Freelance Love

by Barbara Alvarez

  “Come in! Hope you’re hungry – I’m making omelets and the coffee cake is ready. Would you like some coffee?”

  “Yes, thanks. Do you need help in the kitchen?”

  “No, thanks – I have it under control. Just need to add the onions and ham to the omelet, then sprinkle it with cheese. I do hope you’re hungry.”

  Ian thought to himself that he was hungry for more than mere food, then chastised himself for the wayward direction of his thoughts.

  As they ate, they talked about their respective weeks. Morgan had just learned that she was going to be getting additional monthly assignments from, not only Las Cruces Lifestyles, but a second magazine client. She smiled happily at Ian, knowing that her financial picture was slowly improving.

  Ian reported that he had just landed two new editing clients, one local.

  “I’m charging the same as I charge you – $1.50 per page, and they’re telling me that the shortest assignments I’ll be getting from them will be about 300 pages! They’re sending me three articles a month, so that’s not too shabby for an editor!”

  Morgan gave Ian a quick high-five, then got up and served the still-warm coffee cake.

  “More coffee?”

  “Please. Last night was a late night due to . . . distractions and sleeplessness. I need the caffeine jolt,” Ian confessed, not wanting to admit that the distractions came from his fantasies of him and Morgan in bed, together. “Once we’ve finished in here, I’ll help you clean up, then we can move to the living room to work.”

  Morgan nodded, remembering that her fantasy had taken place in the living room.

  With the kitchen clean and dishes stacked in the dishwasher, the two moved to Morgan’s sofa, where they began working on her current articles. Ian questioned several of Morgan’s phrases and agreed with all but two of them. As they discussed those phrases, Morgan agreed that they would sound better using Ian’s wording, so she typed quick notes on her laptop. Finally, when they had finished with the work, Ian took the laptop, closed it and placed it on the coffee table. Turning to Morgan, he said, “We’ve really got to talk.”

  “Oh? About . . .?”

  “Us. We’ve been working together now since you became a freelancer, and that entire time, I’ve felt an attraction to you. I’ve tried to ignore it, but I can’t any more. It’s getting stronger and stronger the more and more I get to know of you, not only as a writer, but as a woman. I’d like to pursue a relationship with you.”

  “Oh!” Morgan got up, feeling restless. “Can I have some time to think about this? I . . . think you’re attractive. That is, I find you attractive, too, but I want to make sure that changing our personal relationship won’t endanger our working relationship.”

  Ian thought for a few minutes. Rubbing a forefinger against his well-shaped lip, he nodded. “Fair enough. I need to go now, but first . . .” Taking Morgan into his arms, he lowered his head to hers and kissed her gently and sensuously. Morgan, feeling the touch of his soft lips on hers, realized that the dream hadn’t come close to reality. God, he’s a good kisser!

  Ian brought her back to her sofa, where they continued to kiss. He lifted her to his lap, where she felt the clear evidence of his arousal against her butt. Ian gently lowered her to the sofa cushion, where they continued to kiss.

  ***

  Morgan finally came to her senses and began to push against Ian’s shoulders.

  “Ian! I’m not ready to take it to the next level. She pushed harder against Ian’s shoulders. “I’m sorry – I need to make sure this is the right thing for me. I promise you, I’ll think about it, because I do find you attractive.” God, I want to take you to my room right now!

  Ian heard Morgan dimly through the roaring of the blood in his hears. Feeling the palms of her hands against his shoulders, his mind put the two messages together and he broke the kiss. Raising himself slightly, he looked at Morgan.

  “Okay. You said you’d think about an ‘us?’ I’m holding you to that,” Ian said in a throaty growl, made lower by the desire he felt for this woman. He stood and pulled Morgan to her feet. “Call me when you’re ready to talk. And, while you’re thinking, keep this in mind – a romantic relationship shouldn’t impact our ability to work together. We’re relatively sane and adult freelancers,” said Ian with a devilish twinkle in his eyes.

  Two hours later, Morgan had managed to get herself back to normal, although her mind kept escaping and returning to their necking session on her sofa. She sighed in frustration and grabbed a bottle of chilled tea from her refrigerator. Drinking deeply, she gave herself a mental shake and determined that she was going to return to her articles and either finish or hit a specific word count. Sitting back down at her computer, she looked at her article and immediately found several embarrassing mistakes. Printing the document out, she redlined the mistakes and began making corrections. Forty-five minutes later, she stopped writing and read what she had re-done. Finding a few small errors, she corrected these. Finally, satisfied with the first article, she saved it to her flash drive and moved to her second magazine article. Just before she started typing, her cell phone rang. Looking at the caller I.D. readout, she saw Rick Devins’ office number and grabbed the phone.

  “Hello, Rick? How are you? Do you have an update?”

  Rick laughed. “My daughter does the same thing to me! I’m fine and yes, I have some potentially good news for you.”

  Morgan blushed. “I’m sorry, Rick. I’m just so tired of John’s shit. He approached me at The Shed this week while Ian and I were working on my articles. Began harassing me. I was going to call you, but I got so busy.”

  “Really? Did you call the police?”

  “Yes, and two units responded. They took a report and one of the officers talked to John. Told him that what he was doing counted as harassment. I may need something that legally requires John to stay away from me.”

  “Consider it done. I’ll have an order drafted and filed by week’s end. Now, here’s my news – Mack is beginning to crumble. His approaching you may have been one last gasp of bravado. He’s beginning to question everything I’m telling him. He’s spoken to an attorney of his own, but hasn’t hired him – I saw him at the courthouse when I was there on another case. They didn’t see me, so I got a little closer and the gist of Mack’s questions, basically, were whether you had a good case.”

  “And?”

  “The attorney he was talking to asked him several questions and said that, yes, you do have an excellent case for defamation of character. Mack asked him what that meant and what it could mean for him. The attorney told him what defamation does to you, then said you have ‘several’ remedies available that help you get your good reputation back. You should have seen Mack! If he could have started crying, he would have.! He looked like a little boy who’d just lost his favorite truck – his face got red, everything. I really had to fight keep from laughing out loud,” said Rick with a smile in his voice.

  “Wow! Did he hire that attorney?”

  “You kidding me? If he’s looking for one, he’s shopping for one who thinks he stands a good chance of winning! I’m just keeping an eye out for any communications from any of my colleagues, saying they’re representing him. What did you say to him at the restaurant?”

  “He poo-pooed the lawsuit as being nothing, then went back to his old refrain of, ‘What you’re doing isn’t work. You have to leave your house and work somewhere for it to count. Then, he said something like, ‘If I’d just come back to my senses, I’d have a guaranteed regular paycheck.’ Ian told him to leave me alone, then the restaurant manager asked if we needed the police. They were there ten minutes later.”

  “Okay, good, you didn’t say anything.”

  “Rick, I was too damn pissed. I would have said something that, likely, would have gotten me arrested.”

  “Okay, I’ll let you get back to work – and yes, what you’re doing is work – now. I’ll get that order drafted and filed. If he wants to r
isk arrest, he’ll ignore that order and contact you,” Rick predicted. “I’ll let you know if Mack hires an attorney.”

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll let you go now,” Morgan said.

  For the rest of the day, Morgan worked on her current assignments. When she had gotten as far as she could, she stopped writing and turned her attention to her new assignments, reading their scope. She emailed Mia to let her know she’d have more work for her and suggested their next meeting date.

  Near the end of her workday, Morgan got another call from Rick.

  “Hey, Rick, what’s up?”

  “I’ve just received paperwork that indicates Mack has lawyered up. He’s got a damn good attorney, too, but he’s going to have to work pretty goddamn hard to disprove what you’ve said. I want to meet with you and go over everything you have. I’ll also need to talk to all your clients – get a picture of your character as a professional writer.”

  “Wow. Okay, when would be convenient for you?”

  “Actually, I do have several time slots, but I’d rather call your clients myself, go talk to them and get this done. Would you be okay with that?”

  “Yes, definitely,” Morgan said.

  “Okay, then, I’ll need the names and phone numbers of the managing editors or whoever you worked most closely with.”

  Morgan gave him all the information he needed. After they disconnected their call, she thought for a few minutes. The news that John had “lawyered up” was disquieting. After worrying about this news for several minutes, she decided that the best thing she could do would be to allow Rick to do his best work.

  Morgan had managed, finally, to relax sufficiently that, after her workday had ended, she was watching one of her favorite movies on DVD. The movie, a romance, had her crying and wiping tears from her cheeks. She had just swiped a tissue over her cheeks when her cell phone rang. Looking at the number, she recognized Ian’s number. Feeling her heartbeat ratchet up, she hesitated for a few seconds to pick the phone up. Finally, she decided the call would do no harm – after all, it might be about business, she reasoned.

  “Hello? Ian, how are you?”

  “I’m great – how are you? You sound . . . congested or something.”

  “I’m fine, just watching a sad movie on DVD.” Morgan cringed. Great. Now he knows you like weepy romances!

  “Well, hopefully, this will help dry some of those tears up – I hope, anyway. I’d like to set up a date with you. Take you to one of Las Cruces’ best Italian restaurants so we can drink good red wine and enjoy some great food. Come on! Please? Say yes!”

  Morgan was tempted to say no – after all, they had only recently admitted they were attracted to each other. That admission was so new, she was still figuring it out. “Ian, I don’t know . . . I don’t think it’s wise.”

  “Morgan. The woman who decided to quit working retail and strike out on her own in the uncertain world of freelance writing? Who’s facing her former boss down in a lawsuit? Come on, you’re braver than that!”

  When Ian put it that way, she could see his point. Still, the thought of riding in his car to one of the Italian restaurants – which had romantic atmospheres – she quailed at the thought. She’d only allowed herself to get involved in a significant relationship twice before now. And . . . the lawsuit . . .

  “I’ll do this, Ian. I’ll go out with you and we can discuss things. But . . .”

  “Awww, so there’s a ‘but.’ Okay, what is it?”

  “We can discuss things, but until the lawsuit is decided one way or the other, I’d rather hold off on . . . anything more,” Morgan said, feeling breathless.

  Ian was silent for a few long, slow beats. Then, “Okay. That’s fair enough. I can understand you not wanting to be distracted while you’re fighting that goof. Man, he’s an idiot!”

  Morgan laughed. “I agree! A goof with one of the best attorneys in town, according to Rick.”

  “Oh, man, what’s that going to mean for you?”

  “I just need to get my managing editors to agree to talk to Rick to show proof of my good professional character . . .”

  “Give Rick my number. I’ll gladly add my information to theirs.”

  “Really, Ian? I will, thanks!”

  “Truthfully, I’ve gotten to know a helluva good writer who sticks to her guns when it comes to what she’s written. She’s ethical. And she’s damned sexy, too.” Ian said the last in a low, gravelly voice.

  Morgan, hearing the last sentence and how it was said, totally lost her ability to breathe and think. Squeezing her eyes shut, she forced herself to respond.

  “Well, thank you. Uh, getting back to your request for a date – where and when?”

  “This Saturday, 6:30, your choice of Lorenzo’s or Si Bistro. We’re limited to one Lorenzo’s, since every single last one of them but the University Avenue has closed, dammit!”

  Morgan, caught by surprise, laughed. “Okay! I’ll think about where I’d like to go . . .”

  “And dress up. I’ll be proud to walk into any restaurant with you – you’re beautiful, woman.”

  Morgan shook her head. Ian’s point-blank statement was out of character – or was it? “Okay, but be prepared. I clean up real good when I’m not in jeans and casual tops.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “And you? What’ll you be wearing?” Morgan wondered.

  “Dress shirt, slacks, maybe a tie. I’ll be looking different, too,” said Ian.

  This may be a mistake, but it’s one I’m looking forward to! Morgan smiled softly. “Okay. I’ll be ready. I’d better go.” Before I melt into a puddle right here in my living room.

  Chapter 7

  Morgan was in bed, thinking of Ian and any relationship that might develop between them. Her eyelids grew heavy and she fell asleep . . .

  She was sitting in a large, sunny room with her desk at one end. The furniture was comfy and the room was filled with several green plants. She looked up and Ian walked in, carrying several sheafs of paper in one hand. He walked over to her and gave her a long, searching kiss. Morgan, looking at his hand, saw a wedding band on his ring finger. Shocked, she looked at her own left hand – she was wearing an engagement ring and wedding band. She looked at Ian in shock and he smiled mysteriously and shrugged.

  “So, how long do you think it’ll be before you have those stories finished? Your deadline’s the end of this week,” he said.

  Morgan, dragging her mind back to her work, looked at her progress.

  “I should be done by tomorrow before the end of the day. I have a ton of work coming in that I need to work on with Mia.”

  “Okay, I’ll be done with these sometime tomorrow. I’ll start on yours when you’re done. Hey, before I forget – I think you got a settlement check from Rick in the mail. I brought that in a little while ago – go take a look!”

  Morgan’s eyes rounded. If the check had come in, she could buy an iMac computer with a large monitor. Her work would be made so much easier! She ran toward the kitchen table and, rustling through the bills, magazines and junk mail, she found an envelope from Rick. She tore it open – and found a check for a sizable amount.

  “Ian, you’re right! I can deposit this and start shopping for that computer!”

  “Told you!” Ian’s voice floated in from the sunroom-office.

  Morgan thought of the gift she wanted to buy for Ian. He also struggled to edit quickly on his own laptop, and she knew he was especially partial to the Mac computers. Depending on the price, she could buy two . . .

  That night, Ian came to bed. Turning off the overhead light, he left the bedside lamp burning as he turned to her and began kissing and loving her sensually. His fingers and hands roamed everywhere over her body, lighting little fires that combined to take her down a sensual path of sensation and discovery. Morgan’s own hands went on an exploratory journey of their own, feeling the hard, muscular planes of his chest, back, shoulders and legs. His breathing quickened as he began
making love to her . . . Suddenly, Morgan woke up, drenched in sweat from the hot, sensuous dream she had just had.

  The next morning, Morgan woke up, remembering the remnants of her hot dream. She blushed remembering how aroused she and Ian had become – in her dream! Pulling her pillow over her face, she groaned, wondering how their date would go. She knew she would need to hide her reactions from Ian, not only during their date, but every time they met to work on her articles. How the hell does he think it’s realistic for us to work well together if we acknowledge that we have the hots for each other – and we want to jump each others’ bones? Geez! I hope I don’t need to find a new editor and break him – or her – in. The thought put her into a sour mood. Throwing her covers back, she started her work day. Drinking her coffee, she continued to puzzle over her situation with Ian. Yes, she was attracted to him, but she respected his writing and editing abilities and she didn’t want to lose her working relationship with him. She decided that she would just have to find a way of communicating that to him. Besides, she liked her solo life, and she just wasn’t sure if she wanted to add the changes and complications of a romantic relationship. She knew that a “friends with benefits” arrangement wouldn’t work for her or Ian. It would have to be an all-or-nothing situation and, except for her desire for Ian, she was probably going to opt for the “nothing” choice so she could continue working with Ian. Except . . . the thought of not exploring a romantic or sensual relationship with him made her feel . . . sad and bereft. Sipping carefully from the hot, fragrant brew, she continued to think – her eyes reflected the pensive direction of her thoughts. Was he right? Could they add a new dimension to their relationship and make it work? How? Wouldn’t the emotional and sexual attraction get in the way of their established working pattern, which involved sometimes heated discussions about the changes he insisted she make to some portions of her articles? Some of these discussions had become strong, passionate defenses of their positions. Wouldn’t those discussions endanger the new, possibly fragile feelings involved in a personal, romantic relationship? Wow, Morgan, what have you gotten yourself into? You are going to have to sit down and discuss all this with him. Soon!