Alex threw his phone on the bed, wandered into the bathroom, and flipped on the radio built into the marble wall, reluctantly tuning to Darian’s station. This was a very masculine room, just like the rest of his apartment, done in neutrals and darker tones, but warm and comfortable. The bathroom was as luxurious as the rest of the place with a large, glass-enclosed walk-in shower with nine shower heads, eight of them in the walls and all adjustable, a large sunken whirlpool bathtub, which had never been used, track lighting, and gleaming, deep brown marble everywhere. The fixtures were a burnished gold rather than silver and the porcelain, a rich cream.
He shed his clothes and left them where they landed on the floor as he turned on the shower and adjusted the water temperature. The music from the radio filled the room, and he wondered if he had the right station. The acoustics in the room were incredible, and sound would fill the space even with the water running.
Alex didn’t recognize the song but soon a couple of commercials played, and he was well into shampooing his hair and letting the hot water take away the strain of the day before the talk show came back on air.
“This is Dr. Angeline Hemming with you After Dark on KKIS FM 104.5. How can I help you tonight?”
Alex paused at the sound of the soft and soothing voice echoing around him. Definitely sexy and not what he’d allowed himself to expect considering the original image he’d created. The voice did fit his friend’s photo much better than the unresponsive librarian-type he’d conjured in his own mind. He smiled slightly and turned into the spray to rinse his hair until it was squeaky-clean.
She could still be seriously unattractive, even with the smoking hot voice, he reminded himself. He’d had a friend in college who was a DJ at the college radio station and he’d hung out with him a couple of times. It’d been his experience that most radio talent was in radio, and not TV, for a reason. If he were honest, that voice stirred something deep down inside that made him want to hear it again, even if he was still arguing with himself. “Probably a hag and a nag,” he muttered under his breath.
He grabbed a towel and stepped out of the shower and started to rub his hair dry.
“Dr. Hemming?”
“Yes. What’s your name?”
Again, that sultry voice prickled the skin at the back of his neck. Alex threw the towel aside and ran his hands through his hair, trying to remove the unfamiliar feeling, and deciding that it definitely needed to be cut within the next week. Mental note: ask Mrs. Dane to make an appointment for the barber to come to the office—soon.
“What’s your situation?”
“I’m Mary. I’ve been with the same guy for more than five years, and we still aren’t even engaged!” The other girl had a mousy little voice that Alex strained to hear as he moved around his room pulling on a pair of black silk boxers. He lay down on his bed and propped himself up on four pillows, resting the cold glass on his hard stomach. God, he was exhausted, mentally and physically.
His phone buzzed beside him, and he glanced at it briefly. Whitney again. Christ! He put it on silent mode and tossed it on the bed.
“Hmmm… well, have the two of you actually talked about it? Did he ever mention marriage, Mary?” Alex perked up at the response.
Bingo. The guy never fucking said it.
Maybe she was going to be logical and realize that women assumed too damn much. Intriguing. A logical woman in a sea of emotional goo. Suddenly, he found himself hoping that was really Angeline Hemming in those photos he’d left in the other room.
“Well, yes. I mean we talk about things like what we’ll name our kids, so that means…” Mary’s voice dropped off in uncertainty. “Doesn’t it?”
Dr. Hemming sighed. “Not exactly. Mary, that’s the problem. Most men are literal in what they say unless it’s in the heat of passion. If he hasn’t proposed, gotten you a ring, or come right out and said he wanted to marry you in a lucid moment, then no, I wouldn’t assume anything.” She sighed in exasperation. “However, it irritates me that he would discuss children. That’s ignorant. He had to know how you’d interpret that.”
“But—” the caller began and she was cut short.
“There really are no buts, Mary. Have you asked him?”
“Are you suggesting I give him an ultimatum?”
Alex swallowed the last of the scotch and set the glass aside as he listened. His lips thinned to a firm line and his eyes narrowed. Here we go, he thought. Here is the meat of it. She’ll probably tell this woman to corner the poor bastard.
“No, Mary. That would never work long-term. He might marry you because he wouldn’t want to lose you, but later, if there were problems, he might blame you and accuse you of forcing the issue. He’ll say he felt trapped. That is not in your best interest, is it?”
There was silence from the caller so Angel continued. Angel. Alex ran the word over in his mind again as he realized she was turning into a real person; an elusive woman with full lips, high cheekbones, and the sexiest damn voice he’d ever heard. So oozing, it was like honey covering him in a warm, molten layer. If she was intelligent, savvy, and beautiful, it was definitely a lethal combination and not a one that came together readily.
“Mary, are you still with me?”
“Yes, Dr. Hemming. It’s just not what I was hoping you would say.”
“I’m afraid that’s the downside of this gig. I don’t get to say what you want to hear. I tell you the hard truth.”
“So, what should I do?”
“You need to figure out how to take care of yourself first. Your boyfriend does have choices, but only those you give him.” Alex sat up abruptly and pulled his knees up to rest his elbows on both knees. Holy shit!
“What do you mean?” the girl asked hesitantly.
“You can choose to let him continue along this path of least resistance, or you can alter the course, Mary. Tell him that it’s clear that the two of you want different things, and that you’re going to go out and get what you want. He’ll ask you what that is if he hasn’t before, giving you the opportunity to tell him. Not because you’re nagging, but because he asked. He will have the ball in his court. He gives you what you need, or he risks losing you. Then, even though it boils down to basically the same thing as an ultimatum, you’ll be relating to him in ways he’ll respect and understand. The thing is, Mary, he’ll think that it’s his choice, so he’ll own the decision. Do you understand what I’m telling you?” Her voice was so assured, and she was completely right. Completely right.
Alex was stunned. “Fucking hell,” he said softly into the dark.
Mary chuckled softly over the radio. “I think so. That’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
Alex's phone lit up on the bed next to him, but this time, it was a text from Darian. Alex smirked as he read it.
Is your dick hard NOW?
“Hmmph!” That smug asshole. Alex chuckled.
“Thank you. I hope this helped. Just stay calm when you talk to him. And, be prepared to follow through. If he won’t commit, walk.” Angel’s voice was sure and steady, but still velvety smooth. Alex ran a hand quickly through his damp hair. “If you don’t, he’ll never step up.”
“Thank you, Dr. Hemming. I will. I feel so much stronger after talking with you! I guess men can be like children. You have to stick to your guns or they never learn, right?” She giggled.