CHAPTER 2

Stefan observed the package she made. On the short side with barely five foot two to her name and two large brown pools of chocolate for eyes. Waves of hair in shades of caramel, burnt sugar and ebony tumbled over her bare shoulders. The purple dress was made for her; it accentuated the slight hint of curvy hips and small firm breasts. With no shoulders and reaching to just above her knees it was merely a scrap of cloth.

She watched him hesitantly, Stefan couldn’t decide if she was hesitant to stay or hesitant to smile back. In the end, she smiled at him shyly.

“Thanks, again.” She said softly so only he could hear.

He nodded before sipping on his beer, still watching her. Even though she was small, she checked all his categories. Feisty, cute, sexy and of course she had waves and waves of hair Stefan couldn’t wait to run his hands through.

“Do you know each other?” A perky redhead asked moving from her spot beside Jason.

That had purple dress stepping forward. “No, uhm we met briefly at the bar.”

“We didn’t actually meet she kind of…”

“My name is Sasha Morris.” She interrupted casting him a warning glance.

Okay, Stefan thought, so she didn’t want her friend to know she sat in his lap. Shrugging he took her small hand in his for the second time. “Stefan Kelson, pleased to meet you Sasha Morris.”

She blushed and quickly focused on sipping her Cosmo

The rest of the night passed by quickly with Jason and Kris monopolizing the conversation. Although Stefan and Sasha barely spoke, knowing glances were exchanged every few minutes. Their hands brushed accidentally when he handed her a drink and he nearly got lost in her chocolate brown eyes.

Stefan knew they were playing a game, a game of glances and brief touches until one of them made the first move.

She stood to the side, speaking with her friend, when Stefan decided he was going to make that move. He walked over and placed his hands on her hips, becoming accustomed to the feel of her small firm hips under his hands.

“All right Kris, I’ll be right out.” She said to her friend who headed outside before turning to him.

“Kris isn’t feeling too well so we’re heading home.” Being much shorter than he was she lifted her chin and met his gaze. Her lips looked soft and were painted a luscious pink.

Stefan grinned and leaned in for a kiss when she suddenly pulled back.

“Aren’t going to say goodbye?” Stefan asked.

“I just did, goodbye Stefan.” Her voice was firm but her body was telling another story. Her hand remained on his from where she tugged it off her hip.

“At least give me your number?” He asked cocking his head and smiling. He’d love to get to know her and the curves under that dress better.

She narrowed her eyes for a moment before rattling off her number and disappearing into the crowd.

Stefan pulled out his phone and hastily added the number to his contacts before he forgot it. This was one girl he couldn’t wait to call.

Stefan closed the door late morning behind the tall blonde and slammed his fist against the wall. Tiffany was what Stefan liked to think of as one of his fuck-buddies. She called or he called and they would hook up. There were no questions asked, plans made or expectations. An arrangement that suited her perfectly, except today. Tiffany had called this morning, asked if she could stop by, and like a good fuck buddy Stefan had agreed.

The whole time he was with Tiffany he couldn’t help but imagine Sasha’s small hips in his hands and her chocolate and caramel hair spread out on his pillow. Tiffany had left his apartment a satisfied woman, but the guilt angered Stefan. He should’ve just stopped and sent her home.

Why couldn’t he get Sasha out of his mind? It wasn’t like they had flirted overtly, it was mere an exchange of heated glance and brief touches and yet she kept milling about in his mind. Vexed by her running through his mind and even more angered by it he decided to text her. He grabbed his phone from the kitchen island and walked to the window to overlook the Soho skyline when Chopin’s funeral march started playing on his phone.

Great! His dad, the last person he wanted to talk to.

“Dad?” Stefan said irritably.

“Good morning to you too. I hope you’ve had a lovely morning and that your debauchery and drinking haven’t left you fragile this morning?” His father’s sophisticated voice sounded professional regardless of the mocking words.

Stefan clenched his teeth and bit back the words he actually wanted to say. “What can I do for you?”

“It’s about Monday; I’ve just got off the phone with a very irritated Roman who was kind enough to let me know you were only in the office for approximately three hours over the past week.”

Stefan grunted; he knew that geek was a clock watcher. “What, so now he’s timing me?”

“Stefan, you might be my son but that will only get you so far in life. You can’t expect me to pay you a salary when Roman has to do all the work.”

“He doesn’t do all the work.” Stefan barked back.

“Really? According to him you’ve done about zip this past week except hang out at the photo shoots. Since that isn’t in your job description, you did zip.”

Stefan wanted to argue but he knew his father held the check book and the final say. If he wanted to keep getting his salary, which was about twice the size of Roman’s, he needed to placate the old man. “It was a rough week for me, dad, I’m sorry. I’ll do better next week.”

“You’ll be in the office on time?” His father asked sternly.

“9am, sir. No question.”

“Fine, and do try and stop by this weekend. Your mother misses you.” With that the line went dead.

For a moment Stefan considered phoning Roman Panatopolis but knew it would be a futile exercise. Roman was the Chief Operating Officer of Face Magazine and Stefan was his second in command. Even though Stefan’s father gave him the job on a silver platter, he was fully aware that if Roman kept on complaining his father would kick him out.

He rubbed a hand over his brow and pushed his father’s words aside. He was on his way to text Sasha. He slid a finger across the screen to unlock it and opened the texting app.

I met a girl last night, with long hair and small hips and a smile that drives me nuts. I’d like to see her again tonight.

Let me know if you’re free

Stefan hit the send button and within a few seconds he received a reply that brought a smile to his face and made the worry over his father’s call disappear.

She sounds great, hope you got her number.

Stefan read the text over again and burst out laughing. A girl with a sense of humor; now he really wanted to see her again.