19
EDEN
THE NEXT MORNING, I took my time getting out of bed. I didn’t want the dreams of Zander and the images of him touching himself in his office and holding me last night in his apartment to be lost with the darkness.
I tried to still be angry with him, but I couldn’t help it if I had dreams about him and his gorgeous body.
The muscles.
The tattoos.
It all made for a titillating show.
When I heard Aunt Kennedy call out for me, I knew I couldn’t lay there any longer. Rolling out of bed, I made a trip to the bathroom before I ventured into the living room.
She’d spent most of her morning packing, and her suitcases were lined up neatly by the living room door. I was sad that she was leaving, and anxious that no one knew for how long.
“Aunt Kennedy?” I called.
“I’ll be right out.” Her response came from her bedroom.
Sitting on one of the barstools in the kitchen, I waited for her to emerge. When she finally did, she looked absolutely stunning as always.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone travel with so much style as you.”
She laughed. “Believe me, if it weren’t for the fact that I have a meeting to be at with Kade an hour after I land, I’d be in sweats and an oversized shirt.”
I didn’t believe that for a second. I had yet to see Aunt Kennedy in anything but beautiful clothes since I’d arrived.
“Do you have time for breakfast?”
“I wish, hon, but I won’t.” She gave me a sad face.
“I wish I would’ve asked before. I wouldn’t have waited so long to get out of bed. I could’ve made something.”
“Nonsense. It’s your day off. You deserve to sleep in.”
Aunt Kennedy had been busy searching through her purse, checking off the things she needed in her head before she finally looked at me.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay while I’m gone?”
I’d lost track of how many times she needed my reassurance that I would be perfectly fine.
Sometimes, I was sure Aunt Kennedy forgot I wasn’t a little girl anymore. Truth be told, I didn’t have the luxury of that title even when I was technically considered one.
“I’ll be fine, Aunt Kennedy. You really don’t have to worry about me.”
“I just hate leaving you in this big place all alone for so long.”
“Really, I don’t mind the quiet. Plus, I’ll be working a lot, so I’ll only be here to sleep.”
“I know you’re only trying to make me feel better.”
I smiled. “Is it working?”
“Yes. Thank you.” She pulled me into a hug. “The car will be here any minute to pick me up. Will you help me bring my bags out?”
“Of course.”
My aunt was not one to pack lightly. She was taking two duffle bags, three large suitcases, and a smaller one. She wasn’t all that thrilled to be flying to New York to help Kade, Empire’s other owner, but she said it was part of her job description.
She wasn’t sure how long she would be gone, so that meant she had packed her entire closet.
Helping her pull her bags outside, I stood out front with her and waited for the car.
“I wouldn’t have minded taking you to the airport.”
“I know, but this is easier. Now you can relax on your day off instead of running around that god-awful airport for me.”
I wanted to laugh at the thought of me relaxing, but my aunt wouldn’t understand the humor behind the words, and there was no way I was going to explain to her what had happened between Zander and me.
Not that I could technically explain it. I wasn’t exactly sure what Friday night had meant, but I was pretty sure I would not get any sort of explanation from Zander. Not that I was ever going to bring it up.
And then Saturday.
No.
I wasn’t going to think about how angry and completely turned on he had me when I went to his place.
I felt both relieved and anxious to have the day off. On the one hand, I didn’t have to see Zander or feel those brooding eyes follow me around the casino floor. But, on the other hand, having the entire day to sit around and obsess and analyze our little moment in his office and the way we talked to each other at his place the night before wasn’t exactly how I wanted to spend my day off.
I hated feeling so much confusion over Zander Hale. Never in a million years did I expect him to want me. He always seemed so angry and annoyed with me. But after watching him and seeing the desire in his eyes, there was no denying it.
Once, when I was younger, there was a boy named Jeffery who loved to pick on me at school. My mom used to tell me that he liked me and that was why he was so mean to me. Years later, Jeffery asked me on a date.
Mom was right.
And apparently, that notion extended from young boys to grown men.
Was Zander a jerk toward me because he wanted me so badly?
I liked to think so.
“What wrong?” Aunt Kennedy asked.
I blinked myself back to the present. “Huh? What? Nothing, why?”
“You’re frowning. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
I laughed. “Yes. I promise I’ll be fine. I was just thinking about work.”
That wasn’t a complete lie.
“And that makes you frown? You’re not having any problems, are you? Do I need to kick someone’s ass?”
“No, nothing like that at all. I actually really enjoy working at Empire. Everyone has been pretty cool so far.”
I hadn’t told my aunt about any of my run-ins with Zander Hale. I wasn’t about to cause problems between them. Plus, I knew I could handle his wrath.
“There’s the car now,” Aunt Kennedy said, and we stood there as it stopped in front of us.
Frank, the driver, got out and came around to help with the bags. Aunt Kennedy took that time to say one last goodbye.
“If you have any issues or trouble, do not hesitate to call Zander or me.”
I frowned, and my heart did a stupid little kick. “Zander?” I tried not to sound too obvious.
“Yes, I told him if you have any problems, he is to take care of them.”
“Aunt Kennedy, you didn’t need to do that. I’ll be fine.”
“I did need to do that. I want to make sure you’re safe. I was still hoping you’d take him up on his offer to stay at the hotel while I’m gone.”
No way was that going to happen, but I didn’t tell her that.
Frank finished putting the suitcases in and stood next to the back door, waiting.
“You’d better go. I don’t want you to miss your flight.”
She pulled me into a tight hug. “Don’t forget to check in so I know you’re okay. Once I know how long I’ll be away, I’ll text you. Bye, sweet girl.”
“Bye.”
Frank helped her into the car, and with one last wave, they were gone. I stood there, enjoying the midmorning sun for a bit before I slowly walked back into the building.
That night, I spent the night alone for the first time in my entire life. I went from living with my mother and her being there every night to living with Aunt Kennedy.
Being alone was freeing, and it gave me a taste of what it would be like to live on my own.
I liked it.
After making myself dinner, I sat in the living room and ate while catching up on a reality TV show I was getting into. Sadly, I spent most of that time overthinking everything that had come to pass between Zander and me.
It seemed every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was his expression as he orgasmed in his hand. I could still hear the strain in his voice when he told me to stay and watch. And my body remembered, as well, since my breasts were growing heavy, and my nipples were starting to tingle.
The spot between my thighs grew damp, and I found myself squirming on the couch and watching TV until finally I gave in and slowly began to fall asleep.
I was almost asleep when a loud bang sounded from the second floor of the condo. I jumped, sitting up, and quickly turned off the TV so I could listen.
Standing, I quickly crept through the condo, looking behind me on occasion when I felt like I was being followed.
The condo was dark since I didn’t see a need to leave every light in the place on, and in a way, I was creeped out by the lack of illumination around me.
I had never been afraid of the dark, but there I was, ready to run to my room and crawl under my bed to cry. Without Kennedy there, the house seemed three times its size and every little noise freaked me out.
I moved silently through the darkness, making my way into the kitchen and close to the cell phone I had just recently gotten myself. I had never owned one before, but once I got my second paycheck, Aunt Kennedy thought it was time for me to get one.
I picked it up, holding it to feel more secure but not really ready to make a call. However, when the noise on the second floor sounded once again, I pressed the button on the side of the phone, causing the screen to light up.
Scrolling through the handful of contacts I had, I found Luke’s number and pushed send. I hadn’t talked to him since our date went south, but I knew I could call him for help.
I waited, watching the front door like a hawk while it dialed.
“Please pick up. Please pick up,” I whispered into the phone until I heard his voicemail message.
I almost burst into tears as I disconnected the call and then dialed another number. It rang three times before Dell, the bartender, picked up.
“Empire Sevens,” he greeted.
“Dell! It’s Eden; is Luke there?”
“Yeah, hold on.”
Dell’s voice became muffled as he called Luke from wherever he was. I breathed a small sigh of relief when I heard Luke’s voice on the other end.
“Eden? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
Luke had been the first employee I had met at Empire Sevens, and after he had taken his time to show me to Aunt Kennedy’s office that first day, we had become super close. Now, I was worried he would hate me. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
“I’m so sorry to do this to you, Luke, but is there any way you can get someone to cover your shift so you can come over? I hear something upstairs, and I’ve totally freaked myself out. Kennedy’s out of town, and I’m here alone.”
The line went quiet for a bit before I heard some shuffling. Finally, Luke’s voice sounded again.
“What’s your address?”
Quickly, I fired off Aunt Kennedy’s address.
“Okay. I’m on my way. Sit tight.”
Relief rushed over me.
“Thank you so much, Luke.”
When I disconnected the call this time, I went to the corner of the kitchen, grabbed a large knife from the holder, and waited for Luke. If someone was upstairs, they might come downstairs, and when they did, I would be ready.