The next morning, Colby showed up at Maggie’s apartment again. Instead of allowing him into the apartment, she stepped out into the darkened hall.
“Colby, I really appreciate everything you’ve done. But you can’t keep coming here. If Rock finds out you’re coming here, he’ll kill you,” Maggie explained.
Clearly disappointed, Colby nodded. “OK. I get it. You’ve seen enough of me, right?”
“No. That’s not it at all. I really like spending time with you, but Rock sees you as a client who comes to his apartment. If he catches you here, he might put things together and figure out that you’re here to hurt him. I’m just trying to protect you and your agency,” Maggie offered.
“You’re right. From now on, I’ll pay Armando to see you at the apartment,” Colby said, and turned to leave. Before he headed down the stairs, he swung around to Maggie one more time. “Just so you know, I’m not here just for the agency. I happen to like you. I mean, I like spending time with you. I just wanted you to know that so you don’t go on thinking that it’s all about work.”
As Colby disappeared down the stairs, Maggie stood staring at the spot where he’d been standing seconds before. His words played like a symphony in her ears…he really liked her. She stood in the hall smiling until Juju opened the door.
“Why are you standing there smiling like a goofball?” Juju asked.
“Oh, no reason…other than I think Colby likes me,” Maggie sang.
“No shit. It took you this long to figure that out? I mean, really, Maggie. Are you that blind? The guy has been hanging around ogling over you for a week. He took care of me, brought you breakfast, gave us money. It shouldn’t take a brick wall falling on your head before you get the message.”
“What?” Maggie gasped, smiling brightly.
“There’s something seriously wrong with you. Have you looked in the mirror lately?” Juju mocked.
“What?” Maggie said, giggling.
“Oh, forget it. Come back inside before someone sees you standing there and mistakes you for a crazy person with that stupid-ass grin on your face. For the record, it’s obvious you like him as much as he likes you,” Juju added as she walked back into the apartment.
Maggie didn’t respond, but followed Juju inside.
“Who was at the door?” Seth asked.
“It was Maggie’s boyfriend, Colby,” Juju teased.
“Colby’s not her boyfriend,” Seth yelled, not wanting anyone to come between them.
Maggie didn’t want Seth to feel threatened in any way and quickly agreed with him. “He’s right. Colby is not my boyfriend. He’s just a guy who’s helping us out.”
“See, Juju? You don’t know everything,” Seth commented, sticking his tongue out at her.
Juju got into a defensive stance. “Yeah? Come on, you little brat,” she teased and proceeded to fall on top of him.
“Get off me, Juju. I’m trying to read,” he said, giggling. “Aggie, tell Juju to get off me!”
“You two work out your own stuff. I have to get ready for work. I have some early appointments today,” Maggie said. She enjoyed watching the two of them play.
Colby was Maggie’s fourth customer that day. He came waltzing through the door and plopped down on the sofa next to her. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“Ahh, work,” Maggie reminded him.
“Right. Work. So about that…I was thinking maybe you can share the names of the women who work for Rock,” Colby stated.
“Sure, why not?”
Maggie spent the next half hour telling Colby as much as she knew about the hookers who worked for Rock. When she finished, they sat together on the sofa, and Colby asked about Juju. When there was no more small talk left, Colby reached for Maggie’s hand.
“I was thinking about that dinner I owe you,” he mumbled.
“And?”
“Well, how about if we try to get away for dinner soon?” Colby asked.
Maggie angled her body toward Colby. “I’ll have to let you know,” she said, leaning into him closer.
Maggie felt a flurry of activity inside. Hormones were coursing through her body. Her skin was tingly, and just thinking about kissing Colby made her lips feel as though they were on fire.
Colby was fighting his own urge to kiss her. He didn’t want their first kiss to be in the apartment where he had to pay to be with her for the hour. If it were ever going to happen, he wanted it to be special, so Maggie knew it was for real and not because of what she did for a living.
“OK, let me know,” Colby said. He stood and walked to the door. Maggie followed him and wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and hold him close.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” Maggie asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Colby’s eyes were simmering with desire as he looked into hers. They both resisted the compulsion to touch the other. Finally, Colby placed his hand on the back of Maggie’s neck as he tenderly pulled her closer to whisper in her ear.
“You’re a really special person,” he murmured.
The heat of his breath on her neck flared the passion inside of her. Then Colby left, closing the door behind him.
It was only fifteen minutes later when Maggie’s next client knocked. She opened the door, still dazed from all of the emotions she was feeling about Colby.
“Hey, baby, you here for a date?” Maggie asked in a sexy voice.
“I sure am. Where’s the bedroom?” the john asked.
“This way,” Maggie said, leading him into the next room.
“All right, girl. You go ahead and undress while I watch ya. Then you can undress me,” he said with a slimy smirk.
As Maggie removed all of her clothes and did the same for her john, revulsion replaced the good feelings she’d felt for Colby minutes earlier. The man stood naked in the middle of the bedroom. “Come on, get on your knees and suck me off,” he commanded.
Maggie slowly went to her knees, all the while wanting to destroy the john who stood before her, waiting to take his pleasure. Having sex with strangers was a mechanical task that she never associated with emotion. But this time, it was different because of what she had just felt for Colby. This time she was overwhelmed with hate and resentment.
Maggie tried to make her mind go blank. She tried not to think about Colby or the boorish pig who stood in front of her, slobbering and grunting while he climaxed. But her ability to wipe her thoughts clean failed her. She wanted nothing more than to have Colby rescue her from the destructive world that was her life.