Beat of the Heart

by Katie Ashley

  His brows shot up in surprise. “Wow, that came out of nowhere.”

  With a shrug, I replied, “I thought we should get to know each other a little. Age is pretty basic.”

  “Fine then. I’m twenty-five. How old are you?”

  My nose wrinkled a little. “I’m twenty-eight. I don’t usually date younger men.”

  AJ rubbed his palms together. “Then let me take your cougar virginity.”

  I laughed. “You’re not letting this go, are you?”

  “Nope. I’m going to keep on and on until I wear you down, and you finally go out with me.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Mia, Mia, Mia, what am I going to do with you?”

  “I’m sure you have several NC-17 rated scenarios running through your mind at this moment.”

  Throwing his head back, AJ laughed heartily. “Yep, I do actually. But all joking aside, do I really need to continue pleading my case? I just brought you gift shop flowers for Christ sake!”

  “That’s true.”

  “Can I shoot straight with you?”

  Tilting my head thoughtfully, I replied, “I think after I gave your junk a rubdown, we can be pretty honest with each other.”

  AJ groaned. “Don’t remind me of that.” When I opened my mouth, he wagged a finger in my face. “And before you can demean it, I did enjoy it.”

  “Fabulous.”

  “Anyway. Here’s how I see it. We’re both young, single people needing a ‘date’—be it a romantic interlude or hot, sweaty sex.”

  I turned a strangled cry into a cough. “That’s certainly not beating around the bush.”

  “The time for subtlety has gone, Mia.”

  “I see.”

  AJ closed the gap between us. I stepped away from him until my back banged against the wall. Looming over me, AJ’s dark eyes twinkled with intensity. “You were totally shit-on by a major dickhead and need to get back in the game. The easiest way to do that is no-holds bar, uncomplicated sex. Don’t you agree?”

  That statement got my blood up and thrumming through my veins. “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Finally we see eye to eye on something. It’s a win-win situation for both of us. You get to fuck that douchebag of an ex-fiancé out of your system, and I get laid in the process.”

  “How generous of you.”

  AJ laughed. “I’m a very giving person—of myself, my time…of orgasms.”

  “I’m sure you are.”

  “Then it’s a date?”

  “It’s a maybe right now because I have a few conditions.”

  “Such as?”

  “Being a famous musician, I would wager you’ve gotten around a lot.”

  AJ’s lips curved up into his signature smirk. “Regardless of your comment back in Frank’s room, you don’t have to worry about my stamina, cariño. I’ll give you a night you’ll never forget.”

  I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. “Yeah, that’s not what I was talking about.”

  “Then what?”

  Leaning closer to him, I said, “If I were to take you up on your offer, I would want you to get tested before I slept with you.”

  AJ’s jaw dropped to his chest. “Are you serious?”

  “Dead serious. You wanted to know if I was free this weekend, and the major tests only take forty-eight hours to come back.” When he didn’t respond, I replied, “I’ll be happy to do the same.”

  A curious expression replaced the scowl on AJ’s face. “Does that mean I’ll be riding bareback if my tests come back clean?”

  My brows furrowed in confusion. “Huh?”

  “You know, sex without a condom.”

  “Um, no, I don’t think so.”

  “And why the hell not?”

  “Well, if you must know, I can’t take birth control because of the migraines I have. So we would need the protection.”

  “Ah, I see. Bummer.”

  “Take it or leave it, big boy.”

  AJ grinned. “I’ll take it.”

  “Good.”

  “So we’re on for Friday night?”

  My heartbeat accelerated in my chest while I fought to catch my breath. Was I actually going down this road? Sex with a stranger? Well, a man who was basically a stranger to me but well known to everyone else—lots of females included. I thought of Mama Sofia and how dead inside I’d been since her passing. That coupled with Dev’s infidelity had crippled me. I wanted—no I needed—to feel alive again.

  “Yes,” I finally replied.

  AJ clapped his hands together. “All right then. How about I pick you up for dinner around seven?”

  My brows furrowed. “Oh, you actually want to go out?”

  He snickered. “You really think I’m a ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am’ kinda guy, huh?”

  I lifted one of my shoulders. “I just figured since this date was about sex—”

  “First of all, I’d never take you straight to bed—only assholes with no game do that. Second, for you, this is about experiencing life again.”

  “And that includes dinner?”

  “Yes, ma’am it does, along with something else thrown in just for kicks.”

  I found myself smiling. “Okay, then. That sounds nice.”

  “Gotta pen?”

  “Sure.” I reached into my pocket and handed him one. He took the Get Well Soon card from my other hand. “What’s your number?” Once I gave it to him, he grinned. “I’ll text you for the directions to pick you up, okay?”

  “Okay,” I replied as he handed me back the pen.

  “Mia, I’m glad you finally decided to take me up on my offer.”

  “Me too,” I replied honestly. Of course, I sounded a lot more sure of myself than I felt. Inside, I was on a Merry-Go-Round of emotions.

  When AJ leaned closer to me, an intense fire burning in his eyes, I jerked back. He grinned at my reaction. “Easy girl. Just a chaste good-bye kiss,” he whispered, his breath fanning over my cheek.

  “Sorry.”

  His warm lips pressed a tender kiss on my cheek, rather than my lips. When he pulled away, he winked. “I’ll make sure to ply you with a little alcohol on Friday night to make sure you’re not so skittish.”

  Shaking my head, I pushed him playfully. “Whatever.”

  “I’ll be back to see Frank, so maybe I’ll see you before then.”

  “Maybe so.”

  Walking backwards down the hall to Frank’s room, he wiggled his fingers at me. “Bye Mia.”

  Shifting the flowers, I waved back. “Bye AJ.” Once he disappeared back into Frank’s room, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. As I walked into the station, Dee greeted me with a grin that stretched from cheek to cheek.

  “Hellz to the yes! Mama Mia’s gettin’ back in the game!” he exclaimed, before doing a little happy dance.

  “Yeah, nothing like extreme peer pressure from your bestie along with an overly persistent guy to make it happen.”

  “This is going to be epic!” Dee gyrated his hips as he danced over to me. “You need to make an appointment for hair and nails ASAP.” His gaze dropped below my waist. “And I’m thinking a bikini wax as well. Don’t wanna be welcoming Mr. Latin Lover to the jungle.”

  “You ass!” I cried before smacking his shoulder. My outrage only fueled him on, and two of our other shift partners broke into hysterics when he started twerking in front of me.

  “Thanks. I think I need some bleach for my eyes now,” I groaned.

  Slinging an arm around my shoulder, Dee gave my cheek a smacking kiss. “I’m proud of you, baby girl. I think this is exactly what you need…and more.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  “You gotta have faith,” he mused.

  I wagged a finger at him. “So help me God if you start doing a George Michael ass swish in front of me like in the Faith video, I’m going to request a transfer for you.”

  He pursed his lips. “Don’t be hatin’ on my mad dancing skills.”

  �
�Let’s get back to work, shall we?” I prompted before grabbing a chart.

  Friday night found me wine glass in hand, stomach twisted in knots, and pacing back and forth in my bedroom. Standing in front of Mama Sofia’s antique mirror, I once again gazed at my reflection. Dee, along with my best girlfriend, Shannon, had insisted on taking me shopping at Lennox earlier in the day. Everything in my closet that was dressy or sexy had too many Dev memories attached to them. I needed a whole new ensemble for my big splash back into the dating world.

  After a few stores and a few close calls, we’d finally found something we all could agree on. Well, sort of. Although they’d insisted the dress was to die for and I was going to take AJ’s breath away, I was still unsure, as I turned left and right in front of the mirror. Red had always been my color, and tonight’s tight little number was ruby red with tiny spaghetti straps that made a crisscrossing pattern across my lower back. While I thought I should have gone up a size, Dee insisted that it hugged my body to the point it was like a second skin. “Trust me, baby girl. Latino men love a woman with curves.”

  I took his word for it and bought the dress along with some killer red heels that had a patent leather strap. Shannon had insisted on taking me to have my hair and make-up done. For a sure fire sexcapade, I thought I was going to a little too much trouble, but I decided to bite my tongue and go along for the ride. Don’t get me wrong. I was all about dressing to impress and feeling sexy. I didn’t get a lot of chances to do it during the week in my scrubs. At the same time, I knew AJ wanted to screw my brains out whether I was wearing a Hefty bag or couture. In the end, I was so grateful for letting Dee talk me into the shoes and dress as well as Shannon with the hair and makeup. For the first time since Dev left, I felt truly sexy and desirable.

  So I was all decked out at five until seven, waiting on my Prince Charming to arrive and begin this Cinderellaesque fantasy night. All the while, I fought the urge not to throw up or refuse to answer the door when AJ arrived. The doorbell rang, and I jumped a mile, sloshing wine onto the floor. “Shit!” I exclaimed. I sprinted into the bathroom and grabbed a towel. I threw it on the puddle and quickly wiped it up. I’d just made it into the hallway when the doorbell rang again. “Coming!” I shouted.

  When I finally flung open the door, AJ’s appearance took what breath I had left away. He wore khaki pants, a crisp white shirt with an electric blue tie, along with a navy blazer. It was quite a difference from the jeans and T-shirt from the other day. “Hi,” I murmured.

  “Hello there, sexy.” His gaze drank me in from head to toe. “You in that dress is testing my firm resolve to make this a true date and not just sex.”

  I fought against the tiny fluttering of my heart at his words. “Thank you. You’re looking pretty amazing yourself.”

  “Thanks. I do clean up nice, don’t I?”

  Oh hell yes, you do. Now let’s get you out of that tie and out of those pants and into my bed. I shook my head to free me of my naughty thoughts. “Yes, you do.” I eyed the bouquet of flowers in his arms—they were my favorite pink roses.

  “Flowers again?”

  “Hey, I’m a firm believer in romance.” He handed the bouquet to me.

  With the Baby’s Breath tickling my nose, I inhaled of the sweet smell. “But how did you know pink roses were my favorite?”

  “Dee gave me a little head’s up.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  He motioned to the card. “Aren’t you going to read it?”

  “Is it With Deepest Sympathy this time?” I teased.

  “No smartass.”

  “Fine then.” I balanced the flowers in the crook of my arm while I took the paper in my fingers. When I opened the envelope, I saw that there was a folded letter inside. After I unwrapped it, I saw that it was AJ’s test results. When I glanced up at him, he grinned.

  “All clear and ready to roll.”

  I laughed. “I’m glad to see that. Mine are in my purse.”

  “Good to know. So are you ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” I said softly. I closed the front door and then locked it.

  Once I was out on the porch, AJ grinned. “When you took so long, I was beginning to think you’d decided to bail on me.”

  “Sorry. I had a little wine spillage.” At his puzzled expression, I shook my head. “It’s a long story.”

  When AJ stepped aside to lead me down the porch steps, I gasped. A shiny black, stretch Hummer limousine sat in my driveway. Glancing over my shoulder, I cocked a brow at him. “A limo? Seriously?”

  “My Hummer’s in the shop.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t do this just to impress me?”

  AJ snorted. “Since when would I need a limo to be impressive?”

  I laughed. “You’re such a cacasodo.”

  He gave me a mischievous grin. “Ooh, I like it when you speak dirty Italian to me.”

  Cocking my brows at him, I asked, “How do you know it was dirty?”

  “By the expression on your face.” He scratched his chin. “If I had to guess, I think it means something along the line of arrogant ass?”

  “Yep, pretty much.”

  A chauffer, outfitted with a black suit and cap, waited with the door opened for us. “Thank you,” I said, as I hopped inside.

  “You’re welcome, ma’am.”

  As I slid across the plush leather seats, I took in the twinkling interior lights and stocked mini bar. AJ got in behind me. “Benny, we’re going to 5505 Marietta Street.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Once Benny closed us in, I turned to AJ. “Is that the address of the hotel you’re taking me to?”

  He shook his head, making a tsking noise. “What did I say before about this date?”

  “That it’s not straight to bed, and you’re at least going to feed me first.”

  AJ chuckled. “That’s right. I also had a little something in mind before our dinner reservations.”

  “And?” I pressed.

  “Nope. You’re just going to have to wait to find out.” He scooted forward on the seat to dig into the mini bar. “How about a little champagne to start off our date night?”

  “Plying me early with alcohol?” I teased.

  “Whatever I have to do.” AJ handed me a crystal flute before pulling out a bottle that had been chilling on ice. He popped the top and then filled my glass with champagne. As he poured himself one, I gazed out the tinted window and sipped on my bubbly. We’d gotten off the interstate and were traveling along some side streets downtown. “Do you live around here?” I asked.

  “No, I’m over at The Buckhead Grand.”

  I made a low whistle. “Pretty posh.”

  He waggled his eyebrows. “The penthouse.”

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  He grinned. “It’s not like I spend a whole lot of time there. Once our first big checks from the label started coming in, my parents were on my ass to invest in something like real estate. So I bought the condo.” He gulped down the rest of his champagne. “I’d love to show you my views sometime.”

  “Nice line, Rico Suave.”

  AJ rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant.” When I cocked my brows, he laughed. “I’m serious. There are some killer views of the city.”

  “Then I’d like to see them.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  The limo shuddered to a stop. It seemed like only a second before the door opened, and Benny held out his hand for me. As I stepped onto the pavement, I glanced left and right, surmising my surroundings. “A dark alley? What exactly do you have in mind for this evening?”

  AJ chuckled as he hopped out of the limo. “It’s nothing shady, I promise. I just wanted us to be let out at the back of the dance studio, rather than the front. You know, less chance of being seen.”

  “Dance studio?” I questioned.

  “Yes, the first stop on our evening of romance—and a little more—is for us to get to know each other better through dancing.�
�

  I straightened my purse strap on my shoulder. “You’re serious?”

  “Totally.”

  “Hmm,” I murmured.

  AJ’s hand came to rest on the small of my back as he led me through the door. A tall, lithe woman stood waiting for us. “Good evening, Mr. Resendiz.”

  “Hello, Molly.” He thrust out his hand to pump hers. “Please call me AJ.” When she bobbed her head in agreement, he added, “Thank you so much for helping me out.”

  She smiled. “I’m more than happy to do it. Won’t you follow me?” She beckoned us with her hand. AJ motioned for me to go first, so I fell in step behind Molly. “I’ve made sure everything was very private and secure. Although, at the moment, our evening classes are going on, no one will know the two of you are here.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  Molly stopped at the first door on the left. From up ahead, I could hear a cacophony of different genres of music from far down the hallway, along with the sounds of tap shoes clicking on the floor. After she unlocked it, she flipped on the light. “This is one of our older instructional rooms. I hope it will be okay.”

  AJ gazed around the room, sizing it up. “Looks great.”

  When Molly turned to me, I bobbed my head in agreement, although I would have had no idea whether it was really all right or not. The room was outfitted with a ballet barre, wall-to-wall mirrors, and a stereo system in the far right corner.

  “Well, I’ll leave you to it. If you need me for anything else, please feel free to ask.”

  AJ nodded. “Thank you.” After Molly closed the door behind her, he rubbed his palms together. “All right. Let the lesson begin!”

  I eyed him warily. “I don’t know if this is such a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’ve never been the dancer girl type.”

  “And exactly what type are you?” AJ asked, leaning back against the barre.

  “The athletic type. I lettered in soccer and volleyball in high school—I wasn’t too bad in basketball either.”

  “Hmm, I never imagined you being all Sporty Spice.”

  I laughed. “Sorry, but that’s me. My late grandmother never liked me playing sports. She didn’t think it was lady-like, so she started me out in ballet when I was five. But I seriously sucked. I think it was after my first recital that she decided maybe I wasn’t going to become a ballerina.” Catching AJ’s amused expression, I pinched my lips shut. For some reason, my brain and mouth didn’t seem to be communicating with each other when I was around AJ. I couldn’t help speaking more freely with him than I have done with a member of the opposite sex for a long, long time. Well, excluding Dee and the male members of my family. Everything about AJ screamed that I should be uber uncomfortable around him—considering the whole fame, fortune, and good-looking thing. I couldn’t imagine why in the hell I felt so comfortable around him to do that.