Page 52 of Hot Mess
But… here I was, doing my job. I was a professional, and he was still… well, beautiful, even if very possibly crazy.
And this job could be a very good thing for me. You know, professionally speaking. If I landed it.
It had better be. I was missing my candle making workshop for this.
Maybe half a minute later, Ashley Player opened the door himself and briefly looked me over. Kinda like the way you’d look over a door-to-door salesperson who’d interrupted you from something incredibly important—like the best sex of your life.
He was definitely exuding a sex vibe. It rolled off him in that same special way it did in my office, filling my head with all kinds of ridiculous ideas.
Unicorn sex!
Unfortunately, he was just as hot now as he was standing in my office two days ago. Hotter, actually, now that I was about to walk into his home. It felt personal. Intimate.
Yes, sexual.
But maybe that was just his sleeveless shirt, which showed off his gorgeous shoulders and ridiculously sexy arms, and the sweatpants that were barely clinging to his hips.
“Good afternoon,” I said, putting on my most pleasant-professional voice. But even I heard the words wobble a little.
I was standing face-to-face with a gorgeous unicorn—uh, rock star. It was natural to be a little nervous, right?
“Hey,” he grunted in a low, barely-welcoming voice. Then he shifted aside a bit, inviting me in without another word.
I stepped into his home, careful to avoid touching him. He hadn’t left me much space.
At a glance, I didn’t see anyone else in the apartment. I looked for signs of it, but I didn’t see a dog, either. Still wasn’t sure why he’d asked me if I had one.
Allergy?
There was music on, not quietly, but not loud either. Some old-school Guns N’ Roses song? Taylor would know the name of it, undoubtedly, but I didn’t.
I waited as Ashley shut the door, but even though he looked right at the pastry box, he didn’t offer to take it off my hands. So I balanced it on one hand as I awkwardly slipped off my high-heeled shoes with the other.
Ashley crossed his arms over his chest and watched me do it. I wobbled a little but managed to pull it off. Then I just stood, awkwardly, in his entryway.
Yep. I was definitely nervous as hell.
When he’d come into my office and Madeleine told him about me and Dani, I’d offered him this consultation out of sheer discomfort and desperation. One, I felt bad for him, and two, I just couldn’t stand to let Madeleine scoop him.
But as I stood here in his home, socloseto him… I knew the truth.
I wanted to see him again.
This was the only way I knew how to do that that wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate.
So, here I was.
I smiled, or tried to—he was still staring at me. Then I looked around.
The condo had a simple, open floor plan, obviously a one-bedroom layout. The kitchen was off to the right, the living area directly ahead in a spacious L-shape. The area closer to the kitchen was currently the living room, while what would’ve been the dining area by the windows was unfurnished. A short hallway on the left revealed doors to what had to be a washroom, laundry and linens, and the bedroom.
I was familiar with the builder. It was an excellent building with beautiful, high-quality design finishes, including such perks as top-of-the-line appliances, in-floor heating, and nine-foot floor-to-ceiling windows.
Ashley’s suite was well-situated, facing north, directly over Coal Harbour and to the mountains across the water. He wasn’t making much use of the view, though. A large flat-screen TV on a stand and the heavy window curtains obscured most of it.
“What a beautiful space,” I said.
Ashley remained silent.
