The One I Love

by Mia Ford

  As we rounded the corner to the block where the restaurant was, my stomach did flips, wondering if she would be there already or if I would have a chance to order some wine beforehand. We pulled up out front, and the valet opened my door, nodding his head as I climbed out. I walked up to the doors of the restaurant as the hostess opened them and smiled kindly at me. When I got inside, I looked around the old warehouse that had been renovated into an upscale, new age restaurant. My eyes fell on my beautiful blonde date, sitting at the bar. I told the waitress we were ready for the table before walking over and putting my hand on her back.

  “Hey there,” I said, smiling. “Sorry I’m late. Work was busy.”

  She smiled. “You’re not. I’m just always early to everything.”

  “You look beautiful.” I smiled, staring down at her short black dress and high heels. “Shall we?”

  She nodded her head and followed me to the table. I pulled out her chair and pushed it in as she sat. I crossed over to my seat and sat down, ordering a bottle of wine from the server and letting out a deep breath. I looked across the table at Reese who was sitting quietly, her hands in her lap, and looking all around the restaurant.

  “This is a cool place,” she said. “I like how they reused old warehouses instead of building new buildings.”

  “Yeah,” I replied. “I really like what they’ve done with the older areas. They have spruced them up and given them an artsy appeal. I was hoping you would like this place when I suggested it.”

  “It’s very cool,” she said, smiling. “So, Blaine, tell me about yourself.”

  “Well, I own a tech company, Butler Technologies, and I—”

  “Wait, you own Butler Technologies?”

  I laughed. “Yes. I usually don’t tell people that because of that exact response.”

  She blushed. “I’m sorry. It just took me by surprise. Please, go on.”

  “That’s about it,” I said, chuckling. “I work constantly. Work is my life.”

  “How did you meet Caleb?” Reese asked.

  “We grew up together at the boys’ prep school that we attended in Lancaster,” I replied. “We’ve been in and out of trouble with each other for a very long time.”

  “That sounds like me and Leena, my best friend,” she said, laughing. “We’ve been best friends since I met her at a summer art camp years ago, and she is a trip.”

  “What do you do for fun?” I asked.

  “Well, I’m pretty quiet and reserved,” she said sweetly. “When I’m not working, I like to just relax. Sometimes, I take a trip to the country to see the scenery, and sometimes, I just lay around the house watching movies and bonding with my fleece blanket.”

  “That sounds amazing,” I replied, smiling. “To just lay there and not have anyone bother you. I would give anything for that.”

  “So, do it,” she said. “Turn off your phone and just do it. You would be surprised how many things can wait until you’ve had a mental health break.”

  “That sounds good in theory,” I said, laughing. “But I can see people knocking down my front door if I don’t answer the calls.”

  We continued our conversation, laughing at the little things that were so different but so familiar between the two of us. As the wine flowed and our tongues loosened, Reese began to relax, and I could see that she was having a good time. She talked to me about her life, her best friend, and her family, all which sounded incredibly similar to mine, just on a smaller level. She was gorgeous, and every time she laughed, her smile just completely brought me to my knees. I didn’t know what was happening to me, but I couldn’t imagine being around anyone else at that moment.

  We ate dinner but skipped the dessert, the time ticking by quickly. We finished up the bottle of wine, and I called for the check, knowing what I wanted to ask next. I had never been in a situation like this before, where the girl I was with on a date had completely captivated me. Reese was interesting. She talked smoothly and calmly, but there was an awkwardness to her that I found endearing and mysterious. I knew there was a lot more to this girl than what I had seen there at dinner, and I wanted to find out what it was. I wanted to know everything about this girl that I could, including what her body felt like in my arms.

  I paid the check, and we stood up, my body telling me how long I had been sitting in that chair. Dinner had definitely transformed into the longest date I had ever been on that didn’t include us rolling around naked in my bed. The crazy thing was, I didn’t want it to end. I could have sat there all night listening to her talk about her life, her dreams of traveling, and what she loved about Philadelphia. This had definitely turned into something more than what I thought it was going to be, and I was happy about that. I walked Reese outside and turned to her, smiling.

  “Would you like to come back to my place and have another drink?” I asked, hoping the answer would be yes. “I don’t live far from here.”

  “Oh, um, I can’t tonight,” she said, hailing a cab. “I have to go to work in the morning, and I need to be getting home. But thank you so much for this date. It’s been really lovely and surprising.”

  She leaned forward and kissed me gently on the cheek, lingering for several moments. I could feel the heat surging through both of us, and I wanted to reach out and kiss her deeply, but I refrained. She was tender and fragile in a way, and I didn’t want to scare her off after getting her to loosen up as much as she had tonight. I didn’t know what to say to the fact that she didn’t jump at coming to my house, so I stood there, watching her blush.

  “Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me,” I replied, slightly disappointed.

  She climbed into a cab right after pressing her warm lips to my cheek once again, and she disappeared into the city traffic. The valet had already contacted my driver, who was sitting in front of me with the car, waiting for me to climb inside. To say that I was slightly disoriented by the way the date had ended would be an understatement. No one ever said “no” to coming back to my place. Then again, Reese was not your typical girl, and her turning me down no longer made me feel like I had no chance. She was so intriguing and mysterious, and I wanted to know more and more about her.

  I climbed into the backseat of the car and watched as my driver shut the door. I pictured her sitting next to me. To my surprise, the image of her in my head didn’t show her next to me for one time only. I imagined her by my side like it was part of a normal routine. We weren’t even dating at this point, but I was starting to feel comfortable with the idea of being around her on a regular basis. I didn’t know what this girl had done to me, but there was no way that I was going to be able to leave her alone after this night together. She had enchanted me with just how real she truly was, and I knew that I had to continue to try to get her in my life… and my bed.

  I sat back in the seat as the lights of the city passed me by and we came closer and closer to my penthouse. My imagination raged, thinking about her body, the way she moved, and how she had no preconceived notions or personal agendas. She just presented herself exactly as she was. She was sexy, grounded, and sweet, and I could tell she had a total heart of gold. It was completely blowing my mind how much I was into this girl, but instead of running away, I was dead set on keeping her firmly in my life. Still, I knew none of my normal tactics would work. I knew that I would have to learn to bend and move if I wanted to get her to stay.

  When I got to my penthouse, I went upstairs and sat down on the couch, looking down at the remote. I flipped on the television and found a movie, smiling at myself for taking the time to relax. Reese was already affecting me in a positive way, and there was no way I was going to let this girl get away.

  Chapter 8

  Reese

  It had been several days since I’d gone on the date with Blaine, and I couldn’t get him off my mind, not that he would really let me with his sweet texts and beautiful flowers. Friday at the office was my favorite day, the day that we really gave the pups some attention, groomed
everyone, and played with the kitties for several hours. We prepared for the weekend crew to come in and took care of everyone, and I got to really get in some good fur-head time. On a normal day, I was so inundated with paperwork and normal care duties that I was losing the ability to really spend time with the animals, something that was important since it was the entire reason Leena and I started this business to begin with.

  Lenna and I had arrived at work at the same time, exchanging smiles and going about our normal routine, getting the bathing and grooming stations all set up. It was our time to get prepared for the day, both mentally and physically, and we seldom started conversing until the first animal was on the table. Today, we were going to start with Bruno the Mastiff that would take both of us to wash. He was huge, but he was the sweetest and most loving dog I had ever met. I had fallen in love with him when we first started the business, and he had been coming to us for a couple years now, whenever his mom and dad had to go out of town.

  I looked down at my phone as Leena poured the shampoo on Bruno’s head, laughing at his big face. He hated baths, but he would sit still for us since he knew he would get a treat afterward. I put my phone back in the pocket of my scrubs and reached up, massaging the soap into his fur.

  “You going to tell me who you have been texting all morning?” Leena asked.

  “I think you know.” I smiled, glancing over at the two dozen roses scattered about the office.

  “I think it’s fantastic,” Leena replied. “He has brought you out of your shell. When are you guys going out next?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “He hasn’t asked yet, and to be honest, I’m really nervous about it. I really like this guy. He is sweet, generous, and is so very patient with me. On top of that, he has been doing things like relaxing, watching movies, and taking care of himself all because I told him that it was important. It’s like he really listens to me when I talk.”

  “Wow,” she said. “You sound like you really like this guy.”

  “I know,” I sighed. “And that is part of the problem.”

  “Why in the world would that be a problem?”

  “He’s already asked me back to his place once,” I said. “If I continue to see this guy, I am not going to be able to continue to just blow him off when it comes to going to his place, especially since I keep trying to tell him that sometimes, just being out of the public eye can make you so much calmer. I don’t know what to do.”

  “I think that is bullshit,” she replied. “I think you know exactly what to do, but you are scared.”

  “I mean what am I supposed to say?” I asked. “Do I just come out and tell him that I am a virgin?”

  “Your virginity has been this evil ghost that’s haunted you your entire life,” Leena said, grabbing the spray and washing the soap out of Bruno’s fur. “You’ve let it control every relationship you’ve tried to have. Instead of focusing on this amazing bond that you’re developing, you’re missing all the good parts of the honeymoon period of a relationship because you are too worried about sex. For someone who doesn’t have any, you think about it more than any girl I know.”

  “It’s important to me,” I said. “I mean, I’m not saving myself for marriage or anything, but I’ve waited this long, so I don’t see why I need to just give it up to the first hot guy that shows me interest. It’s a delicate situation, and I want to make sure I’m making the right choice.”

  “Personally,” she said, finishing up the hose down. “I would just sleep with him and get it over with. I think you’ll realize that it’s not as big of a deal as you’re making it out to be. Not only will that give you a physical connection to this guy, but it will open up your emotional relationship, too. He’s already shown that he is not in it just for the sex, so why not take it to that level?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “What if he gets it and then is gone?”

  “Then you learned a lesson,” she said, pouring the conditioner onto Bruno’s fur. “And you have started taking control of your own body. Right now, whether you want to admit it or not, you are letting your emotions control you, or fear of emotions actually. If you sleep with him and he leaves, you need to know that you are able to take a step forward and really embrace your sexual side. Do it for you, not for him. It will make you a stronger woman.”

  “That sounds amazing in theory,” I replied, laughing. “But actually, taking those steps is what is hard about the whole thing. Opening myself up like that to someone I barely know seems terrifying.”

  “Living the rest of your life letting your virginity dictate your decisions sounds even more terrifying,” she said, lifting her eyebrows and smirking.

  We finished up with Bruno and walked him down to the drying area where he would sit and sleep under the warmth of the heaters, something Leena and I had come up with to make the drying process less strenuous on the animals. Throughout the day, we went from pup to pup, cleaning their pens after washing them and then letting them out to play once they had dried. I kept the words that Leena spoke in my mind and thought about it as I played with the kittens later that day. It was amazing how good these animals made me feel, and how I never felt pressured or stressed when I was around them. They were my sanctuary from the storm.

  When we had finished up the cat play and all the animals were bathed and happy, we started cleaning up, talking about Leena’s dating schedule over the weekend. Just thinking about how much she put herself out there was exhausting to me, and I wasn’t the one going on all the dates. Personally, I was looking forward to going home, climbing into some comfy warm pajamas, wrapping myself in a fleece blanket, and watching movies all evening. I couldn’t even begin to think about planning to go out every single night over the weekend, plus for lunch on Sunday. Nope, not my style of things. As I finished wiping down the bathing tub, my phone rang, and I smiled at seeing Blaine’s number flash across the screen.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he said charmingly. “What are you doing?”

  “Just finishing up at work,” I said, smiling. “You?”

  “The same,” he sighed. “Work never slows down. But that wasn’t why I was calling.”

  “Okay, what’s up?”

  “I want to take you out again,” he said bluntly. “I want to see you.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “How about dinner tomorrow night? It will be Saturday, relaxing, chill, and we can continue our conversation from before. I just don’t want to go another week without seeing you in person.”

  “Tomorrow night sounds good,” I said, my heart racing. “What kind of restaurant?”

  “I made reservations at Tres Leche, a fine dining place downtown,” he said. “I hope that is okay. I wanted to take you somewhere nice this time.”

  “You would be surprised what I think is nice,” I said, laughing. “I’m pretty sure at this point, I would think Applebee’s was nice.”

  “Then you will be blown away.” He laughed loudly. “Will five be okay?”

  “That will be perfect,” I said. “Right when I normally start to get hungry. Oh, and thank you for the roses. They are stunning. My office smells so good now.”

  “You are more than welcome,” he said. “I just wanted to brighten your day and give you a good start to your weekend.”

  “Well, you definitely accomplished that.” I chuckled. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow at five at the restaurant then.”

  “Sounds perfect,” he said. “I’ll text you later this evening when I get off work.”

  “I’ll be here,” I replied, ecstatic as I hung up the phone.

  I walked over and put my phone back on the table, standing and staring at the roses for several minutes. My heart was racing, and it started long before he asked me to dinner. Just the sound of Blaine’s voice sent electricity through my chest, and I hadn’t felt that way about anyone before. Going to dinner was going to be fun, but all I cared about was spending time with Blaine a
nd getting to know him better. I knew that part of guys chasing a girl was trying to impress them, but I wasn’t most girls, and I would be equally impressed by a grilled cheese sandwich at the park. Still, I was going to relax and enjoy the time I had, getting excited about trying restaurants that I would never actually go to on my own. I had heard of Tres Leche. It was one of the most expensive and well received restaurants in the city. The chef had two Michelin Stars and came to Philly from New York after getting tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. Not that Philadelphia wasn’t a city, but it was much calmer than NYC.

  “Why do you look all in a daze?” Leena asked, breaking through my trance.

  “Blaine just asked me out to dinner at Tres Leche tomorrow night,” I said dreamily.

  “What?” she asked excitedly. “Girl that is awesome. You know what that means. We are going to go out and get you something amazing to wear!”

  “You always think about shopping.” I laughed.

  “If I didn’t, you would walk around in yoga pants all day,” she pointed out. “You can’t wear yoga pants to Tres Leche, and you can’t wear your prom dress from five years ago, either. Yeah, don’t act like you didn’t save that thing in the back of your closet.”