Velvet Kisses(17)

“People are already doing that.” I don’t want to pop his bubble, but, if my time and money are involved, I don’t mind holding the needle.

“We’ll do it better.”

“Excuse me.” The afternoon temp leans in just enough to look like a floating head. “There’s a woman out here to see you, Mr. James.”

Bryson and Ryder both growl in approval before heading out the door.

“We’ll get together and work out the kinks.” Ryder flashes a devious smile my way as if I’ve already signed my soul to the devil. He wishes. I’m a numbers man. I need it all given to me in black and white—and, if we’re lucky, it will equal lots and lots of green.

The door swings open, and, for a brief moment, I’m hoping it’s Marley.

“Monica.” I stand trying to hold back the dull laugh in my chest. Of course, it’s not Marley. What the hell would Marley be doing paying me an office visit? I have to admit I’ve had her on the brain for the last few days. Okay, hell, since the moment she left. I made note of that article she mentioned and read each and every addition of “Sex and the Coed” over coffee, Sunday morning. Not exactly a Bible companion. It wasn’t porn either. The tips in and of themselves were rather to the point, but I’m shocked she’d want her name linked to that. What about future employers? I wonder if she’s thought that through. I wonder if it matters. “What can I do for you?” I force a smile and freeze it for a moment.

Monica and I dated for years. She was the one. Or at least I wanted to believe it. Monica wanted a wedding band and kids, and I soon found out we weren’t as compatible as we thought. She married someone else, and we remained friends. And, after her divorce last fall, she’s been coming around a little more, here and there, which leaves me to wonder if she’s open for an act two.

“I’ve missed you.” She swoops over in her practical teacher heels. Her low bun hangs off her neck like a stumped tail. Monica is pretty in an unsettling way. She comes across harsh and needle sharp, caustic, for lack of a better word. You just have to get used to her barbs and grow a little alligator skin to be around her. I’m usually drawn to the bitter and the betrayed so that alone helps put the Monica years into perspective.

“You missed me?” I motion for her to take a seat, and she slinks over my desk instead. I’m standing just a head away from her lips, and the way she keeps gunning for a kiss, I’d venture to guess that was the entire purpose of the trip. “How was the first day of class?” Monica just started her first semester teaching business classes over at Whitney Briggs.

Marley pops to the forefront of my mind, and a trace of a smile comes without warning.

“Are you kidding? I forgot what college students looked like. From afar you might mistake them as adults, but up close they look like a bunch of ninth graders.”

A dull laugh rattles from me. I get it. After logging hours at the Black Bear in support of Blake, I’ve found myself thinking the very same thing. Marley flashes through my brain again with her creamy thighs riding up high. She’s no kid. Marley is all woman.

“So how about it?” Monica turns her face up toward mine expectantly.

“How about what?” I swear each time Marley comes to mind, I take a nice long mental vacation that only seems to expand.

“How about catching an early dinner? I’ve got Garrett and Wally with a sitter until seven. She’s salary, so I want to make sure she stays the full shift. God knows if I start spoiling her with half days, she’ll come to expect them. People are ungrateful that way.” Her finger flicks my tie, and I pull back a notch just out of range. I’m sure revisiting old habits would come easy. Monica and I once fit like a glove except when we didn’t, but, even before that, I knew something was missing.

“Excuse me?” The disembodied head floats into the doorway once again. “Human resources called. Your new secretary is on her way up to meet you. Should I ask her to wait or send her right in?”

“Secretary.” I haven’t had one in so long I’ve forgotten the luxury. The temps have worked out okay, but they change shoes every other day so there was never really a point in training them beyond how I like my coffee.

Monica presses her leg up against mine and cocks her head up seductively. Monica has a lady-boner, and she’s picked me to contend with it.

“Send her right in.” I step around my desk and take a seat.

“I guess that’s my cue. Dinner at Saxons? I’ll meet you at six-ish? I can get the booth near the fountain. That was our favorite.”