Determined (Determined Trilogy Book 1) (2 page)

Jenna continued. “Michael and I go way back, we went to the same summer art camp every year when we were little. Needless to say, he’s done much more with the experience than I ever did.” She grinned and continued. “Congratulations on the show; it’s really great.”

“Thank you.” My eyes darted back to David. David, of course. What an appropriate name. Jenna didn’t seem to notice me ogling her date and continued.

“Samantha, would you like us to take you home? We have a car. If you aren’t feeling well, it might be for the best.”

I glanced over at Eve. She nodded. “I think that is a good idea, no sense in staying out if you aren’t feeling well. I can tell Curtis. He’ll miss you, but he’ll understand. I’ll get your purse.” And with that, she disappeared back into the gallery.

Well, now I’d done it. Now I was going to miss not just the opening party, but also more time with David. I started to mouth an objection, but he cut in.

“Of course we will take you home. It’s the least we can do. Let me call the driver.”

Call the driver? Who says that? Certainly no one I normally associated with. I considered my best friend Carrie lucky to have a beat up old Volvo. David whipped out a sleek dark cell phone and hit a button.

“Thomas, we are ready to go.” He then hung up without saying goodbye and put the phone back in his pocket.
All business
, I mused. Maybe that warmth I felt earlier was a fluke. Michael popped out of the gallery at that point and darted over to check on things.

“Hey, I didn’t know you guys knew each other. Is everything okay?” he said, directing the question to Jenna.

“Hey, Michael. We just met actually. I am the terrorist responsible for that lovely stain on Samantha’s dress. We are going to need to take off now, though, Samantha isn’t feeling too well, and we are going to take her home.”

“Oh bummer, sorry to hear that, Sam. We will miss you. Thanks for taking care of her, Jenna.”

Eve re-emerged from the crowded gallery with my brown leather shoulder bag. She handed it to me smugly.

Before I could say anything, a large, dark SUV pulled up to the curb. A man got out of the driver’s side and opened the rear passenger door. David helped me to my feet. I glanced up at him. Our eyes met. A shiver ran through me. He gently eased me into a soft leather seat, and I relished his touch before he went around the car and took the seat next to mine.

“Tell Curtis I’m sorry I couldn’t say good-bye. I will see you both tomorrow?” I pled with Eve. Curtis was hosting his annual Autumn Soiree the next night, and we had both planned on going. She nodded, smirking, as if she was privy to an inside joke. My stomach somersaulted, and she shut the car door.

David turned in his seat to face me, the heft of his body directing all his energy toward me. I felt electricity charge between us. “So where to, Ms. Sharp?” he asked, his voice smooth and masculine.

“It’s not too far. I live just up at Alcatraz and College,” I managed to say. I was still in a bit of a fog, and my voice sounded like a squeak to me.

“Alcatraz and College, Thomas,” he told the driver. Then he stretched his arm along the back of my seat, almost possessively, but without touching me. The closeness drove me crazy. He was quiet as the SUV pulled out into traffic, and the lights of the evening started to glide by.

“Sam, can I call you Sam? Sam, I am so sorry about your dress.” I whipped my head around. Strawberr—I mean Jenna is in the back row. It was enough to bring me out of my fog. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

“What? Oh no, really, it’s okay. Just the cost of doing business,” I said, looking down at my beloved, now soiled, dress. “Really. The ride home is more than enough.”

“Well, what if I take you out to eat? My treat! What about Sunday, brunch at the Palace Hotel? Gives you a day to re-coup!” Her eyes gleamed. She really was very excited about the prospect of brunch. I understood—the proposition of champagne and hollandaise sauce could do that to a girl.

“I wish I could, but I have plans.” Carrie and I often got brunch on Sundays, and we did, in fact, have plans for this weekend.

“Oh bummer. Well some other time, you aren’t getting off the hook ...” she trailed off. She looked genuinely disappointed.

I started to realize that we were getting close to my place and that my time with Mr. Gorgeous was limited. I decided we needed to keep talking.

“We should get together some time, though, just to hang out. Let me give you my cell.” She handed me her phone, and I pulled up the address book and punched in my contact information. I felt a pang of guilt, knowing full well that what I really wanted was to spend more time with David. But I was willing to tolerate his girlfriend if that was what got me there.
I am a horrible person
, I thought.

We approached the intersection by my place. David looked at me, and seemed to indicate that I direct the driver. “Just take a right and then it’s the third house on the right.” The man followed the instructions, and then expertly pulled up alongside the curb in front of the third house.

From outside, the picture perfect craftsman-style home glowed from within and looked warm and inviting. But I didn’t live there. I lived in a studio behind the main house. The property owners were an older couple named Clark and Leslie who had spent years meticulously restoring the main house. They originally built the studio in back to generate rental income for the restoration, since period restoration can be an expensive hobby. The studio was small, tiny really, but that kept it affordable—and that is what made it work for me. Plus, Clark was an excellent cook, and they were always foisting containers filled with delectable treats on me. It was a pretty sweet arrangement.

I turned back to Jenna. It was time for me to go.

“It was good to meet you, Sam. I’ll give you a call next week, and we can hang out. And I promise not to spill anything on you this time!”

“Good to meet you, too. Talk to you soon. Give my best to Michael.”

While we said our good-byes, David got out of the car and whipped around to my side and opened the door.

“I am going to walk Samantha in,” he informed Jenna. He offered his hand, which I took, and the electrical pulse quickened my heartbeat as he led me up the walk. Sa-man-tha. Just hearing him say my name stirred something deep inside me. I was thankful for the darkness of night, because I felt myself heating up and turning beet red from head to toe. Jenna must have been very confident in their relationship, to be okay with him walking me to the door. It seemed a little odd to me; if I was his girlfriend, there would be a strict hands-off policy for all other ladies.

I paused about halfway up the walk. “I actually live around back, in the studio,” I said, indicating the little trellis off to the side that covered the walkway to the backyard. He nodded and pressed his hand to the small of my back, allowing me to lead the way.

Little twinkling garden lights lined the pathway to the back studio so that you didn’t lose your footing on the stone path. The air was cool and heavy with the scent of fall leaves. I took a deep breath and drank it in, hoping it would calm my racing heartbeat. We approached the little studio in silence. I unlocked the front door and flicked on a small light, flooding the doorway with a gentle amber glow.

“Well, this is me, thank you for taking me home and walking me in,” I paused for a beat, “David.” I silently wondered if saying his name aloud had the same power over him as it did with me.

“My pleasure, Samantha.” He reached down and picked up my hand. He closed my palm in on itself and wrapped his hands around it. He was about only six inches taller than me, but his hands totally eclipsed mine, rendering them small and fragile. He looked into my eyes and lightly dusted my knuckles with his lips. My breath hitched. “Are you sure you are feeling better?” he asked skeptically.

“Yes, honestly, I am feeling much better” It wasn’t a lie. I felt amazing. My body was acclimating to the mix of alcohol and pheromones. I felt energized. Awake. Blood and hedonism coursed through my body. Then a thought flittered across my mind. What if I
were
sick? If I were sick, would he stay?

“Do you live here alone?” He glanced around the dark interior of the studio with suspicion written all over his brow.

“Yes.”

“Is it safe?”

“Well, yes, except for the burglars and gangs.” His eyebrows furrowed further.
He wasn’t amused.
“I’m kidding, it’s fine. I’ve lived here for three years. My landlords live in the house and look out for me.”

His eyes became cloudy and he looked above me, distracted. What was that look, I wondered. Then I realized ... he must have been thinking about Jenna. I was keeping him. Duh. Why did I ever think someone like him would be interested in someone like me? And she was only a few steps away in the car. “You can go. I’ll be fine.” I shifted in place, his hands still enveloping mine.

He paused for a few beats and then spoke. “Very well.” Was that resignation in his voice? His eyes refocused on mine. I cringed.
Don’t go
. “It was a pleasure, Ms. Sharp,” he repeated. Was that a flutter of disappointment across his face? I didn’t want him to leave.
Stay.
I wanted to kiss him, but I could barely breathe. “Perhaps we will meet again soon, I hope?” His eyes blazed, but his mouth was a flat, emotionless line.

“I hope so.”

And then he was gone, lost in the darkness.

2

I woke up slowly. Sun poured through the back window of my studio, and I turned over, trying to avoid waking up. I heard the mourning doves coo, a natural alarm clock, and glanced over at the bedside table. It was still early. I must have fallen asleep shortly after getting home last night. I picked up my phone and sat up in bed, re-adjusting myself against the pillows. So many text messages. I must have left my phone on silent. There was a message from my best friend Carrie, asking how the show went. And there were several messages from Eve and Curtis, concentrating around the events from the previous night. Of course. I read Eve’s messages first.

Hey did you get home ok?

Hey are you there?

U better be at home and asleep. I am worried.

Text me in the morning so I know you are ok!

I didn’t want her to worry. I texted her back quickly:

Hey Eve, got home fine. Fell asleep right away, sorry to worry you. We can talk later!
:-) :- ) :-)

Extra smiley faces always helped. Done. Now on to Curtis. I scrolled over.

Hey Sam sorry to hear you don’t feel well. Feel better.

Sam - Michael just told me you went home with DAVID KEITH? Wha? CALL ME.

PS: Leah sold out!

Whoa. I sat up straight in bed. Sold out? That was great. I was so excited. But I could barely revel in the moment. David Keith. Last night came flooding back to me. Gorgeous, handsome David. A crushing feeling of lust washed over me just thinking about him. There was heaviness in my belly, something deep and dull, like a hangover. Keith. I felt like I knew that name for some reason, but I couldn’t place it. Why was Curtis freaking out? He must have known David through Michael, and he must’ve not known about Jenna. It was too early to call, so I texted Curtis back.

Awesome about Leah! So excited. Feeling much better. What about David? Do you know him?

I waited. He didn’t text back. I figured he must have been out late last night celebrating. Good for him; he deserved it. I smiled. I guess the mystery of David Keith would just have to wait.

I swung my feet over the edge of my bed to the floor and reluctantly pulled myself up. I pattered over the cool, polished concrete floor to my kitchenette. Looking through the cupboards, I came upon something horrible.
Out of coffee
. I sighed and looked around. Well, it was early and a beautiful day.

I pulled on some dark jeans and a big chunky sweater. Popping into my postage-stamp sized bathroom I grabbed my toothbrush and made quick work of my cottony mouth. The cool sensation felt glorious as I rinsed away the residue from the night before. I applied some pink lip gloss and attempted to remedy my hair. It was wild, unruly, and a bit matted from the night before. I resigned myself to a ballerina-style top-knot and headed out the door, grabbing my purse and phone along the way.

The damp morning air felt good on my neck as I wandered down the stone path to the street. I turned left once I reached the sidewalk and headed toward College Avenue. The city was just beginning to wake up, and the fog had almost completely burnt off. Rockridge was a district of Oakland that catered to the DINK (Dual Income No Kids) and young family demographic. It was a cute neighborhood; a stone’s throw from UC Berkeley and California College of the Arts, and was lined with small ‘mom and pop’ stores and restaurants. Early this morning, most of the folks on the street were parents with small children and couples dressed in sporty outfits. I popped into a little French bakery that had gorgeous golden delights heaped in the window. The line inside was long, but it moved quickly as it satiated the neighborhoods craving for buttery croissants and cinnamon sugar morning buns. I exchanged a few bills for an almond croissant and a paper cup of coffee and took a seat on the bench outside next to an older man and his dog.

As I sipped on my coffee, my thoughts naturally turned back to the night before. I just couldn’t shake David from my mind ... the way he looked at me in the moonlight the night before. There was something quiet and almost ... primal ... about it. Like he wanted to possess me.
No, no
I told myself. It had to have been the wine and my imagination. Jenna was in the car. He went home
with her.
My stomach filled with butterflies, the crushing feeling of lust not unfamiliar to me. But this felt different. Heightened. His body had communicated with mine in a silent, instinctual way. I would’ve given my left leg for more of that feeling right now. My imagination started to take over. What would I do if he just showed up right now and asked me to run away with him? Would I go? Give up my career, my family, the life I’ve spent so long creating? I shook my upper body, as if to snap myself out of the thought.
You don’t even know anything about him, Sam
.