Page 25 of Follow the Rhythm
“Well, people tell me I look exactly like my dad,” I said. I tried my best to keep the weariness out of my voice. “He’s Dean Bennett.”
“Oh, youdolook like him,” Ellis said with a brief smile that lit up his face before disappearing. “Minus the mascara, of course. But I bet that would suit you, too.”
I laughed. “The photos of my emo phase would prove you wrong.”
The elevator arrived and swept us upstairs. It looked like we were staying on the same floor, too.
We lapsed into silence. I checked my phone. No texts.
“You know Jess? The designer?” I asked, aiming for a casual tone.
Ellis shifted his shoulders. “Yes. We went to school together.”
“That’s a pretty wild coincidence,” I said, biting back the questions about what she’d been like back then. I was pretty sure Jess would not appreciate my talking about her to anyone.
“It is, isn’t it? I admit I’m reeling a bit. Where did Ursula find her?”
“I think Grace recommended her,” I said, thinking back to the conversation I’d overheard between them.
Ellis nodded thoughtfully. “I’m afraid I wasn’t very kind to her. Based on today's interaction, I don’t think she's forgiven my teenage idiocy.
“Oh, I’m sure if you apologize…” I trailed off. I didn’t know Jess that well, but she didn’t exactly seem like the forgiving type.
Ellis sighed. “If only it were that easy.” We arrived at my door, and he paused. “I was sorry to hear about your dad. He’s a legend.” His eyes were sympathetic.
“Thanks. It’s been tough on him, not being able to play.” The stroke had withered my father’s left hand. The last time I’d visited, he’d thrown his guitar across the room, yelled at me for being a “worthless disappointment,” then kicked me out along with the poor occupational therapist.
Ellis nodded at my door. “Looks like we’re neighbors. Come by if you ever need a cup of sugar.”
Was that an innuendo? Ellis smirked and left me standing in front of my door, the keys loose in my hand, until the buzz of my phone brought me out of my reverie.
There’s nothing to talk about. I’m quitting, Jess said.
Don’t do that because of me, I typed back.
Omg, your ego. It’s not because of you. I imagined Jess rolling her eyes and smiled.
Great. Then let’s meet up and talk about it.
Jess’s typing bubbles popped up and disappeared three times before she finally said:Fine.
Jess chose a coffee shop near her apartment, which was a bit of a hike from my building, and I used the time on the train to center my thoughts.
I could control myself around her. It’s not like we’d even be together that much, just the prep meetings with Ursula as they finalized the designs. It would be easy. She had been wearing descenter earlier, too, which helped.
My body chose that moment to remind me of the full impact of her intoxicating scent; the feel of her full breasts pressed against my chest, her nipples hard with arousal; the taste of her sweet, pink pussy. I cleared my throat too loudly, and the woman walking in front of me turned around, alarmed.
Jess glared at me from a table in the corner when I entered the cafe. She had a huge mug of coffee in front of her. Or maybe it just looked big in her tiny hands. I tried not to picture thosehands wrapped around my cock, and failed. I needed to get a hold of myself.
“Hi, beautiful,” I teased, hoping to rile her up.
Jess didn’t disappoint. She scowled. “I could report you to HR for that, you know.”
I slid into the seat across from her. Her olive skin was flushed, and her dark eyes were bright. She leaned towards me unconsciously, I thought, and my inner Alpha was pleased; she was reacting to my scent. I couldn’t catch hers at all.
“Fair enough. Hi, Jess,” I said, grinning. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about. I’m not working on the tour, you are, end of discussion,” she said.
