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“I gotta go.” And not because I want to. If given a choice, I would much rather stay here and see how the rest of this pans out, but my friend Archie needs me.
“Yeah. I should get going, too.” She turns to move, then pauses. “Thanks for being my test subject.” Her fingers press to her lips, then she whirls around and strolls out of the alley onto the sidewalk.
Her hair flutters in the light breeze. My hand twitches with the temptation to go after her, drag her to my place, and finish what we started. I shake the thought from my head. Instead, I turn and leave the alley in the opposite direction. Leaving everything that just happened behind me.
THREE
KISSING BETS
Olivia
All weekend I thought about the kiss, dreamed about the kiss, and fantasized about the kiss. Except in the last one, we didn’t stop at just the kiss. I rest my elbow on my desk and drop my chin onto my open palm. I huff out a sigh as a strand of hair flutters in front of my face before falling back into place. Monday mornings used to be fun when I worked the front desk next to my best friend, Charlie. But after she started dating Bennett, they both left The Blue Stone Group, the largest real estate and development group in the region. Our other friend Parisa’s still here, but she’s so busy running the marketing department I rarely get to see her during the day.
Trey strolls through the front door in his pristinely tailored, navy Brooks Brothers pinstriped suit and tobacco-colored loafers. When he comes in here with his hot, take charge, business man persona, I wish our kiss sent tingles to my vagina. But no, apparently that only happens with gruff, grumpy bad boys who I’m sure don’t even own a suit. But hell, he would be a tasty treat in one. An image of him pops into my mind, but then dissipates as quickly as it appears. Frustrated, I blow out another huff.
A shadow casts over the papers in front of me. When I glance up, Trey’s bright smile is shining down on me. Trey’s one of the head realtors at The Blue Stone Group. He took over when Bennett left.
“Is that depressed look because our kiss didn’t work out? Because if you want, we can go down to the T.W.A.T. closet and try again.” He rests an elbow on the two-tier desktop and leans over. The T.W.A.T closet was a storage room in the basement of The Blue Stone Group Trey and his friends turned into a secret hook up spot while at work.
“I thought you dismantled The Weekday Adult Time closet after Bennett left?”
“Well, yeah, but I could always open it back up.” He tosses me a wink.
“Thanks for the offer. But that’s not it.”
“Then what has you looking like someone kicked your puppy?” He clasps his hands together in front of him.
“Well…” Do I tell him about the mystery man I kissed who clearly finished the job he couldn’t? That might be a little harsh. Plus, we were never the kiss and tell kind of friends. Maybe it’s best if I keep this little bit of information to myself for now. “It’s just…cramping. That time of the month.” I motion my hand around my stomach.
Trey rises to his full height and, not so discreetly, checks his watch. “Look at the time. I have… a meeting to get ready for. I’ll catch you later.”
With that, he scurries away to the bank of elevators along the far wall of the atrium. Once he’s out of sight, I sigh. Again. What I wouldn’t do to see the hot, bad boy again. We could finish what we started and this time, end the night between the sheets. When he called me duchess…something about that pet name sent my heart careening into the atmosphere. It wasn’t like he was calling me sweetheart or baby. I would have smacked him for that. A smile plays on my lips.Duchess.
My cell phone buzzes in my purse, startling me. I pull open the desk drawer and rifle through everything to get to it. Glancing down,Momflashes on the screen, even though she knows I’m at work. If I don’t answer her call, she’ll just keep calling. I press the green button.
“Hi Mom.”
“Remember, tomorrow we have a meeting with the caterers to discuss the menu for the charity gala.” No warm greeting. Not a hi or how are you, just right to business, as if she forgot she’s talking to her daughter.
“Yes, Mom. It’s on my calendar,” I lie. It’s not on my calendar.
“Okay. I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t be like last time.”
“I got a flat tire. It’s not like I slashed my own tire so I didn’t have to go.” That was my second option, but luckily a nail did the job for me. And she never lets me forget it.
“Don’t be so crass.”
“Okay, Mom. But I have to get going. I’m working. I’ll see you then.”
“Be sure to wear something nice. Not one of those low-cut shirts you like to wear. Why buy the cow—”
I roll my eyes. “Cow. Milk. Got it. I’ll be sure to wear a turtleneck.” Even though it’s eighty degrees outside.
“Maybe a nice blouse like the Veronica Beard puff-sleeve top. Just be sure to button all the—”
“Okay, Mom.”
“I wish you would find a nice man like your sister. Someone who’s made a name for himself.”
