Page 18 of Up All Night
Lark
Best.Sex.Ever.Barnone.My body is literally humming I came so hard.The way he looks at me I could die.His normally tidy hair is all mussed, giving him such a hot look, I have to bite my lip so I won't take him again.But as I hear my phone ring, indicating that it's Lucy on the line, it all comes pouring down."Shit."
"What?"His smile falls.
"Can we, um, keep this to ourselves?I don't know how Lucy will feel if she knows that I seduced her client."
"I thought I seduced you."He plays.
As I rise from the bed, I reply."Look, let's just keep this between us, okay?Nobody has to know our business."
He frowns and shrugs."Fine by me."
"Lucy."I answer."We're just on our way back."
Lucy's voice is tentative."Okay, that's fine.I'll be at the office."
"Already?That was a quick lunch."
"Yes, it was."The way she says it, she's not sharing a thing, and I'm fine with that, as long as she doesn't ask any questions about Stone.
"Okay.I'll see you soon."I say and hang up.
My exhale is short.I'm still completely naked.“Lucy is expecting us.We should go.“
“I thought she was going out for lunch with the guy.“
“I don’t know.She was very evasive.Perhaps things didn’t go so well.All the more reason to get back there.“
“Lark, I don’t know why you’re freaking out.You said yourself that she’s not your boss, and I’m her client, so if I say to take me to a site and show me it, that’s what you’re supposed to do to appease her, right?“
“Which would all be good and well, except that she knows that we were only going to see that one site.”
He rises from the bed, and starts to dress, mirroring me.“And how do you suppose she’s going to feel when she finds out that I’m putting an offer in on this house?Do you think that’s going to rattle her feathers?"
“No.Nothing to do with this business is going to cause trouble.But I don’t know how she's going to react if she finds out that we slept together.So, I would appreciate it if you would respect my wishes and keep it between us."
“I never said I wouldn’t."
Wordlessly, we finish getting dressed, smooth out the bed, and leave the house.My stomach is rolling.I know that this was a mistake.I can feel it in my bones.I just hope that I didn’t screw myself in more ways than one here.So far, this job has been the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me.This realty company did me a huge favor, hiring me, especially after the shit deal I got from the last one I worked for.If it hadn’t been for Lucy, I would never have gotten hired.Not with the bum wrap that my last boss gave me.
“Look, if you were just being nice earlier, about putting in an offer on that house, forget it.I don’t want any trouble."
“What trouble?”He asks, in a tone that says what I’m implying is ridiculous.Maybe I am overreacting.But this realty company is the best in North Carolina, and I feel like I just did something to jeopardize that.“I don’t know.But if Lucy doesn’t like it, I’ll just retract it."
“Why would Lucy not like it?Wouldyoufeel strange if one of your clients put an offer on one ofherhouses?Isn’t that how this business works?Shit, you could even give her a cut of it, couldn’t you?"
My voice raises an octave.“Which would be all fine and dandy if that’s what you were actually doing.But you’re just lowballing my client so that he lowers the selling price, aren’t you?"
“Maybe I am.Maybe I’m not.I do like the place.It’s just that it’s way over my budget, like I said.And I don’t mind helping.Shit, half the reason why I’ve gotten where I am today is because of other people who have helped me."
“I’m not a charity case, Stone."
“Neither the fuck am I.”He gives me a sideways glance, irritated.
He tells me how much he wants to offer for the house."And if the owners accept, I’ll take it."
The man means business.He’s not fucking around.
