Intensity (15 page)

I wrapped my arms around her ribs and hugged the stuffing out of her. Her support meant the world to me, and in one fell swoop she wiped out the loneliness I’d felt prior to moving here.

This day and my treasured friends—forever engraved on my heart.

Back in my apartment, I washed my face and brushed my teeth, anticipating a deep sleep. I stepped a foot in the bedroom and came to a standstill. Linc was sprawled on my bed, arms behind his head, ankles crossed, bearing a dimpled grin. His all-consuming presence filled the room with a sense of anticipation.

“W-what are you doing here?” I sputtered.

He dropped his feet on the floor and ambled toward me, grasping my hands and dragging me along as he walked backward. My stunned body plunked down on the comforter. He reached under the bed, pulled out a box with a humungous red bow on top, and plopped it on my lap.

“What’s that?” Again, my response came out, making little sense.

His hardy chuckle charged the room with a potent zing. I closed my eyes and let the positive energy revive me.

“I’ve been waiting for you to get back so I could give this to you.”

That statement had my eyes popping open. I wanted to remind him I’d been waiting a lot longer, but his expectant look kept the words locked inside. Instead, I glanced down and tried to figure out what he bought me. Would he get me lingerie? Nah. The large size canceled out jewelry. Besides, he wouldn’t get me something like that. Could it be—

He grabbed each side of my head and tilted it up to him. “Serena, open it already.” Not letting me guess anymore, he lifted my hand and plunked it onto the bow, crushing it. “What’s the matter, you don’t like surprises?”

Ha, if he only knew. I’d had more than my share. Just not enough of the good kind.

Seated next to me, he seemed more eager than a kid on Christmas morning. His body pressed against mine, buzzing like a live wire. The excitement got to me too, and I whipped off the ribbon and flung open the lid. Tissue paper thrown aside, I revealed the contents.

The silk, jade-green robe had a luxurious appearance, and the fabric was softer than any other I’d felt. When I glanced up, his scrunched brow and tight lips portrayed a side I hadn’t seen on him often. “It’s beautiful.”

At my acknowledgement, a full-wattage smile transformed his face from intense to adorable in the blink of an eye. He took the gift from my hands and turned it around to the back. A variegated gold and orange dragon was embroidered on it, stretching from top to bottom. Fire shooting from its large-toothed mouth and red flames swirling along each shoulder. A bold, imposing figure balancing on a crystal ball that had a familiar quote with the identical Welsh characters stitched inside.

I skimmed my fingers over the stunning design. “You had that made…for me?”

“Try it on.” He coaxed me over to a full-length mirror in my closet. While he stood behind me, he adjusted it on my shoulders and spun me around.

His bright, beaming face projected such awe, it caused my heart to lodge in my throat, making my voice wobbly. “Thank you.” Clearing it, my bolder and unwavering gratitude showed my appreciation. “I love it.”

“You sure? Liza will take it back.” His hand took hold of mine, a gentle squeeze punctuating the claim with reassurance.

I chuckled and his brows scrunched. “My tattoo’s on it. Who would want it?”

He wrapped his large arms around me, announcing, “She’d make you something else if I asked.” Sure his request would be followed without a doubt.

I laid my head on his shoulder and basked in the moment. Unbelievable, the first man to enter my life owned an escort business. His kindness and generosity contrasted with the continued distance he placed between us, and made this whole situation surreal.

What was fate trying to tell me by throwing us together? It would be so easy to fall for him. Unable to predict the future, I couldn’t determine how it would play out, but something told me to keep trying. To be patient.

He stepped away and glanced at his watch. “I have to go. I’ll be back…later.”

An internal sigh rumbled in my gut. Almost midnight, it didn’t take much to figure out where he might be headed. Another reality check. The message loud and clear—booty-call.

Mylaynee sent me a text, saying she bought me a dress and wanted me to wear it tonight. The signature gold Forté garment bag couldn’t be missed. I unzipped it and almost fell on the floor at the stunning, red-braided dress. It reminded me of the one I considered buying for the “interview,” but instead decided on the white crochet. There wouldn’t be a virginal appearance this time.
Lethal—
more like it. I slipped it on and turned to the full-length mirror. That girl was totally trying to get me laid—gotta love her!

The length hit about a centimeter below my crotch, and my boobs sported a definite increase by a cup or two, plumped up and screaming,
suck me, baby
. It might be a bad idea to wear this with sex-crazed men everywhere, but I felt wicked tonight. I threw on a pair of stilettos—bam!

Eat your heart out
.
Who’s the bombshell now?

I turned the key, locking my door just as Jax came out from across the hall with a plastered, someone-got-lucky grin. Huh, looked like B.B. struck again. Or maybe Tanya. Heck, with him, it could be both.

Me + this dress = Did. Not. Care.

“Hello, Serena,” he greeted with a sickening, tantalizing sex voice, still reeling from the after effects of his adventure no doubt.

Avoidance my best weapon at the moment, I spoke to the empty hallway in front of me and dashed toward the elevator. “Jax.” I glanced back. Crap, right on my tail, his eyes glued to my ass.

Message to brain
—
do not let Mylaynee pick out your clothes
.

I rammed the up button at least five times, yet it hadn’t produced the easy out I’d hoped for. Instead it got me a chest glued to my back, with nowhere to escape. I turned around. “Going up?” I said, trying a lame diversion tactic and pretty much at a loss when it came to this guy. Linc wanted me to stay away, but it wasn’t easy when he lurked around, hunting for his next conquest.

The rules must not apply to B.B. or Jax, because client “meetings” were supposed to take place in private rooms on the top floor, yet there he stood, so obvious he just had sex. A sweaty scent rolled off him in waves.

He reached up and twirled a strand of my hair around his finger.

“Don’t,” I reprimanded in my best authoritarian strict voice.

He dropped his hand, and his smooth, dreamy face morphed to stiff and calculating. “I saw you jogging the other day. How about I
come
with you some time?” Emphasis on the act he wanted caused my spine to snap ramrod straight. His musky scent choking me. I stepped to the side and as far away as I could get in the corner he had me pinned in.

Time to nip this in the bud and send him on his way. “Jax, there are plenty of girls here that would be happy to spend time with you. I’m not one of them.” Well executed, if I didn’t say so myself. Firm and to the point.

“Why not?”

Dang, maybe I patted myself on the back too soon. “I’m exclusive.” That should do it.

“For how long?” The immediate reply and smugness hit their mark, serving as a hard reminder of the temporary state of my job and status here. My frown contorted to a scowl. Every one of my muscles wound tight—numb—kept me from returning a witty comeback. Jax and B.B.’s warnings ping-ponged in my brain, stabbing me in the heart over and over.

“It’s time for a change,” he declared in a confident tone, entering the elevator I hadn’t even noticed had arrived. “Going up?” He repeated my earlier question in a sugary tone that grated on my every nerve.

I shook my head no.

The door slammed shut in my disheartened face, and sealed a whole lot more.

Drinks served to one nameless face after another, the time passed without remembering a single moment. No, that wasn’t right. I remembered something or
someone
.

Jax had been there all night but kept his distance. The women were all over him. You’d think it would’ve kept him distracted, but any time I glanced up, he always
had those darn Husky dog eyes on me. His presence was hell on my nerves, and his famous last words insisting “changes” were imminent put me in a tailspin.

Linc had been there too, off doing his job. He strutted around talking with one client or another, oblivious to my inner turmoil. It didn’t make the night any better. At one point he came over and told me to meet him at his apartment when I finished. Stuck with my head
way
up my ass, I agreed.

As the evening went on, I watched him stroll about like he hadn’t a care in the world. One beautiful woman after another stalked, caroused, and trailed him. He smirked and carried on a conversation without any regard to my feelings.

That flipped the switch—all-the-way-up.

My hand raised and ready to knock, the door flew open.

Mr. Heartbreaker stood there, as fine as ever in his custom-made suit.

“Get your ass in here,” Linc roared.

Mr. Wrong-night-for-that! Microburst Serena swooshed in, twisting out of control and facing him head on.

He slammed the door and had the nerve to scowl at
me
. “What the hell is your problem?” His question reverberated as if he shouted it through a megaphone held right against my ear.

Tsk. Tsk. Wrong again.

My jerky arms whipped about, flapping up and down at my sides in blind and crazed misdirection. I stomped up to the hulking giant and stuck my finger like a well-honed pointer right at his heart.

“One.” Stab, punctuating each word as I yelled them.

“You.” Stab.

“Two” Stab.

“B.B.” Stab.

“Three.” Stab.

“Sundays.” Stab.

With a parting flick to his chin, I whirled to the other side of the room, wrapped my arms around my aching stomach, and glared at the blurry harbor as tears flooded my eyes. Pent-up frustration never turned out well, often resulting in epic explosions. My temple pressed to the cool window, I waited for his reaction. An eerie silence engulfed the room, and it dawned on me that my uncontrolled rant might have dire consequences. He’d fire me for sure.