Sexy in the City

by Alexia Adams, Galen Rose, Samantha Anne, Carolann Camillo, Nicole Flockton, Iris Leach, Olivia Logan, Nancy Loyan, Stephanie Cage (epub)

  Running a finger up and down the cup, she looked up. “The usual. Work worries.”

  He nodded, “Seems to be catching. Anything you want to talk about? I’ve been told I’m a great listener.”

  Good looking and a great listener. Sheesh, could she have fallen anymore into a fairy tale? Even though she already knew that Hollywood fairy tales didn’t end happily.

  Not caring to deliberate who told him he was a great listener, she drew in a deep breath; what could it hurt? “So, it’s Valentine’s Day and one of our orders didn’t arrive. It’s been one of our best sellers year in, year out and for some reason the supplier failed to deliver this year.”

  “Did they say why?” His interested, earnest expression gave her the courage to carry on.

  “Not really. Tanya called, I emailed and we both got the same reply: ‘It will be with us shortly.’ They said that two days ago and it’s Valentine’s Day today and still zip.” She hung her head in self-defeat. She didn’t want to admit her business was in trouble, or that she had let Belle down. Although he had probably guessed finances were tight; that was why he offered her double her salary so she could fix the place up.

  She also didn’t want to admit to herself that she really hated this time of year. Normally, she didn’t mind celebrating the big holidays like Christmas alone. She always had friends she could join to celebrate. But Valentine’s Day? No hope of her going to her friends when they were all out on their own dates.

  He was frowning and drumming his fingers on the table. “What’s the likelihood of you getting a refund or compensation? Or even both?”

  “They were taken over by a new company recently so I’m not sure. It’s weird because I would have thought that a company as big as ‘Fox’s Chocs’ would be a little bit more professional,” she said with a shrug.

  “Fox’s Chocs’? Owned by a Lee Harrow?”

  “Yeah, I think that’s him. By all accounts I thought he was quite a big businessman, but I’m beginning to think he’s nothing more than a small-time crook. And on Valentine’s Day for heaven’s sake, the biggest chocolate day of the year!” She drained her glass, pushing it away. Well, she’d cried on his shoulder enough for one night; time to leave the pity party and get ready for a job she could do well. Or at least do well when said job woke up and demanded breakfast.

  “Did you have any plans?” he asked absently, draining his own glass.

  “For my work?” She knew her voice sounded confused. Yeah, she had loads of plans. Unfortunately, those plans required money and that she did not have.

  “No, for Valentine’s Day.”

  She stood up, sitting down again with a thump at the question, her whole body beginning to get hot under his watchful gaze.

  “Ummmm … no. Can’t say I did. No boyfriend, remember?”

  “Yeah, I remembered. But that doesn’t stop you from having a date for tonight,” he pointed out.

  In her world, it did. She knew she wasn’t ugly but she also knew she wasn’t model material. Average was probably a better adjective. Wishing she could lie and pretend she had scores of dates that she’d missed out on by coming here, she thought about her mother and the scores of dates she used to have. No, she wasn’t her mother, not even in a fictional world.

  “Nope. No date for tonight.” A thought struck her. What if he had a date tonight? Something strange squeezed her heart and she brushed the feeling aside quickly. “But it is Valentine’s tonight, so if you are going out then I’ll watch Theo. It’s what I’m here for after all.” Oh God, she was babbling.

  He rested his head on his hand, looking at her curiously. Feeling as if she was back in front of her class teacher about to be reprimanded for doing something stupid, she wriggled uncomfortably in the chair.

  “What makes you think I have a date?” he finally asked, curiosity evident in his question.

  Tying and re-tying her belt didn’t seem to be getting her off the hook anytime soon. “I don’t know. I just … ”

  “Assumed?” The laughter was back and if she wasn’t such a lady — not to mention, it would be highly dangerous — she was sorely tempted to throw the cup at him.

  “As a matter of fact, yes; I did assume. How was I to know?” She was more annoyed now that she had been put on the spot. What could she say to that question anyway? “Yes I think you’d have a date because you’re a good-looking guy and you’re a young wealthy director.” Not in this lifetime.

  “Do you really think I’d fly my son all the way out here, and then gallivant off with a woman when I haven’t even had enough time to spend with him?” His voice was crisp, despite the smoothness.

  She had no reply. Couldn’t even offer him one if he wanted which she suspected he didn’t as he looked pretty annoyed at her right now.

  “What sort of father do you think I am?” Now she knew what the Titanic must have felt like crashing against those icebergs. His icy, glacial blue eyes made her stomach sink.

  Snaking her tongue out to wipe her suddenly dry lips, Rania realized she had one of three choices: apologize, then run; explain herself, then run; or just run.

  Ruling out the last choice as plain cowardly and the first choice as not much better than the last, she took a deep breath. “I think you are the kind of father who does all he can to make his son happy and give him the best of everything. But I also think that you are an adult and having been brought up in a single parent household, I know that you also have … er … ” She paused as she felt her face flame again.

  He’d leaned forward on his crossed arms as she had begun talking. Thankfully, the wide table provided a natural barrier so he couldn’t get closer.

  “I have … ?” He circled his hand in air, prompting her to finish. The ice in his eyes had melted down to a sparkling summer spring. Oh, he was clearly enjoying seeing her squirm.

  “You have adult requirements” she finished. There. She said it.

  He threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing off the white walls.

  “Shhh, you’ll wake Theo,” she scolded.

  Wiping his eyes, he looked across at her, chest heaving with the last remnants of his laughing bout. She was glad he found her so amusing. Maybe the next job she could do for him was acting as a comedienne in one of his commercials.

  Crossing her arms in front of her, she raised an eyebrow up, leveling him with her sternest expression.

  “Are you done?” Her icy tone finally burst through his laughing bubble and the laughter disappeared from his eyes.

  “Is that what happened in your house?” The direct question threw her and she could feel herself clamping up, hiding behind the barriers she’d long ago erected for herself. She didn’t want to think about what happened in her house when she’d been growing up. Her mother hadn’t been that crass as to bring them all home; just the one or two who she thought could help her land that starring role, and who might have been the man that Rania would have to call dad.

  Thankfully, she had always been spared that as they never stuck around; a fact she used to try and tell her mum when she reached her teens but gave up soon after.

  “I don’t see what my life’s got to do with this. We were talking about you,” she stammered, wishing her voice didn’t sound as uncertain as she felt. Maybe while she was here, she could sign up for acting lessons.

  “You’re right. So let me be honest. Since Lila died, yes, I have dated but no one I’d introduce to my son and I have no plans to date while Theo is over here. My first, last and all the other priorities in between revolve around my son.”

  Finding it hard to trust her voice, she swallowed the back the lump that had formed. Nodding, she stood up and made her way toward the open arch door, certain if she didn’t leave now then he’d see more of the side she was trying to hide.

  “Before you go, I realize we h
aven’t discussed you having any time off while you’re here. I’ve got some leave booked over the next few weeks. I know it’s not much but I was thinking you could have those Theo-less days to yourself?”

  “That would be great, thanks,” she said, hating the way the gruffness in her voice betrayed her. The thought of being alone after spending time in a family did not hold the same appeal to her as it once did.

  • • •

  Leaning back against the hard chair watching her go, Nick wiped a hand down his face. He’d touched a nerve, all right. He knew she grew up in a single parent family, just as he thought that was one of the reasons she understood Theo. He never realized that there could be something much deeper to it than that.

  She really was an enigma. If he hadn’t been so run off his feet at work with the millions of complications, he would have investigated the picture of that man Theo had pointed out in the restaurant. There had been no name plaque underneath it, but the man was holding an Oscar. That alone should make it easy to find out his name and even if he was alive or dead. He made a mental note to get the runner, Luke, to chase it up.

  His mouth twisted up at the memory of her reference to his “adult requirements.” Her olive skin did a good job of hiding any blushes she might have but she couldn’t hide the way her pupils grew wider and rounder the more embarrassed and flustered she became. He shifted in his seat, becoming more uncomfortable each passing second as the thought of her and his needs merged closer together.

  One thing for sure; he knew that she could take care of herself and Theo if the way she yielded that rolling pin was anything to go by, not doubting for a second she would have used it if she hadn’t turned the lights on when she did. The enormous white robe made her appear even tinier than she was, the folds falling open every now and then to reveal a light green T-shirt underneath. It was a damn good thing it had, too. It beat the hell out of wondering if she was naked underneath it. Although the glimpse of green was somehow very alluring.

  Sure, he liked lacy lingerie. What guy didn’t? But he wasn’t a fan of women who tried too hard. Too much make up, too much perfume, too few clothes. Maybe he had just become too cynical. He’d seen way too many young actresses came through the studio doors, hoping for more than a film role. Unlike some of his colleagues, he didn’t take advantage of his position to get dates.

  His thoughts drifted once again to the one person he shouldn’t be thinking — let alone wondering — about. Sure, she wasn’t holding out for a starring role but he also knew she only came because he offered her double her salary.

  Thinking about her business reminded him of her supplier problem. The name rang a bell. Didn’t he do a commercial for him once? A real gaudy number that he’d been embarrassed to shoot. Yeah, now he remembered. The guy was a real slick-talking sleaze, according to the actresses that were hired for the shoot. He wouldn’t put it past him to take Rania’s money and not deliver the goods. Unfortunately, Nick didn’t think he made his money by using his moral code.

  Well, he’d make sure whatever the sleaze was doing, Rania was not going to suffer because of it. Attempting to quell the strange overprotective feelings, he still couldn’t figure out what possessed him to tell her about his dating life. She was his employee, for heaven’s sake. He wouldn’t go out of his way to tell any of the crew at the studios about his love life. But then again, none of his crew looked like Rania and none of them were sitting in his kitchen in Lord knows what covered by a bath robe.

  Pushing the drink aside, he dropped his head slowly onto the table, raising it up and slowly banging it back down again. Maybe, if he was lucky he could knock away any thoughts he was having about her.

  “Dad?”

  Looking up, he saw his son, pajamas crumpled, hair tousled from sleep, rubbing his eyes at the bright light.

  “What’s up, schmoo?” he asked, motioning him over as he pulled Rania’s recently emptied chair closer.

  “I heard voices so I came downstairs,” he yawned, collapsing onto it, reaching for her empty glass.

  “It’s still only 6:30. Bit too early for you to be up yet,” Nick said as he poured out the juice and watched as his son drank greedily. “How are the lessons coming? What are you learning at the moment?”

  Wiping his mouth along the length of his sleeve, Theo leaned back, legs swinging on the large chair. “French. Rania says I need to do French first because that’s what we do at school and she wants me to be top of my class. She’s been helping me do my math, too” he said, while his eyes began to skim the kitchen for anything edible.

  “Is that right?” Nick was impressed. He hated to admit that his choice of past nannies had been lacking, but he could never remember Theo saying they had helped him with any schoolwork. “So what French words or sentences can you tell me?”

  He smiled proudly as Theo rattled off various words and phrases, directing him what to say if Theo asked him a question, and explained why he had to say le and not la when naming the things in the kitchen. He could never remember Theo being this animated about learning before. And he had Rania to thank for it all.

  “Wow, I’m impressed, kid. She’s taught you a lot and you haven’t even been on holiday that long. When you get back, you’ll be a star!”

  His heart swelled as he saw the little face light up. “Do you think so?”

  “Definitely.” He moved aside as Theo scooted off his own chair and onto his lap. The blond hair tickled his nose as he hugged him, knowing there probably wasn’t going to be much time left for this sort of thing before Theo grew up and away from him. His smart little boy, who for some reason only known to him, was now reading the nutritional information on the back of the orange juice bottle.

  Taking a deep breath, he now almost felt stupid for asking this question, especially as the answer was pretty clear; but as the parent it was his job to ask anyway. “So, do you like Rania, then?”

  Theo’s eyes were still scanning the information, so he found himself staring at the back of his son’s head. “Yeah. I love her. She’s the best.”

  Nick felt his heart jerk at the childlike simplicity of that statement. “Good, I’m glad you do.”

  “Do you like her, Dad?” Theo stopped scanning now and had swiveled around to face him, brown eyes wide and serious. He had inherited Lila’s eyes, though they weren’t the dark brown of his mother. At some point over the last eight years, they had become lighter, gold and green flecks lightening them to hazel.

  He nodded, the small action enough to pacify his son.

  “Where is she? I’m hungry. Can I have some breakfast now?” The softly spoken request, coupled with the rubbing of his hand over his tummy, was enough for Nick to not care if he was late onto the set. His son was hungry and that was enough for him.

  “Rania’s still asleep, kiddo, but I can get you some food. What do you fancy?” The dubious expression he received at the statement would have been laughable if it didn’t show him exactly what his son thought of his abilities in the kitchen.

  “Cereal. The one in the top cupboard with the chocolate in it,” came the authoritative demand.

  Opening up the top cupboard, he was astounded by the amount of cereal inside. When had he asked for all this? Lifting out a box with chocolate aliens on the front, he put it on the table, only to be met with a petulant glare. “Not that one; the other chocolate one.” Reining in a sigh, he replaced the cereal, rummaging around for another box.

  “He means the chocolate dinosaurs, don’t you, Theo?”

  His hand froze at the softly spoken voice and he closed the cupboard door to find her standing in the archway, now freshly washed if the state of her wet hair was anything to go by and dressed in faded jeans and a baggy white V-neck jumper. The overall effect shouldn’t have made his mouth go dry, but it did.

  She moved quickly and efficiently around the kitchen, plac
ing bowls, spoons and a fresh cup in front of Theo, who looked relieved to have his favorite person back; one who also knew what she was doing.

  Nick’s feet felt glued to the floor and she moved around him to the cupboard. “You can go to work now. It’s okay; I’ll take over from here.” The softly whispered comment — accompanied by the sweet apple scent of her shampoo, which wafted up his nose as she reached past him — had his tongue feel as if it had spent a night in the Sahara. Yes, maybe it was time to go. As far away as possible.

  Unfortunately, the only place left was work, where he would most likely be bombarded with Valentine’s Day music and flowers. Great, just what he needed. The image of the two heads together, one light and one dark, stuck in his mind as he went to grab a shower. A fleeting thought entered with it, despite his attempt to shake it off. It was ridiculous.

  As the cold water cascaded over him, he found it kept coming back. The real question was, could he? Should he?

  • • •

  “Belle, I’m going to do a handstand in the water. Watch me!”

  Laying down her Kindle, she pushed her sunshades further up her face, the rays of sun blazing down.

  Giving a thumbs-up, she watched as he dived down. Seconds later, two scrawny legs emerged, leaning to the right then flopping back in with a splash as he surfaced. Laughing, she wiped the droplets of water from her arms, placing the Kindle back into its pouch and onto a side table.

  Grabbing a nearby floating rubber ring, Theo plopped himself in, paddling around in circles, each time trying to go faster and faster.

  The sun was still high up in the sky and she grabbed her phone to check the time. It’d felt like they’d been out there for ages. Actually, they probably had. After Nick had left, they’d played a few games on the X-box and learned some more phrases in French before they took up residence at the pool.