AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Carter leans his head sideways, looking at me. “Well, I did hear she showed up here the other day out of the blue.”
I massage my neck as I look away from them all. “She delivered the list of women. That was all.”
“And she couldn’t do that via email?” Cat asks, looking at me pointedly.
It was exactly my thought. But Grace refuses to admit she has real feelings for me and I’m done playing games. I shake my head. “Listen, I can’t control her actions. I can only control mine. I took the list and she left. I’m moving on. I’m going out with someone new tonight. I know how to date. I think I’m dressed alright.” I motion down to my black shirt and look back to my siblings to see if I’m crazy.
“You look fine,” Chase mutters.
“Okay, well, now that we have resolved the company’s crisis and my dating crisis, can we adjourn this family meeting?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light but straining against the stress. Nothing has been resolved, least of all my feelings for Grace, but I won’t let them know that. The company is in deep shit and until I get to the bottom of the rumors of Hanson moving in on our contractors, I won’t sleep at night.
Chase stands. “Yeah, I’m out. Good luck bro,” he says, before leaving my office.
I breathe out a sigh. “Jeez, that was a close one.”
Carter laughs. “He gets overly worked up. Have fun tonight.” He turns to Cat and offers his arm. “Want to grab dinner, sis?”
Cat throws her arms around my shoulders and gives me a big hug as she whispers in my ear, “I know I’m hard on you about Grace, but I just want you to be happy.”
I kiss the top of her head. “I know. And I am. I’m completely fine. Promise.”
Both of them walk out and I sit in my chair, letting my head fall back against the leather and sigh.
Dating has never taken so much focus in my life. I am actively trying to pay attention to the woman across from me. In every sense of the word, she is beautiful. Green eyes, long brown hair, and an hourglass figure. Not to mention the fact that she’s smart and has a good job. She’s a production manager for the local news. And she isn’t shy about reaching out and touching me, something that I normally love in a date. But no matter what I do, I can feel Grace watching us. This is never going to work.
“Where are you from originally?” I ask, trying to focus.
Vanessa licks her lips as she pauses. She knows exactly what she’s doing. Once again, this should be something that holds my attention, but instead I turn my head to look for Grace. I know she’s here. I can feel her. I just haven’t spotted her yet.
“New Hampshire. Live free or die!” she says like an enthusiastic college student. It’s really not a fair comparison; she’s my sister’s age and hasn’t acted ditzy at all. I’m just not interested. It’s enraging. She shifts herself lower in her chair, leaning her breasts down onto the table as she whispers across from me, “I’m really bad at this. I’m sorry.”
I let out a sigh, feeling like shit, and reach my hand across the table to squeeze hers. “You’re doing great. This is weird, right?” I motion between us. “I’ve never gone on a blind date before,” I offer, trying to make her feel better.
She shrugs her shoulders and relaxes. “Oh, thank God you’re normal. I mean Grace said you were, but she didn’t adequately express how hot you are, so I feel like I’m coming off all wrong.”
I smirk. “You think I’m hot?”
Flirting I can do. This is where I excel.
She grins. “Right, like you need me to stroke your ego. Why are you doing this, anyway?” she asks honestly.
“Same could be said for you. Gorgeous woman, amazing figure, awesome job, good personality, what am I missing? How are you still single?”
Vanessa blushes and I know I’ve turned the night around. “Guess I was just waiting for the right guy,” she says coyly.
I know that line is supposed to make me feel excited, make me believe that I’m someone special. But I already know I’m not the guy she’s waiting for. Which is ridiculous. How could I already know that? I’ve spent less than half an hour with her. She could be the woman I’ve been looking for. I just need to give her a damn chance.
“So tell me, Cash, what do you like to do when you’re not working?”
I laugh. “I feel like that’s all I do lately.”
“Well, when was the last time you relaxed, really took a break, and just did something for you?”
My mind turns to Grace, sitting on the beach, while she read a book and I stared at the ocean. That was the last time I relaxed. The last time I felt genuinely happy and content. I mean, of course the cocktails and the views helped, but I know it wasn’t that which brought me joy. It was her.
At that exact moment I spot her, sitting at the bar, her eyes on our table, glasses on her face, a pad in front of her, likely taking notes, and an indiscernible look pinching her lips to the side. We make eye contact and I hold her gaze.
Her damn glasses drive me crazy.
