The Muse of Hope Falls by Alan Kane Fraser

Author:Alan Kane Fraser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-02T13:42:48+00:00

NINETEEN

‘Well, he certainly seemed to like you,’ I said as the lift doors closed behind us and we began our descent back to the hotel lobby. I tried to say it in a light-hearted way because I thought that she’d be flattered, and I didn’t want her to think that I was jealous of him. But when she responded there was a slight edge to her voice that I hadn’t anticipated.

‘He desired me – there’s a difference.’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘You betcha. I can do without his desire, thank you very much,’ she replied through pursed lips.

This confused me and I felt the need to probe for an explanation. ‘But Christie…the way you’re dressed, the way you are, the whole aura you give off. You must know that you’re going to provoke a certain amount of desire in a man.’

She turned to me and raised an eyebrow. It was sardonic rather than playful, as was her voice. ‘“Provoke”? Are you sure that’s the word you want to use there?’

I felt myself blush. ‘Well, maybe not. Probably not. But are you saying that you don’t want to be desired?’

‘I didn’t say that – of course I want to be desired. Who doesn’t?’

‘Then I’m not sure exactly what you’re—’

‘Listen, kiddo, women want to be desired – even if they say they don’t. Hell, especially if they say they don’t.’ She raised her index finger to silence the objection that she sensed was about to come from me. ‘But that isn’t enough. Guys think it should be…that you should be flattered that they desire you. But think about it from our perspective for a minute. If a guy takes a shine to you, then nine times out of ten, he can pretty much have his way with you, whether you want him to or not. Even Conny can make things happen – he can create a world around you that narrows your choices. Guys can do that. So yes, women want to be desired – but we also want to be respected. And the respect has to come first. You have to earn the right to desire a woman.’

She left a brief pause before adding, ‘You know the thing that disappoints me most about men? It’s not the fact that it’s so easy to “provoke” them into desiring you. It’s the fact it’s so damn hard to make them respect you.’

And with that, the lift doors opened and she strode out into the hotel lobby.

She immediately set about trying to find Suzy. By the time we did, Suzy was getting ready to leave for the night. After what had clearly been a long day, I assumed she would be keen to get off promptly at the end of her shift, but the moment she saw us she took her coat off and began engaging Christie in conversation.

‘Oh, Ms McGraw! How did it go?’ she gushed when she saw her. ‘Have you got what you wanted?’ She exchanged a conspiratorial glance with Christie to

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