Page 5 of Secret Desire
“That sounds good,” Ashley said. “I looked at our application for the project and I think the combination of a wellness center, juice bar, and apartments will be a great project for me to get started on here. And I’m already familiar with most of the contractors we have on the project so it should be an easy transition.”
“When did you read the file?” I asked in surprise.
“Theo gave it to me, so I read it last night before I went to dinner at Ariel’s,” she said. “I like to be prepared.”
I gave her a nod of approval. “Good job.”
We made eye contact and suddenly we were just staring at each other, neither of us moving.
Ashley looked good today. Totally professional. Not that I expected anything less. She was wearing a navy blue pencil skirt with a white blouse, thin red belt, and red shoes. Her makeup was subtle – a shiny pink gloss, a little mascara – if she was wearing more than that I couldn’t tell. Her hair was smoothed back into a low ponytail at the base of her neck. During our meeting she’d pulled out reading glasses, igniting wholly inappropriate librarian fantasies in my naughty mind.
We both jumped as I heard a knock on the door, finally breaking our eye contact.
“Do you have a minute Maeve?”
I turned to see Theo standing in the doorway. He was a tall, well-dressed black man with a shiny bald head, perfect white teeth, and the handsome face of a model. Ariel had literally plucked him off the street and given him a job, and he’d risen through the ranks to become her personal assistant.
Recently we’d given him some project management work as well. Grace had dragged us into a giant collaborative application that involved her parents’ company as well as a company belonging to Grace’s high school rival, Nicole. Although they weren’t rivals anymore... We’d all figured out they were in love with each other, even though Grace hadn’t admitted it to us yet.
“Sure, Ashley and I were just finishing up,” I told Theo.
Looking at my newest employee I added, “I’ll have my assistant forward you all of our meetings related to the Clark Street projects so you have them on your calendar.”
“That sounds great. Thank you for your time today, Maeve.”
Her words were appropriate. Professional. My thoughts, however, were something quite different. And by the way Theo was sizing us up, I had a feeling he knew it. He was way too perceptive.
“Are you coming to Found Family Dinner on Saturday?” Theo asked Ashley as she stood to leave.
“I don’t know what that is,” she said.
“Your sister organizes it with Maeve and Grace,” he explained. “It’s a monthly dinner at the restaurant for all the orphans.”
“Orphans?” she asked in confusion.
“People who aren’t close with their families. People who are new to town. Anyone who’s queer or queer-supportive and wants to enjoy good food, conversation, and dancing. I’m actually surprised your sister never invited you.”
“We don’t do much socially,” she said, looking uncomfortable. “I don’t want to crash her thing.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Theo said. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you joining us.”
There was a flash of something in her expression – hurt maybe – but it was gone quickly. I resolved to try to get the sisters to get to know each other better. Maybe I could enlist Sadie to help.
“No,” Ashley said. “Thanks for the invitation but I actually have plans on Saturday anyway.”
She was lying and we both knew it, but before Theo could pounce I said, “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow Ash. Let me know if you have any questions in the meantime.”
As soon as Ashley left Theo dropped into the chair she’d vacated and leaned across the table, giving me a big smile.
“So… you and Ashley, huh?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said evenly, suddenly fascinated with my notepad.
“You were looking at that girl like you wanted to eat her up,” he said in a knowing voice that irritated me.
“She’s not a girl,” I snapped. “She’s twenty-eight.”
Theo smirked. “Don’t worry, she was looking at you the same way. There was definite eye fucking going on between you two.”
