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“What’s a sum of money between friends?” He asked airily.
“The answer is still no.”
*****
Dragging his fingers through his disheveled hair, he turned to look at the woman sprawled on the bed. A frown touched his brow as he realized not for the first time that things were cooling down between them.
He was going to cut loose, but did not relish the scene and the questions. He was putting on his boots when she stirred and turned around to face him.
“It’s late!” There was enough light from the moon seeping through the window for him to notice the pout on her rosy lips.
“Or early.” He nodded to the blinking light of the bedside clock which showed the time as being just 3.30 am. “I have a breakfast meeting and am flying to New York. I have to be prepared.”
“You always are. Darling, this is becoming tiresome. You never spend the entire night.”
“Again, it is morning.” He rose and slipped into his jacket. He did not have time for an argument. He had started seeing Janet two months ago and at first her beauty and vivid personality had intrigued him.
But that had quickly cooled. And he knew why. She was not a bad person, and he supposed if he were not hung up on someone else, he could really see them having a go at the relationship. But his passion had waned considerably.
“I am going to Mexico on a shoot for three days, We could make an outing of it and stay in the delightful villa of yours.”
He lifted thick coffee brown brows at her as he zipped up his pants. “No, we cannot. I have a company to run. But feel free to use the place. If you decide to, I will alert Manuel.”
She sat up, naked and flushed, her rose tinted nipples already hard. Her skin was white and pampered and the glorious red hair which was her trademark flowed over one breast and stopped at her tiny waist.
But other than a mild admiration for her beauty, he felt nothing else. “The fall fashion show will be right after I get back. Can I count on you being there?”
“We’ll see.” He patted his packets to make sure he was not leaving anything behind. “Take care.”
He was at the door of the bedroom when she rushed over and launched herself into his arms. “Please stay.”
An impatient look crossed his attractive face and reflected in his blue-green eyes.
“I have to go.” Putting her away from him, he opened the door and left without a backward glance.
Outside in the parking lot, he got into his vehicle and just sat there. It was too early for the other tenants to be up and about. The concierge had rushed to open the beveled glass doors for him. It was expected of course because he owned the building.
He was about to push the start button when his phone rang. He was going to ignore it when he decided to turn it over and looked at the LED. His brows lifted in shocked surprise and for a second, he could not move. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the green icon and hoped to God that he managed to sound normal.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. You were the one who told me you are usually up at the crack of dawn. And shit, Leo, I need to talk to you. It is urgent or I would not be disturbing you at this time. Wait, are you with someone?”
He chuckled softly and knew why he had fallen for her in the first place. Sherrian Watson was in a league of her own.
“Not anymore.”
“That’s good.” There was a pause, and he waited. “I need to see you. I have this damn favor to ask, and it cannot be said over the fricking phone. Here I am up at this time of the morning and cannot settle. What is your day like?”
“I have a breakfast meeting at six and flying to New York right after. I should be back by tonight. Where can I find you?”
“I will be at the shop until around 9.00 pm. Bring your appetite and let me cook you something.”
“Sounds like a plan. You okay?”
“Kind of. I will fill you in when I see you. Later.” And just like that, she was gone. Leaning back, he closed his eyes and fought the shudders wracking his body. He had met her two years ago when she was engaged to another man.
She had been rushing in her usual fashion, from the pastry shop to go across the street to catch the bank and bumped into him. Instead of apologizing, the tiny bundle of electric energy had berated him for not watching where he was going.