Page 8
I explain, “A happily ever after is tragic. Because even as someone reads it and believes in it at the base of their heart, they know. For a moment, we can all bask in the happily ever after. I chase that feeling over and over, as do the readers. You can even live in the high of a book hangover for a couple of days until you need the next hit of a new couple fumbling towards their happily ever after moment. But we all know it won’t last.”
He stares unblinkingly at me as if it’s deeper than the moment. “What if it could?”
I’m speechless. What if love could be a happily ever after? That’s a lovely thought. One I need to dismiss. I’m prepared not to find mine. I think it’s why I write them. Without thinking, I grab my wallet and throw a bunch of cash on the table. I would like to be somewhere with him that’s not in front of his waitresses.
“Will that be enough of a tip for your girlfriend?”
“She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t have one.”
“She’s been staring at us all night. Think she might be jealous.”
He touches my cheek. “Everyone in this room should be jealous, but of me. Everyone’s staring at you. I can’t stop. I tried to look at my food, but I couldn’t. You’re too intelligent. Too witty. And way too beautiful. Your eyes are hypnotic with that kind of azure blue thing you got going on. You’re more beautiful than French fries.”
I don’t know what to say. “Thank you. But no one is more beautiful than a really well-made French fry.” He reaches over and tucks some of my overgrown chestnut bangs behind my ear and runs his hand down to the end of my hair, just at my shoulders. It’s the sexiest thing that’s ever happened to me.
“You left more than enough for my consultants.”
We grab our coats, and he places his hand on the small of my back, guiding me out of the restaurant. I’m walking wobbly like a baby deer. Alcohol and endorphins are in control of my body, and they’re not concerned with my balance. We exit onto the street, and he removes my glove and takes my hand, then faces me.
“I’ll call you a car.”
My heart and spirit plummet. Was I wrong? Oh, God, he doesn’t want to sleep with me, just eat my fries. I have no idea what to do. “I guess so.”
I fight to overcome my instinct to slink away. It’s a well-practiced skill, but I don’t want this evening to be done yet. It’s one night. Like a chance encounter, I usually write about. I know he has to work, but I don’t know how to ever see him again. It’s kind of a now or never situation. I struggle to even out my breath and lurch my brain past doubt.
He pulls up the app on his phone, one-handed no less, and I jerk the other one towards me.
“Wait.”
“Two minutes. Red Sentra.” I take his phone and cancel the ride. “You know that’s going to cost me five bucks.”
“I do. I’m good for it.” I bite my lower lip.
He whispers as he licks his lips, “What was it you said earlier? Just leap?”
He steps to me, and he’s so close I can smell him again. It’s a bit heavenly, and I have to catch myself, so I don’t miss the moment. I look up at him. He’s so much taller than me. His lips lightly feather over mine. Then it’s a soft and slow kiss. He speaks quickly, is decisive and infectious, but in his kiss is vulnerability and hesitation. This kiss is the beginning of a sentence that I’m not sure either of us knows how to end.
4
Alex
Dammit, this fucking enchanting woman. She’s every temptation and fantasy I’ve ever had. This stunning brunette with intoxicating blue eyes, who’s intelligent, witty, has a kicking body and is a workaholic like me. It’s like I conjured her. I dive into her lips and wrap my arms around her ridiculous puffy coat. She kisses me with more suggestion and moves her arms around my neck while standing on her tiptoes. She’s not dainty or short. I’m 6’2” and rather broad-shouldered.
She’s probably 5’6” and built like an athlete with a taut and fantastically fit ass. Her breasts are on the smaller side, but I’m sure they’re perfect. I part my lips and lick her lips, begging for entrance. And then we don’t censor ourselves. My hands move to her hair. I finally get to tangle them in that silky mahogany. She knocks my knit cap off by accident and tries to pull away to pick it up.
“Leave it,” I mumble as I retake her lips. We grope on the street, and I don’t care. Her oversized coat is pissing me off. I want to touch her body. We stay entwined for twenty minutes, twisting our heads for a better angle and letting soft moans escape into the crisp late September air. People are passing and looking at us on the street, and neither of us care. As sweet and lovely as we were twenty minutes ago, now we’re getting hot and nasty. Fuck. I pull away and gasp for air. Then I put my forehead to hers. I rub my hands up and down her arms, and her hands settle onto my hips.
“Tess. Tess. Tess.” I shake my head slightly.
“Yes.” She wraps her lips around the word and over pronounces the s. It’s yes to anything right now. I can feel it. And then I lick my lips. I rub my thumb over her lower lip. Can I do this? Can I say goodbye to what might be destiny? What are the odds she would appear before me? I couldn’t stop thinking about her, and I didn’t know her. Now that I know her, I’m helpless in this moment.
“That’s a pretty sound. I mustered all my resolve to call that car. I’d hoped you’d just get in, and I could go home sexually frustrated but able to work.”
Words spill out of her in a rush. “I can go, but I need you to know I don’t want to.” I slam my mouth to hers again. And when we pause, she invites me, “I have a suite with an office all paid for tonight. If you need a place to work.”
“That’s too far,” I mutter as I snap to the inevitable decision. I kiss her again. And now I’m worried we’re going to get busy on the street. I grab her hand and pull her to the building next to the restaurant. She looks extremely confused. I’m extremely confused, but I need to know what all that beauty, wit, and power feels like from the inside. Hell, I masturbated to her picture this morning. And somehow, I’ll get to experience the real thing tonight. Thank you, serendipity.
As I pull out my keys, she yells at me, “You live right here?”
