He nods. "Exactly. I want to invest in a decent property. It's time to throw my money into a mortgage instead of rent."
"I'm swamped right now, but I can set you up with another broker from my firm if that works for you."
I can tell by the obvious disappointment on his face that it's not the answer he was expecting. "When will you have time to show me a few places? I trust your judgment, Maya, and besides, you know what I like."
The inference is there in his words. He's not talking about white cabinetry and oak floors. "I'm in a relationship."
"Is it serious?"
That's none of his business, but I answer anyway. "I'm not sure, yet. It's new. It's early."
"If that changes, call me." He lets out a sigh. "It would be good to catch up."
I don't respond because I have no idea what to say. As much fun as I had in the past with Jason, it doesn't compare to what I have with Julian now. I won't risk that by taking on an ex as a client. There are plenty of brokers in this city who would be more than willing to help Jason find a place to call home. I just don't happen to be one of them.
I finishmy workday with a coffee meeting with Jen and then a call to Julian. He doesn't answer. I try his assistant who once again tells me that Julian is unavailable unless it's an emergency.
My desire to sit in his lap and ride his cock isn't really a life or death situation even if I'm desperate to come.
I decide to invite my sister out for dinner. Our time together has been limited as of late. With all the hours I'm putting in trying to sell the Warton residence and the Bishop Hotel penthouse, I feel like I've lost my grip on my life.
Falon is in Memphis this week with Asher while he works with a new group of musicians on a song he just wrote. I made anote in my calendar to touch base with her before the week is out so I can see her once she's landed back in New York.
"Where do you want to go for dinner, Tilly?" I ask as soon as she picks up my call. "Name the place. It's my treat."
"I have a blind date."
"Why is this the first time I'm hearing about it?"
She laughs. It's light and filled with joy. "Maybe because you've been ignoring me for weeks now. I've had to risk life and limb to meet strange men on my own."
"That ends tonight. I'll spy on you like the good old days."
I hear movement. "I'm just about to walk out the door. I'm meeting him at a bar on the corner of Forty-Second and Third in twenty minutes."
"You need to haul ass if you're going to make it there in time," I point out. Since I'm less than three blocks from there, I start walking in that direction. "I'll see you there, but ignore me unless he's a jerk."
"Thanks for having my back, Maya. I've missed you."
I bite back a tear. "I've missed you too, Tilly."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Maya
"You didn't even botherto sit down?" I motion to the bar stool next to me. "Sit here and tell me what was wrong with him."
Tilly slips onto the stool next to me. "There wasn't anything wrong with him, but he definitely wasn't the same age as the guy in the picture I saw online."
That's one of the reasons why I've never been into meeting men online. I've heard Tilly tell me over and over about how many men don't use an actual picture of themselves, or if they do, the image is decades old. She unwittingly ended up having dinner with a seventy-year-old man a few months ago.
She had a good time but not in the traditional sense of a date. It was more a granddaughter, grandfather connection.
"Let's talk about you." She takes a sip of my martini. "Do you do anything other than work? Did you ever see the cufflink guy again?"
I start with work because that's easy. "This month is the most amazing I've ever had in my career. I'm close to selling anapartment on Central Park West and if I can sell that penthouse at the Bishop Hotel, I'll have the opportunity to sell eleven more suites there. The commission alone is enough to pay off my mortgage, Tilly."
"Seriously?"
