Now Wouldn't You Like to Know Read online

  Now Wouldn’t You Like To Know

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or deceased, is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design and art work by CS Bennett

  Cover Model: Ouida Robinson

  Copyright © 2012

  Preface

  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to cross paths with someone very attractive and very intelligent, a certified walking dream, and having not said a word to that person and then Bam! Within 24 hours you are embarked upon an unplanned cross country journey for two with that person. Dare to come along for the romantic ride of

  your life as you ride along with a man and a woman who find themselves thrust together

  by forces outside of their control in a similar situation. Of these two, one has vowed never to marry and the other has vowed

  never to fall in love again.

  In this novel of love and adventure Lady Fate will have the final say

  CS Bennett

  Chapter 1

  This was not one of those ‘spring is in the air’ mornings. No, this was autumn. Some days you should just put your ride in third gear and keep moving. My intent was to do just that. However, the Dodge Ram ahead of me decided to stop while a smitten passenger leaned out of the window to indulge an attractive woman standing near the corner. She appeared to be in her early thirties and looked slightly amused by the attention. Perhaps she was waiting on a bus, a cab, or perhaps someone to pick her up; I don’t know. But I wasn’t pleased. It didn’t help that the guy hanging out of the window was holding a beer bottle. I could have used one about now. Okay, so they wanted to carouse around, give her a shout out or whatever. I didn’t have any problem with that. I understood human nature. But to ignore the rest of us weary commuters while these two prolonged their special moment did not sit well with me, impromptu or not.

  With six or seven cars backed up behind me, there was no time for dallying around. Not today. Hell, no one was in the mood for that. I mean, all I wanted to do was pick up my last check from a job I had invested so much time and effort in for eight years only to get a notice a month earlier saying that I was going to be laid off. Downsizing, they called it. A bad economy was the reason behind the downsizing. But that was not my issue now. These two country bumpkins were. So after a few seconds, I did what any other frustrated man or woman would do in my situation. I honked my horn in an attempt to get things moving again.

  The blaring horn on my Lincoln Navigator apparently sounded intimidating enough for the hound dogs ahead of me to finally put the pickup truck into gear, as it roared in place thanks to an influx of gas, though briefly. The passenger appeared to ask one last question, though one I could not make out. I watched as the fine looking redbone broke into a warm and pleasant smile, and said in reply, “Now, wouldn’t you like to know?” With that line the wannabe pickup artist and the pickup truck went on its merry way.

  As I drove by where the diminutive bombshell stood the two of us locked our gaze on one another. A warm smile was my reward. I wanted to see her eyes but she was wearing dark tinted shades. Okay, some things are meant to be, others are not. The eyes I would just have to speculate on. I had to admit though, she was hot looking. And I had little doubt that she knew she was all of that and more.

  Stealing a final glance at her fading form, by way of my passenger side rear view mirror, I understood why the pickup ahead of me lingered so long. This sista was one of those physically gifted women who could stop a line of race car drivers traveling at a high rate of speed and on a dime just by standing near the track in a bustier and inhaling. No disrespect to other lovely women, but some women just happen to come with a little extra, what I called the complete package: good looks, sexy voices, charming personalities, sex appeal, and raw intelligence.

  I’m not sure how but women in this unique category seemed adept at avoiding public exposure and ongoing primal scrutiny just so that they can shun being in the spotlight or being hounded. However, on special occasions, especially when they’ve decided to dress to the nines, they are known to come out of hiding and wreak havoc on those who find themselves falling under their influence and spell. It has been quite entertaining to watch at times, men tripping over one another while they vied for the attention of women in this category. In the circles I traveled in such women were known as nature’s ‘Prime Choice’.

  I arrived at the office some fifteen minutes later which set inside one of several manicured outdoors strip malls right off of Orange Avenue near downtown Orlando. My business was computers. I was a computer analyst and repairman for mainframe systems and commercial networks. Because business had slowed down with the rest of the economy the past three years, somehow in the reshuffling of the company’s priorities and its downsizing, I was the one given the pink slip. I harbored little resentment, though. I saw the signs early on and eventually read the writing on the wall. Being the last to be hired in a sixteen man company, I expected the boot to fall on me if it was to fall. Fortunately, my termination came at a most advantageous time for me. As soon as I suspected I might get the ax, I began my search for new employment. In addition to that, I had already saved up a nice emergency fund over the years so I was not worried about my ability to provide for myself, for at least a year. And then there was unemployment benefits that I could collect. But I didn’t want to solely rely on that.

  What a birthday gift I thought, as I neared the entrance of the building. I had been given my notice the day before my thirty-sixth birthday, a month earlier. But I could deal with it. I was divorced, with no children, and few vices. I lived with my cousin Michael. We grew up together in Columbus, Ohio and got along better than most brothers. He moved to Orlando a few years before I moved in with him. He started out in Jacksonville and relocated to Orlando after he decided to drop anchor here after doing a twelve year stint in the navy. A bachelor and a full time playa was how one of my aunts described him. But I moved in with him anyway, though on a temporary basis after getting hired. I liked his place so much that I never got around to moving out. Now, many years later, things were about to change.

  I was scheduled to interview in person for a managerial position in Philadelphia in a week. My prospects looked good. I already participated in a phone interview with them a week earlier that went well enough to warrant a second look by the Philadelphia based business and in person. From what I had been told, it was down to me and one other candidate. With time on my hands I decided to drive up instead of flying. I wanted to take a few things up there in case I passed the second interview with flying colors and was hired. While there I could scout out an apartment and if I found one, could put a down payment on it.

  While at the office I simultaneously greeted and bid farewell to my coworkers for one last time. With my check in hand, I departed the premises and for the last time. Along the way home I passed the corner where I saw the bombshell standing earlier but she was nowhere in sight. She must have caught that ride, I told myself. Outside of her rare beauty, which lingered on my mind, and that warm friendly smile of hers, I was curious about what she meant when she told her admirer in passing “Now, wouldn’t you like to know?” Her question ate at me for some reason. Frankly, it was her question and what was asked of her that got my curiosity going.

  That night Michael, an avid golf fan, and I headed over to a local driving range to hit some golf balls with some of our friends. After that we dropped by a tavern and downed a beer apiece. At least, that’s how it started out. I planned on hitting the road first
thing the following morning and did not want any lingering hangovers. I had a long drive ahead of me and two stops to make along the way; one in Jacksonville, Florida and one in Washington DC. I had relatives in both places I had promised to stop by and see on the way up, perhaps even spend the night with. I estimated the ride up, including the visits, should take me two or three days at the most. So I kept my beer allowance to two.

  When Mike and I returned home I finished packing the luggage I was taking on the trip and took them out to the Navigator. By 11:30PM I was tucked in and fast asleep. I always slept well on autumn nights. And I seemed to dream the most in autumn. That night I dreamt that I was as great a golfer as Tiger Woods. Matter of fact, I beat him that night in match play. God, how I loved dreaming. Once inside of a dream you could be anyone, be with anyone, go anywhere, and do things you normally couldn’t do in one’s waken state. On occasions, I could even fly like Superman in my dreams. Most of all, I could fall in love with any famous model or Hollywood star or high school prom queen.

  Morning arrived earlier than I was prepared for. The world around me was still engulfed in darkness. Tired still, I could have slept another four or five hours. But I had set the alarm for 6:00AM and that’s exactly when my sonic summons reverberated throughout my head. Whoever invented early rising could not have been a common working man or working woman. It just did not make sense to me to awaken before one’s body and mind was prepared to. Synchronicity was what I was into.

  With great discipline I peeled back the layers of covers on me and crawled out of my waterbed. My cousin and one of his lady friends, who had dropped by after we arrived home the night before, were still asleep so I kept my noise level to a minimum. Besides, it was Saturday and he did not have to get up for work. Unlike me, he had indulged in a couple of beers along with a few mixed drinks. No doubt, he would be out for a while. Passing his room I could hear him snoring lightly.

  After a quick shower, I prepared myself breakfast. When I finally sat down, I ate a hefty serving of Wheat, Corn, and Rice Chex, with sliced bananas and raisins, all mixed together in a bowl of milk. Afterwards I popped a few vitamin pills and took my cellphone in hand and headed out to my Navigator. I was ready for my long trek north. I’d call Mike later in the day.

  It was rather cool, even for a late September morning in Florida, so I threw on my jacket and climbed up into the Navigator. I turned the ignition key and waited a minute for the engine to warm up. In the meantime I turned on the local news to check the weather and traffic conditions. The forecast called for light rain in the morning hours then sunshine and 78O weather. There were no reports of any accidents or slowdowns. Reaching over, I activated my GPS system, not to guide my way, but to queue me in on the speed limits I would encounter along the way.

  After fastening my seatbelt I pulled out of the driveway and onto the asphalt road. Hopefully, I would be embarking on a peaceful, quiet, and uneventful drive up north. I wasn’t anticipating any car problems or traffic tie ups or accidents, at least none that involved me. And maybe, just maybe, major road construction along the way up would not impede my drive much. I loathed driving through endless miles of concrete barricades, uneven lanes, odd and abrupt curves, and construction site speed limit warning signs. Like die hearted truckers, I preferred fast speeds and long stretches of open road.

  Two blocks later I pulled into a convenience store to top off my gas tank and to purchase a cup of cappuccino and some snacks. Returning to my vehicle I encountered a light rain. Starting up the engine, I activated my windshield wipers, then pulled off. I expected to be on I-4 inside of fifteen minutes.

  For a Saturday morning traffic was light, which is exactly what I expected to encounter at 7:30AM. What I did not expect to see, some three blocks later, was the bombshell that was standing on the corner the day before. This time she was walking and totting luggage in both hands. Though she did not appear to be struggling, she looked weighed down as I drew closer to her. As if on cue, the light rain suddenly became a mild but cold downpour. My curiosity was piqued now.

  Pulling alongside of her, I lowered my passenger side window and my head to get her attention. I offered a friendly wave.

  “Good morning, can I give you a lift somewhere?” I asked. Though early morning, she was wearing dark shades, just like the day before.

  Pausing in the rain she turned in my direction and gave me a thoughtful gaze. She did not say anything at first, but was obviously contemplating my offer. Though hesitant, it appeared, I understood why. I was a complete stranger to her. And a woman could never be too cautious. After a moment, she finally asked, “Are you going anywhere near the Greyhound Bus station?”

  “I wasn’t but I will for you,” I answered putting the Navigator in park.

  Stepping out of the vehicle I went around and assisted her with her luggage and helped her into the passenger side of my vehicle. I joined her seconds later after I grabbed a clean hand towel from my carryon bag and handed it to her to dry off.

  “I really appreciate your kindness,” she said gazing over at me. “I was hoping to catch a cab but I could not find their phone number. I figured that if I walked a few blocks I would happen upon one eventually. Then it began to rain.”

  “If I may ask, what brings you out so early in the morning and without a ride or fare?” I asked as I turned onto Orange Blossom Trail. “It’s obvious that your Greyhound bus is leaving pretty early.”

  “Actually, my bus is not scheduled to leave until two this afternoon but I decided I’d better head out early to avoid a confrontation with a certain individual,” she said, obviously alluding to a not so great situation with someone she knew.

  “Guy problems, huh?” I asked.

  “My so-called fiancé,” she answered, taking off her shades and drying her face with the towel I had given her. For the first time I got a chance to look at her eyes, which were a rich almond brown color. Her sculptured face and soft features were a mixture of what was probably an African and European lineage. Her hair was a majestic crown of loose spiral curls down to her shoulders. The woman was a living and breathing goddess and in the flesh.

  “You know, some men are not the same after you’ve gotten to know them for a while,” she said.

  “That’s true. So, what is he like now?” I said turning down the radio.

  “Let’s see. He’s possessive, verbally and physically abusive, unreasonable, arrogant, and a substance abuser. Overall, he’s a real sonavabitch, need I go on?”

  “No need to, I get the picture,” I said. “I cannot help to think that this is a man you would go out and marry.”

  “Well, he didn’t start out being an asshole.”

  “Most of them don’t,” I added. “So, does he know that you’re leaving?”

  “God, I hope not,” she answered, her voice soft, her eyes reflective.

  “You think he’ll try to come after you?” I asked, looking over at her.

  “He might, but I hope not,” she added with a wistful sigh.

  “How long have you two known one another?”

  “Far too long,” she said putting her sunglasses back on. “Actually, I’ve known him for about a year. We started dating two months after we met. But it just hasn’t worked out.”

  “By the way, my name is Sheldon, Sheldon Pierce,” I said.

  “My name is Diana Lynn Cannon,” she answered with a trace of a smile.

  It was obvious Diana had a lot on her mind and appeared a little uneasy, not about me I don’t believe, but about her jacked up situation. There was a lot I wanted to ask her but by the same token, I did not want to pry too deep and open up any old wounds. I was curious to know what would bring a woman out this early in the morning, in threatening rain, while bogged down with luggage and without a sure ride. Her situation appeared desperate. And she looked emotionally fragile. I’d have to tread carefully. Real carefully.

  “So, are you leaving your fiancé for good or is this a temporary move on your part?”
r />   “This is for real and this is for good,” she assured me, her voice firm and her eyes resolute. “I’m getting as far away as I can from this madman.”

  “Does this madman have a name?” I asked curiously.

  “Jackass,” she said, then broke out in a light chuckle. “No, actually his name is Jack. He’s nothing in my eyes now. Nothing and nobody.”

  “Jack,” I murmured, noticing the rain was letting up to the point I could reset the speed of my wiper blades.

  “So, what’s your story?” she asked. “You seem to be going somewhere with all that luggage I see in the back.”

  “You have a sharp eye,” I said acknowledging her astute observation skills. “I’m heading up to Philadelphia for a job interview. Somehow, I woke up in a fog a month ago and discovered that I was going to be unemployed.”

  “Were you fired or let go?”

  “Summarily laid off is what it seemed like.”

  “Downsizing, huh?’

  “That’s right. At least that’s what they told me.”

  “So, what is it that you do for a living?”

  “Computer repair and analysis, mainly on commercial systems.”

  “Wow, the brainy type,” she smiled as she handed me the damp towel to take.

  “Not really,” I replied, tossing the towel to the rear of the SUV.

  “You seem personable, not like any of the brainy types I usually run into,” she said.

  “Well, I appreciate that,” I said as I watched her fold her arms across her breasts, as if to hug herself. She appeared slightly chilled.

  “I’m sorry,” I quipped, realizing my oversight. “You’re wet and are probably still cold. I’ll turn the vent off and warm you up with a little heat just to knock off the chill.”

  “Oh, I’d appreciate that,” she said with a shudder.

  “How’s this?” I asked while I played around with the temperature dial until I arrived at a setting I felt was comfortable enough for her.