FLEE Read online

  “Sure.”

  He led me to his car, opened the passenger door and made a wide, sweeping gesture.

  The early morning traffic was light so it only took a few minutes to get there. He parked on the edge of one of the parking lots attached to the law school, but left the engine idling. He leaned his head on the headrest. “Saturday and Sunday were crazy on set. I didn’t have your phone number. I know Troy has it, but I wanted to get it from you myself. May I have it?”

  “I suppose, since you already know where I live.” I pulled a pen out my purse and wrote my number on a scrap of paper. My hands were shaking and the numbers were jagged, but still legible. I handed it to him. He smiled and tucked it into his pocket. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, but made no move to shut off the engine.

  He slid his right hand off the steering wheel, resting it on my bare knee. “I can’t stop thinking about you.” He leaned his head back on the headrest again, still looking at me. “At any rate, I just wanted to let you know.”

  I smiled, dropping my hand on top of his.

  He seemed satisfied by my response. “Are you ready to go in?” he asked.

  “Sure,” I said.

  We started the long walk to the entrance. He leaned close to me as we approached the sidewalk lining the edge of the campus. “I probably should keep this thought to myself, but you look ridiculously sexy today. Did you wear that to torture me?”

  I cleared my throat to give my now mushy brain time to come up with a response. “Yeah, in the off chance you would show up outside my door without warning.”

  “Don’t do that again,” he spoke in my ear, his breath stirring the baby hairs on my neck. He paused at the junction of three sidewalks. One went to the law school, one went to the parking lot, and one went to the other side of campus. “I have two questions for you. Can you meet for lunch, and may I take you out for dinner tonight?”

  “Maybe, if I get all my reading done, and yes.”

  “Okay. I’ll take what I can get. I’ll be at our Mexican place at 1:00 if you can make it.” He brushed some stray hairs gently off my forehead before walking away.

  Hot damn.

  Once I made it to the classroom, I booted up my computer and pulled out my civil procedure book while I waited for Bree to arrive.

  Gavyn’s name floated through the room. My ears perked up.

  Two girls were having a not so quiet conversation a couple of rows in front of me. “I saw him yesterday, can you believe it?” a blond I didn’t know said in an extra loud voice.

  “Oh, my God! I can’t believe you saw Gavyn Dhaval. Where?” Liza asked. She had a strong, southern accent, shining black hair, and lots of money, judging by her the $8,000 bag she had one tanned arm draped over. As far as trust fund babies go, she was pretty darn nice.

  “At the Alamo. They were filming a scene or something in the courtyard right there in front of everyone. Course, they had it blocked off so you couldn’t walk up, but you could stand like twenty feet away.” She brought the back of her hand to her forehead in a mock swoon. “He is super gorg! I wonder if he’s single.”

  “I’m sure he would make himself single if he got a chance to meet you,” Liza said in her sweet way. “I heard he was in the parking lot this morning with some girl.”

  “Shut up! Who told you?”

  “Dean texted me. Said he saw him on his way in. Dean parks way out in the boonies because he’s paranoid about his car getting a scratch.”

  “Oh, wow!”

  Bree slid in next to me and powered up her laptop. “Phew. Almost late.” She had a sheen of sweat on her forehead. “I had to hustle in from the parking lot.”

  Professor Tolane was busy locking the doors, which he did to ensure no latecomers came in. Of course, it counted as an absence, and he would flunk any student with more than four absences.

  “What does he care if we are late? He still earns his one-hundred fifty grand regardless, and we still pay our $800 a freaking credit hour,” I said.

  “I care because being on time is so very important in the practice of law,” Professor Tolane said.

  Great. I managed to comment right when he was passing my desk to return to the front of the classroom to start class.

  “Attention, future counselors of law. Ms. Lockette was just commenting on my late policy, which she appears to have a problem with. So, Ms. Lockette, what will you say to the judge when you run into a hearing ten minutes late? Please inform the class of your argument.”

  “I wouldn’t be late to a hearing.”

  “Stand up please.”

  I did.

  “Again, let us say you were late to a hearing or a trial. What would you say to the judge?”

  I took a deep breath. “I would explain the reason for my delay and apologize.”

  “Uh huh. So, you would essentially say you were sorry?”

  “Yes, I guess so.”

  “Sorry doesn’t cut it. Sorry doesn’t represent your client who is paying you to handle their legal affairs. Sorry won’t get you out of the severe tongue lashing and order of contempt you will get from the judge. Sorry won’t cover the legal consequences of your client losing a case because you didn’t appear. And sorry will not cover the damage to your reputation as a careless attorney who doesn’t respect a judge or litigant’s time.”

  He lowered his glasses to stare at me. I wished I could melt into the floor and disappear from sight forever.

  “You may be seated.”

  What an a-hole, Bree typed on her screen.

  I think I hate law school, I typed back.

  And I did.

  ***

  At 12:50, I shoved my backpack into my trunk before walking to the Mexican restaurant. It wasn’t far, but I was kicking myself for wearing heels.

  I managed to make it there a few minutes early. The parking lot was full of cars and the inside was packed with local workers. For lunch, the restaurant had a $4.00 all you can eat lunch buffet. I’d never seen a Mexican food buffet before, but it looked mighty tasty and I could actually afford it.

  I was loading up my oval black plate when he appeared at my elbow.

  “Fancy seeing you here,” he murmured.

  I dropped the serving spoon I was using to scoop the fruit salad onto my plate. It made a loud noise when it rolled off the table and hit the floor.

  “Your skirt is ridiculous. It makes it hard for me to concentrate,” he said.

  I continued loading my plate with different foods, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m glad you like it.” I finally turned so I could see him, and damn, I’m glad I did. He was all movie star in a slick leather jacket and khakis. His normally unruly hair had been smoothed into obedience. It hung around his face, glossy and black. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  We sat down at an empty table. “I only have fifteen minutes,” he said, “so I have to eat fast.”

  “Go ahead and eat. I’m just glad I got to see you.”

  He looked up from his food with a serious face. “Is that so?”

  “Yes.”

  He took a swig of water before he spoke again. “What are you in the mood for at dinner?”

  “I pretty much like everything. Maybe Italian? But, you know, I’m open.”

  “I can handle that. Do you want to hit up a trendy place or are you more low key?”

  “Low key. Like bottom floor low. I’m not one of the cool kids.”

  That made him smile. “Basement low it is. I’ll be at your door at 7:30.”

  “Sweet.”

  We finished our food and stood to leave. “Aurora.” He leaned close to me. I could smell his aftershave, which was very nice. “Don’t wear your silly skirt tonight. It’s very, very distracting and I’m trying to be gentleman.”

  Heat uncurled in my belly. I watched him leave the restaurant, all sinewy muscle and perfection.

  Holy giant rhino balls.

  I went back to school and sat through my classes, but the rest of
the day merged into a big giant blur. Scary shadows forgotten, homework ignored. Finally, my last class let out. I tugged on Bree’s arm while she was unloading her books into her trunk. She’d agreed to give me a ride home.

  “Come on, let’s go!”

  “Simmer down, sweetheart. I’ll get you time in home for your hot date.” She yanked her hand away and swatted my hand. She shut the trunk and leaned against it. “I still can’t believe he was waiting for you in the morning. I’d say it’s eighty percent hot, twenty percent creepy.”

  “Hot. Not creepy.” I grabbed her arm. “Let’s go!”

  She opened the driver’s door while I jumped up and down outside the passenger door. “So, what are you wearing?”

  That stopped me in my tracks. “Oh, crap! I have no idea. What should I wear?”

  “Wear your tight aqua blue tank with your nice jeans. It will show off your toned shoulders and collarbone. Your butt is always a big hit in tight jeans.”

  “You’re the best stylist ever!”

  She flicked imaginary lint of her shirt. “I do what I can, young grasshopper.”

  As soon as she dropped me off, I ran into my apartment, stripped off my clothes, and jumped in the shower. I let the warm water run over my body. It calmed me down and made me feel whole again.

  I put on the jeans and shirt Bree had suggested. The shirt did set off my shoulders nicely. It was fitted, but not tight. It skimmed over my bust, hinting at the fullness without showing any cleavage. I added some coral blue stone earrings and smiled at the effect.

  I must admit, the blue made my skin look creamy and smooth and set off my eyes just right. I added bit of eyeliner and mascara. I put on some lip-gloss and glanced at the clock. It was then I remembered my apartment was tiny and dingy, and right now it was a mess.

  Crap. I darted around the small living room and picked up the clothes that had accumulated over the week. I dumped them into my closet before loading up my arms with coffee mugs and water glasses littering my table. I shoved my textbooks into one giant pile. It was a marginal improvement.

  At precisely 7:30, there was a soft knock at my door. After one more look at my humble surroundings, I opened it. He was leaning against the doorframe, looking like he just stepped out of a high-fashion ad. His hair was disheveled and wild. He was wearing a t-shirt, a thin leather band around his wrist, and black jeans. He eyes roamed up and down my body before meeting my eyes.

  He abruptly pushed past me and shut the door behind him. He grabbed my wrists and pulled me close to him. When our bodies collided, he dropped my wrists, put both of his hands on my face, and kissed me. His hands moved gently down my shoulders and arms then skimmed along the small of my back. He paused there, then wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me tight, crushing me into his firm, muscular body.

  This continued for a several seconds before he disentangled himself. “Sorry. I just couldn’t help myself,” he said. “I’ll be a gentleman for the rest of the night. I promise.” His finger traced the shape of my collarbone as he spoke. Heat rocked through my body, along with the familiar buzzing sensation, but I was in perfect control.

  “Okay. Let’s go.” He held out his hand. We went out to his car with our fingers entwined. He weaved in and out of the San Antonio traffic, glancing at me as he drove.

  “I should give you a heads up about something,” he said. “It’s kind of stupid and I hate to even mention it.”

  “What is it?”

  “Sometimes when I go out in public, things will happen. Someone may come up and ask for an autograph, or sometimes photographers will show up.”

  “You mean, like the paparazzi?”

  “Yeah. Sometimes employees of bars and restaurants will tip them off in exchange for cash. I try to stay off the radar and San Antonio is low key, so hopefully it won’t happen. I don’t want you to have to deal with it. You’ll be safe with me though. I won’t let them bother you.”

  “No biggee. I won’t pick my nose or anything.”

  He smiled. “Thanks for being so cool about it. It’s really embarrassing to even have to discuss this with you.”

  We pulled into a non-descript strip mall in a middle class neighborhood. He gestured at a small Italian restaurant in the far end of the mall. “It doesn’t look like much, but it’s really good food.”

  Booths and tables lined the walls. The lighting was dim. Greenery was everywhere, with ivy creeping up the walls. A massive wine rack dominated the front of the restaurant. Faint Italian opera music came through hidden speakers. The host immediately recognized Gavyn.

  “Around the corner, sir?” he asked.

  “Yes, please. Thank you,” Gavyn replied.

  He led us to a section of the restaurant out of view of the main door. Patrons gestured and whispered as we walked through.

  There were only three small tables at the back section, all empty. “Let’s keep this a private party,” Gavyn said to the host, pressing a bill into his hand.

  A discreet waiter took our food and wine order. We poured the wine and clinked our glasses together in a silent toast.

  He watched me for a few minutes, not saying anything. For once, I did not feel the need to fill the silence that loomed between us.

  “Aurora,” he said. My heart jumped when I heard him say my name. “You really are beautiful.”

  “Oh, my God, don’t start that again!”

  “Quit deflecting my compliments. I’ve been all over the world, and believe it or not, people all start to look the same. But not you. There is something about your face. It’s…lovely.”

  “Wow, thanks.”

  “Not to mention your figure,” he said with a more devious smile.

  “Watch it, mister.” I pointed my finger at him.

  He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just sayin’. ”

  I smiled. “Okay. Duly noted. Can we talk about something else now? How does one go about becoming a famous movie star?”

  “Dumb luck.” He tapped the stem of his wine glass with his finger while he talked. “I was in theatre production in London when I was a teenager. I liked acting, but I never actually thought I could turn it into a career, so I just did theatre in the summers for fun. A talent agent showed up at one of our modest productions and scouted me. I was filming my first major film six weeks later. The rest, you Americans would say, is history.”

  “It sounds like a little more than dumb luck. It sounds like you were picked out of a crowd.”

  “Just luck. It’s not a bad life and I can’t complain about the money, but it’s been an adjustment. I can’t go to a supermarket, or a shopping center, or to the movies, or to an airport without attracting some attention. I’ve enjoyed myself here. Not a lot of press, laid back culture, and there’s this very special girl I’ve met.”

  His words moved through me. The rush of euphoria set my body a blaze with sensations. Some were very promising, some were scary, some were warning me I was on the edge of floating out my chair...literally. I began my slow count backwards from twenty, in my head.

  He placed his hand on mine. “You okay?”

  I smiled and glanced at our two hands touching on the table. “I am now.”

  The food, as promised, was excellent. By the end of the dinner, I was stuffed and a little tipsy. He paid the tab over my spirited objection and we walked out into the balmy night. As soon as we moved outside, his face changed. He put his arm over my shoulder and pulled me close to him. “Walk fast. Sorry.”

  “What’s wrong?” I followed his gaze to the cluster of photographers across the street. “Oh.”

  “You’re not upset?”

  “They’ll crop me out of the picture anyways.”

  He laughed louder and rubbed my shoulder as we walked to the car. “I was planning on taking you to a wine bar, but do you mind if we go back to my hotel and hang out?”

  “Not at all.” I pushed back the stream of dirty thoughts popping into my head at the prospect of being alone with him
in a hotel room.

  He flashed me his bright smile as we got in the car. He peeled out of the parking lot and whizzed down a couple of side streets before making his way back to the hotel. He pulled in the front of a ritzy hotel downtown. A valet appeared and took the car while Gavyn ushered me inside. The bronze elevators doors slid open as we approached. He pushed the button for the twenty-sixth floor. I waggled my eyebrows at him. “Oohh. The penthouse.”

  I was joking, but of course, it turned out to be the penthouse suite. There was a distinct living room, with a couch, recliner, and a huge flat screen. The king-size bed was on a raised platform off to the side. I peeked in the bathroom. It had a large Jacuzzi and a separate walk-in shower. “Wow. Penthouse was right on the mark. Nice!”

  “Yeah, it’s included in my contract.” He waived his hand at the television. “You want to watch a movie?”

  “Sounds nice.”

  We settled on a thriller. I sat down on the couch a couple of feet from him as the movie started. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close to him until I was sitting on his lap. “What are you doing all the way over there?”

  I settled in next to him and leaned my head against his broad shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me.

  I woke up in the dark. The movie credits were scrolling down the screen as a heavy metal song played in the background.

  I was still on the couch with Gavyn. He was asleep against the arm of the couch. I gave myself a minute to admire his handsome features. It was late, and I had to be up in a few hours. I had no idea what time he needed to be up.

  I shut off the giant television then pushed his legs further on to the couch. I pulled a blanket off the top of the bed and returned to the couch to spread it over him.

  I called the front desk. By the time I made it downstairs, a cab was waiting for me. I spent the cab ride trying to count backwards from twenty to control my body, but my mind always returned to Gavyn. As the car turned onto my street and drove past the forest, I didn’t feel any fear, nor a sensation of being watched. It was a normal, quiet forest, and for the moment, I was a normal girl.

  Chapter 5

  I yawned my way through my early morning class. I was tired, and worse, I was bored because Bree hadn’t shown up. Finally, the professor released us from his never-ending drone.