by Kandi Kayne
“I followed your orders, but you never told me what his text said,” I reminded her.
She handed me her phone from her lap. “Here. Read it yourself.” She fiddled with her gear shift and disengaged the emergency brake.
I looked at the screen, pressing buttons until I got to the right one and could read the message: Rose had a long night. Can you be sure she gets taken care of today? I’ll owe you one. Arrangements in place at Blissful Days Salon. You’re all set.
I checked the timestamp on the message. It had come through after I’d left his house, at nine-forty-two.
“This doesn’t mean anything,” I said, knowing I was just being contrary. “He could have just felt bad about what happened.”
Jessica snatched her phone out of my hand. “Bullcrap. He couldn’t possibly have felt bad about getting all that booty love from you. No man could. He’s in love.”
My heart skipped a beat. “In love? No way. No way in hell. Guys like him don’t do love.”
“Listen, it happens, okay? Think about the skanks he’s been with before you. Jacqueline? Bethany Travers? Angelica Whooten?”
“You’re naming celebrities and supermodels. Is this supposed to make me feel better?”
“Yes, idiot. What I’m saying is … he’s dated empty-headed bimbos and gold diggers his whole life. Compared to them, you’re the holy grail of awesome woman-flesh.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s one of the more original descriptions I’ve ever heard of myself.”
“I’ll get you a t-shirt with it printed on the front. Come on, though, you know I’m right. They’re the dating kind. You’re the marrying kind, but you defied all man-logic and let him in the back door anyway. He’s totally falling for you in a big way. He offered you a total cush job just to keep you close and under his thumb.”
“He actually told me to move in with him,” I said quietly, my friend’s words sinking in and making me think all kinds of crazy things … like maybe there was some truth to them.
“What?!” She back handed me on the arm, swerving the car almost into the ditch on my side of the road.
I screamed, grabbing the door and dashboard while she quickly straightened the wheel out, bringing us back onto the road.
“Why are you telling me this only now, you big jerkface?!” she yelled, looking from me to the road and back again, unable to totally focus on her driving anymore, apparently.
“Watch what you’re doing!” I yelled back, pointing at the road. “It’s not going to do me any good if you kill us both with your maniac driving!”
“Well, you can’t drop bombs on me like that and not expect a reaction, Rosie. Jesus!” She took a few deep breaths and visibly calmed herself, waving her hand very gracefully in front of her, as if smoothing the air. “Okay. So. Say that for me one more time, because I’m pretty sure I misunderstood.”
I sighed loudly. “He asked me or pretty much told me to move in. With him. In that big house.”
“What’d you say in response?” she asked in a breathy voice.
“I told him to get real.”
“Nice,” she said sarcastically, shaking her head in disappointment. “Way to let him down easy.”
“Well, what was I supposed to say? … Yeah, sure, I’ll go pack my bags?”
“Yes! Why not?”
I looked at her like she was crazy, which she obviously was. “Because! I don’t even know him.” I wrung my hands in frustration and confusion. None of this would compute. None of it made sense. Everything I was saying was true. So why do I want to go pack my bags and move in to the place I know I don’t belong?
She scoffed. “I’d hardly call having his dick in your asshole not knowing him.”
I punched her hard in the leg.
“Ow! No hitting!” she yelled, pointing her finger at my face distractedly as she tried to keep her eyes on the road.
“Don’t talk about my butthole! Or anything going in it! That’s a til-death-do-us-part secret!”
“Okay, fine! I won’t! But you need to text him back right now and tell him you’ll do it.” She held her phone out at me, shaking it a little when I didn’t immediately take it.
“No.” I stuck my lower jaw out petulantly. I refused to go to him on my knees like that.
“Tell him you’ll think about it, at least.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because … because …” I couldn’t come up with the correct answer. She was right. Letting someone go there with me, like he had, said a lot about how I felt about him. But it didn’t necessarily tell me anything about how he felt, other than he liked tight spaces and doing what many considered naughty things.
“You don’t have a good answer, Rosie. I know what you’re thinking though, and it’s stupid.”
“Oh yeah? Tell me then, because I have no clue.”
“You’re doubting yourself. And you’re doubting the attraction and interest he has in you.”
“That’s true, I am. Wouldn’t you?” I held out my hand to stop her before she could answer. “That was a stupid question. Of course you wouldn’t.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She frowned at me for a second before turning back to look out the windshield.
“Just that you’re you, and I’m me. You’re confident, I’m not. You’re adventurous, I’m not. You’re free sexually, I’m not so much.”
She smiled. “You are the most adventurous, sexually free girl I know, myself included. You proved that last night, so don’t sell yourself short. The only thing you’re missing is confidence, which we’ll just have to work on. In the meantime, you need to make things right with Alexander.”
“How do I do that?” I worried it was too late for that. I’d been kind of bitchy to him, and after we’d had such a close moment, too. Maybe I’d spoiled it for good.
“Text him. Tell him you want to talk to him.” She pulled into our apartment complex.
“What if he blows me off?”
She put the car into park and shut off the engine. Turning in her seat to look at me, she said, “Well, at least you’ll know where he stands, then. That’s better than trying to guess. That’s how girls get themselves into trouble, trying to read mens’ minds.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing right now?”
“No.” She handed me her phone, pushing it into my dead hand. “We’re taking the bull by the horns and dealing with it face-to-face. Now text him, or suffer my wrath.”
I took the phone from her and tapped out a message, refusing to allow myself to think about it anymore. It was time to put up or shut up: I’m sorry about losing it with you earlier. It’s me, Rose. Thank you for today and everything. Talk soon? I handed the phone back to Jessica. “There. I did it. Are you happy?”
She nodded, smiling. “Yes. I’m always happy when people do what I tell them to do. It’s useless fighting me. You should know that by now.”
I grinned back. I was already feeling lighter of heart. She was right - if he answered back positively, we could start over. If he ignored me or was negative, it was over and I could move on. Either way, I had a direction to go in. “I do know that about you. I’ve never fought you and won. Thanks for being such a loyal friend.” I leaned over and hugged her awkwardly in the tiny car.
She patted my back. “Don’t mention it. I know that you’ve got my back no matter what, too. And I’m hoping you’ll introduce me to one of his hot friends one day soon, so I do have ulterior motives.”
I laughed, knowing for a fact she’d choose our friendship over any friend of Alex’s any day. Our kind of bond was rare, maybe only eclipsed by the ones of real sisters.
We got out of the car and walked up the path to our door, both of us stopping short at the sight of a strange man standing there leaving a card in the space between our front door and its frame.
“Can I help you?” asked Jessica, sounding irritated as she walked up closer to him.
“Oh, hello.
Are you Rose DuPont?” He walked over with his hand held out. “My name’s Samuel Potswell. Nice to meet you.”
She lifted an eyebrow at his hand and then looked over at me. “I think this one’s for you.” She walked up to the door and left me standing on the sidewalk with him.
We faced one another, taking each other’s measure silently.
CHAPTER FIVE
“So you’re the girl who stole my job,” Samuel said, smiling almost indulgently at me.
My heart was beating way too fast, but I could already tell this guy was an arrogant ass, so I schooled my features to remain bland and unconcerned. People in public relations had to do this all the time, so I figured I might as well start practicing now.
“Yeah, that’s me. Although I’d characterize the situation as you just losing the job all on your own, but whatever.”
He took a step towards me, lifting a finger and pointing it at me. “I did not lose my job, young lady, and believe me, I’m not just going to walk away from it quietly either.”
I stood my ground, and he stopped just a few feet away. He might have been able to scare me into saying nothing or trying to escape for my apartment on a normal day, but today was not a normal day.
“First of all, you and I are not that far apart in age. What are you? Thirty? And trust me … if Alex wants you to walk away, you’ll walk away. And I don’t blame him one bit for replacing you. His campaign is in a nose dive, and it’s all because of you. You don’t deserve to be his manager.”
Samuel sneered. “You’re a child. What would you know about running a professional campaign? Nothing, that’s what. You have zero connections, zero clout, zero brains. Congratulations on ending the career of Alexander Blackstone.”
He moved as if to go down the sidewalk next to me, heading back to the parking lot, but I sidestepped to put myself in his way. “One thing before you go, Sam. Keep one thing in mind. Any attempts by you and your little friend Jacqueline to smear Alexander’s name will not go well for you. Think hard about it before you do anything more stupid than you already have.”
“Are you threatening me?” he asked in a quiet voice. An evil grin spread across his face.
“I’m making you a promise. I know Alexander better than you do, and I can tell you right now he’s not going to be happy about what you’ve done or about what you’re considering doing.”
“You have no idea what I’m planning on doing, but I can promise you one thing: you’ll be one of the first to know when I do it.” He laughed and walked around me to head down the sidewalk.
I turned and watched him get into his SUV. Idiot. I wondered how Alex could have been taken in by Samuel’s slimy charm. He was good looking in an ivy-league kind of way, even sporting the kakhi pants and navy jacket I always pictured those guys wearing. But he seemed second-rate to me. Like a guy who gambled away his inheritance and then scammed his friends to stay afloat.
“Ick,” I said to no one, walking back to my apartment. My phone beeped in my purse, and I reached in, fishing around to find it. I didn’t get my hands on it until I was inside. The text on the screen said, Glad you had a good day. I want to take you to lunch today. Not a work lunch. A date. Will you go?
The old me would have said no. The girl I was yesterday and maybe even early this morning would have kept fighting this attraction, this strange set of circumstances that had a gorgeous politician with more money than Midas pursuing me - an inexperienced college student - for not only employment but roommate status. But the girl I was today, right now … the one who was responding to Samuel’s little challenge with strength of purpose … she had finally made the command decision to take control of this campaign management thing and do everything in her power to get that connection to an agency in New York City. Time to stop messing around and get serious. No one’s going to make me an offer like this again, and I need to start planning for my future in New York. This job and Alex’s connections will get me there, so this is what I need to do. I had confidence in my brains. I knew if I just had the opportunity, I could prove myself worthy of the trust Alex was placing in me. Not just to him but to myself and the rest of the world. I had one shot, and I was going to take it.
I texted him back. Yes. What time and where are we going?
I walked back to my bedroom so I could shower and consult with Jessica about what a girl wears on a lunch date with her boss and possible future roommate.
I wore shorts and a simple t-shirt paired with flat sandals. The weather was gorgeous, and Alex had texted that we were doing a picnic. I avoided anything too constricting, like the tight dress Jessica had tried to convince me to wear. Waiting outside, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander over the last few days.
I’d gone to a party thinking I was going to have a few awkward conversations and get paid for it so I could afford my last semester of college, and now here I was standing outside my apartment waiting for Prince Charming to come galloping into the parking lot to take me away. I shook my head, refusing to argue with myself about it anymore. It was time to grow up and take a few risks. I wasn’t a little girl who could shirk in fear at anything that was different in life and hope everything would work out. My safety net who was Jessica was getting ready to leave for her new life too, and I couldn’t expect her to always be there to be my crutch.
I stood up straighter and lifted my chin. Rose DuPont, you are a confident woman who knows what she’s doing and where she’s going. You can do this date, you can do the campaign management, and maybe you can even do the moving-in thing. I felt my heart squeeze a little at that last part. Okay, maybe not the moving-in thing, but all the rest of the stuff, yes!
I heard the purr of his engine before I saw it, and then the sleek lines of his high-powered vehicle came into view as it prowled closer and closer. My heart rate picked up speed, and my palms started to sweat. I couldn’t get the images of his gorgeous naked body out of my head. His face hadn’t even come into view yet, but I could picture every bit of it, poised just above my waist as he looked up at me, those eyes of his mesmerizing me with his special kind of magic.
The car stopped in front of me and Alex beeped the horn, making me jump in fright. I scowled at him, but all he did was smile. He left the motor running and got out of the car, walking over to stand with me on the sidewalk.
He was wearing shorts too, bermuda style with a navy polo shirt on top. His chest muscles filled it out nicely and his biceps bulged just below the edge of the sleeves. The color went perfectly with his suntanned skin. My gaze dropped down to his feet, and I couldn’t help but smile at his flip-flops.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, stopping in front of me.
I looked up. “Nothing, really. I’m just not used to seeing you dressed so casually is all.”
He stepped closer to me. I could smell his sexy cologne now. He’d recently showered and shaved, his hair still a little wet. I wanted to run my fingers through it but resisted the urge. I was so hot for him I probably would have agreed to do it in the car right here in the apartment complex parking lot.
He looked down at his feet. “I just got these the other day. Thought I’d take them out for a spin.”
I joined his gaze. “They look comfortable. Where’d you get them?”
“At a surf shop not far from my place. I’ll take you there sometime if you want. You ready to go?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. So many things were running through my mind. Is he going to ask me to move in with him again? Was he only joking or did he change his mind? Will we have sex? Do I want to? Who am I kidding, of course I want to. I can’t believe he’s turned me into a nympho. Everyone’s going to know he gave me the job because I’m sleeping with him. My reputation will be ruined before I even have one!
“Stop,” he said simply, taking me by the elbow and leading me over to the passenger side of the car.
“Stop what?” I let him guide me because my feet were too afraid to move on their own. Within seconds of se
eing him, I’d already started to chicken out again. I was being scared away by my own sex drive. Pitiful.
“Stop second guessing everything, over-analyzing, and trying to figure out what my ulterior motives are.” He opened the door for me and gestured for me to take a seat.
“How do you know I’m doing all that?” I asked, getting into the car, looking up at him when I’m settled in. I tried to look confused, as if he couldn’t be farther from the truth. But he’d nailed it, and knowing that he got me so easily like that was freaking me out.
He didn’t answer me at first, walking around the car and getting into the driver’s seat. He reversed out of the lot before he finally responded. “First of all, you’re a woman, and all women do that. But you also seem to have a hard time believing the things I’ve said to you, so I’m guessing whenever you see me, you start thinking about all of it. Doubting it.” He looked over at me. “Am I right?”
Staring into his eyes made me want to melt into a warm puddle. He was turning me into a stupid ninny, there was no other word for it. I breathed out a sigh of frustration. “Okay, you’re right. I’m glad you suggested this date or whatever so that we can finally get to the bottom of everything.” Time to go big or go home.
“You’re ready to do that?” he asked, his attention back on the road.
“Yes. I’m ready to do that.” I slapped my hands down on my thighs and rubbed them up and down a few times, trying to dry them off and warm them up with the friction. “I’m totally and completely ready. And to keep things … professional … I think we should not, you know … have sex or anything like that.”
I looked over at him in time to see the side of his mouth quirk up. “I agree,” he said, nodding once. “No sex. No touching. Just talking, eating, and some walking. And possibly rowing.”
I should have been completely satisfied with that answer but a piece of me was a little bit disappointed that he’d agreed so readily and enthusiastically. “Good,” I said, not really meaning it. “So where are we going?” The word rowing had kind of thrown me off.
