Jourdan Lane

Eternally Yours

"I said no Lukas. I’m just not interested." Catherine said as she shoved the drawer on her desk closed. She knew her words were a lie, but nonetheless, she had to maintain her ground.

"You’re lying." Lukas said as he stared at her. He leaned his six-foot five, muscled frame against the closed door of her office. His long, dark hair accentuated the brilliant green of his sparkling eyes. "Why won’t you just take the chance?"

Catherine clenched her jaw shut tightly. "If I gave everyone a chance that came in here and asked me out, I’d never have a free day." A second lie flowed from her mouth to join the first one. No one had asked her out in over a year of living in New York City. She watched as Lukas walked towards the desk. No, more like stalked towards the desk. She swallowed hard and tried to maintain her composure. When he sat on the edge of the desk, inches away from her, she hoped that he couldn’t see her shaking.

His hand reached out to touch her hair and she sat back in her chair. He dropped his hand reluctantly. "What must I do to convince you of my sincerity? Just tell me what you want Catherine."

"I want you to leave me alone." Her voice trembled and she knew that no matter how much she wanted to believe it, she knew that it wasn’t true.

Lukas closed his eyes and sighed. "Besides that Catherine."

He looked so sad, so desperate, so utterly defeated. She wanted to reach her hand out to his muscular thigh and soothe his feelings. The feelings that she had given him. She stared at him for a moment. "Give me some space Lukas. You’re here every day and I can’t anything done while you’re stalking me."

He looked up at her with his eyebrow raised. "Stalking you?"

Catherine stood up from her chair and moved toward the filing cabinet. She opened the drawer, took out a portfolio and placed it on her desk. "I have clients to deal with and since you’re not buying anything right now, at this very moment, I would appreciate it if you would move along."

Lukas looked at the portfolio on her desk and then looked up into Catherine’s eyes. "If you think you’re going to scare me away by this tough act of yours, you’re seriously mistaken. I want to get to know you Catherine. I want…"

Catherine interrupted him as he spoke. "Yeah, I think I know exactly what you want."

He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Do you Catherine? Do you really think you know what I want?" He stood and walked towards her. He leaned down, as if he were going to kiss her. "You have no idea."

Catherine froze, unable to move, afraid to breathe. It seemed that any movement what so ever, would cause them to touch. She finally looked into his eyes, instead of his beautiful full lips, and whispered. "Get out."

Lukas took a deep breath, inhaling her scent deep into his lungs. He stood and walked quietly towards the door, leaving it open as he left her office. She heard the chime of the front entrance of the gallery and only then did she feel like she could breathe. Her legs felt unsteady and weak as she walked to her chair. She sat down, leaning her elbows on the desk, and covered her face with her trembling hands. Tears burned her eyes, threatening to fall. Every time she sent Lukas away, it felt like her heart broke a little more each time. She cursed him for being so irresistible and herself for not letting go of her fears.

Karen, her only friend and co-worker knocked softly on the open door of her office. "Catherine?"

Catherine took a deep, cleansing breath and began to open the portfolio on her desk. "It gets harder every time Karen. Am I doing the right thing?"

Karen gave a sympathetic look. "I can’t tell you what the right or wrong thing to do is. This is something that you have to decide for yourself."

Catherine shook her head. "What would you do?"

Karen smiled. "I’d have slept with him three weeks ago."

Catherine rolled her eyes. "Figures."

Karen’s look turned serious. "I’ve always tried to look the other way when he was in here talking to you, but today I have to admit that I didn’t. I don’t think he wants just sex from you Catherine. I think he wants you."

Tears threatened to fall once more. "Maybe that’s what I’m afraid of Karen."

Karen tilted her head and gave a weak smile. "It’s ok to let it go and try to find happiness."

"Yes Karen, but how long will it last until I’m right back where I started?" Catherine snapped. She realized how sharp her words were. "I’m sorry Karen, I didn’t mean to snap at you. Can you just close the door and hold my calls?"

Karen nodded. "It’s almost time to go anyway. Might want to take a cab home this evening, it’s supposed to rain."

Catherine grimaced. "I hate taking a cab. I’ll just try to hurry home before the rain starts."