I gave my arm a good tug but Will’s grip was unrelenting. “Will you’re hurting me,” I twisted and struggled. “Let go.”

Luckily Will did or I was going to have to use all of the self-defense moves on him that I had learned in my kickboxing class. I stepped back trying to gain some distance and backed into a very hard mass. And it was breathing. I watched Will’s eyes travel up and over my shoulder.

Then I felt the vibration of the chest behind me when Hugh questioned Will’s credentials. “Are you a friend of Delilah’s or just a co-worker?” I heard and felt from behind. My green eyes instantly softened with relief.

Will said ‘friend’ at the same time that I said ‘co-worker.’

Will’s offended eyes shot back to me. “Huh,” his breath left his lungs. “And I thought you were different.” With those creepy parting words, Will pushed past me, popped Hugh shoulder-to-shoulder and headed for my door.

As I turned to watch him leave Hugh snaked an arm around my waist pulling me closer. “He’s weird,” Hugh murmured in my ear.

I couldn’t use my ‘he’s southern’ excuse because so was Hugh and he wasn’t weird. And the argument that Will was just trying to be polite and check on me went out the window when he freaked me out by outlining his disappointment in learning my sameness to other females. So I didn’t answer Hugh and swallowed back the paranoia that instantly took root. I never told Will where I lived, how I took my coffee or that Stacey and I had had it out over a guy. He was a little too informed for my private taste. So I nodded while I kept my eyes trained on my front door.

Then I felt Hugh’s hand give a little tug. “Hey. You okay?” he asked with a tenderness that made his concern feel so genuine.

Afraid that my voice would betray me, I nodded again. I turned to look up at Hugh’s face and he instantly gave me a reassuring smile. Looking into his soulful eyes I admittedly felt a lot better.

“You sure?” he asked sweetly.

“Yes,” I breathed still staring up at him while pressed snuggly into his side. I watched Hugh’s eyes make the slow and torturous trek to my lips. My mouth twitched in response probably out of my overly racked nerves.

“By the way,” Hugh began, “I have a message for you,” he shifted me so we were standing toe to toe. His eyes never left my lips as his arms slowly snaked around my waist and came to rest on my lower back.

The weight of his arms had my hips and torso pressing into him. “Oh?” I asked using my hands against his biceps so I could lean back enough to see his beautiful face while he delivered this message. Hopefully, whatever it was would distract me permanently from the freaky stalker who just left my apartment.

“Yeah, but part of it may come as a bit of a surprise,” he informed me cautiously with a gentle voice. His head tilted slightly as he assessed my reaction to this potentially shocking news.

“Um, okay,” I shrugged which rubbed my chest against his. “Is it a good surprise or a bad surprise?” I asked faintly. My hands, which had been resting on his biceps, flexed slightly bracing for his response. “Cause if it is a bad surprise I’m not so sure now is the best time to share it.”

His head lowered slightly while his eyes bounced back and forth on mine. “I’m hoping you think it is a good surprise,” he murmured gently.

My chest began to heave from our tight embrace and the anticipation of this news that could potentially be upsetting.

He seemed somewhat hesitant to share this message, which had me questioning my ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. If he didn’t hurry up I might just pass out and miss the whole thing. “Okay,” I repeated somewhat breathily in response.

God, his lips were awfully close.

Then instead of delivering this message, Hugh closed the tiny distance between us and touched his soft lips to mine. It didn’t take long for the touch to turn into a slow and tender kiss, his lips gently kneading and savoring mine. Then he shared his message in between kissing and suckling my lips. “Ryan says thank you.”

I swallowed hard not so much from the mention of Ryan’s gratitude but from Hugh’s chosen method of delivery. I tried to control my breathing as a warm sensation began to radiate from my belly. “Ryan? Your brother?” I was doing my best to stay coherent. I really was. But it was ridiculously difficult. My head began to swim from Hugh’s sweet breath mingling with mine.

“Mmhm,” he groaned his eyes fixated on my mouth.

Before I could process what Hugh had shared, he lowered his head again resuming our kiss. His lips worked over mine so tenderly a whimper involuntarily escaped me.

Needless to say I was officially distracted and definitely surprised in a very good way.

Then as he peeled his lips off mine very slowly. I felt the tip of his tongue gently touch the crease of my lips.

Good Lord.

I swallowed again and my head fell back slightly as I licked the taste of him off of my lips. “Um,” I hesitated trying to form a sensible question, “I don’t understand. Ryan told you to kiss me and tell me thank you?” I questioned softly while my eyes fought to stay open.

“No,” he slowly shook his head. Our faces were still so close I could feel his lips forming his words. “Ryan told me to thank you. I’ve been wanting to kiss you for twelve years and couldn’t wait another fucking second,” he clarified then he pressed his luscious lips to mine again just as a soft groan emanated from his throat. “God, that is so much better than I have been imagining,” he breathed.

I don’t think he was looking for a response but I found myself offering one anyway. “Mmm,” I hummed. “You could say that again.”

He must have liked my response because his mouth formed a slow satisfactory smile against mine. “Dinner reservations,” he whispered.

“Okay,” I whispered back trying to wake from the sweetest kiss I had ever experienced in my entire life.

Hugh unclamped the arm he had locked around my waist and took my hand in his to lead me to the door. “Keys?” He asked clearing his throat in an effort to compose himself.

“Oh, no. Just one second.” I let go of him reluctantly to make the short trek back to my all-purpose ice cream table. I snatched my keys and handbag. Then I took a deep breath exhaling slowly. I turned back toward Hugh registering the smile on his face. I walked back to him coyly resuming my position with my hand pressed in his. He didn’t make a big deal out of it he just shifted his fingers so mine were laced with his. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.

 

I have to say that I had never in my entire life wanted an elevator ride to last forever and ever. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind I worried if someone religiously monitored the security cameras or if they were only utilized in case of an incident. But that fleeting thought didn’t stop or slow me. Nor did it prod me to dissuade Hugh’s hands from their northern expedition. My mouth and tongue were fairly busy working against Hugh’s but I was pretty sure that my dress was up well past my hips. Otherwise my leg that I reactively wrapped around his ass probably would have met with a lot more resistance. I felt his hand snake around my shoulder blade and his fingers press into the side of my right breast. At least I hoped it was his fingers. If it was another extremity I was in a lot more trouble than I had bargained for. But I didn’t really care about that either. All I cared about in that moment was if Hugh liked that he could palm my entire ass with one hand or if he was the kind of guy who preferred an ass that required two hands. Beyond that insecure thought I was pretty vacant. I realized this when the elevator dinged indicating our arrival to the lobby and an older gentleman holding his yapping Chihuahua exited the elevator with us. How the hell I didn’t notice that he got on somewhere between my floor and the lobby was a little disturbing. Hugh started laughing when the older gentleman winked in his direction and shook his free hand like he had just gotten burned. I just cleared my throat uncomfortably and used my finger to daintily fix the smeared lip-gloss that most likely surrounded my mouth. As we neared the front desk where Davis was waiting to bid us a good evening, I did my best to pretend that nothing whatsoever had happened on that elevator. But Davis probably surmised something had transpired because I was having the darnedest time concealing the smirk I was sporting as a result of learning something profoundly important about Hugh. And that was that Hugh Rowen was the hottest kisser in the entire world and Darcy Strong was a fucking idiot. No lie.

Chapter 7

 

“So why did you run?” Hugh asked this question out of the blue while he pushed his medallions of beef around his plate. Since we had been discussing how the merger was going to affect both of our jobs and we were making small talk in the middle of a fabulous dinner at one of the trendiest restaurants in town, my head snapped up from my Chilean Sea Bass to stare at him intently. I wasn’t sure if I heard him correctly. But since he wouldn’t look up from his dish I was guessing that I had.

“Well,” I paused because I wasn’t sure how to respond. If I went the honest route then I would be laying all of my cards out on the white linen tablecloth. I wasn’t sure if that was the best idea. If I lied I knew it would just haunt me later. So I tried to think of a way to tell him why I left without drawing the bull’s eye around my own heart and making myself an easy target. “An opportunity presented itself and I took it,” I shrugged.

“There were opportunities in Virginia,” he countered. He stabbed a morsel of filet and pushed it in a half circle collecting the red wine reduction to assemble the perfect bite. He spoke before bringing his fork to his lips. “I know for a fact you were offered a job at a PR firm out of Richmond.”

“I suppose there were.” I took the napkin from my lap to dab at the corners of my mouth.

He finished chewing and forced himself to swallow. It seemed he had something important that he wanted to share. “No supposing. There were,” he stated emphatically. “I made sure of it.”

I watched as Hugh leaned back, tore his gaze from mine, maneuvered his tongue inside his mouth possibly to loosen food and rested one hand way up on his thigh, almost on his hip and exhaled heavily. His expression looked frustrated or disappointed or maybe even confrontational. Then it occurred to me that maybe the tongue action was more out of irritation than dental discomfort. My eyebrows pinched in question.

I wasn’t sure what was running through his mind but I could tell his entire demeanor was changing right before my eyes. Mainly I could tell that he seemed to be getting…angry? I just wasn’t sure if it was with himself for revealing something he hadn’t wanted to share or if he was enlightening me about my career choices in an austere way for another reason entirely.

“What do you mean you made sure of it?” I queried a little confused. As soon as the question crossed the threshold of my lips our waiter came over to ask how we were enjoying our meal. So Hugh and I turned toward him in unison with our most pleased expressions plastered on our faces and fawned verbally over the delicious food simultaneously. Thank goodness the waiter didn’t stay long because things were about to get heated. As soon as he left, Hugh immediately started in.

He leaned forward and his posture seemed to stiffen at the same time. “I made sure of it,” he said sternly. “How else can I say that?” He looked directly into my eyes and at that point there was no question that he was irritated. And I could tell without looking that his knee started bouncing under the table since the ice in my water glass started clanking from side to side.

My chin tucked back as soon as his overall posture registered to me as contentious. Where the hell was this coming from and why would Hugh be angry with me for taking a job offer in New York? His inquiry, which was coming across more like an interrogation prompted me to go on the defensive. I grew a set of hairy ones so fast that Barnum and Bailey would have hired me on the spot as the highlight for their freak show.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you can say it in a way that explains what exactly you mean?” I grumbled with a hint of sarcasm simultaneously cutting into my fish aggressively with a knife. Who cuts Sea Bass with a knife? It’s a flaky fish that falls apart if you look at it cross-eyed.

Obviously Hugh thought my question was of a rhetorical nature anyway because he leaned back, grabbed the napkin from his lap, and took his turn to aggressively dab at the corners of his mouth. Then he sighed heavily instead of explaining further. So I determined that it was a good opportunity to throw some more fuel on the fire. I dropped my utensils with a loud clank and apparently the boxing gloves I didn’t know I was wearing came flying off as well.

“Anyway, what would make me think that it would have mattered to you if I’d returned to Virginia?” I asked way too confrontationally raising my eyebrows to accentuate my point.

Then I proceeded to machine gun my supportive evidence.

“You never called to check on me after the wedding or to ask if I was being ostracized at school or if I was totally humiliated since I essentially bowled my tits down the aisle in the middle of a wedding ceremony! Look ma! No hands!”

I was yelling wasn’t I?

My face couldn’t have flushed faster. I don’t know what the fuck I was doing. I totally obliterated his wedding and I was reading him the riot act on how he should have behaved after? Well it seemed that as fast as I had grown a set of balls my tongue had also grown a mind of it’s own. I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth, whatsoever. When I finally looked at Hugh, really looked at him, I saw that he was stunned speechless. I became even more flustered and it actually started to feel like my head was a pressure cooker and it could blow at any given moment. Since shoving my napkin in my own mouth wasn’t an option, I brought it to my lips hoping it would deter me from blurting out any other latent anger that I wasn’t aware I was harboring.

Hugh leaned over his plate and took a bite while he seemingly contemplated an appropriate response to my tirade. Either that or he was embarrassed by my outburst and noticed that the people around us were trying to get a better look at my boobs, which apparently also doubled as bowling equipment. I was just too focused awaiting Hugh’s response to notice either way.

The longer it took for him to respond the more I felt the desire to start fanning myself but I knew that would be a dead give away as to what a pussy I actually was so I refrained. Then as luck would have it, just when it looked like Hugh was about to share the response he had formulated so carefully in his mind, one of the waiters came by to refill our water glasses. I looked up at the poor soul who was only doing his job and gave him a glare that screamed ‘take a hike.’ Hugh sat back and waited for him to finish and then gave him a cursory ‘thanks’ as he turned to go interrupt someone else’s critical conversation.

Hugh cleared his throat before he began. Honestly, if I were him I wouldn’t have even known where to start. “Well, I think your staying in Virginia would have mattered a great deal,” he somewhat whispered. “At least it would have mattered to me.”

I stared into Hugh’s eyes trying to ascertain if his words and their meaning were the same. Then when I finally decided what he shared was genuine, I let his answer settle somewhere deep inside of me. I felt my heart begin to thump an entirely different way and the color in my cheeks begin to turn from an infuriated red to an embarrassed pink. “Really?” I asked with surprise in my tone.

“Really.” He stared back at his plate.

Then I felt the need to try to explain away my bout of momentary insanity. “I’m sorry, Hugh,” I rushed. “I..I didn’t…If I was on your mind, well… you never led on that you cared what happened to me at all. So, I just assumed…”

But Hugh interjected with a response that was so unexpected I wasn’t sure if I heard him correctly. He leaned his torso back and kept his voice low. “Yeah, well, at the time I was keeping my distance in an effort to avoid jail time.” I watched as his eyes strolled from my face down to my torso, which was as far as his eyes could travel on my body and back up. Then he took a deep breath and continued on. “You were on my mind quite a lot, Delilah. Like, all the time. But you were under age and I...wasn’t.” He slid his hand palm down across the table until it reached mine. “But I never stopped thinking about you. For years I admired you from afar. Waiting. Then you left for college and I waited some more counting the days till you would return.” His eyes rested on our joined hands and then he continued. “I had a friend who owned a PR firm in Richmond so I asked if he would do me a favor and offer you a job when you graduated. It was a way for me to keep you around. Local. Within reach. Accessible. But you never returned home. Then I heard through the grapevine, and by the grapevine I mean Julia, that you moved to New York. Apparently,” he paused to make eye contact, “there wasn’t anything in our… I think she used the word hellhole, worth returning to.” He pulled his hand from mine and stared back down at his dish licking his lips and pressing them together. “So,” he whispered lamely and gave a shrug.

I bit my lip in response. I had said those exact words to Julia. At the time, the last place I wanted to be was back in my hometown. That was where my life had fallen apart…my personal hell, socially anyway. I wanted to go someplace where no one knew me. Where no one covered their mouth and talked out of the side to share a comment with their eyes trained on me. But it never occurred to me that Hugh would care one way or the other if I returned or not.

“Gosh, it sounds pretty awful when I hear you say it. I’m surprised you stopped by to see me at all.” If I were he I wouldn’t have come looking for me. Hearing him recount the circumstances around which he received the news of my relocation, even I thought I sounded like quite the consummate bitch.

“Well, I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for Griff,” he revealed.

This information shocked me. I barely knew Griff. Why would he suggest that Hugh stop by to see me? “Why would Griff tell you to stop to see me?” I queried still not understanding the connection.

“He’s marrying Tiff,” he explained.

Uh oh. Not this again. “I’m not following, Hugh.” I was fairly certain my eyebrows couldn’t knit any closer together as I tried to unravel the tangled line of communication that led to Hugh looking me up in New York.

“Tiff is friends with Julia.”

Holy shit.

Julia? The Julia who fucking crossed her heart with her friendship ring finger thereby promising to keep my love for Hugh Rowen a secret until her ass was buried six feet under? That Julia?

My heart began to pound rapidly in my chest. “And?” I drew out the one word hoping he would continue.

“And she told Tiff that you…well, you know…” He pointed to himself and then shrugged unsure if he should continue given the unreadable look on my face.

“Um. No. I don’t know. Could you maybe elaborate a little more?” I wasn’t sure how much of my secret Julia shared. I mean, did Julia tell Tiff in passing that at one point in time I liked Hugh or did she give Tiff the complete ‘Delilah Welling is madly in love with Hugh Rowen and has been for her entire life’ version? One way or the other, I was definitely planning on having a little conversation to reiterate the meaning of the friendship ring finger swear with my best friend, Julia.

“She said you had a…um…thing for me.”

A thing.

My face began to flush with embarrassment. If Julia were in arms length I probably would have involuntarily wrapped the fingers of my one hand around her neck and then started digging a hole for her final resting place with the other. Maybe, all this time, I had misunderstood the purpose of calling upon the friendship ring finger swear. Because the way I had interpreted it, you called upon it when you wanted someone to keep their fucking mouth shut until they were dead. Naturally, thereby taking the secret with them to the grave. At least that was the way I remembered it. And last I checked, Julia was alive and well. Thank goodness, of course.

Suddenly, Hugh’s voice cut through my murderous thoughts. “Junior, given the disturbed look on your face, I’m thinking Griff was, um, misinformed. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.” He stared at me for a few beats waiting for me to confirm or deny the information Griff was given but when I didn’t respond quickly enough he dropped his gaze, picked up his fork and stabbed a roasted potato. It looked like he shoved it in his mouth solely to silence himself.

As I emerged from the haze of anger from learning that Julia shared my secret, the look on Hugh’s face finally registered. He looked disappointed, upset, embarrassed even. There was a narrowing window of opportunity for me to quickly explain my reaction to Hugh or I would lose him forever. “Hugh,” I began. But if there is one thing we all know…timing is everything.

“Dessert?” The waiter interrupted exuberantly handing out menus the size of business cards. The wait staff in this restaurant quite possibly had the worst timing I had ever witnessed in my entire life not to mention the smallest dessert menu I had ever seen.

Hugh just stared at me expressionless as my mouth bobbed up and down. When it didn’t look like I was going to be able to respond to him or the dessert query, Hugh swallowed his last bite, wiped his mouth with his napkin and sent the waiter away, “Just the check.” Clearly Hugh had had his fill. Enough Filet Mignon, enough of the disruptive wait staff and enough of wasting his time on Delilah Welling.

 

Not a single word had passed between Hugh and me as we walked from the restaurant to my apartment. He did hold my hand as we made our way through the streets, which was surprising, but he kept his pace a little quicker than mine so I was always putting in an effort to keep up. No easy task in heels while trying to match Hugh’s long strides. I was still processing everything that Hugh had told me at dinner but I had yet to formulate a response. I needed to say something. I just wasn’t sure where to start. Hugh didn’t know it – couldn’t know it. But everything he said at dinner, apart from my best friend throwing me under the bus, had essentially answered every prayer I had ever made from the time I was a teen to present. But I had spent a lifetime perfecting how to hide my feelings for Hugh. I was an expert. Now, suddenly, I had been given the green light to share the truth? At what point had the dream of Hugh Rowen become my reality? Before I could make any headway in sorting out all of my thoughts and fears, we had reached my apartment and Hugh was preparing for his farewell.

“Welp,” he exhaled loudly, “it was nice to see you again, Delilah.” He guided my body with his hand so I was facing him. He stared into my eyes looking for something. But clearly he didn’t find it because when he bent his head, instead of placing his luscious lips on mine, he momentarily lingered and then veered to the right lightly placing a peck on my cheek. Damn. I realized in that moment I had been hanging onto the hope that his lips would press against mine telling me that everything was going to be all right and my silence hadn’t screwed up everything. But my hope quickly faded when he whispered his goodbye, not goodnight, closer to my ear. I actually felt my heart skip a beat. Then it fell to the soles of my shoes. I watched in slow motion as he took a step backward and then another before he slowly turned. As he gradually distanced himself I snapped from my trance desperate not to let him go without sharing my feelings in some way.

“Hugh!” I blurted urgently.

I watched as he slowed his pace and then seemingly chose to turn back around. “Hmm?” his head tilted to the side in question while his hands slid into the pockets of his slacks.

I stammered because I didn’t know how to say what I so desperately needed him to know. “I’m…I…uh…Griff…wasn’t…misinformed.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and I could hear my heart begin to thud loudly in my ears.

I watched as one beautiful side of his mouth tipped up before he answered. “Good to know. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Then he turned and walked down my street quickening his pace.

Tomorrow night. My client’s merger party. Business. Not pleasure. I ran my hand over my face in frustration. It would seem that I was just as large a fucking idiot as Darcy Strong.

Chapter 8

 

Psht. “Stacey.” Psht. “Two O’clock. Over.” Psht. Logan, who chose to ignore his walking papers again, had also chosen something else. That was to stick with me rather than stay with Stacey. At first his loyalty supported my resolve that I was right in distancing myself from Stacey because she was a back stabbing bitch. But only hours after we had severed ties, Logan’s loyalty was becoming a liability. From the moment I stepped into the office that morning I hadn’t understood a word he said. And since Stacey had always been the translator, I realized that I hadn’t ever had to worry about understanding him before. She would always beat the explanation out of him verbally, physically if need be. But now, with Stacey and me estranged, I had no one to explain what the heck he was trying to say. So I pressed my intercom button and asked for more information with the hope of figuring out what the hell he was talking about.

“Logan, what does that mean exactly? Do I have a meeting with Stacey at two? Because if you are saying two o’clock like she is coming from that direction in the office I can’t see her. I am in my office with the door closed and you are outside of my office in a separate cubicle. There is a wall between us remember?” I threw my head back and prayed at the ceiling hoping that it would help me in some way, shape or form get through my day. As I exhaled, I dropped my forehead on my desk chastising myself for praying to a ceiling. As I momentarily contemplated my stupidity I heard Logan’s voice again.

Psht. “Dive. Dive. Dive,” he somewhat whispered into the intercom. “Watch my six, watch my six!”

His hand must have been cupping the speaker while he spoke because it sounded like he was in a dank, moist tunnel. I could almost feel his spit spritzing me through the phone. Dive? What the hell did he mean by that? And why in the world would I have to watch his six?

Sadly the significance hit me a little too late. My office door flew open and cracked against the wall. My head, which was still pressed to the blotter on my desk, snapped up at the sound.

“Steven wants us to brief him on what we plan on saying tonight at the gala. Did you prepare anything?” Stacey, if nothing else, was always direct. I exhaled loudly through my nostrils giving them a little flare. “Don’t start with the attitude, Delilah, this is business.” Stacey threw out a hip and crossed her arms under her boobs hoisting them while she accentuated her point. For some reason at that moment I took the time to assess Stacey. She didn’t have much of a chest but it was there. She was built like a runner. No fat. Lean muscle. All in all she had a nice body and took good care of herself. By the time I was done with my critical perusal and my eyes landed on her face I realized her eyebrows were almost attached to her hairline. “Well?” She asked with annoyance waiting for my response.

“I’m working on it.”

I was working on it. But I had only just started working on it.

“How far have you gotten?” she pressed.

I looked down at the notepad in front of me and read the first line silently. ‘Good evening Ladies and Gentleman.’ Clearly I hadn’t gotten all that far but I wasn’t about to share that with Stacey.

“Give me an hour and I should be done.”

I looked back down at my notepad and picked up my ballpoint pen putting the tip to my lips like I had been mid-thought when she so rudely interrupted me.

I knew I wasn’t fooling anyone because Stacey did that thing where she rolled the tip of her tongue along her tautly tucked bottom lip. That meant she didn’t believe a word I said. But luckily she didn’t verbalize her disbelief. Instead she chose to leave me with a challenge. “Great. I’ll expect it in my ‘inbox’ in an hour.”

Fuck her. Senior year of college I practically wrote my entire dissertation in an hour. A speech was no problem, whatsoever. Stacey turned her attention toward the traitor sitting outside of my office, glaring and growling at Logan.

I knew Stacey had left because I heard the intercom come to life. Psht. “Is it safe to come out from under my desk?” Psht. “Over.”

This I had to see for myself. So I stood, rounded my desk and peeked outside my door. I couldn’t see Logan so I stepped out to take a closer look. His telephone wire was dragged across his desk and then disappeared. I walked around and leaned over to find Logan cradled under his desk clutching his phone. “Pussy,” I scolded.

“She’s crazy,” he whispered. “Over,” he whispered again.

That was for damn sure.

 

I finished writing the speech Stacey and I would be giving at the gala and emailed it to her with ten minutes to spare. Even though she and I worked together flawlessly and didn’t need to ‘rehearse,’ she still needed time to practice her part. I outlined clearly which portion of the speech was Stacey’s and which was mine. We had done this hundreds of times and this time should be no different. But since our little ‘disagreement,’ I entertained the thought that she might try to switch or change things around. She had only done that one other time. It was the first speech I had written for us. She had said that she wasn’t very comfortable writing speeches and I had said that I didn’t mind. Truth be told, I actually liked writing speeches. So I penned the entire thing not giving much thought as to who would say which part and then divided it up equitably. I didn’t care which part fell on my shoulders because I wrote the entire thing as if I would be saying it. But the first thing Stacey did when she received it was alert me to the fact that she wanted to switch parts. I found her request odd but figured that being a domineering personality she wanted to go first. So I said that it was fine. But as soon as I acquiesced, she immediately switched it back. Maybe she thought I was trying to trick her somehow? I wasn’t sure. But I should have realized then that the fact that she questioned my intentions spoke volumes about her own character.

 

My stomach started to growl warning me that lunchtime was approaching. Since I still hadn’t heard from Stacey I assumed that she hadn’t had an issue with the speech. But really, I should’ve known better. She was the most calculating person I had ever met aside from Darcy. I got in the elevator with the intention of going to get a sandwich and hightailing it back to my desk to wait for Steven to summon me. Diving head first into the bag strapped to my shoulder praying that I’d remembered my wallet, I wasn’t paying attention to who was in the elevator when I stepped inside.

“Delilah,” the slow southern drawl held a hint of sneer.

I knew who it was before I even looked. I had spent the better part of the prior evening with my mind vacillating between two concerns, one more terrifying than the other. First, that I screwed up my chances with Hugh and second, Will was fairly delusional and actively stalking me. I had fallen asleep still trying to convince myself that I was overreacting to Will’s comment and he was essentially harmless. It helped that I had a round-the-clock doorman and a heavy-duty deadbolt. But when I looked up to acknowledge Will, he was smirking snidely.

“Hello, Will,” I tried to say with a confidence I wasn’t feeling. I affixed the strap of my bag tighter on my shoulder and shook my head to get my hair untangled from the straps. In an effort to put on a brave face, since I was trapped in a 4 x 5 metal box with him, I straightened my shoulders and flashed a tight grin.

“Have fun on your date last night?” He asked with indignation.

Appalled that he had the audacity to comment on my social life, I exhaled loudly. Just when I was about to turn on him and tear into him he continued.

“I wonder how your boss would feel about you bedding one of our biggest clients.”

Not quite, but I was almost stunned silent. I turned my head with my jaw actually dropped open. “Probably just as critical of one of his employees threatening another, Will.” Feeling the need to confront him further I turned my body toward his and proceeded. “And not that it is any of your business, but Hugh is also an old friend. Whether I choose to have dinner with an old friend has absolutely nothing to do with my work ethic.” I threw my hands on my hips and wrapped up my argument. “And luckily the topic of whom I choose to take to bed will never be one you have to concern yourself with. Asshole.” Luckily the elevator doors opened so I could make a hasty getaway. My hands began to tremble with a disturbing realization. Not only was my coworker stalking me, but now he was subtly threatening me as well. Involuntarily, a thought crossed my mind. I should have listened to Stacey. She was a lot of things but no one could say that she wasn’t perceptive. She pegged Will within ten seconds of meeting him. She actually may have even underestimated him.

 

I entered my favorite deli to order my favorite sandwich. It had taken me two years to find this place and once I had my loyalty was paramount. It was a good distance from my office building but I was happy to make my daily contribution if it strengthened the deli’s chances of being profitable enough to keep its doors open. Deli’s came and went in the city and I liked my white meat chicken salad with a touch of vinegar and shredded lettuce. It gave the sandwich that extra zing. However the zing I was about to experience had nothing to do with a hint of vinegar. It was far more disturbing.

 

I left the deli. The bell over the door jingled my departure. It made such a cheerful sound. The antithesis of what I was about to stumble upon. I made my way up 23^rd street to Broadway and hooked a left. There were several trendy restaurants in this section of Manhattan most of which I had been to with clients. One of my favorites was a place called Alberto’s. Aside from making the best homemade pasta in the city, they also had the most amazing desserts. As I wound my way through the throng of people who had gathered on the sidewalk on some sort of walking tour, I turned my head to look inside the restaurant. Sometimes I would see the owner and wave or my favorite waiter and smile. But instead, my heart stopped as my eyes absorbed the sight of Stacey stretching across a table and holding both of Hugh’s hands in hers. Her head was thrown back in laughter while he sported his sexy smile clearly enjoying her playful banter. It was like I had just been kicked in the abdomen but somehow developed a sudden case of Turrets at the same time.

“That son-of-a-bitch-mother-fucking-boyfriend-banging-whore!” I screamed. The string of expletives left my lips with a heavy burst of air from my lungs. As my anger grew to unmanageable levels, my fists tightened crunching the bag that held my coveted lunch. The longer I stared the more harried my breathing became.

The swarm of visitors whose native tongue I’d guessed was Chinese all turned to see what had me giving them a free lesson of how to effectively string a multitude of dirty words in English. The man next to me cupped his hands around his eyes and pressed his face up against the window to get a better look inside. Just as disappointment ravaged my expression, Hugh turned his gaze complete with gorgeous white smile toward the window. I watched as his smile slowly faltered as he realized the devastation his intimate entanglement had inflicted. I saw him shake his head once defensively but the sight was too awful to pretend I hadn’t seen it or that it didn’t matter. I clenched my teeth together in response to the pain that was searing through my heart and shook my head back at him.

He knew.

And he knew that I knew.

I turned to make a hasty getaway but found my efforts stymied by the crowd, which were huddling even closer to get a glimpse of the Hugh and Stacey Show.

“Excuse me,” I murmured but no one moved. “Pardon,” I tried but still they seemed to just spin in concentric circles. “Scuze me,” I uttered again but their numbers seemed to be multiplying. I was getting frustrated and really needed to get out of there pronto. “Move!” I hollered. I saw a frail older woman jump at my outburst, which only added ‘guilt’ to the laundry list of negative emotions pulsing through my body. Just as I started to make some headway through the crowd, I felt a large hand wrap around my upper arm.

“Delilah,” the deep voice rumbled. “It’s not what you think.”

I turned to look at the hand on my arm and then followed the appendage to the face of its owner. I couldn’t help the tears that had begun to well. I was a frigging mess and I was in no way, shape, or form prepared to deal with Hugh at that juncture.

I steeled myself as best I could and gave him the coldest shoulder I could muster. “It’s exactly what I think, Hugh. Stacey’s a good time. Have at it. Everyone else has.” I ripped my arm from his grip and turned on my heel. I tried to control my steps so it didn’t look like I was staggering off like an injured lamb. But whom was I kidding? Even the Chinese gentleman who had witnessed the entire ordeal could see that I had just been gutted. His open hand clamped over his dropped jaw was a tell tale sign.

 

I dragged my kicked-ass up to my office and tossed my perfect chicken salad sandwich into the trashcan next to Logan’s desk. It no longer held any appeal. “Hold all of my calls,” I ordered without inflection.

Sensing my devastation, Logan knew enough to keep his mouth shut and just hand over the stack of missed messages that he had intercepted before they reached my voicemail. I lamely grabbed them and shuffled into my office. I grabbed the door with the tips of my fingers and swung weakly. The door didn’t latch but it was mostly closed so I left it alone and retreated to my desk. My forehead got friendlier with my blotter as I contemplated how my day could get any worse. After about three minutes I sensed the presence of another soul. I slowly lifted my head and raked my hand through my hair to get it out of my face. There stood Logan with a steaming cup of Pumpkin Scented Latte topped with an extra dollop of whipped cream.

“Limited time offer,” he teased. So maybe Logan wasn’t the complete waste of oxygen that I had labeled him. “You looked like you could use this.” He took a few steps in and placed the beverage on the corner of my desk.

I sniffled back the threatening deluge of emotion and nodded instead.

“She isn’t worth it, Delilah. And all of her deviousness will catch up to her sooner or later. I know you know that already but sometimes it helps to hear it from another person,” he added.

I nodded again because he was right.

“Want to tell me what she did this time?” he asked in a brotherly fashion.

I swallowed loudly and shook my head.

“Okay. Well if you need me I’m right outside,” he offered. In that very moment Logan didn’t seem so inept. He actually seemed to have his finger on the pulse of what was going on in our little nucleus. I plastered on a half-hearted smile communicating my appreciation just as Logan turned to leave my office. Then he went and ruined the entire moment with one simple word. “Over.”

Okay, so maybe he wasn’t the genius that I was giving him credit for. But I had to admit what he shared seemed very mature and fairly perceptive.

 

Steven approved the speech I’d written and seemed very pleased with the way things were progressing. He asked if Stacey and I could start off the evening with a toast, which of course sounded logical. Then we should introduce the CEO of each company who would announce the details of the merger. I nodded with each bullet point he made relaying that I understood his wishes.

“Where is Stacey, anyway?” He asked as he sat on the corner of his heavily carved, mahogany desk.

I shook my head trying to rid my mind of the image that I’d so devastatingly witnessed on my lunch hour. But it was a difficult task given Stacey’s glaring absence. Every thought that ran through my mind had some component of Stacey luring Hugh from lunch and then riding him like a champion female bull rider.

“I don’t think she ever returned from lunch,” I shared skipping the provocative yet revolting images that ran through my brain.

“Oh,” he said with a hint of surprise. “Well. Maybe she is preparing for the evening ahead,” he surmised. “This is very exciting news, Delilah. For some of us more than others.”

I thought his last remark sounded somewhat cryptic but I was too busy trying to extricate the image of Hugh banging Stacey in a utility closet somewhere in New York City that had taken root in my head. So, his remark didn’t really register at the time. He slapped his hands on his thighs and stood, which was my cue to leave.

I nodded as I stood and thanked my boss for his support and guidance. “See you tonight, Steven.” I know my parting words sounded deflated but I just couldn’t muster up the enthusiasm that I’d had for this event only days before.

 

I unpacked the box that had arrived the night before, which held the much-anticipated dress that I’d been waiting for. The dress was wrinkled but I knew once I used my steamer, the wrinkles would fall away and the dress would be perfect. I admired the material as I ran the wand gently over the fabric to smooth it out. Delicate navy lace fluidly cascaded over an even darker blue background. Scattered intermittently was a dainty fleck of a sequin, which would catch the light just perfectly. The front of the dress was conservative with fitted three quarter sleeves and a neckline that rested just below my collarbone. The back of the dress, however, was super sexy. The fabric loosely fell to a deep ‘v’ revealing my entire back. It was fitted through the hips and hemmed just above the knee. I piled loose curls on top of my head strategically leaving wisps of hair around my face. My lip color was subtle but I did my eyes with a heavy hand creating a smoky effect. Overall, I was happy with how the entire look came together. I slid on my navy peep toe heels one at a time and straightened in front of my mirrored closet doors. I turned this way and that making sure I wasn’t unknowingly showing any undergarments. As I crossed my bedroom heading toward my handbag, which sat on the bed, I heard my intercom come to life. I left the handbag and walked briskly to the intercom assuming it was Davis who was thoughtful enough to anticipate my need for a cab.

“Hello, Davis,” I answered breathlessly.

“Hello, Miss Dee. You have a visitor,” he surprised me with his announcement, as I wasn’t expecting anyone. “Should I send him up?”

“Um.” I wasn’t sure who it could be so I hesitated afraid that it was Will who had deluded himself into thinking that I was his date for the evening. “Who is it, Davis?” I asked instead.

I heard a scuffle through the intercom and then a different voice through the speaker.

“Delilah, it’s me. Let me up.” Then I heard the voice talking to Davis. “Back off, man. I’m telling you right now.”

“Hugh?” My voice went up a few octaves in disbelief.

“Yeah,” he clarified then I heard a bang like something had banged into a wall.

I sighed heavily and heard what sounded like Davis in the background but his voice sounded different. Almost hoarse. And maybe a little squeaky. “Should I call the police, Delilah?” He sounded like a combination of Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse.

I hurried to answer him picturing Hugh’s large hand wrapped around Davis’ little neck. Images of Davis helplessly pressed up against the paneling in the lobby by Hugh’s formidable body assailed me. “No, no, Davis. Just send him up.”

Then I heard more scuffling and Hugh barking orders at Davis.

“Buzz me in, damn it,” Hugh demanded and I felt my heart begin to race at his tone.

I heard the buzzer sound which unlocked the interior door. I guess Davis had given in.

“I don’t like you one bit,” Davis shared not realizing I could still hear their exchange through the intercom. “You’re not good enough for my Delilah.” I could hear the volume of his voice escalate indicating that Hugh made his way through the door and closer to the elevator.

Aw, that was sweet of Davis. He called me his Delilah.

Then I realized I should stop eavesdropping on Davis and prepare myself for Hugh’s arrival. Too late. My time was up. I heard the elevator ding. So I did the only thing I could and inhaled a cleansing breath. I let it out slowly trying to control my rapid heart rate. Hugh knocked on my front door forcefully. I stared at it a moment and then decided in that very instant to turn around and go get my bag on my bed. Yeah, it was a bitchy thing to do but I was still experiencing flashbacks from the sight that marred my virgin eyes at lunch. I heard him bang again while he simultaneously instructed me to ‘open up.’ Unhappy with his aggression toward Davis and assertiveness now with me, I called out for him to wait a minute. And I didn’t say it nicely.

I deliberately took my time getting to the door and swung it open tucking my little jeweled handbag under my arm. “What?” I asked with resentment.

Hugh walked in brushing past me and turned toward me in the middle of my living area. Focusing on Hugh and how good he looked, my mouth contorted slightly as I bit the inside of my cheek. He was wearing a black tuxedo, crisp white shirt with a straight aubergine tie and a matching hankie in his jacket pocket. He looked unbelievably dapper and it was working against my resolve to be a bitch.

I watched as Hugh’s eyes slowly worked me over. It was difficult to stand my ground knowing that his eyes were taking in every curve and nuance of my body. He certainly couldn’t have missed much because he took his sweet ass time. I pretended that I didn’t notice his admiration and forged on. “Hugh. What are you doing here?” I somewhat reiterated.

He tore his face away while he contemplated his response. I just stared at him as venomously as I could and waited. It probably wasn’t as impressive as I intended.

When he looked back at me I could tell that he was reining in a plethora of different emotions. “There’s nothing going on with me and Stacey,” he began while sliding his jacket open so his hands could slide into the pockets of his slacks. Since I didn’t respond immediately, he raised his shoulders and lowered them to accentuate his point. As soon as he saw me twitch he held up one hand with the universal signal to stop. “Don’t go there, Delilah. She asked me to lunch to talk about the merger. That’s all.”

Did he think I was a moron? I threw my hands on my hips to mimic his stance before I spoke. Not a very feminine position given I didn’t have pockets and I was wearing a designer dress and heels. But I was trying to make a point. “Tell me something, Hugh.” I ordered heatedly. “When you met with Steven were you holding hands across the conference table while you made small talk about the merger?”

Since my perceptiveness and sarcasm left him speechless I knew I had scored a point. But then he clenched his jaw together and responded with the lamest excuse I’d ever heard. “If you’d taken the time to notice, Stacey was the one stretched across the table toward me,” his right hand slid from his pocket to point at himself, “I wasn’t even meeting her halfway.”

I’m sorry. On what planet did he think this reasoning actually made sense?

I was already shaking my head before my hands had risen in protest because there was no way that I could have this conversation with Hugh just before the gala. If I didn’t burst into hysterics from being upset I would lose it over the overwhelming sense of frustration as a result of his ridiculous argument. I was already barely holding it together and my last thread of composure was stressed to say the least.

“I can’t do this right now,” I whispered still holding up my hands to silence any effort on his part to try to change my mind.

“Well, I can’t wait till later.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Clearly we were at an impasse.

“Hugh, it took me a half an hour to do my eye make up alone. I can’t get all upset and have to start over,” I explained the reasoning behind my statement. When it registered that our conversation would be so painful that I would be reduced to tears his demeanor softened slightly. But it was imperative to my mental well being that I carried on. “Listen. I have to go or I’ll be late.”

“Fine. We’ll go together,” he responded. Hugh walked toward me as I tried to figure out a way to tell him that his suggestion wasn’t an option. I know he saw me stammering because instead of letting me think of something to say he grabbed my arm and spun me toward the door. I dragged my heels as best I could in protest.

“Um, Hugh. We, um, aren’t going to be able to go together.”

“Delilah, please,” he complained. Clearly Hugh was still agitated. “I’ve already told you that there is nothing going on with Stacey.” He shook his head as he tried to escort me out the door. I was still resisting and I could tell that Hugh was unable to understand why I was being so stubborn.

“No, no. That’s not what I mean.” I pulled a little more firmly in the opposite direction. “We, um, can’t go together because we can’t be seen arriving together.” I wasn’t prepared to explain to Hugh that Will had already threatened to tell my boss about us having dinner together. If Will saw us show up in the same cab at the gala things could get dicey. Well dicey-er anyway.

But Hugh was not going to take my resistance at face value. He stopped pulling and turned to confront me nose-to-nose, well…nose-to-forehead. “Why should that matter?” He looked at me unwaveringly. “Who would even notice?” he shrugged, challenging me to answer.

My mouth bobbed up and down while I tried to fabricate a plausible excuse. The cologne he was wearing was making it difficult for me to form an intelligent sentence. “Uh. Well, I just think it would give people the wrong idea.”

Well, if that wasn’t the last thing I should have said I don’t know what was.

I could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t like the remark or its connotation. “The wrong idea,” he repeated.

Shit. Why couldn’t he just let it go?

“You know what I mean,” I tried.

But he was shaking his head before he spoke. “No. I don’t know what you mean. Why don’t you enlighten me? And since you are so concerned with being late, you can do so in the cab on the ride over,” he finished with a hint of satisfaction since he was essentially getting his way. Hugh turned hooking me by the arm as he spun and marched me out my door. Before I could realize what was happening, we were streaming past Davis who was yelling at Hugh that he should seek out classes for anger management. I wiggled my fingers as a departing gesture to Davis and found myself ushered into a cab.

“Go,” he ordered.

The cab driver thought Hugh was talking to him so he began to drive. The problem was that I was too wrapped up in Hugh’s bossiness to give the driver a destination. Hugh was too wrapped up in the “wrong idea” comment to notice. The ‘go’ was aimed at me to start explaining.

The cab driver looked in his rearview mirror and back at the road trying to assess the situation. “Uh, buddy,” he called out of the corner of his mouth, “I don’t mind being told to drive but it would help if you told me where we were going.”

Hugh looked over the seat realizing he first had to deal with the formalities of a cab ride before he could interrogate me. “301 Park,” he informed and then turned his attention back to me allowing no reprieve. “Go,” he reiterated with a nod.

“I, um, just think that my coworkers will think that this isn’t a professional relationship if they see us spending a lot of time together outside of the office.” I shrugged one shoulder only, which was universal for ‘it was no big deal.’

“This isn’t a professional relationship, Delilah. It’s personal. Very personal. And I for one don’t give a shit if someone in your office finds out,” he raised his eyebrows in challenge. “Unless of course you really think that you and I are a wrong idea.” And then I watched the blanket of disappointment consume him as the possibility sunk in. “Is that what you think? For real? I’ve been waiting for you for like fucking ever. Are you telling me that I was wasting my time?”

“No,” I hurried. I had wanted Hugh for most of my life and I couldn’t let him think that I wasn’t interested. “It’s not that,” I promised.

“Then what is it?” he pressed.

I stared at my intertwining fingers in my lap trying to figure out how to tiptoe around the subject of Will’s threat. “I need my job, Hugh,” I said without further explanation.

“Okay,” he said confused. “I didn’t ask you to quit your job. This is the twenty-first century. I’m okay with you having a career.” As the words left his lips a dawning seemed to consume his features. “She threatened you didn’t she?” He meant Stacey. He didn’t have to say her name for me to know what he was thinking. And honestly, threats were certainly in Stacey’s arsenal of deceit. But it wasn’t Stacey. Not this time. “That bitch,” he finished.

“No,” I instantly responded as the cab jerked to a stop in front of the Waldorf. Hugh handed the driver a wad of cash and swung open his door. He was on the move sliding his body out of the cab on his side as he grabbed my hand to pull me across the seat with him. I was out of the cab before I even knew it.

He gripped my hand in his and held it firmly as we walked up the stairs to the front doors. I was trying to be discreet so I called his name on a half whisper. “Hugh.”

I needed to get his attention before he confronted Stacey in the lobby of one of the nicest hotels in the world and proceeded to call her a well deserved, yet poorly timed, name. But he was on a mission and seemed to have cocooned himself from listening to reason. “Hugh,” I tried again tugging on his hand that had a vice grip on mine.

“Don’t bother, Delilah.” He wouldn’t even turn to look at me. “I’ll handle this,” he assured.

“But…” Before I could say another word Stacey appeared from an adjacent room as if on cue. She looked like a bright and shiny Christmas package just begging to be opened by any male who had experienced the onset of puberty. Her red sequined dress had a deep V-neck, the black stilettos had straps that snaked up her ankle and she had a thin, black velvet bow slightly askew that was daintily tied around her neck. It was screaming, ‘open me.’

Damn, she looked hot.

“Hugh.” Stacey batted her eyelashes and gave him the once over. The smile on her face was coy and sexy as she took her time admiring him from head to toe. She locked her hands behind her back and began to sway her hips from side to side. She looked like a wild animal gearing up to pounce. “You look…very…handsome,” her eyes took another tour as mine rolled in a circle. I grunted my dissatisfaction bringing Stacey’s attention to me. “Delilah,” she stated abhorrently.

“Can I speak to you in private, Stacey?” Hugh interrupted trying to control his irritation.

Stacey shot me a look of satisfaction like she had just won the prize that I had spent my bottom dollar trying to win at the Fair. “By the way, Delilah, Will was looking for you. He’s more your speed,” she added snidely ending in a whisper. “He’s in there.” She pointed to the room that she had just vacated.

I didn’t respond to her remark. There was no need to. But I did call out to Hugh. Granted it was a half assed barely audible attempt at getting his attention. But at that point I really didn’t care. “Hugh. No. Stop.” I didn’t actually expect him to turn around since I deliberately said his name so quietly that trained military dogs would have had trouble hearing me. So, as he disappeared into the next room all I could do was sigh knowing Stacey was about to get the surprise of her life. Gee. What a shame.

I turned to watch Stacey saunter and sway her body lusting after my Hugh. She even turned back to look at me with the most lopsided yet gratifying grin I had ever seen on her professionally airbrushed face. At least that was one mystery solved. Stacey had spent all day getting ready for this evening. I just hope she had time to prepare her part of our speech.

 

“Delilah.” The slow drawl slid over me like hot wax during a hair removal session. Seemingly harmless at first yet unnerving, painful and irritating once it adhered to the body. “Stacey was just telling me what a wonderful lunch she had today.” I slowly turned around to face Will. I knew where this was going. I’m sure the expression on my face outlined my discontent but Will was undeterred. “Turns out Hugh enjoys eating out with all of his clients. Who knew?” A slow smirk appeared on his face.

Will thought he was sharing something hurtful that I didn’t already know. Which meant his words were meant to impale not protectively inform.

I popped open the little jeweled purse that I was carrying, which was quite tiny. It barely fit my cell phone and lip-gloss. Yet it was large enough to conceal the wicked bitch that I had neatly hidden inside. “Oh?” I asked incredulously as my fingers fished inside my bag. “Was Stacey actually able to remember your name when she spoke to you this time?” I whipped out my gloss and unscrewed the cap. “You know, when she shared this pertinent information with you, did she actually know who she was talking to?” I smeared a sheen of gloss over my lower lip. “She’s only met you…like…what?” I held up my gloss as I pretended to calculate the number in my head. “…ten times?”

His snide smirk disappeared when his jaw clenched and the muscles protruded in protest of his grinding teeth. I obviously touched a nerve. Stacey must have addressed him with one of her generic greetings like ‘Hey, Buddy’ or ‘Yo, Dude,’ which was what she resorted to in a pinch.

Ignoring my rebuttal, Will continued on his path of revenge. “Have you seen Steven?” He countered through clenched teeth.

“No,” I said with a hint of surprise in my tone taking the time to tuck my gloss inside my purse. “But as soon as Hugh returns from verbally tearing Stacey a brand new one, in your stead I might add…we, and when I say we I mean Hugh and myself, will go find Steven together.” I pressed my lips together and then popped my lips apart to even out my gloss and accentuate my point at the same time.

I saw Will’s eye twitch at my insinuation that whatever harsh words Hugh was releasing on Stacey was meant for him. Then instead of continuing the banter, he inhaled loudly and swallowed hard. Just as the two streams of hot steam escaped his nostrils, Stacey appeared in the lobby, her heels echoing her dismay.

As she neared Will and me I raised my eyebrows in question. “Everything okay, Stace?”

“Fuck you, Delilah.” She stormed past me heading toward the banquet room.

Before she got too far I yelled after her. “We need to begin the gala with a toast!”

“Toast this!” She screamed giving me the finger.

I looked around at the other people who were milling about in the lobby. Unfortunately, Steven was nowhere in sight to witness her charming behavior.

I turned to see if I could find Hugh and felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find Will still standing there. Truthfully, I had forgotten all about him.

“Rent stabilized apartments are hard to come by in Manhattan, aren’t they Delilah? Shame you had to let yours go. I would have thought that you of all people would have had the foresight to lock that in,” Will drawled as he turned and walked into the banquet room.

My eyes squinted trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. Man, he was creepy. How the hell did he know that my apartment was rent stabilized? Well, however he found out, he obviously hadn’t done his due diligence because I had just extended my lease for my apartment for another year. The rich kid whose father bought it for him was traveling around Europe and having too much fun to come back and start graduate school. There was no question that I had an amazing apartment at an amazing price. I had no intention of giving it up until it was absolutely necessary.

 

“Good God, Delilah,” the husky voice vibrated behind me. “That is the sexiest dress I have ever seen in my entire life.” His warm breath against my ear sent a thrilling chill up my spine. It would seem that up until that moment Hugh hadn’t seen the back of my dress. I felt his warm hand gently land on my bared lower back and I couldn’t control the instantaneous feeling of warmth that flooded my lower abdomen.

I turned my head slightly in his direction and whispered over my shoulder. “I’m glad you like it.”

He urged me forward with a gentle press of his hand. “Let’s go get this over with so I can figure out how to get you out of it,” he groaned.

The satisfaction I was feeling commandeered my smile. Too bad Stacey wasn’t around to see it.

Chapter 9

 

My feet echoed on the hollowed out steps of the raised platform as I made my way toward the podium. I could actually feel the splotchy crimson creeping up my neck. I panicked a little more knowing how unattractive that must look. I never liked public speaking but it was an integral part of my job. That didn’t mean that it got any easier. I took a deep breath as I crossed the floor and blew it out slowly threw my lips. I braced for the deafness that would ensue shortly after I reached the podium. I was expecting it. But hopefully it would dissipate after I began my speech and got into my groove. At least I hoped it would subside. It always had before.

 

It would seem that, despite the infuriation that she was experiencing at the time, Stacey had heard me about the toast after all. I knew this because she showed up next to me with two glasses of champagne in her hands. Oddly I didn’t hear her steps echoing as she approached. It was either the pending deafness starting early or she was using a stealth approach. As I turned to look at her, I noticed her white knuckles fiercely clenched around the crystal stems. Somehow the fragile glass wasn’t splintering in her tight grasp. Unlike me, Stacey had no problem whatsoever with public speaking so I knew the white knuckle hold was the result of Hugh’s talking to.

“Just get started,” Stacey ordered with a set jaw.

I was already looking forward to this evening coming to an end so I didn’t make haste. I stepped up to the microphone and tapped on the tip to see if it was working. It made that disturbing high-pitched shriek that was quite effective in getting everyone’s attention. I cleared my throat as I watched fingers scramble to plug sensitive ears and then I began.

“Good evening, Ladies and Gentleman. On behalf of all of us at Premiere, Stacey and I would like to welcome all of you to the Waldorf Astoria.” I managed a confident smile despite the flooding in my ears drowning out what I could see as hands coming together for a round of applause.

I cleared my throat again hoping that the whooshing in my head would ebb. I scanned the audience looking for a familiar face hoping it would help my confidence thereby speeding up the process. When my eyes landed on Hugh I found what I needed. He stared back at me with the most endearing expression looking handsome as ever. I instantly knew everything, come what may, would be fine.

The gushing sound subsided and my hearing returned. “Thank you,” I said in response to the clapping. “We are here tonight to announce a momentous event. Tonight we celebrate the union of two very successful companies into one Pharmaceutical conglomerate that will rival some of the largest in the industry.” Another round of applause erupted, this one I could see and hear. I nodded my approval and paused while I waited for the noise to quiet.

“I would like to make a toast!” I smiled at the crowd sprawled out in front of me and then looked toward Stacey. I could see that she was desperately struggling to contain her disdain. My smiling eyes morphed into a squinty glint that only she could see as I reached to take a flute from her hand. It looked like she was making a concerted effort to pry her fingers apart and release the glass. She stared into my eyes communicating her hatred as I took my champagne from her and turned back toward the audience. Ignoring the daggers hitting me in the side of the head from her piercing eyes, I raised my flute in front of me. “To Norstride and Jubilee. May your merger be seamless and your success imminent. Cheers!” I tipped my glass toward my mouth barely letting the bubbles tickle my lips before I lowered my glass and let Stacey introduce the Presidents of each of the companies.

Charles Dorn of the Norstride Corporation placed his warm palm on the side of my arm and then Stacey’s illustrating his appreciation. He stepped up to the podium bending to meet the microphone that he hadn’t bothered to adjust. “Thank you,” he said using his deep commanding voice. “Aren’t they wonderful?” He raised his arm showcasing me and Stacey as we stepped to the side. “I don’t know where we would be without them,” he continued as he began to clap. A smattering of people from the audience joined in.

I gave Charles a cursory thank you and smiled in the direction of the audience. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Stacey thank Charles but then noticed a strange smirk appear on her face. Then Charles continued his adoration but this time with news that brought the whooshing deafness back with a vengeance. “That is why we were so happy to receive Delilah’s request outlining her desire to join our in house team in Virginia,” he ended on a high note.

The entire audience erupted with clapping, whistling and I would have sworn by the looks on some faces sharp disturbing inhales of shock. Since my hearing had taken a hike again I wasn’t positive that I had heard him correctly but when I turned my head in confusion, I caught Stacey sporting the most ominous grin I had ever seen on her vindictive face. Charles reached out to put his arm around my shoulder corralling me back to the microphone. “Say something,” he encouraged, only this time his voice sounded like it was spoken inside of a soup can.

“I, uh,” I stammered. The sounds around me were starting to become more definitive. I swallowed hard and tried to keep my composure because what I wanted to do was shove my high-heeled shoes up Stacey’s non-existent ass in front of the 200 people attending the gala. “I, um, don’t know what to say,” I breathed as my ability to hear returned.

“Well, we are just thrilled, Delilah,” Charles reiterated.

“Thank you, Charles,” was all I could seem to come up with at that moment. I wasn’t sure what just went down. Or how it happened for that matter. All I knew for certain was that somehow Stacey had set me up.

As Charles turned the microphone over to George Waltaub, the CEO of Jubilee, I turned my attention toward the relentless bitch that was standing beside me. “You set me up,” I seethed so only she could hear.

“That’s riiiiiight,” she sang faking the best impersonation of a southern drawl I’d ever heard. “How do you like them lamb chops?” she asked with a devious grin.

The air in my lungs all but froze. “What did you just say?” I asked incapable of digesting her chosen words.

“That’s right, Delilah. You heard me. Lamb,” she clucked her tongue and then proceeded, “chops. Hugh told me all about it. You. Darcy Strong. Ryan. Your little mishap at the wedding. And, oh boy, did we share a laugh about that one. Hugh was all too eager to outline what an ass you made out of yourself,” she chuckled with the memory but killed the laugh and the sinister glint in her eye as quickly as she had produced them. “How humiliating. The only thing better than hearing it from Hugh’s lips betraying you would have been watching the entire debacle unfold in person. But, whatever. Just knowing you got yours will have to do. Oh! I almost forgot,” she raised her pointer finger in the air. “Have fun in Virgin-I-A,” she used that finger to dot her ‘I’ and scribble her ‘A’ before she pivoted slowly on one foot and languidly swayed her way off the stage demonstrating her satisfaction.

My mouth was actually stuck in a lax position shocked by all she shared. “Oh my God,” I breathed unable to comprehend how my entire world just disintegrated.

As the devastation she created began to sink in I felt a large warm hand gently grip my shoulder.

“Delilah.” Hugh turned me pulling me in for a tight embrace. My mind was so compromised I couldn’t even process what was happening. “You asked to be transferred? I just can’t believe it. I never thought I’d see the day that you would return to Virginia.” He held me so tight I almost couldn’t breathe. Given what Stacey just shared, I found the gesture confusing. If what Stacey said was true, Hugh should be demonstrating signs of…satisfaction. He won. He got back at me after all these years. He threw me under the bus, tossed me to the wolves, fed me to the tigers. Yet his tone and his behavior reflected an entirely different emotion. He seemed disappointed, concerned, distressed.

There were a million other thoughts that should have been coursing through my mind at that very moment. But there was one question that I desperately needed the answer to before I could even begin to sort out what had just taken place.

“How could you?” I murmured inexplicably into the shoulder of his suit jacket. “I just can’t believe after all this time? I was a child, Hugh. I never meant to hurt you. I never told another soul about what happened that day. It was the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life.”

“What?” Hugh asked confused by my question. And he genuinely sounded confused. “What are you talking about?”

“You told her. You told Stacey about the wedding…the lamb chops.” Then, as the realization of his actions dawned on him, I felt his entire body stiffen with regret. His posture forced the question from my lips. “You did, didn’t you, Hugh?” I pressed, needing to hear his confession.

“Delilah,” he whispered as he pushed me to arms length and looked into my eyes. He shook his head. But it wasn’t in denial. I could tell that much. He was asking for forgiveness. “I thought you two were friends when I told her,” he hurried to explain. “She asked how we met. How long we’ve been friends. Why you left Virginia. It just didn’t occur to me that you never shared that with her. I thought you two were…close,” he breathed.

Was that actually how his sharing my embarrassment went down? Or was Hugh still so angry about what I’d done at his wedding so many years ago that he wanted to return the favor and ransack my life? He knew how devastated I was after the wedding. How could he have shared that event so carelessly? As I tried to discern if Hugh’s version of the story was true, the image of him and Stacey sitting across from each other at lunch assailed me. And all I could recall was the brilliant smile plastered on Hugh’s face and Stacey’s head thrown back bursting out in laughter at whatever he’d shared. What else could have possibly given Stacey so much satisfaction?

I had been set up.

He must have done it on purpose.

As the hard blanket of betrayal crushed me, I decided a good dose of honesty would do our farce of a relationship a well of good. “I didn’t ask to join Norstride, Hugh. Or to move to Virginia, for that matter. Stacey set me up. I just can’t believe that you came all this way to help her do it.” I didn’t say anymore. I couldn’t. I was angry. Angry that Hugh sat at a table across from Stacey, enjoyed a meal with her at one of my favorite restaurants and then teamed up with her to destroy my life. As it turned out, my initial suspicions of Hugh’s true ulterior motives were correct. All along he had been out for revenge.

Unable to stare at him another moment, I stepped away, grabbed my little purse off of the table and headed toward the front door.

“Delilah, don’t,” Hugh called after me. “Please!” He called louder as the distance between us grew.

I passed Steven along the way to the exit. It was impossible to miss the proud-poppa smile he was wearing.

“It won’t be easy without you, Dee. But I will find it in my heart to be happy for you even if I am going to miss you when you’re gone. Stacey said that you’ve been looking to move back to Virginia for a long time now. I’m glad they accepted your request and you got what you wanted. Congratulations.”

I couldn’t look at Steven. I barely heard his praise or endorsement as I walked by him expressionless. All I could focus on was one thing.

I got totally played.

But not just by Stacey. By Hugh, as well.

Chapter 10

 

I heard the intercom buzz to life. It had been doing that a lot. I glanced at the clock.

Huh.

I hadn’t even realized that it had been hollering intermittently for over an hour. But since I had no intention of answering it, whoever was looking for me was in for a long night.

 

Hours earlier I had dazedly dragged myself through my front door. I was welcomed home by a voicemail message from the guy who I sublet the apartment from. Apparently he was in Amsterdam. He had received my email that I was moving to Virginia. “Congratulations, Girlfriend. Heard you’re Virginia bound. Way to go,” he slurred enthusiastically. He sounded genuinely happy for me, which I found irritating. To be perfectly honest, he sounded stoned and happy for me. He certainly didn’t sound the least bit concerned about my news of vacating his apartment on such short notice. But then again why would he? His message stated that he already had someone who was taking over the lease and if he came to look at the apartment it was okay for me to let him in. Some guy named William Krakow.

Fabulous.

Will was in on the action, too. Was there anyone in my life that wasn’t on a mission to fuck me over? I just couldn’t believe it.

I looked around my apartment wondering how long I had before I was out on the street. He hadn’t mentioned when Will would be moving in. And of course not being privy to the email that Stacey sent, I had no idea what she had told him. Needless to say, I totally underestimated how evil Stacey could be. She had decimated my entire life with the help of the man that I had spent the better part of my life pining over.

It wouldn’t be long before I was out of my rent stabilized apartment, out of the job that I had spent six years dedicating every waking hour to, and out of the city that had become my home.

 

The buzzing of the intercom resumed, cutting through the murky thoughts that were swamping my brain. I turned to look at the speaker and told it to shut up as if it would understand and immediately comply. And oddly it did.

“Had I known that would work I would have tried it sooner,” I confessed to my intercom out loud.

I pushed myself out of my comfy club chair clutching the handmade throw that Grandma Bertha made me to my chest. As I made my way languidly to the kitchen to deposit the martini glass that I had made quick work of emptying twice, a loud banging on my front door had me jumping out of my skin. My jerky response forcefully launched my last olive across the room.

Damn.

I always saved my olives, which were the best part, for last.

“Delilah!” the angry voice boomed. “Open this door right now.”

I froze solid, practically mid step, trying to control my breathing so I could pretend that I wasn’t home.

But my heart was racing so wildly I feared that he could hear it pounding from the other side of my front door. And that was with the effects of two very strong martinis. Imagine if I wasn’t under the influence of the most commonly imbibed depressant known as alcohol.

As I did my best to remain stone silent, I heard the bell on the elevator ding indicating its arrival on my floor. Hoping Hugh had given up and decided to call it a night, I tiptoed toward my front door to look through the peephole.

I couldn’t prevent the squeal that burst from my lungs as a key smoothly slid into the lock and the door handle began to twist open. I retreated as quickly as I could to put as much distance as possible between me and the front door. I found myself half sitting (one butt cheek only) on my trusty, all-purpose ice cream table. All the effects of my pocket book threatening to lodge up my ass.

The door swung open so quickly it bounced back after rebounding off of the rubber stopper that was strategically placed to prevent any wall damage.

“There. Happy now?” Davis said impatiently holding a hand out in my direction. “She’s alive and well.” Then he looked back at me reassessing my appearance. “Well maybe ‘well’ is too strong a word. But she is certainly alive and that was the only reason I let you in here. So, now you can turn yourself around and leave with a clear conscience.”

Somewhat able to grasp why Davis might be committing a felony like breaking and entering, I turned to Hugh to clarify what he thought he was going to accomplish standing in my apartment. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“We’ve been calling you for over an hour.” It was clear that he was angry. His tone sounded impatient and his movements appeared jerky and abrasive. But what he had to be angry about was a total and complete mystery.

“So?” I countered.

“So?” he countered in a way that mocked my question.

“Yeah. So,” I reiterated.

It would seem that Hugh was losing his patience because his next response was a veritable roar. “So, why didn’t you answer the call!?!”

“None of your damn business!” I responded with comparable hostility through squinty eyes.

Sensing the conversation was not moving toward a resolution, Davis took it upon himself to diffuse the situation. “Alright,” he began as he moved toward Hugh with the intention of escorting him out of my apartment.

Recognizing the gesture, Hugh held up his hand to ward off Davis’ advancement. “Davis,” he warned, “I am going to say this one time and one time only. Try to remove me from this apartment and I am going to shove that ridiculous hat so far up your ass that it just might come out of your mouth.”

I looked at Davis. Davis’ hat was definitely ridiculous. But it was part of his uniform. No one in their right mind would deliberately choose that hat to accessorize their wardrobe. Unhappy with Hugh’s mockery of my faithful doorman’s uniform, I jumped down his throat in defense. “Don’t you talk to Davis that way! You have no right to be here, you back stabbing son-of-a-bitch.” I peeled myself off of my little round table and took a dominant step forward deriving strength from Grandma Bert’s afghan. “Go back to the gala,” I instigated. “Maybe Stacey is still there. The two of you can figure out some other way to bury me. You already got me transferred.”

I saw Davis’ head snap in my direction. “You were transferred?” he interjected.

Ignoring Davis’ question, I continued on my tear. “I’m sure there’s more damage the two of you can drum up.” But as my tirade began to ebb so did my footing. My body swayed ever so slightly giving into the effects of the alcohol that was quickly flooding my bloodstream. I saw both Davis and Hugh reflexively jerk forward with a hand extended as if they could intercept my fall. So maybe my disorientation was a little more obvious than it felt. But I was on a roll and I had a lot more to say so I ignored my dizziness and carried on. “Ya know, Hugh? I didn’t mean to hurt you when I revealed that Darcy was pregnant with Ryan’s baby.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Davis’ head snap over to Hugh but he didn’t interrupt. However his jaw did go lax as the soap opera I was describing began to unfold.

“It was totally unintentional,” I continued. “I just can’t believe that you were so vengeful that you would tell Stacey about my fake breasts, get me kicked out of my apartment and shuffled back to Virginia all at one time,” I finished in one breath.

Davis’ head snapped back to me. “Those are fake? They look so real,” he used his extended arm swaying it side to side to gesture from one breast to the other.

“No.” I moaned petulantly.

Davis took a step forward as though he was going to cop a feel for authenticity.

“Don’t you fucking touch her,” Hugh growled.

“I wasn’t going to touch her breasts,” he barked at Hugh then turned back to me. “I was going to give you a hug. I just can’t believe you’re leaving. Like…for good?” Davis breathed. Once we cleared up the breast misunderstanding he was clearly upset about my departure.

My head slowly turned to him and I nodded dejectedly.

Davis turned to Hugh with fire in his eyes. In all the years I had known him I had never seen such hatred in his expression. “You did this? You got her kicked out of this apartment? And transferred?” His voice rose. “You are a son-of-a-bitch,” he confirmed.

“I didn’t get her thrown out of the apartment,” Hugh defended pointing a finger at my hardwood floor. “When Charles announced that you had asked for a transfer I was totally surprised,” he continued heatedly. “I’m not looking for revenge, Delilah. There’s only one thing I have been looking for.” He pushed open his tuxedo jacket and rested his hands low on his hips. After he shook his head what looked like in disbelief, he took a deep breath. “Where is the note I left downstairs with your doorman? I told you in that note that I was in town for a meeting.”

“Yeah. The merger,” I finished for him.

“No.” He shook his head immediately. His hands went to his neck where he tugged at his tie until it hung loosely against his shirt. “I was in town for an interview.”

My chin jerked back and my eyes squinted at his news. I wasn’t sure if I understood what he was saying. “I don’t understand.” I blinked slowly trying to clear the Dirty Martini that was scrambling my brain. I struggled to recall the exact wording of the ‘message’ he had left. Did his note say that he was in town for a meeting or a merger? I’d read that damn note a thousand times yet I still couldn’t remember. I shook my head once in confusion, which prompted Hugh to continue.

“I was offered a position at Masters, Goodwin and Levine,” his voice actually cracked just before he paused. “I accepted the job this morning.” He looked down with defeat etched in his face. “I was going to tell you tonight after the gala. I bought champagne so we could celebrate.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I am moving to New York.”

Masters, Goodwin and Levine was one of the most highly recognized law firms in the city. Even I knew who they were and I had no connection with that field whatsoever.

So, if what he said was true, Hugh accepted a job in New York on the same day that Stacey had me transferred back to Virginia. “Oh my God,” I murmured. As his words slowly seeped in, I began to realize the true genius of the plan Stacey had orchestrated. She didn’t ask Hugh to go to lunch so she could fuck him, which is what I had immediately assumed. She asked Hugh to go to lunch so she could fuck me. And like everything else she did, she did it thoroughly.

“So you told Stacey about your interview? You told her that you accepted the job offer? You told her that you were staying in New York?” I rifled trough my questions in an effort to confirm what I already knew in my heart to be true.

“To be with you,” he finished.

“To be with me,” I repeated. “You told Stacey you were moving to New York to be with me?” I questioned disbelievingly.

“Yes,” Hugh stated emphatically. “I didn’t know at the time that she was setting you up or us up, for that matter. You have to believe me,” he begged.

Could what he said be true? Could Stacey have played Hugh at the same time she was playing me? I was afraid to trust what Hugh was telling me. It didn’t help that my head was foggy from the vodka and I was having trouble focusing on anything other than the merry-go-round otherwise known as my apartment.

“I need to sit down,” I swayed again. I took a few unsteady steps backward aligning myself with the chair that separated my entrance to my living space. I fell onto the cushion with all of my weight and raised my chin to find Davis and Hugh looking at me with concern.

“My life is in the crapper! Cut me some slack!” I defended, finishing my statement with a hiccup.

I heard both men sigh loudly and then my faithful doorman chimed in. Davis swiped the embarrassing cap off of his head and started nervously kneading the brim with all of his fingers. “Delilah. Can’t you talk to Gabriel?”

“Who’s Gabriel?” Hugh questioned crossing his arms over his chest and shifting his weight to one side.

“The guy she sublets the apartment from?” Davis answered with annoyance and then softened his tone when he turned back to me. “Maybe he will let you stay?” Davis looked forlorn. Clearly he was upset that I was leaving.

I shook my head in response. “He already leased it to somebody else. It was only a matter of time, Davis. We both knew that someday Gabriel would return. And, while this is definitely sooner than I expected there isn’t anything that I can do about it.” I’m not sure how it happened but I was comforting Davis instead of the other way around. “And anyway, Stacey had me transferred to another state. I don’t have a job here anymore. This apartment is rent stabilized, not free.” I swallowed loudly holding back the two cocktails that were threatening to do a round-off-back-hand-spring from my stomach and up my esophagus.

I watched as Hugh’s eyes and nose scrunched simultaneously in response to the effort it was taking me to swallow my own saliva. And damn if he didn’t look as handsome as ever doing it. I rubbed my hand over my face. So not fair.

“Delilah, you look green,” he commented.

“Thanks,” I said sarcastically. “I feel green.” My hand went to my mouth in an effort to hold something in. “Excuse me a moment.” I dragged myself to standing and teeter tottered to my bathroom. The toilet was holding immense appeal at that very moment. Funny how a toilet could be so repulsive until one was ready to hurl. Then it suddenly became the most inviting place one could ever hope for.

I felt two hands gently gather the hair that lay against my back just before I bent over my porcelain thrown to vomit. Then Hugh moved one warm hand to comfortingly rub my back as the dirty martini’s made their second, this time unwelcomed, appearance.

Uck.

“You okay?” Hugh whispered.

Feeling totally mortified, I straightened keeping my back to him. I sidestepped to the sink feeling my hair slip through his fingers. I bent over the basin to rinse out my mouth trying to procrastinate as long as possible so I wouldn’t have to face Hugh. “You didn’t have to do that,” I remarked still feeling self-conscious.

Hugh ignored my comment having more on his mind than having to hold my hair during my stomach’s violent protest from my martini binge. “Delilah, what are we going to do? We need to talk about this.”

I shook my head in response as the thought of my predicament created another bout of nausea. “I’m not sure,” I whispered.

“Do you want to take the job in Virginia?” He queried.

Not really. But I couldn’t tell that to Hugh. What if it was my only option? Then I would feel like a pitiful fool in addition to a double-crossed imbecile. So instead, I gave a shoulder shrug even though I already knew the answer. “I’m not sure.”

I loved PR. I loved my job and what it entailed. But did I want to move back to Virginia to keep doing it? If I didn’t make the move I would essentially be committing professional suicide. My reputation would be in the toilet. The masses believed that I requested the transfer. If I changed my mind I would look indecisive or irresponsible. Neither boded well for my career. My hand travelled to my forehead to ward off the headache that was beginning to lay its groundwork. I looked in the mirror above the sink and watched as Hugh filled the space behind me.

His lips formed a straight line just as the entire conundrum became unbearably overwhelming for me. It was as if he could read my mind. “Maybe we should just sleep on it,” he suggested. His hands snaked around my stomach as he pressed in behind me giving me a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll figure it out,” he whispered in my ear as his eyes locked on mine in the mirror. “Don’t worry.”

I nodded agreeably even though I didn’t see an obvious solution. I was in no shape to make any decisions, least of all life altering ones. So sleeping on it sounded like the best idea. As we studied each other momentarily in the bathroom mirror, a voice carried toward us from down the hall. “Guys? Everything okay in there?”

I snapped from the protective bubble Hugh’s hands had created and began to pull away from him. “Yes, Davis, sorry!” I called. “Be right out!”

But Davis wasn’t waiting. Apparently he had had enough as well. “I’ve gotta get out of here, Delilah! I’ll see you tomorrow!” He called back just as we heard the front door open. We immediately heard the click of the door catching in the frame indicating Davis’ departure. Under normal circumstances I would have gone after Davis to see if he was okay. I liked Davis. He was more than my doorman. He was my friend. But the circumstances in which I found myself at that very moment were far from normal and I just couldn’t muster even an ounce of energy to go after him. I was officially overwhelmed. I was even unable to help myself.

Hugh snatched my hand before I made it out of the bathroom. “Hey. Come’ere,” he pulled me in for a hug wrapping his arms around me. One hand snaked up my back and into my hair. He gently tangled his fist in the long tendrils as he took a deep breath burying his nose in my neck. I hoped I didn’t smell as badly as I feared. Since he stayed nestled there for a few beats I was guessing he didn’t find me all that offensive.

I reluctantly rested my hands on Hugh’s broad shoulders and spoke into his shirt. “I need a few minutes to get cleaned up, Hugh.”

“Okay. Take your time,” I felt his lips gently press against my neck. “I’ll watch some TV.” He released me from our embrace kissing the top of my head as he maneuvered to leave the bathroom. I saw his hands go to his shirt and start the process of unbuttoning.

Not that I was complaining, but I guess Hugh had decided that he was staying.

 

            I stared at my couch thinking that it never looked quite that good. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my couch. I had not only picked out the style but I had designed it as well. I had chosen all different fabrics mixing them together to give the sofa a Bohemian appearance. The cushions were filled with down feathers making it super comfortable. It had cost me a fortune. But at that very moment it had something extra special going for it. A tall, dark and handsome southern gentleman spread out all over it. That couch never looked so good. Hugh’s beautifully muscled body blanketed the cushions from one end to the other. His feet were dangling off one end and his left arm was thrown over the back. His shirt lay mostly open revealing the six-pack, which rose and fell with each deep breath he took. There was a faint rumbling sound every time he inhaled, which could hardly be categorized as a snore but I would have to tease him about it later. I shrugged at the thought. It was my duty. Even with all the chaos that currently defined my life, I couldn’t help the small smile that formed across my lips. I sighed heavily as I went from lamp to wall switch turning out the lights as I circled around the couch. I gave Hugh one last glance over my shoulder as I retreated to my bedroom for the night. I wasn’t sure what tomorrow was going to bring. I just knew that there was a whole lot of change heading in my direction. But tonight I was going to delight in the knowledge that Hugh Rowen was asleep on my couch.

Chapter 11

 

            My body felt like it weighed a ton. I couldn’t move a muscle. I didn’t think I drank that much the night before but since my arms were like lead weights and my right leg felt like it had been cemented to the mattress I had obviously misjudged how strong I had concocted my beverages. As I came into my coherent mind from my dream state I tried to roll over on my side knowing a pain reliever was about to become my new best friend. Fuck Julia, she wasn’t that great in a crisis and she betrayed me. But as I made the grand effort to turn over, my body was pinned to the bed by a large muscled arm wrapping around my waist. Then it jerked me backwards turning me on my side and pulling me closer. I looked down slightly perplexed and quickly realized that the arm was attached to a body. A very warm, hard, beautiful body. And it was almost completely naked. Not that I could see it under the covers but I could feel bare legs and the light fuzz of a belly hair against my exposed skin. His boxer briefs were on but they weren’t hiding the welcoming committee that was poking me from behind. I became fully awake at that very moment just as the delicious voice threw the beat of my heart into a gallop.

“Nice way to wake up,” he murmured pressing his body in behind me.

Yep. That was for sure. “Morning,” I said sweetly as my cutchie-coo woke up simultaneously. But her thoughts weren’t sweet. Nope. Not at all. They were naughty. I could tell by the party she was organizing in my panties. If a vagina could primp I would swear that was what she was doing. Is that a flat iron she’s using? Why else was it getting so hot down there so quickly?

“Sleep okay?” he asked burying his face in the back of my neck.

“Mmhm,” I answered blandly. I couldn’t say what I wanted to say, which was that I would have slept better had I been aware I was sleeping next to him. That would sound overbearing and needy. “You?” I asked instead.

“Mmhm,” he returned. “Though I slept better once I was next to you.”

Oh!

How come it didn’t sound overbearing and needy when he said it?

I didn’t know if I should turn around to face him or stay put. I could very well kill him with the dragon breath that I was cultivating in my mouth. I had that pasty thing going on and every tooth felt like it was wearing a teeny-weeny sock, which was never a good sign. So instead I pulled away and tugged at his arm at the same time. “I just need to use the bathroom. Be right back.”

He released me rolling to his back. As I made my way around my bed I watched him stretch his gorgeous body, flexing it to life. I thought I should probably hurry it along so I didn’t miss more of the show than was absolutely necessary.

Since I wasn’t paying attention, my attention justifiably distracted by the god twisted in my sheets, I took a full on goalie kick to my bed frame stubbing (more like crippling) my toe. The immense pain coursed through my body leaving me speechless. I dropped to one knee to wrap my hand around my toes and squeeze. “Oh my God,” I squeaked.

Hugh flew out of bed and rounded the footboard to me. “Are you okay?” he asked standing before me. I raised my head and came face-to-face with Hugh’s cotton covered morning glory. I froze, forgetting about the searing pain of my toe and pressed my lips together.

“Sorry,” he said apologetically.

My eyes travelled up the long length of him, past his chest, and landed on his face. There I found a devilish grin.

“No, you’re not,” I answered snidely.

His grin turned into a smile. “I meant about the toe.”

“Oh,” was all I could answer sighing heavily.

Then I slowly stood with the help of his outstretched hand and limped to the bathroom.

 

            After my bathroom routine, which ended up including a pain reliever more for my toe than my hangover, Hugh used the bathroom. I passed him in the threshold of the doorway, which was a tight squeeze. I wondered if he had timed it that way on purpose. He grabbed my hips grazing my body against his to slide past. I was beginning to think that Hugh was a big tease.

I hobbled to the kitchen to get a pot of coffee going. I had a lot of decisions to make. Whether or not I was prepared to face them was irrelevant. My life was on its ear and since it was the middle of the month, I was guessing I only had about two weeks to sort it out. As the worry and consequent pressure began to build in my mind, two large hands snaked around my belly and turned me around. “Good morning,” Hugh breathed as he pulled me up and in for a deep but gentle, tongue tasting, lip caressing kiss. My eyes fell closed as I relished the delicious way his mouth tasted mine.

When he took his lips away my eyes lazily drifted open. “Mornin’,” I answered.

“I need to talk to you, Delilah,” he informed authoritatively. “I have a few thoughts and I want you to listen to what I am going to suggest.”

In that moment if he told me that I had to turn myself inside out and become a crustacean I would have attempted to do so. So, of course, I said, “Okay. Um. Right now? Or can we wait till I had a cup of coffee? I’m much more attentive after I’ve had my coffee.” I felt it only fair that he make an informed decision.

He dipped his head slowly tasting my mouth again and this time when he did I was ready. My hands snaked into his hair just as I felt his fingers locate and start to gently caress my bottom. Then he pulled away grumbling. “Coffee first.”

I nodded in agreement although I would have preferred he suggested unabashed sex first. But coffee would have to do.

 

            As I got out the mugs for coffee, Hugh scoured my refrigerator for breakfast items. I was never a big breakfast eater so there wasn’t much to choose from. I had eggs but only two. I had milk because I drank coffee like a fiend and needed my joe prepared perfectly. I watched as Hugh slid down the counter to my cabinet to see what else was available. He pulled out a box of matzo, which I loved to eat with a whole lot of butter. But it had to be the salted kind. Both the butter and the matzo. I’m sure I was well on my way to hypertension but there was no way I was giving up my salt. One time my local super market was out of salted matzo I purchased religiously. So out of sheer desperation I picked up a box that said ‘reduced salt.’ At least that’s what the box said. But that was total malarkey. I could’ve eaten the box and ingested more sodium.

“You like Matzo Brei?” he asked.

Since I had never had it I answered accordingly. “Well, I’ve never had it but I like matzo.”

“Oh,” he groaned with that sexy rumble, “if you like matzo you are going to love this. My roommate in college made this for me the first week of school. Best breakfast I ever had. I finally paid attention and learned how to make it myself.”

“Oh, yeah?” I asked with surprise in my tone. I never would have thought he liked to cook.

“Watch and learn,” he teased with a beautiful grin gracing his face.

I smiled back feeling grateful for the small gifts that I was being afforded that day. The love of my life was standing in my small kitchen offering to make me breakfast after kissing me senseless. Soon, too soon, that would all change and I would be back in Virginia while Hugh made a life in New York without me.

Unbelievable.

I couldn’t help the disappointment that began to infiltrate my happy mood. I was fighting it really hard. I unleashed the little boxing-gloved-fists behind my smiling eyes hoping they could fend off the gloomy overcast that was blowing in like a storm cloud. But no matter how hard I tried to keep those negative thoughts at bay, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I had finally attained everything I had ever wanted. A great job, my own apartment, my dream man…and all of it was about to change.

Who was it that said the eyes are the windows to our souls? I guess it was true because as soon as Hugh looked at me he noticed that the sadness had won out. I knew this because his grin disappeared and then he confirmed it with his next remark.

“Don’t, Delilah,” he whispered shaking his head.

I shrugged in response. What could I possibly say? Hugh abandoned his frying pan and made his way to me. He squatted before me shifting his feet forward to get closer which brought us face-to-face with his body cradled between my thighs. His hands gently framed my face while his thumb caressed my cheek. “Please don’t worry. I have a plan.”

“Oh yeah? Does it involve beating the crap out of one Stacey Horner?” I asked without inflection.

He chuckled helplessly before he answered. “Well it didn’t. But if including that in the plan is important to you I am open for suggestions.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly through my nose. “Probably not the best idea. So what did you have in mind?”

“First, Matzo Brei.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. “Then, bed,” a sly smile took over before he pressed his lips to mine again. “And, then,” another kiss, “if you’re a good girl,” another kiss, “I’ll fill you in.” Then Hugh shot to standing leaving me totally frustrated, a little less miserable and uncharacteristically speechless.

Yes.

Hugh Rowen could kiss away all of my problems.

Shameless.

 

 

            Did I mention that Darcy Strong was an idiot? Good Lord, show some mercy because I was completely defenseless when it came to Hugh Rowen. I was fairly certain that my internal temperature had surpassed a healthy simmer and was approaching a rolling boil. Yet, Hugh was taking his sweet ass time seemingly unaffected. His body hovered over mine as he deliberately tormented me sexually. His lips gently grazed my half naked body. His fingers traced every elastic millimeter of my bra and panties sometimes even lingering. He’d been around the amusement park, otherwise known as Welling World, twice and still hadn’t ridden the big coaster. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to distract me and I will admit, it was working. He had me focused. On my body. But did this man not have nerve endings? Any normal male would have taken me an hour ago. It’s not like I would have protested.

Whimpered, most definitely.

Protested, no.

But Hugh was holding out. How long he would last was a mystery. A mystery I needed to get to the bottom of quickly before I melted into a puddle.

Now. It should be mentioned that I had gone to a few yoga classes over the years and I was able to hold a plank position just as long as the next person. But Hugh had been at it for quite a while. It was remarkable, actually. If I wasn’t so pent up with frustration, it probably would have been commendable. But if he didn’t lower his torso to mine soon I was going to have to learn to levitate to reach him. And given the heat emanating from my body I just might be able to muster up enough steam to do it. That was if I didn’t dehydrate through the orifice of my vagina first.

“Hugh,” I breathed shamelessly.

“Mmm,” he responded exhaling a shaky warm breath against the skin on my neck. Another shiver pulsed through me.

“Please,” I managed breathily.

“Mmm,” he responded again trailing those lips to the swell of my right breast.

“I want you,” I whimpered in turn, leaving nothing to question.

Instead of answering he pulled back and rested his ass on his heels.

Uh, okay, what the hell was going on? Was it opposite day and I didn’t receive the alert on my social networking web page?

“Delilah,” Hugh rumbled.

“Yes?” I answered going up on my elbows to see him.

“Maybe we are moving too fast,” he pushed his splayed fingers through his hair in frustration and slowly shook his head.

Maybe after an hour of foreplay my hearing had become shoddy because I thought he said we were moving too fast. I wasn’t what one would consider a sexual dynamo by any stretch of the imagination but how he thought we were moving too fast was incomprehensible. My eyes drifted down his torso to assess the size of the hard-on he was sporting fearing the desire in the room was one sided. I was relieved to find that I was being pointed at accusatorily.

“I beg your pardon?” I said with my southern drawl sounding as confused as I actually was.

“I just don’t know if we are in the right place,” he added.

I looked left and right. We were on a bed in the middle of my soon to be vacated apartment. It seemed to me that the place might be a little small but it was more than adequate. “What place? What are you talking about?” I drawled. I was beginning to realize that my southern accent tended to reappear when a heated conversation was on the horizon. And low and behold, Hugh was starting to piss me off.

I could tell he was interpreting my signs of hostility by the way he was getting defensive. He held both hands up in front of me like I was a vicious hyena. “I just want to be sure about what we are doing. Things are a little…chaotic right now.” He dropped his hands to his legs and began rubbing the palms succinctly up and down his flexed, bare thighs.

That was all he had to say. The sass arrived with a good dose of bossy and a hint of bitch. “So help me God, Matthew Rowen, if you don’t come back over here and stick that thing where it belongs I am going to kill you. You have been toying with me for over an hour!”

“Take it easy. I just don’t want you to regret your choices,” he defended sensibly.

“Oh, don’t you worry. You keep this shit up and the only thing I am going to regret is that in my haste I didn’t rip off your penis and beat you with it before I killed you!” I threatened. “Now you get back here and finish what you started!” I scolded with a finger pointing at my vagina.

No need for mixed messages.

Apparently Hugh found my tirade funny. Because his shoulders started to shake as he attempted to control the outburst of laughter.

And that, my friends, was the end of that.

“Get out.” I sat upright and pushed at his chest with all I could muster. “You son-of-a-bitch, get the fuck out.” I had officially had enough. My life was a total and complete disaster and now the love of my life was in my bed laughing at me.

“Delilah.” Hugh grabbed my wrists to stop my advancement and tried to control my flailing arms. He did a damn good job of it, too. Bastard. “Don’t get all angry. I just want to do this right,” he whispered as he slowly lowered me back against the bed. He pinned my arms above my head and finally (FINALLY) covered my body with his. A little late in the game for my liking. “I have wanted you for over a decade,” he pressed himself against me. “I just don’t want to screw it up by moving too fast,” he tried to explain.

“Hugh,” I growled with my chest heaving as a result of the cardio workout from resistance training with Hugh’s muscular arms. “Fast would have been 59 minutes ago. Nothing about what we have been doing is fast,” I educated while trying to work my hands free and possibly unintentionally catch him in the family jewels with my knee. “It’s taken us twelve years to get here.”

“You know what I mean, damn it.” Hugh was starting to get irritated. Apparently trying to dodge my pointy knees and reason with me at the same time was a significant challenge. His chest started heaving, which gave me a hint of satisfaction that I was putting up a pretty good fight. “If I have it my way,” he growled, “there will be a whole lot of sex in our future, Delilah.”

I stopped struggling so I could listen. Maybe his plan had some merit.

“I just don’t know if you will be on board with what I think we should do next. I can’t do this,” he gestured to our sexual position, “and have you leave. I just can’t,” his labored breathing was mingling with mine while his eyes danced back and forth. “I can’t.”

I bit the inside of my cheek while I digested what he shared. Hugh caught his breath and slowed his breathing. He must have sensed me softening because he lowered his lips and kissed me gently. “I need to know that you will stay.” He shifted his hard body on mine and whispered in my ear. “Tell me you’re going to stay. No matter what.”

His reasoning began to register. He didn’t want to have sex with me and then watch me pack up and head to Virginia. That was sweet and nice to hear.

I wanted to stay. Nothing would make me happier than to stay in New York and make a life with Hugh. But how could I do that with no job and no home?

“Hugh,” I breathed conflicted.

Then Hugh began to whisper-sing a song. A song I was quite familiar with because someone left it on my voicemail at least once a week since I moved to New York. The first time I came home and found it on my voicemail, I figured it was Julia bucking for another invite. But when she vehemently denied it was her I started to get nervous. I made some calls but no one would fess up. I tried to have the call traced and the closest I could come was it was from an 800 number in my hometown in Virginia. I chalked it up to Julia honing her skills of denial for her new gossip column and started to enjoy the song. Even made it my ringtone. Hugh’s singing it directly to me brought it all together.

Delilah…every day that passes by…you’re in my heart and on my mind…you’ll never know the pain I felt …when you went and left me far behind…

Once he stopped singing, I felt his lips kiss my neck just below my ear. “Just say you’ll stay, Delilah, please.”

Between his sexy voice singing in my ear, his admission that he wanted me to stay and his lips tenderly trailing soft kisses across my skin, I could almost feel my anger and frustration scampering from my body. In my heart I had been his for as long as I could remember. Admitting I wanted to stay was rather easy even if the logistics of this plan weren’t going to be quite so simple to navigate.

“Okay. I’ll stay,” I blurted. I mean, really. I could only take so much and I would have to be a moron to refuse. It would seem that the decision to stay was definitely the right one because Hugh was on the move. This time when he pushed back off of my body my panties went with him. “Lift up,” he ordered and shimmied them down my legs. He threw them over his shoulder as he dropped forward and moved his hand behind my back looking for the clasp of my bra. I didn’t know that Hugh was able to move so fast. It was refreshing. Once I felt the tension of my bra release, I helped him move the straps down my arms.

“Are you ready?” He asked tearing into the little foil square he pulled out of thin air.

I nodded in response.

“That’s good cause after an hour of wanting nothing more than to sink myself inside of you this will probably last about thirty seconds,” he teased. “I wouldn’t want you to blink and miss it. So, pay attention,” he spoke against my lips and then I felt them form a satisfying smile just before he pressed himself inside.

Given the way he had primed me, thirty seconds would be a miracle.

 

Chapter 12

 

“So I’m thinking Upper West Side.”

I was lying in Hugh’s big arms. My body nestled up against his with my left thigh draped over his left leg. My left arm was fondling the light dusting of chest hair that adorned his perfect body. Hugh’s fingers were gently grazing the skin at the base of my back.

“Upper West Side?” I questioned unsure of where the conversation was going.

“Yeah. It’s near the park and I like the area,” he continued.

I was guessing that Hugh was sharing where he was going to start looking for apartments. “That sounds good,” I agreed unenthusiastically.

“No?” He questioned hearing the ambivalence in my tone.

“Sure,” I responded.

Unable to ascertain why I seemed so equivocal on the subject, Hugh pulled far enough away so that he could see my face while we discussed his future apartment hunt. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked with surprise in his tone.

“Nothing,” I shrugged. The Upper West Side was very nice but I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to say.

“Delilah,” Hugh scolded. “You have to tell me what you are thinking. Despite your repeated flattery that I am ‘amazing’ I can’t read minds. Tell me what you are thinking,” he said incredulously.

I was guessing I should have lightened up on how ‘amazing’ I thought Hugh was in bed because he was using my words against me. “I think you’ll like the West Side. It’s fun,” I shrugged.

“And you wouldn’t like the West Side?” he pushed.

“Um,” I shrugged again.

“Holy shit, this is painful.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Let me spell it out for you. I want to get an apartment on the Upper West Side for us. Do you or do you not have an opinion?” His arm gave me a gentle squeeze as his words began to penetrate my mind and my heart. Hugh wanted to move in together.

“Wait,” I stammered.

Hugh started nodding even before he spoke. “Now she’s getting it,” he added sarcastically.

I lightly smacked his chest before I scolded his delivery. “Hey. I’m not a mind reader either, ya know.”

Hugh rolled me to my back and pinned me to the bed. “No? Are you sure? Let’s give it a try. What am I thinking right about now?” He pressed his re-awakened manhood into the cotton crotch of my panties. “Go on. Give it your best shot.” He lowered his lips and grazed them over mine while he waited for my answer.

Heat instantly pooled in the exact spot where he was poking. It was like a heat-seeking missile was launched between my legs. But if he was going to act like a sarcastic asshole he was going to get a commensurate response. “You want to move to Holland and become a tulip farmer?” I deadpanned.

“Close.” His hand slid down pushing the elastic of my underwear to the side. “There are definitely two lips involved.” He kissed me deep and teased me with his manhood.

“Hugh,” I breathed helplessly tearing my lips from his.

“Will you move in with me?” he asked using his appendage as coercion.

“Yes,” I moaned in response. It didn’t matter what he asked or what the ‘yes’ was in response to. I was beginning to see why Hugh made such a great lawyer. He was quite talented at honing in on a person’s weakness and using it against them. Lucky for me, mine happened to be his penis.

Go figure.

 

            My phone was ringing. I could hear it. But I didn’t want to move. I was exhausted. I turned and squinted at my iPod, which was parked in the base on my nightstand. It was 9:30 in the morning. The rays of sun that reflected off of the metal sheeting that surrounded my bedroom window were blinding. I couldn’t imagine who would be looking for me on a Sunday morning. I looked over my shoulder and found Hugh on his belly with the covers just covering his perfect behind. Ignoring the phone as any normal, well-adjusted, infatuated female would, I rolled toward Hugh straddling his lower back. He shifted from the weight and rumbled his ‘good morning.’ My hands immediately went to his back and shoulders to begin his morning massage. He deserved it. He performed unbelievably multiple times and lasted way longer than thirty seconds. The least I could do was loosen him up for the next round.

“You tryin’ to kill me?” he murmured into the pillow.

“Yep,” I said exuberantly. “Death by ejaculation.” Hugh’s body began to vibrate with the deep chuckle erupting from his chest. It was nice that he enjoyed my sick sense of humor.

I worked my hands over his skin relishing in the sound of his satisfied groans. “That feels really good, Delilah.”

“I know,” I agreed. It did. I knew how to give the perfect massage. Just the right amount of pressure mixed with a rubbing circular motion up and down the sides of the spine.

The phone began to ring again and that was when I began to worry. My head turned in the direction of the living room wondering if I should go see who was trying to get a hold of me. Unable to concentrate, I swung my leg off of Hugh and padded to the living area. Pillows flew left and right till I located the remote on the cushions. I hit the button and answered the call sounding out of breath.

“Hello?” I rushed fearing they had already hung up.

“Delilah?” the man questioned.

“Yes?” I answered unable to recognize the voice on the other end. Momentarily distracted I heard the door to my bathroom squeal to a close. I guess Hugh was getting cleaned up. “Who’s this?”

There was a brief pause before the voice continued. “Ryan. Hugh’s brother. I’m sorry to bother you but have you seen my brother at all? I’ve been calling his cell but he hasn’t answered in two days.”

“Oh!” I said with surprise even though I shouldn’t be surprised at all. I knew why Hugh wasn’t answering his phone in two days. He had been in my bed for two days. “Um, yeah. I’ve seen him.” My free hand went to my face to rub my eyes trying to decide if I wanted Ryan to know that not only had I seen his brother, but I had seen all of his brother. Multiple times. If I gave the phone to Hugh there would be no question. “Um,” I hesitated. “Yeah. He’s wonderful. I mean, ya know, he’s fine. Just, busy. So when I see him again I’ll tell him to call you,” I offered.

“Okay. It’s important. So, the sooner the better,” he drawled. Just then I heard the toilet flush and the water at the sink go on.

My mouth twisted weighing my options. I turned to look in Hugh’s general direction as if staring at the wall he stood behind would help me decide whether or not to bring him the phone. But in the end my pride won out. “Okay. I’ll get him the message.” I heard the bathroom door open.

Last chance.

“Okay. Um. Thanks, Delilah.”

“You’re welcome.”

Last, last chance.

“Bye,” he finished.

“Bye.”

I heard the click and that was that.

I disconnected the call and made my way to the vacant bathroom. I did my business and cleaned myself up. The guilt I was feeling was formidable as I wiped my toothpaste riddled mouth with the bath towel that hung on the back of the bathroom door. I turned out the light and slowly returned to my bedroom scolding my selfish behavior. As I rounded the corner to enter my bedroom, I saw Hugh propped up lying against the back of my headboard. His beautiful body leaning against a stack of pillows. His wavy brown hair was perfectly mussed and the scruff of his beard made his overall appearance breathtaking.

“Everything okay?” he asked innocently.

I nodded my response leaning into the doorjamb. Overwhelmed by the stunning sight before me, I quickly forgave myself for not mentioning to Hugh that Ryan needed to speak to him. Or, for that matter, that whatever he needed to share was important.

“Well, then…are you going to stand there all day?” he questioned coyly.

I shook my head pushing off the molding with my shoulder. When I got close to the bed Hugh stretched out grabbing me suddenly. He tossed me across his body and onto the bed. I barely had time to rebound when I felt his weight on me.

“What took you so long?” he murmured against my neck.

I was pretty sure he was referring to my non-existent trek across my tiny bedroom and he was being facetious. At least I was hoping his question was of the rhetorical nature because I had no intention of answering given the breathless state he had me in. So instead of responding with words, I wrapped my legs around him and held him tightly to me.

But as I lay there silently feeling Hugh’s body finding unbelievable ways to get closer to mine, something came over me. It was like a tidal wave of emotion. And a confession flew from my mouth unbridled. “It didn’t take me long at all, Hugh. I fell in love with you the instant I set my eyes on you.”

Can anyone say left field? I felt Hugh’s entire body go still. I wasn’t at all surprised that my sudden admission left him speechless. It had come from that place. You know the place. The place where all bad ideas come from?