Strictly Taboo(34)

“What’s the deal Mr. Harlow? I gave you an opening to decline them. Why didn’t you take that and run with it?”

He shrugged. “I changed my mind. Maybe I should go to event. Although it does nothing but line their pockets with more money.”

“What do you mean?”

“A lot of the donated proceeds go towards Mr. Collins salary. Of course he makes money elsewhere, he has a rather expansive construction company that puts up overpriced modular homes. But he does make a pretty penny from the animal charity. Either way, maybe I should go anyway. Make a last appearance and say my goodbyes to the elite. Would you like to go with me?”

Bret had put me on the spot. Not only had he waved Mary Valen in my face, although I don’t know if they’d spoken other that morning, but if I denied him in front of his associates I would be the bad guy or something. It had all become flipped around and I felt as if he was playing games with me.

My couch and movie night with my cat sounded much better than this.

“If I say no, then what?”

I expected him to retort with some threat of using Mary Valen as his real estate agent instead of me, but he didn’t. Instead, he moved his face close to mine and pushed his hard pressed lips against mine.

Lost in the moment, the sounds of people dining died away and I was left with a rapid heartbeat pounding in my ears. I couldn’t pull away. Instead I moved closer and Bret wrapped his arms around me.

When our passionate kiss finally ended, I was thoroughly confused, but happy.

“If I say no again, can that happen again?” I asked with a cocky grin spread across my face. I felt better than I had in months. Like something special as he looked at me and chuckled at my joke.

“No, you can have more of that but only if come with me tonight. Hey, we can even get those massages if you want.”

What a strange turn of events.





Chapter Three

We finished lunch with Bret’s two associates rather quickly. I stayed quiet while he agreed to attend. Both men seemed pleased that I had been willing to postpone our fake date to the show in Milford. I don’t even know if there was actually something playing there.

The meal had calmed my nerves, and along with the kiss that I had shared with Bret, I was more relaxed than I think I had ever been. He took me back to my car, and I left after he gave me brief kiss on the cheek with a whispered time he’d pick me up.

I drove home in a daze. Long forgotten were the pictures I was supposed to take of his home and also the job offer I’d overheard from Scott. All that really mattered was getting home and sorting out my thoughts.

My tabby cat swirled around my legs as I set my things down. It’s long drawling meow bringing me to the present as he insisted I pet him. A scratch on the head and a smile and he was happy and quiet again.

“Bri?’ A voice sounded from my meniscal living room.

I hadn’t let anyone in. No one had a spare key. My friends and family knew to knock or call ahead so whoever it was, was a complete surprise. I would’ve been on the defense if not for the feminine tone in the slurred call of my name.

“Mary? How did you get in to my place?”

She hiccupped. Spread lazily and wrinkly across my couch, her head turned and blinked at me, eyes glazed over with drunkenness. She looked as confused as I for a moment before my question registered in her mind.

“Your maintenance man. All it took was showing him a bit of leg and WHAM he opened the door for me.”

She chortled and coughed before slouching down on the couch, her skirt still hiked up to mid-thigh. I’d never seen her in such disarray, and honestly I hadn’t even realized she knew where I lived.

“We need to call you a cab. Why are you here?”

A pack of cigarettes seemed to appear in her hand as she pulled one out and lazily lit it. Smoking wasn’t allowed in my apartment, and I didn’t particularly like it, but I didn’t feel like arguing with her while she was drunk. She was bad enough sober.

“You. You are the reason I’m probably going to lose my job. You left me hanging, you took one of the biggest possible sales of the year, and Harlow was mine. I tried to get him to boot you ya know. After you’d left his place, he refused. So, there ya go girly. The whole thing is all yours. Ten years I’ve been in the real estate biz and now it’s done.”

Her words slurred together but I got the jist of it. She was blaming me for her incompetency. Everything’s done all because I didn’t want to work as her errand girl getting paid minimum wage. She’d entered my apartment without my permission and now I didn’t even know if I could get rid of her.

During my moment of silence, she’d fallen asleep and as I watched her rolls of deep snores were barreling from her open mouth. I didn’t even have the chance to say anything to counter her vindictive accusations.