Maston helps Cheri up off of the floor, he gets himself dressed and tells her to wait while he leaves to get her one of his own shirts since the buttons to hers are scattered on the floor. She scurries to find her panties and slips them back on under her skirt.
He returns with a crisp cotton dress shirt and helps her to slip it on.
He takes her quietly to the patio gives her a peck on the cheek and fetches their lunch from the kitchen so she does not have to face the other staff members so soon after being caught in their sexual acts.
Maston returns with a tray of light sandwiches, assorted vegetables with avocado dip and a bottle of white wine. They sit quietly and he tries making eye contact with her but she looks around the grounds as if he were not there while picking at the vegetables. She is embarrassed by the whole thing and is too nervous to look at him.
He is a dangerous man because she is intimidated by him and drawn to him at the same time, like a magnet, his looks, his charm, just the way he looks at her.
He reaches across the table and grasps her hand in his and her body grows all warm inside with this touch.
"My dear Cheri, where are you right now? You seem miles away."
"Sorry." she replies, still looking away. "I'm tired."
It was getting to be late in the day as they spent much of it just sitting outside eating and feeling awkward.
"Shall I show you to your room now?"
"Umm, yes, please, but my bags, they are still at the motel."
"Not to worry Love, we can get them tomorrow."
"But..." she interrupts but he continues,
"I'll give you something to sleep in tonight."
He stands and takes his napkin from his lap, tosses it onto the table, circles around and helps her up. She looks down at his shirt that she is wearing and giggles as it is far too big for her petite figure.
Taking her by the hand he leads her up the back stairwell to the second floor bedrooms. He pauses briefly to show her his own room as they walk by. She glances in, seeing a very large king sized bed with old world furnishings, very masculine and neat with heavy drapes pulled back from the windows, it is impressive. They continue down to the end of the hallway to what is now her room. It is far away from his and between them are two smaller guest rooms.
"Where do the others stay?" She asks.
"The others?"
"Yes, the butler and cook."
"Oh, the butler, Franklin, has a suite in the wing off of the kitchen. He has been with me for many years and Julio only comes in on a regular weekday basis. He lives across town with his wife and kids."
"Oh, I see."
He opens the door to her new room. It is a beautiful and very bright room with small pane windows that look over the front grounds that she admired so much on her arrival. Everything is pale lavender and gold and the queen size bed sits high off of the floor. There is a full bath and television and extra towels, just like a fancy hotel, but better.
It's almost as if it was all planned just for her ahead of time.
"I'll leave you be. I'll bring you something to sleep in very shortly." says Maston.
"Thank you!"
A few minutes later he arrives with a sleep shirt, one of his of course, and leaves it on the bed, then blows her a kiss and shuts the door behind him.
Cheri showers and pulls the sleep shirt on, climbs up into the bed and as soon as her head hits the pillow she falls fast asleep.
The next morning she hears knocking on her door and she is startled for a moment trying to remember where she is. Feeling uncomfortable she quietly says,
"Yes?"
"Cheri, it's me, can I come in?"
Pulling the covers up around her neck she replies, "Ummm, yeah, c-come in."
Wiping the sleep from her eyes, the door opens slowly, Maston peeks in.
"Mr. Jameson! Hi!"
He steps in and sits on the edge of her bed making her feel more awkward.
"Sleep well?" he brushes a few wisps of hair from her face.
"Yes! Yes I did, thank you."
"Good, good. This morning I have arranged for the driver to take you to pick up your belongings at the motel. So after breakfast we will get you there."
"Thanks Mr. Jameson, but I would rather get ready and go as soon as possible."
"Wonderful, no problem, I'll have Joseph bring the car around. Just come down to the foyer when you are ready."
She smiles as he leaves the room shutting the door behind him. She has little choice but to put on the clothes from the day before, the short plaid skirt and the oversized shirt she borrowed. She ties it at the waist and rolls up the sleeves.
After washing up, and running a brush through her wavy brown hair she dabs on lipstick and mascara she had taken from her purse.
Slipping on her shoes and taking her hotel key she heads for the foyer. Surprised and embarrassed she finds the butler waiting to open the front door for her.
"Good morning Miss." He said without a change in his solemn expression.
Cheri dips her face down and whispers "Good morning."
Stepping outside she sees a black Cadillac pulling up and nervously tugs at the bottom of her skirt. The car comes to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and the driver's door opens and out steps a tall blonde man, young and handsome. She was NOT expecting this, feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland, not knowing who or what is just around the next bend.
He gestures for her to come down the steps as he opens the rear door for her. She slides in with the help of his strong hand guiding and protecting her. Cheri's heart is pounding as the scent of his musky cologne fills the car.
"We have to go to..." attempting to give him her destination,
"I know Miss." he stops her midsentence.
She looks at him in the rear view mirror and he is wearing dark glasses making it impossible for her to see his eyes. He notices her looking at him but makes no gesture, just keeping his strong chin held up and stoic, very professional. She tries not to stare, but he is so handsome with his chiseled face.
The car pulls in and stops in front of the motel. The car door opens for her and his strong hand is again waiting to help her. She feels like a princess as she puts her hand in his and she slides across the leather seat and out the door.
"Thank you...umm... Joseph?"
"Yes Miss."
"Cheri, please call me Cheri."
"Cheri, let me help you get your bags."
"Ummm sure, over here, room 42."
She fumbles for the key and unlocks the motel door. A musty smell fills the old style room looking like they never changed a thing since the 1970's.
The bed had never been slept in all night and standing there with Joseph brought evil thoughts to her head, thoughts of taking him right then and there and imagining his tall, slender body on top of hers.
"DAMN!" she mumbles to herself. "Get a grip, you are a nice girl!"
Joseph hears her mumbles but doesn't make out any words.
"Pardon?" he asks,
"Oh, nothing, I'm just talking to myself."
She chuckles nervously and rolls her eyes in a silly manner. He starts to feel her vibes and finds the situation appealing as well. They reach for the same bag and bump into each other, they laugh and she notices his dark green eyes that have been hiding behind those glasses that are now sitting on top of his head, their eyes meet.
Suddenly he pulls his hand away and tells her to go check out at the office and he will take care of the bags.
She agrees and when she returns he is standing next to the open car door, ready to take her hand once more, only this time he stands closer, taking her hand he gives it a squeeze and purposely brushes up against her breast as she slides onto the leather seat.
Closing her door, he gets in the front and they begin to drive away. She feels her guts turning as she does when she is near Maston.
"What is wrong with me, oh my god?" she quietly mumbles to herself.
She again glances at the rear view mirror and this time he doesn't have his sunglasses on and he catches her looking at him and he grins. She grins back.
"So, Cheri, what brings you to Mr. Jameson's?"
"I just got the maid job, yesterday."
His eyebrows rise, "So we will be seeing a lot of each other then."
"I guess so."