“Mm,” he grunts, shaking his head in agreement. “That dirtbag works down at the local hardware store, and he had a black-eye the next day.” Anders swallows and grins as he takes a sip from his water bottle.
“Good, I hope he regrets hitting on the wrong girl.” Standing, I pick up my dishes and grab his too.
“You don't have to do that, I got it.” Anders takes all of them from me and puts them in the sink.
“So, you told me a little about your work, want to check out some of mine?” I ask.
“Sure.”
“You have time? I know you have work to do, and I know Marla can be a bit of a hard ass. I don't want you to get in trouble.”
“Nah, she loves me. Haven't you learned I'm a pretty social guy?” The corner of his lip twitches playfully.
Slapping his arm, I push him forward and lead him to my art table. Pulling out my portfolio folder, I lay it on the table and open it.
Anders grips the corner of one of the papers as his eyes grow wide. “This is amazing, Laney.” Turning the paper, his eyes study my art, scanning up and down. “You drew all of these?”
“Yeah, it's been my passion since I was a kid. My parents would give me a ream of paper and I'd be busy for hours.”
“And you do what with these?”
“Well, I hopefully get contracted to do the illustrations for books or storyboards. After years of struggling, I finally got a break. Now, I'm working on a big blockbuster scheduled to shoot next summer, so you haven't seen these, and don't tell anyone. Shh, okay?”
Anders winks, and stands up straight and crosses his heart. “Your secret is safe with me. I promise.”
“Thanks,” I say.
“You know I understand some of what you've been through. What you said about your ex, I can relate. My ex Cara cheated on me too, and not with just anyone, with the mayor of our town. She wasn't shy either about letting anyone who would listen know how she had finally upgraded.”
“No, she actually went around and told people that?”
“Yeah, it created a lot of talk.”
“I don't see how that's possible.”
“Well,” he says with a chuckle, “he's richer, smarter, and apparently better in bed according to the whispers I'd hear in town.”
The silence returns between us. But I want to scream your ex is wrong! She can't know what she's saying, because if she did, she wouldn't be saying he's bad in bed. Anders is incredible in bed, so incredible he's become the leading man of my dreams.
He helps me finish cleaning up in the small kitchen. Every so often we bump into each other and I feel his hard body against mine. A heat warms my belly, and I can smell the subtle cologne he's wearing.
Every second he's this close to me, I'm more and more aware of my body. I can feel my skin as it bristles with need. I can feel my chest as my heart ignites causing my clit to swell.
I'm breathing heavier and heavier as his arm brushes the very edge of my breast. He's unaware of it, but I notice it, and it makes my nipples hard and my pussy pulse. My panties are wet, I can feel my arousal as it seeps.
And as each small movement wakes every sleeping nerve in my body and soul, I come to a realization. A realization that hits hard and fast and without any real warning.
I want him again.
But I say nothing, allowing him to excuse himself back to his job. Watching him walk away, with an ache between my thighs and a cold sweat trickling down my spine, I just stare hopelessly. He’s completely unaware of the effect he has on me.
Anders isn't just a man. Not with that smile. Not with the twinkle in his eyes. Not with the smile on his face or the paradox of strength and gentleness of his touch.
He's become so much more to me in just one chance meeting. He's a man who makes my heart pound like a caged bird. When I’m near him, every nerve in my body lights up like a Christmas tree.
I suddenly realize, I don't just want him again. . .
I need him again.6AndersBreaking away a portion of the wall, the plaster crumbles, causing a cloud of dust to explode into the air. There's a heavy odor of chalk and dust, but I can still smell Laney through the cloud of debris.
I love her scent, the way it settles me in a way I've never felt before. I crave it. And this feeling, it's eluded me for years. I feel alive again. I feel lighter, like there's a weight that’s been lifted off my shoulders.
Sighing, I force myself back into work mode, trying to ignore this irrational desire to have what it isn't mine. She's not mine. I rip away another chunk of plaster to make room for the new doors. The plaster breaks free quickly, causing my elbow to snap back and knock a bottle of shampoo to the floor.