Liliana Rhodes [His Every Whim 03] His Simple Wish (ang )

His Simple Wish (His Every Whim, Part 3) by Liliana Rhodes

Chapter One Samantha Of all the places, why did he have to be here? This damn town is too small! Had I known Drake Winslow was going to be at the Boone wedding, I would have passed on it. I didn't care how important this event was or the affect it could have on my catering business, I would pay to not be in the same room as that man. Drake was dressed in a black tux, his dirty blond hair slicked back with an offset part. As he spun the bride in her pretty white chiffon dress on the dance floor, I felt a twinge of jealousy that pissed me off even more. "You didn't tell me he'd be here," I whispered harshly to Jackie as I walked past her with a cart filled with desserts for the last course. "Who? Do you know someone here?" Jackie, the maid of honor, wore a light blue sheath dress and her brown hair hung in cascading curls past her shoulders. She walked beside me as I trekked past cascading blue and purple flowers that decorated the Boone Art Gallery, and towards the dessert table. Somehow Jackie's simple dress made me even more aware of my simple black slacks and pressed button shirt. As a caterer I felt it was important to blend into the background, but suddenly I wished I was wearing something nicer. If I knew Drake was going to be there, I would've made an effort to wear something more flattering. Instead I looked like a black blob as I set up dessert. I needed to hire more staff. Then I could dump this on someone else and hide in the back. Instead I nervously hoped he wouldn't recognize me or maybe he would just ignore me. Just this once, it's ok to ignore me.

3/53

"Don't tell me I never told you Drake Winslow. After all these years we've known each other, I'm sure I've told you about him." "Oh him! I had no idea he'd be here. Where is he?" "Dancing with the bride." I slid the cart next to the long empty white linen table and began to set up the desserts. The chocolate mousse was served in tall crystal goblets I lined up towards the back. Sugared berries decorated smaller bowls with a rich pot de creme. And lastly I arranged small plates with slices of vanilla bean cheesecake around a bowl of freshly made raspberry sauce. Ashley had insisted everything be as low key and simple as possible. She didn't even want a traditional wedding cake which took a lot of pressure off me since I had never done a wedding before. "Wow Sam, what a hottie! Tall, broad shoulders, dirty blonde hair...he looks even better than the photos I've seen of him. He looks like he stepped out of a fashion magazine or a–" "Movie. Yes, I know. And so does he," I snarked. "You never...you know...with him?" "Oh God no! Are you kidding?! I'm sure it was beneath him to mess around with the help. Besides I was just a kid. I've seen him a few times since then but I don't think he even noticed me. I'm not his type anyway. My friends were though and they'd go crazy over him. You wouldn't believe the stories I heard. Plus he's like ten years older than me, maybe more. Now that I'm twenty-eight it doesn't matter, but back then it was a big deal." "Speaking of stories, I read once that he practices that tantric sex stuff. He can last for hours!" She whispered as she giggled. "Who'd want that? You'd be walking funny for days." I laughed with her as I finished unloading one section of the cart onto the table then looked out at the dance floor. The bride, Ashley, was stunning. She was curvy with dark hair and almond shaped eyes. Add in those pouty lips of her and the fact that she was the sweetest person in the world, and I couldn't help but hate her. Ok, not really but I wanted to.

4/53

I covered my mouth to hide my grin. After hearing Jackie's story about how Ashley and Xander Boone met and fell in love, how could I not be a little catty? Jackie made it into a modern day fairy tale. Stuff like that didn't happen to me. As I watched Drake lead Ashley across the dance floor, I fought back the urge to scream. Didn't the groom know better? that man couldn't be trusted! I shook my head, answering myself and felt my long red braid shake against my back. "Well I think you like him. Maybe you should say hi. This place might be lucky for more than just Ashley." "Haven't you been listening?" I sighed, annoyed with her. "He's a jerk! An arrogant, egotistical ass. I can't stand him. The last thing I want to do is say hi to him." "Hmm I don't know. I think you're fooling yourself. There's something there." She waved to a couple at a table by some oil paintings. "Sorry, I have to go say hi. I'll talk to you later but I really think you should say hi to him." As Jackie walked away I caught a glimpse of the groom. He was handsome with tousled brown hair, a closely cropped beard and piercing iceblue eyes. With the beard and those eyes it was hard to focus on anything more to guess his age, but the little grey at his temples made me think he was in his forties. It seemed weird to me that he married Ashley. She was no different than me really except I had more junk in my trunk. I always thought if someone had all that money he'd go for the gorgeous, thin, model type. Wasn't that what all men wanted? Based on Drake's dating choices, the answer was a resounding yes. To my friends I jokingly called myself a knock-off. Yes I grew up in the mansion of one of the world's wealthiest families, but that didn't mean I was spoiled. We lived in rooms designed for "the help" which were old and simple. They paled in comparison to rest of the house. They didn't even compare to some of my friend's apartments. Living like that made me even more aware of the things I couldn't have and what my mom couldn't afford.

5/53

Mom was the live-in nanny for the Winslow children. Once they didn't need a nanny anymore, Mom became their live-in tutor. Every time they outgrew her, the Winslow family found something new for her to do. There were four Winslow children and Drake was the oldest. I always had the worst crush on him growing up. Drake was a selfish bastard and had been his entire life. When I thought back to how I used to follow him around like some stupid little kid, it killed me. I mean, I was a stupid little kid but I still thought I should've known better. He was seven years older than me, but that didn't mean he had to be such a jerk to me all the time. It wasn't my fault I had to grow up in that stupid mansion. I had to admit I was curious why I never popped up on his radar. When I thought of how many times I threw myself at him and he always just laughed, treated me like a child, or made fun of my freckles. I should have been happy I was never one of his conquests. As I finished arranging the pastries on the table, I hoped I could get the hell out of this place before he noticed me. If only I didn't have to do everything myself, I could hide in the break room instead of having to set up these desserts just a few feet away from where that jerk was dancing with the bride. "Excuse me, Sammy? Sammy Mayfair? I'm not sure if you remember me," Drake said as he stood behind me. I cringed at hearing that name. "Oh I remember you alright. Now if you don't mind I'm trying to work." I spun around and faced him ready to give him more attitude if he didn't go away, but there was something different about him. Suddenly I became that stupid girl crushing on him again and I smiled. Oh no you don't Sam! You will not be another notch! "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," he said. He reached behind me for a mini eclair and our hands briefly touched. A warm feeling spread from my hand through my entire body and it took everything I had in me to not melt into a puddle at his feet. Damn! What was it about that man?

6/53

"And one more thing, don't call me Sammy. It's Samantha, or Sam," I said with what little attitude I mustered up. Why was he talking to me anyway?

Chapter Two Drake "I'll call you whatever I want to call you," I grunted before walking back towards Ashley. I recognized the look in her green eyes. She might be as fiery as her hair, but I could tell when a woman wanted me. And she definitely wanted me. Most of them did anyway. Except for Ashley. Ashley was special, but she wasn't my type. Over the months she had been working for me we became close, like siblings. Because of that, I treated and acted differently with her than I would any other woman. My frame of mind was still clouded by her sweetness when I approached Samantha, that was my error and it wouldn't happen again. I always got what I wanted. Women were easy for me to get and always willing to do whatever I wanted. Was it my looks? My money? I really didn't care. I just knew none of them could ever be trusted. Everyone had motives. While I told Ashley I wanted to settle down, I never planned to do it. There was always another woman to conquer. Another body to explore and claim as my own. But while I danced with Ashley, something happened. I spotted Samantha with her red braid hanging down her back. With her hair back like that, her freckles became that much more apparent. I couldn't take my eyes off of her as she set up the dessert station. I imagined her hair loose, wild and soft, a place I would want to bury my face. She had a lush, thick body. Some people might call her big but after being with all kinds of women, I found I enjoyed the soft delectable body of a real woman most. Never had I been so drawn to a woman before. And never had I been unsure what to do, especially after her chilly reception. I felt torn just thinking about her. Part of me wanted to get to know her better, but another part of me only thought about what her soft body

8/53

would feel like pressed against me. I listened to Ashley, I went over and talked to her. Now it was time for me to take matters into my own hands. "Ashley, book Samantha ASAP. Make it an intimate affair at the museum. Fifty guests. Black tie." "It'll have to wait until I get back from my honeymoon. We leave for Tahiti tomorrow." "Fine. Just make it happen. The sooner the better." I left the reception annoyed yet intrigued. It had been a long time since a woman rejected me. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the chase, the thrill of the hunt. I didn't know why Samantha showed such hostility to me, but it didn't matter. I knew she just needed to witness a little of the old Drake Winslow charm. A little effort and she would be putty in my hands. As I drove towards my beach house, I realized my old habits were creeping back. What was I doing? I didn't want putty. I wanted a woman with her own mind and ideas. One who wasn't afraid to talk back to me. My days as a playboy were done, but old habits were hard to break. I could have persuaded Samantha myself, but I knew Ashley would do a much better job. I needed to remind myself what was important. Samantha could be the one woman worthy of my trust. Having grown up with her, I knew her. But did I? It had been well over ten years since I saw little, annoying Sammy Mayfair. It was hard to believe the beautiful woman setting up dessert was the same girl who pestered me endlessly. As I drove along the curving canyon road, I thought about my childhood. Samantha lived in the background. I didn't remember interacting with her much but that might have been our age difference. I hit a button on my steering wheel. "Dial Brent." "Drake? What a surprise! Been a long time." "Yes I know. You know I've never been good at keeping in touch. Listen, I called to pick your brain. Remember Sammy Mayfair?" "Samantha? Our nanny's daughter? Of course! You realize you're the only one who ever called her Sammy right? She always hated that."

9/53

"She did?" I thought for a moment but had no idea why I called her that if no one else did. "I'm sure I wasn't the only one." "Trust me, she did. And you were," he laughed. "I haven't seen her in a couple of years but what do you want to know?" "I don't know. I just ran into her and I realized I never really knew her." "I'm not surprised. You were always chasing tail or partying and she was much younger than you. Even I barely knew you back then. I think Amber might keep in touch with her. I think she told me she's catering." "That's how I ran into her. She did the Boone wedding. I'm not calling Amber about a girl. There are things I can't imagine talking to our little sister about, and that's one of them." "And there it is. I knew it." "What?" "I knew eventually you'd sleep with all the available women and would have to go after family." Brent laughed loudly. We enjoyed ribbing each other. "She's not family you ass. Besides you're just jealous. You've always wanted to be like me." "Sure, that's exactly why I avoided the movie business and chose to work protecting the environment." "Yes, yes. The do-gooder. A role you enjoy playing. Now back to Sammy, I mean Samantha..." "I've got nothing. She was always quiet and kept to herself. You're going to have to pump someone else for info on her." "Fine. You were no help at all," I joked. "Care to meet for dinner next week?" "Sure, but I won't have any more information then either." "By then I'll have everything I need." Hanging up the phone I knew I sounded more confident than I really was. For the first time in my life, I worried about not getting the girl.

Chapter Three Ashley Obviously I have heard all the stories about Drake, but I never saw him like this before. As I stood by the dance floor, I glanced over at Sam still setting up desserts. It probably wouldn't hurt to ask her about catering now, but I really wanted to get back to Xander. I shifted my eyes to the white clothed table I left him at, but he was gone. Scanning the room quickly I thought it was odd I couldn't find him. I knew he wasn't the social butterfly. "The break room. Now," he growled into my ear as he came up behind me. My entire body reacted to his voice. My nipples hardened from the scratch of his beard against my ear when he spoke. Without thinking, I turned and left the reception and walked down the long hallway towards the break room. The place where things between Xander and I really began. As I entered, I was surprised to find it empty. I walked further in and saw nothing had changed. I moved past the lockers and towards the bulletin board saw the only difference to the break room–the house manager position was gone. A faded square outline was the only thing left in its place. "It was rude of you to leave your own wedding." I giggled hearing Xander's menacing tone as I remembered a similar line not so long ago. His lips traveled down my neck towards the dress's thin spaghetti strap. "I know better than to not listen to you." I couldn't wipe the grin off my face as he laughed then slowly slid his hands down the thin, soft material of my dress that clung like a second skin to my body. I leaned my head back into his chest and sighed. "What's wrong? I know that sigh." He turned me around to face him and I looked up into his ice-blue eyes.

11/53

"It's nothing really." I paused hoping he would drop it and tried to look away from his probing gaze, but I could tell by his expression that wasn't happening. "It's my dad. He was supposed to be here to walk me down the aisle and I never heard from him. I can't help but think something's wrong. I even tried his cell but nothing, no answer. He doesn't always keep his phone on though so maybe I'm worrying for nothing. This isn't like him though." "Keep trying to reach him. I'm sure he's fine. We leave for Tahiti in the morning. Do you want to reschedule in case you haven't heard from him?" I slowly nodded. "I hope that's ok. I know I won't be able to enjoy myself if I'm worried about him." "It's fine my love. Whatever you need. I'd stop the world from spinning if you asked." He bent down and kissed me slowly. I felt every inch of my body awaken and react to him. I hoped that feeling would stay forever. "I love you Mr. Boone." "I love you more Mrs. Boone. Now lets get back out there. I haven't seen you eat a thing and you're beginning to look a little pale." "I'm actually not feeling that well. I think it's just all the worrying about my dad." "You should eat something. It might help you feel better." Holding hands we walked back into the reception. Xander brought me to a table and pulled the chair out for me to sit. I watched him cross the room to Samantha and say something to her before he started loading a plate with desserts. He returned to the table as Samantha started setting down plates of food in front of me. My stomach turned as I surveyed the food until I noticed the pot de creme. Nothing like chocolate to make a girl feel better.

Chapter Four Samantha Damn that Drake! I hadn't been able to concentrate on anything since he walked away two nights ago at the reception. I spent the days sitting on the couch, in my light blue cotton pajamas with a smiling sun pattern, watching tv when I should have been calling catering leads. There was no way I was getting any work done today. When I thought of him so close to me, our hands briefly touching, I felt that same warmth course through my body. It made my heart thump. I felt like a kid, he always affected me this way Even bigger for me was his voice. The courteous man who I barked at was just fine but not the Drake I knew. When he growled back at me I swear he could've had me that second on the dessert table. What was wrong with me?! As if my phone wanted to answer the question, it rang. I looked at the caller ID but didn't recognize the number. I thought about letting it go into voicemail, but a strange number most likely meant new business. I'd be stupid to totally waste another day. "Mayfair Catering, Samantha speaking." "Hi Sam, it's Ashley Boone." "Hi, how are you? Was there a problem at the reception? I thought you would've left for your honeymoon by now." "Yes, that was the plan but some personal things came up. In the meantime, we enjoyed your service so much I'd like to use you for an intimate affair at the museum." "The museum?" "Yes, I don't know if Jackie told you but I'm the curator at the Winslow Museum of Motion Pictures. We're planning a small black tie event and would love for you to cater." "No. Thank you for thinking about me, but no. I'll have to pass." "Why? You can't be booked, you didn't even ask when it is."

13/53

"Honestly I just don't want to see Drake. I'm sure he'll be there and frankly I'd rather pass if that's the case." "I'm sorry you feel that way." She paused for a moment as if she was thinking. "What if you didn't have to see him? Hire people to set up and serve. It's black tie but only heavy hors d'oeuvres." "I don't know Ashley..." "Sam, I know we don't know each other that well but you're starting a business. You can't afford to turn down a job yet. Trust me, I know the difference between doing a job I hate and having one I love. If catering is really what you love, you owe it to yourself to take this job. I don't know what you have against Drake, but he really is a nice guy." She had a point. I really could use the money. I could ask Jackie to manage everything so I wouldn't need to be there. I could deliver everything and get things prepped before Drake even showed up. No way would he be early, he needed to make an entrance. "I know, you're right. I'll do it. When is the party?" "This Wednesday." "In two days? Oh jeez, seriously?" I dropped the phone and fumbled with it as I put it back up to my ear. "I'll have to charge a bit more since its last minute and I need wait staff." "I'll double you're usual bill and I'll be there early on Wednesday to help you if you need anything." "Ok, thanks Ashley." "No, don't thank me. You should thank Drake. See you Wednesday!" I groaned as I hung up the phone. Drake. Again. At least I got a job out of it. I walked into my small kitchen and grabbed a pen and paper along with my favorite cookbook. I needed to come up with a menu. I imagined tuxedoed wait staff carrying trays of finger foods. The food had to be elegant though, no pigs in blankets for this crowd. As I put together the menu I realized I wouldn't be able to leave the party. This time I would be able to hire enough people so I could focus on the food, but I would have to stay. I couldn't leave finishing the food to someone

14/53

else. If I wanted my catering business to take off that meant I needed to suck it up and most likely see Drake. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but just the thought of seeing him again made my heart beat faster and the butterflies in my belly start flying. I needed to look better this time. After quickly dog-earring several recipes, I entered my bedroom and made the short walk to my closet, bumping my hip against the old dresser. "Dammit! Every time!" Eyeballing my clothes I knew I had nothing to wear. I needed something I could comfortably work in yet make that jerk regret what he'd never have. I pulled out a black knit skirt with the tags still on that I didn't remember buying. Size 18, that should fit. After pulling off my pajama pants, I stepped into the skirt and zipped up the back until the zipper suddenly stopped. "You've got to be kidding me," I muttered. I sucked in my stomach but no luck. The zipper wouldn't go all the way up. I turned towards the mirror and could see the fabric pulled tight across my hips. No way was I going to fit in that in two days. As I threw the skirt back into the closet it landed on a small pile of clothes towards the back. One day I'd have to go through my closet and organize it, but that wasn't today. Thinking there might be a lost gem in the pile, I pulled it towards me, lifting out different pieces of clothes. It seemed every article of clothing was a different size, which seemed about right. If one thing was for sure about my size it was that it was always changing. Just as I was ready to give up I found another black skirt in the pile. I checked the size and saw 22. I had to try it on. Holding my breath, I pulled the skirt on and the zipper went all the way up. I checked the mirror and thought it looked nice enough. It had a mermaid style bottom that fell just below my knee, giving me a flattering silhouette. I had to wear flats since I was working but I was so happy I found a skirt that fit, that it didn't bother me.

15/53

I wished I could wear my hair down. It was long and I always thought my face looked thinner when it framed my face, but I knew it would get in my way. I always wore my hair in a braid when I worked, but maybe not this time. Wait, what am I doing?? Am I actually trying to look nice for him? I thought back to that brief touch of his hand and felt warmth fill my insides. I simply couldn't help myself when it came to him.

Chapter Five Ashley As I arrived at the museum I happily noticed everything was coming together for Drake's black tie event. I had been so distracted, wondering what happened to my dad, that I didn't even pay attention to what I wore other than a pair of pants with a button top. This black tie party was a welcome diversion for me so I planned it right away. The tan marble floors gleamed and the glass on the display cases sparkled as I walked around the main exhibit space surrounded by movie memorabilia. Towards the back of the room I saw my assistant, Deborah Hansen. She had her chin length straight hair in a cute bob, her hair was so black it made her look almost unnaturally pale. She wore a pair of black wide-leg palazzo pants with a rust colored plunging v-neck silk blouse. She balanced the job at the museum while attending college which I had to admire. We were both in our twenties but she seemed more together, sometimes I wondered if it was an act. As I approached her, I thought about how tall I felt standing next to her, something I never felt with anyone else and which we had an ongoing joke about. "Hey shorty!" "Hi Ashley, how's the weather up there?" I couldn't help but laugh. "I see you're wearing another v-neck," I teased her. "Of course, I told you, if I put the girls on display then people won't notice how large the rest of me is." As we laughed, I couldn't help but admit to myself that I've done the same thing. "We have a busy day today. Do you have the red tablecloths?" "Yep, it's all set. Just waiting for the caterer who should be here any minute now." "Thanks Deborah." "Anytime. Are you alright? You're looking a little green."

17/53

"I'm fine, just worried about my dad. I have to focus on this party, then I'll feel better." I didn't know what Drake's intention for the party was, but I wouldn't allow this event to be less than perfect. I had to get my mind off my dad and I owed a lot to Drake. If making an event look like it was more than just a chance for him to spend a little time with a girl, then I'd do it. I felt bad having to lie to Sam about her not seeing him, but I had no choice. I knew he would figure out a way to spend time with her if that's what he wanted, regardless if she stayed the entire time or not. I booked her just like Drake asked, the rest was up to him to figure out. Walking past the entrance I noticed a small red SUV zoom by that I recognized as Samantha's car. I rushed to the back of the museum, to the receiving area to meet her there. She stepped out of the car wearing a black cotton skirt with a matching blouse. Her long red hair was gathered at the nape of her neck, letting her curls cascade down her back. I couldn't help but think she was dressed up more than usual, but she definitely looked pretty. "Good morning Sam! Let me know if you need anything." My cell phone started ringing and I saw it was my dad finally calling me back. "I'm sorry, I really have to take this." I entered the hall and answered the phone. "Dad? Is everything ok? Where have you been?" "I'm sorry Ash, I didn't want you to worry–" "Not worry? You missed my wedding and I haven't been able to get a hold of you! All I've been doing is worrying." "I'm sorry. You have no idea how sorry. I need you to listen, don't interrupt me while I explain. This is hard for me." He sighed while I anxiously waited for him to begin. "You know how I enjoy my long walks. I know you offered to fly me out there but you know how I love to drive. I wanted to get a walk in before hitting the road, so I went on a walk the morning I was driving to see you." "Yes Dad, did something happen? Are you ok?" "Please honey, let me finish." He breathed out heavily then began speaking again. "I don't know what happened but I was out, maybe a mile

18/53

from home and I collapsed. Right on the street. A stranger found me and called an ambulance." "What? Oh my goodness Dad!" "I'm ok, I was fine by the time the guy found me, just a little confused. At the hospital they discovered I had a mini stroke. But I'm ok, nothing bad happened." "You're ok?? You should've called me Dad! I would've been there right away." "I know but I didn't want to disrupt your wedding. I wanted you to have your wedding day and not be worried about your old man. And why are you even here? Shouldn't you be on your honeymoon?" "I was worried about you so we postponed it. I need to sit down, I'm feeling dizzy." I walked to the nearest bench that lined the hall and sat down. "I'm coming out there. I'll leave as soon as I can get a flight." "No, really Ash, I'm home and I'm fine. You have nothing to worry about. Go on your honeymoon and enjoy yourself." "Stop it Dad, I'm coming." "Ok, ok. I know better than to argue with you, you're as stubborn as I am." "Yes, I am. I'll see you tonight Dad. I love you." I hung up and immediately called Xander as I fought back tears. "Ashley? Is everything ok?" "My dad..." I choked out the words before the tears took over. "Is he ok? Did something happen?" "Mmm-hmm" I hoped he understood. The tears wouldn't stop long enough for me to form words. "Do you need to see him?" "Mmm-hmm" "Ok, I'll book you on the next flight out. I'm coming to get you now. Stay at the museum, you shouldn't be driving." Dazed by my dad's revelation, I stayed on the bench. I remembered when Xander's mother spoiled Hawaii by claiming she had a stroke, and thought about how cruel she was for manipulating Xander like that. My

19/53

father, in comparison, was so concerned about me that he didn't want to tell me when something bad happened to him. I had no idea how long I had been waiting or what was going on. My mind spun. The next thing I knew, Deborah rushed down the hall with Xander who looked like a giant beside her. "Are you ok Ash? I got you on a 3pm flight and brought the bags you had packed for our honeymoon." Hearing his voice snapped me out of my reverie and I immediately stood up and kissed him. "Deborah, can you take over? Call Drake if you need anything." "Of course Ashley. Go to your dad's, everything is taken care of here. Don't worry."

Chapter Six Drake The caller ID on my office phone said it was the museum. I answered it wondering if Samantha arrived already and knowing she would make it difficult for me to spend time with her. She was all I had on my mind since the wedding reception. "This is Drake." "Hi Mr. Winslow, this is Deborah Hansen. Ashley's assistant. Im sorry to bother you, but Ashley had to leave. The band arrived and I wasn't sure where to have them set up." "No problem Deborah. Is everything ok with Ashley?" "Yes, I hope so at least. She left to visit her dad." I nodded my head even though I knew she couldn't see me. I hoped everything with Ashley's father was ok. I knew what it was like to be far from family. "The band sets up on the gallery, above the main exhibit area. How's everything going? Is the caterer there yet?" "Samantha? Yes, she arrived a couple of hours ago and has some staff with her." "Ok great. I think I'll arrive early to make sure everything is ready for tonight." "Yes sir." As I got up from my office chair I noticed a new email arrived from the director of my latest film in production. Last I heard everything was running smoothly, so I ignored the message and headed out the door with my suit jacket and briefcase in one hand. When I arrived at the museum, I pulled in the back by receiving and saw a little red SUV. I knew it had to be Samantha's. I parked my car directly in the truck's way, knowing I trapped her car in. I carried my tuxedo into the museum and hung it in my private office, then I set out to find Samantha.

21/53

I didn't arrive early to check up on Deborah, I arrived early to check out Samantha. All I needed was a few moments alone with her and I was certain she couldn't say no to a date. I just needed time to work my charm. I found her in the kitchen sautéing garlic in olive oil. Her back was towards me but I easily noticed how different she looked. At the reception her hair was braided and her clothing were utilitarian, today she was trying to impress. Coming up behind her, I could see she was lost in thought and I didn't want to startle her but I wanted to be certain she knew I was there. I quietly breathed in the scent of her hair. Peaches, my favorite, then bent my head down, bringing my lips right by her ear. "I knew we'd see each other again, Samantha," I said lowly. She jumped and drop her wooden spoon then spun around to face me. "What is your problem? Who sneaks up on someone while they're cooking?!" I didn't bother to reply to her. I was too overtaken by her beauty. The shine of her red hair begged to be touched. Her bright green eyes told me to move closer. Her red lips pleaded for a kiss. My face was just above hers. I tilted my head slightly, ready to kiss her when I felt the sting of her hand against my cheek. "How dare you try to kiss me!" She screamed. As I turned away, she grabbed my arm, reached up towards my face and kissed me. I stepped back confused, my cheek still burning from the slap. I wanted to say something but words escaped me. I turned towards the door and headed to my office. It was almost time for the guests to arrive and I needed to change into my tux. Samantha confused and excited me at every turn. I couldn't figure her out though. What did she want? Maybe she wasn't worth my time but I still had one more trick up my sleeve.

Chapter Seven Samantha Peeking out from the back into the main room, I watched as the three waiters I hired for the night made their way around with their trays. The main exhibit room was a strange mix of memorabilia and tall bar tables each with a red tablecloth and a single votive candle. The lights were dim except for spotlights on various movie props and sets. Classical music drifted from the balcony above. Around fifty people mingled in their tuxedos and cocktail gowns as if they were completely unaware it was a Wednesday night and they had work in the morning. Or maybe they didn't. Maybe they had nannies to care for the kids, cooks to prepare their meals, and maids to clean their houses. I grew up as a have-not in a have world. These weren't people I understood. I simply didn't fit in. I really didn't care about what was happening at the party. I only looked out to get a glimpse of Drake. My clothes still smelled like him, like an ocean breeze, from when I kissed him. I kissed him. What was wrong with me? He was going to kiss me. I wanted him to kiss me. And what did I do? I slapped him. Then to make matters worse, I then decided to kiss him. No wonder he walked out. He was running from the crazy redhead. I couldn't blame him. I'd run from me too. But what a kiss! It didn't matter how brief it was, time stood still once my lips touched his. I finally spotted him in the crowd as he schmoozed his guests and couldn't remember what was my issue with him. It seemed suddenly childish to blame him for ignoring me in the past. When I thought about how awkward I was, it was probably for the best. He looked over in my direction and I quickly hid behind the door. Ugh talk about immature. I liked to think I was better than how I acted, but it definitely didn't seem like it.

23/53

Noticing the time, I decided to pack up. The waiters were doing great, they didn't need me. I certainly didn't need to stay for much longer. As I cleaned my knives I heard someone enter and assumed it was one of my wait staff. "After before, I don't think I feel safe with you holding knives." Drake had one hand in his pocket as he casually strolled into the kitchen. "By the way, you messed up earlier." My smile left my face. "Messed up? Was it the food? Did something happen?" I slid the knives into my bag as I ran through the evening worried I did something terrible. "No, the food was great. It's just most women slap me after the kiss, not before." "Well I'm not most women." "I know. I wouldn't be here if you were." He slid my bag further down the table. "Are you leaving already? I thought we could have a drink." "I'm sure people are looking for you. You're hosting a party remember?" "They like me, so they'll stay. You on the other hand had to be bribed to come here." I couldn't help but laugh. I found him charming and easily saw why women constantly fell for him, he seemed like the total package. But who was I kidding? Nothing would ever happen between us. He was beach-front property and I was hole-in-the-wall apartment. No way could he be interested in more than just sex...but was that so bad? "Ok, I'll have a drink with you." Without a word he left the kitchen. I continued to clean and pack my things, then stacked them near the door to be carried out to my car. Before he returned I found two stools and placed them by the cool aluminum prep table, thinking it would help keep the drinks stay chilled longer. When Drake returned he carried a bottle of white wine and two glasses. He loosened his bow tie and seemed to have a permanent smirk on his face which was sexy and mischievous at the same time. "I found a Pinot Grigio, I hope that's ok."

24/53

I shrugged not having a clue. I knew there were different varieties of wines, but they all went straight to my head. He leaned against one of the stools and poured a small amount of wine into each glass. "Try it. If you don't like it I'll get something else." I took a sip of the chilled wine. It was sweet but not overly sweet. The taste surprised me since normally I didn't care for wine. "It's good. It'll do." He raised his glass and we clinked. I worried he might make some lame toast but he didn't say a word. He took a sip of his wine, then filled our glasses some more. "I think you need to tell me why you hate me. Is it the Sammy thing? I didn't know you hated that." "You've been asking about me? I'm flattered. I think." I laughed and put down my glass which slid a bit on the aluminum table. "You think? You should be flattered. You know how many women..." He let his voice trail off. "Yes, many many women. I know. Too many. That's all women are to you–toys." "That's not true at all," he sighed. "You have no idea how hard it is for me." "Aww poor little rich boy," I teased then we both laughed. "Maybe I was like that a long time ago. Maybe it once mattered how many women I could bed, but not anymore." "I bet that line gets you a lot of girls. Not this one though." "What would get you? Is there anything I can do or are you so dead set against liking me that I'll never get a chance." He caught me off guard which put me on the defensive. "Listen, I'm sure you just think because I'm fat and a nobody, that you can just pay a little attention to me and bam I'll end up in your bed. I'm telling you right now that's not going to happen. I will never sleep with you. Now why don't you leave. Some of us have to actually work for a living."

25/53

There was no way Drake Winslow was interested in me. Someone that gorgeous and wealthy? No freaking way. He just thought I was an easy target. I had never been so sure of something in all of my life. "Ok ok." He put his hands up as if I was physically attacking him. He took a drink of his wine then studied me. "You're an interesting woman Samantha Mayfair." His eyes traveled over my body and I felt my cheeks begin to burn. "First of all you're not fat and you should never say you are. I think you're beautiful and I know many women would kill for your body. Secondly, you could never be a nobody. Not to me." He set his glass down on the table and got up. "Thanks for the drink." He walked towards the door and I regretted letting my big mouth go. When would I learn to think before I spoke? My heart sank as I watched him walk out the door but I felt powerless to do anything.

Chapter Eight Samantha (continued) Towards the end of the night, I loaded up my car with most of my things and then gathered the rest by the door. As soon as the party ended, I paid the waiters and grabbed the rest of my stuff and headed to my car. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I was so distracted by Drake, that I didn't notice the Maserati blocking me in until I started backing out and saw it in my rear view mirror. "Dammit! This better belong to someone at the party or I'm screwed." It seemed like I had been outside longer than I thought because the museum looked different since I left. Most of the dimmed lights were off and everything was silent. I walked down the hallway towards the exhibit room the party was in, guided only by the lights on the displays. "Hello? Is there anyone here?" I heard footsteps on the marble floor so I entered the main hall looking for them. It was two stories high with giant movie posters hung like tapestries. A spotlight lit each poster. It was oddly beautiful and awe inducing at the same time. Walking past the posters I realized how huge the Winslow name really was. Hanging around me were more than just movie posters, they were my life. Movies had always been my escape. and each of these movies connected to a memory. Whenever I was down, I popped that one into my DVD player. Or this one when I wanted a big laugh. Maybe my love of movies gave me high expectations. Maybe I hated Drake so much because I always thought in the movie of my life, he should fall in love with me. Boy was I stupid. I approached the poster for one of my favorite movies. An old movie that had a scene I judged every romantic experience of my life by even though it involved a pottery wheel.

27/53

Suddenly I heard the song playing from that scene. The haunting melody came from the room under which the poster hung. The lights slowly increased to a glow and there, in that exhibit room, was the entire set from my favorite scene, with the pottery wheel spotlighted in the middle. My heart thumped wildly as I entered the room. Drake stood on the set, still in his tuxedo. Overwhelmed, I rested my hands on the waist-high plexiglass barrier guarding the set. "What is all this?" "I heard this was one of your favorite movies. I didn't want you leaving without seeing the set." He walked over and unhinged the barrier, letting me in. I headed for the pottery wheel and stared at it. "Can I touch it?" "You can even use it, although I wouldn't recommend that. It's a working pottery wheel. Go ahead, sit." I awkwardly sat on the stool wishing I had pants on. The draw of the pottery wheel was too much. I needed to sit at it like the girl in the movie. Hiking my skirt up enough, I repositioned myself with the wheel between my legs and turned it on to a slow spin. "This is awesome! I wish I knew how to throw clay." He laughed. "I was hoping you'd like it." I smiled at him and our eyes met. Once again I forgot why I hated him. Deep down I knew I didn't have a reason. I couldn't take my eyes off him. His entire face smiled when he laughed, crinkling the corners of his eyes and putting a dimple in his cheek I never noticed before. "You know, there is one thing missing from this scene," I said. He looked around the set and shook his head. "It should all be here, what's missing?" "In the scene she's making something and her husband comes up behind her and sits with her." He laughed and nodded as he realized what I was asking him for. He removed his tuxedo jacket, his bow tie was undone and hanging loose under

28/53

his collar where he unbuttoned his top button. I couldn't imagine wanting anyone more. I scooted up to give him a little space on the stool and he sat behind me. Excited, I began giggling like a little girl. I would have felt embarrassed for myself if I wasn't enjoying myself so much. My anger disappeared. Although I wasn't sure what to expect next, I didn't care. For once I was going to live in the moment. No more second guessing myself. Leaning back against his strong chest, I melted against him and closed my eyes. I smelled the ocean again and briefly wondered if he smelled like that because he lived at the beach. My mind wandered to what he said earlier. How he thought I was beautiful. His words were so filled with conviction, I had no choice but to believe him. As I grinned like a school girl, I felt his hands slide down my arms and over my hands until he entwined his fingers with mine. His hands made mine feel delicate and small and just like at the reception, his simple touch sent warmth shooting through my body. As he stroked and held my hands, my desire for him grew even stronger. Just a tender caress of my fingers and he made my body pulse with excitement. I couldn't deny it to myself any longer, I never hated Drake Winslow. I might even love him. "We should get going," I whispered. He let go of my hands and rose from the stool. I could see he planned on being a gentleman tonight. I didn't want that. "I had a lovely evening Samantha. Maybe you'll let me take you out sometime?" His eyes never left mine as he took one of my hands and brought it up to his lips and softly kissed my fingers. A shock of electricity engulfed me and I knew I couldn't let him go. I held onto his hand after his lips left my fingers and smiled. "Maybe you could take me home tonight."

29/53

He swept me up into his arms, knocking over the small stool. My arms wrapped tightly around his neck as our lips came together again and we kissed hungrily. I wrapped my legs around his waist and began unbuttoning his shirt as he carried me over to an aluminum table at the back of the set, similar to the one in the kitchen. My skirt was still hiked up when he sat me on the table and a rush went up my spine as I felt the cold metal through my panties. While he removed his shirt, I quickly unbuttoned and tossed mine aside, leaving me in my lace bra. His hands cupped my face as we kissed again. Our tongues slipped into each other's mouths while my hands loosened his pants. I had to have him. He bit the soft skin of my cleavage and the throbbing between my legs, that I tried to ignore, began to pulse in my ears. As he slid my bra off me, I reached down to touch his hard member. I was like a woman possessed. My hand curved around him and moved up and down his shaft. I could feel my panties getting wetter and wrapped my legs around him again, letting myself use the table to slide closer to him. His hands moved into my hair and removed the elastic containing my curls. Loosening my hair, he let it fall around my shoulders. He buried his head into my curls and kissed my neck. I heard him inhale deeply and sigh as his smooth cheek rubbed against my shoulder. So lost in him and the set surrounding us, I was startled to feel the cold against my thighs as he pushed my skirt up my hips. I pulled myself closer to him and felt his erection pressed against my panties. I let out a soft breath feeling him and thinking how badly I wanted him inside me. Relaxing my legs from around him, I wiggled myself out of my panties. He wrapped his large hands around my fleshy thighs, digging his fingers in slightly as he yanked me to the edge of the cold table where he still stood. The warmth of his body contrasted with the cold of the table. I felt reckless but didn't care. I pulled him closer to me as I wrapped my legs back around him.

30/53

His cock felt hot against my skin as he pressed against my wet entrance. As he slipped inside I moaned softly. I ran my hands up his muscular back, holding him against me and pressing my large breasts against his chest as he rocked his hips. Suddenly I felt one of his hands slide between us, down close to my hip. He positioned his hand so his thumb could slide over my clit as he rubbed me, the pulsing between my legs grew more intense. Thrusting deep into me, I gasped for air. I listened to the rhythmic clank of the table against the wall. His short breaths that matched mine. I clung to him as I felt everything building and rising inside of me, but it was his thumb that sent me over the edge. I took a quick deep breath and suddenly chills and tingles coursed through my body as I orgasmed. My moans echoed through the quiet museum and I bit my bottom lip as I hoped the museum really was empty. As my body writhed against his, Drake grabbed my ass hard before gasping. His hips slowed as came. He looked into my eyes again, brushed my hair back from my face and cupped my chin as he pulled my face closer to kiss my lips. After helping me down from the table, we gathered our clothing and quickly got dressed. He held my hand as we walked back towards receiving where our cars were. "Stay with me tonight?" He asked. I grinned but couldn't bring myself to speak. I nodded and let him lead me to his car, and laughed when I saw it was him who blocked me in. He held my hand the entire drive out of town and through the winding canyon. As we approached his home, I smelled the salty air of the ocean, a smell I now thought of as his and which my clothes and skin smelled like and smiled again. Drake's house was much smaller than I imagined. It was more of a townhouse, but it was right on the beach. As we entered, he took my hand again, intertwining his fingers with mine. "Let me show you around. I want you to feel at home," he said.

31/53

The first floor had a sunken contemporary living room with a stone fireplace. The kitchen ran the length of the floor with an entrance by the living room and then by a small dining room. The wall facing the ocean was ceiling to floor glass and lead to a patio which extended onto the sand. His home looked like it had been professionally decorated yet still looked comfortable and homey. On the second floor was his bedroom and bath. A large bed was in the center of the room and he led me towards it and undressed me before undressing himself and we got into bed. He held me close and I felt safe. I laid there thinking how strange it was to be in his home, naked beside him. I tried to get it out of my head and just focus on how good and happy I felt but the nagging feeling wouldn't stop. I heard his breathing become steady and knew he was asleep. I was kidding myself if I thought anything would come from tonight. Nothing had changed. I was still the nobody I always was and he was still Drake Winslow, billionaire playboy. How ironic that I became a notch on the very bed I laid in beside him. I pushed away his sweet words and everything he did that night, to me they were bait to get me in the sack. I didn't want to be there anymore, I felt foolish. I had to take matters into my own hands. Slipping out from under his arm, I grabbed my clothes and got dressed. I thought about leaving him a note but didn't see a point. We both got what we wanted, it was better to leave it at that and move on. I called a cab when I got to the street and rode back to the museum in silence, in my little ride of shame, back to get my car. I wanted to believe Drake, but logic didn't work in his favor. I fell for his charm just like all the others, but it wouldn't happen again.

Chapter Eight Drake I woke to find the bed empty. I got out of bed and put on a pair of khaki shorts I kept on the top of my dresser. "Sam?" I called downstairs, but didn't get a response. Figuring she probably decided to sit outside on the patio, I pictured her with her red hair loose, curls blowing in the ocean breeze. I imagined as she hid from the sun which burned and freckled her delicate skin. I wanted to be on that patio with her. If I had one wish it was to simply have her open her heart to me so we could share moments like that. As I picked up my cell phone from the nightstand, I noticed several voicemail came in throughout the night. They were from different people on location for the new movie my studio was releasing. I knew something must have happened for me to get so many phone calls. I listened to the first one. "Drake, this is Ivan Mitya. Your director. I emailed you yesterday and now have to call since you didn't respond. The movie is ruined! Absolutely ruined! I can't work like this!" I sighed. There was nothing worse than a dramatic director. I listened to the next message. "This is Cindy Patterson from Box Office Insurance. I'm sorry to call Mr. Winslow, but I'm going to have to pull your insurance on the Mitya movie. It seems Mr. Mitya is under the impression he can do whatever he'd like. Please call me back." I heard enough. If I wanted this picture back on track I had to go out there and handle things myself. As I headed downstairs I wondered if Samantha would join me. I planned a weekend trip for the two of us by the time I reached the patio, but she wasn't there. "Sam? Samantha?" I looked around but she was gone. There was no trace of her. I could have dreamed up the entire night. I thought about the many times I left before dawn with other women and suddenly felt bad.

33/53

I never wanted to be there in the morning. I wanted one thing from those women and after I got it, I lost interest. It seemed like a cruel joke that the moment I met someone I wanted to have a relationship with, the one woman I thought I could open up to, and she would treat me like dirt. How dare she treat me that way! She'd better have an explanation. I dialed her number but her voicemail answered. "Samantha, it's Drake. Call me. I expected you to be here this morning." I angrily clutched my phone as I hung up. I would have thrown it if I didn't need the damned thing. How dare she do this to me! And after everything I did for her last night. I gritted my teeth before I calmed down and decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. I wasn't used to this. I always got whatever and whoever I wanted. Shaking my head I sat in the sun. Deep down I knew I was spoiled. People gave me what I wanted. They always had their own motives, but it served them to please me. Samantha was obviously different. She didn't care about who I was or what I had. It was refreshing and anger-inducing at the same time. I called to arrange for my private jet to be gassed and ready that afternoon. With Sam gone I needed this movie problem to force me back to where my head needed to be. I understood why Ashley planned the black tie event so quickly, besides my wanting a chance with Samantha right away. Wanting to see how she was holding up and how her father felt, I decided to call Ashley knowing her father lived near the city I was headed to. "Hello?" "Hi, it's Drake. How's your dad?" "He's great. I mean I can see little things like he gets tremors and he's more forgetful, but he's going on like nothing ever happened." "That's great. I guess. He really should be taking it easy." "I keep telling him that but he's stubborn. I think part of it is that he really wants to prove to me he's ok." "Then maybe you should get out. Come meet me for lunch tomorrow at that Mexican place on Elm. I know it's small but they've got great food."

34/53

"Sure, sounds good. I'll be there. See you tomorrow!" *** After a hectic day of fighting with the director, a couple of stars, and the insurance company because of the "reckless" stunts planned for the film, I looked forward to a non-business lunch. The tiny restaurant was the converted first floor of a house in a residential neighborhood. I found a parking spot and walked up the block of old houses to the restaurant. I made sure to get there early so Ashley wouldn't have to wait. Because of the suffocating heat, I left my suits at home. Something about the extreme humidity of that state begged for a casualness I would adopt everyday if I could. Dressed in khakis and a pale green and white striped linen shirt, I stood under the shade of a tall tree for some extra relief from the sun. I marveled at the silence of the neighborhood. I enjoyed small towns because most people didn't recognize me. It gave me the chance to be normal and not have to worry about what would show up in a tabloid. It had been over 24 hours since I left Samantha that voicemail. No matter how much I tried to not think about her, she kept popping into my thoughts. I called her several times since but no answer and I didn't leave another message. I wanted to talk to her. I needed to know what happened to change her mind. I looked up the empty one way street and decided to try Sam one more time. Her voicemail picked up again. "Hi Samantha? It's Drake. I can take a hint. I thought you were going to give me a chance, but I can see that you're not. I guess in the end you got what you wanted. I'll leave you alone. Good bye." Ashley drove past in an old Toyota as she looked for a spot. While I waited in the shade of a tall tree, I watched her navigate the broken sidewalk in a pretty orange print sundress.

35/53

She smiled as she got closer and we stepped forward to kiss hello. Ashley's shoe caught on a particularly bad part of the sidewalk and she stumbled into my arms as I accidentally kissed her lips instead of her cheek. Laughing she steadied herself and smoothed her hair. "If you were anyone else I would've been embarrassed," she said. "If you were anyone else I wouldn't be laughing so hard." She playfully punched me on the arm. Something about her reminded me of Samantha. Ashley must have noticed my change of expression. "Are you ok?" "I'm fine. I just left another message for Samantha." "What do you mean another?" "She's avoiding my calls. She–" "Drake. Please stop. The party was only two days ago." "Yes but it was just yesterday I woke to find she left my house after I fell asleep. I don't even know how she got home." We entered the traditionally decorated restaurant and were seated right away. As we looked through the menu Ashley resumed talking about Samantha. "Give her some time. You don't know, maybe something happened. She's friends with Jackie, I'll ask her if she heard anything." "Thanks Ash. You're a good friend." "Don't you forget that. The next time you decide to start bossing me around, remember I'm you're friend." "I'm sorry about that. Patience is not an attribute I'll even pretend to have." "I've noticed." We had a good lunch, but Ashley worried about being out for too long and wanted to head back. She knew her dad wouldn't relax like he needed to and might hurt himself. "If your dad is feeling better, I'm heading back home in a couple of days. Would you like to join me?" "Join you?" "Yes, I took the jet. There's plenty of room."

Chapter Nine Ashley A couple of days after meeting Drake for lunch, his limo picked me up at my dad's. Instead of bringing us to the gate, it drove towards the smaller airplane hangars and entered one. Just outside gleamed a white jet. I watched as two beautiful women in short blue uniforms climbed the stairs to enter the plane. "I can't believe you have your own jet." "I can't believe Xander doesn't." "He's more practical and down to earth." "And I'm not down to earth?" I blinked looking at him as if he was crazy. Every so often Drake would say something and I'd wonder if he was serious or pulling my leg. When he winked I realized he knew how absurd it was to a normal person that he traveled in his own plane. "I worry about you," I teased and shook my head. He motioned for me to enter the jet and I climbed the stairs. Upon entering I stopped in amazement. The plane was small but luxurious. Eight large, cream colored leather seats lined the center walkway, four seats on each side. Since they weren't all facing forward, I assumed they swiveled. In the back the flight attendants prepped for take off. "Sit wherever you'd like. We'll be taking off soon. I'll have you back to your husband within the hour." "What? No, please Drake you've done enough. I'll take a cab home. Jefferson Manor is out of your way." "Yes ma'am. If its one thing I learned lately is to always listen to a woman." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Nothing. It's just when a woman says she doesn't want something, she means it." "You still haven't heard back from her?"

37/53

He shook his head and shrugged. "I guess she got what she wanted. I have to say its strange being on this end of it." "I'm sorry Drake, I'm sure you'll find your girl one day." "That's it Ash, I'm sure I did. I guess this is just karma getting back at me for all those other women." One of the flight attendants gave us hot towels to freshen up with. She spent a little extra time with Drake, obviously flirting, but he didn't seem to even notice her. I felt bad for him, but maybe he was right. Maybe that was how karma worked. The cab ride home made me think of my first ride to Jefferson Manor, just a year ago. Xander offered to come to my dad's with me, but I wanted to be able to focus on my dad and make sure he really was alright like he said. Unfortunately I missed Xander terribly. It was the first time we were apart from each other and it felt worse than I could ever imagine. Xander and I spoke every night before bed and texted throughout the day while I was gone. I couldn't wait to see him, but I thought it would be more fun to surprise him. As the cab drove up the noisy gravel driveway, I wondered if he would come out to see who arrived. As I stepped out of the cab with my bags, I saw Tara approaching from the stables. She wore her usual worn jeans, plaid shirt, and old cowboy boots. She was a sight for sore eyes. "Hey there Ashley. Good to see you home." She had the heaviest southern drawl I'd ever heard. Somehow it comforted me. "Hi Tara. Is Xander home?" "No, I was hoping you were him to be honest. He left this morning for the office, some big deal went south. But his mother is here. In the house. She arrived about half an hour ago." She was the one person I did not want to see. Not after everything I had heard about her and especially not after how she treated me. I felt myself becoming nauseous just thinking about her. "Hopefully he'll be home soon. Thanks Tara." I quickly texted Xander that I was home with his mother. I didn't want to bother him when something was going on with his company. I knew

38/53

there was a big merger that he was trying to manage that guessed it wasn't happening as smoothly as he planned, but I really did not want to be alone with that woman. I entered the house and left my bags by the stairs. Heading into the living room, I expected to find her but she wasn't there. It was just like her to take advantage of no one being home. I wondered if she was like this with Xander's first wife. I carried my bags up the stairs and as I walked through the circular study to the hall, I saw her step out of Xander's office. What was she doing in there? Her spiky silver hair was perfect as always and as usual she wore a business suit, this time lemon yellow. I wanted to question her but instead kept walking down the hall to our bedroom. "Hello Ashley, I didn't expect you to be home." "Hi Mrs. Boo–" "No, please no need for formalities, you're married to my son now. We're family." "Ok." I didn't know what to say, but I had a feeling she was up to something. "I was going to unpack and rest a bit until Xander got home." "Yes well I'm sure you're exhausted from your vacation." I gave her an odd look but didn't say anything. I continued down the hall which seemed longer with her walking beside me. As I finally reached the double doors to our room, I hoped my lack of conversation would send her away. I guessed she didn't get my hint, so I replied to something she said before. "I wouldn't call it a vacation, I was checking on my dad." "Yes, yes well I'm sure he's fine," she said dismissively. She followed me into the room and I excused myself to the bathroom to splash cool water on my face. I didn't know why but I was feeling more sick. I began to worry I caught something when I visited my dad. Hopefully I didn't pass it onto him. When I came back to the bedroom she was in the middle of unpacking my bags. It reminded me of when she rifled through my things when I packed to leave after Xander fired me. I felt a little dizzy.

39/53

"You're not looking well dear, afraid I'm going to find something?" Her voice was devoid of all emotion. "No, what? I think I'm coming down with something." "Hmm maybe guilt? Oh what do we have here?" She held up ties still wrapped in their packaging. "Huh? Oh, ties. Neckties." "Why did you have ties with you?" "I was in a hurry, I took our bags for the honeymoon." "And why did you have neckties?" "They're Xander's. he must have packed his ties in there." "Sure." "Huh? What do you mean?" "If those are Xander's then why are they still wrapped in their packaging?" "I don't know! He's your son, why don't you ask him why he's anal?" She didn't respond. She walked out of the bedroom in silence. I sat on the bed confused and lightheaded, wondering what just happened. Was she accusing me of cheating? I heard footsteps coming down the hall and Xander entered the room. "You should've told me you were coming home, I would have picked you up at the airport." He hugged me tight and kissed me. I felt so much better being in his arms. "You're mother just left." "Did something happen? You look like something's wrong." "I...I'm not sure. She...was weird. I'm not sure what to think." I picked up the ties and told him about the conversation. He looked horrified. "She accused you of cheating on me while you were at your dad's," he said angrily. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and shook his head. "She just texted me to look on my desk." "She was in your office when I got home."

40/53

He walked out of the bedroom and towards his office. I sat back on the bed, still feeling nauseous and lightheaded. Hearing him enter his office, then slam his office door, I knew he was mad. He reentered the bedroom and dropped a tabloid newspaper onto the bed beside me. "Have you seen this?" On the cover were large red letters that said "Who is Drake's mystery girl?" The picture underneath was from the other day when Drake and I met for lunch. It looked like we were in an embrace and kissing. A Post-It note on top of the cover said "isn't this your wife?" Shaking my head, I opened my mouth to explain but nothing came out. Suddenly the room began to spin and everything went black.

Chapter Ten Samantha I had a big job coming up and Jackie said she was free to help me so I dragged her out to the grocery store with me. We strolled up and down the aisles with our cart, looking at the different foods as I came up with some new ideas to try when she suddenly grabbed my arm and turned me up another aisle. "What was that for Jackie?" "Oh um nothing." "Why are you being weird all of a sudden?" "No reason." She shrugged and I noticed her eyeball me. "What? You're driving me crazy!" "I was just wondering what ever happened with that Drake guy. You never told me if you saw him at Ashley's museum event." "Oh, that." I paused for a minute as I thought about not telling her anything at all, but I really felt like I needed to tell someone or I was going to explode. "He's really not that bad. I think I was too hard on him." "So you talked?" "Uh yeah...we talked." I raised my eyebrows at her. "Ha! You slut!" She teased. "I knew it! So are the rumors true? Is he hung like a horse?" "That's what you want to know?" I burst out laughing, glad to have a girlfriend to talk to and help clear my mind. "Honestly it was great. It ended up being a perfect night. One of the most romantic nights of my life. But it'll never happen again." "What? Why not? What happened? Did he do something? Did he say he had to get up early for a meeting? Because I've heard that line before," she scoffed. "Um no, actually I left before he got up." "You did what? Why?"

42/53

"I don't know. I just..." My voice trailed off while I thought for a moment. "We're not right for each other. We're from two different worlds and to be honest, you know his reputation, I mean what was the first thing you asked me? Tantric sex, hung like a horse. How do you date that?" "You just do. I mean if you really like the guy you forget about all that. You know how it is, all those movie people have skeletons in their closet but they're not all true. Imagine what the magazines would hold over your head if you were famous." I thought about that for a few minutes and while I wanted to agree with her and say she was right, I couldn't. Sure there were things I was embarrassed about in my life. There were things that I did or happened that I didn't have control over. Living at the Winslow estate was one of them. I believed that if people were following me around and taking pictures, I would be more careful. Drake Winslow had a reputation as a womanizing asshole. There was a reason for that. "I'm sorry Jackie, I just have to believe it. There's truth in everything. All those pictures of him with models, starlets, anything he can get his paws on." I sighed. "He's probably just going through a slump or something and decided to slum it with the local fatty." "Stop that! You are not fat. Jeez what is it with you?" "Shut up. Really, hearing from the skinny girl that I'm not fat is not high on my list right now." "I'm just saying you should really look at yourself. You don't see what other people see." "Please stop. A lecture isn't what I brought you along for." "Fine, I'm just saying." She was quiet for a little while before speaking again. "Have you heard from him?" I pulled out my cell phone and showed her all the inbound calls from Drake. I listened to the couple of voicemail he left, the first one he asked if something happened that I had to leave, the last one he said I wouldn't hear from him anymore. It had been a couple of days since he called and I had to admit I wished he kept calling.

43/53

"I don't want to talk to him. I'm telling you, its a waste of time. I'd rather remember that night for what it was–a booty call." "Booty calls aren't romantic Sam, you know that." She was right. I secretly hated her for five seconds for being so right about everything. He confused me. The night was romantic. The whole museum after hours with the set was the most perfect thing. And here I was calling him a womanizer and saying I was a booty call, when I was the one who said we should go back to his place. Maybe he was being honest. He admitted to mistakes in his past, maybe he really was trying to change. It didn't make sense though. Why would he want to change and have a relationship with me? There were so many other women in his world, he had his choice, why me? I could never compare. "Maybe I should call him." We came to the end of the aisle and just as I turned the cart towards the next aisle something caught my eye. Ahead of me were the check out lanes and at the end of each lane were all the tabloids. It wasn't like me to really pay much attention to them but this one had bright red letters on the cover that read "Who is Drake's mystery girl?" In the photo underneath was definitely Drake, but he was kissing a woman. Leaving the cart, I beelined to the magazine and flipped to the article. My stomach dropped as I looked at the girl in the picture. She wasn't thin, she had curves. She was a little thinner than me, but still. She was plus sized for sure. I skimmed through the article and found out he met her for lunch when he was out of town. The pictures were taken two days ago. The same day as his last voicemail. "I guess I was right, I was nothing to him. He's just a chubby chaser." Jackie was looking at her phone when her face turned white. "I gotta go Sam." Her voice trembled. "What's wrong?" "Its Ashley. They had to rush her to the hospital."

44/53

"I'll take you."

Chapter Eleven Drake As I looked through the mail that arrived in my absence, I heard my phone beep on the kitchen counter. Picking it up I saw I had a text from Xander. "Ashley is in the ER. Please come. We need to talk." Without a second thought I grabbed my keys and headed out the door. I sped to the hospital and parked in one of the doctor's reserved spaces. I didn't care if they towed my car, I had to make sure everything was ok with Ashley. She looked a little pale earlier on the flight home, but I disregarded it as nerves. A lot of people had issues with flying. The nurse's station was crowded with people trying to get answers about their loved ones. I pushed my way through to the front, spotted a pretty young nurse wearing pink scrubs with her blonde hair pulled into a tight pony tail and smiled when I caught her eye. She rushed over. "Oh my lord you're Drake–" "Shhh darling, listen I need a huge favor. My friend Ashley Boone is here in your ER and I need to check on her. Could you tell me where I can find her?" "Oh yes, anything for you." She smiled at me and I knew she would let me do whatever I wanted to in a closet or back room, but I wasn't interested. "She's in the room at the end of this hall." "Thank you sweetheart." "I'm Lorraine, ask for me if you need anything. And I mean anything." I ran down the hall without answering her. I heard Xander yelling for answers at another nurse's station and then saw him return back to Ashley's room. I remembered what he went through with his first wife. I was sure his being in the hospital she died in was bringing all of that back for him. As I approached the door, a male doctor with short curly grey hair wearing green scrubs entered Ashley's room. Peeking inside the room, I saw

46/53

Ashley sitting up on a hospital bed, looking much better, and Xander sitting beside her, holding her hand. I decided to sit on a metal chair by the door and wait, not wanting to delay the results any further. I could faintly hear what the doctor was telling them. "I'm sorry for the delay, but we wanted to make sure we got all the test results back." "Doctor, I want you to just be blunt. Don't mince words, just get to the point. What's wrong with her? Why has she been so sick lately? Its cancer isn't it?" The doctor laughed and I thought I heard Xander growl like he does when someone upsets him. "No, she's not really sick at all. She'll be fine in a couple of months." "A couple of months? Is that how long treatment is going to take?" "Mr. Boone, if you would stop interrupting me, I would like to tell you and your wife that you're about to have a baby." "She's pregnant?" The happy sound in Xander's voice and Ashley's sudden giggle was enough to bring tears to my eyes. I leaned forward so I could hear a little better. "Yes, what she's experiencing is called hyperemesis gravidarum, or extreme morning sickness. Ashley, you just need to relax, try to eat when you can. Even just little meals or snacks. You're about 6 weeks pregnant and this could last until your fourth month. So congratulations! I'll be back with your discharge papers." After the doctor left the room, I leaned over to peek into the room again. Xander and Ashley were tightly hugging each other. I didn't want to disturb them so I got up to leave. Whatever Xander needed to talk about could wait for another time. As I walked down the hall towards the front of the ER, I saw Jackie and Samantha enter. I tried to stop Jackie as she ran past, obviously concerned, but she wouldn't listen. Samantha turned around and beelined to the door.

47/53

"You're not even going to talk to me? We've known each other our whole lives and now you're going to act like this?" "This is how I always acted towards you. I don't like you, remember?" "That's not how it seemed the other night." I walked beside her as she approached the door. "Just forget about the other night, it was a mistake. No, it wasn't a mistake, it was great. It was perfect. The perfect ending to the crappy story of us. We both got what we wanted. Why complicate things?" "What are you talking about? I told you how I feel about you. I want us to spend more time together. I want to get to know you better." "Listen Drake, we were never meant to be. Everything from the beginning pointed to that. You like your women and that's fine, keep them. I'm not a piece of meat." "I know you're not, I never treated you like you were a piece of meat. I don't understand." "I'm not stupid. What we had was physical, nothing more, nothing less. Thanks for the great night, but now its time for me to move on." "You're not even giving me a chance Samantha. Don't I at least deserve that?" I followed her out of the hospital and immediately the paparazzi swarmed around me. I damned myself for flirting to get the information I needed. I should've known better. The nurse must have called them. I continued to follow Samantha who picked up her pace as she pushed through the cameramen. "Drake! Is Ashley Boone your mystery girl? Is that your baby?" Yelled a nearby photographer with a copy of his tabloid that featured a photograph of Ashley and I kissing. Ignoring him, I reached out for Samantha's arm. "Leave me alone!" She spun around and stared at me, her eyes wild and red as tears spilled down her cheeks. "This! All of this is why we can never be Drake." She yanked her arm away from me. "I could never trust you. I would never know what's real with you."

48/53

"But Samantha, let me explain." "Save it for someone who cares," she shot back as she ran towards the parking lot. I knew she didn't want to be chased so I let her go. Devastated, I stood on the sidewalk as the paparazzi surrounded me again, yelling their questions as flashbulbs popped in my face. Samantha needed to calm down before I could talk to her. I had to figure out some way I could see her. I knew she wanted nothing to do with me, but she didn't understand I wasn't that man anymore. There was only one woman on my mind and the more I saw her, the more I learned about her, the more I fell for her. I would get my chance with her if it was the last thing I did.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Part 4 of His Every Whim will be released at the end of February while I work on my first novel, Lucky Break, due in March.

Author's Note If you enjoyed reading this book, it would mean a lot to me if you helped others enjoy it too. Recommend this book to friends or family or consider writing a review on the site you purchased it from. Reviews and word of mouth recommendations are the best gift you can give an author. It helps other readers discover new books too! I love hearing from readers! If you do write a review please let me know by emailing me at [email protected] and I'll thank you with a personal email. xoxo, Liliana

Liliana at the iBookstore Get news about my new and upcoming releases as well as special offers by signing up for Liliana's Email Newsletter Stop by and say hi! My Website and Blog http://www.LilianaRhodes.com My Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLilianaRhodes My Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Liliana_Rhodes

About The Author

Copyright His Simple Wish Copyright © 2013 by Liliana Rhodes Cover by Liliana Rhodes Photography: ©Depositphotos / zastavkin This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

@Created by PDF to ePub