Intensity (6 page)

All of a sudden the covers were yanked away. What the…?

“Linc!” I tried to snatch the blankets back, but he threw the entire comforter off the bed. “Hey!” I leapt over the side and stood with my hands on my hips.

He winked and walked backward toward the door. “Drink your coffee, Serena. Get going or you’ll be late.”

The further away he got the more I noticed. He had on black and white track pants, riding low on his hips, and a red tee that emphasized his ripped physique. Man, if I missed
that
sitting right next to me, then I needed caffeine bad.

He caught my thorough inspection and laughed, causing his chest muscles to ripple. “I’m headed out for a run. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Make yourself at home.” In a repeat of last night, his half-lidded eyes skimmed my body, one inch after another all the way to my toes.

I looked down. Oh, crap. From a nearby chair, I snatched one of his T-shirts and threw it over my head. It fell to mid-thigh and covered my bra and panties.

“Do you need help moving your stuff over here?” He leaned against the door frame casual-like.

I couldn’t afford movers so.... “Yeah, uh, you mentioned you have some people that could do that, right?”

“I’ll give Sal a call and we’ll have you moved in before you get back. You want a one or two bedroom?” he asked then snapped his fingers, “Give me the key to your apartment.”

Noticing my purse on the nightstand, I removed the key from the clasped ring and tossed it to him. “One bedroom’s good.”

He stalked toward me like a man on a mission, smoothed the key along my bottom lip, and dragged it to my chin. His eyes softened as he explored mine. “Thanks.” He leaned in, rubbing his chest along my already hard nipples. My breath hitched, and the hair on my arms and nape prickled from his touch like static electricity.

He sauntered backward, a huge smile on his face when he left the room. “Have a nice day, beautiful.” I glanced up at the ceiling and hugged my shoulders, squeezing tight.

On the way to the bathroom, I downed a much-needed jolt of caffeine.

After a wild day of running after the Millers’ three young kids, I pulled into the garage and parked near the elevator. Less than a year after Gram passed, I had
another
new place to live. When Linc said I didn’t have to pay rent it was a huge relief. Not having the extra cost each month would reduce my debt much quicker.

Mylaynee’s text said my new apartment wasn’t far from hers, and she’d have a key for me. Fingers crossed, I hoped for a balcony and water view.
I’d sit there with coffee, enjoying the fresh air and serenity of it all.

Last night, I met most of the women. We didn’t have much time to talk beyond brief introductions, but they seemed nice. Still, I wondered what it’d be like living here. Until now, I hadn’t hung out with too many girls around my age. Gram always toted me along with her friends from one volunteer activity to the next, “spreading the sunshine.” The past six months without her had been lonelier than I could’ve ever imagined. Maybe the void would be filled in some way. I couldn’t help but get excited at the possibility of making friends.

Maybe I’d fit in—belong—for a while.

When I got to the third floor, I examined the quiet hallway. I counted four doors on both sides. The slate-blue walls with cherry wood wainscoting made it look classy. Mylaynee stood in her entryway and greeted me dressed in a yellow and orange kimono that was stunning with her dark skin color. “How were the kids today?”

“Don’t ask,” I grumbled and sat on a stool at the kitchen counter. “They were all over the place. Our first warm day in a while and they went crazy. Thank God I took them to the park. We slid, swung, and anything else their devious little minds could come up with. One thing’s for sure, they’ll sleep good tonight.”

She got two mugs out of the cabinet, mixed apple cider with rum, and popped it in the microwave.

“What’re you doing?”

“It’s medicinal.” She giggled and pointed a spoon at my frowning face. “No arguments, girl. You need this.”

“Do you have the key?”

She smiled and grabbed it off the top of the refrigerator, setting it in front of me. At the beep, she stirred and gave me a cup. Casual and graceful, she sat next to me, taking a drink of the spiked concoction.

“Have you been in that apartment?” I inquired, blowing on the steamy liquid before taking a sip.
Darn that’s good.
Several gulps later, the warm cider soothed my weary bones.

“It’s been empty, so I haven’t seen it in a long time, but the layouts are all the same. You can paint or decorate any way you like. Linc doesn’t mind if we add personal touches.”

I took another swig. “That’s nice.”

“He’s not like other bosses. I’ve heard horror stories from the girls about other places. He’s different and not bad on the eyes.” She smirked and butted her shoulder into mine as if we were co-conspirers sharing the same thought.

I cleared my throat. “He’s…sweet.” My face heated as I remembered the way he tucked me in bed last night and his comical wake-up call.

She sighed and said in a thoughtful voice, “He helped me through a bad time, so yeah, he’s a great guy. I’d never want to get on his bad side though. I’ve witnessed it and wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end.”

All my warm feelings vanished. “D-do you mean with the women?”

“No,” she reassured. “He’s all business where that’s concerned. With clients though, if any of them get out of line, he’s on them.”

My gaze drifted to the mug. “Yeah, that kinda happened last night...” Not finishing the story, instead I chugged the rest of the fortifying drink.

“What? I didn’t know that.” Her voice rose, and she gripped my shoulder.

I gave her a comforting smile, appreciating her concern. “Someone got a little rough and Linc took care of him.”

She patted my hand. “Your first night on the job. Geez, girl.” She pulled me into a firm hug. “If you ever want to talk about anything come see me, promise?” She pulled back and looked me in the eyes. “I’d like to think we’re friends, Serena, so come to me, okay?”

Touched by her kind offer and support, I gave her arm a tender squeeze. “Thanks, and yeah, we’re friends. But only because you make
kick-ass
apple cider.”

She tipped her mug to mine and then finished drinking it. “Come on.” She pulled me off the stool. “Let’s go check out your new place.”

We walked to apartment three-ten, laughing the entire way.

It came complete with a balcony and a million-dollar view.

The last bag unpacked, I heard three knocks at the door. I swung it open to find Linc dressed in another black suit and a cover model next to him. Poised with one leg extended and hip cocked in a shimmery red dress, she could be strutting down a catwalk at a moment’s notice. That must be one heck of a push-up bra she had on, because those babies were bursting through her swoopy neckline.

Doesn’t anyone wear turtlenecks anymore?

Linc kissed my temple. “Getting settled?” He smiled and rejoined the Tyra Banks doppelganger, placing his hand on her lower back. “This is Monique. Monique…Serena.” I examined the two of them, tens on the sexuality scale, and disliked her in an instant.

Her eyes scanned me, head to toe and back again. I bristled at her blatant perusal, like she couldn’t quite figure out why he’d employ someone like me. She extended her hand and said in a bored tone, “Pleasure to meet you.”

Yeah, right.
I returned the shake and blocked the doorway.

“Did you need something?”

I glanced between them and calculated how to get rid of her. Not expecting visitors, I had on thrift store cut-off sweats and a ratty tank top. My “lazy-butt clothes” and my preferred at-home garb.

“Monique’s going to look at the apartment.”

I grabbed the doorknob, twisting it instead of slamming it in her face. “I don’t understand.”

He pulled me aside. “She’s my designer. You can use her to redecorate.”

She strolled in and posed again, this time head and nose in the air, scrutinizing every nook and cranny between the living room and kitchen.

My mouth fell open even further and snapped shut. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need anything done. It’s fine the way it is.” I pointed toward the interior so he could see inside— not that he couldn’t from where he stood.

“It hasn’t been redone in a while. She’ll do whatever you want.”

He couldn’t be serious. Mylaynee said we could add our own touches, but a designer, really? I couldn’t afford one. Unable to speak, I stood there struggling with his kind gesture and calculating what it would cost me.

I whipped around to see what “Monique the Ten” happened to be doing. She paraded through the space, her cell phone extended an arm’s length, pushing buttons as she meandered and measured with a skilled eye.

I grabbed Linc’s elbow and tugged his huge body further into the hallway, out of her view. “I can’t have a designer.” On tiptoes, I leaned closer to his smiling eyes, extending above my five-foot-eleven frame in bare feet. “It’s fine, just the way it is.”

My protest ignored, he grabbed my hand and brought it up to his lips, and proceeded to kiss each and every knuckle.
Holy smokes
. My heart swooned and goosebumps popped up all over my arms. His blue eyes sucked me in and turned me to mush. The warmth of his palm penetrated my bloodstream, heating me from the inside out.

“Don’t worry about it. Tell Monique what you want, no expense spared. She’ll bill my account, not you.”

That remark knocked me back to reality. “I’ve worked here one day, I can’t.”

He pulled me in for a hug and then leaned back, looking me square in the eyes. “I want you to be comfortable. Sal told me what your place was like. Go in there and talk to her. Give her a chance, okay?” He brushed his thumb on my chin, hypnotizing me once again. I shook my head and attempted to get control of myself and this situation.

“Linc—”

He pinched my chin and shook it. “I insist.”

Battle lost, I gave in. “
Okay
.” I tried to push him away so I could go eat crow, but he didn’t budge.

“Good, see that wasn’t so hard. Now, give me a smooch.” He leaned in, planted a hasty peck, and when he pulled away his mouth morphed from a straight line into a cheesy smile.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re weird?” Arms crossed, I lifted a brow at the persistent man.

He gazed at the ceiling and back down to me, two dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth. “Nope. Don’t think anyone has. You’re my first.” He chucked me under the chin, his bright white teeth gleaming, and then he strolled to the elevator.

On a sigh and a grin, I went back inside and talked to Monique about my gonna-be-designer-apartment.

That evening Mylaynee and I arrived together. She said she wanted to keep me company while I prepped, but instead she became the entertainment. Miss Chatty liked to talk, but she should’ve been a stand-up comedian. She had us in stitches, imitating various celebrities, and cracking lame jokes that were so absurd, we couldn’t help but laugh.

There were different women working with me this time. Tanya, B.B.’s roommate, looked like a hard-core biker chick. Colorful tattoos ran down one arm and peeked out from various spots along her black leather vest and mini-skirt. Her spiky blond hair, cut close to the scalp, worked well on her. Not many could pull it off without coming across as grunge.