Worth the Wait Read online

  “Dammit, you’re keen,” I joke, and laugh out loud at her reaction. She drops her hold on my hand and tilts her head to the side, pursing her lips.

  “I was just thinking about your offer, and yeah, this sounds more fun than taking my clothes off in front of those guys out there,” she laughs, but I can tell underneath she’s nervous and my mind races with thoughts of how someone like her ended up in a place like this. She is a stark contrast to the rest of the girls. She’s petite, brunette and not in the slightest fake looking.

  I step through the door, closing it behind me. I’m not sure exactly what I was thinking when I made the offer, all I know is that I couldn’t bear to see this girl forced to flaunt herself out on that stage. Something about her tells me she’s different, somehow special. I glance around the small room, the sparkling gold wallpaper and the red décor screams sex. She nervously walks over to the red leather couch, tapping the seat beside her as she pulls her legs underneath her.

  “Jeez, this is a shithole. I just can’t get my head around a girl like you working in a place like this.” I stride over to her, sitting beside her. She turns to me; a small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.

  “Why do you care?” she asks. “I need money, and this was an easy option.”

  “Oh come on, uh…” I suddenly realize that I have no idea what this girl’s name is. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know your name,” I sigh, pushing my hand through my hair.

  She holds out her petite hand. “I’m Quinn,” she almost whispers, and I suck in a deep breath. Her name is almost as beautiful as she is.

  “Nice to meet you, Quinn,” I smirk, “I’m Josh.”

  Josh

  I don’t think I’ve ever laughed this much. Well, not in a long time. I feel alive here with Quinn. We’ve talked for hours, the conversation flowing so easily between us. She’s told me about how she’s training to be a teacher, which doesn’t surprise me. What does surprise me is how someone so talented and so beautiful would find themselves with no option but to work here.

  I glance down, checking the time on my watch. A pang of disappointment hits me deep in the stomach when I realize the time. I know I’m going to have to make a move.

  “I guess my time is up,” I tease with a nudge of my elbow. Her legs are rested over me, her head resting on my chest. I’ve never felt so intimate with someone, without actually being physical with them.

  But this.

  This is different.

  I love the way I can feel her heartbeat against my body, the way she feels so comfortable here in my arms. It’s crazy, so damn crazy the way I’m feeling right now.

  “I better make a move,” I force out the words, because the truth is that I want to stay here with her. She lets out the sexiest groan in protest.

  “I guess you couldn’t stay here forever,” she mumbles, pushing herself up from her position against my chest. “But I won’t forget what you did for me.” She lets her gaze drift to the floor as she starts to fidget with the hem of her figure hugging shorts.

  I cup her cheek, bringing her face in line with mine. “Leave with me,” I all but whisper, “don’t stay here and force yourself into a world you clearly don’t belong.” I gulp with force as the words leave my mouth.

  “I can’t,” she answers with a fluster. “I need this job like my life depends on it.”

  “There are other jobs,” I try and talk her round. “None of which includes taking your clothes off and selling your body in a private room.”

  “I tried,” she croaks, standing up from my embrace and resting her back against the wall. “Do you think I would be here if I had any other choice? I’m barely holding everything together here.” She pulls in her bottom lip, curling it as she bites it gently.

  Jesus. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t hold back any longer. I take a step up from my seat and stride over to her. Pressing my palm flat against the wall, I position one hand either side of her head. Her bright green eyes bore into mine, and in this moment it’s like we are frozen. The only sound to be heard is our hearts beating.

  “I don’t like the idea of leaving you here.” I breathe heavily, rubbing the tip of my nose against her jaw line. I feel her shiver against my skin, my whole body comes alive. I bring my eyes back to meet hers and notice she has them clamped shut. Her breathing is all over the place, and I take the chance to do what I’ve been dying to all night. Leaning down I graze my lips against hers, the feeling like liquid satin against mine. Her eyes flicker open, her beautiful gaze lands upon my face, before her hands rest on either side, pulling me closer to her. I have her pinned against the wall, our lips touch lightly. I can feel my dick stiffening and I thrust my hips away, not wanting her to feel my arousal at this point. I deepen the kiss, and at first it’s so damn messy, all mouth and hands and teeth. But, I try to slow it down, calming the kiss enough to savor this moment. She’s kissing me back; the feel of her tongue working against mine is doing some crazy fucking shit to me. I can’t catch the moan that slips out. I try and think of a time when I’d ever felt this good kissing a girl. And I can’t recover a single memory. This kiss, here and now, with this beauty feels different to anything I’ve ever experienced before. My heart beats faster, my body aches for more. I let my eyes drift shut, but force them back open again because I don’t want to miss a second of this, and can’t take my fucking eyes off her.

  Fuck, this is crazy.

  We kissed for a little longer, but eventually slowing it until we come to an eventual stop. The silence filled the room, neither of us saying a word. But one sound that could never be mistaken is the sound of our hearts beating. The furious thud throughout my body continues as I desperately try to steady my breathing. I’m losing control, but I couldn’t fucking care.

  I want her. I want this. More than I’ve ever wanted anything.

  “Well,” she says, her arms tapping her legs, “that was nice.” A smile that causes her lips to tug at the corner stretches across her face.

  I chuckle, dropping my head a little and shaking it in time with my laughter. Before I can reply, we’re interrupted by a knock on the door. Quinn’s eyes widen, and I straighten myself, and watch as she walks over, opening the door. My eyes are fixed on her. She opens the door just enough to peer through. I hear voices, but can’t make out what is being said.

  A few seconds later, she closes the door and turns to me. “I, uh, I gotta go…”

  “My offer still stands,” I blurt out, walking over to her and resting my hand on her hip. Her head is in a downwards position, like she is fighting something, unwilling to make eye contact with me.

  “Look at me,” I breathe out, hooking my forefinger under her chin, forcing her eyes to finally meet mine. I swallow down hard the second our eyes connect, like two magnets drawn together, I couldn’t possibly break the contact. Her eyes appear to lighten as the smile she has spreads. I can see the muscles in her cheek fighting it back.

  “I know you want to,” I say with a lift of my brow, maybe a little too smugly.

  “Don’t be so sure of yourself,” her eyebrows pinch together and her eyes dart from the door and back to my face. “I really gotta go,” she says stepping back and the thudding of my heart slows a little, the loss of her touch makes me shudder. I reach out for her hand, but she pulls back and I notice the smile that was there before has now faded. Her face is screwed up a little; a confused look dresses her face.

  “Look,” I sigh, rubbing my finger and thumb across my forehead. “I don’t know you well enough to know what’s going on here, but take this.” I dig inside my suit jacket, pulling out my business card and pushing it into her hand, holding it in mine. “Seems to me, you need a friend. Feel free to call me anytime,” I say sincerely. I chew the inside of my lip as she holds my stare once more. I study her eyes and notice the tears that build behind those beautiful dark lashes.

  I wait for an answer. For something.

  But nothing.

  Th
e only sound that fills the room is silence.

  My shoulders drop and I allow my eyes to flutter shut. “Anytime,” I whisper before leaning in and brushing my lips against her cheek. I feel her tremble against my skin, my hand landing on the top of her head as I stroke her hair. I know she needs me, I see it written all over her face.

  I can’t force this.

  But I won’t stop trying.

  I return to the worst strip club downtown every night for the next week.

  But she never shows.

  I ask the staff, the management, and they haven’t seen her since the night we spent together.

  “What is it Josh?” Amber asks, clearing her throat as I sit staring into my coffee cup.

  “What’s what?” I ask knowing exactly what she means.

  “I know you. Somethings going on. You’re acting all weird.”

  “You know me so well, Amber.” I let out the breath I’ve been holding in, shuffling until I’m on the end of the seat. “I feel like I’m going fucking crazy,” I whisper as she leans over the coffee table, closing the space between us. “I feel like I’ve just lost something that I never had.”

  “This is about a girl, isn’t it,” she screeches, her hand covering her mouth as she lets out a huge gasp.

  “Yeah, so…”

  “So, nothing,” she cuts me off, “do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you to find someone special, someone deserving of you?” She takes my hand clutching it tightly. Amber and Caleb have been my closest friends for such a long time that I consider them my family. But for so long I’ve been the third wheel, the buddy to their son Finn, who I love dearly.

  “Come on, don’t leave me in suspense. What’s got you all eaten up?” she asks her eyes boring into me.

  “Okay, so no judging, right,” her eyes widen as if she’s in shock, but I continue anyway. “I met her at a strip club.”

  “Right,” she draws out the word, waiting for me to continue.

  “It was her first night and she looked lost there. So I hired a private room…”

  “I’m not sure I need the gory details, Josh,” she says putting her palms against her ears.

  “That’s just it. Nothing happened. I never laid a finger on her. We just talked. And it felt good. Just being there with her. But I could tell she was holding back. She wasn’t there by choice.”

  “So what did you do?”

  “I tried to talk her into leaving with me, but she refused.”

  “Hmmm…” she hums.

  “I’ve been back every night this week and she never showed up again.”

  “I’m sorry,” she says with a sad smile. “If it’s meant to be you will find her, Josh. Just like I found Caleb. Everything happens for a reason.”

  “She’s the first girl that so much as caught my attention in a long time. I just can’t get her out of my head.”

  “Well, did the club not have a number for her, or an address?”

  I grimace. “It wasn’t that sort of club. It was the biggest shithole I’ve ever stepped foot inside.”

  “That’s a shame,” she says with a shake of her head.

  “What is,” the familiar voice interrupts us. I turn to see his smile. When I say smile, to most they would think it was a grimace, but I know him better.

  “Caleb,” I say letting out a huff of laughter. I stand up from my seat and open my arms out to him, hugging him a little tighter than I would normally. He stands there, his arms limp and by his sides, his body stiff and unreciprocated. “Come on, man,” I say squeezing with all my might as he lets out some sort of gruff noise.

  “What the hell’s gotten into you?” he asks his voice quiet and tight. I loosen my grip and stand back, looking him in the eye. For so long, I was the one who comforted Caleb, the one who was by his side any time he needed a friend. As I stand looking at him, it feels like total role reversal. He’s happy, content, and most of all spends every day with the women of his dreams, the women he loves more than life itself.

  “Am I glad to see you,” I say, almost as if I’m nervous to tell him what’s happened, what’s been going on.

  If anyone will understand me, it’s Caleb. I’ve known him for so long, and we’ve shared so much together that I just know he’ll get it.

  This new obsession.

  The way I can’t stop thinking about her.

  He narrows his eyes on me, squeezing my shoulder with his hand. “What’s wrong, man? Is everything okay? You look… hmm… like you’re troubled.”

  “Caleb, my head is a mess. Like a real, I can’t believe this is happening, kind of mess.”

  “That’s not like you,” he quips. “Let’s take a walk down to the beach, you can fill me in on what’s going on,” he offers.

  Josh

  The next day I’m up stupidly early, too many thoughts race through my mind, ruining any chance of sleeping. I decide to do what works best to clear my head. I decide to run. It’s not the same without my running partner, Caleb, but I’ve kinda gotten used to it.

  Putting on my running gear and setting up my iPod, I head out of the fancy apartment block and set out on one of my regular routes. As I set the pace, I feel the increase in my heartbeat. The thudding in my chest matches the rhythm of my breathing. I try and shake the thoughts of Quinn from the night at the strip club. But I can’t. I hate to admit it, but I can’t get this damn girl outta my head. Is it because she’s unattainable? Hmm, maybe. But, there’s more to it than that. It was the look in her eye. The way she felt in my arms.

  I shake my head once more, trying to get her out of my mind. I’m going crazy. Certifiably crazy. I don’t know this girl and now I have no way to contact her. Nothing can come of driving myself crazy, which is exactly what I’m doing.

  I run a little more, not as much as I would normally, but it’s not helping. I thought running, blaring music into my ears would help drown out the thoughts of Quinn. But it doesn’t. Deciding to quit, I make my way back to the apartment. A quick shower and change should help me freshen up. I try to focus my attention on my important meeting I have set up for today. The guy is a friend of my dad’s and has just acquired some land in quite a desirable area. I have to assess what he needs and draw up a plan for the site. This deal is set to be lucrative, I just hope I can get my head in the game. It’s a big site with even bigger potential. I don’t usually work single-handed on such big projects, but Martin was wowed by my last project that he wanted me on board. It’s not the kind of opportunity I could turn down.

  After showering, I laze on the couch, flicking relentlessly through the channels. Morning TV isn’t something I’m used to, unless it involves a sponge with square pants or something equally as childish and funny. The only time I ever get up this early is to spend time with Finn.

  The sound of the television echoes through the oversized, empty apartment. This space is way too big for just one person, but it’s the best my money could buy in this area. But it’s missing something, just like I am. I have this void inside of me, a missing piece. I’ve waited around for so long to find that missing piece. But it’s hard, hard to wait around trying to find something that might never be.

  I grab a bite to eat before checking the time on my phone. I light up the screen and decide to get dressed and make my way to the site. I can get a look and start working on taking down some numbers for when the owner arrives.

  I stroll into my room and over to the huge walk-in closet. I scan through the rail looking for something which looks right for today’s meeting. Smart but understated, I pick out a shirt and tie and a pair of suit pants. I’m ready in no time, grabbing all my design equipment and head out of the door. I drive the short distance to the development site. I pull up onto the rough soil, dust billows in front of me, and I instantly regret my decision to drive onto the wasteland. I stop my car, cut the engine and check the time on my wrist watch. Six-fifteen. Shit, I’m not meant to meet Martin until 9am. Fuck. I let out a huge unsteady breath. My head is all ove
r the place. I can’t sleep, shit, I can’t even sit still without my mind racing like crazy. The what if’s. The what could have’s, all racing through my mind at one hundred miles per hour. I rest my elbow on the car door, propping my head up as I scan the area. It’s so quiet. So damn quiet. The silence is practically deafening.

  I can’t just sit here. I have to do something, anything, to try and distract my mind from that girl. I step out of the car, glancing back my once black car which is now a dusty shade of grey. I scan the proposed development land. I’m pretty sure he wants to build a ton of houses here; after all, it’s right on the edge of a desirable suburban area. I shake my head, grabbing my folder from the car to start making my notes. I slam the door, and something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. I whip my head, noticing a really old Chevy truck parked behind a tree. The truck has clearly seen better days. The once green vehicle is discolored and covered in huge patches of rust. It doesn’t even look drivable. I walk over to inspect the deserted truck. What I see causes my feet to stop moving.

  The truck isn’t empty.

  Someone is sleeping inside the back seat, covered in a ratty sleeping bag. I have no idea what to do. I swallow down the lump in my throat. Should I knock on the window and warn them that the owner of the land will be along soon? Or leave it and let Martin deal with it? I deliberate for what feels like a lifetime, but I’m sure it’s barely a few seconds. Before I know it, the choice is taken away from me. The person inside the truck pushes themselves up, reaching down and sipping from a crumbled water bottle. I step back a little, not wanting to scare the person, or cause a reaction from them that I’d have to deal with.