I fish my phone from the inner pocket of my suit jacket. I pull up Adley's contact information and hit the call button. The annoying song she has pinned as her ringtone when she's on call starts up behind the closed door. It's loud as hell and for good reason. It's the only thing that will get her out of bed and to the clinic.
It continues unanswered until it goes to voicemail.
Shit.
I set out down the corridor at a quick pace passing the semi-private elevator I just exited before I round the corner as the service elevator's doors shut behind the doorman.
I call her again, hoping that the incessant music will jar her awake. By some miracle she answers on the third ring, her voice soft and groggy. "Yes. Hi."
I stalk toward the elevator and the stunned doorman. I don't want Adley to know how close I am. I want to give her at least a two minute warning before I open the apartment door again. "Ad, it's me. What are you up to tonight?"
The doorman shoots me a puzzled look. I half-shrug as I drop my briefcase and lean a hand on his shoulder to catch my breath.
"Crew?" She says my name and my dick twitches again. It hasn't calmed since I saw her half-naked. Her voice brings it back to full mast. "Where are you?"
"I just got to my building. I'm heading up to my apartment." I arch a brow at the doorman. "I wanted to see if you're in the mood for a burger at your favorite place."
I hear the distinctive sound of rustling. "What? You're in New York? You're not coming home for another few days."
"I'm back early. Can I swing by and pick you up after I shower?"
"Actually," she begins on a small, soft laugh." Sydney is having a party tonight. I'm at your place. I needed the peace and quiet. I hope that's okay."
It's perfect.
"I'm about to walk through the door. I hope you're decent
." I shoot the doorman a wide grin. The look of confusion on his face is pure gold.
She exhales deeply. It's breathy, light, and fuck is it sexy. "I am."
"I'll see you in less than a minute."
"Crew?"
My heart stops at the sound of my name from her lips. There's a need in her voice I've never heard before. "Yes?"
"I'm glad you're back."
"Me too," I say quietly in return before I start back toward my apartment, ready to face the woman I'm going to fantasize about every fucking day until I draw my last breath.
Chapter 11
Crew
I stare into Adley's vibrant blue eyes. I see things now that I couldn't see when I was standing over her near naked body imagining what it would be like to touch her.
Her eyes are red, her bottom lip is swollen. She's been sobbing and biting on that lip. It's what she does when her world has fallen off its axis. The thought of her alone, on my couch, crying herself to sleep breaks my heart.
"I didn't know you were coming back." She tugs on the bottom of the white T-shirt she's wearing. She also slipped a pair of cut-off denim shorts over her panties.
Her hair is a mess and her face scrubbed clean of makeup. It seems impossible, but it makes me want her even more than I did ten minutes ago.
"My work was done." I brush past her to take my bags to my bedroom. "I have things to take care of here."
Her. I want to take care of her.
I hear the soft pad of her bare feet as she follows me down the long corridor to my master suite. It's tucked away from the main living area and the guest room.