After the Interview (19 page)

The door to the hotel opened and C J stepped up to the concierge, asking for his room key. Zoe, elated to see he had not left the city, now steeled herself for whatever was to come. As C J headed past the elevator to the stairs, Zoe softly called his name. He turned to face her, and the look on C J’s face made Zoe’s chest tighten. She could tell he was distraught yet wanted so badly to reach out for her. C J did not answer, so Zoe rose from the chair and walked toward him.

“May I come up to your room and talk to you?” Zoe asked quietly.

“No,” C J said with no emotion.

Zoe turned and asked the concierge if there was a more private place they could sit and talk and the man pointed to a small unlit breakfast room adjoining the reception area.

“C J, listen to what I have to say and if you don’t like it then I’ll leave,” Zoe said as she started to walk into the adjoining room.

C J watched Zoe walk into the room and then followed her to a small table in the back.

“I’m tired, so please be to the point,” C J said.

“I can only imagine what you think you saw earlier this evening. The man I was with is Marc, Jean’s friend who was with him when he died in Syria. Marc suggested we celebrate the fact that I’d finally found love again. He’s felt responsible for Jean’s death, and knowing I am happy again lessens this burden for him. The man’s like a brother to me,” Zoe said, tears starting to flow down her cheeks.

“Damn, this is the second time today I have started crying over you and I’m not so sure right now you’re worth it. How could you ever believe I’m a liar and would be unfaithful?” Zoe said.

C J wanted to speak, but his own throat was tight with emotion. Zoe reached for her phone and held it up in front of C J’s face. He saw a photo of Marc on the website of a French magazine with his name in big bold letters.

“There is the proof in living color,” Zoe said angrily and started to rise.

C J looked at Zoe and said, “I’m an ass and I was wrong; forgive me?”

Zoe stood, put out her hand and said, “Let’s go someplace more private and finish this discussion.”

C J smiled and said, “My room is a bit small and I doubt the walls are too thick, so knowing you we had better find another hotel.”

Zoe laughed and said, “It’s your call. The George V should have some pretty nice suites.”

The End

Second Chances

Logan Fairchild was trying hard to stay cool while talking to her big brother, C J. She had been listening patiently to the latest screw-up in his love life, knowing Jack was down the hall in her bedroom.

“Great plan, so now you can leave because I have my own business to take care of before I head to Africa on Wednesday,” Logan said, starting to lead the way out of the room.

Jack edged closer to the partially open bedroom door to hear C J’s response and tripped over his shoe, sending him careening into the wall. Son-of-a-bitch I will catch hell if that was as loud as I think it was. Jack stood still and waited for any sign that C J and Logan had heard the clunk of his body colliding with the wall.

Hearing the sound of the lock on the front door turning, Jack gazed upward in a ‘thank you, Lord’ expression until the words, “Goodnight, Jack”, reached him.

“Ah shit,” Jack murmured under his breath. Shrugging his shoulders and smiling he yelled back, “See you, C J, and good luck.”

Since he had been discovered and had nothing more to lose, Jack moved forward and peered around the doorframe, eavesdropping on the end of the brother sister conversation.

C J was facing Logan as she raised her voice, “Don’t say a word C J. I was nice and let you come over so no brotherly advice or I swear I’ll…” Logan’s words were cut off as C J hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

“You know what to do. Just decide what you want. After all, you set me straight,” C J said as he exited the door.

Jack eased back from the bedroom doorway as Logan secured the front door bolt. The sound of her footsteps coming down the hallway gave no clue to her emotional state but Jack figured his best defense was to take the offensive and head off any chance of an argument. As Logan entered the bedroom she was met by a familiar alluring smile, flashing green eyes and then she heard Jack’s voice.

“Ah cher, now let’s finish what we started,” he said, walking up to Logan and loosening the robe she wore.

Jack didn’t just push the robe off of her shoulders but followed its path with his hands as it slid over her body. They lingered on her breasts just long enough to caress them into arousal, making Logan ache for more. Then they moved to the small of her back before stopping to cup her buttocks. Jack pressed his body into hers. Logan felt the force of his erection and let out a deep sigh. How long had it been since she and Jack had last made love?