Anything But Mine (12 page)

Collette opened the folder, and began perusing its contents. “He’s handsome,” she remarked as she looked at Drew’s photo. “Can’t he get a girl on his own? I don’t understand why you want me to seduce him.”

He could get plenty of girls on his own, if he wasn’t so hung up on my girl,
Vince thought. “This isn’t about his getting a girl, Collette. This is about diverting his attention away from one particular girl.”

“Who?”

“My girlfriend.”

Collette nodded her head. “I see.”

“I want you to contact me at either the phone number or e-
mail
address I gave you in the folder anytime he mentions either a girl named Jennifer, or traveling to the east coast, particularly New York City. Do you understand me?”

“Yes. I’ve got it,” she replied.

It took Jen a few days to go through all the e-
mails
and text messages that had accumulated on her cell phone during the days since she was attacked. As she skimmed through many concerned messages from her extended family and friends, she took the time to briefly reply to all of them.

Finally, she opened and read an e-
mail
from Drew, and his concern for her brought tears to her eyes. She read his e-
mail
over and over, before checking to make sure the door to the guest suite was closed. She dialed Drew’s cell phone, and when he answered, she simply asked, “How’s my best friend?”

“My God, Jen, how are you? Are you okay? I’ve been trying to reach you since I heard the news. Where are you?”

Drew listened as Jen explained what happened, and that she was staying at Vince’s apartment. “He and my parents agreed that I’d be safer here. He’s assigned me a bodyguard and a driver.”

Drew was silent for a moment before asking, “Is that what you want?”

“I’m not sure I get a say about what I want,” Jen replied. “I was in no position to fight both Vince and my parents. And, truthfully, I do feel more secure here, even if it feels a little bit like I’m in a cage.” When Drew didn’t say anything, Jen continued, “I’m staying in his guest suite. He’s been a complete gentleman, Drew, and he’s taking good care of me.”

“I wonder what he’ll want in return,” he said, gravely.

“What could he possibly want? We’ve been dating for a couple of months now, and…” Jen’s voice trailed off.

“And you’ve already…”

Jen hesitated before answering, simply, “Yes.”

Drew exhaled, and said nothing in response to Jen’s confirming what he already knew in his heart: that she and Vince had been intimate, and had slept together.
Why wouldn’t they? I made it clear that we had no future as long as I was living in California.
“I just want you to be happy.”

“I just want you to be happy, too.”

“I think about you all the time, Jen”

“I think about you all the time, too, Drew.”

After ending their phone call, Jen lay on the bed, staring into space. She knew in her heart why she hadn’t, and couldn’t, tell Vince that she loved him: because she still loved and deeply cared about Drew.
Get over it,
she told herself over and over.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

D
rew sat at his desk, staring at his cell phone after speaking with Jennifer.
The woman I love has moved in with a billionaire, and I’m 3,000 miles away, working my ass off and living like a monk. I’m such an idiot,
he thought.
Maybe a night out will help me get my mind off Jen.

He exited his father’s office, locking the door behind him, and as he turned around he collided with someone walking down the hallway carrying a box, causing its contents to be scattered on the floor.

“I’m sorry,” Drew said, as he squatted down to retrieve the small stuffed animals, boxes of candy and files that were strewn about. “I didn’t see you.”

“No problem,” a woman’s voice replied. “I didn’t see you either.”

Drew looked up and all color drained from his face, as he saw for the first time the woman whose voice he just heard. Despite his knees shaking, he managed to stand and introduce himself to the tall woman with long blond hair who had him believing he was seeing a ghost. “My name is Drew,” he said.

“Nice to meet you, Drew,” she replied. “I’m Collette Sullivan. I’m moving into the office down the hall.”

Stunned by her resemblance to Jen, Drew struggled to find his words. “I’m sorry, I just…um…let me help you with that.”

“Thanks,” Collette said, handing him the box. She walked down the hallway, with Drew following her, until she arrived at the door to her office. “Come on in,” she gestured.

Drew passed through the door, placing the box on a table next to some other boxes and wicker baskets, before looking around the small office space. “What kind of a business do you have?”

“I make custom gift baskets,” Collette replied. “I used to work out of my apartment, but ran out of room, so…,” her voice trailed off as she looked at Drew and smiled, before continuing, “so here I am.”

Drew stared at Collette, as an awkward silence descended over the room. Finally, Collette said, “I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a bit of a crazy day with the office move, and I could use a drink. I know a great place in my neighborhood. Want to join me?”

Drew paused, debating whether he should go out with the woman standing in front of him who reminded him of Jennifer, or just call up some of his buddies from high school. Thinking back to the conversation he had just had with Jen, and the revelation that she was living with Vince Moscolo, he made a snap decision. “Yeah…sure, why not?”

Drew followed Collette into the parking lot, where they got into their cars and exited the lot. After a short ride, Collette parked her car and signaled for Drew to park as well.

“Here we are,” Collette said, as she walked towards Drew. “This is a fun place.”

Drew held the door open for Collette before entering the bar and asking, “What can I get you?”

“A cosmopolitan would be great. Thanks.”

Drew ordered Collette a cosmopolitan, and a double vodka and tonic for himself. They drained their drinks, ordered another round and then a third, when a deejay started spinning some dance music.

“Oh I love this song! Come on, let’s dance,” Collette said, as she dragged Drew out onto the dance floor.

As they started moving to the music, Collette draped her arms around Drew’s neck, and Drew, in turn, placed his hands around her waist.
She’s a little shorter, a little more curvy, and not quite as pretty as Jen is,
he thought, as he caught a whiff of her perfume.
But, damn, she even smells a little like Jen.
He pulled her against his body, closed his eyes, and breathed in the familiar vanilla sugar scent.

As they danced, Drew began to feel the effects of the vodka. He felt Collette’s lips on his neck, and responded by letting his hands roam her body.

“Let’s go back to my place,” Collette whispered, as she nibbled at his ear.

The alarm on Drew’s cell phone sounded early the next morning. He was dazed as he searched for his cell phone before retrieving it from his pants, which he found in a crumpled heap on the floor across the room.
Where am I, and what the hell happened last night?

He answered his own question when he turned around and saw Collette stirring in bed.
Oh my God, I spent the night with her,
he said to himself, as the drunken memories of the previous evening surfaced.
Too many vodka and tonics, a few dances, and her resemblance to Jen is what happened,
he thought.

He was about to get dressed, when Collette turned over and opened her eyes. “Good morning, Drew,” she said, yawning.

“I’m sorry, Collette. I didn’t mean to wake you,” he answered. Realizing he was standing next to the bed, naked, he quickly climbed back under the covers. “I’m a little confused, and embarrassed,” he continued. “Is this your apartment? I guess I was a little drunk last night. I don’t remember much of what happened after we left the bar.”

“I was a little drunk last night, too,” Collette replied. “And, yes, this is my apartment, and my bed.”

Drew hesitated, before stumbling over his words, “Did we…um, did we…?”

Collette looked under the sheets. “Well, neither of us have any clothes on,” she said. “And then there’s this,” she continued, picking up a freshly-
used
condom from between the sheets.

As Collette held the used condom up in front of him, Drew felt physically ill. “Oh my God…I’m so sorry, Collette. I can’t believe this happened.”

“Me either. I don’t normally spend the night with guys I just met,” she said. “At least we used protection.”
And at least you’re handsome, have a great body, and even when you’re drunk you’re good in bed,
she thought.
Otherwise, the $10,000 a month I’m being paid wouldn’t be nearly enough.

“Yeah,” Drew muttered, as he hung his head, unable to look at her.
What the hell did I do? I have to see this girl every day, now that her office is next door to mine. I’m such a moron,
he thought, as bile rose in his throat.
And a night of cheap, drunken sex doesn’t erase the fact that I’m still in love with Jen
.

“Do you want some breakfast? I make great scrambled eggs,” Collette offered, as she thought,
I hope he takes the bait.

“Um…,” Drew hesitated, as he looked over and saw Collette gazing at him with a hopeful look in her eyes. “Sure, that would be nice,” he said, not wanting to hurt her feelings.

As they ate at her small, two-
person
table, Drew realized that Collette was trying hard to make the best of the uncomfortable situation, and felt a tinge of sympathy for her.
She feels as weird about what happened as I do
. After he finished his eggs and toast, he said, more out of guilt than desire, “Would you like to go out to dinner, or a movie, tonight? I feel like we got off to an awkward start.”

“Sure. I’d like that,” Collette replied.
Easiest money I’ve ever made,
she thought.

That night at dinner, Drew peered at Collette over glasses of sparkling wine and oysters on the half shell, weighing whether or not to get involved in a relationship with her. He half-
listened
as she talked about her business, nodding his head as she explained how she got started making gift baskets when she was in college, but his mind kept wandering to thoughts of Jen.
I need to get on with my life,
he thought.
Jen did, and I should too.

He realized that Collette must have asked him a question, because she had stopped talking and looked at him expectantly, as though she was waiting for him to speak. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I said that this is a great place for a date. Have you ever brought anyone here before?”

“No, I haven’t,” he replied. “I only moved back here a couple of months ago.”

“You mentioned last night you were working in New York, that you stayed there after you finished college. What was that like?”

“It was great,” Drew said. “I really miss her, and hope to move back one day.”

“Her?”

Drew stammered, “Uh…did I say ‘her’? I’m sorry, I meant ‘it’. I miss New York City. It’s a great place to live.”

Collette tilted her head and raised her eyebrows, asking, “Who was she?”

“Who?”

“The girl you miss. She must be special, for her to be on your mind when you’re out with someone else,” Collette replied.

Drew sighed, before explaining, “Her name is Jen. We were just friends, then we were more than friends, but it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over,” Drew said. “I’m sorry,” he continued, reaching for Collette’s hand. “I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings.”

“Not at all. I’m the one who is on a date with you, not her. I’m the lucky one,” she said with a smile, before taking a sip of her sparkling wine.

A parking spot opened up just as Drew stopped his car outside of Collette’s apartment building, prompting her to ask, “Would you like to come upstairs?” When he hesitated, Collette said, “I know…it’s a little weird, isn’t it? We’re doing this all backwards –
spending
the night together, then going on a nice dinner date.”

Drew chuckled, and the ice was broken. “You’re right, it is a little strange. I hardly remember any of it.” He continued, softly, “I’m sorry again about last night, Collette.”

“No worries, Drew,” Collette said, fluttering her eyelashes while touching his forearm. “I had a good time with you tonight,” she said, moving her hand from Drew’s arm to his thigh. “And I wouldn’t mind continuing the good time upstairs with you,” she said as she leaned in close to Drew, who turned towards her, allowing their lips to meet in a kiss.

When Drew woke the following morning, he was momentarily disoriented before realizing that the blond woman sleeping next to him was Collette.
Damn,
he thought,
no matter what I do, when I wake up I’m still in love with Jen.

“Hey, handsome,” Collette said in a sleepy voice, as she snuggled up next to him. “Good morning,” she purred, as she began to caress his manhood.

“Good morning,” Drew exhaled, as he became aroused at Collette’s touch. “Mmm…that feels good.”

“Good,” she said, softly, as she pushed back the sheets that covered them, revealing their naked bodies, before reaching for a condom in the nightstand drawer and placing it over his erection. “Let me make you feel even better,” she said, as she straddled him and slipped his hard shaft inside her.

Later, in the shower, Drew once again felt remorse over repeatedly making love with Collette.
What the hell is wrong with me? Get a life, and get over Jen
, he thought, reprimanding himself as the stream of hot water pelted his body.
Even though she isn’t Jen, no one is, and no one will ever be. She can’t be duplicated. But Collette is pretty, and nice, and she seems to like me,
he thought.
I could do worse, I guess.