“You’re positive?”
“Well, no. But it makes sense, considering the only reason he moved up here from the Bahamas or wherever was to date me.” Sighing, I admitted, “I really don’t know that he has that many flaws. Our conversations are perfect, other than the fact that half the time I’m totally tongue-tied. He pulls out my chair. He helps me into my coat. He cooks me dinner. He calls just to say ‘hi.’ He hung the new curtains I bought last week.”
“How do they look?”
I studied the brown, velvety curtains that just barely skimmed my light wooden floors. A large blue and gray area rug, also new, was pushed right up against the floor length windows. I’d changed apartments annually ever since I graduated college. This was the first place I’d lived that felt like home. I wanted to make it look like one, too. I’d finally purchased my first set of curtains and my first area rug just last week. Baby steps. “They’re alright,” I told her. “I need to leave them up a bit longer to decide how I really feel about them.”
“When do you see Mika again?” she asked.
“Not until next week,” I groaned, cradling the phone between my shoulder and my ear as I carried my glass of milk and an orange Reese’s packet into the living room. “He’s out of town doing some casework.”
“Did he tell you what it was?” she asked hopefully. Always the reporter. She’d had a sensational hit when the story of Barry broke, but the last few weeks had been quiet and she was itching for another success before award nominations were due for winter quarter.
“Of course not,” I scoffed.
“Nothing wrong with asking,” she muttered. “So since you’re not getting laid tonight, what are you up to?”
I eyed the television control and as quietly as possible, opened my candy. “Plenty,” I answered sarcastically between chews. “Just rolling in offers and activity over here.”
“Did you want to go out?”
I looked dejectedly at my pajamas. “I just changed.”
“Want company? We can watch a movie.”
“You’re with Rory!”
“He understands,” she responded. “Right?” she called out to him.
“Of course, dear,” he answered.
“See you in 20?” she asked.
“I’ll leave the front door unlocked.”
“Pick a good flick. The last one you chose- what was it?”
“The Rogue Hunter?”
“That’s it. It was awful.”
I giggled and promised to be more careful this time around. Hanging up the phone and tossing it onto the ottoman, I reached for the television control, clicked “main menu” and flipped over to the newly-released movies screen. Scrolling through, I settled on the latest film featuring a blond-haired, blue-eyed actress who had modeled for Food Porn in January’s feature review. She’d been posing with Sweeties, a new fruit that was a cross between an apple and a pear. The woman had needed more than a few fruits to hide her ample bosom as she posed in her leafy Eve-inspired panties, but the final results had shot our circulation sky-high. And anyway, I wasn’t much in the mood for having to figure out a plot line. I wanted to understand how it ended without having to use much of my brain.
Pushing myself off the couch, I went to unlock the front door before going over to the closet and pulling out some extra pillows and blankets. Setting them on the couch, I trailed into the kitchen and uncorked a bottle of wine before scrounging through the cabinets for a box of microwave popcorn, which I just knew had to be in there someplace.
I had just popped the bag into the microwave when I heard the front door squeak open. “I’m in the kitchen,” I hollered. I heard the door close and footsteps echo in the entry hall. “That was fast, Addison,” I added. “I thought I had at least another ten minutes to prep.”
“It’s not Addison,” came the response.
I froze. My thoughts immediately turned to my gun, tucked deep in the trenches of my sock drawer. There was no way I’d be able to get there before this loon attacked me. Besides, I’d pulled all of the bullets out of it. I wasn’t very into the idea of shooting people, even if they did want me dead. I’d long hoped that the time would never again come when I’d need the gun. Additionally I’d wished that if and when that day did arrive, the gun itself would be terrifying enough to scare off an attacker. It was a pretty serious looking weapon. Besides, stranger things had happened, right?
“Sugar?”
I felt the tension instantly leave my body. Turning quickly, I smiled. “You’re back early.” Mika grinned and held out his arms to me. I practically ran to him. “You scared me.”
“What are you doing leaving your door unlocked?” he asked, teasingly. “Haven’t you had enough close calls?”
“Addison is going to be here any minute,” I said into his soft, red flannel button down. He smelled like soap and spicy aftershave. I could have breathed him in all night. I’d never found flannel, especially red flannel, to be very sexy before Mika and I had started dating. I chalked it up to something a logger would wear. How very wrong I was. I now even owned a few flannels myself — exhibit one, my pajamas. “We’re having a girls’ night.”
“A girls’ night,” he whispered in his gentle, lilting accent, pulling me close and resting his chin atop my head. “I was hoping to get you all to myself tonight.”
Then it’s a good thing you didn’t get here about 20 minutes ago, I thought. A shiver went through me as I remembered where my night with James had led. I wondered if either of them had spotted each other.
“Cold?” Mika asked, hugging me slightly tighter. I let my hands wander aimlessly up and down his lanky, muscular back. He was much thinner and taller in frame than James, but no less attractive. Mika growled quietly in my ear. “How long until Addison gets here?”
I giggled and gently pulled away. “Soon.”
“How soon?”
“Too soon.”
Jokingly, he harrumphed and wandered into the kitchen. I watched him, biting my lower lip as I imagined what was under his outfit, as he rounded the counter and looked at the bottle of wine that I’d uncorked. I’d seen it all once before, his incredibly sexy body, during the photo shoot we’d done together last month, but there was nothing wrong with hoping to see it again. And again and again and again. With an approving nod, he turned to me after reading the wine label. “I’ve been teaching you well.”
I laughed. “I did drink wine before you came around.”
“Nothing that was very good,” he teased.
“You didn’t either. It’s been a learning process.”
He smiled a little and I felt faint. When he smiled full-wattage, I pretty much fell to my knees and cried. He seemed aware of his allure among women and always kept his grins fairly minimal. My knees buckled just then in an attempt to remain upright, but all I wanted to do was swoon. His dimples were out of this world. “Touché,” he whispered. There was a brief moment when I thought he might sweep towards me, take me in his arms and kiss me, dipping me low towards the ground, but it passed when we heard the front door click open.
“Hello!” Addison called out in her singsong voice. I heard her boots thump as she pulled them off and dropped them onto the hard entryway floor. They were probably something high fashion with heels. If anyone could find high-heeled boots and walk in them properly in snow, it was Addison. Cold was not an excuse for her to look dowdy like the rest of the Midwestern population in the middle of winter. “I hope you’ve already used your bathroom, because I still hate the idea of using Rory’s when I need to p- hello, Mika!” Her cheeks had begun to pink in embarrassment, but her smile remained tight. She shifted her gaze from him to me and then back to Mika. “I thought you were out of town on business.”
“I was,” he answered, the upper corner of his lip tugging slightly. “I got back early and thought I’d surprise Em, but it sounds like the two of you already have plans tonight.”
I saw Addison’s eyes grow worried, though she didn’t dr
op the tight, pinched smile from her face. “How long have you been here?” she asked, practically through gritted teeth
Mika’s head tilted sideways in confusion, so I stepped in to answer. “Not long,” I assured her. She was clearly concerned he’d run into James. While both men knew that I was dating the other, it wasn’t something we opted to bring up in everyday conversation. I told you — the elephant in the room. “After you called.”
She nodded. “Well. Good to see you, Mika.”
He was still staring at her confused but became aware that she wouldn’t be sharing any additional information. “Good to see you, too. I was just saying to Marian that I had to get going. A few things I need to go over yet tonight at the office.” He strode over to my side and gently pulled me to him by my hip. Kissing me softly on the head, he whispered, “call me tomorrow when you’re free?”
I nodded and walked him to the door. “We’ll catch up soon, too,” he called over his shoulder to Addie. The two had been to lunch once or twice. Anyone who wanted to get to me had to go through Addison. She had yet to ask James out for coffee and I suspected it was because she’d already been swayed to Team Ukraine.
“Sure thing!” she called back weakly, adding a pitiful wave which he couldn’t see.
Once the door had closed and I was walking back into the living room, she rushed over and clutched my arm. “Oh. My. GOD.” she hissed, walking with me towards the kitchen. “You could have warned me he was going to be here. I’m mortified!”
“Sorry, girl,” I responded, reaching for the wine bottle. “He just showed up. The door was unlocked. He walked right in. Scared the crap out of me.”
“You really should be more careful,” she admonished. “Who knows what could just walk in off of the street.” She paused. “You need to move to a building with a doorman. Or at least, someplace that has a security camera.”
I shrugged and handed her a glass of wine, which she gulped at gratefully. “But I’m really happy here. And anyway, Barry’s in prison for a long time,” I responded.
“Yes, but with your line of work…”
“Which?” I asked. In addition to taking photographs for Food Porn, I also moonlit as a crime scene photographer for the police department. Granted, those subjects were usually already dead and didn’t give me much to worry about, other than what their blood spatter patterns meant in regard to their death. I wasn’t a blood spatter analyst by any means, but I’d photographed various deaths and blood patterns over the years enough to have an idea of what most of them suggested crime-wise. But don’t go getting me to nerd out on that.
“Either,” she chided, setting her wine glass on the table. “I love having security cameras in my building.”
“Yes, but you’re a reporter. A really good one that exposes a lot of underground crime among the city elite. Half of the city hates you.”
“The other half doesn’t care, they just want into my pants.”
“Even the ones that hate you want into your pants,” I teased.
She gave me a withering glare. Addison had never slept with the higher ups for a chance at success. It just wasn’t her. Still, that didn’t stop Addie from using her body to get her way. The girl gave killer neck massages. I’m not sure I want to know how many of those she has passed out for free. “I’m just saying that having a security camera is beneficial to those of us working in the industries that we do. And now I’m going to use your bathroom before I completely ruin your brand new rug.”
A few minutes later, the two of us were sitting on my couch holding our wine glasses, sharing a large bowl of freshly-popped buttered popcorn. Addison was dressed in one of my oversized t-shirts and my longest pair of sweatpants, which were still slightly too short for her, ending just above the ankle. I reached for the control to start the movie, but she stopped me. “Oh, now,” she teased. “We have a lot to talk about before we go watching our featured star save New York City.”
I gulped. “Like what?” I asked, taking a long, lingering sip of sweet white wine. I was hoping to avoid additional conversations about my personal life until I managed to get it sorted out.
“Like what would have happened with Mika had I not shown up tonight?”
“Nothing!” I cried. Addison eyed me suspiciously as she sipped from her glass, arching an eyebrow as she did so. “Well,” I said after a moment. “Maybe something.”
“When were the two of you together last?”
“A few days ago. The night before he left town.”
“Oh, that’s right. I haven’t heard about any of this,” she said, clutching her blankets tightly and leaning in closer. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement.
“It’s your own fault for working so much.”
She flipped her hair. “Someone needs to tell the citizens what a money-grubbing peacock their potential mayoral candidate is. I’ve had to keep tabs on the guy all week. I’m also positive he’s knee-deep in an affair; he just hasn’t tripped up yet. He will, though. They always do.” We sat in silence for a moment, both likely pondering how corrupt figures ever made it into office, before Addison shook out of her reverie. “So?” she asked, interrupting my line of thought.
“Well, hold on,” I responded. “I haven’t gotten any updates on you and Rory in weeks.”
“We’ve already taken full advantage of each other,” she answered. “You know all about that. Besides, what do you want me to tell you? That when Rory gets really turned on, he kind of moans a little bit? That he has a huge, throbbing-”
“Okay!” I cried, nearly dropping my wine glass in an attempt to cover my ears. “I don’t want to hear about Rory’s huge, throbbing anything.” I’d known Rory for years, on a purely brotherly/sisterly love basis. He was a brilliant marketing man. A real sweetheart. A total geek. I wasn’t the least bit sexually attracted to him.
Addison grinned wickedly. “Back to you, I suppose,” she prompted. “What happened the night before Mika left town?”
I sunk back into the couch cushions, which enveloped me lovingly as I sipped my wine. My stomach fluttered and I drew upon my memories of that day just before Mika had skipped town for a new case he’d taken on in Minneapolis. He’d actually taken me on a date to see The Domes. I’d lived in Milwaukee for years but had never visited the historical landmark. They were a warm welcome against winter’s bitter cold temperatures. After that, we’d had a long dinner, where we lingered over dessert and wine for hours afterwards. However, it was when he dropped me off at my apartment that things really heated up.
He’d parked out front, per usual, and moved in slowly for our end-of-night kiss. The kiss eventually led to necking, which eventually led to him hauling me across the armrest and into his lap, where I continued to get lost in both his eyes and his lips for the next several minutes. Once the car windows were sufficiently steamed, I let myself out of the driver’s side door, stumbling into the slick street. I’d intended to say goodnight there, but he followed me into the inky black night and kissed me again, forcing me up against his Jeep. This time, it was so deep, so passionate, that I completely forgot I was standing outside in sub-zero temperatures. When he pulled away, my eyes were still closed, my lips still poised for one last smooch. My legs had turned to jelly and the only thing keeping me upright was the cool exterior of Mika’s Jeep. He’d chuckled and whispered, “I think that’s sufficient for tonight,” before walking me to the front door of the lobby.
“You can come up,” I’d offered, the words flying out of my mouth with little care to consequence.
He’d hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”
I’d been taken aback by his answer. Hadn’t he just been all over me? Suddenly, I’d remembered just how much rejection could sting and exactly why I’d all but stopped dating in the months and years leading up to the past month. Men were cruel. I’d never had a decent experience. No wonder I’d become a workaholic. I didn’t have time for this kind of crap. “Well,” I had said, lowering my head so that
I was staring at my shoes while blinking rapidly to ward of tears. “Goodnight, then.”
He’d grabbed for my arm as I’d begun to walk away. “Marian,” he said sternly. I’d clenched my jaw but had refused to make eye contact. “Marian, don’t do that. I do like you.”
“So it’s because you like me that you don’t want to come upstairs. Why, I’ve never heard that one before,” I snarled sarcastically. Raising my chin, all traces of tears gone, I had stared deeply into his seductive baby blues, swallowing hard and willing myself not to give in and start kissing him all over again. I wouldn’t be the one to make the move. Not after I’d just laid all of my cards on the table and he’d shot me down with a full house.
“I really like this side of you,” he whispered, cupping my chin in his hand and pulling me in for another kiss. Lord help me, I kissed him back. “Willful. Stubborn. It’s pretty sexy,” he continued, pulling away.
I’d stood helpless, arms limp at my sides, wishing he’d just shut up and leave or shut up and kiss me until the sun rose, which, from the looks of it, would be happening fairly soon. “So what’s the problem?” I asked.
“I can’t sleep with you when you’re seeing somebody else,” he shrugged assured. “Even though James and I aren’t great friends any more, we were partners once. He’s a good man. I respect him. I also respect you and your decision, whatever it is going to be. I’m not dating you to earn a quick trip down your pants.” He kissed my forehead. “Don’t you think for a second that I don’t want you,” he added. “Don’t feel like you’re the only one in this situation experiencing rejection.”
He had me there. With that, he’d given me one last long, lingering kiss and then turned, striding quickly back to his car. “Wait,” I’d called. He stopped and turned, staring at me curiously. I jogged over and threw myself into his arms. He hugged me tightly and when we parted, I kissed him one last time before running inside. I watched from the lobby as he crawled back into his car and saw the steam rise from the tailpipe in the cold, blustery pre-dawn, pressed my forehead to the glass front door and waved as he’d driven away. Sighing, I turned and drug myself slowly towards the elevator. They just didn’t make men here like they made them in the Ukraine, it would seem.
Allison Janda - Marian Moyer 02 - Seduction, Deceit & a Slice of Apple Pie Page 2