A Favor (4 page)

“It happens all the time, for a lot of people, they don’t realize what they have until it’s gone.”

“I guess that can be true for many but that isn’t me and I would have thought after so long Christine would have known that.”

“How long have you guys been friends?”

“Since I first moved to Austin, eleven years now, we were both new to Austin and only eighteen. I was meeting with an apartment locater but he was running late and he had double booked us together since he was so busy and we were looking in the same area and price range. We clicked from the beginning and by the end of the day realized it was cheaper and easier to have a roommate. That day we rented an apartment together.”

“Been together ever since?”

“No, we lasted a good four years though. Then Christine met a guy and moved out. We lost touch for a while, then almost two years later she called me out of the blue. From there we reconnected and have been close ever since.”

“So it doesn’t bother her that you stayed on with Taylor, working for him and living in a home he owns?”

He looks angry and I’m not sure why. “No, I told her she had nothing to worry about. Like I said, I never saw Taylor that way and now he doesn’t see me that way either. He admitted he more or less gave up in the few months before I introduced him to Christine. Why is it a big deal that I live in the house he owns? The company owns it. He bought it to house his new recruits and people in from out of town on interviews. It was costing a fortune in hotel bills. I take care of the house and I pay him rent, I’m not there for free. Although I didn’t know he liked me like that I’m not stupid enough to think free comes without strings.

When I had to move because my rent was going up and it was north and the office is so far south Taylor offered it up because it was empty at the time. At first, it was just supposed to be until I found something else but Austin has blown up so much that the rents on even studios are crazy high. While Taylor pays well, I wanted more room and to save money for paint and canvases. Without thinking, I complained to Taylor and he offered for me to make it permanent. It’s a lovely, roomy, house and there’s even a small room in the back a guy had built and used for wood working that I converted to studio space. We negotiated for me to pay what I was paying at my last place, and that covers bills. In the end we both come out ahead. It can be annoying when the guys who come to stay think I’m their maid or something but pretty quickly they get over it.” I don’t even hesitate to not share the deal I had made with Taylor.

“So, I’m going to be staying with you?”

The question is low and throaty and my damn nipples tighten in reaction. “If you don’t want to stay in a hotel on your own dime, then yes, you can stay at the house, for now. Once you settle into Austin and the job you’ll find your own place.”

“Hmm, is there some sort of time limit?”

I consider lying but knew he’d ask Taylor, “No.”

“Good to know. You mentioned you moved to Austin from somewhere, where are you from?”

His question throws me and I try not to stiffen but I know I do. “Chicago, Taylor mentioned you just came from Chicago. What were you doing there and why did you leave?”

He’s quiet for a long time but I don’t dare look at him. Looking down I notice my grip is so tight on the steering wheel my knuckles have gone white and I flex them. “An Army buddy of mine had a shop there fixing up vintage and classic cars. He offered me a job and Florida was getting boring. I thought why not. I went up in the summer but only one winter and I knew it was a nice city but not for me. I lived in Boston for four years and I swear I don’t think it ever got as cold there as it did that winter in Chicago. How did you ever make it through them?”

“You learn to dress in layers. That’s why I came to Austin as soon as I hit eighteen. I’m still finding it a little hard to believe that you graduated from Harvard and wound up in the Army. How did that happen?” I have no desire to talk about Chicago, I try my best to steer the conversation back to him. Also I can admit I really do want to know more about him. Why the hell had he done something so reckless when he could have had such a different life?

This time he’s quiet for so long I can’t keep my eyes off of him, his eyes are on me. “One day we’ll go there, but not today. It’s pretty obvious the way you spoke about Taylor’s company you believe in it and you seem to enjoy working there, what makes it so great?”

Over the next few hours the drive is easier than I would have thought it was going to be when it started. A small part of me can admit that I actually enjoy it. Sam has managed to get out far more from me than I have talked about myself in years but it had been hard to stop. He’s easy to talk to and when he sets his mind to it, as charming and funny as he is beautiful. He teased and taunted and the sound of his laughter did scary things to my tummy, just the sound of his voice is soothing. He talked about Chicago and his years at Harvard easily but we both subtly held back from each other. Yet, neither one of us pushed, seeming to find it enough that we were talking. Our topics are safe, favorite movies, music and television, which we seemed oddly matched on several things. As we get closer to Austin, I’m sad for it to come to an end.

Maybe Sam is too because he suggests stopping for dinner in Bastrop, just outside of Austin. I agree and we stop at a popular chain restaurant. It’s an easy and laid back hour that passes, until the bill comes. Sam refuses to allow me to pay, even when I tell him I would be using the company card. His jaw works and his eyes darken and he just stares me down until I give in because I don’t want the night to end on a bad note.

Pulling into the driveway I click the garage door opener and wait for it to open. I can’t fight the sigh of relief at being home again. It had been a long day. The house is a one story sitting on a large lot, it’s deceptively small looking from the outside but large and open on the inside. It had been five bedrooms but been reduced to four because a third full bath had been added for the comfort of Taylor’s prospects and employees. A dark wood ran through out, and porcelain tile is in the bathrooms. The living room, dining room, and kitchen is one open space and there kitchen is large there is a small four seater table, the dining room is more formal with seating for eight. Only large dark wooden support beams in place to hold the high ceiling up, break up the view at all. The garage door opens into the kitchen, between a pantry and countertop. There is an alarm pad and I key in the code and give him the number for use later.

I’m in the master suite to the right off the living areas and the other bedrooms are left off the living areas. A room right off the living room had been a bedroom and is the third full bath, down the hallway is a large closet, a laundry room, a second full bathroom and two bedrooms. Both bedrooms are large, one has a queen bed and one has a king, the third bedroom is at the back of the house and had been added on. It’s a big room with a king bed and large walk in closet.

I end my short rundown of the house and slip out of my shoes with pleasure. “Pick a room and it’s yours. Like I mentioned before, I’m not a maid but one does come in once a week. She does the bathrooms and kitchen and washes the sheets of the empty rooms and makes up the beds every two weeks, to keep them fresh and you’re lucky. The place hasn’t had anyone through it in a few weeks and she just came in this weekend.

Normally, you buy your own groceries but I’m not unwilling to share since you just came in so help yourself to what’s in the fridge and cupboards but check the expiration dates, some stuff has been bought and left by others who came through. There are televisions in every room but no they aren’t as big as the one in here so help yourself to it, I don’t watch it much. And now I’m off to bed, I’m exhausted.

I’m due in the office at eight and Taylor is hoping you’ll come in with me, it’s up to you. I leave no later than seven thirty though so be ready by then.”

Without a look back, I walk away and hope it had all sounded as light as I was going for and not as breathless as I feel. The more I thought about him here, under the same roof, the hotter my body had gotten at the idea. Damn it, I’m going to need a session with my vibrator. Closing the door I lean against it and with a trembling hand lock it. It isn’t to keep Sam out, it’s to keep me in.

Pushing away from the door, I pull my phone from my purse and call Taylor. I sit on the edge of the high king bed the room had come with and I’d grown to love. It’s a quick call, I give him the rundown on Sam’s reservations about coming on board and Taylor understands, he’s heard it before. With a word of thanks, he hangs up and I’m left looking down at my phone. I throw myself back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. Could Taylor talk him into the job, did I want him to talk Sam into the job? Fuck, I honestly don’t know. A shower and then bed and that session with the vibrator and tomorrow I could figure it all.

I wake up cranky, it had taken forever to fall asleep last night. It had taken two sessions to ease my tension enough to finally sleep. This did not bode well for me, two sessions were usually all I needed in a month, not one night. Picking out work clothes my mind isn’t on what I’m doing it’s on Sam’s words from yesterday. About how he didn’t want a relationship and was just looking for sex. Would that be so bad? Before yesterday the mere idea would have been gross but after Sam’s kisses and touches it sounds extremely appealing. Sam had made it sound so right and easy, he wanted me and I wanted him. Just sex, no holding hands or awkward where was this going conversations, was it that big of a deal? Maybe Sam was right, everything but our need for each other was noise. If we did it, it would affect no one but the both of us. Taylor didn’t care what his employees did, so it wouldn’t affect my job. Was I seriously trying to talk myself into this?

Yes, I was, he had been damn persuasive. His kiss had been the best I’ve ever had and although I’ve only been with three people in my life, I’ve done a lot of kissing. Just thinking about his kiss and the feel of his body against me has me wet all over again. His words and that moment in the hallway had taken me to my orgasms last night. Imagining him taking me up against the wall after he had pushed his cock down my throat until he was close to coming had taken me right over the edge. Charles, my first boyfriend had made sure I was skilled at taking a cock deep in my throat. I’d done it to please and I was good, he’d made sure of that but it wasn’t something I had ever looked forward to, now the idea of Sam down my throat has me wet.

Damn it, this needs to stop. Pulling on a pair of black lacy panties I ignore the thought that they are for Sam. They aren’t, they’re my favorite pair that’s all. The same with the matching black bra, sheer in the cups and with lace along the edges. My skirt is a long pencil skirt and I pick out a button down blouse in dark red. I plug in my flat iron and brush my teeth, waiting for it to warm up. A quick spritz to protect my hair from the heat and I begin to work the tool through my hair. Only five minutes and with the help of the high heat and I’m done. I ignore the small amount of makeup I own, as usual. I have lipstick I wear sometimes but not often as it usually disappeared throughout the busy day.

Opening the door of my bedroom I smell coffee already going. A deep breath and I paste a smile on my face. I have ten minutes before it’s time to leave. Normally, I have coffee and quick oatmeal for breakfast. Sometimes I have enough time to scramble some eggs and toast but not often, hitting snooze more important than food. I’m surprised to see Sam at the small in kitchen table with a plate covered obviously waiting for me.

“Good morning, I made a scramble and had plenty left over.” He gestures with his cup of coffee and I nod my thanks.

Blindly, I turn toward the cupboard for a cup, desperate for any reason to look away. He’s dressed in a plain white button down shirt and dress slacks and looks so good it’s hard not to stare at him. They are normal clothes, how the hell did he look so good in them? Fumbling with the sugar, I manage to get most in the actual cup and then pour some coffee. It smells different than my usual coffee. Taking a sip it’s good, it has a hint of coconut and a light sweetness to it. “Where did this coffee come from?”

“I was up early and went to the grocery store. Thanks for the offer but there wasn’t much that appealed. I was in the coffee aisle for what felt like forever and a woman noticed me lost in the variety and suggested it.”

Taking off the cover I ignore the stab of jealousy at a woman chatting him up in the grocery store, it was probably a grandmother or something. “This looks good.” Green peppers, red peppers, and tomatoes are mixed with bacon and eggs and it tastes even better than it looked. “Thanks, this is better than my usual oatmeal. Good coffee too, good suggestion. You must have been up pretty early.”

“Pretty early, I don’t sleep as well as I used to. The coffee was a very good suggestion, I felt like I had to buy it though because she wrote her number on it.”

I choke down a swallow of coffee and set down the cup harder than I intended. Refusing to look up, sure I’ve shown myself for an idiot enough, I pick up the fork and move the food around on my plate. The appeal of it gone in an instant.

“Don’t look so cranky, Zoe, I’m not going to call her. It seemed easier to just buy it and smile and walk away. I didn’t want to be rude, that was all.” He gets up and leans down and kisses me on the forehead, “Eat, baby and we’ll get going.”

I watch him walk away and tell myself to ignore the twisting inside my chest at his casual kiss and reassurance. Instead, I turn my attention back to my food and make quick work of the rest of it. I’m up rinsing off the plate when he comes back into the room wearing a jacket but no tie. It’s a casual look but on him it looks anything but casual, it looks very good. The jacket fit too well to his broad muscular frame to not be cut to fit, my mouth goes dry and only my phone going off stops me from doing something stupid.

“Hello.”