No Ordinary Romance (3 page)

Connie left the chamber without a backward
glance. Thomas hoped that her stubbornness didn’t get in the way of
a proposal that would be beneficial to her and the foundation she
loved so dearly. Well it wasn’t something he could dwell on right
now. “What’s next on the agenda?”

***

It was later in the day as Thomas sat in his
office day dreaming about Constantina Jacobs. She looked so
defeated when she left the chamber today. His feelings for her were
complicated, he never felt the urge to strangle and kiss a woman at
the same time.

He wanted to help her move forward with her
project for the youth home, but he had to do his job as chairperson
of the city council using his vote for the good of the community.
He wanted to discuss a proposal with Constantina. The deal would
provide enough land for her current project and room to expand.

Thomas called Constantina’s office, her
assistant Beth was so gracious each time she told him that
Constantina wasn't available that he almost believed her. He
decided to drive over to her office instead; she certainly couldn't
avoid him if he showed up in person. The drive to Council Bluffs
would take about ten minutes, not enough time to collect his
thoughts for the battle royal that was likely to ensue. Constantina
was a tough nut to crack, and he’d been trying to establish a
foothold into her enter circle.

From what he could tell she had darned few
friends, she did not socialize unless it involved one of her
charities, she owned an accounting firm and The Purple Feather, a
sex toy store. For some reason, she has taken a dislike to him.
Maybe it was his position as chairman of the city council or it
something she heard about the scandal involving his ex-wife.

Constantina’s office was just off the main
street of Broadway; he didn’t have any trouble finding a parking
space near the door. He walked into her small office and addressed
the little pixy behind the desk. "Hi I'm here to see Constantina
Jacobs."

Beth couldn't believe that Thomas Galvin was
standing in front of her. He was the dreamiest man she'd ever seen
next to Chad, and he seemed a little put out. "Do you have an
appointment sir?"

"No I don't, but she's going to listen to
what I have to say." Thomas walked to the back offices determined
to see Constantina. He could hear the pitter patter of Beth's feet
as she ran behind him.

"You really can't go back there sir, Miss
Jacobs is in a meeting."

There were two offices in back, a small break
room, and restroom. He chose the door on the right and walked in
Constantina's office, she was on the phone, definitely, not in a
meeting. She obviously liked the person she was speaking with; he
had never seen her so happy or laid back.

Connie shook her head as she hung up the
phone, her friend Samantha was driving her crazy with her
arrangements for her company’s New Year’s Eve party and unique
surprise for her fiancé. Samantha was outrageous and just pure fun
to be around, but most of all she had a good heart.

He stood in front of her desk refusing to be
ignored. “Hello Constantina.”

"Miss Jacobs I tried to stop him, but he
wouldn't listen to reason."

"Don't worry about it Beth, Councilman Galvin
rarely listens to any voice other than his own. Please close the
door on your way out. Thank you Beth." Connie got out of her chair,
and walked over to face her nemesis. She was still pissed about the
city council’s refusal to vote in her favor. “So what do I owe this
dubious pleasure?”

Constantina’s face was flushed with anger; he
would love to have this woman by his side. She would never betray
him or use him for her own benefit. All this sexual tension between
them would set the building on fire. “I know we got off on the
wrong foot, and we seem to be on opposing sides. One of my clients
is interested in the property you are trying to convert into a
youth home. He’s willing to make a land swap for a property he
has.”

Connie crossed her arms and glared at Thomas.
Damn he was a handsome man, too bad he was a jerk. “Why would I
even entertain the idea of a property swap?”

He had her where he wanted her; she could not
control her natural curiosity. “How about we discuss the whole plan
over dinner tonight and I’ll show you the property later in the
week?”

“Good move Thomas. You knew that I would
never turn you down, especially if the opportunity is as good as
you say.”

Thomas grinned, “Would I lie about something
so important to you?”

“I don’t know you well enough to
respond.”

Thomas stepped closer aware that he was
invading her space and not caring. “Whose fault is that
Constantina? I’ve attended a lot of fundraiser luncheons and
dinners for a chance to know you better, but you held me at arm’s
length. This time you won’t be able to push me away you’re going to
have to deal with me.”

Connie frowned at Thomas, refusing to move
back as he stepped closer. I am not afraid of him, she kept
chanting to herself. “I’m not afraid of you Thomas. I’m a grown
woman and not a scared little girl.”

Thomas leaned in even closer, “Glad to hear
it. Now where would you like to meet for dinner?”

Connie could tell by the gleam in Thomas’s
eyes that he would try to make it as intimate as possible. “Hey why
don’t we go to the Famous Dave’s in the Old Market? I’m in the mood
for rib tips, and since you work downtown it wouldn’t be out of
your way.”

Thomas gave her a rueful grin. He planned to
take her somewhere warm and cozy, plying her with wine. He wanted
to loosen her up and make her feel comfortable in his presence.
“Okay you win this round Constantina. I’ll meet you there at 5:30;
that will allow us both enough time to wade through rush hour
traffic.”

Connie walked Thomas to the door; she was
willing to admit to herself that she was looking forward to meeting
with him later. “Until 5:30 then.”

He paused, he wanted to give her a quick kiss
before leaving, but he didn’t know her well enough for such an
intimacy. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

***

Thomas had entered Famous Dave's ten minutes
before he was supposed to meet Constantina. He sat near a window so
he could watch her approach the restaurant. Her SUV pulled up a few
minutes later. Constantina got out of her vehicle, jogged across
Farnam Street, and practically hopped up the stairs. Either she was
looking forward to meeting him, or she was hungry.

Connie saw Thomas sitting near the window as
she parked her car. She got out of the car and quickly made her way
across the street. She felt Thomas’s eyes on her as she ran up the
steps. Thomas's stare was unnerving. Connie didn’t know if he
wanted to ravish her or shake her silly.

Thomas stood up as Constantina approached his
table. He helped her with her coat and took the opportunity to
outline the vein pulsating in her neck with his finger. He draped
her coat across one of the empty chairs and sat directly across
from her. Her eyes appeared to be a smoky blue; early in her
office, now they were violet. His noticed that his touch made her
nervous which was a minor accomplishment. Thomas would have her
nervous instead of indifferent.

A server came over and took their orders and
Connie sat back and scrutinized Thomas as he placed his order. When
the server walked away, Connie got right to the point. “Okay
Thomas, tell me about your client’s property.” Thomas’s assessing
eyes perused her body before coming back to her face. The action
was erotic as hell and took everything within her to sit as if his
blatant sexuality did not affect her.

“We’ll get to that later. How's Samantha
doing?” Thomas waited patiently as the server put their drinks on
the table.

Connie didn't like the change in topic.
"Samantha is doing great. She and Allen are getting married at the
courthouse next week. She's driving me crazy helping her plan the
New Year's Eve party of the century."

Thomas nodded to the server and turned his
attention back to Constantina. "I'm glad to hear that Samantha has
bounced back. I've heard a lot about Allen Archer, I'm surprised he
didn't whisk her away to Las Vegas for a quickie wedding."

Connie gave him a half smile, "Well Jenna and
Mike already did the quickie wedding in Las Vegas earlier this
year. Allen was content to push for a quick courthouse
ceremony."

"I don't blame the man, Samantha is quite a
handful. A man has a right to put his foot down and demand
compliance from his woman."

"Compliance from his woman! You were clearly
born in the wrong century. I envision you as a possessive man,
grabbing your woman by the hair and forcing her into your
cave."

"My people didn't live in caves; my Santee
Sioux ancestors lived in wattles or daub houses. Like most Southern
Plains Indians, they were farmers, and they weren't nomads like
some of the other tribes who lived in tepees."

Thomas was proud of his ancestry; she was so
caught in hearing his raspy voice as he explained his family's
history that she forgot to be annoyed with him. "You would have fit
right in; you're a demanding man and you would have stood out
whatever century you lived."

"Be careful Constantina I see a crack in your
armor. I know you’re interested in the property deal, but I want
you to at least admit that you're curious about your attraction to
me as well.”

Connie took a sip of her beer before
responding. “So what, I’m attracted to you. You are an attractive
man. I’m sure you have women falling all over themselves trying to
win your favor.”

“As I've told you before the attraction is
mutual. So, what are we going to do about it? I refuse to let you
ignore me any longer; we have to deal with this attraction and see
where it leads.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the
arrival of their food. Connie prayed over her food and ignored
Thomas as she dug into her rib tips. The meat was tender and
succulent, and she loved the sweet and sassy sauce. She looked up
to find Thomas watching her as if she were an alien. “What’s wrong
you’ve never seen a woman eat before?”

“Actually no. Usually women get all coy on me
as if food is the enemy. I like being with a woman who isn’t afraid
to eat in front of me.” He ate his ribs and slaw with gusto hoping
that this truce with Constantina was not a temporary
aberration.

Connie’s curiosity got the better of her, so
you interrupted the comfortable silence they maintained through
dinner. “Tell me something Thomas where is your client’s property
located?

Thomas polished off his
meal and turned his attention to Constantina. My client has 100
acres just off 72nd
Street North of
Sorenson Parkway. There is a lot of undeveloped land out there;
enough land to build your youth home with plenty of land to spare
when you’re ready to expand.

Thomas had her rapt attention, and he knew
it, the slick bastard. “Seems like an uneven exchange to me. As
much as I want the foundation to grow and expand I don’t want to do
it at the expense of others.”

“Oh Constantina this is one of the things I
love about you. You have a lot of heart, and you always want to
play fairly. My client is going to make a large profit with the
town houses he plans to build on your property. It would be
beneficial for both of you to agree to a land swap. No money
exchanges hands, no realty fee involved, and no escrow. It would be
a straightforward contract, and everyone’s a winner.”

Connie took another swallow of her beer.
“Yeah I’m sure the community will embrace the town house project
with open arms.”

Her hardcore exterior was raising its ugly
head. “Come on Constantina.” He whispered. You and I both know some
things that are taboo for a residential neighborhood. No one wants
a group home, women’s shelter, homeless shelter, half way house,
liquor store, or a discount store in their neighborhood. Level with
me, would you want a youth home in your quiet neighborhood?”

“What do you know about my neighborhood?”

“I know where you live Constantina; a nice
middle class neighborhood, not too far from a grade school and
park.”

“I would give up my house if it meant that
troubled kids had a place of refuge and a new way of life.” She
swallowed the rest of her beer, wishing she had another one to
douse the flames of her rising anger.

“Now you got to the heart of the matter.
Given, there are many caring people in Omaha; however, their
empathy will dry up quickly if it came to sacrificing their homes
or families so that the underprivileged can have a better way of
life. You are the real deal Constantina. You believe in the Cabbage
Patch Foundation, and that’s why this land swap will allow you to
achieve even greater things.”

Connie hated feeling as if she were being
handled. “I’ll have to bring this before the board of directors
before I would even think about signing off on this land swap idea
of yours. One more thing quit calling me Constantina! How did you
find out my real name anyway? I never use it.”

“Now who’s playing games? Your friends
Samantha Graham and Jenna Johnson are the board of directors. They
will go along with whatever you say. As far as your name, I like
the way Constantina rolls off my tongue.” Thomas leaned in towards
the center of the table, grabbing one of her hands. “Can you
imagine the first time I make you mine Constantina? Will you give
in gracefully or will I have to fight you to stake my claim.”

Connie snatched her hand out of Thomas’s
grasp. “How long have you been planning this lousy seduction scene?
Does the land swap deal depend on me dropping my panties and
screwing you? What do you get out of the deal?”

“Tisk, tisk Constantina, you’ll drop your
panties for me because I turn you on and you can’t wait to feel me
moving deep inside you. I would never use a business deal to
intimidate you into submission. My pride wouldn’t allow it.”