Page 40 of Park Avenue Princess

Fuck you, Michael Hamilton!

A surge of loathing for that man wells up and I’m ready to erupt. He’s not even a man but a scum-sucking low-life with no morals to be found. I’d retrieved his emails from my trash folder and opened them, reading his filth. His threats to expose and hurt my parents if I didn’tplay nicewith him as well as convince my father to keep in line.

“Mother fucker!”

My expletive doesn’t even draw any curious stares from those around me. While others move on with their lives, their agendas, I’m swimming in a sea of uncertainty, wondering how to move forward with helping my father. My mother.

Dad was ready to seek out Hamilton and murder him! I managed to calm him, telling him we’d figure this out. Needless to say, he was gutted, completely exhausted when I left.

“Do you know how difficult, how humiliating it is for a father to tell his daughter about the gross errors he’s made? How he’s plagued with regret and remorse, and believes there is no redemption?”

Part of me wanted to stay, to somehow console and to question further, develop a plan. Another part had heard enough and couldn’t wait to escape. Eventually, Dad told me to leave, to process what I’d learned. In truth, I think he couldn’t bear to have me see him in that state. Exposed and broken. He said he’d go home and talk to Mom, tell her we spoke, and that we’d talk again tomorrow.

So I left, wondering where to go and what the hell to do with myself along with the information crammed in my head.

Blasting horns cause me to jolt and I look around to orient myself. My aimless wanderings inadvertently guided me to Addison’s building which is only a handful of blocks from my father’s office. I pull out my phone to check the time and wonder if Addy’s still here. Knowing she tends to linger even though it’s after five, chances are good she’s in her office. Not paying attention, I blindly reach for the door with the phone still in my hand only to have it bumped as someone is exiting.

“Shit,” I mutter as my phone crashes to the ground. Bending down to retrieve it, another hand comes into view as I hear an all-too-familiar voice.

“Damn, sorry, let me get that.”

Guy.

As we both reach for my phone, his hand stalls over mine. His fingers then toy with the charm on my bracelet that’s peeking out from the cuff of my blouse. I hold myself still as I look up to meet stunned eyes.

“Lynne,” he whispers as he continues to touch the gold sand dollar.

Those glorious eyes flicker with surprise before they’re filled with heat, with longing. It’s a look I’ve seen in my dreams on many lonely nights over the past six years. It’s a look I can’t handle right now.

I break contact by snatching up my phone and standing, taking a step back. Noticing Hollis right behind Guy, I can only nod in greeting since my voice is trapped in my throat. I have yet to even acknowledge Guy with any comment.

“Hey, Lynne,” Hollis says. “Fancy meeting you here.” His gaze toggles between me and Guy before landing back on me. “If, uh, if you’re here to see Addison, she’s still in her office, packing up for the day. I don’t think you’ve met Guy.” He nods to Guy, having no idea I most certainly have met the man. “Guy Hamilton, Lynne DuVall.” Hollis gestures between the two of us. “We were just headed out to grab a drink, maybe some dinner.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his own phone. “Why don’t I call Addy down and the four of us can—”

“No,” I rush to say. “Um, no, thank you, I, uh, I need to speak with Ad-Addison.” I nod my head in their general direction and mutterenjoywhile I hurry into the lobby, ignoring the second whisper of my name from Guy.

As the door closes behind me, I’m both relieved and ridiculously disappointed he doesn’t follow. More relieved, I guess, because I don’t know that I wouldn’t be able to think of his father when looking at him. Not that Guy is responsible for the hell Michael Hamilton brought to my parents’ lives. Still…

And, ohgod, the impact it’ll have on Guy. And his mother.

I step into the elevator, ready to send off a text to Addy when I notice my phone’s cracked screen. When it won’t power on, I curse and stuff it into my bag. I then begin to nervously twirl the bracelet around my wrist, finding it damn coincidental that I’d chosen today to put on the bracelet Guy had given me back in Hawaii.

Coincidental or…?

I can’t even think about bullshit like divine intervention or any other tag that could be assigned to the action. “So I felt like wearing it today,” I mutter into the empty space. “On the day he happens to walk back into my life.” I close my eyes and sigh, leaning against the wall of the elevator as it continues to rise.

When it finally comes to a stop, the door opens to reveal Guy, face flushed and breaths coming in gulps. I release a startled gasp, unable to do or say anything else. Before I can move, before I can manage a coherent syllable past my lips, he rushes in, hitting buttons without even looking at the panel. The door shuts behind him as his eyes remain locked on mine. He steps to me, framing my face while pushing me against the wall, and kisses me.

No, he’s devouring me and my surprise gives way to surrender. His fingers tangle in my hair as his mouth ravishes mine with a desperation I’ve never felt. He tastes of brandy, of heat. His tongue forces its way inside, relearning the space no one else has claimed since him. I clutch his arms in an effort to stabilize myself, but I’m flying, buzzing with adrenaline so powerful my head is spinning, my body ready to explode.

And I let go.

I kiss him with the pent-up lust and loneliness that has built up inside me for nearly six damn years!

Moans and whimpers echo around us as our mouths clash and our hands explore. I snake my arms around him, my fingers anchoring in his thick, luxurious hair; tugging and making him hiss. Guy trails a hand down to rest against my neck as the other journeys beyond, sweeping roughly across my body until he manages to grab my ass. He squeezes and I rock against him, moaning louder as our mouths continue to attack one another. Feeling his erection press into my center makes me want to strip him bare and reacquaint myself with every delicious inch of his incredible body.

A ping sounds as I realize the elevator has moved and stopped again, and the door will open any second. Suddenly I’m spinning again, but this time by Guy shifting our position so he can reach the buttons. He breaks contact for a brief instant to press the button to close the door before it barely has time to crack open. Pressing another button, the car begins to rise and Guy is once again fusing his body to mine. He frames my face, but it’s his eyes that hold me captive. So many emotions swirl in their depths.

Longing, confusion, hope.

---