Chadwick's Rare Find (An Intriguing Romance Novel) (5 page)

Mara sensed that Brittany had no patience for the eccentricities of the affluent.  After Mara explained her husband’s terrible disposition, Brittany’s voice had turned positively frosty. It seemed as if James was in for some trouble.  Mara smiled to herself.   Maybe it was a good idea after all to involve the “family snob."   He had been a tyrant too long.  Mara had gathered a shining piece of information about Brittany.  Brittany was fearless.  This was going to be priceless.  Humming a happy tune, she went looking for Chadwick. 

She found Chadwick and James in the library.  James was nodding in one of the plush chairs in front of the fireplace.  Adanna had cedar logs in the fireplace for decoration during the summer months.  Every now and then the sweet-woodsy smell of cedar would drift into the air, which added to the cozy atmosphere in the library.  The wall to wall shelves of books gave a cave-like appeal to the room, which made one feel hidden in privacy.   Dim lights and winter colors of burgundy, hunter green, and chocolate made the room rich in appearance.  The family members who tended to brood gravitated to this room, while the family’s sunny personalities found the room a bit depressing.  

Mara noted that her only son, the child of her heart was in the right place. He was brooding.  He was stretched out on a velvet covered couch with pillows under his head, under his feet, and in his arms.  Mara didn’t have to ask to know what was on his mind. 

“Chadwick I made the appointment,” she said.  

He sat straight up on the couch.  “Good, momma. I knew you would.”  He came across to room, leaned down, and gave her a peck on the cheek.  

Mara noticed that Chadwick had gained a little weight since she last saw him.  She was glad.  He worked so hard at his firm.  After finishing college, he had put all his savings into building his firm from the ground up.  It seems Chadwick was destined to be wealthy.  So far, everything he touched turned to gold.  Mara felt that most of his success was due to his personality.  He was what old folks would call “steady”.   Chadwick was the kind of person who meant what he said and said what he meant.  At the same time, he wasn’t so rigid that he couldn’t accept people and their shortcomings.  He was a humanitarian before he was a businessman.   

“What time do I go get her?”  Chadwick looked anxious.  

“I think it would be best if Adanna picked her up.”  Mara waited for the storm. 

“What!  This whole thing is about my wanting to be with her.  Why would I send Adanna to get her?”  Chadwick was asking questions, because his mother and sisters had a diabolical way of thinking at times.  To his everlasting glee their schemes were more often than not in his favor. So, he had learned early to at least hear them out before turning his back on their schemes. 

“This is what I want you to do.” His mother began, as she pulled her husband’s ear.  “James, I know you aren’t sleep.  So, open your eyes and get in on my scheme to get Chadwick shackled.”  

“Pitiful.  Thirty-five years old and in need of your mother’s assistance to get a girlfriend.”    James opened one eye wide, squeezed the other one closed, pursed his lips and shook his head.  This made Chadwick and Mara erupt into laughter.  James was funny when he chose to be.  That was one of the things that attracted Mara to him.  He made her laugh.  She and James met at a wedding.  She had danced with him at the reception and he had blown her away with his warmth and charm.  Mara’s parents, especially her father, had not been thrilled with her choice. But she had married James anyway, despite her parent’s disapproval.  Chadwick had never really forgiven her family for their rejection of him.  

“Didn’t you say she was a masseuse?   Chadwick shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get this girl. Furthermore, I don’t like the massage business.  She may as well make her money washing feet or better yet, shining shoes.  It’s a rich man’s service, which makes her a rich man’s servant. I would be embarrassed to say that my girlfriend was a masseuse”, he sniffed and settled deeper into the chair. 

“Daddy you need to stop.  I forbid you to say one word when Brittany gets here.  Act the way you act around momma’s family. Be as quiet as a mouse.”  Chadwick was glad his mom had said “appointment” and not “appointments” because it was clear his dad was not going to behave.  He should never have mentioned his father getting a massage.   It wasn’t something his daddy would be comfortable with.  Yes, it was better if it was just mom.  She knew how to act.  He looked at his mom and grinned.  Now, she had class. Good ole mom.  

“I agree with Chadwick, James. When you are getting the massage, just don’t say a word.  Try to relax and enjoy it.” Both men looked at Mara as if she had grown two heads.  They stared in bewilderment. 

Mara knew she was getting old.  It was a sad realization, but in a way, a sweet dawning for her.  Her life had been filled to the absolute brim with satisfaction and contentment.  She had known true love and passion.  She had birthed near perfect children, none of whom had brought shame upon her.  She was healthy and still able to watch their lives take root and flourish.  If it took growing old to get to the scenic route, in her eyes it was worth it.  She desperately wanted to see her children married with children of their own.   She wanted grandbabies.  She chose not to look at being sixty as the end of her “day."  Her children’s lives were no more than an extended unraveling of her own.  Considering their present stations, she could easily say her “day” was just beginning.  

“Mom, please don’t tell me you made the appointment for daddy.”  Chadwick was looking on the brink of an explosion. 

“I am not about to have that young woman touching on me.  The massage business breeds immorality.  Let Chadwick get the massage.  That’s too much relaxing and letting down your guard.   Mar, I know you didn’t.  Girl, you are going have to go and undo this thing, because it is not going to happen.” James had stood up.  He was looking from Mara to Chadwick as if they both had crossed the boundaries of decency.  

“James you will have that massage.  You need it.”  Mara crossed the room and sat in the chair James had gotten out of.  She looked up at him and waited. 

“Why do I need a massage?” he asked. 

“Do you want me to say it in front of Chadwick?”  

James jumped and his hands fluttered, before they stilled at his side.  He stared down at Mara.   Her big brown eyes belied the gray hairs on her head.  It was uncanny that her eyes had not aged.  To look into her eyes, she could have been the nineteen-year-old girl he married forty-one years ago.  Children and food had taken over her thin frame, but Lord, the touch of her hand and the feel of her skin was just as potent as it was forty-one years ago.  She was evil though. He had learned that lesson years ago.  Mara Jordan could be bad. 

“You really are evil.  You know that don’t you,” was all he could say.  

“Don’t you think you need a massage, baby.  It may really help.  As a matter-of-fact you were right.  People, who can’t relax, always relax with a massage,”  Mara  persisted.

“Okay, Mara!   I’ll have the massage.  We’ll talk about this tonight.  You’re going to pay for embarrassing me.” He stormed out of the room never once looking at Chadwick, who stood speechless.   

Chadwick valiantly squelched his curiosity.  There were some things even grown children should not know about their parents. 

“Chadwick before you get worked up, please listen to me.  I promise this will work out.  Everything is going to be okay.  Brittany already understands about your daddy’s personality.  I explained him to her.  So, don’t worry about Brittany.  I’m thinking you should worry about your father.”  

“Momma, just tell me why I shouldn’t pick Brittany up.” Chadwick’s shoulders drooped.  He flopped down in the chair beside his mom.  Resigned, he prepared himself for the wicked schemes of a woman’s mind. 

“Because she thinks she has the upper hand.  We need to turn this impression that you’re pursuing her around.”

“But I am pursuing her.  I want her.  She doesn’t want me yet.  I have to find a way to make her want me.”  He said. 

“She already wants you, dear.  There is nothing to not want and everything to love.   Some girls are wired to run when pursued.  This girl is one of those girls.  As long as you push her, she is going to run.  So, I think it would be best if you control yourself a little and give her a chance to move around on her own or at least let her think she is making moves on her own.”

“What do you want me to do, momma?”  Chadwick hated this.  How had he let his mother get hold of the reins?  She would never let them go.  For now, he agreed with her logic.  He was actually feeling a little excited, because he knew Brittany expected him to pick her up.  She knew this whole massage scheme was his way of manipulating her into more contact with him.  He could only guess at what her reaction would be when Adanna came instead of him.   

Brittany was to set up her massage station in Adanna’s library.  She still had not seen Chadwick.   The ride out to Adanna’s home had not been uncomfortable.  Adanna was friendly.  She had asked Brittany impersonal questions and volunteered tidbits of information about herself.   Brittany was surprised to find out that Adanna had never been married. At forty, Adanna was independently wealthy from wise investments.  Brittany never ceased to be amazed at the truth in the statement that “money made money.”  Nevertheless, she began to really like Adanna, as she talked about her charity efforts involving abused women and their children.

  All in all, it had been a comfortable and enjoyable ride.  Brittany, however, did wonder where Chadwick was. She wasn’t sure, but the little sinking feeling in her stomach definitely felt like disappointment.  

Brittany went about the room turning on lamps.  She flicked the switch to turn off the glaring lights of the chandelier.  Next, she repositioned the two chairs in front of the fireplace against the wall of books.  She sat her table up in front of the fireplace.  Taking out her CD player she turned on soft music and set it for continuous play.  She put clean white towels and sheets on the massage table.  Next she selected her oils.  It only took Brittany minutes to add to the already relaxing atmosphere of the library. Now, all she needed was the body.  

Stepping out of the library, she looked around. The house was not particularly quiet.  She heard talking and laughter. Turning towards the light and laughter she walked past a huge dining room.  She peeked in.  Adanna really did have lovely taste.  The mahogany table could seat at least twenty people.  The decorum was simple but elegant.  The chairs to the table had curved backs, armrests, and thickly cushioned seats.  The one portrait on the wall was huge and portrayed a naturalistic scene of some sort.   She didn’t want to get caught snooping so she headed to the kitchen where the laughter was coming from.   

Brittany stepped into the kitchen to find Adanna, Mrs. Jordan, and another girl who looked a lot like Chadwick sitting around a breakfast table.  Where was Chadwick?  She wouldn’t ask, but she had to admit her curiosity was getting the better of her.  She couldn’t squelch the desire to see him again. 

Brittany had lain in bed last night staring at the ceiling and dreaming about Chadwick’s body as he lay passed out in the car.  He really was a specimen.  His jeans had fit him in all the right places.  The jeans did not hide his lean hips and thickly muscled thighs and legs.  He had a walk on him too.  He walked like a football player.  Confidence and strength exuded from him.      

But where was he now?  Had she read too much into his interest?  Had she been presumptuous in thinking he wanted to see her again?  

“Ah, there you are.” This came from Chadwick’s female look-alike. Brittany put one long leg in front of the other stepping closer to the kitchen table. 

Adanna’s home was rather lovely.  There was a fireplace inside the breakfast room, which made the huge space seem smaller and cozier.  The kitchen was really massive with an island, containing a huge stainless steel sink with running water.  There were rows and rows of cherry wood cabinets. The counter space was green marble.  Floral arrangements, candles, and strategic nicknacks brought the two open spaces together and made for a very warm and people-friendly environment. 

“I’ve met everyone but you and your father.”  Brittany said with a huge smile. 

“Wow, you don’t disappointment, now do you?” was all Vana said.  

Instead of making Brittany uncomfortable, for some reason this off-color remark made her laugh. 

“I don’t know what you mean, but I guess I should be happy, if I don’t disappoint.”

 “I guess you know you’re beautiful. I am sure you hear it all the time.”  Vana shot back.  She was testing Brittany.  Vana wanted to know if Brittany was as unaffected as she seemed.  Brittany had an air of selflessness that most people with her looks didn’t possess.  Vana was looking for a hole in this surface. 

“You are not half bad yourself.  So, if I were judging you based on outward appearances, I could easily say that you don’t disappoint either.  But since I don’t judge solely by appearances, I’ll reserve my opinion of you until I find out more about what comes along with those looks.”  Brittany raised one eyebrow and waited for Vana’s comeback.  There was none. 

Brittany had thrown down the gauntlet.  It was obvious she and Vana were not going to fall into each other’s arms like long-lost sisters.  For some reason Vana was on the defense.  Brittany suspected Vana and Chadwick were close.  Vana was being protective and possessive.  Brittany only had sisters so she could empathize fully with Vana’s feelings.  

“I’m Vana,” was all she said as she set back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.  She looked under eyed at Brittany, who was still standing.  

“It’s nice to meet you, Vana.” Brittany lied. “I suppose you already know my name is Brittany Bradfield. I am rambling around wondering where my client is.  I would like to get this massage started on time.” Brittany reached for the pendant watch dangling from the silver chain around her neck and glanced at the time, before sweeping all three women with an inpatient look.