“You’ve taken notice in the glossy magazines about me,” he said.
“I’ve seen the stories passing several newspaper stands. You’re a well-known guy.” She shrugged finishing up her food. Kent ordered another coffee and a milkshake for her.
“Yes, I know. Don’t read all the newspapers. The stories are made-up crap,” he said.
His face darkened. Swallowing past the sudden lump in her throat, Lana looked at him. “Which stories?”
“All of them.”
“So, you haven’t slept with p**n stars?” she asked, smiling.
“Well, there wasn’t a lot of sleeping involved.”
Lana burst out laughing at his joke. His wicked smile sent tingles throughout her smile.
Another hour later they were ready to leave.
“Come on, I’ll take you home.”
She climbed into his car and strapped herself in waiting for him to start the car. Kent wouldn’t allow her to pay for their meal. She’d enjoyed every second with him talking. He wasn’t dark or brooding but fun.
He parked outside her apartment. She turned to him, grabbing a key out of her bag.
“Thank you so much for tonight. I really do appreciate the lift and the food.”
“I’m glad. I enjoyed spending time with you.”
Lana climbed out of the car as Kent leaned in close. She didn’t want to know what he was about to do. Men were off limits and especially him. Kent was a player. She’d read enough about him to know he loved women. Lana had also seen an interview where he’d spoken quite clearly about never being in a long term relationship.
She waved at his car from the door before making her way up to the third floor where her apartment was. Once inside, she slid the locks into place then made her way straight for the bathroom. The scent of lemon permeated the air.
After a quick shower, she set her alarm for nine and then eased down under the blankets. Her mind playing over the night, Lana wondered what had happened. His attention didn’t make any sense. She wasn’t pretty like his models, and she was sure he’d leaned in to kiss her.
Thinking about his lips made her shiver. Her pu**y melted as heat swept through her. Frank never left her feeling so passionate even after a night together.
Running her fingers through her hair, Lana cut off all of her thoughts. Her imagination was running wild. Kent wasn’t going to kiss her or try to do anything with her. She wasn’t worth his time.
****
Kent drove home feeling like he’d missed out on a kiss. He’d leaned in close intending to kiss her sweet, plump lips, and she’d moved away from him. Why had she moved away from him?
Going back the way he came, Kent ignored the passing scenery. His only intention was making it home. There were many nights he’d gone without sleep. Since his obsession with the lovely Lana, his sleeping patterns had changed to match hers.
He didn’t like her being in an apartment in an area of the city he didn’t trust. There were a lot of things he didn’t like about his woman’s current lifestyle. The fact she’d skipped lunch and dinner annoyed him. He liked her appetite. Dating women who ordered salads or soup irritated him. Kent remembered a time when he’d loved the slenderness of a woman. Now, he found their eating habits and their neurotic obsession with weight annoying. On several dates they’d talked non-stop about other actresses and models with fatter figures or slimmer figures. He was tired of hearing about weight, food, and the damn celebrity business.
Parking his car into the parking lot of the apartment complex, Kent made his way up to the penthouse suite. The large windows overlooked the city. He walked over to them the instant he closed the door behind him. Pulling at the tie around his neck, Kent threw the tie away and loosened a couple of buttons.
His life was changing. Being in the public eye was losing its appeal, and if he was honest with himself, a family started to look more appealing every day. Several of his friends were settled down with a couple of kids while he remained single, living the bachelor lifestyle. He recalled the conversation he’d had with John at their garden party the other month. The last of the summer rays had been dying away, and the guests were gone. He’d watched John reading to his little girl before she went to bed. John’s wife had come out to the garden to take their daughter into the house.
“You look happy,” Kent said.
John smiled at him. “I am. Having a family is amazing. I’m a husband and father.”
Sipping his beer, Kent looked out toward the garden. “Don’t you ever miss it?”
“No,” John said.
“Do you know what I’m talking about?”
John laughed. “You’re talking about women. Do I miss women and having a new woman in my bed every night?”
Kent nodded. His friend let out a sigh.
“You’re sleeping with the same woman, John. I remember a time when you’d never settle down. Sleeping with different women was your thing.”
“Exactly, it was my thing. Not anymore.”
He waited for his friend to elaborate. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” John asked.
“No.”
After several seconds, John sat forward. “Sleeping with lots of women wasn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Yeah, it was fun. I didn’t know the women I was f**king, and I didn’t care. When I’m with Samantha, I care. There is a connection between us. When I’m with her, I do everything I can to please her. There is not some quick release and then leaving her alone. I love watching her come apart. When I go to work every day, I know I’ve got someone to come home to. I love my family, and my life is a hell of a lot fuller for being with them. I don’t envy your bachelor lifestyle, Kent, and I wouldn’t go back to one either.”
John’s words came back to Kent. Since that night he’d not been able to stop thinking about Lana. She’d been in his thoughts but never as bad as it was now. He stayed behind at work to see her and waited for her to leave. Waiting for her to speak to him was new for him. Women spoke to him all the time trying to gain his attention. Lana did nothing. Even in the car she hadn’t tried to instigate a kiss; she’d run from him.
Closing the blinds, Kent shut out the world. Tomorrow was Thursday, and he looked forward to the end of the day more than he did the beginning. Going to the fridge, he grabbed a glass of milk before heading to bed. He checked his phone to see several calls and messages from the women he’d been seeing in the last month.