would be the case, Kailen was nowhere to be seen.
Returning to the apartment, she’d searched for a note but found nothing. The day ahead had suddenly seemed empty. She filled it with laundry and rationalizing all of the reasons why his going was for the best.
It had been a night of fantasy, with no promises asked or made. They were too different for anything long-lasting. Kailen didn’t fit the ideal of a man she should be with. Certainly his choice of profession—professions, considering he modeled, delivered letters and painted “edgy” pictures—wasn’t desirable. In addition, he was too out of the mainstream to be part of her colleagues’ lifestyle. A lifestyle she not only aspired to herself, but needed to fit in order to succeed in her chosen profession.
Yes, definitely, his exit from her life was the best thing. She repeated that sentiment all morning as she washed clothes, but it felt just as wrong the hundredth time as it had the first. Logically it made sense, but logic couldn’t stop her from craving him. It wasn’t just the sex, although the sex had been incredible, fantastic, worth killing for. It wasn’t his witty conversation or intriguing hints about his lifestyle. It wasn’t even the way he made her feel like she was the only woman in the world when he looked at her. It was … well, it was all of it.
Tossing a blouse on the bed unfolded, she’d grabbed the phone book and searched not only for his name but for any art gallery that might advertise his work. She’d never realized how many galleries there were in San Francisco. It would take days to query them all for a clue of how to find him.
On Monday morning, she’d received a call from Ben’s office. The film director’s secretary asked her to come downtown to sign the rest of the paperwork for the Violet Passion ad, and to straighten matters out with the agency, which didn’t understand how the mix-up had occurred. However, the young woman said that considering how well the shoot had gone, the agency’s representative would be interested in talking to her about a contract.
Derica suddenly realized she held all the cards. “I’ll sign the papers to release my work on the ad if you give me Kailen’s name and address.”
The secretary refused, citing privacy.
“Please look carefully at the papers you hold. I filled in the contact information, not the release information. I knew there had been a mistake, even if no one would listen to me. If Ben wants the work he did Saturday night to stand, I want the information about Kailen.”
The woman mumbled something about how she’d have no time for work if she gave Kailen’s number out to every woman who asked for it, then she asked Derica to hold. Half a minute later, Ben came on the line.
“Miss Meadows, it was so nice working with you Saturday. When can you stop by to sign the paperwork to release what we did? I’ve already seen the preliminary prints, and they’re fabulous.” Was this the same man who had screamed at her across the lobby of downtown’s most prestigious hotel? His tone was so conciliatory, so soft, so… She could almost feel Ben’s lips on her right rear cheek, next to where Kailen had actually kissed her.
The thought of Kailen’s mouth on her butt sent her heart into overdrive, and reminded her of her mission. “Ben, it’s very nice of you to say that. I’m glad the work turned out well, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to have to repeat the process. Now, did your secretary tell you what I need?”
“Yes, she did. Now Miss… Do you mind if I call you Derica?”
She hummed.
“Good. Derica, you know we can’t do that. You wouldn’t want me to give out your name and address, would you?”
“Of course not. I’d sue you all the way to next Sunday if you did.”
“So you see why…”
“No release without his name and address. Phone number, too, just to be safe.”
There was silence, then, “Just a minute.” The obsequiousness was
Returning to the apartment, she’d searched for a note but found nothing. The day ahead had suddenly seemed empty. She filled it with laundry and rationalizing all of the reasons why his going was for the best.
It had been a night of fantasy, with no promises asked or made. They were too different for anything long-lasting. Kailen didn’t fit the ideal of a man she should be with. Certainly his choice of profession—professions, considering he modeled, delivered letters and painted “edgy” pictures—wasn’t desirable. In addition, he was too out of the mainstream to be part of her colleagues’ lifestyle. A lifestyle she not only aspired to herself, but needed to fit in order to succeed in her chosen profession.
Yes, definitely, his exit from her life was the best thing. She repeated that sentiment all morning as she washed clothes, but it felt just as wrong the hundredth time as it had the first. Logically it made sense, but logic couldn’t stop her from craving him. It wasn’t just the sex, although the sex had been incredible, fantastic, worth killing for. It wasn’t his witty conversation or intriguing hints about his lifestyle. It wasn’t even the way he made her feel like she was the only woman in the world when he looked at her. It was … well, it was all of it.
Tossing a blouse on the bed unfolded, she’d grabbed the phone book and searched not only for his name but for any art gallery that might advertise his work. She’d never realized how many galleries there were in San Francisco. It would take days to query them all for a clue of how to find him.
On Monday morning, she’d received a call from Ben’s office. The film director’s secretary asked her to come downtown to sign the rest of the paperwork for the Violet Passion ad, and to straighten matters out with the agency, which didn’t understand how the mix-up had occurred. However, the young woman said that considering how well the shoot had gone, the agency’s representative would be interested in talking to her about a contract.
Derica suddenly realized she held all the cards. “I’ll sign the papers to release my work on the ad if you give me Kailen’s name and address.”
The secretary refused, citing privacy.
“Please look carefully at the papers you hold. I filled in the contact information, not the release information. I knew there had been a mistake, even if no one would listen to me. If Ben wants the work he did Saturday night to stand, I want the information about Kailen.”
The woman mumbled something about how she’d have no time for work if she gave Kailen’s number out to every woman who asked for it, then she asked Derica to hold. Half a minute later, Ben came on the line.
“Miss Meadows, it was so nice working with you Saturday. When can you stop by to sign the paperwork to release what we did? I’ve already seen the preliminary prints, and they’re fabulous.” Was this the same man who had screamed at her across the lobby of downtown’s most prestigious hotel? His tone was so conciliatory, so soft, so… She could almost feel Ben’s lips on her right rear cheek, next to where Kailen had actually kissed her.
The thought of Kailen’s mouth on her butt sent her heart into overdrive, and reminded her of her mission. “Ben, it’s very nice of you to say that. I’m glad the work turned out well, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to have to repeat the process. Now, did your secretary tell you what I need?”
“Yes, she did. Now Miss… Do you mind if I call you Derica?”
She hummed.
“Good. Derica, you know we can’t do that. You wouldn’t want me to give out your name and address, would you?”
“Of course not. I’d sue you all the way to next Sunday if you did.”
“So you see why…”
“No release without his name and address. Phone number, too, just to be safe.”
There was silence, then, “Just a minute.” The obsequiousness was
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