Chance Encounters (17 page)

Emma didn’t bother to turn from the window. “You don’t have
to, Matt. I don’t mind. Just keep your hands to yourself.”

He smiled to himself and walked to the bathroom to freshen
up. As he washed his hands, he called out to her, “So I was thinking we could
go and see the White House and then go out for dinner. Actually, we could eat
downstairs, the restaurant is a four star restaurant.”

Emma didn’t hear a word Matt said. She was staring at the
street down below. She could have sworn she saw a tall figure with wavy hair,
just across the street.
Jacob
, she wondered.

Matt walked out and asked, “Did you hear me?”

Emma quickly looked away from the window and shook her head.
“Sorry. I guess I was zoning out. What did you say?” She looked back at the
street again, but the figure was gone. She must have been imagining it. Matt
unbuttoned the shirt he had on and took it off. He then kicked off the pants he
had been wearing. He stood over by his suitcase in just his boxer shorts.

Emma turned just in time to see his tanned, buff body. She
felt a sense of familiarity, watching him changing. She hadn’t realized that
she was staring when he caught her and grinned at her. Embarrassed, she turned
away. “You don’t have to be shy around me, Em. After all of our years together,
I think it’s quite normal to change in front of one another.”

“Given the circumstances here, I don’t think you should be
doing that Matt.”

He smirked, grabbed his clothes, and began dressing.

Emma realized she was probably being a little insensitive to
Matt and all that he was attempting to accomplish with this road trip. She
wasn’t trying to be ungrateful, and certainly if she had never met Jacob, she
would have probably gotten swept back into the whirlwind that is Matt. But,
there was Jacob now. She didn’t know if she’d ever see him again, but she had
to believe that once she was settled, she’d find a way to him. They did seem to
cross paths with one another. She wanted to believe that there was something
more to them then having two days together. He actually had her believing in
fate.

She looked over at Matt, so handsome and safe, so
predictable. He’d spoil her for as long as they were together. She had no doubt
he’d make up for his past indiscretion. Maybe he’d even hold his promise and
never hurt her again. The only problem was … they’d just be. They’d do the same
things they used to. They’d both work hard, and schedule in dates to see one
another. Was that the life she truly wanted? She wasn’t so sure anymore. Jacob
woke her up after what felt like a long slumber. She envisioned living for the
moment, the day. Living each day like it’s a new experience, tasting food from
all over the world, lying on a beach and living out of a hut. She found herself
smiling at the idea.

“Well, wherever you just went, take me with you.” Matt
smirked at her.

Emma realized he was all changed and waiting for her to join
him. She quickly ran a brush through her hair and grabbed a light sweater just
in case the late August night was cool. He held out his arm for her to take and
led her out into the Washington night sky.

They walked two blocks over and stopped at the White House
gate. Off in the distance they could see the President’s dog running through
the yard chasing a ball. Emma smiled at the thoughts of the President doing
something as normal as playing ball with his dog. They continued walking until
they found themselves at the Lincoln Memorial. Emma felt like a kid. She had
always seen the monument on TV, but she never had the opportunity to see it in
person. She ran up the steps and touched the statue. “For luck, so I am told,”
she yelled out so he wouldn’t think she was nuts.

Matt only stood back and laughed at her. “I’m so sorry I
never showed you the world, Emma. There are so many places you would love.”

She went back down the steps to join him as they walked
along the reflecting pools. “I don’t blame you, Matt. We were always busy
working and making a name for ourselves that we never had time.”

“Well we were fools. I guess now I understand how fragile
everything is. I wish I could do it all over. I’d make sure you’d see it all.”

She ran her hand over his arm and thanked him. They walked
along in silence, watching all the tourists taking pictures and telling tales
of history. They were passing by a pole when a flyer caught her attention. It
was a flyer with a familiar logo. The Gray Stripes had played a concert here a
week ago. She smiled to herself and thought about Lena and Todd. She missed
them, too. She could easily see her and Lena hanging out and shopping together,
or just sitting around having coffee. Matt watched her admiringly as she read
the poster. He knew her thoughts were with another, but he wasn’t about to give
up hope. He loved her and he’d do anything to win her back.

They made their way back toward the Willard. Adjacent to it
was the Occidental Grill and Seafood. Matt suggested they go and get a late
dinner. Emma found she was hungry and she could use a glass of wine. They
walked inside and were shown to a table in front of the window, overlooking the
city. Emma was dazzled by the lights and crowds of people. He ordered them a
bottle of Merlot and one dozen oysters for an appetizer. Emma couldn’t remember
the last time they ate oysters. She was never really fond of them, but she
didn’t want to ruin the evening by confessing the truth now. So when the waiter
delivered them to the table, Matt raised his glass and held it to hers,
clinking them together.

“To new beginnings,” he toasted again. Emma smiled coyly and
took a sip from her glass. He placed an oyster on a dish and slid it over to
her. “You know what they say about oysters, don’t you? They are a natural
aphrodisiac.”

“Matt …” Emma began.

“I know, I know. You can’t blame a guy for being persistent,
can you? You know I’m not the kind of guy to just give up.”

She knew all too well that he was persistent. That’s what
made her fall for him in the first place. He was driven, smart, and had great
goals for his future.

Matt ordered himself the Braised Veal Osso Bucco, served
with roasted baby carrots, zucchini squash, pearl onions and turnips in a
reduction sauce. Emma looked over the menu, and after a glass and a half of
wine and the oysters, she really wasn’t hungry anymore, so she ordered the
house Caesar salad.

They finished off the bottle of wine and Matt ordered
another bottle. The waiter was thrilled with the sale; it only meant a bigger
tip for him. Emma excused herself to go and use the bathroom. She walked past
the bar, and as she was about to enter the bathroom, she could have sworn she
heard someone call out, “Ducky.” She quickly looked around the bar area, but
nothing. No signs of Jacob. What could the odds be of his being there? Although
he was aware of where she was headed, if there was a possibility he wanted to
find her, he could. She shook it off. Who was she kidding? He left her without
as much as a good-bye.

By the time she got back to the table, her salad was waiting
for her, but Matt was nowhere to be seen. She took her seat and figured that he
had to use the bathroom also. She took a bite of her salad and noticed out the
window that Matt was on the phone talking to someone very animatedly. She
watched and had a feeling he was talking to Renee about her.
The two of them
really would make a good match
, she thought as she took another bite of her
salad.

Matt returned to the table and had a look of discontent on
his face. “Is everything all right?” Emma asked him.

“Yeah, I am fine. There is nothing to worry about. I was
just touching base with a few things back in California. I have a meeting set
up in Manhattan at a plastic’s firm that is looking for a partner.”

“That’s great news, right?”

“Is it? It only is if I know I’m staying in New York. I
don’t mean to put any pressure on you, but a little affirmation about us headed
in the right direction would help ease this transition.”

She swirled her fork on her dish. “I don’t know what to tell
you, Matt. I don’t know what we are right now. I can’t promise you tomorrow. If
you stay in New York it has to be because you want to, not because you are
basing it on me. That is a lot of pressure.”

“I know, Em. I apologize. I was the one who screwed up, so I
guess I just need to prove to you that I’ll make it right.”

“Matt, what is, is. Maybe you knew all along that we
shouldn’t get married—”

He cut her off, “No. I should have married you years ago. I
have no excuse. I was at a low point. I was under pressure and I thought you
were pulling away.”

“What? Why is this the first time you’ve said any of this?”

“Come on, Emma. You were never home. You were
always
at the office. I was convinced you were trying to get out of the wedding. Renee
was making arrangements, and you seemed so distracted.”

“I was. I was doing it all alone. You wouldn’t give me your
input. I was up against eight others for this job. I had to work my ass off. I
was doing it all for us.”

“No, Emma, you were doing it for you. I made enough money
that you didn’t have to work at all. You could have stayed home.”

“Why would I stay home? We never talked about that.”

He shook his head. “What about when we had kids? Would you
have stayed home then?” he asked.

“Matthew, why have we never talked about any of this? This
is huge.”

“I don’t know. I guess I just figured we’d work it out as we
went. Isn’t that what most couples do?”

“I didn’t even think you wanted kids.”

He placed his fork down and closed his eyes. “I realize I
may not always say or do the right things, but I never ever for one moment from
the moment we met, envisioned a life without you in it with kids, dogs, houses,
vacations, the whole nine yards. I just knew we weren’t in a huge rush to get
there. I figured we were enjoying our time together.”

Emma could feel her eyes beginning to well up with tears. He
just threw a major curve ball at her that she wasn’t prepared for. She never
knew this was how he felt. Did she really make him feel that insecure? She
couldn’t eat another bite of her food. She was beginning to feel a little
guilty now. He hadn’t actually slept with someone else, she had. Granted, they
were broken up, but she felt like she was the one breaking their hearts.

Matt paid the bill and left a generous tip for the waiter.
They walked into the lobby and quietly rode the elevator to their room. Emma
did nothing but stare ahead, watching the light on the elevator indicating the
floor they were almost on. Matt hadn’t said anything since the restaurant. He
escorted her to the door and opened it. She walked in, but didn’t hear him
follow her. She turned around and spotted him standing out in the hall still.
She shook her head as if to ask what he was doing.

“I need to go get some air, Emma. I’ll be back up later. If
you need anything, just call my cell.” He turned and strolled back down the
hallway. He didn’t bother to wait for the elevator, she watched as he walked to
the stairwell and pushed the door open.

Emma closed her room door and wanted to slink under a rock.
What the hell was she doing? What the hell was she thinking? She thought she
had come to terms with her and Matt splitting up, or about her and Matt not
seeing eye to eye on marriage and kids, when all along he always wanted them,
with her. She hung her head in her hands and let it all come out. She cried for
her past. She cried for walking away without so much as asking for the answers.
She cried for Jacob and allowing a stranger into her heart, just to get hurt,
and she cried for what Matt had just confided in her this evening. For someone
who was so sure of what she wanted in her future, she realized she knew nothing
at all.

EMMA GOT HERSELF up off of the floor
and half crawled over to the bed. She pulled out her cell phone and held it in
her hands. She wanted to call Lena and ask why Jacob walked away. She just
wanted to hear that she meant nothing more than another romance in his travels.
If she heard that, then she might be able to move forward and fix things with
Matt. She knew that it was morally wrong to base a life decision in such a way,
but she felt torn between two men that couldn’t be any more different from one
another. She could see herself, happily wandering the countryside with Jacob
and kids in tow. Living freely with no deadlines, and no rushing around, just
taking life as it came and enjoying it. She could also see having a family with
Matt and being able to stay home with her kids while he worked. She could start
writing the book she always wanted to. She could freelance for a while. But
could she really be happy in that lifestyle?

The phone vibrated in her hand and it made her jump. She
noticed Renee’s number and picked it up. “Hi Renee.” There was a pause. “Listen
… I’m sorry about the way I snapped at you.”

“Don’t do that, Emma. I was calling to apologize to you. I
was wrong to try to push you into something that you don’t want. I have been
your friend since before guys, and I will be long after them, too.” They both
chortled. “I want you to be happy, sweetie. If you want some damn hippy, then
go get him.”

“I don’t know what I want.” There was another pause.

“Are you going to clarify that one? I wasn’t prepared for
this conversation. I had a whole other one prepared, but now you’ve thrown me
for a loop.”

“Matt and I kind of cleared the air at dinner tonight. Not
that it excuses what he did, but he thought I was pushing him away. He said I
was never there and he thought he was losing me.”

“So hopping into bed with some chippy is the answer?”

“I already said it doesn’t excuse his behavior by any means.
It just changes my thought process about everything. He told me he always
envisioned us with kids. I assumed he never wanted any and that’s why we never
talked about it.”

“Darling, look at the size of the house he found for the two
of you. Did you really think it was only for the two of you? I even saw that.”

“I didn’t. I don’t know why, but I didn’t. I always figured
he just wanted the biggest and best things.”

“Ha, ha. Although sometimes I think he can be an arrogant
jackass, I have known since he followed you around like a little lost puppy dog
that he saw a future with you. Again, it doesn’t excuse what he did, but he did
tell me pretty much the same thing during the car ride to Tennessee.”

“I’m so confused, Renee. I don’t know if I can trust him. If
he looked for comfort with someone else because I was busy, what about if there
were kids. Kids keep you busy. Will he do it again?”

“There is no easy answer. Who knows? I’d like to say no,
that he learned his lesson, but a man is a man. It’s something that the two of
you work through if that’s the road you choose.”

“What if I am at my cross roads and don’t know which way to
go?”

“Follow your heart. If it feels right with Matt, explore it
a little. I mean, you are in a hotel room with him. See if there is still a
spark, or if it is gone. It’s not like you are cheating on anyone. He was your
fiancé not that long ago.”

“But I was with someone else. What if I do choose to work
through this? Will he hold it against me?”

“He can’t. You guys were broken up.”

“I gave my heart to someone else; not just my body, but my
heart, too.”

“See, that’s what I don’t get. You knew the man for two
days. Who the hell falls in love in two days? Lust, sure. We’ve all been there,
or at least I have been. I know you are new to brief affairs, but I’ve had my
fair share. How can you say you gave your heart?”

“I can’t explain it in words, Renee. I knew Jacob before I
met him. I read him in his journal. I knew intimate things about him. I knew
his thoughts and his words. He made me feel so … alive. I’ve never felt
anything like that in my life. When he touched me, every fiber of my body felt
electric. Our bodies fit perfectly together. He views life so completely
different than you and I do.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, sweets. I want to tell you
that I think your fling was just that … a fling. I think that you needed to
feel sexy, and alive, because you just had your heart stomped on. It could have
been anyone. Think about it. You felt vulnerable and unstable. Some guy swoops
in on you at your lowest and makes you feel special for two days.”

“It couldn’t be just a thing, Renee. Not with the way he
looked at me. Or the way he knew what I was thinking before I opened my mouth.
Don’t you believe in fate?”

“Sure, but we make our own fate. It’s not written in the
stars. We choose our own paths and who we want in our lives. There is no magic
involved. I am going away for a week so I won’t be available.”

“Wow … where did that come from? Where are you going?” Emma
asked.

“Oh you know … here and there. I won’t have cell access, but
leave me messages to let me know where and how you are. Once you are settled
in, in like a week or two, I am heading to New York to come see you.”

“Not that I would ever say no, but why then? I mean, that’s
when the wedding was supposed to take place.”

“I have some things to do, and I want to be there for you
during that time. Besides, who knows, maybe there still will be a wedding.”

Emma almost swallowed her tongue. “You must be drunk.”

“No, not yet. Maybe you should order some champagne from
room service and see where things go with Matt. One way or the other you need
to figure out your feelings, whether it’s moving forward with him, or without
him,” Renee advised.

“So your great advice is to seduce my ex-fiancé to see if
there is anything left between us?”

“Yes! Now go. There is nothing wrong with sex. There is
break up sex, make up sex, confusion sex, uncertain sex, fun sex, and just for
the hell of it sex.”

“What about love? Where does that fit in your sexcapades?”

“Love is over rated. At least for me it is. I will love
vicariously through you.”

They hung up the phone and Emma walked to the bathroom. She
looked at the hot tub and decided to relax for a while. After filling it up,
she turned on the jets. She stripped out of her clothes and placed them on the
counter. Stepping into the hot tub, she allowed the warmth to surround her. She
wanted the bubbles to just take away her doubts and allow her to think clearly.
She closed her eyes and before she knew it she dozed off.

When she woke up the tub was cold. She quickly got out and
wrapped a hotel robe around her. She towel dried her legs and walked out into
the room. Matt still was not back. She looked at the clock and saw that it was
after midnight. Growing a little concerned, she tried to call his cell phone,
but it went straight to voicemail. There was a knock at the door and she
quickly pulled it open. The concierge was with another man and they were both
holding Matt up in between them. Emma shook her head, held the door open, and
pointed to the bed. The two men carried Matt to the bed and laid him down.
Digging through his wallet, Emma got out some money to tip the guys. They
smiled sympathetically at her as they walked out the door, closing it behind
them.

She put the lock in place and turned back to Matt. He drank
himself into a stupor because of her. She shook her head and walked back over
to him. She pulled his shoes and socks off and laid them on the floor. She knew
he wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping in his jeans, so she unbuttoned them and
attempted to pull them off, but he just moaned as she pulled on them. She shook
his chest. “Matt, wake up, I need to get you changed so you can get into bed.”

“Ahhh bed …” he slurred. He haphazardly pulled his T-shirt
over his head and grabbed for her bathrobe. He pulled her toward him and kissed
her. She held up her hands to back herself up, but he managed to slip his hands
in the robe and around her hips. “Oh, Emma, I just need to feel close to you.”
She could hear groaning sounds from deep inside him.

She had to admit that she liked to know that he needed her,
but intoxicated was not an option. She pushed him back onto the pillow and he
let out a growl. “Oh yeah, baby, give it to me.” As soon as his head hit the
pillow, he passed out.

Emma shook her head and slipped his jeans off. She pulled
the blanket up over him and walked back toward the bathroom. She could hear him
let out a snore as he rolled on his side. Emma shook her head and slipped on her
pajamas.

The morning light filtered through the hotel curtains. Emma
stirred first. She opened her eyes and the first thing she noticed was Matt’s
strong arm curled over her. She slipped out before he realized she was there.
She walked over to the curtains and pulled them open. Matt immediately
flinched. “Oh please close it.” He threw a pillow over his head and hid.

Emma smirked. “It’s time to wake up. Today is the day we
actually make it to Manhattan.”

“Just a few more minutes, please. My head is killing me.”

“Fine, I am going to shower and get dressed. Then you need
to get up.”

“Yeah, yeah” he waved his hand in the air to send her away.
She couldn’t help but smile. Matt was never one to overindulge in drinking, so
she knew he was hurting.

After she showered and dressed, she packed up what few
things she had and shook him awake. “Matt,” she called out. “It’s time. Go take
a shower and I’ll order us some food. Then we have to hit the road.”

He grumbled again. She pulled the pillow out from under his
head and hit him with it. Tugging the blanket over his head, he whined. Emma
couldn’t help but laugh. She’d never seen him act like this and she found the
humor in it. He lowered the blanket and looked at her with pleading eyes.
“Everything hurts. Can’t we just stay here until later … please?”

Emma sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at him. “I would
love to say yes, but I have to report to work the day after tomorrow. They are
expecting me. I don’t have any time left.”

He slowly pulled his legs to the edge of the bed and put his
feet on the floor. He stood up and made his way to the shower.

Emma’s phone rang. She noticed the New York number and
immediately picked it up. “Hello,” she said.

“Hello Emma. This is Catherine Stone. I am your new
assistant. I just wanted to touch base, and tell you that I have located a
temporary apartment for you.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful.”

“Well as you are aware, apartments are few and far in
Manhattan, so the company has arranged a six month lease on this fully
furnished, two-bedroom apartment to allow you plenty of time to find something
more permanent. You have a staff meeting set for Thursday at ten in the
morning. It will give you the opportunity to meet everyone in the office. I
have your office set up, and everything is on schedule. Would you like me to
have your things sent to the new address?”

“You are efficient, Catherine. Yes, please, by all means. I
won’t need the furniture out of storage if it is a furnished apartment, but I
will definitely need my clothing and personal boxes.”

“Done,” Catherine eagerly spoke out. “I’ve already sent a
memo to the storage facility; they will have everything delivered by tomorrow.
If you should need anything else, day or night, please let me know. I look
forward to working for you, Emma.” Catherine gave Emma her cell phone number
and the address of her new apartment. Emma hung up her phone and let out an
exhilarated sigh. This was really happening, New York, and the New York Times.

Matt exited the bathroom fully showered, shaved, and dressed.
He squinted at the sunlight, and moaned as if he were in pain. Emma had the
bags all ready to go and she handed him his sunglasses. He slipped them on and
gave her a half smile.

Matt paid the bill and the valet pulled the car up to the
door. Matt tipped him and then handed the keys to Emma. “I’m sorry, but I think
it would be best if you drove for a while. I am not in any shape.”

Emma took the keys and got behind the wheel of the car. She
set the address to the apartment in her GPS and fastened her seatbelt. Matt sat
back in his seat and watched her enter the address. “Not bad for a New York
address.”

“I guess. My assistant called while you were in the shower
and told me they set a lease for six months here.”

“So I guess we’re off,” he commented with a strange tone to
his voice.

She drove through Washington and got back on the interstate.
They made their way through Maryland, and then Delaware. Matt remained in his
laid back mood. It had been almost a week since he’d been on the road and not
having to report to the operating room. She hadn’t seen this side of him since
they first started dating. He told her jokes which made her sides almost burst
from laughing so hard. He enjoyed watching her smile. He was glad that she at
least didn’t hate him anymore. That had to stand for something.