Seven

Flynn

“A secretary, eh?” I turned my interest on Ava, having no interest in covering my ass in more lies in regard to my work life. It wasn’t a topic that should be broached this suddenly in a prospective relationship. While we were trying to get to know each other, the less Ava knew of that side of me, the better.

“Well, I suppose I’m technically an administrative assistant–isn’t that what they call it these days?” she asked with a smile. “Honestly, though, I’m little more than a glorified secretary.” I imagined sweet little Ava sitting at a desk, answering to some business executive as I’d proclaimed to be. For some reason, that image surprised me, and the fantasy that rolled through my mind caught me off guard as well.

“And are you happy there, Ava?” I asked, shakin’ the filthy thoughts from me mind.

She shrugged. “I suppose so. It pays the bills. But I always wanted to do something more with my life.”

“Like what?”

“I dunno, something artistic, maybe?” Her eyes seemed to light up as she spoke. “I was into dance when I was a child, but my clumsiness stopped me from going too far. I do like writing, though.”

“Writing? Like writing novels?”

“Mmmhmm, though really, who has the time for such frivolous things, am I right?” She laughed and looked away from me for a second, focusing on her hands.

“Yeah, the plight of the working man,” I said.

The waiter interrupted, and we gave him our orders. After he turned to leave, Ava wasted no time in returning to the conversation at hand.

“It may be a crass assumption, but I didn’t take you as the business executive type. Especially after meeting you in an Irish dive pub such as the Golden Shamrock.”

“Aye, and why is that, sweetheart?” I asked, intrigued.

“You just seem to have a distinctive edge about you that I can’t quite figure out. What line of business are you in?”

“Eh, small family import business. Not much to gloat about, really.” It wasn’t a lie, just omission of the full truth. “I simply manage the day to day business dealings, paperwork and such.”

She took a drink of her water, eyeing me suspiciously. “You make your job seem so mundane and boring.”

“It is really, and I’d rather leave that part of me life at the office rather than carrying it along with me. Besides, I asked you to lunch to get to know ya better, sweetheart.”

The waiter came over and refilled our water glasses, apologizing for the delay. Seriously, for such an empty place this time of day, there was no excuse for such poor, slow service. I wasn’t about to berate the man in front of Ava, that would’ve been bad form. Instead, I waved it off.

“So, Ava,” I said, trying to think of anything to change the subject, “have you ever been to Ireland? You have a slight accent, so I was wondering–”

“Only when I was a baby,” she replied. “Before my dad passed away. But I grew up in a strong Irish family.”

“You did?” I asked. “What’s the family name again? I usually know all the Irish around here–”

“I’m not from around here actually,” she said quickly. “I’m from Washington D.C., originally.”

“Aye, so what brought you to Chicago?”

“Work,” she said.

There was that dreaded word again. Work. That needed to be off-limits. So again, I tried changing the subject.

I cleared my throat. “So, have you ever written anything?” I asked. “I mean, have you ever had anything published? Anything I might know?”

“I’ve started a few books but never finished any,” she said with a shrug. “Not like they’d be very good.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I’m not a writer, silly.”

“You write, thus you’re a writer,” I said. “Or is it somehow more complicated than all that?”

Our food came quickly as if the waiter was trying to make up for his delay earlier. Normally I wouldn’t mind sitting there for hours engaged in a lively conversation with a beautiful woman. But for whatever reason, our conversation wasn’t going as smoothly as I’d hoped it would. I knew it was because of all the secrets I had to keep from her. Perhaps dating someone outside the lifestyle wouldn’t be as easy as I’d thought it was going to be.

“I have no training, no classes, nothing like that,” she said. “I just write whatever I feel like writing and whatever comes out, comes out. There’s no real method to the madness.”

“I personally think that sounds intriguing. Maybe one day I can read some of it.”

“Maybe so,” she said, taking a bite of her salad as she smiled at me.

Her emerald eyes lit up, and I pushed any and all thoughts about this not working out of my head. As I stared into those gorgeous eyes, I knew I wanted this to work. I wanted to date someone who didn’t just want to fuck me for my money, hoping to get knocked up so she could tie me down forever. No, I wanted a real woman with her own life, her own thoughts, and no hidden agendas. I wanted somebody like Ava. I had to find a way to balance my two lives. The trouble was, I wasn’t sure how to go about doing it.

My phone went off and I sighed.

“Sorry, work stuff,” I said, motioning toward the phone as I looked down at the text message from Colin.

We need you back here now, man. This is serious.

Shit.

“I’m sorry, my sweet Ava, I have to cut our lunch a bit short. I’m needed at the office,” I said, putting the phone into my pocket.

“Oh, of course,” she said. “I should probably get back to the office as well.”

We’d finished eating, so at least we’d managed to get through the meal. I hated rushing away as soon as our plates were cleared. Reaching over, I took Ava’s hand in mine, stroking it before lifting it to my lips and kissing it gently. Her skin was so soft and smelled like orange blossoms–I could revel in that scent all day. But I had to go.

As we stood to say our goodbyes, with no real forethought or planning, I decided to go for it. When I leaned in, I softly pressed a kiss on her lips. A chaste kiss, nothing more, but when I pulled away, her cheeks were flushed and she was smiling. I let out a small sigh of relief at not being shot down—or slapped—and getting what I interpreted as a positive reaction to my gesture.

“I want to see you again, sweetheart. And soon,” I whispered, before leaving her completely stunned and breathless.