The Relationship Coach (17 page)

“Haven’t you ever been in a relationship just for the sex?”

Lacey thought about the relationships in her past and realized she was so picky there were very few that lasted more than three to five dates. “Nope, can’t say I have. I’m more interested in the person’s personality and whether or not I enjoy being with them.”

He laughed. “Spoken like a woman. You should give it a try sometime.”

“And do what? Get my heart broken because all the guy is interested in is having sex and my emotions become involved? I can’t do it.”

What he was suggesting went against all her principles. She would never just let herself experience sex without being in a relationship.

“No. Keep the emotions out of it. Just experience the passion,” he insisted.

“Oh brother, now you sound like my mother.”

“How’s that?”

Lacey glanced over at Reed, wondering why he was so easy to talk to and why she was divulging this information to him. “It’s the word
passion
. She thinks all relationships are based on chemistry and passion.”

“And yours is based on what?”

“Mutual goals and interest. What are your relationships based on?”

“Sex. The only mutual goal we have is for us both to reach an orgasm. I usually let her go first,” he said with a laugh.

Lacey stared at him in surprise, realizing he was trying to rile her, but she wasn’t going to take the bait. “Well, at least you’re up front about it. It must be a real trial for you to sit through my seminars and listen to how to have a meaningful relationship.”

He grinned. “Not really, but I am shocked at the number of people who attend.” He glanced over at her. “You don’t look like you would have a problem with passion in your life. Trouble having orgasms?”

She felt her face flame. She could tell he enjoyed this cat and mouse game of trying to aggravate her. She smiled at him. “That is none of your business, but no, I have no problem achieving an orgasm. There is nothing wrong with me sexually. I just…” She stopped and gazed over at him. “Why am I explaining myself to you? You’re doing a documentary on me, and I don’t need this conversation repeated for everyone in America.”

He shrugged. “Worldwide distribution, sweetheart, but this is off the record.”

“Still, my sex life is fine. I just don’t sleep around,” she admitted.

With a quick glance, his eyes conveyed the message men had given women since the beginning of time. “That’s a shame. I’d check out the sheets with you anytime.”

Lacey felt an unexplained shiver of anticipation go through her. “Sorry, I’m engaged.”

Reed sighed. “So I’ve been told. But I don’t see a ring on your finger.”

“No, not yet. But still, I’m in a committed relationship. Besides, if that’s your ‘get me into bed’ technique, it’s a little brusque.” How long was her committed relationship going to last? Especially when Dean brought home high dollar cars they couldn’t afford.

He glanced over and with a voice low and throaty said, “Oh, please, tell me you didn’t just say that. You’ve now thrown down the gauntlet for me to show you how competitive I really am.”

The way he was looking at her left her breathless, her body buzzing like the low speed on a vibrator. “I take that back. I’m sure whatever technique you use works very well for you.”

The traffic came to a complete halt, and Reed braked hard to bring them to a stop.

“Oh no, this doesn’t look good,” he said, glancing at his watch.

She sighed. “This could take a while.”

He laughed. “Good. That means I can ask you more questions about your sex life.”

“I don’t think so. My sex life is none of your business.”

“Do you want to ask me about mine?”

She glanced over at him; his green eyes sparkled with mischief. This guy was nuts. “No.”

“I don’t have one right now,” he confessed.

She arched her brows. “I find that hard to believe. I thought guys like you just went out to a bar and hooked up with someone.”

“Hey, I’m a little pickier than that. I like to find someone I enjoy being with, who wants to have a good time, and knows this isn’t permanent.”

“And women agree to it?” she asked, thinking how weak some women were when it came to a handsome man with a sharp mind.

“Yeah,” he said with a smile.

“And they go along with the fact there’s not going to be anything permanent between the two of you?” She watched the frown appear on his face. He had been doing this long enough he’d obviously learned what to expect from women.

“Sometimes I think women think they’ll change my mind.”

“I just bet they do.”

“And then it gets kind of messy when I break it off with them.” His hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, making the rubber squeak.

“Now I would love to hear some of those stories. I bet they are quite interesting. The female species can be vindictive when they are rejected.”

He nodded his head in agreement. “You can say that again. My apartment has been trashed twice. My car keyed. My mattress destroyed and several Facebook pages devoted to what a bastard I am.”

“Ouch! I’m not surprised,” Lacey said, gazing out at the scenery. “There are very few women who can have sex with a man for long without thinking about marriage and babies. Sorry, but we’re just hard-wired that way. We may have the occasional sexual fling, but our goal is to procreate and save the species.”

Reed gave her a long look, his gaze was like warm honey on a hot piece of bread. “That worked for the first couple of thousand years, but I don’t think that premise currently holds water.”

“No,” she insisted. “It’s part of our DNA, just like men are hunters. You may not hunt and kill a bear for us to eat, but your basic nature is to be protective and bring home the bacon. It’s part of the reason why you’re so competitive.”

Looking at the car in front of him, he downshifted into second gear. “This is not good.” He glanced at his watch again.

“Are you in a hurry?”

“My film class starts in thirty minutes.”

“I don’t think you’re going to have time to drop me off at the office and get to your class. Would it help you if I went to the class with you?” Spending the evening watching Reed teach high school students the art of filmmaking would be interesting. Watching him deal with high school kids could be entertaining.

Dean glanced away from the highway. “Would you mind?”

“No. I was going to go home, feed my cat, and act like all single women.”

“How’s that?”

“Call my boyfriend.”

Chapter Ten

L
acey didn’t know what to think as she watched Reed work with the different students. They each had brought in a CD showing five minutes of filming. As the students played their CDs, Reed critiqued what they’d filmed and told them how they could have gotten a better shot with the camera.

She sat in a corner of the room and observed how patient he was with the students and watched the respect on their faces when he praised their work.

“Chad, if you had shot the scene with the sun behind you, the natural light would have highlighted your subjects better. Where did you shoot this film?”

The kid’s baggy jeans, sideways ball cap, and t-shirt made him look like he belonged to a street gang. “Downtown Garland. We were hanging out, and I had my camera, so I started filming.”

“Good enough. For the final assignment of the year, I want a focused five minute short. Film it like you’re telling a story. Think of yourself as a news reporter. Show me the action or the results of whatever you’re filming. I’ll be looking at how you frame the shots.”

“Now, let’s look at José’s.” Reed put the CD into the player.

Lacey stared at how the kid had filmed an elderly couple holding hands as they walked down the street. He’d captured the way the woman glanced at the man and smiled. Birds chirped in the background, competing with the sound of cars and children, while the couple strolled through the park. His film memorialized the elderly pair’s devotion for each other on film and warmed her heart.

“Excellent, Jose, excellent,” Reed said. “You captured their emotions. The lighting is good, and the audience is with the couple. We’re sharing their love as they stroll through the park.”

Two squirrels ran in front of the couple, and the camera lens followed them as they chased one another around a tree, until finally one of the animals stopped. The other squirrel leaped onto its back and started humping.

The kids roared with laughter, and even Lacey couldn’t help but giggle.

Reed shook his head at the student. “Just when I think you have a great human interest story, you switch to animal lust.”

“They jumped in front of the old couple, and I had to see what would happen next,” the kid exclaimed, a mischievous smile on his young face.

“Excellent, Jose. Not the humping squirrels, but what you just said. All good filmmakers have to see what is going to happen next. That’s what keeps the audience entertained, and their interest focused on your film. The audience must be riveted to the film, or they won’t spend their money on your next project.”

“It just came naturally,” the kid said.

Reed laughed. “Yeah, I see you’re a real nature lover.”

Warmth seemed to fill her as she watched him work with these young kids. They liked him, and he was eager to teach them what he knew about filmmaking. She’d never expected to see him so eager and open, while he taught.

He stood in front of the students. “When we meet again in two weeks, I want you to present me an outline of what you’re going to do for your final shoot. Make it detailed. I want to know you’ve put some thought into this final project.”

Groans filled the classroom.

“Hey, this is a voluntary class. There’s a door if you don’t want to do the work.” He gazed around the room at everyone. “Any questions for next time?”

No one responded. “Okay, I’ll see you in two weeks.

Reed sat down at the desk, packing up his notes, while most of the boys scrambled for the door. A few came up to Reed and spoke to him. She couldn’t hear what they talked about, but just watching him help these kids from a lower socio-economic high school gave her a new respect for Reed. A first-class filmmaker, he didn’t have to spend time helping others, but he obviously enjoyed teaching these boys.

The others left, leaving only Jose. “Mr. Hunter, I thought I was getting some good film.”

“Your shooting is excellent. It’s your subjects that are lacking.” Reed pulled his chair closer to Jose. “Of everyone in this class, you have the best natural talent. You need to prove to me you’re serious about making yourself into a filmmaker. I put my name on the line for you when I recommended you to the film school, show me you can produce. I know you have the ability, now prove to me you have the determination.”

Reed’s pep talk to his student was encouraging, but asking the kid to work harder. And working harder was what it took in today’s world.

“I need that scholarship, man. I’ll do better,” the kid said.

“Good, see you in two weeks.”

***

Lacey walked with Reed to the car.

“Sorry, that took longer than I’d planned,” he said, as they hurried across the parking lot.

“That’s okay.”

Reed took her elbow as they went. “Jose’s a good kid, but he doesn’t have any direction. His parents are not involved in his education. I suspect they’re either drug users or alcoholics.”

A tingle of awareness rippled through her body at his touch, and she wondered why her body responded to the feel of his fingers on her elbow.

“Wow. I guess there are worse things than multiple marriages, regarding your parents,” she said, not able to fathom having parents on drugs.

“A lot worse. I’m hoping I can get Jose a scholarship into film school.”

Lacey gazed at the man before her. There was so much more to him than she’d first believed. A little on the cocky side, but he was an artist, and creative types were carefree individuals who lived life their way. But Reed seemed genuine and caring when he worked with these kids. Anyone who took on a class of high school students in a poor neighborhood had her admiration.

Was Reed more the real deal than Dean?

“Hey, you’re zoning on me.”

“Sorry, I guess the day is catching up with me. I was thinking about those kids and how tough their world must be, surrounded by gangs and drugs. Makes me appreciate my little corner of the world.”

Reed made documentaries that showed different aspects of the world, both good and bad and helped less fortunate kids, while Dean worked for a pharmaceutical company and focused on the next step on the corporate ladder of success. Her role as Dean’s wife would be to help him achieve that corporate success. Is that what she really wanted?

“Yeah, they’re a tough bunch. If I can help them in some small way, I will, but they have to want to succeed. There are no free rides in life,” he said.

Lacey chuckled at Reed’s no nonsense approach, but her mind returned to thoughts of Dean. By helping him pay off his credit cards, was she giving him a free ride?

They walked alongside each other, their pace unhurried until they reached his car and climbed in.

“Thanks for coming with me. I know this wasn’t what you had planned tonight.”

She gazed at Reed, feeling like today had helped her understand him. Even his attempts to rile her over her sex life. “Actually, I enjoyed the evening. It showed me a lot about who you are. Whatever doubts I may have had about you doing a documentary on my business have disappeared. I’m confident you’ll do a great job.”

***

Three days later, Lacey sat in Dean’s new car while he drove them to dinner.

“Is this not the best ride ever? The leather seats are so soft it feels like they just wrap around you,” he bragged.

“What did your parents say about the car?” she asked, still not comfortable with the opulent vehicle and wanting to know if anyone besides herself thought he’d dove into a financial pit .

“My mom loved it, but Dad told me I got ripped off. He said I paid too much.”