by Alex Wolf
There’s the look. I’d been waiting for it. I can practically feel the anger buzzing inside her, all that frustration. It radiates off her like a damn star about to go supernova.
“I am working actually. I came to see your original gym, get the feel of this place. It’ll help me relate to your target audience, and once I know who they are, I can find them and get more of them in here. So put that in your pipe and smoke it. Leave me alone and let me do my job.”
I lean down right next to her ear, where she can feel my breath on her neck when I speak. “We’ll discuss what I want over dinner then, tonight.”
“Hah! That’s good. Good one right there, Miller.” She goes back to her workout and keeps chuckling to herself, like it’s the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard.
I narrow my eyes on her. “I’m not joking. Dinner tonight. Business. You don’t show, I’ll find someone else. We haven’t signed any contracts yet, now have we?”
She glares back at me. Her jaw sets. I have her right where I want her. Part of me wonders if there’s something wrong with me, enjoying this so much.
“Just business.” She wiggles her ass a little and I know she fucking did it on purpose. I know she knows I’m staring right at it.
Fuck. It’s right there, inches from my cock. The only thing separating us are a couple thin layers of fabric.
I take a step back away from her, so she can’t see how fucking hard I am, even though it has to be obvious. “What else would you think I wanted to discuss?”
She ignores me, finishes her reps, stands up and stretches back, arching her tits right in front of my face. Goddamn women. That really is an unfair advantage. If I’m not careful, I’m going to turn and knock something over with my dick in front of every customer and employee in the place. I hadn’t realized just how amazing Harlow’s body is until now. We were drunk and it was dark that night at the hotel.
She’s not bodybuilder big, but she’s not a twig either. She’s the perfect balance, tone muscle, but curves where it counts.
Finally, she says, “Okay, email me details. Now piss off.”
I smile because I just landed a date with Harlow Collins. I got a fucking yes. Inside, confetti is blasting and bull horns are sounding off. That’s the first step in this process. She might think it’s business, but she knows better. She knows what the fuck this is.
I swear as I walk back to talk to Maria, I catch Harlow smiling in the mirror.
I realize something else in this moment. Getting Harlow to smile is even better than getting her riled up. Hope she’s ready tonight, because I just decided; this shit is happening. I’m all in and it’s going to be relentless. To hell with everyone else and what they think. She’s going to be mine.
Chapter Ten
Harlow Collins
Icky Thump by the White Stripes blares through my apartment while I get ready.
“Cole fucking Miller.” I grit my teeth as I say the name in the mirror. Why did I agree to a damn date with him? I just wanted him away from me and agreed to whatever he said.
You’re lying to yourself. You wanted this shit.
Why does my brain throw all logic out the window when he’s around? This man is bound and determined to throw a wrecking ball into my life. Everything was perfect before. I had a routine, a schedule. Every day, I was like a perfect little robot, moving through life, doing everything exactly the way I wanted, setting goals and accomplishing them, one after another.
Then, he came along.
My phone pings and I walk over and pick it up. My face heats up when I see his name on the notification. It’s a location and just says, “See you at 7.”
I toss my phone back down.
It’s not lost on me that it’s only five-thirty. I can get ready in fifteen minutes, a process I’ve slowly perfected over the years. Yet, I’ve tried on three different black dresses already.
You should show up in red to fuck with him.
No, you shouldn’t.
I glance over at the one bright red dress in my closet. It’s hot as shit. I learned long ago that experiences are relative. It’s like a good story; it takes you down one path, then hits you with a twist all at once. It’s like those makeover shows. Someone dresses frumpy with no style, they let themselves go for years. Then when someone fixes them up, does their hair, puts them in nice clothes, it’s a million times more impactful than seeing someone in a new outfit who already wears nice clothes every day.
That red dress would murder him, render him speechless.
My doorbell rings just as I take a step toward the dress.
Who in the hell?
I stomp toward the door and mumble, “If that asshole went to Decker to find out where I live…” I yank the door open.
It’s Dad.
He grins, then looks me up and down, like he can immediately sense something is wrong. “You okay?”
I move out of the way and usher him in. “Of course, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
His eyes roam around my living room and he takes his time, like he always does. Dad is a man of very few words. When he speaks, it’s exactly what he means. He finally looks back at me, “Something is just—off.”
I need to keep him away from why I’m losing my shit on the inside. It’s not the type of thing we discuss. I’ve never talked to him about boys or the few girls I dated in college. “What’s up, Dad? Were we supposed to do something tonight?”
He shakes his head. “No, no, I just…” He looks away and sighs, then his eyes angle to the floor. “Never mind, I should go. It’s silly.”
Now, who’s acting weird? My eyes bug out. “Everything okay with you?”
“Yeah, I just… You sure everything is okay?”
I smile and do my best to comfort him. I hold an arm out to the sofa. “Yeah, I’m sure. Come sit down.”
We walk over to the couch and take a seat.
There’s awkward silence. I love my dad more than anyone in the world, but this is so bizarre.
I finally say, “What’s going on?”
“I just had this feeling. I’ve only had it once before, when you were at college and got in that car accident. I don’t know. It’s like I could feel it before it happened, knew you were in trouble. And I’ve had that same feeling, the past week or two and it’s gotten stronger every day.” He shakes his head. “I don’t mean to worry you, I just needed to come by to make sure you were all right. It’s a parent thing, that’s all. I’m sure it’s nothing. Don’t read anything into it.”
I dive into him and give him a hug, something we don’t do often, but sometimes you just want to hug your dad.
His hand moves to the back of my head and he smooths my hair down. “Everything’s okay though?”
“Yeah, I mean, I have some stuff going on that’s kind of throwing my life out of whack, but it’s not serious. Nothing I can’t handle, I promise.”
He squeezes me a little tighter. “Okay.” He leans back. “You can talk to me about whatever it is, you know?”
I stare at him for a long second. He’s so out of character right now, wanting to talk about things. It’s weird, but nice too.
He must sense what I’m thinking because he holds a hand up. “I’ve just been talking to your uncle some while he’s been in town for the weddings. Trying a few new things, to be better, you know? You never stop trying to be a better parent. It’s the best job I’ve ever had, something I’m actually good at. I know we’ve always kept our heads down, worked hard, ignored, you know… feelings.”
We both laugh because that’s exactly what we do.
“I just worry about things I’ve messed up, raising you alone, you know?”
I lean up and kiss him on the forehead, something I haven’t done since I was a child, but I don’t know, this conversation is so… different, and it felt like a normal reaction. “Dad, you are literally the best. I have a great life. I love who I am. You did your job well, okay?”
He smiles. “Okay.”
“
And yeah, I may have met someone new, and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m being very cautious. It’s just kind of disrupted things a little. It’ll probably end soon, anyway. I don’t really have time for it.”
He looks like he wants to interrogate me, but stops himself and just nods and says, “Okay.”
I do love all the men in my life to death. They’re all I’ve ever known, but I’m glad Dad isn’t going all nuts right now like my cousins. I can take care of myself. They’re the ones who taught me how to do it.
I glance back toward my bathroom. “I need to get ready.”
Dad nods, taking the hint, and stands up. “Well, I’ll get out of here. Thanks for the talk.”
“Anytime. Seriously. I don’t mind talking about stuff if you want to. I think it’s probably good for us too. And I know we do dinners once a week, but let’s do lunch sometime too.” It dawns on me I’ve let him ask me about me and I haven’t asked anything about him. God, I can be so self-absorbed sometimes. “Shit, we haven’t talked about you at all. How’s retirement going?”
“It’s okay, you’re building a brand-new business. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Dad?” I give him the stink eye.
“I get bored sometimes, but I get by, keep myself busy. I got a membership to the country club so I’m getting back out on the golf course.”
“Any ladies out there?” I waggle my eyebrows at him.
He laughs. “Maybe one or two.”
I shake my head. “My dad the player.”
We both snicker and walk to the door. As he’s walking through, I stop him.
“You can come up to the office anytime during the week and hang out, you know?”
He’s never been. I know I just started my firm in the last year, but I should’ve had him come see it already. Fuck, I’ve been a terrible daughter.
“I might do that, kiddo.”
“I’m serious, I’m there by myself. If you get bored during the day, just come see me. We can go to lunch, talk about finding you another hobby.”
“I will, I promise.”
“All right, Dad, love you.”
“Love you too.” He walks out and I breathe a sigh of relief.
Then Cole Miller takes over my brain again. At least I got a quick break from him. That was kind of nice talking to Dad like that. It was maybe the most normal I’ve ever felt. There aren’t many women in the family, other than my aunt and Jenny, Decker’s teenage daughter. But she’s ten years younger than me. We’re really close, but it’s more of a big sister dynamic.
I walk back to the mirror in my bedroom to look at my hair again, then turn to the closet. The red dress is screaming at me.
You know what? Fuck it. I want to see Cole look as uncomfortable as he makes me every time I see him. It’ll swing things in my favor. I pull out the Herve Leger mini cocktail. I quickly remember how difficult it is to get on because it zips down my lower back. Once I have it on, I twirl around in front of the mirror and love the straps that go across my upper back. The look on his face will be priceless.
You sure this is a good idea?
Shut up, brain. It’s just a business meeting. That’s what Cole said; strictly business. Let’s see if he can keep his promise.
I mess around and put on some light makeup and finish getting ready, then head down to my car. Once inside, I put my phone up on the holder and click the location Cole sent. It’s perfect timing on the GPS, I’m set to arrive around five minutes after seven. I absolutely will not be the first one to show up for this. He needs to be waiting on me.
Twenty minutes later I pull up and park.
When I step out, I look up at the place. That motherfucker.
It’s Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf.
It’s probably the most romantic restaurant in the whole damn city.
I glance down at myself.
And I wore this goddamn red dress.
Why does the world hate me?
Chapter Eleven
Cole Miller
I chose Bavette’s for our date for obvious reasons. If you want to impress a woman, this is the place you take them. It’s very formal with some French flair, comfortable booths, chandeliers, candles.
I keep my eyes on the door, waiting for her. I figure she’ll show up at least five minutes late and it’s only seven. I really don’t have any business to discuss with her at all. I just saw her in the gym and wanted more time with her. I’m sure I can make up something on the fly if she’s going to be her usual stubborn self.
But I do know there’s no way she’ll walk out of this place. Look at it. It’s the perfect restaurant for a date. Nobody walks out on an expensive steak and some good booze, candles and shit. That’s the kind of thing that gets you laid.
I stare down at the scotch in front of me and wonder if I should send it back. The drunk sex after the wedding was incredible, but I want my wits about me the next time with Harlow, if I ever get a next time. I’d say it’s a five-percent chance I get laid tonight, but do I really want to roll the dice?
My eyes keep darting back and forth to the door. The suspense is damn near killing me. Time moves in slow motion. I’m getting jittery, my stomach is tightening. I don’t remember a woman ever making me feel this way. It’s like an exhilaration, a huge dose of dopamine and serotonin. I used to feel it before big fights in front of millions of people and never thought I’d know that rush again.
At five minutes after seven, I glance up to the door and a woman walks in in a bright red dress. My eyes dart back and forth, and holy…
What the fuck?
I blink a few times. There’s no goddamn way…
She smiles and walks right toward me, and holy fuck, I’m afraid to stand up because my dick just got harder than it has ever been in my life. Harlow looks like she could be on the cover of any goddamn fashion magazine she wanted. The bright red mini dress makes her black hair and blue eyes pop even harder.
Calm the fuck down.
I have to relay that message to myself and my dick at the same time. I feel like a damn dog in heat. How the hell am I going to concentrate on her while she’s wearing that? Jesus, she’s ruthless. I want her even more now.
I stand up because that’s what you have to do, regardless if your damn crotch is bulging out the front.
Play it cool right now, pussy. She did this on purpose to make you act like a jackass.
“H-hey-lo.” Goddamn it to hell.
“Halo?” Harlow stands there, smirking.
Finally, I nod. “Yeah, like the shit that goes around an angel’s head or the video game, obviously.”
She laughs and it actually looks genuine. “Sure you weren’t trying to say hey, then switch to hello, and got caught in between?”
I nod, grinning. “That’s exactly what didn’t happen.”
“Sure.” She slides into the booth across from me.
I wait to make sure she’s settled in then do the same on my side of the booth.
“Boozing, huh?” She glances to my glass. “Thought this was business.”
“Force of habit. I was actually considering sending it back.”
Wow, I can’t believe how well we’re getting along right now. It’s almost like this shit with us might work.
I also can’t believe how fucking hot she looks. It’s taking an enormous amount of willpower to not slide into her side of the booth and full-on make out with her. She has on bright red lipstick that matches the dress, but the rest of her makeup is barely visible. Her hair is usually straight, but this time it’s curled in large waves and I want to grab it so damn bad. Yank her lips into mine and kiss her so hard she passes out.
That dress. Shit, it has straps that go across the back and a zipper down to her ass. The only thing that could look better, be a more beautiful sight in this world than Harlow in that dress, is that dress on the floor with Harlow standing naked over it.
I have to force myself to stop gawking. I need to play it cool and ri
ght now she is in firm control of this situation. It’s a dilemma, something I’m not used to.
The waiter comes over and Harlow orders a water. I order one as well and push the scotch over to the side of the table. I don’t want anything distracting me from this evening, dulling my senses. I want to be one hundred percent present at all times.
“So, business.” I lean back and look at her.
She nods. “Yep, business. Do you have concerns?”
“Not really.”
“Makes sense, I suppose. Bringing me here after hours for nonexistent concerns.”
I grin. “Are you billing me right now?”
“You’re goddamn right I am.” She leans forward and I can see her tits push together. “Every. Fucking. Second. Miller.”
I know it would be ridiculous to even suggest I’m in love right now, but you know those moments in the movies where the ridiculous, nerdy guy is all “I think I’m in love with you.” when the hot girl talks to him in class? That’s exactly how this moment feels. Like that shit might blurt out of my mouth any second.
Smack yourself, bitch.
“We’ll see.” I take a sip of the water the waiter just dropped off.
“Yeah, we will.”
“You’re adorable.” I wink at her. What the fuck? I never wink.
“I’m adorable and have four cousins who own the best law firm in the world. You think because you haven’t signed contracts, I can’t get my money if I need to? Contracts don’t have to be written. Not to mention, I think you underestimate my powers.”
I grin, loving where this is heading. “How so?”
“I know how to find your customers and communicate with them. That’s how I do my job. And I can send them any message I want. I can encourage and entice them to join your gyms, or I can send them right down the road to wherever. I can tell them what a pig Cole Miller is, or what a nice guy he is, depending on how you behave.”
“What’s the rest of your family like?”
Harlow leans back, like I just threw her off her game. “What?”
