Chapter 5
As she walked towards Wyatt, squeezing between the little two-top tables, she saw Tabor close his lap top.
He began packing it into his computer bag.
Is he leaving? she wondered.
She looked at the seat that Wyatt had pulled out for her, and then looked at Wyatt.
“You know what?” she said. “I see someone that I need to talk to. Tabor Knight,” she added, motioning toward the back of the room, where she saw that Tabor was most definitely packing up his belongings.
Oh no you don’t, she thought to herself.
“I lost my cool in there with your attendant,” she said, trying to explain herself quickly. “Thank you for offering to hear my case, Mr. Lightman. But I think that if I can catch Tabor, we might be able to straighten everything out.”
“I’m glad to hear it!” Wyatt said genuinely. “If there’s anything I can do for you, Mrs. Brown, don’t hesitate to ask for me at the front desk. I will assist you personally.” He placed his hand on his chest.
“Thank you,” Tiana said, with a nod.
Finally, someone with some sense about him, she thought, as Wyatt stepped away.
This left her staring at Tabor, who was packing hurriedly. After a moment of watching him, she began walking to his table. When she reached it, he was just making his way out from behind it.
She blocked his path.
He eyed her.
“Tiana!” he said, his voice full of false cheer. “What a surprise to see you here. I thought you had a room at the Marriott.”
“I did,” she said, emphasizing the past tense. “Last night.” Not that I used it, she thought.
Though her situation was upsetting her, and she’d been dreading the interaction with Tabor, now that she was near him a wave of attraction swept through her.
He was so muscular, so handsome. His rich eyes gazed at her, and for an instant, she saw him battling the same emotions. Then, a steeling look returned to his eye. He shook his head, as if shaking off a cobweb. He looked down to his watch.
She caught the glance.
“I don’t want to hold you up,” she said. “But I need to you do a favor for me. I… I was wearing a ring last night,” she said.
She saw him frown.
“It’s very valuable,” she continued.
It was emotionally overwhelming being in front of him, having him look down at her. All she could think about was the night before. The strong feelings that were bubbling up inside made it hard to speak.
She fumbled on, “It’s one of the most valuable things I own, actually. Not for long. But, see…losing it is going to cause a big problem. I don’t want to bore you with the details, but--”
“Then don’t,” he snapped. “I don’t have time to hear the details. I have a flight to catch.” He looked at his watch again.
“Well… I want to check the hotel room, but the staff won’t let me. Could you, perhaps…”
“Talk to them?” guessed Tabor. “Yes. Fine. Whatever.” He brushed past her, causing a jolt of energy to pass through her.
Why is he acting like this? she wondered.
*****
Tabor was pissed as he headed to the front desk.
I knew she was engaged, he thought to himself. And I slept with her anyways.
It was a mistake.
Now she’s lost her ring. How is she going to explain that to her fiancé? What kind of lie is she going to have to make up and how’s he going to take it?
What kind of a marriage is it going to be?
Based on the way she was acting last night, she doesn’t like the guy much. She needs someone who can handle her. Someone who can keep her attention. Someone she actually cares about.
What’s she doing with some loser in East Texas?
Why is she so worried about what he’s going to think?
What a disaster.
He fumed as he walked to the front desk, and then snapped out his directions to the staff that was eager to wait on him. “Search my room for a missing ring,” he spat. “I give my permission. Whatever you’ve got to do, just do it.”
“Perfect, sir,” one attendant said, nearly falling over himself as he made a show of following the order. “Will do, sir. Right away, sir.”
Tabor spun on his heel and walked toward the front doors, barely looking at Tiana, who had followed him to the desk. He still felt angry, but there was a stirring attraction towards her underneath. The conflicting energies were confusing him, and he wanted to be away from her.
He wanted to be away from his feelings for her.
As quickly as possible.
He allowed his feet to carry him towards the sliding glass doors, waiting until he was a safe distance from her magnetic pull before he turned.
“Bye,” he said, lifting a hand. “You should be all set now. Good luck finding your…” he couldn’t help but frown as he thought about the engagement ring, “... your ring,” he said. “Good luck… with everything… you’ve got going on.”
He felt his cheeks flush with the awkwardness of his goodbye.
He avoided eye contact with her as she raised her hand.
“Bye,” she said softly.
He turned and hustled to the door. Just as he the doors parted, and he stepped over the threshold, he heard, “Wait!”
Damn it, he thought. What now?
He tried to ignore her. He kept walking.
“Wait!”
He heard again, this time closer.
He spotted the Mercedes van that was scheduled to take him to the airport. He glanced down at his watch. It was ten after noon. Ten minutes later than he’d hoped to depart. It took at least an hour to get to the airport, and he liked to have an hour to get through security.
As he mentally ran through his schedule, he turned.
She was rushing across the lobby.
He sighed as she reached him.
“I really do have a plane to catch,” he said, before she could speak.
“Your suitcase!” Tiana said. Now that she was up close to him, he remembered how beautiful she truly was. He took a moment to look over her features, her long, black hair. Her thick lashes batted up at him. Her lips… God, they were lovely. So full… so kissable. He remembered the feel of them.
She was looking around him. “Where’s your suitcase?” she asked. “I just thought of something!”
“What?” he asked.
“I was--” she stopped abruptly, and ran her manicured nails through her hair. The little clear gemstones glittered in the sunlight.
“You were what?” he asked.
“I was looking through it this morning,” she said.
“That was you?” he asked. “My clothes were everywhere! I thought I’d done something while I was drunk.”
“You… thought?” Tiana asked. “You mean you don’t remember last night? You were, like, black-out?”
“No, no,” Tabor said. “I remember… most things. Everything, I think, though it’s a bit fuzzy. I thought maybe I pulled apart the suitcase looking for my swimming trunks.”
Taina blushed. “We didn’t wear bathing suits… remember?” she asked.
Tabor recalled the feel of her nearly naked body against his in the hot tub. He suddenly became aroused. She was standing so close to him. He imagined what it would be like to reach out, pull her to him, and kiss her then and there.
She was looking up at him with soft, dreamy eyes, as if she was remembering the feel of their kisses in the hot tub as well.
He felt his chest rise and fall, his breath coming out hot and heavy, just thinking about it.
The valet operator interrupted the impasse that he and Tiana had reached, she clearly just as lost as he in memories of the night before.
“Excuse me, Mr. Knight? Your ride is ready.”
“I know,” Tabor said, trying to be polite but feeling exasperated with the interruption. “I’m almost ready. Just another minute.”
Right, he thought. The shuttle. The airport. My schedule.
Reality hit him like a ton of bricks.
He turned back to Tiana. “What in the world were you doing, searching through my suitcase?” he demanded.
“I was looking for…” Tiana began, and then she looked around. The valet attendant was behind his podium, within hearing range just a few feet away. The driver was waiting, ready to open Tabor’s door.
Tiana leaned forward and Tabor felt her breath, hot against his cheek as she whispered, “...something to wear,” she finished. “I was completely naked. My clothes were at the hot tub.”
Tabor felt his heart pound in his chest as Tiana whispered into his ear. Something about the act made him recall other things she’d whispered to him. Her breath felt seductive.
He tried to pull himself together as she leaned away, the message delivered.
She straightened her top, watching him.
He nodded. “Okay then,” he said. “I see why you had to look through my things. But what does that have to do with your ring? I really have to get going.”
*****
Tiana watched Tabor.
“Don’t you see?” she asked, waiting for him to catch on. “It could have fallen off while I was looking through your clothing. Maybe it got caught on something, and is lying inside your suitcase right now! You have to look through it.”
Tabor looked at his watch again. “I’m already late,” he said. “The two pm is the last flight to California today. I have an important meeting with Angel investors in the morning. If I don’t catch that flight, I’ll--”
“Please,” Tiana said, interrupting him. “Please, Tabor. I really need this.” She felt her lip start to tremble.
Oh no, she thought. Don’t cry.
But it was too late. She felt hot, wet tears start to roll down her cheeks.
Her voice shook as she continued. “You were never like this before,” she said, her voice breathy as she tried to fight off the tears. She wiped her eyes. “Before you got all rich with your robots. You weren’t like this in high school. Just get your suitcase,” she begged. “And look through it real quick. Don’t you care that--”
“In high school?” Tabor asked, cutting her plea off short. “What do you mean, in high school?”
“I mean… “ Tiana said, realizing that he still had no idea that she’d been in his class. “You don’t recognize me, do you?” she asked.
He was searching her eyes. She saw his hand relax around his computer bag, which he’d been clutching tightly. “No,” he said, placing the bag on the ground.
The driver stepped forward. “Mr. Knight,” he said. “If we don’t leave now, you might not make your flight.”
Tabor looked at the driver, and then back at Tiana.
Tiana saw a questioning look in his eyes.
He examined her closely. Tiana saw a hint of recognition flash over his expression.
He turned to the driver. “Could you get my suitcase, and bring it here?” he asked.
Tiana felt relief wash over her.
Tabor turned back to her. “You didn’t go by Tiana back then, did you?” he asked softly.
“People usually called me T,” Tiana said. “Or Big T.” This admission caused her shame, and she looked away from him as she brushed more tears away.
“I’m sorry,” Tabor said. “I didn’t recognize you. You’ve grown up so much. You’re… you’re beautiful now. Not that you — not that you weren’t back then, but--”
“Oh, you don’t have to say that,” Tiana said, smiling for the first time that day. “I had the same things every teenager was dealing with… glasses, braces… a little acne, an awkward haircut…”
“But now…” He said, still stunned. “Now you’re gorgeous.”
His words made her feel like she wanted to drop to her knees and thank him on the spot.
Wow, I needed to hear that, she thought. His compliment was like a balm for her soul, soothing the wounds that had been inflicted at the reunion the night before.
“You don’t have to say that,” she said, looking down at the sidewalk.
“I’m serious,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s you.”
She managed to look up at him, and met his eye. “You’ve grown up some, yourself,” she said. “I barely recognized you last night at the bar.”
Tabor laughed.
It was good to see him smile, and to hear the laugh that she’d become familiar with the night before. She felt some of the stress of the day melting away from her. Somehow, just hearing him laugh made her feel better.
“I’ve improved upon some things,” he said with a smile. “At least, that’s what I like to tell myself.”
“You have,” Tiana said. “You look great.”
“That’s what a personal trainer and chef will do for you,” he said. “And stylist. I had no clue what I was doing in high school. I used to wear the ugliest sweaters,” he laughed.
Tiana smiled. “Remember the one with the T-rex on it? And your name, knit into it in block letters?”
Tabor kept laughing. “My grandmother made that for me,” he said. “I haven’t thought about that sweater in years. Wow. And my glasses! They were at least a centimeter thick.”
Tiana laughed, recalling his thick glasses. “They were, weren’t they?” she asked. She motioned to his now glasses-free face. “Contacts?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Laser surgery,” he said.
“Nice,” she said.
The valet arrived with Tabor’s suitcase.
He left it by Tabor’s feet, and they both stared at it for a moment.
Finally, Tiana looked up at Tabor. “I don’t want you to miss your flight,” she said. “Nevermind. Go.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “I want to help. Let’s go inside and look through this thing.”
Tiana wanted to hug him on the spot. “Thank you,” she said.
“I could use another cup of coffee anyways. I don’t know about you, but I woke up with one hell of a hangover.” He headed to the door, leaving the valet attendant and driver mystified.
Tiana followed him, laughing again. “Me too!” she said. “I haven’t felt like that in years.”
They entered the hotel, and re-entered the dining area.
Tiana found a seat while Tabor retrieved two coffees. When he reached the table, he set them down.
Time seemed to speed up as they reminisced about high school. After the coffees, Tabor introduced the idea of lunch. Tiana couldn’t deny the fact that she was hungry.
“What about your flight?” she asked.
He shook his head. “That’s not an option anymore,” he said. “There’s no way I’d make it.”
“But don’t you have a meeting with angelic investors?”
Tabor laughed. “Angel investors,” he said, correcting her. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to talk to someone who doesn’t know what an Angel investor is,” he added.
Tiana laughed. “All I can picture is you sitting down at a conference table with a bunch of people dressed in white, with little halos and feathery white wings. Maybe some glitter, or light beaming off of them.”
“I wish,” Tabor said. “That sounds quite nice actually. No, these people are more like men in suits who want me to work miracles for them, and are prepared to pay whatever it takes.”
“Miracles? Angels… miracles… what kind of business are you in, exactly?”
Tabor laughed again. “Robotics,” he said. “Our next project, Infinity Carbon, is a hybrid project that mixes the biology of stem cells and the technology of robotics.”
Tiana felt the words jumble. She shook her head, as if to clear it. “What now?” she asked. “You sound like you’re describing the plot of a sci-fi movie.”
“This is no science fiction,” Tabor said. He grew more intent, passionate, and leaned forward. “It’s what I’ve been working on for the last decade, Tiana. Or longer! Since high-school… or before.. .since middle school.”
“Since the eighth grade variety show, when you presented that robotic arm?” Tiana asked, half-jokingly.
Tabor pointed his finger into the air, looking more like a dork than the savvy man she’d been flirting with the night before. She liked getting a peak into this inner layer of him. “Exactly!” he said. “That first prosthetic arm was the start of it all! Now I’m in the field of longevity,” he said.
She looked at him, confused. She wanted him to keep talking — not because she was interested, per say, but more because she loved his geeky enthusiasm.
“InfinityTech is really a longevity company. We’re in the business of prolonging life. What we’re working on could create a prosthetic robotic body that could house a brain and heart for up to two hundred years!”
“Wow,” said Tiana. Even she, with her limited interest or understanding of science could appreciate that statistic. “That’s almost two times the longest life now,” she said. “I don’t know for sure, but isn’t the record for a human life something like one hundred?”
“One hundred and twenty-two,” Tabor said, sitting back in his chair with his eyes glistening. “Jean Calment, born in 1875 and died in 1997. She lived in France; she actually met Vincent Van Gogh!”
“The painter?” Tiana asked. “No way!”
Tabor nodded. “Yes,” he said. “She was a painter herself.”
“Wow,” Tiana said. “So your… prosthetic bodies, they could make people live longer?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Not only that, but they could give disabled people a whole new chance at life. Also, we’re working on products for those with life-threatening diseases.”
Tiana smiled. “You’ve been busy,” she said. “Have you already been building these... miracle robots?” she asked.
Tabor smiled. “I’ll tell you all about it. Do you want to move out side? There’s a restaurant up near the roof that’s really good. “
“Right, lunch,” Tiana said. She’d almost forgotten about her earlier offer. “That sounds good,” she said.
“Great,” Tabor said. He began telling her more about their past projects as he gathered up his computer bag and then led the way to the restaurant he’d mentioned.
After a three hour lunch, which felt more like thirty minutes, Tiana felt a sense of sadness sweep over her.
She loved listening to Tabor, and laughing with him. The lunch had been wonderful, but as she watched him pay the check she realized that she would have to leave him soon. Her excuse for retaining him was nearing an end.
Reluctantly, she introduced the task at hand. “I suppose we should check that suitcase,” she said. “And then I’ll go interview the cleaning staff again. Hopefully, they found something in your hotel room.”
Tabor looked just as disappointed in the reality check as she felt.
He frowned as he handed the check over to the waiting waitress.
“That’s a good point,” he said. “Let’s go somewhere a little bit out of the way so I can unpack.”
“Okay,” Tiana said.
As they stood up and began walking out of the outdoor deck restaurant, she felt his hand land lightly on the small of her back. He guided her through a tight section of tables and chairs, and then his hand fell away.
The light contact felt amazing, and Tiana wished for more. Just the feel of his hand on her, though the pressure had been light, reminded her of the way he had touched her the night before.
She felt weak in the knees, but tried to focus as they returned to the interior of the hotel and found a nook with two chairs and a table. Tabor hefted his luggage on to the table top and unzipped it.
Tiana waited by anxiously.
Is my ring in there? she wondered.