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“Good morning,” I replied cautiously.
“Follow me.”
I would very happily follow her anywhere. Because I was a pig, I stared at her ass in the dark slacks. They perfectly shaped and cupped her ass. I remembered that round ass. I remembered the weight and feel of it in my hands.
“I’ve got you set up here,” she said.
“We use headset mics, but if you prefer the podium, we can do that as well,” she explained. She was doing her very best to keep it professional. She was acting like I didn’t know what she looked like naked or how she tasted.
“I can use the headset,” I said. “My team will handle the screen and hand out information.”
“Good, because I’m only one woman despite what many might think around here,” she muttered.
I almost felt bad for her. Almost. Then I remembered the emptiness of the hotel room that morning. “I will need a coffee bar,” I said. “That was in the notes.”
She smiled at me and once again I wondered if she was about to strike. “Yes, I saw that. I’m working on it. We’ll have the coffee bar set up in the common area through that door. The college prefers there not be any food or drink in this particular lecture hall.”
“Why this one?”
“Because it was just remodeled,” she said. “If you need it in the hall, I suppose we can move you across campus to one of the older, small ones. The acoustics are not great, and you won’t have much room.”
“This will be fine,” I said with satisfaction. I was keeping her on her toes. She was flustered but doing her best not to show it.
She took a deep breath. “Anything else? I have to make sure the signs are up directing the attendees here.”
I looked at her. There was so much more I wanted. “I think I’m okay for now,” I replied. “Just don’t run off.”
Her jaw clenched. I winked at her, daring her to challenge me.
She spun on her heel and stomped away. This was good. This felt better than I expected. My team quickly jumped into action and got my laptop with the PowerPoint set up. The screen with the welcome message was on. There were handouts put on every seat. I hoped like hell there was a good turnout. It would be just a little humiliating to bomb. If she wanted to sabotage me, it would be very easy. She said she was making sure the signs were directing them to my hall. What if she was steering them in the wrong direction?
Just to be sure, I checked. I pretended to be getting a cup of coffee. Macy was standing just outside the double doors talking with a young man that could have been a student. I couldn’t say for sure. She smiled and reached out to touch his arm. Cold jealousy tore through me. The possibility that she might be engaged or with someone never entered my mind. I couldn’t control the anger that flooded my veins at the thought of her happy with another man.
I took my coffee back into the lecture hall. If she had a problem with it, she could tell me. If I spilled it, I would buy a new fucking hall. Students began to pour into the space. I could feel their energy. Thankfully, the place was packed.
I started my prepared lecture, veering off script here and there when there was something I was particularly passionate about. I didn’t want to be boring. I really wanted to inspire the next generation to get their asses out there and try. I wanted them to realize hard work would be rewarded.
Throughout the lecture, I looked for her. She wasn’t there the whole time, but I did see her pop in and out on occasion. When she was present, I found myself struggling to stay focused. I wanted to daydream and fantasize.
At the end of the day, with everyone gone, I took the opportunity to talk to her once again. “Thanks for organizing all of this,” I said. “You pulled it off in short time. I understand this isn’t even your normal job.”
She smiled. It was a real, genuine smile. “No, it isn’t, but like I said, I do the job of many.”
“I’d like to thank you for all your hard work,” I said. “Can I take you to dinner?”
Her smile didn’t slip. “Tempting, but I think I should probably go home. It’s been a long day and we get to do this all over again tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I said. “You’re right. There is always tomorrow. Maybe I’ll ask you again. Maybe I won’t.”
I walked past her with my bag slung over my shoulder. I walked to my car with a little extra pep in my step. I was certain I was making progress with her. The smile had been real. She was softening to me.
We would see what tomorrow held.
15
MACY
He was single. He had to be. There was no way the guy would keep asking me to dinner if he wasn’t, right? Something about him told me he wasn’t the kind of guy that blatantly cheated. Plus, there was no ring. He had a decent tan despite it being spring. There was no tan line on his ring finger. He wore a watch and nothing else.
