“And not just here at work.” Maxi winked.
“Please, don’t remind me of what I’m not getting. It’s been many moons since anyone has rubbed my feet.”
“Stace, you’ve been focused twenty-four-seven on corporate matters—you haven’t had time for anything else.”
“Well, that’s not entirely true,” she confessed. She hadn’t told Maxi or Lola about her Four Seasons hallway encounter. There wasn’t much point to mentioning her one-night stand, she mentally contended. Despite constantly thinking about Nick. Their instant attraction and hot hookup was still playing in her mind like a looping video clip. Keeping her body thrumming with the electric current he’d sparked.
She said, “I’ve had a little fun along the way. But, yes, I’ve been pretty hardcore for six years getting this entire organization up and running. This is my dream, my true passion. I wasn’t finding the specific styles I wanted for a reasonable price, so I invented Staci Kay Shoes and filled my own closet.”
“And eventually millions of other women’s closets,” Maxi said.
“We’re all kindred spirits.”
Christ. That made her think of Nick. Again.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Maxi told her, “I agree. However, now that the fires are mostly out at work, perhaps you ought to think about reigniting them in your bedroom.”
Staci’s body flamed. No stopping it. No getting her breathing under control, either. She confessed, “I do have an itch for someone who’s ready, willing, and able to sin.”
The sexy man who’d lit her up had left an indelible impression. She could still feel his strong yet supple hands on her legs, her ass, her breasts. Could still feel his lips blazing a trail over her skin. Could still feel his cock buried deep within her, stroking fully and confidently.
He’d been quite the dream come true—and she hadn’t been the one presumably sleepwalking.
Maxi eyed her curiously. “Anyone I know?”
Staci blew out a puff of air. “No. Not anyone I know, actually. Not technically.”
Her friend’s gaze narrowed. “I’m not following.”
“I know. Sorry.” Staci debated whether she wanted to let the cat out of the bag. But she sort of figured, What’s the point? She didn’t know her mystery lover’s true identity. Nor did she have time to go tracking him down. She certainly didn’t have time to start something up with him, even if she could find out who the hell he was. Her company was in the midst of hypergrowth to rival Nordstrom’s and In-N-Out Burger’s corporate explosions near the turn of the millennium. No room for error or dropping any balls.
So all she said about her scorching encounter with Nick was, “It’s just a fantasy.” She waved a dismissive hand and fought the lonesome feeling that was creeping in on her once more. The sensation she’d experienced in her room before the great lockout. The sensation Nick had chased away with sizzling kisses.
She added, “I’ve really got to concentrate on this facilities issue.”
Maxi stood and stretched, then slipped back into her heels. “At least take a break for the evening. Come over to my condo for dinner tonight. Ryan’s making osso buco. There’s always plenty of food when he cooks.”
“Jesus, you two are like newlyweds.”
“Don’t rush us down the aisle just yet,” Maxi chided. “We still have Lola’s wedding to get through. Now that her marketing campaign is in full swing, and we’re getting our operational troubles under control, you and I need to plan the bridal shower and think about all that other girlie-girl stuff that goes along with being bridesmaids.”
“It was really very sweet that she included me in the bridal party before we’d gotten to know each other well,” Staci said. “When she worked here in Baltimore with us, she always seemed a bit terrified of me. Then I showed up in the Scottsdale office for her ad campaign presentation and I thought she’d hit the floor, she was so shocked to see me.”
“She admires how fierce you are,” Maxi told her. “We all bow down to you, Goddess of Shoes.”
“Cute.” Staci snickered. “And, hey, thanks for the dinner
offer. Always appreciated. But I’m still a bit swamped.”
“The invite remains a standing one,” Maxi told her with a smile.
“I know. However, in addition to shoe biz, I have to make a decision on my plans for Valentine’s Day. It’s only two weeks away. Yikes! I need to get on it in order to make travel arrangements.”
“What are your options this year?”
“Sooo,” Staci said on a long breath—this was yet another dilemma to work through. “It’s either visit my perfect sister Jen who had a perfect meltdown when her perfect husband came out of the closet last Valentine’s—I’m still reeling from that drama, by the way—or join my parents on the Caribbean cruise they’ve already booked for themselves, and invited Jen and I along for. Or just curl up in front of a fire and marathon-stream whatever is all the rage on Netflix.”