I scowled at my mostly-curled head in the mirror and deliberated whether I should read the text at all. Then I gave in and picked up the phone, unlocking it and holding my breath.
Hey. Can we meet up tonight?
The nerve of him! I hadn’t responded to his text, and I hadn’t called him back after Willow hung up on him the time before. Now he wanted to meet up? I slammed my phone on the counter and went back to my hair.
By the time I finished my last curl a realization struck me. Today was the first time ever that I wasn’t tempted by Lance. I didn’t want to go meet up with him, even though part of me still ached from our break up. It was like he’d been a thorn in my side, and now that the thorn was missing the skin was slowly knitting back together. It felt good.
I smiled confidently, turning from side to side to admire my hair and the smoky eye shadow I’d applied to my lids. I looked good. I would even go so far as to say that I looked good enough to go out with Max Westfield, which was ideal considering he’d be picking me up in less than an hour.
“Are you done yet?” Willow whined distantly. “I’m already a little bit buzzed.”
I laughed and grabbed my phone from the counter, stepping into the hall. Willow had set up camp on the far end of the sofa, which afforded her a view of the length of the hallway.
“I’ll go put the dress on now,” I assured her.
She raised the glass of white wine to her lips and took a sip. “While I’m still young, please.”
The dress was still hung up in the hall closet, next to our winter jackets. I unzipped the cloth cover and pulled it free, then carried it off to the bathroom to change.
Willow was right. This was surreal. Somewhere out there right now, Max Westfield was putting on a tux and adjusting his cufflinks, and he probably had a whole walk in closet to do it in. I had a tiny bathroom and a half-drunk roommate as my audience.
I slithered into the dress and admired the fit in the mirror. Although the lighting in the room wasn’t that great, the beauty of the dress still managed to strike me. It went beautifully with my hair, making the red seem more vibrant somehow. Even if I never wore this dress again, I would still never regret buying it. It was like I was making my debut into a whole new life.
Willow nearly dropped her wine glass when I came out of the bathroom. “Girl, you look hot!” She jumped to her feet, placed her glass carefully on the coffee table, and skipped toward me. “Do a spin!”
I did, adding a little flair just for her.
Willow clapped. “That dress looks incredible. You look incredible. I’m so freaking jealous it’s crazy. I should have thought more about the possibilities for swanky events when I was picking a college major. A fancy dinner beats wrangling five year olds any day.”
I hadn’t quite told Willow what I expected to happen tonight, because I wasn’t sure what to say. I wasn’t sure whether she would approve or not.
Who was I kidding? She definitely wouldn’t approve. She’d all but dragged me off of him that night at the club.
I wanted to share my nervousness and excitement with her, but didn’t know how to approach the topic. I decided to start on a high note.
“I got a text from Lance while I was in the bathroom,” I said.
Willow’s expression immediately softened. “Aw, hon, I’m sorry. Don’t let it ruin your special night.”
“No, it’s fine.” I smiled. “I’m fine, actually. He’s a jerk and I realize that now. I’m not going to let him ruin the night because I’m not going to think about him anymore. I’m ignoring the text message. He is no longer a welcome part of my life.”
Willow pumped her fist in the air and strode back over to her wine, raising it in a toast to me. “I’m so proud of you! I know how hard this has been.”
“Thanks, Willow.”
She tipped the glass back and finished its contents, wiping her mouth afterward with a mischievous grin.
A loud buzzing sound drew both of our attention to the bathroom, where I’d left my phone.
“You don’t have to get that,” said Willow, clearly thinking it was Lance calling.
“I don’t think he’d call that soon after texting me,” I said. “He was always nearly impossible to get a hold of when we were together.” I started walking down the hall.
“Guys act crazy when they feel rejected though,” she called after me.
I didn’t recognize the name on the caller ID, so unless it was Lance and he was using somebody else’s phone, I figured it was safe to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Emma Valentine?”
“This is her.”
I didn’t recognize the man’s voice, which always made me nervous.
“Hi Emma, this is Fred Jefferson from Grantham Property Management, how are you doing today?”
Grantham Property Management. Where had I heard that name before?
Willow had migrated over to the bathroom to listen in on my call, and I saw her trying to figure it out too. Suddenly, it hit me.
“Fred! Hi,” I said enthusiastically. “It’s great to hear from you. What can I do for you?”
Grantham Property Management managed a building whose waiting list I’d applied to when I first moved in with Willow. I’d been looking for a place sporadically, but it was expensive in the city and nearly impossible to find an open place. Hearing back from Grantham could mean the search was over.
“I’m just calling to let you know that we’ve had a unit open up in our Herrick’s Cross building. You’re next on the waiting list, so I wanted to know if you were still interested.”
My mouth split into a wide grin. “Yes! Absolutely! That would be amazing!”
Fred and I made arrangements for me to come view the unit over the weekend, but that was merely a formality. I told him I’d take whatever they had that came available, and I was thrilled to realize that by the beginning of next month I’d have my own place. No more sleeping on the couch, no more inconveniencing my best friend.
Willow crushed me in a hug the second I hung up the phone. “That’s so exciting!” she said. “I’m going to miss you so much though. Are you sure you don’t want to wait another month?”
I laughed, patting her on the back. “Not if it would mean missing out on an opportunity to rent in Herrick’s Cross. It is by far the best building in my budget.”
She sighed, “I know. I’ve gotten so used to you being here though, you know?”
“I know.” I squeezed her, making her giggle. “You know what? I think I’d like that glass of wine now.”
“On it.” Willow backed out of the hug and was halfway to the kitchen before my arms even fell to my side. I followed her, clutching my phone in my hand in case anybody else wanted to call and give me amazing news.
Willow handed me a glass of wine in the kitchen and refilled her own. I thanked her, and once her glass was full we clinked them together.
“To fresh starts,” I said.
“To fresh starts.”
We drank, and only then did it hit me how nervous I was for the evening ahead. Hearing this news about the apartment had made me crazy happy, but I was also crazy nervous about tonight.
“So there’s one thing I didn’t tell you about when Max asked me to be his date tonight,” I said.
Willow noticeably perked up. “Go on.”
“There was kinda the implication that I’m not going as his assistant.”
“Then what would you be going as?”
I gulped. “You know. His date. His actual date, who may or may not end up in his actual bed… uh… later on.”
Willow narrowed her eyes, lips pursing together to create a truly terrifying stare.
“Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
She chugged back a gulp of wine. “God. Is that a good idea?”
I was glad she hadn’t already gone into a tirade about how it was a terrible idea. Maybe that meant she would come around to the notion.
> “We’re two consenting adults,” I said. “Just because we work together shouldn’t mean that we can’t engage in the kinds of activities that two consenting adults might engage in together.”
She eyed me warily. “As long as you know what you’re doing, babe. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I didn’t want to see me get hurt either. I rode so high when I was with Max that I knew I was only a stumble away from a long and unpleasant drop. That was a fact that I had come to terms with somewhat. I still worried, of course, but something inside me said that if I didn’t do this, I’d regret it forever.
The buzzer rang and I jumped, wine sloshing out the side of my glass. I hastily tucked the glass onto the counter and ran to the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Max.”
“I’ll be down in just a minute,” I said, hoping I didn’t sound as stressed as I felt.
I took one last look in the mirror before I left, making sure everything was perfectly in place. I looked great, and was just hoping Max thought so too.
“Knock ‘em dead, tiger,” Willow said, already drinking my wine.
I gave her a thumbs up and left, taking the elevator down and then walking out the front door of the building. A limo was idling at the curb, and Max was standing beside the open back door. His eyes snapped to me as soon as I walked through the door, and I watched him drag his gaze hungrily up the length of me.
“You look incredible,” he said, in a smooth and sexy voice.
I checked him out as I approached, admiring the fit of his tux and the way he managed to still look somewhat roguish, even in black tie.
“You too,” I replied.
Max offered his hand to help me into the limo, and I took it shyly.
Good or bad, things would never be the same after tonight.
Chapter 13
Max
I nearly told the limo driver to go park somewhere secluded for twenty minutes so I could sample Emma before the dinner, but it would be rude for us to show up late. I couldn’t even remember the name of the organization hosting the event, or what my money was going toward, but I almost never did these days. Paulina was always signing me up for this or that, and I always went, even if I didn’t always enjoy it. Tonight, however, I had a hunch I would enjoy it very much.
Emma looked positively stunning. The green in her dress clashed violently with the red of her hair, somehow making her seem all the more vibrant. Her hair curled over the tops of her breasts, just brushing the neckline of her dress, and it looked all silky and smooth. She had managed to surprise me, yet again. Emma was full of surprises.
“Thank you again for inviting me,” she said, as I climbed in the limo after her and closed the door. It was exactly the kind of cute, innocent thing she would say. I couldn’t wait to see how deep her innocence went.
I settled onto the seat next to her and leaned forward to grab the champagne from the ice bucket, pouring us each a glass.
“No, thank you,” I said as I held my glass up to hers, capturing her gaze. “This will be the first of these events I’ve attended in a long while that won’t have me bored to death.”
She chuckled. “You don’t know that.”
“Oh yes, Emma girl,” I said huskily. “Yes, I most certainly do. I know it very well.”
Her pupils widened, and that simple evidence of her desire sent a zap of pleasure straight to my balls. God, did I have to wait until later? I should have come early. I would have, if I’d only known how irresistible she would prove to be, or that I’d have a raging hard on the second I laid eyes on her.
We clinked glasses and drank. I soon became distracted by the long line of her throat, so pale and creamy. It was going to be a long night, but for a different reason than it ever had been before.
This was something I would enjoy.
“That’s exactly what I thought,” said Emma, smiling at the woman while balancing hors d’oeuvres in one hand and her wine glass in the other. “It was a great read though, despite all the problematic elements.”
The woman Emma was talking to, a powerful oil baroness on the East Coast, nodded along approvingly. “I dare say it was. I’m glad I had someone to talk this out with. I thought I was going crazy.”
I had no idea what the women were talking about. Some book that they’d both read, apparently. I’d gotten distracted at the start of the conversation by Emma’s face transforming with excitement, and hadn’t checked back in until they were already discussing the characters.
I was quite happy to stand there and mingle without having to speak. I always spent these entire events talking, and only now did I realize that it was because my dates never had a word to contribute. Emma wasn’t like that. She had found common ground with every person to whom I’d introduced her, especially Greta Holbrook, her new best friend.
“Did you hear he’s writing another?” Greta said.
“I thought he told everyone the story was finished?”
The older woman winked. “I know someone who knows someone in his inner circle. It’s going to be a big surprise, that’s for sure.”
“I can’t wait!”
I let the hand resting on Emma’s curved back slide just a little bit lower, watching in amusement as the hairs on her arms stood up and took notice. I was having trouble keeping my hands off of her, and teasing her this way allowed me to get my own way—while not getting it at all.
Emma had impressed me tonight, both as an employee and as a date. She fit in well, even though I could tell she was out of her depth comfort-wise. She was putting in a real effort to do a good job, and it showed. And as she loosened up a little after the first glass or so of champagne, I could tell she was having a great time. We both were.
“I must get back to my table, I’m afraid,” said Greta, placing a regretful hand on Emma’s forearm. “I do hope we get another chance to chat before the end of the evening.”
“Me too!” Emma beamed. “It was great to meet you.”
“And you as well, darling.”
Emma turned to me as Greta walked away, batting at my hand playfully. “You’re going to get us in trouble.”
“There’s no law against wandering hands.”
Her cheeks, already a little flushed from the wine, went just a shade more crimson. “Should we get to our table too? I think they’re about to serve.”
“Truth be told, I’m not much interested in dinner,” I replied, leaning in low to whisper in her ear. “I’m more interested in dessert.”
Emma was now beet red, and I laughed as I put my hand on her waist and guided her to our table. This sexual tension between us was delicious, especially since I knew we’d break it tonight. In only a few hours I’d finally have her. Claim her. Maybe afterward I’d be able to go two hours without thinking about her.
“I didn’t know you were such a little charmer,” I said. I pulled Emma’s chair out, and she bowed her head and sat.
“I bet there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
I grinned and took my seat. The hotel’s conference room had been decorated minimally, since it was already a grand room on its own. Each table was covered with a white linen tablecloth and a unique custom glass centerpiece was displayed on each one. They would be auctioned off at the end of the dinner. Maybe I’d buy one as a souvenir of tonight.
“Tell me more, then,” I said, nudging her shoulder with mine. “I want to know all about you, Emma Valentine. You’re a mystery to me.”
She snorted. “Me? A mystery? The only thing mysterious about me is how I got hired at your company.”
“That is not a mystery at all. Haddie liked you and thought you’d be a good fit. She was right.”
Emma’s eyes filled with warmth. “I’m glad you think so.”
“I know so.” I took a long drink of my wine, holding her gaze. When I lowered my glass, she licked her lip absentmindedly, like her mind had gone somewhere sordid.
“Tell me more about yo
u,” I repeated. “Tell me what makes you tick.”
“You’re quite demanding, you know that?”
I chuckled. “Baby, you have no idea.”
We hadn’t even kissed yet and already I couldn’t keep myself from teasing her. Tempting her. She reacted exactly how I knew she would, by breaking our stare and reaching for her wine glass.
“I grew up in Illinois,” she said a moment later. “My dad worked in a factory and my mom stayed at home.” She shrugged to top it off.
“Any siblings?”
Emma swallowed, then nodded slowly. “I had a brother. Older by a few years. He died when I was little though, so I never really got to know him.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said, covering the hand sitting next to her plate with mine. “That must have been hard.”
“It didn’t have to be,” she muttered, more to herself than to me. She seemed to shake herself, then her smile returned. “What about you? You’re an only child, right?”
I nodded. If she didn’t want to talk about her family right now, I understood, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t curious.
“I’m sure my mother wanted a long line of sons and daughters to marry off into various business alliances, but she was unfortunate and only ever had the one.”
“That must be why she dotes on you so much,” Emma teased.
“Dotes on me? You and I must have a very different understanding of the word doting.”
Emma laughed. “I get being frustrated by how much she tries to interfere in your life, but I truly believe she’s doing it because she loves you. That’s just how she shows it. I would’ve loved for my mom to take such a positive interest in my dating life.”
She blanched a little, and I got the impression she didn’t mean to talk about her mom. I didn’t want to push her, as I could tell the topic made her uncomfortable. Another time, I decided.
“Enough of my mother’s talents for meddling,” I said lightheartedly. “I want to know if you have any hidden talents.”
The lick of innuendo in my tone swung the mood back into happier territory, and Emma grinned.
“What you see is what you get with me, I’m afraid.”
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