“For you to make room in your schedule for my son is the cost. Money isn’t an issue. My concern is him. Can you help with that?” he advised leaning up against the sink. His pants weren’t extremely tight, but I could make out a little print. Enough to know that there was more than one snake for piping in the building.
“I can do three days, and I would be honored to work with Malone. But I don’t do quid pro quo. I will pay you and still assist Malone. When do we start?”
Before this was over with, I was getting him to see me for more than his child’s doctor. I banked on it. Houston wouldn’t be able to escape the love swarm I was set to wrap him in. His uninterrupted, full accessdrill caught my attention, or maybe it was the sly smirk he sported, or maybe it was how he was leaning coolly up against the sink, glaring at me like a male model. Full access was close to the only thing I heard come from his sinfully delicious mouth. It dripped with underlying meaning, and I wanted to explore the full access he spoke of.
“Tomorrow, but I’m not charging you. And quid pro quo is a little extreme don’t you think? We both provide services, ” he shrugged, and I backed off. He didn’t understand my silly hang-ups about everyone always doing something and looking for something in return. Frankly, right now, I didn’t feel like running him off with my view or desire for more than a quid pro quo relationship.
“Is today a problem?” I inquired. It was only one in the afternoon, so he had plenty of time to get work done today. Time was the only thing on my mind. We had already wasted plenty of time with him pretending he wasn’t interested and then switching to being interested.
“Not really but I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch or something?” he asked with his head hanging down low.
“Dad, men hold their heads up, remember?” Malone blurted out, coming to place a hand into Houston’s.
I watched Houston blush and lift his head up in front of his watching son, “Listen we’ve both been closed up in the office and right now I wish I had a wish sandwich.”
I laughed, coming closer, pretending to think about it. I put my index finger on my chin. Walking the floor, I checked him out, attempting to keep a serious face. It didn’t last long because his next words caused me to scream in laughter.
“Stall me out in front of my son,” he laughed a hearty laugh. The sound made my thighs twitch. I was adding him laughing more to my list of things to help him with. His laugh was contagious like the plague. I hated that he kept sending mixed signals. The minute I got ready to say screw him he would come back with that smile and a joke making me fall all over again. He was out of control with the back and forth. Wishy Washy, I noted since we were keeping notes.
“About time! You been acting like I was some dusty broad,” I joked.
Heading to my office with a large dose of pep and cheer I grabbed my things and let Missy know we were headed out. Finally, he was feeding into my longing for some time with him. I didn’t know why hewas making it so difficult. Because I damn sure wasn’t hiding my attraction. I don’t know why it was so hard for him to see it. How many times was I supposed to put my hair behind my ear affectionately? How many times did I have to say something sly for him to get it? I was one confident woman, I knew my strengths and I knew my weaknesses. There was no doubt that I had something to offer to Houston. It was time for Houston to catch up and catch on.
Houston
Asking Teaghan out to lunch came out of nowhere. My mouth clearly wasn’t being controlled by my own mind. On a normal day that wouldn’t have happened for me. I had no problem being around women and handling a job. Not many of them were as gorgeous as Teaghan but I had self-control. It wasn’t about mixing business with pleasure, it was all about me being shut down to the idea of a relationship. We would be working closely so I reasoned with myself. Lunch would allow time to break the ice. She was already melting the ice around my feelings. The more they melted the more I pulled back. It would take more than that smile of hers to break me.
“Do you have a preference?”
“Nope, I’m just glad to be out that damn office,” she replied, covering her mouth, “Sorry, I didn’t think before saying that.”
“It’s all good. You surprised me,” Teaghan seemed like the
type of woman that was always on her best behavior. Shirt always ironed to perfection, outfit always matching with not one thing out of place and certainly no cussing. She alluded to having OCD, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she lived life within the lines and didn’t veer from them.
“You know what, Houston, I don’t know what gives you theimpression that I’m some stick in the mud, but I can guarantee you that I am not. I have you know that I used to be one party animal back in my day,” she commented crossing her arms over her voluptuous chest. Before I could even respond and tell her why I felt that way, my personal line started ringing.
“Hold that thought, stick,” I joked before answering, “What’s up, Luke?”
“I was wondering if I could borrow my nephew for the day?” Luke was Leslie's twin brother and a good friend of mine. Sometimes it was painful to look at him because he looked so much like her. I still pushed that to the side and maintained our friendship. Not just for Malone but for myself. Luke didn’t bullshit me.
It was Luke that introduced us in college. It was one of those nights that he dragged me from the dorm room to a party. Even back then, I considered myself lame and not enthused with college nightlife. I was only in school to get my degree. All the other shit wasn’t needed. Dating wasn’t even on my radar at that time. That’s what hurt the most with Leslie being gone. I had no intention of loving her or even entertaining her back then. I got it and then lost it. Those were fucked up odds.
“Today is my day, but for the sake of our friendship, I’ll let you slide in,” I said, looking over at Teaghan. Luke was the only one from Leslie's family still around. It was important for Malone to spend time with what he had left of his mother. Luke was the fun uncle, he let Malone do whatever he wanted when he wanted. Malone was spoiled rotten with him and his wife, Shawn. He would be in good hands and that would leave me with some alone time with Teaghan.
“I know he sick of you, so let’s meet.”
“I’m headed to lunch right now, so we can meet at Luigi’s if you in the area.”
“See you in ten, bro,” disconnecting, Malone started going crazy with excitement. It had always been like this. Malone would leave me in a heartbeat to see his uncle Luke.
“Sorry about that, Uncle Luke always trumps spending time with me.”
“We all have that one family member that we love to death,” sheresponded looking back at Malone, “Malone are you about to go get chocolate wasted without me?”
“Yes, ma’am, and guess what?”
“What?” she asked bright-eyed. I was moved seeing her interact with Malone. It seemed like the only people that tried understand him were the people that he shared blood with. But it wasn’t like that with Teaghan. I slightly blamed myself because he wasn’t around many people. It was safer that way, but I thought maybe that was hindering him. The more she was around the more my eyes opened to possibilities that maybe it was on me.