Forever Waiting Read online

  I went inside to the security desk and gave the guard my name. He gave me a badge and told me to go to the 22nd floor, where Mr. Brooks’ assistant would take me in to see Zaine.

  When I got off the elevator at the 22nd floor, I went to the reception desk and said, “Excuse me, I’m here to see Mr. Brooks.” The older lady sitting behind the desk responded without looking up at me. “Name, please?” she said.

  “Ms. Landrey Steele,” I said.

  She looked up at me through her glasses and said, “Ah, yes. Mr. Brooks has been expecting you. Go on in.”

  I thanked her and went to the door, taking a deep breath, and walked into Zaine’s office. He was on the phone, and put one finger in the air and nodded me toward the couch. I walked over, put my bag down and sat, crossing my legs.

  He hung up the phone and said, “Sorry that was one of our offices in London. I have to go there in a few days and handle some issues we’ve been having.”

  “You have offices in London?” I asked.

  “Yeah, my little brother handles it mostly, but sometimes he needs me,” he said. “Ryan—that’s my brother—is here to visit for a couple of days, and when he heads back, I’m going with him.”

  “I guess I didn’t realize how big your company was. I thought you were only local,” I said.

  “Well it started out that way and just blew up. We do a good job and people noticed it. We were working with a production company here in LA, and they couldn’t find anyone decent over there to do a project with them. They asked us to travel for the job, and we realized how much demand there was overseas. So, we opened an office there a couple of years ago,” he explained.

  “I am happy for you, Zaine,” I said. “I always knew you would be successful.” It was something I had thought about over the years. I knew Zaine would be great at whatever he did. He had always been driven, so there was no doubt he would be a big success.

  Zaine was staring at me and it was making me nervous. I guess he had a lot on his mind since I had just shown up unexpected. “Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked. He was starting to freak me out. Then he smiled, strode over to me and leaned down, and kissed me quickly.

  “God Lan, I can’t believe you’re here. We need to catch up. I want to know every little thing I’ve missed in your life.”

  “Well, right now we have this show to talk about. That’s why I’m here, right?” I said, picking at my fingernail.

  “You honestly think I brought you here to talk about lighting?” Zaine looked at me, amused.

  “Yes, I do. Your brother had some good ideas, but I’m just afraid he would be too busy flirting with the staff to get anything done.”

  “Yeah that’s my brother—he loves his women. But I also know he’s really good at what he does, so you don’t have to worry about it,” he assured me.

  “If you say so. He’s a trip, that’s for sure,” I said wryly.

  Zaine walked over and sat down. He sat so close to me I could smell his cologne, and it was invigorating. He always smelled nice. He grabbed my hand, intertwined my fingers with his, and rubbed his thumb back and forth. He leaned in and gave me another hot kiss, one that I could feel to my core. He pulled back and stared at me. “I’m having a cookout tomorrow. My brothers will be there and you can bring your friend with you. Bring your bathing suits, too. I want you there with me.”

  I smiled and said, “Sure I can come.”

  “Good. I’ll send my driver to get you guys around noon. Is that okay?”

  I nodded, nervous again because we still had never talked about what had happened between us, or what was going to happen when I left to go back to New York. We also hadn’t discussed what happened last night. If he wasn’t going to bring it up, I would have to.

  “Zaine, we need to talk about last night. I need to know what you expect of me. I don’t want to hurt you again so …” I paused, unsure of what to say next. “I mean, you keep kissing me and holding my hand as if we’ve always been together. I’m kind of surprised you’re not trying to do something mean to me, after what I did to you.”

  He looked at me and said, “Babe, if you think you’re going to get away from me again, you’ve got another think coming. Yeah, I was hurt when I first saw you again. I’ve thought about you every day since the day you left me to sit in the airport alone. But I know if you just give me a chance, if you let me prove to you that I want you so much it hurts, then maybe we could work things out together.”

  I had a happy tingling in my stomach, and I was on a high that I did not want to come down from. I knew I needed to give him a chance to show me he was as worthy as I thought he was. What could it hurt, really? I could have some fun and maybe a little bit of hot sex while I was on my work “vacay,” as Johan called it.

  I smiled at him and said, “Ok Zaine, we can see where this goes.”

  He seemed so happy! He got up and locked his office door, then came over to me on the couch. He leaned me back against the cushions, placing kisses on my neck as he lifted my blouse over my head. I let him take it off. I heard him gasp when he saw my black lace bra. Then he cupped my breasts and pulled the bra up over my head, and started sucking on the swell of my nipples. I moaned and could not wait for what was next.

  I pushed him back and started to unbutton his shirt. It dropped off his shoulders and on to the floor, and I lowered myself over him so he was on his back. I moved my hands over his firm chest and his eight pack abs, down to the defined v where his pants were. I unhooked his pants and pulled them down, along with his boxer briefs.

  I started stroking his already hardening cock. It was so silky. I leaned down and took him in my mouth to get him harder, then straightened up and gave him a kiss. I reached into my bag and pulled out one of the condoms I kept on hand just in case, and started rolling it over his shaft. He was moaning, waiting to see what I would do next. I stood up and removed my skirt and panties.

  “Damn, Lan!,” he said hoarsely. I put my fingers over his lips and slowly slid down onto his beautiful cock. He started thrusting into me, and I took him all in. Moving our hips together, we grinded till we had a steady motion going. He sat up and flipped me over so he was on top of me, placing my legs over his shoulders, He was so deep inside of me that I couldn’t hold back my cries of happiness. He moved inside of me, softly at first and then harder, and I could feel myself tightening around him, my orgasm near.

  “I am going to... Oh, my God... Zaine,” I cried out. He kept thrusting and I reached up and pulled him to my lips. He kissed me with such need as he thrust two more times, then he climaxed while gazing into my eyes. I saw him lift his head back in pleasure.

  He pulled out of me and went to his bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he came back, he knelt in front of me and took my hands in his. “Now, tell me again that you’re going to give us a chance.”

  I smiled and said what he wanted to hear. I put my clothes back on, and leaned forward to give him a kiss. Reluctantly I pulled away.

  ”I have to go to the boutique so I can make sure the new staff is all set and getting ready for the grand opening,” I said softly.

  He had a huge smile on his face. “Will you come to my house tonight? Then you can just stay over and help me get ready for the cookout. I do remember you being quite the cook.”

  ”Yeah, yeah,” I said, pleased that he remembered the dinners I used to make for him and our friends. “So what you’re telling me is that you just want me to come over and cook for you and your brothers?” I looked at him with a sly grin on my face.

  ”Well, no, that’s not all I want. But we haven’t had a good meal since my parents retired and moved to the Caribbean. We usually get together and OD on meat and beer—never any salads or yummy sides, just meat.” He was sticking his bottom lip out in a pout.

  “What about Tayla? How will she get to your house? I refuse to be the only chick there this time,” I said.

  “She can come over tomorrow afternoon. I can send a car to ge
t her if she needs one,” he reasoned.

  “All right, Mr. Brooks. I will come slave for you and your brothers, but I better get rewarded for my time,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows up and down.

  “Oh you will be, you have my word on that”. He grabbed me by the waist and kissed me.

  After I left Zaine’s office, I had Ethan take me over to the boutique. He was a very handsome man so I didn’t have a problem talking with him while he drove me around. I asked him where he grew up, how he started working as a driver—the normal conversations people have when they first meet. I knew that my next question was probably none of my business, but I didn’t care. Tayla had butted into my business, so I was going to butt into hers. She had acted strangely when Aaron came on the stage with me and I didn’t know why. As far as I knew she’d spent most of her evenings with Ethan, so I was very confused over the whole thing.

  “So Ethan, have you and Tayla been having fun hanging out?” I waited for his response.

  He finally said, “Well, we had fun the first couple of days she was here, but we went to a club one night and I got a little too drunk and pissed her off. She left with some pretty boy, and that was the end of it. I just pick her up and drop her off, and we act like nothing ever happened. It’s no big deal though.”

  Ah, so maybe the “pretty boy” she left with was Aaron. I was going to have play detective a bit, because I knew Tayla wouldn’t tell me. I’d soon find out at Zaine’s house. I hadn’t had the chance to tell her that Aaron was his brother, so I could have some fun with this whole thing. I couldn’t wait.

  I got to the boutique and saw that things were coming together well. The construction workers were there building shelves and a nice display case for designer jewelry, and the window display case was amazing. Johan had spent a pretty penny buying this place, so I can imagine what he spent to put it all together. I was just here to make sure everything went as planned.

  ”Hey,” I said to the men working there, “everything looks good. Are we going to be done in time for the grand opening next month?”

  This big stinky dude with a long beard came up to me with a big smile on his face. “Oh yeah. We’re ahead, so it might even be done before then. If I get it done early do I get a bonus?” he leered.

  I gave him a scathing look and said, “Uh, no, big guy. If you’re thinking your bonus will be me, forget it. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”

  He walked away muttering over his shoulder. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  My phone buzzed, and I fumbled through all the crap I truly didn’t need in my purse to find it. When I finally located it, I saw there was a text from Tayla.

  “Where are you at? Let’s go have a drink. I need one badly.”

  I texted her back telling her I would meet her at the bar around the corner from our condo. Ethan was still outside—I had asked him to wait around since I didn’t think I would be long—so I had him drive me to the little pub, Warrens. It was quaint, with just the right touch and tons of yummy microbrews on tap. I’d always loved a good beer. Liquor made me a little crazy at times, so I tried to stay clear of it. Every once in a while, though, I felt spunky and just went with it, waking up with a good story to tell the Grandkids.

  I spotted Tayla at the bar nursing a Jack and coke. I sat next to her and nudged her arm. “All right, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing is wrong,” she said tersely. She would never tell me her feelings. She always had her guard up. I never believed her, but I couldn’t force her to ‘fess up. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, then changed the subject.

  “So good news. Zaine is having a cookout tomorrow and he’s invited us to hang out. I’m going to spend the night tonight and help him cook, but he’ll send Max, his driver, to pick you up tomorrow,” I said. I saw that she was hesitating, so I pressed my case. “You have to come, Tayla! I do not want to be the only girl there. Bring your suit too—he has a pool.” Tayla gave me a weird look, and I realized that even to myself I sounded way too “valley girl” for a New Yorker.

  “A party, huh? And guys will be there? Hell yeah, I’m down. If they’re as hot as Zaine Brooks, I am sooo down,” Tayla said.

  “Well, they’re his brothers, so you might get lucky,” I said, grinning inwardly.

  “Oh yeah, brotherly love! I can hang. Speaking of hang... how is ….you know?”

  “Tayla, if you think I am going to sit here and talk about the girth in Zaine’s pants, you‘re wrong,” I said indignantly.

  “Oh come on! I need to know what I’ll be dealing with later. I’ve got to at least know if it will be worth my while with these guys,” she pleaded.

  “Good lord, woman, get a grip,” I laughed. “I’m sure they’ll be fun.” Letting her loose around Zaine’s brothers could be a bad thing, but I wondered what would happen when she saw Aaron. It would be interesting, to say the least. I had the feeling that Tayla had a crush on Aaron, and I wanted to figure it out.

  I finished my beer and told Tayla that we would send a car for her the next day. She was going to stay out and hit another bar with one of the staff members at the Design Center. I had Ethan drive me to the townhouse so I could get a bag and change clothes. Putting on my sexiest red lace bra and panty set and a strapless black chemise dress, I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. For the first time in a long time I actually had a reason to doll myself up. I put on some of my favorite perfume and headed back downstairs. Zaine had sent his car and driver, Max, to get me, and I ran out to the car, amping myself up for a fun weekend.

  The car pulled up to a gated community, and I realized I had no idea what Zaine’s house looked like. The houses were all very unique, and you could tell that each one had a touch of whomever owned it. We started down a winding driveway and my heart skipped a beat at what I saw. Zaine’s house was a beautiful executive home with a four-car garage and a lake at the rear of the property. It seemed a bit much for one person and I hadn’t really pictured Zaine in such a big house, but then again, in the short time I had known him he’d always done things in an over-the-top way. I kind of liked that because I was such a simple person. Max pulled up in front of the house and got out of the car, coming around to take my bag and help me out of the car.

  ”Mr. Brooks said to tell you to go on in and make yourself at home. He’ll be here shortly,” Max said, walking me to the front door.

  “Okay, thanks Max. Is there an alarm code or anything I should know?”

  “I’ve taken care of that for you,” he said.

  "Thanks again,” I responded. Max replied with a gracious smile.

  Inside, the house was amazing! I was taken aback. This man had truly made something of himself, and I wished again that I had not been so frightened eight years ago. I walked around the house and came to what I thought was my favorite room in the house, the kitchen. It was spectacular! There was a sprawling middle island and gleaming all-black granite countertops, and an amazing stove with a double oven—just what I would need to bake all day. I loved to bake when I was stressed. Tayla claimed to have put on five pounds one week, because I had so much stress from work that I made enough cookies to put the Keebler Elves on unemployment.

  I left the kitchen and walked down the arched hallway into a large living room with overstuffed couches and loungers and a large flat screen TV mounted on the wall. I went through the living room and out to the back porch, which led to a gorgeous pool. It looked like something from an island resort, with a small waterfall and an attached hot tub. My mind started to wander into all the possibilities there, and a smile crept over my face.

  Just past the pool area was the edge of the lake. Arched over it was a very large and wonderful weeping willow. My mind strayed back to the times in New York, when the guys and I hang out by the weeping willows behind my house, and when Zaine kissed me as I told him I would go to California with him.

  I sat down and gazed over the lake. It was so peaceful, and reminded me of good times—times when I wasn’t scared
, before I sunk into my own little world and felt that I was never good enough or deserving of a good life. I was over that now, and could look forward to all the things that were coming my way.

  I must have lost track of time, absorbed in my thoughts, because I didn’t hear Zaine when he came up behind me. The sun was setting and the view was just perfect. “You all right?” he asked.

  I jumped a little, startled by his appearance, and turned to face him. “Oh, I’m fine. When did you get here? I was just sitting here remembering home,” I said. “How did you find a house that had a weeping willow? This reminds me of the lake by my parents’ house.”

  He was quiet for a moment, and I could tell he was remembering too. “I put it here. It reminded me of you.”

  This was what I had been waiting for. Zaine and I hadn’t yet had a discussion about why I didn’t show up at the airport that day, and how it had affected him. I knew it tore me up, but for him, I couldn’t truly know.

  “Zaine, I... I can’t tell you how much I missed you. But I know that doesn’t make up for just letting you go, does it?”

  “No, Landry, it doesn’t,” he said, then paused. “You may wonder why I never tried to get in touch with you. I figured maybe I had done something wrong. You do know that even in such a short time, falling in love is possible? And that’s what it was for me. I had fallen for you.”

  I started crying softly, and struggled to explain. “You don’t understand, Zaine. I cared for you too, but I was scared. I’d been in love before and it was terrible—really horrible. I just wasn’t ready, and you came on so strong. My ex-boyfriend had convinced me that I wasn’t good enough, that I didn’t deserve to be loved. I guess I just didn’t believe that anything would be different with you.” I was hoping my words would calm him, and make him understand how I’d felt back then, but he just got angry.

  “I’m sorry that some asshole held your thoughts hostage and you were scared of, well... everything, but I was not him and you’re a beautiful person regardless of what anyone told you,” he said. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. “After you didn’t show up, I was so heartbroken that I couldn’t function. It took me forever to move on with my life. I got wrapped up in my work and that’s all I have done—work. That’s why my company is so profitable. I had no room for love. I was numb for a long time.”