AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You do all of that? I didn’t think men like that existed in this generation.”
“Well, probably not as many as I’d like, but definitely more than you think. I can see your mind working, and I want to assure you this doesn’t make me a controlling jerk. What it does is keep you as safe as I can while showing you how special you are. I’m a total consent-centered man. You say no, I’ll stop, but I might ask why. You okay with that?”
Oakley noticed she was rubbing her belly as though it were unsettled. It kind of was. All her training worked toward keeping herself safe and arming her clients with tools to do the same. Her asshole alert was usually spot on, and she had relied on its accuracy for over two decades.
Everything in her said Ryker didn’t ring any of those bells. In fact, he seemed to be genuine and sincerely believed he should do those things for the woman he was with. She would bet the man was exactly who he said he was, and wouldn’t that be... wonderful?
Oakley’s heart was racing in her chest. Oakley found herself captivated by Ryker’s passion, insight, and quiet humor.
Being the professional woman she was, and loving the control it brought her; being single meant she was the one she relied on, no matter how exhausted or mentally stressed she was. She used her tools, was a yoga lover, and listened to relaxing or fun music to destress. She also was on her electronics for an incredible amount of time, working into the evening too many nights a week.
Oakley knew how and what to do to stay healthy, but it took time, and sometimes, no, often, she didn’t have the energy or desire to cook that eggplant, so frozen pizza it was. She wasn’t as safe in the little things as she could be, and the list was slowly growing in her mind. Things could be different if she had a man who respected her but made it his business to take care of her. And yes, maybe sometimes told her no.
The shiver that ran up her spine surprised her, and when she looked up into Ryker’s face, he gave her a knowing look. Arrogant ass. The bag he held it all in was gorgeous, intelligent, passionate, intense, yes, but arrogant.
Ryker’s smile softened. “Oakley, don’t think so hard.” Her name sounded intimate on his lips. “Would you like to continue our date over coffee tomorrow morning?” What was he asking? To stay the night? Meet her in her room in the morning or at the coffee shop downstairs?
Oakley hesitated, knowing she had an early video conference appointment with a client. This was a client who was in a delicate place in his therapy, so she needed to keep up the continuity, even from the conference. Not wanting the evening to end, though, “I wish I could, but I have an early video session with a client.” At the flicker of disappointment in Ryker’s eyes, she added, “I’m free for lunch, though.”
He sighed; his regret was obvious. “I have the attorney luncheon tomorrow. I can do dinner, though, if you’d like.”
Oakley grinned enthusiastically. “Yes. I’d love that.”
Ryker squeezed her hand before releasing it. “It’s a date.”
“Anything you don’t like?” he asked as they began walking home.
“Oysters, snails, cute bunnies, or vermin. Oh, or extremely spicy or exotic food.”
“So no alligator or Asian Fusion, I take it.”
“Uh, no, thank you. I’m not a fusion food fan. Sorry. But I might try alligator if they disguised it well enough.” Her smile told him she really wasn’t that interested in trying alligator.
“I’ve been surprised a couple of times, but I get it. TexMex work?”
“Yep, just so all the choices are not super-hot.”
“They have a variety of heats, so I’m sure there is something you’ll like, but we can go somewhere else if you like.”
“No, I’m game. I guess I’m pickier than I thought,” Oakley said.
“Hey, no. Don’t do that. Be loud and proud about things you believe in or like and dislike. It helps me know more about you and helps me understand what you need and want. I’m not going to be shy about this, Oakley. I really like you, and I don’t think that will change much as we get to know each other. And since we don’t live too far from each other, I can foresee some weekends hanging out together.”
“That might be nice. So dinner tomorrow night? Meet at the same time and place?”
“Put your number in my phone, and I’ll tell you when I can get reservations. I know where we should go.” She did, and then he sent her a text to complete the circle of information. His number included a business card. “Now, you can always find me.”
Oakley didn’t respond verbally, but nodded and slid her phone back into her bag. As Oakley walked to her room, she felt lighter than air. She had a date with Ryker, and the prospect filled her with breathless anticipation. After years of struggling to find someone who shared her values and passion, she finally met a man who understood her. No one else ever had. And he was flaming hot.
She couldn’t wait until tomorrow. For the first time in a very long time, she could see herself with a man, making a life, a family home that included keeping her practice. Not too long ago, Oakley had considered starting her own family through adoption or artificial insemination. She had talked herself out of it for one very important reason; she hadn’t given herself enough time to go out into the world and see if she could find her soul mate or someone close to that description.
That was one reason she had decided to frequent more seminars and conferences, to find another professional who would understand her love of her career and her business and what a delicate balance that would be. She feared she was being unrealistic when she wanted not only another professional with the understanding of how much running a business and her career took, but also her driving need to have a family. But there had to be someone who attracted her that also wanted the same things in life.
In her limited but oh, so vivid experience and her vicarious living through colleagues, men often wanted everything in their favor. They expected women professionals to stop working, or reduce the significance of their job, to raise the family. The man in the relationship, of course, kept his career and advanced with little day-to-day involvement in the nurturing and raising of the children unless his job allowed him to be at home and during family vacations. That was not for her.
Another area that Oakley had seen in friends’ and colleagues’ relationships was the need for the woman to swallow her ideals and control and cede it over to her husband or a significant other. Evidently, tradition was the main reason, and another was to bring harmony in the home because men had more delicate egos, though, according to her sister, delicate was being kind. Oakley smiled when she thought of Ryker being characterized as having a fragile ego or a fragile anything.
I wonder if he has ever thought of having children. Okay, a thought too far, Oakley. Enjoy him while you are here, but things are too busy once you’re at home. He has his practice, and he is likely to have a hectic life as well. His description of his work was vague, but he had done a good job of getting her to talk, which was usually her superpower. Yes, Ryker Bennett was indeed someone to take notice of. Her libido sure did.
