“You want a good husband, a home, babies?”
She glanced at him. “Yes.”
“The problem is you and this man you loved a long time ago don’t want the same things. A man never changes, not for any woman.”
“I know.” She hugged her knees.
“Will you walk away?”
“I won’t have to. He will. He always does.”
“Good. He doesn’t deserve you.”
He was sweet for trying to cheer her up. She untangled her handbag. “I better go. I’ll be shattered tomorrow, and I have a long day ahead.”
When she stood, he got up, too. “May I walk you home?”
After the bizarre sensation she’d had earlier of being watched, she didn’t feel like walking alone. “I’d appreciate that.”
They made their way downstairs to the main entrance. Gerry greeted her but ignored Zach. Zach had to have annoyed Gerry terribly, because Gerry was a sweet man who always greeted everyone.
Outside, Zach looked up at the sky. “Look at the moon. She’s full and beautiful.”
Alice followed his gaze. “Pretty.”
“Just like you.”
“I’m not pretty.”
“I meant full and beautiful.”
She laughed. “That’s a nice way of telling me I’m fat.”
“You’re prefect.”
“Stop it.” She swung her bag at him, but he dodged in time. “You’re making me self-conscious.”
A couple of young men exiting a Goth club gave them a strange look, which made Alice laugh, again. The guys stared at them from over their shoulders.
“Why are they looking at us? Do I have something in my teeth?”
Zach shook his head. “They’re just looking because you’re so different.”
“I’m going to keep you around. You can only be good for a girl’s self-image.”
“I’ll hold you to it.” He winked.
When they arrived at her door, she fished her keys from her bag. “Thanks for walking me.”
He leaned his forearm on the frame above his head and shoved his other hand in his trouser pocket. “May I come inside?”
Zach made her feel good about herself, desirable even. “It’s late.”
“Is that a yes?”
“No.” She unlocked the door with a smile. “Good night.”
“Until soon.”
He didn’t try to kiss her, and she was glad. She wasn’t ready for anyone else’s lips but Ivan’s, and she needed Zach to be a friend. She’d need some kindness in her life to keep her from falling apart when Ivan was no longer there to hold her down, screw her senseless, and tell her the brutal truth.
A headache woke Alice the following morning. It was the crying. Whenever she cried herself dry, she woke up with a hammer keeping time in her head. She took a headache tablet from the bathroom cabinet and drank it with her hand cupped under the tap. Lifting her nightdress, she regarded her backside in the mirror. Red welts crisscrossed over her bottom. The warm satisfaction at the knowledge that Ivan had marked her came as a surprise. Like a conditioned animal, her body jumped to life just thinking about the sting of Ivan’s palm on her bottom. Could she ever demand this from Henry?
She imagined standing in front of him in a sexy nightdress on their wedding night. “Henry, dear, do you mind giving me an erotic spanking?”
The ridiculous scenario didn’t work.
Could Zach fill the role? “Can you bend me over the couch and paddle me, Zach?”
She flushed at her thoughts and laughed out loud. They’d think she was mad. She dropped her nightdress with a sigh, her skin breaking out in goosebumps when the silk caressed her sensitive flesh.
After a shower and a quick breakfast, she made it to work just on time. Another bouquet of twelve red roses stood on her desk. Again, there was no card. She dropped her bag and studied the flowers with her hands on her hips. Yesterday, she’d thought someone had left them on her desk by mistake, but such a mistake couldn’t happen twice.
She dialed the daytime guard. “Peter, do you know who delivered flowers to my office?”
“Same florist as yesterday, miss.”
“What is the name?”
“Let me check the register.” There was short pause. “It’s called Pink.”
“Thank you.”
She looked up the name in a search engine on her smartphone and pressed the dial button. An elderly lady answered.
“Good morning, my name is Alice Jones. I received a bouquet today, and I’d like to know the name of the sender so I can write a thank you note.”
“We don’t give out our clients’ details, my dear. Our shop is known for being discreet.”
“Will you give me a hint? The first letter of his name?”
“Who said it was a man?”
“I just assumed.”
“We have female clients, too.”
“You’re not going to help me?”
“If I helped every young lady who called, I’d be out of business. Curiosity is not a helpful trait.”
Alice sighed. “Thank you, anyway.”
Johnny walked into her office, rubbing his temples.
She hung up. “What’s wrong? Can I get you a cup of tea?”
He flopped down in the visitor chair. “I just walked out of an early board meeting. The theater is in financial trouble.”