Chapter 5

I sighed and shook my head, but even the noise I made seemed forced, as if I was attempting to drive away what was directly in front of me. It was difficult to refute this reality.

An unprogrammed number flashed on the screen of my cellphone on the coffee table. But I didn’t need my caller ID to figure out who it was from. When Exruto gave it to me, I had it almost memorized.

I sat there gazing at the phone for a few moments, telling myself to let it go to voicemail. But I found myself reaching for it, pressing Accept, holding the phone up to my ear, and asking, “Hello.”

Despite my exhaustion, and despite the fact that the truth was screaming in my face, I simply gazed at my now-closed laptop. I had no intention of declining Rolly Exruto’s offer.

That, more than anything else, terrified me.

Rolly had approached the Clover office three days prior and asked me out.

I spent three days contemplating what I’d discovered about him on the internet.

I felt on what I should do but not what I was actually going to do for 72 hours of this inner struggle.

Because I should have declined, told Rolly I was unwell, or that I’d be out of town, or given him any other plausible reason why I couldn’t meet him.

But I was doing exactly the opposite, staring at the clock on the wall, anticipating Rolly’s arrival to pick me up for our date at any moment.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a second, hoping to regain my composure and avoid making a fool of myself. Nerves, anxiety, eagerness, and worry were all over me. But behind it all, there were two far more powerful emotions: arousal and exhilaration.

I gazed down at myself after opening my eyes and smoothing my hands over the clothes I’d selected for tonight. I chose a knit black dress that fitted my curves and featured button detailing along the front after Rolly urged me to dress casually. A synthetic leather jacket that reached up to my waist completed the look. I raised my eyes and looked in the little round mirror in the entryway at my reflection.

I’d straightened and left my dark-blonde hair down to a few inches below my shoulders. I didn’t wear much makeup, just some blush and eyeshadow, mascara, and nude lipstick to end.

In the little foyer where the front door was, I gazed in the mirror at my reflection. I felt collected and relaxed on the outside. It was quite different on the inside.

I’d never considered myself to be a subservient or gentle lady. On most situations, I didn’t keep my feelings to myself. And a part of me knew I’d question Rolly Exruto about what I’d seen on the internet during dinner tonight. I’m naturally interested, so allowing it to slide was a big deal for me.

Did I believe he’d be honest with me? No. However, I had the impression that I could read people rather well. I also wanted to think that if he did lie, he did it for a good cause. Protect me if you can. Although I admit to being naive and lacking in common sense in thinking that way.

Because my apartment was at the back of the building, I couldn’t see Rolly coming up the street even if I glanced out the window. Despite the fact that I had given him my apartment number, I decided to go down and wait for him in the street. It made more sense than his dragging me up three flights of stairs just to have to return down.

Furthermore, having him come up here to my realm seemed more intimate and personal, and with a man like Rolly, I liked to have a bit more control over myself than I did now.

I grabbed my bag, checked my makeup again, and peered in the mirror while smoothing a hand through my hair. Before opening the front door, I turned around and grabbed for the doorknob.

When I saw Rolly’s large, frightening form standing on the other side, I let out a tiny squeal of surprise. I felt my cheeks heat up merely from the intensity of his look, and his hand was up as if he was ready to knock.

With his immaculate white button-down shirt covering his big chest, I immediately noted how nice he looked. His sculpted, muscular muscles were not hidden by the fabric. His shirtsleeves were pulled up, exposing his vein-ripped, massively corded forearms.