She stopped walking and listened closer.
“You think I wouldn’t find out you started sleeping with him? How unprofessional. Maybe I need to report you to the Better Business Bureau for unethical business practices.”
Shannon snorted. “Good luck with that.” She’d be happy to let this “job” go, but then Laney was right. She shouldn’t have fallen into anything with Alex. Time and again, she’d gone over the decision to let him go, but there was always that hope that he loved her like she loved him. And if she wanted to romanticize their meeting, it had been Valentine’s Day, but really so what. She sighed and began walking again. After clicking delete, she went on to the next message. At her street, Shannon halted dead. Laney stood leaning against a car with her arms folded.
“Oh come on, seriously?” Shannon muttered.
Laney approached. “I figured I’d look you up since you weren’t returning my calls.”
Shannon glared. She wasn’t backing down from anybody, least of all this woman who clearly thought she was superior in the way she stood, her attitude, and the tone of her voice on the phone. “And what?”
“I paid you to sing a break-up for Alexander, not seduce him into your bed.”
Shannon shifted all her weight into one leg and propped a hand on her hip. “And I did my job. From there, you had nothing to do with what I did or didn’t do. Not me or Alex.”
“Alex?” Laney sneered. “You don’t think he cares about you, do you? I mean, he was broken up over losing me when he went to you.”
That hit a nerve, but Shannon wasn’t going to show it. “Funny ’cause he didn’t look ‘broken up’ last night in bed.”
Laney raised long elegant fingers, each tip polished to a sheen, to smack Shannon, but she caught her arm and shoved the other woman.
“You need to keep your hands to yourself,” Shannon told her. Laney’s eyes widened, but Shannon continued to put her in her place. “I know your type. You don’t want something until you see someone else has it. You threw Alex aside like garbage. You even said he was no good just because you weren’t woman enough to talk to him face to face about your problems. And here you are thinking you can intimidate me because you somehow think you’re better—again—rather than talking to Alex about it. I don’t know what your issues are, but even if I’m not a part of his life, he’s way better off without you.”
“Who the hell—” Laney began, but Shannon held up a hand in her face and walked on by. She didn’t have the time or the inclination to deal with this woman. If her client had left, she was taking it out of the skinny blonde’s hide.
Shannon reached her apartment and breathed a sigh of relief when she found her client and daughter at her door. The snippy comments about them waiting twenty minutes didn’t help her mood, but she bit her tongue and let them inside. After putting on the teapot for a little tea with lemon to warm them, Shannon got her student started with her voice exercises while she changed. The last thing she needed was to lose another one. If things didn’t turn around soon, she’d have to find a regular nine-to-five. Even the thought depressed her.
When she sat down at her piano, the girl’s mother accosted her right away. “I know you said to wait and see how much she develops with your strengthening techniques, but I really want her to get into the right school that will be advantageous to her career. To do that would be…” She closed her eyes and gestured with her hands as if she had eaten a mouth-watering dessert. “You get my meaning.”
“Yes, I understand. This is your dream, and you want your daughter to live it.” Shannon groaned inwardly. There she went with her mouth. That’s frickin’ why she didn’t have a boss. For that matter, it was why she wasn’t successful. “I mean—”
Mrs. Taylor, her student’s mother, gave her a frosty look. “I know just what you mean. You think I’m one of those mothers.”
Pretty much.
“I assure you I’m not. Kailey wants this just as much as I do, don’t you, Kailey?” The two of them glanced around to the eight-year-old, and she nodded.
Oh, Shannon didn’t doubt her. If she hadn’t seen that sparkle in Kailey’s eyes when she spoke of singing, she wouldn’t have taken her. Shannon always interviewed the students along with the parent when she took a new pupil. Love of singing, that’s what made the exercises and the long hours of practice worthwhile.
Shannon turned back to Mrs. Taylor, glad the woman was desperate enough to overlook her attitude. She forced a smile to seem pleasant and feared it was a failure. “Kailey has a lot of raw talent, but we’ve just gotten started. Let me have a little more time with her. I think you both will be happy with the results within a few months.”
She wouldn’t make promises of landing an audition at a prestigious music school, let alone getting accepted, but she would give it all she had making sure Kailey’s voice was the best it could be.
The hour-and-a-half session went along smoothly, and only when it was over and Mrs. Taylor and Kailey were gone did Shannon allow herself to check her cell phone. There had been no calls or texts from Alex, but then he’d told her this morning that he had a few important meetings and they wouldn’t be able to have their semi-regular quickies. That was a good thing anyway because her body needed a break. She missed him, but a little time alone wasn’t bad.
She busied herself cleaning the apartment and then searched a children’s magazine for the ad she’d run. A grin spread over her face. If this was successful in bringing in clients, she might be able to let the messenger thing go for good. The ad had to work.
By seven that evening, Alex hadn’t called but he’d texted that something had come up. He’d call her later. After her argument with Laney, it felt like a brush off. Maybe now was the time to their affair while she was still sane.
One more week or two?
She bundled up to head out. Because she’d spent so much time at Alex’s place, there was nothing to eat in the apartment. Maybe I’ll treat myself since Alex has been paying for food all this time. I can stand one meal out. She grinned at the thought, and the doubt and loneliness in her gut eased.
A bus uptown let her off in an area where restaurants populated several blocks. She strolled along wondering which one to choose. Something not too expensive but still a splurge would be in order. Passing the restaurant where she’d first met Alex, she paused. He’d been sitting right there, she thought, eyeing the spot. Her heartbeat sped up, and she recalled the anger on his handsome face. The man should have scalped her and his ex, not made her his lover. She was glad he’d done the latter though.
Alex must be stuck at work, and it was possible he hadn’t eaten dinner yet. His high level position meant she couldn’t go up to his office without clearance, but dropping something off in the lobby might be okay. Excited to surprise him, she forgot all her worries and chose a place to order carry out. When she had the food secured in a plastic bag, she hailed a taxi and told him the address. Alex had mentioned the company where he worked, and she was glad it wasn’t far. The food would still be hot.
When they pulled up to the front of the building, Shannon paid and hopped out. She looked down at herself and frowned. Not expecting to come here, she hadn’t dressed like she normally would to get Alex all hot and bothered. The jeans weren’t bad, but they weren’t tight like he liked them. Oh well. Besides, he might be busy and could only come down for a quick kiss and to grab the food.
She strolled into the lobby, smiling. While it was late, people in these buildings often worked into the night. The guard behind the desk didn’t appear surprised when he saw her. Shannon approached. “Hi, I’m here to see Alexander Stone.”
The guard punched in a few keys on the computer while she leaned an elbow on the high counter. She surveyed the lobby. The place was oversized with high ceilings. Everything seemed to be made of gray marble, from the floor, to the desk, to the walls. A mini waterfall decorated one side with a seating area around it where a person could dip their fingers in.
&nbs
p; “There’s no answer at his number, ma’am,” the guard said. “Would you like to leave a message or wait?”
She opened her mouth to answer when an elevator bell dinged and footsteps sounded on the floor. Alex, with Laney at his side, strode around the corner. His head was bent close to hear whatever it was she was saying. Her eyes were red, and he held her elbow. In the instant it took Shannon to blink, the realization that they’d just come from upstairs hit her, along with the fact that the only way Laney could have come from there was that she had clearance.
The two of them walked by, not seeing Shannon, and headed out the door. Shannon whirled to face the guard with a stiff smile. “Have you had dinner? I have some Mexican here.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I can’t accept that, but thank you for the thought.”
She nodded, numb. “Never mind about Mr. Stone. I don’t want to leave a message. Thanks.”
Without another word, she rushed out the door and dropped the bagged food into a nearby trash bin. Her appetite had disappeared, and she was sure it wouldn’t be back tonight.
Chapter Four
Alex dialed Shannon for the fourth time with no answer. He was beginning to worry and hoped she wasn’t pissed off at his clipped text earlier. His VP had been a pain in his ass over the last week or more about Alex not giving every millisecond of his life to his job. Since he’d met Shannon, Alex couldn’t give that much of himself anymore. He thought Laney deserved better treatment as far as giving her time, but he’d never actually done it. With Shannon, there hadn’t been a struggle.
He drove in the direction of her apartment while he mulled it over. One conclusion came to him again and again. He loved her. His beautiful mocha goddess had found her way into his heart when he didn’t realize it was happening.
Outside her building, he hesitated before getting out of the car. They’d met when Laney had been breaking up with him, and it wasn’t even his idea. Since then, they’d done hardly more than make love and toss around sexual innuendos when they weren’t in bed. How could he expect her to have fallen for him? She’d given no indication that her feelings ran deeper. When he reached her door, he rang the bell and waited. No answer. Growing agitated, he rang again, and then again. Still nothing.
While he stood there considering his next move, his cell buzzed. He checked the ID and breathed a sigh of relief. “Baby, where are you?”
A few seconds passed before she answered. “I’m not home. Um, I’ll meet you tomorrow, okay? You’re off until afternoon, right? How about coffee at ten? The one on Third. We’ll grab something and take a walk.”
“A walk,” he repeated like she had spoken in another language. His gut tightened. This didn’t sound good. When he was off in the morning, they spent the night in each other’s arms and woke up late to have breakfast in bed—not grab coffee and take a walk! This situation felt like déjà vu, but he refused to believe Shannon was dumping him. Last night had been incredible, and he’d been looking forward to pleasuring her in other ways. Wait, had it been too much for her? Did the toys turn her off? “Shannon, about last night, I—”
“I have to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” Not giving him a chance to respond, she hung up, and he was left staring at her front door as if she’d just slammed it in his face.
The night wore on at a snail’s pace. Alex dropped into bed early and then lay there with an arm slung over his head and willing his body to relax. The command went unheard as he tossed and turned. Worse, his cock throbbed to be inside Shannon. His arms ached to hold her. He considered if what he felt was lust alone, but knew if he could hear her voice, the peace that eluded him would be come. Not once, not even at the start of their relationship, did he feel this intensity for Laney.
He closed his eyes and recalled his conversation with her earlier. The woman had thought she could seduce him away from Shannon. The possibility was laughable at best, disgusting at worse. He should have remembered to revoke Laney’s access on his floor at work.
Sitting up on the side of the bed, he considered whether he felt anything for Laney and knew he didn’t. He never loved her, and what little affection he’d had died that night in the restaurant. Being with any woman other than Shannon was no longer an option.
He stood up and crossed to his dresser. The small basket she’d given him sat there empty. The circle card at the bottom caught his attention, and he fished it out and read the words again. “These candies by Kim’s Confections have gotten you halfway to love. Now the rest is up to you.”
The saying was true. He was halfway to love when he met her, not lust. Love. Whatever she planned to say tomorrow, he would counter it and tell her how he felt. That decision gave him enough peace to return to bed, and he fell into a fitful sleep.
*****
A few minutes to ten, Alex arrived at the coffee shop and found Shannon already there. As it always did when he saw her, something stirred in him. She stood just to the side of the entrance, and he drew her into his arms for a kiss. To his relief, she didn’t fight him but melted into his embrace, curving her amazing body along his. His cock grew hard upon contact, but he didn’t mind her knowing what she did to him.
“Morning,” he murmured, looking down into her beautiful face. He ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek, and watched as her lashes lowered. Shannon wasn’t shy by any means, but she was acting like it right now. He frowned. “What’s wrong, baby?”
She seemed to force a smile. “Nothing. Let’s get our coffee and walk first.”
He nodded and escorted her to the line. Soon they were at the front, and he paid for his and her drink. As they strolled down the street, his hand at her lower back, he watched her out of the corner of his eye. There was no doubt something was on her mind. “Ready to talk?”
She sighed. “I was thinking.”
“About?”
Shannon stopped walking and turned big eyes in his direction. If he could look into those eyes the rest of his life, he’d die a happy man. Damn, now he was getting sappy. Since she seemed nervous with him staring at her, he turned his head and gazed off into the distance. His patience wore thin. He needed to know now if they were in trouble, but he held himself quiet.
“I think we should stop seeing each other,” she blurted.
Her words were a punch to his gut. He’d worried that was it, but the impact from her lips was a lot to take. “You’re breaking it off?”
Her tone changed to something offhand, but he didn’t look at her to confirm whether this was no big deal as her tone indicated.
“I-We were just having an affair. Neither of us meant for it to go on indefinitely,” she said. “It is just…time.”
He ground his teeth, watched her as she turned her back to him. Alex did all he could not to draw her into his arms and forbid her to walk away. Just time. After a few weeks. She’d grown bored with him, with his touch after such a short time. He glared at her back. “I suppose I should be happy for small favors. I mean you didn’t come here dressed in a cheap outfit, singing some inappropriate tune.”
She flinched, and he was sorry he’d been so harsh, but he didn’t take it back. They stood in silence at the curb together. Alex took a step nearer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She didn’t try to get away. He tightened his hold. Several phrases came to mind of things he could say to hurt her, to bring her down from whatever superior place she was because she’d been the first to end things. He let it go. “This is what you want?” he asked.
She glanced around at him with an expression of surprise on her face. “That’s all you have to say?”
“What more is there?”
She grunted. “You know what, forget it. I don’t know why I thought you’d act differently than you did when I gave you your ex’s message.”
“So this is about the drama?”
Her eyes widened. “What? Of course not! I said forget it. I’m leaving. I have a full day. Have a nice life.”
On her last words, she tu
rned and fled. Alex was about to follow and offer her a ride home at least, but he stopped. Why should he? This was the second failed relationship in a row. Correction—what he and Shannon had was great sex. Now it was over. He’d live. He tossed his tepid coffee into a trash receptacle and headed in the direction he’d parked his car. His VP wanted his nose to the grindstone? He’d have it. No more women for a long time.
*****
“You didn’t talk to him at all?” Kim asked in disbelief. “What if you jumped to the wrong conclusion and it wasn’t what it looked like? You’ll have let go of the perfect man, one meant for you.”
Shannon gritted her teeth as she peeled open another piece of candy. “I know. I’ve thought of that so many times it’s not funny, but then I think I’m just fooling myself. We were lovers. That’s all. To read more into it just seems stupid.”
“But you love him. Don’t you deserve to find out for sure?”
She stiffened at that. “Who said anything about love?”
“Girl, please. I know you, Shannon. You love Alexander Stone, and you know it.”
Shannon sighed. “Well, not like I haven’t been in love before. Doesn’t matter. I’m going to pick myself up and move forward. So while you’re away for this meeting, I’ll take care of the shop.”
Her sister grabbed another piece of candy from her fingers. “Thank you, and please don’t eat all the merchandise while I’m gone.”
“Hey, that’s mean,” she complained.
Kim laughed. “You snack without paying attention when you’re stressed.”
“Ugh, I know. Maybe I should go with you to save my hips and thighs.”
“Nope, you promised to work with me here since you’ve given up the messenger thing. You’ll be fine. I was just teasing.” Kim hugged her. “Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
“Doubtful.” Shannon chewed a fingernail. She’d been up most of the night over the last few days and was tired as hell. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Alex. To combat it, she’d thought about her next move to improve her finances. In between bouts of tears, ideas had begun to formulate. “You know how you came up with that special candy for Valentine’s Day?”
Half Way to Love Page 4
