Tinderella (5 page)

"No, although I do have a small Swiss Army knife. Just in case. That's what I say to myself every morning when I put it in my pocket. When I was a kid, my grandad gave me my first pocket knife, it was a very solemn event," his eyes twinkled as he recalled his grandfather, "he said it was for emergencies. Just in case. And that's what I've thought ever since, every day when I put it in my pocket, just in case."

"That's actually very sweet," Cyndi said.

"Are you sure, I mean it's not going to be as good a story as handcuffs..."

"That's okay, I can live with that."

"This is fantastic by the way," she indicated the roll, and coffee, "thank you."

"Of course, you're welcome. I know it's early, and you haven't finished your roll yet, but I hope you'll think about joining me for dinner. I'd hate to have you slip away so soon."

Cyndi thought about it for a minute, but really, why not? This guy was fun, she was having a good time. "Sure, dinner would be great."

They finished their coffees and decided to walk in the park to make some room for dinner. As they walked and talked Cyndi was struck by his good manners and knowledge of just about everything. She had asked him about it, but he had responded that he was well read, which seemed like a fair point, because clearly he was. As they walked side by side, occasionally their arms touched and she got that warm feeling again.
 

Dinner was what Gooch would call a solid win. He knew of a small seafood restaurant on the other side of the city. They drove separately, and met out front. She was still trying to keep her car out of his sight. No small feat. He took her arm and escorted her in and wonder of wonders let her order her own meal. He was warm and funny and she was appreciating Gooch more with every moment. As they finished their desserts, Cyndi looked around the empty restaurant.

"Looks like we outlasted just about everyone, I hate to call it a night, but I think our waitress would like to go home."

"So would I, and I'd like you to come with me. An after dinner drink? You have your own car, you can make a getaway. I don't have handcuffs there either, just in case you were wondering."

Cyndi nodded yes, and wondered if maybe she was about to make the whole slut thing come true after all. Did this make her a slut? Easy? Sexually available? She only knew one thing, that for the moment it was making her happy.

She followed him back downtown, and as they approached his building it dawned on her that the name he'd said was the same name as the Penthouse banana bread guy. It shouldn't have made a difference, she knew that. She had told him she was an entrepreneur with her own small business, and had waved off further questions. She hadn't lied. There was something weird about sleeping with the guy whose house you cleaned though. It wasn't that sort of maid service.

She parked a level away from him in the huge echoing garage and walked up the ramp to where he stood. He took her arm as they walked to the elevator. Her heels clicked and echoed on the cement and her butterflies were pterodactyls beating their wings to the rhythm of her footsteps.
 

As they stepped inside the familiar elevator, she hoped against hope there were two Pearces in the building, but when he slid in his card for the penthouse, she knew that wasn't to be so. Still, it wouldn't be so bad, right? She knew already he liked her cooking and cleaning. That was two points in her favor. Guys like him though, guys who lived in penthouses and inherited their father's money, those guys didn't sleep with the maid service, she was pretty sure. Or if they did she had missed that memo.

She thought about how to break it to him, you'll never believe who I really am, or can I ask, where did you get that awesome loaf pan, the one I used the other day for banana bread? She hated to not mention it, the longer it went the more of a lie it became. She didn't want to mention it either, she didn't want to break what was surely a spell. Cast by Gooch no doubt, she always had a spare red candle and gold cord for her matchmaking fix ups.
 

As the entered the apartment that familiar feeling of coming home struck her again. She really did love this place. Something about it. She shook off the thought and followed him into the living room. Pearce tossed his coat on the sofa and she saw the coffee table was covered in sports pages. Again. She reached for them, out of habit, then stood back, hoping he hadn't seen her about to begin picking up the place. Get a grip Cyn, she told herself sternly. He wasn't a magical prince, he was just a guy, a nice, drop dead gorgeous one, but still, not a prince. He had his back to her and was on his way to the bar, "Can I get you something? A night cap?"

"Just a cola thanks, if you have it. I still need to be able to drive home, and it's getting late."

He stopped in his tracks and turned to glance at her, "You're welcome to stay, you know." Noticing her blush he added, "I have a guest room."

Thanks, I, yeah, no, I think I'll head home in a while. I'm glad you invited me up though, what a magnificent view of the city!"

"It is something, isn't it? Almost makes working for the old man worth it."

"Almost? I thought you liked your job?"

"I do, I do, it's just, he's, well, we see the world in different ways is all."

"Oh, I see," she said, although she totally didn't.

"C'mere," he said, pulling her close, "I've been wanting to do this all night." Gently he put his hand on her chin and tipped her head up so she was looking at him. His lips met hers and she felt her heart speed up. It wasn't as good as she had imagined. It was better.
 

He shifted so his arms were completely around her and pulled her in tight. He was gentle but insistent. They broke the kiss and he put his head on top of hers, gently rubbing her back with the palm of his hand.
 
She pulled back and looked up and he leaned forward again. His kiss was less gentle this time, there was more desire. His tongue parted her lips and found hers and she felt it everywhere. His hands on her, his lips, all of it conspired to create a white heat centered at her core that radiated out to the tips of her fingers. She had kissed other men before, of course, but this was different. This was a whole new experience.
 

His cell phone began to ring and he glanced at the display.
 

"See, this is what I was talking about, it's my dad, I have to take this. I'm sorry, it will just be a few minutes," he said as he slid the glass door to the balcony and stepped away.

"Sure," she said to no one, as he walked along in front of the glass. He was already deep in conversation with his father.

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, it had somehow happened though, and it was clear from the conversation that his dad was talking to him about taking over her company. It had gotten back to him that she had said no, and they were discussing how much to offer and whether they needed her company for sure to make their franchise work.
 

She began to panic, she couldn't help herself. What was she doing there? She knew this had been a terrible idea to begin with. As if the handcuff guy wasn't enough trouble, she had to tempt fate by trying one more time. And now here she was in an apartment she cleaned for a living, listening to a guy she barely knew talk about taking over her company.
 

It was instinct more than anything else, but she felt like she had to run, had to get out of there. Later she would describe it as a panic attach, and maybe that's what it was. She didn't know for sure, but at the time the one thing she did know was she had to get out of there. She turned quickly, before he could shut off the phone, and grabbed her purse and left. It wasn't exactly heroic. In fact it was kind of crazy, and she knew it. She did it anyway. It was only later that night, after she was snug in bed, with a pint of Cookie Dough ice cream and her favorite flannel pajamas on, that she realized she had forgotten her coat.

****************

CYNDI

"What do you mean you just left?" Gooch asked while dunking her fries in mayo.
 

Cyndi looked away, the whole idea of fries in mayo made her stomach turn.

"I mean I just left. There's not a lot of room for interpretation there, right? I picked up my purse and skeedadled. Vamoosed. Jetted. I was gone."

"And you left your coat," she said between bites of fries.

"Yep. But I don't need it that bad. I can live without it."

"No, you shouldn't have to. You're not afraid to go back are you?"

"No. Well, yes. No. I don't know. Not afraid, embarrassed. I should have stuck around I guess, I mean I could live with being the housecleaner/cook. It's what I do, it's who I am, and I'm proud of the business I've built. But his father trying to buy me out, him trying to buy me out? Yeah, I'm not down with that."

"Can you explain it to me again," Gooch said as she waved a fry at her.

"No, and put those down, I can hear your arteries hardening from way over here."

"My family is very long lived. I'm fine. Now what are we going to do about you?"

"Me? Nothing. I deleted the app, I'm not dating or Tindering or anything anymore, and he doesn't know how to reach me, so I'm not going to see him again."

"Unless he comes home early and catches you baking chocolate chip cookies."

"Well, yeah, there's that. I'm thinking of switching my schedule, I'll do his place in the morning and hers in the afternoon, and he won't come home and catch me that way."

"Mmmm-hmm, best laid plans sweetie. You really should just call him."

"If he weren't trying to buy me out, I would. But he's the enemy. I don't want to sell and I can't be cavorting with the enemy. And since I won't sell, he's about to be my competition. I have to make this company work. It's all I have, and I'm not selling. It's mine and they can't have it!"

"Louder, I don't think they heard you in Egypt."

Cyndi colored and lowered her voice. I mean it. "He... well his father, but still him too, they're trying to own me one way or the other."

"Right, but they don't know you are you. They just think you're some random chick."

"Sure, but they should still be nice to random chicks."

"Business is business. I heard that somewhere."

"Right, so I've been told. Here's the thing. Buying me out, or competing against me, I don't want to make any decisions because of him."

"But you liked him, right?"

"Yes, of course I liked him, so what?"

"Well then it seems like you are making a decision."

"Logic has no place here, Gooch. I have to fly, talk to you later."

"Mind if I eat these?" she said, indicating Cyndi's fries.

"Nope, have at them, don't forget the mayo. Freak."

The next day she put her plan into action and went to the penthouse first to clean, after checking with the doorman to make sure the coast was clear. Today she had coconut chocolate chip cookies. When she entered the penthouse, she thought briefly about looking for her coat, but she didn't want to be accused of stealing.
 

In the kitchen she put down the cookies and picked up the note he had left.

Thanks for the banana bread, it was spectacular to come home to the scent and taste. It was really nice of you.
 
Many thanks, Pearce.

Tentatively she took stock of the fridge and saw fresh cherries with a note that said, use me. She laughed out loud at that, and took them from the fridge. Taking out flour, salt and butter she made a crust and refrigerated it. He had a cherry pitter in the drawer, and she was able to speed through the pitting process. 

While the dough chilled, and the cherries got all juicy in the sugar, she cleaned the rest of the house. The papers were still scattered on the coffee table, and she thought back to her fast exit of the other night. She wasn't sorry, but she was.
 

She ran her hands over the sofa and thought about how nice it would be to be able to see him again. Then she shook her head to clear it, the whole thing was a debacle waiting to happen. She couldn't let it.
 

****

"We've got a new offer, substantially more than before. I really think you should consider it Cyndi. The money would tide you over until you found something else, and we'd have some to invest for your retirement."

"Retirement? I'm only --"
 

He held up his hand, "I know how old you are, you could use a good injection of cash into that account though. You really should think about this, offers like this don't come along every day. Or, well, like ever," he paused and looked directly at her. She hadn't noticed before just how tired he seemed.
 

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yes, yeah, fine. I mean, just the same stuff, life you know? It's exhausting." He sighed, "Look, I know where you come from, I watched you build your business. I know you're proud of it. Rightfully so, but to have a chance like this, a windfall, and not take it. I'm not sure I get that."

"I know. It's okay, you don't have to understand. Just know that I'm not doing it. Maybe I'm just stubborn."

"You are stubborn. If you don't take it, they'll be the competition and you could get creamed. In fact you probably will. Your old accounts might want to keep you, but you know that he'll come in and underprice you to knock you out of the game."