Chapter Twenty-Seven

Brad

I should have been exhausted as I walked into work, but I wasn’t. I was on cloud nine. When I had left, Mia had been in my bed, getting in a quick nap. I had worn her out last night. I laughed while thinking back to our emergency run to an all-night diner at two o’clock that morning. I didn’t have what she’d wanted in my kitchen. She’d insisted on something completely fattening and full of protein. I had loved watching her pack away the food. I knew she didn’t normally eat like that. It was all me and because of what I had done to her body.

I was smiling as I walked down the hall and into my office. I had called in earlier, saying I would be in for my show and nothing else. Thankfully, I didn’t have any spots or live broadcasts on the agenda. It was just me and my one-man show. I couldn’t wait to tell my listeners that things were looking up. I had to be careful, though. I didn’t want to say too much in case Mia was listening.

Sitting down, I quickly checked my email. There was an email from the radio station in New York. I clicked it, then nearly threw the computer across the room when I read the words. It was a no. They didn’t think I was right for their target audience. The demographics were not a good fit.

“Bullshit,” I said into the empty room.

They didn’t know what they were missing out on. I could run a successful show. I could bring in new listeners and increase their advertising dollars. I had done it at my station with great success, and that had been before I really knew what I was doing. Now I had experience under my belt and a solid reputation in the entertainment industry. I wasn’t interviewing Madonna or Katy Perry or others like them, but I was on my way.

“Fuck,” I said. Now what was I going to do? I had been certain I could get a job in the city fairly easily. Mia was going to be pissed when she found out. She was going to think I wasn’t serious about moving to be close to her.

I had to find a way to make it work. After last night, I knew without a doubt that I wanted her in my life. I was absolutely willing to give up everything to be with her.

“Hey, you okay?” Tina asked, coming into my office and sitting down. “You look like someone just popped your favorite red balloon.”

“Just a shitty email.”

“Everything else okay? You didn’t come in at your normal time. I thought maybe you were sick or something,” she said. She studied my face. “You don’t look sick.”

I nodded. “I’m better than okay actually. Mia got into town last night,” I said with a big smile.

She laughed. “That explains the glow. I wasn’t sure if you were happy or feverish.”

“I don’t glow. Men don’t glow. That’s a female thing.”

She shook her head as she laughed. “Nope. You’re glowing. You have this vibe coming off you. It’s a weird mix of sex and love. It’s kind of gross, actually,” she said, sounding more like a sister than a friend.

“I’m happy. Really happy. I only wish it was more permanent. We still haven’t figured out the logistics of this thing.”

She was smiling. “I feel like I’m seeing you grow up before my eyes.”

“I’m older than you,” I reminded her.

“Technically, yes. Mentally and maturity wise, not so much,” she said.

“Hey, I resemble that.”

That made her laugh, and I was feeling a little better about the rejection letter. “I hope I get to grow up and settle down. Unfortunately, this bicoastal thing is proving to be a real bitch. I can’t be away from her for weeks at a time. I’ll die,” I said.

“I don’t need dirty details. I do understand though. But, if you want to make it work, you can. My husband has been deployed twice. Eight months the first time and six months the second time. It’s hard. It takes a lot of dedication, patience, and more patience. You have to decide you want to make it work.”

“I know. I don’t know if she wants that kind of thing, though.”

“I hate to see you go, but if she makes you this happy, you have to. You can find a job. Maybe it’s time for a career change.”

I groaned. “The only job I applied for—the only job I found open—just shot me down. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I don’t know what else to do if I’m not on the radio.”

“The satellite thing.”

I rolled my eyes. “And what if that crashes and burns? It’s not like they can move me to a new slot or something. I could fade into oblivion.”

“Not you. It could be the perfect solution. You have to at least consider it, especially if you’re not finding leads anywhere else.”

I nodded, knowing she was right. “I will. I need to get to the booth.”

“Your meal of the week is waiting. I hope you ate before you came,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“Oh man. I was really hungry, too.”

She laughed. “Well, that could be a good thing. Maybe you’ll be able to get it down. Just eat and don’t taste it. I can tell you there are a lot of seeds and green leafy things. I’ll make sure there are a couple bottles of water at the ready. I’d hate for you to choke on a seed.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this. I think for my next show, I’m going to have strict requirements for any food. If a cow won’t eat it, I’m not going to eat it.”

She laughed. “Cows don’t eat a lot of things.”

I shrugged. “Well, herbivores in general. I’m not a damn bird. Who eats seeds in a meal?”

“Oh, just wait until you see it. I think it was called a nut loaf or something.”

I dug in my drawer and pulled out a protein bar, which I quickly shoved into my mouth as I walked toward the booth.

I sat down and kicked off the show. It was all about perseverance and getting what you wanted. I gave my spiel and waited for the calls to come in.

“You sound different,” the first called said. “Did you finally give up on that New Yorker?”

I laughed deep in my throat. “Nope. Not a chance. Didn’t you hear what we were talking about tonight? It’s all about not giving up.”

The guy made a choking sound. “You’re embarrassing yourself, man.”

I hung up and took the next call.

“I’m happy for you. She sounds like a lovely woman. Keep fighting. Don’t listen to those guys calling in and telling you to move on. A woman needs to know you’ll fight for her. You don’t have to be a knight in shining armor, but acting like one will go a long way toward proving you are serious,” an older woman said.

I smiled. I liked her analogy. I knew Mia wanted to make sure I was more than a lot of hot air. I could do that. I could prove it to her.

The show went well. My producer indicated I had one last call.

“This is Brad,” I said in my radio voice.

“Hi, Brad. When you have a woman as beautiful and smart as she is, you better be willing to walk through fire for her. She is definitely worth it,” a woman’s voice said.

The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “You sound like you know her,” I said.

There was soft laughter. “Know isn’t the right word, but we met. I’m the lady from the elevator.”

I chuckled. “I thought your voice sounded familiar. Thank you. Tell your mom I said hi,” I said before ending the call.

After closing the show, I headed for my office. I was anxious to get home. I usually hung out a bit after a show, but I had a gorgeous woman at home waiting for me.

“Hey, good show,” Jaxon said, walking with me toward my office.

“Thanks.”

“You in a hurry? I feel like we’re sprinting.”

I shrugged. “Just want to get home.”

He nodded. “Understandable, but you’re running.”

“I’m not running,” I retorted.

He stopped walking and grabbed my arm, bringing me to a halt. “She’s here, isn’t she?”

I was going to deny it. I wanted to keep her all to myself. “Yes,” I admitted.

“I want to meet this mystery woman.”

“Later.”

He burst into laughter. “I guess I know why you’re practically running out the door. You have to let her out of your bed at some point, Brad.”

I started walking, turned around, and grinned. “No, I don’t. Besides, I don’t think she wants out.”

I could hear his laughter as I grabbed what I needed out of my office and headed out the door. Tonight, I would be prepared to keep the woman fed and happy. I stopped at a local takeout place and ordered enough food to last us several days.

While I waited for my order to be put together, I sent her a quick text.

I expect you naked and ready when I get home in thirty minutes.

The emoji she sent me was a shocked face followed by a party hat. I let her know she could wear a party hat and nothing else.

Once my name was called, I grabbed the bags of food and raced home. The doorman waved as I headed toward the elevator. I had a feeling he knew about the guest in my apartment. It was one of the downsides of having a manned entry. Someone always knew who was coming and going, and gossip was rampant.

Sticking my key in the lock, I once again discovered it wasn’t locked. I’d lecture her about that after I buried myself inside her. She wasn’t in the living room, which meant she had to be in my bedroom. After depositing the food on the kitchen counter, I walked into the room and once again found myself stuck in the doorway, unable to move forward.

“Damn,” I breathed out, staring at her beautiful, pert ass.

She turned and smiled. “You said to be naked.”

I chuckled. “Yes, I did.”

She was laying on her stomach, propped up on her elbows with her legs bent at the knees and crossed at the ankles, and reading a magazine. It was seductive without even trying. The woman didn’t realize how sexy she was.

“You going to stand there all night?” she asked in a soft voice.

“I don’t know if I can move.”

Seeing her as she was made me forget all about the missed job opportunity and the food I’d thought I wanted. All I wanted was her.

“Are you saying I need to come to you?” she purred, rolling over onto her side, giving me a full-frontal view.

I sucked in a breath of air and shook my head. “No,” I croaked out. “I want to look at you.”

She smiled. There was no embarrassment or blushing as she ran her hand over her thigh, trailed it up her flat stomach, and cupped her breast.

“Look all you want,” she cooed.

I was done looking; touching was required. I stalked toward her, ripping off my shirt and stepping out of my jeans while I moved. Once I was beside the bed, I ordered her to lie flat. She did as I asked, her arms at her sides, her chest heaving from her long, deep breaths.

“Brad.” She said my name on a breath.

With everything forgotten, I leaned down and kissed her, promising to make her scream my name again.