couldn’t function without that first cup of
coffee, it was her way of ensuring she didn’t spend all day, every day in her
pajamas.
She pulled off her shower cap and scrunched in some product,
then wrapped her still-damp body in her comfiest robe before going to the
automatic coffee machine in the kitchen and pouring that first blissful cup. A
healthy dose of creamer later, she took a deep inhale that had her closing her
eyes to enjoy the fabulous aroma before she took a sip. Welcome to
twenty-eight , she thought ruefully. Then she ordered herself back into the
bedroom to get dressed and face the day.
* * * * *
Keith took a deep breath and picked up the phone. His
patience was at an end and he wasn’t waiting any longer. It was time to take
action. His beautiful accountant had been ignoring his flirtations for long
enough. If she’d told him she had a boyfriend or even just didn’t like him that
way, he would have moved on, been satisfied being friends with her. Maybe.
Well, okay, maybe not, but it didn’t matter, because she didn’t have a
boyfriend and no matter how much she pretended they were just friends, he knew
she was interested in him.
They had an easy rapport most of the time. Especially when
she forgot herself and relaxed. It was so frustrating. She would be coasting
along, enjoying his company, and suddenly snap to some realization that put her
on edge and nervous again. And she would run from him. Again. Drove him crazy.
He’d tried getting to know her better as friends, but she
seemed determined to keep everything work related. He’d asked her out but she’d
practically run from him. No more. If he had to watch her one more day without
being able to touch that gorgeous skin he was going to lose his mind. He’d
spent too many hours trying to decide exactly what color her skin was. He
figured her Italian last name explained the olive tint to the soft brown, but
he’d never asked. Because he didn’t care. He just wanted to touch. And taste.
He dialed the number he knew by heart, shaking his head in
disgust at himself. How many times had he dragged her here unnecessarily so
that he could see her? Well, he was going to do it one more time and if she
escaped him again, he was giving up.
The phone rang and she answered with a voice still a little
rough from sleep. He suppressed a groan at the picture of her getting out of
bed. A well-tossed bed from all the activity he wanted to indulge in with her,
her long black curls framing her pixie face. Full lips that never failed to
inspire him to… Concentrate, damn it, he needed to concentrate.
“Val, it’s Keith. I hate to bother you but is there any way
you can come over here this morning?” He intentionally left out any mention of
her helping him in a work-related capacity. If she wanted to assume that based
on similar calls he’d made, well…that’s why assumptions could get you into
trouble.
She cleared her throat. “Today? Well, yeah, I guess I could
do that.”
“About eleven, if it’s convenient. Please?” He wasn’t
opposed to a little bit of begging to get what he wanted.
“Sure, all right. I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, Val, you’re the best.” He hung up before his
eagerness betrayed him. He had a few preparations to make.
* * * * *
Val prided herself on promptness, especially when meeting
clients, but since Keith’s appointment was so last minute, she’d let herself
dawdle a bit. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him, she always liked
seeing him. Liked looking at him and talking to him, until she remembered that
flirting was just his nature and he didn’t see her as anything special.
Still, it was barely more than five minutes past the hour
when she arrived on his doorstep. She’d worn jeans, as she usually did, and if
she wore the new top that she thought fit her especially well, it was only
because it was her birthday and she deserved to feel cute, not because she
wanted to look good for a certain client.
coffee, it was her way of ensuring she didn’t spend all day, every day in her
pajamas.
She pulled off her shower cap and scrunched in some product,
then wrapped her still-damp body in her comfiest robe before going to the
automatic coffee machine in the kitchen and pouring that first blissful cup. A
healthy dose of creamer later, she took a deep inhale that had her closing her
eyes to enjoy the fabulous aroma before she took a sip. Welcome to
twenty-eight , she thought ruefully. Then she ordered herself back into the
bedroom to get dressed and face the day.
* * * * *
Keith took a deep breath and picked up the phone. His
patience was at an end and he wasn’t waiting any longer. It was time to take
action. His beautiful accountant had been ignoring his flirtations for long
enough. If she’d told him she had a boyfriend or even just didn’t like him that
way, he would have moved on, been satisfied being friends with her. Maybe.
Well, okay, maybe not, but it didn’t matter, because she didn’t have a
boyfriend and no matter how much she pretended they were just friends, he knew
she was interested in him.
They had an easy rapport most of the time. Especially when
she forgot herself and relaxed. It was so frustrating. She would be coasting
along, enjoying his company, and suddenly snap to some realization that put her
on edge and nervous again. And she would run from him. Again. Drove him crazy.
He’d tried getting to know her better as friends, but she
seemed determined to keep everything work related. He’d asked her out but she’d
practically run from him. No more. If he had to watch her one more day without
being able to touch that gorgeous skin he was going to lose his mind. He’d
spent too many hours trying to decide exactly what color her skin was. He
figured her Italian last name explained the olive tint to the soft brown, but
he’d never asked. Because he didn’t care. He just wanted to touch. And taste.
He dialed the number he knew by heart, shaking his head in
disgust at himself. How many times had he dragged her here unnecessarily so
that he could see her? Well, he was going to do it one more time and if she
escaped him again, he was giving up.
The phone rang and she answered with a voice still a little
rough from sleep. He suppressed a groan at the picture of her getting out of
bed. A well-tossed bed from all the activity he wanted to indulge in with her,
her long black curls framing her pixie face. Full lips that never failed to
inspire him to… Concentrate, damn it, he needed to concentrate.
“Val, it’s Keith. I hate to bother you but is there any way
you can come over here this morning?” He intentionally left out any mention of
her helping him in a work-related capacity. If she wanted to assume that based
on similar calls he’d made, well…that’s why assumptions could get you into
trouble.
She cleared her throat. “Today? Well, yeah, I guess I could
do that.”
“About eleven, if it’s convenient. Please?” He wasn’t
opposed to a little bit of begging to get what he wanted.
“Sure, all right. I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, Val, you’re the best.” He hung up before his
eagerness betrayed him. He had a few preparations to make.
* * * * *
Val prided herself on promptness, especially when meeting
clients, but since Keith’s appointment was so last minute, she’d let herself
dawdle a bit. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him, she always liked
seeing him. Liked looking at him and talking to him, until she remembered that
flirting was just his nature and he didn’t see her as anything special.
Still, it was barely more than five minutes past the hour
when she arrived on his doorstep. She’d worn jeans, as she usually did, and if
she wore the new top that she thought fit her especially well, it was only
because it was her birthday and she deserved to feel cute, not because she
wanted to look good for a certain client.
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