Page 4 of Role Play

Chapter Four

Aidan

I knockedon Jane's door. She answered a few seconds later. The sequined dress had been replaced by jeans and a t-shirt. The wig and makeup were gone. I liked the leftover girl much better.

She held out her arms. "Tada. The real me. The exact opposite of a blonde bombshell."

"Well, you're not blonde anymore, but I don't think bombshell is something you can erase." My comment earned a shy smile. I handed her the bag of food. "They were out of strawberries, so they used blueberries. Hope that's all right."

"Even better." Her long lashes fluttered as she breathed in deeply. "Smells good. I just realized how hungry I am."

"Well, I'm going to head back to my place and eat. If you'd like to join me—Although you're probably tired."

"Actually, I wouldn't mind a little company with my French toast, especially since you were nice enough to go out and get it."

"Great."

She followed me across the hallway. I waved her inside my apartment. I flicked on the light and slipped past her to clean the crap off the crummy little kitchen table. "We can eat here." I pushed aside the coffee cup and paperwork and walked into the kitchen to get the milk. Halfway to the refrigerator, I realized that she was still standing just inside the room, silent and frozen in place with a shocked, slightly freaked out expression.

"You know—" She backed up as if she didn't want to turn her back on me. "I think I'll just go back to my own place."

My gaze shot to the coffee table. It was littered with dildos and a variety of sex toys for our Yes, Yes box. In my eagerness to invite Jane to eat with me, I'd forgotten about the mess in my apartment.

"Wait," I said it too abruptly, and my intimidating size didn't help as I lumbered her direction.

She startled and backed up so quickly she smacked into the edge of the wall. Her face paled in pain and fear as she spun around and grabbed for the door.

I stayed in place, deciding my pursuit wasn't helping. "I co-own a company called Plaything," I blurted. "I'm in charge of packing and shipping. I was just working on how all the pieces would fit best in the box this month. Wait, please."

She flew out the door.

I followed but stopped in my doorway, not wanting to scare her as she worked hard at steadying her hands enough to unlock her door.

"Jane, please, I'm not a pervert. Our company sells sex toys. O.K. that doesn't sound much better. It's a totally legitimate company. Really."

"Thank you again for the food," she said weakly and slipped inside her apartment.

I lingered for a moment in the hallway, staring at the closed door across the way.

"Fuck." I went back inside and shut the door.

I stomped over to the coffee table and shoved it with my foot, littering my floor with sex toys. One of the copy samples that would be accompanying the box fluttered onto my shoe. Zane and his marketing department had done a nice job explaining the new Yes, Yes box. I picked it up and walked over to the table. I sat down and picked up the pen and some paper.

"Jane, I'm sorry if I scared you tonight. I'm giving you this flyer to help explain what my company is about. We peddle pleasure. That's it. And pleasure is popular, so we are extremely successful. I understand if you don't want anything to do with me. I just wanted to make sure you knew that you don't ever have to be afraid of me. I know I'm as big as a grizzly and I've got sex toys sitting on my coffee table, but I'm a totally normal guy. Or maybe that isn't the best way to make my point. Anyhow, enjoy your French toast. Aidan."

I walked into the hallway and slipped the note and the box insert under her door.

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