hands carefully across her desk, Carrie aimed a glare at her assistant.

Brenda quickly added, “Not this kind of edginess. You’re sharp. Very organized and very controlled. No man has ever chipped your armor. You’re gorgeous, sexy. . .”

Carrie held up a hand. “You can stop now. Your job is safe.”

“No, I mean it. You’re not just a top female executive. You’re beautiful and a classy lady. You carry yourself well. You’re more than confident and it shows.”

She shook her head. “You’re talking weird.”

“You have a soft side. You show it to people like me, and you’ve shown it to your clients. They know not to cross you or step on your toes, but they respect you. Only the dumbass men that envy your position are the ones who call you ice queen and hardass.”

One corner of Carrie’s mouth lifted in a smile.
Men.
She’d treated men as objects and thought they had their uses. Especially in bed. Hadn’t she done the same thing as the
dumbass men
Brenda mentioned? Carrie raised a brow. “Are you angling for a raise?”

“Hell, yes! But I’m your friend, too.” Brenda got up to leave and then turned with a cocky grin. “It never hurts to schmooze a little bit now and again.”

Carrie laughed. “Out with you. You have work to do.”