between five and six if they are open to ‘hook up’ for the night. Basically, they put in their application each day and wait to see if he chooses them as the toy for the night.”
“Seriously?”
“I wouldn’t exactly explain it like that.”
Soraya barked out a laugh, “how would you explain it?”
“To avoid getting texted throughout the day, I request that all texts come between a particular time. And, yes. I may contact one of them back to spend time with them.”
Yeah, I know I have zero game at reading men. Texting for sex… seriously.
Graham walked in holding his son’s hand in one hand and two bottles in a wine bucket in the other hand. The two were both dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. The Morgan family, all dressed in jeans and t-shirts, looked like they were preparing for a magazine shoot.
“Babe, Chloe is going to spend the night at Hannah’s, and her mom is taking the girls out to their early riding lesson. I arranged for Louis to pick her up from the barn and take her to school. And I postponed the Wellington meeting with her coaches.”
“Hold on. You got me out of a before dawn drive to the barn?” Soraya beamed up at her husband as Lorenzo sat at her feet, taking the train from a basket next to the chair. She winked up to Graham, “I love you so much.”
“Thanks for watching Chloe for us. Staying for dinner?” Graham placed the wine on the coffee table and ran his fingers through Soraya’s hair.
“Please stay.” Soraya held a truck up for the smiling toddler.
“I don’t have any plans and would love to stay.” I looked over at Anderson, “I don’t want to speak for the man that has so many opportunities for the evening.”
A shiver jetted through my body as his fingers brushed my shoulders.
“Soraya, I’d love to stay for dinner.” His tone was commanding, and I couldn’t help but turn to look at him. He was staring at me as he continued, “There is no place I’d rather be than here with all of you. Thank you for the offer.”
A knock at the door startled me and drew Anderson’s gaze away from mine. I released my breath and made my way to the window. There would have been no way I could describe what I saw out the window. My head understood the dangers, but the butterflies that rammed the inside of my stomach when he touched me made it hard to care.
“This is what NYC postcards are made of,” I whispered out into the Universe.
“Jurnee,” Soraya approached, followed by a lovely woman with a big smile. “This is my friend, Delia. Delia, this is Jurnee. Anderson, you remember Delia, right?”
“Of course,” I walked over to shake Delia’s hand.
“Welcome to the Big Apple.” I giggled at Delia’s comment and caught Anderson’s eye roll. “How are you liking it so far?”
“Thank you. The city is overwhelming, but I haven’t gotten lost in at least two hours.”
Both women laughed, Soraya asked, “Does anyone want wine?”
“Soraya,” Graham called from somewhere in the apartment.
His wife shook her head and kissed her son on his cheek and gestured to her friend. “Why don’t you pour the wine on the counter while I solve whatever Daddy needs.”
Delia nodded and headed for the kitchen. Soraya excused herself, making the room seem to shrink. It was just Anderson and me. I returned my attention to the view. His stare was on me like a coat.
I returned to my seat. His scent had consumed my senses throughout the day as I tried to identify what he smelled like. Oh my God… A mixture of bubbly champagne and an orange soda. I opened my eyes to find him staring at me. Oh my God. You are gorgeous.
“So, Jurnee, what would you be doing if you were back home in Michigan?”
“It’s Monday night. That means weekly dinner at my parents’ house, having baked chicken because my dad refuses to use the grill we gave him five years ago. Then, I’d head back to my place to have a warm autumn cocktail in the backyard with Derrick.”
“You’re close to your family then.” His tone had a hint of longing that surprised me.
I tilted my head from my left shoulder and then to my right. “Close is one word.” I immediately felt guilty. “My parents are the best, and my sister is just my sister. She’s a lot.”
“How so?”
“Well, she sells real estate, and she has the personality of