#Chapter 4: My lies are about to be exposed

ARTHUR

I stared down at Doris and time stopped. Then my mind flashed back to first turning onto Madison Avenue. I replayed the last few minutes from when I was in my Rolls Royce.

I only planned on driving by where she worked, but as the limo moved on, I saw her. She appeared deep in thought, pushing up her attaché case and purse and beginning to unwrap a large sandwich.

Then I saw Doris give food to a homeless man.

My heart…expanded somehow.

I told my driver to slow down.

I looked at the report my assistant, Nathan, gave me and scanned it again.

Doris. The name suited her. Hard-working and conservative on the outside, a fireball of lust waiting to be released on the inside.

I hadn’t planned on stopping. I wanted more time to think.

As I watched her, I couldn't help but be drawn to her infectious energy. There was something about her that captivated me, something that made me want to get to know her better.

"Slow down even more," I told my driver. When he immediately slowed the car, I seized the opportunity to take a closer look at this hidden beauty who had been on my mind every waking moment since our crazy night.

Doris began to walk slower, but not because of me.

Doris stopped and said a few words to another homeless veteran, and then handed him a granola bar. When the man thanked her, Doris’s smile was so radiant it lit a glow inside me.

As Doris'd already given away the sandwich and now the bar, I was guessing she had given away what she planned to eat for her own dinner.

As I sat there in my luxurious car, I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt wash over me. Here I was, with all the wealth and privilege in the world, while others struggled just to survive.

I watched Doris, and I knew that I wanted to do something to help. However, she was so damn sexy; it was hard to think about charity when all I wanted to do was see her again, touch her again, and take her to bed again.

“Argh,” I whispered to myself. It was obviously a one-time thing. She thinks you're a stripper. One she could buy for the night!

I should leave her alone. What kind of man continues to look for a woman after she leaves money on his pillow?

Me, apparently.

I opened the windows, and I imagined I could smell her delicate, sexy scent of lilacs in the air. My nose twitched.

I should leave her alone. I knew I should.

Doris stopped and looked in a store window. She was admiring a dress, but I was admiring her.

Then Doris resumed walking, and my limo followed at a distance. It began to drizzle, and after a minute the summer shower turned into a torrential downpour.

Doris took a newspaper out of her attaché case and held it over her head.

The way she looked as she began to get wet, so vulnerable and pitiful, made me want to protect her. I sighed.

It was clear to me I wanted to take her in my arms and never let her go. My mind went to battle, warring between knowing I should just have my driver keep going and my heart’s deep need to help her.

I jumped out and opened my big umbrella, holding it over her head.

Doris's eyes went wide. It seemed like she had stopped breathing for a minute. We stared at each other and the air crackled.

If anything, Doris's eyes got even wider. "It's…it's you."

I smiled. She was shocked to see me, and I took advantage of that and gave her a lingering kiss on the cheek. Doris’s alluring yet subtle scent wafted up to me.

She smelled like lilac, apples, cinnamon, and a womanly musk that was uniquely her. Doris smelled like what home should smell like.

I handed her the umbrella handle. Our fingers touched and sparks ran down my spine. I remembered her undulating body and coquettish moaning under me and had to bite back a groan.

I had to be strong and show her I was in control. I wanted her so badly my teeth ached. The pull to her was so strong.

My emotions were a violent storm.

I caressed her hand. “Now that I’ve saved you from drowning, I’ll go.”

I turned away, with every intention of leaving Doris standing there, alone in the rain.

But then she took my arm, and I felt a surge of electricity shoot through me. Her touch was like a live wire, and I knew then I had to have her.

Not now, soon, I told myself.

I had only walked away two steps when I felt Doris’ strong hand on my bicep pulling me back to her side. She snuggled even closer and threaded her hand through my elbow. I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

There was definitely something to the way she was holding onto me.

Then I saw a small group of businesswomen walking toward us.

Ahhh, I get it.

I found myself chatting with Doris and her white-collar co-workers. I made sure to be sweet and charming, but I wanted to get away from them.

All I could think about was the way Doris looked under me that night, her body arching with pleasure and desire; that didn't make me the greatest conversationalist.

Yet even as I longed to get away from the busybodies and the pouring rain, my body was anticipating the hunt. Doris was my prey.

I knew I had to make her mine, no matter the cost. I needed to make a quick retreat and pounce later. I needed a plan.

DORIS

Of course, I couldn’t believe it when an umbrella blocked out the rain, and I was even more shocked to see it was Arthur, my fantasy stripper.

But I had a feeling my luck was just about to turn for the worse, and sure enough, in just a few moments, it did.

Arthur and I were staring into each other’s eyes like there was no one else in the world. His hand brushed mine and my nipples tingled.

His voice was low and rough. I could barely concentrate on his words. I was too busy staring at his full lips and gray-skies eyes.

Then I heard Anna’s squeaky voice and Brittney’s nasal one. Oh no, the gossipy ladies from my office!

Desperation raced through me. Just as Arthur turned to walk away, I grabbed his arm.

“Please,” I whispered, barely audible. “Play along.”

I didn’t think he heard me.

The stares of my female colleagues burned. They always made fun of everyone in the office and their failed relationships.

They just walked up to us and already, they seemed to have found a new target in Arthur and me.

I could sense their curiosity. I resented their judgmental gazes.

I had to do something, anything, to deflect their attention from us. I tightened my hold on Arthur's arm, holding on to him as if my life depended on it.

"Who's this handsome man?" Brittney asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

“This is my boyfriend, Arthur. He’s an executive at AmeriCapital Investments.” Why did I say that last part?

Brittney looks Arthur up and down, and I want to rip her hair out.

“Isn’t that the largest investment company in the United States?” Brittney asks. Something about the way she said it, turning her body toward Anna when she asked, set off alarm bells in my head.

I hate lying, and what I just said was a bold lie, but I had to keep up appearances.

The ladies looked at me with suspicion, but I ignored it.

Then I remember something. Does Anna’s boyfriend work at AmeriCapital? I seemed to remember her bragging about that once.

I was so scared and annoyed that my heart and stomach felt like they slammed up, almost to my throat.

Arthur's a stripper. Surely he wasn't good at investing and managing money. Crap. Crap. I can’t believe my bad luck.

My lie is definitely about to be exposed.