CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOUWANTTO talk about it, son?”
Jaye looked over at his father. All the Colfaxes had arrived in Birmingham for the groundbreaking ceremony. It was in an ideal location for the newest Colfax Bank and tonight they would celebrate. Dinner reservations had been made and they were seated, waiting for his brothers, Dean and Franklin, to arrive. Although his dad had retired, he still liked giving his advice on any bank acquisitions. Jaye always welcomed whatever his father had to say.
He recalled when he’d told his father about his desire to purchase a bank in Catalina Cove, his father had questioned why that location instead of another highly populated Louisiana city. That’s when Jaye had told him the reason. He would be acquiring more than a bank, if things worked out the way he hoped, he would be getting back the woman he loved. His father had wished him the best.
His father and his brothers had adored Velvet. They, too, had seen what Jaye had refused to see. That she was a keeper and the woman he’d fallen in love with even when he’d sworn that he hadn’t.
There was no way he would talk to his father about Velvet’s proposal, but he would bring him up to date on how things were going with them.
“There’s not a lot to talk about, Dad. Regaining Velvet’s love isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.”
His father took a sip of his wine as he gazed at him. Jaye knew that look. It was one of those I-told-you-so stares. His father had warned him there was a chance that Velvet had moved on with her life and he was someone in her past she preferred to stay there.
“What’s really sad is that you honestly thought that it would be easy, Jaye.”
No, he hadn’t thought that, but he figured he had a plan and time on his side. What he hadn’t expected was the proposal she’d offered him, where she made it clear all she wanted from him was sex. Just like he’d assumed in the beginning that that had been all he’d wanted from her.
“I didn’t think it would be easy, Dad. I just assumed if she truly loved me, she would still have some feelings for me. Feelings that I could rekindle.”
“And you’ve discovered she doesn’t.”
He took a sip of wine. “That’s what she says.” But there was no way he could accept that. “I still plan on getting her back, Dad.”
“You can only do so if she lets you, Jaye. The worst thing you can become is a nuisance.”
No way he would tell his dad that Velvet didn’t see him as a nuisance but the man she wanted to scratch her sexual itch. “I won’t become a nuisance, but I’m determined more than ever to regain her love and her trust.”
Jaye swirled the wine in his glass and then looked at his father. “How did you do it? You sent Arlene away at first.”
“Yes, but not for two years. That’s a long time. I came to my senses about Arlene in less than two weeks. Even then, I had to prove to her just how much she meant to me. I thought that was your plan for Velvet.”
“It was and still is, but she’s convinced that she no longer loves me.”
“If that’s true, then what do you plan to do? I know how much you love her, Jaye, and for you, giving up and walking away is not an option, is it?”
“No, it’s not. I love her too much and already I might have competition.”
His father lifted a brow. “She’s involved with someone?”
“No. In fact, it’s my understanding she hasn’t dated since ending things with me.”
“Just like you haven’t dated since things ended with her,” his father said. “So, who is your competition?”
Jaye told his father about Webb Crawford’s visit. Not surprisingly, his father shook his head and said the man had a few screws loose if he thought his arrogant attitude was a way to win over Velvet.
Jaye thought so, too. At least the old Velvet wouldn’t tolerate such foolishness. However, this new Velvet concerned him. She claimed she wasn’t looking for forever anymore, just a bed partner. That was all Crawford wanted as well. Jaye knew he had to convince Velvet she was much more than that to any man. “I made a mess of things and intend to fix it.”
“So, I’m going to ask you again, Jaye, what are you going to do?”
Jaye released a frustrated sigh, when he thought of his last conversation with Velvet. Maybe giving Velvet what she wanted, or thought she wanted, wouldn’t be a bad idea. Especially if it would give him time to convince her they would be sharing love and not just lust.
He would make things so good between them that the little fling she wanted would become something more meaningful and permanent. “Nothing has changed. I intend to repair the damage I caused, but with a new strategy.”
“And what strategy is that?”
“Not anything specific, but nothing is off the table.”
And Jaye meant nothing. He didn’t like the idea of them not going public because of possible small-town gossip, but he had to remember they weren’t in Phoenix. They were in Catalina Cove, Louisiana. From the short while he’d lived there, he knew most of the people were good and not judgmental. However, there were those who thought they had a right to know everything that went on. They were the same people who expected high morals and virtuous behavior even if their own were questionable.
For that reason, he could understand Velvet’s concern. Maybe keeping out of sight of prying eyes was a good thing for now, especially when he intended to make sure the house on Blueberry Lane became the place when their love would blossom again.
“I wish you success, Jaye. You know how I feel about Velvet. She was the best thing to ever happen to you. I’m sorry you let what happened between me and your mother be the reason you refused to fall in love. But then I did the same thing for years.” Jack Colfax, Sr., took another sip of wine. “Now that I know what it’s like to have a good woman in my life, I want the same thing for my sons. I honestly hope things work out between you and Velvet.”
Jaye nodded. He was hoping for the same thing.
“AND JAYEDIDN’Ttell you when he’d be back, Velvet?”
Dressed in her pj’s, Velvet sat at the kitchen table talking to Ruthie. She’d finally gotten around to calling her best friend to tell her how things had gone down between her and Jaye Monday night. Of course, Ruthie had been pleased Velvet had taken her advice to have a fling with Jaye. Especially since she’d admitted to Ruthie months ago, before Jaye even arrived in town, that she was going through sexual withdrawal. Now, after experiencing her first orgasm in two years, she was convinced what she was now facing was an addiction. To her detriment, those wants, needs and desires were only for Jaye.
“No. All he said was that he was going away on business.”
“I’m a little disappointed,” Ruthie said. “I would have thought that once you told him what you wanted and needed, he would have acted immediately. Why is he giving you time to think about anything?”
“I told you why. He’s not comfortable in accepting this new Velvet because she’s the total opposite from the old. He wants to make sure my mind is in the right place for a sex-only affair. He needs to be certain since he doesn’t love me and at no time wants me to think that he does.”
“And he told you that?”
“No, but what other possible reason could there be? I could ruin things by falling in love with him again and Jaye and I both know that. I’m hoping that I pretty much convinced him that it won’t happen, but he’s probably worried that it might. That means all through this process, I need to keep reminding him it’s sex-only.”
She immediately stopped talking when she heard a sound outside. “I heard a car pull up. Do you think it’s Jaye returning home?”
“Honestly, Vel, how would I know? It’s Wednesday night and according to you, he left yesterday morning. I’d think he would have been gone at least two days. That’s how it was whenever he traveled before when you were together, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then chances are it’s not him. Could it be someone else? Sierra perhaps?”
“She would call before just dropping by,” Velvet said.
“What about that guy who wants you? Webb what’s-his-name?”
“It better not be him.”
“What if it is?” Ruthie countered.
Velvet got up from the table and discreetly peeked out the window. “It’s him, Ruthie!” she said, excitedly.
“Him who? Jaye or Webb?”
“Jaye. And I hear the sound of footsteps on my porch. He’s coming to my door. What do you think?” Velvet glanced down at herself. Her pj’s were a cutesy pair of leggings and a top that didn’t reveal anything.
“I’d rather not say what I think, but I have a feeling there might be some action at your place tonight. Maybe you’ll finally rid yourself of all those sexless hours you’ve accumulated over the past two years.” Ruthie chuckled.
When there was a knock at the door, Velvet said, “He’s knocking.”
“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“He probably just wants to let me know he’s back,” she said, walking to the door.
Ruthie laughed. “If you say so.”
“Hold on, Ruthie,” she said, placing her cell phone on the foyer table. She called out, “Who is it?”
“Jaye.”
She opened the door and he stood there. The soft porch light seemed to highlight everything about him. He was dressed in a business suit that fit him perfectly and emphasized the successful businessman that he was. That she always loved. She quickly reprogrammed her mind to mean that she used to love.
“I’m back, Velvet.”
Did he appear at her door just to tell her that? In the old days whenever Jaye returned from a business trip, the moment she opened the door he would sweep her into his arms and carry her to the bedroom. “Thanks for letting me know. Good night.”
Velvet was about to close the door when he said, “Wait.”
She raised a brow. Could he not see the longing in her eyes? Seeing him standing there, looking all tall, built and hot was having an effect on her, reminding her of the orgasm he’d given her the other night. “Yes?”
“Did you think about the offer you made to me, Velvet?”
She could tell him there was no need for her to think about her offer. Instead, she said, “Yes, I thought about it and nothing has changed, Jaye. Did you think about it?”
“Yes, I thought about it.”
She tilted her head. “And?”
“And I cut my trip short to come back. May I come in?”
Velvet nodded and took a step back. The look in his eyes was dark and intense and she nervously licked her lips. Just because he cut his trip short, it didn’t mean he was in favor of her offer. What if he wasn’t?
After closing the door behind him, she remembered Ruthie was still on the phone. “Excuse me a second,” she said, quickly scooting past him to grab her cell phone off the table. “Ruthie?”
“I heard, girlfriend. Now go handle your business.”
Ruthie’s words were followed by a resounding click in Velvet’s ear.