“But what?” he asks and before he can finish, my phone beeps and Peg’s announcing Tara’s visit. I can’t say I’m surprised, but I wasn’t exactly expecting her today.
“Hold on one sec,” I call out as I cross the office to my desk and ask Peg to not only have Tara wait, but to call over to Smith, Katz & Adams Sports Medicine Center and see if Rayna can meet me in my office right away.
When I return, Steve, being the scout that he is, picks right up where we left off.
“But…?” he asks expectantly.
“Ehhhh…let’s just say that I am fielding for standby public relations services,” I admit.
“Really?” The sleek grin that forms on Steve’s face can’t be ignored. “I mean, I hate to say I told your ass so, but I told your black ass so!” he trills. “What’s going on? Lackluster connections? Mediocre attendance—that’s, by the way, the piss poor excuse you gave us when we first approached you years ago about taking you on.”
I exhale deeply, “Nah, the girls are grinding. Let’s just say that the attention has been too…especial.”
Steve’s face deforms into an expression of disgust. “Ah, man! Don’t tell me you smashed one of them—or both…I know how trifling you can get.”
“N-no…no. No, man,” I sputter, taken by his accusation. “My cock runs up in just one set of lips now a day. It’s just one of the ladies—”
“Dawn!”
W-what?
“Yeah. If you’re talking about one of the two humping your leg, in heat, it’s Dawn.” Steve is clearly picking up my bewilderment. He’s always had a knack at reading nonverbal cues, which is likely why he’s soared in his craft. “Let’s just put it like this, she’s said some things that read a little outside of her contract with you. Just be careful, man.”
Strongly considering his words and with my forehead creased with concern, I nod. After bidding him a good day, I take the contract to my desk and start looking over the notes Steve and I agreed on. When I’m done, I ask Peg to have the latest intern come to my office to courier the edited contract over to Chesney.
Chris, the intern, from CSLBU retrieves the documents and is just leaving when Rayna appears at my door knocking, though it was open. Her brows are pinched and understandably so. I reach for the phone and asked Peg to send Tara in. Then I rise from my seat and cross the room for Rayna. When I reach her, I scoop her in my arms and inhale her neck. Though she’s still beyond sexy, I miss her long and wild hair. Sometimes I want to tug on it, like today, to loosen her up.
“Hey, baby,” I murmur as I observe her elongated neck, stretching to gaze into my eyes.
“Hey, to you,” she whispers, jarred by my affection. Not even I’m accustomed to being so touchy feely with a woman in public. But with Rayna it’s different. I always want to feel on her, caress her. Shit—sometimes I can’t help groping her. “Everything all right?”
It’s then that I see Tara moseying into the office, wearing the same bemused expression as Rayna a few seconds before.
“Yes,” I respond to Rayna, regretting having to let go. “I hope I didn’t disrupt you from tending to a patient.”
“Not exactly,” she murmurs. I can tell she’s still curious as to why I’ve asked her over.
Not seeing a reason to delay it, I break our embrace and lead her around to one of the chairs facing my desk. Smoothing my tie as I take my seat behind it, I ask Tara, “A seat please, Tara.” Dubiously, she acquiesces.
I don’t want to give drama an opportunity to erupt, so I kick off the assembly, “So, Tara, what brings you to Optimal Health Recreation Center?”
With strained narrowed eyes, Tara turns to Rayna, who throws a don’t look at me glance her way.
“Time, Tara. Neither I nor Ms. Brimm here have a lot of time. We’re in the middle of a workday.” I minimize the curt in my tone. “Please…your reason for being here.”
I can see Tara swallow as her bewildered eyes bounces between Rayna and me before she speaks. “My father.” Her eyes flutter. “I’m sure you’ve heard he’s been arrested on fabricated charges.” She wets her lips, a fortifying move. “Listen, Azmir, I don’t know what’s gotten into you…why you no longer speak with him. I mean, I know what’s happened between us, but my god, we’ve lost my mom, then you, and now my dad…” She was willing herself not to cry.
I glance over to Rayna, my eyes only, to see her captivated by Tara’s emotional state, and likely curious as to what is going on here. I give Tara a minute to continue, but when she doesn’t, I break the silence.
“And what brought you here today is…?” I speak as evenly as I can.