“My poor baby.” He chuckled. “Was it good, at least?”
“Out of this freaking world.” With my elbows on the table, I linked my fingers and rested my chin in the cradle. “God, Ru, I’ve been kissed before. You know, the sloppy ones filled with pools of drool and probing tongues. But I’ve never been kissed like that—never experienced that kind of intimacy created with just a mouth.” I sighed, my tone wistful. It was one of those kisses I’d remember for the rest of my life, one I might—no, strike that—one I would compare to all future kisses.
Ruvash grinned. “Did you at least try to get his number?”
“What? No, I turned tail and ran.” I dragged a hand down my face to cover my flushed skin. “Left my shoes behind and missed my flight.”
“Well, that’s a waste.” Ruvash rolled his eyes. “At least you have one kiss you can mention to your grandkids,” he mocked, picking on my lack of a social life again. “So, those beautiful shoes are gone?”
I lifted my shoulders in a deflated shrug. “The last present from my dad and I left them. If I’m lucky, someone will put them with the lost and found.”
“Jimmy Choos? I doubt that.” Ruvash smirked. “Did you call your boss?”
“Oh, that’s the other addition to my less than colorful day. He fired me.” I took a long drink from my beer, wondering what I was going to do about money, let alone my aunt’s bickering, which would undoubtedly worsen. “While I needed the money, I think him firing me would’ve happened sooner or later. I barely managed to keep from throwing up every time he came near me.”
“Shit, Sia.”
“I have to find another job stat, or your mother’s going to kick me out on my ass.”
“I’ll give my friend Jenna a call. She works for a recruitment agency. I’ll ask her if she can help you out. No promises, though.” He gave my hand a light squeeze. “Being fired might hamper your chances.”
“I know. Thanks, Ru. That will be awesome.” As I downed the rest of my drink, I suffered the mildest trepidation. I wasn’t a quitter, but considering my options right now, which weren’t many, I was in for a rough ride.
Drake
TAMARA STROLLED INTOmy office and set a pair of gold sandals on my table. “Since when do you get women’s shoes delivered?”
Grinning, I glanced up at my sister. “Let’s say I ran into Cinderella at the airport two weeks back. While it was one of the strangest encounters I’d experienced, the woman piqued my curiosity.” Heading for the departure gate to Boston, a woman zipped past me. I figured she was hurrying to catch her flight. Unfortunately, her ankle twisted under her and she went down face first, hitting the tiles hard. What caught my attention, though, was the distraught look on her face when she sat up. Any other woman would have picked herself up, giggling with embarrassment. That woman just sat there, her brilliant blue eyes brimming with tears.
“Cinderella?” Tamara interrupted my reverie.
Laughing, I raked a hand through my hair. “I helped a damsel in distress. Then she kissed me and ran off, leaving her shoes behind.” The surprising gesture baffled me, and while her delicious mouth promised a mysterious ecstasy, her eyes conveyed a vulnerability I found more intriguing. I wanted to keep her in my arms until she told me what troubled her, why she’d just sat there, unmoving when she had a flight to catch.
“And you took her shoes?” Tamara’s soft laugh cut through my musings. “Drink?”
I nodded. “They looked expensive, and one heel needed repairs.”
