making for a real light, casual atmosphere. Once we get into the residential area filled with apartments, we’re bombarded with kids playing in the street, running their bikes along the sidewalk, and even a group of little ones splashing through a fire hydrant. The neighborhood seems quite friendly in general.
“This is it,” Chloe announces, pointing to a tall, tan brick building at the end of a quiet block. “No doubt about it, this boy of yours has serious cash flow. Now let’s get your skinny ass up there so I can decide if he has the charm to go along with it.”
I shoot Erik a text to let him know we’ve arrived. An older doorman who appears completely miserable in dress pants, a burgundy jacket, and hat, greets us with a bright smile despite the sweat covering his forehead. He doesn’t hesitate to ring Erik right away, ushering us inside once we’re given his approval.
Chloe and I both sigh happily when we’re blasted with cold air. Tan marble covers the old-world lobby from floor to ceiling, the smells of fresh wax and disinfectant strong from a recent cleaning. We find a set of ornately decorated elevators and head up to Erik’s floor. Chloe gives me a play-by-play of the quality of the place, from the antique chandeliers in the lobby to the old style of the slow-moving elevator, loosely estimating the building’s value to be near a billion.
I’m too busy to really listen, instead psyching myself up for whatever we’re about to find as we step out onto his floor. Erik’s apartment is the last one at the end of the bright hallway. Smaller version of the chandeliers in the lobby light our path to his beige door marked with gold numbers. I suck in a deep breath and raise my hand to knock. The door swings open before I have a chance.
Erik stretches one long, muscular arm against the door frame with his other hand buried in the pocket of his cargo shorts. From the small preview of his smooth chest beneath his trendy, black button down, there’s no doubt he’s in excellent shape. He smells musky and fresh, as if he just stepped out of the shower. When I look into his intense blue eyes, the lust I keep denying myself stirs once again.
“Kelly?” he asks, smiling brightly despite the frown to his eyes. “Is that really you? I’m sorry, you look a bit different from the person I met yesterday. Did you do something with your hair?”
Yeah, so I guess I looked that bad while we were bar hopping. There’s no chance in hell I’ll traipse around New York like that again without even a stitch of makeup. I ignore his dig. “Erik, this is Chloe. She’s a friend of Jewels’s and volunteered to show me around today since Jewels had to work.”
“Friends with Jewels?” Erik asks, quirking his brow her way. “You have my sympathies.”
“I guess it really is true what they say,” Chloe answers with a surprised look. “A person learns something every day. I never would’ve guessed you could afford a place like this doing stand up comedy. I had a friend who couldn’t even buy his groceries off the shitty wages he earned performing in Times Square. You must draw a loyal following.”
As Erik brays in a low laugh, I try to peer behind him. “Are you going to let me see this place of yours or what?”
He opens the door wide, the arrogant spark to his eyes flaring. “Come on in.”
Chloe and I file in, barely making it before he closes the door behind us. I’m thrown off by the relaxed feel of the brightly lit loft apartment, and the pleasant aroma of vanilla hanging in the air. I suck in my breath with the sight of the giant arched windows framing a breathtaking view of Central Park and the skyscrapers beyond. There’s a bachelor pad vibe from the dark leather furniture and black curtains, burnt brown brick walls, and sleek, worn wooden floors, yet it’s still incredibly classy and upscale. The small kitchen opens into a slightly bigger living room where the couches gather around a large flat
“This is it,” Chloe announces, pointing to a tall, tan brick building at the end of a quiet block. “No doubt about it, this boy of yours has serious cash flow. Now let’s get your skinny ass up there so I can decide if he has the charm to go along with it.”
I shoot Erik a text to let him know we’ve arrived. An older doorman who appears completely miserable in dress pants, a burgundy jacket, and hat, greets us with a bright smile despite the sweat covering his forehead. He doesn’t hesitate to ring Erik right away, ushering us inside once we’re given his approval.
Chloe and I both sigh happily when we’re blasted with cold air. Tan marble covers the old-world lobby from floor to ceiling, the smells of fresh wax and disinfectant strong from a recent cleaning. We find a set of ornately decorated elevators and head up to Erik’s floor. Chloe gives me a play-by-play of the quality of the place, from the antique chandeliers in the lobby to the old style of the slow-moving elevator, loosely estimating the building’s value to be near a billion.
I’m too busy to really listen, instead psyching myself up for whatever we’re about to find as we step out onto his floor. Erik’s apartment is the last one at the end of the bright hallway. Smaller version of the chandeliers in the lobby light our path to his beige door marked with gold numbers. I suck in a deep breath and raise my hand to knock. The door swings open before I have a chance.
Erik stretches one long, muscular arm against the door frame with his other hand buried in the pocket of his cargo shorts. From the small preview of his smooth chest beneath his trendy, black button down, there’s no doubt he’s in excellent shape. He smells musky and fresh, as if he just stepped out of the shower. When I look into his intense blue eyes, the lust I keep denying myself stirs once again.
“Kelly?” he asks, smiling brightly despite the frown to his eyes. “Is that really you? I’m sorry, you look a bit different from the person I met yesterday. Did you do something with your hair?”
Yeah, so I guess I looked that bad while we were bar hopping. There’s no chance in hell I’ll traipse around New York like that again without even a stitch of makeup. I ignore his dig. “Erik, this is Chloe. She’s a friend of Jewels’s and volunteered to show me around today since Jewels had to work.”
“Friends with Jewels?” Erik asks, quirking his brow her way. “You have my sympathies.”
“I guess it really is true what they say,” Chloe answers with a surprised look. “A person learns something every day. I never would’ve guessed you could afford a place like this doing stand up comedy. I had a friend who couldn’t even buy his groceries off the shitty wages he earned performing in Times Square. You must draw a loyal following.”
As Erik brays in a low laugh, I try to peer behind him. “Are you going to let me see this place of yours or what?”
He opens the door wide, the arrogant spark to his eyes flaring. “Come on in.”
Chloe and I file in, barely making it before he closes the door behind us. I’m thrown off by the relaxed feel of the brightly lit loft apartment, and the pleasant aroma of vanilla hanging in the air. I suck in my breath with the sight of the giant arched windows framing a breathtaking view of Central Park and the skyscrapers beyond. There’s a bachelor pad vibe from the dark leather furniture and black curtains, burnt brown brick walls, and sleek, worn wooden floors, yet it’s still incredibly classy and upscale. The small kitchen opens into a slightly bigger living room where the couches gather around a large flat
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