Hi Guys,
Sorry it's taken me waaaayyy too long to get this posted I've had a crazy but good few weeks. I'm already working on the next part... should be up tomorrow night.
Chapter 3 – Part 2
Holy Crap! She's wearing a white shirt, open at her ample cleavage, and grey flannel pants that are hanging from her hips in just the right way. Her unruly hair is in loose curls cascading around her beautiful face. My mouth goes dry looking at her… she's so freaking hot. Davies is followed into the suite by a man in his mid-thirties, all buzz-cut and stubble in a sharp dark suit and tie who stands silently in the corner. His hazel eyes watch us impassively.
"Miss Carlin, we meet again." Davies extends her perfectly manicured hand, and I shake it, blinking rapidly. Oh my… she really is, quite… wow. As I touch her soft had, I'm aware of that delicious current running right through me, lighting me up, making me blush, and I'm sure my erratic breathing must be audible.
"Miss Davies, this is Madison Duarte," I mutter, waving a hand toward Maddy who comes forward, looking her squarely in the eye.
"The tenacious Miss Duarte. How do you do?" She gives her a small smile, looking genuinely amused. "I trust you're felling better? Spencer said you were unwell last week."
"I'm fine, thank you, Miss Davies." She shakes her hand firmly without battling an eyelid. I remind myself that Maddy has been to the best private schools in L.A. Her family has money, and she's grown up confident and sure of her place in the world. She doesn't take any crap. I am in awe of her.
"Thank you for taking the time to do this." She gives her a polite, professional smile.
"It's a pleasure," she answers, turning her dark gaze on me, and I flush again. Damn it.
"This is Carmen Morales, our photographer," I say, grinning at Carmen who smiles with affection back at me. Her eyes cool when she looks from me to Davies.
"Miss Davies," she nods.
"Miss Morales," Davies's expression changes too as she appraises Carmen.
"Where would you like me?" Davies asks her. Her tone sounds vaguely threatening. But Maddy is not about to let Carmen run the show.
"Miss Davies – if you could sit here, please? Be careful of the lighting cables. And then we'll do a few standing, too." She directs her to a chair set up against the wall.
Lola switches on the lights, momentarily blinding Davies, and mutters an apology. Then Lola and I stand back and watch as Carmen proceeds to snap away. She takes several photographs hand-held, asking Davies to turn this way, then that, to move her arm, then put it down again. Moving to the tripod, Carmen takes several more, while Davies sits and poses, patiently and naturally, for about twenty minutes. My wish has come true: I can stand and admire Davies from no-so-afar. Twice our eyes lock, and I have to tear myself away from her cloudy gaze.
"Enough sitting." Maddy wades in again. "Standing, Miss Davies?" she asks.
She stands, and Lola scurries in to remove the chair. The shutter on Carmen's Nikon starts clicking again.
"I think we have enough," Carmen announces five minutes later.
"Great," says Maddy. "Thank you again Miss Davies." She shakes her hand as does Carmen.
"I look forward to reading the article, Miss Duarte," murmurs Davies, and turns to me, standing by the door. "Will you walk with me, Miss Carlin? She asks.
"Sure," I say, completely through. I glance anxiously at Maddy, who shrugs at me. I notice Carmen scowling behind her.
"Pleasure to meet you all," Says Davies as she opens the door, standing aside to allow me out first.
Holy hell… what's this about? What does she want?
I pause in the hotel corridor, fidgeting nervously as Davies emerges from the room followed by Mr. Buzz-Cut in his sharp suit.
"I'll call you, Taylor," she murmurs to Buzz-Cut. Taylor wanders back down to the corridor, and Davies turns her burning dark gaze to me. Crap…have I done something wrong?
"I wondered if you would join me for coffee this morning."
My heart slams into my mouth. A date? Ashley Davies is asking me on a date. She's asking if you want a coffee. Maybe she thinks you haven't woken up yet, my subconscious whines at me in a sneering mood again. I clear my throat, trying to control my nerves.
"I have to drive everyone home," I murmur apologetically, twisting my hands and fingers in front of me.
"TAYLOR," she calls, making me jump. Taylor, who had been retreating down the corridor, turns and heads back towards us.
"Are they based at the university?" Davies asks, her voice soft and inquiring. I nod, too stunned to speak.
"Taylor can take them. He's my driver. We have a large 4x4 here, so he'll be able to take the equipment, too."
"Miss Davies?" Taylor asks when he reaches us, giving nothing away.
"Please, can you drive the photographer, her assistant and Miss Duarte back home?"
"Certainly, Miss," Taylor replies.
"There. Now can you join me for coffee?" Davies smiles as if it's a done deal.
I frown at her.
"Um- Miss Davies, err – this really… look, Taylor doesn't have to drive them home." I flash a brief look at Taylor, who remains stoically impassive. "I'll swap vehicles with Maddy, if you give me a moment."
Davies smiles a dazzling, unguarded, natural all-teeth-showing, nose crinkling, glorious smile. Oh my… and she opens the door of the suite so I can reenter. I scoot around her to enter the room, finding Madison deep in discussion with Carmen.
"Spencer, I think she definitely likes you," she says with no preamble whatsoever. Carmen glares at me with disapproval. "But I don't trust her." She adds. I raise my hand up in the hope that she'll stop talking. By some miracle, she does.
"Maddy, if you take the Beetle, can I take you car?"
"Why?"
"Ashley Davies has asked me to go for coffee with her."
Her mouth drops open. Speechless Maddy! I savour the moment. She grabs me by the arm and drags me into the bedroom that's off the living area of the suite.
"Spencer, there's something about her." Her tone is full of warning. "She's gorgeous, I agree, but I think she's dangerous. Especially to someone like you."
"What do you mean, someone like me?" I demand, affronted.
"An innocent like you, Spence. You know what I mean," she says a little irritated. I flush.
"Maddy, it's just coffee. I'm starting my exams this week, and I need to study, so I won't be long."
She purses her lips as if considering my request. Finally, she fishes her car keys out of her pocket and hands them to me. I hand her mine.
"I'll see you later. Don't be long, or I'll send out search and rescue."
"Thanks" I hug her.
I emerge from the suite to find Ashley Davies waiting, leaning up against the wall looking like a female model in a pose for some glossy high-end magazine.
"Okay, let's do coffee," I murmur, flushing a beet red.
She grins.
"After you, Miss Carlin." She stands up straight, holding her hand our for me to go first. I make my way down the corridor, my knees shaky, my stomach full of butterflies, and my heart in my mouth thumping a dramatic uneven beat. I am going to have coffee with Ashley Davies… and I hate coffee.
We walk together down the wide hotel corridor to the elevators. What should I say to her? My mind is suddenly paralyzed with apprehension. What are we going to talk about? What on Earth do I have in common with her? Her soft, warm voice startles me from my reverie.
"How long have you know Madison Duarte?"
Oh, an easy question for starters.
"Since our freshman year. She's a good friend."
"Hmm," she replies, noncommittal. What is she thinking?
At the elevators, she presses the call button, and the bell rings almost immediately. The doors slide open revealing a young couple in a passionate clinch inside. Surprised and embarrassed, they jump apart, staring guiltily in every direction but ours. Davies and I step into the elevator.
I am struggling to maintain a straight face, so I gaze down at the floor, feeling my cheeks turning pink. When I peek up at Davies through my lashes, she has a hint of a smile on her lips, but it's very hard to tell. The young couple says nothing, and we travel down to the first floor in embarrassed silence. We don't even have trashy piped music to distract us.
The doors open and, much to my surprise, Davies takes my hand, clasping it with her cool polished fingers. I feel the current run through me, and my already rapid heartbeat accelerates. As she leads me out of the elevator, we can hear the suppressed giggles of the couple erupting behind us. Davies grins.
"What is it about elevators?" She mutters.
We cross the expansive, bustling lobby of the hotel toward the entrance but Davies avoids the revolving door, and I wonder if that's because she'd have to let go of my hand.
Outside, it's a milk May Sunday. The sun is shining and the traffic is light. Davies turns left and strolls to the corner, where we stop waiting for the lights of the pedestrian crossing to change. She's holding my hand. I'm in the street, and Ashley Davies is holding my hand. No one has ever held my hand. I feel giddy, and I tingle all over. I attempt to smother the ridiculous grin that, threatens to split my face in two. Try to be cool, Spence, my subconscious implores me. The green man appears, and we're off again.
We walk four blocks before we reach the L.A Coffee House, where Davies releases me to hold the door open so I can step inside.
"Why don't you choose a table while I get the drinks? What would you like?" She asks, polite as ever.
"I'll have… um – English Breakfast tea, bag out." She raises her eyebrows.
"No Coffee?"
"I'm not keen on coffee." She smiles.
"Okay, bag out tea. Sugar?"
For a moment, I'm stunned, thinking it's an endearment, but fortunately my subconscious kicks in with pursued lips. No stupid – do you take sugar?
"No thanks." I stare down at my knotted fingers.
"Anything to eat?"
"No thank you." I shake my head, and she heads to the counter.
I surreptitiously gaze at her from beneath my lashes as she stands in line waiting to be served. I could watch her all day… she's petite but not too small, slim and athletic but still supple and oh my god she gorgeous, those lips and eyes, and the way those pants hang from her hips….Oh my.Once or twice she runs her polished graceful fingers through her perfectly tousled hair. Hmm… I'd like to do that. The thought comes unbidden into my mind, and my face flames. I bite my lip and stare down at my hands again, not liking where my wayward thoughts are headed.