CHAPTER 1
Lori
I knew who I was and I respected the person I saw in the mirror every morning looking back at me. I couldn’t say the same thing for my parents. They were looking for me to grow up and find a purpose. I was perfectly comfortable with the status quo. I did have a secret dream which I was pursuing under the cover of darkness.
“I don’t know what this big secret is, but you have this guilty looking grin on your face. I understand that you don’t want to jinx it by giving it a voice. I’m here when you want to talk about it.” Stephanie was a redheaded sex pot with the guys wrapped around her little finger.
“You will be the first to know when there’s something to tell.” I twirled my blonde hair and tried to keep her from getting the secret out of me.
It was a nervous habit when I felt that I was painted into a corner.
“Lori, I know better than to ask too many questions. We’ve known each other for years. I didn’t invite you out for Sunday brunch to interrogate you about your life. I have something to ask you, but don’t think that you have to accept under some misplaced loyalty.” Stephanie was independent and had her own unique clothing line which was flying off the shelf of her exclusive boutique.
“I would never insult your intelligence by claiming to be somebody that people can walk all over. I say what is on my mind without a filter and sometimes it gets me into trouble. Guys don’t like when a girl calls them on their bull shit. They have such fragile egos and I get tired of walking around on eggshells.” The Eggs Benedict with a freshly made hollandaise sauce was to die for and the side dishes of toast and bacon was only outdone by the mimosa.
Stephanie was the one that had turned me on to champagne and orange juice. It had become a guilty pleasure. The craving made me have on hand a bottle of the good stuff and a supply of orange juice. Nothing hit the spot at midnight like the sweet taste of a mimosa.
“I have this friend of a friend that is laid up with a broken leg and can’t take care of his pet German Shepherd. Your schedule is pretty hectic as it is, but I was wondering if you might have time to take on another one for a couple of weeks. I will warn you that he’s opinionated.” I did have a recent opening and I was inclined to take everything she said at face value.
“I’m sure that I can juggle things around to make room for him. I will need to know his address and what duties he expects to be performed. I was going to ask about my fee, but I get this feeling he’s one of those friends that believe money is no object.” She only surrounded herself with those movers and shakers that could put her on the map.
“You know me way too well. Harris Camden is a sought after billionaire bachelor. I’ve already tried to tempt him, but he’s only interested in one thing. He’s the kinda guy that has a little black book with women’s names and what talents are worthy of a second date.” Sex was predominant during the initial phase of a relationship, but I wasn’t looking to become a notch on somebody’s belt.
I was 5’3, 130 pounds and there was a certain part of my anatomy that walked into a room ahead of me. I was blessed at an early age and had the boys buzzing around me before I was in my teens. It became quite obvious what their true intentions were in the games that they would play to get into my pants.
My green eyes were my secret weapon. One look could freeze them in their place unable to say anything to defend their actions. I put up a shield to protect my heart from being broken like so many others in the inner sanctum of my social group.
My first time was five years ago. I hate to admit that it was under peer pressure during my prom. I was fortunate that Travis was a good listener and followed my lead. It was pleasant enough, but I had to tease him mercilessly to keep him from prematurely ruining the moment.
The one thing I wanted and fantasized about the most was a man that could take control with a look of a tiger about to pounce on his prey. I wanted to feel the firmness of his hand making me tremble to his touch. To be taken with forceful deliberation would take my breath away in the moment.
“I can tell from the way that you’re biting on the end of your finger what you’re thinking about. The invitation to join me on the dance floor at the latest club is still on the table. Can you imagine the looks that we would get grinding to the music on the dance floor?” Stephanie didn’t need me to be her wing woman.
I could already see out of my peripheral vision three different guys trying to get the courage to approach the unattainable fruit ready to be plucked from the tree.
“I’ve never wanted the spotlight. You are far more comfortable with that kind of attention than I am.” My white summer dress covered up the secret that only I and Victoria knew about.
The decadent feel of lace against my skin sparked a flicker of a flame between my legs. I was not immune to the male form sculpted into marble for my visionary pleasure. A man was nothing until he was draped in the finest Italian material money could buy. There was something about the packaging that made me want to see what was lurking underneath.
“Don’t knock it until you try it. You’ve been out of the game too long and it might be time to get back on the horse.” I was turning 25 and she was doing everything to set me up with what she considered the perfect man.
“I’ve been a fly on the wall and nothing changes. Right now, there are three guys looking to score with you and you haven’t even given them the time of day.” The scent of food coming from the kitchen tantalized my palate with my mouth watering.
Stephanie was wearing this short red dress made for sin. The plunging neckline gave those boys something to work for. The slit up the side almost gave away the farm. She was happily unaware and oblivious to the way that they were undressing her with their eyes.
“They can look, but they can never touch unless they get close enough to risk getting burned. Most are too intimidated. It’s a crying shame considering how lonely I feel in the middle of the night with that cold spot next to me mocking me.” Stephanie was selective about her partners, but she could be reckless when she overindulged.
“We’ve gotten off topic. I only know what I have read about Harris in the tabloids. I’m sure it’s a bit of an exaggeration about his jet-setting lifestyle.” He was known to have a different woman on his arm during any function.
He went on the record to say that he was never going to make the same mistake twice. The clothes did make the man. His attention to detail with not a hair out of place was an admirable quality. I did have a few men in the big apple foremost on my dirty mind and he was one of them.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but everything they say about him is spot on. He doesn’t believe in monogamy and thinks that it’s a crime against nature to settle down with one woman for the rest of his life. I’m afraid that the two of you are going to butt heads like two rival bulls in the arena.” I had a reputation that preceded me, but I did have a soft spot for the four-legged variety of the male gender.
“The press has this funny way of making a story when there isn’t any. I will reserve my judgment until I meet him in person.” She took a piece of paper from her black Gucci purse with the fine leather smooth as a baby’s ass.
It was a recent acquisition while she was window shopping during fashion week in Paris. She was there under the pretense of learning the new trends to capitalize on.
The green envy of jealousy ran down my back. I couldn’t help myself to wonder what it would be like to live a few short days in her shoes.
My off the rack sky blue handbag was loaded with textbooks. My parents didn’t know that I found a passion and I wasn’t about to tell them until I was successful. Animals made me happy. Caring for them opened my eyes to what I really wanted to do with my life. It was hard work and I was burning the candle at both ends feeling like there weren’t enough hours in the day.
I looked at the address she wrote down and knew it by reputation.
I was looking forward to meeting his German Shepherd but secretly fascinated about the penthouse that was considered off limits to prying eyes.
