Keir

“So how’d it go?” Connor gets down to business when he strolls into my apartment the following afternoon.

“I didn’t stay the night, if that’s what you’re asking.” My words are dry, my patience thin.

“Of course you didn’t. You’re a gentleman,” he reminds me. “But was there a kiss? Chemistry? Anything?”

“She let me in,” I say. “So there was that.”

Connor rubs his eyes with his thumb and forefinger after yanking off his glasses. “She’s putting you in the friend zone and … and … you’re just going to sit back and allow it?”

“I’m trying. I’m doing everything you told me to do, saying all the stupid shit you tell me to say even if there’s fucking bile rising in the back of my throat when I say it.” I rise, pacing, ranting. “I’ve never given out my phone number to a woman I barely know. I’ve never chased anyone. I’ve never showed up at someone’s door with ice cream and stayed in watching Netflix on a Saturday night.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t have told you to do that. That one’s all you.” He exhales, his hands on his hips. “That was a pretty friend zone thing to do.”

I throw my hands up. “You told me to be a gentleman. That’s what I’m doing. I’m trying to get to know her, trying not to make this whole thing … sexual … which is ironically what she wants. I’d love nothing more than to make her dream come true, but you’ve got me by the balls here, Connor. Maybe we should just find another girl? Or hell, hire a fucking actress and make her sign a non-disclosure.”

“No, no. My team did extensive research. She’s perfect for what we need. You can’t fake authenticity,” he says. “People would see through an actress.”

I begin to respond when the doorman buzzes me. “Give me a sec, Connor. Go ahead, Roger.”

“I’ve got an Alexis Hartman here to see you. Should I send her up?” he replies.

My mouth draws in to a tight smirk when I think about her ripe DDs. All natural. And that mouth. It’s like fucking a porn star, only her face belongs in a Victoria’s Secret catalog.

“No! No, no, no!” Connor’s yell is more of a whisper, and he’s flailing his arms behind me like a goddamned toddler throwing a tantrum.

I shoot him a look, a soundless scowl as if to make it perfectly clear that nobody tells me no.

“Bad idea. Bad, bad, bad idea. Need I remind you you’re a changed man now? We’re in full reputation repair mode. You are not to engage in casual sex with random women who stop by your place in the middle of an afternoon on a Sunday. And who the hell does that?”

“Keir, you still there?” Roger asks.

I buzz him back, groaning. “Yeah. Tell her I’m busy.”

Glancing at Connor, he doesn’t seem satisfied with my response.

“Tell her … tell her I have a girlfriend,” I add. “And never to come here again.”

Damn.

She was one of the more ‘skilled’ ones too.

“Is this seriously something I’m going to have to worry about with you?” Connor asks, taking a seat in my favorite chair without asking. I’m more preoccupied with the fact that he’s in my spot than the fact that his nasal lecture is completely unnecessary. “I don’t understand why it’s so hard for you to go one damn year keeping your shit together. Not to mention maybe you should think about settling down. You want a career in politics? You need to walk a fine line or they’ll make a laughingstock out of you just like they did with your parents when that ridiculous book came out.”

I know he’s right. Well aware. But the reality of taking a sexual sabbatical hasn’t sunk in until now, having been forced to turn Alexis away. I can only imagine her sauntering off in her fuck-me heels, scratching her head and wondering what the hell just happened.

“Here.” Connor takes my cell off the kitchen counter and shoves it toward me. “Call her. Call Rowan. See if she wants to, I don’t know, have a drink.”

Grabbing it out of his hand, I dial her number. I don’t appreciate that he’s acting like I’m an incompetent asshole. I know what I’m doing. I also know when a woman wants nothing to do with me. It’s incredibly rare, but it happens.

The line rings.

And rings.

And rings.

Her voicemail picks up. “Hi, you’ve reached Rowan Aldridge. Sorry I couldn’t take your call. Leave a message.”

I sit the phone down and look him square in the eyes. “She didn’t answer.”