Dear World,
I’m starting my new job today and I’m so excited. I’m going to be a fashion blogger, which, while exciting, leaves me a little bit nervous because no one in their right mind would call me a fashion expert. I’m more comfortable in Target than I am in Saks Fifth Avenue. But to be fair, the employment agency didn’t ask me about the extent of my fashion knowledge. In fact, they weren’t exactly sure what the company did as my new boss, Tate Howard, apparently didn’t give them many details. He just wanted to know I could write. And well, we all know that I can. My starting salary is more than I ever could have dreamed of for a blogger. I’m not going to be uncouth and say how much I’m making, but if you were to double my last salary of twenty thousand and times by two, you’d be pretty close. I’m going to be working for a start-up, which is pretty cool because the CEO, Tate, is this totally rich guy who is pretty flexible with just about everything. The office is really small and brand new, and all the new employees are starting today.
In somewhat weird news, I’m not sure exactly what the company does, but I suppose I’ll find out soon. I would be super duper excited about my new job if it wasn’t for the fact that my new neighbor is an asshole and has kept me up for the last three nights with his horrendously loud music.
In other news, I have a date tonight! Yes, this is my first date in a year, and yes, I’m nervous as hell, but I’m going to be a strong, beautiful, confident twenty-eight-year-old and act like I have it going on. Wish me luck!
XOXO,
Magnolia
The clock struck 8 a.m. as I stood with my back to the door, heart pounding. Jagger-frigging-Scott had knocked on my door two times in the last five minutes shouting that he had a morning coffee for me.
As if I would open the door to him again. I wanted to know what the hell was he doing here, but I wasn’t about to ask him and the only other person I could ask wouldn’t want to hear his name.
I growled at the door and looked down at my watch. I had to leave in 15 minutes or I was going to be late for work. I walked away from the door and towards the mirror that was propped against the wall next to my TV. Living in a studio apartment in San Francisco was not glamorous, and it always made me feel awkward studying my appearance next to the windows that allowed everyone in the next building to see what I was doing. This morning, though, I didn’t care if they watched me practice walking in my brand-new black heels and gray pencil skirt.
I stared into the mirror and frowned. My blouse was beautiful, but my white bra was clearly visible underneath the thin fabric. I was trying to decide if the effect was chic or cheap. Overall, I thought I looked cute but businesslike, and my hair had really loved the deep conditioning I’d done the night before.
I was focusing on the stupid details of my appearance to distract myself from the fact that Kingston Jagger Scott was outside my door.
Had he been as shocked as I’d been when we’d seen each other? I hadn’t seen him since I was 18—ten whole years ago. Of course, he’d looked hotter now than he ever had. I wondered why he’d dropped the Kingston and just went by Jagger now.
Not that I was going to ask him. I didn’t care.
He knocked again. I walked over to the door and pressed my hand against the wood as I yawned. I’d had a shitty night’s sleep, remembering his mocking gaze as we’d glared at each other the night before. Of course, I’d gone back and reread his notes. Now that I knew they were from him, they were all so much more interesting. He was such a horn ball—not that I’d been shocked. What had shocked me was the way I’d felt rereading the notes. When I’d first read them, I’d rolled my eyes and shaken my head.
Last night, my panties had gotten wet.
I groaned. I was still attracted to Jagger, even though I couldn’t stand him.
“I heard that Magnolia, I know you’re there,” Jagger said through the door.
I debated opening the door quickly and slapping him in the face before closing it again. I could imagine the look of shock on his face, but he’d probably laugh and say it turned him on. Jagger Scott was incorrigible.
“I know you’re home, Magnolia, you can’t hide from me. You never have been able to before.” I could hear him laughing.
“Go away!” I shouted at the door between us. “I need to head to work and I don’t want to see you or talk to you.”
“Aw, Magnolia Allen, are you being shy?”
“Kingston, just leave.”
“I go by Jagger now.” His voice was cheerful. “I can tell you why if you open the door. I’m sure you’re curious.”
“I certainly am not.”
“We don’t have to do this now.” He seemed to be shouting louder now. “Maybe you’d prefer to come into my room naked tonight like—” His words broke off as I swung the door open. He grinned. “I thought that would make you open up the door.”
“You’re such a pig.” I grabbed the coffee cup out of his hand.
“I thought you didn’t drink coffee?” He studied my face and then looked over my outfit. “You look nice.” His gaze settled on the outline of my bra. “Very nice.”
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“What’s your job?” He paused and then before I could answer he said, “Let me guess, you’re a classy stripper.”
“Excuse me?” I wanted to throw my coffee in his face.
“I can see more through that blouse than I could in a wet t-shirt contest.” He grinned at me. “Not only can I see your lacey white bra, I can even see the color of your pointy little nipples.”
“What?” I ran to the mirror. How could I have missed the fact that my nipples were visible?
“Got ya.” He chuckled as he walked into my apartment.
“You can’t see my nipples.” I turned around and glared at him. “You are an asshole.”
“So you’ve said many times before.” He looked around my apartment. “Cute place.”
“I never said you could come in.”
“You never said I couldn’t.” He walked over to me. “So are we going to talk about the elephant in the room or are we going to sweep it under the rug?”
“Talk about what elephant in the room?”
“The sexual tension between us.”
“Sexual tension?” I scowled in outrage, simultaneously wondering if he somehow knew about my naughty dreams last night.
“Our notes.” He winked at me. “You were practically begging me to come over and give you a quick bang.”
“A quick bang?”
“Or a long bang.” He shrugged. “I don’t mind. I’m flexible.”
“Kingston Jagger Scott, I have no intention of ever banging you,” I huffed and then looked pointedly at my watch. I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell, but he cut me off.
“That’s not how it’s always been.” He licked his lips slowly. “I remember one night when you wanted me very badly indeed.”
“We’re not going to talk about that.” Oh God, I didn’t want to remember that night. Never again in my life. “I have to go to work. It’s my first day, and if I’m late, it’ll be my last.”
“It’s a bit early to be giving lap dances, isn’t it?” He cocked his head to the side, looking curious.
“You haven’t grown up at all, have you?” I pointed at him. “Still the same immature Kingston Scott.”
“Jagger Scott.” He grinned. “Or you can call me King.”
“Yeah, right.”
“If you want, you can bow down to me right now.” He nodded to the ground. “Or get on your knees. I’d quite like to see you on your knees.”
“That’s enough, Jagger.” My face was red now. “I’m going to work now, and I need you gone. I also don’t want to see any notes on my door when I get home.”
“What time do you get home?”
“Why?”
“So that I can make sure to greet you personally.” He gave me a confident grin. “I’m guessing the reason you don’t want a note is because you’d rather have me in person. All six feet two inches.”
“Two inches sounds about right.” I wiggled my pinkie finger. He laughed in my face and then shook his head.
“Add about six more inches to that two if you’re referring to little King.” He licked his lips. “I could show you now if you want, or later when you get back?”
“Yeah, right.” I deliberately looked at the front of his pants for a few seconds before moving my eyes back up to his face. Was he really packing eight inches? There was no way. Right? “I don’t want you on my doorstep either.”
“You sure?”
“I’m positive.” I looked around for my handbag and grabbed it. “Now, I’m leaving. If I’m late for work and get fired on my first day, you’re paying my next month's rent.”
“What are you willing to do for it?” He winked at me, and I punched him in the arm.
“You’re such a pig, Jagger.” I snatched up my keys and we headed towards the door.
“You didn’t use to think that.”
“I didn’t use to think a lot of things.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “The last time we knew each other, I was young and dumb.”
“Do you still keep in contact with Doug?” There was genuine curiosity in his voice as he watched me closing and locking my front door. I dropped my keys at the mention of Doug’s name and my face flamed red. I didn’t want to think about, talk about, or even remember Doug existed.
“No comment.” I dropped my keys into my handbag. “Goodbye, Jagger.”
“See you later, Number Four.”
For one crazy second, I thought he was going to lean over and kiss me. My heart started racing and my skin warmed in anticipation, but instead of kissing me, he gave me a wide smile and dipped his head slightly before heading back to his apartment.
I held my head up high and hurried down the corridor to the elevator without looking back at him. I was not going to let Jagger get under my skin. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever again.