“There I needed help. But I could have hired anyone. I was totally besotted with you from the moment I saw you. But at eighteen, you can’t show your feelings. That’s pussy.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“Lady, I went to prison for you. That’s pretty obsessed.”

I had no comeback.

He said, “You’ve always been my girl. You’ll always be my girl. Look up.” He applied mascara on my lower eyelashes.

“I’m not a girl anymore. I’m forty-two.”

“I know your age.” A pause. “See, that’s the difference between women and men. You see me as a forty-four-year-old man. I still see you as a sixteen-year-old girl.” A pause. “I think you’re the most beautiful woman on the planet. But you know what is really hot about you?”

“Besides everything?”

He laughed. “Your voice. It’s whispery and low when you talk and throaty when you laugh.” He blew out air. “It is sex personified. I’d never whore you. But if I did, I wouldn’t put you in the rooms. I’d put you on the phones.” He put down the mascara brush. “Your eyelids are purple. I’m going to work with that, just soften them.”

He mixed some eyeshadow and applied it to the lids of my eyes. Then he stepped back to admire his handiwork. “Baby, those young ones have nothing on you.”

“Can I see?”

“Of course.” He took out the hair clips and wrapped a couple of tresses around his fingers. Then he helped me down from the chair.

I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Stared at the whole woman looking back at me. My eyes started to moisten. He spoke from behind my shoulders. “Don’t do that. You’ll ruin all my hard work.”

“How did you do that?”

“I’m an artist. You’re a great canvas. I’ll touch it up right before we go.”

I turned around and faced him. “Thank you.”

He stared at me with his brilliant blue eyes. “You’re welcome, baby.” He smiled. “So when can I do your ass?”

I hit his shoulder and moved around him, walked into his living area.

He followed me. “I don’t mean at this very moment.”

I hit him again, this time with my cast.

“Ow. That’s a lethal weapon.” He said, “You know you’re gonna do it. I can talk you into anything.”

“Can we change the subject?” I was irritated. “It’s always so cold in here.”

“That reminds me. I bought you a pashmina for tonight. You want it now?”

“I’ll just use your robe. It’s warm.” When I came back, he was in his captain’s seat, monitoring the rooms on the screens.

He said, “Make me some coffee, babe.”

Like nothing happened. “Sure. I could probably use it myself.”

He didn’t answer me. His eyes were glued to the screen.