Free DC Affairs by Selene Chardou Page A

the airport.” Russell stole a look at me quickly before his eyes focused on the road again. “I told you I’d make this a trip to remember.”
    “Yes, you did but I didn’t take it literally.” I sighed out loud. “Maybe I should have.”
    “As long as you packed clothes to keep you cool, you should fine.”
    I gazed at his profile adoringly. “If I don’t tell you before we get to our destination, thank you.”
    “No, thank you , Sigourney. If I wasn’t going on this trip with you then I would have spent the Fourth of July weekend quietly in Manhattan trying to forget my mother’s death and failing at the same time. At least this way, everything works out for the best.”
    I didn’t know what to say to such a powerful statement but if my company was all it took to keep the ghost of his dead mother at bay then I felt like an infinitely better person, even if I wasn’t.
     

     
     
    A lthough surprise wasn’t the right word to describe the feeling of arriving at LAX, it was pretty damn close. We’d flown six hours and ended up in a magical place of sunshine, low humidity and beautiful people. To say I was thrilled would have been a gross understatement.
    Russell had rented a car and immediately whisked me away to a beautiful beach house in Malibu, owned by his father. Along the way, he regaled me with stories of visiting the beach house every year for vacation with his family and the smile on his face seemed full of genuine warmth.
    The early morning sun felt exhilarating on my skin. I couldn’t hide the thought of spending time by the pool immediately entered my mind as soon as I saw the architectural beauty come into view.
    The two-story structure was all glass, clean surfaces and hard-wood floors that complimented everything about the house. Russell gave me a tour and spoke about the history of the home. I listened and truly thought about what it would mean to get involved with someone like him. I’d never known endless luxury despite my family being considerably wealthy. It was an enigma to me to live an ostentatious lifestyle as the one presented to me. In part, having so much money didn’t seem to be a blessing but a curse.
    If anyone could attest to this, it was probably Russell’s mother. How did the trappings of wealth affect her and did she miss the daughter she’d so casually abandoned to be part of this world?
    “So, what do you want to do first?”
    I followed Russell into the sitting room and sat down next to him on a luxurious beige wraparound sofa. “Well, you’re the one who has visited here. Not to say I’ve never explored L.A. but I honestly don’t know what to do first. There’s the beach and long drives on the Pacific Coast Highway not to mention Mexico isn’t that far away. I can think of million things right now to do with you.”
    Shit! That so did not come out the way I wanted it to.
    I blamed the jet lag as I bit my lower lip while his blue-green eyes brightened. “Ms. Stewart, I pegged you to be a good girl. I didn’t think you’d be so forward with me.”
    The smile on my face grew as I stepped closer to him. “Come on, Russell. We aren’t teenagers. I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of lovers and I’m certainly no vestal virgin. Besides, who’s the perv? I never once mentioned sex…”
    “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I’m kinda curious about how you view me?”
    “What do you mean?” I avoided answering his question and walked to a wall made entirely of glass. The clear view of the Pacific Ocean couldn’t be described. I could stay here for more than a few days.
    “I mean are you only attracted to me because I’m a good diversion since Peter isn’t available?”
    He broke my concentration and I turned toward him again. The look on his face told a story of its own, and it wasn’t particularly pleasant. In fact, he looked scared and worried whatever we had together was nothing but a carefully planned mirage.
    I felt petty and underwhelmed with