leks Turko? She had yet to find something.
It had been a week since Carrie had last seen him. Aleks hadn’t slept in his bed in the basement all that time. It wasn’t until after a few days that she found out he was staying with Rob and Martina. Aleks originally left the condo to get away from the lovebirds. The fact that he chose to go there in order to get away from her gave her a clear indication about how he felt.
He no doubt would not be coming back. It was for the best. For both of them. Their feelings were tangled and twisted, and neither of them knew which end was up.
Carrie would eventually find someone she could love. Someone who would take her mind off of the one man she couldn’t have. At least she’d had him. The way she wanted him–uninhibited and strong. Thinking back, she realized it probably wasn’t the best move. Opening up that can of worms only led to one thing. She had lost her best friend. That’s what hurt the most. Not that she wasn’t able to love him in a sexual way, but that she couldn’t be with him, laugh with him, joke with him.
To top it all off, she’d put her brother in the middle. She would always regret that. She should have known better. Carrie the over-analyzer. Carrie the cautious. Where was caution and analysis when she’d decided to jump Aleks in the fitting room? Where was her common sense when she threw herself at him in his bedroom? Where was her fear when she let him take her body in unimaginable ways?
Chalk it up to libido overload. Now she was thinking clearly. Without Aleks in her life, Carrie was able to focus on her work. Pursuing a dream that just a few years ago she didn’t think would ever come to fruition.
The noise from the street drifted into the store as the front door opened. She nearly dropped the pen when she registered the tall, handsome figure that strutted inside.
“Aleks? What are you doing here?”
“Don’t talk. I rehearsed this.”
She smiled on the inside. No way was she going to let him see her smile.
“I’m an ass.”
Carrie opened her mouth to respond, but he held up his hand. Right. No talking.
“It took me almost twenty years to figure out that I was in love with you.” He walked a little closer. “Those eighteen years could have been a lot worse if you hadn’t been there. As my friend, my confidant, my jolt back to reality. You were the one woman I could always count on, despite my twisted thinking about the opposite sex.” He could say that again. “I know I’ve hurt you.”
Hurt didn’t begin to describe the utter devastation that she lived with every day.
“I know I’ve played with your mind, and you have every reason to be pissed and regret everything that happened between us. But I won’t. I will never regret giving in to your demands. Twice.” A small smile appeared on his face.
Aleks came closer. He inched his way toward the counter as if trying not to scare her away.
“I will never regret the last time we were together, because being with you was the most intimate, comfortable, romantic, hottest, safest time of my life. You’re the only person in the world who can make me feel those things all at the same time. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing everything I can so you don’t regret the time you spent with me.”
Her heart leaped. The rest of his life? Aleks wasn’t talking marriage, he was talking...what was he talking about?
“I love you.”
Three simple words. Three simple words that she had been waiting to hear almost her entire life. But those were dangerous words.
“You once said that you should hire me to be your manager. While I may not be officially employed in that capacity, I have something for you. Things, actually.” He pulled a stack of cards out his pocket. “Hold out your hand.”
She did as he asked.
“This is Cindy. She works in my office. Her sister is getting married next year and would like to meet with you about designing some lady things.” He placed the card in her palm. “This is Flo. She’s the day security person in my office building. Her twentieth wedding anniversary is coming up, and she wants to give something to her husband to–and I quote–wow the son of a bitch’s pants off.” Another card was placed in her palm. “Vicki–wedding.” Another card. “Cheryl–first time she’s going to have sex with her boyfriend.” And another. “Kim–reignite the spark.”
There was one card left.
“Julia...and this is my favorite. Her sister is in a sorority at the University of Toronto and they’re having a lingerie theme party. She wants you to outfit the entire group. I’m hoping for an invite to this one. You know, to admire your work.”
Despite knowing she wasn’t supposed to interrupt, Carrie couldn’t stop herself from blurting out, “You did this for me?” She also couldn’t stop her feet from carrying her out from behind the counter. Wanting desperately to be closer to him.
“No. I did this for me. Selfish really. I figure if I’m good at pimping out your work, then maybe you’d want to keep me around. Since I’m so good for business.”
She couldn’t believe what he was saying. Aleks never did anything for anyone except himself.
“Then I thought that if you invited me in professionally, maybe you’d invite me in socially. Maybe go on a date with me.”
Carrie moved even closer. He inched his way along as well. Eventually, they were as close as lovers, only inches apart.