by Sam Crescent
Nibbling her lip, she wondered if she should go and talk to him. Shaking her head, she went around gathering the used sweet packets and bits of screwed up paper from people’s desk with a trashcan in her hand.
She didn’t look at the family pictures as she made her way around the large office. Her feet hurt even though she wore flats. She’d never worn high heels and doubted she’d ever be able to walk in them. Picking up the duster she made her way through the office once again cleaning down the desks and putting everything away neatly.
“You’re not even going to acknowledge my presence?” Kent asked.
Lana turned to see Kent leaning against his office doorframe. “I’m working. I need to get this place clean.”
Getting the office clean meant she could clean and then go home. She liked the thought of getting home and having a bath. A bath sounded like the best thing in the world.
Kent moved closer to her. “We went out to dinner. You’ve been cleaning for an hour, and you’ve nothing to say.”
Staring at her hands on the duster, heat filled her cheeks at his assessment.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“How about hello? Or ‘how are you doing’ would be good,” he said.
He’d moved close enough for him to reach out and lift her chin up with a finger underneath.
“Hello, Mr Anderson. How are you today?” she asked.
“Call me Kent. We’re past formal names.”
“Kent,” she said. She’d called him Kent last night. In the office it didn’t feel right calling him by his name.
She pulled away from his touch. “I need to clean.”
“You’re exhausted.”
Lana nodded. “Yes, I’m exhausted. I need to get this place clean so I can go home.”
Her stomach growled. Tears filled her eyes as her emotions got the better of her. Kent smiled, taking the duster from her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m going to help you get this place finished, and then I’m going to drive you home and we’re going to eat together.”
“You really shouldn’t do that. You’re paying me to clean.” She tried to take the duster from him.
“No, I pay the cleaning company. I want to help you. You’re exhausted, and I’m looking forward to having dinner with you again.”
She dropped her hand. “You’re not going to let me win this, are you?”
“No. I get my own way all the time. You may as well give up.” He smiled down at her. Lana couldn’t help but smile back. He made her smile.
“Okay, fine. You win. Are you sure you know what to do with that?”
“I’ve watched you using it for months. I think I can handle it,” he said.
He watched me?
Pleasure travelled up her spine at the knowledge.
They worked together around the office. Watching Kent in his expensive business suit working a duster was one of the best sights she’d seen all year. He went around the desk and occasionally grumbled.
“I’m going to ban personal items,” he said.
“Why? Personal items are great. They allow people to bring their family to work. I bet if you took their personal items away, they’d work slowly.” She turned the vacuum on and started buzzing around the office. When they were finished, Lana took the duster away from him. “Maybe you’re in the wrong profession,” she said.
“I’ve watched the best.”
She smiled at him enjoying his compliment.
“Right, why don’t you put this away and meet me down at the parking lot?” Kent turned to her, cupped her cheek and leaned down. The air whooshed out of her at his nearness. “And you better be there within ten minutes. If you don’t I’ll take you over my knee and give you what for.”
Her mouth opened in shock. “Are you threatening to spank me?”
“You bet I am. Are you going to tell the press? I can see the headline now, notorious billionaire threatens to spank his cleaner,” he said.
“One, I wouldn’t go to the press. Why would I? And second, you’re a billionaire now?” she asked, smiling. She tapped his chest then moved toward the elevator.
“Why wouldn’t you go to the press?”
“I’m not that kind of person. You don’t mean what you say, and I don’t like causing fuss. The press turn everything around anyway. I like your billionaire comment though. Maybe I should ask for a raise,” she said.
The doors to the elevators closed.
Should I go with him?
Indecision struck her as she looked at her bland features in the reflection of the steel of the elevator doors. There was nothing stopping her and Kent from being friends. He was fun to be around and playful at times.
Lana enjoyed his company, and watching him clean had been a pleasure.
Placing the cleaning trolley away, Lana headed toward the parking lot. Kent waited for her. She was aware of the security guard giving her the once-over. Lana knew what he was thinking and didn’t care.
****
Kent watched as she got in beside him. He wanted to fasten her seatbelt to have any excuse to touch her. Settling for watching her, he waited for the guard to open the security barricade. He gave the guard a wave and then was on the main road heading toward her house.
“I thought I’d have to come and get you,” he said.
“Not tonight. Your offer of food is far too tempting. Besides, you’re not a rapist or murderer, and that’s points in your favour.” She joked with him.
“Finally the lady starts to relax.”
“Actually, I’m far too tired to argue with you. Help and food were too irresistible to turn down.”
He chuckled, loving the banter with her. Kent couldn’t remember a time when he’d spoken with a woman about anything meaningful. There were his friends’ wives, but other than that, there was no one else he talked to of the opposite sex.
Lana was by far more refreshing just from her conversation. They pulled up outside her house. “I want you to go in and buzz me up. How do you feel about Chinese?” he asked.
“I’d love some. There’s a great Chinese place a few blocks from here.” She got out and went inside. Tonight she didn’t look back to give him a wave. Heading in the direction she pointed, he drove until he found the Chinese place.
After ordering half the menu, Kent waited a good half an hour for his order. The box that came out made him feel good. The box was loaded with several different dishes. He bid them goodnight before making his way back to Lana’s house. The food made his stomach rumble. He couldn’t wait to get inside her apartment.
Parking the car in the available parking lot around the back, he grabbed the food before heading back to the main door.
He buzzed the bell waiting for her to respond.
“It’s open,” she said. “I’m on the third floor, fourth door from the stairs.”
Opening the door, he walked up the stairs. She was stood waiting for him with her arms folded. The apartment was nice but small.
“Hi,” she said. He was struck by her. In the time it had taken for him to get the food, Lana had showered and changed into something far more comfortable and seductive. The jeans and black t-shirt moulded to her body like a second skin.
“Hi,” he said, averting his gaze.
“You’ve ordered enough food to feed the entire apartment block.”
“I didn’t know what you liked. I bought enough for both of us.” Her stomach growled at him. “And I think it’s time for us both to eat.”
She invited him in.
He noticed how clean her apartment was before he noticed the few pictures on the wall. There was nothing personal. The artwork showed someone lived in the apartment but not who that person was.
“Can I get you a drink? I don’t have any beer.”
“What do you have?” he asked, setting the box of food on the coffee table. Kent noted the used appearance of the table but didn’t say anything.
“I’ve got
coffee, tea, milk, juice, and water,” she said.
He chuckled. “I’ll take a coffee.”
She turned away from him. “Do you need plates?” she asked.
“No. I’m happy to eat out of the cartons if you are?”
Lana left him to go fix drinks. The sound of the kettle filled the silence. He removed his jacket and then started unloading each carton of Chinese food. The oriental scents were intoxicating, and his mouth watered. He’d skipped dinner so he’d get a chance to eat with her.
She came back minutes later carrying two large mugs of coffee.
He noticed she grabbed a coaster and wiped the small spillage of coffee from the table with a tissue. She kept a box of tissues on the table.
“You’re not a fan of mess, are you?” he asked.
“Is it that obvious?” She sat next to him. A blush stained her cheeks. Kent chuckled.
“I’m a guy. I’m supposed to notice these things.”
She laughed. “I guess you are. What did you get?” She rubbed her hands down her thighs. He wondered if that was natural or if being with him made her nervous.
“I got noodles, of course. Egg fried rice, curry, and chow mein. Also, spring rolls, prawn balls, and pretty much everything else on the menu,” he said.
“Okay, I guess I’ll try something from every box.” The black shirt she wore showed a great deal of her chest. Her breasts were pressed together and looked so tempting. When she leaned forward he got a good look at her chest. Licking his lips, he grabbed the first carton and then handed her some chopsticks.
Get your shit together. You’re not some horny teenager.
“Aren’t you going to try something first?” she asked.
Pushing his chop sticks into the carton, he pulled out a prawn ball. He didn’t taste a single bite as he ate it. Kent kept his eye on Lana as she pressed the ball into her mouth. Her full lips closed around the chopsticks. He was losing his mind. There was nothing sensual about eating Chinese food.
“Thank you for getting me this,” she said. “It has been ages since I ate food as good as this.”
“It’s a pleasure. So, Lana, tell me about yourself,” he said, wanting to know more about her.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Sure there is.” He picked up another carton for her to try. Together they munched their way through the food. Kent pulled a pillow across his lap to hide his growing erection.
“I’ve got nothing to say. I work two jobs, and this is my place. I like visiting the library in my spare time, and I’ve got an addiction to baking,” she said.
There had to be far more to her than that. Scooping up some noodles, he took a quick look around the room. There were no personal photos. Most people had pictures of friends or graduation days. Inside Lana’s apartment there was nothing.
Turning back to her, he grew more intrigued by the woman he knew next to nothing about.
“Tell me more about you,” she said.
Chapter Five
The personal questions unnerved her. She didn’t like talking about her past as that’s where she wanted her past to stay and never come out. Munching on the noodles, Lana waited for him to start talking.
“Why don’t you have any photos?” he asked, ignoring her question.
She finished eating and placed the carton back on the table. Why did this have to be so hard? This was why she kept to herself. The hours she worked stopped her from attaching herself to people. The diner was perfect as none of the staff had time to talk. Some of the girls tried to get her to go out, but she refused because of her second job. Working in Kent’s building took her late into the night when everyone was home. If anything, she talked to the security guard on the way out of the building, no interactions at all that left her feeling out of place.
“I don’t have any photos to put up,” she said. “I don’t like these questions, and I’d prefer to know about you.”
Her mother never owned a camera, and there were never any photos of the happy times when she lived with her mother. She didn’t own a single photo of her time growing up. Talking about growing up made people pity her. Lana had learned that lesson with past boyfriends, especially when they threw the guilt back in your face. Frank, her last boyfriend, was a prime example of him throwing her past in her face. His excuse for staying with her for so long was because he felt pity for her. He didn’t want to leave her after he found out about her past. How fucked up was that? Not only that, he liked to slap her a little bit as well. The more Lana thought about her past with Frank, the happier she was to have gotten away from him.
She’d learned from her past mistakes. Men didn’t really want to know the truth unless it was sunshine and roses. Her past was anything but sunshine and roses. There was no way she’d be telling Kent about her past. Her past was for her to know and for no-one to find out.
“I’m not going to get past your walls, am I?” he asked.
“No,” she said not even pretending to not know what he meant.
“Okay, what do you want to know?” he asked, picking up another carton.
“Whatever you want to tell me.” She wasn’t lying. Lana liked the thought of Kent being her friend. He was funny and sweet. Their lives didn’t need to conflict. He was a businessman while she cleaned his building.
“I’m forty-five years old. I’m not married, and I run a successful business.”
“I know all this. I’ve read some stuff about you in the paper. Shouldn’t you be married with an heir or something to take over your growing fortune?” she asked, smiling.
Kent chuckled. She liked the sound as it made goose-bumps erupt all over her flesh.
“That’s very old-fashioned. No, no heir. My family are really happy for what I’ve achieved. My dad is proud of me forging my own way.”
“And there’s no woman on the scene?” she asked.
He shook his head, but his smile fell.
“Come on, tell me?” She touched his arm, and an answering spark of electricity worked its way up her arm.
“There was someone a long time ago.”
“What happened?” she asked. Her appetite vanished as he spoke. What was wrong with her? There was no way they could ever be an item. They were from different worlds, and she never wanted her life to be mixed with his. She’d never be the type of woman to mingle in high society.
Her education was lacking, and she didn’t come from money.
It doesn’t mean I can’t want him from a distance.
“Are we going to do this?”
“Do what?” She lifted her gaze to his.
“Be friends?”
“Haven’t you ever had a girl that’s a friend?” she asked.
“No, I fuck every woman I know.”
She swallowed down the food she’d been chewing. Fucking. Wow, Lana couldn’t believe her body responded at such a crass word. Her nipples tightened, and her pussy flooded with warmth.
“Then yes, we’re friends.”
He kept staring at her. His intense gaze made her uneasy. “Can I trust you?”
Lana frowned. “Why couldn’t you trust me?”
“There are people out there who want to see me fall. I’ve made a lot of enemies because of my success.”
She shrugged. “Tell me the people, and I’ll remember to cross them off my list. I’ll never be their friend. I promise, Kent, I’m being serious. I think it’ll be cool to be your friend.”
Bumping his shoulder, she grabbed the remote from the small table she kept by the sofa. Turning on the television she averted his attention to the small screen. “This is the biggest television you own?” he asked.
“Yes. I don’t watch a lot of television.” She flicked through the channels as he cursed.
“If we’re friends then this is not acceptable.”
“What’s not acceptable?” She paused in turning on the television.
“If we’re going to be friends then you need a bigger screen, and you’re going to need b
eer in the fridge.”
“Are you planning on invading my life now?” she asked. “I’m not accepting any gifts from you, Kent Anderson. You can keep your money in your bank account. I’m happy with everything I’ve got.”
Was she making a huge mistake? Kent was used to having one thing from the women he dated. She wasn’t that kind of woman, and she didn’t want to get involved with a man way out of her league.
Stop over-analysing. There is no way Kent could want you. Relax and enjoy this new friendship you’ve created.
****
Kent settled back on the sofa feeling a little out of place. Friends? They were going to be friends and nothing more.
You don’t just want to be her friend. You want to be more and have more with her.
He turned to stare at her. Her brown hair was tucked behind her ear, giving him a good view of her face. Her skin looked so soft and made him want to reach out and stroke it. The movie she’d picked filled the silence. Reaching his hand behind her head, he played with her hair. She didn’t stop him or slap his hand away. Kent twiddled the length of her hair between his fingers relishing the newfound closeness he’d discovered with her.
After a couple of hours Lana stood up and stretched. He gulped past the lump in his throat as her rounded stomach peeked from beneath the jeans and shirt she wore. Full women had never appealed to him until now.
What was it about Lana Hawkins that called to him? He could have his pick of any woman, and yet he was sat in Lana’s apartment eating Chinese without the promise of a fuck. He felt dirty at his thoughts. Fucking wasn’t everything.
“I’ve got to call it a night,” she said.
“Are you throwing me out of your apartment?” He stood, hoping she wouldn’t spot his raging arousal.
“I’m sorry, but I am.”
He looked down at the leftover Chinese. “Let me help you put these in the trash.”
