His Perfect Woman (Urban Hearts Series Book 1)

by Towne, L. E.

  High end scotch usually didn’t leave him with much of a hangover. Perhaps it was the bad news, or the cold weather, but he felt miserable. His head felt like a Halo 3 convention and his stomach burned even after his fifth antacid. The noise of the dryer irritated him as he repacked his suitcase. He’d gotten home from Oklahoma City two days prior to Sunday dinner, and managed one day with Dani before she left on her stupid calendar shoot.

  He dialed Dani’s cell and put the phone on speaker as he stood in front of his closet. He definitely needed a new suit, and there might be enough left from the last big paycheck to get one. If only he had time to shop.

  “Hey babe.” Dani’s voice came over the phone.

  “Hey, how’s it going?”

  “Fine, we just called it a day. Going out with some of the other girls and getting some food. Oh Ross, you’d love New York. It’s fabulous.”

  “I’ve been there.”

  “Yes, but Evan is a native, he took us to all the best locations yesterday for the shoot. Stuff that most tourists don’t see.”

  “Sounds like fun.” Ross sighed, pulling out shirts, one blue, one white, and hanging them together on the door. “Do you have a minute?” He sat down on the edge of the bed, rubbing a hand over his throbbing head.

  “You okay?” she asked. “You don’t sound so good. Too much with Ben last night?”

  He’d texted her last night when he got to Ben’s, telling her he’d call later. He’d needed time to find the words.

  “Um, look, Mom had some news yesterday. She said they found something on her mammogram. She’s going in for a biopsy on Wednesday.” There he’d said the gist of it without actually saying the word.

  “Oh no, is it bad?”

  He frowned himself into a further headache. “It’s surgery Dani. It’s not great.”

  “No, of course not.”

  “They’ll know more by Friday and I’ll be home.”

  “Sorry, I can’t be there on Wednesday.” Dani said.

  “It’s fine. Maggie and Ben are taking off work-”

  “I’m not home till late Wednesday.”

  Ross looked at his phone. Was she even listening?

  “No, it’s okay-”

  She interrupted him, “We have at least two more days of shooting and tomorrow’s–”

  Why couldn’t she just shut up about her schedule? “I said they’ll be here.”

  “Don’t shout at me.”

  “I’m not! I’m.... not shouting. Okay, sorry. This is throwing me a little.”

  “I’m sure.” He heard her talking to someone in the background, her hand over the phone.

  Ross carried the phone into the kitchen. He checked the dryer, pulled out socks and underwear and piled them on the couch. He grabbed a bottle of Pellegrino water out of the fridge and drank half before he talked again.

  “So there’s more. Because of all this, I want to stay home for Christmas; I know we said we’d go to Kentucky but-”

  “Ross! This may turn out to be nothing, and you’re cancelling our Christmas plans? You know Greg always has plans.”

  “Sorry, if my mom getting sick is going to ruin your brother’s plans, but I’m staying.”

  “Is there something you’re not telling me? I mean, is it cancer? For sure?” The dreaded word rolled off her tongue like she was a newscaster talking about a stranger.

  “You can go if you want.” His head was going to explode. He gripped the phone to keep from throwing it.

  “I’ve got to go. We’ll talk when I get home.” Her voice was dismissive and sharp. As though he were a kid asking to go out and play.

  “There’s nothing to, never mind, I’ll be in Ohio when you get home. Have a great night.” He chucked the phone onto the pile of laundry and sat down, his head in his hands.

  The apartment was blissfully quiet when he sat up again, willing his headache to go away as he matched socks and folded boxer briefs and t-shirts into a pile. He’d already emailed Az to confirm his flight and arrival times, but he picked up his phone and scrolled to her name, intending to send a text. After several failed attempts at finding the right words, he gave up.

  Ross alternately dragged and spun himself through the day. His coffee sloshed on his trousers during a rough patch in the flight. His room wasn’t quite ready when he checked in. But when he saw Azure striding toward him at the front desk, the world slowed, just a little, enough to lock in and sync with his own tired vibration and he felt better, suddenly less frazzled and less edgy. She immediately sensed something different, something wrong, but there was no time to ask. He couldn’t tell her out in the open lobby. He felt too exposed and raw. They only had two minutes to themselves anyway. Before the world crushed in and rushed on. But her vanilla cream scent stayed in his nostrils, and her warmth clung to him as he moved away, pulled into unwanted conversations with people who considered themselves colleagues but were not, and his fuzzy brain struggled to catch up with their names.

  Hours later, when she found him in the conference hall, he was chatting with a lovely female vendor over a brilliantly colored lackluster Power Point.

  “Mr. Berenger, fine speech earlier, as usual.” He turned to see her smile up at him, holding herself at a casual distance.

  “Ms. Worth, nice to see you again. It’s always a pleasure to attend one of CTC’s events.” He responded in kind with her professional tone. He remembered her mouth and how it felt against his when he’d kissed her. Conscious of standing too close, he leaned back slightly.

  Az turned toward the vendor. “Hello Ashley. How’s it going?” Ashley smiled wanly and mumbled something about lots of people stopping by, but nobody buying. After a polite moment, Az asked for a minute of Ross’s time and looped her arm in his to steer him away from the hall.

  “There’s a great coffee place around the corner. You game?” she asked. There was not a trace of awkwardness in her voice, nothing that said she regretted or even remembered their kiss.

  “Always.” He managed a grin and they braved the walk outside coatless, not willing to waste time going to their rooms. They burst into the warmth of the coffee shop/diner with a rush and settled into a booth. She waited until coffee was served in hot, thick mugs with their hands curled around them before she asked him what was going on. He wasn’t evasive or hesitant. In fact, the news about his mother came out in a horrified rush, bitter words tumbling from his lips. Unlike Dani, she didn’t use the word cancer casually, or say it at all. Instead, she listened. Touched him with warm hands and shooed the annoying waitress away as he talked.

  “You’re doing everything you can right now. Your mom knows you love her, of course she knows. And you’ll be there for her when she really needs you.” Az spoke with quiet conviction as she echoed his mother’s sentiment that everything would be okay. He relaxed and when the waitress approached again, scowling, Az ordered pie, apple, warmed with a scoop of ice cream and two forks. As they ate, he told her stories of his mom helping with his speech courses in college. She was a champion debater, and a marvelous cook. Az responded with an anecdote about her own mother, nitpicking her at some awards banquet, and the contrast made Ross appreciate his own parents even more.

  “I told Dani that I wouldn’t be going to her parents’ this year for Christmas,” he said. “We switch holidays, her family for one, mine for the other, but because of this, I want to be home. Her parents live in Lexington, and they’re nice and all, but…”

  “It’s understandable, you wanting to be close to your mom.” Az waited for him to continue.

  “Apparently, not that understandable.” Ross huffed, and looked out the window. His breath fogged up the chilly pane, obscuring the street outside. Dani’s parents were older, and doted on both their children, but especially the younger son, Greg. It was always a chore for Ross to tolerate the constant babying of a grown man. “Dani’s brother Greg is a center of the universe type, and God forbid anyone who messes with his plans.”

  Az’s mouth t
witched.

  “A man with a plan. Go figure.”

  “It’s not like that.” Ross stopped. He sounded like a petulant child, whining about having to follow someone else’s game-plan. “Yeah, okay. Jeeze. Suppose I am looking for sympathy and understanding.”

  “Of course, and I am so sorry about your mom.”

  Her words were sincere, all trace of her earlier mirth had disappeared and she watched him intently before looking around the almost empty diner. He wanted her to look at him again. He needed that tether or he’d spin off into space. Her fingers tapped restlessly on the coffee mug until the waitress appeared again and refilled it. She raised her eyes to his and he felt it. That tingle he always seemed to get when she was around.

  “About her, Dani. I really don’t have a right to comment. Not sure I should be giving advice anyway.” She looked away. “Given the issues in my own relationship.”

  He paused, coffee cup halfway to his mouth, not believing she would blurt it out like that. He licked his lips, took a sip and spoke.

  “Still the same issues? You know?”

  “Yes, I’ve been walking on eggshells. Everything seems to set him off.” She sat back against the diner booth, her cheekbones stark in the fluorescent lighting. Outside, car headlights passed, reflecting through the window and she blinked against the unwanted light. Her lipstick was faded, naked lips in a worried frown, her hair trimmed an inch or so, since the last time, and the natural curl flicked over her ears in a tease. His fingers extended of their own volition to brush it back. She smiled, and when he realized he was touching her, he retreated, inches from her hand and she turned it, palm up in invitation. He accepted, and held it tight, soaked in her heat from across the table. They ignored the looks from their waitress.

  “I was going to call you, or at least text. I guess I figured I shouldn’t bother you with this stuff.”

  “You’re not a bother. Not for something like this.” She looked into his eyes and didn’t turn away. “Not for anything really.”

  Ross’s breath caught in his throat. His thumb grazed the inside of her wrist, feeling the strong steady beat of her pulse. She broke off and slipped her hand back to her lap.

  “Excuse me, I need to ah...” she gestured vaguely and slid out of the booth, walked past him toward the back of the diner.

  Coffee cups were full when she returned and he’d taken care of the check. The place was open all night, their original sour-faced waitress giving him a little wave as she finished her shift. He didn’t want to leave, and yet, he did, but if they went back to hotel he’d lose her again. Now, that he’d relaxed enough to feel it, tiredness seeped through his muscles and it became an effort to move, or to focus. He needed sleep, but the need to be with her was stronger and kept him going. As she slid across from him again, hands curling back around the cup, whatever concentration he had left zeroed into her.

  “Where’s your ring?” he asked, a little startled he hadn’t noticed the bareness of her fingers earlier.

  “I’m having it cleaned.”

  “Bull-shit. I’m sorry,” he spoke in the same breath. “None of my business. Are things more serious than you said?”

  In answer, she sighed, her eyes tearing up. He was immediately sorry again.

  “Come on, let’s go.” He held out a hand to her, and she tucked in under the curve of his arm as they left the diner. They were as silent as the quiet streets on the way back; late on a Tuesday night. Neither was willing to pull away as they walked through the lobby and into the elevator.

  The doors closed. Ross watched her as she leaned against him. Her eyes were closed and he was near enough to see a tiny clump of mascara on an eyelash. Her sable eye-shadow had collected into a thin line along the crease of her eyelids.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked. The softness of her skin soaked in the words like water, her eyes opened and he recognized his own turmoil. Her pupils grew large for half a second and then she kissed him, open mouthed and all in. He reacted, turning toward her and taking control, hand clasping her head for a better angle. They bumped against the back of the elevator as he pressed into her. Her hands rifled his hair, pulling, tugging, each touch wrapping around him, bringing him closer to her. He felt her come apart underneath his mouth. She moaned softly, and he wanted all of her, now. He moved a thigh between her legs, the hard length of him delighted in the contact, even through three layers of clothing. Her sweet cream voice broke into pieces when she whispered his name. The soft ding signaled the elevator doors opening onto their floor. Azure’s room was the second one down, a mere thirty feet away.

  -9-

  Ross scanned the business section of the Chicago Sun Times on his tablet, making a few mental notes of companies looking for HR consultants. Instinctively, he looked up to see his brother, Ben striding toward him, his long legs eating up the hotel lobby space. Ben’s scarf was triple wrapped under a simple corduroy blazer, and his longer hair was windswept and shaggy.

  “Sorry I missed the big speech,” Ben said as he gave Ross a brief one armed hug.

  “No worries, I know it’s tough getting across town at rush hour. Glad you could make it at all. You wanna do dinner here? Or we could go to Finnegan’s.” Ross named one of their favorite restaurants. His brother slanted a half grimace at him, brushed his hair back and straightened his jacket.

  “It’s too far to walk and half hour on the L. Let’s stay here. Besides, I want to meet this as-your- worth person.”

  Ross nodded and steered him toward the bar. Azure had barely spoken to him since she arrived at the hotel this morning. People were always at her side, waiting for instructions, or problems to solve, and he had gone about his business, teaching a small class in a breakout conference room and then speaking at the afternoon panel. He’d texted her about Ben, asking if she wanted to meet them for a drink.

  They entered a dimly lit bar with two TV screens sporting silent basketball. Sportscaster lingo scrolled across the bottom of the screens. Ross spotted Azure immediately, and said a silent thank you that she was alone.

  They approached and her face shed its weary look and lit up when she saw him. He fairly buzzed with the feeling. After introductions, Ben used his considerable people skills to make Azure feel comfortable, and soon they were engrossed in random conversation about Austin Powers movies. Ross gazed at her across the table as she sparred with his brother. Ross thought of his last encounter with her before Christmas.

  It was embarrassing being caught outside her room, though they were simply standing at the door as she fumbled for her key card. After the kiss in the elevator, it felt like they were naked and on display. Azure’s team members had emerged and were headed downstairs. They’d waved at Ross and Azure, and then stood in front of the elevator, which took forever to arrive. It was awkward, and while they tried to ignore them, the damage had been done. He’d drug himself away from her and headed to his own room. They both knew it was her reputation at stake, not his.

  Things happen at conferences all the time, but Azure would continue to work with this same crew at other events. With her troubles at home, he didn’t want to cause trouble for her at work as well.

  That night he’d broken his cardinal rule of not partaking of the mini bar, and broke the seal on two Wild Turkey mini bottles. A splash of cold water to make up for lack of ice and he sipped it for taste, the bourbon burning its way down. Dani called and he let it go to voicemail. Last thing he wanted that night was to hear her voice. After talking with Az, his anger at Dani had subsided, leaving him calmer, at peace. Then he reved up again in the elevator, in a different way. A good way he didn’t want to back down from.

  Relieving himself of four cups of diner coffee, he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the shower.

  Water sluiced over him, hot and sharp, needles pounding his skin into submission, forcing him to relax. He held a hand over his fading erection, shielding it from the onslaught at first, but he gave in to the demands of his body and his
hand closed around it. Two quick tugs and it filled, growing hard and heavy in his hand. Resting his head against the cool tiles, his brain filled with images of Azure’s smile, her mouth hot and insistent under his. It’d been a while, and he could almost feel pliant lips sucking his cock, tonguing the underside and could almost see her violet eyes wide as she looked up at him. It could almost be exactly as he’d imagined it, over and over. Lately, even with Dani, it was Az he’d thought of. Completion hadn’t taken long, and the orgasm was long and intense and he spent several seconds hunched over in the shower, coming down, hands on unsteady knees.

  After the shower, he’d toweled himself roughly as if to rub all notion of Azure from his skin. He’d spend all night awake and hard if he didn’t. He’d checked his phone for a text from her, the possibility of getting dressed and heading to her room still in his head. The hallway would be clear and it was nobody’s business anyway. She would let him in, he knew that, but then what? He didn’t want this to be some random hook-up with its awkward morning after.

  On the eve of his mother’s surgery, after talking so lovingly of her, her faith, her goodness, he could not bring himself to break the rules. He didn’t think of being with Azure as sinful, it certainly didn’t feel sinful. In fact, it felt right. But the fact was, she was married and the rules of convention had already been pushed too far.

  There was no text from Az. His phone lay blank and unforgiving. He collapsed on the bed, knowing that it wasn’t the absence of an invite that stopped him. Or the possibility of disappointing his mother, but if, in some other alternate wonderful universe—he and Azure ended up together—he didn’t want his mother to see her as the other woman, or immoral. He didn’t want Azure to see herself that way.

  At the bar, Ross listened to his brother and Az talk like they were old friends. She’d asked about their mom and Ben filled her in on recent details.

  Ross had texted Az the news about his mom as soon as he’d heard. They had gotten it all, nothing had spread and they would only do radiation. No chemo was needed. As things go, this was great news. Azure listened to the story again from Ben, asking thoughtful questions about her prognosis. Ben stretched, throwing his long arm around the back of Ross’s chair.