Chapter One

 

“I’m not sure I can do this, or that I want to do this,” I whined as Lark gripped my hand, pulling me from the couch.

“You need a place to stay, and Benny says he’s a real cool guy,” Lark said.

“But, living with a man?” I sighed, wrinkling my nose to show my disgust.

Lark laughed, pushing her mousy-brown hair off her shoulder, and flashing her large green eyes in my direction.

“At least meet him. Benny said the place is amazing, and you’ll have plenty of privacy,” Lark urged.

“If it’s so great, then why’s he moving out?” I scoffed, pushing my hand to my hip.

Lark rolled her eyes as she smiled. “Willow, he’s getting married. Quit trying to find the bad, and look at the good.”

It was good, almost too good to be true. A place in the city, so close to my photography club, for what he was asking in rent was unheard of. There had to be a catch.

“You need outta here, right?” she asked with a smirk.

I watched her eyes roll around the small apartment where three other girls lived. It was a long commute to the city, which was not only where the photography club met, but was also where most of my clients wanted me to work. This was my first option when I moved to New York after college, and with my income, it felt like my only option. Luckily, Sara, my friend from college, was nice enough to make room for me in her tiny shared apartment. By ‘room,’ I mean, I have a place on the couch to sleep, and my clothes are stacked on a shelf under the TV stand.

“Yes. I need outta here,” I sighed.

“I honestly don’t know how you’ve lived like this as long as you have,” Lark said.

“It’s only been a month,” I stated.

Her eyes rolled, and she let out a sigh. “I would’ve died.”

She was being dramatic, as Lark often was, but she was right: it wasn’t great. The walls had chipped paint, there were only two bedrooms, and four women living in the apartment, and there had been a smell—one I could neither recognize nor find the source of—ever since I’d moved in.

“Okay. I’ll meet him,” I agreed with half a smile.

“Good. Let’s get outta here. That smell—God, what is it?” she asked, covering her nose.

I shrugged and laughed. “Wish I knew.”

The cab ride into the city gave me plenty of time to come up with a million reasons why this wasn’t a good idea.

Reason one: he’s a man. Reason two: he’s a man. Reason three: well, maybe not a million reasons, but one really good one: he was a man!

“Thank you,” Lark said sweetly, handing the cabbie a twenty.

I followed her into the cozy bar with the large red door, figuring we’d find Theo at one of the tables waiting. I’d already pictured him in my mind as a nerdy, computer-geek type of guy. He probably had greasy hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and pimples, even though he was twenty-four.

Lark pulled me towards the bar, finding two open seats at the corner. A beautiful man with thick, dark hair, steely-blue eyes, and a smile that could melt away my panties moved towards us. “What can I get ya, beautiful ladies?” he asked.

“A pitcher of light draft,” she said quickly.

“Holy shit, he’s hot,” I whispered to Lark as he winked and walked away.

“Well, that’s a bonus,” she smiled.

“A bonus?” I asked.

“Yeah. If you’re gonna live with a man, might as well be a hot one,” she grinned.

“That’s Theo?” I asked, my mouth hanging open, and my eyes struggling not to look in his direction.

“Theo, this is Willow. Benny said you were looking for a roommate,” Lark said as he returned.

I hadn’t digested the information she’d just fed me yet, and my heart was still fluttering.

“So, you must be Lark. Lark and Willow; those are a couple of beautiful names for two beautiful ladies,” his eyes lingered on mine while his lips curled into one of the sexiest smiles I’d ever seen.

“Yes. Willow wanted to meet you. Benny said it was fine to come by tonight. I hope you don’t mind,” Lark said.

“Saturdays don’t get busy in here until around ten. Now, if you’d come by last night, you could’ve seen me play,” he said, his eyes moving towards the stage.

“You’re a musician?” I asked, suddenly less attracted to the handsome man.

“Sure am,” he said proudly, his smile growing as his eyes stared into mine for a reaction. Did he expect me to squeal like a groupie, maybe wet my panties?

“I dated a musician,” I snapped, quickly lifting my beer glass to my lips.

Lark gave me a quick apologetic glance. It was bad enough that she knew he was a bartender, but a musician? Ugh!

“You act like that’s a bad thing,” he said, his smile slipping from his face.

“Oh, it is,” I laughed.

“Not all musicians are bad,” he said, sliding his long fingers through his hair.

“Yeah, right,” I rolled my eyes.

“Aww. That’s not fair. I can change your mind,” he said.

“You have your work cut out for you, there,” I chuckled.

A tall blonde was standing at the other end of the bar, her breasts falling out of her Barbie-doll dress and laying on the wood. “I better take care of her. Do you still want to hear about the room?” he asked.

I swallowed hard. Did I?

My thoughts drifted to Mac, my ex. He was the typical rock-star type. He’d spent more time practicing, playing shitty gigs, and tuning his guitar than he ever had with me. The only thing he loved more than his music was his groupies. I wasn’t sure anyone could ever change my mind about musicians, especially this smooth operator. Could I live with him?

“Wow, you’re really pondering that question,” he laughed.

A smile crept up on my face. “Okay. Sure. Doesn’t hurt to get the information,” I said sternly.

I watched him lean in and smile as he took the blonde’s order. “Wow, he is really hot,” Lark sighed.

“Yeah. Why the hell didn’t you tell me he was a bartender and a freakin’ musician?” I screeched.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would matter. I honestly thought he’d be more like Benny,” Lark said quickly.

I’d never met Benny, but Lark had mentioned he was a computer tech. I had just assumed Theo would be a computer geek from that one statement, so I couldn’t blame her for that, I guess.

“I just don’t know if I can handle this,” I said.

“You’re not dating him. You’re just going to be roommates. Benny said he’s hardly there,” Lark insisted.

Theo talked to the other bartender, pointing in my direction. He walked around the bar and took a seat beside me, smiling wildly. “What?” I asked nervously.

“So, you are just moving out of Mom and Dad’s?” he asked with a smirk.

“Don’t do that,” I said quickly.

“Do what?” he asked, lifting his eyebrows high on his forehead.

“Try to read me,” I snapped.

“Oh? Like you did me?” he smiled.

“Touché,” I said.

“Seriously, though. First time on your own?” he asked.

“No. I finished college last year. I moved to New York a few months ago,” I replied.

“You been staying with Lark? Two birds nesting in the big city?” he chuckled.

“No. A friend from college, and her two other roommates,” I sighed.

“Ouch,” he scrunched his face and then laughed.

“So, what are you looking for?” he asked.

“Mainly, a place closer to the city,” I replied.

“Okay. My place is just a couple blocks from here. You work in the city?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied, not offering any further details about my life. “So, tell me about the place. The rent sounds pretty cheap for the city,” I said.

“Oh, so you’re afraid it’s a dump?” he laughed.

I fought my smile, but lost. A laugh rolled through my throat, and my cheeks were burning with embarrassment.

“It’s okay. I would be worried too,” he said sweetly.

He reached across the bar, grabbing a napkin and a pen. “Here,” he said, scribbling an address on the paper.

“Come by tomorrow around two. If you like it, we can talk logistics,” he said as he slid the napkin towards me.

“Okay,” I agreed.

When he got up from his barstool, my eyes looked upward, taking in his muscular, tall frame. His eyes caught mine, causing me to blush.

His smile was warm and soothing.

“I’ll see ya tomorrow, Willow,” he said softly and walked back around to the working side of the bar.

I finished my drink quickly, ready for my exit. “You’re gonna go?” Lark asked as we waved goodbye to Theo.

“I’ll check it out,” I said sternly.

Her smile widened on her face, and her eyes glared at me with judgment. u

“Like you said, we’d just be roommates. We wouldn’t be dating,” I insisted, not sure who I was trying to convince—her, or myself.