Chapter Nine

I shouldn't have gone to the club. I don't need this distraction right now. But Laura insisted. It sounded so interesting but now am left with my stomach making flips thinking ofa guy I couldn't have. I got to the shop early so that I could get my head straight into baking .I pulled out all the usual ingredients from the walk-in and set a pot of blackberries and water to boil so that I could make a vat of syrup for the blackberry vanishes. Then I pulled a bag of Flour and sugar and started mixing them into the mixer along with the eggs and butter. It was almost time to open when I got that thing to started . I had to make coffee ,check if the lobby was clean, and set up the register. Once I was done with everything there was nothing else left for me but to sit and wait . I'd told Archer about the bakery,maybe he would come and say hi and whisk me off my feet and drag me to the mansion.it wasn't because he was rich . No I didn't care for his money . I just had never met a man who exhuded such authority and raw bestial masculinity the way he did. He was a titan , an archetype of what it meant to be a real man and everything that went along with it . A force like that couldn't be denied . It couldn't be stoped .

"What are you doing?" Laura was standing before me .I didn't even notice the door bell ring and she walked in .

"

"Uuuh ,I'm just waiting. "

"You are day dreaming thats what you are doing."

"I'm not "

"You are too and I know who you are thinking about."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh don't play dumb with me girl, she walked around to the other side of the counter." You left five minutes after meeting that man."

"But we didn't do anything"

"And am a virgin , she walked Back into the kitchen to get her apron but I wasn't going to let her get away. I followed her in ." What about you and Mr Moses you seemed pretty quick to hop on to that one."

"No , definitely not , why what happened?" I checked the berries and turned down the heat .

"Nothing, absolutely nothing, and you know why?''

"Why? "

"Because after you left, he took shot after shot until he was too drunk he could barely talk. Then he puked all over the bouncer when they cut him off."

"Really"

"Yap, I walked right out"

"I'm really sorry Laura , it's okay really I really don't care about it . Besides, he wasn't that cute anyway and he smelled like a fish."

"He did" Laura wrinked his nose

"Gross" we both laughed.

"But seriously though, you have to tell me what happened. "

"It's dumb."

"Go on "

"He was nice, we talked he kissed me ,then he picked me up off the floor and took me to his bedroom."

She gasped. "I'm jealous,"

"Don't be " He fel alsleep midway through my ridiculous striptease."

"Really, that's wierd are you sure he wasn't on drugs?"

"No,I mean I know he works as hard as I do"

"I don't buy it. I think you should stay away from him .I mean look at his friend ,he is a mess . "

"It doesn't matter anyway,I can't be thinking about this. I have a business to run."

"Exactly" Laura agreed . She pulled out a box of apples for the streusel and we took turns going back and forth between the lobby and the kitchen . It was hard for me . Archer was a distraction , a dangerous one. If I was not going to get him out of my mind I would end up doing something stupid."you are not going to give it up, are you " Laura asked breaking through my train of thought. I was supposed to be doing dishes. Instead I was staring at the water pouring out from the kitchen faucet down to the drain like I was in a daze.

"What are you talking about. I've made my decision"

"Have you? It seems to me that you are pretty hung up on the guy even though you don't know alot about him. "

"I know that he is a hard worker and that he makes alot of money ."

"What does he do for a living?"

"I-uhm , you know what I don't have to explain myself to you. I've already agreed with you . What else do you want from me ,jeez."



"You are pretending to agree with me and you know it "I glared at her ."you are one to talk."

"Ooh no,"she said"I am not going to let you compare that beast with Andrew. That guy smoked so much weed he went cross_eyed."

"We are not doing this" she walked out of the kitchen as I was rubbing a plastic refrigerator container . If I was going to let the dishes pile up I was going to be there until two in the morning.

"Hey" she said ducking her head back in. "Did Mr Bettle check in yet?"

"No, why? " I said as I was rubbing the container.

"I'm kinda worried that he might do something."

"Like what, roll out a cigarette at the door "

"Maya I mean it , did you see how he acted last night. I mean that guy is obsessed with you."

"I'm not sure what to think of that . I'm sure he is just a strange man with a strange mind and a strange of way of handling issues."

"What about the way he reacted when he saw us talking to those guys ."

I finished another container and started scrubbing a metal mixing bowl."But he jumped like he thought he was going to be shot when I reverse my car . I bet he is harmless."

"Do you really want to take that risk."

"What do you want me to do ?"

"Call the cops. Tell that he refuses to leave when you tell him to leave. Theyll arrest him and he'll be out of your hair."

"That's vicious"

"It's smart at least tell him not to come again. I dropped the sponge and started rinsing my hands . I don't think he is going to come back after we humiliated him like that .He is so sheepish."

" I don't call following you to the bar sheepish."

"We'll just take it a day at a time , okay ."

"Fine, she said and walked back into the lobby.I felt like I was sleeping, just moving along with things and meanwhile envisioning myself and that beautiful best Archer. Floating in the skies in his arms as he made me go into unheard ecstasy. I was shocked out of my reverie as ,I heard my phone ringinh in my pocket.

"Hello"

Laura ducked her head back in

"Maya?" The voice from across the phone asked.

I stopped what I was doing .

"Archer "

"Yeah ," it was wierd hearing him laugh as if he was embarrassed. A man like him was not supposed to be embarrassed about Anything. "I'm sorry to bother you , .. I hope you are not working, were you?"

"Well I ...am " Laura rolled her eyes. "But it's okay."

"I'm sorry about yesterday,you must have been exhausted."

"I was and I have been meaning to apologize about that . I was up all night working last night and the night before that ." He sighed .

"That's all right , there was a pause . "Archer ?"

"Would you like to go for dinner with me on Saturday night ."

"I don't know." I was going to make him want it .

"Yes, you do " he was immune to my tricks .

"Where do you want to go ?"

"I don't know yet , I'll surprise you with something beautiful."

I blushed . Laura was shaking her head and mouthing "No" she mouthed "No"

"Come on" he was smiling I could hear it . The man loved being in control .

"Saturday's fine " Laura threw her head in frustration. I dwaved my hand to shoo her away but she stepped in.

"Good ,what time do you get off."

"It's my day off, How does eight sound."

"That's perfect "

"I'll talk to you then ." I hung up.

Chloe came closer , "I think you are making a big mistake ."

"But you are not that certain , and neither am I "

"Just promise me you'll be careful."

"Being careful is the last thing on my mind ." I grabbed a tray of pastries and took them to the counter as Chloe followed me.

"It's a risk and that's part of the thrill."

"Who are you ?"

"I don't know. I just know I found a man who wants me and I want him and Im ready to go on from there."

"As long as it's not Mr Bettle , "

"Eeeew ,that's disgusting ,I would never get that smell off."

"You know you want it "

"I most definitely do not "

We spent the rest of the day mostly going back and forth about Archer. Laura was dead against me not meeting him, but I didn't care what she thought.

She didn't see what I saw.