Page 61 of Peak of Love
She straightened up immediately and wiggled out of his reach. Her eyes, which were easily the largest, most expressive dark brown eyes he had ever seen, got bigger. He didn’t know what she was thinking when the smooth planes of her face flashed bright pink. It was impossible for him to look away.
“You OK?” he asked huskily, surprised by the dryness in his throat.
She nodded, lifted her chin, and pushed her shoulders back. He was sure she did it to compose herself, shore up even more of that badass energy she had going. The effect on him was a little more complicated.
In an age when supermodels were rail-thin and celebrities starved of carbs, Jaya Patel had the body of a fifties Hollywood starlet. Full breasts, a cinched waist, and curvaceous hips. So when she pushed that rack out like it was armor, he felt his fingers tingle at the substantial roundness he imagined. And he thought about her ass again, and how it would fill his large hands.
He put the brakes on his train of dirty thoughts because he obviously couldn’t act on them. Being on the receiving end of her snarky grumpiness and all.
Jaya said something about being clumsy and deflected any attention directed towards her. Their small group continued the tour.
The scuffle between two teenage girls was unexpected. Mr. Watson looked more embarrassed than unnerved. Sebastian, however, was equal parts unnerved and impressed.
Jaya stepped in and calmed the girls down with a tone as smooth as velvet and as effective as a tranquilizer. Instead of remaining stiff with hostility, they took deeper breaths and visibly leaned into Jaya’s body language. Her words were carefully chosen, respectful, and most of all,invested. Like she could hang around all day and listen to their troubles. Like nothing in the world could be more interesting than working through this adolescent conflict.
He was shuffled out of the room like everyone else. Seeing Jaya at work was, again, complicated. She was in charge of all these kids? When they weren’t fighting and cursing, they might have been the most eloquent kids he ever met.
The coolest part of the tour was the way they talked like theyownedthe place. He thought back at what it was like to be a kid and find a home away from home. For him, it was hockey. For these kids, the community center was their home away from home.
“So,sosorry about that Sebastian,” Mr. Watson started to say when they walked up the stairs.
“About what? About the girls?” Sebastian asked, genuinely surprised. “They were working through their day the way teenagers do. The tour’s been so perfect, I’m glad to learn you didn’t hire automatons, actually,” he joked.
The woman who led them to the lobby gave a tinkling laugh and looked back at him. “You’re so funny,” she gushed. “Automatons…”
“Hmm,” was all he managed in response.
“As you can see, they’re in good hands with Ms. Patel,” Mr. Watson commented.
“Absolutely,” the woman interjected. “Ever since Jaya took over, the youth incidents have decreased by a lot,” she said while putting her hands in expressive air quotes around the wordincidents.
“Thank her for me, please.” Sebastian was starting to shake everyone’s hand on his way out. “For the tour. And thank the kids, too. They did a wonderful job.”
“Of course!” Mr. Watson assured him. “I’ll definitely send your regards along. Although you’ll probably have a chance to thank Jaya yourself. She’s presenting at the fundraising gala next weekend. The official campaign opener.”
Sebastian probably looked as perplexed as he felt because Mr. Watson continued. “We received your RSVP. You’ll make it right? Did anything change?”
“Right. Cool. No, nothing’s changed. I’ll see you all there, I guess,” Sebastian called out casually as he waved back.
He sat in his car and composed a text for his new agent, Chris Hoffer. It was a testament to Sebastian’s budding career that he cut ties with his second-rate, Minnesota-based agent and signed with a smooth-talking New Yorker.
Sebastian:Finished that community center thing.
Chris:I know. My assistant tagged you on Instagram and Twitter. Good pictures.
Sebastian:There were pictures taken? I didn’t even notice.
Chris:We can’t post pictures with the kids’ faces but a bunch of them looking up at you adoringly worked just fine.
Sebastian:Right. Hey, did you RSVP for me? For their gala or whatever?
Chris:Yup. And I didn’t add a plus one. We need to veer away from your playboy reputation. That energy drink endorsement is for kids so I need you to bring the wholesome guy part, not the man whore part. Got it?
Sebastian:Sure, since you asked so fucking nicely.
Chris:That right there. Wholesome, Sebastian. Be fucking wholesome.
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