Reclaiming His Wife

CHAPTER SEVEN - GRAND GESTURES

“My car’s out front,” Dewayne said.

They left the hotel, and Dewayne opened the door to the front passenger seat for Jessica. Mark took the backseat.

Soon they were driving off into the night.

“This is very good of you, Dewayne,” Mark said, sounding grateful from the backseat, which didn’t sound right to Jessica’s ears. Mark never sounded grateful like other mere mortals.

“We don’t mind, do we, Jessie?” Dewayne said, shooting her a sideways smile.

“No, of course not. You’ve always been kind and considerate, since secondary school. That’s one of the things I liked about you.” She smiled back at Dewayne, knowing Mark could see her from his diagonal viewpoint behind the driver’s seat.

“By the way, Jessica,” Mark said, placing the slightest emphasis on her name, making her realize that Joel had called her “Jessie” again—the name Mark had never called her.

“Yes, Mark?” she said, keeping her tone idle.

There was a tiny pause before he spoke. “Don’t worry about making arrangements to travel to Berbice. I’ve organized everything as I want to show you the new resort I built up the Berbice Creek. It’s the first of its kind in the country. We’ll stay at the hotel for two more days and travel on Tuesday.”

Before she could formulate a response, Dewayne excitedly asked, “Are you talking about J.T’s Nature Retreat?”

“As a matter of fact, I am. Have you heard about it? We haven’t started promoting it as yet, since the grand opening is a few months away.”

“It’s only the most talked about topic in the country since construction started earlier this year. I’ve actually sent in a job application for the tour guide position. Are you saying your company owns the resort?” Dewayne questioned, waiting with bated breath for a response.

“Actually, my company doesn’t own it, I do, it was a personal investment. Well technically, Jessica owns it.”

“What?” Jessica exclaimed from her seat, turning sideways so she could look at Mark. “I don’t own a resort. What are you talking about?”

“It’s a birthday present I’m working on for you. I knew someday you’d want to return to Guyana and figured a resort would be a good fit for us. You’ve always talked about communing with nature.”

Jessica sat stunned for a moment. She hadn’t expected such a gift from Mark. She was touched beyond words.

“Is that why it’s named J.T’s?” Dewayne questioned.

“Yes. It’s named for Jessica Thomas,” was Mark’s simple reply as he watched his wife for a reaction.

“It was a thoughtful gesture, Mark,” Jessica began, “but I can’t accept such a grand gift, especially now that we are getting a divorce. I wouldn’t feel right about it.”

"We have differing views on the subject of our divorce," Mark replied dryly. "Besides the ownership has already been sorted out. The resort was constructed in your name. Everything is in your name. Me presenting it to you on your birthday would have just been a formality."

"Mark, I'm serious. I'm not -"

"Jessica, as I've said. Everything is already in place."

"You can't just steamroll me. I won't allow -"

"Who is trying to steamroll you? All I'm trying to do is give to you a resort."

"Stop cutting me off!"

"I will when you stop objecting to my gift."

Sensing the tension, Dewayne interjected, "perhaps you both should let the topic go for now and discuss when you are in a better mood."

Dewayne paused to see if either of them had any objections to his comment, when none was forthcoming, he started talking about general things for the rest of the way.

Jessica could feel Mark’s eyes on her from the backseat but she ignored him as she responded to Dewayne, relieved when the car slid to a halt outside a restaurant.

“Thanks for the ride.” Mark opened the back door then paused briefly. “And don’t worry about how I’ll get home. You two have a good time, okay?”

Jessica bit down on her irritation. His sincerity was so false. He was just trying to get a ride back to the hotel to make sure nothing s****l happened between her and Dewayne. She should just stay out all night and do the 'walk of shame' in the morning. It would do him good to wonder and worry what she and Dewayne were getting up to later in the evening. Her line of thoughts gave her pause. She hadn't known she had such a mean streak. Apparently, Mark was beginning to bring out the worse in her.

She smiled tightly. “We’ll be very late, so you’d best get the car service. Good night, Mark.”

His lips flattened and he shot her a dark look. “Good night.” He waited for a second, but when Dewayne said good night, he got out of the car and shut the door. The last Jessica saw was him striding into the restaurant.

Then they drove off and she looked ahead, hoping Dewayne wouldn’t say anything. She needed a moment to calm down and gather her thoughts.

Fortunately, he didn’t, at least not until they were seated at their table and the waitress had left with their order.

“So you are married, and apparently to a billionaire willing to construct a resort for you from the ground up. How did that happen?” he said.

She took a breath to steady herself before smiling to soften her words. “I was an i***t who accepted an offer which was too good to be true.”

Joel grinned. “You are a lot of things - smart, sexy, funny and compassionate. But I would never describe you as a fool. So what really happened?”

She laughed. “Thank you for the compliment. But I was a fool. To make a long story short. We met in grad school, became fast friends and when we graduated he proposed a marriage of convenience. One where we would both benefit. I got to stay in America and he got his meddling mother off his back. It worked for a while before I decided I didn't want to live that way anymore.”

"Wow. I must say I'm shocked."

"That I'd agree to a marriage of convenience?"

"No. Who am I to judge? I'm shocked that your marriage is one of convenience."

Dewayne paused for a moment as if carefully selecting his words.

"Looking and listening to the two of you interact tonight was painful. I'm going to be very honest with you. I've always liked you, and when I saw you earlier today and you agreed to a date, I honestly thought I had a chance to finally shoot my shot and have you be receptive to it. But the s****l tension and chemistry between you and Mark were so off the charts, I now know I don't stand a chance."

"Dewayne, I don't know what you think you saw between Mark and me tonight, but it was definitely NOT s****l tension or chemistry. Our marriage wasn't like that. I won't lie to you because it's not my style. At one time I want there to be more between Mark and me, but it wasn't meant to be. I'm now ready to move on with my life. Hence, why I've asked him for a divorce."

"Jessie, what I saw tonight was not a man who would willingly grant you your divorce."

"It doesn't matter what he wants. I'm done."

"Okay."

Jessica forced herself to relax against the back of her chair. “Now let’s talk about something else. I really don’t want to talk about my soon to be ex-husband for the rest of the night. I haven't seen you in ages. So we have lots to catch up on.”

Dewayne smiled. “I’m more than happy to oblige, Jessie. Now tell me what it was like…”

They had a pleasant evening after that. As predicted, they talked about what was happening in the country - politics, the economy, the education system. Jessica regaled him of her many discoveries of America and how the culture was different from what they were accustomed to in Guyana. Dewayne, for his part, spoke of his knee injury while playing college basketball and how he ended up working as a tour guide as an alternative to playing sports.

All the while, Mark's derogatory comments about them having nothing in common spoiled the discussion for her. Did Mark always have to be there at the back of her mind?

Unfortunately by the time, the evening was half over, Jessica knew she and Dewayne would be nothing more than friends. As much as she wanted a one night stand and she wanted to scratch her itch, Dewayne wasn’t for her. And she didn't want to ruin their rekindled friendship by sleeping with him. She wasn't even sure she would be able to have meaningless s*x with him if she could.

Dewayne was handsome and he was a nice guy, but they really didn’t have a lot in common, much to her disgust. He didn't stimulate her. Not like Mark. She grimaced. No, she and Mark had nothing in common either—except love for nature and business and well they had similar tastes in books and music and movies. They shared similar viewpoints on politics and religion as well. Who was she kidding, Mark was the yin to her yang, as pathetic as that sounded given the fact that nothing could become of them.

“Jessie?”

She pulled herself back from thoughts of Mark. “Sorry, I remembered something I forgot to do,” she fibbed, then she smiled. “But it can wait. Now, what were you saying?” She would have a good time if it killed her.

It nearly did.

Her social life and Mark's work-life were one and the same, so she’d never lacked for company at business dinners and parties. But she wasn’t used to being on a date and having to tune in to one person for hours on end. It was very draining.

Unless of course, that person was Mark. He never bored her. Every minute they'd spent together he challenged her like no other person on earth. Life with Mark was the adventure she’d always been after. One she had chosen to leave, she remembered, her heart constricting. She pushed the thought aside. She would get through this.

“We should do this again, Jessie,” Dewayne said, holding open his car door for her on their return to the hotel.

It was strange, but for some reason, an evening of being called “Jessie” had started to get on her nerves. It wasn’t Dewayne’s fault at all, but it was as if the shortened version of her name lent to a level of intimacy that just wasn't there between her and her old friend. She'd only ever wanted Mark to have a nickname for her. A name of endearment. And that was rather pathetic.

“I’ve got plans tomorrow night,” Dewayne said, dragging her from her thoughts. “But I’m free after that. Would you like to go to a movie on Monday night before you leave for Berbice?”

She hesitated, feeling a little bad in using him. She didn’t want to go out with him again, at least not in a romantic manner. She'd have to explain herself to him tomorrow when she'd had time to sort through her emotions.

She got out of the car, with Dewayne doing the gentlemanly thing and assisting her. “I’d like that, but let me get back to you tomorrow if that’s okay.”

“That’s fine.”

All at once, she felt his hand move from her elbow to her chin. It was a smooth move and said he knew what he was doing.

“But first…” he murmured.

She didn’t resist even though his kiss wasn’t something she wanted, and not because he wasn’t an attractive man. Despite still being angry with Mark for trying to manipulate the situation earlier this evening, she wanted it to be Mark’s lips—and only Mark’s lips—on hers.

Suddenly scared that she might never want another man to kiss her, she raised her mouth to Dewayne. Perhaps Mark’s attraction for her was merely in her mind? Perhaps she needed to be kissed by another man just to remind herself that there were other men out there capable of curling her toes as Mark did. Maybe kissing Dewayne would cure—

“Don’t let me interrupt,” a male voice muttered.

Mark.

Jessica jerked back guiltily and Dewayne stopped, and they watched as her husband stride past them and go inside the hotel.

“That was good timing,” Dewayne said, over her thudding heart. Unfortunately, her heart’s thud wasn’t for her date. It was for her husband.

“Now, where were we?” Dewayne murmured, lowering his head and placing his lips on hers, making her conscious of two things. She’d have to stretch her neck higher if it was Mark kissing her. And she felt absolutely nothing being kissed by a hot guy in his own rights.

She was screwed. She was royally screwed.