Forever Page 3

  “So Walker, now it’s your turn. Tell me about your family.” He was hesitant at first, but then began to speak.

  “Reese, my family is nothing like yours. Clearly your family means a great deal to you. It’s easily heard just by the way you speak of them. I can almost feel it in the way you describe every detail of your memories. I don’t have that, and I never did. My parents are the complete opposite of yours. My mother, Olivia, is a pure bred. One hundred percent high society and lives up to every part of it. She’s beautiful and graceful but blind to the world.

  She only cares about her social groups, charities, and of course, the parties that we host in the Hamptons every summer. My father, Phillip, is master of the universe, and tries constantly to control my life. We own Reed Global. We build buildings. My father owns properties throughout New York City. I am to finish with my degree here, and then take my rightful place on the Reed throne.”

  “You don’t want that, do you?”

  “Yes and no. I want to take over for my father one day, but on my terms. By the time I graduate next May, I will have my business degree that my father has paid for, but what I really want to do is architecture. I have secretly taken classes that he doesn’t know about, because I love it. I dream of seeing one of my designs come to life one day in a big city. Sure, we have the talent on our payroll, but I want to be included in that. He doesn’t get it, never did, but when it’s my turn to lead… he will.”

  After what we called our short versions of our introductions, we enjoyed our dinner and the comfort of each other’s company. Once in a while, Walker would nudge me under the table, breaking me out of my gazing at him. He would wink at me and then smile. He was so beautiful, and my instincts were right on from the moment our eyes had met. We took a horse and carriage ride to conclude our evening. It was beginning to get chilly. Walker, feeling my shivers, wrapped his arms around me. We snuggled under the blanket that the driver provided, and we leaned in to each other. I breathed in his Armani cologne he was wearing. I remember this scent on some of the male models at the show. It smelled better on Walker.

  With his hand holding mine, Walker escorted me to my door. Holding me in his arms, he gave me a kiss that would end all others. This time it was gentle and soft. His hands were cradling my face, and as our foreheads touched he whispered to me, “Thank you, Reese” and turned away from me to his waiting car. I blinked, and he was gone. Where did he… what just happened here? Needless to say, I was left with dejected feelings and the only thing to do next was to analyze it over a bowl of ice cream with Freddy.

  I called out to Freddy, but our apartment was quiet. He had left a note telling me not to wait up or even expect him home tonight. Well, good for him, but now I’m left with all of my unanswered questions on how my amazing evening with Walker… abruptly ended in the strangest way. As I crawled into bed, my phone started buzzing. My eyes grew wide as I saw I had a text from Walker.

  Walker: Your scent and taste are still on me, Reese. Don’t over think anything tonight. I will see you tomorrow ;)

  See me tomorrow? Is he nuts or something? How can he tell me to not over think it? He was the one that left, and with no explanation as to why the sudden escape act. I have to admit that I was curious to what would happen tomorrow, but not wanting to give him the satisfaction, I texted back.

  Me: Sorry, I have other plans.

  I hit the send button and immediately shut my phone off. Screw that! Yeah, I was playing games. I took a big step tonight with Walker, telling him about my family and lots of personal things. I never put myself out there for anyone. A couple of hours later, I still could not sleep. Curiosity got the better of me, and I turned my phone back on. Sure enough, a text was waiting for me from him.

  Walker: Liar! ;) Who knew southern girls could be such vixens. I’ll see you tomorrow…

  Oh my god! Walker actually used the word “vixen.” Why did this excite me so much? I guess I would find out tomorrow when I see him again.

  By the time I managed to fall asleep it was dawn. It was way too early to be up, but no use going back to sleep now. I peeked into Freddy’s room and the bed hadn’t been slept in. I took a shower while the coffee brewed. By the time I walked back into the kitchen, there was Walker sitting at my table and drinking coffee with Freddy, who was wearing the same clothes from the night before, just a little wrinkled.

  “Good morning, Peaches.” Freddy blew me a kiss as he stuffed donuts in his mouth. Walker looked as amazing as he did last night, maybe even better. He was dressed casually in jeans and a Van Halen t-shirt.

  Walking over to me, he took me in his arms and kissed me... He whispered in my ear, “A little taste for my vixen.” With a swat to my ass, he turned and sat back down with Freddy. What? What realm of crazy have I just walked in on? I sat quietly while Freddy and Walker got to know each other. Freddy got up and rounded the table to me. “If anyone needs me, I will be sleeping for the next ten hours or so.” That left me alone with Walker, and I wasn’t sure what to think, seeing him sit here in my apartment. I was slightly upset with him… but I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth and body.

  “Don’t over think it, Reese. You will just give yourself a headache. What happened last night? Is that what you want to ask me?” I sat silent, but nodded yes to him. “Why I left after I kissed you? If I had stayed… I probably would have taken you against the door frame.” What is it with this guy? I feel as if I am losing all logical thinking when I’m around him.

  “I’ll have you know that I wouldn’t have let our kiss goodnight go that far, let alone outside and up against my front door. You can stow that away in your fantasy file.”

  “You will, Reese. I have no doubt that you and I will be doing many things, on many surfaces.”

  “Wow, you are so full of yourself. And why do you think that I’m going to just roll over and turn into this sex crazed vixen for you? I hardly know you, Walker, and I don’t know if I’d want you to be my fir…Shit!” I so didn’t want him to know that.

  “Wait a minute, hold up. You’re a virgin? How? And why?” Now I’m pissed off. I couldn’t believe I had to explain my virgin status to Walker, of all people. He is complete sex on a stick and I’m sure can get any woman he wants, but yet he sat there in my kitchen waiting on my explanation as to why I’m still a virgin. One answer came to mind. It’s because of asshole questions like the ones Walker had just asked me.

  “I think that’s my business, Walker, and I don’t care to tell you.”

  “You’re wrong there, babe. It’s my business now, because you are my business, and I want to know every last detail about you.”

  Before I could speak another word, Walker had me pinned up against the kitchen counter, and we were wildly kissing until we lost our breath. “I want you, Reese Mitchell, with every fiber in my soul. Looking at you makes my dick so hard, I just want to tear your clothes off right here and now. I’m lost in your gorgeous eyes and your mouth… my God! I never want to stop tasting you.” Releasing my arms, he wrapped me up in his, leaving a trail of kisses down my neck. “I’m sorry if I was rough with you, that’s not how I want to be with you, well at least not yet.” I eyed him suspiciously, and of course he winked at me.

  I decided to be bold and just say how I felt. It was obvious that Walker had no issues with telling me what he desired, so neither did I. “Walker, I want you too, but I’m not ready to sleep with you. My body may want to, but my mind and heart need to catch up a bit. I don’t know how to describe how I’m feeling; is this what an instant connection feels like? Because if it is, I have never felt this way before, and I need to get a better handle on it.”

  “We can take it slow baby. As long as I know that you want me too, then we have all the time in the world.”

  We never made it out of my apartment. Walker and I spent all day locked in my room and shut the rest of the world out. We ordered in food and watched movies all day, along with talking and learning about each other. Lying in his arms with
him wrapped around me felt amazing and safe.

  I kept hearing Nana’s voice in my head to not be afraid and live my life to the fullest. I was beginning to think that she had been right all along, and why was I waiting? I was twenty years old, and I’d never even been properly kissed until Walker. Yup…what the hell was I waiting for?

  THE ENTIRE DRIVE up to the Hamptons to meet Walker’s parents had me tied up in knots. His father had been calling him non-stop for weeks now and asking what was taking up his time these days. Walker just blew him off and ignored him. That is until his mother phoned him and personally invited him to brunch. He had finally told his mother about me. She was curious to meet the woman in her son’s life and extended the invitation to me as well.

  I wasn’t in any hurry to meet them. After Walker had told me about his father and how ruthless he can be, that left me feeling extremely uneasy. I wish we were making a trip to my hometown; he would love my grandparents, and they would welcome him with open arms. Nana was very excited for me when I called home to tell her my news. She said she didn’t want to gloat, but she was right when she predicted that I would find my future husband here in New York. I told her to slow down and not plan the wedding yet. This relationship was new, and we were taking it slow. And I mean slow…Every time Walker touched me, I wanted to just peel his clothes off and make love to him. He kept telling me that we will have our time, and it will be even more amazing because we waited.

  We entered through the tall, metal gates to the Reed property, and I could feel him beginning to get tense. Looking over at him with a reassuring smile, I squeezed his hand. He smiled back at me with apprehensive eyes, and pulled over to the side of the road.

  “Reese, before you go in there, I have to warn you. It may feel like you are walking into the lion’s den. My mother will welcome you, because she never faults on her manners, but my father will be an entirely different story. He is a snob, and not so nice. He is very direct, and does not care about how he speaks or the brash tone he will take with you. Ruthless… is an understatement where he is concerned. However, he’s my father. I’m one of the few that can go up against him and still remain standing.”

  My stomach began to hurt after hearing Walker’s testimonial speech about Phillip Reed. I never knew a person like this, but I was about to find out. Taking his hands in mine and kissing him sweetly on his very edible mouth, I said…“I will be fine. I’m stronger than you think, and I promise he won’t scare me off.”

  “You say that now Reese, but you don’t him like I do.”

  “Walker, then why am I here? Are you afraid he’s going to tell me something that you don’t want me to know?”

  “Truth?” I nodded at him. “I love you Reese, so much that I’m afraid to blink and you’re going to disappear.” What? Did he just say that he loves me? “You are my air, I need you to breathe. You are my first thought when I wake in the morning, and my last thought when I go to sleep. When I hold you in my arms, my world feels right. For the first time in my life, I’m home.”

  He’s looking at me for a response. My words are ready to burst from my mouth, but tears come first. Taking my seatbelt off, I lunged at Walker. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and began kissing him passionately to show him that I loved him too, so much.

  “Babe, do you love me?” I began shaking my head as if I were having an anxiety attack. “I’m so happy right now. Reese, I need to hear the words from you. Do you love me?”

  “Yes, Walker, with all my heart and soul, I love you... I love you and thank you for loving me.” With his strong hands sliding through my hair, he kissed me hard, and I melted into him. It was as if we were one person. I would do anything for this man, and after his declaration of love, he was the keeper of my heart. Forever.

  A tap on the window interrupted our moment. Oh my god, please let this man not be his father. Walker turned and told me that the man is security. I relaxed, and Walker rolled down the window to speak to the man. We are told that his father knows we are on the property and requests for us to drive up to the main house. Walker nodded, and we began driving again up the road that led to the private estate.

  I quickly fixed my face and checked Walker’s. He gripped my hand, and I pulled back to loosen it. “Relax baby, it’s going to be fine.” He winked, and we made our way to meet the parents. Ready or not, here we come.

  “Well, it’s about time, we thought you got lost.” A beautiful girl welcomed us in, and Walker looked confused as to why she was there. “Elizabeth, what are you doing here?”

  “I was invited. It’s nice to see you too, Walker.”

  “I’m sorry. Forgive me, but I thought it was just going to be brunch with my parents.”

  “Well, my parents are also here. Our fathers played golf this morning, and I helped your mom with her planning for the cancer benefit luncheon she’s hosting next week.”

  “I’m sure she appreciated that. Elizabeth, I would like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Reese Mitchell. Reese, this is my very good friend, Elizabeth Townsend.”

  Elizabeth was eying me up and down. I wasn’t too sure what she was looking for, but I was raised with impeccable manners, so I extended my hand quickly to her. She shook my hand back, but with a bit of a tug. Walker never let my other hand break away from his, and we walked into the main room together.

  “So far so good,” I whispered to Walker as we made our way to the gardens where brunch had been arranged for us. The weather was gorgeous and not a cloud in the sky.

  “Don’t worry about Elizabeth; she’s not the one you need to impress… Here we go.”

  “There’s my handsome son, we’ve been waiting for you.” His mother was beautiful, with her hair perfectly arranged in a pulled back chignon. I’d modeled enough designer clothes to know that she was wearing a $5000 Coco Chanel pant suit. Walker released me and pulled his mother into a tender hug. She welcomed him back, and placed a kiss on his cheek. She turned to me and smiled.

  “Hello, my dear, I’m Olivia Walker Reed, and welcome to our home.” Manners at their finest, I extended my hand to her, but she pulled me close and gave me two air kisses instead.

  “Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Reed. I’m Reese Mitchell.”

  “Call me Olivia. Come, let me show you the gardens. The colors are changing, and they are quite beautiful this time of the year.” I winked at Walker and joined his mother for the tour. Elizabeth and her mother trailed behind us, as we continued to walk through the maze of flowers and designed shrubs and bushes. Olivia took my arm and folded it into the crook of her own.

  “Reese, I want you to know that Walker speaks very highly of you, and I do believe he may love you. I love my son very much and will do anything to secure his future and his happiness. However, I must warn you to be careful.” I stopped, and looked back at her with confusion. “Don’t be alarmed dear; my words were not meant to scare you. They are meant as a warning. The Reed men can be very complicated and stubborn to the nines. They can be ruthless, but at the same time very loving.” There’s that word again, ruthless. “I’m sure you already have the impression that I’m just another member of the high society club and have no opinions when it comes to the world my husband lives in.”

  “Mrs. Reed...I don’t think that-”

  Holding her two hands up at me, she continued, “Let me finish dear. I know more than I’m credited for, and I want you to know that Walker has my blessing when it comes to the woman he loves. But having said that, my husband—as much as I love him—can be…difficult. His father has certain expectations for Walker, and from the day I delivered him into this world, he had a destiny planned for him. You, my dear, may not be in that plan. So if you love my son back, like I believe you do, then stay strong. Let’s join the men now for brunch, shall we?”

  I simply answered, “Yes,” and we made our way back. I needed a moment to digest all of what Walker’s mother had just said to me. I asked where the bathroom was, and I was directed down a long hallway
and down to a door on the left. I locked the door behind me, and I took some calming breaths. What did Walker tell his mother about me? How does she know that I love him? I never said the words to her, and we didn’t even have a real conversation. I just listened as she talked.

  And what’s up with Elizabeth? That girl looks at Walker like I look at him. I’m not blind, she obviously has feelings for him, and maybe that’s what I’m being warned about? Maybe I have some competition on my hands?

  No use fighting my inner monologue at that moment, I had to re-join the party and make sure Elizabeth knew who Walker belonged to. As I walked back down the hallway, I’m surrounded by fine art and beautiful antiques. I stopped to look at a painting that caught my eye. No way! It can’t be. I looked closer to examine the painting. It’s an original painting of Picasso’s earlier work. I was always intrigued by his Portrait of Dora Maar. She was his mistress during the war years in the twenties and thirties. I studied it closer and how and what she was portrayed in. Picasso painted her in a box that looked like she was confined. Is this painting speaking to me like how Olivia did? Something about it makes me shiver with an unknown fear. I broke my eyes away from the painting that seemed to be following me, but I stopped again when I heard raised voices coming from behind a closed door.