Most attractive of all was the confidence his body language projected. I mean, you have to be pretty confident to wear a suit to D’Angelo’s and not feel out of place, but he owned it. And more.
“Hi,” I said as I approached the table.
“Abbie, you look more beautiful than Audrey Hepburn.” He took my hands in his and I hoped he couldn’t detect my nervousness.
“Thank you.”
We sat and chatted, the words flowing easily between us. He sat back in his chair, a constant smile on his face, and I relaxed.
As the food arrived, I asked him, “So, how did your job interview go?”
He looked puzzled for a moment then said, “It went okay.”
“Do you have any others coming up?”
“Other job interviews? No, not really.”
“How long have you been looking?”
“Oh, a few months.”
“You don’t seem concerned to be out of work.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Was this guy for real?
“You must have a lot of money to have that attitude.”
“Money? No. No, I don’t have a lot of money.” He sounded defensive.
“Then how do you live?”
“I get by. It’s not a big deal. How’s your chicken?”
I took the hint. “It’s delicious, thanks. Did you see the list of desserts? They all sound amazing.”
I didn’t care about the dessert. I cared about after the dessert. But the closer we got to ending our marathon meal, the more my nerves reappeared. As much as I wanted this sexy man to take me home and ravish me, I started to worry about it. I’d never slept with a man other than Matt. Unadventurous Matt, a man who was happiest if I spread my legs and laid still for him. What if I sucked in bed? And I wasn’t sure I wanted Jay to see me naked. Fuck me yes, but not actually see my imperfect body.
“Everything okay?” Jay asked.
I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at him. “Yes, absolutely.”
“So tell me about your job. How do you like working at Force McAllister?”
“It was good, until my current boss was hired. He’s evil to work for.”
“But aside from him?”
“Aside from him it’s a pretty good company. I guess.”
“You guess?”
“Yeah, it’s good. Do you want me to try to get you in? I have a friend in IT.”
“No,” he said laughing, “it’s okay.”
“It’s a good company. It relocated here from Kentucky about five years ago.”
Jay nodded but said nothing, so I dropped the point. I took a sip of my after-dinner coffee. How did he know I worked at Force McAllister? I didn’t remember telling him which company I work for, but the moments right after my coffee-shop tumble were hazy.
True to his word, Jay picked up the check, though I felt guilty for not contributing. We sat, finished, staring at the paid bill. With my heart in my throat, I waited for him to make a move.
“Shall we?” he asked, already walking away from the table.
He held the restaurant door open for me. As I stepped outside, his arm came to a rest across my shoulders. We walked a little way, in the opposite direction to my apartment. Neither of us said anything. I wasn’t sure where we were going. Quite frankly, I didn’t care where we were going. I was too busy enjoying the sensation of having a man holding me.
Jay let out a big sigh, and I worried something was wrong.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Did you drive?”
“No, I live nearby. Did you?”
“I got the bus.”
“Sorry, living right in the city means I don’t have a car.”
“I don’t have one either. But I’ll walk you home first. I’d like to make sure you get home safely.”
His words woke my inner animal and I felt a little heat grow between my legs. One-night stand, ready or not, here I come.
* * *
“Well, here it is,” I said as we arrived at my building.
Jay smiled and wrapped his other arm around me, embracing me in his strong arms. He looked down at me, and I thought he was going to kiss me but then he turned his head away.
“Would you like to come up for a coffee?”
“I’d better not, I have to catch the last bus.” My face must have looked horrified because he added, “I had a fantastic time tonight, let’s do it again.”
“Sure, that sounds great. Text me.” I wasn’t convinced he would.
“Absolutely, see you soon.”
He gripped my shoulders and kissed me on the lips. A long, lingering kiss that set my body on fire. I pushed myself into him, inviting him closer, further, for more. But he released his embrace and stepped back from me. He turned and walked away, leaving me standing at my door gasping for breath. I rummaged for my keys and entered the building, then skipped the embarrassment of waiting alone for the elevator and rushed up the three flights of stairs to my condo.
Chapter 7
“What did I do wrong? Was it the dress? I looked too slutty, didn’t I?” I moaned into the cell phone the following morning.
“No, you didn’t look slutty. You looked hot,” Jenny said.
“But why didn’t he come up even when I asked him?”
“He probably just had to get the last bus, like he said.”
“He could’ve gotten the first bus in the morning!”
“Did you tell him that?”
“No.”
“Well then.”
“Well then what? I couldn’t get a man who paid for my dinner into my bed. I’m that pathetic.”
“Don’t be silly. Maybe he’s just not the type of guy who puts out on the first date.”
“Those men exist?”
“Absolutely. The second date will be different.”
Her words calmed my emotional state. “Promise?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“I only did this for a one-night stand, you know. I didn’t go looking for a second date.”
When I hung up my phone, it beeped.
You have one new voicemail
I punched my voicemail and listened to the message.
“Abbie, it’s Jay. I just called to say I had a fantastic time last night. Are you doing anything today? Call and let me know.”
I listened to it two more times, and then stood there paralyzed for a moment. What should I do?
I took a deep breath and scrolled through my contacts until I found his name. My thumb hovered over the little green phone symbol. I wanted to call him, didn’t I? My heart said no, it still wasn’t ready for a relationship. But my loins were screaming a different answer. This was fine, it wasn’t a relationship, it was just sex. I hit call.
“Abbie,” Jay said.
“Hi.”
“Thanks for calling back. After I left I worried you’d got the wrong impression. I’m interested in you, it was just bus schedules.”
“You could have gotten the morning bus, you know.”
“I didn’t want to be too forward.”
I laughed. He didn’t want to be forward when I’d sat across from him with my Grand Canyon cleavage all night.
“So, what about today? Are you free?”
“Yeah, I hadn’t planned anything. What did you have in mind?”
“A picnic in the park.”
“That sounds nice.” The D’Angelo’s bill probably cleaned out his bank account.
“Great, I’ll see you there at noon.”
I took a minute for my brain to process the time. “Oh, lunch.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you there.”
“Sure thing.”
After taking down the details, I hung up. Lunch? Part of me worried a lunch date was too much in relationship territory, but my lower half just insisted it meant it was less time to wait to get him in bed.
Chapter 8
I found Jay under a tree, with a picnic blanket spread out and loaded with all
sorts of food. It was good he dressed casually, as I had worn jeans and a loose-fitting turquoise top. My breath caught when he jumped up to say hello. I’d only seen him in suits, and I’d thought he looked good in them, but in his fitted jeans and tight T-shirt he looked unbelievable. Like he’d stepped off the pages of a magazine.
“Abbie, you look beautiful as always. More beautiful than Rita Hayworth.” I blushed as he leaned in and pecked my cheek.
“Jay, this spread looks delicious.” I surveyed the huge amount of food he’d laid out on a picnic blanket.
“Champagne?” He asked, pulling a bottle from a cool pack.
“Definitely.” I took the flute he’d poured.
“To a second date,” he said.
Man, I really didn’t want a relationship, but his company was so comfortable. I smiled, and we clinked glasses. The bubbles fizzed in my mouth as I surveyed the vast quantity of food he brought. I zeroed in on some quail eggs. They were so tiny. What was a quail anyway? It was all very upscale, especially for an unemployed man.
“It must have been a real pain to get all this here on the bus.”
“I took a taxi.”
“That must have cost a fortune, you shouldn’t have.”
“Don’t.” His voice was firm.
“Sorry.”
He was so touchy about money.
We sat in the sun for hours. Though we finished off the bottle of Champagne and had started on a second, most of the food sat untouched. Not because it was bad, simply because we were only two people and there was enough food for a party.
As the afternoon went on, we moved closer and closer together until I ended up lying with my head in his lap. I looked up at the sky, wishing I was face down in his crotch. But it was nice. He stroked my arms and played with my hair and I would happily have stayed there all afternoon.
Jay’s phone beeped, and he looked at the screen and sighed. He looked at me, resigned.
“Does this mean our second date is over?” I asked.
Jay bundled up the remains of our picnic. “I’m afraid it does. I just got an urgent call and I have to rush off.”
My heart sank. So much for getting him into bed.
“Do you need help to get all the food home?”
His brow creased. “I was just going to throw it out. Unless you want it.”
“Throw it away? There’s enough food here to eat for the week!”
“Would you like it? You should take it.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Yes, take it. I’ll help you carry it to your place.”
Was this an opportunity to get him into bed? “Okay, as long as you help me carry it all.”
* * *
We trudged the ten minutes to my condo, and he followed me through the door and into the elevator. I could barely breathe with excitement of having him in my home. Now to get him into my bedroom. My God, I was behaving like a horny teenager but that didn’t stop me from watching his ass in those tight jeans as he exited the elevator. Shit, he caught me ogling him.
I cleared my throat. “This is me here,” I said, unlocking my front door.
He followed me through to my tiny kitchen and put the two bags of food on the counter.
“Why do you have jeans duct taped to your wall?” he asked.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I should have thought about the jeans before I let him in. “They’re some added motivation to lose weight.”
His eyes raked over me. “You don’t need to lose any weight, Abbie. You’re perfect.”
Jay closed the distance between us and pulled me tight to him. I looked up, and our lips connected with hunger. I allowed my hands to run up his muscular back and down his strong arms. His hands pressed over me, gently skimming my shoulders and back before we broke apart for air. I looked up into his deep brown eyes and went back in for more.
Our kiss was shorter this time, but just as passionate.
He pulled away, “Sorry, beautiful, I would love to stay. Trust me.”
I closed my eyes. This wasn’t happening. Couldn’t be happening.
His fingers brushed over my eyebrows and alongside my eyes. “Believe me,” he said kissing my hair, “I have no choice.”
I looked away to hide my disappointment. Unfortunately, I looked straight at the jeans taped to my wall and another layer of self-hatred piled on me. There was no chance of me speaking without betraying emotion. I forced myself to look back at him and nodded my head.
He held my cheeks between his palms, “I will make this up to you, I promise. How about tomorrow?”
My eyes widened. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ll swing by here and pick you up. Noon again?”
“Um, sure.”
As the door shut behind Jay, I slapped my forehead. Sure? Three days in a row was not a ‘sure.’ Three days in a row was a run fast and far away from this man who clearly wanted a relationship when I didn’t. I wanted his body, not company.
I plunked myself down on the sofa and grabbed the remote. He was swinging by here to pick me up? On what, his bicycle? It didn’t matter, I’d have to cancel… probably.
Chapter 9
“What do you mean you canceled on him? And by text!” Jenny shouted into the phone. Her raised voice drew my attention away from the muted movie I’d put on after Jay had left.
“It’s too much, I don’t want to lead him on. Make him think he’s in a relationship when I don’t view it that way.”
“But–”
“There’s no but, Jenny. I keep telling you, I am not ready. I only went out with him for the sex.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
“Not very well,” I huffed.
“Then you should go out with him again.”
“I don’t think I’m going to. He’s a really amazing guy, and I’d hate to hurt him in any way.”
“Listen to yourself, you just called him amazing! Why wouldn’t you want to see him? Take it slow, see where things lead. It’s not going to kill you.”
“It’s not going to kill me, but it might hurt me.”
“You can’t go through life avoiding situations that might get you hurt. You’ll miss out on the best bits of being alive!”
I wished she’d drop the matter. I was getting tired of hearing it. “The best bits being?”
“Sex, for starters.”
“Okay, you’ve got me there. But I’m not ready for more than sex.”
“You are ready, you’re just scared is all. Go on, phone him and invite him over for dinner. That way, when the eating’s done you’re only two steps from your bedroom.”
“Are you calling my place small?” She always liked to point out how tiny it was.
“Well, this time it’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“I knew it!”
“It doesn’t matter. Your place is bijoux, and that’s fine because it’s yours, you own it all by yourself.” Her comment made me roll my eyes, even though she couldn’t see me.
“Well, I might not much longer. The mortgage payments are hard to meet on my own.”
“Are you being serious?”
“Yes,” I said, embarrassed. I’d never admitted it to anyone else before.
“Honey, I had no idea. You should have told me, shared the stress.”
“It was fine until I lost Matt’s rent. I thought I could cover it with my new job, but bills keep piling up.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll find a way to make it work.”
“Jenny, I’m an accountant. I’ve run the numbers every which way. At first I thought I could make do by living on pasta but it’s just not fun.”
“You made the right decision kicking Matt out. We’ll figure out a way to manage your mortgage.”
“I’ve already blown through all my savings, there is no way. I’m telling you.”
“You’re so negative. There’s always a way. I’m going to talk to Marla. With all her headhunting connections, she’ll find you a new job.�
�
She was trying to be helpful, but I’d had enough of the conversation. She could try all she wanted, I couldn’t see a way out aside from selling and getting something else. Not smaller, because that would be impossible. I’d have to go for something in another part of town, and end my dream of city-center living.
Of course, moving further away would mean I couldn’t walk to work, so I’d also have to buy a car. Pay for that, insurance, gas and maintenance. Which was more money I didn’t have. Perhaps I could be like Jay and take the bus.
* * *
My weight hit the bed hard. I was physically and mentally exhausted from my day, and all the Champagne didn’t help either. As my eyes shut, my phoned beeped.
If you enjoy his company then go enjoy it.
Jenny was nothing if not persistent. How did she expect me to get involved with someone new? I texted her back.
The last thing I’m going to do is take this as anything serious. Jay’s fun to hang around with but he doesn’t have a job FFS. I don’t need another deadbeat boyfriend in my life.
* * *
At noon on Sunday, I thought of what might have happened if I hadn’t canceled on Jay. I could’ve been wrapped in his arms right then. Embraced in his big, strong, powerful, muscular, good-smelling arms. I looked down at my crotch. My poor, neglected, wanted-to-be-wanton crotch.
There had been more passion in that kiss than in all the kisses I’d shared with Matt over our entire six-year relationship. I wanted more of it. I wanted to take it further, physically. Would Jay accept me as a fuck buddy? Doubtful, but maybe Jenny was right, I guessed it couldn’t hurt to try.
I poured myself a large glass of wine (it was technically after lunch even though I’d only been up for two hours), and pulled a tub of cookie dough ice cream from the freezer. As I shut the freezer door I came face to face with the jeans. Talk about being torn. In the end I compromised and took a small bowl from the cupboard and put a measly two scoops in it. Ice cream and wine, now that was my kind of lunch.
Billionaire's Secret: The Complete Series Page 3
