Casual Sext: A Bad Boy Contemporary Romance

by Lisa Lace

  “God, wouldn’t it be awful if this guy had some disgusting habit, too?”

  “Like eating his own earwax?”

  “Snapping his fingers at waitresses.”

  “Being on his cell phone all night.”

  “Cologne overdose.”

  “Bringing his mother to the restaurant.”

  I laugh loudly, then shake my head. “Please, Laura, don’t. I don’t think I could stand it if this guy were another bust. I really like him.”

  “How long have you guys been talking now?”

  I bite down on my lip, counting in my head. “Six months?”

  “That’s longer than most of your relationships.”

  “I know.” I smile, leaning against the back of the sofa, my fingers trailing through my hair. “There’s something about this one. He’s funny, sweet, engaging. He makes me feel like he actually gives a damn.”

  “Good for you. It’s about time you met someone and settled down. I’m telling you, the years I had with Mike were the best of my life.”

  I reach out and lay my hand on Laura’s. She looks up at me and smiles bravely. “I’m fine, Zoe. It’s been four years.”

  “It seems like only yesterday the four of us used to hang out.” Me, Laura, Mike, and TJ. “How is TJ doing these days?”

  Laura makes a face at the mention of her younger brother. “He’s being a massive dick lately.”

  Jack turns around, his mouth forming a small “oh” of surprise. Laura backtracks. “I mean, nitwit. He’s being a massive nitwit.” Laura grins, then turns back to me. “He’s just made another billion dollars or something. Doesn’t call on my birthday, but makes sure I know he was on the cover of the New York Times. That man hasn’t got his priorities in place at all.”

  “He’s always had an ego the size of Mars. At least now he’s got a reason to be pig-headed, I guess.”

  “Thank God you don’t have to talk to him anymore, Zoe. He’s my brother, and I love him, but he’s a chore. Did I tell you that he’s visiting?”

  “What? The great Turbo TJ is going to descend to us lowly mortals?”

  Laura giggles and claps her hands. “Turbo TJ! I forgot we used to call him that. Yes, he’s coming to Portland.”

  “How did you manage that?”

  “Literally months of guilt-tripping him. I haven’t seen him since Mike’s funeral.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  “I’ve told TJ that he either spends Christmas with me this year, or he can forget about talking to me at all. If he’s not going to bother with me, then I’ll stop trying.”

  “So, he’s coming?”

  “Yes. From October until the New Year. Can you believe it?” Laura’s mouth curls into a mischievous grin, and she leans in toward me, lowering her voice so Jack can’t hear. “What’s more, TJ doesn’t know yet that he’s going to be spending some quality time with his niece and nephew.”

  “What are you plotting?”

  “Only unfortunate, entirely unforeseen circumstances that mean my regular sitter is completely unavailable at the last minute, and there is absolutely no option but for TJ to take care of the kids while I’m on my trip.”

  My eyes widen. “Would you trust him with them?”

  “Not really. But I was hoping you’d agree to keep an eye on them for me.” She casts a hopeful look in my direction. “Plus, Megan’s not afraid to say it like it is. She’ll keep TJ in line.” Laura’s face becomes drawn. “Dad’s gone, Mom’s in a home. TJ’s really the only family I’ve got left. I mean, I’ve got the kids, but you know.”

  “Sure.”

  “I want them to have a family. TJ could be a great uncle if he’d step up. He’s always been a cocky bast—” her eyes dart to Jack, “—rascal, but he was good fun, too.”

  “Yeah, he was. Do you still speak to him much?”

  “Now and then. If I call and leave a thousand messages, he might return one.”

  “That’s something, I guess.”

  “It’s just to keep me off his back. I don’t know, Zoe. I’m hoping that some time back in Maine, with the kids and me, will help knock him off his high horse and remind him that we’re here. As much of a pain as he’s always been, I miss my brother. And I need him right now. It’s hard raising the kids and running a company. I could do with some support. A few months back home should do trick. Maybe he’ll remember what he left behind.”

  “You know I’m always here for you, Laura. You’re not alone in this.”

  “I know, sweetie, but it’s not your job to hold me together. You’ve got your own life going on. A new man, your business. How’s that going these days?”

  I let out a long breath. “A hundred miles an hour! I’ve just ordered a huge bunch of stock in for Christmas.”

  “What? It’s only October!”

  “I know. But wreaths are delicate work. I have to get started early. It’s not early enough, really. As soon as we get to Halloween, they’ll be knocking down my door for Christmas.”

  “Where are you spending it this year?”

  I shrug. “I might have a quiet one at home. My parents are on a cruise this year.” Laura wasn’t the only one who felt lonely sometimes. I’d been single since forever, and my parents were enjoying their retirement with lots of trips and adventures around the world.

  Laura nudges my knee. “Don’t be stupid. If you’re in Maine, you’re with us.”

  “Thanks, Laura. Where are you going on business this time?” As a wedding planner, she regularly went all over the globe to be there for a bride and groom’s special day. Local couples would often hire Laura for destination weddings.

  “Only to Houlton. I wouldn’t dream of leaving the kids with TJ if I was out of state. I need to be able to get back quickly if he screws up.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on them for you too.”

  “Thanks, Zoe. Knowing TJ, he won’t call to check in, and I’ll be worried sick. If you could just keep me in the loop—I want to know my babies are safe and well.”

  “Of course, I will. Are you sure you want to do this? TJ’s not the most reliable guy in the world.”

  Laura lets out a long breath and holds up her hands. “I can’t get through to TJ, but maybe the kids can. I really want him in our lives. He’s so tied up in work and living the high-life that it’s like he’s forgotten where he came from and who really cares about him. It wouldn’t hurt for him to show me he cared, either.”

  “Fair enough. I’ll do what I can. How long is he back for?”

  “Until the New Year.”

  “Oh wow, that’s quite the visit.”

  “It’s been four years coming.”

  “I hope it goes well for you, and that he’s not a jerk while he’s here.”

  “It will be nice to see him face-to-face for a change, rather than in some magazine. Sometimes, it feels like my brother is some celebrity I’ve never met before.”

  “Like you said, time at home is probably just what he needs.”

  “And I hope that your guy isn’t another timewaster. It’s been wonderful to see that smile on your face since you started talking to him.”

  I grin. “Maybe I’m jumping the gun here, but I’m not expecting any nasty surprises. I couldn’t have connected with someone like this if they weren’t special somehow. I think he’s the one.”

  “Woah. That’s quite a statement, Zoe.”

  “As I said, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.”

  “Let’s hope not. You deserve some romance.”

  Tom

  I take a sip of the champagne, make a face, and scowl. It’s not up to snuff. I catch the attention of a passing waiter by clicking my fingers and beckon him over.

  When he arrives, I hold up my glass. “What is this?”

  “It’s Dom Pérignon, sir.”

  “Yes, I can tell it’s a Dom Pérignon, but it’s not the vintage I asked for.”

  The young server looks at me like I’m nuts. “How can you tell?”


  I flash the smile that my Head of PR warns me is condescending. “When you’ve been drinking luxury champagnes as long as I have, you learn the difference. This is 2009, at least. I specified that the vintage should be no later than 2005. The Mayor of New York is here tonight. What’s he going to think if I’m putting forward anything but the best?”

  “Mr. Vermont, this is a two-hundred-dollar bottle of champagne.”

  “It tastes like a bottom-shelf, grocery-store knock-off. Don’t serve this to the mayor. Send someone to my private cellars and bring up a half-decent bottle. Any of the Krug bottles will do. Go on, now.”

  The waiter scurries away. I roll my eyes. Impossible to get good staff these days.

  I cast my eyes around the rest of the reception, looking for any other flaws. It’s the launch party for one of TJV Publishing’s latest releases—a fashion magazine that’s sure to give Vogue a run for its money. Held at CAPITALE, the event costs a small fortune, but it’s worth it to send the right message.

  The columns at the edges of the room are lit up in blue and silver, our trademark colors, and each round dining table is adorned with bouquets of blue and white roses. Each guest will receive a pure .999 silver bookmark engraved with TJV’s logo and an e-reader device pre-loaded with the first copy of our latest magazine before they leave. There are over three thousand guests in attendance tonight.

  Soon, there will be dinner, but first, drinks. It’s time to mingle.

  I stride with confidence through the hall. I’m wearing a finely tailored black suit, expensive leather shoes, and my haircut cost more than five hundred dollars.

  I see the eyes of dozens of women following me. To be young, rich and handsome makes you a big deal in this city. And I am a very big deal.

  Carla approaches me. She’s a journalist who’s found her way into my bedroom on more than one occasion. I was ready to believe that she was searching for some exclusive scoop on me, but I’ve yet to read a tell-all on Thomas Vermont’s incredible sexual prowess, so I continue to give her the benefit of the doubt.

  Tonight, she’s wearing a long, tightly-fitted red gown, her dark hair curling around her bare shoulders.

  “Tom, I was disappointed I didn’t receive an invite.”

  “Yet you came anyway.”

  “I’m Preston Howler’s plus one.”

  “Ah, Preston. So, you’re dating photographers now?”

  “I was just looking for the opportunity to talk to you, Tom. It’s been a long time since we’ve spent any quality time together. Perhaps we could schedule a private interview after the party?”

  I bring her hand to my lips, kiss it softly, meeting her eyes as I lift my face, and smile. “Carla, time with you is always a pleasure and a privilege, but I’m afraid that I’m otherwise engaged tonight.”

  Carla lets her hand drop and purses her lips slightly. She casts her gaze around the room and all the lovely women milling around. “Who’s the lucky lady tonight?”

  “It’s not that kind of engagement, Carla. Now, you’re here with Preston, aren’t you? You’d better get back to him before you make him jealous.”

  Reluctantly, Carla walks away. I feel sorry for her, and all the other women who try for my attention. Though my love affairs don’t last long, I don’t mean to be cruel; I lose interest quickly.

  Although perhaps all that’s about to change. I have no “other engagement,” only an interest in one particular woman, although I’m not quite ready to shout it from the rooftops yet. News spreads quickly around here.

  I’m interrupted from my thoughts by a pat on the shoulder. Lucas Collins, my Head of Customer Service, is standing at my side, his large, round face red from one too many glasses of the wrong champagne.

  “Thomas! Wonderful party! The best yet. What a celebration.”

  I smile. “Thank you, Lucas. Credit goes to Diane, as always. She’s a miracle worker with these things.”

  “You know, I’ve been meaning to get you aside for a moment. A customer complaint has come in, and I think it’s worth your attention.”

  I roll my eyes and wave away Lucas’s concerns. “Not now, Lucas. It’s a party.”

  “Apparently, one of our articles in the June edition of Around Town hasn’t gone down well.”

  “Which article?”

  “The restaurant review. You know, the scale of ‘cheap and nasty’ to ‘fine and classy.’”

  I let out a laugh. “Really?”

  “Well, Thomas, some of the venues weren’t happy to be on a certain end of that scale. You remember the hipster joint that served cocktails out of mini wheelbarrows?”

  “The one with rats running around?”

  “They’ve asked if we’d print a retraction. Otherwise, they’ll sue for defamation.”

  I shake my head. “We didn’t even mention the rats in the article.”

  “Well, the owners are throwing a tantrum over it. The woman I spoke to claims we don’t understand the bar’s ‘vibe.’”

  “I can’t deal with something like this right now. I’m away for the holidays. Offer her a small under-the-table gesture of apology. Whatever you think it will take to make this go away.”

  “And the retraction?”

  “Small print. Back pages.”

  “Excellent. I’ll make sure that gets done.”

  “Thanks, Lucas. Enjoy the party.”

  You’d think that after forking out thousands of dollars for an event, I’d be able to enjoy it, but there’s no rest for the wicked. If it wasn’t a spurned woman on my tail, it was an employee hoping for some face-time with the boss, or a journalist with a hundred-and-one questions. Within the hour, I’m exhausted.

  I escape out of the main hall to a quieter area of the venue and pull out my cell. I smile when I see that she’s replied to my messages. This woman, this mystery girl online, is about the only thing keeping me sane right now.

  I read her message.

  Sounds like you’ve got a busy night ahead! A work party sounds fantastic. I wish I could do something like that. There’s no party for a self-employed gal. I’d love to get dressed up sometime and let my hair down. Make sure you have fun tonight.

  I quickly shoot a message back. When we meet, I’ll take you wherever you want to go. I would love to see you all dressed up. I bet that’s a real sight for sore eyes.

  She replies. Send me a picture of you in your suit.

  Patience, Zoe! Let’s both wait for the grand reveal this weekend. I can’t wait to see you.

  I met Zoe on a dating site about six months ago, and we’d clicked straight away. I haven’t yet shown her my picture; she’s only seen the little cartoon representation that I used in my profile. My fame usually precedes me, and there’s been something very appealing about talking to somebody outside of the New York bubble, all this superficial glitz and glam.

  I wonder what she looks like. She won’t give away much except green eyes. She says that she’s self-conscious about her knees and ankles. They’re too lumpy! I look like a newborn camel learning to walk. Hmm, she must have long legs. I don’t care if she’s knock-kneed. She makes me laugh, and that’s more than I can say for anyone else I know.

  Diane finds me outside in the hall. She’s my events manager. She approaches me nervously with a cautious smile. “Well? What do you think, Tom?”

  I offer her a warm smile. “A triumph, as always, Diane.”

  “I’m sorry about the champagne.” She looks distraught. She’s dressed up for the occasion, but beneath her make-up, she looks frazzled and exhausted.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s the wrong vintage. I fucked up. I know I fucked up.”

  I lay a hand comfortingly on her shoulder. “I didn’t even notice.”

  Diane looks relieved. She checks her watch, gasps and leaves to attend to something else. The champagne is terrible, but I won’t tell her that. Diane has put all of this together. The last thing I’m going to do is tear into her over some Dom Périgno
n.

  I have a reputation as a bit of a tyrant, but I’m not deliberately unkind. Not if I can help it.

  Just as dinner is starting, I finally return to the party. I sit down next to Matt, my right-hand man. He grins at me. “So, Tom, the rumors are true.”

  I raise my eyebrows in response and shrug. “What can I say? My sister’s been asking me to spend Christmas with her for years.”

  “What’s different about this year?”

  I smile knowingly. “It’s time I caught up with her is all. Things have been tough for her since Mike died.”

  “I bet,” Matt agrees. “You offered to move her out here, though, didn’t you? It was her choice to stay.”

  “Laura didn’t want to leave Maine. That house was her and Mike’s first home. It’s where they raised Megan. It’s where Jack was born. I think she has too many memories to leave the place. Plus, the kids have school and all their friends, and Laura’s best friend since forever lives five minutes away. A bigger house in a strange city doesn’t appeal to Laura. It’s not worth it for all she’d leave behind. And her business has roots in Portland.”

  “Wedding planner, right?”

  “A die-hard romantic.”

  “Good for her.”

  “She’s out of town in a couple of weeks,” I tell him. “She’s working a wedding in Houlton. Some big affair. They’ve got her on retainer for a whole week. Some people, right? Laura’s time doesn’t come cheap.”

  Matt raises his eyebrows. “Neither does yours. It’ll be a change of pace from New York. A break will do you good.”

  “I doubt I’ll get much chance to relax. Laura has visions of me playing super-uncle to her kids.”

  “Has she seen you around children?”

  I laugh. “She knows I’m terrible with kids. Yet she thinks it should be different because they’re her kids.”

  “What are you going to do while she’s out of town?”

  I smile. “I’ve arranged some company while I’m away.”

  Matt’s eyes widen with surprise. “Who?”

  “Nobody you know.”

  “Looking for a Christmas fling, hmm?”

  I sit up straight, loosen my tie. “No. I think it’s going to be more than that.”