Burning Up

by Marie Coulson

  He winced and rubbed his brow with his thumb and index finger. “Layla, you know I can’t. I know I promised to show you around, but everything is a little crazy right now. Besides, what’s the rush? This apartment is here forever and you can see New York anytime you want.”

  I pouted and slid myself off of the counter. Pushing past him, I grabbed my coffee and walked toward the living room.

  “Layla. Layla, come on. Be reasonable.”

  He followed me into the hallway and seized my elbow, forcing me to halt.

  “You promised me weeks ago that we would go sightseeing. Aside from the functions, dinners, socials, and sports, we don’t spend time together. You’re always working. You need to figure out the balance between your job and your life because right now, your job is your life.”

  Running his fingers through his hair, he growled in frustration.

  “You know I would love to spend every waking moment with you, but this project in Europe is huge. I have to get it right. If I screw up, hundreds of people are out of jobs, millions of dollars are flushed down the drain, and you and I end up working even harder to clean up the mess. Please, try to understand. It’s not that I don’t want to be here with you. I do.”

  Letting go of my irritation at his having to work so much, I rolled my eyes. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just going a little stir crazy. Maybe I will take in some of that sun today.”

  Smiling, he gave me a deep and lingering kiss. His arms snaked around me, and I arched my back a little. My coffee almost spilt as his fingertips glided up and down my spine. “Thank you for being so understanding. I promise I will make this up to you.”

  Giving me another quick kiss, he released me and headed for the home office, fastening his tie on the way. Considering that I now faced another day of lounging around, drinking coffee and watching TV, my motivation to get out of the house was growing more powerful every minute. Sitting on the couch, I sipped my coffee and listened to Jared as he moved about the apartment, getting ready to leave. Walking down the stairs in his Hugo Boss suit, he caught me gazing at him. Jared always looked sexy, but when he was in a suit, my insides immediately turned to Jell-O, and I melted into a puddle of lustful need every time.

  Taking his cellphone and keys from the hall table, he slipped them into his pocket and checked himself in the mirror. Leaping from the couch, I walked over to him and placed my hands on his arms, turning him to me. He watched me with a raised brow and a smile as I re-adjusted his tie and straightened his collar. Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed him gently.

  “Have a good day at work, honey.” Okay, it was cheesy and old-fashioned, but I had been itching to say that line to this man for weeks. Chuckling, he shook his head and held my hand in his. Leading me out to the elevator, he held me tightly, rubbing his thumb back and forth over my knuckles.

  “Where’s your ring, Layla?”

  Damn it. I bit my lip. “Back in L.A.”

  He sighed, lifted my hand to his lips, and placed a kiss on my finger where the ring once sat.

  “Can you get it sent here?”

  I shrugged. “I could ask Amy and Mel to mail it to me. They packed all my stuff and took it to my parents’ place after I left.”

  He nodded. “Tell them I’ll pay the cost to have it couriered. I want that ring back on your delicate little finger. It would mean a lot to me.” I wasn’t entirely sure what was so important about it. It was diamonds and a star sapphire. I was here and that should have been enough, but as always, Jared didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t ask.

  “Sure. I’ll tell them.” The elevator chimed, and as the doors opened, he gave me a rueful look. “I wish I didn’t have to go. I am sorry, Layla. It’s for your own safety and my peace of mind that I make these rules. Don’t hate me for wanting to keep you safe. I can’t be sorry for that. I’ll try to get out as early as I can. I love you.” I nodded weakly in response. Giving me one last kiss, he let his hand slip from mine and stood inside the waiting elevator. I waited until the doors closed and he’d gone before cursing and stomping my feel like a child having a tantrum. It was childish and immature, but I was going crazy being in the apartment all day while he worked.

  Hurrying to the window, I watched as his Jag exited the underground parking lot, ten floors below. Smiling, I ran upstairs and grabbed my cell phone from the bedside table. I bit my lip anxiously as I dialed.

  “Dan! Are you busy today?” I held my breath waiting for his response. My plans were already unfolding in my mind.

  “Not at all, Miss Jennings.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “Excellent! Can you bring the car around in about half an hour?”

  He didn’t answer. “Dan?”

  I heard him exhale loudly. “Miss. Jennings, I really don’t think Mr. Garrett would like …“

  I cut him off mid-sentence. “Mr. Garrett said I should take in some sun. And that’s exactly what I intend to do. Now, do I go alone or …”

  “For the love of God, do not leave the apartment! I’ll be there in half an hour. ”

  Success! Hanging up, I bounced on my heels and danced with excitement and triumph. I was going to see New York with, or without Jared; something I already knew would make him instantly mad at me. I’d been in the city no less than two days when he’d introduced the ‘no walking around New York alone’ rule. A rule that, he claimed, was for my safety. I was less convinced and was more inclined to believe that it was just another way to keep tabs on me. Jared hated not knowing where I was or what I was doing. Worry, I could handle, but rules and regulations on my freedom? That was something else. I’d already decided that I would not be controlled or dictated by the man I loved when I’d arrived, and that included where I could or couldn’t go. Besides, I wasn’t going to be alone. I would be with Daniel.

  Picking out my favorite blue sundress, I quickly yanked a brush through my mass of blonde hair. I stared at myself in the mirror and sighed.

  Thanks to my new stylist Philippe and my new beautician Gabriella, I now had a full head of highlights running through my golden blonde locks, and my skin was glowing from the buffing and pampering it received at least twice a week. I looked great, don’t get me wrong, but I kind of missed the old Layla. Okay, she had dull blonde hair and she was sometimes prone to a zit here or there, but they were my lifeless locks and my problem pimples.

  I glanced down at my make-up bag. It was crammed with every piece you could imagine. Taking out some mascara and lip-gloss, I decided to go for the minimalistic and natural look. My hair might have belonged on a porn star, but my face was still my own, and I was going to wear it with pride. It was the one I was born with, after all.

  Grabbing my purse and sunglasses, I slipped into a pair of cute summer heels and waited anxiously in the foyer for the elevator to chime. When it finally did, I hurried over and grinned as the doors opened. Wearing his usual grey suit, Daniel held his hands up in front of him and shook his head as he exited the elevator.

  “This is a very, very, very bad idea. He will go nuts, Miss Jennings. Please, stay here, I can bring you anything you want. Just, please, for the sake of my job and his sanity, stay in the apartment.”

  I fisted my hands on my hips and stared at him from beneath my long, mascaraed, lashes.

  “No. I want to see New York. I am so tired of staring out of the window at the city. I want to be a part of it.”

  He rubbed his temple with his thumb and index finger in a way that reminded me of Jared.

  “I can’t talk you out of it?”

  I shook my head. “Nope.

  He sighed loudly, closed his eyes, and gestured toward the elevator. “Then please, after you, Miss Jennings.”

  Smiling, I walked over, pressed a kiss to his cheek, and wiped the gloss away with my thumb. A slight smile of his own played across his lips. “Stop calling me Miss Jennings. It’s Layla. If we’re going to be out together all day, I don’t want to feel like a woman and her driver. I want to be Layla and Dan having a nice
day in New York. Agreed?”

  Pressing the elevator call button, he nodded. “If that’s what you want Miss Jennings. I mean, Layla.” I grinned at the sound of him saying my name. Now we could finally be getting somewhere with this friends thing. “Good. Just one more thing, Dan, you have to change.”

  He gave me a puzzled look. “Change?”

  I giggled at his confused and worried tone. “Clothes, Dan, your clothes. You look all business and uptight. We’re going to be New Yorkers today. You should dress like one. Come on.”

  Grabbing him by the elbow I dragged him into the elevator and pressed for the ground floor. “We’ll go to your place and you can change. Then … the city!”

  Daniel was visibly anxious the entire ride down. I placed my hand on his arm supportively. “Hey, relax. It’ll be fine.”

  He snorted and gave me a surprised look. “You truly believe that? You have no idea how bad this is going to go when he finds out you left the apartment. One rule he was very clear about. I had specific instructions to …“

  I held my hand over his mouth and shook my head. “To what? To keep me prisoner all day? No, he said I couldn’t walk around New York alone, and I’m not. I’m with you. You leave Jared Garrett to me. I can handle it. “

  He eyed me curiously. “You seem very sure of that. I don’t know, Layla, he’s really not going to like this.” The elevator came to a stop and as the doors opened to the lobby, he gave me a pleading look. “Please. Please can we just stay here?”

  I shook my head and grabbed him by the hand, pulling him out of the elevator. “No. Come on. We’ll have fun.” Layton glanced up from his desk, and as he caught sight of me, immediately moved around to stand in my path. Layton had become someone I disliked in every possible way. His body language was stern and stiff. His eyes followed you wherever you stepped, and his tone was strict and serious. He was also Jared’s lookout and reporter. Nothing got past Layton the guard dog. I rolled my eyes and huffed as he gave me a scornful look. Here we go.

  “Miss Jennings, I am under strict instructions not to allow you to leave the building. Mr. Garrett …“

  Of course. Why wouldn’t he have people watching my every move? Now I was irritated.

  “Layton, as much as I appreciate your concern and your dedication to your job, I’m not staying here all day while there is so much to see and do in this city. Mr. Garrett is my boyfriend, not my father. You are my concierge, not my bodyguard. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some sightseeing to do.”

  His mouth dropped open and he glared at Daniel as though he were kidnapping me.

  I knew exactly what this lap dog would be doing with the information once we left, too. “Oh, and for record, Daniel here is my hostage, not my accomplice. So before you go reporting this to Jared, you should know I will defend him to the last.” Damn spy.

  He continued to glower at me, but I didn’t care. Freewill was my God-given right, and I was going to exercise that right! Smiling brightly back at him, I skirted around him and yanked Daniel’s hand, forcing him to follow.

  Layton’s eyes watched us as we headed to the door, and Daniel’s expression suggested a halfhearted apology to him. “We have nothing to be sorry for. God, he acts like we were about to run off to Vegas and get hitched.”

  He chuckled. “I really would be a dead man. Jared would cut off my …“

  I giggled. “Graphic. Thanks.” Walking up to the Mercedes, I reached for the passenger side door, but he beat me to it. Opening it, he gestured for me to get in. “If I am forced to be ‘Dan’ today, at least let me be the gentleman?” I grinned back at him. “If it makes you happy and gets me what I want, I’ll allow it.”

  Nodding, he laughed. “It makes me very happy, and I have a feeling that you will not be denied anything that you want, Miss Jennings.” I gave him a playful scowl and he smiled. “Sorry, Layla. It still doesn’t feel right.” I shook my head and grabbed the handle of my door. “Well it feels perfect to me, Dan. Now, get your ass in the car so we can get going. Got a lot to see and you need to change.”

  Running around to the driver’s side, he slid in and started the engine. I was beyond excited. I was finally going to see the city like I’d wanted to for the past four weeks. Well, not exactly how I’d wanted to. I’d rather have been seeing it with Jared. However, since he was all work and no play lately, Daniel would make a perfect touring companion. I was fairly confident that he hadn’t seen much of the city, either and this was going to be a fun experience for us both … I hoped.

  * * * *

  Daniel had continued to worry and beg me to change my mind the entire ride to his apartment. I’d ignored him for the majority, but as we pulled up to the building, I gave him a firm warning that any more attempts to persuade me to change my mind, could result in me going it alone.

  That worked. Opening the car door, he sighed and walked around to my side, but I had already opened it and begun to climb out. He grabbed the door and offered me his hand. I stared at it before giving him a stern look and pushing it away. “No, I told you, we’re Dan and Layla today. Not Miss Jennings and her driver.” He rolled his eyes and closed my door behind me. “I was merely being a gentleman.” I smiled at him and shrugged. “Well, be one and take me inside. I’m dying to see your apartment!”

  He pointed upward and I gazed up at the enormous white building. It was one of Jared’s; I knew that much from what Daniel had told me. This was far bigger than the building in which Jared lived. It was at least twenty stories high and equally as elegant. Jared clearly had a thing for golden detail. The entrance doors were a glistening gold, and every window was framed with gold trim. It was stunning. The building practically gleamed in the New York sunlight. Daniel nudged me on the arm, pulling me from my daze.

  “Impressive, huh?”

  I smiled and nodded; still a little astounded at the sheer magnitude and extravagance. I could only imagine what it was like inside. Daniel walked over to the door where a slender young man was standing in his red and gold uniform. It was similar to Layton’s, so I assumed he was the concierge. They greeted each other like old friends; bumping fists, patting the other on the back and laughing. I wondered if Jared had ever had a relationship like that with another man.

  That sort of friendship came easy and was effortless. Daniel was the closest Jared had to a friend. Not like …

  Oh no. It was happening again. Since I’d arrived, I’d made a conscious effort to keep Ollie from my thoughts. But music would play on the radio and remind me of him. A movie would show on TV and I’d think of him. Even coffee or bagels would take me right back to my dorm room or the park at Christmas, to our tree. As much as I had tried to ignore it, I was still in love with Ollie Green, and I missed him terribly. Ollie was more than a lover. He was my friend and as I watched Daniel and his friend, I longed for that closeness again. Ollie will never forgive you and you could never get back what you had. Forget him and move on.

  It was the rational thing to do. It was the kind thing to do, and most of all, it was the right thing to do. I was with Jared. I chose Jared, and Ollie deserved to be happy. Shaking my head, I pushed aside all thoughts of Ollie and made my way over to Daniel. Placing his hand on my back, he gave me a broad smile. “Layla, this is James. He’s the concierge here.”

  Taking my outstretched hand, James kissed the back of it and smiled. “A pleasure to meet you, Layla. Daniel tells me you’re Mr. Garrett’s significant other.” Daniel laughed and I even chuckled myself. Slapping James on the back, Daniel shook his head. “It’s okay. She’s cool. You can drop the butler bit.” James gave Daniel a wide-eyed stare before turning his attention to me.

  “I’m Jared’s girlfriend if that’s what you meant. You probably have to put on the act for him, but me, I think I could do without. So, James, how long have you worked for Jared?” Breathing a sigh of relief, he grinned. “Two years, and it’s Jimmy by the way. Sorry, I guess I thought you’d be like all the other women Mr. Garrett has brought …“


  Kicking James in the foot, Daniel glared at him and shook his head. My eyes darted between them, waiting for an answer before finally settling back on James, who stood awkwardly, staring at Daniel. “Other women Mr. Garrett has brought where? Here?”

  James bit his lip and checked his watch. “Oh, wow, look at the time. Mrs. Van Moore will want Cedric taken for his morning walk any minute. I better head inside. Great to meet you, Layla. Enjoy New York.” Giving me a quick handshake and Daniel a knowing nod, he yanked the door open faster than a hooker’s legs. Daniel made a move to follow, but I caught his elbow and glared at him. “Did Jared bring women here?”

  He gave me a rueful look and cast his eyes down at the concrete. I had my answer. “He has an apartment here, too, doesn’t he?” He didn’t answer and continued to look anywhere except at me. I could feel myself getting riled. I knew Jared had a lot of girls before me, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. I certainly wanted to know if he had some little fuck shack set up somewhere. As his live in girlfriend, I think I had a right to know!

  “Answer me, Daniel! Does Jared have an apartment here?” I could feel myself becoming more and more irritated and the moment his eyes met mine, I knew. Nodding weakly, he gestured to the door. Oh, yeah, I was expected to enter that building knowing that I was following in the footsteps of the sixty before me. “I think I’d rather stay out here.”

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again he stared down at me with furrowed brows. “You can’t stand out here on the sidewalk. Come inside. Please.” I shook my head in a definitive no.

  “Okay, fine. If you won’t come in with me, then I’m staying out here, too, which means I won’t change and you’ll have to walk around the city with me in my suit. Your call.”

  Damn it. I was cornered and he knew it. Rolling my eyes, I conceded. “Fine. I’ll come inside, but only because I want to see the city. Not because I’m okay with what I just found out. Got it?” Smiling a little, he opened the door and gestured for me to enter. “Got it.”