Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
The smell of fresh coffee wakes me from a sound sleep. The dip of the bed tells me I’m not alone. I curl in the direction the bed is leaning and find myself nudged up against the thigh of a very handsome man. His prickly hair tickles my cheek as I kiss his leg. His hand comes up to massage my shoulders.
“Oh, that feels so good. My body aches today. Will you rub my lower back?” I ask.
“Roll over, and I’d be happy to give you a quick back rub. Then we have to go to work. I brought you coffee, and there is oatmeal waiting upstairs for you.”
“Okay, let me run to the potty first. I’ll be right back.” I jump out of bed and dash to the bathroom to empty my bladder. As soon as I wipe, I laugh.
“What’s so funny in there?” he asks from the bedroom.
I finish what I need to do and stroll back into the bedroom with a smile on my face. “I know why I’ve been so moody lately. I just started my period. No wonder I’ve been up and down. I’m so sorry, baby. I must have put you through hell. ”
“Thank God! I was thinking that maybe I wasn’t making you happy.”
“You make me very happy. I love you. Never think that, okay?”
“I noticed you don’t have a regular cycle. Why is that?” His eyes look to me in question.
“I take the mini-pill. It’s been good so far, but my periods are always sporadic. I wonder if being as sexually active as we are influences my cycle? I’ll have to visit my doctor and see if she can recommend something more predictable. It would be nice to know when I’m going to get a visit from Mother Nature; that way, I can prepare you for my onslaught of irrational emotions.”
“Lie down so I can rub your back. It’s probably cramps.”
I lie down on my stomach and relax under his firm hands. He kneads my lower back like a baker kneading bread. “I’m not sure if I’m happy that you know so much about women or if it should upset me you have had so many before me.”
“You should be happy I have learned enough to apply the good stuff to you and know that after you––there will be no others.”
“You say the sweetest things. I don’t know how to respond.”
“You don’t get it yet, do you? I knew from the moment that I saw you across the room that you were it. I can’t explain it; I just knew. When I asked you to move in with me, it wasn’t so I could shack up with you. I want you here with me because my life is better when you’re around. I feel at peace. I don’t feel like I have to keep proving myself to others. All I want is to prove myself worthy of you.”
I turn around and look up at the man baring his soul to me. “You have nothing to prove to me. I’m just a poor girl from Arcadia who fell in love with a poor boy from Hollywood.”
“This poor boy can now buy you the moon if you wanted it.”
“I love that he would buy me the moon, but I don’t want the moon.” My hands intertwine with his as he lifts them over my head and leans in to kiss me .
“I love that you don’t need the moon to be happy.” He gently kisses me, sucking my lower lip into his mouth. As he coaxes my lips open, I let out a little moan, leaving him the room he needs to explore me with his tongue. If he could have dumped all of his emotions into a kiss, it couldn’t have been more potent than the one we are sharing right now. He breaks the kiss and leaves me breathless. “Get dressed and come upstairs. You need to decide where you’re going to work.”
I take the last bite of oatmeal and grab my purse before heading out to the car and jumping into the passenger seat.
“I’ll take you to your car. Let’s meet in my office when you get to work so we can talk about your new project.”
“I remember something about prom being discussed before I became three sheets to the wind.”
“Damn it. She wasn’t supposed to tell you. But I suppose after three margaritas, she couldn’t have kept anything to herself. Okay, well, let’s talk about it when you get to the office.”
We pull into the parking garage where I left my Audi yesterday. He waits for me to get in and buckle up before he goes. I follow him out and straight to the Anthony Haywood headquarters.
Being here always makes me feel like a naughty employee. I see everyone’s eyes when we walk into the building together. Some look like they’re asking themselves if I’m just the flavor of the month, while others look at me with envy. I know how they feel; if I had to watch him with another woman, I’d come undone.
The fact that he’s mine still shocks me. What do I know about love and relationships? I have no idea what a healthy one should look like. I know what we are doing is working for me. I have to stop freaking out about how we got this close this fast.
“Come on in and close the door.” He takes a seat in the big chair behind his desk. I sit in a chair in front of his desk. “So, you heard I want to do a prom night promotion. When I heard you didn’t attend your prom, I wondered how many people didn’t get to attend their prom, and it made me think about how successful a do-over could be.” He leans back and puts his shoes on the desk. “To have you spend more time with Kat and utilize your marketing skills, I thought you could be in charge of marketing this idea. I talked it over with Damon, and he thinks it’s a great plan. You will be taking on the PR position, but since that’s not a full-time job right now, we gave you something else to keep you busy.”
“You want to throw an adult do-over prom so that I can experience it? Are you crazy?”
“Yes, I think I may be. Why is it you didn’t attend your prom?”
“I was working. I had a job that night, and I needed the money more than I needed to go to prom. You have to remember I was getting evicted from my house. My aunt told me I was getting the boot at eighteen. I could’ve stayed with Kat, but it was time to start my own life.”
“It pisses me off that your dad was so callous toward his daughter. I have the investigator looking into things, but so far, he hasn’t turned up anything. Why didn’t your grandparents step in to help?”
“I never met them. My dad’s parents were deceased, and my mom’s parents were absent. The aunt that stayed during the week was my dad’s sister. She got paid to stay with me. You have no idea how lucky you are to have your parents.”
“I know how lucky I am. By the way, my mom loves you. She thought you were stunningly beautiful and can’t stop talking about how cute her grandchildren are going to be,” he says with a roll of his eyes.
I burst into laughter. “Did you know the first thing she told me was that in her day, you didn’t get to ‘try it before you buy it’?” I give him a goofy look and watch his eyes bulge.
“Did she really? That is too freaking funny. Almost as funny as when she asked if you were a prostitute. ”
“Yes, that was a real charming moment. Why is it you threw me to the wolves at your parents’ house?”
“I knew they would love you if I loved you. I loved the way you interacted with them. I found it humorous to throw you and my parents off-kilter at the same time.” Lowering his feet, he leans across the table and holds my hands. “I knew my mom liked you when she cut her prized roses and gave them to you.”
“Her Julia Child rose if I remember correctly.” I can’t stop shaking my head. He thinks he’s a real comedian.
“She planted that rose bush the day I opened my first restaurant. That was ten years ago.”
“She is very proud of you, and rightly so. You would be everyone’s fantasy son.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t as good as everyone makes me out to be, but I turned out okay. I can pay my bills, and I’m not living in her basement at thirty-four.”
“I could only hope to have children as unruly, unmotivated, and uninspired as you.” I roll my eyes. “Enough about our virtual children. Tell me about this prom night.”
“It’s your night, baby, so make it what you want. Let Damon and me know what your fantasy prom night would include, and we’ll try to make it happen. We can’t change the band because those schedules are set well in advance, but whatever else you want is fine.”
“How long do I have to plan and promote this night?”
“Not long. We are squeezing it in next month.”
“Perfect. Now I have to find a dress and a date in less than a month.” I knew he would react if I said I had to find a date.
“Emma Lloyd, will you accompany me to prom?” He is still holding my hands and grinning at me like a sixteen-year-old boy.
“I’ll think about it. Can I give you my answer tomorrow? I’m holding out for that one special boy.”
It doesn’t take him but a second to round the desk and pull me into his arms. “You’re holding out for the highest bidder, huh? What do I have to do to get you to say yes?”
“You’ll have to get your Chucks to match my dress,” I tease.
“Done. Now get to work, or I’ll dock your pay for slacking off in the boss’s office.”
“I don’t even know where I work anymore. You had me transferred.” After yesterday, I’m a bit confused.
“You are free to work wherever you want. You said you missed Kat, so I thought you wanted to work at Ahz. Where do you want to work? I can set you up a desk here if you want to share my office. You can have your own office, or you can work at Ahz. The world is your oyster, babe.”
“Wow, sleeping with the boss has its perks, doesn’t it?” I push my lips into his and wiggle my body into him.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish, Emma,” he warns. I can feel his arousal twitch against my stomach.
“Office sex; I’ve never done it, but Kat tells me it’s amazing. We’ll have to try it once my monthly friend leaves.” I push away from him and dash to his door. “See you tonight, baby. I’m going to work at Ahz today.”
I find Kat in the VIP lounge. Her head is bent over a notebook. Her cell is glued to her ear, and she is having a very animated conversation. She sees me walk in and waves me over. I point to her soda to see where she got it, and she points toward the bar. When you know someone as well as we know each other, no words are needed.
“Okay, so lemon drops and chocolate-covered bacon. Is there anything else?” There is silence on Kat’s end, but I can hear the soft sound of a voice on the other. “No, sorry, I can’t obtain anything that would send me to jail. I look forward to meeting the band. See you Friday.” Kat hangs up the phone and exhales. “You’d think I was a pimp or a dealer with the requests I get. I can get chocolate-covered bacon, but I draw the line at prostitutes and cocaine. ”
“Well, I could probably help you out with the prostitutes since Anthony’s mom thinks I used to be one.”
“How did we get so lucky to meet two wonderful men on the same night?” She looks down at her hope diamond and smiles. “Are you going to withhold sex from him because he did you wrong? I would. I’d make him pay hard for making you squirm at his parents’ house. It’s hard enough to meet the mom, but for him to set you up. I’m thinking a month, and a good case of blue balls should guarantee that doesn’t go down again.”
“Look at you, all hard ass and shit. What happened to my sweet little Kat?” I poke her in her side, knowing how ticklish she is.
“I met Damon Noble,” she says, giggling.
“Okay, enough said. So, what are we going to do about this prom idea?”
“We? This is all you, my dear. I have a job, but I’m going to attend because my first prom date was boring. I can guarantee I will get lucky after this soiree; Damon is a sure thing.”
“Just don’t do any of your exhibition shit at my prom,” I warn her.
Bringing her phone to her ear, she sticks her tongue out at me. While Kat makes her call, I pick up my phone and text Chris.
Hey, my brother from another mother. I still haven’t heard from your girl.
Nice to hear from you, sis. Trevor and I are hitting Trax tonight. They have a Mad Monday promo with two-for-one martinis. She should be there. I’ll let her know, and I’ll put a fire under her ass to call you.
Thanks. I need to get someone in the house. It’s more about security than money. All she needs to pay for is the gardener and the utilities. It’s not a bad deal when you think about it. I’m never there, so it’s like having your own house for next to nothing. You can tell her my last roommate met a millionaire while living there .
I’ll tell her the owner is banging a billionaire. Maybe that will sway her.
Screw you…
Nah… never liked the vag. Love you, girl.
Yeah, Yeah. Give Trevor my love. Oh, I’m in charge of setting up an adult prom night at Ahz for next month. I’d love any ideas you have.
Ooh, I may get to wear satin after all. Trevor and I are in.
Talk to you later.
I get a Diet Coke from the bar and take a walk around Ahz. If I choose the venue first, maybe I can begin to feel the theme. I know for sure that the “prom” won’t be held in the VIP lounge or on the sixth floor. There is no way I am having people peek up at my goodies from the floor below. I decide to have the main event on the third floor, where they play the eighties and nineties music primarily. I love the music from those decades, and I know Anthony will enjoy it, too.
Now that I have a venue and a musical direction, I have to decide on the theme. I go over the typical themes like casino, roaring twenties, under the stars, but I’m feeling in love right now. I decide to work with the letters in prom and come up with a message to Anthony. With my direction set, I contact the marketing department and make the arrangements.
I find my way down to Kat’s office and sit behind her desk. Looking forward, I see Trevor through the windows. His desk sits directly across the hallway from Kat’s. He looks up from his paperwork and smiles at me. I point to myself, and then I point back to Trevor; it’s my silent way of asking if I can come over for a visit. He shakes his head yes. I slide out of Kat’s chair and head on over.
“Hey, chickadee, I hear you’re a permanent fixture over here. Did you tire of your hunk of burnin’ love over there at Haywood’s? ”
“No, I just got tired of fetching coffee for the marketing director. While we were opening Ahz, I worked for Anthony, and that was great. Since then, things have taken on a much slower pace, and I have to stay busy. You know what they say about idle hands.”
“No, what do they say about idle hands?” he asks.
“I don’t have the foggiest, but I’m sure someone has said something.” I laugh at myself. “I need some catalogs where I can find decorations for prom. Do you have any you would recommend?”
Trevor is up and out of his seat before I can finish my sentence. He walks over to a tall cabinet in his office corner and takes out a pile of catalogs.
“Here are a few. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, then let me know. I have about a hundred more. What is the theme?”
“I don’t know that I have an actual theme, but I’m going for a ‘love is in the air’ kind of atmosphere. I look around me at all of us and see the love connection, and I want to play off that. I need the third floor reserved for the event. Who do I see about that?”
“I’ll take care of it. It would be me you see about that, anyway. I’m glad you’re here.” He walks around and hugs me. “Katarina and I reserve the second Friday for lunch and shopping. We make an afternoon of it. You should join us.”
“I’d love that. I need a dress for the food and wine festival. You can be my fashion consultant.”
“I’m your girl,” he says as his smile goes big and bright.