Chapter 19

The alarm sounded. Vivian rolled over to hit the snooze button. When her fingers didn’t find the clock radio on her nightstand, she opened her eyes to slits…and then to saucers.

No clock radio, no nightstand, nothing familiar. That stupid alarm kept chirping, destroying any logical thought in her brain. She finally found an alarm clock that wasn’t hers and switched it off.

The silence was soothing. Until the reality of last night came crashing into her sleepy brain cells. She jumped out of bed – naked – and saw her body flushing with embarrassment. At least Rock was nowhere to be seen, which was good. No, it’s bad.

She knew he’d fled the bed to give her the space to disappear without ever having to face her again. She’d been too bold last night. Now in the bright light of day of course he didn’t want to be with a woman who was slutty enough to swim and walk around his house in all her naked glory.

Vivian clutched the bedsheet to her chest as she looked around the room to find her clothes. Nothing. The pool. I left them at the pool. More heat flushed her face and she was thankful for being alone in the room. But her predicament became only worse when she glanced at that darn alarm clock she’d just switched off.

Shit! There was no time for her to go home and get fresh clothing. Everyone is going to notice. What if they ask me where I’ve spent the night…Off course, that notion was entirely ridiculous. Neither the judges nor the lawyers, nor even her colleagues would ever do more than raise an eyebrow at her walk of shame.

She had bigger problems to deal with. Like getting her clothes from the pool house. She searched the room with frantic eyes for the bathrobe to keep some modesty. Nothing.

But there was a note on the nightstand. She approached it with caution, as if it might attack her and read:

Good morning beautiful. I’m in my office. Come down and have breakfast with me as soon as you’re ready. There’s a surprise waiting for you in the bathroom.

Kisses,

Rock.

Her fingers caressed the piece of paper. At least one of her sorrows had been unfounded. On a sigh she wrapped herself tightly into the bedsheet and crossed the bedroom to the door where she expected the bathroom to be.

Wow! It wasn’t the luxurious marble vanity, or the golden bathroom fittings that had her jaw hanging in awe. Between the shower and the jetted tub stood a coat rack with three different business outfits for women on hangers.

Ohmygod. That’s so sweet. She approached the rack surreptitiously and glanced at the tags. My size. Warmth flooded her heart and she wanted to rush downstairs and kiss and hug Rock for being so considerate. But then an ugly thought entered her mind. How many women before her had spent the night? Maybe this was a habit and he carried extra clothing on hand for them?

The mere the thought of Rock with another woman caused her stomach to churn and bile rose in her throat. She’d scratch out her eyes, and his, too. Whoa! Where did that thought come from?

Vivian mulled it over while taking a quick shower and then choosing an outfit. The light blue blouse was perfect. It felt buttery soft against her skin and enhanced her female curves, but still gave her that professional look a court reporter strived for. Combined with simple dark blue slacks, featuring thin pencil stripes and a high waist, the ensemble flattered her figure. A matching dark blue jacket completed the look, and Vivian instinctively squared her shoulders and raised her chin to look like the royalty she felt like.

She turned to look at herself in the mirror. The simple business suit had just the right mixture of elegant-professional and female-sexy. And it probably had cost more than she earned in a month. Vivian whistled at her reflection, knowing she’d never looked this good in her own clothing.

Then she made her way down the stairs and found the housekeeper waiting for her with an elaborate breakfast of an omelet, fresh fruit, an English muffin, coffee and juice.

“Thank you. Do you know where Rock is?” she asked the housekeeper.

“He’s in his office. I will ring and let him know you are downstairs.”

“Thank you,” Vivian said, digging into the food as she realized she was ravenous. That’s what a night of good sex can do for you. I could get used to this.