Free The Arrangement Anthology by H. M. Ward

his. “I’m not supposed to talk about me, but since I’ve already done something I wasn’t supposed to—”
    “Just tell me.” Sean folds his arms over his chest. The waiter tries to come over to take our order, but the look on Sean’s face scares him away.
    I wring my hands in my lap under the table. Nervously, I say, “I need this job. When I saw your profile, I wanted…” I stumble trying to explain myself. “I thought it’d be nice that we’d already met. I haven’t done this before, obviously, and—”
    “I have trouble believing that,” he snaps.
    “Believe whatever you want, but facts are facts and you would have figured it out if I didn’t screw everything up. Miss…” I bite my tongue to keep from saying Miss Black’s name, “she doesn’t know that I met you before, that I kissed you before.” I stare into his eyes remembering that kiss, remembering the softness and desire. “She doesn’t know, but I wanted to know you more, and I needed this. This encounter may not matter much to you, but it means everything to me.” Before I realize it, my hands are on top of the table. I’m clutching them so tightly that my knuckles turn white.
    Sean’s gaze lowers to my hands and lifts to my face, “Why?”
    I can’t answer. My mouth fills with sand and I can barely swallow. All’s I can manage is, “Please.” I’m begging him. It dawns on me that this is what happened and I can’t look at him. I release the death grip on my hands when he doesn’t answer. Sean seems apathetic, leaning back in his chair as if he’s dismissing me.
    I take my purse in my hand, and heart pounding say, “I’m sorry. I won’t trouble you again.”
    I stand and walk away from the table. Sean doesn’t call my name. He doesn’t stand and follow me out. He doesn’t give me a second chance.
    The limo isn’t here yet. I’m on my own. My heart shatters as I realize what this means. Miss Black won’t give me another chance, and I don’t want one. I try to keep the tears from spilling as I take the walk of shame across the room. Stopping in front of the elevator, I press the button. I wait and take a shaky breath. When the doors open, an older couple slips out. They avert their eyes as is the custom when a stranger encounters a crying woman. I look at the floor as I step inside.
    I lift my hand and press ONE. The doors start to slip shut. But just before they close, the door bangs against something dark that juts between them, a suited arm. The doors reopen and Sean is standing there. His blue eyes are filled with questions. He steps into the elevator with me. The doors slip shut. When we start to move, he pulls the STOP and the elevator darkens.
     

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 14
     
     
    His voice is in my ear. It sends a shiver down my spine. I feel exposed even though we stand in darkness. Sean speaks rapidly, “This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. The rules were broken. I don’t know what to do. I mean, I know you.” I feel the heat from his body and know he’s a breath away from me.
    I’m not confident, but bold words spill from my lips. “Which makes it better, doesn’t it?”
    “No,” he replies softly. “The anonymity mattered to me.”
    “I can’t change that.”
    “But you changed the ground rules.” I feel him lean against the wall next to me, like it pains him to admit it. “Now what? I don’t want to send you back.”
    My palm finds his cheek. I turn his face toward me and feel his breath on my face. Softly, I say, “Then don’t.”
    Sean takes a deep breath and suddenly the lights come back on. The elevator is moving again. When we reach the ground floor, I don’t look at him. Sean says nothing. He takes my hand as we leave the elevator.
    A person dressed in a hotel uniform approaches us. Sean swiftly walks past him without a word. I’m being led through the foyer and hotel staff and patrons are everywhere. Sean pushes through the front doors before the doorman can open