Man Candy

by Melanie Harlow

  “What the hell?” Before I knew it, he’d snapped the pic and was tucking his phone out of sight, inside his coat. “Gimme that.”

  Unbuckling my seat belt, I tried to get the phone but he fought me off.

  “Feisty tonight, I like it,” he said, laughing as he got me by the forearms. “But save some of that energy for later.”

  “If you post that picture, I’m never speaking to you again, let alone fucking you.” I straightened up, smoothed my hair, and buckled in again.

  “Right, because that always works for you. Now where am I going?”

  I told him how to get to the restaurant, and we spent the fifteen-minute ride there talking about our respective proms and other social events we remembered from high school.

  “Did you have a serious boyfriend back then?” he asked me. “I don’t remember.”

  “Not really.” I spent my junior year mooning after you, asshole. “My senior year I dated this one guy off and on, but we were headed to different schools, so we were never that serious. I did let him pop my cherry, though.” I said this with a sly sideways glance at him.

  “Oh yeah?” He didn’t look at me, but I saw his hand tighten on the steering wheel. “And how was it?”

  I shrugged. “It was fine. I wasn’t super crazy about him, I sort of just wanted to get my virginity out of the way. I knew the first time wasn’t going to be great for me. Seemed like it was for him, though.”

  “I’m sure it was.” The hand in his lap balled into a fist.

  I allowed myself a tiny smile of triumph. If you wanted to be my first, Quinn Rusek, you should have done it while you had the chance. “Too bad you rejected me back then. Maybe it could have been you.”

  “Oh, it would have been me.”

  “You sound awfully sure of yourself.”

  He laughed confidently, and some of my self-satisfaction melted away. “Not only am I sure it would have been me, I’m sure you would have enjoyed it more.”

  Now it was my hands curling into fists. Why the hell did I let him get to me? I practically spoon-fed him these opportunities! “Guess we’ll never know. The restaurant is over there. Park on this side of the street.”

  He did as I instructed and turned off the car. “You’re not mad, are you? I was just being truthful. That is what you like, isn’t it? Laying everything out there up front?”

  “Yes,” I said stiffly.

  “Good. Now look at me.”

  I did as he asked. “What?”

  “I know I could have been your first. And we’d have had fun. But I also know that I wouldn’t trade the memory of finding you in my closet yesterday and everything that came afterward for anything. Jaime at seventeen was tempting. Jaime at twenty-seven is fucking torrid.”

  I felt my cheeks getting warm, a smile tugging at my lips.

  “And Quinn at eighteen was good,” he went on, “if a little fast, but Quinn at twenty-eight is a hell of a lot better.”

  “I like it fast.”

  “I know you do. You’re like a fucking cheetah.” He tapped my nose. “But one of these days, you’re going to let me take my time with you.”

  Tilting my head, I gave him a coy smile. “I’ll trade you a date for a slow fuck.”

  He shook his head. “Uh-uh. No way. I’m getting all three dates, plus the blowjob you offered me, and the slow fuck.”

  “What am I, a goddamn buffet?” Irritated, I opened the door before he could play Boyfriend and come around to do it for me. “And by the way, I think this should count as two dates because you’re getting to meet my friends already.”

  “Hmmm.” Quinn’s brow furrowed. “I’d consider that. On one condition.”

  “What?”

  “I get to tell your friends about the snooping.”

  “No!”

  “OK, then I get to be as romantic as I want tonight.”

  “What do you mean, romantic?” I made a face. “Like, touchy-feely at the table?”

  “If I’m so inclined. And you can’t squirm away or say anything about it. No blowing up the game.”

  I chewed on the thumb tip of my glove and thought it over. “If I agree to play along, you can’t tell anyone about my snooping in your flat, ever.”

  He sucked air through his teeth. “Wow, that’s harsh. I was really looking forward to telling that story, especially the part where I hit you in the face with my underwear.”

  “That wasn’t your underwear, it was a shirt! Now do we have a deal or not? It’s cold out here.”

  “That’s because you opened the door.”

  “Quinn.”

  “OK, fine. Deal.” He held out his hand and I put mine in it to shake, but instead he tenderly kissed the back of it.

  “Ew, what are you doing?” I pulled my hand away.

  He looked at me with that stupid phony smolder. “God, I love getting romantic with you.”

  My eyelid twitched. “This is why. This is why I hate dating. All this sappy shit just drives me insane.”

  “I know,” he said, laughing. “And I sort of care about your sanity, but it’s going to be really fun to fuck with you in front of your friends. Now stay there.”

  I shook my head as he got out of the car, came around to my side, and opened the door all the way. “You are a sadist. I knew it.”

  “Well, I might be, but let’s save that for later.” He smiled devilishly and reached for my hand. “Come on, love bug. Can I call you love bug? What am I saying—of course I can! I can do anything I want tonight.”

  Oh my God.

  I needed a cocktail.

  Stat.

  Thirteen

  QUINN

  I held onto her arm as we crossed the street.

  “Seriously?” she said.

  “Yes. It’s dark and icy, and I can’t have my love bug slipping and falling and hurting her precious little ass. I’ll do that myself.”

  She sighed heavily. “Fine. Please just stop calling me love bug.”

  I granted her nothing but a smile. Inside the restaurant, she tried moving away from me and crossing her arms, but I didn’t let her. Taking her hand, we approached the host together, who led us back to a corner booth where three women sat.

  I recognized two of them as Claire and Margot, Jaime’s friends from high school, but the third I didn’t know. All three jaws dropped as we approached.

  “Ladies,” I said. “Thank you so much for letting me join you tonight. I know how much my sweet pea values her girl time. It’s one of the first things she told me about herself.” For effect, I kissed the back of Jaime’s hand again while she threw knives at me with her eyes. Then I turned to the table and pulled off my gloves, sticking them in my pockets. “Quinn Rusek,” I said, holding my hand out to the woman I didn’t recognize, who was seated on the end.

  “Elyse Martin.” She shook it, her dark eyes wide. “Nice to meet you.”

  Next to her was Claire, whose curly red hair fell in ringlets over one shoulder. “Claire, good to see you again. And happy birthday.”

  “Thanks.” She looked back and forth from me to Jaime, clearly confused. “Glad you could make it.”

  “And Margot, how are you?” I greeted the striking, willowy blonde next to Claire.

  “Good.” She regarded me with amusement in her eyes, almost like she was in on the joke, and I wondered if Jaime had spoken to her about me today.

  “Have a seat,” Claire said, gesturing across from her. “Please.”

  I turned to Jaime. “Can I take your coat, honeybun?”

  She peeled off her gloves, angrily shoving them in her pockets. “Yes, thank you,” she said through her teeth as she unbuttoned her coat.

  I took it off her shoulders. “I’ll be right back. You won’t even miss me.”

  “You got that right,” she muttered, plunking down in an empty chair across from her friends. “Is there a cocktail menu?”

  Spying the coatracks in a room just beyond the bar, I hurried over and hung up Jaime’s coat as w
ell as my own. While I was out of sight, I posted the photo of Jaime and me in the car to my Instagram account, chuckling at how perfect it was. She had sort of a what the fuck is that smell expression on her face, whereas I was grinning ear to ear. Off to a great start, I captioned it. I gave it three hashtags: #sweetpea #firstdate #loveisreal.

  Oh, God. She was going to kill me. This was way too much fun.

  Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I went back to the table and took the seat next to Jaime, making a big deal about dragging the chair over to be closer to hers. She was reading the cocktail menu and scooted her chair farther away, but I just moved mine again. I looked across the table at her friends’ faces, and every one of them was trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

  A server appeared. “What can I get for you?”

  “I’ll take a Sazerac,” Jaime answered.

  “Good idea, snookums.” I put my arm around her shoulders and nodded at the server. “She’s always so smart. I’ll have the same.”

  The server promised to be back shortly with our drinks, and I turned to the women across the table. “So catch me up, ladies. I haven’t seen you in years.” I kept my arm around Jaime and could just imagine the look on her face.

  Margot cleared her throat. “Well, I work for my father, doing PR and special events for the philanthropic arm of his corporation.”

  “Nice. Are you married? Single?”

  “Not married, but I’ve been dating my boyfriend Tripp for about three years.”

  “Oh, you have a boyfriend. That’s wonderful.” I squeezed Jaime’s shoulder. “Isn’t that wonderful, poopsie? They’re in love, just like we are.”

  Jaime coughed and picked up her water.

  “How did you and Tripp meet?” I asked.

  “My father introduced us. Tripp’s a lawyer at the firm my father employs.” She was talking to me but staring at Jaime, who was obviously trying to do that telepathic thing women do with their eyes when they want to communicate something without words.

  “And how about you, birthday girl?” I turned the charm on Claire, whose fair skin turned a little pink.

  “I’m an elementary school art teacher,” she said, picking up her cocktail.

  “That’s awesome. I’d love to be a teacher.”

  “Really?” Claire looked surprised. “I wouldn’t have guessed that. I mean, you have such a successful modeling career.”

  The server showed up with our drinks, and Jaime grabbed for her glass like she was suffocating and it was an oxygen mask.

  “That was never my long-term goal, though.” I picked up my Sazerac and took a sip. “I’m still trying to decide what is, but every now and again I do think teaching is something I’d enjoy. I love kids.”

  “You do?” Elyse blinked at me.

  “Oh, yeah. I was an only child, always jealous of people with lots of brothers and sisters. I hope I have a whole brood of them.”

  “Really?” Now Margot was staring at me too.

  “Totally. Jaime and I want at least four or five, don’t we, dumpling?”

  “At least,” she said flatly, clinging to her cocktail for dear life.

  “How about you? Do you have children?” I asked Elyse.

  “Not yet, but I’d like to someday. I should probably find someone to marry first, but that hasn’t been too easy.”

  “I agree, it isn’t easy,” I said. “But you know what? You have to trust in fate.”

  “That’s what I say too.” Claire was wide-eyed. “You have to believe that someone is out there for you, and it’s just a matter of time before you find each other.”

  “I agree, Claire. Take Jaime and me here.” I gave her another squeeze, nearly spilling the drink she refused to put down, and kissed her cheek, which was difficult since she tried to lean away from me. “We weren’t always the passionate couple you see before you today. Just two weeks ago, she was like a distant star, shining her light from afar, and I could only dream about her.” I gestured grandly toward the ceiling.

  “That’s so beautiful,” whispered Elyse.

  Jaime snorted.

  “And then fate stepped in. I needed a place to live, there was a vacant apartment right below hers…” I looked adoringly at Jaime, who gave me the stink eye. “She took one look at me and fell head over heels. Didn’t you, gumdrop?” Her face was so full of fury, I couldn’t resist rubbing my nose on hers in an Eskimo kiss.

  “And of course,” I went on as Jaime slunk lower in her chair, “one moment in this woman’s presence and I knew—I knew—that it was meant to be. I mean, look at her! Who could resist the face of an angel?”

  Jaime scowled like a scolded child, her lower lip protruding.

  “She’s practically glowing,” said Margot, unable to keep from smiling. “Jaims, love suits you, it really does.”

  “So be patient,” I said to Elyse. “Your true love might show up when you least expect him to.”

  The server came back and asked for our dinner orders, and I gave Jaime a little breathing space to quickly look over the menu while I did the same. But once we’d put in our requests, I put that arm right back where it was. When I was certain all eyes were on us, I leaned over and blew softly in her ear.

  “Quinn, darling,” she said, her tone shrill. “Would you mind? It’s a little warm in here.”

  “I’m sorry, peaches, I just can’t help myself when I’m around you. And I don’t want you to catch a chill.”

  “Well, I’m fine. And I’d like a little more room, please.” She looked so miserable, I eased up.

  Sighing, I took my arm back but reached for her hand, holding it in my lap. “OK. This will do for now.”

  She sent me a murderous look but left her hand there, and the conversation turned to other things—how the holidays had stressed everyone out, trips planned for spring or summer, Claire’s disastrous blind dates, Margot’s new car, my mother’s old house, Elyse’s failure to keep her New Year’s resolutions already. But Jaime stayed fairly quiet, and just after we’d ordered another round of drinks, I felt her hand moving over my crotch. My dick immediately responded.

  What the hell was she doing?

  I looked over at her and saw her smiling sweetly at Claire, who was describing some date she’d been on recently where the guy wouldn’t stop talking about his ex.

  Our chairs were close enough together and the restaurant dark enough that I didn’t think anyone would notice, but damn it, sitting at this table with a raging boner would be really uncomfortable. And I could hardly adjust myself with her hand right there. Oh fuck, I was getting hard fast. She knew it, too; I could tell by the satisfied smile on her face.

  I winced slightly as my cock bulged painfully against the seam of my jeans. I needed more room in a really bad way—and she wasn’t letting up! The bigger it got, the firmer she rubbed it. Should I move her hand? Slide my chair away from her? Excuse myself from the table? I could, but I wasn’t wearing a jacket, just a cashmere sweater over a button-down. The shirt was tucked into my pants, and the sweater wouldn’t hide the obvious if I stood up.

  Fuckfuckfuck, it felt good and terrible at the same time. She was being so naughty and it totally turned me on, but jizzing in my pants on our first date would not be cool, especially in front of her friends. I shifted in my chair, trying to adjust without being obvious.

  “Quinnypoo,” Jaime said suddenly, and way too syrupy, “would you be a lamb and go get my coat for me? I left something in the pocket I need.”

  I looked at her expression, which was both innocent and knowing at the same time. Oh, you little devil. You did this on purpose.

  I didn’t really want her friends to see the monstrous erection I had going, but I couldn’t ignore the dare. And if I was going to take it, I was going to take it all the way.

  I smiled at her. “Of course, kitten. Anything for you.”

  I stood up and made sure everyone got an eyeful. “Excuse me, ladies. I’ll be right back.”

  On
my way to the coatrack, I ducked into the bathroom and washed my hands, just for something to do while I counted to ten in Polish, my go-to task when I need to stop myself from coming too fast or get rid of an ill-timed hard-on.

  Jeden, dwa, trzy… It worked. By the time I got to dziesiec, I was comfortable again.

  I dried off my hands, adjusted my pants, and went to get Jaime’s coat. There was probably nothing in her damn pocket, but whatever. I had to give her credit for fighting back a little. All the ridiculous names and overt affection had to be driving her nuts. Her friends must think we were crazy.

  But it was a good time.

  A perfect time.

  Fourteen

  JAIME

  He did it.

  That rat bastard stood up and showed everyone the big fat bulge in his pants like he was proud of it.

  What were you expecting? The man has zero shame.

  Still. It was kind of hilarious.

  “Oh. My. God.” Claire’s entire face was pink. “Did you guys see what I saw?”

  “If you mean the package on Quinn, um yes.” Margot fanned her face.

  “Package! It looked like a baby elephant was trying to escape!” Claire stage-whispered.

  “I tried to look away and I couldn’t,” murmured Elyse. “It was almost hypnotic.”

  I started to giggle, bringing a hand to my mouth. I’d pulled the stunt to humiliate Quinn, but actually I was kind of glad my friends got a good look. There was a certain thrill in knowing that of all the women he could have, of all the women in the world obsessing over his image, I was the one next to him at dinner. I was the one with his arm on my shoulders. I was the one he wanted.

  “OK, so what the hell is with you guys tonight?” Margot’s eyes were wide as she shook her head. “Explain the love bug routine.”

  “Yeah, I thought you didn’t even like him,” said Claire. “And now you’re in love?”

  I rolled my eyes. “We are not in love. This is just another one of his little chicken games. He’s trying to get me to crack because he knows how much I hate all the sappy love shit.”