Chapter 4

Stretching back in her leather chair Angela looked out the paned window overlooking the City of Angels. Her thoughts and emotions were still all bound up together. Everything was happening so quickly and it overwhelmed her. She was snapped back to reality by the sound of her secretary saying, “Ms. Black,” and poking her head in the door. Marg looked like a school teacher with her mid-length graying hair and quiet demeanor. Her eyes held maturity and wisdom, Angela thought.

“Yes, Marg. Come in, please.” Angela motioned her in. “Please call me Angela.”

    She stood up and Marg smiled at her and passed her a large binder. “Here is the procedure manual you requested. Did you need anything else before I leave for the day?”    

“No, this is it. Thank you Marg. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Angela smiled at her and she glanced at the clock on the wall. Shit, she thought. It was already 5:20 pm and Joanne was meeting her downstairs in ten minutes to pick her up for supper. Throwing the binder into her brown leather satchel, she hurried downstairs to the lobby.

    Just as she reached for the lobby door it opened. Angela’s eyes trailed the muscular arm and hand that held it open for her. Simultaneously, she heard a familiar, deep husky voice say, “After you.” It was Steve.

    Angela turned and looked up into his face. How the hell did he know I worked here?

“Thank you,” was all she said as she pushed past him and walked out of the building onto the sidewalk that ran along Wilshire Boulevard. She looked at her watch and saw that it said, five thirty-five. She looked up and down both sides of the street. Still no Joanne, just strangers walking past her in a hurry. No one made eye-contact or smiled. They all seemed to be in a hurry.

    “Meeting someone?”

God, she loved that voice. But, what the hell is he doing here? “Yes, as a matter of fact I am, she said.” She had to hold her hand up to block out the sun, as she looked up at him.

The sun reflected off his aviator sunglasses and his slick brown hair was neatly combed back. She tried not to stare but her eyes fell to his chest. She couldn’t help but notice his collar bone that looked like it had been chiseled to precision leading to the partial tattoo that made it half way up his neck. Even under his black suit jacket and white dress shirt she could see his upper body was ripped throughout.

    “What are you doing here? Are you following me?” She blurt out as she tried to contain the butterflies slowly building in her stomach. Steve laughed and stared into the traffic.

    “I just finished up some business.”

    “You work here?” She looked at him, puzzled.

    “Something like that,” he said. The left corner of his mouth curled up into a sly half smile revealing his sexy dimple.

Jesus he was gorgeous she thought.

    “Angela!” She turned her head to see Joanne walking towards her.

She suddenly felt his lips on her ear again. He reached down and pushed back a long lock of her black hair and he whispered; “Well now at least I can put a name to the beautiful mystery woman.”

She could smell the scent of his cologne as she felt his lips brush her neck and pull away. He grabbed her hand then and placed a light kiss against it. “Until we meet again Angela,” he said, flashing her a wicked smile. He let go of her hand, turned and walked away.

Angela felt weak in the knees and her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t fathom why this man had such an effect on her. Maybe it was because it had just been so long since she’d felt anything remotely close to physical attraction. She turned towards Joanne and tried to hide how flustered she was.

“Hey, you ready to go?” She looked at Jo quickly before her head snapped back to take another quick glance at Steve but he was already gone.

“Was that who I think it was?” Joanne smirked.

“Yes it was. What are the chances? Over four million people in Los Angeles and I bump into him four days later.” Angela rolled her eyes and flipped a lock of hair over her shoulder.

“He has you all flustered, doesn’t he?” Jo gave her a nudge as she hailed a cab.

“No he doesn’t!” Angela tried to feign an angry look at her friend. Joanne knew her well enough to know that she was full of shit.

**

“So you know I can read your bullshit a mile away right?” Joanne raised her eyebrows at her from across the table. “You’re a book babe, so easy to read.”

Angela speared her salmon with her fork trying to figure out what to say. “Jesus Joanne. I don’t understand why the hell I’m so attracted to him. I need a little help here please.” Angela’s look pleaded with her friend. Once again, her emotions were all over the place. Angela dropped her folk into her plate, her hands cupped her face as the tears pooled in her eyes and spilled over like a fountain.

“Hey, it’s ok Ang,” Jo said softly getting up and sitting in the chair beside her. She rubbed the small of her back. “You have been through so much and things are happening quickly. I’m sure it’s confusing.” She lowered her head to try and look at Angela’s face.

“You have no idea Joanne. I feel like a cheat for God’s sake,” She almost laughed and wiped her tears away. “It’s only been seven months since Blake’s been gone. I’m supposed to be mourning him, not flirting with strange men.” Angela reached for a napkin lying on the table.

“Come on Angela,” Joanne said in a stern voice, “I honestly think you have finished your mourning honey. You were by his side for 6 months the entire time he was sick and then you tucked yourself away in a hole for another 6 months after he passed. You can’t keep doing this.” Joanne wiped a tear from her cheek with her thumb. “It will break you.”

Joanne slipped her finger under Angela’s chin and lifted her face to hers. Looking into her large brown eyes and with empathy in her voice, she said, “Blake would be devastated if he saw you like this. He would want you to move on with your life, to be happy.”

Angela wrapped her arms around Joanne, hanging onto her for dear life. “I miss him so much Jo. It hurts so damn much.” She swallowed back more tears.

“I know you do honey.” Joanne stroked her hair softly. “It’s going to take time. Not to forget him but to let him go. You have to hold on to all the great memories that you and Blake shared, not the memories of him being sick.” Taking in a deep breath Angela let her friend go and sat up in her seat trying to compose herself.

“Angela, this is your chance to move on with a new life. You’re in a new city and you have a new job. Blake would be seriously kicking your ass right now.” Joanne said with a laugh. Angela smiled and took a sip of her vino.

“Now it’s time to let the old Angela I know back out of the closet. I want to see the strong independent woman that speaks her mind, the one that is always in control.” Joanne tipped her glass to Angela and took a sip.

With a smile, Angela tipped her glass back at Joanne and took a drink. “You know Thomas overheard our conversation about our mystery man. He insinuated that I was interested and thought it was too quick in his opinion.”

“Fuck Thomas and what he thinks. Don’t get me wrong. I love the guy and all but seriously? He is thinking with his dick.” Joanne’s face showed disapproval.

Angela almost spit her drink on the table. Grabbing a napkin and wiping her mouth she asked, “What the hell does that mean?” Angela looked shocked.

“I’ve noticed the way his eyes lust after your body.” Joanne winked and took another bite of her salad.

“Ok, have you stopped taking your meds?” Angela asked her, laughing.

“See there’s the Angela I remember and yes I am taking my meds. All jokes aside, I think he has a lot more intentions than just being the good friend.”

“My God, you’ve gone off the deep end. Thomas has really been there for me. I can’t even imagine my situation if he had not been there. He’s like a brother to me and I’m sure he feels the same about me.” Angela waved her hand like she was blowing off the conversation.

“Whatever Ang; just laying it out like I see it. Oh by the way, I forgot to tell you, book off the 4th of July weekend.”

“Why?”

“My girlfriend Ana that you met at the club is throwing a party at her house in Long Beach. You have to come.” Joanne gave her a pleading look.

“I don’t see why not. That sounds like fun,” Angela smiled.

They enjoyed the rest of their meal and had another glass of wine while Angela filled Joanne in on her first day on the job. The entire time Angela had to try and keep her mind from wandering back to Steve’s mouth. The way her name “ANGELA” rolled off of his lips in that deep, sultry voice. She wasn’t sure if it was right or not, but she knew that she wanted to hear it again.