Test Drive (The Bachelor #1) (10 page)

"It's just that my father is so arrogant when he speaks to me. He acts like I am not capable of completing one correct task. Like I'm a child." I flicked my wrist in the air as I spouted off all the things that pissed me off about my father. Beth just listened.

When I was finished, she licked her lips and uncrossed her legs. She leaned forward with her elbows on my desk and said, "Drew, you have to give him a chance. You haven't exactly been employee of the month since you started here, and your father doesn't know how to address that." She put her hand on top of mine and said, "Just give him a chance."

Her hand lingered on mine until my office door opened, and she jerked her head around. My mother's head poked in and the smile on her face always made me calm down.

"You did great, honey. We all agreed to your plan. Your father even said it was well written, and he would like to speak with you, with you both actually, after lunch today." She paused and waited for our response. We nodded and she shut the door behind her, repeating her praise of my project.

Beth's eyes looked like saucers when she turned around. I was happy to see that even she felt intimidated by my father, and he actually liked her. Beth left for lunch, and I snacked on a pack of crackers while I checked my email. I had a few responses today. Victoria messaged that her daughter would be gone tomorrow evening at a Vacation Bible School with her church, and she would have an hour or so available if I wanted to meet. I emailed her my cell number and asked that she let me know the time and the place.

Lola sent me another poem about rocking out to the beat and moving my feet. The corny lines made me smile, and I could tell that she was being silly. I needed silly. Carefree fun without all the drama.

Two o’clock rolled around, and I was chewing the nubs on my fingers. I wasn’t looking forward to this meeting with my dad. And to be honest, being around Beth was becoming taxing.

I walked down the hallway to my father's office, but as I approached the glass double doors, I could see that Beth was already in there. My father was laughing heartily, and Beth looked relaxed and comfortable in the chair across for him. My hopes perked up that they didn't have the same feeling of doom. I walked through the door, and the laughter immediately stopped. I swear I felt all the air sucked out of the room, leaving me breathless with a softball-sized lump in my throat.

"Am I late?" I said with a smile. I tried to push through my racing thoughts to focus on their reaction. Beth didn't even turn to look at me while my father's face twisted to face me.

"No, son, we were just talking about you. I was telling Beth that I was pleased with your proposal." He clasped his hands on the desk, and I could feel a "but" coming on. "I am sure you are aware of the Aviation Conference coming up this weekend. Your mother is nagging me about some cruise I supposedly agreed to and it leaves on Thursday." He waved his hands around showing his frustration while I slid my hands in my pockets and waited for the other shoe to drop. "So son, what I am asking is whether you would mind stepping in for me? Beth will be there to guide you. She has been there a few times already, and she knows the drill."

I could see Beth smooth her skirt out of the corner of my eye. "Uh yeah, that sounds great. What do I need to do?"

"Well for starters, the conference is in Atlanta, and I have scheduled a flight for the two of you at nine Friday morning. Also we have commissioned a booth to display our services and give information to the agents. The plane you are taking is the new plane, and it will be on display for tours after the conference." My father continued explaining our detailed instructions. I looked at Beth who seemed to tense up when our eyes met.

"Beth, have I forgotten anything?" She practically jumped at the mention of her name.

"No, Mr. Sloane, I think you have covered it all." She rose from her chair and rushed past me out of the door. When the door shut behind her, my father turned to me and the smile drained from his face.

"Son, I don't have to tell you again how important it is not to mix business with pleasure." His accusing tone almost triggered an eye roll, but I managed to stand there and listen to his lecture while simultaneously removing Beth's skirt in my mind. I snapped back into reality just in time for my father to dismiss me. His parting words were that Beth would be in touch with me about the set up for the booth. I walked back towards my desk, passing Beth's empty cubicle on my way. I decided to swing by the lounge to see if my new "partner" was grabbing a drink. Sure enough, there she was, bent over in the fridge, reaching for something in the bottom drawer. Her tight skirt clung to her legs, and she struggled to bend far enough to reach her snack.

"So my father said you needed to talk with me?" I said loud enough to get her attention. She rose quickly, bumping her head on the roof of the refrigerator. I rushed forward to help her, but she quickly straightened and huffed out her frustration. She took a moment to steady herself and I, being the good guy, grabbed a bag labeled with her name out of the drawer.

"Yes," she huffed. "Apparently it's you and me this weekend, and I need to walk through the layout with you. Your father has preapproved the exhibit, but it is likely you will be questioned, and I need you to know how to answer."

"Understood. So when do we start?" The weekend was only a few days away, and I was anxious to get started, with her.

"I have asked for the board room tomorrow so we can practice the exhibit there, and the plane is being fueled and cleaned for this weekend, so we will tour that on Thursday."

The thought sprang into my head that the rave was Thursday. It shouldn't be a problem for me to be at the airport at nine. I would need to pack ahead of course, but it wouldn't be the first all-nighter I had pulled.

Beth snapped her fingers, and I glanced her way. "Drew! Did I lose you somewhere?" She placed one petite hand on her not so petite hip and stared at me through her deep blue eyes.

"No, I was just thinking about what I should wear."

"A suit, Drew. You have to take this seriously." She turned to leave snatching away her mysterious snack bag, and I reached for her arm.

"I am trying here, Beth. I have been to work on time. I am taking my assignments seriously. What do I have to do to prove myself?"

Beth looked shocked for a moment right before her face twisted into a frown. "I don't know, Drew, but let's start with this conference."

"I won't let you down." She nodded and headed back to her desk with her snack. I was looking forward to this trip and a little alone time with Beth. I just needed to stay focused.

WHEN I GOT HOME THAT
evening, my message box was flashing on my computer. "Hey Drew, I was hoping you could meet me at the Hope Park on Fifth Street tomorrow at six forty-five. I am dropping Emma off at six thirty. Maybe we could have dinner at the park? My treat!—-Victoria"

The single mom thing was growing on me. I had this crazy idea that I could somehow fit into their family. They needed a man to help support them, and I was in a position to do that. So far Victoria hadn't made me feel uncomfortable or inadequate. She hadn't put any pressure on me to be something that I wasn’t. I wanted someone like that to accept me as I am with no judgment. Beth had obviously judged me pretty harshly, and I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about that. I mean, she didn't even know me. I didn't know whether to view her as a challenge or a caution sign. I emailed Victoria back and headed to the kitchen for dinner. Thankfully my father wasn't home, and I could relax at the table with my mom.

We had a steady flow of conversation where she asked me about my personal life, and I gave her a few tidbits about me dating. I couldn't believe that out of all the girls, so far none had worked out. Maybe I'm too picky or maybe I was destined to be with someone who only tolerated me for my money.

That was a hugely depressing thought.

"Mom, what was it about Dad that made you realize he was the one?"

"Your father is a wonderful man, and from the time I laid eyes on him I knew that I just had to have him. He’s funny and outgoing and kind. He always made me laugh and feel
special."

"You mean he
was
all of those things. Now all I see is an arrogant . . .”

"Andrew!" His mother hissed. "Now I know that your father can be . . . difficult, but he loves you more than anything."

I dropped my spoon, and it clanged against the side of the plate. "I don’t know how you can allow him to treat you with such disrespect. He is barely around, and he leaves you by yourself all the time. You are a wonderful person, and he doesn’t even see it."

"Yes, he does. That is the beauty about finding someone that knows you better than you know yourself. You begin to realize that sometimes it is more important to support someone else’s dreams and set aside your own. This is his dream and who am I to take it away?"

I couldn’t believe the load of bull that she believed. They could both have their dreams without him casting her aside. I went upstairs to pick out my clothes for the next day. I planned to leave straight from the office to meet Victoria. She was only a few miles north of the runway.

I heard the buzz sounding from the gate, and I wondered who would drop by on a Tuesday night. I pressed the button and said, "Come on up!" It didn't occur to me until after that it might be a murderer, and I just buzzed them through. When I opened the door, I realized that I would have preferred the murderer.

"Camille!" I said sounding just as shocked as I was feeling. "What are you doing here?" She had eyeliner running down her cheek.

"Can we talk?" She shifted in her too high heels and a small part of me felt sorry for her. Sorry enough to let her in? Ehhh.

"Yeah, come on in." I ushered her up to my room, and she plunked down on the leather sofa across from the bed. I sat on the edge of the bed and prepared myself for the sob story coming next. "What's going on? You don't look like yourself!"
Good, Drew, real good. Just insult her in her already fragile state.

She dropped her hands down and said, "Thanks! You're a real gentleman, ya know?" She twisted in her seat, and I could see the smooth layer of skin rising all the way up to the crease in between. I made the mistake of raising my eyebrows, which she immediately caught on to.

She rose off the couch and started towards me. I was prepared to listen to her story, not fight off this gorgeous woman who was giving me the sultry looks that I knew all too well.
Stop her, Drew! Say no right now and tell her goodnight!
I pleaded with myself.

"Camille!" I said holding up my hands when she reached me. She ran her long smooth fingers along the lines of my neck.
Too late!
I hadn't been with anyone since Camille, and we broke up weeks ago. I didn't want her to get the wrong idea, but I could definitely use the release.

"What, Drew? You don't want me?" From my spot on the bed, I was eye level with her supple breasts. Another few inches and I would be buried in between them. Not a bad place to be.

I put my hands on her hips and resisted the urge to squeeze the flesh beneath them. Camille was a beautiful woman.

"Camille, why are you here?" I had to close my eyes when I pushed her away extending her back as far as my arms could reach. I looked directly at her eyes and said, "I am with someone else now."

"Who?" she screeched.

I had to stop myself from smiling when I thought about the answer to that question. Claire, Victoria, Lola . . . take your pick. "That's not the point, Camille."

She stepped forward and placed her legs on either side of my mine and pushed me back on the bed. "Well whoever she is . . .” she said, running her hand down my chest. "She isn't me!"

She leaned down and licked the spot under my ear. She knew that made me crazy. She knew exactly what I liked and how to break through my puny defenses. Isn't that what I needed? Someone who knew how to please me? I mean I wasn't exclusive with any of the girls I was dating.

"Camille, you know we aren't getting back together, right? It's just not going to work." I waited for her to rise up; to get up and leave the house in a huff, but she didn't.

Instead she kept going, licking the base of my neck. I wanted to resist, but who could resist someone so beautiful. "Camille!" I said and put my hands on her shoulders.

"Drew, I get it. We aren't going to be together, but right now, I need this. I need someone to make me feel good. I need you just like this and then I'll leave. No strings." She held up her hand as if to say "Scout's honor."

I nodded and she continued the assault on my neck. I relaxed and let her take my shirt off. I watched as she stood and shimmied off the sparkly halter-top she was wearing and slid the lacy thong down her long, tan legs. I slid higher on the bed and relaxed on the plush pillows at the top. She didn't remove her bra, which was black and lacy like her panties. She kept on the black wavy skirt as well; I almost preferred the slightly covered look. I liked the way my hands slid in between the smooth material and the silky skin beneath.