CHAPTER 12

That morning Eileen drove to Trenton and got a room at the Marriott. She wanted to shower and give herself a pep talk about what she was really doing, why she was doing it, and how she would handle it. Of course, every time she tried she kept snowballing herself. Eileen couldn't think of anything but his powerful arms around her, his long fingers caressing her rear end; his scruff leaving an indelible mark not only on her skin but on her heart as well. "If only I didn't know it was him…I wouldn't have to play dumb. And he's too smart for his own good. He's gonna find out I know." She worked herself into such a tizzy that, still wet from her shower, a towel pulled around her and another turbaned around her wet hair, she slumped to the bed and nearly talked herself out of meeting him.

"It's too late now. You are such a coward. Do you want to prove this favorite nickname of Charlie's for you? Do you want to prove him right? House isn't Charlie; if it doesn't work out it doesn't work out." She paused.

"I want it to work out. It's GOT to work out. I'm in love with the man."

BRRRRRRRRIIIIINNNNNNNNG. House's phone rang and vibrated in his pocket and he pushed the sun visor up against the ceiling of the car. "House."

"Are you sure you didn't want me to come?"

"Of course. You'd cramp my style."

"Want me to call you at, like, 3:15, so you have an out?"

"Good idea. I hadn't thought of that."

Wilson paused. "I'm shocked to hear that. I would've thought you'd have every escape route plodded and the exits spotted."

"Nah. I think this is going to be good."

"Fine. Just don't let me forget to tell you 'I told you so' when it doesn't work out."

"Which reminds me: How's Flaming Red Pradas?"

Wilson paused again. "She goes home today."

"Annnnnddd….?" House prompted.

"Annnnnddd…what? She's from Texas. She has a job. Our relationship is long distance."

House shook his head. "You're gonna break it off, aren't you?"

"Whatever gave you that impression?"

"I have my…"

"House, you do NOT have your ways because there's no way you would know about this."

"Ok, then, the sex isn't great."

"House, the sex is fantastic."

"If the sex is so fantastic why are you breaking it off?" Wilson sighed. "Oh my God! She's MARRIED!"

"Of course she isn't. She…"

"OH MY GOD!" House chuckled as he pulled onto the Brunswick Parkway heading south. "She's MARRIED! Only you Jimmy my boy, only you."

"NO! I…"

"Gotta go." CLICK.

Eileen had no idea what to wear. She'd laid out everything from lingerie to a turtleneck and jeans. She knew she wouldn't be naked underneath the trench but… she wanted to hold all the cards. She wanted him to… to… what? Want her? Would he want her in a turtleneck or only if she wore nothing?

COWARD! COWARD! COWARD!

Holding her head up high, she sucked in a breath then grabbed some articles and quickly got dressed. By 2:30 that afternoon Eileen was ready as she grabbed a newspaper from her shoulder bag and made headway down to the lobby but had to stop after only a few steps. The boots were about four sizes too big and barely stayed on. She whipped them off, made sure her trench coat was tied very tightly and walked barefoot to the elevator.

As a general rule, she typically wore the trench coat over clothing, at least clothing that covered what the trench coat didn't. This trench coat stopped at mid-calf but left about 12 inches from the hem to the last button. It might as well have been a wind tunnel. She shivered not only in anticipation but the draft she felt up her legs and under the denim flouncy miniskirt she wore underneath. Above that she wore a black pleated lace corset top that defied the law of gravity in keeping her breasts up and inside. When women talked about thrusting their breasts up and out, the picture she gave them in this top was pretty much what they were thinking. It was strapless with black eyelet lace covering the bodice and a ribbon that tied underneath her breasts. It was a gift from Charlie, one that she hated to wear for him but suddenly relished in wearing for House… err, ONR. She had grabbed that and the miniskirt literally on the way out the door…and she was glad she did.

Thankfully she found the lobby deserted as she spied a sofa that faced the only doors to the lobby from the outside. Eileen sat down, slipped on her boots, looked at her watch… 2:33. UGH. This was going to be a long 30 minutes. She mustered all the courage she could to get herself through without throwing up from nerves.

"Oh why am I doing this? Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this?" She muttered to herself and, to hide her discomfort, Eileen opened her newspaper and covered as much of herself with it, acting as if what she was reading was the most important, most interesting thing she could've ever read. Eileen didn't know what it said; she was concentrating on not letting the paper shake. She looked at her watch. 3 minutes later than the last time she looked. "I can't do this. What am I doing?"