by T L Osborn
“I’ll have the house Sav, please.” I walk up to the bar and stand beside him as the bartender pours our drinks. As Evan pays, I spot a flash of gold on the ring finger of his left hand.
You’ve got to fucking kidding me.
Picking up my drink, he places a hand on my lower back as he directs me to a booth. I can feel his thumb lightly rubbing the sensitive spot above my ass. I try to shake him off, not wanting him to touch me at all. We take a seat.
“So, Riley, tell me a little about yourself?” he asks, taking a sip of his beer.
“Well, I’m a photographer by day, author by night, and I don’t date married men. Do you wear the ring for fun?” I ask, taking a sip of my Sauvignon.
He glances at his hand as a horrified look washes over his face. “Fuck!”
“I thought so. Thanks for the drink, but I’ll leave you to your evening. Don’t contact me again.” With that, I stand and walk away to find a seat at the bar until I’m ready to leave.
I can’t believe my fucking luck. What is it with married men wanting to date me?
Am I wearing an invisible neon sign that reads, ‘I’m desperate for married men’ that only others can see?
Taking a large mouthful of wine to drown my sorrows, I vow that it’s definitely the one and only time I let Courtney have any say about the guys I date.
I sit at the bar, sipping my drink slowly with tears welling in my eyes. I must be the stupidest woman around to fall for that—not once, but twice. My ex pulled the wool over my eyes and this guy tried to do the same.
What is it with married men and thinking they can get away with being dicks behind their wife’s back? If they’re not happy, they should leave their woman, not cheat. They should at least have the decency to tell their spouse that they’re not happy.
I sit, playing with the stem of my glass. I’ll have this, then go home to my lovely puppy, Poppy, and my writing. At least I can rely on those things to not let me down and my puppy never fails to cheer me up.
James
My business meeting wraps up in record time. I’ve had one whiskey and I’m ready to turn in for the night. Usually, I’d be calling one of my many lady friends, but tonight I’m not feeling it which is weird. Maybe Simon is right, perhaps I am losing my touch with women.
Nah, not a chance. I’m just in a dry spell that’s all.
As I’m approaching the bar, I catch a glance of a woman sitting there. I watch as she wipes her hair away and I spot her gorgeous face.
I don’t believe my luck.
It’s Riley.
Tonight must be my lucky night.
She looks absolutely smoking hot. A strapless, short, black dress, tightly wraps around her gorgeous body, stopping mid-thigh. Her legs are long and fucking incredible, all the way down to her heels; the kind I want wrapped around my shoulders while I make her scream in pleasure. Tonight’s the night I make her understand I mean what I say; that my cock can do all the dirty things she writes about.
“Riley,” I say as I approach her.
She lifts her eyes and all I see is sadness. Her doe eyes are filled with tears, her lips quiver a little as she quickly averts her gaze away from me. I’m not completely heartless, and to see this beautiful woman on the verge of crying makes my heart ache. “Are you okay?” I ask, pulling up a seat, not caring whether she wants me to sit with her or not.
She shakes her head. “Not really. Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’d really like to be left alone.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I hate to see a beautiful woman upset. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’ve just had a really shitty night.” She picks up her glass and takes a sip. “I came here to meet a Tinder date. He had a great profile, nice picture, and seemed fantastic on paper. Except the one thing he failed to mention is that he’s married.”
That fucking prick.
She deserves so much better.
I lean across the table and clasp her hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “As you can see, I’m not married, nor am I attached. I’m freely single,and tonight I’d like to turn that frown into a smile.”
She lifts her eyes, locking them with mine as a soft smile forms on her lips and she squeezes my hand in return. “Just how do you plan on making me smile?”
I throw her a wicked grin. “I can think of a few ways which I promise you’ll enjoy, but for now, I’ll start simple and take you out for more wine and maybe dessert.”
“Dessert for dinner?” she asks a little unsure of my motives.
“Sure, best time to eat dessert in my opinion.”
“Except if it’s apple crumble for breakfast.”
“You know, I’ve never tried that, but I think I must.”
“It’s awesome.”
I smile and hold out my hand for her to take. She almost leaps off her chair, and as she does, she wobbles lightly, falling into my arms. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I forgot I was wearing high heels.” Riley finds her footing much to my disappointment; she felt so fucking good in my arms and I don’t want to let her go. I try to shake the feeling away, it’s been a fucking long time since I’ve wanted to simply hold a woman.
“Oh my God! He just doesn’t give up.” Riley’s mouth is wide open as she looks in the direction of a booth across the room. I spot a man basically dry humping a woman.
“Is that him?” I ask.
“Yeah, the married douche. Geez, he’s moved on to another woman after coming here to get with me.”
Suddenly, I’m struck with an idea. “Give me a moment.”
I order a fresh beer from the bar and carry it over to the table. I tap him on the shoulder to gain his attention. He turns to look at me.
“Thanks for last night, handsome, best sex of my life.” I slide the beer across the table, blow him a kiss, then turn on my heels and hear the unmistakable sound of liquid being tossed over someone. I grin the entire way back to Riley. Her face is bursting with delight, her brown eyes light up, and there’s a huge smile on her lips while she giggles.
“She just dumped the entire bottle of cold beer on him.”
“He’ll have trouble explaining that when he gets home.”
“What did you say to him?”
“I thanked him for last night and told him it was the best sex of my life.”
Riley bursts into laughter and I do the same. “That was awesome.”
“I told you I’d make you smile. Now, shall we go and enjoy that dinner?”
Before I know it she slides herself into my arms and leans up pressing her soft, warm lips to mine. I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her close as she deepens the kiss. To my disappointment, she ends it too quickly.
“What was that for?” I ask.
“A thank you for making a shitty night become awesome.”
“The best is yet to come.”
In all honesty, I’m hoping to get more than just a kiss.
Riley
I still don’t know what possessed me to kiss him like that, but I’m desperate to do it again. His lips, to my surprise, were soft against mine. When he slid his arms around me, it was perfect, so much so that I deepened the kiss without thinking. It felt so good to be in his arms. I only wish I could’ve stayed there.
“Riley. Earth to Riley.” James’ smooth, husky voice pulls me back to reality.
I blink a couple of times before staring at his handsome face. “Huh? Were you speaking?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, the poor waiter has been waiting for you to pick what you’d like to drink while we decide what we’re going to eat.”
“Oh, I’ll have the house Sav, please.” The waiter takes my order and walks away. “Where’s he going? I didn’t order dessert yet.” My stomach growls loudly in protest.
James bursts into laughter. “He’ll be back, he’s just getting us our drinks while we decide what we’re going to have.
“Oh, right,” I reply sheepishly, looking at the table as I feel my face flush with embar
rassment.
“I have, however, decided what I want. What are you going to have?”
“How can you have decided already? You’ve barely looked at the menu.”
“This is one of my favourite places. I don’t need to look at the menu to decide what I want to eat.”
“Well, in that case, I think I’ll have the lava cake, but do you think they’d swap the vanilla ice cream for chocolate?” I ask.
“All you can do is ask.”
The waiter returns a few moments later with our drinks and we order dessert with him only being too happy to swap out the vanilla ice cream for chocolate.
“He likes you. I bet he’ll want your number when we leave tonight,” James says.
“You’re full of it. He doesn’t like me.” I pick up my wine and take a sip.
“Sweetheart, you’re fucking gorgeous wearing that dress and I’m dying to know what you’re wearing underneath it.”
“Well, you’ll have to wonder a little while longer.”
He grins. “I don’t know if I can. I think I’m ready to skip dessert and go back to your place for some hot, wild sex.”
I almost spit out the wine that’s in my mouth. Not because I don’t want to have sex with him, but because he’s so bold to suggest it.
“We’re going to have sex, Riley.”
“Really? What makes you think that?” I ask.
“I don’t think, I know.”
“Not tonight we’re not.” He blinks at me. “Oh, I see… You thought that because you came to my rescue as my knight in shining armour that I might just fall into your bed.”
“Actually, I’d hoped to fall into yours.” He shrugs.
I choose to ignore him. I hadn’t even planned on taking Evan home tonight.
Our desserts are delivered and they look absolutely delicious. We dig into them, inhaling both, sharing between us.
“I make a better apple crumble,” James announces.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, you’ll need to try it. Perhaps tomorrow morning for breakfast?” He winks.
I roll my eyes. “You aren’t going to give up, are you?”
“Nope.”
“You’ve got stamina.”
“You have no idea.” I glance at the clock on my cell phone. “Damn it, I forgot to get my roommate to feed Poppy.”
“Who’s Poppy? Do you have a kid, because I’m good with that.”
I giggle. “Nope, no kid. She’s my Maltese-Shih Tzu cross puppy.” I flip open my phone and show him her photo. “I’ve had her almost a year.”
“She’s a cutie.”
“She’s also fiercely protective of me too.” I smile at him.
“Are you ready to go? I want to meet this Poppy,” James says.
He stands and picks up his jacket. As we pay, he wraps his arm around my waist so the waiter who served us earlier knows who I belong long to and I don’t feel at all uncomfortable about it. We head out and it’s a little chilly.
James wraps his jacket around my shoulders. “My car is parked behind the club we were at.”
“You drove here, but don’t you live on Oriental Parade?” I ask.
“How do you know that?” he asks.
“Umm… Okay, I confess I researched you a little bit.”
“I’d be surprised if you hadn’t, being an author and all. Speaking of our last meeting, how is the book coming along?”
“Great. It’s almost finished.”
“Awesome, I can’t wait to read it.”
I snort with laughter. “You really want to read my smutty romance book?”
“Well, it’s inspired by me, so I’d like to know what you wrote.”
“All right, how about after the photoshoot I give you first dibs on the book.”
“Done.”
We get to a car and he opens the door.
“Thank you,” I respond.
The drive to my home is a quiet and quick one. He walks me to the front door, and I turn around to face him and find him standing literally flush against me. He slides one hand around my neck, the other around my waist as he crushes his lips to mine, taking what he needs while silently telling me he really wants to sleep with me. I grind my hips against him, damn sure I can feel his rock hard cock against my body. I grip his shirt, tugging him closer. He slides one hand slowly, seductively, up my body until it cups my breast, his thumb lightly playing with my hardened nipple beneath the fabric.
God! I want him to tear my dress off and just fuck me right here and now.
We’re interrupted by a whimper and some scratching on the door; so I break our kiss.
“This has been fun, but I think I’d better go.” I push out of his arms.
“Wait, can I meet her?” he asks earnestly.
I open the door and gather an overexcited Poppy into my arms. James offers her his hand and to my surprise, she doesn’t bite, bark, or even nip at him. She merely licks his hand before trying to leap out of my arms towards him.
Traitor.
“She’s cute and I can see she’s very, umm…protective of you,” he says, wearing a smug grin.
“Oh, shut up! She’s not normally like this.”
He chuckles. “I’ll leave you to your evening, Riley. You have my number if you get lonely or you need some apple crumble for breakfast. Call me.”
“You’ll be the first.” I walk back inside and close the door. Leaning on it with Poppy still in my arms, I hear his footsteps down the front steps. I’m tempted to open the door and tell him to come in. I should let my hair down and have some fun, yet I can’t bring myself to do it.
One—he’s a known playboy, who knows where he’s been.
Two—the last guy I got together with lied to me our entire relationship.
I’d like to get to know James a little more before I sleep with him.
Even though it looks as if he’s already won over my dog.
Chapter Four
Riley
I’m dreading tonight. First, there’s dinner with my parents, then there’s the fact I haven’t seen any of my roommates since last night and I know Courtney is dying to know how it went.
I gather my handbag and coat and head out to the lounge, surprised to find both Courtney and Gavin are home.
“How was last night? Was Evan as hot as he was in the picture?” Courtney asks as I dump my things onto the dining room table to put my jacket on.
“Definitely as hot as his picture, but also married.”
“Oh, bad luck,” Courtney says.
“But I did meet another guy. The same guy who’s been my muse for writing my latest book, so it turned out to be a good night.”
“Was it James?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Tell me more.”
“Can’t, I’ve got to go to my parents or I’m going to be late. Torrie’s revealing the gender of her baby and I hope for her sake it’s a girl because, dear God, I think my mother would be just awful if she were having another boy.”
“Want me to come along? You know, just to make the night more interesting,” Courtney offers.
I smile. The last time she came with me to my parents for dinner, the night took an unexpected turn when my mother accused Courtney of being a lesbian who was dragging me into her web of sin. My mother thinks anything that isn’t a man and woman is unnatural and she’ll tell anybody who will listen.
“As much as I’d love to have you come, I think the night is going to be interesting enough without my mother trying to pray for your soul.” She bursts into laughter. “I’ll see you all later, and just so you know, I’ll be in desperate need of wine.”
I leave the house and climb into my car, heading towards my parents’ house in Emerald Hill, Upper Hutt. They built the house before selling the family home, having decided to downsize. My mother claims the old house was too large for her to keep up with, but I think secretly, once Torrie and I moved out, she didn’t want us moving back in. She loves us, but enjoys her s
pace. Not that Torrie and I would ever want to move home and live under their strict rules again, because despite being adults, to them we’re still kids and need guidance.
Arriving at my parents’ home, I notice my father working on his car in the garage, something I think he does to get away from my mother because he’s awful at fixing anything.
“Hey Dad,” I call as I walk up the drive.
“Hi, sweetie. Your sister and her brood are here. I’m excited to know what the new baby’s sex is going to be, though your mother has already started buying pink.”
My father and mother are proud as punch that Torrie got married so young and started popping out babies, and despite her being their favourite child—which she hates—she and I are still very close. Torrie despises how our mother is always involved in her and Edward’s life, their decisions, and she’s even interrupted them having a date night. My sister loves our parents as do I, but sometimes they can be overbearing and dramatic. They think I’ve wasted my life becoming a photographer and that I should be finding a husband.
“I bet she has. I’ll see you inside, Dad,” I say.
“Tell your mother I’ll be in shortly.”
I walk away from him. He’s a stern man who adores his grandsons, though he believes Torrie could’ve done both—been a lawyer and a mother. However, Torrie and her husband Edward agreed they didn’t want their kids raised in a daycare, and if she was going to pop them out, she wanted to raise them. She loves being a mum and it very much suits her. I personally think she should’ve become a kindergarten teacher because she adores kids.
Opening the front door, I step inside, then remove my shoes.
My sister laughs, popping her head around the corner. “Hey, you made it, and late as usual.” Her long, dark brown hair, curly at the bottom, is loosely hanging around her shoulders. She comes out, her belly is on full display as she rubs it gently.
“When am I ever on time for anything?” I ask.
“The only time you’re early is when you’re doing a photoshoot.”
“Well, that’s called being professional. How’re things?” I ask.
“I’m ready to have this bloody baby and I’ve still got fifteen weeks to go.”
