“You have precious cargo. Make sure she arrives safely.”
The driver laughed and with a wave, pulled away from the curb. I looked over my shoulder, watching Mitch disappear from my view, and wondered why I felt so sad to leave him.
* * *
“Do you really have to go?” Mitch groaned, pulling me closer, pressing light kisses to my neck.
“I’ve been here all afternoon. I have to get ready for work tomorrow. So do you, I assume.”
I had to fight back the impulse to say screw it and stay with him in his big bed where he’d lured me to not long after I arrived. Saturday night and Sunday morning had been filled with his constant texts, funny gifs, and sweet messages. When he’d thrown open the door and pulled me inside, he had kissed me as if it had been weeks, not hours, since he’d seen me last. I had to drag him out of his place to do some grocery shopping, and once we returned and ate, he enticed me to his room.
He muttered a curse and rolled over, flinging an arm over his face. “Let’s forget about work and stay here.”
I laughed and slid from the bed, reaching for my leggings. “Nice, Mr. Bigshot. Maybe you can play hooky, but I can’t. That new architect arrives tomorrow and Michelle will be on a tear.” I picked up my shirt and shook out the wrinkles before pulling it over my head. “Did they have a welcoming committee for you when you started at your new place?” I chuckled. “I have an image of us all lining up when Mr. Mackenzie walks in, and curtsying to him. I think he’s old enough to appreciate it.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I helped unpack his things. He’s obviously well-traveled, so I guessed he was older. And Michelle was in such a tizzy, I assume he is very well-known.”
Mitch sat up and I took a minute to appreciate the view. Broad shoulders, well-defined pecs, and a six-pack made up his form. The light blanket draped across his lap did nothing to hide his erection that grew as I stared at him. He lifted one eyebrow, crossing his arms casually behind his head, showing off his fine body. His voice was low and husky. “Careful, Mandy. I won’t let you out of here if you keep staring like that.”
The thought of another round of sex with Mitch made me whimper. We were amazing together. He made me feel things I had never felt. I wanted to try everything with him, and he was only too happy to oblige.
I shook my head to clear the lustful thoughts.
“It’s after seven. I have to get home.”
He slid from the bed, grabbed his jeans, and pulled them on. I ogled his ass while he was bent over, trying not to grin. It was a great ass, and the left cheek was imprinted with my mark. It suited him.
“I’ll call you a taxi,” he said grudgingly, throwing me a look that brooked no argument.
I wandered into the main room and picked up my purse that had fallen to the floor. A large framed print behind the sofa caught my eye, and I drew closer to inspect it. It was a building, high and soaring, set against the backdrop of a large city. Bold, dynamic, unique.
Familiar, somehow.
I tugged it from behind the sofa, studying it. My gaze fell to the bottom corner and the MM slashed out in black pen.
Mitch cleared his throat behind me.
I turned and stared at him. “You’re a fan of Mr. Mackenzie?”
“Um, not exactly.”
“Why do you have his work then?”
He shuffled his feet, hanging his head, before lifting his face to meet my confused gaze.
“Because it’s my work, Mandy. I’m Mr. Mackenzie.”
Chapter Four
Mandy
After Mitch had dropped his bombshell, I stepped back, shocked, clutching the back of the sofa.
“What?”