Page 26 of Dirty Little Secret, Baby
And I'll admit: the body was something to look at, and I was a little surprised at myself, because I didn't even think about turning her down and just deleted the message. It didn't interest me in the slightest. In the past, I would never have passed up an opportunity like that.
Was I getting too hung up on this one thing? What if Beth didn't get in touch at all? Wouldn't a little distraction with the blonde from the photo have done me some good?
BEEP BEEP BEEP
My smartphone rang again. For a fraction of a second, I thought about just letting it go and decided that if it was another acquaintance from the past, I'd treat myself to a little diversion. After all, it had always brought me joy before.
But as I skimmed the message, that thought was already forgotten, because this time, too, it was an unknown number. But this time, it was Beth. And she wrote:
This is Beth. If your offer still stands, let's go to dinner.
I glanced at the clock, then my fingers flew across the keys and I replied immediately:
I'll pick you up at 7 p.m. in front of your flower shop.
Nervously, I stared at the screen, waiting for the reply. I saw she was online. But she wasn't responding. The seconds ticked by, and I debated whether I should send a quickOK?after it. But wouldn't that make me seem weak? Would it mean I was waiting for her approval? Okay, that's exactly what I was doing right now, and I felt ridiculous.
Then theonlineindicator disappeared, and I wondered what that meant. But then everything happened fast. Beth was online again, typing, and suddenly there was a message that brought a grin to my face.
OK
That's all. But that's enough to give me an erection at the thought of our shared experience in my villa and her nipples under her T-shirt.
"Eric," I said, after thinking through the next steps and then pressing the small speed-dial button to connect to my assistant.
"Yes, sir?" he answered.
"Get a red evening dress from the best boutique in the city. Not too sexy, not too plain. Size 6. Have a courier deliver it to..." I paused, fumbling with my smartphone to find Beth's shop on Google Maps.
"The shop on 4th Street?" he asked.
"Exactly," I said, grinning, pleased that my assistant was such a sharp guy who just knew what I wanted.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Eric?"
"I mean... it's no problem, but..."
"Spit it out," I encouraged him.
"Are you sure about a 6? Maybe she's a 4 and that could be taken the wrong way?"
"I'm sure," I said, thinking of how many naked bodies I'd had on top of me, under me, and in all sorts of other positions, and had later seen their clothes with the size tags lying on the floor.
"Okay, boss," he said, and we hung up.
Satisfied, I spun a few circles in my swivel chair, enjoying the view of Downtown Manhattan whenever my personal merry-go-round brought it into view, and had to admit to myself that I was simply excited. I was excited for Beth, for being one step ahead of Jake, and for our dinner.
The afternoon flew by, and just as I was about to leave to get ready, my phone rang again.
"Eric. Really. It's a 6," I said, seeing that it was my assistant calling. "And if you're about to say you're skeptical, I'm telling you we're running out of time."
"It's not that, boss. I've already passed everything on. It's..." he paused. "He'son line 4."
"Thanks," I said, pressing the button next to the four, whose little red light I hadn't even noticed before.
"What do you want?" I snapped, skipping the pleasantries.
