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“Right, that’s ridiculous. You’re gonna wear a pair of dark skinny jeans that make your ass look fantastic, and a top that will hint at a terrific rack. Come on!” Shell leapt up from the counter, dragging me by the arm into her room to raid her closet.
In Shell’s world, it seemed like all the answers to life’s toughest questions were in the closet. I had to remember that.
Chapter Eight
Raph
Irolled over, and the glowing 3:29 taunted my scratchy, sleepless eyes. Dinner with Lia had me twisted in knots. The loose curls, that dress, those heels… Something they did made her irresistible. And I kissed her. Like a greenhorn idiot. She tasted like Chardonnay and her own sweetness, a flavor much more potent than wine.
Never had I behaved so carelessly at an onboarding meeting. I didn’t plan to start with her even if she was already under my skin. This had to stop. I had to get her taste, that light floral scent, and the curiosity of what she would look like naked beneath me out of my brain.
No more thinking about her long hair splayed out on crisp white linens. Thoughts like those were driving me insane. Or at least to sleeplessness.
If I wanted to make Geoff proud, I couldn’t stray from professionalism again. I knew how to go above and beyond, and he deserved it.
But Amelia…
I hadn’t felt attraction to a woman since… I couldn’t remember when. Never? There was something about Lia; mystique, petite figure, prominent memory from my past, just little things about her. I rolled my eyes and flopped onto my back, unable to find peace. This bed was too damn hot.
Lia wouldn’t leave my mind. Irritated with the insatiable beckoning, I fisted myself, putting my high-strung wants to bed. The frustration beat on as I reached release thinking of her mouth working me over. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. I was in for a torturous six weeks sick with Lia on the brain.
At 6:50, I gave up on getting any more sleep. I had some breakfast and coffee, went for a run, and cleaned up the dishes before my patience ran dry. I had to talk to someone and get this off my chest. No one better than Kendall.
“Mmm, hullo?” He cleared his throat. “Hello?”
“Hey, man. It’s Raph. You asleep?”
“Uhh… Hell yeah, man, it’s… Jesus. It’s only seven-thirty! Why’re you calling me for?” Sleep-deprived irritation coated his confused accusation.
“I met with this design firm to do Experience down here in Jersey. I hired someone for the job.”
An exasperated sigh came down the line. “Okay… And? I know you didn’t call me at the ass-crack of dawn to talk shop. Get to the point, captain.”
“The girl, I think I used to know her. Before I moved to New York.”
“She hot?”
“Yeah.”
“Gonna do something about it? Bump them uglies?”
“I hired her to do interior design, not to do me.” I sighed.
“So?”
“So I can’t sleep with her if I’m employing her.”
“Why not both? It’s your show to run however you want. You make the rules. And she isn’t even your employee. Just a contractor, right? You’ll be working with her for, what? A month?”
“Six weeks.”
“See? That’s nothing. Hop on. Why waste the opportunity? Do what you want for a change and have fun. This isn’t your MO for chrissakes. Don’t label yourself a bad guy just ‘cause you’re attracted to some chick for once in your fucking life, damn.”
Kendall’s view of morality as a malleable field gave me pause. I wanted to believe him and give in, but hesitated, considering the consequences. But Lia was pretty far down the list for causing disasters…
No. Still no. I couldn’t.
“I don’t know… It’s not me.”
