“Oh, sorry, I’ll take the next one.”
My eyes meet hers. “No, it’s fine. There’s no reason we can’t share an elevator Cassey.”
She nods briefly, and diverts her gaze, but not before I see that her eyes are red and puffy.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask, taking a tentative step towards her.
“No,” she mumbles with sniffle. “But I will be.”
For a moment I’m stumped. What do I say? I’m not normally the guy who offers comfort when a woman cries, but something on Cassey’s face makes me want to.
“Anything I can do to help?”
Her shoulders drop and she sucks her bottom lip into her mouth. “Sure, you can find me an apartment to live in, since Quinn’s apartment has already been sold and the owners of the place I was going to move into tomorrow have decided to get a divorce and sell the place instead of renting it.”
I open my mouth, but Cassey’s hand comes up to silence me. “Forget I mentioned it. I’m rambling, and it isn’t your problem.”
The elevator comes to another stop, and before I can say anything, Cassey is out the doors. When they close I’m left alone again, and make the rest of the trip up to my office.
Sitting down at my desk, an idea pops into my head.
I know a way I can help Cassey.
∞
“Thanks, Chase. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I put the phone down, and smile to myself. My buddy Chase is a Real Estate developer, and he owns a new apartment block only a few blocks from here. They won’t be completely finished for another week, but Chase has agreed to let me show Cassey what they look like.
I use the excuse that I want to find out how Cassey is progressing with her digital publishing platform, and pay her a visit.
Her office door is open, and she’s on the phone, so I walk in, close the door and wait for her to finish her call.
When she puts the phone after five more minutes, she stands and walks around her desk, but does’t come any closer. I know she’s keeping the distance for a reason, probably a good reason, but I’m not here to talk about that.
When she puts the phone after five more minutes, she stands and walks around her desk, but does’t come any closer. I know she’s keeping the distance for a reason, probably a good reason, but I’m not here to talk about that.
“Can I help you with something?” Cassey asks, keeping her voice hard with impassivity. Her eyes are still a little red.
“What you said in the elevator earlier - ”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything,” she says quickly, interrupting me. “It’s not appropriate - ”
“Will you let me finish talking, dammit?”
Her eyes widen at the tone of my voice and she snaps her lips closed.
“Is it true? That you need to find a new place to stay?”
“Yes, but Kyler - ”
“I can help you,” I say, cutting her off.
“How?”
“I have a friend who’s a real estate developer, and they’re finishing off a new block of apartments not too far from here. I call him, and he said we can go look at them tomorrow.”
“Why would you do that for me?” I hate how suspicious and incredulous her voice sounds. Like she doesn’t quite trust me. I’m going to have to change that.
“Because I wanted to,” I reply honestly.
“Wow,” she breathes out. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. We have one thing to clear up first.”
“And that is?”
“Well,” I rub the back of my neck, “They won’t be ready for one more week.”
Cassey’s face drops and she leans against her desk. “I don’t have anywhere to stay until then…I can’t stay with Quinn and Jarred, and I can’t afford a hotel for that long… oh no, what am I going to do.”
I take a breath, because for some reason I feel nervous about what I’m going to say next.
“You can stay with me.”
Cassey shakes her head. “No, no, that can’t happen. It’s a terrible idea.” “Ouch,” I chuckle.
“You know I’m right, Kyler. It’s crazy!”
I take a step closer. “I know you have no other option, and I’m offering to help you.”
“I…uh…” Cassey hesitates. “Will we have to share a bed?”
“No.” I keep my face straight. “But if you want to…”
Cassey’s eyes bug out. “If this is some ridiculous ploy to get me to sleep with you, it won’t work.”
Closing the space between us, I rest my hands on her hips and lean down close enough to touch her nose with mine. “It’s already working, because I can hear you think about it. I’m offering to help you, Cass, just accept it. I’ve already told you we’re going to happen.”
Her breaths quicken, and I grip her hips tighter to stop myself from sliding them up to her tits. Her gold blouse is unbuttoned, and her perfect tits are spilling out from her white lace bra. Her skin looks soft, and I torture myself with thoughts of how it will feel under my fingertips, and how it will taste. “Say yes,” I whisper against her mouth.
Our eyes connect, her hazel to my blue, and I see her internal war. Her feelings, doubts and ability to think rationally all crash, and collide like waves. Until her decision is made.
“Okay,” she replies quietly.
Her eyes close and she presses her lips to mine.
Chapter 7
~ Cassey ~
Kyler opens the door to the new apartment I will hopefully be moving into in a weeks time, and I ponder my decision to stay with him until its ready. It really is crazy. But what other choice do I have? Jarred and Quinn have just moved in together, and the last thing I want is to crowd them. And I really can’t afford to stay at a hotel for a week.
“So, this is it,” Kyler says. His hand rests on my lower back, but I try not to allow it to affect me. It’s proving to be very distracting, especially when I can feel the heat radiating from his fingers.
“It’s beautiful,” I reply. And it is. Taking a step further into the open space, I immediately fall in love with the openness and the light that comes through to huge windows.
There’s no furniture, but I can fill it up a few pieces at a time until it’s a home. My home.
“It comes fully furnished, so by the time you move in, it’ll all be here,” Kyler says, as if reading my thoughts.
“I’m not sure I can afford the rent on a place like this,” I remark, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
“You can look at the lease agreement, and then decide. If you can’t afford it, I’ll help you find another place.”
“Even so, I doubt it will fall into my price range. But I appreciate you helping me,” I pause. “Although, I have no idea why you’re doing it if not to get into my panties.”
Kyler’s mouth twists into a sinful smile and walks over to where to I’m standing.
“You know I want into your panties, Cass, but I’m doing this to be nice. Guys are capable of being nice without ulterior motives.”
“Do you have ulterior motives, Kyler?” I ask, looking into his vivid blue eyes. “You’ll have to wait to find out,” he answers flirtatiously.