Chapter 12 I missed you too
I feel embarrassed using this as a cover, but I can’t risk losing either Natte or my bed warmer.
“I thought it was your monthly days, that’s why I stayed away the last two days?”
I blush at the mention of my period and curse how well my mysterious man knows my body.
“Just say it.” His voice turns commanding and for a split second I almost mistake it for Natte again. During the interview, Natte really had been acting strangely.
“What are you doing that made you cancel tonight with me?”
“I just finished an interview.” With Natte Johnson.
“And how exactly does that affect our plans tonight?”
I take another breath. “He asked me to have dinner with him.”
“Do whatever you want.” The line goes dead.
I honestly don’t care. I don’t even know what we are beyond sex mates.
I head straight to the café opposite the train station, take a window seat, and order a latte.
Then I call Vicky.
“Shiv, my star. How did it go with the gorgeous rocker?”
“Good. Really good.” The memory of his lips on my cheek flashes and heat spreads through me. “I got plenty for the article. I’ve stopped for an early lunch and then I’ll head back to write it up.”
“So he remembered you?” She sounds amused.
“Yes.” I smile. “And he actually invited me to dinner tonight to catch up.”
She squeals down the phone. She really doesn’t act like my boss sometimes.
“You’re going, right? Please tell me you said yes.”
“I said yes.”
Another squeal.
Has she been drinking?
My phone vibrates with another call.
“I need to go, I’ve got another call,” I tell Vicky.
“Come to my office when you’re back. I want every detail.”
“There are no details,” I laugh quietly so my mysterious man won’t hear me answer his call.
“Of course there are. See you soon,” she sings.
I hang up and answer the call that ended awkwardly earlier. I balance the phone on my shoulder while arranging my interview papers. It’s nearly the same spot where Natte kissed me, and I feel an irrational flash of irritation at my mysterious man for erasing that moment.
The waiter comes over and I order another latte.
“I’ll have a ham and cheese panini,” I tell him.
I hear a zipper and assume he’s taken off his jacket. I can’t stop thinking about his hands on me, how much softer they are compared to Natte’s rough ones.
“I missed you last night,” he murmurs.
“I missed you too,” I smile.
“So how was it? Did you have fun the other night with your friend?”
“I did. We got pretty drunk.” I wonder how he even knows I went out.
“You should cut back on the drinking.” His voice turns stern and I almost picture blue eyes studying me with interest.
I don’t know where to start, so I begin at the beginning.
“Well, I never mentioned this because it never seemed important, but growing up I lived next door to Natte Johnson.”
There’s a quiet pause, a soft tap on the phone urging me to continue. I wonder if he’s angry.
“Natte Johnson? As in Rossy Forever Natte Johnson?”
“Yes. That one.”
“Wow. Seriously? So were you just neighbours or close?”
“He was my best friend.”
“Oh.”
“We lost touch when his family moved to New York. And we only reconnected recently.”
“When?”
“Today. This morning.”
“Oh.” His voice tightens.
“That’s who I interviewed. Vicky landed it and sent me because she knew I knew him.”
“So Vicky knew about this?”
Damn it.
“Yes. I told her when I was drunk last Christmas. Accidentally.”
The waiter arrives with my food and drink, forcing my mysterious man to pause.
“So how was it seeing him again?” His tone softens.
“It was strange,” I shrug. “He’s very different now.”
“He should be. You’re twice his age.” His voice sharpens.
I bristle, suddenly protective.
“Anyway,” I say calmly. “We didn’t really get to talk, so he invited me to dinner.”
“So Natte Johnson asked my woman out.” His voice turns possessive.
“It’s not a date. It’s just catching up.”
“And one of those old friends is my beautiful wild woman, and the other is the biggest man whore in rock.”
“Will!” I gasp. “That’s unfair.”
“Seems like you know him well enough.”
When did this become a fight?
“I’m sorry,” he says after a moment. “It’s been a bad morning. I was looking forward to tonight.”
“You have nothing to be jealous of...”
“Pine.”
I breathe in his name. Finally, I know it.
“He’s rich and good looking. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous.”
“That may be true,” I say, taking a bite. “But he’s not you. And I love how you make me feel.”
His voice relaxes.
“How long is he in town?”
“A few days.”
“That’s fine then. It’s nice you can catch up.”
And I loved him.
I swallow that thought and smile. “I’ll make it up to you tomorrow night.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll let you imagine it.”
“You never disappoint me, Golden.”
Now I feel awful because I have no idea what I’m going to do tomorrow.
I finish eating and head back to the resort at 2:00 pm.
I take the stairs and ignore the whistles from my coworkers. Vicky definitely told them.
I drop my bag and go straight to her office.
“Sit down and tell me everything about the filthy rock star,” she grins.
“He’s not a boy,” I frown.
“And that means?”
“It means people underestimate him. Yes he’s a singer and yes he sleeps around.”
“Did he admit that?”
“No,” I laugh. “He’s careful with his words. He asks more than he answers. Don’t worry, I got plenty.”
“So the partying is an act?”
“No. I think there are two sides to Natte. The lifestyle guy and the businessman who controls everything.”
“And the breakdown?”
“Understandable. He lost his best friend. Fame hit too fast.”
She leans back. “So is he as good looking in person?”
“He’s alright,” I shrug.
“And he asked you to dinner tonight.