“You two know each other? Perfect. I can stop playing tour guide and get my work done. Dawson, I’m leaving you in Vanessa’s capable hands.”
I stare into the eyes of the boy I met at Keatyn’s eighteenth birthday party. His dark brown eyes lock with mine, reaching inside my soul and grabbing something deep inside me and pulling it to the surface.
I have two simultaneous desires. I want to both comfort him and screw his brains out. And I have no idea why.
The comforting part, I mean.
It’s obvious why I would want to screw this man.
Dawson leans in and gives me a sweet kiss on the cheek. “The Alpha of all Alphas. How are you? You look amazing.”
Amazing doesn’t begin to describe how scrumptious Dawson looks. He’s matured, obviously, in all the right places. His shoulders are broader. His neck is thicker. I can’t see what’s under his perfectly tailored navy pinstripe suit, but based on the way his jacket tapers in at the waist, I’m guessing it’s good. His dark, thick hair is cut short and he’s a walking advertisement on the perfect amount of scruff. He and Riley look a lot alike, but Dawson is bulkier, his face fuller, and his shoulders even broader.
“Thank you,” I finally say, tearing my eyes away from his. “Long time no see.”
Oh, for god’s sake, I sound like a teenager at the mall.
Maybe because that’s what I feel like.
“Awww!” Keatyn says. “Everyone loved the lines you said in the movie! Vanessa, do you remember what you said to Dawson at my birthday party after I introduced you?”
“I haven’t seen the movie yet,” Dawson admits, “But I do remember. Keatyn said, This is Dawson Johnson, he’s headed to NYU this fall and plans to major in luxury marketing.” He looks deeply into my eyes again. “Do you remember what you said back?”
“We have a lot in common, then, because I plan to major in luxury spending.”
Dawson smiles broadly and laughs. “Then you invited me to Tommy’s office for a glass of scotch. That was fun.”
“And here you both are now,” Keatyn claps. “Working for Captive on just that. I have to get going. Vanessa, I was wondering if you might be able to spend the day with Dawson. Talk shop. Get him up to speed on your current projects and impress him with your plans for our future, especially Daddy’s Angel.”
“I’d appreciate that, Vanessa,” sexy Dawson agrees. “I’ve already gotten the tour of the place, but Keatyn was a little vague as to what I’d be doing on a day-to-day basis.”
I know what I’d like to be doing with him on a day-to-day basis.
But, somehow, I doubt that’s what Keatyn had in mind.
Captive Films - Santa Monica
DAWSON
It’s be a while since I felt anything for a girl.
Make that a woman.
Vanessa may have been a girl when I met her, but now she’s all woman. She still has the confidence and poise I remember, but her smile is tinged with something I see in my own.
Sadness.
When we were teenagers, everything seemed so simple. So hopeful.
You’re hot. Let’s hookup.
Sadly, that’s still the only pick up line I know.
It’s really hard to concentrate on what she’s telling me. She’s giving me an overview of projects Captive Films is working on. She’s discussing target audiences for each. All stuff I understand well.
Except I find myself just staring at her lips.
Lips I kissed on a night that feels like it was a lifetime ago.
I’ve been feeling old since Whitney left but sitting here today, looking at her lips, I feel young again.
“I’m staring at your lips,” I tell her.
She immediately brings her hand up to her lips, like she has something on them. “Why?”
“They’re exactly as I remember them. Full. Lush. Perfect. And you still wear the same color lipstick.”
She smiles. “It’s funny, I just started wearing red lipstick again. I wore it back then because it made me feel confident. I guess that’s why I’ve been wearing it lately.”
“Why in the world would you need help feeling confident?”
She looks at her watch. A beautiful diamond encrusted one. The kind a man who has both money and taste would have bought her.
I look at her left hand. No wedding ring has appeared since the last time I checked ten minutes ago.
How is it that she’s not married?
“It’s nearly lunch,” she says. “I’m going to need a martini if we’re going to get personal.”
“A drink sounds good to me.”
Captive Films - Santa Monica
VANESSA
“Do you have a car or would you like me to drive?” I ask him as we head outside.
“I have no idea where to go, but I’d love to drive.” He points toward a gorgeous new red Ferrari.
I try not to cringe at his choice of cars. My ex, Bam, had a thing for Ferraris. He even had their prancing horse symbol tattooed on his chest. “You like Ferraris, I see,” I say, trying not to choke on the word.
“Don’t tell Keatyn, but it’s not really me.”
“It’s not?”
“It’s a little flashy, don’t you think?”