Smooth Operator

by Jennifer Lucia

  "Geez, full of yourself much?" I said. Tyler chuckled and started walking.

  The Museum of Death was only two miles from our hotel, and we walked comfortably together, enjoying the warm sunshine and talking about nothing in particular. When we got to the museum, whose giant wrought-iron gate was emblazoned with a floor-to-ceiling skull on one side and HOLLYWOOD spelled out in skulls on the other side, Tyler gestured for me to go in ahead of him.

  We walked to the ticket booth together, where a goth girl was smacking her bubblegum and reading a magazine. "Hi there," Tyler said, turning on the charm. "We'd like two tickets, please." He pulled off his sunglasses, and the girl did a double take, then sat up with a flirtatious smile. She looked at me as if to say, "Girl, you are so lucky," and I nodded quietly.

  Tyler paid for our tickets against my protests- "I invited myself, the least I could do is pay"- and we proceeded to the museum together.

  The Museum of Death is, in a word, cool. It had exhibits featuring the Heaven's Gate suicide plot, original artwork by John Wayne Gacy and other serial killers, crime scene photos from the Manson family killing spree, and a host of other macabre exhibits that we'd never make it through in just one day. The museum was a little schlocky, but I loved it.

  I worried at first that Tyler had just been humoring me and that he'd be weirded out by my interest in the museum. He seemed to be as fascinated as I was by the gruesome displays, though, pointing out particularly cringe-worthy torture implements and other, less painful, things, like the two-headed turtle.

  We stood together in the serial killer exhibit, reading poems by Dennis Rader. "You know, he wasn't too bad," Tyler said. "I would buy this if I saw it in a poetry store."

  "A poetry store?" I laughed. "And you're insane. This is an awful poem. I could do better than this."

  "You're a professional writer. He was a security alarm installer, give him some credit," Tyler protested.

  "I think we need to get out of here, you're defending BTK a little too passionately," I replied. Tyler laughed, but took me by the elbow again and led me out of the exhibit.

  We emerged from the museum two hours later, souvenirs in hand and existential dread firmly in place. "That was awesome," Tyler said. "But I never want to die now."

  "C'est la vie," I said.

  "You picked the museum. Now I get to pick where we go to lunch," Tyler said.

  I gagged a little. "How can you think about food after what we just witnessed?"

  Tyler patted his very flat abs. "Iron stomach, baby. I could've eaten a four-course meal while we were reading up on Hannibal Lector. Come on. We can't walk to the place I have in mind. Let's go get my car from the hotel."

  "I'm too afraid to say no," I said, following his lead down the street. I tried to tamp down the warm feeling bubbling in my chest when Tyler fell into step with me and grabbed my hand, looking down at me with a smile. He interlaced our fingers together, and we walked down the street hand in hand while Tyler pointed out notable places on Hollywood Boulevard.

  As lovely as it was, I gently disengaged my hand from Tyler's when we were two blocks away from our hotel. I didn't want anyone from work to see us and start rumors about me being Tyler's new flavor of the week.

  Tyler looked down at me knowingly. "Don't want to be seen with me and sully your reputation?"

  "No, my hand was hot," I lied lamely.

  Tyler raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. It turned out unlinking our hands had been a good decision. As soon as we got back into the hotel lobby, we were accosted by Vanessa, wearing a gorgeous pale pink romper that accentuated her golden tan.

  "Tyler! I've been looking all over for you, babe!" she said, grabbing him and pulling him into a hug. She looked at me curiously. "Were you guys going over the script or something?"

  I tried not to be insulted that Vanessa didn't consider that we could be doing non- work things together. "We went to the Museum of Death," I said. "Tyler ran into me on my way there and invited himself."

  Vanessa wrinkled her nose in distaste at the mention of the museum. "Ew. Anyway, Tyler, I wanted to see if you'd run some lines with me in preparation for our first scene Monday."

  Tyler shifted uncomfortably. "Actually, we were just about-"

  "You guys go ahead," I interrupted. "I need to send some of my notes to Doug anyway, and I should really get started on that."

  "What about lunch?" Tyler asked.

  "You guys should go. I just remembered I have a lot of leftovers that are about to go bad. I need to start in on those," I said.

  "Okay," Vanessa said quickly. She grabbed Tyler's forearm possessively. I refrained from pulling her fawning self off of him.

  I hurried out of the lobby and to the elevator, looking back only once. Tyler stared at me in confusion, barely paying attention to the simpering Vanessa. I just bit my lip and disappeared into the elevator whose doors had just opened.

  Who cares if Tyler thought I was a headcase now? That had been the right thing to do. Right?

  Chapter Nine

  I sat on my bed later that night, watching cable news and waffling between going down to Doug's party or staying safely in my hotel room. I was still a little mortified about running away from Tyler this afternoon and didn't want to deal with all of the awkward questions he was sure to have. My cell phone chimed, and I looked down to see a text from Tyler.

  TS: Hey weirdo. Are you going to this shindig tonight?

  I bit my lip, trying to pretend that Tyler's name on my phone screen didn't send a shock wave of pleasure down my spine. I tilted my head, thinking about something to say that would make me seem cool.

  OH: I'm not sure, I'm watching riveting political debate now. I might go if you're going, though.

  That made me sound like I was trying too hard. I backspaced and typed in a new sentence.

  OH: Not sure yet.

  I hit send, hoping that didn't seem curt. My phone chimed back almost immediately.

  TS: You owe me for ditching me earlier and leaving me with Vanessa. You seem to blow me off a lot. Do you get pleasure from bruising my ego?

  I giggled, then took a deep breath, composing myself.

  OH: It seemed like you guys had work to do. I didn't want to get between that.

  TS: I still haven't eaten since you abandoned me. Take me to the buffet at the party, so I don't wither away until I'm flesh and bone.

  I let out a bark of laughter. My defenses were quickly being torn down. Tyler was using his best moves on me.

  OH: I have a feeling you're perfectly capable of going to that party yourself.

  TS: Of course I am. But it would be so much more fun with you. ;-)

  I let that sink in before answering.

  OH: Okay. But only in the interest of your health. We don't want you starving to death before we even start shooting the movie.

  TS: I knew you'd see it my way. ;-) I'll pick you up at seven.

  I looked at the time. It was already a quarter past six. That did not leave me with very much time for my normal routine of showering, doing my hair, debating endlessly which dress made me look the least fat, having a meltdown, recovering, and doing my makeup. I threw my phone on the bed and hurried into the shower.

  I skipped the meltdown, and forty minutes later, I was ready to go. Tyler knocked on my door, and I pulled the back strap of my heel into place and opened the door for him. "You're five minutes early."

  Tyler stared at me with a slackened jaw, taking in my appearance. When he recovered, he let out a long, slow whistle. "Damn."

  I preened, doing a spin so Tyler could fully appreciate the look. I'd chosen a slinky backless dress with strappy heels and not much else. Judging by Tyler's reaction, he approved. "You like it?"

  "You are the single sexiest thing I've ever seen in my life," Tyler growled, pulling me to him so he could kiss me on the cheek.

  I shifted, pulling him into the doorway. "I highly doubt that. Let's go get some food in your stomach, you're delirious with hunger,
" I said. I tapped my phone, making sure my room key was in the pocket on the case, and shut the door behind me.

  At the elevators, Tyler reached around me to press the down button, placing his hand on my back smoothly on the way back from the button. The door dinged open, and we entered the already crowded elevator. Tyler pushed his way to the back, gently pushing me forward by the small of my back. The constant contact was sending jolts of awareness surging through me. Tyler kept his hand on my back for the duration of the elevator ride, fingers splaying possessively. He was dangerously close to where my underwear wasn't.

  I knew the exact moment Tyler realized I wasn't wearing any panties. He stiffened beside me, his hand exploring lower and lower. The doors dinged open on the conference level, and we jumped apart. The crowd of people surged forward, moving us with them. Tyler was close behind me, keeping contact with my bare skin. He used his hand to gently guide me towards the ballroom that the party was being held in. I stepped forward and swayed, vertigo hitting me like a truck.

  Tyler's large hands encircled my waist, steadying me. "Whoa. Are you okay?"

  I nodded. "I'm still not used to these fast elevators and high heels. I'm just dizzy. I'll be fine." I grasped Tyler's biceps and stood there, steadying myself until the dizziness passed. The dizziness went away, but still, I held on, not wanting the strong arms to leave my waist. Tyler's green eyes darkened, and he clenched his jaw. I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed, transfixed by the sudden intensity surging between us.

  "Tyler! Olivia!" Doug's booming voice snapped the connection between us before I could do something stupid like jump onto Tyler's hips and ride him into the next room. "You made it! Come on in. There are some people you should meet." He ushered us into the ballroom and shut the door behind him.

  We were hit by a blast of loud dance music as soon as we walked in. The ballroom had been transformed into a nightclub, and apparently, the DJ was trying hard to get people onto the parquet dance floor and get the party started. I rubbed my ear a little, trying to relieve it from the wub-wub of the dance music.

  I spied Dayna sitting by herself at a table across the room and slipped away from Tyler and Doug, mouthing "I'm sorry" at Tyler as I went. Tyler's eyes followed me with smoldering intensity and mock betrayal as I left, but Doug was talking loudly and insistently about something or other, grabbing Tyler's attention away from me. I smirked as I walked through the magenta- lit ballroom-turned-club, knowing Tyler was watching every sway of my hip and flip of my hair.

  "Is there something wrong with your hip?" Dayna asked when I got to her table.

  "No?" I asked, confused.

  "You were walking funny and jutting it out like you were trying to work out a kink. Look, you're still doing it." Dayna looked concerned.

  I frowned and adjusted my posture sheepishly. I stood up straight and looked down at Dayna's almost-empty glass. "What's cracking?"

  Dayna held up the remains of her vodka cranberry. "Free booze and Doug gave me the night off, so I'm sitting here and enjoying myself quietly."

  "Open bar is always a plus. Scoot over." I slid onto the bench next to her and discreetly looked around. Tyler was still standing with Doug, being talked at and looking bored to death. When our eyes met, I shook with mirth at the furious look he gave me. I winked at him and flagged down our waiter.

  "I'll have what she's having." I jerked my head towards Dayna, and the waiter nodded and disappeared. I chanced a look back to where Doug and Tyler had just been standing, but they'd disappeared.

  "Looking for someone?" Dayna asked, fiddling with the lime on her drink.

  I shook my head. "Nah. You were who I was hoping to see."

  "Oh, please. I saw you come in with Tyler. Did you guys come together or what?" Dayna asked interestedly.

  I shook my head. "We ran into each other in the elevator." I still wasn't ready for coworkers to know that something was going on between Tyler and me, even if it were someone like Dayna. I had no idea what the repercussions could be, or how vicious the gossip could get.

  The waiter reappeared with my drink and a refill for Dayna. We took our glasses gratefully, and I surveyed the room while Dayna texted her little sister. Vanessa had arrived looking fabulous, as always. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and deep red lipstick only served to accent her exotic features. She looked around and squealed when she saw what she was looking for- Tyler. She rushed over to greet him, and I watched with a sinking heart as they embraced.

  "Dude, I know," Dayna said, looking at my face. "Vanessa makes me feel that way, too." She nodded knowingly as she slurped the last of her drink. "What a nightmare, right?" She slurped down the rest of her drink and made eye contact with the waiter and nodded. He winked and headed off to get her new drink.

  "Flirting with the waitstaff for drinks?" I asked. "You're shameless."

  "Don't hate the player, hate the game." Her drink appeared as if magic and she sipped at it with a smile.

  "I'm going to check out the buffet." I scooted out of the booth and stood up. "I'm starving."

  "Get me some cookies! Oh, and pizza if they have it," Dayna said. I nodded, even though I doubted they had pizza and cookies, and Dayna beamed tipsily. She turned her attention back to her cell phone as I walked away.

  The buffet line was empty, surprising me. Every time I'd ever been to a party like this, the first thing I did was check out the food. I guess priorities were a little different here in the land of lipo and fad diets. I grabbed a plate, ready to fill that baby up, but turned when I felt a hand on my hip. I turned, and Tyler was standing behind me, two drinks in hand.

  "Chardonnay?" he offered. I looked sadly down at the trays of food laying uneaten and resolved to come back later. I put my plate down, took the glass from Tyler, and followed him to the secluded corner he'd chosen. "That's twice today you've ditched me," Tyler said seriously.

  I flushed and took a sip of my wine. "It's a work party. I figured you'd want to mingle with Doug and meet some Very Important People."

  "Mingling is overrated, and I was already with a Very Important Person." Tyler's fingers skated across my bare shoulder, and my breath hitched. Was Tyler doing this right now in the open, around everyone we worked with? His lips lightly brushed against my shoulder and he lifted his head back up, devil-may-care grin transforming his handsome face.

  I shook my head, silently wishing for him to stop while simultaneously wanting him to continue. I wiggled in my seat, trying to alleviate the growing pressure that was mounting in my core. "You're unbelievable. Are you tipsy?"

  Tyler leaned his head towards me conspiratorially. "Being around you does things to me, makes me forget myself or where we are."

  My mouth dried, and I tried to play it cool. "Was that a line from Smooth Operator?" Tyler shook his head innocently, and I unnarrowed my eyes. "It's just the dress. I bet you'd feel differently if I were wearing underwear."

  Tyler swallowed, his eyes dragging down the length of me and making me feel like I was wearing nothing at all. I leaned against the wall and Tyler followed, his long body aligning with mine. "Olivia," he said languidly. I raised my eyes to meet his, and he traced a circle on my hip with one long finger. "I've been thinking about you all day."

  "Oh?" I shivered. The circle he was tracing with his finger was growing wider, and now his hand was palming my waist experimentally. He gripped hard and turned me to face him fully.

  Tyler looked down at me, a lopsided smile accentuating his killer dimples. "Yeah. If I'm honest, I've been thinking about you for a lot longer than that. Maybe since the first day I met you in that restaurant."

  "Didn't you have a girlfriend then?" I whispered back.

  "That only lasted about a week. It wasn't anything serious," Tyler replied.

  "And after that?" I asked.

  "I haven't dated anyone since then." Tyler pulled me closer to him, practically on his lap. I closed my eyes when the evidence of his arousal jutted against my hipbone,
teasing me.

  "Tyler, don't," I whispered.

  "I like it when you say my name," Tyler whispered back into my ear. "I wonder what you'll sound like when I'm making you come over and over." Oh god. Tyler brushed his lips against my neck, breathing softly and causing goosebumps to run from my scalp to my knees. He grabbed the small of my back and pulled me harder into him, grinding in motion with the thumping of the music from the speakers above us. We ground against each other with abandon, rocking closer and closer to the precipice of what promised to be an explosive cliff.

  The music stopped and feedback sounded, bringing me back to my senses. I pulled myself off of Tyler and swallowed, shaking my head. I can't believe I was just dry-humping someone incredibly recognizable in an extremely public venue where we could be spotted at any minute. Tyler looked at me with bald desire, his eyes full of lust and his chest heaving slightly. "Come upstairs with me," he said hoarsely.

  "I need to go to the ladies' room," I said, fleeing before Tyler could say anything else that I'd agree to. Doug was making some speech about the commencement of shooting, but I didn't stop to listen, making a beeline for the bathroom.

  Once I was in the harsh fluorescent lighting of the bathroom, everything that had happened tonight started to feel like it had happened in a dream- a wildly irresponsible, but elating, dream.

  I rubbed my face in the mirror, noting the high flush in my cheeks and the way my perfectly curled hair was mussed. Even if today had been a dream, that was okay. I was spending the next couple of months in La La Land. What was wrong with dreaming a little bit?

  I resolved to march right back over to Tyler and accept his offer to go back to his hotel room, caution be damned. It had been over a year since the last time I'd had sex, and that had just been a quickie with Dave in which I hadn't gotten off. If the rumors about Tyler were true, I didn't think not getting off would be a problem.