by ZN Willett
"It's something that I found in Africa. Do you want to try my Roobernet?"
I watched as he swiveled the glass. "Maybe later. Do you travel often?"
"It comes with the job. It used to be enjoyable, but now it's a chore."
"I don't think that I will ever see it that way."
"Wait. One day you'll wish you were back in your own bed."
Taking another sip of wine, I imagined Andrew's bed for a moment. "I can see that happening, but not for a while. I'm excited to travel."
He placed his glass down and turned towards me. "Are you planning on doing that soon?"
"My book tour starts in two weeks. First, the US, then I'm off to Europe. I've been excited about it for months."
His face dropped. "How long will you be gone?"
"It's scheduled for six weeks."
He reached for his glass and took another sip of wine. We didn’t say anything for a while, and I wasn't sure what to think. I sat quietly until he asked out of the blue, "How did Andria Moore become A.P. Moore?"
"Well, it was Erin actually. She helped me to find my inner voice and encouraged me to write things down in a journal."
His brows furrowed. "You're saying you did all of those things?"
"No! Ummm, no. It was in my head. You read my book?" I thought, please no. It's embarrassing. Then I thought, you wrote the book, Andria.
"Sadly, I haven't read it—yet. But I bought it after we met. I plan to start it soon, actually."
Andrew was going to read my book, and I wanted to climb under the coffee table.
"I hear it's very good. I did flip through it. It seems different from what I thought you would write," he said with a sly grin.
As I turned closer to him intrigued, I asked, "How so?"
"We haven't known each other long, but you seem so…then the other night at your father’s…" he trailed off. "When I skimmed your book, I saw another side of you..." and his grin became something more.
"It's fiction."
He licked his bottom lip. "It's pretty detailed."
The room started to feel warm. "Most romances are."
"Ah-huh." He scooted over.
"Pure fantasy, Andrew."
"Your fantasies?" He smirked.
Yes!
I didn't answer as I picked up my glass and took another sip of wine while Andrew watched. Something about him watching me sip my wine stirred feelings deep inside. As I sat the glass down, a vision of us on Dad's couch came to mind, and a low moan escaped from me. "You're killing me, Andria. Shall we finish where we left off?" With that, Andrew hovered over me.
As I breathed out "Andrew," it sounded more like a 'come hither'. You know that growl deep inside that says, I want you, now.
He achingly placed soft wet kisses along my neck, taking his time and making me very frustrated. I could feel myself getting heated down there, and I wanted more; but he was going too slowly. I moved my hands up his back until I reached what I wanted. I had a thing for his hair—I couldn't understand why, but pulling it gave me great joy and made me very, very…well…wanting.
As I pulled his silky locks, he kissed me harder, lower, and positioned himself on top of me. The weight felt incredible. I yanked his hair and he looked into my needy eyes. I was in awe of his beauty and was having an Andrew Hughes moment. He didn't seem real. Yet, I didn't care—his lips seemed real when his signature smirk splayed on his face. I attacked it, and I must admit, I attacked it really well.
This time, he let me take control. I placed firm kisses on his perfect lips and then coaxed them open, starting on his top lip before I attacked his bottom. I wanted a taste, and I didn't care that my heart was beating frantically out of my chest. I wanted to taste him, and taste him I did.
It seemed as if we were making out forever before I heard him say, "Bedroom." Actually, he growled it. Lips still locked, he sat me up and placed his hand in mine. We broke for air as he pulled me up off of the couch. We stood and kissed for a while longer before he started walking me to his room.
I thought, this was finally it, yet my mind and body decided this was a perfect time to start a civil war. My body wanted him, but my mind was saying slow down, it's too soon. Yet I didn't care. Andrew was walking me to his bedroom. Then my legs stopped moving. "What's wrong?" he whispered as his lips trailed behind my ear.
"I’m not sure?" Came out puzzled.
He stopped to look at me funny before smiling, "You ready?"
Well, I thought I was, but I couldn't move. I wasn't sure if it was fear or that I liked Andrew way too much.
"Andrew, maybe we should wait—" Involuntarily came out of my mouth.
Then the next thing I knew he had me pushed up against a wall, and his body pinned mine. He vigorously placed kisses up and down my neck as he pressed harder against me. I could feel exactly how much he wanted to do this when his legs bent lower, and he pushed firmly as he started to move up and down my denim jeans.
I had officially lost my mind. "Andrew. I…oh…I…can't."
He grabbed my hands and placed them firmly above my head, causing my back to arch. My sensitive nubs rubbed along his chest as his lips brushed over my outer ear. My entire body shivered as he whispered, "I want you."
"I want you too," I breathlessly admitted.
He groaned in response and kissed me harder. His tongue slid along my bottom lip before his teeth pulled it into his awaiting mouth. The room filled with moans as our tongues explored each other. I tried several times to pull away, but Andrew was very good at pleading his case. His hands seared my flesh as they began to lift my blouse, exploring every inch as they slid up my body. When they reached my breasts, I panicked, and breathed out, "Stop."
He placed his forehead against mine as we both gasped for air. "Andria, I'm not going to make you do anything you're not comfortable with."
"I'm not saying that I don't want to do this. I just don't think I'm ready to do this now. Damn it! You're going to hate me!" I buried my face in his chest.
He placed his hands on each side of my face, lifting me to look at him. "I would never hate you, and definitely not because you want to wait. I am not going to pressure you." I couldn't look at him. "Hey! No hiding."
When I looked up, I saw the most sincere expression. "Andrew, I really didn't mean for it to get this far. I know it's hard for guys to—you know."
"Not going to lie to you, it's hard," he said with a grin. "But, I believe you're worth the wait."
"Are you for real?"
"That's what I thought the first time I saw you."
He was killing me.
"Why don't we take it slow, okay? We can play it by ear. We have plenty of time, and it's a good change."
I raised a brow at him. "You don't have to lie."
"I would never lie to you. I have women throwing themselves at me daily—"
"Not helping, Andrew!"
"Not what I meant. When you're ready, I'm ready."
"Until then, the thousands of women can have a go." The thought made me angry, and possessive. "Come on!" I grabbed at him to continue where we left off.
"Andria," he stopped me. "You have nothing to worry about. I want to get to know you better. You."
I heard him, but could I trust that he wasn't saying it just to appease me?
"LA and Dallas aren’t that far away. You said you'd be in LA. for meetings, and I can come to Dallas. I want to try. And most of all, I want to see where this goes, all right? Don't worry. Now, I better take you back to Erin's before I really lose control." He gave me a chaste kiss, and I watched as he grabbed his things.
All I could think about was did I make the right decision and could this really work?
Sitting on the flight back home, my head was flooded with thoughts of last night. Erin had stayed up with me until I left for the airport. After the initial shock had worn off, she understood why I stopped things from going too far. She knew I wanted my first time to be special, and was proud that I was able to abstain
. More liked amazed that I didn't chuck it all out the window.
I did have my doubts. Several times during our talk, I told her I had made a huge mistake, and was going to call Andrew and tell him to come and take me. Erin stopped me of course, stating how proud she was of me. If it were anyone else, I would have been proud of myself, but it was Andrew. How many chances do you get with a movie star? Zero and that was when I sobbed uncontrollably. Erin said it will all work out, and that she had a good feeling about him. I hoped so because I had gone over last night several times in my head, and the thought that I was a fool kept popping up.
Andrew was the perfect gentleman. The whole redo of our first meeting was a surprise. Although, to see him act like a normal guy really surprised me. Andrew was easy to talk to, and more than just a beautiful face.
Still, I hoped I didn't mess things up too badly, and he did say that he wanted us to work. I desperately would like to try. But the thoughts of "that may be impossible" and "what happens when he returns home to his life?" Flooded my mind.
Would he forget me? Go back to the multitudes of women who wanted him? What about Brittney? I didn't approach that subject again after he said they weren't together. I took him at his word, but….
For the entire flight home, I continued to go over all of the "what ifs."
It was warm, and I welcomed the heat. The air condition had been turned off while I was away. I checked my messages and emails before unpacking my bags. I hadn't heard from Andrew, and wondered when or if he would call.
He said he would call Andria, I reminded myself.
I spent the rest of the day in front of the television vegging out. A feeling of sadness hovered over me that I couldn't shake off. I missed Andrew, and that scared me.
The next morning I went to my publisher's office for a meeting. Elena had started her own publishing company ten years ago. She had purposely kept it small, calling it a boutique publishing agency. She usually focused on works from Hispanic women or those focused on the Southwest culture. Yet, she took me on, and I was neither Hispanic nor was my book set in the Southwest. In fact, it was set in London. Elena said she wanted to broaden the agency’s work. Elena was greatly respected in her field, and she knew her stuff. I was very happy to have her and her team behind me.
"How was Thanksgiving, Andria?" she asked behind the huge glass desk.
"Good. I had dinner with my dad and his girlfriend's family."
"Was that awkward?" She started to type something on her laptop.
"Not at all. I've known them for a long time."
"Good. Don said you met Frank?"
I was surprised she knew him. "Yeah."
She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. "Isn't he hot? We've done some business together in the past."
The way she said it, I knew she was referring to more than business. Not only was Elena smart, but she was drop dead gorgeous. Her body was compact, but she had curves in all of the right places, and her silky brown curls were always perfect. She was a shrewd businesswoman, and a freak in the bedroom, and proud of it. She often mixed business with pleasure.
"Frank gave me tickets to Andrew Hughes's premier," Saying his name out loud hurt.
"He's been Andrew's manager, ever since his first one died of a heart attack."
The way she said Andrew as if she knew him made me want to leap over her desk and pull her hair out. I wasn't normally a violent person, but like I said, Elena got around. The thought of her with Andrew…well….
"Now that is a hot piece of ass," she added leaning back in her chair. "What I would do for one night with Andrew Hughes…"
First, I felt relieved, and then a bit enraged. By the look on her face, she was imagining exactly what she would do. Then the feeling of panic struck me again. I kept thinking that I needed to call Andrew and tell him I was a fool to have stopped our intimacy from going further, and I needed to rectify that right away.
I called Erin after my meeting, who laughed at me, and said to get a grip. "Of course women are going to want him. He's a celebrity. But he wants you remember? You did something right."
"But he didn't call."
"Then call him. You have his number. But, please don't sound desperate."
"Whatever. I'll be in LA the end of the week. If I don't hear from him before then, I'll call. I'll have an excuse, right? I'm coming into town."
"Do what you feel, but he will call."
She was wrong; he didn't call. He did, however, leave a bouquet of flowers on my doorstep:
My heart sighed, and I breathed for the first time since I had left him. I put the flowers in water and placed the attached desert plants on my kitchen table. I stared at them until I realized I should call and thank him.
"You have reached Andrew Hughes's line." Okay? I used the same number he called me from, but why was some girl answering it. "Hello?"
"Is Andrew available?"
"He's in a meeting, may I take a message?"
"Yeah…yes, can you tell him Andria Moore called?"
"Does he have your number?"
I thought if he didn't, he could find out. "Yes, he does. Thank you,” I said and hung up.
I did some work in my home office and sent Erin my schedule for the week. She knew my closet inside and out and even had a computerized inventory of it. It was cool actually. She would send me an email, and all I would have to do is open it up, and there was a virtual picture of the outfit she had picked out.
Keira arrived later that afternoon and helped me pack before we went over my schedule for LA. I had a couple of meetings at the studio, and then a book event my last day.
As I finished up some edits, Keira walked into my office with a blank stare on her face and the phone in her hand. "Keira, are you all right?"
Her dark brown eyes were wide under her glasses; before she placed them into her hair, pushing back the fine bob cut strands out of her face. "Andria, do you know Andrew Hughes?" I apparently gave her a blank look myself. "I thought so." She held the phone to her ear. "Sorry, Ms. Moore does not know an Andrew Hughes."
I snapped out of it and ran to grab the phone out of her hand, "Andrew!"
"You don't know an Andrew Hughes? We can rectify that immediately. Because I have it on good authority that he would like to know you very much," he said.
I gushed. Ummm, I meant…ugh, you know what I meant. "I'm sorry, it wasn't like that…" I stared at Keira.
He started to laugh. "How is it possible to miss you so damn much?'
My heart stopped. "I miss you, too."
By then, Keira had a look of shock on her face and stood there gawking at me. I shooed her away, and she left bitterly as I closed the door behind her.
"I heard you called?'
"I did. I wasn't sure how I got your office?" I said as I sat back down at my desk.
"I forward my phone to my assistant, Amy."
I wondered if she was the same Amy I had met with Frank. "The flowers are beautiful."
"Glad you liked them. I picked them out myself. You would have had them sooner, but the ones Amy had ordered didn't arrive to Erin's in time."
"How do you know that?"
"I called Erin, and she said nothing had arrived. I had words with Amy and did it myself. She's usually on top of things, but that was unacceptable."
"That's okay. But should I be surprised that you called Erin?"
"No. She wasn't. We had a nice talk."
I was going to kill her. She never mentioned anything, and I can only imagine what she had said.
"She's actually going to send me some samples. I didn't know she was a stylist. Even though I told her I already had one, she wouldn't take no for an answer. She has already emailed me her ideas, and they're actually good. I wouldn't have thought to put some of the clothes together, but they worked."
"You don't have a clue what you may have gotten yourself into. I love my best friend, but when it comes to fashion, she becomes a dictator. Hey, you don't have to do that for
me."
"I'm not. She really is good."
"And please don't be mad at Amy. I think I met her with Frank."
"Is that so?"
"At the meeting I had the day of your premier."
"She went with him because I had to do a couple of appearances for the junket. Grant's people needed to go over some details."
"His studio is bidding for my book."
He was quiet for a moment too long. "Make sure you go over everything carefully. You need to have a say in what happens. If you want my people to—"
"Thank you, but my publisher's attorney is helping me."
"I’m sure you have the right people brokering this deal. But if you would allow me to say if it were me, I would let my own personal attorney look it over as well."
"Great advice and I was planning on having someone look over the final contract. Thanks for looking out for me. You have been in the business for a while."
"How are you?"
"Missing you." Not sure where that came from, but it shocked the heck out of me.
I could hear that smile over the phone. "I miss you too. When will you be in LA?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'll be there at the end of the week."
"Great! Can you send Amy your schedule?"
"I'll have Keira email that right away."
It was weird coordinating schedules with Andrew. It was weird that I had a schedule.
"I have to go, but can we talk later?"
"I would like that."
"Is this your landline? People still have them?"
"Funny. Yes, this is my 'landline' it's private—was private. No one has it except close friends and family. That's kinda why Keira said what she did."
"Ah-huh. Can I be placed on the list?"
"You already are."
"I really have to go, but I'll call you later this evening, okay?"
He hung up and as soon as I walked out of my office, Keira attacked. "Please tell me that was not Andrew—the—Hughes?"