He knew this game well.
Had played it for the whole of his life...
Come across as open, new, fresh and from a different perspective.
She'd see this as interesting, compelling not to mention in all likelyhood would lower her guard.
He would easily perform his 'wounded man/bad boy' act for as long as it took...
Ascertain what her assets were, lifestyle and fit himself in accordingly.
He'd take her to bed, enjoy the relationship for as long as it remained uncomplicated, walk away when life crept in, ( that was an inevitability) and press forward with the next conquest.
The interest in her monetary status was simple; when he left her, he'd do so without harm. She'd recover that much quicker if she had already knew stability.
And all of that had been going along as planned until Friday evening.
At a table with his collegues, drink in hand, Thomas was jovial.
Business couldn't be better, beautiful woman was in the bag (so to speak) and it appeared as though his summer would be full of excitement.
That was, of course until a disheveled individual made his approach to the table.
Gun in hand, aimed directly at Thomas' chest.
Thomas felt his face drain of all color, his blue eyes watching as his life flash before their sea color would be drained of lifes essence...
She simply smiled as she casually walked by the older man (Thomas)
although Jenn did take considerable pause when she noticed the other man with the gun.
It seemed obvious enough to her; remove the gun from the mans hand, kick him in the groin, punch him in the face and stand on his chest with her left foot.
Jenn really hated when things got out of control.
It was beyond annoying...
She had plans.
Big ones for the night.
There was a man... Kent.
The set up had seemed easy enough, they'd meet, she'd pretend to be amused and enthralled in conversation.
He'd believe her to be a silly blonde, one of no real consequence.
This was her preference.
No fuss, no muss.
No man to tend to, to take care of.
Life was far too brief to deal with strings, complications...
Her left foot placed on his chest meant that
a) her high heel shoe would bother her even more than it already was
b) Jenn had placed herself in the spot light
and
c) she needed a drink badly...
Thomas couldn't believe that his life had been spared, and by all stretches of the imagination, unbelievably done so by a great looking woman...
He looked over at her leg...tan, toned and attatched to a petite busty blonde with amber eyes.
Thomas watched as she reluctantly released the attacker as security raced over to the scene.
She merely sashayed over to the bar, ordered 2 shots of whiskey in individual shot glasses, 1 dram of Pilsner, 1 voss.
Thomas looked on in wonder as she consumed each, 1 directly after another.
Curious he thought.
Thomas approached Jenn with great bravado not realizing that his reputation had finally caught up with him.
"I believe that I owe you a debt of gratitude sweetheart"
"You are worth 2.4 million, you drive an Asti, you're a bore- well basically so, you tend to leave towels on the floor of womens restrooms, I don't know Thomas- shall I continue?"
"So you know of me. If you find me so deplorable than why bother saving my life?"
"Instinct kicked in. Besides, you use women, I use men. We're fairly even. I have a date tonight, now go away Thomas."
"I can't do that, I owe you- this I take seriously, very much so"
"My funds are low, I'd like to have a child, preferably a son within a year. Marry me or get the hell away from my little (and she gestured with her hand circling the area where she stood) space."
"You have got to be joking. I'm not going to marry you or anyone else..."
"Great. So leave me the hell alone, I've got a date and if he sees you he'll think that I have poor taste in men."
"Then why jockey for my sperm donation?"
She grinned "That was to include your bank account as well, I believe that I made myself clear there. Or didn't I? Oh please tell me that I haven't lost my touch."
"And what do I get out of this little deal of yours? Why the hell would I bother with you? Since obviously you know of me, than you are also aware that I can easily have any woman that I want- give or take a few reluctant souls."
"Or savvy ones. Well your choice, your call, make it quick because I am walking away now Thomas."
Thomas was bewildered.
What the hell game was this?
And who the hell was this woman?
As though the entire room stood still, locked in the moment with the unlikely pair
Thomas felt as though he had to square off with Jenn, both reeling from the shock of her statement and to save face
"Marry me. Become my wife."
Thomas' collegues looked on in utter disbelief...
The bar keep (or mixie coach as she refered to him as) who knew her quite well smirked in extreme amusement
No one believed, even for the most brief of moments
even for a mili second
that this pair would actually press forward...
They left the establishment in a hushed fury
Why not Thomas thought?
Hadn't he vowed to marry by his 40th birthday, and wasn't this his 55th year?
What the hell?
Why not...why the hell not...?
Jenn laughed as they left in his 'bachelor' mobile...
"My gosh" she thought "Did this actually attract women? Bleh"
"What?"
"I was just thinking how gosche this auto is"
"It's fast, comfortable and-"
"Save it. I drive a porche."
"Thought you were low on funds?"
"I'm down to 3 million. Yours added to- helps me considerably"
"Really?"
"No, not really"
"Oh"
"Don't worry, I won't require any new clothing or handbags"
"Well that's a relief. Just a baby boy"
"Who will know the best of you and I"
"A play boy and a - what exactly are you?"
"Hmmm, I've never really thought about it. Perhaps a female ninja?"
He laughed "Seriously"
"I'm just non commital"
"Until now"
"Until now, correct"
"Do we have to remain married?"
"Yes we do. If we're going to do this, than let's do this. Oh I'm sorry are you afraid?"
"No. You?"
"No."
They were both lying to one another and themselves. Jenn had no idea but her bar 'coach' had added much more liquer to her drinks than she normal handled.
He did so to validate her valour.
He knew her well, good friend, solid- always stand up.
He never dreamed that his actions would impair his friends judgment
That Jenn never drank more than the first 3, ever, as a rule.
Thomas on the other hand was breaking every rule he had ever, ever, set for himself.
Why you ask?
Because time had just pointed a gun directly at his heart.
His life had almost ended and he was not about to see the woman who had placed herself in harms way for his sake
pass him by
Thomas typed in "Little White Chapel, Las Vegas" into the Gps system.
Regardless of the outcome he was bound and determined to see this through.
Jenn grinned, the alcohol still blurring her thoughts...
***************
Well that was a thought
I wanted to thank everyone for all of the calls and text's with your well wishes.
I appreciated it...
I also posted a little video of the photo shoot from weeks past.
Hope you enjoy the glimpse of how we obtained the book cover.
Enjoy your week ,
and with many blessings wished upon you
from my hand to yours,
Sawyer
Saint Andrews
