by Unknown
With a laugh he finished his wine. To my alarm he stood and rounded the counter into the kitchen. He stepped next to the stove and tenderly took the spoon from my hand, “I’m sorry, Liz,” he whispered, tasting the spaghetti sauce. “I wanted to know more about you.” His voice was sultry and borderline illicit so near my lips. Red danger alerts began flashing across the insides of my eyelids. My nipples perked with his closeness. “Mmm… this is great sauce!” My eyes couldn’t withdraw from watching his lips around the spoon. Each flick of his tongue across it sent ripples of excitement to my clit. My heart was pounding. It was official; this man knocked me off my rocker. I was out of control when he was near me. I wanted to grab him, throw my arms around his neck and pull his head to mine. That wonderful tongue would tangle with mine so deliciously. I shook my head free of my thoughts. I needed to stop this! Carlton was my boss for God’s sake!
“Is this a family recipe?” His words jarred me back into reality.
“Oh um, no… actually I just threw some things together at the last minute. I’m afraid to say that’s the way I cook everything. If it’s a good home cooked meal you want this is the wrong restaurant. Everything was once in a can,” I teased. I’d come back to myself temporarily. Somehow, every time I was near him I started fantasizing about tasting his body parts. The weak smile on his face indicated that he appreciated the perk in my attitude. It was almost as though he was begging for a sliver of happiness in his life. It drew me to him.
“Liz, you have a natural talent. Are we ready to eat?” His smile seemed almost forced, but it was genuine. I thought maybe I was starting to get him. The incredible package on the outside didn’t match the soulful man inside; he seemed lonely.
“I think so! There are the plates, forks and knives, and the table is over there. I’ll bring the wine.”
“This was wonderful Liz, thank you so much for cooking. I’d love to have you all up for dinner… anytime!” Carlton seemed cheerful almost. He helped to clear the table and we left the rest of the mess for Palmer to clean.
“Are you ready for our walk?” I asked as I picked up Jargon and Nucy’s leashes from the hallway table. The dogs had been playing and nuzzling one another all through dinner as if they’d known each other all their lives. Their heads snapped to attention the second I picked up their leashes. Amazing how they’d bonded into real friends in just this short time.
Carlton stepped next to me and followed my gaze, “It’s weird the way they’ve just been attracted to one another like that, isn’t it?”
“I swear I was just thinking the exact same thing!” I laughed. It was even stranger that he and I had the same thoughts.
*-*-*-*-*
It was a lovely evening outside. New York seemed to change hats after the workday is through. The neighborhoods inhabited by tourists during the day become normal mini towns in the evening. It was as though the city itself has worked all day and retired with its family at night. Central Park was lit up like a Christmas tree as we strolled the wide pathways. As children, my parents had brought us to New York before the holidays both to shop and to see the flakes of snow billowing down from the tall buildings. Department stores with incredible small scenes depicting old movies and Santa and his elves had delighted us into squeals of joy. It’d really been a happy childhood for Palmer and me. Our parents were the only ones we knew who still adored one another after over twenty years of marriage. Palmer and I teased them mercilessly about their romantic kisses in public as well as at home, and they’d laughed heartily at our embarrassment.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Carlton said as we watched Jargon and Nucy romp like puppies in the fenced field in front of us. I hadn’t realized that I’d been so silent during our walk.
“I’m sorry, Carlton, I’m not much company tonight. It’s beautiful out though isn’t it?”
He turned his face from the dogs and down towards me, “Liz, it’s the most beautiful evening I’ve had in such a long time.”
At work he was so rough he almost smelled vicious. Here, in the park tonight he was a different person. “What’s so funny?” he asked furrowing his brows with a smirk.
I shook my head, “No, it’s nothing,” I couldn’t help but smile.
“Come on, out with it,” he touted.
“It’s just that at work you are so distant, kind of scary. Here you’re just a normal guy out with his dog.”
He stared at me thoughtfully, “You honestly want to know my dark secret?”
I nodded almost anxiously, “Honestly, my shrink told me that I needed to get out more. The only interaction I have with humans is at work, and all those people are my employees. He said I needed friends outside of work or my dog was going to lose his mind listening to me all the time. When I met you… I can’t explain it, but I felt like you were the friend I needed. I didn’t know you had a brother; he’s a delightful bonus.”
I stared at him considering, “So with us you got a two for one!” I laughed and Nucy stopped in her tracks in the play yard and watched me. “I’m glad we could help you, Carlton. Seriously.” I was sincere too. It was good to know that he considered us friends. I wasn’t sure how being friends outside of work with my boss was going to play out, but I was looking forward to being able to stare at him some evenings. The twinkling lights in the trees lining the pathways played in his eyes lending him an aura of kindness. Maybe I was wrong judging him the way I did? Maybe, just maybe, he didn’t have an angry, rough side at all? But the way he’d grabbed me in the elevator earlier had sent the blood throbbing in my veins. He’d grabbed my arm and physically withheld me from leaving the elevator! That had to mean more than friendship. The rush from his roughness had sent shivers up my spine. So which was the real Carlton Michaud? Was he the brutal attorney whose touch sent me reeling, or the sweet teddy bear of a guy tossing the ball continuously for his dog? I didn’t have a clue.
“Liz, can I ask you a question?” Carlton stared down at me curiously.
“Sure boss,” I giggled, leaning my face upwards towards his.
“Would you come up for dinner tomorrow night?” His words were slow and deliberate, as though they were a struggle for him.
I was charmed. I liked shy Carlton too. “Is this part of your therapy?”
He chuckled, “No, it’s not. I’d just like to have dinner with you.”
There wasn’t a woman in this world that would turn down an invitation from this man. Most would already be planning their diamond choices. His dark curls flickered in the evening wind as his eyes locked onto mine. “I’d love to.”
“Good God Liz, what are you playing here?” Palmer scrutinized me. “You’re gonna lose your job fuckin’ with the boss like that.”
I shook my head. Sometimes my brother really wore on my nerves. Couldn’t he see what I saw tonight? How kind and gentle Carlton had been? “He just needs a friend, that’s all. He said his therapist thinks he needs social interaction.”
Palmer was strewn across the sectional in our living room, a video controller in one hand and his cell phone in the other. Sometimes I forgot that he was only twenty. His eyebrows clinched as he stared at me, “That man wants more from you than friendship, Liz. He’s such a freakin’ hunk that I bet he fucks all the new lawyers.” His hand went to his chest in faux distress, “I’m not sayin’ that’s a bad thing, I’d do him. All I’m sayin’ is that you aren’t the type to be one of his many women. You haven’t even dated since you caught that cheatin’ bastard Benton.”
“I know, I know. I just don’t think he’s the playboy you think he is. He’s just a regular guy when he’s not at work.” My words sounded plausible, but something still rang wrong with them. I just couldn’t figure out how a man that looked like he did ended up being without friends, without suitable companions? Any multitude of women would give their last fake nail to crawl in bed beside him. It just didn’t make sense that he needed company.
“Be careful Liz, something about that guy is creepy.” Palmer ret
urned to his video game, clicking buttons at lightning speed. I knew it was his way of release; killing virtual bad guys. But the noises from the game wore on my eardrums.
“Well I like him, and if I end up in a refrigerator in his storage room then call me wrong. Don’t stay up all night playing that game, Palmer. You’ll feel like crap tomorrow. You’re a full time student now; three years, that’s all you get in this city. Then we’re going home!”
Palmer held up his hand to wave me off. “Alright! It’s your ass in the cooler, not mine,” he said, his face never leaving the screen.
*-*-*-*-*
While my brother may be a juvenile at heart, there’s never a doubt in my mind that he has a wicked sense of fashion. I had no idea what to wear for dinner the next night, and my work clothes didn’t interest Palmer because by the very definition of the word attorney. I was forced to dress blandly, but my evening wear was a different story. Within forty five minutes of walking in our front door, he had me ‘casually’ dressed to kill. He chose black jeans, as the ultimate in ‘I have no idea what to wear’ apparel. Let’s face it; if you don’t know the level of ‘casual,’ then it’s always best to go with black jeans. I’d learned quite a bit from my little brother! A tight black tank top and my greatest pair of southern glitzy flip flops finished off the look. “Should I wear the pearl studs or the diamond ones?” I glanced at Palmer through the reflection in the mirror. He studied me from behind.
“Hmm… I think we should do something completely different. Here!” He chose a pair of diamond drops that I usually only wear with dresses.
“Are you sure? Aren’t they a bit presumptuous?”
Palmer stood back and puffed, “Girl, I swear! I’m just trying to move you out of your southern girl habits slowly. If I thought they made you look like a slut, would I send you off wearing them?”
I laughed, grabbed his hand and held it to my face. “I love you little man!” I knew deep down that he most certainly would send me off looking like a slut.
“Alright girl, if this is what you want, then go get ‘em! I won’t say I agree, I think the guy is a closet rapist or something, but I’m right downstairs if you need me. I gotta kitchen knife and I will travel!”
He was so precious when he was protective over me. “You know you aren’t as ‘New York’ as you think. Stabbing people with kitchen knives is more of a southern thing, don’t you think?”
He shook his head flamboyantly, “Uh uh. A kitchen knife is the universal weapon of angry bitches worldwide!” his finger waved wildly in the air as he spoke. I couldn’t help but laugh; he’d always been such a funny kid. Now he’d grown up into such an outgoing character. I should’ve known he would, but he’s had so many issues through the years. It was two years after Mom died until I was even able to get him to go out of the house.
I stood up and hugged his neck, “Thanks Palmer. You really are the best brother a girl could ask for!”
He pulled me close in his awkward surfer dude hug, “Agh, it’s nothing. Even without the DNA I would’ve chosen you as my best friend!”
There was a knock on the front door.
I kissed his cheek and made one last inspection of his work in the mirror. “See you in a few hours then!”
As Palmer opened the door, we both stood stock still as Jargon ran past us into the living room. There he was, in all his splendor: Carlton Michaud. Tonight he was still wearing his work slacks and white button down. His tie was missing and so were his shoes, his feet were only covered by black socks. His hair was ruffled and he had a glass of bourbon in his hand. “Hey! No fair. You look great! I assume you didn’t wear that to work?”
I chuckled, “Of course not! That would be against company policy. I’d never do anything against company policy.”
He whistled lightly and both dogs raced through the foyer. All of our eyes followed them onto the waiting elevator. Palmer and I watched in awe as Jargon stood up on his hind legs and pushed a button in the elevator. I startled and began to race into the hallway when I felt Carlton’s thick hand on my bare arm, lightening shot through me. “It’s okay; they’re just going on upstairs. It’s a trick I taught Jargon. He can open doors too. I left my key in the elevator control; he’ll only go up though, I promise!”
I glanced at Palmer in doubt. He shrugged. He wasn’t as paranoid when it came to Nucy as I was. She’d been with us so long; through so much, that losing her was a thought that devastated me. “Okay, well what’s for dinner?” I asked Carlton with a smile.
He was smoking hot tonight with his after work look. I bet his dry cleaner thought he was nuts cooking dinner in outrageously expensive suit pants, but the effect on me was smoldering. I was sure my eyes were twinkling ‘fuck me’ lights all over the place. I wonder where he left his tie? I’d like to find it and tie him up to something with it! And his feet only in those socks! Whew, I could play footsies for hours with those.
He stared at me with raised eyebrows as I gawked at him openly. My fingers drifted towards my forehead, supposedly to wipe off the word lust from it. I was almost drooling! He put his hand firmly on my arm and pulled me next to him. “Palmer, have a great night. I’ll have her in by midnight, I promise.”
Palmer nodded calmly, “Alright dude. She’s all I got, so keep that in mind.”
Carlton shot him a questionable glance. I couldn’t tell what he meant by it. He could have just as easily meant ‘well then I’ll have to kill you too then’ or ‘are you a fool dude? I wouldn’t hurt her if my life depended on it.’ My fantasy hoped it was the latter. He pulled me into the elevator as Palmer shut the door to my apartment. We were alone again, in an elevator!
He released my arm; I instantly noticed the absence there. “I made a Hawaiian shrimp salad. Isn’t that what you asked? What I cooked?”
I thought for a moment, I had asked that! I laughed, “Sorry, I guess you must think I’m a schoolgirl on her first time to the big city?”
His face lightened and he reached forward and slid his hand around the back of my neck. Shivers raced through me, was he pulling me forward for a kiss? But no, he only seemed to want to run his fingers around my nape. He smiled down at me, “I don’t think that at all Liz. I think you’re the most refreshing person I’ve ever met.” His voice was so damned sultry my heart started fluttering.
“Well thank you, Carlton. That’s very nice of you to say!” I cleared my throat lightly, “So um… Hawaiian shrimp salad, huh? That sounds incredible! Are you the Galloping Attorney?”
He laughed heartily now, “That’s funny! No actually, when I graduated university in England I came straight to the U.S., so I had to learn fast how to fend for myself!” The elevator doors opened in front of us, he waved me forward.
As I stepped into the hallway it became obvious that there was only one door. Actually, one large mahogany set of double doors! They were intricately carved with Chinese designs. I’ve been in the most elegant of Charleston homes and not once have I seen anything close to the beauty of these doors. I noticed one of the doors was cracked slightly; Carlton stepped past me and pushed it open, “Welcome Liz! Let’s eat!” I followed him into his kitchen, noticing both of our dogs on his den sofa as we passed them. I shook my head in shame at Nucy, she ignored me.
It was then that I realized that his apartment took up the entire top floor. There was a huge outdoor space, and his apartment was surrounded by it. Tall heavy steel and glass doors covered almost every outer wall. He noticed my fascination with the beauty of his apartment. “Go ahead, walk around and check it out,” Carlton said as I absorbed his surroundings.
“You don’t mind? I promise I won’t go through your drawers or anything,” I teased.
He shook his head, “Just make it quick, I’m starving! I’ll set the table. Red or white wine?”
I was already walking away from him towards his dining room, “Red. Definitely red,” I said as I left the kitchen. His apartment was the most unique thing I’d ever seen. It was as though someone
had just built a glass house on top of an already tall building. As a matter of fact that is probably exactly what he did! I stepped back into the kitchen, “Did you build this apartment?”
Carlton looked up and leaned against the counter, “I did. I bought the building and had it refurbished. I actually lived in your apartment for five months while they built this on top. It was really quite interesting to watch it come together. Are you interested in architecture, Liz?”
I shook my head, “I doubt there’s a person from my hometown who doesn’t appreciate good architecture. It surrounds us.” My eyes were still roaming. The kitchen had no upper cabinets; the walls above the countertops were just glass windows. It was startling, and gave the impression that you were floating in the New York sky. I wandered off in a semi daze not waiting for him to speak. Every room in his apartment, including the four bathrooms, had external glass walls. The entire left side of the apartment was two bedrooms, each with its own bath. And there was a half bath in the hallway for guests. The center of the apartment was one giant room that included a dining area, living room, and his kitchen. You could see directly through the apartment from another building! It was a fantastic work of design. Palmer would have a fit to see this!
“Hey, just don’t look in the top drawer of my bedside table!” Carlton called teasingly as I wandered from room to room. Okay, now I had to look in that drawer! I meandered into his bedroom; it was another amazing feat of engineering. His bed had clearly been made by the same people who carved his front doors. It must’ve taken a crane to get it up here! There was only one bedside table, and of course I pulled open the drawer. Inside there was a box with my name written in gold across the top of the plain brown wrapping paper. A white string was the only other décor on the gift. I picked it up and slid the string off. As I peeled the wrapping aside, I began to laugh. “Oh this is funny Carlton, really funny!” I said as I held up the box through the doorway.