AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I lifted my hand. “It’s okay. Whatever trouble you guys got into before, I’m going to choose to ignore. You’re both adults and she no longer lives with me. I have to let go.”
“It wasn’t like it was drugs.” She snickered again, leading me to the elevator. “It was just towing and, to be fair,” we stepped in, and the doors closed, “neither of us even knew she’d be towed. Before then, I only had guys over and they usually took the train. My dad got me this place so I’d be closer to school and would have more opportunities for a better job—”
While she continued, my mind ran circles around the thought of other guys in her apartment, and it fucking annoyed me. I’d never been one to get jealous over anything. I wasn’t even jealous when Alicia told me she was seeing someone else. I was mad and hurt. Now, I was feeling a tinge of something unfamiliar, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. Fuck, get it together. She’s not yours. She’s your daughter’s friend. She’s your friend’s daughter. I’d repeated that reminder in my mind since she sent me those photos.
“Well, this is me.” She stepped ahead of me, taking the lead down the hall.
And as much as I tried not to look, the shiny, swaying fringe on her dress commanded my attention and I found myself fixated on the way she sashayed down the corridor, hypnotizing me with every step. I almost bumped into her when she came to a stop at a door and put the key in.
She spun around. “Oh.”
We were too close for the third time in less than twenty-four hours. She swallowed and her lips parted. I should’ve said goodnight and turned away to leave now that she was safely home.
“Would you like to um—” she uttered, her voice trailing off.
God, help me. I need to get laid the minute I leave. Reaching behind her, I pushed it open and followed her inside, then took the key from the lock and handed it to her.
She dropped it on a white, rectangular table with her bag as we strode further into her home. I peered around the open concept living room and kitchen. The first thing I noticed was she was a neat freak, and her apartment was tastefully and maturely decorated, or maybe she was expecting to bring someone back after work. The furniture was white with bamboo end tables and a round coffee table in the middle. My eyes widened at the massive television mounted on the wall.
“What?” She gripped her hips.
Lifting a fist to my mouth, I did my best to hide my grin. “I would’ve never guessed you had a TV that big.”
“Well, I like to watch movies at home instead of theaters, so I like to feel like I’m at least getting the full experience.”
I shook my head. Ever since the girls started going out on their own, I didn’t recall Maddie ever being at her own house. She was always at our house. At one point when she and Elizabeth were in high school, they even made room in Elizabeth’s closet for some of Maddie’s clothes.
“Believe it or not, after we all graduated, I’ve been a homebody unless it was at your place.” She shrugged. “I just like to let loose in the summer and be responsible for the rest of the year. Have no reason yet to be anything else.”
“Fair enough.” I scanned the room again, eying three built-in bookcases with a reading chair and gold, arched floor lamp. “Let me see what you like reading.” Before I took a step, she grabbed my arm, but I twisted it out of her grasp, taking one of her books off the shelf.
“James.” She giggled, trying to grab it from me. “You do not want to know the shit I read. I promise.”
Flickering my gaze at the exotic dancer on the cover, with her back arched and a hand gripping the pole, I squinted at Maddie. I flipped the book open to a random page. She sighed in defeat, resting her hand on my forearm. I lowered my gaze.
“Fully enthralled with his eyes,” I read tauntingly. “I watched how captivated he was by my every move. Like a starving animal, waiting to pounce on me.” I glimpsed up before continuing. “The closer I got to him, the more I felt determined to make this the best lap dance of his life. After all, he was paying for it. I ran my fingers over my breasts as I stood in front of him.”
Maddie’s grip tightened on my arm. “You might not want to continue.”
But I did. “Without warning, he reached out a hand and spun me away from him. I moved my backside as I slid my panties down, suddenly feeling his fingertips over mine.” I closed the book, clearing my throat, and slid it back onto the shelf.
“Told you.”
My eyes dropped to her hand before meeting her gaze. I thought she’d back away or let go, but she didn’t. Though I’d known her for many years, I realized there were things I didn’t know about her. “Is that the kind of stuff you write as well?”
She nodded. “I really want to be a published author, but it doesn’t pay the bills.” She let go of my arm. “I don’t want my dad to pay for my stuff forever, ya know? I mean, I’m thankful, and he insists, but I want to support myself.”
“So, come work for me.” I shrugged a shoulder. “My secretary is going to Greece for two weeks. You can come to work for me during that time and decide what you want to do after that.”
“What about Abruzzo’s?”
“I happen to be good friends with the brothers and their people.” I winked. “I’ll talk to Dimitri. I’m sure he’ll give you time off.”
She held up a palm. “Please don’t tell him about Gian.”
I took her hand in mine, stroking my thumb in a circle on her knuckles. “I promised you already I wouldn’t.”
“Okay.”
