3 Weeks 'Til Forever (3 page)

Chapter
6: Coincidences

As
Janey pulled her thick, wet hair into a curly pony tail on top of her head, she
reflected on what Redmond had said as she left him on the beach a few hours
earlier ...

If
you were my woman, not only would you not have been sitting on this beach alone
. . . I’d have other plans for you.

She
relished the phrase ‘my woman’ and blushed as she thought of what those plans
might include.

“Janey
Belle Coltrane, this stranger is taking up too much space in your head. Get it
together girl!” she admonished herself in the mirror as she prepared for her
solo dinner out that night.

Eating
out alone was not foreign to her at all, considering she was often in places
where she knew no one, so had no choice but to eat alone. She used to hate this
aspect of her business, but since her mom died, she’d come to not only enjoy
it, but look forward to it.

She
used the time constructively, often reflecting on what was important to her
like what had brought her to this point, what she really wanted out of life and
how to be happy alone.

This
last thought was one she spent a lot of time on at dinner because she spent a
lot of time observing people during her solo meals, and what she saw was a lot
of unhappy couples.

Janey
was surprised – once she started to really pay attention – at just how much you
could tell about a couple by how they interacted with each other over a dinner
table.

For
example, did the couple actually speak to each other?

Did
they spontaneously touch each other over a meal?

Were
their eyes constantly darting, only partially giving their mate their full
attention?

Did
he hold the chair out for her when she sat down and/or, would he get up when
she left the table?

Did
she acknowledge the gesture if he did?

Did
they eat off each other’s plates?

Did
they laugh and smile a lot (at all) during the 45 minutes to an hour most
dinners between couples lasted?

Janey
had a degree in Sociology and had always been a keen observer of people. She
noticed every little thing and was amazed at how many unhappy couples there
were in this world.

An
only child, she’d mastered the art of being alone. She quite enjoyed her own
company and after her boyfriend and her best friend’s betrayal, and her
mother’s death, she started to feel that she might indeed wind up this way –
even though it was the last thing she wanted.

But
she vowed that she’d rather be alone than be stuck in an unhappy relationship.
She never wanted to be one of
those couples
she saw frequently during
her solo dinners – those who barely spoke to each other and looked miserable.

If
that was what coupledom was, she decided she could skip it.

.
. .

As
Janey breezed out the foyer of the dimly lit restaurant, she looked for a
passing cab. One stopped and she hopped in, requesting “Mirabella Bay please.”

The
driver responded, “As you wish miss.”

Even
though she’d just heard it for the first time that afternoon, Janey would
recognize that voice anywhere.

“Redmond?”
she inquired.

“Yes,
it’s me.”

“You’re
a cab driver?”

“I
drive my own cab, yes.”

“Oh,”
was all she could think to say as she plopped back against the slightly worn
leather seat of his van.

“I
was just about to go off duty when I saw this vision in red coming out of
Nikodimo’s.”

“I
knew it was you and couldn’t help but stop. As you’re my last fare of the
night, let me take you for a night cap. I know a nice little place that plays
some mean zydeco on Thursday nights.”

When
he said “zydeco,” Janey’s ears perked up. She hadn’t heard it regularly since
her college days waiting tables in New York, when – coincidentally – the
well-known Zydeco group,
Loup Garou
– played regularly on Thursday
nights.

She
loved those Thursday nights, not only because the music was slammin’, but
because she knew she was going to be walking with at least $200 in tips. That’s
how popular the group was; they packed the house – and her pockets.

She
wondered if they’d have the entire setup. Most
Zydeco bands
have an accordion, a
frottoir
, which is a modified washboard; an
electric guitar; bass; and drums. Some also have secondary instruments like the
fiddle, a keyboard and some horns.  

Janey hadn’t realized that she’d voiced this thought
aloud when Redmond said, “Yes, they do. It’s a popular band that plays all over
the Caribbean and they happen to be in town this week. I know the owner of the
spot where they’re playing their current gig. You up for it?”

Smiling widely, Janey replied, “You bet!”

At that, Redmond pulled over to the curb and told
her to join him in the front, saying, “I’m off duty; I don’t want to feel like
your cab driver this evening, although I will safely taxi you back to your
hotel after.”

           
Redmond had a way of stating things rather than asking, so she did as he wanted
and within the next 20 minutes, they were seated comfortably at the front of
the little club – perfectly situated to see every aspect of the show.

           
Janey ordered a
Jack Daniels
neat. Redmond raised his eyebrows at that;
respecting a woman who could order a ‘man’s drink’ so comfortably, yet still
look so darned feminine.

This
woman was a bundle of inconsistencies and she was getting under his skin; he’d
never met anyone quite like her.

           
He ordered a beer and before they had a chance to engage in any small talk, the
music started. For the next hour, Janey was transported back to her early 20’s
in New York.

It
was impossible to sit still when you listened to zydeco; you just couldn’t.

First
a little finger snapping, then a little toe tapping, then a full shoulder shake
– and before she knew it, Redmond had pulled her onto the dance floor where
they spent most of the evening.

The
man could move!
was all she could think.

Always
confident in her dance skills, she kept pace with him – and then some. They
moved beautifully together – even when their bodies weren’t touching. They were
in sync, knowing when to sway together, when to turn away from and when to turn
into each other.

She
loved the way his hands felt around her waist, on her shoulders and on her
hands as they touched throughout their time on the dance floor. It felt so right,
so natural.

Janey
couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun with a man.

As
the cooler tropical breeze hit her sweat-sheened skin when they exited the
club, Redmond noticed her slight shiver and said, “Wait just inside, I’ll bring
the van around. You can never be too careful with the change in temperature.
It’s easy to get sick if you’re not used to this climate, even though it’s
tropical.”

Janey
was touched by his concern. She rarely got sick, but didn’t say anything other
than  “Ok” to his request that she wait inside the foyer.

It
was just past midnight as Redmond pulled up to her hotel. Stopping at the lit
entrance, he got out and walked around to her side of the van, but instead of
opening her door to let her out, he propped himself against it.

Redmond
stared at her and said, “What would you say if I told you that it’s going to
cost you a kiss to get out of this vehicle?”

Thinking
‘
What the hell
,’ Janey smiled and boldly stated, “What, just one?”

She
didn’t know where that response had come from. She’d only had one glass of wine
at dinner and one drink at the club, so she couldn’t ‘blame it on the alcohol,’
no matter what that Jamie Foxx song said.

It
must be her subconscious and some deep-seated unmet needs her best friend
Carita was always going on about that was speaking for her.

All
she knew was that at that moment, she wanted to feel his lips on hers and she
wasn’t going to fight that.

Redmond
opened the door of the van to let her out. He then closed it, took one step
towards her and pressed her back against the vehicle. Putting his arms around
her waist and holding her gaze, he replied, “Let’s see where one takes us.”

Bending
his head, he lightly kissed Janey’s lips at first. This was followed by a
second light kiss. The third time, his tongue probed open her soft lips,
finding its way inside her warm mouth. There would be no fourth kiss; no
pulling away this time.

Janey
wrapped her arms around his neck, inviting him to explore deeper. His tongue
delved into the sweetness of her mouth, tasting the velvety smoothness of the
whiskey she’d had earlier.

The
thought of the masculine drink and the taste of it in her very feminine mouth
was irresistible to Redmond. She was like an elixir herself – all smooth and coppery
and velvety and … just like whiskey, a potion that could make you lose control.

Feeling
the hardening of his manhood pressing into her and suddenly realizing that she
was in front of her hotel, Janey slowly pulled back from Redmond. This could get
out of control – quick.

Carita
was right, it had been too long – too damned long – since she’d been with a
man.

She
hadn’t given it much thought but with this living, breathing, very sexy
creature’s powerful hands on her right now, she couldn’t help but think about
it.

Redmond
didn’t release her – not that second. Placing a kiss squarely in the middle of
her forehead, he said, “I’d like to see you tomorrow Janey. You name the time
and place.”

Janey
hesitated, responding, “Why don’t I give you a call before noon tomorrow.
That’ll give me time to see how my day is shaping up?”

Redmond
replied, “So is that a yes, or no? I don’t deal in maybe’s,” even though he
found himself thinking that he’d accept a ‘maybe,’ a ‘someday’ or even a ‘some
other time’ from her.

But
one thing he wouldn’t accept is ‘no.’ So he pressed on, saying, “I want to get
to know you better. So will we be getting together tomorrow, or not?”

Janey
could respect his directness because she hated when people, especially men,
left her in limbo. She’d played that game too many times – waiting on calls
that never came, or came hours late. Waiting on plans to be finalized that were
never brought up again.

Waiting
on love … that never materialized or was betrayed.

Shaking
herself out of her self-reflective musing, she said, “I’ll call you before noon
to tell you what time you can pick me up tomorrow evening. And as it’s your
island, you choose the activity,” she added humorously.

Smiling,
Redmond handed her his business card, moved in for one last soft kiss, then
watched as she entered the hotel.

Janey
floated to the elevator.

Very
few men caught her eye; very few. And even fewer captivated her. Redmond
definitely captivated her. There was just something about him that made her
want to be near him.

Was
it the way he wore that silver bracelet with the thick leather band on his left
wrist?

The
way he looked directly at her when he was talking to her?