The Prince Charming Hoax (40 page)

Leah felt like she was driving on autopilot through the non-stop storm. She didn
’
t even want to free one hand to dial her phone. Her fingers gripped tightly around the wheel and she whispered,
“
Please be home. Please be home.
”
Her heart sped up when she saw his Jeep parked in the lot outside his studio. She pulled in as close as she could to his doorway and ran from her car. Water splashed in on her as it streamed over the top of the narrow awning over the door as she rang his bell and pounded on the door.

It seemed like forever until she heard Jonathan
’
s footsteps in the hallway. He smiled broadly when he saw her and swung the door open.
“
Leah, come in.
”
He pulled her out of the rain and into his arms. She clung tightly to him.

He pulled back gently to look at her. His blue eyes were filled with concern.
“
What is it?
”

Leah ran her hand along the side of his face, down his neck into the vee of his open shirt.
“
You
’
re wearing my favorite shirt, the blue makes your eyes stand out.
”
She buried her head against him, taking in the smell of him mixed with the faint odor of the paint he used. She began to cry and words tumbled out.
“
I dreamed I had something to tell you, but I couldn
’
t remember your number and then the phone didn
’
t work. When I woke up, I couldn
’
t remember what it was I wanted to tell you. Then I was out and it started to rain and the storm flooded out the roads and lightning struck a branch that fell right where my car had been a minute before and then all I wanted to do was be with you and I thought I
’
d never get here and—.
”

He covered her mouth with his and she tasted his tongue and lips. She closed her eyes and let the warmth of him envelope her.
“
Here, let
’
s get you out of your wet clothes,
”
he said, and hit the light switch before he started to unbutton her pants and pull her free from her blouse. They stood in the darkened hallway fumbling with each other
’
s clothes while kissing feverishly.

Jonathan ran his hands up and down her back and sides as he moved his face down, kissing her neck and breasts. She looked down as he sucked her nipple and felt the intensity of her desire ripple through her and become a dull ache between her legs.
“
I
’
ve missed you,
”
she whispered and gently pushed herself against him as she slid slowly to the floor, pulling him down on top of her. He kissed her other breast and then let his tongue travel down her abdomen and over the soft wet mound that she now thrust into the air at him. He sat at her feet and spread her knees apart, admiring his view.
“
Every inch of you is beautiful and I
’
m going to savor every drop, every moment.
”
He licked his finger and then began to stroke between her legs until her hips were high in the air and he moved his fingers inside, gliding in and out as her body rolled with pleasure. Leah gasped as she felt a warm gush of liquid spraying out from inside her. She sat up and looked into Jonathan
’
s eyes, which were open in amazement.

“
Did you pee on me?
”
He looked incredulous.

She shook her head.
“
No, but I have never felt anything like that. I came so hard that it must have pushed out all the wetness from inside me.
”

“
Baby,
”
he said,
“
you are the hottest woman I have ever known.
”

Leah spun herself around as he kneeled over her, so her head was under his crotch.
“
You bring out the best in me,
”
she said as she stroked his erection and brought it down inside her mouth, alternately licking and sucking until he pulled up and away from her. As he did, she turned over on her hands and knees and he pushed into her from behind. She slid down to the floor with him inside her, squeezing as hard as she could while he moved in and out of her with deep thrusts. Just when she felt his body twitching with pleasure, he again pulled out and gently tugged on her arm for her to turn over again.

When she rolled over this time, she was on the wood floor, their pile of clothes in a ball at her side. She opened her legs and pulled him to her, guiding him deep inside. They held each other tightly as he gave one final push before he succumbed to release.
They lay silently for a moment, still holding on to one another tightly and breathing heavily.

He rolled over on his side, propping himself up on his elbow.
“
And you thought you were safe, coming here.
”

Leah moved in closer, pressing against him as she ran her hand through his hair.
“
Oh, I don
’
t know. I kind of like being ravished.
”

He leaned down and kissed her again. Soft, sweet nibbles that she responded to with gusto.

“
Come on,
”
he said.
“
Let
’
s move into the bed.
”
He helped her up and took her hand as they walked down the hall and climbed the stairs leading to the loft above his studio where he slept.

They stretched out on the platform bed with Leah snuggled under his arm, head on his chest, and pulled up the sheets. The exposed beam ceiling above the loft offered no insulation from sound, and they lay silently for several minutes listening to the rain pounding on the roof.

He kissed the top of her head.
“
How was your trip to New York?
”

She lifted her face to him.
“
Amazing.
”
She began her story from the time she arrived at Penn Station and told him everything that happened up to receiving the message from Iris, which precipitated her early departure for home.

Jonathan listened to the entire story without interrupting.
“
You
’
re amazing,
”
he said.
“
I think it
’
s great that you all figured out a way to work together to solve your problems and help each other at the same time. And, your storm experience made me think of something that may turn your current snag into an advantage, too.
”

“
What do you mean?
”

“
Let me drive you around for the rest of the afternoon. There
’
s bound to be major flooding out there and we can plow through it in the Jeep. We
’
ll go see the properties you had in mind, and then I want to take you somewhere afterward.
”

“
Where?
”

“
You
’
ll see.
”
He kissed her.
“
But, it
’
s still raining pretty hard. So, let
’
s entertain ourselves here for a while and then I
’
ll be driving Miss Leah around town.
”

“
Entertain ourselves, huh? Do have any cards or board games?
”
she teased.

“
I know a better game and we don
’
t need any props,
”
he said with a smile. Then he disappeared under the blanket.

Chapter
35

Leah climbed into the front seat of the Jeep. She took her list from her purse and crossed out the last address. Jonathan slid into the driver
’
s side. She held up her list.
“
Looks like this is going to be more of a challenge than I thought,
”
she said.
“
How can so many possibilities turn out so badly?
”

He leaned over and kissed her.
“
The possibilities are still out there. You just have to know where to look.
”
Jonathan started the car and began backing out of the parking lot of the rental complex they had just visited.

“
I suppose.
”
She put her hand on his thigh.
“
So where are we going on now?
”

“
You
’
ll see.
”

“
I
’
m certainly glad we
’
re in your car, not mine,
”
she said as the Jeep splashed through a deep puddle. Her phone rang. She picked up the phone and looked at the call screen.

“
Hi Rox. What
’
s up?
”

“
Hey, have you heard from the Vanderholts?

“
Yes, how did you know?
”

“
I had Elaine contact them, but she never actually spoke to anyone because they
’
re traveling. But she did leave a message. So what did they say?
”

“
I never spoke to anyone, either. Melinda left an icy message for me to call her cell. I haven
’
t called her back yet. I was out all day looking for somewhere else to live.
”

“
Find anything?
”

“
Not yet. Seven strike-outs so far, but Jonathan is taking me to some secret place, so we
’
ll see.
”
She looked over at Jonathan and winked.

“
Ask him if he can do a little magic for me, too.
”

“
Why? Did your condo association vote you out or something?
”

“
Very funny. Actually, there is a lot whispering behind my back in the hallways and lobby, now that you mention it. But, Elaine was here today working on that mountain of mail, and I couldn
’
t get anything done. Even without all the mess, I
’
m not set up for two people to work in this little apartment. I don
’
t even like working here alone.
”

“
Did you start to look for office space?
”

“
I made some calls, but so far there
’
s nothing to get excited about. There goes my other phone. It
’
s been like that all day. Speak to you later.
”

Leah put her phone down and turned to Jonathan.
“
Looks like Roxie
’
s not having much luck finding anything, either.
”
She looked out the window and noticed he was headed east on Dania Beach Boulevard.
“
Jonathan, where are you going? This is where I was earlier today. You know—
”

“
Yes, I know. That
’
s what reminded me about the place I want you to see. But, I don
’
t want say anything more until after you
’
ve seen it. We
’
ll be there in a minute.
”

“
All right.
”
Leah started to pay more attention to where they were going. It was hard to believe this was the same road she
’
d been on earlier. The pavement was dry, except for an occasional puddle, and the bright afternoon sun was blazing as if it had never rained.

Jonathan headed around the overpass and went south on A1A. This section of the ocean highway was built on a small strip of land between the ocean and the Intracoastal. Waterfront restaurants, boat rentals, and tourist day cruises lined the Intracoastal side.
A series of small side streets off of A1A led to the beach. Some of streets were nothing more than a row of parking spaces with meters for beachgoers. Others had small motels and guesthouses, and a few streets were strictly residential.

Jonathan turned left one block past where Leah had pulled off the road earlier. He drove into a driveway at the end of the short street, the last house on the block before the steps over the sea grass that led to the beach. A
“
For Sale
”
sign hung on a post in the front yard of the house.

“
A buddy of mine owns this place,
”
Jonathan said.
“
I spoke to him a while back, and he said he was putting it up for sale. I wasn
’
t sure if it was still available. It
’
s a cool spot. Come on, let
’
s look around. I think you
’
ll like it.
”

“
But I
’
m not looking to buy anything right now.
”

“
We
’
re just looking.
”

Leah shrugged and got out of the Jeep.
“
Let
’
s take a quick walk over to the beach, first.
”

Jonathan smiled.
“
You
’
re incorrigible.
”
But he took her hand and they walked up the few steps and the short bridge to the beach.

Leah gasped as she looked up and down the stretch of beach before her. She had an intense feeling of déjà vu. She ran down to the beach side and turned around, motioning to Jonathan who still stood on the bridge.
“
Jonathan, this is it. This is exactly like that beach in Fire Island—except, of course, for the palm trees. It
’
s what I
’
ve been seeing in my dreams ever since.
”

“
This part of the beach never gets crowded. Most people go down there,
”
he said pointing to the pier.
“
I knew you
’
d like the beach, but I really want you to see the house.
”

“
Don
’
t you think it
’
s locked up?
”

“
We could look around back and maybe in the windows. If you like it, I might be able to arrange a private tour. But it
’
ll cost you.
”
He smiled as Leah ran up the steps and put her arms around his neck.
“
Then again, we can always arrange a trade.
”

She laughed.
“
Don
’
t get distracted now. You were going to show me this house.
”

They walked back across the bridge to the house. Jonathan opened the gate in the wood fence that surrounded the property and led her around back. What Leah saw when they turned the corner stopped her dead in her tracks. A wooden deck with a table, chairs, and built-in flower boxes all around. The planters were filled with overgrown weeds and the deck was in need of cleaning and repair, but in Leah
’
s mind it was the flower-filled patio she envisioned for herself so long ago.

The deck overlooked a neglected garden and what she thought was a large shed. Jonathan motioned for her to keep going.
“
I want to show you something.
”
He led her over to the building in the garden. When she saw it from the front, she realized it was a cottage, not a shed.
“
This is where Dave worked. He was a painter and used this cottage as a studio.
”

Leah put her face to the window. She could make out a small kitchenette and large room.
“
How big is it inside?
”

But Jonathan had walked around the cottage and was out of sight. He came back with a huge grin on his face and held up a key.
“
Dave kept this hidden in case of emergency. I think this qualifies.
”

He opened the door to the studio. Leah quickly checked it out. Behind the main room were two smaller rooms and a full bathroom.
“
Looks like this was built as a guest cottage and your friend just used it for his studio.
”

Jonathan nodded.
“
Yeah. His wife couldn
’
t stand the smell of the paint and the mess of having canvas and supplies all over. So he moved it all out here. But that wasn
’
t far enough away for her. I guess the problem was more their marriage than his working conditions. They
’
re getting a divorce, which is why the house is for sale.
”

They walked outside again. Leah had an idea.
“
Do you think that key opens the house, too?
”

Jonathan held up the key ring, which had two keys. He pulled her to him.
“
Your wish is my command, Lady Leah. But, there is a question of reward.
”

She leaned her face up to his and kissed him. She began to nuzzle his ear and whispered.
“
This is merely a deposit. Full remuneration to follow, if the lady is satisfied with what she sees.
”

“
Then let
’
s not waste another minute.
”
They walked across the deck to the screened-in patio.

Leah drew a deep breath when he opened the door and she looked in. The wood deck continued inside and in the center of the patio was a built-in hot tub. The rear of the house was a wall of windows and French doors leading into the kitchen and family room.
“
This looks brand new, like it
’
s recently been remodeled,
”
she said.
“
How long did your friend and his wife live here?
”

“
About eight years. Dave
’
s wife was an interior decorator, and he did a lot of the work himself. They were planning to have a family, but things didn
’
t work out.
”
He unlocked the door to the kitchen.
“
Let me show you around inside.
”

“
I feel kind of weird about this. Let
’
s make it fast. If it
’
s as good as what I
’
ve seen so far, we can come back with your friend.
”

“
Dave moved to North Carolina and his wife went back to California, I think. But if you like what you see, I can call him later.
”

Leah quickly toured the house. The floor plan was set up with two bedrooms on one side of the house and a third off the family room, more suitable for a den or office than a bedroom. It would be a perfect writing room for her. The more she saw, the quieter she became.
“
Let
’
s go,
”
she said and walked out ahead of him to the car.

Jonathan locked the door and caught up with her. They got in the car, but didn
’
t leave.
“
What
’
s the matter, Leah? Didn
’
t you like it?
”

“
It
’
s the closest I
’
ve ever come to being able to live out my dream of having a house on the beach and space to write, but it
’
s really a lot more house than I need or can afford. Besides, I need something right away.
”

“
What if you rented out the cottage to Roxie for her new office? That would off-set your costs, and she
’
d have a nice place to work where she could bring clients, if she wanted.
”

Leah brightened.
“
Do you think the cottage is big enough for her?
”

“
For now it probably is.
”