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Alex
Ishouldn’t have lost my cool with Mya. It was unprofessional, and it made me look like a royal asshole.
The problem was her question had hit a few buttons. Not about the modesty, because as much as I didn’t want to admit it, I knew she was right. I was an arrogant jerk sometimes. I didn’t want to be in your face about it, but it was a knee-jerk reaction that I had used as a defense mechanism for as long as I could remember.
I could probably even explain this to her. It might make me look like a more sensitive man—someone who was humble—or attempting to be.
The part that I couldn’t explain was my why. Not because I didn’t want people to know—well, maybe I didn’t. It was more because I had shared my why with someone previously, and they had pretty much laughed at me for it. They told me it was a silly reason and that I was too good for it. I should be more focused on building my fortune.
After that reaction from someone I cared about, I didn’t particularly want to tell anyone my why or goal. I didn’t trust anyone, not now—except Sandy. Could I trust Milt, Rebecca, and Mya with it? Perhaps later, I would.
For now, I would keep that to myself, and I would try to do what they asked of me. That meant going through the calendar that Rebecca was sending me and pulling out my tuxedo.
I realized I had my work cut out for me as I arrived home. There was no doubt that I needed to make it up to Mya. She deserved better than she had previously received from me. I dropped my keys and the papers on the counter and pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge.
Jesus, I had more to apologize for than just today. Yesterday afternoon I had been a fucking jackass at the mailbox, and then last night, when she came to my door, I had sexually assaulted her when I sucked her finger. Today, I turned into a raging asshole when she was only trying to do her job.
I was going to have to turn the charm up with Mya and show her that I could not only be a gentleman but someone she would want to spend time with. That only made sense since it looked like we would be spending quite a bit of time with each other.
I stepped into my studio area and stared at the painting sitting on my easel from the night before. While it was a decent likeness of Mya, it wasn’t perfect.
What was perfect was the name Mya. That was perfect for a seductive angel like her.
At six twenty-two, I stepped out of my apartment and headed toward the elevator. I had told Mya that I would meet her at six-thirty sharp in the lobby of the building. I intended to be there at least five minutes early. I hoped that she appreciated punctuality as much as I did.
When I stepped off the elevator, I glanced at my watch and smirked. It was six twenty-four. Let’s see how long Mya kept me waiting. I took two steps forward and jerked to a stop. Mya stood with her back to me, wearing a curve-hugging blood-red dress that stopped just above her knee. Her calves were firm and sculpted, and her feet were in black heels that must have been four inches tall. She wore a black wrap over her arms that left her shoulders bare and her long auburn hair piled on her head with sexy tendrils falling around the tempting skin of her neck.
She twisted her head to look back as if she had heard a sound. Had I gasped out loud? She turned the rest of the way around when she saw me, a pleasant smile on her face, “Oh, good! You’re early.”
I couldn’t speak as my gaze drifted over the front of the dress, leaving very little of her curves to the imagination. I swallowed, feeling like the collar of my shirt was choking me, and finally found my voice. “I’m always early. I’m surprised you are down here.”
“Ah, something in common,” she replied playfully. “I am always at least ten minutes early. I hate to be late. I prefer to be the first one in, and that allows me to be the first or last to leave as I see fit.”
She stepped forward, glancing down my frame and back up. “You look handsome.”
“Thank you,” I replied, and then before I could return her compliment, she spun on her heel. “The car is waiting for us.”
I rushed to catch up to her and reached Mya as she pushed open the front door. “You know I could have gotten that for you.”
She laughed. “There is no one here to play for, Alex. You can save your manners for when they are needed.”
I frowned at her back and would have stepped around her to open her door to the car, but the driver was already holding it open and nodded at her as she approached. “Ms. North, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“It is always a pleasure to see you too, Charlie. How is Maureen?” She asked as she paused by the door.
The driver beamed down at her. “She is doing very well, Ms. North. The treatments are wearing her down but helping her. Thank you for remembering.”
“Please tell her I said hello, and I’m thinking of her. Can I do anything to help either of you?”
He shook his head. “No, ma’am. You have already done enough. Maureen and I will never be able to repay you for your kindness.”
She reached over and touched his arm. “You don’t repay kindness, Charlie. You pay it forward.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He said as he blinked rapidly, and Mya disappeared into the car.
I nodded to the driver as he said respectfully, “Good evening, sir.”
“Evening.” The door closed behind me, and Mya put her attention out the side window. The front door opened and closed a moment later, and then Charlie was looking at us through the rearview mirror.
