Page 23 of Enjoying the Ride
“So, I guess that my answer is, yes, I’d be fine leaving my job,” she prompts me.
I nod, surprised at how easily this woman—a complete stranger just a few days ago—can soothe me with a simple touch.
“Good, that’s good,” I say, attempting to regain my composure.
“Can I ask you a question?”Posey hedges.
I run a hand through my hair before quirking a smile at her.“It’s not exactly how these things usually go,” I explain.
“That’s not a ‘no,’” she points out with her own smile.
I wave my hand in acceptance.“Okay sure.Shoot.”
“How many women applied to be in this pageant?”
Well, I wasn’t expecting that to come out of her mouth, I admit to myself, barely able to control my surprise.
Out loud, I opt for the truth once more.“About a hundred women, more or less.”
Posey nods.“And out of roughly one hundred women, what made you—or whoever it was—pickme?”
I stare at Posey, realizing that she’s voicing aloud the exact same question that I’ve been asking myself ever since I saw her picture in her application.
I have no idea, I lie to myself.
Because of course I know why she was selected: Posey is stunningly beautiful, her curves thick, and her hair like fire.Physically, a perfect female specimen, and even more, a perfect toy for the men of Mirago.
“Your application was strong,” I explain, hoping that she can’t read my mind.But Posey isn’t just pretty, she’s as sharp as a tack.
“Other applicants had to be stronger,” she counters, crossing her arms over her full chest.“I know because I barely put any effort into my application.”
I shoot her a look.“That’s not something the judges would want to hear.”
Posey shoots right back.“I just didn’t think I had much of a chance, so why bother?”
I furrow my brow.“It was your picture,” I admit before I quite realize what I’m telling her.
“My picture?”she asks, startled.“Because it was a little bit sexy or because I showed some leg?”
I chuckle.“It was incredibly sexy, but no, that’s not why, not exactly.”
Posey waits, looking at me as if to say, ‘so why then?’
I’m not ready to share the reason, not yet, maybe not ever.
But I know it’s because of how Posey stared into the camera, her expression full of hope and wonder and a bit of mischief, as if the world had been hard on her but she still sought out the beauty.That her eyes, even though I was looking at them on that flimsy piece of paper, had haunted me from the moment I saw them.That I’d spent restless nights wondering what it would be like to enjoy her body and then fall asleep with her in my arms.
How the hell am I supposed to explain all that to a woman I just met?Hell,Iama creepy fucker.
Instead, I try a different tack.“You know what, I think we should get back to practicing the questions for your interview.There’s still a lot of material to go through.”
“Oh,” Posey says, biting her bottom lip.“Of course, you’re right.Ask away.”
But the sweet woman looks so disappointed, even as she tries to plaster on that fake smile.
“Posey,” I say as I take her hand in mine.“I think we can talk about these things, but I’m not sure this is the right time.”
“Yes, of course,” she says, her voice wavering.
