CHAPTER SIX
TALON
I still don’t know what happened to Bailey to make her run the way she did Saturday night, but it was about to drive me crazy. I asked Kali what happened and she said that Bailey told her on Sunday that she just had too much to drink and needed to get home. I don’t believe her. Something happened. We were having an awesome time dancing. At least
I
know
I was and judging by the way she was grinding up on me and reaching for my neck and chest I would bet she was too. I also know that if I don’t find out what happened I will go batshit crazy trying to figure it out.
****
I had no idea what I was going to say to her when I got there. I just couldn’t get past the fact that I had no idea when I would see her again if I didn’t go down to her office this morning. So I have a million different scenarios running through my mind on the cab ride over to her.
Why didn’t I just get her number from Kali and call her?
I have no clue why I didn’t call; it just never crossed my mind I guess. So now I’m walking through the massive glass doors to her office building and second guessing my even being here. I know I don’t want to turn around and walk out but I can’t form a solid conversation or even a reason as to why I am here to be able to tell her.
There’s a pretty blonde sitting behind the front desk of the lobby and she’s noticing me behind the glasses that are perched on the end of her nose.
Those glasses can’t be doing a thing for her eyesight.
That thought makes me chuckle to myself and apparently put a grin on my face because the girl’s smile just spread across her own face.
“Good morning Sir, may I help you?” she says cheerfully.
“Good morning, I’m, uh, here to see Bailey Hayes.” Her smile fades a bit as she reaches for the phone.
“Ms. Hayes you have a guest.” She nods her head one time. “I will do that.” She hangs up the phone then looks at me and tells me to go to the third floor and exit to the left and she will be the fourth door on the right. So I thank her and follow her directions.
The walk to her office is almost torturous. I am a ball of nerves. When I see her office door I freeze for just a minute and try to collect my thoughts enough to not sound like a stammering fool. The hall is empty and there is music coming from her office. I am really impressed with the building and her name on her office door. These are big signs of accomplishments as far as a career goes and I really want to know how she got here, how she came to be someone so successful at something I can only assume she loves to do. I clear my throat and give a firm two knocks on the door.
I hear a soft “Come in” so I do just that. Bailey is stunning. She’s leaning over some boxes she has on a coffee table in front of a wall full of floor to ceiling windows. Her hair is pulled up on top of her head, she has on another one of those pencil skirts. This time it’s black with a dark purple button down shirt tucked in perfectly. She’s wearing heels that showcase the beautiful long tanned legs that I have been dreaming of for the past two nights. She has reading glasses on but not like the woman downstairs. Bailey’s look like they belong, and it is sexy as hell. The thought is having me take a deep breath to try and calm myself. She straightens up to see who is standing in her office and her eyes go wide. She looks shocked that it’s me standing here.
“Talon,” she says breathlessly. I can’t make out the expression on her face.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea…
CHAPTER SEVEN
BAILEY
What is he doing here? In my office? Why did I say his name like that? Oh god, I must have sounded like a complete idiot right now! Get out of your head!
“
Good morning.” He’s grinning a shy lopsided grin, like he’s not sure if he should be smiling or not.
“Hi. Good morning,” I reply, snapping out of the swimming thoughts in my head.
“You have a fantastic office. I’ve heard you are good at what you do, but this,” he sweeps his arm out gesturing to my office while nodding his head, “is really impressive.”
“Thank you very much. I definitely don’t complain about the space that’s for sure.”
“George Straight?”
I have no idea why he would say that right now.
Was I so caught up in thoughts of him that I missed part of our conversation?
I have no idea how to respond, so I do the brilliant thing and just raise my eyebrows in question.
Oh no. There’s that smile, this guy is going to be the death of me. A slow, mind blowing, torturous death.
“
Your music, it’s George Straight. I just didn’t peg you for the country type.”
Oh that.
“Oh yeah!” I laughed because that didn’t even cross my mind. “Um, yes. Country girl, that’s me.”
“You don’t look like any country girl I’ve ever seen.” He’s flirting. He’s flirting with the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard. And now he’s closing the space between us. I clear my throat to get rid of whatever is lodged there and making it difficult for me to breathe.
“Wh-what are you doing here Talon?” That sounded rude.
Crap. “
I’m sorry that came out like that. I just meant I wasn’t expecting you and I guess I’m just curious as to why you came.”
Ok, that sounded a bit better.
“
Yeah, I apologize for showing up unannounced. I didn’t have your number and felt weird asking my sister for it so I googled you. But now that I’m here I guess I kind of look a bit stalkerish. Which I’m not. Stalking, I mean. I swear.” His face is twisted like he had no intention of saying any of that. It is adorable. I laugh.
“That didn’t even cross my mind. I thought maybe I left something behind on Saturday.” Now he laughed lightly.
“Actually you did kind of leave without something.” He’s staring right in my eyes; I’m completely lost in them.
“I did? I haven’t even noticed I was missing anything. I knew I shouldn’t have had that second whiskey.” I try to be light-hearted but he is totally serious.
“You left without giving me an explanation as to why you up and left the way you did. What happened?” His voice is deep and seductive with a hint of gruffness to it. My knees are weak. I can’t find my voice, and I’m sure once I open my mouth he’s going to be able to tell how much he is affecting me right now. Deep breath. Deep breath.
Breathe Bay.
“I just haven’t gone out in so long, it was getting late and I drank my drinks too quickly. I just felt like I needed to go home, so I did.”
“Yeah, that’s what Kali said, but the thing is, I just don’t believe you.” He takes a few more steps towards me and comes around the table so he’s standing inches away from me. My heart is pounding out of my chest. He is now acknowledging the lack of space between us by whispering in a husky tone. “I know I was having a good time with you and I’m fairly certain you were having a good time with me. Am I wrong Bay?” Pretty much everyone calls me Bay, they have my whole life. But Talon saying it is making my body react in a way it never has before to the nickname. I am caving, I am opening my mouth to tell him he was not wrong at all. That I was having the best time ever with him out there on that dance floor. That I came home and dreamed of him for the last forty eight hours. Night and day thoughts of him consumed me. At that exact moment, Drea, my best friend and co-worker, comes barging through my door.
“Bay! I found the last two-” she says, then stops mid-sentence. She looks to me then to Talon and back again with huge eyes. I know that with how close he is standing to me she is putting the pieces together. She silently asks, “Who the hell is this?” I laugh. Because that’s what I do when I get nervous. Talon doesn’t move a muscle. He doesn’t look like he was just caught red-handed, he looks… amused.
“Drea, this is Talon McAllister.” I clasp my hands together, take a step back and look at Talon. “Talon, this is Drea Bryant.” Talon walks over to Drea and extends his hand to her.
“Drea, pleased to meet you.” He gives her a killer smile and I see the faintest blush come across her cheeks.
“Likewise. I’m sorry to interrupt, I didn’t realize Bailey was… busy.” She breathes out that last part and then turns from Talon to look at me. “I just wanted to let you know I found the two contracts from last quarter. But we can go over that after lunch. I’ll just leave you two, to, continue,” she clears her throat, “whatever it is you were doing.” She smiles and then nods at Talon and walks out of the door backwards.
As soon as the door closes I feel like I can breathe again. I relax a bit and start to say something to Talon, but he beats me to it.
“Do you two do that often?” Talon asks as if he just saw the most amazing contraption.
“What’s that?” I’m clueless.
“The silent conversation thing. You must’ve had a Q&A thing going on with your eyes the way you were looking at one another, besides the fact she didn’t ask out loud what I was doing in your office with my face mere inches away from your lips.” He is right back where he was when Drea came bursting through my door. His hand has found its way to the side of my face and his thumb is grazing my bottom lip. I. Can’t. Breathe.
“Bailey?” He hasn’t looked away from my eyes, the only thing that has changed is that his left hand is now holding me at the waist.
“Hmmm?” Yeah, there’s no way I can make a sentence make any sense right now. He chuckles, or does he groan? I’m not sure. I’m not sure of anything right now except for the fact that his lips are so enticing.
“Can I take you to lunch today?”
Is that what he asked me?
I don’t remember hearing anything about lunch, something about a silent conversation but nothing about lunch I’m pretty sure. “Bailey? Are you ok sweetheart?” Oh no.
“Sorry. Um, I really want to go to lunch with you, but I think you may be missing a piece of important information about me.”
He doesn’t remove his hands from me but he does lean back a bit in order to see me clearer. “What’s wrong? Are you a lesbian? You don’t seem like you would be into that sort of thing, then again, I didn’t think you would have George Straight on your iPod either.” This broke any tension that might have been in the room. I laugh so hard I might spit; I hope I don’t but it’s very possible. If I were a snorter that would happen too, but I’m not.
Thank God
.
“That’s what you think is an important piece of information?” I manage to get out while trying to control my laughter.
Oh God, everything about this guy makes me crazy happy.
“Hell yeah, that’s really important!” He’s smiling.
“No, I can assure you, I am not a lesbian.” I take a deep breath and let the words flow from my mouth, even though I desperately don’t want to. “I do, however, have a boyfriend.” Silence. The happy smile on his beautiful face is gone, and it’s my fault. Well, that ruined the light atmosphere. Now you could cut the tension or discomfort or whatever this is choking me, with a butter knife. I feel like my heart just stopped beating. I
just
met this guy, why does the hurt look in his eyes make me want to cry?
After a minute, he clears his throat while walking closer to the door. I immediately miss his closeness.
“I did not know that,” he states matter-of-factly with a small sad smile. “You would think that would have been something Kali would tell me. Apparently not. I apologize if I crossed a line Bailey. My offer for lunch still stands anytime, as friends of course, if you’re interested.” He’s bending over my desk writing something on a post-it. “Here’s my email and phone number, you can reach me on either one anytime. Have a good morning Bailey.” He turns and walks out the door without looking back and without saying another word. I definitely noticed the fact that he called me by my full name. I don’t like that, at all. I don’t have time to catch my breath and snap out of the hurt I am feeling before Drea comes in.
“Bailey Jean Hayes!
What
was Talon McAllister doing in your office with his hands all over you? I have been freaking out over here!” she shrieks with her eyes about to bug out of her face. Her hands are flailing around and I pray that the whole office did not just hear her outburst.
“His hands were not all over me Drea. You’re exaggerating a little, don’t ya think?” I say calmly, because quite frankly, I feel like all of my energy has been zapped out of me.
“Um no. I don’t think. How do you know him? And why was he here? What am I missing Bay?” She’s badgering me with twenty questions because she hates Hollister. She hates herself even more for being the one who introduced me to him. So to see me with another man who happened to be holding me and cradling my face I have no doubt she was freaking out with hope.
“I’m friends with his sister and met him Saturday night. I’m still not sure why he was here this morning and no, you are not missing anything.”
“Then why do you look so sad?” She’s calmed down and she looks very concerned. This is why I love her. She knows me inside out and doesn’t judge.
“He asked if he could take me to lunch today and I told him I have a boyfriend. He left.” It is ridiculous that I feel so upset by this. I have a boyfriend and I love him. Right?
“You like him,” she states soundly.
“I can’t,” I whisper as I beg the tears in my eyes to stay at bay.
“But you do.”
“He makes me laugh, a lot. He makes my heart skip and my stomach flip. He invades my thoughts, even when I’m sleeping. His touch sets my skin on fire and he makes me forget all of the negative.”
“Wow,” Drea responds in a breathless whisper.
“I know.” We sit there for a minute in silence. “Hey, do we have silent conversations a lot?”
“All the time. Are you not aware of that?” She laughs at me like I’m ridiculous.
“No. I mean, I know we do it but I guess I just haven’t really paid attention to how often we do that.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Talon noticed your silent questions when you came in earlier and asked if we do that a lot because we seemed to be really good at it I guess.” I’m lying back on my sofa now trying to calm the headache that has sprung up on me suddenly.
“Dang, he’s perceptive.” She smiles and pats me on the leg. “C’mon, let’s go shopping then grab some lunch.”
“It’s 9:30 a.m. Drea. I can’t just leave work, I have a million things to do today.”
“You don’t have any meetings, I checked.” She gives me her mischievous smile. “Besides I really need some new thigh high boots, and I found the last two contracts so you can close out the quarter tomorrow. Please?” And there are the puppy dog eyes and drooping bottom lip. I give my biggest, most dramatic sigh.
“Fine! I’m in.” I let her have her way because I highly doubt I will get very much accomplished the
rest of the day anyway.