“Renee didn’t survive the takeover. And I had a long talk with Dawn.”
“You slept with Renee and then fired her?” My mouth drops open.
“Alex, I didn’t sleep with her! I never even kissed her. Everything you saw you created the back-story to with the help of my assistant.”
“I saw her arms wrapped around your shoulders nuzzling into your neck. I couldn't have mistaken what I saw.”
“Yes, but you didn’t hear the conversation before that when I told her to get her hands off of me. She massaged my shoulders, and I told her to stop then she moved her arms around me when she heard the door open. She tried to gin up a story, but I had HR on top of things early on.”
“What about the car?”
“Right before you came out I unlocked my car, she was out on the sidewalk, heard the beep from my alarm, and jumped in. When you walked away, I told her to get out.”
Now I’m feeling like a fool. “So nothing ever happened?”
“Nothing. There was a file on Renee going back years. When I took over the company, HR warned me about her behavior. She was on the radar.”
“But Dawn told me you fool around with everyone, even her.” I feel sick saying it out loud.
“Do you know who Dawn is?” Nick asks.
I shrug my shoulders, “Your assistant.”
“Yes, but who she is and why she was my assistant are very important details.”
“Was your assistant?” I didn’t miss Nick’s use of the past tense.
Nick sits up in the chaise to face me. “Alexandra, Dawn is a friend's ex-wife. I gave her job to help my friend out. He needed to keep her busy because he was trying to move on with his own life. I’ve known her for years and I could handle her. She’s crazy, we all know it but she happened to be a decent assistant but I called my friend told him the favor was over.”
“She looks much older than you.”
“She is eighteen years older, my friend likes older women. It was weird, but we all supported him.”
“Did she want you?” I ask.
“I don’t know, I never asked her and I never paid attention to her to see any signs.”
“She told me you slept with her, and she said you sleep with everyone and I shouldn’t feel special.”
“I know. She told me she lied when I confronted her about what you said to me in your office that day.” He stands up and sits next to me on my chaise. “And by the way, you should feel special. I have never wanted to be around another human being as much I want to be around you.”
With his beautiful strong hands, he holds my face and kisses my mouth.
He moves away as he sucks in a deep breathe, “What I would do to you if you…” Nick doesn’t finish his sentence but I look into his eyes and they are smoldering.
Then I glance down at his lap and his shorts barely contain his erection.
“If what?” I tease him.
“You look so frail Alex. I can’t.”
“Nick you can. Just be gentle; move slowly, touch softly.”
Nick pauses as his eyes roam over my body. He glides his hands up my bent knees. “Alex, lay back in the chair.” I do as he says. He moves his fingers under the waistband of my bikini and asks me to lift my behind. Again, I do as he says. He looks down at me like he needs to cultivate a plan on how to approach this. He sits on the side of me, slides my bikini down to my ankles, lifts my one ankle than the other, and tosses my bikini bottoms on the table next to us. Nick palms my stomach, the warmth of his hand radiates deep within me. He then moves both his hands up and down my inner thighs. My skin moves under his touch. He stares at me like he contemplates his next move.
“Alex, are you sure?”
I reach up to touch his forearm and nod my head. Nick stands up, undoes the button on his shorts and they fall to the ground. His erection springs up. He kneels on the chaise, standing on his knees, he moves my bent knees open and over his thighs so now he kneels between my legs. He lifts my hips and moves deep in between my thighs. He is so careful with every movement. He pushes deep inside and then moves all the way out. I feel myself building. I watch as his tongue moves over his lips. I breathlessly say his name as he stares straight into my eyes.
The words “Fuck I love you,” hiss between his teeth and though, it is most likely the sex that makes him say it, that it is my undoing. My entire body contracts into a long deep orgasm. Nick follows with a deep moan and one last long deep thrust. I feel him pulsating inside of me filling me up. He almost falls on top of me but braces himself on the arms of the chair. He moves out of me and sits back. I close my knees together and he curls his arms around them.
“Alexandra, it hurt me so much to see you in pain. I couldn’t even look at you last week, you looked sad. I don’t want to experience that ever again. You need to trust me and talk to me when you feel unsure.” He looks to me to respond. “Yes?”
“Yes.”
Later on that evening Nick and I cuddle together on the couch. Earlier I had taken a long nap in the sun after our lovemaking while Nick ran errands in town. When he got back we bathed together, then I got comfortable on the sectional and haven’t been up since. He waited on me hand and foot.
Nick made Pastina in chicken broth with saltine crackers for dinner. He said it was what his grandmother use to make him when he was recovering from the stomach flu. It tasted delicious and I felt better after eating it.
Nick flips through the channel guide. He settles on an old movie with Judy Garland and Van Johnson. He turns the volume low and sinks deeper into the couch as we fall sleep.
On Monday morning, Nick and I drive in together. He spent the entire weekend catering to all my needs. After observing the way he approached things, I can’t believe I thought he would be interested in someone like Renee. There is a sophisticated controlled sort of way Nick does things. The way he moved around my home and cared for me was second nature to him. No awkwardness, no uneasiness. He doesn’t ask permission to do something; he just does what he wants.
Nick pulls up in front of the office building. He kisses me and tells me he had Jill block off the afternoon so he can take me to lunch. “I will go home and unpack and I’ll be back at one o’clock. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
I smile and step out giving him a little wave as I walk away. It looks like I’m having lunch with Nick after all.
Chapter 10
Alexandra
Nick walks through the large glass doors and straight towards me. He looks beautiful in his tailored navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the top. There is slight stubble along his jawline and his unruly long, wavy hair gives him a sexy rugged look. Men and women turn their heads to check him out as he walks through the lobby.
I reach out my hand as he approaches maintaining professionalism in the lobby of our office building, but he surprises me by leaning in for a lingering kiss on my mouth. As I step back, I am sure my face looks shocked, but he seems unaffected. He has an I owe no explanation attitude; Nick will do whatever he wants.
He takes a deep breath in and reaches for my hand. “Are you ready? We are going to one of my favorite restaurants. I hope you are hungry, I need to get meat back on your bones.”
I smile and shake my head in agreement as we walk out of the building.
“We’ll walk, it’s only five blocks up.” I feel Nick’s hand move to the small of my back, yet, I feel it everywhere. I think maybe we should skip the lunch and go right to his place, but I don’t think I could keep up with Nick if I don’t get food in me first.
An older man with a full head of salt and pepper hair greets Nick. He speaks Italian to Nick, and Nick speaks Italian back to him. All I understand from the conversation is the man’s name.
Nick reaches back for my hand as we follow Georgio to a table in the corner.
I love tables in the corner, very intimate. Georgio pulls out my chair and I sit down, he then reaches for the chair across from mine but Nick waves him off as he
chooses the seat next to mine. Before Georgio leaves the table, he asks Nick if he’d like a bottle of his usual wine.
“Yes, thank you, and can the chef make that appetizer I like with the cheese and the capers?” Nick asks.
“Anything you want, enjoy, enjoy, I be back.” Georgio says in his broken English.
Nick’s eyes recede as he stares at me. “I’ve wanted to sit alone at a table with you and share a meal since we’ve met.” He pauses. “But you made that close to impossible.”
I look down at my hands as they rest in my lap, embarrassed because I know it’s the truth. “Nick, can you appreciate that I am in my early forties and lived my life very much alone?”
“I can to a point. What I don’t understand is how persistent you are about staying alone. I laid it out the first night I met you. I want it all. Now if I was boring, ugly, or downright obnoxious I could understand you not being curious but you shut me down before you opened me up.”
My eyes widen as I listen. I never thought about it in that way. Nick is right. Though I said yes to the sex, I said no to everything else. I realize my fears run deeper than I acknowledge.
“Joe speaks highly of you, you are an incredible asset to the company. He also said he has known you for close to twenty years and that you are consistent, a slight workaholic, and you have your own way of doing things but it works.” Nick lays out the obvious facts about me.
His voice is deep, intense, and very sexy. I feel the familiar ache I always feel around him. “And from what I have observed, so far you know how I feel about you, but I can’t help but still be curious, I’m quite fascinated, you seem to be a loner, yet, your work is of someone who seems plugged into people and their desires.”
His voice seems even lower and huskier as he describes me better than I can describe me. “And I realize that even after the many times I have made love to you, I know very little about you except I know you try desperately to stay alone, and you are successful in your career.”
My mind gets stuck on 'made love', maybe the “Alex, I love you” was intentional? Okay, so it was more like, “Fuck, I love you” but still all the same. Then he startles me when he addresses my unspoken thought.
“Yes, make love, because what you and I do… what I experience when I am with you can not be described by saying ‘having sex’ or ‘doing it’.”
“I’ll agree with that.” I giggle.
Nick’s smile is mischievous. “I thought you would. Now would you like to tell me a little about yourself? You can start out slowly, or blurt it out all at once, but before we leave here today, I would like to know more about the woman I am falling in love with.”
My mouth drops open but before I can respond, Georgio comes back with the wine. He opens and pours Nick a tasting. Nick nods in approval. “Alexandra, are you feeling up to having wine?”
I nod my head, and Georgio pours me a glass. Nick watches me as I take my first sip. “It’s excellent. You have great taste.”
“I’m glad you like it, it’s my favorite.”
Georgio recites the specials. I heard only the first few ingredients and then I tune him out. Nick drums his fingers on the table and I become distracted by his hand, again. He has such beautiful hands. They are big and strong and his veins swell at the surface and I love how they feel when they touch my body.
Georgio looks at me and asks, “What would you like, beautiful lady?”
I turn to Nick. “You order for us.” Speaking Italian, he orders what sounds like a lot of food. Georgio pleased with Nick’s choices walks back to the kitchen.
“So you were about to tell me about you.” Nick leans in as if he waits for a big reveal.
“Well, you are correct in saying I am a loner, did you base that on me not having a date for the wedding I attended?”
Nick smiles and clears his throat before he begins his explanation. “Not at all based on that. I’ve watched you interact with your coworkers. You are attuned to most of them, but you let no one in. You know everything about them, but it seems they know very little about you.”
I try to defend myself, “That’s not true, I let Joe and Jill in.”
“Alexandra, really?” There’s that devilish grin, again. His mouth is beautiful. His lips are full and his teeth are straight and white.
I try to act seriously. “I am more of an introvert. I like to do very singular things. I have a tendency to isolate. I am alone most of the time, and I like to stay in the shadows, but that allows me to be very aware and observant of people, and what they do and why they do it, which makes me successful at my job.” Talking about myself feels odd and freeing all at the same time. It’s at this very moment I realize because of the lack of social interaction I have had over the years, I never had to talk about myself. The only time I needed to talk about myself was in interviews, and again those are work facts about me.
“Alone most of the time? Do you have a family, Alexandra?” Nick’s voice is low, and he leans in closer.
“No, I don’t.”
“None what so ever?” He flinches at my very direct answer.
“None.” I don’t hesitate.
“I’ve asked that question many times of many people and never got a response like that. Most people have at least one family member. What about your parents?”
I stare down at my hands as I tug at the linen napkin in my lap. “My father left my mother while she was pregnant with me. They weren’t married. I don’t even know his name. My Mother died when I was three. Killed in a car accident. She was on a date when a large delivery truck ran a light and hit the passenger side.”
Nick searches my face for something. “You talk about as if it’s bullet points. No emotion, or are you guarded?”
“It happened so long ago, and I am so used to people dying on me I am numb to it.” My voice is so steady that even I realize how wrong it sounds.
“Who cared for you after your mother died?” Nick strokes my hand resting on the table.
“Her brother until I was six, and then he had a massive heart attack and died, so I moved in with my aunt.”
“So you have an aunt?” A look of relief passes across his face.
“She died when I was eighteen.” The look of relief on his face is gone.
“I’m so sorry. It sounds awful. To have no one, I can’t imagine that.” Nick looks sad and confused all at once.
“Like I said, I am numb, no pain, just numb. But this is why I don’t like talking about myself, people always end up looking like you right now… sad and feeling sorry for me.”
“What about holidays? Do you have friends?” Nick sounds concerned.
“I go away for the holidays, France, or I go up to the country, or a spa, and if I stay home I cook for myself.” I look at Nick for his reaction, but his eyes seem to search for something, maybe a different answer from me.
“I have nice neighbors. They always invite me to join their families for the holidays. I tried it once, but it was worse than being alone. You know all the annoying questions. A beautiful girl like you isn’t married? Have you no family? And then the rest of the time they feel sorry for me, or try to set me up with someone they know.”
“So Joe saying you are a workaholic might be correct. A possible distraction?” Nick’s question is the obvious one.
“Not at all, I wouldn’t say I am a workaholic, but I get great satisfaction from my work. I work hard out of fear.” I answer with no hesitation. These are thoughts I’ve pondered most of my life, so my answers are readily available.
“Fear?” Nick studies my face.
“Think about it… I have no one but myself, I have had no one except for brief moments in my life. Who will take care of me if I don’t? Who can I turn to when things go wrong? What will happen when I grow old? That one scares me the most. I work hard because money is my only security. Though I am more than comfortable financially, the unknown keeps me on my toes. Hell, I could live to be a hundred and six… that takes money.” I d
on’t flinch but Nick does. He says nothing but swallows hard. “Are you sorry you asked about me?” With a slight tilt of my head, I ask him while trying to keep it charming and light.
Nick scans my face. “Not at all. Your story has quite the opposite effect me. I’m even more fascinated by you. I’ve met no one like you.” He stops and the look on his face tells me he searches his thoughts. “What I don’t understand is why you feel you have to be alone. You could marry and that would settle all those fears.”
“You would think so, but my husband could still die.” It feels like a ton of bricks drops on me. Did I just say that? Am I living out my childhood in my adulthood?
There is a long awkward pause at least for me. Nick looks comfortable as he stares at me. “By the look on your face, I gather you just had an epiphany.” Nick reaches his hand across the table. I slide my hand in his. “Alexandra, I need you to know I’m serious when I say casual sex with you will not work for me. I need it all or nothing. You will need to wrap your head around. So while you get comfortable with the idea you are mine, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch, and then I’d like to take you home and have my way with you.” With his other hand, Nick reaches for his wine glass and takes a sip while his eyes never leave mine.
I swallow hard and before I can respond Georgio is back and alongside him a server carries our first course of the meal. As Georgio walks away, I lean into Nick. “Are you always so blunt?”
Nick laughs. “I say what I mean. I don’t mince words.”
“God! How did you turn out like this?”
“When you meet my family, you’ll understand.”
I enjoy spending time with Nick. I can’t believe he wants to be around me. I let the thought of being his settle in my soul. I want to be his. For the first time in a long time, I want to have someone, but the idea still terrifies me.
He is confident, thoughtful, intelligent, talented and funny. Let’s not forget so damn hot. One person should not be allowed to have so many things right. When I’m around him all I want to do is get naked with him. Staring at him makes me wet between my legs. The way he moves sends chills over my skin. Everything about him makes you think of fucking: Deep, intense, mind-blowing fucking. Back that up with love and I can’t wait to feel what that’s like.
The Yes Girl Page 11