Shep cleared his throat, and I looked over to find both Laney and Shep staring at me expectantly. Annika’s eyes were still on Laney.
I smirked again, not even a little ashamed of myself. “Sorry. It’s chilly in here, don’t you think?”
Shep tried to cover a laugh with a cough and said, “I dunno, man. Feels a little steamy to me.”
I laughed. “That’s just your monkey suit talking.”
Laney’s lips pursed once, suppressing a smile. “I was just asking whether everything looks good to you or if you need some time?”
My eyes were on Annika again, and I didn’t know just why I found the whole thing so amusing. But I did. “Everything looks good to me. Real good.”
Laney full-on smiled that time and pulled out some more papers. “Perfect. I’ll need to have all of your employees sign these updated contracts, as well as you and Shep. This is the final version with all of the requests that your lawyer made, including the negotiated payment and reimbursement for any damages and modifications to the shop. I convinced my bosses to do the history and cultural segments you asked for, too, which you’ll find in the episode packets. They love the angle of learning about the subculture — it’s something we haven’t seen before. They were also on board with hiring a new composer, as so not to have the—” she glanced at one of the papers in her hand, “Cheesy TLC bullshit soundtrack, as you called it.”
I smiled and sat up in my seat. I had a list of demands in order for me to participate in the farce, and Laney had pulled through. Part of me had hoped they wouldn’t so I could refuse, but at least if I had to do the damned show, it would be on my own terms.
She smiled back and shuffled through more papers. “We also have copies of all of the permits in here for your files, in case your landlord or the city needs to see them, but you can always direct any inquiries like that to us.”
I nodded.
“We appreciate you meeting with us, Joel. Your brother told us that you weren’t overly enthusiastic about the show, but I’m glad you came around. I hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how we do things. It’s not all fake drama and cat fights — we leave that to Survivor and The Bachelor. And if there’s ever an issue, you can always come to Annika or me. We’re here to ensure that things run smoothly — we’re problem solvers. So if anything crops up that you’re unhappy about, let us try to help fix it. Okay?”
I nodded again, uncomfortable with her hitting me in a soft spot, calling me on my fears so openly.
“Great. I just told our lead engineer that I’d take a couple of shots of the office and back room for him, some things he didn’t get when he was here last week. Could one of you show me the way?”
Shep stood up as I opened my mouth to answer.
“Yeah, come on. It’s just back this way,” he said.
Laney stood and smiled at me like she knew what I was thinking, which was nearly full-blown giddiness at the prospect of being alone with Annika. I wanted to see her squirm. I’d see her squirm if it killed me.
Shep turned his back to the women and winked at me as he passed.
Annika recrossed her legs as they walked away — her long legs, the same creamy white as the rest of her — and brushed the backs of her fingers against her skirt with a flick before leaning forward to pick up the papers, stacking them with a click against the table.
She still wouldn’t look at me.
“So, we’ll be working closely, it would seem,” I said.
“It would seem.” The words were tight.
A smile played at my lips. “Does something about me offend you, Ms. Belousov?”
She shifted, turning her nose up, her eyes toward the window — my eyes followed the line of her jaw, which was somehow both hard and soft. “Not at all.”
I chuckled. “You’re a terrible liar. Has anyone ever told you that?”
Her eyes finally snapped to mine, and I tried to melt her panties off with my mind. A flush rose in her cheeks. “What is it with you?” she asked, surprising me with her directness.
I shrugged. “Not quite sure what you mean.”
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not polite to stare?”
“Sure, but when I see a stone-cold fox such as yourself, I find it hard not to look.”
She laughed, but the sound held no humor, and her eyes were hard and mocking on mine. “Yeah, I get it. I’m just the pretty face, right? Why wouldn’t I want to be sexualized by strangers? Did you have any cat-calls on hand for me? Maybe it’s one I haven’t heard before.”
One eyebrow climbed. “Touché.”
She shook her head, her eyes hard on mine. “You’re basically a walking cliché. Funny that you don’t see women treating men like meat.”
I chuffed. “Wait until you’ve spent a few days in the shop, sweetheart.”
Her anger flared, her flush deepening.“Don’t call me sweetheart, asshole.”
“Don’t call me asshole, princess.”
She glared. I smiled.
I put my hands up in surrender, finding her presumptions amusing, imagining the look on her face when she realized exactly how wrong she was. “Listen, I’m sorry, but in fairness, I’m not the one playing ice queen.”
“No. You’re playing the rogue, aren’t you?”
I bobbled my head. “I don’t really play the rogue. It’s just my natural state. Drove my mother nuts.”
“I’d have to agree with her.”
“So you’re admitting I drive you nuts? This has to be a new record for me. What’s it been, fifteen minutes?”
She glanced at her watch. “Twelve.” The word was flat and humorless, but I laughed nonetheless.
“I like you,” I said. “Can’t figure out exactly why.”
A ghost of a smile, suppressed and gone in a millisecond. “That makes one of us.”
“Well, I, for one, am looking forward to working with you, Annika.”
“Ms. Belousov is preferred, thanks.”
The words were brusque, and I wondered if she was already trying to figure out how to get out of the job. In that exact moment, I hoped she couldn’t. I hoped she’d be stuck to me like static cling.
I leaned forward, finding myself close to her, close enough to smell her perfume, a hint of something floral and familiar, but I couldn’t place it. What I could have done was gotten drunk off it.
“Well, Ms. Belousov, maybe I can change your mind.”
She turned her cool eyes on me, and I found them burning like I’d hoped, though it was veiled. I found their heat all the same. “I very seriously doubt that, Mr. Anderson.”
I smiled. “Oh, I dunno. I can be very persuasive, when I put my mind to it.”
Her lips pinched and eyes narrowed by a tiny degree just as Laney and Shep walked back into the room. I sat back in my chair, absolutely pleased with myself.
“Great,” Laney said as she approached, not moving to sit back down. “I think we’ve got what we need. Annika will be in touch regarding the schedule. If you could get these contracts back to me in the next couple of days, it would really speed things along.”
Shep smiled. “We’ll get you everything tomorrow.”
“Perfect, then we can get our crew here to start the work Monday. It should only take a couple of days.”
“That’s all?” I asked, trying not to watch Annika as she stood and stepped away, taking the route that would keep her as far away from me as possible.
Laney nodded. “They’ve got it down to a science.”
I stood and extended a hand. “Then I’ll be seeing you sooner than later.”
“Yes, you will,” she said as she took it. “Thanks again for meeting with us, and for going for the show. It’s going to do amazing things for your store, your brand.”
I gave my brother a look. “So I hear.”
“Good to see you, Laney,” Shep said as he shook her hand. “Ms. Belousov.” He shook her hand too.
Something ignited in my chest as I reached out to s
hake Annika’s hand, knowing she couldn’t refuse with Laney watching on. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Belousov.”
The flush was back, just a rosy tinge to her high cheeks as she slipped her white fingers into my hand. They were soft and warm — no, they were hot — her palm pressing against mine as her fingers closed. It was only a second that we touched, but every single thing about the way she felt impressed into my mind.
I squeezed once, firm but gentle, before she pulled away, but my fingers trailed down hers like they didn’t want to let her go.
She said nothing, just gave a curt nod and turned in a whoosh that left the smell of flowers in the draft, and I watched her walk out the door, narrow hips swaying in time to the click of her heels.
I slipped my hands into my pockets and watched the door for a second, my mind spinning and whirring. I wanted to figure her out. In fact, I wanted that more than I’d wanted anything in a long, long time.
After a moment of silence, Shep burst out laughing.
I glanced over at him, but he just kept laughing, the apples of his cheeks pink, his laugh big and booming.
“What?” I asked.
“Jesus Christ, Joel. It’s been ages since I’ve seen you fuck a girl up with your eyes.”
I shrugged.
He kept laughing. “Just do me a favor.”
“If it involves me not sleeping with her, I’m out.”
“Trust me, I know better than to try to stop you once you’ve set your mind to something.” His smile slipped, his eyes narrowed with worry but still full of hope. “Just don’t ruin this for us, okay?”
I clapped him on the shoulder and pulled him into my side. “Don’t worry, little brother. I’ll keep it under control.” And at the time, I actually believed the words.
Weightless
Black Number Four
The Palm South University Series
Palm South University: Season One
Palm South University: Season Two
The Chaser Series
Tag Chaser
Song Chaser
Straight, No Chaser
Tag Catcher
Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.
Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).
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A Love Letter to Whiskey Page 31