Chapter 03

As she sat on his desk, he looked at his sketches, properly stored in a cardboard wrapper. The flash drive with the computerized version was also there. Sighed. It had not been that day, but it would be in another! I would not give up!

The day was exhausting! Amanda was agitated, calling her all the time. She had sought her lunch, exactly as had been ordered. However, the restaurant must have been wrong about something and unfortunately all his anger fell on Alexis.

When she returned to settle, snorting in anger, since the mistress as always thought herself master of the truth and did not let her defend herself, Norah came to reassure:

" Do not call! Absorb and abstain! " hummed the mantra. " She needs sex!

Alexis laughed.

" Oh, but you didn’t just tell me about the ex cat!

Well, what better way to talk about that man than to calm down?

" Oh, God! " Norah sighed, after the very neat description of Ethan. " I want one of these for myself! No wonder she’s climbing the walls! Get dumped like that?

" She says she’s the one who got out.

" Go believe! Amanda may be beautiful, sexy, but who supports her for a little more than a few hours? But tell me! " she leaned on the table of Alexis. " Will you see this man again?

" I don’t know, and I’m not interested! " She made herself difficult.

" What? " the other one almost screamed. " What do you mean "I’m not interested"? It’s the first time I’ve seen you talking so cheerfully about a man. How can you say you’re not interested?

" Um. let me see if I can explain the points: the first of them is that Amanda Shepherd is hell-bent on getting it back. Do you really think I’d get in the way? Besides, what makes you think Ethan Marcus would have any interest in me?

" Darling, if you would stop dressing like an old woman, " examined the set of skirt and brown taller you wore, with contempt. " Loosen your hair and decorate your face with a little color, would have a line of men around you! Girl, you don’t know how powerful you are!

" Okay! I know you’re a giant admirer of my wardrobe, okay? " It was ironic. " But what happens, is that I don’t want a man in my life now! If this project works, I’m going to need all the time I can get because I want to jump right into it.

" It’s funny! Other women dive head first as you want and most of them find time, at least, for a quickie. Some of them even get married, you know?

Alexis laughed at her friend. Yeah, a quickie wouldn’t hurt. Especially if it was Ethan.

He shook his head to ward off such a thought:

" I know myself, Norah! I couldn’t handle such a situation! And I’m not…  " lowered the tone, looking around, to make sure no one heard – quickie woman, right?

Norah smiled, rolling her eyes:

" I am! You don’t know what you’re missing! Quickies are invigorating. " and you’re back at your desk.

Norah had her perspective that was obviously different from that of Alexis. Nothing would take her off course of her purpose.

Alexis did not want to lead a life like that of his mother, working as a nurse in two hospitals, which made them hardly see each other throughout their childhood. He wanted to be a successful person in his career, so that later, when he had his family, he could share it. He longed for a quiet life, without worries.

Likewise, he obviously didn’t blame his mother for the loneliness he’d grown up in, he knew it had to be that way. Otherwise, Alexis would not have been able to study in good schools and later attended a college. He had started Administration, but realized that it was not what he wanted. When he locked plates, Rosalyn, his mother, gave him full support.

Until she decided what to study, she decided to seek employment to help her mother. She got the position of secretary in Charms of Landscaping and Gardening and that’s when she discovered her passion.

With her salary, she was able to help with the savings of the house and her mother went to work in a single hospital. She had taken courses and courses on the subject. It was the first time I had built such a large and ambitious project.

Three years ago, she left her mother’s house to live alone, under her influence, who said she needed to walk on her legs.

Today, she wondered if he had not urged her to move so that she could have her novels.

While they were together, she did not remember her mother having even a boyfriend. And this threw her the current situation: the much younger man!

Oh, God, she asked for wisdom to accept! She did not even want to know the subject because she was completely sure that she would hate him right away.

I knew that situation would hurt your mother, just as it was.

He felt cowardly for not facing the situation, but he knew he was not ready. I needed more time. Two days later, she did not believe she was in front of that building again, bringing another proposal from Amanda!

When she received the new mission, she was upset. First because it was not her duty, but since she had been silent, she consented. And second, and much more unsettling, because I would be face to face with Ethan Marcus. Again!

I didn’t know if I was ready to see him again. He was too disturbing. When he thought he could get it out of his head, his memories would be revived by his image.

He had not even told Norah about the event, for he knew that the other would be filled with expectations of which he did not need.

What the hell. It was just a man like any other, wasn’t it?

So why, before heading there, had he passed home, had taken a bath and had exchanged the light blue taller set for a black dress? Although the dress was sober too, but delicate and feminine.

He had had the urge to let his hair down, but then it was too much.

With a bit of luck, maybe he wasn’t even there. I’d leave the message with the bartender, as Shepherd had instructed, if I didn’t find him and leave. Simple as that.

But he was there. Alexis spotted him at the back of the room, on a pool table. Standing at the door, she examined him. He dressed carelessly, with jeans, a white shirt, and a faded denim shirt over her. Manly was the adjective for him.

He now bowed down for a shot. That’s when he saw her.

Alexis stalled, could not sketch any reaction.

After finishing the play, Ethan quickly spoke to his table mate. He left the bat aside and started walking towards it.

Ethan didn’t believe his eyes. Well, if it wasn’t the beautiful Alexis Morgan standing next to the door. It seemed improper. And I was incredibly sexy in that little black tube. Not that he would denounce anything, apart from the long shapely legs, accentuated by the not very high heels. But it made her more feminine than the outfit the other day.

Now Ethan stopped in front of her, wrapped in a natural aura of sensuality:

" You are back!

She sought the voice to answer:

" Well… yes. But for the same reason. " it was almost an apology.

He laughed, shaking his head:

" What matters is that you’re back!

What did he mean by that? What did he expect to see her again? That was not good, not good. Or was it?

They stared at each other. Ethan didn’t make a point of disguising his gaze. Even though it was nice to look at that pretty, embarrassed face. And there she was biting her lip again. If I had any idea how sexy she looked doing that. He wouldn’t warn her!

Unlike the other day, the atmosphere was very full. Someone more flustered, or who had drunk a little too much, pushed Alexis hard, and she landed on Ethan’s stiff chest. This one spread his hands in his arms to prevent his fall.

Perfect! Ethan rejoiced. A good chance to touch that silky skin. And the soft and delicious smell that detached from her hair? Um, how would you know if the delicate curve of your shoulder smelled that good?

Ok, it was all I needed now, to be nestled in it! How would I erase that from memory afterward? Under his fingers, resting on his chest, he felt his muscles well-defined.

If she wanted to, she could grope her chest, in an excuse she was looking for support. That would be very fascinating.

I could smell his aftershave. Very disturbing. Images of him naked on her body filled his mind. He knew that he blushed intensely and thanked the darkness of the place, which did not allow him to notice his state.

Hell! That’s what I got for not having sex for so long: daydreaming about that sexy god!

His eyes were attached to his neck, where a vein pulsed. Even that was sexy.

Slowly, he lifted his face to gaze at him, finding a faint smile:

" Are you all right?

He answered with a slight shake of his head. At that moment, there was another push to his back. Ethan wrapped her more in his arms and spun, switching places with her, to protect her from another blow.

Could you get better? Her hands rested on her waist, seeking support, her flattened on the female back and generous breasts glued to her chest.

Improve? Only if her mouth was over yours.

" I think we better sit down. " he strangely seemed to have fun. " If we want to talk. " he pondered.

Oh, no! Alexis didn’t want to spend more time with him than necessary. It was too tempting.

But he realized it would be ridiculous to refuse. So he nodded his head again.