An Unexpected Love (Complicated Love Series #2) (15 page)

“Taxi’s waiting.” She leans in a places a sweet kiss on my lips before taking my hand and heading to the taxi. The drive back to her apartment is silent, but she keeps my hand in hers and she’s gliding her thumb backward and forward. When we pull up at her apartment, she leans over to me and I capture her lips in a passionate kiss. She breaks it rather quickly and I place my forehead against hers.

“Do you wanna come in?”

I really want to say yes, but she has to be up tomorrow for work and I want to take it slow and see if this thing between us is real or not.

“Baby…I really want to, but I can’t. You have work tomorrow, and I don’t want whatever this thing between us is, to be all about sex. I want to see what we have here before we take it that far and if I go in there I won’t be able to control myself.” I swallow hard and wonder what she’s thinking. I don’t want her to think I don’t want her because I do, so much. She finally smiles and gives me a passionate kiss on the lips before getting out of the taxi. She leans back in and smiles.

“See you soon?” She seems slightly unsure, so I smile and give her a cheeky wink.

“You bet, gorgeous.” She shuts the door and I watch her walk to her apartment and go inside. Giving the driver Brandon’s address, he drives off. I lean back in my seat and think about this incredible day, and the most amazing woman I’ve spent it with. I’m so happy right now, nothing can bring me down.

The next few days go by so quickly. I’m back at work, and so far I’ve been in Mrs. Davies good books. I don’t know how long that will last, but I’m just grateful that I don’t have her on my back at the moment. Karl and I have been texting back and forth constantly, and I always get this silly smile on my face whenever we talk. We haven’t found any time to see each other because Brandon has Karl busy at the magazine office. He told me that he better have a few days down there so that he looked interested. It was kind of Brandon to offer him a job if he wanted one. I did speak to Karl on the phone last night, and he informed me that he has told Brandon and Joshua about us dating. I’m surprised that I haven’t had Annabelle on the phone having a go at me for not telling her. I was shocked that he told anyone that we were dating because I wasn’t even sure if that’s what we were doing.

It’s scary feeling the way I do. I just want it to be casual, and I’m scared that he wants more. Spending time with him at Universal Studios was a turning point for us, and the feelings I had for him on the one night that we were together, have come back stronger than ever. I don’t know whether to suppress the feelings I have for him or embrace them. I really like him and everything that happened five years ago doesn’t seem to matter to me anymore.

I feel guilty every day that I haven’t told him about the miscarriage. Lily has thoroughly scolded me repeatedly these last few days. She’s adamant that he has a right to know, but I don’t get why. It’s not like there’s a baby or anything and he can’t do anything to fix it. Maybe I will end up telling him eventually, but I don’t want to ruin this
thing
between us because it’s going so well.

The one thing I am getting frustrated with is no sex! We haven’t been intimate since we’ve been back on good terms, and I so wanted to when he dropped me off after our day together. Instead, he just told me goodbye and I can’t even get angry because he’s doing it so I’m not tired and late for work in the morning.
How sweet is that?
I didn’t even know Karl could be sweet, but I can’t wait too much longer. All I can think about is that one night when we had sex. Yeah, it wasn’t romantic or anything, but the sex was hot and I want to…no, I’m dying to know if it will be like that again or maybe even better.

We don’t have long left because he’s supposed to be leaving in four days. I try not to think about him going back because I get this knot in my stomach and I feel like I’m going to be sick half the time. I don’t want to think about not seeing him, and what that means for us? I’m meeting Karl tonight after work. He wants to take me out for dinner and I was kind of hoping this would be…the night. He’s not picking me up until 7.30 p.m. so I have enough time to get home and change before the evening begins.

As 5:00 p.m. rolls around, I start collecting my things together when Mrs. Davies comes walking over to my desk.

“Tracy did you get those designs done for me?”

I’m so glad I got everything sorted as Mrs. Davies would have had me stay behind, but I won’t have anything ruining tonight.

“Yeah, they are here.” I open my top drawer of my desk and grab the file with my designs for the summer collection. I hand her the file and she flips through them quickly.

“Seems fine to me. I want the other designs done tomorrow, and then that’s the hardest bit over.” She closes the file and turns around to leave. I let out a sigh of relief that my work was good enough, I didn’t want to go out tonight in a bad mood.

“Tracy?” I look up to find Mrs. Davies is still standing there. “I want you in bright and early tomorrow. Be here for 6:00 a.m.” She turns on her heels and walks back to her office.

6:00 a.m. is she kidding me?
Sometimes I think she actually hates me, but nothing is going to stop me from enjoying tonight.

I arrive home and dress in my favorite green dress that flairs out at the hips. I really don’t want to wear heels so I choose my blue pumps and select my sparkly green bag to match my dress. My hair takes the most amount of time because I’m not sure what I want to do with it. In the end, I twist it into a French plait and let it hang down my back. I have a hair appointment next week and I’m considering chopping my hair completely off. I was thinking maybe a bob or something. On hearing a knock on my door, I start to panic. I’m so nervous this time around. Our day together wasn’t a date, or I never thought about it like that until much later on in the day. Now, I’m going on an official date with him and I’m scared, terrified and so, so, nervous. I compose myself and check out my makeup and hair one last time in the mirror before making my way to the door. I open to find Karl dressed in a pair of black trousers and a pale blue shirt. He smiles his gorgeous, charming smile and presents me with a stunning bunch of roses.

“These are for you, my lady.” He holds them out for me to take and I invite him in before making my way to the kitchen to place them in a vase of water.

“They’re exquisite, Karl. Thank you.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” I hadn’t heard him come into the kitchen with me. I turn around to find him leaning against the doorframe. He looks gorgeous and I feel like I’m on fire just looking at him.

“So where are we going tonight?”

“I thought we could try the little Mexican restaurant that Brandon has told me so much about.” He looks nervous about my answer and it makes me smile.

“Sound lovely, let’s go.” He smiles and gives me a peck on the lips before escorting me down to the car.

“So you have Brandon’s car again?” He chuckles as he opens my car door.

“Yeah, I went back the day after and got it, but I’m under strict orders not to leave his car in a car park tonight.” I slide in and he shuts my door before walking around and getting into the driver’s side. “Brandon wasn’t exactly happy that I left his pride and joy at Universal Studios.” He winks and I giggle. He starts the car and drives off toward the restaurant. I’m really excited for this evening and hopefully desert will be back at my place.

We arrive at the restaurant and Karl escorts me through the doors and to a table. He picks the table in the center of the room and uses his gentlemanly ways by pulling my chair out for me to sit down. I can’t believe that he can be so romantic and considerate. He seems like an entirely different guy to the one I met years ago. He sits opposite me and we open our menus. I’m not really sure what to have, so Karl orders us both smoky pork & black bean tacos. They sound delicious and I’m actually starving.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

I smile.

“I can’t believe I only have a few days left here. I’m beginning to like this place.”

And there it is…the one thing I don’t want to discuss. He’s leaving in a few days, and I don’t know how to act knowing that he’s going and that I’m going to be here, missing him.

“Uh…yeah, it’s gone so quick,” I mumble and look down at my hands, twiddling them on the table.

“Look, Tracy, about us and me going back to London…”

I can’t have this conversation now, so I look up to tell him that when I spot my worst nightmare. I never see her outside of work, and now suddenly she’s here with another woman having dinner. I hope she doesn’t spot me.

“Oh, shit!” I open the menu on the table and try to hide behind it.

“What’s going on, Tracy?” Karl looks confused and I must look completely weird crouching behind the menu.

“My boss has just walked in with a female companion, and they are sitting down to dinner in this room!”

He chuckles and I don’t understand what he finds so funny. “What’s the big deal? It’s only your boss. She might not even see you.”

The waiter appears and asks us if we would like some drinks. I order a vodka and lemonade and Karl sticks to orange juice. He definitely meant it when he said he would take Brandon’s car home tonight. The waiter jots the drinks down on his notepad and scurries away from the table. I glance toward my boss’s table and lock eyes with her.

Oh crap, she’s seen me.

“Shit, she saw me. She’s a complete bitch to me, and I seriously don’t like her. Maybe if I don’t look again, she might ignore me.”

No such luck.

“Tracy, what a pleasant surprise.” I look up to see Mrs. Davies walking toward our table. Karl and I stand up and I try to paste on a smile. Karl tenses and stands as still as a statue when he looks at my boss. There’s an awkward silent atmosphere, and I see Mrs. Davies looking at Karl with a shocked expression on her face. I’m so confused by their behavior and even more confused when Karl speaks.

“Beth?” I look toward Mrs. Davies and she smiles.

“Hello, Karl.” I don’t understand what the hell is happening, but I definitely intend to find out.

How the hell does Karl know my boss?

What the hell is Beth doing here?
I can’t believe she’s standing in front of me. She looks even more beautiful than the last time I saw her when she was younger. She looks very classy in her pinstriped suit skirt and cream blouse with jacket to match. Her hair is exactly the same as it always was. Her friend beside her looks bored. She’s a really gorgeous looking girl, but she looks a lot younger than Beth and has long blonde hair that ends just on the top of her bottom. She’s looking anywhere but at us. I can’t help but return my eyes back to Beth. It’s been so long, and I’m not sure how I feel about seeing her again.

“We were just having dinner,” Tracy says while looking between me and Beth.

“Don’t let me stop you. I can’t believe you’re here, Karl. I never thought I would see you again, and especially not here. We must catch up sometime?” She looks back at me and smiles. I don’t know what sets me off, but my anger toward her is returning. She looks so happy and I can’t take it. When she did what she did with my best friend, I always hoped that she would miss me and regret what she did to me. I sometimes wonder what she was doing and where she was, but I never would have guessed she’d be here in LA looking so beautiful and like she’s doing so well for herself.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” I take hold of Tracy’s elbow. “Ladies, excuse us…have a good evening.” I tug on Tracy’s elbow and make my way out of the restaurant. I can’t pretend that it was great to see her, but at the same time I didn’t like the old feelings that resurfaced while standing there in front of her. I won’t have her messing my life up again.

“What are you doing, Karl? I thought we were having dinner.” I keep walking at my pace and dragging Tracy behind me. I help her into the car before sliding into the driver’s seat.

“Karl, what’s wrong? And how do you know Mrs. Davies?”

I look at her. Mrs? She’s married. I feel sick, and I hate myself for feeling this way.

“Mrs?” I croak.

“Uh…yeah, she is married to Quinton Davies, the owner of QD Fashion.” Whoa, she has landed firmly on her feet. Tracy laughs. “I never knew her name was Beth. How do you know her?”

I grip the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turn white. “Just drop it.” I grit my teeth.

“What the hell is your problem? You drag me out of the restaurant without even feeding me after you see
my
boss. Now you refuse to tell me what just happened?” She crosses her arms and I notice out of the corner of my eye that she’s biting her lip and she looks really pissed off. She doesn’t get my reaction to Beth, and I don’t blame her. Beth just threw me. I never would’ve expected to see her in LA of all places.

“Look, I knew her a long time ago, and I’m not really interested in digging into my past.”

“I don’t want you to tell me every single detail. I just wanted to understand what the hell just happened. Did she…hurt you?”

I slam my hand on the wheel as I feel my anger boiling. “
I said leave it!
You don’t know shit about my past, and I’m not going to share my feelings and things with you…okay!” I regret it as soon as it leaves my mouth, but I can’t help myself. Beth does this to me. I’m trying to control my temper, but I keep replaying in my mind what she did to me all those years ago. She was the love of my life, and she broke me when she did what she did. Yes, I was young, but I was in love. She was my first love, and if I’m honest, the only girl I have ever truly loved. I hate that she looked so perfect and nicely put together. She’s married and has done well for herself too, which is giving me an awful taste in my mouth. I pull up outside Tracy’s apartment.

“Do you want to come up?” she whispers it so quietly that I only just hear her.

“No, I can’t.” I can’t look at her and the only thing I hear is the door slamming. I look over to see Tracy rushing up to her door and she doesn’t even glance back before she’s inside her apartment. I see the lights turn on, and I don’t think twice before driving off. I just want a night on my own. This night has been the most shit night of my life.