“Ivy. I haven’t heard that name in a really long time. My name’s Hollis. So what is it exactly that you do for the communications department?” He said looking actually interested.
“Well I haven’t actually started yet,” I confessed sheepishly, “But I suppose I’ll be in charge of their email campaign, general copywriting, the newsletter…things like that.”
“Then we might see more of each other…”
His words were innocent, but the suggestive nature of his tone made my mouth dry, “Are you a volunteer…or donor I’m guessing?” I said looking at the limo to keep from having to meet his eyes.
He shook his head, “Neither and this is my boss’ car. I’m too broke to afford a driver.” From the expensive cut of his suit, I thought he was exaggerating his lack of disposable income.
“Oh and who’s your boss?”
“He’s inside actually. Want to meet him?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know. I think I should get back to work. I technically haven’t even done anything work related since getting here. Hopefully I don’t get fired from a non-paying job for chitchatting,” I said jokingly.
He frowned, “You mean this isn’t a paid internship?”
I shook my head, “Sadly, it isn’t.”
“Are you a trust fund baby or something?”
“Excuse me?” I said with a frown.
“You know, are you independently wealthy?”
“No.”
“But you’re doing an unpaid internship?”
I shrugged and admitted, “Well, I have a part-time job at a grocery store. But I need this experience, so I took the opportunity when it was presented. I guess New York’s full of communications majors.”
“Oh so you went to college?”
I found myself offended by his comment so I replied sharper than I intended, “Yes, I’m a well-educated cashier, apparently.”
He had the good sense to look embarrassed, “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to imply that you couldn’t have gone to college and still work in a grocery store. Stupid comment on my part. Jobs are hard to come by and there’s a lot of competition here. I get that.”
“It’s okay,” I said turning away as Cola suddenly lunged forward dragging me away from Hollis. “I guess I’ll see you inside.”
He jogged ahead and opened the door, “After you, my lady.”
I smiled back, wondering if he were flirting with me and hoping that I gave off the vibe that I was receptive to his interest, if any were there.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to find out as Liz came towards me looking a little worried.
“Sorry that I took so long,” I immediately said.
“What? Oh no, that’s not a problem. I’m sure Cola enjoyed the walk. It’s just that I was wondering if you would mind helping out with the calls coming in.”
It wasn’t until then that I noticed the increase in activity. “Is something going on?”
She nodded, “It’s the shelter’s fifteenth anniversary and the family who started it sent someone, a member of their family, to help with the publicity shot for this year’s ads.”
“Oh so someone from the Youngblood family is actually here?”
“Yep. And he’s pretty hot. You have to come meet him.”
I touched my hair, happy that I had dressed up today and hoping that my walk with Cola hadn’t knocked any of my hairs out of place.
I saw a camera crew and several others circling around a man who I could only describe as model-like beautiful. He was probably just above six feet and wore plain black pants with a turtleneck sweater. Something about the ensemble looked expensive and the way the clothes fit his well-built body made me think they had been tailored to his muscular form. He was smiling as Liz caught his attention and introduced me to him.
He grinned widely and readily extended his hand. I placed my hand in his and instantly wished that I hadn’t. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt as if a spark ignited in my body when he touched me.
I felt my breath quicken and I swallowed hard. His name was Winslow. Winslow Youngblood.
He studied me with his grey eyes and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ivy. Thanks for coming aboard.”
“Actually, I was just telling Ms. Ivy that maybe there was something we could do to be sure she’s compensated for her work here,” a voice said behind me and I turned around and found Hollis standing there.
The friendliness in his eyes was gone now. And if I didn’t know better I would think he looked as if he were jealous. Jealous of Winslow? That couldn’t be.
“Explain,” Winslow said to Hollis.
“The internship is unpaid.”
“We’re supporting slave labor now at the shelter?” Winslow asked wryly.
Liz blushed, “We don’t have the funds–”
“Consider it done. How’s twenty-five an hour? Hollis will see to it,” Winslow said nonchalantly and I realized he still held my hand as I tried to think with him still touching me.
I was ashamed to say the heat of his hand was doing things to me that I wouldn’t ever admit out loud to anyone and he didn’t seem inclined to let go.
I didn’t want to be rude and snatch my hand away, but the way Hollis regarded Winslow’s hand over mine made me want to remove myself from the situation entirely. The attention of two good-looking men in one day, what were the chances?
“I assume you’re attending the ball tonight?” Winslow asked me changing the subject.
“What ball?”
“The annual Homes for the Holidays Ball,” Liz explained, “Winslow’s family hosts it every year and the proceeds benefit the shelter and at least twenty-five percent of our animals in the shelter are adopted out through the event.”
“Twenty-five percent? That’s pretty amazing.” I then directed my attention back to Winslow, “I would love to go.”
He smiled broadly and said, “Give Hollis here your information and I’ll be sure you get a ticket.” Without another word he turned away and began to chat with Liz and the camera crew.
I looked awkwardly at Hollis who shrugged and gestured for me to follow him.
“Looks like you made quite an impression on Winslow.”
I shrugged no committedly.
Hollis gave me a look as he opened the door to the office for me and I sat down at a chair across from him. He surprised me when he pulled out his cellphone and said, “What’s your number?”
“Excuse me?” Was he asking me out?
“Winslow asked me to get your contact information remember? For tonight?”
“Oh,” I said and he promptly said, “Why do you sound so disappointed? You didn’t think I wanted your number to ask you out or something? Did you?”
I immediately blushed and said, “No, you just caught me off guard.”
He studied me for a long time, those two disparate colored eyes were clearly judging me and for some reason I felt guilty as if I had invited Winslow’s attention.
I had half a mind to say that when I realized that I didn’t owe Hollis an explanation. Crushing my desire to please, I said nothing at all and simply began to give Hollis the information he requested.
When he had all the information he needed, he got up to leave and I found myself wondering if I would see him again.
“See you tonight,” he said simply in parting. And with that, I had my answer.
Chapter Three
My phone rang as I spun around in a circle again trying to see what I looked like from all sides even though that wasn’t possible with the long closet mirror I was using. I craned my neck trying to check out my backside, but I couldn’t see much.
What I was able to see, I was impressed by. I was actually wearing the dress I’d gotten for the Honors Ball while in college. Each year the Dean of Student Development had hosted a ball for high achieving undergraduate and graduate students. It was like the prom for nerds, but in college instead of high school. I had bought the dress my senior year, so it had only b
een worn once.
It was a strapless black dress that stopped at my ankles and from the front it was pretty demure. The back, however, was undeniably sexy given that it was practically backless. I had arranged my hair in elegant waves around my bare shoulders and had gone minimum in my makeup selection, going with a nude lip, but heavy on the eyeliner. I thought I looked pretty and just hoped Hollis or maybe even Winslow also thought so. I slipped my feet into a pair of stilettos and was about to make my way out the door when Ella looked up and said, “Where are you going all dressed up?”
“Out,” I said simply and disappeared through the door. I thought it would be fun to keep her guessing. It made me feel mysterious and even interesting, two characteristics Ella didn’t associate with me.
As I made my way down the stairs I almost collided with the last person I expected to see in my building.
“Hollis?” I said staring at him. He looked handsome in a dark grey tuxedo. His hair was slicked back and upon seeing me he attempted to whistle, but it fell short.
A giggle burst from my throat and he grinned boyishly at me. “I never learned how to whistle.”
“Clearly.”
“But you look beautiful. Like an actress going to the Emmy’s or something.”
I thanked him for the compliment and said “What are you doing here?”
He looked confused, “I’m your ride.”
“Really? Are you Winslow’s chauffeur?” I asked hoping my question wasn’t too personal.
He shook his head, “No, I’m actually his lawyer. So I spend my time keeping him out of trouble.”
“Then what are you doing here? I’m the opposite of trouble. If you looked up boring in the dictionary, you would probably see me.”
“I have a hard time believing that,” he said offering his hand to me as I navigated the steps, attempting to hold one edge of my dress up so that I could see the stairs.
Gratefully, I took Hollis’ hand in my own and he surprised me by slightly squeezing my hand.
“Are you looking forward to tonight?” he asked me as he led me down the stairs.
“I am. I haven’t been to something formal and fancy in a long time. Since college…”
“When was college? Like yesterday?” he joked.
I pretended to be annoyed, although I was far from it. I was enjoying his playfulness this evening. Before I answered him I snuck another peek at Hollis. I liked how he radiated confidence without coming across as cocky.
“I graduated last year.”
“So you’re really young…twenty-two, twenty-three?”
I nodded. “Twenty-three.”
“You’re practically jailbait.” He said shooting me another grin as we approached the town car on the corner.
I rolled my eyes and said, “You say that as if you’re so old. How old are you? Twenty-eight? Twenty-nine?”
“Thirty.” He said unhappily as he opened the door for me and I slid inside the warm interior of the car.
“You’re practically an old man,” I joked.
He grabbed his heart as if he were hurt as he slid in next to me. “Most days I feel like one.”
“Winslow keeps you busy?”
“You have no idea.”
“Well better busy than wasting away at a grocery store saying ‘clean up on aisle five’ over the loudspeaker every day.”
He winced, “Don’t put yourself down like that. With the right experience and the proper connections, you’ll be where you want to be eventually.”
I sighed wearily and confessed, “I’m not really sure about that.” The car pulled off and I turned to look out the window, embarrassed that I had shared my self-doubt with him.
I felt his hand touch my shoulder and I turned towards him. “If you don’t believe in yourself, then you can’t blame others for not believing in you too. So cheer up. You’re the key to your own success. Be more positive.”
“Key to your own success? Did you read that in a self-help book somewhere?” I joked wanting to believe him, but still finding it hard. Even my unrelenting optimism had its limits.
“As a matter of fact, I think I did. And I said it to myself after I was rejected by most of the law schools I applied to. But I stayed positive and now I’m a lawyer so apparently it worked.”
“Or you just got a lucky break…”
He laughed, “You don’t say? And all these years I just thought I got into the best law school in the country because I was a semi-genius.”
“I thought you said you were rejected?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Oh I was…by all my safety schools which made me think I wouldn’t get into my top choice and I did. In fact, that’s where I met Winslow. But that loser dropped out his first year.”
I looked up at him surprised that he would insult his employer, “Loser?”
“I’m just kidding. We were friends before he became my boss. He left school to learn his family’s business when his grandfather mentioned he was planning on early retirement.”
“What’s the family business?” I asked.
“Real estate. They own quite a chunk of New Jersey.”
My eyes grew wide and to my confusion, Hollis’ eyes narrowed. “Yep. Winslow and his family have plenty of money, if that’s what you’re interested in.”
“What?” I said confused and before he could answer we arrived at our destination. Gone was the light and fun mood from earlier. Hollis was all business as he got out of the car and held the door open for me.
“Are you trying to imply that I’m some sort of gold digger?” I said as I climbed out. “Because I’m not!”
He seemed to be ignoring me as I followed him up the stairs of a historic hotel where I assumed the event was being held. He was walking fast in front of me and I struggled to keep up with him in my snug fitting dress and heels.
“Can you wait up?” I called and he did as I asked albeit reluctantly. “Is this how you are? Someone says something that you don’t like or that you completely misconstrue and you march off in a huff?”
“You’ll have to excuse me. I just don’t like to waste my time on women who see dollar signs instead of a person.”
“Oh stop. You don’t even know me. Stop being a Judgy Mcjudgerson.” I said exasperated.
“Excuse me?” He said turning around finally to look at me.
“A Judgy Mcjudgerson. You know. A judgmental person.”
“Did you just make that up?”
“No. I read it in a forum.” I said blushing.
“A forum?”
“Yes.”
“About what?”
I didn’t dare tell him it had been a forum for those of us who struggled to make friends in the big city. I didn’t want to sound lame so instead I made something up, “A forum about dogs.”
“You’re lying. You’re chewing on your bottom lip.”
“No I’m not,” I said and quickly realized that I had been.
He laughed, “Never play poker.”
“Whatever,” I said walking away from him. I was so angry that I didn’t notice the beauty surrounding me until a second later and I sucked in a quick breath as I took in the expertly renovated hotel with its high columns and exquisite chandeliers.
“Impressed yet?” a voice said from the side of me and I was startled to see Winslow standing there. Like Hollis, he wore a tuxedo. His was black and seemed to be made of some expensive material that I didn’t readily recognize.
He took my hands in his and studied my figure, letting his eyes slowly take in my body and then he let go of one of my hands and slowly spun me around. He whispered a soft “wow” when he saw the skin revealed by the back of the dress and it was then that I felt Hollis’ hand on that exposed skin on the small of my back and I shook a little. His touch, although unexpected was delightful. He splayed his fingers, warming my back.
“I’m sure you have clients you need to greet. I’ll take Ms. Ivy off your hands and keep her entertained. After all, what are fr
iends for?” Hollis said walking away with me.
I glanced behind me at Winslow who was greeting another guest, but as he did he kept his eyes trained on me and he gave me a slow knowing smile that made my skin tingle. Hollis cleared his throat and I tore my eyes from Winslow.
“What would you like to drink?” He asked stiffly.
“I don’t drink.” I responded automatically.
He shrugged, “That’s too bad. I’ll have something then.”
He took a glass of champagne off a tray as a waiter passed by. As he took a sip, I took in the room around us. I guess the reception kiosk and lobby area had been gutted and in its place a ballroom had been created. There were tables on either side of the room and a runway stretched down the middle. A band played in the back and people were on the dance floor enjoying themselves.
“What’s the runway for?” I asked Hollis curiously.
“The dogs will be auctioned off as they go up and down the runway.”
“Seriously?” I said with a smile.
“Yep.”
“That’s so funny. I had no idea this event would be so…” My voice trailed off as I attempted to find the right word.
“Fun?”
“Yeah, I thought it was going to be boring. To be honest.”
“Well, since it’s open to the public, it’s actually pretty fun.”
“Open to the public? That’s so kind of Winslow and his family.”
Hollis nodded, “Yep, but tickets are $100 each.”
“Ouch.” I said thinking of how much I could do with a hundred dollars.
“Tell me about it. But people love it. We sell out each year. The dogs find a great home and it’s for a good cause. Anyway, enough talking. Would you like to dance?”
I nodded and he began to lead me to the dance floor when Winslow popped up suddenly.
“Hey buddy, my grandfather wants to speak with you. I’ll take Ivy off your hands.”
And before Hollis could refuse Winslow had me wrapped in his arms as he gently and expertly moved me across the dance floor.
Jocked Up: Sports Romance (A Secret Baby Second Chance Romance) Page 34
