by Peyton Banks
“You know what I mean,” I say, burying my face in my palm.
“You’re cute when you’re awkward. You know that?” He slouches a little.
“Whatever.” I take another bite. “Eat your food, sir.”
His smile widens, and I have to look away to keep myself from doing the same. This man definitely gives me all the feels. I spent so many years with my ex, I didn’t know where to begin to even start dating again. Maybe that’s why this thing with Kade has worked out so well. It’s been almost effortless and fun, and I’ve missed that companionship. My inhibitions fade with each passing chuckle, and soon my comfort level is through the roof.
Kade’s phone dings, and he takes a moment to look in its direction. “Sorry, do you mind if I check this?” He points to the phone. “I’m supposed to be meeting my parents downstairs tonight and I—”
“Yes, of course. Go ahead. I’ll get myself another glass of wine while you do that.” I push my chair back from the table and stand. “This was a great wine selection also. I didn’t know the restaurant sold wine. At least I didn’t see a bar,” I say, turning to head into my kitchen.
“Mm, damn,” he mumbles as I walk away from the camera.
“What?” I ask, pretending not to know he’s referencing my ass. There’s no way he missed it with the way my iPad is stationed, showing a full view of the breakfast bar that I’ll need to pass in order to reach the kitchen.
“Inside thought.” His phone buzzes once more and lets out a soft laugh. “But no, they don’t sell bottles of wine. I was able to convince the hostess to make a trip to Total Wine for the kind I wanted,” he finally says.
“No, you didn’t,” I say loudly, hoping he can hear me clearly through the short distance.
“Yes, sweets, I did. I enjoy a good bottle of wine and will do what’s necessary to indulge.”
“See, I’m the complete opposite. I’ll buy a cheap bottle of sweet wine in a minute.”
“And that shit probably gives you heartburn and headaches, too,” he teases while still looking at his phone. Another alert comes through, and he shakes his head.
Taking my seat, I smile curiously. “What’s funny?”
“My mom. She likes to send me these funny memes she finds on YouTube or Facebook.”
“Aww that’s so cute!” I exclaim.
“No…no, it’s not. My mother is sixty-four. She does not need to be on social media.”
We both laugh.
“Let Momma be great,” I joke.
“Here, let me send it to you. It is funny, though.”
Boing... Boing... Boing... My eyes shoot open, and I’m grateful he can’t see my face.
“Wait. What was that?” He sits up, pressing himself closer to the screen as if it will make him hear clearer or something.
I ignore his question and pick up the phone to view the message. It’s a clip of a woman cutting a dog cake in front of her dog, scaring it half to death. I snort. “I’ve seen that one before. It really is funny.”
“No, ma’am, don’t you try and skip over my question. What was that tone? Boing… Boing... Boing…” He shakes his body left to right in tune with the animated reenactment of my ringtone.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to.” I sit back, folding one arm over my chest and picking up my drink with the other.
“Is that my ringtone?” He roars with laughter. “It is, isn’t it?”
I lower my head, pressing the glass to my forehead to conceal myself from the embarrassment.
“This is fucking gold.”
I see him shuffling around from the corner of my eye.
Boing… Boing… Boing… Boing... Boing… Boing!
“Seriously?” I screech while trying not to laugh when he sends two additional text messages.
“That’s what I’m asking you.” He belts out another throaty chuckle. “What does that even mean?”
I refuse to answer and instead finish off my wine.
“Come on, sweets. You’ve got to tell me.”
He smiles, and I huff.
“You remember the cartoons we use to watch growing up. The ones where the male characters eyes would pop out of their heads and make that sound when the female characters stroll by?”
Kade lets out one big roar and hunches over, grabbing his stomach. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little embarrassed; he’s now seen the full extent of my awkwardness. But I must admit, this is pretty funny. It is the reason I picked the damn tone in the first place. I just never expected the man to hear it.
“So is that what I do to you? Cause your eyes to pop out of their sockets? Shit, excuse my boldness, but the picture from the other day and now seeing you live on FaceTime, I need to make that my theme song for you.”
“I’m changing it.” I chuckle, picking up my phone.
“No, don’t. I like it, it’s cute.” He smiles and plays with his beard.
“You’re just going to stare?” I flirt.
“I like what I’m looking at, so yeah—I am.”
“I like what I’m seeing also.” I blush.
“This was fun.”
“It really was. I’ve never had a blind virtual date before,” I say matter-of-factly.
“We need to make the next one a live date.” He leans into the camera. “It drives me crazy that you won’t let me see your face.”
I sigh. “I know, I’m challenging. It’s just... I like you a lot, and I guess I’m nervous.”
“Of what?”
“We won’t live up to each other’s expectations, or we could possibly change our connection or lose it altogether. There’s not much we can control in the world.”
“Does that mean you’re more comfortable with us now?”
“I guess I’m getting there.”
Kade checks his watch. “I really want to finish this conversation, but it’s eight-thirty. My family will be waiting for me downstairs at nine. Let me get dressed and we’ll talk later.”
“Go, go.” I wave him off.
“Before I go, though… I’m going to ask you one more time to keep an open mind. I’ll be in Arlington next week on the thirtieth, for my company’s holiday celebration. It normally ends around ten or ten-thirty, but I can leave a little early. Meet me! In person, even if it’s for a few minutes. We can walk, talk, grab a drink, whatever you want. Just please agree to meet me?”
I run my hand over the back of my neck, taking a second to go over my thoughts. “Yes. I’ll meet you. Ironically, my job is hosting one on the same day. I don’t really want to participate, so I’ll gladly leave early to meet with you.”
“Awesome. Now I can enjoy the rest of my night. I’ll be busy this weekend, but I promise to text and call you as soon as I get a few minutes.”
The thrill coming from him transfers its way to me.
“Okay. I can’t wait.”
“Goodnight, babe. Now go take that hot bath.”
The call drops before I can say my goodbye, which is totally okay because I didn’t know what to say anyway. His last comment threw me off guard, and all I can do is sit here with my eyes wide. Babe? Have we reached that level in our relationship? I guess it makes sense. The man did go out of his way to give me such an unusual yet romantic evening. If that doesn’t say his interests are sincere, I don’t know what will.
I stand to clear the table and place my dirty dishes in the sink before picking up the basket Kade purchased from the day spa. Using the lighter that’s included, I burn the various candles, placing them around the tub and along the countertop. Next, I fill the tub with steaming water and drop in a couple of the fizzing bubble bars. I grab the cucumber face mask and begin to remove my clothes. Once the bubbles have formed, I step inside, sinking myself underneath the water and close my eyes on impact. It’s been forever and a day since I’ve taken a soak, and I can tell you, my body misses this. My muscle start to relax, and the stress of the week leaves me with each exhale. I’m going to enjoy this, probably more than
I should.
Opening the mask, I place it on my face. “Alexa, play my country playlist.” The melody from Brett Young’s Makin’ Me Say pours through my Bluetooth speakers. Soon I’m singing along to the music and doing exactly what Kade wanted me to do. Think about Jessica.
8
Jessica
Erin takes the seat next to me on my right with a smile plastered on her face. All week long she boasted about the holiday party that I even got a little excited about it myself. But my thrill for the evening is mainly focused around the fact I’m going to meet Kade at the end of all this. When he first asked me a week ago during our virtual date, and while I agreed, I admit I was hella nervous and nearly canceled on him a few days later. But he wasn’t having it. Not in a possessive, you belong to me type of way, but in an I’ll do whatever it takes for you to be comfortable kind of way.
“What are you so happy about?” I ask, shifting in my chair and crossing one leg over the other.
“Nothing. Melissa from accounting told me something funny,” she answers and points to the front of the room.
Lauren is standing near the center, using the microphone to gather everyone’s attention. We’ve been in the Westin Hotel conference room for most of the day. It started as an all staff meeting, and things are finally settling down. The crowd quiets, directing our sights up ahead.
“Good evening, everyone. Today’s been a full day for sure, and I know we’re all ready to get some food and drinks in us, but we have one last vital part of the evening. As most of you know, we like to use this time to appreciate, celebrate, and congratulate those staff members who have excelled throughout the year. Oliver, would you like to do the honors?” Lauren says, stepping aside as a man takes the center.
“Of course, thank you, Lauren,” Oliver speaks before giving her a friendly embrace. “What’s going on, everybody? Welcome to our annual holiday party. Are we having fun?” Oliver speaks into the microphone.
As his vocals radiate through the space, my senses perk up. Erin said he was a sight for sore eyes, but this is not what I was expecting. I peek around the room to find just about every girl in here salivating over our CEO. Oliver Braxton, a mid-thirtysomething business mogul with a big heart for philanthropy—or so the bio says. The photos on the company’s website don’t do him any justice. I can’t tell how tall he is, but he’s got to be over six feet. He wears his hair clean shaven with a fully grown and noticeably well-groomed beard. There’s an aura of confidence seeping from him, a vibe that is undeniable yet somewhat familiar.
“One thing that is important to our organization, to me, is we provide a place you all can enjoy coming to every day. A place that recognizes and promotes the accomplishments made throughout. We are grateful for the team we’ve found in each of you, and tonight I want to personally thank a few of you for all your hard work and efforts all year long. The names I will call have exceeded the expectations of their supervisors and have gone above standard limits to provide our customer base with the best sales strategy and negotiation training material on the market.”
I shift in my chair, trying to shake the feeling that’s come over me. I can’t put my finger on it, but with each word spoken from Oliver’s lips, a part of me tingles. I watch him closely, analyzing the way he moves, the way he licks his lips at the end of every sentence. I’m not too far away from where he stands, awarding me the perfect amount of distance to make out his features. Oliver calls off names, personally thanking each one with a sturdy handshake and a one-hundred-dollar Visa gift card.
“The next person, from what I’m told, hasn’t been a member of the team very long but came in swinging. She’s managed to secure several solo accounts as well as encourage the devotion of multiple corporate benefactors. On behalf of myself and Lauren, we’d like to honor Jessica Daly as Engagement Consultant of the year.”
Oliver says my name, and I lose my breath, completely tuning out everyone around me. Earlier, I had this feeling of familiarity when he spoke, but right now it’s undisputable. That deep and husky rattle I’ve grown to love and yearn for gives it all away. There’s only been one person to ever say my name and make my body betray me at even this most inopportune time. Kade? No fucking way, I think to myself.
“Jessica… Jessica. Are you okay?” Erin asks with her hand on my shoulder. “Oliver is calling you. Get up there.”
I snap back in the moment but don’t speak. When I look around the room, everyone is applauding and coaxing me to the front, but I’m unable to move. My mind is racing a mile a minute, and my brain has failed to tell my legs what to do next. This can’t be happening. I don’t know how to explain this feeling I have, but deep down I’m certain the man at the front of the room, my CEO, is the man I’ve spent the last month having phone sex with. Fuck… Fuck… Fuck. Okay, Jessica, play it cool. Just breathe!
“Jessica, if you don’t want this two-hundred- and fifty-dollar gift card, I’ll happily spend it.” Oliver chuckles, and I choke.
That laugh. That is Kade’s laugh.
“Sorry,” I finally say. Shaking off my nerves, I uncross my legs and slowly make my way to accept my award. My knees are weak, and my palms are sweaty.
I reach Oliver’s side, and he takes my hand into his, giving me a firm grip while pulling me into an innocent hug. I’m glad my face is pointed away from my colleagues because my eyes close instantly on contact. He smells really nice.
“Congrats,” he whispers in my ear, and I have to stop myself from whimpering.
Though I’m able to control the moans that want to escape me, I’m not so strong when it comes to the reactions of my body. I involuntarily lean into him, inhaling his sent. He pulls back, looking me in the eye, making things more challenging.
“Th-thank you,” I finally respond.
He places the trophy and gift card in my hand before encouraging the crowd to clap. As they do, I awkwardly bow and rush back to my table. I ignore all stares as best I can, not wanting anyone to get wind of how tense I’ve become.
“Are you okay?” Erin asks.
I nod yes to keep her from asking me any further questions. My world just possibly turned to shit. I don’t want to believe it’s him, it can’t be. How in the hell is this supposed to work? He’s my boss. I don’t do office romances, because they only end up dysfunctional and drama-filled. If people knew we were together, they’d view me differently, making it much harder for me to establish a name for myself within this company. Everything I know about life was left behind in New York. I can’t afford things blowing up in my face, I’ve worked too hard.
The more Oliver speaks, the more certain I am that he is who I think he is. How did I not figure that out? My skin pricks with sweat as I think about the fact that even the name he gave me isn’t real. What’s his angle? Did he think if I knew who he was, I’d be some sort of gold digger or something? Does he make a habit out of meeting girls and lying to them?
Curiosity gets me, and I pick up my phone to shoot him a text. Can’t wait to see you tonight. If he checks his phone, then I’ll know it’s him.
Oliver goes on for a bit longer before finally excusing us all to the room next door where we’ll be enjoying music, food, and drinks. Not once during his spiel did he acknowledge his phone, but that could mean he doesn’t have it on him at the moment. He pulls his iPhone from his front pocket, and I watch to see what sort of reaction he’ll have. If this is Kade, I expect him to smile or something when he sees my message. But Oliver doesn’t. He doesn’t even flinch and stuffs the device back in his pocket before escorting Lauren into the other room.
After a few seconds to gather myself, I take a breath of relief and join my peers in the main ballroom. Everything is decorated splendidly. To my right, there’s a buffet filled with mouth-watering options such as steak, shrimp, chicken, and a mixture of sides. On the far wall ahead of me is a dessert station, and next to that is our open bar. Yes! I point eagerly and dash over for some liquid courage. After receiving my drink, I go
in search of Erin. I find her in a small circle of our colleagues chatting it up with Oliver. Choosing to avoid any awkward behaviors, I turn on my heels and find a seat at an empty table.
I down my drink in one gulp, telling myself to relax. Clearly, I am overreacting and there’s nothing to shit my pants about. It’s been quite a while since I texted Kade, and after seeing Oliver with his phone at least twice now, I’m starting to believe it’s a coincidence. Plenty of people have similar voices and builds. My stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I reach the buffet table and serve myself steak, shrimp, and a helping of cheesy risotto. As I enjoy my meal, I observe the room. Everyone seems to be having a great time. Some are dancing, while others engage in conversation. I spot Oliver talking to Lauren and our Vice President, Joe.
Oliver splits off from his friends and grabs himself a drink. I feel somewhat pervertish with the way I follow him around the room. I was so certain he was Kade earlier, that I’m positive I gave off weirdo vibes. Which fucking sucks, since this is the first time I’m meeting the founder of our company. Thinking on it now, I laugh at my paranoia and decide to try for a do-over. Now that I’m no longer a mess and have gotten a drink in my system, I’ll reintroduce myself. I step forward, only to be cut off by Joe and one other gentleman who were walking in front of me toward the exit. On their way, Joe waves to Oliver, who’s pulling his phone back out of his pocket.
“It was good seeing you again, Kade. We’ve gotta get that cigar the next time you’re in town,” Joe says, using his pointer finger as he speaks.
I freeze right in my tracks. Kade?
Kade
“You, too, Joe. Have a nice night!” I respond without taking my eye off my iPhone.
Jessica texted me a few hours ago, and I wanted badly to respond. But with all the conversations with everyone, there wasn’t time for me to get away and answer her. The day had been long and felt like torture when all I wanted to do was ditch this party and go meet my woman. To finally see her face, pull her curvaceous body close to me, breathe in her scent, and hopefully make her mine.
