I could feel something between us, but I didn’t bring it up. There was a good chance that I just wanted there to be and it didn’t need to be addressed, at least not yet.
We sat down to eat, our plates piled high with meat and a variety of vegetables. I took small bites as I watched them talk, listening closely as I felt the familiar feeling of home sinking into my bones. It was nice.
I perked up when Payne started telling Dad that his assistant gave immediate notice to him that day, newly married and finding out that she was pregnant and moving all in the same week. He acknowledged that she was good, though she’d only worked for him for three years. Some significant cases were happening right now, and Payne seemed worried about what he was going to do during the process of interviewing and hiring. Dad chuckled as he looked at me and Payne followed his gaze with a knowing smile. “I apologize, Vie. I didn’t even think about you, Vie. I know that you want to pursue something more than assisting, but how would you feel about helping out for a while?”
“It would look amazing on a resume,” I said, more excited about working closely with him than any experience. I just couldn't talk like that. “I’d love to.”
“Perfect. I think it will be a great opportunity for you,” Payne said as he glanced at Dad.
“You don’t mind starting up so soon after getting back, do you? I know that you just had a long drive,” Payne checked with me as I shook my head.
“You know that I don’t like idle time,” I chided both of them as they laughingly agreed. I was never the kind of girl to enjoy shopping all day with friends, though I did enjoy lunch or dinner out with the few that I’d kept in close touch with. I liked seeing movies or plays with them as well. I was just too rushed for them when it came to shopping, preferring to get what I needed right away over searching through racks for hours. It stopped being relaxing about an hour or two in for me, personally. “I will go out and get some things to wear that are appropriate for the office this weekend and start on Monday, so you can get me up to speed. How does that sound?”
“That sounds wonderful, Vienna. I look forward to it,” Payne told me as we grinned at each other and raised our drinks for a toast. I didn’t come here expecting this, much less with Payne, but it was a great opportunity on several levels.
I took the dinner dishes inside and brought out slices of cheesecake to the men with a fresh glass of wine for myself. I was feeling the alcohol and happy about the job, so I laughed and chatted with them easily. We stayed out late that night, both Payne and Dad cursing as they realized the hour. They both had to work early tomorrow, since it was Friday and their staff would be there. On the weekends, they kept looser hours along with the others that needed to get a little extra work done.
I hugged Payne goodbye and locked the door behind him, smiling widely. Dad was already upstairs and I did a small spin around in the spacious foyer. I was going to work with Payne for at least a few weeks and I knew how much time I’d be in his office with him. There would be a lot of chances to try to seduce him and let him know my feelings for him. It was risky and I knew it, but I was no longer the shy teenager that I’d once been. I was a woman and I wanted to fulfill my needs with Payne and only Payne, and I wasn’t going to hide from that any longer.
I took time the next day to go to a few favorite stores alone, picking out some outfits that I knew would be fitting for the job. I bought several fitted pencil skirts in hues of black, gray, brown and a beautiful one in a dark plum color. In addition, I found a variety of shirts to compliment those, tops that were professional but also hinted at cleavage and flirted with danger.
The next stop was at a lingerie store for bras and panties in lace and satin, and I bought several in the hopes that he would get a chance to see them. I also found a few pairs of heels to tie everything together and left with my bags and a smile on my face. A few men had hit on me during the shopping trip but they weren’t Payne.
I got some lunch at my favorite cafe before going home and putting my clothes away in the closet so they would stay ready to wear. I wanted everything to be perfect and I changed into a bikini and went to sit in the spa, relaxing before I started some stew for dinner. I wasn’t sure if Payne was going to come or not, but I certainly hoped so. I leaned back and stared up at the blue sky and smiled as I considered my future.
I dozed off for a while before I came to dizzy from the heat of the water. I slid slowly out of the water and grabbed my towel, wrapping it around me to go inside and change.
I was in the kitchen chopping vegetables and adding them to the broth I’d started that morning with some beef bones. It would only take an hour or so for everything to be ready. I was wearing some denim shorts that weren’t obscenely short but enough to tease with a tank top. It was warm in the house today or perhaps I was just too used to East Coast summers now.