Page 9 of Wildest Desire

Hearing a knock at the door, I look over and wonder who would be coming over on a Sunday. Opening it, I see it’s my mother. “Hi, Mom. It’s nice to see you,” I say as I move out of the way for her to come in.

“Ethan,” she says before giving me a motherly kiss on the cheek. “How have you been?” She looks around the room. “Ethan, how much longer are you going to be here? If it’s long, then please get someone in here to decorate.” She turns around, and I give her a smile. My mom is my world—my rock.

“They’re coming this week to rip everything out, then I'll be talking to someone about designing it,” I say, following her to the kitchen.

“When was the last time you made dinner?” she asks. She knows me well enough to know how much I love to cook, but never really get the chance to cook for other people.

“I’m making dinner tonight.” I walk over to her and lead her out of the kitchen. “So, how can I help you today?” I ask her.

“I was talking to my friend. Her daughter is single, and I was talking about you—”

“Before you even finish that sentence, the answer is no.” I look at her. Since I ended things with Angie a year ago, Mom has been trying very hard to get me to date. Anyone would do. Her friend’s daughter or this woman she met at the coffee shop... There’s always someone, and my answer is always no.

“Ethan.”

“Mother.” I replicate her tone.

“I just want you to be happy. When you find someone, then I'll stop trying to set you up.” She looks at me then walks over to the windows.

“Yes Mom, and when I feel I can trust someone again, I'll take it into consideration.” Walking over to her, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her closer to me. “There's someone I have my eye on,” I tell her. I don’t want her to come over one day unaware and see Lexi here.

She looks up at me with a smile. “Do I get a name?”

“No. I’m still working on it, but as soon as I have something to tell you, I will.” I give her a kiss on her forehead.

Tonight, I'll be working on it. I don’t know what it is about Lexi that makes me want her. It only took one look, and now I want to know everything about her.

“Is that who you're making dinner for?” Mom asks as she walks back to the kitchen. She’s not going to be leaving in a hurry now.

Following her, I sit on the stool, and I watch her look in the fridge at what I got Maria to buy for me. “Chicken wrapped in bacon, vegetables, and orange sauce,” I tell her. I know she will be happy with my choice. It’s her favorite.

“She’s lucky.” I look at my watch, wondering why Lexi hasn’t sent me a message yet to tell me she has landed. “Looks like I should get going so that you can get this meal ready.” She gives me a smile and a kiss on the cheek, then leaves.

Chapter 6

Lexi

Shit, shit, and shit! My flight got delayed, and it’s already five in the afternoon. Now I have to rush home, shower, and get to Ethan’s apartment, all in less than two hours. God, just kill me now. I may as well give him a heads up so he can’t get mad if I'm late.

Lexi– I just landed. My flight was delayed. Sorry.

I sent Ms. Jackie a message as well to let her know what was happening. I want to give him as little ammunition as possible if he goes to her and tries to complain.

Ethan– Okay.

I don’t know what kind of sin I have committed in my past to deserve such an awful punishment as tonight will be. Sitting through dinner with an uptight dick who thinks he’s better than me, and denies me the decency of a true conversation, is going to be pure hell.

Walking around the bedroom, I see so many choices of what to wear. Since this is a casual dinner, I decided on a cute little summer dress. After a spritz of my Dior perfume, I grab my keys and leave. I remind myself repeatedly on the drive over to be professional. There will be no surprises since I already know Ethan will be an ass, but he's the client, asshole or not.

I drive down to his apartment singing along to the music playing loudly in my car. It helps get rid of the nervous jitters. I brought wine, and now I don’t know why. I guess I figured it was the polite thing to do. Aren’t you supposed to bring a gift to the host?

Knocking on the door, I plaster on a smile as it starts opening. Ethan is on the phone, and he waves me in without even a glance in my direction. Asshole.

Putting the wine on the kitchen counter, I watch him walking toward me with the phone still to his ear. He looks at the bottle of wine and shakes his head. Well, I guess the wine was a bad idea. He still hasn’t shaven. It's a good look on him. It makes me want to run my hands over it to see how it feels.

He walks to the other side and pours a glass of wine from the bottle in his stash. I roll my eyes with a tilt of my lips. He must be annoyed I brought my brand of wine. Standing in front of me, he hands me the glass then walks away.

“Yes, but I said I wanted that file finished today… I don’t care that I only gave it to you this morning… Fine, but before you go home tomorrow, it better be on my desk.” He puts the phone down and then turns toward me.

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