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  Before I can even type out my inquisition, my phone chimes again.

  Ian: Whoever it was, was quite glad that someone was calling for you since it’s been ages since you had any type of social life and I quote “Or a man for that matter.”

  Betsy!

  That nosey old lady has been on me for as long as I can remember to go out and find a man. According to her old ass I’m getting ‘on up in years’ and if I don’t get a move on then I’ll be well past my prime. She’s seriously concerned I’ll end up a cat lady, sitting in a chair rocking away, alone. I’ve assured her numerous times that’s not even a possibility since I’m highly allergic to the things!

  Me: Well that old bat needs to mind her business!

  Ian: Like I said, irresistible, even to “old bats!” Will you join me for Orchid?

  Hell yes! But I know I can’t! As much as I’d love a little diversion in my life right now there’s no way I’m going to get involved in whatever fast one he’s trying to pull off here.

  Me: Sorry I’m busy that day.

  Ian: You don’t even know what day it is.

  Me: I’m busy every day, so therefore I’m busy on that day.

  Ian: May I call you to discuss it? Perhaps I can convince you to clear your schedule for a few hours.

  Me: My schedule is pretty set in stone, but if you must.

  Call me! Who even talks on the phone anymore! I wait for my cell to ring, but before it does my office phone rings. Saved by the bell, I’ll ignore his call when it comes through. Work comes first starting now. No more distractions by smoking hot billionaires!

  “Lorali Benn…”

  “Your sultry voice gives me cold chills, even over the phone.” He called my office!

  I nearly drop the receiver, because in all honesty his voice affects my body as well. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, my nipples harden instantly, and I feel the most nagging urge to shift in my chair. I clench my thighs together.

  “Lorali?” I realize I haven’t said a word.

  “Y…yes?” In less than a minute, even with a higher education including a 4.0 GPA, this man has turned me into a stammering idiot.

  “Will you join me for Orchid?” His voice is pure sex, all gravely and deep.

  “Why did you call my office phone?” I’ve no other recourse for avoiding his question. I mean I know the answer, because seriously, who would ever turn this man down?

  “I thought it’d look rather unprofessional for you to be sitting at your desk on your cell phone.” His explanation makes perfect sense and also hints at a level of respect for my professional reputation. Guess there’s a first time for everything.

  I huff into the phone.

  “What?” He questions.

  “You were none too worried about appearances when we nearly fucked in the bathroom corridor!” I. Cannot. Believe. That. Just. Left. My. Mouth!

  I can hear him laughing quietly on the other end of the line.

  “You find that amusing Mr. Hale?” Does he not remember Saturday night the same way I do? Of course he doesn’t. He’s not affected by me at all. Part of his sick game I remind myself.

  “What I find amusing is Ms. Bennett, is that you think I’ve any more control over myself when I’m around you than you do!” He answers very matter of fact, all hints of humor gone.

  I let that sink in. So he what…finds me irresistible? Of course not! Super, smoking hot Ian Hale has super models and perfectly primped beauties falling over themselves to get a few minutes with him. But I’m once again reminded of his words “And yet, I’m here with you.”

  I may combust, right here at my desk. I know exactly where the epicenter of the fire would be… my panties!

  “Lorali?” I’ve apparently wandered off in my own head again.

  “Hmm?’ The only response I can think of right now because for the life of me, I can’t remember what we were talking about.

  “I was nowhere near fucking you in the hallway. We were merely making acquaintances.” His voice is low and seductive.

  Holy shit! The thought of him being a friend with benefits rushes unbidden through my mind.

  “Well if that’s what you call it then I’d think we’re certainly acquainted with one another.” That may have been the fastest I’ve ever acquainted myself with anyone, but I’m sure it’s a regular thing for Mr. Ian May I Please Drop My Panties for You Hale.

  “We’re nowhere near acquainted with each other, hence my invitation to Orchid.” He says. I can hear the smile in his voice. He’s very well aware of how much he’s affecting me.

  “I may be busy but I’m curious as to what Orchid is.” The invitation gives absolutely nothing away.

  “It’s an art show featuring the work of Jody J.” He explains.

  “Never heard of him and we have no invitation for The Courier to even cover that event.” I’m quickly typing Jody J into my search engine.

  “Not him…her. And I can’t imagine that you would’ve heard of her. You wouldn’t have received an invitation; this isn’t the type of event The Courier would cover.” He’s being very elusive, giving nothing away.

  My search for Jody J has brought up only one result. I click on the link, but the web page stops dead in its tracks after the first click. The only thing on the screen is a prompt for a password. What the hell?

  “What type of art show is it?” This whole situation is getting weird. Why the secrecy?

  “You’ll have to accompany me to find out, Lorali.” My name on his lips is one of the most erotic sounds I can ever remember hearing. I turn it on replay in my head which of course makes me squirm even more in my seat. What is it about this man that makes him have this much of a physical effect on me? It’s been way too long. Nosey Betsy and Alexa are right! I need a man. Had I not allowed my sexual drought to last this long, I’d have more defenses against him and his never ending charm.

  “So, will you?” He’s being ridiculously patient in his perusal, which hints at his ability to do it for a while without giving up. Like I thought earlier, the chase is always fun.

  Do I let him chase me? I know I want him to chase me. I’m terrified of how I’ll handle the aftermath when the chase is over and he’s done with me. But if I play and don’t allow myself to be caught I could be in for one hell of a ride.

  “When’s the show?” I can hear the air leave his lungs like he was holding his breath.

  “Tomorrow evening. So you’ll join me?” He suddenly sounds younger, as if he’s not sure of my answer.

  “Only because you have me intrigued. What’s the dress code for this secretive event?” I inwardly hope something I bought Sunday will work. The art show is tomorrow which would leave me with no time to shop for something different.

  “I think casual elegance would work. I’ll pick you up at your house at eight?”

  “Eight o’clock is fine, but don’t you need my address?” I question.

  “Nope. Betsy was very forthcoming.” And before I can reply about my personal information just being handed around, I get “Oh and Lorali? I can’t wait to get even more acquainted with you.”

  The line goes dead.

  Fuck me running! I don’t know if I’ll survive Ian Hale, one run in at a laundromat, one steamy make out session in a dark hall, and one brief phone call and I’m about to combust.

  I’ll never get to sleep tonight after that. I smile, remembering the batteries I grabbed from the pharmacy after shopping yesterday.

  Chapter 15

  Ian

  What the hell am I doing! I’m not this person. I’m not the type of guy who relentlessly pursues a woman who verbally repeats no desire to get involved.

  God! If I don’t fuck her out of my system soon it’ll really start to interfere with more than just my sleep pattern.

  My goal for tomorrow is to take her to Jody J’s art show. Her reaction to this type of work will let me know whether she’s interested.

  I mean she seemed interested the other night a
nd then she just disappeared. She also sounded none too pleased to hear from me today. Pissed. She actually sounded pissed that the old lady on the phone gave me her phone number. I was sure after our rendezvous Saturday she’d be giddy to hear from me, and realize the effort I’d put out to track her down.

  Every other woman I’ve ever come across would’ve dropped what they were doing right then and come to me had I even hinted at a request. Maybe she honestly isn’t interested. Hell. Maybe she’s a lesbian.

  No. She’s no lesbian. The way she ran her hot pussy up and down my leg said she’s very interested in me. But then she ran. Bi-polar maybe?

  UGH! Just what I need is a crazy person! I laugh. If she were crazy then she’d be pursuing me right? No, I look like the crazy person. Calling and getting her cell phone number and her address!

  She’s avoiding me because I’m coming on too strong. I’ll have to prove to her that I’m in fact not a psycho, just a persistent man that’ll stop at nothing to get her beneath me.

  I acknowledge that toning it down will be hard, considering I turn into a fifteen year old boy around her! My mind goes blank and my body seems to be working solely on primal animal instincts, one that screams MATE HER. I’ve never had to chase after someone’s attention before. Never has a woman turned down the part of me I’m actually willing to share with them. I don’t like it and the guy in my pants definitely doesn’t either! But, she’s agreed to go on the date tomorrow, so I’m close to catching her.

  Chapter 16

  Lorali

  The amount of work I get done after the phone call with Ian is minimal at best. I can’t focus on anything because my mind wonders back to Saturday night. My fantasy mind has taken over and manipulated the ending of that little encounter into something much more…satisfying.

  By the time I make it back to the apartment for the evening I’m ready for an entire bottle of wine. Entering my apartment, I kick off my shoes by the door and head to the kitchen, silently cursing myself for falling for Ian’s play with the art show, but my curiosity is too strong not to go, if only to see what kind of show it’ll be. Never have I heard of an exposition being so secretive. Most artists want to get their work out there and will use any means for advertising.

  My head goes to work wondering if this is some sort of trick, a way for Ian Hale to get me alone and…do what? Hurt me? Seduce me? Punk me by setting me up and humiliating me?

  Following that line of thought, my mind takes the opportunity to remind me about the laundromat and all its shady glory and that leaves me quite apprehensive about Ian Hale as a whole. Something’s not right with this whole situation and I can’t figure it out, which only increases my frustration.

  Sighing loudly upon entering the kitchen, I run into the sight of Josie at the kitchen table, a mess surrounding her. She’s up to her elbows in glue and paper mache.

  “Why are you sighing so loud?” She inquires, never taking her eyes off of her “project.”

  “Ugh,” I start, opening the fridge for the chilled bottle of white. “I don’t even know where to begin.” I pour a glass and take a seat at the end of the table, doing my best to avoid the mess she’s made. “What are you doing?” She’s at the far end of the six seat dining table; newspaper strips and a shallow pan with a white milky substance surround her. Several bottles of craft paint and a few sponge brushes are thrown in the mix as well.

  “I’m doing a run through on a paper mache volcano. The kiddos will be making these next week and I wanted to make sure I could actually make one before attempting to teach them to make their own.” Josie explains, continuing her work.

  “That’s awesome. We never got to do anything like that in school, always had to do it at home!” I slouch back in my chair, taking my already half empty glass of wine with me.

  “Pinterest, baby!” Josie finally glances up to catch my reaction. She knows I’m obsessed with the website and stalk it regularly, but never really have any time to actively work on projects. I take a quick look around the dining room and try to picture working on some of the projects I have saved for this very room. I know it needs more than just the lame abstract painting of the fruit that currently adorns the wall. I reject the idea immediately. I’m not crafty and I’d turn this room into a hot mess rather than help it.

  “Family meeting?” Alexa asks, heading across the kitchen and grabbing a wine glass. She takes a seat one chair closer to Josie’s mess. I slide the bottle of wine across the table, knowing full well this bottle will never see the inside of the fridge again.

  “No formal meeting. I was just asking why Lor here is so wound up.” Josie just threw me under the very nosey bus that is Alexa Warner. “She seems aggravated and distracted and won’t tell me what’s going on.” Yep, right under the bus.

  “What’s going on? You never get stressed or wound up.” Alexa leans in knowing that whatever I’m upset about is going to be big.

  I’m known for being calm and slow to anger or frustrate, and that should be another sign from the gods to stay away from Ian Hale, because he’s all but turned my mind upside down!

  “Nothing.” I reply as flat as I can, hoping to avoid what I know is inevitable because Alexa never gives up.

  “Bullshit! You’re halfway through your second glass of wine in less than five minutes which completely goes against your ‘one glass on work nights’ rule!”

  Busted.

  “It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into it right now.” I look from Josie to Alexa. Nope, not getting out of this one if the looks on their faces are any indication. Josie has even pulled her filthy hands from the bowels of the volcano she’s building, intrigued.

  I stay silent for a bit longer. They continue to look at me, waiting for me to proceed.

  “Fine! I met a guy.” I only have to wait seconds before they’re both speaking at once.

  “Who is he?”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Is he hot?”

  “Where did you meet?”

  “Slow down you two!” I settle in to tell them the entire story, well minus a few details, because I know the only way to get them off my back is to put it all out there.

  Let the interrogation begin.

  “I ran into him, literally, at the laundromat last week and again at the gala I worked at Saturday night.” I don’t know why I just don’t spill it all in one breath, what I’ve given them will not be enough information to pacify them.

  “What’s his name?” Alexa asks as she pour another glass of wine.

  This is when I should’ve lied and given some random name to them, but before my mind could fabricate a lie “Ian Hale” spills from my mouth.

  Alexa nearly loses her grip on her wine glass. I keep my head down, knowing she’s gaping at me with her mouth open. I’m a fool to even think that Alexa wouldn’t know who the Ian Hale is. She runs around in some of the same circles I’m sure.

  “Lorali!” My eyes shoot up. Yep. Gaping. How that’s even possible with that big of a grin on her face I’ve no clue. “Ian Hale?”

  “Who in the hell is Ian Hale?” Josie asks, apparently school teachers are just as out of the loop as reporters when it comes to hunky, insanely successful business men.

  “Who’s Ian Hale? Only the hottest, sexiest man in Denver!” Alexa is shaking her head at me. “You met him over a week ago and we’re only now hearing about him? Are you nuts?”

  “First off, I’d no clue who he was when we first met and since I was too busy pouring fabric softener all over him, I didn’t grab his name last week.” I respond incredulously.

  I go on to explain how I discovered who he was while doing research for work and that he just happened to be the host at the gala on Saturday. They don’t ask for further explanation or details about our very first encounter at the laundromat and I don’t expand on the subject either. There’s no way I can explain my questions about his possible less than ethical reasons for being there in the first place.

  “So
you spilled something on him and then saw him again on Saturday? Why in the world would you be tied in knots because of that? You seriously need to get out more if you’re going all school-girl over seeing this guy twice.” Josie says. She’s apparently lost interest, deeming my situation as just an over exaggeration and has her hands back in the volcano.

  “No, no Josie. You don’t understand because if you ran into Ian Hale twice you’d be going gaga also. He’s literally that hot!” Alexa is well aware of my dilemma and she doesn’t even know half of the story. Alexa grabs her tablet off the counter, types in a few things, and turns it around. A headshot of Ian is on the screen.

  Josie gasps at the sight of him, and it seems like hours before she’s able to pull her eyes from his picture; now she gets it.

  I hang my head, twirling my glass in my fingers. I can feel the blush starting to come over my cheeks, which makes me smile. Alexa doesn’t fall for it. She knows I’m way too practical to let only a few sightings elicit such a response from me.

  “What aren’t you telling us, Lorali?” Alexa is relentless.

  There’s no way I’m going to go into the banter that Ian and I shared. I’d never live it down because how I acted around him is not who I am, and I honestly have no clue who that woman was.

  “We…” crap there’s no turning back now.

  “You…?” Alexa prods.

  “We kind of made out in the hallway.” Alexa is off her feet in an instant screeching.

  “Made out? Are you fucking kidding me right now!?” Alexa is gawking at me like I’m an alien.

  “Yeah, we kissed a bit. He had to go make a speech and I left.” I shrug my shoulders like it was no big deal when everyone knows just how big a deal it is, and not because Ian is who he is, but more because I am who I am.

  “You kissed a bit huh? You made out with Ian Fucking Hale and you sit there and shrug your shoulders like it’s something you or ANYONE for that matter just does on a regular basis!” She’s still screaming, fully exasperated with my words.