“And what do you want me to do about that?”
“Well, she has a background in food service. I figure you know people in the bar industry. You know her, too. Maybe you could put in a good word with some bars and restaurant people you know?” Katya asked, chewing at her bottom lip.
“Hmmm, I could do that ...”
She groaned. She hated when his voice trailed off. It usually didn't bode well for her.
“Oh god, you're not gonna turn this into extortion, are you? I'm not fucking you just to get her a job,” Katya stated.
She hadn't slept with Liam since that time at the gym. It didn't feel right, not after the moments she'd had with Wulf. She didn't know what was going on, really, she was just going with the flow. Her heart was pointing at one man. Quite possibly the wrong man, but that's just the way her particular cookie crumbled. She didn't want to lead Liam on, and something in his smile, in the way he looked at her, made her think maybe she was, just a little.
“Please, I could get sex either way, I don't have to extort anyone. What I meant was, I could talk to some other bars, or she could work here,” he offered.
“There? At your sex club?”
“Well, upstairs – people have to work their way up to coming downstairs. But I need a bar back and a waitress. If she can do both those things, she's hired.”
“She can. I'll tell her to stop down there?”
“Yeah, I'll be there today, after two. Tell her to ask for me.”
“You're the best, Liam Edenhasslehoff.”
“Edenhoff. Jesus, how can you not have it down yet? We've seen each other almost every day for the past three weeks.”
“Has it really been three weeks!?”
“Glad to know it's been magical and special for you, too. You're awful, you know that?”
Katya rolled her eyes and finally opened the medicine cabinet. She put her bag on the sink and began shoveling supplies into it, watching as toothpaste, lotion, birth control, Tylenol, and Q-tips fell into her luggage. She closed the cabinet and shoved her toothbrush in her mouth.
“Yes, and it's about time you caught onto it, too. I have to go, Liam. I'm already almost an hour late, she probably thinks I'm dead,” she mumbled around the brush between her teeth. She stepped into her ballet flats, wiggling her feet around while she combed her fingers through her wet hair.
“A bad friend and a bad daughter. You are racking up some seriously bad karma.”
“Tell me about it. Tacos when I get back?” she asked, scrubbing the dry toothbrush around her teeth, hoping to get off at least some of the hangover film.
“You know it. Five days, right?”
“Correct,” she said, hoisting her bag up with one hand and opening the door with the other.
“A whole five days. How are you going to survive without me for that long of a time?”
“I'm sure I'll find a way -”
Katya stopped talking when she went to step through the door and found herself blocked in. Her jaw fell open, dropping her toothbrush to the floor. Not exactly classy, but she couldn't help it. She was shocked.
Wulf was standing outside her door.
“What? You cut out, are you still there?” Liam's voice sounded tinny and far away. She couldn't answer, could only stare up at the man in front of her.
“Time to get off the phone, Tocci,” he said in a simple voice.
“I have to go now,” she mumbled into the phone, reaching up to grab it.
“Okay, text me when you get there, alright?”
“Sure.”
She hung up, then went back to staring at Wulf. What in the hell was he doing there?
“You look surprised.”
She finally got control of her faculties and managed to nod.
“I am. What are you doing here?” she asked.
“More importantly, what are you wearing?” he asked his own question, his eyes traveling over her body.
She'd gone on her shopping adventure with Candi-with-an-i – it had been an interesting experience. Katya had refused to buy anything leather, despite the other girl's insistence. Debates were had, but in the end, she'd come home with a wardrobe dramatically less … pastel, than her normal one. Small for a normal girl, but a big deal for Katya.
She was wearing a pair of very short jean cut offs – she'd remembered Wulf's comment about her having great legs, and Liam usually paid special attention to them, so she had decided it was time to start showing them off more. Her tank top was loose and flowy, cut low on the neckline, but if she raised her arms, she'd also be showing off a large slice of her stomach. If she turned around, Wulf would see that the shirt didn't really have a back, but was just straps of fabric criss-crossing.
Typical for probably any other twenty-three year old, but very different from anything Wulf had seen her wear. She usually dressed on par with him, professional at all times. That morning was no different for him – he wasn't wearing a suit, but he was in a dress shirt, a casual blazer, and jeans. All of it well tailored and expensive looking.
“What are we doing right now?” she suddenly blurted out, as if she was just coming to. They'd been standing in her doorway just staring at each other. “I have to go.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you doing here?” she asked, bending down to grab her toothbrush off the floor. She tossed it over her shoulder and finally moved into the hallway, pushing past him and closing her door.
“I came to see you,” he said. She snorted and turned to lock up.
“I told you I was leaving. You missed your chance. I'm running late, I have to call my mom, go get a car, so many things,” she said, then she shivered as she felt his fingers on her spine, tracing down her back. She was only wearing a bandeau bra under her tank. There was very little fabric between her and him.
“No, you don't.”
When she went to turn around, he took her bag from her shoulder. Slung it over his own. She was a little surprised at his chivalry, but then he turned his back on her and walked away without saying anything. She had to jog to make it onto the elevator with him.
“What is going on?” she asked when he'd hit the button for the lobby.
“I called my mother yesterday.”
“Huh?”
She knew Wulf kept in touch with his mother. They weren't particularly close, but he checked on her, asked about his sisters. Still. What kind of phone call had it been, if it had him showing up at her place at nine in the morning?
“My mother. I realized it's been quite some time since I went home. She's visiting her sister, but she'll be home on Tuesday. Seemed like fate. I told her to tell your mother I'd give you a ride.”
Katya was so stunned, she forgot to move when the elevator stopped. He was halfway out the front doors before she remembered herself. She chased after him.
“You cannot be serious,” she gasped as they went outside. “I mean … what if I'd already left?”
“I called earlier, your roommate answered your phone, said you were in the shower. She's very interesting.”
She certainly is. Thanks for the heads up, Tori.