Unexpected Chances (10 page)

Taking control, I did what I thought I needed to do. I might have been wrong, and it was probably too soon, but I don’t care. She’s perched on the back of the bike and as soon as I bring the engine to life, she’ll be wrapped around me once again.

I could spend a year riding around with her behind me. Tabitha is full of life and spunk, something I’ve been missing out on my entire life. She’s what I need in my life. I need her fiery spirit and most of all I need her love.

We haven’t said a word since the kiss, just enjoying the ride back to her place. Even though, she won’t ask me up, I plan to make her think of me after I ride off.

Kicking down the kick stand to make sure we’re stable, Tabitha releases her arms from my waist and I feel her start to slide off from behind me. I don’t want to lose this brief connection between us, so I reach back and place my hand onto her knee.

“Wait,” and I feel her straighten herself backup. Looking up at the night’s sky, I take a deep breath in and out before I continue.

“Tabitha, I’m sorry if you felt uncomfortable with that kiss, but I’m not sorry for doing it. I plan to kiss you again before the nights over, but I need you to know something first,” Stopping to let it all sink in before I carry on.

“Carter,” she says so low, that I’m not even sure she said my name.

“No. I need to tell you this,” I say, while I start rubbing her knee. I can’t look into her eyes when I say this, but I need her to feel a connection that I know we have. “My life is total shit and complicated. Somehow you weaseled your way into it and I’m not letting you walk away. Not now or ever. I’ll fix what I have to fix. I need you to keep an open mind, and stop shutting down. I’d really like to see where we can go from here if you give me a chance.”

Sitting still, Tabitha starts to move behind me and I don’t stop her from jumping off the back. I said what I needed to say, now I have to wait and see if she will respond.

I’ve figured out that you don’t push her.

“Carter, I don’t know what to say to all this. I’ve built a fort around my feelings and heart. You can’t expect me to break them down for you. I don’t work that way and I don’t believe in true love or that everyone has a soul mate waiting for them in this world. What I do know is this; yes, I am attracted to you and feel something. What that something is, I don’t know. Can I try? We will have to wait and see where it goes from here.”

I listen as I stand and move over towards her.

When she’s done, I reach out and take her face into my hands, “I’ll show you that you can trust me. I will figure out a way to knock your walls down and for us to figure this out. I’m going to kiss you goodnight and leave.”

I lean down to her wide-eyed face and gently place a kiss on her lips. I’m not forceful like I was in the parking lot, no, this time it’s slow and steady. Not rushing this moment, I memorize how her mouth feels pressed against mine. I have to take something back home with me tomorrow to remember this moment.

Breaking our connection, I lean into her and say, “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Is the only response she gives me, trying to not show me that she’s breathless.

Turning, I jump back onto the bike and crank the engine up. I watch as she saunters back to her door. I stay put until I know she’s safe and sound in the comfort of her apartment.

Tabitha

What other way than to take your mind off your problems? Head to your best friend who has even a bigger problem than you do.

Throwing an overnight bag together, I lock up and head back out to check on my friend. She dropped a huge bomb on me this morning, and I know she’s freaking out.

Angela was by my side the whole time I tried to recover from what Richard did to me. Ever since then, she knows I don’t agree with adultery or even the thought of it.

I can’t say I don’t blame her, and maybe it just means that I’m over the past. I hate being on the sidelines, watching her marriage fail and there’s not a thing I can do about it. I tried in the beginning to talk her out of it, but she thought she was in love. Having to stand next to your sister from another mother and watch her make the biggest mistake of her life, it was torture.

Straight up bitch was what I turned into during the whole wedding.

“Can’t you support me on this, Tabitha?” Angela asks, in her bridal suite

“I’m trying, but you can’t see past him to notice it. He’s going to crush you in the end, and I’m not going to watch that happen.”

“Can we just not fight about this today; it’s my wedding day.”

“I can promise to not fight with you but him no. If the douchebag hurts you, I’ll kill him.”

I think back to that day and now.

How some things have changed and then some haven’t. We are still the same in some ways, just a little older than we were then. Angela’s husband is still a douche, and I’d pay money to watch him fall.

But, of course, not take her down with him.

I’ll stay the night with her to occupy my mind, once I focus on her I don’t have to think about my problems. Being the person I am, I’ve learned how to switch my feelings on and off.

Angela can’t know about Carter. This would open things up for a month-long lecture, and I don’t need to hear it. I have a plan to ignore him and move on. My focus is back on me and where I plan to go in the future. Not a man who has slipped into my dreams.

Barging into Angela’s apartment, I make myself comfortable. She knows I’m a force to be reckoned with.

Listening to her all night and seeing the gleam of happiness in her eyes, I realize I haven’t seen that in her for years. She’s found her one true soul mate.

“Could it be possible?” I ask myself, as I listen to her whilst daydreaming of Carter and his blue eyes.

“Are you listening or just that tired?”

“Sorry, yeah I’m a little tired I guess. Plus, you’ve thrown a ton of shit at me tonight.”

“No I’ve only thrown one thing at you and shocked you with another,” Angela states, as she gets up and starts turning everything off for the night.

“Maybe a little warning or something would have been nice,” I state

“Okay, next time I decide to jump into bed with someone, I’ll send out an emergency text to you. Does that work?”

“No we need a code. Like a quick text with numbers. That could be our code from here on out.”

“There is no here on out lady, so cool it. It was once, and I’ll come clean and we’ll work through it.”

“No we still need a code. I’ll come up with it tomorrow.”

“What you will come up with tomorrow is a new schedule for yourself. I’m serious about making you partner. I should have done this years ago. You’re ready and you need something to keep you out of trouble.”

“I don’t find trouble,” I pout, crossing my arms over my chest.

“You do and I have the perfect account for you to start with. Let me set it all up and I’ll fill you in this week on it,” she happily states, as she climbs into bed, leaving me wondering if she’s lost all her marbles.

“I still haven’t accepted, you know.”

“I know, but you will. You owe me.”

“Owe you for what?”

“The name. Simple as that, I took your crazy name from that pot and told you that one day you would owe me. Well, I’m cashing in now.”

Taking the pillow from under my head, I toss it over me and smack her with it. “Ugh… You will never let me live that down, will you?”

“You do this, then we are even.”

“I’ll think about it,” I say, as I turn over onto my side, trying to go to sleep but with everything today my mind is racing a mile a minute.

****

Carter

Sleep never came last night. All I could do was picture the look on Tabitha’s face and the taste of her lips.

Dragging today, I somehow managed to catch my flight in time and get to the office. Kelly hands me all the messages she took while I was away and I notice the last one’s from Angela Stephens.

Curious to why she was calling, I head off to my office and dial her number.

“Angela Stephens speaking,” she says, as she answers her phone.

“Angela, Carter Northwood here. I had a message to call you as soon as I got in.”

“Yes, thank you for calling me back today. I’ve had a few things come up and would like to talk to you about Tabitha Michaelson taking over your account. I’ve just recently promoted her, and she kindly accepted this offer.”

I prop my feet up onto my desk and lean back with a smile spread across my face, “Why I’m sure it will be okay. I’ll let the board know the change of contact. How do we move forward with this now?” I ask, trying to mask my happiness with the changes.

“It should be a smooth transition. Tabitha’s been with me from the start and it shouldn’t take her long to jump right in. If you’re sure with everything I can go ahead and hand over the files. I have another account that we’re working on as well that I just arrived back from. I can always switch and have her take that over instead. Our main concern is that you feel comfortable working with another person.”

“I don’t see any reason for it not to be okay. I’ll let you know by the end of the day,” I say, as we close our conversation.

Sitting back, I wonder how this will evolve our relationship, well the one that I’d like to see form.

“Kelly can you come in here?” I call out from my desk.

“Yes, Mr. Northwood?”

“Could you order some flowers and have them sent to Ms. Tabitha Michaelson at SHI? Have the card read; looking forward to working with you.”

Kelly looks at me a little strange before answering, “Yes, right away.”

Pretty sure this will burst her little bubble. I wonder if Tabitha agreed to this willing or does she have a clue yet about the new working arrangements.

The day has dragged along, the last time I checked I had another two hours before it was time to head home. Kelly has reminded me of a dinner tonight that I’m trying to forget about.

Just when I go to pinch the bridge of my nose, I hear some commotion coming from the door.

“Carter, why are you still here and not getting ready?” Bethany sings out in her harsh tone.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Northwood. I tried to tell her you were busy,” Kelly’s saying as she trails behind her.

“It’s fine, Kelly. I know how she doesn’t listen,” I spit out, in Bethany’s direction as I notice her making herself comfortable in the chair located before my desk.

“Oh, Carter no reason to stop me from entering my husband’s office. Plus we have business to speak about.”

Standing I head over to close the door to my office, “Last time I checked you had to live together to be a unit of matrimony. Pretty sure that’s never been the case, and I dang sure haven’t sealed the deal with you over the years.” My voice is laced with pure venom for this woman.

Sitting back behind my desk, I take Bethany in.

It only makes me chastise myself even more for being involved with her in the first place. How did I ever at any point have feelings for this cold hearted person sitting in front of me?

“Bethany, why are you here? You never come to my office.”

“I was concerned with your whereabouts the last few days.”

“The hell you were, cut the crap and get to it. I have work to do.”

“See, Carter I need to know how much longer you plan to hold on to this crazy notion that I will grant you a divorce. I’m here to tell you that you need to call off the lawyers. It’s not happening today or anytime soon. You need to remember that the day you signed, you signed your life over to us.”

Just as she’s getting started, my cellphone rings. My blood is boiling until I see her name on the screen.

I don’t inform Bethany to shut up, I hit the answer button and turn around in my chair. “Carter speaking.”

“How dare you go behind my back and work your way into making me work with you,” Tabitha screams, on the other end at me. Hearing her voice all high pitched and full of anger, it excites me. I just wish she was standing in front of me. I’d know how to shut her up real quick.

“Ms. Michaelson, I’m sorry I’m in the middle of a meeting right now and will have to call you back in regards to the contract.”

“Bull shit you’re in a meeting. I know what you are doing and it’s not going to work.” Is the last thing I hear before the blank tone running through the phone? I look down at the screen, noticing she’s hung up.

“Carter, I’m a busy person who doesn’t have time for this madness you are trying to create. Daddy would like us to fix this, and move on. I’ll have my assistant move my things to your apartment by the end of the week.

I fling myself out of my chair, slamming my hands down onto my desk. “The hell you will!” I growl at Bethany.

“Why you can’t expect me to keep living on my own, can you?”

“Yes. You will stay in that place that not only did I build, but I pay for as well. You… Will... Not... step a foot into my place. Do you understand me? You can have everything, if that’s what you think you are entitled to, but you are not having my name for another day.” 

Bethany stands up, tossing her coat over her arm, “We will see about that, Carter. I’m sure daddy will be in touch soon. Oh and since I see that you are worked up, why don’t you skip tonight. No reason to cause worry amongst the press.”

Mentally I throw daggers in to her back as she walks out of my office, slamming the door in her wake.

It’s time I have a talk in person with Richard, my lawyer. I need to pull out all the stops and do it fast.

Bethany could cause me to lose everything, and not just my business.

I could lose what I’m building with Tabitha as well.

I should call her back, but I can’t let on the stress that’s aroused today.