Another installment is up, hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading and the feedback!
By noon, Matt had a pounding headache and just itched to take off in his helicopter and fly to the ranch he thought he had purchased in the Santa Monica Mountains but wait hadn't he sold it? Okay then he would fly to his cabin and spend some quiet time reflecting on exactly where his life was heading.
Elizabeth hadn't stayed for much longer knowing that she had put a lot on his plate to think about so she gave him the name of a local hotel and her new cell number and told him to keep in touch. Gloria had remained there longer, seated comfortably on the sofa trying to interrogate him on information about all these women who had returned into his life. Having gotten wind that Serena had come all the way to visit him in L.A. from Italy just to ask him to father her baby. So of course she tried to hit him up for some details.
C.J. had sat down with one of her beautiful flowers from this Rodrigo character tucked in her mahogany hair and he couldn't stop looking at it or her. At first, she just seemed like the safest person in the room to focus on while two women went after what they both wanted from him. After all, C.J. had been his best friend since they were kids who played on the schoolyard together and fished in a river that flowed through both of their ranches. He knew her as well as he knew himself…or so he thought.
Because this woman who sat in an outfit which accentuated her curves and with a flower in her hair just seemed if not a stranger, someone who had appeared and taken over the body of his friend in the past six months and who captivated him. A beautiful spirited woman who had this…life of her own which included Salsa dancing and synchronized swimming and…two tattoos including the one he hadn't seen yet. He reached for his Scotch to clear his head.
"So Matlock, are you taking this marriage proposal thing seriously?"
He turned to look at Gloria who had pen ready to scribble down whatever answer he came up with in response.
"That's none of your business," he said, "It's between myself and Elizabeth."
She put down her pen and folded her arms.
"How can you deny that the two of you were this close to getting married," she said, spacing two of her fingers about an inch apart.
He sighed, thinking it hadn't been that close at all, not the more he had thought about it as time passed. The two just hadn't been right for each other and it had been better to find out sooner than later. He had wished the best for her and that she would realize the same thing.
But apparently she had a different list of priorities than he did.
"And where does your ex Serena fit into all this intrigue," Gloria asked, jotting down some notes.
Matt just stared at her and C.J. raised her brow at him, the hint of a smile on her lips.
"She's came and left," he said, "And if you'll excuse me, my associate and I have some business to discuss."
C.J. shrugged.
"Oh I forgot to tell you but the store is closed today."
"The store….oh yeah…I figured as much given the excitement…of the major sale yesterday."
"The hired help are all getting the day off," she said, "So there's no need for us to discuss it further which leaves you plenty of time to catch Gloria up on your life."
C.J. stood up and reached for her purse.
"Where are you going," Matt asked.
"Out…to lunch…I'll be back…later."
"With who," Matt asked.
It became clear who C.J.'s lunch date was when a tall, muscular man with dark hair entered the lounge. Gloria looked over at Matt.
"That's the infamous Rodrigo."
Matt sized him up and decided the guy must have been a bodyguard or a cop or maybe even a mercenary at one time because only some serious training for years could have gotten him into that kind of shape. He just couldn't see the guy in front of him as a dance instructor but Rodrigo just walked up to C.J. wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly on the mouth.
Gloria shook her head with a smile.
"Smooth as they come," she said, "Like I said if I were younger…"
Matt just watched as his associate and best friend responded to Rodrigo's greeting for a moment before he released her and wrapped an arm loosely around her shoulder. She placed her hand on his chest and looked at him.
"Did you like the flowers," he asked her.
"They were beautiful," she said, "Thanks for them and last night."
"I had a great time," he said, "You're such a great partner."
Gloria rolled her eyes.
"He's gotten very good at this," she said, "I hope she's not looking for a long term thing."
Matt didn't know what C.J. was looking for but he hoped this man wouldn't take advantage of her feelings for him because he didn't want to see her hurt.
She turned around to look at him.
"I'll see you later…"
She winked at them and then walked out.
Gloria looked at Matt after they watched C.J. and Rodrigo head off towards the elevator.
"Her life seems to be a lot less complicated than yours," she noted.
Matt stood up.
"I've got work to do," he said.
She followed him towards the lobby.
"Have you picked your date for the Medallion Ball," she asked.
Matt tried to remember whether or not he had even planned to attend what was one of the biggest charity fundraisers of the year to fund a new wing at a major hospital.
"I'm keeping that close to my chest," he said, "Now if you'll excuse me."
He headed to the elevator to take down to the garage where his favorite sports car awaited him. Whenever he felt the stress of the day affecting him, he often would take one of his fleet of sleek machines out on a test drive. His former mechanic, Slim had often chided him every time he took one of his prized beauties out that he had better bring it back in the same pristine condition. At least she had before she had taken up surfing and became good enough to compete on the global circuit. When she wasn't riding killer curls and winning tons of cash, she slummed at her bungalow on the coast of Maui with her new husband, also a pro surfer.
Matt still received postcards from the happy couple from different ports around the world. His new mechanic, an elderly English gentleman had shown a tendency to be grumpier. Today, he drove up Matt's silver corvette up to him and got out, polishing the fender with a handkerchief.
"This time try to bring it back without a scratch," he chided putting the handkerchief away, "That new fender didn't come cheaply."
Matt didn't argue with him because that fender had been dented when he had been driving down PCH and had seen a man drag a screaming woman into a van and of course, he had to take pursuit weaving through traffic to avoid losing him. The fender had been scratched up when the pursuit had gone off road into some fields. The man had gotten stuck in some brush and Matt had apprehended him by the time the police arrived.
But his new mechanic had just shaken his head when Matt returned the vehicle and told him to be more careful next time before he took the car off to be patched up to be as good as new. Now he just got into the car, revved it up and sped out of the garage onto the street.
C.J. had started out the lunch sitting across from Rodrigo but her chair had inched closer to him as first the appetizers arrived, then the main courses and finally the dessert which were delicious apple crepes dripping with caramel sauce. By the time she began eating them, she and Rodrigo shared a plate.
"So you really are liking Salsa dancing?"
She nodded and took another bite of the crepes, relishing the flavor. She enjoyed taking the time to enjoy eating out at a restaurant for a change without having to worry about something happening, like being interrupted by a case or getting caught in the occasional shootout because they often ate at restaurants or takeout inside of a cramped car while doing surveillance.
Not that she had done either with Matt lately because both he and Roy had been handling most of the caseload.
"You are a very good student," he said, "and a very fast learner."
He reached for her hand and stroked it with his fingers.
"I wonder what else you're good at," he said, bringing them to his lips, "I'd love to find out."
The sensations which ran through her body made her forget about the delicious meal, her surroundings, the other people in the restaurant which she felt swirling around her as she focused only on him and how he made her feel.
"Rodrigo…"
His cell phone rang and he sighed, letting go of her to pick it up. He looked up at her.
"I have to take this," he said, "I won't be long."
"I'll be waiting…"
She watched him leave the table and take his phone conversation elsewhere. Damn he looked good walking away, almost as much as he did when he danced. She liked him just fine but that wasn't it. She just felt attracted to him, the first time a man had done that to her since Robert, only now in a more primal way. She reached for her water glass to take a sip, feeling suddenly warm.
A man had walked up to Rodrigo while he had been on the phone and the two of them talked to each other as if they knew each other. The other guy was shorter and stocky and he gesticulated when he spoke. C.J. finished her crepe and looked at her watch, nothing that it was getting late, not that she was in any hurry to head back to the office.
Rodrigo walked back to the table alone and sat down beside her, his expression looking serious.
"I have to go now," he said, "I'll drive you back to your office as soon as we get the check."
She nodded.
"Anything wrong?"
"Nothing except my time with you has been cut short…by business."
She sipped her water.
"I'll see you at dance class later this week," she said, "We can catch up then."
The waiter came and Rodrigo handed him his credit card.
"I work for a business man when I'm not teaching," he said, "I have to handle an order for him."
"It's fine," C.J. said, "I have some working waiting back at the office."
When the waiter returned with the receipt to sign, Rodrigo did that and the two of them left the restaurant. True to his promise, he walked her to his car and drove her back to the office building. When he arrived in the garage, he kissed her goodbye, before she left the car to head to the elevator. Damn the man knew how to kiss in a way that both intoxicated and kept her on the edge of control.
In a way that both thrilled and scared her, she thought as she rode up to the top floor.
Matt parked his car on the edge of the cliff overlooking a long stretch of beach that remained filled with people enjoying the seasonably warm day. Surfers dotted the ocean which appeared calm enough to skim stones across to the horizon. He had picked this spot, one of his favorites because he had needed to step away from his chaotic life and do some thinking in a quiet location.
Not to mention that he felt reasonable sure that none of his exes would come looking for him here.
He had the top down and just sat there, his mind swimming with the events of the past several days. First Serena showing up in his office wanting him to sire a child so she could inherit billions of dollars and get back at her dead father then Elizabeth showing up in his office wanting to marry him so she could also inherit billions of dollars and get back at her dead uncle.
And then of course there was C.J. who had morphed into this woman he couldn't figure out even though he had known most of his life. He had returned from a whirlwind of cases which had taken him and Roy all over the world to a woman who could kick serious ass, had taken up Salsa dancing and had gotten two tattoos.
Then there had been that kiss they had done for show the previous day. He had been ready to follow it up with his usual frog joke but it had died in his throat as he had gotten caught up in the moment.
Damn, where did she learn how to kiss like that?
His phone rang and he looked at him. His work had followed him out here to Malibu Canyon.
"Chris what's going on?"
"Both Elizabeth and Serena faxed you copies of some last wills and testaments," she said, "They both wrote notes that you had requested them."
That hadn't exactly been true but he figured that he could grant them that but he had no intention of changing his mind in either case. No wedding and no babies, he just wasn't for sale.
"I'll get to them later tonight," he said, "I'm taking the afternoon off."
She didn't question him at least not on that.
"Then there's the Medallion Ball," she continued, "Will you be attending?"
He thought about it. The charity that the proceeds funded was a very worthwhile one and he certainly felt that he could throw on a tux and search his Rolodex for a date.
"Is C.J. going?"
Chris paused.
"Why yes, she confirmed several weeks ago," she said.
He wondered if she had a date yet and thought that most likely it would be Rodrigo since there would be dancing at the gala.
"That's good…I'll be back tonight to finish up some work…just leave me my messages before you leave."
"Sure," she said before hanging up.
Matt hadn't given the Medallion Ball much thought because after all, he had been busy working through his caseload and he had felt tempted this time around to just skip the whole deal and send a check in the mail. But after hearing that C.J. had decided to attend it, he thought that maybe he would show up as well.
C.J. sat in her office talking on the phone with Elise. After arriving back from her lunch date, she had settled into her workload with a smile. Her body still humming as she went through a stack of merger documents that Murray had sent overnight to her to review before having Matt sign the final copies. Elise had not so rudely interrupted that task by calling her.
"So how are things going with Rodrigo?"
"Well we had lunch at this nice place and I didn't want it to end there."
Elise chuckled.
"Sounds like you've got yourself a new boyfriend."
"No, no it's nothing like that," C.J. said, "I just enjoy spending time with him. I'm not interested in anything serious. Not after what happened with Robert."
Elise sighed.
"Robert the creep is locked up in prison forever," she said, "and you are not locked up there with him unless you choose to be."
"I'm over him, really," she said, "but I just don't feel like another relationship's in the cards for a while."
"Why isn't it with Rodrigo?"
C.J. thought about that, trying to put it into words. But her body betrayed her, reminding her how good it had felt to be out with him.
"I like him…and he's a lot of fun, but it's nothing more than that."
"Well that's cool," Elise said, "As long as he understands that."
"Oh he's not into a serious relationship anymore than I am," C.J. said, "In fact Gloria…"
Elise snorted.
"You mean the gossip queen right?"
"Yeah, well she dropped by to catch up on Houston's social calendar and she dropped that observation to me that he's just out for a good time with as many women as he can spend it with."
"Like I said, nothing wrong with that as long as both parties go into it with their eyes open," Elise said, "Are you going to invite him to that gala."
"Oh…you mean the Medallion Ball," C.J. said, "I RSPVed but I don't know if I'm taking anyone."
"Aren't you going with Matt," Elise asked.
"No…why would I do that," C.J. said, "He's got a whole Rolodex of prospective dates to take to these events."
"Then I think you should ask Rodrigo," Elise said, "At any rate, you'll have a date who's an excellent dance partner."
C.J. thought about it but she still had some time to decide.
"Maybe…who are you bringing?"
"A guy in my office…he's an accountant."
Chris interrupted C.J. and the expression convinced C.J. to get off the phone.
"What is it," she said, "or should I ask who is it?"
Chris sighed.
"She's in the lobby…"