Mirage - Alice Tribue Page 0,51
moment, perfect for so many reasons, perfect because right now, all we need is this. The fear is still there, pushed to the back and hidden underneath the crevices of my heart, which beats a little stronger now that Nathan’s come into my life.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Hi, Victoria,” I hear the girls at the front desk greet me as I enter Mirage. When I opened this spa, it was just a front for the escort service. It was how I made my business seem legitimate. Over time, I started to enjoy it and put a lot of effort into making it the best it could be. Now, I’m looking forward to spending more time here when the other side of my business is gone. That’s why I’m here today; I’ve decided that I need to make my presence here more prominent. They need to see me here on a more frequent basis and understand that this is a permanent change.
I have a full day ahead of me here—a morning meeting with all of the employees, individual meetings with management, as well as a catered lunch for everyone. I’ve been at a crossroads for some time now, and I’ve finally decided on which course to take. Now, I just have to execute the transition.
I’d forgotten how small my office at the spa is. I rarely ever used it before, but after sitting here for hours in meetings with the management, I’m beginning to feel claustrophobic. A bigger office space will have to be on my list of immediate things to do here.
I’m waiting to have my last meeting of the day with the salon manager when my cell phone rings. I smile when Nathan’s name comes up on the caller ID, especially since I haven’t talked to him all day.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby.” The way he says baby sends the butterflies in my stomach aflutter every single time.
“Hey, how’s your day going?”
“Busy, yours?”
“Same. I was actually calling you about this weekend.”
“What about it?” I question hoping that I did not forget something.
“My buddy owns a house on the beach down on the Jersey Shore. It’s empty right now, and I was hoping you’d want to spend the weekend with me there.”
“That sounds great. I’d love that.”
“You think you could be ready to leave tonight?”
“I’ve got about another thirty minutes at the spa, and then I’m headed home. I’ll pack a bag.”
“I’ll pick you up at six thirty, babe. I’ve got to go.”
He hangs up before I can say anything more, but I’m excited for a weekend away with him. I blow through my last meeting as quickly as possible and rush home to get ready for the weekend.
The doorbell rings just as I’m zipping my overnight bag. I drop it in the living room on my way to the front door. The moment I open it, I’m in Nathan’s arms, pulled into an embrace with his lips on mine. I let myself go, the way I’ve only ever done with him and in doing that, I go against my own boundaries. It’s like watching walls crumbling all around me, but I’m still here, I’m still standing, still in one piece. Fear be damned that Nathan’s in my life and I can’t let him go now. If this ends, it will be because he’s ended it.
“Hi, baby.” He greets me when we finally break the kiss.
I reply with a breathy, “Hi,” and a timid smile. Smart, confident woman melts into a puddle of mush on her living room floor… Nice, Victoria!
“You ready to go?” He walks in past me and picks up my bag.
“I’m ready,” I confirm, grabbing my purse and house keys off the table. He follows me out the front door, waiting for me to lock up my apartment, and then we head down the elevator together.
“I’m really excited for this weekend,” I tell him on our ride down the elevator.
He walks over to me, his body pressing against mine, pressing me against the wall. “Me, too,” he says, placing a kiss on my neck. His hands land on my hips and his fingers tug at the waist of my jeans. “I especially can’t wait to get you out of these.” I can’t speak, I have no words… literally, no words, and when the elevator finally reaches the lobby, I’m pretty sure I need to change my underwear.
I stop on the sidewalk when we exit my building and look around.
“How are we getting down to the shore? I don’t think our bags are going