Tempo (20 page)

“Why is he here now Karlie?” Lloyd asks.

“He said his freelance business hasn’t been good lately. He saw the pictures in the press and saw an opportunity. He sees you as a wealthy man Michael and me as the same scared girl he took advantage of years ago.”

We all sit in silence, until Tony and Lloyd stand to leave.

“I want to meet with you both tomorrow. I want this over and done with,” Michael says.

He walks the men to the door and returns to me at the table.

“I will understand if you want to turn and run Michael.” It’s almost the same thing he said to me the night before.

Michael begins to laugh. “It will take a lot more than an ex to run me off. It pisses me off that he used you, and it kills me to think that he knew you intimately. I wish you had told me this was going on. What I really want to do is kill him. Instead I think we will order dinner, climb in bed and watch mindless TV. How does that sound to you?”

“Can we improvise and include some lovemaking?” I ask. I need to feel close to him.

“You are insatiable baby, but I would be happy to make love to you.”

He said make love, do I read anything into that? Is it because I called it lovemaking? He has told me that he cares for me, he needs me and now he wants to make love to me.

Entering the plane I arrive at my seat. Looking at Michael I give him a knowing look. It is not a coincidence that I have been assigned to seat 3B again. The laugh that erupts from Michael is contagious. Passengers just boarding are looking at us with curiosity, but the joke remains with us. Once in the air, Michael continues to tease me. He rings for the attendant to ask for champagne and shortly thereafter tells the attendant that I just love the warm nuts and could she bring me some. As I lean on his shoulder, he whispers in my ear. “Maybe I should have called you “mile high.”  He chuckles at his own joke. “That would be a fitting nickname don’t you think?” Slugging him in the arm, I tell him to behave. We continue this banter for the duration of the flight.

Denver is cold this morning. The temperature is a crisp thirty-nine degrees as we head for my apartment.

“It’s not fancy, just a place to sleep. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

“Is there a bed?”

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t be disappointed.”

“You are impossible. Don’t you ever get tired of me?” I ask.

“Nope, you are an endless buffet of pleasure. I can feast on you for the rest of my life and I won’
t get tired,” Michael says with conviction.

Thirty minutes later, we arrive at my apartment. I am feeling a bit anxious about opening the door. Will I find it dismantled by some disgruntled mafia member or vandalized by an angry ex? Michael grabs my hand as if sensing my apprehension.

“Everything is okay, I have already had it checked out. The security team arrived last night.” On some level I am relieved, but I am also disturbed that this man has already had someone in my house.

“Well, this is it.” I say as I open my arms to show him my humble home.

“It’s great, not as modern as the portfolio you showed me, but this place has you written all over it. Your imprint is everywhere. Walking over to the built in bookshelves, Michael begins to scan the framed pictures scattered throughout the space. Picking up one photo he asks, “Are these your parents?”

“Yes, this is my mom and dad and this is me when I was seventeen. I was going to the homecoming dance and my dad bought me my corsage.”

“Didn’t you have a date?”

“No, have you not noticed how tall I am? At 5’ 9” tall there are not many high school boys who would date me.”

“You are the perfect height for me.”

Kissing him I reply, “Yes, I am.”

“Is this you with the big fish? Did you catch it yourself?”

Looking at the picture of the girl with the pigtails, I hardly recognize myself in her. She was innocent and full of hopes and dreams. “Yes, I caught that fish with a snoopy fishing pole and cheese spread for bait. This picture is taken at Crystal Reservoir on Pikes Peak. It’s a beautiful place to fish. It contains mostly rainbow trout
, but you can catch lake trout and cutthroat as well.”

“Show me the rest of the house.” Michael says anxiously.

“Here is the kitchen, which is totally empty and over to the right is the bathroom.”

“I don’t think I’ve had the full tour.” I know he is hinting at seeing my bedroom.

“Oh yes, I did forget the bedroom, it’s right over here.” I run into my room and jump on the bed. Michael follows me and I laugh as his weight nearly bounces me off.

“This is by far my favorite room in the house.” His smile is contagious.

“I plan to spend lots of time in this bed with you mister, but right now we have to forage for food. Should we call someone to tell them that we are heading out to get food?”

“No we won’t need security. I am confident we will be safe.  Is it walking distance?”

“Yes, we can walk to the market. Will you be warm enough?”

“The thought of you in this bed will keep me warm.”

“Let’s go. You’re going to need sustenance to get you through the night.”

We had a great time at the grocery store, it was such a normal couple thing to do and yet we had never done it together. We picked up some fruit, fresh salmon and asparagus. Michael begged me to get green beans
, but I told him if he liked what I could do to a green bean then he would love what I could do to an asparagus spear.

I cooked dinner for Michael and it felt so right. I ate my asparagus in the most seductive manner I could and the results were amazing. Sliding the last spear into my mouth signaled to Michael that dinner was over. Carrying me over his shoulder, he tosses me on the bed. I just fed the man
, but I swear he looks ravenous.

“When did you decide you liked me?” I ask.

“The moment you stared at my package on the plane; I knew I liked you. How could I not like a girl who obviously has an eye for quality?”

His comment makes me laugh
, but it also makes me think of the undeniable chemistry we have together.

“Is it all about the sexual attraction between us, because I have never wanted anyone as much as I want you?”

“I feel the same, but it’s more than that. I can stare at you for hours and feel the same amount of satisfaction as I feel when we make love. I want to be with you all of the time.”

There it is again, he said make love.

“Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with someone so quickly? My feelings for you are so confusing.”

“I haven’t told you this
, but I’ve been trying to show you in every possible way. Do you remember the day we met in the office? It was the day that I had to let Maggie go? The day you created the perfect patio on a roll of toilet paper.”

“Yes, I have a clear recollection of that day.” I was so angry that day.

“Karlie, I am not sure when it happened, but sometime between the toilet paper rolls and your tirade in the office, I fell in love with you. It’s not an easy thing for me to admit to because it scares the hell out of me but there it is. I love you baby.”

I am without words. I stare at this beautiful man who just made his declarations of love.

Feeling empowered by his love, I undress him and make love to him until the wee hours of the morning.

We drag ourselves out of bed so we can be at the art exhibit by ten o’clock. Outside the sun is shining. A dusting of snow has fallen overnight. It is a beautiful day. We arrive at the school to view the collection. On the walk to the gallery, I can’t help but think of another walk I took years ago. The whispers, snickers and stares are no longer on the faces of passersby
, but the memory is as permanent as a bad tattoo.

“This is the place,
” I say with a little hitch in my voice.

“Wow, they set up an actual showing, I thought we would just go to some warehouse or to an office building.”

“You’re an important client for the artists, as well as the school. If you choose the art it makes the art program at the school more prestigious.”

“Hey, are you okay?” He pulls at my chin turning it each way to get a complete look at my face.

“Yes, I’m fine, why?”

“I felt you begin to tense up on our walk here. As we got closer the tension seemed to increase, I am just worried about you.”

“I’m good,” I say, not sure if I am trying to convince him or me.

“Does it have anything to do with Evan Coughlin?”

I am frozen in my tracks. This place, combined with his name creates such bad memories for me. “I don’t want to talk about Evan Coughlin now,” I say a little too tersely.

Taking my chin in his hand he lifts my face up so that our eyes meet.

“You don’t have to worry about Evan Coughlin for a while. It appears that he had some legal problems in Las Vegas. No one has come to bail him out and so he has to serve a mandatory 45 day stay courtesy of Clark County Nevada.”

“How do you know that?” I ask.

Shaking his head Michaels reminds me. “I told you, I have resources.”

“You set him up.”

“I had nothing to do with it.” He feigns innocence.

I take Michaels hand and walk confidently into the gallery. Evan is not here to haunt me. Michael is here and I am grateful for his presence. We meet the artists and browse through rows of possibilities.

“What do you think of the art?” I am a little nervous. I hope that he loves it as much as I do.

“I am floored by it. It’s so hard to choose which art I like the best. Do you have a favorite?”

I take him by the hand and show him my favorite. “I don’t want you to choose this one though, it’s just too beautiful to be mass produced. It deserves it own space; a place of honor.”

“Interesting observation Ms. McKenna, okay since this one is out, let’s choose from the measly two hundred or so that are left.”

Several hours later, we have completed our selections and negotiated a fair price for both buyer and seller. Anna has been called and will be expecting the artists to deliver the collection this afternoon. Reproduction and framing of nearly a thousand pieces of art is no small undertaking. We are down to less than sixty days. I promise Anna that we will stop by the offices after lunch.

“Well Mr. Scarpetti, are you happy with your selections?”

“That I am Ms. McKenna, I think I’ve snagged the most priceless of the bunch.” He grabs me by the waist and plants a wet kiss on my lips.

“Your impossible,
” I say as I playfully push him back.

“I can’t help myself, I’m in love.”

We stop by the 16
th
Street Mall to get a bite to eat before heading to Anna Sloan Design. I want to show Michael where I work. We pull into the garage and I escort him into the foyer. Standing by the elevator and smiling as bright as ever is Earl.

“Karlie, you’re back. Give this old man a hug. How was Las Vegas?”

Michael crinkles his eyes up in question as if wondering who the older man is.

“Hi Earl, I would like you to meet Michael Scarpetti. Michael is
the owner of Tempo and my very handsome boyfriend.” I can’t believe that I said that in public, but it sounded so good. I look to Michael to see how he is taking my public declaration and see that he is smiling. He reaches over and pulls me closer as if to confirm the truth of my statement.

“Boyfriend? You leave for a month and replace me so easily? I thought we had something real Karlie.” Earl grabs for his chest like I have wounded his heart and then begins to laugh. “Young man, you had better take care of this girl. She is special to me.”

“Yes sir, I have every intention of taking care of her.”

“Would you like a ride Karlie?” Earl asks.

“Yes Earl, take us up to three please.”

Michael is amazed with the elevator. He is walking around the small box inspecting everything.

“It won’t fit in with the design theme of Tempo. You are going to have to pass on this one,” I say.

“Too bad because it’s such a great elevator.”

I can see Earl smile with pride. Michael and I walk hand in hand into the design firm. We take a tour of our floor and I give him the background of the building. He seems very interested and has many questions. We talk about the murals, but mostly he talks about that elevator.  After awhile we sit down with Anna.

“The pictures were delivered this afternoon. I really like your selections. The printer is coming today and guarantees to have the print work done in a week. The framer needs three weeks. This puts delivery around mid December. It’s cutting it close
, but we will make the deadline.”

Michaels phone rings and he excuses himself to answer it. Stepping into the hallway, I am left alone with Anna.

“Wow, so you’re officially a couple. He is such a nice looking man. You look good together. What’s going to happen when the job is complete? Are you planning on leaving us?”