Romance: Dedication - A Workplace Romance (Dedication Series, Romance, Contemporary Romance Book 1) (8 page)

              Everything inside of the place was decorated with soft cream and burgundy colors. The lights emitted a warm glow. There were several rows of clothes, a two stall changing area and two red clothed chairs sitting across from them. As they walked further into the store, a woman with thick blonde hair, a curvy figure and big blue eyes emerged from a back room.

              “Is that Franklin Mckinnon? I haven’t seen you around here in ages!”

              The woman gave him a hug before she seemed to realize that Jane was even there. She turned to her slowly. Jane felt like the woman was appraising her with those big blue eyes and whatever she saw wasn’t that impressive. At that moment she took an immediate dislike to her.

              “Who’s this?”

              “This is my girlfriend, Jane. This is Eileen, an old friend of my families.”

              Jane was polite enough to wave, but it stopped there. Franklin raised an eyebrow at her, she could feel his  eyes burning into the side of her head, but she wouldn’t turn around. She watched him run his fingers over the back of his head with a sigh.

              “We’re looking for a dress. You know, something for Thanksgiving around my house.”

              “Oh, meeting the parents? You guys must have been together for a while,” the woman said as she walked away, swaying her hips in a black pencil skirt that accentuated her curves even more. “Frankie usually doesn’t take take home dates until they’re past three months.”

              Frankie? Jane resisted the urge to grab the woman by her pretty blond hair and pull. Franklin must have seen something on her face because his hand was wrapped around hers in a moment. The action at least made her calm down, for the moment.

              “We’ve been together almost six months now, actually,” Jane replied back curtly.

              “That’s so adorable,” the woman said without a hint of truth in her voice, “what size are you? An eight?”

              “A six, thank you.”

              “You’re in luck. I think we just started carrying bigger sizes. I’ll be right back.”

              Jane was seething. She could swear there was steam pouring out of her ears. As she stared after Eileen, she didn’t realize her hand was tightening around Franklin’s like a vice. He let out a little yelp before pulling his hand away.

              “What’s wrong with you? Are you trying to break my hand or something?”

              “Me? Who is that?” Jane whispered as she glared at him.

              “She’s a friend,” he whispered back, “just a friend. What’s wrong with you right now?”

              “I’m going to kill you when we leave,” she said between grit teeth.

              “Here we go. I think this would look nice, don’t you think?” Eileen had brought out a swamp colored dress that looked like it was made from one wide, ugly piece of cloth. Jane crossed her arms. As the thoughts she’d been holding back started to spill out of her mouth, Franklin pulled her back.

              “We’ll find something ourselves. Thanks.”

              Franklin pulled Jane away before she could say anything else. While they shopped, Eileen seemed to always be nearby. It was enough to drive Jane crazy, but it was the only shop still open as the sun began to set. Instead of letting Eileen bother her, Jane tried her best to ignore the woman all together. She focused her attention on Franklin and the fact that she would be meeting his family in a few days.

              Jane slipped into dress after dress. Nothing seemed good enough. Franklin was less than helpful as he only seemed interested in which dress he’d be taking her out of that night. When she really started to get frustrated, he held her hands, kissed her forehead and looked through the clothes until he found something for her.

              “What about this?” The dress was perfect, a wine colored garment that stopped at the knees. The back slipped down low showing off her impressive back, while the front afforded only a teasing peek at her cleavage. Her mouth stayed open as her fingers ran over it. Soft to the touch, it was as if the dress was made just for her. She could tell that it would compliment her skin and hair as well. The little black tag caught her eye. When she brought it forward, she almost forgot how to form words.

              “This is Chanel.” She said, her mouth feeling dry and tacky

              “I think mother always said a woman needs a Chanel dress to complete her wardrobe.”             

              “McKinnon, this dress is Chanel.” She tried again, hoping this time he’d understand. Not that Jane was giving him any clues as to what her issue was.

              “Would you prefer a Balenciaga? Or maybe something by Marc Jacobs? Personally, I think the dress is lovely,” he stretched out a hand, meaning to pluck the item from Jane’s pale fingers. She was too fast for him though, moving away a couple of inches: Not wanting to part with the luxurious silk.

              “It’s beautiful,” Jane said carefully, “But, Franklin, have you seen how much this dress costs?” Suddenly she wanted to hate him. He shrugged at the price like it was no big deal. As if spending one of her entire paychecks on a dress was akin to dropping a few bucks at a movie theater.  “Let me pay for some of it? You’re flying us out to your parents, I can chip in?”

              “Absolutely not.” Came Franklin’s terse reply. “It’s a gift, Jane. One I want to give to you. Now, I’m always very good with my money. Splurging a little bit on a beautiful woman won’t hurt me.” He smiled, the same one that always foretold mischief, “Imagine the look on Eileen’s face when I buy it for you.”

              Convinced, Jane trudged into the dressing room, still holding the dress protectively up to her chest. She got undressed in a flourish, taking a moment to look every which way in the mirror. There were a few bumps on the backs of her thighs, a her shoulders looked larger than normal, and her stomach poked out
way
more than it usually did. All the happy weight from going on dates with Franklin was not agreeing with her.

              She slipped into the dress, jumping up with glee when it zipped with only a little bit of extra tugging. In the mirror, her reflection stared back. The gown was marvelous, hugging her in all the right places, it’s cut giving her the most amazing waistline that she’d ever possessed.  It was pretty enough to make Jane forget about the amount of zeros on the price tag.

              “How does it look?”

              “Can I wear it out of the store?”

              “Do you really think you should?”

              Jane pouted. No, she didn’t, but she also didn’t think that she’d be able to take it off when the time came. It was as if it was a part of her skin. She pushed the door open slowly, before stepping out into the store. Franklin simply stared. When he didn’t say anything for quite a while, she felt the nervousness starting to seep in. She cleared her throat. ”

              “Wow, you look really beautiful.” He remarked. “You should take it off before it gets ruined.”

              Jane felt the blush sweep up to color her cheeks. She turned around to face the full length mirror. As she examined her reflection, she smiled. Her hands twisted her hair up, the loose, dark brown waves suddenly elegant and smooth. Her fingers touched her mouth softly as she imagined what she’d wear with it. A pair of wine colored heels, deep makeup that made her look sultry, gold jewelry. As she marveled, Franklin came up behind her before he wrapped his arms around her waist.

              “You really think it looks good?” Jane asked as her eyes caught his in the reflection of the mirror.

              “I think you look amazing,” he mumbled against her neck, his lips leaving a trail of kisses down her skin.

              A loud sound broke the spell that had drifted down around them. Eileen stood at the counter, arms folded across her chest. The scowl that was on her lips was the icing on the ‘screw-you’ cake. Jane covered her lips lightly as she giggled. When she returned with the dress, Eileen almost snatched it out of her hands at the cash register.

              “‘I’m afraid we don’t do layaway, hon,” she said with a sickening sweet smile on her face.

              “I’m paying for it,” Franklin said as he handed her a credit card.

              No, Jane decided, that was the best moment of the night. The blonde’s face looked ashen as she rang them up, swiped his card and waited for his signature. All the while, Jane stood nearby grinning from ear to ear. When they were done, Franklin handled the white box that it was bundled inside of, his other hand wrapping around hers.

              “Thanks for everything, hon,” Jane said with a wave of her fingers as they stepped out of the door.

              As soon as they reached the cool autumn air outside, Jane couldn’t stop herself from bursting into a fit of giggles. The look of pure anger on Eileen’s face had been gold. She couldn’t figure out why the woman hated her so quickly, but she decided that it didn’t matter. Franklin was hers. She wrapped her arms around his as they walked back to his car.

              “Thank you for the dress,” she said as he slipped the package onto the back seat.

              “Don’t thank me yet. We have to get you some shoes and jewelry to match.”

              “There you go with the mind reading again,” she said with a smirk.

              “It’s an art,” he mumbled against her lips as he pulled her into a kiss that made her lose her breath. “Should we get dinner or say screw it and go back to your place?”

              “Who needs food?”

              When morning rolled around, Jane groaned as Franklin tried to roll her sore body out of the bed. She swatted at him, her eyes still closed. The mattress moved as he quickly pulled away. She could hear the sound of his feet moving along the floor. One of her eyes opened slightly.

              “What woman doesn’t want to go shopping?” Franklin asked, the exasperation in his voice tempered with amusement.

              “This one. Sleep. Food. These are things that sound appealing right now.”

              “Don’t you want to look good to meet my parents?”

              Jane pouted. “You said I was just as beautiful in the morning as I am when I get myself all dolled up.”

              “I lied.”

              Jane popped up in the bed. “What did you say?”

              Franklin was already gone, the sound of his laughter filling her small apartment as he stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. She knew it was a trick, it was obvious, but she also really wanted to punch him in the arm. After she’d untangled herself from the sheets she walked into the bathroom. He was already in the shower, the view so pleasing when she opened the shower curtain that she forgot why she was angry.

              “Who actually lives in Vermont?” Jane asked, tucked neatly into her first class seat. The flight attendant had already come back with her mimosa, and Jane was sipping at it happily. “I’ve never even met anyone from Vermont, usually just see it in movies.”

              “Well,” Franklin said, reclining back in his seat, “I was born there, went to school there. And all my mother’s still lives in the state.”

              “Did you go to one of those uppity boarding schools with the silly uniforms?” And Jane couldn’t resist imagining a younger Franklin, dressed in hideous khaki pants and a blazer.

              “For your information, I went to an arts boarding school.”

              “Do you hear how you sound.” Jane shook her head, “You actually went to boarding school?”

              “It was a couple hours drive from home. I enjoyed it. They let me focus in literature, and it was great preparation for college. That’s the main reason all of my briefs are so much better than yours.”

              Although they were the same age, there were times when Franklin just seemed so much older than Jane. And it wasn’t a bad thing. He was knowledgeable in things that she had no idea about. Most times it provided for excellent conversation: Like his extensive knowledge of the literature world. But sometimes, Jane felt that she wasn’t providing enough to keep him interested in her. He’d get this little purse in his lips, an attempt, Jane thought, to hold his tongue. Whenever it came up, he’d grow quiet for a few moments, as if steeling himself against harsh words he wanted to throw out at her.

That little quirk of his lips was poised on his mouth after his comment about his writing. Jane went to ask about it, however, she failed at finding the proper words. Instead she asked: “Do you think I’ll enjoy Vermont?”

              The tension left his mouth, and Franklin turned to face her again. “You’d like it better in the winter: It’s gorgeous. Everything is covered in snow.” His face relaxed into an easy grin, “Maybe we can come back in the winter?”

              “Already planning a return trip? What if your parents hate me?”

              “They aren’t the ones dating you,” he said easily. “My parents, socialites as they are, are a bit more progressive than the rest of their friends. As long as you’re educated and polite they really don’t care who I bring home.” A hand came to rest on her chin, stroking a long line down a spot just above her breast. “And you have the added bonus of stunning beauty, so more points to you.”

              “Easy there, McKinnon,” She said playfully, “That kind of talk gets you a one way ticket to the mile-high club.”

              “Oh, no,” he said, a little too quickly for Jane’s liking. “We cannot go to my parents all crumpled. My mother would tear me a new one, then I’d never hear the end of it.” At her pout, he pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss. “But, tonight, when everyone's asleep, in my big house,” A trail of sharp kisses, a mixture of teeth and soft lips, followed the path his hand had made. “I’m going to do things to you that will make you blush in the morning when you’re thinking about it.” His voice was a low purr in her ear, one that didn’t allow Jane to ignore it.               “Okay, okay. I can wait.”

After that, the curled together as best they could in the airplane seats. First class or not, you could only get
so
comfortable flying at 30,000 feet. The five hour flight was as smooth as any Jane had been on, in fact, it took a persistent Franklin to wake her from her warm snooze.

              “We’re here,” he said, throwing a look out the window as he reached into the overhead bin to retrieve their bags. “You ready?”

              “I didn’t become the woman I am now without being ready.” Most times, Jane could pride herself on being able to adapt to any and every situation that came her way. Bradford and Schwick had been her biggest success to date, but all the interviews hadn’t left her as harried as she was feeling then. Honestly, Jane hadn’t met a boyfriend parents since her sophomore year, and that had gone miserably. So badly that Jane had caught a train home back to campus before dessert had been served.

              This time Jane was
going
to make a  good impression no matter what. Not just for her sake, either. Franklin seemed to be
somewhat
excited for his parents to meet her, and she didn’t want to embarrass him.

              After getting their bags from baggage check, the pair found a neatly dressed chauffeur holding a placard with MCKINNON emblazoned on it in big, bold letters. Franklin shook hands with him, declined his offer to carry their bags, then followed him out to a sleek town car. Oh, all this luxury was sure to go to Jane’s head eventually. She could feel herself slowly turning into one of those people she frowned at: The ones that were given things instead of working for them. But, it was hard
not
to be comfortable with heated leather seats and bottles of cool champagne.

              “What do you parents do?” She questioned.

              “I think I told you, my father worked in the tech department. Actually, he sort of helped to build it.”

              His words were lost to Jane’s ears, as they drove further and further into the countryside. With fall in full swing, the trees were a brilliant array of colors, so vibrant that Jane couldn’t help but snap a picture or two on her phone.

              “How do people get anything done here,” she breathed, so close to the window that her nose was almost pressed against the glass. “It’s amazing. Look at all the trees.” Perhaps living in the city had damaged her for the suburbs: Jane couldn’t imagine not living in walking distance to a bar. Seeing the scenery of a town far away from city lights, with lakes and ponds dotted about, almost made her wish for a less busy life.

              “You manage. It’s just like any other place, trust me.”

              “Shh, you’re ruining it.”

              Franklin chuckled, a light sound that somehow made everything Jane was seeing that much better. Suddenly she wasn’t nervous. The pattering of her heart was more excitement than anything else. Once again, she found herself marvelling at how easy it was to just
be
with Franklin. She may have had her flaws, but he had his too, and he worked to understand her’s, instead of holding them against her.

              The closer they drew to his family home, the more excited Jane got. She prayed that she wouldn’t get sick. In her mind, she tried to keep the many facts straight. Mckinnon had an older brother, who was rarely around, named Austin. Then there was Helen, his mother and Richard, his father. She was good with facts. A necessity when dealing with many different clients on a daily basis. For some reason, the names weren’t sticking in her mind as easily as they usually did. Oh, crap, Jane thought, maybe she wasn’t as calm as she thought.

              As she was on the verge of full freak out mode, Franklin grasped her hand. His warm fingers within hers always made her calm down, even if only for a moment. The countryside flew by in a blaze of exquisite orange, red and yellows. It was the house however that really grabbed Jane's attention.

              When she thought the word house, she had to admit that it felt wrong. This wasn’t a house, it was an estate. The driveway alone took them five minutes to drive, just to reach the front door. There were ornate bushes decorating the side of the driveway, marble statues stood between at measured intervals. Jane was in awe as she stared out of the window, her hand tightening around his as they went.

              When they pulled up to the front door, the driver stepped out quickly to open the door for them. Franklin stepped out first, before extending a hand to Jane. She took it cautiously, looking around them as she stepped out. The house itself was magnificent, beautiful white columns standing tall in front of the white and red brick decorated house. She held Franklin’s hands as they walked up the stairs together, her tall heels clicking on the stairs seeming to echo in her mind. Her throat tightened. She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous. It was like Franklin had already said, she was dating him, not his parents. Still, she wanted to make a good first impression, because Franklin was more than a casual boyfriend for her, she could see a future with him.

              The realization of that thought popping into her head at that moment did nothing to make the situation better. As they stood in  front of the front door, the sound of music drifted out of the door. Jane gazed up at Franklin. He gave her a small smile, some measure of nervousness etched on his face as well. They stepped through the door together.

              As they walked into the house, Jane felt even smaller. The inside broadcasted huge ceilings, large open rooms and catering staff milling about the house. She had expected a high class, family meal. Not this. Everyone wore dresses and tailored suits. Even the small children were dressed expensively. Jane felt out of her depth.

              “What if I can’t do this?” She whispered frantically to Franklin.

              “I think it’s too late for that option.”

              He held out an arm for her to take, she did so gladly. As they walked around the room, Franklin was kissed on the cheek, embraced and his hand was shook more times than she could count. All of the names; Stephanie, Kathy, Arnold, Thomas. They were dizzying to say the least, making her head feel like she was drowning in a sea of information. They made their way into the living room.

              The furniture was all traditional wood, heavy and expensive looking. Franklin took a drink, a scotch before offering her one. Jane chose something simple, light. After all, she didn’t want to be drunk, but she knew that she could sure use the buzz. A dark red Sangria was her drink of choice, the familiar spicy, citrus taste one that she knew well. Just as she was beginning to relax, a stunning woman walked into the room.

              The woman before her wore a long, red dress, tall heels and effortless makeup. Her jewelry was all diamonds and gold. Blonde hair was swept away from her face, pulled back in an elegant bun with the slightest hint of gray. When she saw Franklin, her  blue eyes sparkled with excitement. She made her way over quickly, her movements almost like gliding. The most remarkable part, Jane thought, was the way she held up the glass full of champagne without spilling a drop as she approached. Jane knew her only from the picture albums that Franklin kept at home, though the woman looked as though she had barely aged since her twenties.

              “Mom,” Franklin’s smile was wide as he wrapped her up in a hug,”it’s been a really long time.”

              “Yes, it has been. I missed you so much!” When she pulled back, Jane could see the tears that brimmed on her eyes. “Please, tell me you’re staying for a couple of days.”

              “I still have work on Monday, or I would in a minute.”

              The woman waved a hand. “Work. You can take a day or two off I’m sure.”

              Franklin laughed. “Not exactly the way it works mom.” He paused as Jane cleared her throat. “Oh yes, I wanted to introduce you to Jane, my girlfriend.”

              Jane stepped forward, every nerve in her body on fire. “Nice to meet you.”

              Helen took her hand slowly, shaking it delicately as if she thought one of them would break. Her eyes seemed to be taking in every inch of Jane, when she met them, there was a smile there. Obviously, she approved of something that she saw.

              “Jane, I’ve been hearing a lot about you. You’re doing great things for both the company and for my son, it seems. I don’t think he’s ever smiled so much when he came home before.”

              Jane beamed at Helen. “Thank you, I’ve heard great things about you too. I love the charity work that you do.”

              Helen looked caught off guard, but impressed by Jane’s statement. “She’s really a treat, Franklin. Come with me, darlings. Your father wants to talk to you, Franklin and your brother is excited to see you again. Of course, we were all just dying to meet Jane.”

              Franklin flashed a smile at Jane behind his mother’s back. The proud smile was more than enough to let her know that she’d at least passed round one. She took a nervous sip from her wine glass before they ended up in the dining area. There was no food served yet, but the source of the music was there. Violins, cellos, a piano. It was as if they’d hired an orchestra for a night. From the look of the place, an orchestra wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.

              Two men stood talking off to the side, glasses full of amber colored liquid cradled in their hands. The older man had black hair, streaks of gray throughout. The younger was blond like his mother and Franklin. Both were dressed impeccably. When Helen walked up to them, they smiled at the approaching couple. .

              “Franklin,” His father said, moving in close to embrace his son. “You’re looking good.” Franklin looked like his father. The resemblance was almost startling for Jane: Seeing them standing next to one another.”Jane,” He turned to her, lips turned up into a welcoming grin. Where Helen had been politely reserved, Richard was much more friendly. He gave Jane a quick hand shake, followed by small hug. “Are you the one that’s been making Sam’s year?”