Chapter 01 - The Beginning
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JP sat in front of the immense building and stared at it. The business had made him a millionaire several times over, but it had cost him too. His marriage had ended 5 years after starting the company; any friendships he had soon dwindled away until all he had left were business acquaintances and he couldn't even remember the last time he'd done something just for himself. The business had always come first, but that had all changed when he had promoted his senior VP and made her President of the company. Now as CEO, he was free for the first time in over two decades to enjoy what life had to offer.
Slowly pulling out of his parking spot, he gave the building one last look before heading towards the highway. JP had been riding motorcycle for years and the gentle hum of the engine from his new BMW along with the sun on his face where almost hypnotizing as the miles sped by.
When he had begun planning this trip he had decided it would be different from any other trip he'd ever taken before. The days of schedules and deadlines were gone, instead he was going to take his time and enjoy what the country had to offer by taking the back roads everywhere he went. Traveling South, he crossed into Illinois where the weather quickly began to get warmer and he begin to peal off the layers of heavy clothing he had been wearing.
Time seemed to fly as he traveled through Missouri, Oklahoma and finally crossed the border into Texas. Hugh open prairies, lush rolling hills, snow-covered mountains and deep valleys filled with wild rivers; this state had it all and seemed to change with every turn he took. Unfortunately, the weather seemed to change just as quickly and JP soon found himself staring at dark-black storm clouds across the skyline. Stuck in the middle of nowhere he had no option but to race for the shelter of a bridge he could see ahead in the distance. Within minutes the wind started to pick up, blowing dirt and scrub brush across the road. JP pulled under the bridge just as the sky opened and rain poured down from above, but not everyone had been as fortunate.
Turning his back to the wind while trying to get his raingear on he saw the headlights of a car weaved from side-to-side across the road. The lights grew closer and closer until they sped beneath the bridge and then they were gone, with only the red taillights showing in the distance.
It had happened so fast that JP barely had time to register what he had seen. A small, red sports car, long brunette hair and an arm trying to pull the retractable roof down into place. But now was not the time to think about that. JP realized that there was no way he wanted to be stuck in the storm any longer than was needed so he pulled out his cellphone and quickly called to get a reservation at the closest hotel.
A small break in the storm allowed JP to make good time and the blinking "NO VACANCY" lights of the hotel soon came into view. Quickly pulling under the entrance canopy to avoid the rain that was beginning to come down again, JP pulled up next to the red sports car. He briefly noticed that its roof was still stuck partially open before he entered the lobby and saw the driver standing at the check-in counter talking with the receptionist.
"What do you mean there are no rooms left? I can see a key still hanging there."
"I'm sorry, Ma'am but that room has been reserved and we don't have any others available."
"No one is going to be traveling in this weather so you might as well give me the room. In fact, I'll throw in an extra twenty-five bucks for the room to settle this problem."
"I really am sorry Ma'am, but I can't do that. The customer called and reserved the room and has until eight o'clock tonight to check-in."
Desperately the driver replied, "Only an idiot would be traveling in this weather, so rather than having an empty room why don't you just give it to me since I'm already here?"
Stepping up to the counter JP got his first glimpse of the woman; twenty-five to thirty years old, oval face with a "peaches and cream" complexion, and deep, chocolate brown eyes that spoke of a maturity far beyond her years. "I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation ladies but I think I'm the idiot that called and made that reservation."
The woman spun to look at him. Standing just less than six-foot tall and weighing in at almost 225 pounds he looked much younger and more imposing than his 45 years. Her eyes flashed with anger that quickly turned to resignation before she turned back to the clerk, "Ok, where is the closest hotel from here."
"The next hotel is about 45 minutes down the road Ma'am," she replied before starting to get JP registered.
The woman seemed to crumble into herself as she walked out the lobby door.
When JP exited shortly afterwards, he found the woman standing by her car with the hood up. "What seems to be the problem?"
"This damn thing won't start!"
Looking under the hood, he saw that water had splashed into the engine compartment. A quick check under the dashboard also showed that that more then half of the fuses were blown from the rain that had gotten into the engine compartment and when the roof wouldn't come down. Slowly, stepping back JP looked at the woman. "This thing isn't going anywhere until it dries out and the fuses are replaced. There might even be damage to the electrical system; I'm not sure."
Slamming the hood down the woman yelled, "Shit, shit, shit!! No car; no place to get it fixed tonight and no room. What else can go wrong today?"
JP responded without even thinking about what he was saying. "I can't do anything about your car but the room I rented has two beds in it and I only need one, so you can use the other if you'd like."
The woman stood there. He watched as her eyes looked him over trying to figure out if he could be trusted or if she'd be better off sleeping in her car.
Seeing the battle going on within her he quickly added, "Look, chivalry isn't dead just tarnished. So, if you decided to stay the night I promise I won't try any funny stuff. Ok?"
Slowly she extended her hand. "In that case, I'm Ma ... mmm ... Vicki."
JP noticed the change in her name but decided to let it go as he reached out and shook her hand. "Glad to meet you Vicki. I'm JP. Now let's get our stuff inside and get out of this weather."
"What about my car?"