Sure if it had been a man, I would have no problem putting him in his place. But I always freeze like this when confronted by a woman like Anya. I suspect it has a lot to do with the same woman who I run from now, like the coward that I am. She was the only mother I’ve ever really known, and my worst nightmare all rolled into one. Eleanore.
***
Once I’m a couple blocks down the street and safely out of sight, I catch a taxi back to my apartment.
When I walk in the door, Alanna bursts up from the couch.
“What happened, Toto?” she asks, her eyes inspecting me for damage. “Did that fucker hurt you? I’ll kill him if he did.”
“No, he didn’t hurt me.” I plunk down on the couch and explain the whole embarrassing street confrontation, or lack thereof, to Alanna.
“Toto,” she soothes. “First of all, you are by no means a cheap whore. And I will gladly take on any bitch who says otherwise. Second of all, I hate to say it, but Gabriel is rich and famous and there are bound to be some crazy women after him. You just have to remember it’s you he’s chasing after, not them. He’s spent all week with you.”
I nod in agreement, knowing there’s no arguing that statement. Gabriel’s said as much himself.
“But you also need to be careful,” Alanna continues. “You need to stay out of the spotlight. If any articles run with your name or photo in it… well, we both know what will happen then. So just try to stay a little more low-key from now on. Like maybe next time take a change of clothes, a hat, some sunglasses… that sort of thing.”
I hug my knees to my chest knowing she’s right. “God, Alanna I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It’s okay babe. You don’t do this often, whereas I am a professional,” she jokes. “And I can tell you exactly how it’s done.”
I lean back into the couch feeling happy and comforted by Alanna’s advice. I count my blessings again for having a friend like her.
“Are you going to tell Gabriel about this?” she asks.
“I don’t know, probably not. I don’t want to seem like some jealous girlfriend. Our situation isn’t like that, and I don’t think she meant me any real harm. Besides, he’s having some kind of family function, so I won’t see him again for two days. I don’t want to interrupt him with this nonsense.”
“Good point, darling,” Alanna jokes in her best Russian accent. “So how about we both stay in tonight and invite Trevor over to compliment us endlessly. We can rent all the Top Design Season One disks, and laugh repeatedly as the judges blast Anya Petrovski.”
“Sounds awesome,” I agree. “Can’t wait.”
Chapter Four
Gabriel
I just spent the last ten hellish hours with my parents, pretending like we are one big happy family. It was our annual family gathering in remembrance of my brother, and every year it’s tradition that as soon as it’s over, I come home and get drunk.
I can’t remember doing anything else for years. But tonight as I sit in my lonely apartment, drinking whiskey at the bar, I realize it isn’t what I really want. What I really want is to lose myself in a woman. To feel her lips on mine, her warm body wrapped around my cock.
But as I think about it, there’s only one woman who comes to mind. Only one woman who can fulfill the need that I have at this moment. The woman with the haunted amber eyes. The woman I can’t get out of my fucking head.
I grab my leather jacket and head out the door before I can stop myself. I know it isn’t smart, going to her like this. It makes me look weak, and I don’t like that at all. But the part of me that isn’t thinking with my cock dares to hope she isn’t like the other soul-sucking vipers I’m accustomed to. She’s invaded all of my thoughts and broken down my walls already. I’m too soft with her. And if I’m wrong about her, she could destroy me.
***
As I stand outside her door, I think about what Parker would have told me to do. I smile at the thought. He would have loved her, and he would have told me I was being a fucking moron if I didn’t follow through.