by V. Vaughn
5
After Second Sound left to go home, I fell into a funk. I’m not sure if it’s because the shine has worn off my job, or if part of what made it so great was being Link’s girlfriend. I don’t think I miss being with him so much, but I do miss the dreams I had of being a part of a power couple. And I can’t help but wonder if maybe I was too dazzled by appearances that I never truly saw my life for what it is.
“Noel!” I jump up to go to Link. He’s been on edge for a couple days now, and I think there might be trouble with his new girlfriend. Not that it doesn’t give me a little satisfaction, but it’s making work miserable right now. When Link isn’t happy, I don’t get to sleep, because he works ’round the clock.
I stand in front of his desk and notice his bloodshot eyes. They probably match mine. “I’m here. What do you need?”
“When in the hell did we say it was okay for Raphael to go to Italy?” Link’s face is red under his tan, and it’s not a good look for him.
“His mother died, Link,” I say. “We couldn’t say no.”
“Yeah, well, now he’s stuck there because his drug charges are keeping the US from letting him back into the country. He’s due to tour in two weeks.”
I sigh. The charges should have been cleared from his record, and Link was supposed to make it happen. I’ll bet he let it slide because of Sheila, and it makes my blood boil that I’m cleaning up the mess because of her. Now I get to work some magic and offer up my firstborn to fix this. “No need to worry. I’m on it.”
“Good.”
I walk off and jump again when something else crashes in Link’s office. This time he yells for his new executive assistant, and I contemplate working from home. I spend the rest of my day putting out the visa fire, and when I manage it, I get a halfhearted thanks from Link as if it were my mistake in the first place. The only thing that keeps me from quitting is the fact that Second Sound is returning tonight for the demo.
My car’s air conditioning runs full blast as I sit in gridlock traffic to get home, but sweat trickles down my face. I think it must be broken, and it adds to my crappy mood. Most likely there’s been an accident, and I’ve learned to wait patiently when this happens, because there is nothing else I can do. I’m exhausted, but fortunately I can go to bed at a decent hour tonight, so I decide to keep myself entertained with fantasies of being with Aleck again. I’m convinced that he thinks Link and I are together, and I fight my urge to clear it up as soon as possible. The car in front of me begins to move, and I inch a little closer to my exit.
My phone rings, and I almost ignore it when I see it’s Link. I use my wireless headpiece to answer. “Noel Keating.”
Link launches into conversation. “I told Aleck I’d take them out for dinner tonight when they arrive, but I can’t.”
Crap. This is so Link. Even though Second Sound is supposed to be my client, Link’s not doing a good job of letting go, and called them this week with updates instead of allowing me to do it. I can hear his promise roll out of his mouth before he thought, and once again I get to cover for him. I sigh. My shirt is stuck to my sweaty skin, and I’m sure my hair and makeup look awful. All I want to do is get home to a cool bath and a glass of wine and be in bed by nine. Maybe I’ll at least have time to change. “When?”
“Their flight just landed, and I’ve got a car scheduled to pick you up first at seven.”
“Okay. Got it.” I’ll be able to throw on casual clothes. I hang up before I say what I’m really thinking. Besides, this does mean I get to see Aleck tonight, and that’s not a bad consolation prize.
I decide to take the band to a pizza place that is known for their large servings, and it doesn’t take long for me to get caught up in everyone’s excitement. I laugh as they tease Aaron, and Aleck seems to have warmed up to me again. I even let myself relax enough to have a beer. I swallow down a cool mouthful of it, when my phone rings. It’s Link again, and I glance up to the heavens in a silent and probably futile prayer that it’s nothing. I excuse myself to take it. I walk to the hallway that leads to the restrooms as I answer. “What do you need, Link?” The tile wall is cold on my back when I lean against it.
He sighs. “Noel, baby, I need another favor.”
Shit. I’m so over fixing things for him, but I manage to find a civil voice. “What is it?”
“It’s Sheila. She’s in a bit of trouble--”
“No.” The last thing I want to do is fly somewhere to bail her out.
Link says, “I don’t expect you to go help her, but I’m going to need you to cover for me at the fundraiser breakfast tomorrow.”
I close my eyes because he’s talking about the sunrise breakfast, which means another night this week I won’t get enough sleep. “Fine. Send a car, because I’m pretty sure I won’t be fit to drive.”
“You got it. Thanks.”
He hangs up before I can respond, and I suppose there’s a bit of comfort in the fact that his new love is making his life hell. But tears burn in my eyes, because she’s making mine pretty rotten too. I’m so exhausted I can’t stop myself from crying, and I slide down to sit on the floor with my head in my hands. I’m overwhelmed. Right now I hate my boss and my job and even wonder why I thought this career was a good idea. My body shakes as sobs come out, and I know I should at least move to the ladies’ room to hide in a stall, but I can’t find the energy. A comforting voice makes me glance up when Aleck asks, “Noel?”
I sniff and swipe at the tears on my face as I stand quickly. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
Aleck says, “No. I don’t think you are. Can I do anything to help?”
I shake my head. “No. Life is just making me unhappy right now.”
“If you ask me, that usually means you need to make a change.”
I offer him a small smile. “It’s not that simple.”
“Sometimes it is as simple as doing what you need to do to be happy.”
I gaze into his mesmerizing eyes, and I think about what would make me happy. Maybe it’s delirium from too little sleep and a beer, but I know what I want right now despite the fact that I’m making a huge mistake, so I get brave and ask, “Do you have a girlfriend?”
He shakes his head in confusion, and I reach out to grab at his chest. The cotton of his shirt is soft on my fingers as I tug him toward me. I pull his head down as I get on my tiptoes and say, “Then I’m taking what I need to be happy.” I kiss him. And I don’t mean something halfhearted. I give it all I’ve got. I open his soft lips with my tongue to plunge into his mouth. I take in the taste of cheese, beer, and him. The glorious flavor of Aleck fills me with a warmth that rivals the heat of his body against mine.
Aleck responds with almost as much passion. He moans into my mouth as he pulls my body against his and thrusts his thigh between my legs. Thick layers of denim separate my sensitive flesh from his, but the pressure makes me squirm as we drown in the most amazing kiss I’ve ever experienced. I tangle my fingers in hair that is soft, and I grip tightly as if I might fall if I don’t hang on. When I break away to breathe, my chest heaves while my body tingles, and I wish I could take so much more. I glance at Aleck to see his eyes flash with the same desire. I say, “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Yes. You should have.” Aleck leans down and kisses me again. This time he’s the one driving, and now I’m afraid I’ve lost all control, because I wrap my leg around his thigh with the intention of doing him right here. He stops us before I can and backs away from me. I notice his long pianist fingers are elegant as they rake through his hair. Hair that can be touched, and I melt a little more.
I say, “Wow. I’ve never...” I take a breath. “I mean...” I’m having trouble forming a coherent sentence.
Aleck nods. “Yeah. Me too.”
“Okay. Good.” I frown. “I guess.”
“Very good.” He grins at me before he glances around. “We should get back.”
I nod. “I’m going to go...” I point at the bath
room door because I’m not finding the words for that either. My cheeks burn with my flush as I turn away to escape before I launch myself at him one more time.
This time when I slide down the wall to sit on the floor, it’s with a grin.
6
The next day in the studio, I’m still flustered from kissing Aleck. I drop coffee, stumble over things, and basically make a fool of myself. I claim it’s sleep deprivation, and fortunately Link isn’t around to see through my lie. At lunchtime I manage to be alone with Aleck when he sneaks into the elevator as I go to the lobby to get the delivery. The doors shut behind him, and he smiles as he says, “So.”
I grin back. “So.”
“Better today?”
I raise my eyebrows at him as a grin covers my face. “I got what I needed.”
The elevator dings, and we step out into the lobby. I walk over to the delivery boy, and my pen scratches as I sign the slip with a shaky attempt at my signature. Paper rustles as Aleck grabs the large bags for me, and I say, “I might need more, though. Have dinner with me tonight.”
Aleck says, “Okay.” He licks his lips as we step into the elevator, but before the doors shut, a woman stops them with her hand to get in. I fall back against the wall as I let out a breath and place my hand over my heart. Aleck chuckles as the lady glances at me as if I’m crazy. We get off before she does, and as we walk down the hall, hot breath tickles my ear when Aleck whispers, “Tonight, you can have all you need.”
A tiny whimper escapes me as I stumble. I save myself from a nasty fall and pretend nothing happened as we enter the break room. Hungry people descend on us for the food, and if it’s possible, I spend my afternoon even more dazed than I was this morning as I imagine another steamy kiss from Aleck.
When the limo comes to get the band, Aleck stays with me so we can go to dinner from work. I cringe watching him get in my car when it’s time to go, because my small sedan is not designed for men his size. His legs are bent up against the dash, and as I drive out of the parking garage, I say, “I’m sorry, I’m not used to such tall passengers.”
“That’s okay. I’m used to it.”
“I suppose you are.” I swipe my plastic key card over the sensor, and the garage arm buzzes as it lifts. “So I’m taking you to one of my favorite places,” I say. “The food is amazing, and the presentation is practically a work of art.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it. In case you haven’t noticed, I like to eat.”
When we get to the interstate I rev my engine to pull into a space just big enough for me to fit and move along with the flow of traffic. Aleck’s hand slaps on the dashboard as if he can brace us against a crash. I say, “Don’t worry. I’ve never been in an accident. This is just how LA drivers do it.”
“Right. That explains the advice you gave Adrian in Boston. I thought we were going to die on the way home. He has been in an accident or two.”
I dart my eyes at Aleck before I swerve into a faster lane. “There isn’t a lot of traffic where you’re from?” I figure he’ll still avoid the subject of where he grew up, but I try anyway.
“Nope. So where in northern Maine are you from? When my brothers and I first moved here, we were in Orono for a while.”
“Not too far from there. I grew up just outside of the tourist town Bar Harbor.”
“And you were a waitress in the summers, weren’t you?”
“You noticed my mad skills at Gideon’s Pub,” I say.
“I noticed a lot more than that.”
I fight a blush and reply, “You hid it well.”
“We quiet types do.”
I laugh as I begin to make my way right for the upcoming exit. “You’re not so quiet right now.”
“Yeah. I tend to talk when I’m nervous.” I blare my horn as a guy cuts me off, and I make my exit in the nick of time. Aleck has a hand pressed against the ceiling as he says, “I thought you were supposed to be keeping me safe.”
I slow at the end of the ramp to turn right, and the blinker ticks as we wait at a red light. “We’re almost there. The ride to your hotel will be a lot less stressful, I promise.”
“Of course it will.” He smiles as he says, “I’ll be too drunk to care, because I plan to drink heavily now.”
I roll my eyes at him before the light turns green, and we arrive at the restaurant a few minutes later. I avoid the valet service and park myself, because I think Aleck could use the walk to stretch his limbs back to their usual length. We approach a building decorated in bright tropical colors. Mambo is an eclectic place with an emphasis on organic food, although I suspect if the flavor is right the chef, Miguel, doesn’t care where it’s grown. My connections allowed me to get us a table, and Raoul, the manager, races toward me for air kisses when we enter. “Noel! Miguel already has a treat prepared for you.” Raoul is dressed as if he walked off the pages of a male fashion magazine spread. His dark skin shimmers as if he’s not quite real, and it strikes me that a lot of men in my life have a plastic appearance. I glance at the rugged guy next to me with a rumpled T-shirt and day-old stubble. I’ll bet he hasn’t looked in a mirror since the last time he shaved.
I say to Aleck, “Miguel gets written up about once a week for his creations. I can’t wait to taste what he has for us.”
Raoul leads us to a table in a back corner. When we sit, I notice how small it is and shake my head at myself. I’m going to have to pay attention to things like this if I plan to cater to a band with members as large as my date. Miguel comes to see us almost immediately, and his white coat is pristine, making me think he changed into it before coming to our table. “Noel, my love, who have we here?” He sets two plates in front of us with an appetizer that will take Aleck one bite to finish.
I introduce Aleck and gush about how Second Sound is about to become the most talked-about band in a few months, and Miguel explains what he made for us to eat. As soon as he leaves I say, “I realize this is a tease for you. I swear the entrees are bigger.” Aleck smiles and takes a dainty bite of his tuna tartare. He looks like a giant at a child’s tea party, and I realize this is all wrong.
“You know what, I made a mistake,” I say. “You don’t want to eat here.” I stand up. “C’mon. We have an urgent problem to take care of. Follow my lead.”
I huff dramatically as I walk us toward Raoul. “I’m so sorry. Something’s come up, and we have to leave. Please, make my apologies to Miguel.”
Raoul’s face is as wrinkled with concern as Botox will allow, and he says, “I hope it’s not serious.”
Aleck rises to the occasion. “I’m afraid it is.” He takes my arm and moves quickly as I glance over my shoulder and shake my head at Raoul in apology.
When we get outside Aleck doesn’t drop the act until we get in the car. I burst into laughter before I say, “You’re good.”
He waggles his eyebrows at me. “I like to think so.”
“Aleck! You’re not the shy, serious guy I thought you were.”
He reaches over to stroke my face with his finger. Tiny shivers race down my spine as he leans in close. “I’m nothing like you expected, Noel.” He brushes his lips over mine and pulls away to gaze at me. I swear I fall into the pool of his arctic-blue eyes and almost drown before he crushes me with a kiss that is far from shy. When he pulls away he says, “One serious problem solved.”
I nod as I take a deep breath. “Right.” I clear my throat as I turn to start the engine of my car. “And now on to the next one. Let’s get you a meal that will satisfy your hunger.”
Aleck’s voice rumbles as he says, “I plan to hold you to that offer.”
My body trembles as I imagine what he really means, as my hunger extends beyond food too.
7
After I learned that Aleck likes bison I did a bit of research to find a bison burger food truck. I found one that should be near a small park, and I keep Aleck in the dark until we get there. As we get out of my car I point toward a green vehicle that’s painted to look li
ke a forest. It reads, Food for the Wild. I say, “Dinner for the hungry. Want a bison burger?”
Aleck’s eyes widen as he says, “You did like the jerky.”
I grimace. “God, no. I hear the fresh stuff is so much better.”
He grins at me before he turns to read the menu. The aroma of grilled meat makes my mouth water, and when Aleck orders two burgers I think he’s being conservative since I insisted on paying, so I order two as well. The metal of the truck is warm on my back as I lean against it and sip on a diet soda while we wait for our food. Aleck takes in our surroundings, and I suspect he’s more comfortable here than in a fancy restaurant. I am too, because I’m not wondering who I might need to cozy up to in order to cultivate my connections.
When our meal is ready, we walk over to a bench to sit. It’s in the shade, and the metal is cool under my legs when I lower myself onto it. I contemplate how to get the huge burger before me into my mouth and decide manners are not necessary when Aleck takes a bite out of his. He managed to get half in his mouth. I squash the roll down and dig in, and Aleck watches my face as I chew. The flavor is like lean beef but with a touch of something else that makes it even more delicious. “Hmmm.” I swallow and say, “That’s really good.”
“You’re not missing your artful presentation?”
I lick a bit of ketchup off my lips. “I’ve got a distracting view.”
Aleck lowers his gaze, and I think he might blush a little. I can’t believe how ridiculously happy it makes me. I say, “Tell me all about how you found music.”
“Music has always been part of my life. I can’t remember not doing it.” I glance at his mouth when he sips from his straw, and I recall the softness of his lips against mine.
