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We’re quiet on the way to my apartment, which is on the upper west side near where Harry lives but not quite the same luxury as he resides. I have a large apartment with views of the Hudson River in the distance. Lana sits looking out the window with her hands clutched around her purse as if I would snatch it any minute. Traffic is light, and it only takes twenty minutes to reach my building.
“We’re here.”
Lana turns to me as I hand the driver some money, and I slide out, offering her my hand once again. She grasps mine, and I hold it as we get into the elevator.
“Can I have my hand back?”
“I rather like it in mine, so no.”
“Seriously?”
“I like the feel of it. Is that so bad?”
“No, but it sounds creepy.”
“Lana, if I’m making you uncomfortable, tell me.”
“You’re making me uncomfortable.”
I drop her hand and wonder what her game is. If she didn’t want me to touch her, why did she agree to come to my apartment? The elevator drops us off on the twenty-ninth floor, and I hold the door for Lana. She waits after she exits and follows me down the hall. I want to put my hand on her back, but she was uncomfortable holding it, so I make no attempts.
“Right here, apartment G.”
I unlock the door and let her walk ahead of me. I see her looking around at my place. It’s airy, open, and modern. I had it painted with warm beige and cream tones to go with the honey-colored wood floors. I have several Persian area rugs and contemporary art that adorns the walls.
“Nice place. Not what I expected for a bachelor. Is today the day your cleaning lady comes?”
I start laughing, “Did you expect me to live like a pig with pizza and takeout boxes strewn about among beer and vodka bottles?”
“No, but it’s a little too clean. Are you OCD or something?”
Before I can answer, she heads to the kitchen and pulls open the refrigerator.
“You have food.”
“What were you expecting? A severed head?”
“NO! It’s just that most bachelors don’t cook or eat out a lot. At least the ones I know.”
“You don’t know the right ones then. I clean this place myself most of the time. I do have a cleaning lady once a week to get all the nooks and crannies I missed. I didn’t grow up rich, and Paige and I would come home to an empty house after school. I learned to cook so my mother wouldn’t have to after a long hard day at work.”
“Being rich doesn’t mean you don’t know how to do domestic stuff. I clean and cook too.”
“Did you have someone to do those things when you were growing up?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t a spoiled brat. My parents taught us to be self-sufficient.”
Lana puts her hands on her hips and glares at me. She looks so sexy that I want to take her right where she stands.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. I just know some people that grew up rich and don’t know how to wash a dish.”
“It sure sounded like you meant something by it.”
“I’m going to throw this out there.”
“What?”
“If we knew each other better, I would be kissing you right now. What a turn on it is when you’re mad.”
