Greg

 

 

 

“Wow. I've never seen anything so beautiful.”

I stand back and watch Dani staring out at the water from the cliff front I've brought her to. Turners Pass is a pretty town, small with plenty of hidden gems just like the cliff that overlooks the waterfront.

I've never met a woman who prefers the outdoors to restaurants and theater. But this beautiful, curvy woman prefers the simple things in life. I can already tell that she's not impressed by money. Makes a change from the women I've dated in the past.

“It is pretty spectacular.”

She turns to me with a smile on her face. I'm sitting on the picnic blanket I set out for us, picnic basket beside me. She walks toward me, planting her fine backside down next to me. “No ones ever brought me to a place like this.”

I reach forward and tuck her hair behind her ear. That strand just keeps on falling. “You're so beautiful.”

“Flatterer.” She laughs, and it's a heavenly sound that hits me straight in the gut.

I haven't moved my hand from her face yet. My thumb strokes her cheek gently, and she's biting her lip seductively.

She suddenly coughs discreetly. “Let's see what you've got in the basket, Mr. Lawyer.”

My hand falls from her face, but I'm smiling. I grab the basket, crossing my legs at the same time. “Okay,” I start pulling out the food and setting it down in front of us. “We've got chicken, salad, fruit.” Among other things, including dessert.

“Erm... Greg, I don't eat meat. I'm a vegetarian.”

My eyes lock on her face.

Fuck!

Why didn't I ask her if she was a vegetarian?

I am not going to let anything spoil this day. I close the lid on the chicken and stuff it back in the basket. “Not a problem. I should have asked. You eat salad, though, right?”

She laughs so hard she's almost falling over herself.

I narrow my eyes, but I can't help smiling. I don't know what she's laughing at, but her laugh is infectious. “Something funny?”

“I'm sorry, I just had to see the look on your face!” I bet I look stupid right now. Had no idea this would be so funny. “I'm not a vegetarian, Greg. The food looks great.”

Oh, she's one of those women. A joker.

Not that I mind, can't deny that I'm laughing along with her. I can't deny that I really like her, she's not like any other woman I've ever dated.

In the past, I never really had a preference when it came to women, I loved them all. Kory was the same. But they were all the same when they found out I had money. That's all most cared about. Being with a millionaire – billionaire, but no one ever needed to know that – meant they thought I could get them where they wanted to be in this life. Cut out the middleman and all that.

None of us were raised that way.

Dad was the one who came from billionaire parents, moms were millionaires. None were raised to believe everything should be handed to them on a plate just because they had money. They raised us all the same way. You want something, you work for it. Simple.

My mother worked hard to become a teacher, and it didn't take her long before she was principal. A damn good one. Not that it was always easy having a mother who was also the principal of the high school we attended.

She never gave us special treatment because we were her children. We misbehaved, she punished us the same way she would any pupil.

Dad wanted to be a cop. He worked for it, now he's sheriff. Kory and I followed in his footsteps, not in the cop sense, but in the law sense. My sisters all took off in their own directions. But none of us ever flaunt the wealth that we've been gifted.

But there are some women out there who smell wealth, and those are the women who pretend to give a damn about you. They'll do anything for you as long as you're splashing the cash and making them look good.

I thought Maya was different.

I thought she wanted me for me.

Of course, I told her what I was worth the more serious our relationship became. She made no fuss about it, told me she didn't care about money. She loved me for who I was, she said. Lying bitch that she was.

The only thing I did right was making sure she signed a prenup. Not that she wanted to, but Kory forced it on me. I didn't think I needed it, my brother thought otherwise.

I'm glad he did now.

I don't think I'll ever be able to look at any woman without thinking about the hell my ex-wife put me through. I doubt I'll ever have a relationship where I don't wonder if she's constantly lying to me, cheating on me.

And what if I fall in love and want to start a family?

Will I always wonder if she's lying about the child's paternity?

Will it actually be mine?

I don't think I could ever allow myself to love another child again. Not after the lies, Maya told me about Dean. I will always love that boy, always miss him, but I have to tell myself that kind of thing only happens to a man once. Don't think I'd be able to have any kind of productive relationship if I didn't.

Maya will not ruin me. I won't let what she did fester in my heart or mind. Especially when the beauty in front of me is already showing me that there's more to life than pain.

Once we're done eating, I pack everything away and leave the basket where it is. Dani likes to walk, so we'll walk.

I hold my hand out to her. She smiles and takes it willingly. Her hand fits mine like a glove. She's perfect, voluptuous, beautiful. Her hand in mine has electricity zinging through my whole body. I don't want to let go.

“Have you always lived here?”

“Born and raised.” I clutch her hand a little tighter. It doesn't feel like she has any intention of letting go, but I want to be sure. Never enjoyed holding a woman's hand so much.

“But you live in Seattle now?”

“Yes. I run the law firm Kory and I own out there.”

“What brought you back here?”

Something I'm not ready to talk about.

“It was time for me to take a couple months break. Haven't had one in years.” She nods beside me thoughtfully, turning her eyes to me and smiling. Her smile lights me the fuck up inside. “What brought you here from sunny California?”

“I was tired of the constant rush of life out there. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but the life was just too fast-paced out there. My boss mentioned a transfer to this little town. I'd never heard of it,” She giggles, and that giggle warms my very soul. “It was nothing like I thought it would be, though.”

“How so?”

I gently help her on to the big rock I'm now sitting on. She sits beside me, right beside me. God, I can feel her body heat warming me through. I could get used to this, spending time with a woman like Dani. She's warm, kind, her smile captivates me.

“Well, I didn't expect the people to be so friendly, for one. Everyone here knows everyone else. When I lived in California, I was lucky if I spoke to one person who knew who I was. I guess it's just bigger out there.”

She says nothing else, just picks up a pebble and throws it into the water. I watch the ripples disappear with a smile on my face. When was the last time I felt this relaxed? I don't even remember. Years, I think.

“What are you thinking about?”

I turn to look at her, she's smiling at me. That smile does something to me. Something I've never experienced before. “Just how nice it is to be here with you.”

“Oh.” She's blushing. Her cheeks are a beautiful rosy color, and she's biting her lower lip to hide the smile she's sporting. She's enjoying being here with me too. I like that.

I slide my hand over the top of hers. She doesn't move her hand, but she does look at me, eyes locked, and I can't look away. She's drawing me in. How is she doing this to me?

Usually, I'd fuck the girl and walk away right after. But this girl? I don't want to just fuck her and walk away. Surely I shouldn't be feeling like this so soon after Maya leaving me?

Okay, I wasn't in love with Maya, there was no spark when we kissed. We grew apart long before she left me. But when is it too soon to move on?

I stroke my knuckles down her soft cheek, I can hear her breathing altering. Her perfect full lips are parted, she's almost panting for Christ's sake.

“You're so beautiful.”

“Are you going to kiss me, or just keep looking at me?”

She's forward, I like it.

I smile while leaning into her, my hand still on her face. “Is that what you want, Dani, do you want me to kiss you?”

She smirks and takes me right off guard by pressing her mouth to mine. Jesus! I clasp the back of her head, our mouths opening, tongues crashing together. I've never kissed a woman like this before, it's like she's molded into me instantly.

She's moaning into my mouth, suddenly straddling my lap and grinding into me. Shit! I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer. I can't get this beautiful creature close enough. “Greg,” She moans against my lips.

I'm breathless, so is she. “You take my breath away, Dani.”

There's something so tender in the way she's stroking my face. “I really like you, Greg Harper. Something about you tells me that I'm safe with you.”

“I give you that sense of feeling, do I?” She nods with a smile on her face. I don't know what this girl has been through in the past. Probably a bad relationship like me, but I do know that she'll always be safe with me.

Always?

There's an always for us now?

Maybe there is. Who knows.

“Yes, you do.”

“Does that mean I can see you again?”

“Whenever you want, handsome.” And she kisses me again.

This date couldn't have gone any better. I'm already looking forward to the next one.