On His Turf Read Free Page A

that most of my time is spent making coffee and occasionally proof-reading articles.”
    “Sounds like you love it,” he deadpans.
    “It’s a glamourous job,” I give it right back to him while tugging on Leigh’s arm to go. “Can we leave now?” I whisper as I turn around but his deep, rough voice stops me in my tracks.
    “Wait,” he says and I’m forced to look back over my shoulder at him. “What are you ladies doing tomorrow night?”
    Before I can speak Leigh answers for us both. “Nothing, we’re free.” She stresses the word free and the way she says it sounds so dirty that I think I might need to push him out of the way and jump into the shower myself.
    “I’m having a party at my place downtown. I’m in the lofts on third down by the lake. You two should come.”
    “No, thank you,” I say at the same time she Leigh says, “definitely”.
    “Give me your phone and I’ll program in my number so you can text me for the address.” He looks at me as he speaks but I’m saved by Leigh who thrusts her phone in his face. He grits his teeth in obvious displeasure but he takes her phone and plugs in his number. He hands it back and his eyes come up to meet mine.
    “I expect to see you both there.”
    The way he says it, so dominantly, I find myself nodding my head even though I know in the back of my mind there is no way in hell I’m darkening the door of a party thrown by all-star playboy soccer player Shane Mitchell.
    ***
    It turns out that hell has other plans for me, I think to myself as I survey the entire contents of my closet spread out on my twin bed. After much begging, pleading and cajoling on Leigh’s part I finally agreed to attend Shane’s party on one condition - that we bring Matty with us.
    Matty is my very best friend in the world. He’s also quick-witted, funny, fabulous and always obliging when I need him to play the part of my date for the night. I glance at my phone and see that it’s already 8:35 which means that Matty will be here in less than half an hour and I’m still not dressed. But it’s been awhile since I’ve been to a party and choosing an outfit has proven to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. Between my part-time job at the club and my full time job at the paper I haven’t been living it up much lately and my usual Saturday nights consist of takeout pizza, craft beer and HBO. What an exciting life I lead.
    I look out my second story window at the sky that is quickly turning a shade of dark blue and I know that I have to get move on but I’m stuck on what I am supposed to wear to a star-athlete’s downtown loft. A dress might be too over-the-top and I don’t want to send the wrong message so I settle on my white skinny jeans and a sleeveless black blouse that dips low at the back. It’s one of my favorite tops because it keeps the girls mostly covered, which for me is always a hard thing to do, and instead highlights my back which is an area I’ve been working hard at the gym on toning. I pair the outfit with some strappy black high heels and simple silver jewelry and pile my long hair on the top of my head in a high ponytail. I hear Matty let himself in as I’m applying a layer of gloss and when he sees me he whistles.
    “I should take you out more often,” he says as I do a little twirl, then he comes over to wrap his arms around my waist. “You’re beautiful, Carm,” he adds sweetly.
    “You don’t look so bad yourself,” I say and it’s true. He’s wearing his usual hipster uniform of fitted jeans, a gray V-neck and high top converse but it’s a look that he’s always been able to pull-off, even before it hit the mainstream. His straight black hair is gelled up into a pompadour and his thick-framed black glasses set off his delicate, angular features. I take a step forward to cradle his face in my hands so that I can look into his deep set blue eyes. “Thank you for doing this for me,” I say sincerely and he chuckles.
    “Hey,