fling11

She thought a whole countryside and an ocean would separate her from the life she was leading and the man so insistently pursuing her. He was always there. She was sleepwalking through her life these days because of him. She couldn't seem to keep a straight thought about anything. Was she falling in love? She knew he was but her heart wasn't so sure about the way it felt. She wondered how he could possibly be in love with her after all he knew about her. It scared her that a man was accepting her for all her flaws. No wait a minute, he wanted her to quit. How could she quit with the lifestyle she'd become accustomed to? And Kristy, sweet Kristy. If she only knew what her husband had done to Kara the night before she pledged her eternal love to him. Why did these people care so much about her? She was nobody in their world it seemed. They were just mere acquaintances in her everyday life and once the wedding was over, they were gone like a thin wisp of smoke from a slow burning cigarette. Who knows? Maybe that was her problem. She was planning life instead of letting it happen. Perhaps that even included falling in love. The waiter drew her from the mist of thoughts she was clouded in."Your receipt ma'am,"he placed the small tray with her credit card and a ticket to sign. She aimlessly scribbled her name on the paper, took her receipt and credit card and placed them into her purse. She returned to her lonely lavish suite and sighed. It would be nice not to have to pretend to be something you're not as the knock on the door startled her. She opened the door to an extravagent bouquet of lavender roses."I didn't order these,"she produced.
"Another guest of ours sent them. Seems quite smitten with you,"the delivery man approached. She pulled out the ten she had in her pocket and handed it to him."Thank you."
"Thank you,"he returned and left.
She turned back into the room closing the door behind her. She set the bouquet in the middle of the table and found the card accompanying the beautiful arrangement. She opened the envelope to find a bold red heart shaped card inside. Rather large to be attached to a bouquet. She unfolded the card and it read:

Here I am
My heart in your hands
Taking a chance
Playing the game
Tell me that I'm not a fool
to think that you might love me too

She dropped the card. She knew it was him. He'd hit her soft spot. She'd always loved the written word and the man behind it. It didn't matter what the outside package offered. The man that could tug your heartstrings that way was all that mattered and she knew she was gonna regret it if she didn't at least give him a chance.
She dialed the front desk."Hello."
" Desk. How may we help you?"they replied.
"This is the aloha paradise suite and I just received a bouquet of roses from another one of your guests. I don't know what room they're in but I'd like to send a message to them."
"I'll patch you directly through to that room."
"You don't have to do that."
"It's no problem. Give me just one second."
"Please don't,"her protest cut off by the ringing of the phone.
"Helllo?"the other end inquired.
"You have to be a glutton for punishment."
"I had to fly three thousand miles plus to get your attention."
"Speaking of which, how did you find me?"
"You owe your partner a dinner when you get back."
"And why's that?"
" Because she was able to reschedule your appointments for the entire week."
"My airline ticket's only good until Monday and my room is only availabe until then as well."
"That's all taken care of."
"What is it you want from me?"
"I want you to give me a chance to show what romance is and if I can't show you by the end of this week then I'll leave you alone. Deal?"
"What do you get if you win?"
"The opportunity to love you for a thousand lifetimes hoping one day you'll love me."
"You make it sound so good."
"It can be if you'd just give it a chance."
"I don't know. I mean you're off to a pretty good start. The lavendar roses are my favorites."
"I know."
"How?"
"I asked your floral dealer."
"You are amazing. I cannot remember the last time anybody went to this much trouble over me."
"When was the last time you let someone go to this much trouble over you?"
"You win. Pick me up at seven."

"I'm only in this to win your heart,"he hung up the phone. He was saying all the right things but did he really mean them? She wanted to believe them but something wasn't letting her. Perhaps it was him. The one that promised her forever while he was living with another. She gave him her heart and he gave her heartache. He said all the right things, gave her tokens of his affection but they were only a curtain to shelter the real reason he wouldn't give her his heart. He was good to her. She cringed every time she saw him now. Her heart sank just a little further knowing he would be the next in line for the last fling. If you're thinking that man was AJ, you would be correct in that assumption. None of the rest of them knew of her. She was his dirty little secret. Not that they would have cared anyway. But was she willing to let Howie in on this little secret? What did she owe him anyway? She owed him the world for giving her an opportunity to love again. One she wasn't going to pass up.