Body Chemistry (5 page)

Brenda took copious notes. She did not want to forget anything. She detailed each item Marci selected, including specific instructions for which accessories she should wear with each outfit.

“This fitted long-sleeved turquoise blouse will be able to go with many items in your wardrobe,” Marci said, with a heavy sigh as she watched Brenda’s hand race across her notepad.

“Which ones exactly?” Brenda asked.

“Any. You can’t go wrong. Remember your basic colors are black and white.”

“I know that,” she said with impatience. “But that particular shade of turquoise appears to be too subdued to wear with something black, and definitely too loud to wear with anything white. And—”

“That’s enough!”

Brenda held out her hands, sending a worried glance to Marci’s stomach. “Don’t excite yourself.”

“I’m not going to go into labor, although it’s possible, because you’re driving me crazy. I have been doing this for years and never in my life have I met someone like you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The notes, the questions. They’re just clothes. So what if one day you don’t match?”

“I’m a professional. How I conduct myself is very important. I don’t want to come across as some, some…” Brenda tried hard but couldn’t find the word.

Marci didn’t give her time to find it. “Top business people have been known to wear two types of shoes to work, or have gone to the office with their trouser leg stuck in their sock. It’s not the end of the world. Lighten up. You’re too hard on yourself.”

“But—”

“New rule. No more questions. You have to trust me.”

Marci walked to one of the clothing racks near by and pulled out an outfit. “This is what you will wear on your first date.”

“My what?” Brenda asked, barely able to register what Marci had said and what she was holding up.

“Date. You’re going on one shortly. For dinner. You’ll wear your first pair of stockings, the seamed black stockings with a sequined rose embossed on the ankle and this.” Brenda looked at the red two-piece tailored suit.

“You have to be kidding. I’d never—”

Marci narrowed her gaze. “Trust me.”

Brenda bit her lip. She never wore the color red. Her mother constantly reminded her that red was too loud a color for a woman her age. And whenever she wore a suit, it was always a pantsuit. With her height, her mother had repeatedly pointed out when she was growing up that her long skinny legs looked like corn stalks.

“It’s you,” Marci said, not giving her a moment to respond. “We’ll ship everything to you. Good luck.” Marci opened her arms for a hug.

Brenda hesitated, wondering how she was supposed to maneuver herself around Marci’s stomach, and she didn’t feel comfortable giving her a hug straight on.

Marci tilted her head to the side and let her arms fall. “I make you uncomfortable, don’t I?”

Brenda felt her face grow hot. “No, it’s not—”

“This Society isn’t about wives and mothers if that’s what’s worrying you. We’re not giving you clothes and accessories just so you can get a man. The time we’ve spent selecting these items was done with a great deal of thought. For a real change to happen in your life you need to get in touch with you and what you want. You joined the Society because you want a man in your life, right?”

Brenda started to respond, offended by Marci’s description of her as some desperate single, but Marci continued. “There’s nothing wrong with expressing that desire. It doesn’t make you weak.” Marci walked Brenda to the door. “It took me a while to learn that lesson. You’ve spent your life fighting so much for everything that you’ve denied yourself many of life’s pleasures. It’s time you stopped fighting and started making love. It’s a lot more fun.” She winked.

Brenda laughed, feeling more relaxed than before. She hugged Marci, glad she understood. “Thanks.”

“Don’t leave yet. We’re not done with you.” She handed Brenda a card, and told her she had an appointment at the hair salon behind another door.

With the help of a petite, energetic stylist and beauty consultant, Brenda learned about taking care of her skin, how to apply makeup for a natural look and had her hair done. She emerged wearing her hair in a smooth style that went past her shoulders.

“Wow, is that me?” Her hair felt soft to the touch and for the first time, in a long time, looked healthy and tamed!

“Don’t forget, moisture is very important for your hair, and your hair is delicate. Just because it’s thick doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be gentle with it.”

At the end of the hair and makeup sessions, Brenda received a full body massage, manicure and pedicure.

“How much do I owe?” she asked the stylist, as she prepared to exit.

“It’s all part of the membership. We’ll send you six months’ supply of beauty products. They’ll come with your clothes when they are delivered. Enjoy the rest of the day.”

Brenda wanted to share her new look with Marci, but she’d left for lunch. Disappointed, Brenda followed Mrs. Gilbert back upstairs and left.

The clothes and other items arrived at her house that evening and Brenda immediately put them away. Although clothes didn’t interest her, she kept her closet organized. She took time to put the colorful items such as scarves, belts, sweaters and shoes in close proximity to the appropriate black and white items.

Once finished, Brenda made some soup, then flopped down on her couch. She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. She began flipping channels, and there he was: Dominic. It was a rerun of one of his early documentaries.
If you need anything just call me.
She thought of the Society and a chance at a new beginning.

Yes, she needed something and she definitely knew whom to call.

S
he shouldn’t have tried to hide from him,
Dominic thought. He sat at his desk with his feet on the table absently listening to Natalie give him his messages and remembering the funeral. No, Brenda shouldn’t have tried to hide from him. He would have left her alone otherwise, but that one action had put his predatory instincts in overdrive. If she wanted to hide, he was going to seek. And it surprised him how glad he was to find her.

He toyed with the yo-yo in his hand, amazed at his response to her. She was a little older and cooler, but she still made his blood run hot. Nothing had changed those deep brown eyes, smooth skin and body, which still suited him perfectly. He hadn’t held her only to comfort her; he liked having her in his arms again.

He swore. He should have gotten over her by now. It had been three years. He’d given up hope that she’d ever come back to him and he definitely wouldn’t beg.

“Dr. Ayers?” Natalie said.

“Yes?”

“You haven’t answered my last question.”

He watched the yo-yo go up and down. “What is it?”

“The Board wants to know if you’ll speak at the unveiling of the pavilion at Children’s Hospital next Saturday.”

“Sure.” The yo-yo went up.

“You have a two o’clock appointment with Dr. Haag the marine biologist from Sweden, who is in town for a conference.”

“Okay.” The yo-yo went down.

“Brenda Everton asked that you return her call.”

“Fine.”

“Your accountant needs to schedule a time when you and he can meet, or at least talk over the phone.”

“Okay.” He paused, then his feet crashed to the floor and he sat up. “What did you say?”

“That your accountant needs…”

He waved his hands impatiently, pulling the yo-yo from his finger and letting it clatter on his desk. “No, before that.”

She glanced at her notes. “That Brenda Everton asked that you return her call.”

“Yes.” He wiggled impatient fingers. “Please give me that message.” He took it from her and stared at the note. “Yes, I heard right,” he said with wonder. “You said Brenda Everton.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, at least I don’t know. What did she sound like?”

“I’m not sure. She was very direct.”

“Not depressed?”

“No, very controlled.”

He nodded relieved. “Yep, that’s my Brenda.”

Natalie looked at him both curious and intrigued. “I could handle this for you if she’s a bother.”

He shook his head then looked up at Natalie and grinned at her concerned expression. “I’ve been wanting this woman to bother me for three years.”

“Would you like me to read your other messages?”

“Um…no. Just leave them.” She placed them on the table, then left. Dominic slowly sank back in his seat.
What did Brenda want? What was she up to?
He picked up his yo-yo. He had to approach her with the right strategy.
What should he say?
Heard that you called? What’s wrong? What do you want? He’d follow her cues, if she was cool, he’d be cooler.

Dominic lifted the phone receiver and began to dial.

Natalie rushed into the room. “Dr. Ayers?”

“I’m on the phone,” he snapped.

“I know, but it’s an emergency. I have Mr. Woods from Science In The News on the line.”

“Can’t you take a message?”

“He said it’s urgent. One of the hosts for this evening’s live TV broadcast had a terrible accident, and he needs a replacement immediately.”

Damn, he’d have to fly out immediately if he was going to do it. Richard Woods was a very good friend of his and wouldn’t have called him if he didn’t have to.

Dominic swore and slammed down the phone.

“They said the host will be all right and you’ll be compensated handsomely,” Natalie said quickly, misinterpreting his anger.

“Fine.” He stood and grabbed his things. Brenda would have to wait.

Three days. She’d been waiting for a response from Dominic for three days. Brenda sat in her living room, fuming. Nothing. Not a phone call, not an e-mail. Not even sky writing. No reply.
Call me if you need anything.
She’d been foolish to believe him. Each day was a reminder of why Dominic was her ex-husband. He was always busy. Why would this time be any different? She was probably at the bottom of his list of priorities. She’d been so preoccupied, she hadn’t tried on any of her new outfits and went to work dressed as usual. Once the ordeal was over regarding where to find funding, she would start wearing them, but presently she was too angry.

The phone rang.

She stared at it.
Don’t get your hopes up—it’s not him,
she reminded herself.

It rang again.

She answered. “Hello?”

“Hello, this is Natalie Swanson. I’m calling on behalf of Dr. Ayers. He’d like to know if you’re free for dinner Friday.”

“Yes,” Brenda replied. Finally he had found time to put her on his schedule. She tempered her excitement. She didn’t care; all she wanted was to meet with him, ask him for a loan and leave. Why did he want to meet over dinner? “Where does he want to meet me?”

“He said he’ll send a car for you around 7:30 p.m.”

“Thank you, but just send me directions. I’ll drive myself.”

“It will be at his house,” she said tentatively.

“That’s fine.”

“Are you sure you don’t want a car?”

“I’m sure. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Natalie put down the phone, then glanced up when Dominic entered the reception area. He passed her desk and walked directly into his office. He looked exhausted. She knew he had completed the TV show, then visited the original host in the hospital. She also knew he’d been so busy he hadn’t attended to details like returning Brenda’s call. “I just spoke to Brenda,” she said as she took a chair in his office.

He grabbed his yo-yo. “Yes?”

She licked her lower lip. “About the dinner you wanted her to have with you.”

“Dinner?”

“Yes, remember you asked me to set one up for you for Friday at 7:30?”

He set the yo-yo down. “I did?”

“Yes,” she said firmly, determined that he would not uncover her ploy.

He folded his arms, uncertain. “Did she agree?”

“Yes, she’ll meet you at your place.”

His brows shot up. “Brenda’s willing to come to my house?”

“Yes.”

He let his arms fall. “Good.” He smiled and looked a little brighter. “Thanks.”

Natalie grinned, pleased with herself. “You’re welcome.”

That Friday evening, Brenda dressed with care as she put on the red suit. Then she tried on the pair of black stockings with the red rose. They felt luxurious, clinging to her skin and outlined her legs, making them look curvaceous for the first time in her life.

She looked in her full-length mirror and hardly recognized herself. She had pulled her hair back into a French braid. The hair products she had been given made her hair easy to style. A pair of pearl-drop earrings decorated her ears and a thin silver necklace with a large pearl pendant graced her neck. But it was the red suit and black stockings that stunned her most.

A naughty smile touched her face. Dominic was in for a surprise.

“Alliance Incorporated is waiting for a response,” Thomas said, straightening one of the awards that lined Dominic’s office.

Dominic threw his yo-yo in the air. “I know.”

“You can’t keep them hanging on.”

Natalie knocked on the door, then peeked inside. “Dr. Ayers?”

Thomas rushed over to her and said in a low voice. “I thought I told you to go home over an hour ago. We’re busy here.”

“I know, but I have to speak to Dr. Ayers.”

“Talk to him on Monday.”

“But the time,” she said sounding a little desperate.

“I know what time it is, but I have to convince him of this deal.” He gently but firmly spun her around. “Go home.”

“But Thomas—”

He closed the door in her face and turned back to Dominic. He sat in front of him. “Now about Alliance—”

Dominic shook his head as he lounged behind his desk. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you a decision soon.”

The phone rang. Thomas lifted it before Dominic could.

“Not now,” Thomas said knowing who the caller was.

“Let me talk to him,” Natalie pleaded.

Thomas hung up the phone and turned the ringer off.

Dominic frowned. “Who was that?”

“Nobody.” He leaned on the desk and smiled at Dominic, determined to persuade him. If Natalie would just give him time, he knew he could. “I think we should go over the reasons why this is a good career option.”

Dominic’s cell phone rang. Thomas gripped his hands into fists wanting to smash it under his heel.

Dominic looked at the number and frowned. “It’s Natalie. Maybe she—”

“Don’t answer it. She’s just trying to annoy me because I owe her something.”

“She’s calling my phone to get to you?” Dominic asked.

“Yes, I turned mine off.”

“But—”

“Let’s just end this talk, then I’ll make it up to her.”

Dominic shrugged, then set the phone down. “There’s not much to say.” He knew that Thomas thought the deal with Alliance Inc. would be great, but Dominic had his reservations. Madeline’s death and seeing Brenda again made him want to rethink his helter-skelter lifestyle.

“Perhaps you need more time to think this over.”

“Yes.”

Thomas sighed, then looked at the clock. “I’d better go. Natalie and I are going out of town tomorrow.”

Dominic frowned. “But tomorrow is Friday.”

“Today’s Friday. Check your calendar.”

Dominic’s stomach fell as he glanced at his watch in horror: Eight o’clock. “It can’t be Friday.”

“Why not?”

He jumped to his feet and quickly gathered his things. “Because I was supposed to meet someone at seven-thirty on Friday.”

Thomas grinned. “Then you’d better hope that someone is very forgiving.”

Moments later Dominic sped down the road while talking to Sheila, his housekeeper, through his earpiece. “Is she still there?”

“Yes.”

“Is everything ready?”

“I’m always ready,” Sheila huffed.

“Right, of course. You’re the best,” he said, not wanting to anger two women in one day. “Tell Brenda I’ll be right there.”

“I’ve been telling her that. Could you be more specific?”

“Less than twenty minutes.”

“Hmm…” Sheila said, unimpressed.

He slowed down for a stop sign. “Does she look upset?”

“No, she looks very calm. You wouldn’t think you were late at all.”

Dominic swore, then put his foot on the gas. “That means she wants to cut off my—never mind. I’ll be there soon.”

“He’ll be here soon,” Sheila said to Brenda in an apologetic tone. Sheila didn’t look like a housekeeper, she had the body of a barmaid, the face of a raisin and the chirpy voice of a sparrow.

“Thank you,” Brenda said.

“Do you need anything?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Sheila nodded, then went into the kitchen.

Brenda glanced around the living room again. Yes, it was all too familiar: the emergencies, the late meetings, the forgotten appointments. If she didn’t need his money so much she would have left long ago and kept him out of her life another three years. But she did need him and would do whatever was necessary.

Not that she had much choice of leaving, she thought, glancing down at the Great Dane called Sergeant that had fallen asleep on her feet. When she had arrived, he had followed her and immediately fell on her feet as though he meant to keep her there until his owner returned. She once tried to nudge him to move, but he produced a surprisingly fierce low growl, so she decided it was best to wait for Dominic’s return. But she hadn’t expected her wait to have been that long.

The dog had surprised her. They never had time for pets, but from the size of his house a lot had changed. It was nothing like the apartment he used to live in or the colonial home they had shared. But she wouldn’t think about that now. She was there for only one reason.

Dominic dashed into the house, tossed his things in the foyer, unbuttoned his shirt and raced past the living room. He called out to the woman sitting there and said, “I’m just going to change my shirt. I’ll be right with you.” Suddenly, something registered in his mind. He slid to a complete stop and backtracked to get a second look at the woman sitting on his couch.

He stood in the frame of the doorway with his shirt halfway unbuttoned and one collar sticking up. He didn’t care. He vaguely noticed Sergeant come up and greet him and absently patted him on the head.

He felt as though someone had punched him in the gut. It had happened only twice in his lifetime. First when his father told him he was leaving his mother and ten years ago, when a young woman came up behind him and said, “Just because you’re brilliant doesn’t mean you have to annoy the professor.”

He had spun around ready to snap back. He was tired of being told what he could and couldn’t do. When he turned the first thing he saw was a really nice pair of breasts in a gray sweater. He quickly lifted his gaze and met startling, clear brown eyes.

No one had ever talked to him like that or boldly looked at him as their equal. He stood speechless, his tongue like lead in his mouth as he felt his heart racing.

“Just some friendly advice,” she said. “I’ve heard he can make your life miserable.” She walked away and he stood there feeling like he’d turned to marble.

She was halfway down the hall before he grabbed a classmate and pointed. “Who is that?”

He had a clear view of her but the other student, a few inches shorter, struggled to see. “Who?”

“The girl in the gray sweater.”

“Oh, Brenda Everton. She’s very nice. She helped me—”

“Thanks,” Dominic interrupted, patting him on the shoulder. He raced after her, but lost her when she went outside. He had given up searching for her, then he saw her sitting on the grass with a large sketch pad. He punched his hand into his fist bursting with triumph, then walked up to her. He sat down beside her. “You think I’m brilliant?”