These are modern times. Times in which women can stand on equal footing with men. If you surveyed most women in the Western world, you would likely find that very few of them are looking for a white knight in shining armor to rescue them. The concept of a "damsel in distress" no longer exists, I am sure most women would tell you that.
Javier James King would never have thought of himself as a knight. In fact, he was a bit terrified of horses. The first (and only) time he had gone riding as a youngster, he had been thrown from the horse. From that day forward, he refused to go riding again. His brothers and sisters loved to ride, but for JJ, the only horse he ever wanted to ride was manufactured by Harley Davidson.
Aside from beasts with four legs, there were very few things that frightened JJ. From his late teens until today, he had lived a life of adventure. He had been white water rafting, gone to the Antarctic on an expedition, climbed most of the way up Mount Everest and was an accomplished sky diver. The only two things that had given him any trepidation were leaving his secure job -- and marriage.
The two were somewhat linked. He had been a professor of English Literature at Hudson for almost twenty years, the youngest they had ever hired. Just past his 40th birthday, his on-the-go lifestyle kept him looking several years younger. He admitted to being a rogue and a lady's man, so whenever a willing professor or attractive teaching assistant made an offer, JJ -- with discretion -- indulged himself. Why would he ever want to marry when there was a bevy of beauties out there to choose from? The women offered and JJ Kirby took. He knew what to say and he dressed nicely and he prided himself on being in good shape and good in bed.
The catalyst that spurred the change in his life was when a less-qualified professor was promoted to the head of the department before JJ. He was not one to remain silent. He was not a man who suffered fools gladly. He spoke up -- quite vocally -- and then he learned how things rolled in the world of academia in which he toiled. It was all about appearance. The new "boss" didn't make waves; he was as bland as a piece of Melba Toast. There were no rumors flying around about Seymour Hollingsworth III. He was a good academian who did what was required of him. He never bucked the system.
JJ was livid. Rather than burning his bridges behind him, he took a six month leave of absence and hammered out a manuscript he thought was superb. He never downplayed his own abilities. The first publisher that it reached bought it. With a $35,000 advance in hand, he walked into the Dean's office and told him to shove his job where the sun didn't shine. It was almost 6 years later and he still had never looked back. Sometimes, you know when you've reached the end of a journey and JJ had reached his.
His first book started out as a slow climb, but after a few positive reviews, sales started on an upward climb. By the end of the first year, it had sold well enough for the publishers to ask for a second book and earned him a larger advance. With his earnings from the first book and the advance, he was able to put a down payment on a home and start to live nicely. He was becoming popular and got invited to a lot of parties and functions as a guest. Women were enchanted by his career and he started to write -- a lot. Slowly, he developed a following and when he released a novel with erotic overtones, sales went through the roof. He became the flavor of the day, although that day lasted for several years. His editors were thrilled with him and his advances were only outweighed by his royalty checks.
In the early days of his career, JJ didn't much like book tours. Too much travel, too much bad food, too much inane chatter with people who had only skimmed the book. Some of the fans were a bit -- weird, to say the least. On one book tour, however, destiny took him by the hand. He was barely looking up as he signed copy upon copy of his books. When a soft, chiming voice spoke to him, he looked up and saw -
her.
JJ's first impressions of the younger woman were mixed, to say the least. She was beautiful, you could see that. With little or no makeup, her face was gleaming with youthful vitality. Her eyes were the palest blue he had ever seen and her blonde hair was almost silver. She was lovely and slender and seemed to have a nice figure.
That was the incongruity of it all. Despite her good looks, she was wearing very plain clothing, a gingham dress. Did anyone still dress that way? No high heels, just flat Mary Janes and she didn't seem to be wearing any jewelry. To JJ, it was as if someone had thrown a tarpaulin around the Venus De Milo.
Why
would anyone want to make someone this stunning look so -- dull?
He could barely hear her speaking, her voice was just
that
delicate. She pushed two of his novels in front of him, asking if it would be too much trouble for him to sign both. The young lady told him that her name was Mona Miles. Her name didn't seem to suit such a vision. She declined to have them personalized, so JJ signed the books for her and she smiled sweetly. "My mother would kill me if she knew I read books like
these
," she giggled nervously. "They're my little secret, but they're so
thrilling!
"
Javier wondered what it was about this pretty young thing that charmed him so. "I'm glad to hear that you like them," he said to her. On an impulse that came out of nowhere, he piped up "Would you like to have a cup of coffee with the author when the book signing is done?"
The girl's blue eyes seemed to take on a sign of life for the very first time. "Oh no, thank you -- I couldn't do
that!
" She seemed to be in a panic. "I don't even know you and my family will wonder where I am, they think I'm at the library."
"Only way to know someone is to talk with them," JJ said to the girl. "Just tell your family that you wanted a cup of coffee before you came home."
With a timid grin, the young woman agreed. She hung around the store for an hour until JJ had signed his last autograph and let him take her to a nearby Tim's. They talked for over an hour and once he drew her out of her shell, she was quite intelligent. He could see that someone was repressing a keen intellect and a kind, lovely gentle soul.
"You're twenty-five years old," JJ said to her. "Why do you let your parents tell you how to live your life?"
"I live under their roof, I have to follow their rules," Mona told him. "They're very old-fashioned and strict. I don't really have much choice."
"
Everyone
has a choice," JJ told her and held her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. "Why not move out and find an apartment of your own?"
"With what money? I've always earned my keep by working in my parent's hardware store and they put part of my wages towards my rent," Mona answered. "The remainder is in the bank and I need one of their signatures to withdraw any of it."
JJ shook his head. These people had this young woman over a barrel. He had never met them and he already didn't like them. "IF you will let me, I can help. I may be a good writer, but I'm terribly disorganized and I need an assistant. I can pay you a very nice wage and I have a friend who owns an apartment nearby that likely has a place you could rent. If you're interested, of course. Mona, don't you think that at your age, it's time that you asserted some independence?"
For the very first time, JJ saw a look of steel in her blue eyes. It was one that he would come to know much better a while later. "Yes, yes, I do," Mona smiled. "As a matter of fact, I'm going to start right now. I think that I'd like another cup of coffee -- and while I'm at it, I think I'll have some pie!"
JJ laughed and spent another hour with the girl. He liked her, although he had no idea why. She wasn't the crazy type he knew so well. Still, she was charming and infectious. They met up a few days ago and despite her smile, he sensed something was amiss.
"My parents are livid," she told him. "They don't like any of the plans I've made and won't release my bank account to me."
"Screw that," JJ said, his jaw clenched tight. "I will advance you some money against your salary and you can use that to get whatever you need. My friend will likely cut you a similar deal on the rent until you get settled. In the meanwhile, I can call my attorney and see if we can't get your bank account released to you alone. There is no reason a twenty-five year old woman should have to run to her parents every time she needs money."
Mona hugged him and they went off to meet his friend. Suzanne showed the girl the apartment and he thought Mona might faint. "I've never had this much space all to myself before," she said to the both of them. "What will I do with it all?"
