Saving Dallas (10 page)

“Would you like something to drink?” Lindsey asked.  “I have water and milk.” 

“Water would be great. Thank you,” I said, taking a seat at the breakfast table.  Lindsey handed me a bottle of water and sat across from me.

“So, you gonna tell me what’s going on?” Lindsey asked.  I had never seen
her relaxed.  Nor, had I ever heard her speak so bluntly. 
I
liked it
.  I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to tell her everything.  So, I did.  From the first moment I saw Luke, to the moment I walked from the bar.  I lay the last twenty-four hours of my life out on the table like an open book.  Lindsey sat quietly, listening intently to everything I had to say.  When I was finished, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  I sat there a minute, delighting in the fact that I had just opened up to someone, even though the last one I had trusted, only hours ago, had already betrayed me.  I was ready to hear Lindsey’s feedback, her advice.  I wanted her to get mad and volunteer to drive me back to the bar so that we could team up and beat the shit out of Luke.  Maybe even vandalize his motorcycle.  I looked at her expectantly, ready for the wrath.

“So, who gave me the day off, you or Luke?”
Lindsey asked her face wrinkled up in confusion. 
I was speechless.  Dallas Knox, one of so
many words, was speechless once again
.  “Just kidding,” Lindsey said, laughing and looking very pleased with herself.  I laughed along with her, although I didn’t find the comment as humorous as she did.  “Well, it sounds to me like you have it bad for this incredibly hot guy,” she said, laughter subsiding.

“I had it bad.  Not anymore.  I am totally over him.  I could care less if I never see his face again,” I said, nodding my head in agreement with myself. 

“Liar
,” Lindsey retorted.  Before I could respond, she was speaking.  “You like him. I’m not fully convinced that you don’t love him.  Either way, this guy has had a major effect on you.  Trust me, it’s a good effect.  No offense,” she said, holding her hands up as if to surrender.  “Now, your problem is that…. Wait, can I speak bluntly and like not lose my job?” she asked.

I motioned to her with my hand, “By all means, you have the floor.”  I knew to prepare myself for the bitter truth of what a bitch I was.  I had heard it before, but it would do me some good to hear it again. 

“Good, anyway your problem is that you live in a bubble.  In your bubble, everything has to be perfect and just as Dallas sees it.  That’s fine when you are at work, running a multi-million dollar company.  But, when you step into the real world, you have to learn to stand out of the spotlight a little.  You follow me?” Lindsey asked. 

“I follow you, but I don’t live in a bubble Lindsey, I just simply know what I want and what I deserve
,” I responded, not at all offended by what she was saying. 

“You’re a bitch
,” Lindsey blurted out.  She was now standing up.  The shock of what she had just said, apparent on her face.  “I’m sorry,” she squeaked, her hands coming to her mouth. 

I laughed
, “I know that Lindsey.  I was hoping you would be a little more creative.” 

“You have no idea how
long I have wanted to say that.” she said laughing.  I joined in.  It was nice to laugh, even if it was at my own expense.  “Ok, I’m sorry.  Really.  I shouldn’t have said that.  Ok.  Back to Luke, you are lucky.  He could have done what he did in front of everyone.  Now
that
would have been embarrassing,” Lindsey said, helping herself to the candy dish sitting on the counter. 

“You speak as if from experience
,” I said, eyeing her curiously. 
Surely Lindsey was not an executive assistant by day, biker chick by night. 

“No, it has never happened to me, but I have seen it.  My ex-
fiancé is in a bike club.  I was there with him through the whole prospect period a hundred and seventy-six days to be exact,” she said. 
I could tell she was trying to go for nonchalance, but I saw the pain behind her smile. 

“What happened between y
’all?” I asked. 

“He got patched in.  Women were throwing themselves at him just for a chance to ride with the club.  He loved that life much more than he loved me.  I was tired of the late night phone calls saying he was not going to make it home.  Soon, he got to where he wouldn’t even call.  I had enough and ended it.  He was relieved.  I knew it was what he
wanted.  He had been trying to push me away for months.  That was before I moved here,” she responded, busying herself in the kitchen, so that she wouldn’t have to face me. 

“
What did you mean earlier when you said it could have been worse?” I asked, feeling a change of subject was in order. 

“
Well, in that world, it isn’t about you.  Luke is the president, right?” she asked, looking at me for an answer. 

“I think so
,” I responded unsure. 

“You think so, great.  Well if he is, then he sets an example for everyone else.  Now, how do you think it made him look to have the woman he brought with him, chatting up another man?” 
I looked at her with an impassive face. 
I tried to think about what I had done, but I saw no wrong in it. 

“It wasn’t as bad as what he was doing
,” I responded.  “Bikers hug and kiss their family.  By family I mean people who ride with them, fellow club members, other club members.  It’s a way of communication for them.”  I just stared at her, not sure what she wanted me to say.  “Ok, think of it like this, in the real estate world, you are the queen, the Alpha and Omega, top of the line.  Nobody does real estate as well as you.  In the bike world, that’s Luke.  You know how you tend to take three hour lunch breaks?  Sometimes it’s because you have business to attend to, sometimes you just want to go to 306 Front Street and eat, knowing good and damn well it will take and extra thirty minutes just to get through traffic.  My point is that you can do that because you are the boss.  But, what if I did that?  What if your clients had to wait because your employee wanted to take a three hour lunch break?  How would that make you look?” 

She had me.  I got it.  I would have fired her on the spot if she had pulled some of the stunts I did.  I could do it because I was the boss.  She did as I told her, that’s how the business worked.  Apparently, that was how Luke worked too.  Except I was the one being told what to do.

“Hey, you still with me?” Lindsey asked, waving her hand in front of my face. 

“I get it.  But, I don’t like it.  Not that it would matter even if I did
,” I said, closing the subject.  My phone began ringing in my pocket, and my heart fluttered at the sound.  I knew who it was without even looking.  I glanced at the screen and saw Luke’s name flashing.  Without thinking twice, I hit the ignore button and sat the phone on the counter.

“What the hell are you doing?” Lindsey asked, looking at me like I had lost my mind. 

“I’m not interested in anything he has to say,” I responded.

“Dallas, I thought we talked about this
,” Lindsey whined.

“No, we did not talk about this.  And, we are not going to
,” I said stubbornly.  I knew I was being irrational and that I would most likely regret it later, but I didn’t care.  I had done nothing wrong and if Luke had expected me to act a certain way he should have told me. 

“Fine.  I’m hungry. 
Want a pizza?” Lindsey asked.  I was glad that she was willing to let the topic die.  My phone rang once again, and without looking to see who it was, I cut the phone off. 

“I don’t really have much of an appetite.  But, I am in the mood for a good chick flick
,” I said smiling at her. 

“Don’t worry
,” Lindsey said flashing me a smile.  “I have just the one.” 

I like
d Lindsey’s idea of a chick flick
.  I was full of M&M’s and popcorn, completely mortified, and aware of the least little sound after watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Exorcist.  I lay sprawled on the couch, my yawning uncontrollable. 

“Would you like to spend the night?” Lindsey
asks, mirroring my yawning. “If you promise not to question your sexual orientation, you can sleep with me.”  I laughed at her attempting to do a sexy pose and batting her long eyelashes at me.

“Sure,” I replied sleepily.  We made our way into the bedroom, Lindsey cutting off light switches as she went.

“Here ya go
,” she said, tossing me an oversized MSU t-shirt.  I walked to the bathroom to scrub my face and prepare for bed.  Lindsey, who obviously had no shame, was already half naked before I had even left the room.  Pulling my hair back I washed my face carefully removing all traces of makeup.  I stared at my shiny, clean face in the mirror.  My big hazel eyes seemed sad and the feeling was reflected in my heart.  It had been a long day and although the movie was enough to deter me, I knew the night was coming and the memories of the day were flashing back, and becoming clear in my mind once again. 

I missed Luke.  I wanted to talk to him, but my pride would not allow it. 
Was it possible to miss someone so much?  I had just met this man, yet I felt like I had known him all my life. 

“Ohhhh Dallllaaasss...
,” I heard a sing-song voice call from the bedroom.  A slow smile formed on my lips as I left the bathroom to join my new found friend in her bed.  I couldn’t help but laugh at Lindsey’s splayed body over the bed, rubbing my pillow and eyeing me seductively.

“Move it, bitch
.”  Lindsey laughed, rolling back onto her side of the bed. 

“It’s good to see you smile
,” she said, without any trace of humor.  “Wanna see something really cool?”  I nodded my head, unable to contain my smile.  Lindsey patted the bed and I climbed in under the covers.  The bed dipped in the middle causing us to nearly be on top of one another, but it was extremely comfortable.  The closeness didn’t bother me at all.  It actually reminded me of a sleepover.  Lindsey grabbed a remote next to the bed and hit a button.  Sounds of water falling on a tin roof filled my ears.  I could also hear lightning and thunder.  “I have to have this to sleep or else I will hear the house creaking and shit my pants, thinking someone is coming to get me,” she said laughing, but I could tell she was serious.  She hit another button and the lights went out, but when I looked up the ceiling above us was glowing with stars.  “Pretty awesome, huh?” she asked without looking at me. 
Wow
. 

“Definitely awesome
, I love it.”

“Goodnight boss.” 

“Goodnight Lindsey and thank you, for everything.” 

“Mm hmm
,” was the only response I received.  I grabbed my phone, switching it on to set my alarm.  I would have to get up early, so I would have time to go home before work.  My notification window lit up letting me know I had a message.  *Answer the fucking phone* *Where are you* *I swear to God Dallas if you don’t answer me….*
Wow
…. several messages, all from Luke.  My heart lurched when I read them.  Even though they were rude and not exactly what I was hoping to hear, I couldn’t help but feel excited that he tried to contact me numerous times.  My phone pinged again with a new message.  My breath quickened when I saw it was from him.  *I’m sorry about today.  The world I live in is very different from yours.  Please forgive me.  I have returned your car to your home (personally) so no strange man has access to your private information.  I hope to see you again someday.  Keep my number and don’t hesitate if you ever need anything.*

W
hat the hell?  He hoped to see me again someday?
  My heart fell, as the unfamiliar feeling of rejection took over. 
He didn’t want me.  If
he did, he would have asked to see me again.
The realization of it all consumed me and I had to fight hard to stifle a sob.  I set my alarm and laid my phone beside the bed, then turned to stare at the stars above me.  I closed my eyes and let the sound of the rain and the memories of Luke lull me to sleep. 

Chapter 8

The following week passed by in a blur.  Lindsey was off on Monday, courtesy of Luke, and Tuesday, courtesy of me.  Back in the office on Wednesday, there was plenty for her to catch up on and an abundance of deals for me to close.  Things around the office were much more relaxed, now that she and I had bonded.  It seemed that more work was getting done and my appreciation for her had become more and more evident, considering I did both our jobs the first part of the week.

  Friday finally rolled around and she sank in the plush leather chair in my office with an exaggerated sigh.  “Thank God this week is over.  I believe we deserve a drink.” 

“I have to agree.  How about you make us a reservation at Mahogany and we will let the company treat us,” I said, smirking at her.

“Done
,” she said standing and making her way out of the office.  I walked to the window, looking out at the busy streets of downtown Hattiesburg.  The sleek, modern interior of my office was much different from the outside historical area.  Bricks lined the one way street and made a rumbling sound when the cars passed over them.  The rumbling seemed to get louder with the passing seconds.  I soon realized that the sound I was hearing was not the bricks at all, but a motorcycle coming from the distance.