Hard Love

by Joanne Schwehm

  “A dream, huh?” Her face blushed. “Look, I’m going to lay it out there. I think you’re one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen.”

  Her brows met her hairline. “You’ve seen me many times before, and one of?” When I didn’t answer, she laughed. “I’m just kidding. I’m sure you know plenty of women, but thanks for the compliment all the same.”

  “Things are different from the last time I saw you.”

  For no reason, other than possibly nerves, Margo straightened the flatware next to her plate. “Yes, they are. I’m not the same foolish girl I was back then.”

  That was for damn sure. But I never thought she was foolish, just young. “What have you been doing the last several years? Tell me about yourself.”

  “Believe me, I’m not that interesting.”

  “Sorry, I’m not buying it.” Her green eyes looked at me through the prettiest eyelashes I’d ever seen. “You’re well-traveled, and I’m guessing well read.”

  “Well, that is true.” She paused before continuing, “I’ve been to several countries. I find different cultures fascinating. But, something tells me you’re well-traveled as well.”

  “I am, because of my business, and I agree with the fascination of other cultures. The Europeans have the right idea. They’re more play than work and are still successful.”

  Margo nodded. “My dad once called me a gypsy because I didn’t want to join the family business, that I wanted to be able to move around.” She laughed. “That’s when I decided to go to Paris. I figured the groundwork had been laid down, so to prove him right, I followed my dreams and moved. Adam was his pet project, and Dad was satisfied with that.”

  Becky was back with our meals. Despite how Margo’s order sounded, it looked delicious, as did mine. When she saw me eyeing it, she twirled some noodles on her fork and held it in front of me. “Try it.”

  This was a first for me. She hadn’t even tasted it yet. Since when did a woman do that? I speared some of mine on my fork and mimicked her move. We ate each other’s first bite and moaned appreciatively as we chewed.

  “Wow, that’s really good. Great choice.” She nodded, and we continued to eat our own meals.

  “What about Adam? Do you talk a lot?” Oddly, her brother never mentioned her. Now I knew why. He had to know that I’d pursue her. Plus, he knew of her infatuation with me. His silence made sense, but that didn’t mean I’d stay away from her.

  “I talk to my brother more than my parents. I just haven’t seen him since I’ve been back. He texted me to let me know he was going out of town. To be honest, we don’t have much in common. Our businesses are worlds apart, and discussing relationships isn’t on the table either. The last thing we’d want to hear is who either of us are having sex with. So, we don’t have a lot to talk about. However, he never mentioned you. I didn’t even know you were still in the city.”

  In an instant, my dick was engaged in this conversation. “Interesting.”

  “What about you?”

  “Do I want to hear who you’re having sex with?” Yes, that’s what I got out of her comments. I took a sip of my drink.

  “No.” She shook her head but couldn’t hide the smile that appeared. “Your family. Do you see them a lot?”

  “No, but it’s fine. I’d rather get back to who you’re having sex with.”

  Just like a lady, she ignored my question and continued eating until she was ready to humor me.

  “If you must know, I’m not having sex with anyone at the moment. I just got back to the city full-time last month and trying to land a guy is the last thing on my mind. They’re nothing but a pain in the ass.” She slid her fork in her mouth and glanced up at me. Once she finished chewing, she dabbed her lips with her napkin. “Present company excluded, of course.”

  I let out a chuckle. “Excluded from being a pain in the ass or landing a guy?”

  “Being a pain in the ass. Although, I may need to rethink that.” Pretty lines formed at the corners of her lips before she placed a piece of candied ginger on her tongue. Every move this woman made was sexy as fuck. “You have more questions than Jeopardy.”

  “Technically, Jeopardy has answers. Just one more?”

  “Fine.” Margo sat back in her chair and placed her hand on her stomach. It was then I realized she’d finished her meal. Another way she was different from other women I took to dinner; most just moved their meals around their plate to make it appear as though they ate something.

  “What will it take for you to agree to date me?”

  Chapter 5

  I might be able to fit in a kidnapping.

  His question rattled around in my head. Dating Noah would and should be an easy decision. My first instinct was to blurt out, “It wouldn’t take much, just ask.” But instead I remained tongue-tied while every nerve in my body stood at attention. What was his question again?

  Heat rose up the back of my neck, and tiny beads of sweat began to form along my spine. “I’d like to get reacquainted first and not rush into anything—especially your bed.” Like they were on springs, Noah’s eyebrows shot straight to the top of his forehead. You know that moment when you want to take your hand and slap yourself? That’s exactly how I felt. Just one quick smack on my forehead would serve me well right about now.

  He placed his hand on mine. “I can do slow. I’d like to learn more about you as well. It’s also good to know you’re thinking about my bed.” Yup. Kill me now.

  Noah must have sensed my mortification. “If it helps, I think about yours, too.” Yeah, that didn’t help. “How about I get the check and we get out of here?”

  “Sounds good.” Yes, fresh air would be nice. Well, as fresh as New York City had to offer.

  Noah closed my door before sliding in next to me. Arthur asked, “Where to, sir?”

  “Back to Margo’s please.”

  With a nod from our driver, we were on our way. I nibbled on the corner of my thumb, watching the passing cars through the sedan’s window. Our dinner conversation had my brain thinking one thing and my heart another. Our hands rested side by side on the seat. Noah raised his pinky finger and covered mine with it. It was a small gesture but it made me feel all fluttery inside.

  When we arrived back at my apartment, I thought my heart would crack one of my ribs, waiting to see how this night was going to end. Thoughts scattered through my brain as we stood in front of my door. Did I ask him in? No, absolutely not. But God, I wanted to. The problem was, if I did, it would negate my brilliant idea of going slow. I was an idiot.

  Noah’s eyes bore into mine. Adrenaline flooded my system, forcing me to lean against the wall for support. “Thank you for going out with me tonight. I had a great time,” he said.

  The little devil on my shoulder wanted me to say, “screw it” and pull him into my apartment and straight to my bedroom. I could use a one-night stand. Plus, I’d been waiting for him to pay attention to me for almost a decade. My thighs squeezed together, trying to suppress the throbbing between them. It must have been all the talk about sex over dinner. God knows it had been months since I’ve been with a man; why not get back on the horse, as they say, with Noah?

  With each word he spoke, his breath warmed my cheek he kissed. “I hope you enjoyed your kidnapping.”

  My lips quirked to the side. “As far as kidnappers go, you weren’t so bad.” That’s right, play it cool. Breathe in . . . breathe out . . . in . . . out . . . repeat.

  He let out a hearty chuckle, causing my lady parts to clench. “So, if I kidnap you again, let’s say . . . next Saturday night, would that be okay with you?” Noah tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.

  “I might be able to fit in a kidnapping.” We both smiled, and then his eyes darkened, causing my hands to flatten on the wall behind me.

  Masculine knuckles skimmed down my face from my cheekbone to my chin. His hand found its way to the back of my neck. Finally, I’d know what he tasted like. Play it cool sounded off in my bra
in, but my body wouldn’t listen. My tongue moistened my lips in anticipation. Noah gently pulled me forward, my eyes closed on their own volition, and I waited for our lips to meet, but once again, his landed on my cheek, though this time they lingered a bit.

  A sigh escaped me before I could stop it. His heart thumped against my hands, which were now firmly pressed against his hard chest. Eyes as pretty as the Mediterranean Sea met mine. “Until next week.”

  “I said I might fit you in, that wasn’t a yes.” My words were a mere whisper, but he heard me.

  He tapped the side of his head with his index finger. “Hardheaded kidnapper, remember?” With that, he smirked and strutted away. My eyes followed him until he turned the corner to head to the elevator. Damn, he was the sexiest man I’d ever seen. After regaining my composure, or what was left of it, I opened the door to find Haley back in her Minnie Mouse attire, curled up on the couch, watching an episode of The Bachelor we recorded.

  She paused the show. “So, how was dinner with the hottest guy in New York, and possibly the planet?”

  I dropped my ass on the couch next to her, grabbed a throw pillow, and hugged it tight against my chest. “It was good.”

  “Good? A book is good. There’s no way that man was anything less than spectacular.”

  My eyes glanced at the television where the girls were waiting to see if they were going to be staying or going. Kudos to them, because I could never put myself out there like that. Nor would I want to fight numerous other women for the heart of one man. I’m more of the realist type. Yes, I love romance novels and movies, but I have the sense to know the difference between fiction and nonfiction. Although, if I could live life as a fictional character, life might be easier. Happy endings were a rare commodity, as far as I was concerned. Sadly, having my heart broken, wasn’t. That’s why even though Noah Winston may be perfect in every sense of the word, I was sure he could break my heart into perfect little pieces.

  “Margo?” Haley waved her hands in front of my eyes.

  “Sorry, I was thinking.”

  “I’d say. You’ve been doing that a lot lately. So, tell me about your good date. Did you get a goodnight kiss?”

  “On my cheek.”

  Haley crinkled her nose. “Wow, he didn’t live up to his reputation.”

  My heart sunk a bit, feeling she knew more about him than I did. “What reputation?”

  She propped herself up on her legs. “He’s Noah Winston. Women who have been with him aren’t shy. You need to get more active on social media.”

  I let out a sigh. “No, thank you. We’re just two friends reconnecting.”

  Her lips twisted into a snarky smirk. “Friends?” She made the “Okay” sign with her hand. “So, are you going out with your friend again?”

  “Maybe next Saturday.” My shoulder popped up in a shrug. “But, I didn’t technically say yes.”

  “Why?” Her voice was a screech that carried ninety decibels.

  After I jiggled my finger in my ear, I replied, “Because I didn’t say yes tonight, and he showed up. So, if he really wants to go out, then he’ll be here. If not, I always have Netflix.” What I neglected to say was I was afraid. The man could shatter me. I had been down this road before, and I wasn’t interested in a second trip.

  “You’re weird.” Haley clicked the TV back on, and one of the contestants burst into tears because she was going home. “Aww, she didn’t get a rose.”

  “This is only week four! How attached could she be? Talk about desperate.” I got up, grabbed my phone, and headed to bed. I may or may not have avoided washing my cheek during my nightly routine before slipping under the covers.

  It was definitely a Monday. Where to begin . . . the messenger who usually did our deliveries was out sick, and the company was shorthanded, the cab I took into work smelled like wet dog, and our Internet was down, so I couldn’t access anything except on my phone—and a five-inch screen didn’t quite cut it.

  Grabbing my tote bag, I packed up my laptop, files, and everything I needed to work off-site. Haley worked as an X-Ray technician and pulled the night shift for a friend of hers at the hospital. I knew she’d be home asleep, and rather than disturb her, I went to the Covered Bean. It was a low-key coffeehouse I discovered when visiting one of my clients just north of Midtown.

  The aroma of chocolate and coffee invaded my senses like an army ready to attack as I walked in the door.

  “Hi, Margo! What will it be today?”

  “Hi, Jackie. Large latte, and,” I picked up a small package of dark chocolate-covered coffee beans made on the premises and waggled them in the air. They were to die for. I would be buying a larger bag to bring home with me later. “These.”

  I glanced around the small area and was thankful there was an available table in the corner, right near an outlet. I got settled, several messages pinging as soon as I fired up my laptop. I should have ordered a triple shot of espresso.

  If I didn’t concentrate on work, my brain had a one-track mind. All my thoughts instantly went to my dinner with Noah this past Friday. Of course, my memory had replayed his tender kiss to my cheek as if it was on a video loop.

  What was it about him that still intrigued me and made me feel all squishy inside? More importantly, what the hell was wrong with me? Every time my phone dinged, rang, or vibrated, I got my hopes up that it might be him, but it had been a few days since we had dinner, so maybe he wasn’t interested. Like Haley said, he didn’t live up to his reputation. Maybe it was me.

  When the after-work crowd started coming in for their late caffeine fix, I decided to call it a day. All I wanted to do was go home, relax, finish off the rest of my chocolate-covered coffee beans, and a glass of Merlot.

  Sun glared off the glass buildings as it started its descent. People crowded the sidewalks, dodging each other as they tried to make their way home. Everything here was so different than the streets in Europe. People there knew how to relax and enjoy life—here everyone was in a rush.

  Many days, I wished I was still there. New York was my home, and although I loved the energy the city evoked, part of my heart would always be across the ocean. Before I came back home, I made a pact with myself that if it didn’t work out here, I would move back. Maybe not to Paris, but to Milan, or even London. Walking always gave me perspective and clarity. It could be that it was my time alone with my thoughts or the observations I made along the way. Deep down I knew I needed to give myself time to re-acclimate to a fast-paced world, filled with competing businesses, and not lose who I was in the process.

  Before I turned the doorknob to walk into my apartment, I glanced to where I stood with Noah, and then rolled my eyes at myself. I needed to snap out of it. If only Cher were here to slap me, like she did Nicholas Cage in Moonstruck.

  “How was your day, dear?” Haley stood in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove.

  My keys landed with a clank on the table. I shrugged my jacket off and headed straight for the wine bottle, helping myself to a glass.

  Haley’s eyes followed my movements. “Drinking before you change out of your work clothes? It must have been some day.”

  “It wasn’t the best, that’s for sure. Anything that could go wrong did. Do I have time for a bath?”

  “Dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes. Go relax, and then you can elaborate on what you’re not telling me.” She beamed brightly at me.

  Warm water filled with ginger and brown sugar scented bath salts greeted my tired body. I set my phone beside my glass and a hand towel on the small table we had next to the tub. Water tickled my chin as I sunk deeper into it. This was exactly what I had needed.

  My phone dinged. When I saw Noah’s name, I dried my hand on the small towel and swiped my screen to read his text.

  Noah: I had a great time with you. I can’t wait to do it again on Saturday.

  Me: Sorry, I can’t. That’s beauty night.

  Noah: Very funny. I’ll text you details later.


  Me: Like I said . . . busy.

  Noah: We’ll see.

  It was then I changed his name in my phone to “Hardheaded,” right before it dinged again.

  Hardheaded: You and me, Margo. Don’t fight this. Sweet dreams, beautiful.

  Haley was setting dinner on the table just as I entered the room. “Great timing. Did you have a good bath?”

  “Yes.” I sighed and poured us both a glass of Chardonnay.

  “Did you use your waterproof toy in there? You have that look on your face.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” We both sat down. “This looks great.”

  “Fine, change the subject, but you can’t fool me.”

  Even though I was excited at the prospect of going out with Noah again, I needed to keep my guard up.

  “Are you okay?” Haley asked.

  “Yes. I was just thinking about something Noah said.”

  “When?”

  I took a healthy sip of my wine. “He sent me a text while I was in the tub.”

  “Oh, then that explains your just-fucked look.” Haley laughed, but I didn’t. I was too confused. “What’s wrong?”

  Rather than explain, I grabbed my phone and showed her the text. Her eyes perused the screen. “Damn, someone likes you.” She put my phone down. “Looks like you may have landed one of the hottest bachelors in New York.”

  “We’re just friends.”

  Haley rolled her eyes. “Right. My guy friends and I text like that all the time.”

  “Look, I’ve known him for years. Believe me, it’s nothing.”

  “Okay, whatever you say.”

  All I knew for sure was I needed to keep the word “friend” in my vocabulary when it came to Noah. There were too many variables against us. One, my brother would punch something when he found out, and that something would be a someone named Noah. Second, I had put Noah on such a pedestal when I was younger. I needed to keep everything in perspective and get to know him for the man he had become, not for the one he used to be.