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The Tessarae Inn |
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Poseidon Rising CHAPTER 9 “I don’t pretend to know anything about your business or anything but this does not look good to me.” “Are you sure about what he said?” “He is Grant Jewel’s son. And even I know Grant Jewel has been buying up newspapers in Australian, England and the US. Now what is he doing cozying up to your wife? There’s a neon sign on his forehead declaring what’s he’s after.” “I thought you said he didn’t know who Blair was?” “If he didn’t, he knows now and it looks like he’s got a pipeline straight to your heart’s Achilles’ heel.” “You think he’s interested in Blair?” “Let me put it this way. You’ve been wasting your time focusing on Bambi when Godzilla has been storming the walls of the city. Now that big green lizard knows there is gold in them there hills and he’s only a few bricks short of punching a hole in the wall.” “Make sense, Amanda.” “I’m your damn wake up call, Mac. She may think her heart can’t be touched again but I saw all that Aussie charm oozing across the table toward her. He’s got plenty of money and is due a lot more once Daddy-dearest gives up the ghost. He’s good looking enough, in fact, I thought that woman who owns the place was going to drop her panties and serve them up with his meal, though I’m not a real good judge of such things. AND, this is the kicker. He’s never broken her heart. Am I making sense now?” Way too much sense. Why did every damn thing about this situation have to be so damn difficult? Grant Jewel was one of those men who gave cold, cutthroat, unethical businessmen a bad name. King Snake among a cadre of backstabbing, hissing vermin who wouldn’t recognize that there was any such thing as a line to cross much less refuse to cross it. The average person had no idea where the real power resided in the world. They looked at presidents, prime ministers, dictators, armies, weapons but the fact was that money ruled the world and if you had enough of it nobody gave a damn how you got it. So it wasn’t really surprising that although Grant Jewel had a reputation as the devil incarnate, your description of him depended on whether you were about to be plowed down because you were in his way or whether you were riding his coattails. There were a thousand and one stories about Grant Jewel but the one that stuck in his head was the only man who ever went toe-to-toe with Jewel and won was Victor Lord. His father, as ever generous to those he could vanquish, considered Grant Jewel a friend. But this was a new day and the prize on the table was different because Grant Jewel’s son was after the son of Victor Lord’s wife. Could Blair be seduced by Jewel? His babe liked money and she liked power and nothing that had happened to her recently indicated that love was better than either one of those things. ======== Blair was actually happy when Chad slipped into the chair across from her. They really needed to get some things straight. Vincent had already rushed off to a class and Amanda suddenly remembered a pressing engagement. Chad pushed a stray hair off his face and stared at her. “So you won’t give me a chance but you’ll break the rules and date your damn instructor?” “I’m just auditing the class, Chad, and besides it’s my business what I do or don’t do with Vincent Jewel.” “I hear he chases every skirt that comes across his path. All I hear from the girls is how good-looking he is. Hell, he’s dating half of his Business Finance class.” She smiled, raised her right eyebrow and leaned close to him. “Half of them, Chad?” “Well, maybe just the grad students—the pretty ones. I guess that means he’s not sleeping with anyone right now.” Blair laughed out loud. He smiled. “Just kidding. About the girls, at least. None of them, though, are as pre…” Blair looked over and saw Renee watching her. Hopefully, all Renee wanted was to free the table but she suspected it was the usual need to judge her that was driving Renee’s sudden attention. She was just not in the mood for a snip and snap fest. “Let’s get out of here, Blair. I just got my bike out of the shop. You know how much you like riding with me and there’s a place I want to show you.” Actually going somewhere where they could talk in peace sounded pretty good. Starr, who was going home with Susie after school and wasn’t due home for another five hours or so and Jack was spending the day with Todd. “Where?” He smiled and sat up. “Have you ever been to Duck Pond Lake on West campus? Not a lot of people even know about the West campus much less the lake. My old roommate was a bio major and let me in on the secret. They use it to study some creatures…ducks maybe … Whatever. Want to go there?” “Sounds promising.” He grinned and reached his hand across the table. She placed her hand in his and tried not to look at Renee. Blair stood up and found herself smiling. “Chad, what happened? I was waiting. Are we still going?” She pulled her hand out of Chad’s and stepped back. She looked at the girl who was standing in front of them. She was young, probably eighteen or so. Eighteen! Her thick dark hair was cut in a Dutch boy style, which made her green eyes seem huge. She had a stud in her nose and on her tongue. She was dressed in a combination of lace, leather and suede. She was strikingly beautiful. “I’m sorry,” said Chad in a low voice as he took a step closer to the girl. “I had to change my plans.” The girl’s face seemed to cave in with disappointment but she shifted to a neutral expression quickly. “I hope you’ll understand,” said Chad as he touched her shoulder lightly. Chad was way too smooth as far as Blair was concerned to be an amateur. This was a side of him she had rarely seen before. Of course, one of the reasons he was such a good manager at the club was because of his way with the customers but that was business and this was something different. How much of a dog was he? The girl frowned and then looked at Blair. “Is this your mother?” Blair knew how she was supposed to react to the girl’s attempt to go for the jugular but she repeated her motto: No more drama. No more drama in my life. She stuck out her hand and said, “Nice to meet you-u-u?” “Dona.” “Are you Chad’s little friend?” Dona glared at her but she didn’t seem to know how to react. Chad reached over and pulled Blair close to him and dangled his arm around her shoulders. “Well, no-o-o,” shuttered Dona. “We just know each other is all.” “I hope your studies are going well. I’m sure your parents are as proud of you as I am of Chad.” Dona looked at her through narrow slits. “I need to be going then. I’ll see you at the party at the frat house Friday, right?” “If it’s okay with my mother, I’ll be there.” Dona cocked her head up and studied him for a minute then stormed off. Blair looked up at Chad. He looked away. “You’re going to kill me for this one, aren’t you?” “Any mother would be proud to have a son like you.” When Blair saw Chad standing in the door of the bedroom she wasn’t really surprised. She had already changed into a sweater, her leather pants and jacket. He looked around the room and then let his gaze lock on her. “You take my breath away,” he said softly as he leaned at an angle against the doorframe. “Can’t have that. Remember I’m your mother. Incest not allowed.” He straightened up, walked into the room and edged toward the bed. “How long am I going to pay for that one?” “Ummmm. I’d say ten or fifteen years.” “Want to go to the frat party with me on Friday?” Blair threw her head back and laughed then walked toward him and grabbed his hand. “Come on let’s go. We really need to talk.” “Let’s stay here and talk,” he said as he tried to hold her back. “I’ll be glad to pay for the mother crack right here. Dona was just jealous you know.” Blair yanked him hard and pulled him out of the bedroom then breathed a sigh of relief. The fact of the matter was that having him in such close proximity to a bed made her heart race.
Duke Pond Lake turned out to be a beautiful secluded area of the campus that she had never seen before. The lake was huge considering that it was only fifteen or so miles from the main campus and there was a dock and a perfectly maintained boathouse. She and Chad settled on the bench at the edge of the dock. It was a soothing tranquil place. She lifted her hands into the air then threw her head back so the sun could warm it. “This is beautiful.” “Yeah it’s quiet this time of year except for the crew teams in the early morning. I like to come here to think.” “Have you ever brought Natalie here?” “No. Why? Are you jealous?” “Actually I was thinking that it would be hard for a girl not to notice how wonderful you are in a place like this.” “Why are we talking about Natalie?” “Because that’s how it started, remember? You wanted my advice on how to turn her head. All those late night conversations over Scotch and beer nuts.” He rotated his head toward her slowly and said, “Just a momentary lapse,” then smiled. “I’ve moved on. Grown up. I’m ready for a real relationship.” “With Dona?” “No, with you. I love you, Blair.” Blair exhaled and shook her head slightly. “Chad, you don’t even know me.” “I may not know the minutia of your life because you won’t let me get close enough, but I know the important stuff. I know what your soul looks like because I’ve seen it when you sing. I know what your laugh sounds like when you feel free and easy. I know how much you love your children because I see it in your face whenever you so much as mention their names. I know what it feels like to have your body melt into me. I know how smart you are and how passionate you are about Shining Starr and even Capricorn. I know how, when you have to, you make the hard decisions and take life on face-to-face. I know how you get me to say things and admit things I would never say to anyone else. I know how much I want you to look at me with love in your eyes because then I could breathe again…” “Okay, stop. I get it.” “Do you? How well did he know you before he fell in love with you?” “I’m not sure he ever did really love me.” Blair looked out at the water then said, “No, that’s a lie. There was a time when he did. I know that. But I did things. He did things. There was lot water under the bridge and a lot pain. Somewhere in there he stopped loving me or he couldn’t have done what he did to me.” “You never did tell me what happened.” Blair jerked slightly. “That’s because it’s private but that doesn’t make it any less real or painful.” Chad looked her in the eye. “I don’t think you know what it would be like to be loved by a man who honestly admires and respects you. I promise…” “No promises. Let’s not even go there. You’re too young.” He growled and flailed his fingers open. “Cut if out, Blair,” he said. There was a steel cold edge to his voice. “I’m only a few years younger….” Blair had never really seen him angry before. It was slightly unnerving, but only slightly. There was an intensity about him that was…. She took a deep breath then looked at him with what she hoped was a gentle expression. “This isn’t about age,” she said. “It’s about life. You haven’t been….” “Stop patronizing me. There’s nothing I hate more than people acting like just because they have a few years on you, you don’t know anything about life. I lived plenty. And a lot of it wasn’t nice, or clean or pretty.” “Okay. I just…” “I’ve been in love before, Blair. I know what it feels like. And I know enough to know that people love differently but it was love.” “You never told me about her. Why? We’ve talked a lot but never about her.” “Okay. Fine. We’ll talk about her. We met during my junior year in a lab…” “Biology?” “Yeah.” He looked out over the lake and was quiet for a few seconds. “Everything that was hard was easy with her. It was like she completed some part me. I never expected to feel like that.” “The player got caught, didn’t he?” “I never had any trouble picking up girls, if that’s what you mean. Usually had my pick. Told you. I’ve lived plenty and there is a lot of stuff I am not proud of. Haven’t always been nice or right with everyone but I changed for her.” Blair thought back to the interaction with Dona earlier. He hadn’t missed a beat even though it was obvious he had set up a date with her. Smooth. Calculating. Careless. “What was the Natalie stuff about then?” “It was about you, Blair.” She chewed her lower lip for a second then said, “What was her name?” “Ami.” When he said her name, Blair noticed an edge of incredible sadness seep out around his facial expression. “Why did you break up?” “I was serious and I guess she wasn’t. Wanted to get married after we graduated but she wasn’t ready. She wanted to go to New York for her big break.” “As a biologist?” He laughed in a quick short burst. “Hey, it’s New York. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.” He gave her a slow smile then his face turned more serious. “No. She wanted to try her hand at acting. Never acted a day in her life but she was willing to throw everything away to go audition against people who studied for years.” “Is she still there?” “I guess. We haven’t spoken in almost two years. Met an actor the first week she was there and married him a month later. Did have the courtesy to have one of her friends call and let me know.” Blair could hear the pain in his voice. She touched him light on the arm. “So see I know what it feels like to have somebody rip out your heart without any anesthesia,” he said. “But I also know that you can get over it. I did.” Did you really? I wonder. Do you ever really get over love that hurts you that much? Does it die or does it just crawl up in a hole somewhere, feed on the pain and wait to spring out at you when you least expect to see it again? “Say something, Blair. Don’t make me open up a vein for you and leave me hanging.” What was she supposed to say to him? How could she explain what had been between she and Todd. All she could do was to just let what popped into her head come out unfiltered. “I loved him with everything I had. I opened up parts of me to him I didn’t even know could open. I loved him like a crazy person. Full out, no boundaries, no limits, and he broke my heart and then he LEFT me.” “He died.” “That’s what I’m saying.” “You’re mad at him for dying?” “Hell, yes. He left me holding a shit load of anger and the only thing that matched it was the grief. In the end, the anger and grief annihilated each other and everything around them.” “You’re confusing me. So what does that mean? You can’t love again?” “That’s exactly what it means. I don’t even believe in love anymore but I want you to.” “Fine then you win. I believe in love. I believe you loved him. Hell, maybe he even loved you. But this is what I know. When people say they will love you for a lifetime what they really mean is that while they love you it will feel like a lifetime.” “Chad, I’m not …” “Maybe you did love him that much and he loved you as much, who knows? But he was THAT lifetime. Maybe, I’m supposed to be THIS lifetime.” ========== Todd paced as he watched Amanda play with the things on the living room desk. It was a damn good plan but from the beginning Blair had refused to cooperate. What in the hell was wrong with her? He had been back for weeks and she still hadn’t touched him. Not once. Now this Jewel person was sniffing around. He was going to have to go to Plan C. “Did you talk to her about the other things? About what happened?” “Nope. Didn’t have a chance before Mr. Jewel Enterprises sauntered over and started laying a claim on your wife. What are we going to do? I don’t like him all up on her like that.” Todd stared at Amanda’s anxious face for a second then rolled his eyes and walked over to the window. It was just his luck to take the time and the care to hook up with a lesbian so there would never be any question about where his heart was when the truth hit the fan and then to have said lesbian fall in love with his wife. Could this situation get any more bizarre? First, the puppy dog on Blair’s heels then an Aussie cutthroat after his business and his wife and now Amanda looking for a way to get next to Blair. He studied the skyline. None of that really mattered though. Did Blair really think he would come back and stay away from her? That was not going to happen. And she obviously needed to learn that the hard way. “Do you think Dr. Hotpants suspected your true inclinations?” “Not a chance. His eyeballs were locked on my cleavage too long to notice much of anything else about me. But then what’s there to see?” He turned toward her slowly. “The way you look at Blair maybe.” Amanda glared at him but he ignored her. “Okay, here’s what I want you to do. First, call Blair and see if it’s all right if Jack and Starr stay over tonight. Since Jack is already here she may be willing to let Starr come too. If so, tell her I will pick Starr up from school.” “And…” “Call Blair first.” For once Amanda did as she was told. He turned back toward the skyline and only half listened to her side of the conversation until he heard the connection break. “Well,” he called without turning around. “It’s a go. Starr has a play date with Susie though. So you can pick her up there at six.” “Good.” He turned around. “I’ll pick up Starr at Susie’s and you stay here with Jack. I’ll call in Susanne to stay overnight and be here for them just in case.” “Then what? In case of what?” “Dr. Hotpants has a class tonight. Meet him afterwards. You know what to do. I need to know how serious this is. Give him plenty T&A. Don’t give him a chance to think. Find out what he’s really doing here and his plans for Blair.” “Consider that done. Now, why do I have a feeling there’s more?” “I want you to go to the club tonight and check out the puppy dog. Buy him some drinks. Get into his head. Find out what he thinks about Blair.” “I told you that Bambi is not the problem.” “I don’t want to take any chances.” “Are you sure he’s working tonight?” “I’m sure.” Amanda bounced up then made an exaggerated gesture of saluting him. “Yes, Sir. Any other orders, Sir?” “We’re on the ten yard line and it’s fourth and goal, Amanda.” She relaxed her pose and narrowed her eyes. “Cut the sports metaphors. I hate football. I may be a lesbian but I don’t like manly things.” “Well, that seems to go without saying or how else could we have stayed together as long as we have with nothing happening?” Amanda puffed out her lips then made an elaborate gesture of wetting them with her tongue. He stared at her then winked like Popeye on steroids. She burst out laughing. “Somehow I suspect it wouldn’t have mattered whether I wanted you or not.” He shot her a crooked smile. He did enjoy her most of the time. A good traveling companion but he wasn’t interested in traveling. He wanted to go home. “So what are you going to do tonight while I’m out checking out the competition?” “I have my plans.” For a second she frowned. She narrowed her eyes again. “You be careful. Don’t blow our chances with Blair.”
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