CHAPTER 12
Leila
I tossed and turned all night after hardly hearing from Lance last night. I knew that we weren’t that serious and was fine with it, or was I? I loved the feeling of sleeping in his arms after making love and doing it alone didn’t appeal as much to me any longer. I woke up earlier than necessary and after sitting in my bed trying to go back to sleep with little success, and got up to dress for a yoga class that I’d been trying to get myself to on a regular basis. It was something that I discovered through my job after selling a home to an instructor and once I landed Nan as a client, I found that I needed it more. It eased the stress in my life, but I still thought about Lance as I moved through my stretches, missing him inside of me.
I was never a highly sexual woman before Lance. I did and enjoyed it enough, but now I craved it every moment of the day. I wanted him every night and ached for it when we weren’t together. He was turning me into a nympho and I blushed in the middle of class as I moved into a plank position.
I got through the class and pulled my sweatshirt on to walk the block to my favorite coffee shop close to home. I always felt better after going there and I ordered a large cup and one of the cinnamon bagels with the honey and nutty cream cheese. Glancing around, I found a seat and took it, looking out of the window as the streets came to life.
I had a new client to talk to today about purchasing a house. They had just moved from San Francisco and it was a single woman. We were meeting somewhere at eleven to go over what she was looking for and I pushed my nerves away. I knew that I was missing Lance and needed to regain my composure with that. I couldn’t afford to be lost in him. I couldn’t afford another heartbreak and I told myself to keep this casual.
I finished my bagel and took the coffee home to shower for my meeting, choosing a black skirt and soft sage green shirt that fell over my curves. I generally dressed in a conservative manner for work and I looked at myself in the full-length mirror as I wound my hair into a loose bun. I liked to keep some of my style in every look and I wrapped the curls with a smile. I added a light coat of makeup and darkened my eyes with mascara before I glossed my lips with a nude color.
It looked good and I found a pair of black heels to go with the outfit. I headed out to my car and drove to the restaurant a bit earlier than the meeting, wanting to be prepared when Lynn arrived. I walked in and asked for a table against the window as the hostess grabbed two menus at my request. I followed her to a private corner table and sat down as I set up my tablet and took a small breath. This client had a lot of money to spend and I couldn’t help but wonder what she did for a living. It wasn’t my job to know any of that since everyone was already approved by a lender, but I did question it at times. It was a natural thing to be curious and I’d even admit that I was a little jealous sometimes. What girl wouldn’t be when she was showing million-dollar properties to clients, only wanting to buy something of her own someday?
I heard a voice across the room and glanced up to see a tall woman with vibrant red hair and a great body, if not completely fake. She was wearing a tiny blue skirt and white blouse that left little to the imagination, smiling with the blonde hostess pointed to me. I raised a hand and waved as I felt insecurity wash over me. I thought I was used to the woman in LA and how they looked, but Lynn was a gorgeous woman. I stood and greeted her with a warm smile as we shook hands. She was about three inches taller than my five-foot seven height and her bright blue eyes took me in shrewdly as we sat down.
The waitress came over and I ordered a water and a small salad since I’d eaten a bagel earlier, while Lynn ordered a martini and a larger salad.
“So, Lynn. What are you looking for in a house?” I asked her as she grinned with her flawless pink lips.
“I’d love something near the beach. I love the ocean!” She was enthusiastic as she spoke, and it made me smile. That was a common answer, but she looked too young to afford a place like that. I gave her the age of twenty-five at the oldest. Trust fund kid?
“Any particular area?” I asked her as the waitress brought our drinks and she sipped her water.
“I work at various parts of the city, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. Malibu sounds nice, and I also like Santa Monica.” I nodded and jotted down notes as I thought about some properties that I’d been to, some that Lance had looked at.
“I can find a lot to look for. What is your budget for a home?” I already knew this, but I always asked people in person to clear things up from the get-go.
“I can go up to two million dollars. I want a lot of amenities in my house and that should give us a lot of choices.” I took a drink of my own water and wrote that down mid sip before I smiled at her.
“I can absolutely work with that. Want me to run some properties by you while we eat? I brought my tablet along.” I offered, and she nodded as I looked into her pretty face.
“That sounds great,” Lynn agreed as I warmed up the device and glanced out of the window at the water. “Where do you live?” She spoke with an ease that I only dreamed about and I pressed my lips together.
“I am in Santa Monica and really enjoy that part of town,” I told her as she eyed me again. “Where do you work?”
Lynn laughed throatily and took a long sip of her cocktail.
“I am in the acting business,” she replied confidently, and I tried to place her as I leaned back. She was so unique that I thought I’d recognize her and she giggled as she pressed her napkin to her mouth gently. “You don’t know me.”
“I don’t. I’m sorry, but I am not much into pop culture,” I apologized, and she laughed harder. I frowned and looked at her curiously as she took another drink of the martini.
“It’s not pop culture, sweetie. I am in the adult industry.” I widened my eyes and she smiled at me, clearly used to this. “I can see that it’s not your jam and that’s okay. I am preparing for my future with this job and buying a house and then saving some money. I have a plan.” Lynn looked at me again. “If it was your thing, I think that you would do well. You’re a pretty girl.”
I blushed and shook my head, choking as I reached for my water.
“No, that’s not my thing at all. I can’t even imagine…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t talk like that.” I shook my head and focused on finding the website where we had our listings offered. I was embarrassed, and she reached across the table to touch my arm. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. That didn’t offend me at all.” Lynn smiled warmly at me as I pulled up a house and slid the tablet across the table towards her to show her. Lynn looked down and scrolled through the pictures as she told me that she’d like something just a bit smaller. It was just her at this point and she didn’t need a mansion, just something for her and maybe guests from time to time.
Our salads were delivered, and we looked over some more properties as I felt myself warming up towards her. Lynn was nice, and I decided that I shouldn’t judge her for her choices. It didn’t shape her and as much as I couldn’t imagine doing that for work, she seemed to be fine with it. We picked out a few properties and I asked if she wanted to look today, assuming that she was free. Lynn agreed, and I felt relieved at the fact that I kept my car clean all the time. We ate and relaxed a bit as we discussed the city and what brought us here, since we both came from other places. Lynn came with her mom as a teenager from Kansas and found her way into the business when she turned eighteen. I told her about moving here and my dreams, surprisingly open with her. I didn’t get along with women well and despite liking Nan, her boyfriend got in the way of both our personal and professional relationship. I was wary of something like that happening again.
We left after Lynn insisted on paying for lunch, laughing when she told me that she could write it off. I could as well, but I didn’t fight her over it. We walked out to my car and got inside as I started the engine. We were planning to go to about six properties and I lowered the volume of the radio as I headed over to Malibu. The first house was across the street from the ocean but offered a lot, so I thought I’d start with it.
I noticed her looking at her phone a few times and sending some text messages. I didn’t mind since we were driving, and she probably used her phone for work, and I felt a bit squeamish as I stopped at the light. She let men have sex with her for a job, and women. Before Lance, I didn’t even think of sex as that great and I could not understand doing it for a job.
I was glad that Lance didn’t do that for a living. That would be a deal breaker for me.
We wandered through the house with three bedrooms, a loft, and three bedrooms as she looked around slowly. She seemed interested in every aspect of it and we discussed it as we walked, both the good and the bad. We went to another house a few blocks away that was right on the water and more of a cottage style with three bedrooms and two big bathrooms, along with another loft. Lynn really liked it but wanted to see the others nearby and compare them before she made a choice.
We did that and then I took her to her sleek red BMW, where Lynn promised me that she’d call me with a decision. I drove away thinking about how my views changed about sex workers, if Lynn could be called that. She was a nice person and seemed to have goals. I assumed that she was clean about her job and kept herself healthy. Wasn’t that a rule now?
I drove home, wondering what Lance was doing tonight. Maybe we could have dinner at his place and I could get my fix. I didn’t work early the following day and we could spend some time together in the morning. I pulled into my apartment and thanked the stars that I wasn’t going to drive anymore if I could help it. It always intimidated me in the city and I walked inside of my apartment and dropped my purse on the dining room table. I reached for my phone and sent him a text message, dropping the phone on the couch while I went to change into some leggings and a loose t-shirt.
I drank some tea as I watched TV and waited for the chime to sound, indicating that Lance was getting back to me. It didn’t come before eight and I called Viv to complain to her as she listened to me.
“It’s only the second night? Maybe he’s working,” Viv suggested as I groaned.
“He’s a freelancer of some sort. I think he can work anytime that he wants to.” I assured her as Viv tried to comfort me. I’d been open about our relationship and she knew everything, which meant that she knew I wasn’t like that normally. “Do you think he’s already finished with me?”
“Oh, Leila. You need to calm down. I’m sure it’s not that serious. Give him a bit before you write him off. This guy sounds hot!” Viv told me as I laughed, feeling mentally and physically exhausted. We talked for a little longer before I went to wash my face and read in bed, fearful of why he wasn’t calling me.