Opening Up

By Eva Christine

Janelle seemed to have it all. She was a successful professional whose work made a difference in the world. She lived in a fabulous hi-rise apartment in New York city and knew who she was as a woman, or so she thought. Nothing could prepare her for the arrival of a much younger new neighbor, and the tantalizing journey of self-discovery their passionate relationship would take her on.

When a young love rival shows up, bringing with her dangerous skeletons from Alex's past, Janelle and Alex's relationship is put to the test. Who are they really? For better or worse, they are about to find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bodhi Press
• Release date: Mar 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458134523

Book preview

Opening Up

by Eva Christine

Bodhi Press

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011 Eva Christine

All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

Janelle was tired. Really tired. As she looked around her at the stacks of paper that covered every horizontal surface in her little office with a big window, she began to regret having requested the promotion that got her not only the choice office real estate, but also the extra 20 hours of uncompensated work each week.

For years she had envied those people classified as exempt, noting that they were always the ones who got to tell other people what to do. She had never noticed that they were also the ones who were still there when she left each day and already back at their desks when she walked in the next morning. She noticed now though, because she had become one of them.

She had been thrilled when Franco, the agency's Executive Director, had called her into his office and announced that after careful review of her application for the open Program Director position, she had been chosen and that they were delighted to be able to have a woman in the position, directing a micro-lending program that served mostly female entrepreneurs in the developing world. He let the HR director explain to her the minor detail that as an exempt employee she was now expected to work however many hours it took to get the job done, but would only be paid her normal salary without any over-time regardless of how many hours that worked out to be each week.

Still, Janelle was proud -- proud of herself for going after what she wanted even though she knew she had less managerial experience than the candidates whose resumes she had seen coming in before she decided to throw her hat in the ring. Proud too that she had done such a great job in her 2 years at the agency that even without previous program director experience the management team had felt confident enough in her to give her the chance to rise to the opportunity.

And in all honesty, she had to admit she didn't really need the overtime pay. It was more the principle of the thing. Since winning a wrongful termination lawsuit a few years back, she had been able to afford to make choices about how she spent her time that had nothing to do with money.

Now all she had to do was be as good as she thought she was, and show everyone they had made the right gamble in betting on her. The only thing was, at this very time when she most needed to be thinking about work, work and nothing but work, Alexander Smyth had moved in across the hall from her.

*****

Standing about 6'3 to her 5'6, Alex, as he said he preferred to be called, had towered over her when they found themselves alone in the crowded elevator he had jammed with his belongings.

Moving in? she had asked him, as she gazed up into the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. Of course, it wasn't the most insightful opening line, given that they were surrounded by boxes and plants and she knew darn well he wasn't moving out. No way she could have missed noticing that handsome face and ripped body the last 3 years she'd been in apartment 15C at the Skyview Towers.

Yeah, I've got another 2 or 3 trips I'm afraid. Hope I'm not going to be in anyone's way, at that he paused and broke out a smile so brilliant it seemed someone had actually turned up the lighting in the elevator. Janelle just continued to stare up at him, speechless.

The doorman told me I was supposed to use the freight elevator, but it isn't working today and I've got a van load of stuff downstairs. I was told I was going to be stuck with the stairs if I couldn't wait for the freight lift to get fixed, but I decided to cheat and see if I could get away with it. You won't rat on me will you? Now he was positively beaming.

She suddenly realized she wasn't smiling back, which was unusual when someone smiled at her. It was after all a natural response in most people to smile back, even if one didn't particularly feel like smiling, but in this case the knots tightening in her stomach and the haze falling over her normally considerable intellect was making it impossible to react with anything other than a dumbfounded nod. Horrified, she realized she had just nodded yes to his question about her reporting him for using the passenger elevator to move freight.

Um, I mean, no. Of course not. I won't say a thing.

Impossible as it seemed, his smile seemed to actually stretch a tad more and he broke out with a chuckle. That's good. I wouldn't want us to get off to a bad start. I'd really like us to hit it off, neighbor. My name's Alexander Smyth, but please call me Alex. He extended his hand and waited.

With her guts doing summersaults and a wave of moist heat rising from the back of her neck, Janelle obediently put out one hand, which Alex eagerly took into both his massive palms and held firmly as he continued to stare into her eyes.

You've got the prettiest brown eyes I've ever seen. I feel like I'm lost in them and I don't want to ever be found.

Thank you. I love your eyes too. I don't normally like green eyes, but on you they look beautiful. Great, give the guy a back-handed compliment. Way to make a first impression, Janelle chided herself.

I don't normally like green eyes myself, Alex offered. Brown's my favorite color. Brown eyes, but especially glowing brown skin. He slowly let his gaze drift from her face down to her neck, ending at the 3 inches of bare skin between her collarbone and jacket where he stopped and held his gaze unashamedly. When I look at your beautiful tanned skin I can't help thinking about what it would taste like. Makes my mouth water, he paused then looked back up to meet her eyes, if you don't mind my saying.

Janelle's mind starting racing. Was he coming on to her or just being sweet? No, saying your mouth waters when you look at someone is definitely a come on, so the question becomes, was he being sincere or just teasing? She found herself thanking her parents for her mixed ancestry and herself for her fondness for lounging in the sun whenever she got the chance. Might need to make the tanning parlor a part of her routine…

Alex’s eyes were still locked on hers as he waited. Oh, was he waiting for her to actually say something? Did a comment like that warrant a reply?

Thankfully before she had to decide, the elevator doors opened to reveal Mrs. Giselle Lucki from apartment 11F. Mrs. Lucki, as she insisted on being called (though most tenants took to calling her Bad Lucki behind her back) scowled and stared. You aren't supposed to have the elevator packed like that. There isn't any room in there for me, she fumed.

We're going up anyway, Mrs. Lucki. Push the button again and you'll catch the car when it's on its way back down, Janelle offered diplomatically.

It so happens I'm going up to see Mrs. Markham in 18D, young lady, if it's any business of yours. You probably don't mind being squeezed up against a perfectly strange man in an elevator, but I am a little more particular about who I cozy up to. With that Lucki gave Alex a quick up and down look and Janelle looked up to see his reaction, only to find that he was beaming.

I'm really sorry about hogging the elevator, ma'am. I promise it's just this one time. But at least it gives me an excuse to meet you. I'm Alex Smyth, he extended his hand, gave Lucki the brilliant smile and eye gaze routine, and low and behold, Lucki stammered and looked down.

Well. I suppose if it's just this once. But mind you that it is, because next time I'll be reporting a grievance to the condo board. Now I'm going to have to wait for the other car, she finished with a snort.

Understood and sorry again, he withdrew his untouched hand, his smile never dimming. Nice to meet you ma'am and I hope I'll see you again, Alex added, as the doors closed again and he and Janelle resumed their ascent.

Well, you sure handled her all right. I don't think I've ever seen anyone get her to back down that quickly. I thought we were going to be standing there until the doors started beeping from being held open too long.

She reminds me of my mother actually. Sometimes old women can get fussy if they don't get enough attention. Her husband is probably gone, right?

Janelle had to admit, she had never met Mr. Lucki. She supposed he must have passed away before she moved to the building. "Yeah, I guess he probably is. I wouldn't know.