Read Online A Designed Affair by Cheryl Barton - Free Book Online Page A

had to know that something was happening between the two of them just as he could feel it, but he assumed like him, she had to be thinking of the impact of them getting together on any level. He figured they were both thinking the same thing, that the not knowing, and not acting upon things was best not only for them, but for those closest to them as well.
    Mike noticed the elevator was taking longer than usual. Since this elevator only went up to the penthouse level with a special key, it normally came right away, especially on the weekend when he knew Duron was not in the building and Tyrone had gone fishing with friends earlier in the day. A few minutes later the elevator arrived and when the door opened and inside was Loren looking like a goddess, he almost forgot to take his next breath. He was surprised to see her considering he was just thinking about her.
    “Hey Loren. What are you doing here?”
    “Hey Mike. I’m here for a delivery from an art gallery of some pieces I ordered for Duron’s walls. The delivery guy is supposed to meet me here in another hour, but I wanted to come a little early to wait on him. What are you doing on the business floor today? I thought the office was closed?”
    Mike entered the elevator and inserted his key into the special lock that would continue to send the elevator to the penthouse level. A key was required every time the express elevator that went to the penthouse was activated and every time it stopped on any floor. The doors would not close and go up without the key. Once the doors were closing again, he turned to face Loren taking in her gorgeous attire. She never disappointed him with how she maintained her pristine look.
    Today, on a Saturday, she was dressed in very high heeled green stilettos with jeans and a green and white loose fitting top over a white tank top. Her light make-up was always flawless and the big flashy jewelry she liked to wear was not gaudy, but very fashionable and sexy. Mike’s mind and body focused on how sexy she looked, especially in jeans that seemed to hug her body like a glove. They weren’t too tight by any means, but fit her just right.
    After looking his fill, he finally found the words to respond.
    “I came down to get some work done in the office. After having very little success, I decided to head back up to finish before going out later to meet some friends. You look beautiful as always, Loren.”
    Mike didn’t miss the blush he saw cross Loren’s face.
    “Thanks Mike. You look relaxed.”
    Checking out his attire in basketball shorts, a t-shirt and tennis shoes, Loren wasn’t used to seeing Mike like this. Most of the time when she saw him it was either at the office where he was always dressed in a suit or at some other function where he would again be dressed in either a suit or other dressy attire. Even over the years, she knew that he would often play pickup basketball with her brothers, but she never ran into them until after they had already re-dressed.
    “I am relaxed. I’ve been in all morning chilling and I guess faking playing catch up with work,” he laughed.
    The elevator reached the top level just as he had finished his statement. They exited as Loren made one last comment before she entered Duron’s condo.
    “I found some great ideas already for your living room and the bedroom on the lower level for your mother. I haven’t actually seen the rooms yet, of course, but I had some ideas based on new catalogs I received that had decorating ideas that I thought you would enjoy. I know you wanted to keep the living room along the lines of what you have in your condo and your mother’s room was easy.”
    Mike tried to pay attention, but he found it hard to focus around her.
    “Sounds like you’ve been busy,” he said, not wanting to get caught not paying attention.
    “I sure have. I also went to a furniture gallery showing a few months back and I remembered they had new man cave setups I think you’d like. Wait