Knock Love Out (A Sensual New Adult Crossover Romance) by Pella Grace

man. Now,” she looks around, “where is your dirty laundry hiding?”
     
    ***
     
    I only believed someone would say yes.
    Soft pats of encouragement on my head. A fridge full of alphabet magnets holding colors in place. Various scenes depicting the world through the eyes of a seven, eight, nine-year-old child and I bet she still has those magnets hidden somewhere.
    Sometimes the window was small, but the world was always huge.
    “Come in, come in.” Melanie Lockhart waves me inside of her home. An impressive pile of bricks, stacked by her husband, Timothy. “I’m so glad you have finished. I’m shaking with excitement.”
    She smokes through a skinny cigarette holder, propping it between her boney fingers. Thick eyeliner surrounding her baby blues. Hair coiled properly into a tight bun. I wonder sometimes if she likes to be called Audrey in the bedroom. If she lets Timothy have a little Hepburn fantasy when he’s inside her.
    “Beth,” she snaps her fingers, “get Mr. Valentine a drink, please.” Beth is an older woman, short, white hair, way too old to be working—anywhere. She looks at me in question.
    “Whatever is easiest,” I shrug, not wanting to be rude, to either of them.
    We sit at a table in one of the large rooms downstairs. There are papers scattered about. A presentation of some sort. My eyes are trying to figure it out when …
    Lilla rounds the corner, pausing in place as soon as she sees me.
    “Oh,” Melanie rises excitedly from her chair, going toward her. “Good, you’re back. Lilla, this is the young man I was telling you about. The one I want you to work on the campaign with.”
    She ushers her toward me. “This is Cash. Cash—Lilla King. She is in charge of the advertising for a new project we’re working on.”
    Dead-ass silence. Awkward.
    “N-nice to meet you, Cash.” Lilla extends her hand.
    We shake hands and Melanie asks us to sit down.
    “Okay we’ll talk business in a moment, but right now, I just want to see what is under this paper.” She places the long cigarette in her mouth and I rise, holding the painting for her to unveil. Her eyes widen with excitement. A kid on Christmas.
    Hands to her chest, taking a step back to admire it.
    “It is every bit as beautiful as the last painting.” She takes the canvas from my hands and twirls, walking towards the parlor adjacent to this room.
    “Help me hang it, would you?”
    I wave her off. “I’m not really good at that part.”
    Her lips smile and she calls another housekeeper in to hang it above a cream-colored sofa. A brown envelope is handed to me and I wish that was it. I wish I could go home.
    “Isn’t it beautiful, Lilla?”
    Her eyes look to the painting and then me. Beth sets down a glass of lemonade and I choose to keep my eyes on it.
    “Yes,” is all she replies.
    “I think you two would be a great match for the Villa Blanca Campaign. I’d like for you to exchange numbers. Get together with Cash, Lilla, show him what we’ve already planned out. Cash, come up with a few designs, I’d be interested to see what that mind of yours creates. As always.”
    “I’m sorry, what is this for?” I ask.
    “A shopping center my family recently purchased, for renovations. Cutting off the dead wood. Giving the city something that doesn’t resemble a shanty. Lilla will fill you in.”
    “I’m not sure I have time to work on another project, but thank you,” I lie.
    Melanie’s hand rests on mine. “Darling, trust me, you have time.”
    “I really don’t.”
    Her eyes aren’t pleased. I should probably be groveling for this type of job and she is throwing it at me. Her family is the reason why I have that car parked in my parent’s garage and a place to call my own. The reason why anyone who is anyone knows I exist.
    Melanie’s hand rips a scrap off Lilla’s paper and clicks a pen. The scrap is slid along the table toward me. I eye the numbers on it.
    “Still too busy?”
    I shake my head.
    She takes the