Coming Together

Blurb

Reese and her best friend had a dream that they buckled down and made come true, not long after graduating from high school. Reese was the girl that was determined, self-sacrificing, and very picky about the men she dated. She was a virgin, hell-bent on having the perfect first time with someone she could consider to be in a long-term relationship with. However, after spending years taking care of the dogs at her animal business, and never going out, Leena pushes her to take a chance. Little did she know as she adorned that tight blue dress, and heading off to a childhood friend’s wedding, that she might just get to know a man that she never would have considered.

Blaine had it all, the looks, the money, the company, and the brains, but he was still discontent with women, figuring they were all after his money. He is that typical romantic playboy billionaire, floating through Philadelphia, sleeping with women and the bouncing before the sun came up. Then it happened, his eyes fixating on Reese from across the wedding. At first her fears take over and he is left unsure if he would ever see her again. However, when emotions had passed, and numbers had been retrieved, Blaine walked right into getting to know Reese. Will his playboy ways keep him from a serious relationship? Or will Reese’s inability to commit until she finds the perfect guy, blind her from seeing what was right in her face.

Chapter 1

Blaine

It was Thursday, thank God, and the week was almost over. Ever since I started this tech business after college, it had been nothing but go, go, go. I knew what it took to make a business successful, and I always told myself that when I reached the billionaire club I would slow down, but there I was, slaving away at my desk after everyone else had gone home, just trying to push a little more work through. It was almost an obsession, really. My father showed me from a young age that to be successful, you needed to make sacrifices, so that was exactly what I did. The phone rang, interrupting my concentration, and I sighed, assuming it was a late client with more work.

“Blaine Butler, Butler Technologies,” I said, answering the phone.

“Hey asshole, what are you still doing there?”

I laughed. “Hey, Caleb.”

Caleb and I had met in college, and we both moved to Philadelphia afterward to chase our dreams. He was a big-time tax attorney and had just made partner earlier that year. He was my go-to, the guy I could talk to about anything, no matter what.

“You’re still coming to my sister’s wedding on Saturday, right?” he asked.

“Man, I have so much work to get done,” I replied. “I think I’m gonna have to skip it.”

“No,” he said sternly. “You promised. You can’t leave me alone with all the old people.”

“I was hoping to get through a big project this weekend,” I said. “To stay ahead of the curve.”

“Come on, man,” Caleb said. “The work will still be there on Monday. Hang out this weekend. Have a little fun in your life. Do it for me.”

I laughed. “Ugh, fine. But only because you guilt-tripped me. I hope you feel good about that.”

“Spectacular,” he said, laughing. “Don’t be late or I’ll kill you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, getting off the phone.

I looked at the clock and decided I was done for the day. I flipped everything off and headed out of the office, deciding that a drink was in order after working so hard. I went down to a bar not far from my office and walked inside, taking off my suit jacket and sitting down at the bar. I ordered a scotch on the rocks and watched the television above the bar, reading the subtitles to the sport’s review. The commentators were talking about a bunch of games I didn’t watch because of work. Sometimes, it felt like I missed out on a lot of things in life because I had my head buried in my computer screen.

I sighed and looked down at my drink. A woman sat down a few seats away from me, catching my eye. I watched her curvy hips and sultry lips and knew immediately she was there for one reason and one reason only, to find a man.

She leaned back and crossed her long, bare legs. Her short skirt inched up her smooth thighs. Her top was unbuttoned one too many, and I could see the black lace of her bra wrapping around her large tits. She looked over at me and smiled, a glimmer in her eye as she looked down my suit and stuck the cherry from her drink between her lips. This was going to be a cinch.

“Hey,” I said, standing and walking over to her. “Mind if I sit?”

“Not at all,” she said, still playing with the cherry. “I’m Missy.”

“Nice to meet you, Missy, I’m Blaine Butler,” I replied, flashing a smile.

“Blaine Butler,” she said with a strained look of thought going through her eyes. “Like Butler Technologies?”

“Yeah.” I chuckled, looking down at her phone. “I can see you like the Slicer cell phone. It was one of my favorites when it was made. I had four of them.”

“Wow.” She giggled, reaching forward and touching my leg. “That’s pretty impressive.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a cosmetologist,” she said. “I work for MAC in Center City. I’m also a certified massage therapist, but I haven’t found a spa to land a job with yet.”

“Nice, I love the place on Eighth,” I said, smiling. “I go at least twice a month.”

“They are fantastic,” she said with excitement. “You know, if you don’t want to leave your home, you could always just call me, and I could be your personal therapist.”

“Oh, yeah?” I chuckled and looked her right in the eyes. “I’m not sure that I could handle you having your hands all over me like that without crossing the patient, therapist boundary.”

“I don’t think I’d mind one bit,” she said, leaning in and smiling.

“Hey,” I said, leaning in too. “I know this may be presumptive, but do you want to get out of here? My place is just a few blocks away.”

“I sure do,” she said, taking a gulp of her drink and standing up to wrap her coat around her shoulders.

We left immediately, grabbing one of the first cabs and heading back to my penthouse. When we got inside, she gawked at the crazy technology I had outfitted the place with. Everything was voice activated, and there was already music playing when I walked through the front door. She walked over to the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the sunken living room and looked out at the Philadelphia skyline, shaking her head.

“Amazing view,” she said.

“I agree,” I replied, standing behind her and staring at her firm round ass. “Would you like a drink?”

“I’d love one,” she said, looking around at the décor. “You have an amazing place here, though I don’t know what I expected from the genius that owns Butler Technologies.”

“I like to tinker,” I said, moving to the adjoining open kitchen. I poured two glasses of champagne. “This system was my creation. We don’t sell it,”

“You should,” she said. “People would love it.”

I walked back over to her and handed her a glass. She took a sip and continued to look around at all the art, but I kept my eyes glued on her. It had been quite a while since I had sex with anyone, and I was feeling extremely pent up.

I didn’t have time for Messy, so I stayed away from relationships. I’d had several one-night stands over the past year, but I’d been so busy that most of the time, I was too exhausted by the end of the day to go out. Missy was exactly what I was looking for, and I’d pounced on her like a hunter catching his prey.

I walked forward and took the glass from her hand, setting them both down on the coffee table. With one smooth swoop, I stood back up and grabbed her around the back of the neck, pressing my mouth deeply against hers. She giggled as my tongue moved across her lips and I plunged my tongue into her mouth, shutting her up really fast. Instantly, the fire moved through me, and I reached down, sliding my hand up her thigh and pushing her skirt up to her waist.

She pulled back from me and stared, making me think she was unhappy with what I was doing. I pulled my hands away from her but then watched a coy smile curl on her lips. She knelt down slowly on her knees, pressing her bright red lips together and unbuttoned my pants, pulling the zipper down and allowing them to fall to my feet. She rubbed her hand up my hard cock that was pulling at my black boxer briefs. The muscles in my stomach tensed as she groped at my balls, rolling them around in her hand. She reached up and grabbed the waistband and pulled my boxers to my ankles, grasping my bouncing hard cock with her hand and looking up at me with a grin.

Her ruby red lips moved forward, and I could feel the heat of her breath on the tip of my dick. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. The wet flick of her tongue teased me, and I smiled slightly before groaning as her lips moved over the head and her throat opened up, taking me deep inside. When her throat opened and closed around my shaft and the sucking began, I could tell that this was a good idea.

She reached up and grabbed my hips, pulling me into her as she began to move her head forward and back in a faster and harder motion. I reached down and wrapped my hand through her blonde hair and pushed and moved with her rhythm. If I didn’t think it were rude to get a blow job and send her on her way, I would have just let her finish me like that. However, being the gentleman that I am, I kept a close watch on the heat simmering in my stomach.

She moaned loudly as my cock moved to the edge of her lips and then back down again. The noise vibrated up and down my erection. I growled loudly, letting her know just how much I liked it and watched as she looked up at me, her eyes watering and a small smile at the edges of her full mouth. I grabbed her face and pulled my cock from her mouth, not wanting to wait another second and risk blowing my load right then.

I pulled her up and moved her to the couch, facing her toward the back and pushing her onto her knees. I spread her legs apart and rested my knees on the edge, grabbing my cock by the base and leading it toward her. I pushed her skirt to her waist and pulled her red thong to the side, rubbing the head of my cock through her juices. I thrust forward, and she let out a deep moan, grasping onto the back of the couch and leaning forward with her ass poking out.

I ran my hand down her ass cheek and slapped it lightly, listening to her giggle and moan from the pain and pleasure. She was so wet, and it took me a second to realize I needed to grab a condom. I bent over and pulled one out of the wallet in my pants and ripped the top off, pulling out my cock only long enough to slip the rubber over and down. I pushed back into her, letting her wetness guide me in. I wrapped my hands around her hips and pushed and pulled, thrusting deep and hard inside of her. The sounds of her voice echoing through the apartment was erotic, and I hoped that she came soon because I was getting really close.

“Rub your pussy,” I groaned.

She reached down between her legs and moaned loudly as her fingers danced over her clit. She grew tenser and tenser by the second as my cock dug deep and her fingers played along with the rhythm of my hips. As her voice grew higher and higher, I moved faster, feeling her body writhing in my hands.

“God,” she screamed out. “I’m gonna come.”

“Yeah, baby, come on my cock,” I growled.

With two more thrusts, she erupted in orgasm, and her pussy clenched against my shaft. With just three more thrusts, I was finally letting go, pushing as deep as I could and groaning loudly as my seed filled the condom and her warm juices dripped down on my balls. My body tensed and flexed as pleasure flowed through me, until finally, my shoulders relaxed, and I let the air from my lungs. Slowly, I retracted, pulling my cock back and walking off to the bathroom to clean up. That was just what I needed to take the stress of the week out of my head.

In the bathroom, I flushed the condom and washed my hands and dick, never really liking the feeling after having sex with a perfect stranger. I checked my hair in the mirror and flexed my chest, impressed with the build I had maintained the last few months. I could hear Missy getting dressed in the living room, and I hoped that she didn’t insist on staying. I grabbed pajama pants hanging from the back of the bathroom door and pulled them on before walking back out of the room.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she said, picking up her things and putting on her clothes. “I really have to get going. I have work early in the morning.”

“Aww, that’s too bad,” I said, trying to sound convincing.

“Maybe we can get together soon,” she said, walking up and kissing my lips before moving toward the door.

“Yeah,” I said, following behind her and handing her my card. “Here’s my card. Just give me a call.”

“Cool,” she said, opening the door and turning back. “Maybe I can bring my dog, and we can go to the park or something.”

I grimaced at the word “dog,” and my entire body immediately went on edge. Me and dogs did not go well together after being attacked by one when I was a kid. Just those words were a sincere deal breaker.

“Yeah, probably not,” I said, shaking my head. “For you or your dog. But it was fun!”

I shut the door before she could even process what I said. I wasn’t doing the whole dog thing, no matter who the woman was. She was just the same old, typical woman.

Chapter 2

Reese

I opened the back door to my office and walked inside, smiling as a small puppy trotted forward to greet me. I bent down, laughing as he tripped over one of his big ears and stumbled into my foot. I reached over and patted his head, wrapping my hand around him and picking him up into my arms.

“Now where did you come from little guy?”

I owned an animal care center that mostly focused on boarding, cleaning, grooming, and minor care that didn’t require a vet’s attention. We held spay and neuter clinics once a month, took in strays that the pound didn’t have room for, and most importantly, got to hang out with all of the furry and feathery friends that came by to visit. I walked over to the pen that housed the new puppies that we had taken in and set the pup down with the others, pulling the gate closed. I put my bags down on the grooming table and walked into the boarding area where I was greeted with a chorus of barking. Every single one of those dogs was in my care in one form or another, whether their family was on a trip, they needed a new home, or they were there because they had grown old and needed someone to look after them. The older dogs were the hardest on me. Not because of their care, but because I fell in love with every dog that came through, and these guys were usually only there for a short while as their lives had come to the final few years. Either way, I always treated every single one of them like family.

“Well, good morning, my friends,” I said, running my hand down the cages. “It’s finally Friday. Hope you guys made plans already!”

I walked through and greeted each dog. Then, I moved to the next room and did the same with the cats. We didn’t have any other animals in there at that time, so I skipped the rabbit, guinea pig, and reptile room completely. When I got back to the grooming station, Lenna was walking in the door looking more tired than usual. She was my best friend, and we had started this business together right after high school, both of us knowing we had no college ambitions at that point. I had to admit it was pretty awesome working with my closest friend. She and I had never had a fight over anything, and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect business partner. We both loved animals, we both worked really hard to keep the place going, and we complemented each other. Where I was weak, she was strong, and vice versa. She was also the vet tech and could give shots and such when it was needed.

“Mister Floppy got out again,” I said, laughing. “He greeted me at the door, so be careful where you step. I haven’t looked for poop bombs yet.”

“Oh, joy,” Leena said through a yawn. “It is much too early for this.”

“Start your weekend early?”

“Sure did,” she said with a sleepy smile. “And I met a really hot guy who I have a date with again Saturday night.”

“Look at you, always on the go.” I laughed.

“What did you do last night?”

“Took a bath, watched a movie, and crashed.” I smiled.

“Wow,” she said in a monotone voice. “Thrilling. How about this weekend? You have any awesome plans?”

“Do I ever?”

“No, but I will keep asking every week in the hopes that one day you will shock me with something outrageous, like, oh, I don’t know, a date or something,” she said, hip-checking me as she walked past.

I was perfectly content with continuing to work on the business, focus on growing and learning, and all the while, keeping my eyes open for that guy. That guy that makes everything fall into place, the one that every girl dreams of meeting one day. Leena however, thinks that I am insane for having that fairy tale and is more than willing to get me out, get me laid, and move me on a different path. I wasn’t a virgin because I was waiting for Mr. Right. I just hadn’t found any Mr. Right now that could actually fit the bill. In fact, there hadn’t been any mister anything’s for quite a while, and I was okay with that, even if it seemed to bother everyone else around me.

“I do have that wedding this upcoming weekend,” I said, pulling out my supplies and lining them up on the table.

“Oh, yeah,” she said. “Who is getting married again?”

“Caroline Haynes,” I said. “She was a girl I hung out with when we were kids.”

“Oh, yeah, at the club that your dad was a member of,” she replied. “I still think it’s so weird that you came from a family of money.”

“Why?”

“You just seem so normal.” She laughed.

“I guess, if you consider a twenty-three-year-old virgin, college dropout normal,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You do remember that you own a really successful business that you built from the ground up, right?”

“Yeah, and I am proud of that, but my dad is another story,” I said with a sigh. “He didn’t come around to the idea of this business until we bought the building.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you run your life, not your dad,” she said, patting me on the shoulder. “Besides, your mom loves this place. I’m pretty sure it’s past the time she usually comes and visits all the doggies.”

“It’s the end of summer events at the club,” I reminded her. “She has like, three days left to buddy up to the other women before the weather gets cold and all the rich people hide away in suburbia.”

“Are they coming to the wedding?”

“No, thank God,” I said with a nervous laugh. “They are going to be gone for the weekend visiting my brother in New York.”

“Well, there you go,” she said, turning toward me. “Then you can totally count the wedding as weekend plans. I thought you were going to be dragged around by your parents and shown off like a little doll, the way they like to do so much.”

“No.” I laughed. “And you know what? It does mean I have plans this weekend. I’m going to drink champagne, dance, and stare at the beautiful, happy couple, wondering how many weddings I will go to before I ever have my own.”

“So, you could totally take a date to this shindig, right?”

“If I knew anyone that could be a date, yes,” I said. “But you know just as well as I do that I haven’t met any men lately. Hell, I haven’t met anyone without fur and four legs in a really long time.”

“Wow, what kind of bars are you going to?”

“Very funny,” I replied, laughing.

“You should start coming out with me and meet some men,” she said, starting up on her normal nagging. “You never know who you could meet out there.”

“Ugh, yeah right,” I scoffed. “I’ve seen the guys at the bars our age. They’re just looking for a piece of ass to take home, not someone they are genuinely interested in.”

“Honey, all men are looking for a piece of ass,” she replied. “The interest comes with your sparkling personality, which I am seeing may need some work.”

“I really am happy on my own,” I said, walking over to the puppy area and lifting one into my arms. “I don’t have to answer to anyone, I don’t have to worry about someone cheating on me, the drama of relationships, and everything else that goes along with dating. Trust me, I have a Facebook page. I see the drama that all the girls I grew up with go through. It just doesn’t seem worth it to me.”

“I get that,” she said. “But what I don’t get is why you have to stay a virgin to stay the course. If you are going to choose to be alone, then you might as well get some in the meantime.”

“I’m not choosing to be alone,” I said. “I just can’t find the right guy.”

“And sitting at your apartment is going to help you with that?” She laughed.

“Well, it sure isn’t going to help going out to some stupid bar,” I grumbled. “Besides, I know exactly the kind of man that I am looking for, and I am sure he is out there.”

“Hot bod, gorgeous eyes, rich, and ready to spoil you rotten, right?”

“No.” I laughed. “I want someone that has dreams for the future. A man that is a little awkward and shy, just like me. A man that loves animals like I do so we can have like a farm or something, but instead of selling the animals, we play with them and give them love.”

“You know you sound like an eight-year-old,” she said, laughing. “Like I’m sure there are plenty of males out there like that, but they are either hiding in their mom’s basement, or they are attending primary school.”

“Oh, come on.” I laughed. “There has to be a guy out there for me, someone who fits the bill perfectly and enjoys all the things that I do, just on a manly level.”

“How do you love a puppy in a manly way?”

I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head, kissing the puppy on the nose and setting him back in the cage. Was it truly that impossible to think that there was a man out there like that? Was it insane to dream of someone caring and loving that wasn’t a show boat or extremely narcissistic? If it was, then I was doomed to live alone, the crazy cat lady, for the rest of my eternity. Except I didn’t have any cats at home.

“I’m going to go let the dogs out in the yard to play,” I said, calling to Leena as I walked away.

“Watch out for Mr. Awkwardly Right while you are out there,” she yelled back.

I let all the dogs out of the cage and opened the door to the fenced-in yard, laughing as they shot out in the grass, rolling around in the sunshine. I wrapped my hands around my shoulders, realizing it was already starting to get cool outside. I loved my pups and kittens, and they kept me completely content. Although I knew the connection between me and a man was something that I wanted deep down, I couldn’t help but be okay as long as I had my animals to love me. Maybe I was starting to lose it, surrounding myself with the four-legged kind of love instead of just getting out there and meeting someone.

I sighed and walked through the lawn, petting the different pups that ran up to me, wagging their tails. I leaned down and got a big wet doggie kiss right across my cheek, and I giggled, feeling better already. Who needed the complication of a relationship when you had so much furry adorableness around you at one time?

Chapter 3

Blaine

I had to say, there was something completely miserable about donning a suit on a Saturday, and a really fancy one at that. The wedding was starting in just an hour, and I needed to get to the location so that Caleb would get off my case. I looked at my freshly washed black hair in the mirror and pushed it down, realizing that I probably could use a haircut pretty soon since my cow lick was starting to fight back against me. I put some pomade on it and smoothed it down, checking my rustic five o’clock shadow in the mirror and deciding that it fit me. I knew that was me being too lazy to shave, but I had to admit that every time I went out with this rough shave, I picked up a lot more women. I didn’t know what it was, but they seemed to be attracted to the well-groomed man that looked like they forgot to shave.

I pulled my shirt over my shoulders and reluctantly buttoned it up, tucking it in before grabbing my silver tie. I placed it around my neck and tucked it under my collar, feeling the cool silk fabric between my fingers. Most days, I really enjoyed putting on a nice suit, but today, I just wanted to sit around and watch television. I knew I had to let it go. There was no getting out of it, so I took a deep breath and smiled at myself in the mirror. My fake grin quickly diminished, and I grabbed my jacket and walked into the bedroom. I pulled on the coat and stood in front of the mirror, admiring how good I looked. Call it cocky if you want, but I was a pretty good-looking guy.

I hated weddings. The glitz, the flowers, the giggling bridesmaids, and the little children running around in fluffy dresses was all a bit too much for my single guy mentality. That being said, there was free food, free booze, and plenty of women that would chomping at the bit to find a single guy to hook up with for the night. There was something about weddings that opened a woman’s legs, and I had a hard time believing it was because they were hoping to find Mr. Right in the caterer’s closet with her panties around her ankles. Either way, who was I to deny these beautiful babes the chance to feel pretty and special for one night, at someone else’s happily ever after?

I picked up my keys and my cell phone and put them in my pocket, hoping that I wouldn’t be coming home, but instead, shacking up with one of Caleb’s sister’s hottie girlfriends in the hotel later that night. I whistled as I walked through to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water and drinking it before heading for the door. If I was going to be drinking heavily, I needed to make sure I was hydrated. No one wanted a hungover Blaine waking up next to them in the morning. I tended to be a bit grumpy.

“Lights off,” I said loudly, watching as all the lights dimmed except for those lining the windows.

“Have a good night, Mr. Butler,” the computer AI replied in the sultry voice I created for the system.

I bowed my head at the invisible woman and walked out the front door, listening to the locks click shut behind me. It was pretty awesome being able to navigate the technological world like I could, but no matter how cocky I was, I was never into letting on just how smart I really was. It tended to push people away a bit. I went down to the bottom floor and hopped in the car, heading off to the wedding.

When I arrived, I was ushered into the large ornate complex where the wedding and reception would be held. Everything was draped in rich fabrics and covered from floor to ceiling in floral arrangements. A little girl brushed past my leg, giggling as she ran past me and toward her mother scowling at her from across the room. I did my best to keep the irritation off my face and looked over beside the doors to the ceremony room where Caleb was standing, looking dapper in his expensive Armani tuxedo and shiny shoes.

“Hey, you came,” he said, reaching out and shaking my hand.

“I wasn’t aware that I had an option,” I whispered, turning and looking out at all the guests arriving.

“You didn’t,” he replied. “But I know how you like to do your own thing.”

“That is very true my friend,” I said, smiling at a tall blonde walking past. “How is your sister?”

“Completely calm, which is shocking because she is like the most nervous person that I know,” he said, chuckling.

“Yes, I remember,” I groaned. “You forget that I helped her plan your twenty-fifth birthday surprise party. I thought she was going to have a complete meltdown when the cupcakes had blue icing instead of ‘aqua.’”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that,” he said, laughing. “You were a real trooper for not killing her.”

“Thought it would be rude since it was your birthday,” I replied nonchalantly.

“Yeah, blood red birthday surprise probably would have put a damper on our friendship,” he said. “But I’d still visit you in the clink and bring you some better sheets for your cot.”

“You are a real pal.” I laughed, patting him on the back. “So, how much time until this whole thing goes down?”

“Uhm,” he said, looking down at his watch. “We will be seated in about ten minutes.”

“I want you to know how much I hate weddings,” I said, leaning against the wall. “It’s all a bit much just to celebrate the fact that the government now controls your relationship, along with everything else in your life.”

“At least you get a tax cut,” he said, shrugging. “But yeah, I don’t understand why we have grown accustomed to throwing these massive parties, spending thousands and thousands of dollars, all for one day.”

“Not to mention half of them end in divorce, which is where I really think the party should be thrown,” I said, laughing.

“Come on, man. You don’t see yourself ever tying the knot?”

“I’m sure I will,” I sighed. “And knowing my dating history, I’ll be forced into one of these giant parties, but I will fight to the death for elopement before I give in. I have to go down with some of my dignity intact, not that it will happen for a very long time.”

“I feel you,” Caleb sighed. “Women are all the same, and I tell you what, from the ones I’ve seen frequenting our favorite spots lately, I don’t have a very good feeling that I will be taking the plunge anytime in the near future.”

“Agreed,” I said, staring at a red head’s ass as she passed. “The girls at the bar are good for one thing. The marrying girls are already married, divorced and bitter, or hiding out because they don’t want to meet guys like you.”

“Hey, I resemble that remark,” he said, laughing. “But it’s not like you are the most charming man I have ever met.”

“It’s not my fault that I am too smart to hold a conversation with the bimbo at the bar.” I laughed. “Maybe if the smart girls started to come out, you’d see a completely different side of me. I don’t want to end up with another Katerina experience.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about her,” he said, shaking his head. “She was fucking hot. Dumb as a box of rocks but hot. Whatever happened to her?”

“She got a modeling contract out of LA and wanted to get hitched, so we could stay together,” I replied. “I pictured my life flying back and forth from LA, Katerina forgetting how to tie her shoes, and me trying to keep up with the latest fashion trends. It was terrifying, so I broke it off with her.”

“I’m sorry, man,” he said.

“I’m not,” I replied. “Her tits kept me in the relationship, but I was tired of explaining every little thing to her. My AI freaked her out every time she came into the apartment.”

“That’s because you would program it to freak her out.” He laughed.

“Only near the end,” I said. “I thought maybe humor would brighten our relationship, but it was not even close.”

“Alright man, we better take our seats,” he said, leading the way into the room. “I’ll hit you up at the reception.”

I nodded my head and took a seat midway down the line, smiling at the older woman who was sitting next to me. The smell of her perfume was overwhelming, and I turned my head toward the aisle for some air. There was a pink satin runway all the way up to the altar where the groom and six of his closest assholes were standing, looking worse for wear after, I was assuming, one hell of a bachelor party. The groom looked okay, though, and I could only assume that Caroline had threatened his manhood if he showed up at the wedding hungover. As the music started to play, everyone turned in their seats to watch the bridesmaids make their way down the aisle in strapless, floor-length, pink silk gowns. They smiled and blushed as the crowd oohed and awed at their presence.

When the wedding march started, everyone stood up, and I turned to wait for the bride to make her grand entrance. As my eyes panned past the people across the aisle, they stopped, landing on a beautiful girl dressed in a dark teal dress and clutching her purse in front of her. She had long, sandy blonde hair and dark green eyes that stared lovingly to the back of the room. Her curves were smoking hot, and the way her pencil skirt hugged her body was making me weak in the knees. I was so obsessed with staring at this girl that I didn’t even realize that Caroline was approaching until she blocked my view with her giant tulle skirt and sparkling jewelry.

By the time she had passed, the girl was facing the front, and I continued to glance over at her, even after we had all been seated. She smiled as the officiant talked about true love, forever, and all that other stuff that went along with getting hitched. I could tell she was a dreamer from the dewy-eyed school girl look on her face. There was no way that I was going to let this event go by without talking to her, and maybe if I played my cards right, she could be the wedding zombie girl that I ended up taking to bed that night. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling as I looked over at her, that she was different in some sort of way. Maybe it was the nervous way she rubbed her fingers across the satin of her purse, or the fact that she was probably the most stunning woman I had ever seen, but either way, there was something about her that screamed secret.

I turned myself back toward the front of the room after several nasty looks from the people around her. I caught Caleb’s eye as he glanced back at me, nodding his head and rolling his eyes. I stifled a laugh and watched as Caroline married Troy, the man she had been obsessing over for years. Maybe they would be happy, maybe they wouldn’t, but either way, they just gave me a really good excuse to be at my best when I entered that reception hall.

Chapter 4

Reese

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous, and I couldn’t help but shed a small tear for Caroline. We hadn’t been super close in years, but she was a really sweet girl, and I was happy for her that she had found her happily ever after. I, on the other hand, was seated at a table with the older people, and I had to come up with an excuse as to why I didn’t have a date. After about twenty minutes of polite conversation, I excused myself, meandering over to the edge of the dancefloor where I pretended to take pictures of Caroline and Troy dancing the night away.

There were barely any people there that I knew, and the ones that were familiar were all my father’s friends. The last thing I wanted to do was stand around talking with my parents’ friends just so they could report back to him on how much fun I was not having, and how I had come without a date. My father had married my mother when she was just twenty years old, so in his eyes, at twenty-three, I was way behind the curve. Personally, I thought my age was just fine, and didn’t see any hurry in just grabbing some guy to make my parents happy. They had attempted to set me up a couple of times, but they all ended up being spoiled rich boys with trust funds and huge egos, something that I knew would not interest me in the least.

Just the thought of being stuck with one of those assholes at a wedding made me perfectly happy with being there alone. However, being an already awkward person, it did not make it any better that I was wandering around the banquet hall on my own, trying to not look weird, but still have somewhat of a good time. I thought I had found someone to talk to for a second when one of Troy’s groomsman approached me, but that went south really fast when he hit on me with his horrible whiskey breath and then slurred out the word bitch before stumbling away. They must have been hitting it hard before the wedding because we hadn’t even been there long enough to get wasted yet. Speaking of alcohol, maybe a couple of glasses of wine would loosen me up enough to have a conversation with someone.

“Reese,” Caroline said from over my shoulder.

“Caroline,” I replied with a smile as I turned around. “How are you? You look so freaking amazing.”

“I am exhausted,” she sighed. “And starving. They wouldn’t leave us behind long enough to actually eat the food that I had ordered.”

“I’ve heard that’s how it always is with these kinds of things.” I smiled. “But really, you did an amazing job with all of this. My mom told me that you insisted on working side by side with the planner so it could be absolutely perfect. I saw that you have the lilies you wanted since we were little, gossiping to each other about our future husbands.”

“I did get them!” she said, gushing. “I have planned this day my whole life.”

“Where did you get that gorgeous dress?”

“I had it made,” she said proudly. “I knew exactly what I wanted, I made sure I was exactly the right size, which is probably why I’m so hungry, and I had a seamstress make the whole thing from sketches I did. The sketches are framed on the back table with our pictures. You should check them out when you have a chance.”

“Oh my gosh, I definitely will,” I said, impressed. “You were always really artistic, where I couldn’t even draw a stick figure if I needed to.”

“You look amazing, too,” she said, looking down at the dress I was wearing.

“Thank you. It’s a bit more daring than I’m used to, but I figured why not, right?”

“You know how I feel about that,” she said, smiling at me. “Wear what you want to wear, when you want to wear it. Are you here alone?”

“Yeah,” I said happily, not minding at all that she was asking.

“Well, let me just give you the rundown on the men here,” she said, walking closer and whispering. “Stay away from Charlie, the tall guy that is a groomsman.”

“I think I already had a run in with Charlie.” I laughed. “He’s wasted.”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she said, completely embarrassed.

“It’s fine,” I whispered. “I’m pretty sure he left after that, and I haven’t seen him since, so I think the rest of the women are safe.”

“No wonder you are single,” she said, shaking her head. “Men are so weird these days. I’m not going to sit here and say my new husband was some Godsend at first. He was difficult, just like the rest of them, but then he fell in love, and that changed everything for him and me.”

“I know,” I sighed. “I’m so glad that you guys made it. So many of us are living the single life.”

“Hang in there,” she said, smiling. “You will find yours when you are least expecting it.”

“I know.” I smiled back. “I’m not worried in the least. I have plenty of time.”

“Yes, you do, and you deserve someone amazing,” she said, kissing me on the cheek. “Okay, I’m going to find some food before I pass out.”

“Of course.” I laughed. “We don’t need you passing out. We should have lunch when you get back from your honeymoon.”

“Yes, let’s,” she said, hugging me tightly. “Thank you for coming out.”

I watched as she smiled brightly at the other guests and picked up the sides of her gown, walking around like a princess. All of this was beautiful, but I knew it wasn’t my style. I was definitely not the princess in a carriage kind of girl. I had much simpler tastes.

I walked off into the crowd and over to the table at the front with all the pictures. I smiled as I looked down at her sketches, surrounded by adorable candids of her and Troy. They really did love each other. As I stood there, I caught a glimpse of someone walk up beside me, but I didn’t look up, figuring they were more interested in the pictures than me.

“Hi,” a deep voice said.

“Hi,” I replied, looking up and freezing.

Standing in front of me was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. He had short dark hair and striking, light blue eyes. He stood over six feet tall, and I could see his muscles pressing against his expensive designer suit. He had a five o’clock shadow that normally I would find sloppy, but on him, it was charming, like the guy on the cover of a holiday romance novel. My heart beat quickly in my chest, and I was unsure of what to say.

“I’m Blaine,” he said, sticking out his hand.

“Reese,” I replied, shaking his hand and smiling. “Nice to meet you.”

“It was a beautiful wedding,” he replied, looking down at the pictures.

“Caroline really outdid herself,” I said, chuckling, realizing that may have sounded rude. “I didn’t mean that in a mean way. I meant she has dreamed of this her whole life, and it’s exactly how she imagined it.”

“Well, I wouldn’t know that part,” he said with a big smile. “I was always excluded from the girl parties.”

“Oh.” I laughed nervously. “They weren’t all that fun to begin with, so you didn’t miss anything good.”

“You’ve known her your whole life?”

“Yeah,” I replied, turning to him and grabbing a glass of champagne off the tray of a server passing by. “Our fathers worked together, and we used to keep each other company at the club when they would go golfing. You?”

“Her brother Caleb is my best friend, so I was obligated to come,” he said, flashing another huge, charming smile that made my knees weak.

“Caleb is a nice guy,” I replied, unsure of what to say.

He chuckled. “Yes, he is.”

We continued the conversation. I clutched my glass of champagne and answered him back, thinking about how awkward I knew that I was being. Men like him did not talk to girls like me, not for long anyway. Sure, I took care of myself and had been told many times through my life that I was beautiful, but I couldn’t hold a conversation to save my life. I clammed up in a heartbeat, and from the looks of this guy, he was not your typical everyday Joe. If he was friends with Caleb, that either meant he was a lawyer or he did something pretty important, which made him charming, rich, and able to get any girl he wanted. If he was still single, that meant he was at a wedding trying to pick up a girl, and that girl was most definitely not me. Still, I held my composure and continued my conversation, not wanting to seem rude in the least.

“I’m really happy for the couple, but I’m not a fan of weddings. They are so overblown in my opinion.” He chuckled. “Which probably makes my opinion not very popular.”

“Well, among these women, probably not, but I completely agree with you,” I replied. “When I get married, I just want something simple with my fiancé and my do—”

“There you are, man,” Caleb said, walking over and slapping Blaine on the back. “Come on, we’re doing shots.”

“All right.” He laughed. “I’ll be right over.”

I looked down at the pictures and continued to peruse them, pretending like I wasn’t listening to their conversation. He was definitely another guy like Caleb which was fine for girls like Leena and Caroline, but for me, they weren’t what I was looking for in a serious opportunity. He cleared his throat, and I turned back, smiling.

“You better go before he brings the party to the picture table,” I said, laughing.

“Yeah, he’s a bit strung out right now with work and this wedding,” Blaine explained. “I’m here as his support system.”

“That’s nice of you,” I replied.

“Yeah, well somebody has to keep an eye out for him.” He chuckled. “But anyway, it was really nice talking to you.”

“You too,” I said, perking up at the thought of being done with the awkwardness.

“I’m going to look for you later, maybe steal a dance,” he said as he backed up toward the dancefloor. “Be ready!”

I smiled and laughed, lifting my glass of champagne into the air. When I turned back around and he couldn’t see me, my face sunk and I shook my head, knowing that I had to be the most awkward woman to ever grace his presence. Either way, he was looking for something that I wasn’t, and it would be best if I just left him alone, no matter how drawn I was to his ice blue eyes.

I spent the rest of the reception floating around, talking to Caroline and then resorting to just conversing with the older people that I knew through my father. It was definitely better than staying at home for the night, and it kept me off the radar from Blaine who I would see looking around for me every time a slow song came over the speakers. I knew that if I found my way into his arms, I would melt into a puddle, and that was exactly what I didn’t want to happen.

As the wedding began to mellow out and a lot of the older people decided to call it a night, I took that as my cue to get out of there as well. I wrapped my shawl around my shoulders as I headed out of the building and into the parking lot, trying to remember where I left my car. There were so many people there, it was like parking at a concert.

“Hey,” I heard a familiar voice calling out as I reached my car. I looked up.

Across the parking lot, I could see Blaine waving at me and jogging over to my car. I straightened my dress and unlocked the doors, waiting for him to get to me. He was so handsome in his expensive suit and shiny shoes, and I was having a hard time holding onto my resolve.

“I wanted to see if I could have your number, you know, maybe go out some time,” he said breathlessly.

For a moment, I thought about it. I pictured him and me drifting off together into a happy place, but I stopped it short, remembering what kind of guy he probably was. Slowly, my smile faded away, and I looked down at the door, pulling the handle and opening it up. He stood there staring at me, a confused look on his face.

“Look,” I said, sitting down and grabbing the door. “I’m not the girl you’re looking for. But thank you for taking the time to talk to me. Be safe.”

With that, I closed the door, keeping my eyes glued on the steering wheel as I started the car and pulled out of the space. In the rearview mirror, I could see Blaine still standing there, watching me drive off, his hands shoved in his pockets. Maybe I was making a mistake, but I really didn’t want to take a chance.

Chapter 5

Blaine

Getting up on Sunday morning wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be since I managed to watch what I was drinking. I met up with Caleb for brunch at a restaurant in downtown Philly, and I could tell that he hadn’t practiced the same kind of restraint that I had. His eyes were dark, and his hair was slightly messier than normal.

“You okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” he grumbled, drinking his water. “Drank way too much last night, but goddamn, the hottie I took back to my place was perfect.”

“The one in the black dress?” I asked.

“Yeah, that one,” he said proudly.

“Nice.” I laughed.

“What about you? Did you pick up that redhead that was hitting on you?”

“No,” I sighed. “Sadly, I woke up alone in my bed this morning.”

“What? The handsomest man in the room went home alone? What’s up with that?”

“I don’t know,” I said, looking down at my brunch. “I just wasn’t feeling it, and there was this chick on my mind from earlier.”

“Who?” he asked, scrunching his eyebrows. “I didn’t see you with anyone.”

“I only talked to her for a few minutes,” I replied. “But she was freaking perfect and absolutely adorable. Her name was Reese. She said she was friends with your sister. I guess they used to keep each other company when they were younger. Your father and hers work together.”

“Hmm,” he said, lifting his fork to his lips. “I know who you’re talking about, and I do remember seeing you talking to her for a few minutes.”

“So, tell me about her,” I said with excitement brewing in my belly. “What does she do? Does she have a boyfriend? I know she isn’t married because our conversation led to her saying she didn’t want a big wedding like Caroline’s, though she thought it was beautiful.”

“Honestly, man, I really don’t know much about her,” he said. “Her father owns a financial firm and travels back and forth to New York where one of his branches is. My father does work for them, but other than that, I really never spent any time with the girl. Why didn’t you just get her number?”

“That was the weird part,” I said, replaying it over in my head. “I found her before she left and asked her for it, but she blew me off, saying something about her not being the girl I was looking for.”

“That’s weird,” he said with a mouthful of bacon. “You aren’t really the type to go scaring off women.”

“I know man,” I said, shaking my head.

“So why are you looking for her then?”

“I don’t know,” I said, rubbing my hands over my still-unshaven face. “There was just something about her that I couldn’t turn away from. She was on my mind all night.”

“Whoa, that’s heavy, bro,” Caleb said with surprise. “It’s not like you to keep thinking about a girl like that.”

“I know, I just—”

“Hey, guys,” Caroline said as she pulled out a chair and plopped down. “Ugh, I am starving.”

“Hey, sissy,” Caleb said fondly. “Where’s Troy?”

“He’s still sleeping,” she said. “I didn’t want to wake him.”

“Up all night, huh?” Caleb playfully elbowed his sister.

“Stop,” she said with blushed cheeks. “That’s gross. I am not joking with my brother about my sex life.”

“You looked amazing yesterday,” Caleb said. “And everything went off without a hitch. That has to be the first time in wedding history.”

She smiled. “I know, right?”

“When are you guys leaving for the Bahamas?” I asked.

“Not until tomorrow morning,” she said. “We wanted to have a day to relax here in the city before jumping on a plane. Besides, I think Troy knew that he would need a day of rest after like a week straight of celebrating and drinking.”

“Yeah, I feel like I could use a vacation.” Caleb chuckled, handing Caroline a piece of toast.

Caleb and Caroline had been very close their whole lives, without much of the normal sibling bickering that usually went on. I assumed that with their family being so business oriented, they leaned on each other for support growing up because their mother and father were just too busy with other things. Sure, it wasn’t your typical family with a comforting mother and strong, leading father, but the two of them seemed to turn out really well. Caleb treated all his friends like family, and his sister as a friend, too. It was nice, and I wished that I had that kind of relationship with my family, but alas, I was left to my own devices.

“And how are you this morning, Blaine?” Caroline looked over at me and smiled.

“I’m really good since I watched what I drank last night, unlike some people,” I said, looking over at Caleb.

“Yeah, my brother has an issue with excess.” She laughed and took a sip of coffee.

“No, I don’t,” he said bitterly.

“Oh yeah? What about the time we went to Aunt Eliza’s funeral? You drank so much you passed out, and they almost thought you were another dead body?”

“I don’t like funerals,” he said. “And it wasn’t my fault. Uncle Bernard was drinking with me.”

“Oh, okay,” she said sarcastically. “How about the seven of every type of suit you like hanging in the closet?”

“I work hard so I can have nice things,” he said proudly.

“Uh huh.” She giggled.

“Thank you for having me at the wedding,” I said. “It was really beautiful.”

“You are welcome, and thanks for showing up.” She smiled. “Did you meet any lovely single ladies?”

“He sure did, and she totally threw him shade,” Caleb said, ignoring the rolling of my eyes.

“Oh yeah? Who was it?”

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that,” I said, ignoring Caleb. “I’d really like to talk to her again. Her name was Reese.”

“Reese Tenor?” she asked. “Wow, I didn’t see that coming at all. Reese is an interesting girl, very quirky, but all in all, one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. We grew up running around the club together while Caleb scouted girls and our fathers had ‘business meetings’ on the golf course or tennis court. We kept each other out of our parents’ hair. Her parents are a lot like mine and Caleb’s. They loved us very much but were too business oriented to show it.”

“What does she do now?” I asked,

“Honestly, I don’t know,” she said, smiling as the waitress sat her food in front of her. “I think she started some sort of business. She bought one of the buildings from my father’s firm just a year or so ago.”

“Do you know if she is seeing anyone?”

“I talked to her last night about that,” she said. “She’s definitely single, but I can assure you, she is not interested in someone like you.”

“What does that mean?” I chuckled and sipped my orange juice.

“She may have come from a rich family and everything, but she is a really down to earth girl,” she explained. “She doesn’t do one-night stands or casual encounters, and she isn’t interested in people’s money. She is a genuine person through and through.”

“I think it’s safe to say Blaine is interested in a little more than a one-night stand,” Caleb said, teasing me. “He couldn’t sleep last night, thinking about this girl, and he turned down a hot chick at the reception last night.”

“Wow,” Caroline said, sounding impressed. “Well, I don’t have a problem giving you her number as long as you play nice and don’t get your hopes up. I’m telling you, she is not the kind of girl that goes out to parties, bars, and expensive dinners every night. She made her own way in life trying to prove to her dad that she could, and she is very protective of herself. She always has been.”

“It’s not like he’s planning on stalking her.” Caleb laughed. “He just wants to get to know her.”

“Thank you.” I laughed. “I promise that I won’t get my hopes up and that I won’t scare her.”

“Thank you,” Caroline said, pinching her brother’s arm.

She gave me Reese’s number, and I put it into my phone, feeling nervous all of a sudden about having to actually call her to talk to her. I was not the kind of guy that got nervous over these things. I was the kind of guy that was confident, headstrong, and not afraid to go out on a limb to get what I wanted. This, however, was throwing me for a loop, and I couldn’t figure out why. She was just a girl, right? I had randomly called girls a million times, and I never gave it two seconds of thought. That also could be because every girl I ever decided to chase was more than willing to be caught.

I had a seriously competitive nature about me, and when I was told I couldn’t do something or have something that I wanted, it just made me try even harder. I was pretty sure that by Caroline telling me that Reese was not going to be interested in a guy like me, my mind instantly went into overdrive, deciding that not getting the girl was not an option. I also had to remember though, that she was a person and not a play thing, especially if I wanted her to take me seriously at all. There was obviously a reason that I was feeling this way about this girl, and even though I was not looking for anything serious whatsoever, she made me want to not rule it out. Her beautiful smile and sexy body were one thing, but the fact that she was as awkward outwardly as I felt on the inside, I knew that we had more in common than she really knew.

Now, all I had to do was get up the courage to actually call her and find out just what I needed to do to get this girl in front of me again. I knew with my charm and personality, I could keep her engaged long enough to show her there was more to me than just good looks and money. I could show her that we weren’t as different as she really thought in the first place. I had a mission now, and this girl was not going to get away from me again.

Chapter 6

Reese

When I got to work that Monday, I could barely keep my mind off what happened at the wedding. Blaine was so handsome and so strong, but I had completely panicked and driven off without even a word of explanation. It was pretty rude of me to assume that he was just like every other guy, but how could he not be? He was rich, handsome, and he had the whole world in the palm of his hand. He would never be interested in a girl like me for the long-term. I swore, if it weren’t for the fact that one day I wanted to have children, I would just swear off all men and live alone. I didn’t like when someone got into my head like that, and Blaine was right there, burrowed into my skull.

“Hello there,” Leena said, coming through the side doors. “How are all my animals? That includes you too, Reese.”

“Gee, thanks.” I giggled. “And everyone is happy and healthy. I’m really glad we hired that weekend care staff. It’s a load off of my shoulders.”

“I know, I told you,” she said indignantly. “You need a life. I need a life. We need to not always be at work, and luckily, we’ve gotten to a financial point where we could make that decision. Speaking of weekends, how was the wedding?”

“Man, it was amazing,” I said, shaking my head. “Caroline really went all out with the thing. I don’t know how she did it. It would have been a full-time job to get that thing together like that.”

“Must be nice having daddy’s purse strings,” Leena commented. “But that is just my raging jealousy talking. If I were in her position, I would have done the same thing.”

“There were flowers everywhere, at least three hundred guests, and her dress—oh my god—it must have taken hundreds and hundreds of yards of tulle to make,” I said while filling the jars at the cleaning station. “I don’t even know how she fit through the door.”

“And the men? Did you meet any amazing ones?”

“Is that all you think about?” I asked.

She laughed. “No, but it’s important that my best friend starts to break out and have a good time.”

“Well, it just so happened that I did meet someone,” I said, sticking my tongue out at her.

“What? Do tell. Everything. Don’t leave anything out.” Leena pulled up a chair.

“It wasn’t that exciting,” I said, looking down. “He was charming and sweet, but I knew what he wanted, and it wasn’t what I did.”

“How did you know?”

“Well, he didn’t exactly come out and say it, but he’s rich, powerful, and very good friends with Caroline’s brother Caleb, who is a notorious playboy,” I replied. “His name was Blaine, and he asked me for my number, but instead of playing games, I just told him the truth.”

“Which was?”

“I wasn’t the girl he was looking for,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders and walking over to put away the supplies. “Why string him along and make him think anything was going to come out of it? I wasn’t going to sleep with him, and he wouldn’t be interested in a normal girl like me.”

“You are unbelievable,” Leena said, shaking her head and putting the chair back.

“Why?”

“You had a handsome, rich man hitting on you, and you blew him off before you even found out what he wanted,” she replied. “For all you know, he could have been Prince Charming, but you’ve got this fear, and I don’t know where it came from.”

“It came from the fact that all men want the same thing,” I replied harshly. “They are all identical. They want to take whatever they can and leave, and to be honest, that is not at all how I want to play things. I would be much better off being alone than being some sad girl weeping into a pint of ice cream and watching chick flicks when I get dumped for something I already knew was coming.”

“Or you can be miserable and alone because you never want to take a chance,” she said. “Honestly, Reese, I just want you to be happy. I want you to be well and settled, and I want you to find love. On top of all that, you shouldn’t have to be a virgin forever.”

“Well, even if I wanted to find him, even if I could find him, he has probably already forgotten about me,” I said, turning back to what I was doing.

“If you never take the chance, you will never know,” Leena said, walking from the room.

I waited until she was out of the room and slammed the papers down on the table, lowering my head. I was so terrified of getting hurt, of being on the giving end of unrequited love, and of falling in love with someone that just took my virginity and never wanted to see me again. I didn’t want to be sad and alone on birthdays, holidays, and parties. I didn’t want to be the girl everyone knows is heartbroken, and the best way to avoid that was to not take chances on men I already knew were after something I was not. Still, Blaine’s ice blue eyes would not leave my mind, and I wondered if somehow maybe, Leena might be right.

I took a deep breath and put the thought out of my mind. I had a lot of work to get done. There were six dogs being picked up, and I wanted to make sure they were dressed, looking good, and smelling wonderful before their owners arrived. After that, there were four new dogs coming to stay with us for at least a week each, so the pens would have to be cleaned and taken care of. I went to work bathing the dogs and talking to them like they were humans. At least twice, Leena stuck her head in the door and shook it at me, realizing I was using the dogs as therapy again.

As I finished up bathing the last dog, my cell phone rang. I let the dog go, dried off my hands, walked over, and looked down at the screen. I didn’t recognize the number, but there were still a few websites with my private number listed, so I figured it might be a customer calling. I cleared my throat and pulled the phone to my ear, taking in a deep breath before answering.

“Hello, this is Reese,” I said professionally.

“Well hello there, just the girl I wanted to talk to,” the deep voice on the other line said. “This is Blaine from the wedding.”

“Blaine,” I repeated, too shocked to say anything else.

“Yes, Blaine,” he said, chuckling. “You know, the guy you blew off in the parking lot?”

“Oh, yes,” I said, blushing. “I, uh, I’m sorry about that. I realized afterward that it must have been insanely rude of me.”

He chuckled. “It’s all right. I have to say, though, I’ve never scared a girl off like that before, and it stuck with me. To be truthful, you stuck with me all weekend, and I hope you don’t get upset but Caroline gave me your number. She pretty much said the same thing you did, but I couldn’t let it go until I had the chance to talk to you again.”

“Okay,” I said, wondering where this conversation was going. “Look, I’m not a snob or a man-hater. I’m just careful when it comes to dating, I guess.”

“I don’t blame you,” he replied. “I’m a man in this dating world, and I honestly feel horrible for the good women out there that are serious about meeting someone.”

“I suppose it’s tough out there,” I replied, still unable to find the words.

“Anyway, I wanted to call and invite you to dinner tomorrow night,” he said.

“Oh, I mean, I don’t know. I have a lot of work to get done.” I automatically came up with an excuse.

“We all have work, but we all have to eat, too.” He laughed. “Look, I’m not expecting a thing. I would just like to get to know you a little better and have some nice company for dinner.”

Everything in me was screaming “yes,” especially when his charming smile and gorgeous eyes started to run through my mind, but for some reason, I was apprehensive. Maybe it was because I was so drawn to him. Maybe my need and desire to be around him was terrifying to me because I wasn’t sure if I could control myself with him. I was curious about who this man was, what he was about, and what he was really looking for.

“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get some dinner,” I replied. “Where would you like me to meet you?”

“How about the Tin Room at seven?” he asked. “I can have a car pick you up if you’d like.”

“No, I’ll be okay,” I replied. “Thank you, though. I will see you tomorrow at seven. And thanks for going out of your way to get ahold of me. It was sweet.”

“Thank you for being receptive,” he replied.

We said our goodbyes before hanging up. It was an awkward conversation because I was awkward, but I knew that I’d made the right decision by agreeing to go out with him. He had gone through extra effort to spend time with me. I wasn’t sure what more he could do to prove that it wasn’t all about sex. Part of me was nervous and apprehensive, while the other part of me was excited and ready to go on this date already. I was intrigued by Blaine, and I was really interested in finding out more about him. He was definitely forward, and he went after what he wanted, which I never thought that I would find attractive in a man. However, as I sat there thinking about how he pursued me, I could feel the butterflies churning in my stomach.

“Hey,” Leena said, startling me. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” I said, shaking my head and grabbing the shampoo off of the counter to put back in the cabinet. “I just agreed to go to dinner with Blaine.”

“Wait, what?” she asked, shaking her head. “I thought you didn’t give him your number.”

“I didn’t,” I responded with blushed cheeks. “He got it from Caroline and called me.”

“Well, congratulations,” she said, smiling.

“For what?”

“For taking a chance and stepping out of your comfort zone,” she replied. “I don’t know if this guy will turn into anything, but maybe it will help you open up to future opportunities. You know, loosen you up and make you realize that the dating world isn’t that terrifying.”

“Maybe,” I said with a smile. “We will find out tomorrow night.”

“And it’s an excuse to buy a new dress,” she said, wagging her eyebrows and smiling as she walked from the room.

I chuckled to myself as I gathered my things and looked over at the fresh, clean puppies. Part of me was terrified, but the other part of me knew that I had made the right decision and that Leena was right. I needed to start putting myself out there. Who knew? Maybe, just maybe, Blaine wasn’t what I thought he was. Maybe he was exactly the guy that I was looking for, and this dinner could be the start to something amazing. At the same time, I knew it could also be the start to something that could end in heartbreak. Being a virgin put a lot more pressure on me in the dating world, and most guys were not going to wait around for me to finally decide to sleep with them.

I could only hope that Blaine was different, and I didn’t start my new venture back into the dating world with a complete asshole.

Chapter 7

Blaine

From the time I woke up that morning until the time I looked over at the clock in the evening, I had Reese on my brain. I wasn’t the kind of guy that chased after a woman, especially if she wasn’t interested in seeing me in the first place, but this girl was different. There was something about her that really intrigued me and made me want to know more. Not only was she sexy as hell but she was awkward in a way that made me feel like there was someone really amazing underneath that shy persona. That, or she was a complete idiot that didn’t know how to talk to people, although I couldn’t see Caroline being friends with someone like that.

I could feel the nerves rising in my stomach, and I felt completely out of my element. I was always in control of my emotions and actions, but with the time drawing closer, I could feel myself losing that control and replacing it with nerves. I felt like I was on trial, like I was the one who had to go in and prove myself, but instead of being angry about that fact, I was nervous, desperately wanting her to loosen up around me. She was intimidating but not in the normal way a woman could be, but instead, in a fragile way that made me pause my normal routine with women.

I looked over at the clock and realized it was getting late. I needed to wrap things up at the office. I saved the files that I was working on and closed them out. It was the first time I had ever put a woman before my work, and although it made me nervous, there was no way I was missing this date over a few unfinished files tonight. I closed down my computer and stood up, straightening the cuffs on my shirt before pulling my jacket over my shoulders. I walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows in my office and looked out at the lights of Philadelphia, wondering what Reese was thinking in that moment, wondering if she was just as nervous as I was. I thought about the different dates I had been on in the past, and I still couldn’t think of one that gave me as much trouble as this one was.

I took in a deep breath and walked over to the door, making sure I had my wallet and keys before flipping off the light and heading for the elevator. The office was empty since everyone else had left over an hour before. I always worked late and was used to the silence of the building, but this time, my heart was beating in my ears. I climbed into the elevator and took it to the lobby where I waved at the security guards as I passed. Outside, a car was waiting for me like usual, and I climbed inside, giving them the instructions on where I wanted to go. As we drove along the crowded streets, I looked out the window at the people making their way home. I couldn’t deny that it felt good to be leaving work to meet this girl. Being alone was tiring after a while.

As we rounded the corner to the block where the restaurant was, my stomach did flips, wondering if she would be there already or if I would have a chance to order some wine beforehand. We pulled up out front, and the valet opened my door, nodding his head as I climbed out. I walked up to the doors of the restaurant as the hostess opened them and smiled kindly at me. When I got inside, I looked around the old warehouse that had been renovated into an upscale, new age restaurant. My eyes fell on my beautiful blonde date, sitting at the bar. I told the waitress we were ready for the table before walking over and putting my hand on her back.

“Hey there,” I said, smiling. “Sorry I’m late. Work was busy.”

She smiled. “You’re not. I’m just always early to everything.”

“You look beautiful.” I smiled, staring down at her short black dress and high heels. “Shall we?”

She nodded her head and followed me to the table. I pulled out her chair and pushed it in as she sat. I crossed over to my seat and sat down, ordering a bottle of wine from the server and letting out a deep breath. I looked across the table at Reese who was sitting quietly, her hands in her lap, and looking all around the restaurant.

“This is a cool place,” she said. “I like how they reused old warehouses instead of building new buildings.”

“Yeah,” I replied. “I really like what they’ve done with the older areas. They have spruced them up and given them an artsy appeal. I was hoping you would like this place when I suggested it.”

“It’s very cool,” she said, smiling. “So, Blaine, tell me about yourself.”

“Well, I own a tech company, Butler Technologies, and I—”

“Wait, you own Butler Technologies?”

I laughed. “Yes. I usually don’t tell people that because of that exact response.”

She blushed. “I’m sorry. It just took me by surprise. Please, go on.”

“That’s about it,” I said, chuckling. “I work constantly. Work is my life.”

“How did you meet Caleb?” Reese asked.

“We grew up together at the boys’ prep school that we attended in Lancaster,” I replied. “We’ve been in and out of trouble with each other for a very long time.”

“That sounds like me and Leena, my best friend,” she said, laughing. “We’ve been best friends since I met her at a summer art camp years ago, and she is a trip.”

“What do you do for fun?” I asked.

“Well, I’m pretty quiet and reserved,” she said sweetly. “When I’m not working, I like to just relax. Sometimes, I take a trip to the country to see the scenery, and sometimes, I just lay around the house watching movies and bonding with my fleece blanket.”

“That sounds amazing,” I replied, smiling. “To just lay there and not have anyone bother you. I would give anything for that.”

“So, do it,” she said. “Turn off your phone and just do it. You would be surprised how many things can wait until you’ve had a mental health break.”

“That sounds good in theory,” I said, laughing. “But I can see people knocking down my front door if I don’t answer the calls.”

We continued our conversation, laughing at the little things that were so different but so familiar between the two of us. As the wine flowed and our tongues loosened, Reese began to relax, and I could see that she was having a good time. She talked to me about her life, her best friend, and her family, all which sounded incredibly similar to mine, just on a smaller level. She was gorgeous, and every time she laughed, her smile just completely brought me to my knees. I didn’t know what was happening to me, but I couldn’t imagine being around anyone else at that moment.

We ate dinner but skipped the dessert, the time ticking by quickly. We finished up the bottle of wine, and I called for the check, knowing what I wanted to ask next. I had never been in a situation like this before, where the girl I was with on a date had completely captivated me. Reese was interesting. She talked smoothly and calmly, but there was an awkwardness to her that I found endearing and mysterious. I knew there was a lot more to this girl than what I had seen there at dinner, and I wanted to find out what it was. I wanted to know everything about this girl that I could, including what her body felt like in my arms.

I paid the check, and we stood up, my body telling me how long I had been sitting in that chair. Dinner had definitely transformed into the longest date I had ever been on that didn’t include us rolling around naked in my bed. The crazy thing was, I didn’t want it to end. I could have sat there all night listening to her talk about her life, her dreams of traveling, and what she loved about Philadelphia. This had definitely turned into something more than what I thought it was going to be, and I was happy about that. I walked Reese outside and turned to her, smiling.

“Would you like to come back to my place and have another drink?” I asked, hoping the answer would be yes. “I don’t live far from here.”

“Oh, um, I can’t tonight,” she said, hailing a cab. “I have to go to work in the morning, and I need to be getting home. But thank you so much for this date. It’s been really lovely and surprising.”

She leaned forward and kissed me gently on the cheek, lingering for several moments. I could feel the heat surging through both of us, and I wanted to reach out and kiss her deeply, but I refrained. She was tender and fragile in a way, and I didn’t want to scare her off after getting her to loosen up as much as she had tonight. I didn’t know what to say to the fact that she didn’t jump at coming to my house, so I stood there, watching her blush.

“Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me,” I replied, slightly disappointed.

She climbed into a cab right after pressing her warm lips to my cheek once again, and she disappeared into the city traffic. The valet had already contacted my driver, who was sitting in front of me with the car, waiting for me to climb inside. To say that I was slightly disoriented by the way the date had ended would be an understatement. No one ever said “no” to coming back to my place. Then again, Reese was not your typical girl, and her turning me down no longer made me feel like I had no chance. She was so intriguing and mysterious, and I wanted to know more and more about her.

I climbed into the backseat of the car and watched as my driver shut the door. I pictured her sitting next to me. To my surprise, the image of her in my head didn’t show her next to me for one time only. I imagined her by my side like it was part of a normal routine. We weren’t even dating at this point, but I was starting to feel comfortable with the idea of being around her on a regular basis. I didn’t know what this girl had done to me, but there was no way that I was going to be able to leave her alone after this night together. She had enchanted me with just how real she truly was, and I knew that I had to continue to try to get her in my life… and my bed.

I sat back in the seat as the lights of the city passed me by and we came closer and closer to my penthouse. My imagination raged, thinking about her body, the way she moved, and how she had no preconceived notions or personal agendas. She just presented herself exactly as she was. She was sexy, grounded, and sweet, and I could tell she had a total heart of gold. It was completely blowing my mind how much I was into this girl, but instead of running away, I was dead set on keeping her firmly in my life. Still, I knew none of my normal tactics would work. I knew that I would have to learn to bend and move if I wanted to get her to stay.

When I got to my penthouse, I went upstairs and sat down on the couch, looking down at the remote. I flipped on the television and found a movie, smiling at myself for taking the time to relax. Reese was already affecting me in a positive way, and there was no way I was going to let this girl get away.

Chapter 8

Reese

It had been several days since I’d gone on the date with Blaine, and I couldn’t get him off my mind, not that he would really let me with his sweet texts and beautiful flowers. Friday at the office was my favorite day, the day that we really gave the pups some attention, groomed everyone, and played with the kitties for several hours. We prepared for the weekend crew to come in and took care of everyone, and I got to really get in some good fur-head time. On a normal day, I was so inundated with paperwork and normal care duties that I was losing the ability to really spend time with the animals, something that was important since it was the entire reason Leena and I started this business to begin with.

Lenna and I had arrived at work at the same time, exchanging smiles and going about our normal routine, getting the bathing and grooming stations all set up. It was our time to get prepared for the day, both mentally and physically, and we seldom started conversing until the first animal was on the table. Today, we were going to start with Bruno the Mastiff that would take both of us to wash. He was huge, but he was the sweetest and most loving dog I had ever met. I had fallen in love with him when we first started the business, and he had been coming to us for a couple years now, whenever his mom and dad had to go out of town.

I looked down at my phone as Leena poured the shampoo on Bruno’s head, laughing at his big face. He hated baths, but he would sit still for us since he knew he would get a treat afterward. I put my phone back in the pocket of my scrubs and reached up, massaging the soap into his fur.

“You going to tell me who you have been texting all morning?” Leena asked.

“I think you know.” I smiled, glancing over at the two dozen roses scattered about the office.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Leena replied. “He has brought you out of your shell. When are you guys going out next?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “He hasn’t asked yet, and to be honest, I’m really nervous about it. I really like this guy. He is sweet, generous, and is so very patient with me. On top of that, he has been doing things like relaxing, watching movies, and taking care of himself all because I told him that it was important. It’s like he really listens to me when I talk.”

“Wow,” she said. “You sound like you really like this guy.”

“I know,” I sighed. “And that is part of the problem.”

“Why in the world would that be a problem?”

“He’s already asked me back to his place once,” I said. “If I continue to see this guy, I am not going to be able to continue to just blow him off when it comes to going to his place, especially since I keep trying to tell him that sometimes, just being out of the public eye can make you so much calmer. I don’t know what to do.”

“I think that is bullshit,” she replied. “I think you know exactly what to do, but you are scared.”

“I mean what am I supposed to say?” I asked. “Do I just come out and tell him that I am a virgin?”

“Your virginity has been this evil ghost that’s haunted you your entire life,” Leena said, grabbing the spray and washing the soap out of Bruno’s fur. “You’ve let it control every relationship you’ve tried to have. Instead of focusing on this amazing bond that you’re developing, you’re missing all the good parts of the honeymoon period of a relationship because you are too worried about sex. For someone who doesn’t have any, you think about it more than any girl I know.”

“It’s important to me,” I said. “I mean, I’m not saving myself for marriage or anything, but I’ve waited this long, so I don’t see why I need to just give it up to the first hot guy that shows me interest. It’s a delicate situation, and I want to make sure I’m making the right choice.”

“Personally,” she said, finishing up the hose down. “I would just sleep with him and get it over with. I think you’ll realize that it’s not as big of a deal as you’re making it out to be. Not only will that give you a physical connection to this guy, but it will open up your emotional relationship, too. He’s already shown that he is not in it just for the sex, so why not take it to that level?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “What if he gets it and then is gone?”

“Then you learned a lesson,” she said, pouring the conditioner onto Bruno’s fur. “And you have started taking control of your own body. Right now, whether you want to admit it or not, you are letting your emotions control you, or fear of emotions actually. If you sleep with him and he leaves, you need to know that you are able to take a step forward and really embrace your sexual side. Do it for you, not for him. It will make you a stronger woman.”

“That sounds amazing in theory,” I replied, laughing. “But actually, taking those steps is what is hard about the whole thing. Opening myself up like that to someone I barely know seems terrifying.”

“Living the rest of your life letting your virginity dictate your decisions sounds even more terrifying,” she said, lifting her eyebrows and smirking.

We finished up with Bruno and walked him down to the drying area where he would sit and sleep under the warmth of the heaters, something Leena and I had come up with to make the drying process less strenuous on the animals. Throughout the day, we went from pup to pup, cleaning their pens after washing them and then letting them out to play once they had dried. I kept the words that Leena spoke in my mind and thought about it as I played with the kittens later that day. It was amazing how good these animals made me feel, and how I never felt pressured or stressed when I was around them. They were my sanctuary from the storm.

When we had finished up the cat play and all the animals were bathed and happy, we started cleaning up, talking about Leena’s dating schedule over the weekend. Just thinking about how much she put herself out there was exhausting to me, and I wasn’t the one going on all the dates. Personally, I was looking forward to going home, climbing into some comfy warm pajamas, wrapping myself in a fleece blanket, and watching movies all evening. I couldn’t even begin to think about planning to go out every single night over the weekend, plus for lunch on Sunday. Nope, not my style of things. As I finished wiping down the bathing tub, my phone rang, and I smiled at seeing Blaine’s number flash across the screen.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said charmingly. “What are you doing?”

“Just finishing up at work,” I said, smiling. “You?”

“The same,” he sighed. “Work never slows down. But that wasn’t why I was calling.”

“Okay, what’s up?”

“I want to take you out again,” he said bluntly. “I want to see you.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“How about dinner tomorrow night? It will be Saturday, relaxing, chill, and we can continue our conversation from before. I just don’t want to go another week without seeing you in person.”

“Tomorrow night sounds good,” I said, my heart racing. “What kind of restaurant?”

“I made reservations at Tres Leche, a fine dining place downtown,” he said. “I hope that is okay. I wanted to take you somewhere nice this time.”

“You would be surprised what I think is nice,” I said, laughing. “I’m pretty sure at this point, I would think Applebee’s was nice.”

“Then you will be blown away.” He laughed loudly. “Will five be okay?”

“That will be perfect,” I said. “Right when I normally start to get hungry. Oh, and thank you for the roses. They are stunning. My office smells so good now.”

“You are more than welcome,” he said. “I just wanted to brighten your day and give you a good start to your weekend.”

“Well, you definitely accomplished that.” I chuckled. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow at five at the restaurant then.”

“Sounds perfect,” he said. “I’ll text you later this evening when I get off work.”

“I’ll be here,” I replied, ecstatic as I hung up the phone.

I walked over and put my phone back on the table, standing and staring at the roses for several minutes. My heart was racing, and it started long before he asked me to dinner. Just the sound of Blaine’s voice sent electricity through my chest, and I hadn’t felt that way about anyone before. Going to dinner was going to be fun, but all I cared about was spending time with Blaine and getting to know him better. I knew that part of guys chasing a girl was trying to impress them, but I wasn’t most girls, and I would be equally impressed by a grilled cheese sandwich at the park. Still, I was going to relax and enjoy the time I had, getting excited about trying restaurants that I would never actually go to on my own. I had heard of Tres Leche. It was one of the most expensive and well received restaurants in the city. The chef had two Michelin Stars and came to Philly from New York after getting tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. Not that Philadelphia wasn’t a city, but it was much calmer than NYC.

“Why do you look all in a daze?” Leena asked, breaking through my trance.

“Blaine just asked me out to dinner at Tres Leche tomorrow night,” I said dreamily.

“What?” she asked excitedly. “Girl that is awesome. You know what that means. We are going to go out and get you something amazing to wear!”

“You always think about shopping.” I laughed.

“If I didn’t, you would walk around in yoga pants all day,” she pointed out. “You can’t wear yoga pants to Tres Leche, and you can’t wear your prom dress from five years ago, either. Yeah, don’t act like you didn’t save that thing in the back of your closet.”

“You never know when you will need a long puffy dress,” I pointed out.

“Yes, you do, and the answer is never,” she said, laughing. “So, finish up, and let’s get out there and go shopping.”

“Yes ma’am.” I laughed.

“This guy is like a billionaire, girl, we need to make you super put together,” she said. “You could totally never want or need for anything in your life if you snag this guy.”

“I don’t care about his money,” I scoffed. “He could be poor, and if he was an amazing man, then I would be just as infatuated.”

“You are hopeless.” She laughed and shook her head.

“No, I’m a nice person,” I replied.

“And I’m not?”

“You are.” I laughed. “I just meant there are things that aren’t important to me that are to you, and it makes us look at relationships differently.”

“I also grew up poor, while you grew up with the family that you have,” she said. “We have two different viewpoints on things, but that’s good since you’re a mess when it comes to relationships.”

“Too true.” I laughed, closing up the office.

I was going to go and pick out a dress, but I didn’t want it to just be any dress. I wanted it to be the dress. I wanted to see Blaine’s jaw drop when I walked through the door. I didn’t know why I wanted him to see me as a beautiful woman, but I was going to look hot as hell.

Chapter 9

Blaine

All day, all I could think about was the date I had that night. I woke up early, earlier than usual, and paced the kitchen, playing out every scenario possible in my mind. Finally, after about an hour, I started to overwhelm myself, and I took a deep breath, deciding that a workout and then breakfast was my best option. I had installed a home gym a couple of years before, so working out was as simple as walking into the other room and jumping on the treadmill. I started out with a four-mile run and then moved over to the weight bench, feeling like I needed to really exert myself in order to feel better. By the time I was done, my arms were burning, but my mind had calmed. I jumped in the shower and washed the sweat from my body, making sure that I washed meticulously, just in case I was able to get Reese back to my place that night.

When I was done, I threw on some sweat pants and a t-shirt, clicking on the heat since it had gotten pretty cold outside and the penthouse was more than chilly. I cooked myself a healthy breakfast and then went about my day, forcing myself to do the normal work stuff I usually got done on the weekends from my home office. When it was time to start getting ready, my nerves reappeared, but I figured there was nothing that I could do about them at that point. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the mirror, putting the finishing touches on my suit and staring at myself.

If I stood there any longer, I was going to second-guess my choice of clothes, which was a strange feeling, considering I had been confident my entire life. I grabbed my overcoat and keys and headed out of the house, ready to get this date started. When the car pulled up in front of Tres Leche, Reese was standing at the archway to the restaurant, looking absolutely amazing.

Her dress was tight, hugging her curves all the way to just below her knees. It had a plunging neckline and a playful, but sexy, satin belt that tied into a bow at her side. Her hair was loose and curly, cascading over her shoulders, and she was standing in five-inch black heels, clutching a small black purse with her faux fur stole draped over her shoulders for warmth. She looked absolutely stunning, and it almost left me breathless, just watching her standing there.

I sat there for another moment trying to gather my thoughts, blown away by the beauty of this woman standing there waiting for me. Once I had gotten myself together, I stepped out of the car and onto the curb, straightening my jacket and smiling big at Reese. Her cheeks blushed, and she grasped her clutch tighter, turning her knuckles white. I walked over and leaned in, kissing her gently on the cheek and smelling the sweet scent of her perfume. She smelled like vanilla and lavender, and it made my heart beat faster. In fact, she looked so amazing that I couldn’t even start to think about taking her inside and not showing her off to the world.

“You look absolutely stunning,” I whispered.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling and blushing. “I hope I didn’t overdress.”

“No, and even if you did, I wouldn’t want you to change,” I said. “You left me breathless when I pulled up and saw you standing there.”

“You’re sweet,” she said, already relaxing a bit.

“In fact, and shoot me down if you aren’t into it, but I want to say screw dinner at this stuffy restaurant and let’s go out on the town,” I said, putting my arms out. “The night is young, and you look too stunning to sit in one place.”

“All right,” she said excitedly. “Let’s do it. We’ll have an adventure.”

“I love adventures,” I replied, hooking her arm into mine. “And I know just where to start.”

I led her back to the car and opened the door, smiling as she climbed inside. Once we were in, I gave the driver the address to the first place we were going, excited to have a date like this. I was never the kind of person to throw caution to the wind and just make it up as I went, but there was something about being with Reese that made it feel safe. I knew this city like the back of my hand, and I wanted to take her to the most exciting places, and all in one night.

We still needed to eat, since alcohol would be involved, but there was a much more exciting place than Tres Leche. I looked over at Reese and smiled, watching her look excitedly out the window as we passed by all the other people making their way through the streets. It was still early, and I had already worked out a plan in my head. I wanted to make her laugh, see her smile, and push her out of her comfort zones, giving her no choice but to look to me for support. I wanted her to lean on me, to open up to me, and to begin feeling more like we were a couple than two strangers getting to know each other. There was no better way than to dive straight in, and this adventure just might be one of the most important I had ever been on. This adventure might bring me the girl I never knew I was looking for.

We pulled up to a street corner and got out, looking across the street at a small café that had tables set up outside and heaters to nip the cold fall air. It wasn’t quite fall yet, but the weather had already turned, and that just meant I could pull her closer as the temperatures dropped. I took her hand and carefully crossed the street, signaling to the hostess that there would be two of us.

“So, we are starting our adventure at my favorite restaurant,” I said. “It isn’t fancy or expensive, but I have spent many hours here contemplating my life, decisions for business, and escaping the high-nosed stress of fine dining. It has really become a part of my history.”

She looked touched that I would bring her to my special dining spot, and in reality, I was struck by it as well, since I had never brought a date there. We ordered wine and ate and laughed as the sun began to set behind the buildings. Reese was enchanting in ways I had never seen in a woman, and I couldn’t wait to continue the evening. When we were done eating, I paid the bill and ushered her back to the car, giving my driver the address of the next place. It took about twenty minutes to get there, and I was surprised when she reached over and held my hand. When we pulled up out front, she tilted her head at me, surprised that we were standing in front of the wildlife building.

“I want you to meet someone,” I said. “We only have a few minutes because they close soon.”

“Okay.” She laughed.

We walked through the building, looking at the exhibits quickly as we passed. Finally, we came to a special room, and I led her inside. She covered her mouth and shook her head as I led her to the edge of a large sanctuary where a female gorilla stood, grooming a small baby gorilla.

“This is Eliza,” I said. “I’ve been coming here for a very long time to watch her. She was rescued from a dangerous situation and was unfit to go back into the wild, so they brought her here. That was a rescued baby whose mother was killed, and Eliza immediately took him in, treating him as her own. She is my favorite thing about the area. A little, not well known, golden treat to Philadelphia.”

“She is amazing,” Reese gasped. “I love her. This is very special. Thank you so much for bringing me here.”

When we left the sanctuary, Reese was relaxed and clung to my arm as we moved back out to the car. After that, we went to a club where we danced the night away, laughing and goofing off with each other like I had never done with a woman before. She made me feel young and free, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. For the first time ever, I was enjoying the company of a woman without constantly thinking about how to get her back to my bed.

By the end of the night, we were both drunk, but not from alcohol, from the excitement and fun of the evening. In fact, as we made our way back to Reese’s car, I realized that neither of us had anything to drink after the wine at the restaurant. We had both just naturally opened up to one another without any aided intoxication. When we got to her car, I opened the door and walked over to it with her. She pulled out her keys and turned back to me, her eyes glistening in the city lights. She leaned up and kissed me gently on the cheek, falling back to her position and shaking her head.

“That was probably the most fun I’ve ever had in this city,” she gushed. “Thank you so much for such a lovely evening.”

I stared at her for a moment, trying to decide whether to invite her back to my place or not. I didn’t want to ruin such an amazing night by making her think it was all about sex, but I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. As if she could read my mind, her cheeks blushed, and she smiled.

“I’m not ready to come back to your place just yet,” she said kindly. “But I want you to know that you are definitely on the right track, and I don’t mean because you spent money or complimented me. I feel wonderful when I’m with you, like you’re not just a date, but a friend as well. Thank you for that. You don’t find men that often who are willing to just let go and be there with a girl without thinking about how to get her into bed.”

“You’re definitely the most interesting woman I have ever met,” I said, reaching down and taking her cheeks in my hands. “I can’t wait until the next time we see each other.”

I leaned down and gently pressed my lips against hers, feeling her shoulders relax and her body lean into me. When I pulled away, she kept her eyes closed for another minute before smiling and turning red. I chuckled at her reaction but knew exactly how she was feeling since my heart was beating out of my chest.

“Goodnight,” I said as I opened her car door and then closed it once she was carefully tucked inside.

I hopped back in my car and watched her pull off, feeling like I was on cloud nine. I could tell she was being very careful with intimacy, and that was okay with me. This girl had turned my world completely upside down, and I was more than okay with waiting until she was ready. I could already tell that no matter what we were doing together, every date was going to be an adventure from here on out. Just being by Reese’s side felt like an adventure.

Chapter 10

Two Weeks Later

Reese

Our Friday wasn’t as busy as normal because it was that tiny bit of off season before everyone started to leave and go out for vacation for the holidays. I didn’t mind it so much because I had so much on my mind. Leena and I had decided that instead of eating lunch at the shop, we would treat ourselves and go out to the café down the street that we really liked. We raced through the morning preparations, washing the few dogs we had and giving some extra loving time to the cats who were staying with us. When it was around noon, we locked everyone up and headed down the street for lunch, grasping our coats around us as the wind whipped through the streets. It was definitely colder than normal, and I could tell that the winter was going to be nuts this year. It was extra work for us when the winters were bad since the dogs couldn’t be left outside too long, but there was nothing more amazing than a white holiday season.

As we walked, I looked around at the shops which had started to prepare their fall lines for the sales that always blew up around this time of year. It may be a little early for everyone else, but I was more than excited to see the fall colors and winter accents in all the shop windows. Leena and I decorated the shop every year during the holiday seasons, and I couldn’t wait until it was time to start doing so. We ran a holiday special that usually left us completely booked, and our schedule for the next couple of months was already packed. It was a good thing we were treating ourselves now to lunch because two weeks from that point, we would be bogged down with a full house and no time to even think about eating outside the building.

We walked into the café and took a seat in the back corner, both ordering coffee as we perused the menu. They had the best sandwiches, and I decided that it had been too long since I had a Philly Cheesesteak in my hometown. Leena ordered the same, and we gave the menus to the waitress, both taking in a deep breath and relaxing in our chairs. I hadn’t had the time over the last couple of weeks to really sit down and talk to Leena about anything, and it was nice not to have dogs barking in the background.

“So,” Leena said with a smile. “How are things going with you and Prince Charming?”

“So amazing,” I said, shaking my head. “We’ve seen each other at least eight times in the last two weeks, and it still doesn’t feel like enough. When we aren’t meeting up, we spend the evening talking on the phone and laughing the whole time. He isn’t the stuffed shirt, business guy that I thought he was at the beginning.”

“What do you guys do on your dates?” she asked.

“Gosh, everything.” I laughed. “We go to the zoo, we go to different eating places, trying out new things, we walk through the parks. I mean, we pretty much do whatever we want in the moment. Sometimes, we plan to do something, and we end up sitting on a park bench somewhere, just talking forever. He is this shining example of class and manliness on the outside, but on the inside, he is this nerdy tech guy that is just as awkward as I am on the outside. It’s really amazing.”

“What about the sex stuff?”

“Well, we’ve kissed and fooled around a little, but he knew I wanted to wait from the second date,” I said. “And he has been so amazingly patient with me, it blows my mind. It’s like he is okay with it.”

“So, are you going to continue to abstain?”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about that a lot,” I said, taking a deep breath. “We actually have plans for tomorrow night, and I decided that I want him to be my first. I’m really nervous about it though, especially since I haven’t told him that I am a virgin.”

“Are you kidding me?” she asked. “Guys dream of having a virgin. I’m not trying to make Blaine seem like just another guy, but it’s like a thing among men.”

“I just don’t know what to expect, you know?” I said, feeling embarrassed. “My parents never had the talk with me, and they were never open enough for me to ask questions to. I went online last night and looked up some things, but everything on there is like a horror story about these girls’ first times.”

“God, don’t do that to yourself,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t research shit like that. It’s really not that crazy, scary, or painful at all. Besides, you are not sixteen anymore. I distinctly remember that you and I bought those dildos at that sexy party thing we went to a few years back. Have you ever used it?”

“I have,” I said, blushing. “A couple of times.”

“Good,” she said. “Then unless he is like Mr. Horse Dong, it shouldn’t be painful at all. You might feel a bit awkward in the positioning of things. That is to be expected, but if you tell him ahead of time, then he should be able to take the lead. Don’t be afraid to go with your gut feeling when you are with him. If you want to touch him, touch him. If you want to let go and just feel everything, then do that. Sure, sex is about both of you and the connection and passion, but this is your first time, so it’s all about you.”

“I want him to enjoy it, though,” I said nervously. “I don’t want to fumble all over him and make him regret it.”

“Trust me, he will enjoy it. He is a man.” She laughed.

Leena continued talking about her first time and giving me pointers on how to relax and not be so nervous, but my anxiety only grew stronger. I wanted this to be natural, not pushed or forced, and I wanted him to enjoy being with me as much as I would being with him. This was not only my first time, but our first time together, and after reading Vogue and how important sexual chemistry is to a relationship, I didn’t want to blow it because I didn’t know what I was doing. Awkward was okay with conversation, but it was not okay when it came to sex.

Blaine was a good guy. I had already figured that out after hours of us talking and laughing. He put his hand on my back when we stepped down off curbs, he led me through doorways, he opened doors for me, and he wrapped his arms around me and blocked the wind when we were out in the park. He did all these little things to make me feel comforted and cared about, and I knew it wouldn’t be any different when it came to having sex. Even though I knew he would be gentle and take care of me, I was still nervous as hell. A million thoughts ran through my mind. I didn’t want to be embarrassed, and although I never thought he would make me feel that way, I knew my own mind very well and knew that if anyone could embarrass me, it would be my own brain.

Having sex for the first time was a big deal, even if I was already almost twenty-four years old. I had kept it intact this long because I wanted it to be with the right guy, and although I didn’t know if Blaine and I were a forever kind of thing, I knew that he was the one I wanted to share this with. No matter how many times I reminded myself that he was a good guy, I was still terrified to tell him I was a virgin. What if he didn’t feel the same way about me that I did him? What if he thought taking my virginity was too much of a responsibility for him to handle?

I had been in non-serious relationships before, and they always turned out in a similar fashion. The guy did not want to wait for me, even though they started out the relationship saying they would. Those that did stick it out found it too much to be the one to take my virginity and ended up splitting before I even had the chance to make up my mind. I was terrified that I was going to reveal my secret to Blaine and he was going to take off, not wanting anything to do with something like that. Part of me was also scared that once he got laid, he wouldn’t be interested anymore, and although I knew that meant he wasn’t worthy from the start, I wasn’t ready to let this relationship go that quickly.

Why did sex have to be so complicated? Everything seems so damn stressful. However, I knew firsthand that not having sex made things just as complicated, just on a different level. Dating was such a mess, and I could see now why I stayed away from it for so long. However, there was no going back at this point. I was already smitten with Blaine and had made up my mind that I wanted to give my virginity to him. I wanted to be with him in more ways than just long talks and crazy laughter. My heart knew that it wanted to take things to the next level. I just wasn’t sure how to get my brain to go along with it all.

“You look nervous,” Leena said, taking a bite of her sandwich.

“I am,” I said, shaking my head. “There are so many unknowns about all of this, but that doesn’t change my decision. He is the guy I want to lose my virginity to, and I guess, in the end, I will just have to see what happens afterward. I mean, if he breaks my heart, I’ll survive. Everyone else does.”

“That is very true,” she said. “And I’ll be there to supply the vodka, ice cream, and chick flicks. But in all seriousness, if he really likes you as much as it sounds, I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

“I hope not,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “In reality, I have no idea what to expect out of any of it, but after I get through the first time, hopefully it’s a lot easier after that.”

“Oh, it is,” Leena responded. “You will get comfortable with your body and realize that you are in control of your sexuality. Your confidence over your body will spill out to your partners, and in no time, you will be a pro.”

“I don’t know if I want to be a pro.” I laughed.

“Yeah, that came out wrong.” She giggled. “I didn’t mean a ‘pro’ like a prostitute. I mean just comfortable enough to really enjoy sex with your partner. You got this, I promise. Stop worrying so much.”

I gave Leena a brave face, but in reality, I wasn’t feeling so brave on the inside. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore, so I pretended that her words gave me comfort and changed the subject to work, knowing she would go along with it. We had quite a bit to do when we got back, but we should be ready to get out of there by five at the latest. Then I could go home and drive myself crazy a little bit more, knowing that on Saturday I would be getting ready to make a huge change in both my personal life and my relationship with Blaine. Tomorrow night, I would lose my virginity.

Chapter 11

Blaine

I pushed my fork around on the table cloth in front of me, waiting for Reese to arrive. It wasn’t often that I was early, and I was starting to see that it was a good thing. I was still just as nervous to see her weeks later as I was on the second date when we had our very first adventure. Things had definitely progressed since then, and I was having the time of my life laughing and sharing things with Reese. I had to admit, it was a little difficult keeping my hands to myself, but I was hell-bent on respecting her wishes to wait on jumping into bed, and I even found it relatively refreshing, basing my feelings on her personality and not what was going on in the bedroom.

I was absolutely lusting over her, but it was more than just her body. It was everything about her. Just as the thought went through my mind, I looked up to see her walking into the restaurant. She looked amazing as usual, and tonight, she was wearing a long-sleeved, tight dress that was way shorter than normal, black stockings, black stilettos, and her hair was cascading over her shoulders. There was something about her I couldn’t put my finger on, but my mouth immediately dropped open.

“Wow,” I said, standing up and kissing her on the cheek. “You look absolutely amazing.”

“What? This old thing?” She laughed with rosy cheeks, and I couldn’t help but melt.

“How was your day?” I asked.

“It was good,” she said. “Relaxing and quiet.”

“Good,” I said. “I got some work done, worked out, and then watched a movie before I got ready. You have inspired me to do something relaxing at least once a day, every day.”

“It makes you feel better, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does,” I replied, reaching out and taking her hand. “And seeing you makes it even better.”

We ordered some wine and food and sat there talking about our weeks, our friends, and what we had planned for the next week. I couldn’t help but notice that Reese seemed a bit different, nervous almost, but I figured it was just the excitement of the evening and put it out of my mind. When we were done eating and the check had been paid, we walked out onto the sidewalk, and she leaned in, kissing my lips gently and moving up to my ear. My heartrate increased at the smell of her lavender and vanilla perfume, and I held my breath as she whispered into my ear.

“I’m ready to go back to your place,” she said. “But I have to tell you something first.”

“You can tell me anything,” I said, pulling her close.

“I’ve never been with anyone before,” she said, the heat of her cheeks radiating onto my skin. “I’m a virgin.”

I could feel her body tense as the words escaped her lips, and I made sure to hold onto her tightly. She was nervous, and everything started to make sense again. She had waited all this time to make sure I was the man that she wanted to give her virginity to. She had carefully picked every aspect of her outfit, meticulously done her hair and makeup, and held onto this secret throughout our entire dinner. I could feel her trembling against me as she waited for my response.

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled my face back, looking deep into her eyes. There was nothing more I wanted at that moment then to be the man that gently and carefully made love to her for the first time. It was exciting and not because she was a virgin, but because she and I were about to go back to my place and I would finally get to run my hands down her beautiful body.

“I promise that I will be gentle with you,” I said, leaning in and kissing her softly as I pulled my hands around her face.

I could feel the exhalation of her breath, and her body no longer stood rigid in mine. I wasn’t positive if that was the right thing to say or not, but I did my best to assure her that this was everything that I wanted with her. I pulled my lips from hers and took her by the hand, leading her to the car. We rode in silence, my arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulling her close, not wanting her to feel a bit of anxiety if I could help it. She was so beautiful and so strong, but in this moment, her frailty and fears were radiating from her soft smooth skin.

When we arrived at the complex, I helped her out of the car, and we walked inside, hand in hand. We took the elevator up to the top floor and walked into the penthouse, my AI greeting us as we entered. Reese looked around wildly as the voice echoed through the empty apartment, a smile crossing her face when she realized what was going on. We walked into the living room, and I dimmed the lights, watching as she stood looking out over the city, still clinging to the shawl around her shoulders.

I walked toward her, feeling the air of excitement in my chest, not knowing where to start or what to do. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and stared out at the city, watching the lights twinkle and glimmer in the skyline. She leaned her head back against my shoulder and sighed, everything beginning to feel just right and perfectly comfortable. She looked up and over to each side of the room, taking in the enormity of my place. She shook her head and smiled.

“What?” I whispered.

“Your place is beautiful,” she said, turning around and walking into the living room. “It’s like something out of a magazine.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “I have a house in the country, too. I just don’t get to go there very often.”

“Is it like this?”

“No, it’s more comfortable and country inside,” I replied, my eyes moving down to her firm ass. “I used to vacation there or work remotely from there when I needed to clear my head, but the last year or so has been insane, and they have needed me in the office, so I’ve stayed on site.”

“It’s funny,” she said, turning toward me. “Everyone thinks that when you own your own business you are free to do whatever you like but in reality, you are more tied to that location than any employee you have. You can’t just take a vacation and know that things will be taken care of while you are gone.”

“And when there is an emergency, no matter what you are doing, you have to tend to it,” I replied. “I was at my Aunt’s funeral last year and had to leave in the middle because there was a major hacker attempt on the system. It was terrible, but I knew I was the only one that had the knowledge to combat it, and it could have single handedly taken the company down.”

“Why would someone want to hack your company?”

“It was a long story, maybe for another night,” I said, walking closer. “Why don’t I take your cover up?”

I pulled the shawl from her shoulders, and she stood there, her eyes gleaming into mine. I folded it neatly and set it on the kitchen counter, wanting to make sure she knew where her things were. I walked back over to her and leaned in, kissing her gently on the lips and running my hands down her arms. I could feel her hands trembling at her sides, so I kept my hands moving, clutching them tightly in mine and pulling her close to me. I didn’t want her to be nervous. I wanted her to feel completely comfortable with me. I wanted her to trust my hands and trust my eyes. I wanted her to enjoy every moment of us being together and make this the most memorable experience she had ever had to that point. For a man, losing his virginity is expected. For a woman, it was a very special gift, and I had been given the honor of receiving it.

She looked up into my eyes as I held her tightly, my lips grazing over her neck and across her cheek. She breathed heavily in my arms as I attempted to comfort her and close the distance between us, both physically and emotionally. I reached my hands up and cupped her face, moving my lips over her closed eyes and gently kissing them one at a time.

My mouth trailed down her face and pushed against her mouth. This time, hotter and needier. Her hands grasped the back of my shirt as she leaned into me, a small moan escaping her lips and echoing into my throat. My tongue moved across her soft skin, and she opened her mouth, letting me in to explore. We kissed passionately, our hands moving up and down each other’s bodies, feeling every inch of each other getting closer and closer.

When the kiss was done, I pulled away and reached down, grabbing her hand and pulling her through the kitchen and down the hallway to my bedroom. We walked inside, and I closed the door behind us, pulling her to the foot of the bed. I ran the back of my hand down her neck and to the zipper on the back of the dress. Slowly, I pulled the zipper down, running my hands across her exposed back and up to her shoulders, where I pulled it down and allowed it to fall to the floor. She looked up at me with heat in her eyes as she pulled her hands up and began to unbutton my shirt.

She pulled my shirt up, untucking it, and unbuttoned it. My shirt fell open, and she leaned forward and ran her warm lips across my collar bone. Goosebumps ran over my entire body as she pushed my shirt from my shoulders and onto the floor. Her fingers trailed down my chest and stopped at my belt, carefully undoing the leather strap and unclasping the button. She looked up at me as she pulled down my zipper and allowed my pants to fall to my ankles. The pressure of my hard cock received some relief. I stepped out of my shoes and tossed my pants to the side, turning back to her as she unclasped her bra and allowed her large, firm breasts to spill out. I reached up with one hand and massaged her breast while dipping my head down and taking the nipple of her other one in my mouth.

As my tongue flickered across her nipple, she moaned lightly, her hands running down my stomach and hooking into the top of my tight black boxer briefs. My heart was beating quickly as her fingers got closer and closer to my dick. I wanted to feel her hands on me, I wanted to taste her skin, and I wanted to know what her tight, wet pussy felt like. My head moved back up to hers, and I kissed her as I stepped forward, pushing her gently down on the bed. She knocked her heels off of her feet and laid back as I slowly rolled down her thigh-high stockings and tossed them in the chair. She scooted back in the bed, and I looked down at her beautiful, perfectly sculpted body, ready to show her pleasure she had never experienced before.

I reached up and pulled her black lace panties from her body, down her legs, and tossed them on the floor. I ran my hand over my bulging cock as I stared down at her wet mound, licking my lips and preparing to dive in head first. Slowly, I crawled across the bed toward her, stopping to part her legs and settle into position. I was going to make her come with my mouth, and then I would be able to feel just how amazing this beautiful woman felt around my cock.

Chapter 12

Reese

All I kept thinking to myself was how shocked I was that I was actually doing this. I was finally losing my virginity, and to one of the hottest men I had ever met. He was so gentle with me, but at the same time, he let me take the lead on how sensual I wanted to make myself feel. I laid there, staring up at the ceiling, feeling Blaine’s hands trailing down my thighs and over to my wet mound where he pushed through my folds and ran his fingers through my juices. I gasped, feeling his hands on my body, but that wasn’t anything compared to the feeling of when he dipped his head down and trailed his fingers with his warm wet tongue. I moaned softly, remembering that this was about me as much as it was him, and I was ready to let it all go, letting him give me the full experience.