The American Lover (16 page)

“Fact is Faith, basically you already had an on the job interview with me, which you passed with flying colours.  However, I appreciate you’ll want to know more about the role, so we’d like for you to come over to San Francisco for a week, for you to meet with everyone, and see for yourself what the role would entail. Bottom line is, I’ve said I want you in the role, and that’s good enough for my boss, so the job is yours if you want it. I know it’s a lot for you to take in, but I really think you have great potential, and looking at this from your perspective, this posting presents you with an ideal opportunity for a fresh start. The bank would handle all the paperwork for your work permit, visas and so forth, as well as offering you a generous relocation and remuneration package. We really need a safe pair of hands for this project, because between you and me, we’re taking a pretty big gamble relocating all the Royal London admin to California, so this transition
has
to go smoothly.  We really can't afford to antagonise any of the major clients we’ve inherited.”

“And you honestly think I'm the right person for the role, that I'm really up to it?” I asked, still very bemused. “Are you sure this isn’t just a guilt thing? You know, because of what happened between us?”

“Absolutely not.  I would never let anything from my personal life influence my professional judgement. If you think about this logically, Faith, you’ll realise it wouldn’t do either of us any favours, if it transpired you weren’t up to the role, after I’d personally recommended you. So, with that in mind, you can be confident that I truly believe you are by far the best candidate for the job. Look, I appreciate you’ll need some time to think this through, which is why I wanted to speak to you now, rather than wait until after the weekend.  We’re going to need an answer from you pretty much straight away, because if you’re not interested, we’ll have to start casting our nets wider to find another candidate. But we’d really struggle to find anyone half as suitable as you, because without question, your knowledge of all the relevant Royal London systems is second to none.”

“I suppose that is true,” I murmured, still in a state of shock.

“And I know leaving your family behind would be a wrench, but I’m sure we could negotiate around building in some vacation trips back home.  Also, your family can always come out to visit with you too.  And look how easily we’re communicating, despite the distance,” he continued persuasively.

“But the workshop… Neil… I couldn’t go off and leave him in the lurch,” I worried.

“Which is why you really need to have things out with him, Faith. You can't turn down an opportunity like this just because you feel beholden to him. As I said to you before, even if he does want to continue with the business, there are other book keepers and accountants out there. You know you’re going to have to face this issue with Neil sooner or later.”

“I know you’re right, and having seen the books today, I have a horrid feeling I already know what the answer is going to be,” I sighed. “He’s struggling to make a go of things, I guess because he’s just not as driven as Drew was.”

“Fact is, either way, you can't let matters continue to drift, whatever you decide about this job offer. Look, I gotta go - I’m meeting my brothers for lunch at my parents, so I’ll speak to you again later, after you’ve had some time to think things through. I really hope you’re going to accept the job though, Faith. I truly think it would work out for the best all round,” he tried to convince me.

“Okay, we’ll talk later, after I’ve had a chance to mull things over.  I’m out tonight, so it’ll probably have to be tomorrow,” I said, still struggling to get my head around this totally unexpected offer.

“Oh? Where are you heading off to?” Caleb frowned, seeming rather put out that I actually had a social life to divert my attention away from far more important work matters.

“Harry’s dragging me off out to a party with some of her airline crew friends. I’m not that keen on going to be honest, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer,” I sighed. “She says there’ll be lots of hot guys there for me to meet, but I’m thinking a fair few are going to be gay, aren’t they?”

“I guess, but in any case don't drink too much, don't take any risks, make sure you stay safe,” he frowned. “Text me when you’re back, so I know you’re okay.”

“I’ll be fine, there’s no need for that,” I insisted, thinking he definitely sounded like a protective big brother. “Look, in all probability, I’ll be tucked up in bed at home before midnight.”

“All the same, I would like for you to text me.  Please?” Caleb shot me one of his winning smiles as he waggled his eyebrows.

“Okay,” I relented, unable to resist such a charming request.

***

I tried to lose myself in the party, to let go and enjoy myself, but Caleb’s unexpected job offer, and what to do about Neil and the workshop was playing on my mind, so I just couldn’t get into the spirit of things, especially as I’d never been much of a party animal anyway.

I still hadn't told Harry about sleeping with Caleb. Gossiping about what had happened just didn't feel right, I didn't feel comfortable discussing it with anyone, not even her. But that meant she thought I still hadn't made any progress about dating and moving on.  So, to keep her happy and not be accused of being a party pooper, I danced with a couple of the guys she introduced me to. Although they were undeniably good looking and very charming, I just didn’t click with any of them the way I had with Caleb, and I wasn’t the slightest bit tempted to consider sleeping with any of them.

I put that down to the fact that he hadn't really been a stranger, having worked together closely, one on one every day for a whole week. Also, Caleb had been my choice, and he’d been great in the way he’d accepted unquestioningly that whatever happened between us had to be on
my
terms, so I’d felt in control.  I very much doubted that would be the case with any of these unknown guys that Harry was pushing at me, which I didn't really appreciate, any more than I appreciated my sister’s attempts at pushing me with Neil. I was fed up with everyone trying to push me around, assuming they knew what was best for me.

It made me think that maybe going over to the States for a week to find out about this role that Caleb had told me about wasn’t such a bad idea, because at least it’d mean I’d have some space to think things through, without anyone’s well meaning but aggravating interference. 

It would be weird seeing Caleb again, as I’d only slept with him thinking I’d never see him again, and I’d have to clear the air to get that situation clarified.  But that was one of the great things about Caleb - I knew I could speak my mind with him. We both had our professional reputations to consider, and if anyone got a hint about us having slept together, they’d no doubt assume that that was the only reason I was being offered this job in San Francisco. I supposed I accepted Caleb’s argument that he wouldn’t risk his hard earned reputation by offering me the role if he didn’t think I was up to it, and it was true that I knew the systems better than anyone else. Relocating to another country was not something I had ever considered before, but whichever way I looked at things, the sensible solution was to take up the offer to go over there for the week, if only to rule it out.

F
or some reason, I couldn’t ignore the concerns I had about Faith going to this party she’d told me about, and while I was at my folk’s place, I found myself constantly checking my cell to see if she’d texted to say she’d gotten home safely, like I'd asked her to.

As it got late, even taking the time difference into account, I thought I should’ve heard something, so while Mom was clearing away after dinner, I slipped outside and tried to call Faith, to try and put my mind at rest. When she didn't pick up, I sent a text, which she would hopefully see and respond to. 

Not that I could do anything from the other side of the world, but I just wanted to check that she was okay, remembering only too vividly the way she’d reacted after the first time we’d slept together. I hated the thought of her being left all alone and crying, collapsed in a distraught heap, as she might be if she’d ended up in bed with some thoughtless prick at the party, someone who thought he’d use her for a quick easy lay.

“You’ve been so distracted today, checking your cell every five seconds, that if I didn't know better, bro, I’d think maybe you were sweating on hearing from some special lady,” my brother commented from behind me. I hadn't heard Seth follow me out, but I just ignored him as I finished sending my text to Faith.

“So, who is she?” he persisted, as he came round to stand in front of me with his arms folded, a sardonic smile playing around his mouth. There was only eighteen months between us, and we looked so alike that we’d often been taken for twins in the past.  We had very different personalities though, which was why we’d taken such different career paths.

But we were both driven to succeed - Seth had worked very hard to make a success of his automotive workshop, just as I had worked extremely hard to progress at the bank. 

Bottom line was we’d always been very close, and he could read me like no one else.

“It’s nothing like you're thinking, Seth. I’m just checking on a work colleague, that’s all,” I replied.

“But I’m betting it’s a female work colleague?” He raised his eyebrows questioningly. 

“None of your damn business,” I stated.

“So it
is
a lady,” he grinned. “What’s her name, then?”

I stared at him for a minute, and then sighed, resigning myself to the fact that my nosy brother wasn’t going to give up until I gave him some kind of a tidbit. At least he’d waited until we were outside and away from Mom. The last thing I needed was her on my case as well.

“Her name is Faith, and we worked together when I was over in London recently. I thought she showed a great deal of potential, so I’m mentoring her, helping with her career progression,” I explained.

“But there’s more to it than that, isn’t there? Otherwise why would you be so anxious about contacting her, if she’s just a ‘work colleague’?” Seth continued to badger me.

I glared at him, but he just calmly met my gaze, and I knew he’d just keep on and on at me, so I heaved a sigh of resignation as I went ahead and told him a bit more.

“While we were working together, I found out she’s had a real hard time over the last couple of years, since her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. I guess that helped me put things into perspective, made me realize perhaps I hadn't had things so bad, compared to her,” I shrugged. “So, seeing as she’s a valuable asset the bank would be foolish to let go, I’m doing my best to keep her on after we shut the London office.”

“So, did you sleep with her?” Seth coolly asked.

“None of your fucking business,” I snapped back.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Seth quirked an eyebrow. “So now you’re feeling guilty because you took advantage of her, that it?”

“No! Nothing like that,” I protested. “Look, all I’m doing right now is trying to get in touch to discuss a work related matter. I’m just a little concerned because I can't seem to make contact with her, and I want to make sure she’s alright. Is that such a crime?”

“Well, well, about fucking time, CJ.  Lucas and I had a bet on how long it was gonna take,” Seth grinned.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I scowled.

“Welcome back. Finally, the return of the real Caleb Joshua Mackenzie, the nice guy, the caring guy, not that shitty, douche bag, man-whore Cassie turned you into for a while back there.  Despite all your efforts to ditch your wholesome image, and reinvent yourself as some kind of a Lothario, we knew you still had to be in there somewhere,” he pronounced.

“Lothario? You swallow a fucking dictionary or something? Look, don't go reading anything into this, Seth. Faith is just a work colleague, nothing more.  And I'm not any kind of a man-whore or stupid fucking Lothario like you’re suggesting, because I don't use women. There’s nothing wrong with fully consensual, no strings sex between two adults.”

Like I'd shared with Faith? No way was I letting my brother know anything about that though.

“You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. But at some point you’re going to have to accept that just because your wife trampled all over your self esteem by cheating on you with another guy, that does
not
mean you have to overcompensate to prove your virility by fucking every available woman you come across.”

“Don't be so ridiculous, Seth, that’s not how I act. All that happened was that, thanks to Cassie, I grew up and stopped being so naïve, stopped believing in all that happy ever after, married to the same person for the rest of your life bullshit.”

“Don't let Mom hear you talking like that, seeing as her and Dad have been married for what, over thirty years now?” he advised.

“That’s different. They’re different. Unique, even,” I told him. “And anyway, you’re not qualified to lecture me, as I don't see you settling down and getting married anytime soon. You still seem happy enough sowing all those wild oats of yours.”

“Well, I’m younger than you, and maybe I just haven’t met the right woman yet. Doesn't mean to say I’ve ruled out the prospect though,” Seth smiled lazily.

“Well, best of luck with that one, little bro. I truly thought I’d picked the right woman when I married Cassie. Turned out I couldn’t have been more wrong,” I stated.

“You know, not every woman is like her. You were just taken in by Cassie’s looks, which made you blind to how shallow and self-centered she really was. Now, about this Faith. I take it she’s a Brit, if you met her in London, and so she lives over there?” Seth swiftly turned the conversation back around again. Like a dog with a bone, he wasn’t about to give up.

“Yep.”

“So how can you help her from here?”

“Having worked with Faith in London, it didn't take long to figure using her expertise going forward could make our lives a hell of a lot easier. So that’s why I pushed for her to be offered a role in overseeing things from this side,” I explained calmly and rationally, keeping it all work related. “Career wise, it’d be a really good move for her too, so as I see it, it’s a mutually beneficial, win/win situation all round.”

“So, that means Faith’s coming over here?” Seth queried.

“Possibly, I’m not sure yet. I only offered her the position earlier today, so she needs some time to consider whether she’d be prepared to relocate.  That’s why I was checking my cell, to see if she’d come to any decision yet.”

“But this job offer does mean you’ll be seeing her again?” Seth relentlessly kept on the same track.

“If she accepts, yes. Purely in a work capacity though,” I hastily clarified. No way was I ever going to admit that I hadn't been able to get Faith out of my head ever since I got back from England. I put it down to the fact that she was different from all the other women I'd slept with since my divorce.  Faith was such an intriguing mix. Vulnerable, sweet, shy and yet uninhibited and proactive in bed, making the sex we’d shared pretty memorable. Maybe it was because I was the first guy she’d been with since her husband, that made me feel some kind of responsibility towards her - it was hard to explain even to myself, let alone my brother.

“So if she needs time to consider this job offer, why are you badgering her on a weekend?” Seth continued.

“Because we need her answer pretty much straight away, if the project isn’t going to be delayed in any way,” I said. “Ideally, we’d like her in place as soon as possible, to take care of the inevitable hiccups that are bound to occur.”

“And contacting her really couldn’t wait until tomorrow? Was it really so urgent that you had to check with her while you were supposed to be relaxing with your family today?” Seth took a swig of beer from the bottle he’d brought out with him, as he coolly regarded me with eyes that were just a touch lighter shade of amber than mine.

“Look, I’m just sending her a text, that’s all. You’re making far too big of a deal out of this,” I protested. “Come on, let’s go back inside now.  The others will be wondering where we’ve gotten to.”

But by the smug, knowing look on Seth’s face, I knew he didn't believe me for a second, especially as I didn't really understand myself why I felt this strong need to check in with Faith.

Nor could I properly explain why I’d not felt inclined to procure myself any kind of sexual activity since I’d returned from London, but I put it down to the pressure of work getting to me.  I might have had a reputation as the go-to hatchet man for dealing with hostile takeovers, but handling any redundancy situation was always much harder once you’d met the employees, and could put names to faces.  I much preferred to handle things at a distance, to avoid getting emotionally sucked in, so that’s why I'd initially been reluctant to take the London assignment, but I’d been overruled by my boss.

Things didn't get any easier after Seth and I went back inside.

“Vanessa Armstrong was asking after you, when I saw her in town a little while back,” Lucas informed me. “I told her you were away on business, said maybe you’d get in touch when you got back.”

My youngest brother also had the trademark Mackenzie hair, along with the amber eyes.  Mom often complained that her genes had been totally dominated by Dad’s, as none of us had her blonde hair or blue eyes.

“What in hell’s name did you go and say that for?” I glared at Lucas. After the divorce, I’d had a heck of a job trying to tactfully distance myself from Cassie’s sister, so the last thing I needed was him giving her any kind of encouragement.

“Vanessa’s nothing like Cassie. Always thought you picked the wrong sister,” Lucas calmly stated.

“If you think Vanessa’s all that, why don't you go ahead and give her a call yourself, Lucas?  Trust me, I’ve had more than enough of the Armstrong sisters to last me a lifetime,” I replied tersely.

“Wouldn’t be any point, seeing as it’s you she’s crazy about, Caleb,” he replied. “Just give the poor girl a call, put her out of her misery.”

I knew what he was saying was true enough, but it made no difference. Vanessa was a nice enough girl, but I’d never been interested in her, and no way did I want any connections with that family, not when they only served to dredge up all kinds of shitty memories of my marriage.

“It wouldn’t be right or fair when I'm not interested in whatever she’s offering, now would it?” I insisted irritably, wishing my brother would just shut the fuck up, while wondering how the hell I could check my phone again without Seth noticing and making some kind of comment. If I could only see I’d gotten a reply from Faith saying she was okay, I’d be able to relax.

“You seem kinda distracted this evening, honey. Is everything okay?” Mom asked, as she looked over at me. The way Mom unerringly honed in whenever any of us had something on our minds never ceased to amaze me. She seemed to have a sixth sense about these things. A momma bear’s intuition, that’s what Dad said it was.

“I’m fine, Mom. Just got a lot of things going on at work, that’s all,” I smiled reassuringly at her.

“Hmm.  Seems to me you’ve become even more of a workaholic since your divorce, burying yourself in your job, and travelling away so much. You know, it really is time you thought about starting over again, Caleb. I worry about you being lonely on your own, I’d really love for you to bring a nice girl home for us to meet.” Mom reached over and patted my arm as she smiled, while out of the corner of my eye, I could see Seth smirking. I glared a warning at him, but of course he couldn’t resist.

“Well, Mom, I think our Caleb might just have met someone, but the problem is, he’s sweating on her moving nearer,” he grinned.

“What! You might have said something, Caleb,” Mom exclaimed. “Who is she? And what does Seth mean about her moving nearer?”

“Seth is mistaken, Mom. Just because I happen to be mentoring a female colleague from our London office, that does
not
mean I'm involved with her romantically,” I clarified. What Faith and I had shared hadn't been any kind of a romance; it had just been a mutually beneficial interlude.

“Well, I'd say this English lady must be something special to have you on such pins and needles, waiting to see if she’s going to be heading on over from London out here to California,” Seth raised his eyebrows challengingly, as Mom fixed her stare on me.

“So, tell me more, Caleb.  Exactly who is this English colleague you’ve been personally mentoring? As your brother said, she must be someone special, as I don't recall you ever mentoring anyone before.  What made you decide to take on this role now?”