Glass Ceilings by A. M. Madden

meantime?”
    “Actually, I plan on taking some time to do all the things I love to do.” When I raised my eyebrows suggestively, she smacked my chest. “I’m talking about the Angela Cavello plan before you came into the picture.”
    “Plans can change,” I repeated. “So, before I ruined your plans, what was it that Angela Cavello would love to do?”
    “The Met, The Museum of Natural History, Madame Tussauds.”
    “You’re a museum geek?”
    “A big one,” she admitted with a smile. “I’ll have a lot of time on my hands once I get to New York, and I plan on getting my fix. I may even see a Broadway show or two.”
    “Care if I tag along? I could use the distraction from my new job.”
    “You like museums and musicals?” she asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
    “Fuck no, but I’m a firm advocate of supporting the arts. I also believe in brownie points.”
    She giggled at my admission. “You may regret those words, Mr. Farley. It’s been a while since I indulged in my passion. You might not be able to keep up with me.”
    “Challenge accepted,” I said, offering my hand. She shook on it and sealed it with a kiss. “How long have you been in Chicago?”
    I waited patiently, wondering if she’d answer or evade the question. After a few moments passed, she said, “A few years. I came here after I graduated from Rutgers. It was an adjustment, having grown up in New Jersey.” She looked away, chewing on her bottom lip. “Can I ask you a question?”
    “Of course.”
    “How old are you?”
    “Why?”
    “Just wondering.”
    “I’m twenty-nine.”
    “There really is so much we don’t know about each other.”
    “We know the important things.” She looked up into my eyes waiting for me to enlighten her. “We know we have an insane connection, and everything else will come with time.”
    She nodded against me. “I look forward to getting to know you, Nick.”
    “Me, too.”
    “Where are your parents and brother now?” the agent in me asked without conscious thought. I knew her parents’ address was still listed in New Jersey, and her brother was deployed, but I wanted to see if she’d finally open up to me.
    “My parents are still out East in Jersey. We haven’t heard from my brother in a while. He’s serving in Iraq.”
    “What branch?”
    “Army, private first class.” She became quiet in my arms, until she added, “I miss him and worry about him every day.”
    Her admission warmed me. She was trusting me, as she should. However, the sadness in her voice made me want to protect her from any harm. The best I could do for now was to comfort her. I tilted her face so I could softly kiss her delicious lips.
    Although she was offering information, I really didn’t want to push her. The more comfortable she became with our situation, the more forthcoming she would be with details of her life. In all fairness, I hadn’t been completely open with her, either.
Would I be?
I wondered. I considered all she didn’t know about me. The shield I hid behind had become second nature. I guessed time would tell.
    “I have to get going,” I admitted with regret after she pulled away from my kiss.
    “I know.” She looked up at me with a sad smile. “I can’t believe that you’re leaving me with the task of explaining things to Eve and Jase. So, basically you fucked me and ran?”
    I smacked her ass and she squealed from the impact. She knew labeling what happened between us as a one-night stand pissed me off. I’d had plenty of them, and what I’d shared with Angela was definitely not a one-time fuck. But we needed to make Eve and Jase think it was just that.
    The story she’d tell them was that I came to apologize, things became heated between us, and the next thing we knew we were in the hot tub.
    The facts were true. Neither of them needed to know there were gaping holes in our story. Lying to both Jase and Eve was necessary.
    I knew he’d understand when the time came