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As they got into a cab Payton heard Dixon relay an unfamiliar address.
“What’s this, a property I don’t know of? I hope you’re not cheating on me with another realtor. You know it would break my heart.” Playfully, she put her hand on her heart to feign hurt.
Dixon laughed while he gave her a smirk and shook his head. “This was my first place ever. I never had the heart to sell it. That is why I didn’t disclose it, it has had my heart since go.”
“Disclose? That’s a professional term. Are we talking as friends or professionals?” Payton asked, knowing that she was being oversensitive and irrational; after all, it was a business trip. She was hoping for clarity about their relationship status instead of always playing a guessing game.
Avoiding her question, he turned it back on her. “Do professionals have favorites? I am your favorite, aren’t I? Or do you say that to all of your clients?” His tone changed to a more serious note. “I want to be your number one.”
They stepped out of the cab in front of a small building that looked like it could use a bit of work, but overall it had been kept up well for its age.
“So the building is yours?” Payton asked, eyeing him.
Laughing, he gave her a playful shove. “I said this was my first place. Who do you think I am? I got smart after buying this place and never bought a place I was in love with again.”
Dixon led the way through the entrance. He was so excited to show Payton his place that he reached for her hand to lead her up the stairwell. It wasn’t until halfway up that he realized he was still holding her hand. The stairs creaked as they went up and the paint on the white walls was chipping away to show the brown underneath. The stairway may have looked like it was in need of some repair but it did not have an old smell to it. It had a slight smell of lemons. And the skylight from the ceiling let in enough light that it did not seem dungeon-like.
“I have come to realize that if I purchase real estate I don’t love I am able to view it as an investment. I enjoy the selling process even more as I know I’ll come out with a profit.” At the end of his sentence he became even more conscious that they were hand-in-hand and he dropped hers immediately.
“How high is this one?” Payton asked, while looking down at her shoes. They were beautiful with a big heel and white, thin straps, but they were what she liked to call dinner shoes. They looked fabulous, made her legs look even more fabulous, but were not meant to be walked in for more than a few minutes; they were solely to be admired. She normally only wore this type of shoe to dinner because she would just walk from the cab into the restaurant and that was it. Payton wished she had changed into her flats before leaving. Thinking about them sitting under her desk almost made her cry, but beauty was pain at least that was what she was telling herself.
“Just two more flights. It’s on the top.” Dixon pointed up. “Fifth floor.”
As he spoke, Payton stopped walking to look up to where he was pointing, she lifted one foot at a time, rolling her ankle to give the top of her foot a rest. She had been so focused on her feet this entire time that she barely registered they had been holding hands.
“How are the shoes?”
“Let’s not talk about it.” Payton was in so much pain it hurt to think about it.
“That bad, huh?”
“I will survive.” And with that they continued on.
“The elevator is broken or I would have suggested it.”
By the time they reached the middle of the fourth floor, Payton was starting to debate if it would be so wrong to continue in bare feet.
Looking back toward her, Dixon could see the pain that she was in. “If you want I could piggy back you,” he offered.
Payton looked down to see what she was wearing—a tight pencil skirt that hugged her assets. As if Dixon was reading her mind, he said, “If you need to hike that skirt up some I won’t look, then you can accept my offer. I am a true gentleman.” Smirking, he took a step down toward her.
As Payton started to lift up her skirt she said, “Shit, okay, sorry.” Please don’t let anyone come down the stairs. Dixon kneeled down so Payton could get on his back. She straddled her legs on either side of his waist. Her chest was pressed against his muscular back, making her want to run her hands over his defined chest. Now if only they could reverse this position, her lips would then be mere inches from his. With these thoughts, she felt warmth spread throughout her most intimate area, and had an overwhelming need to grind against him to seek a measure of relief. She adjusted her legs to grip him even tighter, praying he didn’t notice her accelerated breathing.
Shaking her mind from the pleasant thoughts, she thought back to her younger days and what this would have been like if they were teenagers in high school. She would have been laughing so hard, telling him to go faster as he ran up the stairs, and at the finish line they would have embraced in a passionate kiss and be off again. She let a quiet sigh escape her lips; it was nice to be carefree in those days.
“Home sweet home.” Dixon opened the door, letting Payton slowly down. Now that she had been off her feet for those few short minutes she was left with no option but to take her shoes off.
Standing slightly inside the doorway Payton could see the entire apartment; it was extremely small with two rooms—an open kitchen and living room combination and a bedroom. It was neatly decorated with windows all around, making the room feel bigger than it was. She would have never pictured Dixon having a place like this.
“It has private access to the rooftop, that was the feature that sold it for me.” Taking her hand, he opened the window that led the way up through an external ladder.
It was breathtaking, Payton stood in awe, unable to move. It looked so garden-like, with miniature trees and flowers in oversized pots, vines growing thick and luscious on wooden posts and archways. There was a circular brick patio in the middle of the green lush of this heaven. Shaded by oversized vines was the cutest wicker loveseat and patio set. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. On the table sat a bucket full of ice and a bottle of wine, with a bright pink lily resting beside it. Without letting go of her hand he led her to the loveseat.
“Wow, Dixon, I can see why you never wanted to sell the place.” Payton took a seat as Dixon opened the wine for them.
Curious about the wine, she asked, “What are we celebrating? I haven’t told you what the place is worth yet.”
“Payton, I don’t want to sell this.” He turned to face her, his expression unreadable.
