3. Easton
3
Easton
“Excuse me, do you know where I can find Miss—” My words stop short when I spot her turning the corner outside the auditorium, a gaggle of adoring attorneys at her sides, complimenting her speech and her phenomenal career. I smile at the event worker. “Never mind.”
Leaning against the wall with my arms crossed, I watch her as she stops, deep in conversation with the group of people around her, positively glowing as she shakes their hands and expresses her gratitude for their many, many compliments. Sun filters through the paneled windows behind her, backlighting her like a goddamn halo.
When an admirer of hers moves to walk away, her eyes snag on mine as she follows their movements. She has been smiling, but I don’t miss the way her grin widens and her eyes somehow seem to shine brighter when she’s looking at me.
She remains composed while she finishes her conversations, but her eyes can’t seem to stop catching mine every few seconds. Even from across the hallway, I notice the blush accenting her cheeks, her gaze dropping when I catch her looking at me—which is every time, because my eyes unabashedly do not leave her—secretive smiles playing at her lips.
I’ve never shied away from pursuing a woman I’m interested in, and often, that interest is returned. I’m no stranger to hidden glances, flushed faces, or batting lashes. Though, there is something about the way it feels to see Maya having that reaction at nothing more than my eyes on her. It’s powerful, whatever humming current flows between us. It’s like a lasso wrapped around my chest, tugging me toward her inch by inch. I can only recall feeling this kind of power once before in my life—the last time Maya Atler was in it.
She shuffles the bouquet of flowers I bought her from one arm to the other as she shakes the hands of the last few people standing around her. As they dissipate, she turns to me, a wide smile wrecking her normally cool, collected composure. “Hi, pretty boy.”
My arms open on instinct, and as if her excitement gets the best of her, she barrels toward me, crashing into them. I lock mine around her waist, lifting her in the air and spinning her around. “Hi, Maya baby.”
She lets out a sigh against my shoulder, taking a step out of my arms as I set her down. I kind of wish she’d stay. She flips her long braids over her shoulder, giving me a once over.
“You look good.” She nods, as if agreeing with her own assessment.
“I’d say the same, but good isn’t the right word for how you look. You’re a fucking masterpiece.”
“Easton.” She laughs under her breath. “I can’t believe you’re here. It’s so nice to see you.”
It’s more than nice to see her. It’s like a damn dream come true.
“You too.” I nod down the hallway. “Walk with me?”
“Sure.” She smiles. As we make our way toward the front of the hotel, she loops an arm through mine. “I mean, what’re the odds?”
“Pretty high,” I laugh, “considering I came here for you.”
She stops, turning to face me, brows deep set over her shimmering brown eyes. “You came just to see me?”
I nod.
“Why?”
I shrug, attempting to remain nonchalant. “I saw you featured in the newsletter, and my boss wasn’t able to make the conference this year, so I came in his place. I wanted to see you speak and be here to support.”
Her face softens. “That’s so sweet.”
I shrug again, but I fail at hiding my triumphant smile.
“But, you know, the conference has a lot of incredible workshops and other speakers. There is a ton to learn.”
“You’re the best benefit, and I learned a lot from you today.”
She huffs, shaking her head with a playful roll of her eyes. “So, are you here alone, or?”
“That your way of asking if I’m single?” I ask as we step onto an escalator to the lobby of the hotel.
“No.” She leans back against it, facing me. “I figure you could’ve come with a colleague or an assistant.”
“Nope. In fact, this is very much a retreat from my assistant.” My lips tug upward. “He likes to play matchmaker, because, you know…I’m single. Since you were curious.”
She hums contemplatively but doesn’t respond. We step off the escalator, and Maya begins strutting toward the elevators at the far end of the lobby that lead to one of the two towers of the hotel. “Well, I have a dinner I’m supposed to attend in a few hours, so I’m going to go freshen up and—”
“Bail on dinner and get a drink with me instead.” My tone comes out far more desperate than I intended, but the sight of her walking away from me again is activating my fight or flight, and I guess I feel like fighting.
Maya pauses in front of me, her long braids swaying as she spins on a high, black heel and faces me. The pencil skirt she has on hugs her hips flawlessly, and as we’ve been walking, I’ve noticed the way it’s rode up her panty-hose clad thighs, making me wonder if those are as easy to rip through as that pair of tights was all those years ago.
My eyes drag up her body, because prior to this moment, I hadn’t allowed myself a decent look.
When I reach her face, her gaze is glued to me, offering a cool assessment. “You know, you didn’t even ask if I’m single.” She scrunches her nose. “Maybe the dinner plans I have tonight are with my boyfriend.”
I shake my head. “First of all, the dinner you’re referring to is hosted by the Bar Association and is for all speakers and workshop leaders. I looked it up.” I step toward her. “I also know it’s not a requirement to attend.”
“It’s a networking opportunity.”
“And,” I interrupt her, because I wasn’t finished speaking, “if you were dating someone who was not front row in that fucking auditorium, hanging onto every word you say, waiting for you afterward to show the entire goddamn planet—and, most importantly, you—how proud and amazed and in awe of you they are, then they do not deserve to sit across from you at a dinner table.” Suddenly, I’m close enough to watch her eyes go molten, to track the way her throat moves as she swallows, the expansion of her lungs as her breathing elevates. “So for that reason, I really fucking hope you’re single, Maya.”
She licks her lips, eyes fluttering to the floor. “I’m single.”
“Good.” I pass her, continuing toward the elevator. My room is in the same wing of the hotel, so regardless, we’re heading in the same direction.
“But,” she continues, catching up to me, “the dinner is a networking opportunity I can’t miss.”
I stop in front of the elevator doors, pressing the up arrow. “That you can’t miss, or that you don’t want to?” I glance down at her. “When’s the last time you took a night off?”
She opens her mouth as if she’s about to argue, but as I watch her eyes search her memory, her lips clamp shut. Sure enough, she’s failing to remember the last time she gave herself a break.
I’m smiling triumphantly as the elevator chimes and the doors slide open. I place my hand on the small of her back as I guide her inside, relishing the feel of my skin against her body.
Once we’re both in, I press the button for floor eleven, where my room is. Maya presses the button for floor thirty. My eyes flash to hers, catching a smirk. “I may not know how to take a day off, pretty boy, but I can afford a suite.”
I huff a laugh, scratching at the scruff along my jaw.
“You wanna show me what it looks like?” I ask, biting my lip to hide my grin.
The elevator comes to a stop at my floor.
“Didn’t I tell you that was a one-time-thing?” she asks, though the tone in her voice has dropped, flowing from her lips like soft, seductive velvet.
“Can you blame a guy for trying?” I wink as I step out of the elevator. “I’ll be down in the lobby at seven tonight to take you out in case you decide you’d like to cash in on that night off.” Spinning around before the doors can close, I add, “And remember, Maya baby: burn out leads to failure.”
She’s biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing as the elevator doors close.