“The alley will probably be blocked for most of the day. I hope that’s okay,” he said.
“Of course. No…no problem,” Amber stumbled over her words. She took several deep breaths and tried to gain her composure. She was a single adult woman. She should be able to talk to an attractive man.
“Great. I have two crews working to take care of it, to ensure we don’t inconvenience you too badly.”
“No inconvenience, Mr. Baldwin. I don’t have a delivery until Thursday so I won’t be using the alley,” she hurriedly assured him.
He nodded again and they stood in silence. Amber tried to think of something to say, but her mind was blank. He leaned a hip against the counter, confidence radiating from him.
Amber couldn’t help but admire the suit he wore. Dark grey material fit perfectly on his broad shoulders, the pants showed off his muscular thighs and a bright white button down shirt spread wide over his chest. Her father wore suits like it, but he never looked as good as Thomas did. Each time he visited her store, he was always dressed professionally. She wondered what he would look like in jeans or maybe naked. Yes, naked and sprawled on her bed while she dragged her tongue up and down…
Realising she was staring at him and neither was speaking, Amber looked up. He was watching her and she could feel a blush stain her cheeks.
What must he think? Her staring at him like some schoolgirl. Rubbing her damp hands on her pants, she offered a tentative smile. “Can I get you a cup of coffee, Mr. Baldwin?”
He shook his head. “I should go. I only wanted to explain about the alley.”
Amber tried to hide the disappointment. “All right. Well, thank you for telling me.” Amber stayed where she was, waiting for him to leave.
He opened his mouth but then firmly closed it again without speaking. Nodding once, he turned to leave.
Amber felt the unbelievable urge to call out to him. To get him to stay and have a cup of coffee or anything to keep him in her presence longer.
But she didn’t. Coward she was, she only watched him walk away, eyes on his fine rear end.
He stopped at the door and Amber raised her gaze to meet his. Amusement was evident in his eyes. Before he could reach for the doorknob, the door opened. Amber was surprised when he remained where he was instead of stepping aside and letting whoever was at the door enter.
When he started to speak in a hushed voice, she strained to hear. Unable to make out the words or see who was there, she waited. Disappointment swept through her when Thomas followed the other person out the door.
For a moment, she had thought, and hoped, it was Thomas’s business partner Jake Grant.
Jake was another male who made Amber wish she was the type of woman who chased after men. He was just as tall as Thomas but had longer hair and wild blue eyes. He had ‘bad boy’ written all over him. She’d never been attracted to the bad boy type but Jake had something about him that had Amber’s body aching for release.
Amber fantasised about him as much as Thomas. The two men owned every wet dream she had these days. She’d seen them several months before in a restaurant and the looks that they sent back and forth over the table had made her hot enough that she’d used her vibrator that night until she’d ran the batteries down.
She’d often wondered what exactly their relationship was. Was it more than business? While it would be a shame for every woman alive if the two of them were an item romantically, she also though it would be hot as hell!
The night she’d seen them eating dinner they’d come over to the table she and Trish had been at. They’d even joined them for an after-dinner drink.
Amber hadn’t felt as comfortable with anyone as she’d been with them that night. It might have been the wine or the fact that Trish had been there to run interference if she made some stupid comment, but Amber had enjoyed the two men’s company.
The fantasies had started that night and had continued until she was almost so desperate for them that she couldn’t stand to be alone in the same room.
It was also after that that both Thomas and Jake had become regular customers. While Thomas enjoyed true crime novels like Amber, Jake was all about fiction. Heavy on action and suspense. Their choices of books matched what she thought about them. And she thought about them often.
Lifting her hair off her neck, she used her free hand to fan herself. She had customers who would arrive soon and they didn’t need to see her all hot and bothered.
Chapter Two
Amber stood in front of her full-length mirror. What had she been thinking when she let Jessica talk her into this dress? She’d never owned anything so revealing before. She hardly recognised herself.
The dress was one of the most beautiful she’d ever seen. The silk green garment went all the way to the floor, had little thin straps and a bare back. She couldn’t wear a bra in it and had bought an itsy bitsy g-string for underneath. The black heels she’d bought ensured she’d break her neck before the night was through.
She’d curled her long brown hair and left it to cascade over her shoulders. Her minimal make-up was just enough to enhance her features. As she leant in to get a better look, she stared at a stranger.
Though she had to admit she looked good, great even. She looked like a confident woman who always got what she wanted. Turning to see from every direction, she wondered if she could pull this off. For one night, could she set her inhibitions aside and just have fun? She wasn’t sure she could, but she was going to try.
A car horn honked and she smiled at her reflection. “Time to go,” she whispered
Trish and Jessica oohed and aahed as Amber got in the car. Amber appreciated them but could tell they were slightly surprised by her appearance as well. The entire drive to the hotel where the auction was being held Jessica kept glancing at the rear view mirror with a huge smile.
Amber looked out the window as they pulled up to the valet of the hotel. The Crest Fall Hotel was the best in the city. One she’d never stayed at but had heard wonderful reviews about. Of course the auction would be held here. Some of the men on the block were the richest and most powerful in the city.
Her stomach was filled with butterflies as she stepped from her car. Trish hooked arms with her and pulled her forward. They followed other elegantly dressed people until they reached the ballroom.
Trish let go of her arm and dug in her purse for the tickets. They were handed three paddles to bid with, told to have a good time and reminded the bid was for charity.
The ballroom was marvellous with round tables covered with white tablecloths. Candles and flowers were placed in the middle of the tables. Red and pink balloons and streamers were placed around the room attractively. The lights were on as everyone found their assigned tables.
Jessica grabbed champagne glasses from a passing waiter and handed them out. “Let’s find our table. I can’t wait to see where our seats are.”
Trish rolled her eyes but smiled.
Amber followed at a slower pace, taking in the whole experience. She’d never been to one of these fundraisers before. She usually just mailed a cheque for any charity she wished to help. This…this was all so much.
She noticed they were walking deep into the crowd and looked ahead for Jessica. Her friend had stopped at a table right in front of the stage.
“This can’t be our table,” Amber said, her voice low, when she reached her friend.
“It is,” Jessica responded, happily picking up her nametag. Amber looked down and saw her name.
“Just where did you get the tickets?” she asked Trish.
Trish just shrugged. “I told you they were a gift.”