The Wedding Date

Chapter Nine

Jack

After finding out the blonde was Amelia, I went back to my room.

"Call Fletcher for me, tell him I can take that meeting now if he's ready." I told Jennifer.

"Aren't you supposed to be meeting with the wedding party?" She asked pulling out her phone to make the call.

"Just call Fletcher." I told her.

A few hours later in the middle of the meeting I called Jennifer in. I knew I couldn't avoid meeting Amelia. If I was going to spend the week with her, may as well see what kind of person she really is first. Determine how to deal with her.

"Go find the wedding party. Find my partner. Bring her into the drawing room." I told her.

"But, you said you won't be done for a few more hours." she said. I narrowed my eyes at her and sucked in an annoyed breath. That was enough for her to understand, Too many questions.

I had found in all my years in bussiness making people wait, showed you their true character. Alice, for example, would have an absolute melt down if she were made to wait. It was actually the thing that had made me start to notice all of her other behavior. The start of the end for our short marriage.

The meeting had just started to wrap up. Everything was going just as I planned and judging by the looks on both of their faces, I had them. Two more people who would agree to back me against one of the biggest conglomerates in the world. Just as I was about to launch into my closing statements, I heard the door be thrown open behind me. I turned quickly to see who had interrupted one of the biggest deals in my life.

Standing there looking at me with big shocked blue eyes was Amelia Anderson. Her hair was thick and fell about her face in long messy beach waves. Her mouth had fallen open slightly with shock. The color I had seen in her cheeks earlier in the day had drained away. Our eyes met. She looked like she was about to open her mouth to speak when someone else spoke.

"Is that Amelia Anderson? Oh my! It's been so long since I've seen you dear!" Fletcher said enthusiastically. I glanced away from her for a split second to see a genuine smile on the old man's face. A smile that reached his eyes. My eyes quickly returned to Amelia, I narrowed my eyes at her. She stepped forward into the view of the camera a huge smile growing on her face.

"Hello, Mr.Johnson! How are you and the family?" her smile was wide, color returning to her cheeks. It felt as if the air had been knocked from my lungs. I felt my scowl slip for a split second as I watched her ocean blue eyes light up.

What the hell is wrong with me!? I thought trying to shake myself. Am I really so gullible!?! One pretty smile and a few encounters and my heart is racing like I'm a teenager again.

I wasn't even really listening as Fletcher rattled on about a recent trip he had taken with his family. My thoughts were not even about the very important meeting that had just been interrupted. All I could think about now was Alice and how I had let her smile fool me. The scowl on my face hardened.

"I'm so sorry, Fletcher! I actually have to go! I'm so sorry for interrupting your meeting! Give my love to Susan and the girls!" Amelia said with a breathtaking genuine grin. Then she turned on her heel and was out the door in a flash. I had to stop myself from laughing when I saw the flush on her cheeks right before she closed the door. Had she embarrassed herself?

"I'm so glad to see she's doing well." Flecther said a split second before the door closed. The sound of the latch closing seemed to pull me from my thoughts.

"I'm so sorry for the interruption, gentleman." I said running my hand through my hair pulling myself back together. I continued with my closing statements.

However, it seemed John Acosta, the third man in our meeting, was not as agreeable as I had first thought. Negotiations broke down and the meeting ended up running another two hours. When I finally left the room I thought surely Jennifer would tell me Amelia had left but, she told me she was still waiting in the drawing room.

I let out a quiet sigh trying to clear my mind. I walked slowly down the hall, which had an open floor plan. I could hear the waves lapping softly against the beach nearby.

I pulled open the door and to my suprise I found a sleeping Amelia on the couch. She was sprawled out with her arms outstretched above her head. The top she wore had slid down ever so slightly giving showing off the top of her breast. Her face, deep in sleep was sereen. The mid-day sun coming in through the windows shone down on her making her hair shine.

An image flashed in mind. An erotic image. An image of blonde hair sprawled across silk sheets. Get a f*****g grip. I told myself.

I turned back to see her stretching and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Ms.Anderson," I said intentionally being curt. With any luck she would see me as a sour old man and steer clear of me.

"Please, call me Amelia." She said with a soft smile that made me look away instinctively. Lest her charm pull me in. The sound of her sandals hitting the floor drew my attentions back. I watched with narrowed eyes as she drew her feet up beneath her under the couch. In the shorts she wore, it put her creamy white thighs on display.

"Right," I said clearing my throat. "Well, I just came to apologize in person for missing the first event this morning."

"Did you?" She asked with a huge grin. I felt my anger rising.

"I did." I knew what she was doing and I was not going to give her what she wanted. "Now that we are done here, I can meet with you in an hour when the group is meeting for dinner."

"We are not done here." she said leaning back on the couch. I watched her pale long fingers glide across the fabric.

"Excuse me?" I hissed.

"You were going to apologize." She smiled bravely meeting my hot gaze. Countless men had crumbled under my gaze, her smile held however making me scoff.

"I really don't have time for this Ms.Anderson," I told her turning to leave the room. I had just pulled the door open when I felt her hand slip into mine pulling me back. Her hand was like silk in my palm. My heart rate picked up. What the hell is wrong with me? Since when do I get excited by a little hand holding?

"Wait! I'm sorry I was teasing you!" She said dropping my hand as if she had been burned. She paused for a few long moments before looking up at me with her stunning blue eyes. "Let's start over."

"And why would I want to do that?" I asked her.

"Well, I mean we are supposed to spend the week together. Who said we can't enjoy it? Maybe, get to know each other?" She said. I could see right through her. For a second it was as if I were talking to Alice again.

"I don't need to get to know you. I know who you are. I know your type. I have absolutely no desire to sleep with you. You may think I am any easy target. I can assure you I am anything but." I was seething, squeezing the doorknob still in my hand. To say I was shocked by her laughter would be an understatement. It was not a forced sound it was genuine and loud. I felt something strange twist in the pit of my stomach.

"When did you think I was trying to seduce you?" She asked.

"Just now, and then on the plane-" I felt like a fool stumbling over my words.

"On the plane I was joking. Just now, I was only trying to be friendly." She said whiping her eyes recovering from her laughter. "Trust me when I say I'm not trying to seduce you. I have no interest in you."

Why the f**k did that annoy me? I thought.

"Oh, really? Is that true?" I asked her.

"Absolutely." she replied meeting my gaze.

"Well then, this week won't be half as bad as I thought." I said trying to force a smile.

"Good then." she said striding past me to leave the room. As she did she put her hand on my shoulder, "I'll see you tonight for drinks. I think I'll go have a nap."