Teaghan #3
“We had money and a good life, but I’m not a stranger to hard work. I never got pacified as a child. So I guess I can’t answer that adequately,” I responded with a hand to the hip. His stare became intense at my level of sass, but I didn’t weaken under his strong eyes.
Having money didn’t automatically make you better than the next person.
It didn’t automatically make you happy or satisfied.
The money my father had was never mine. His success was never my success.
I found my place in the world and thrived in it.
His money didn’t do anything but put me through college.
Even then I still worked because that’s what strong independent women did.
“Good to know.”
“Are you judging me? Because I’m convinced you are judging me,” I asked still attempting to understand his angle.
It was hard for me to read his puzzling ways and words.
I surrounded myself with warm people. Being around him was cold and confusing.
He was ‘noting’ things, but it still felt like he was critiquing me with each word I spoke.
I didn’t like it because unlike him I wasn’t judging him when I could.
His young son was in the mix of all his mess, but I didn’t speak on that
“Never, just trying to get to know the woman behind the business. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Is that a thing you do with everyone?” “Offend?” he laughed.
“No, get to know the woman behind the business?”
“Not really. Let’s just say I’m a little absorbed with meeting you on these circumstances.
Forgive me killa,” he commented throwing his hands up in surrender.
That made me drop the guard I accidentally tossed up due to his condescending tone.
He had a sense of humor although still very shut off.
His sense of humor was dehydrated like the Sahara Desert.
“So I should feel special?” I asked with flirty eyes.
I felt a headache coming on conversing with him.
It was like pulling teeth, but I was enjoying the banter even if I was dry as a powder house.
He was getting to know me and with that, I was getting to know a little about him.
Houston was observant, a loner, passionate and a good father. The greatest assets of a man to me.
“Feel how you want,” he responded withdrawing from me again.
He was strange and the brat in me wanted to pout and storm off.
Mr. Houston was going to be a trial, and I would be the jury convicting him and sending him to lovers’ prison until he got his act together.
He wasn’t letting me in as easily as I assumed he would.
It was no time to brag, but if I had to I would admit it, I was beautiful.
Deserving of the attention of any man I came in contact with.
It wasn’t something I glorified because I didn’t desire the attention of multiple men.
This was different for me because I liked him.
Of course, it was only surface deep, but still, I found him offensively attractive.
Attractive enough for me to consider asking him out for lunch.
I didn’t do that often, if ever. It was evident he wasn’t falling easily into my warm charm.
If he wanted to keep it strictly business I could do that also.
“What are we looking at? How much is this going to cost me?” I rattled off getting straight to business.
I wasn’t afraid to pursue a man, but I wasn’t going to be throwing myself out there and get met with a stiff arm each time I did it.
Mama said it would happen, but I never believed it.
A man not wanting my time and attention. It was both humbling and aggravating.
“The pipes in the building are shot to hell. I recommend them all being replaced, or you will run into this issue every time.”
“How long and how much?” Worry hit me because I couldn’t afford for my practice to be closed for too long.
My clientele was a special breed. I prided myself on being there when they needed me or called.
I wanted Houston to do the job, so I could use that time to figure him out some more, but I needed a realistic time frame.
Without work, I didn’t know what I would do with my time.
I didn’t have a planner full of engagements, parties, and other tasks.
My time was only balanced between work and watching Netflix.
Work consumed me in a good way. Figuring out new ways to help and assist my kids took up most of the hours in the day.
Sitting home doing nothing would drive me senseless.
Plus, if he wasn’t willing to soak up some of my time I needed fast results.
“I need at least three days,” he responded, “Uninterrupted, full access.”
“Cost?”
“For you to make room in your schedule for my son is the cost. Money isn’t an issue.
My concern is him. Can you help with that?
” he advised leaning up against the sink.
His pants weren’t extremely tight, but I could make out a little print.
Enough to know that there was more than one snake for piping in the building.
“I can do three days, and I would be honored to work with Malone. But I don’t do quid pro quo. I will pay you and still assist Malone. When do we start?”
Before this was over with, I was getting him to see me for more than his child’s doctor.
I banked on it. Houston wouldn’t be able to escape the love swarm I was set to wrap him in.
His uninterrupted, full access drill caught my attention, or maybe it was the sly smirk he sported, or maybe it was how he was leaning coolly up against the sink, glaring at me like a male model.
Full access was close to the only thing I heard come from his sinfully delicious mouth.
It dripped with underlying meaning, and I wanted to explore the full access he spoke of.
“Tomorrow, but I’m not charging you. And quid pro quo is a little extreme don’t you think?
We both provide services, ” he shrugged, and I backed off.
He didn’t understand my silly hang-ups about everyone always doing something and looking for something in return.
Frankly, right now, I didn’t feel like running him off with my view or desire for more than a quid pro quo relationship.
“Is today a problem?” I inquired. It was only one in the afternoon, so he had plenty of time to get work done today. Time was the only thing on my mind. We had already wasted plenty of time with him pretending he wasn’t interested and then switching to being interested.
“Not really but I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch or something?” he asked with his head hanging down low.
“Dad, men hold their heads up, remember?” Malone blurted out, coming to place a hand into Houston’s.
I watched Houston blush and lift his head up in front of his watching son, “Listen we’ve both been closed up in the office and right now I wish I had a wish sandwich.”
I laughed, coming closer, pretending to think about it. I put my index finger on my chin. Walking the floor, I checked him out, attempting to keep a serious face. It didn’t last long because his next words caused me to scream in laughter.
“Stall me out in front of my son,” he laughed a hearty laugh.
The sound made my thighs twitch. I was adding him laughing more to my list of things to help him with.
His laugh was contagious like the plague.
I hated that he kept sending mixed signals.
The minute I got ready to say screw him he would come back with that smile and a joke making me fall all over again.
He was out of control with the back and forth.
Wishy Washy, I noted since we were keeping notes.
“About time! You been acting like I was some dusty broad,” I joked.
Heading to my office with a large dose of pep and cheer I grabbed my things and let Missy know we were headed out.
Finally, he was feeding into my longing for some time with him.
I didn’t know why he was making it so difficult.
Because I damn sure wasn’t hiding my attraction.
I don’t know why it was so hard for him to see it.
How many times was I supposed to put my hair behind my ear affectionately?
How many times did I have to say something sly for him to get it?
I was one confident woman, I knew my strengths and I knew my weaknesses.
There was no doubt that I had something to offer to Houston.
It was time for Houston to catch up and catch on.