“Sounds as if you’re hungry,” she said. She began piling food on a plate and set it on the breakfast bar in front of Jennifer, and she lost all her resolve. A few extra minutes in the house couldn’t possibly hurt, and she didn’t believe in wasting food, so she may as well eat. Then she could do the walk of shame from the home.
“Thank you,” she said and dug into the plate as if she hadn’t eaten in months, versus the night before. “This is so good,” she mumbled in between bites. The woman must have added some special spices because it wasn’t ordinary potatoes and eggs. The bacon was thick and crisp, just the way she liked and the biscuits practically melted in her mouth. Before she knew it, her plate was empty and she was groaning with an overfull belly.
“I’m being so rude. My name is Jennifer and thank you so much for the food, it was spectacular,” Jennifer finally said.
“You haven’t been rude at all. I’m Sandy, and it’s very nice to have someone enjoy my cooking. I tire of skinny little girls barely picking at what I prepare,” the woman said. Jennifer knew she wasn’t a typical female. She didn’t care if she put on an extra pound or two once in a while because she worked hard and exercised often and she knew it would fade eventually. She refused to become a typical size zero, socialite.
“Well, it was delicious and I only wish I could stuff some more in, but then none of it would stay down,” Jennifer told her with a laugh. “Can you direct me to a phone, please?”
“There’s one in the den, which is the first door on your left,” Sandy told her.
“Thank you, it was great to meet you, Sandy, you’re an exceptional cook,” Jennifer told her before she headed toward the den. She had no idea Trenton was around the corner and heard the whole conversation.
“What do you need a phone for?” he asked, causing her to drop the phone and nearly jump a mile in the air. Her heart was pounding as she turned to glare at him.
“I’m calling a cab,” she finally said and turned to the phone again and began dialing information. She was outraged when Trenton grabbed the phone from her hand and hung it back up. “What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped.
“You don’t need a cab. I told you last night I’d take you back out to the ranch for your car,” he told her.
“I don’t wish to ride with you, so if you’ll kindly hand me back the phone, I’ll arrange my own transportation,” she told him in her most haughty voice.
“You’ll ride with me. Now, quit acting as if you’re some kind of victim. You gave as good as you got and I don’t recall you telling me no last night,” he snapped.
“I’m not acting like a victim, but I need to be very clear when I say it was a one-time thing. I have zero desire of hooking up with my boss or jumping on your lap every time you crook your finger,” she snapped back.
They both glared at each other, standing mere inches apart, both fighting anger, passion, and a need to grab the other.
“I can get sex any time I want. I don’t need to chase some woman who obviously plays hard to get. So don’t worry about me jumping you at the offices,” he finally snapped. Jennifer felt like she’d been slapped across the face.
She knew he was a sexy male. Most women would be proud to be on his arm, but she wasn’t most women. She decided to ignore his statement. She didn’t like the tightening in her gut at the thought of him with another woman right after he’d been with her.
“I’m done with this conversation,” she said and then turned to stomp out of the room. She figured hell with the phone call - she’d walk to the nearest pay phone. It wasn’t worth standing with him and fighting her own emotions, too.
She heard him give a strangled sound about one second before she felt his hand grab her arm. He spun her around, slamming her body into his. He was breathing heavily and his eyes were shooting daggers at her.
“You’re such a frustrating woman. You don’t care how much it hurts you, as long as you get the last word in, you’ll jump from a cliff, just so the other person doesn’t have a chance to reply. You’ll learn quickly I’m not an ordinary guy, and I don’t take orders well, plus I really love a challenge,” he said, his lips only half an inch from her own.
She could feel the heat of his body and that half inch may as well have been a mile. She wanted him beyond anything. She was shaking with need and by the triumph in his eyes he could tell exactly how she felt.
The triumph quickly faded, though, and he closed the gap, giving them both what they wanted. His lips were not slow and seductive, they were urgent and filled with need. She responded with a passion that would’ve shocked her if she could think straight.
Trenton released her just as quickly as he’d grabbed her and took several steps back. They were both breathing heavily as they stared at each other across the room. Neither of them was willing to back down.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to your car,” he finally said, then grabbed her arm and led her to the garage. Jennifer thought about fighting him, but decided not to. His expression was a bit frightening and she wasn’t willing to provoke him any further than she already had.
The ride out to the ranch was silent. It took all of Jennifer’s will-power but she refused to look over at the man who invaded her thoughts as much as he invaded her space during the week. She didn’t know how she’d continue working for him, but she couldn’t let go of the job.
They arrived at the ranch and she jumped from the car quickly and watched as Trenton drove away, spitting gravel in an immature peel out. She watched him leave and sighed to herself. She knew she was lying to herself by denying her attraction to him, but she couldn’t accept she’d want him. She didn’t want any man, but especially him.
He was far too confident, good-looking, and arrogant for her taste. She preferred men who were kind, loving, and understanding. She certainly didn’t want to be with someone who would grab her and kiss her breathless without her permission. She’d just need to remind herself of that fact over and over again.
She headed up the stairs and could hear the kids before she even knocked on the door. She smiled to herself, happy her niece had found some joy in life once again. She knocked on the door and waited for it to be answered.
The next month at work flew by for Jennifer. She made sure she was never alone with Trenton for any length of time. She felt his eyes on her constantly and it was crumbling her wall of defenses, which she was so proud of having built up.
She was making new friends, making her realize she could deal with the tension between her and Trenton. She didn’t want to give up her job. There were a couple of single parents who worked there, who’d been invaluable in giving her tips and ideas. She’d been thrust into parenthood, and though she wasn’t complaining, she knew she had a lot to learn.
“Hey, Jennifer, a bunch of us our heading to a club tonight. Want to come with us?” one of her new friends, Tracy, asked.
“That sounds perfect. Molly’s spending the night with a friend so I have the night free. Where do you want to meet?”
“We’re going to the new club over on Second Street. Dress extra sluty,” Tracy said with a laugh. Jennifer blushed and Tracy gave a large wink before she left, laughing the entire way.