Georgie flashes a self-satisfied grin. “Good boys.” She climbs out and Ben and I just laugh.
An hour later, I’m sat my office sipping coffee Bridget brought me and prepping for my conference call at ten, but I can hardly stop thinking of my date tonight with Georgie.
Later that day, I swing by Ben’s office, but he’s in a meeting with some interns, so I go back to my office. A few minutes later, Jake appears in my doorway.
“Hi, Jake. What brings you to the eighth floor?”
He smiles. “Hi, Luc. I need a moment of your time.”
“Of course.” I put my papers aside as he sits in front of me. It’s very rare the boss comes down to talk in person. “Anything wrong?”
“Not at all. I wanted to speak to you about Ben Atkinson.” I feel a slight flash of panic. “I know you’re friends, or at least I think you are.”
“Yes.”
“But I also know you can be objective. I want to know what you think of his performance and his future with us.”
My shoulders drop, and I offer a smile. “I can be objective. Certainly. If I’m one hundred percent honest, I think Ben is a younger version of me, only he’s even hungrier than I was.”
Jake nods. “I have a similar feeling when I watch him work. Dave Bainbridge called me earlier and asked me where I’d been hiding Ben. He was impressed with his energy and freshness. He said he wasn’t a jaded ad exec.”
I laugh softly. “Not yet anyway.”
“No.” Jake leans back in the chair. “What are his weaknesses?”
“He’s still emotionally attached to things. He hasn’t learned yet to use no to his advantage, but after his last meeting with a client who shot him down, he came to me and said help me find the lesson.”
“So he’s getting there?”
“Absolutely. It fueled his hunger for Bainbridge. He worked on his presentation for days. He studied their company, their history, everything. He walked in there knowing they would say yes. He wasn’t going to let them go until they did.”
Jake nods. “Nice. Do you know what his aspirations are?”
“He’s interested in the management track last time we discussed.”
“Ah. Has he been able to convince you how great a manager you would be?”
“He hasn’t tried. I’m firm about my choice.”
“I’ll never understand why. You have a way with mentoring green account managers. You could make twice as much money.”
“With twice as much headache.”
Jake smiles. “True, but it’s a better life. More balanced, less travel. It will matter to you if you ever have a wife and family.”
“I’m thirty-seven. It’s not looking good.”
“Means nothing. I was forty-six when I married my current wife. My first marriage was at nineteen and a train wreck. It took me twenty years to find the woman of my dreams, but it was worth it. Ten years in and I still want to spend all my free time with her. Don’t count yourself out yet.”
I nod, smiling. “I have something promising now.”
“Good luck.” He stands. “Thanks for chatting about Ben, and if you change your mind, there’s an office on the executive floor with your name on it.”
“Thanks, Jake. Your faith in me means a lot.”
“You earned it.”
After Jake leaves, I consider his words. I am getting older. Maybe becoming a regional VP is the step I should take. My thoughts are interrupted by my phone buzzing on my desk. I pick it up and read the text from Georgie.
Two hours and counting.
Where we going, love?
You asked me out. You decide.
Dancing? Dinner? Dessert?
In your living room? Yes to all.
A slow smile spreads across my lips.
You got it, darling. See you soon.
I can’t wait.
Neither can I.
I finish wrapping up my day when Ben walks in. “Hey.”
“Busy?”
“No. Was about to leave. You meeting Kate soon?”
“Yeah. We’re going to Moonlight.”
“Great date place. How you feeling about it?”
“Good, but also nervous.”
“Understandable.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “Kate’s nice and we work together. I’m going to take your advice and be a gentleman. Take my time.”
“Good.”
“But I want to know if you and Georgie sleep together. I want to know how things go tonight.”
“Okay, mate. I’ll tell you.”
“Where you taking her?”
“My place. She wants to stay in.”
Ben smiles. “Oh, then you’re definitely fucking.”
“Hopefully she finds one dick enough.”
“It’s your dick. It’s more than enough.”
I laugh, holding his gaze. “You know what’s great about us?”
“What?”
“That we can talk like we are. We can do things that would make other men awkward and unable to speak about it, but you and I are fine.”
“That is a good thing about us.”
“No matter what, I believe we’ll be mates forever.”
“We will. Definitely.”
“Glad you agree. So have fun tonight. Lunch tomorrow to catch up?”
“Perfect.”
We stand and walk out to the hallway just as Kate comes towards us. Her hair is down and in pretty waves around her face. Her glasses are gone and she’s wearing lipstick. Interesting. Her dress is a little tighter than usual too if I’m not mistaken. When she sees us, a big smile spreads across her face.
“Hi, guys.”
I nod. “Kate.”
“Hi, Kate.” Ben steps forward and kisses her cheek. “Ready to go?”
“I am. Are you joining us, Luc?”
“No, I have other plans.”
“Oh. That could be fun.”
Ben chokes whilst my eyebrows rise. “Perhaps another time. Have fun.”
I walk away chuckling to myself. Poor Ben may not know what he’s gotten himself into.
Once I’m back at my place, I run the vacuum through the living room, clean the loo, and change my bed linens. After finishing that, I order dinner from my favorite Italian restaurant, then jump in the shower. After my shower, I throw on a pair of jeans and t-shirt hoping she comes as casual as she did to Ben’s last night. I run some gel through my hair, brush my teeth, and finish straightening things up. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman over to my flat. Years, in fact. I don’t like the attachment many women seem to form once they’ve been invited to sleep in my bed. Now I’m hoping that’s exactly what Georgie does. I look at my watch. Ten minutes. I hurry to the kitchen and open two bottles of red, knowing we’ll likely drink them both. I just want everything to be perfect.
Chapter 16 Georgie
Standing in my bedroom, I stare at my reflection in the full length mirror. I’m as nervous as a whore in church tonight. I don’t understand why Luc is pushing us to be alone, but worse, I don’t understand why I agreed and why I haven’t been honest with him. What is it about him that makes me just want to please him so much? I exhale slowly. It’s times like these I wish I could talk to Sophie about all of this, but there’s no way. I just have to talk myself through it.
Moving back, I sit on the edge of my bed. I like Luc. A ton. I thought he would take the lead easily, but Ben is really starting to get under my skin. This nonsense about Kate is annoying as fuck. Why doesn’t he see us as a relationship? I wanted to do so much more than we did, but I know he wasn’t feeling it. He’s all about Luc. Maybe I’m just a friend with benefits. Maybe that’s why I said yes to be with Luc alone. Or maybe I’m just doing what I always do when it comes to relationships.
Glancing at the clock, I realize I have to get going or I’ll be late. There are far worse things than spending a night with Luc Allegro. I’m just afraid we’re heading into territory we can’t come back from.
>
Chapter 17 Luc
At six, the intercom buzzes. I press the button to release the door and wait for her to come up. She steps off the lift wearing a slinky black dress that clings to her body like a second layer of skin. Her gorgeous hair is down and straight and she saunters towards me in very high heels. I wanted her casual, but fuck me, this is much better. She’s carrying a small black box.
“Hey, English.”
“Georgie.” I kiss her cheek. “You look absolutely stunning.”
“So do you. Should I have dressed down?”
“How you’re dressed is perfect. Please come in.”
She passes me, swaying her hips as she looks around my place. “This is beautiful. So sophisticated. Matches its owner well.”
“I’m glad you like it. I want you to want to stay.”
“I do.” She hands me the box. “Dessert.”
I open it to find a small cake. “Cake?”
“Enough for two.”
“Not three?”
“Not tonight, handsome.”
I set the cake on the dining room table and pull her into my arms as she smiles up at me. “I ordered lasagna dinner for two. Hope you enjoy Italian.”
“I love Italian. Food and men. Preferably with a British accent for the latter.”
I laugh softly. “You’re a very good flirt, love.”
“So are you.”
I grip her chin, gently pulling her mouth to mine. We kiss, slowly rocking back and forth, and it feels amazing to be alone with her. “Would you like some wine?”
“Yes, please.”
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
In the kitchen, I grab two wine glasses and the bottle, carrying them back to her. She’s sitting on my couch looking at her phone. When she sees me, she sets it down.
“Anything exciting?”
“I sent Ben a text over an hour ago to wish him luck and he just responded. Said she went to the bathroom and they’re having a good time.”
“Oh good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“Is she pretty?”
“Yeah. She’s blonde and petite. She has sort of an innocent thing about her.”
“Innocent, huh? Is that his type?”
I sit down beside her, filling her glass. “I don’t know. Guess we’ll all find out. Are you jealous?”
She gives me a look. “I’m curious. He’s very conflicted over all of this with us.”
“I know.”
“I just want him to be happy. I want all of us to be happy.”
“So do I, Georgie.” I take her hand in mine. “Thank you for agreeing to this tonight.”
“To a date with my favorite Brit? It’s not a hardship.”
I have so much I want to say, but she just got here. I need to pace myself. Fortunately, the intercom buzzes. “Dinner.”
“Yum. I’m starving.”
“So am I.”
I open the door and greet the delivery person in the hall. Inside, I bring dinner to the dining table. I unpack it all as Georgie lingers near me, sipping her wine.
“You have an amazing ass. Do you know that?”
I glance at her. “I try to stay in shape.”
“I know why Ben wants it so badly.”
I exhale slowly. “Darling, I don’t want to talk about Ben tonight. This is about us. All I want to hear is what you want.”
She bites her bottom lip as she swishes her wine around. “You’re right. It’s my defense mechanism kicking in.”
“Defense of what?”
“You. Talking about my feelings. Exposing myself to you. Ben made me promise to try.”
“Are you afraid of me?”
“A little. I like you, Luc, a lot, but I’m really bad at this shit.”
“What shit?” I put down the plates and turn to face her. “What’s happening right now?”
“Let’s eat.”
“You’re okay?”
“Oh yeah.”
“And you want to be here with me? Just me?”
She smiles. “One hundred percent.”
Chapter 18 Ben
After texting Georgie, I sit back against the leather sofa, gazing up at the sky. It’s a clear night, letting not only the moon, but all the stars, shine bright. A few minutes later, Kate returns with a smile on her face.
“Better?”
“Better. Long wait at the ladies.”
“You ready for another drink?”
“Actually, I could use some food.”
“Good idea. Do you want to order here or go somewhere?”
She leans back. “I love it here. It’s a perfect night.”
“I was thinking the same thing. We could order some apps and go from there.”
“Great.”
I motion for the waitress to come over. She hands us two menus and we order a few items to share and two more drinks. Kate gazes up at the stars, and I lean in and nuzzle her neck. She looks at me as her eyes soften.
“Thanks for asking me out. I’m glad you did.”
“You wouldn’t have asked me, would you?”
“I might have eventually. I tend to take my time with coworkers even if I think she’s beautiful.”
Kate’s cheeks turn slightly pink. “Confession.”
“Sure.”
“I’ve had a crush on you forever. I think you’re…amazing.”
I pinch her chin. “That’s sweet, Kate. For the record, I thought you were pretty the first time I saw you too. I thought you would be too shy for me. I might overwhelm you.”
“So I shocked you when I asked you out?”
“Definitely, but in a good way.”
She searches my eyes for a moment before moving in to kiss me, pressing against me as she does. We fall back slightly and I wrap my arms around her, letting my hands roam over her ass. As we kiss, I assess how it feels. Do I want her? Do I like her? Do I want more? When her hand moves between my legs, I stiffen in surprise, but quickly relax. My dick is hard, so that’s a good sign. I pull back slightly.
“Hey, we should slow down.”
“Why?”
“It’s our first date.”
“And?” She grins, leaning in to kiss my neck. “Kissing is allowed on the first date.”
I smile, running my hand up the back of her neck. “I don’t want to assume.”
“Confession?”
“Sure.”
“I haven’t had sex in two years.”
My eyes widen. “Uh.”
“I want you to take me home. I mean, if you’re into me.”
“You’ve had a lot to drink and—”
“Ben, I’m not drunk. I know what I’m doing. Are you attracted to me?”
“Yeah. Definitely.” Thank God.
“Then it’s okay. We’re both adults. We’ll be discreet at work.”
I start to speak but pause when the waitress brings our food. We eat a few bites, but the tense silence between us is palpable. If I’m honest, I wouldn’t mind at all digging into Kate. The fact that Luc is probably doing the same to Georgie right now doesn’t escape me.
“If you don’t want me like that, it’s okay. I’m just horny and you’re beautiful.”
“Kate.”
She smiles. “I came on strong. I should just let it happen, right? That’s what my friend told me. I’m just excited to finally be out with you, and you’re probably like a nice guy that won’t try to go for it the first date.”
“Come here.” I pull her by the neck into me and kiss her hard. Her hands run down my chest and then move into my hair. After a few minutes of heavy kissing in public, I pull back slightly. “Let’s get the check and get out of here.”
“Where are we going?”
“Your place.”
Chapter 19 Luc
We sit down across from each other and start to eat. Georgie avoids my eyes, and it’s killing me.
“Please talk to me.”
She nods, sipping her wine. “A little tidb
it. Me and monogamy are like oil and water. It’s a long story but I’m terrified to have feelings for someone.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?”
“I feel defensive inside when I’m with you. I’ve used this situation with Ben to keep the intimacy at bay, but I’m still drawn to you.” She glances down briefly before fixing her eyes on me. “The truth is I’m afraid to feel the things I feel when I’m around you.”
“What things?” She shakes her head. “Would it help if I told you why I invited you on this date alone?”
“Maybe.”
“I don’t want to share. Not all the time. I’ll be honest, I enjoy our time with Ben, but I want to connect with you separately from him. I’m not dating both of you. I’m trying to date you. Just you, Georgie. I want you.” I shake my head. “I want your attention all for myself. I’m…fond of you.”
“Fond of me? That sounds so platonic. You’re fond of Ben.”
I nod. “Fair.” I stand and move to the seat beside her. “Here’s what I know. I haven’t wanted a woman as much as I want you ever. I have never entertained the thought of settling down and building a life with someone. I don’t know if the way I’m feeling is love or something else, but I like it. I want to see you every day. I want to talk to you constantly. I want to kiss you and hold you and make love to you. I’m deeply taken with you, Georgie, and I assure you I do not feel this way about anyone else nor have I ever.”
She stares at me with tears in her eyes. “What do you want from me?”
“A chance.”
“That’s reasonable.” She smiles, wiping a tear that snakes down her cheek. “Thank you for opening up. I want to do the same.”
“Take your time.”
She sits silently for a moment, before exhaling slowly. “I learned from an early age that a man in love still needs more than one woman can give.” My brow furrows. “No matter how much she loves him, he can still find it in his heart to cheat and devastate her.”
The Thing About Us: A MMF Bisexual Romance Page 11
