Chapter 23: Back to Business

The next morning, Roxanne awoke to Tom leaning over her and nuzzling her ear. She liked seeing a playful side of him. Turning her head, she kissed him sweetly on the lips and rubbed his nose with hers.
“We still have some things to discuss.” He stood up beside the bed. Having already gotten dressed in black pants and a maroon polo, he looked ready for business.
Of course, thought Roxanne. There was a whole load of information to unpack, but she wanted to stay in the comfy, cozy confines of the bed a little longer. It felt safe and warm, and she particularly didn’t want to have to divulge to Tom all her wrongdoings - like the forged permit.
“Coffee first,” she said.
“I got that covered. First, get dressed, then you can have some coffee in the kitchen.” He walked out.
She smirked. Despite their passionate night together, Tom still didn’t know the best way to interact with a woman. Sometimes, he was too abrupt.
Roxanne dressed herself in her clothes from the night before and scuttled to the kitchen where Tom was waiting with a mug for each of them. She sat down on a stool at the island counter and took a sip – hot and strong.
“Milk?” she asked. Even his coffee was bold and sharp in need of a little creaminess.
He opened the refrigerator and removed a small carton, turned, and then poured a modest stream in her mug, each movement crisp and pointed. She blew on the contents to cool it and took a sip.
The coffee warmed and energized her, but not as much as Tom had the night before. She thought about his body on hers, finding it hard to see Tom’s brusque movements as belonging to the same person who conformed to her body so well when they made love.
Tom stood across from her. “What did those guys want?” he asked, jumping right in to talking about the kidnapping.
“Money,” Roxanne said.
“I gathered that, but why?
“Do you have anything to eat?” Roxanne got off the stool and walked over to the fridge, near where Tom was standing. She smirked at him as she opened the door and peered in. Grabbing a yogurt, she turned and smiled at Tom. “Spoon?”
He sighed and grabbed one from a drawer.
“Sworry,” she said, gulping down a spoonful. “I didn’t even get any of that pizza I bought last night. They were going to feed it to me when someone so rudely barged in.” She made a face at Tom.
He didn’t even crack a smile.
“Roxanne, we need to be serious.”
“Okay, umm… this is good.” She took another bite. In actuality, she was stalling. She didn’t want to have to admit to Tom that she’d forged the permit and not told him.
“I think I owe you an apology,” Tom’s face looked sullen. Roxanne sat back on the stool, surprised. He’d been the hero. Why was he apologizing? “I should have taken the stolen permit more seriously. I just thought I could find out who took it, and if not, bribe someone to take care of it. It turned out harder than I expected.” He frowned.
“What do you mean, bribe someone? Who did you talk to?” She asked.
“I had some people ask around. I figured I’d leave Baxter out of it. But I couldn’t find the information without divulging too much of my own.” Roxanne nodded, thinking about how she couldn’t let Tom blame himself. “I should have tried harder. I’m sorry. Then they came and…” She could see the emotion in his face. She swallowed a spoonful of yogurt, overcome by his obvious concern for her.
“That would have helped. Sure.” She waved the spoon in the air. “But I had Owen hold off the loan sharks, give us more time to work on the permit. Then the pregnancy test and…”
“And what?” Tom eyed her suspiciously.
“I got nervous that since I wasn’t pregnant, you weren’t going to help with the permit. And seeing Baxter, well – I couldn’t go back to him. Besides, he didn’t know it was stolen so I…” She made a cringy face, bracing to let out the truth.
“You what?”
“I forged Baxter’s signature and filed the permit. I thought no one would know. But then one of those goons said the deal was off once I filed the forged permit. I don’t know how they knew.”
“Roxanne, you did what? You can’t do that. It could ruin your career.” He looked angry.
“I know.” She dropped her head. When she raised her eyes again, she gave him a pouty face, looking vulnerable. “I was depressed and desperate. Owen died, and he was the only one who seemed to be helping and then with no baby, I just freaked. Okay?” She started to sob, her shoulders bobbing up and down.
Tom hugged her, rubbing her back for comfort. “I told you, I don’t need a baby. I’ll find another way. It’s you I’m worried about.”
She sniffled and wiped her eyes. She kissed him, long and soft. “Thank you.”
“Anything else?” he asked.
She wagged her finger at the memory. “Yeah, actually. Owen sent me to this abandoned building a while back.” She hopped down off the stool again and retrieved her purse. Removing the piece of aluminum from her wallet, she showed Tom. “I found this there. Then, in the hotel room, one of the kidnappers grabbed a beer from the fridge. It had this same logo.”
Tom took the piece of aluminum and turned it in his fingers, studying it with each jerky movement of his hand.
“Can I hold onto this? I want to look into it further.”
“Yeah, sure,” she said. “I’m sorry by the way.” She dropped her eyes.
“I should be mad at you. All that talk about me not telling you things.” Tom sucked in a deep breath, his voice growing louder. “And then you didn’t trust me.”
“I know,” she said. “I was wrong. I realize that now.” She pulled his shirt, making him take a step toward her. “I’m sorry,” she ran her hands up his shirt, smiling coyly at Tom’s grumpy face.
“They’re still going to come after you, you know?” Roxanne said, feeling his abs and then his pecs.
“I guess we’ll just have to find the answers before they… “ She kissed him, preventing his last words.
“We better get to work,” he said in a business-like tone, staring into her eyes and stepping back. She thought his serious side looked sexy, Tom trying to focus, but she wanted to ruffle his feathers first.
“I guess I’ll need some business clothes then,” she started to take off her top. Tom stared at her, Roxanne in her bra, her breasts peaking out of the lacy cups.
Tom hesitated then tilted his head a little as if in thought.
She noticed the bulge in his pants, and she knew she’d excited him. “I think we have some business to attend to here,” she said. She pushed down her pants and stepped out of them. Tom watched her silently.
Seeing her standing against the counter in her lacy pink bra and underwear, Tom rushed over as if in a race.
He pushed his body against hers and started kissing her mouth and neck. After sliding her panties down, he propped her up on the countertop. He undid his pants and pulled them around his thighs. Then, he entered her, thrusting against the counter as she wrapped her legs around his back.
Roxanne pressed his head to her chest, rubbing his hair between her breasts. He came quickly and then bent down to lick Roxanne’s button, giving her the pleasure she had been seeking since seeing him in his business attire that morning.
After their lust filled moment was over, Roxanne looked at Tom. “It was nice doing business with you.” She laughed.
Tom smirked. Hearing his phone, he pulled up his pants quickly and looked at a text. “It’s them,” he said. “They want to talk.” And just as quick as it left, Tom’s seriousness returned.