Epilogue

JACK

Two weeks later . . .

 

I shift on my feet, flowers in hand, anxious for Noely to open the door. I hear her running down the hallway followed by the sound of the door being unlocked. When she opens the door, she acts casual, but from the glint in her eyes, I can tell she’s excited to see me. Hell, I’m just as excited to see her.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Hey.” She bounces on her bare feet and then throws her arms around me.

This will never get old.

Her face presses against my chest, her small body wrapping around mine. I kiss the top of her head. God, this feels so right. “I brought you flowers, and food should be here any minute. Can I come in?”

Looking up at me, she beams. “Of course.”

She takes the flowers from me and walks into her kitchen. I follow closely behind her, making sure to shut the door. I lean against the counter, taking in her pajama-clad body while she puts the flowers in a vase. “How was your day?”

“Much better now that you’re here.” She plops the flowers in water and turns toward me. Without a second thought, she buries her lithe body against mine, her arms wrapping under my suit jacket.

Two weeks of this, two weeks of calling this woman mine, two weeks of dinners, dates, and long walks on the beach, stopping occasionally to dance beneath the stars. It’s been incredible, everything I could have asked for when it comes to a partner in life.

“I caught the show this morning.”

“Yeah?” She guides me to her couch where she pushes me down on the cushions and takes a seat on my lap. “Did you like the segment we did on booze in eggnog?”

“Watching Dylan’s face while taking a sip of each spiked drink was priceless.” I chuckle. “But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

“No?”

I shake my head, my hand playing with the hem of her short pajama shorts, my fingers grazing under the fabric occasionally. From beneath her shirt, I catch the puckering of her nipples, and yes, immediate hard-on.

“No, I wanted to discuss that little dress you had on today.”

“The green sequined dress?” She plays with my tie, starting to undo the tightly wound Windsor knot.

“Yeah, that dress.” I move my hand up her thigh, under her shorts where I find she’s not wearing any underwear. “It was quite short, don’t you think?”

Expertly her fingers free my tie and she pulls it from around my neck only to toss it on the floor. “I don’t think it was short at all.”

“Really? That’s interesting, because from the way I saw it, it almost seemed like you were trying to tease me while you were on the show today. You know how much I love a short dress on you.” Some men like a low-cut dress, but me, hell, there is something about Noely in a short dress that about makes me lose all concentration. To say I was useless for the rest of the day was an understatement. All I could think about was my girl in that dress.

While she fiddles with the buttons on my dress shirt, she smiles seductively. “I might have chosen it with you in mind, hoping you caught the show.”

“That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.” I move my hand out from her shorts and up her shirt where my fingers graze her bare stomach. “You in that dress distracted me all day.”

She giggles. “My mistake.”

“Yeah, right.” In one swift movement, I pin her to the couch and hover above her where I take off my dress shirt and then position my hands on both sides of her head. Her eyes rake over my bare chest, filling with heat while her tongue wets her lips with a smooth stroke. I brush a piece of hair off her face. “You’re so beautiful, Noely.”

Moving closer, I bring my lips to just above hers where I hear a hitch in her breath. “But because you tortured me all day long with that image, I think I might have to torture you now.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and brings me in even closer. Whispering, she says, “Do your best work.”

God, this woman. So fucking addicting.

I don’t waste any time. I plunge forward, my lips on hers, my tongue spreading her mouth, granting me access. One of my hands reaches below and moves the hem of her shirt up where I find that she isn’t wearing a bra either. She knew what she was doing all along, tempting me, torturing me . . . and hell if I don’t like it.

As my mouth tangles with hers, my hand connects with her breast, and I pluck and squeeze her nipple, forming it into a tight little bud. Her back arches, filling my hand with more of her breast, her moans fresh off her tongue, rolling into my mouth, making this moment that much hotter.

Reaching between us, Noely unbuckles my pants and pushes them down over my ass along with my boxer briefs, exposing my hardened length. Pressing forward, before she can grip me, I run my cock along her flannel-covered crotch and revel in how I can feel her arousal beneath me, how I can feel how wet she is.

“Yes,” she moans again, now tilting her chin up, giving me access to her neck. I take advantage of her offering and bring my tongue down the sweet, silky column, before I remove her shirt up and over her head.

While I move my lips to her breasts, she shucks her shorts, twisting her legs in and out of mine until she’s free of all fabric. Lying completely naked beneath me, writhing, and clinging to my hard body, she begs for more.

From the night we had our second date until now, we haven’t been able to keep our hands off each other. Almost every night we’ve stayed at each other’s houses, starting with conversation—usually—and then fucking each other on every surface possible. Tonight is no exception.

“I missed you today,” she rumbles beneath me.

“I missed you, baby,” I whisper in her ear, moving my lips to her mouth before I move my hardened length over her slick arousal.

“Mmm,” she moans, her hips rocking against me, the feeling so fucking good. “More.”

I know I said I was going to tease her, but there is no way in hell I can stop myself now. I need inside her right fucking now.

Grabbing the base of my cock, I find her center and, in one thrust, plunge myself forward. I swallow her moan with my mouth, eating up every last piece of pleasure rocketing through her as I bury myself so deep, so fucking deep.

Tight and smooth, so good, so addicting, so everything.

Using the couch as leverage, I grip the cushion below her, and play with her nipple with my other hand while I pull away from her mouth and stare at our connection, rocking in and out of her, in and out.

She tightens around me, her moans growing louder, her grasp on my arms magnetic. Moving quicker now, our impending orgasms on the brink, I keep my eyes fixed on our connection and every once in a while glance up to see Noely writhing beautifully, her lips parted, her breath gasping, and her eyelashes fluttering shut.

Faster, harder, longer . . . I swivel my hips and pinch her nipple. Her walls contract around my cock, the feeling so constricted, like there is no more room left to go. But I push in harder only to hear her gasp out my name, her back arching, and her fingers digging divots into my skin.

“Yes, God, yes!” Her body stiffens, her center thrumming around me, squeezing me so damn tight it only takes a few more pumps until I reach my orgasm. Gripping the couch tightly, I still as pleasure ricochets up my legs to my core and then down my arms, consuming me in euphoric bliss.

It has never been this good. Ever. There is only one reason why.

Snuggling in close, I fall to the couch and wrap my body around Noely, shucking my pants with my feet so they aren’t in the way. I bury my head in her hair and squeeze her tight, which makes her giggle.

“What’s so funny?” I ask, talking to her hair.

“You’re such an oxymoron.”

“Why’s that?” She smells so fucking good.

“Because, you act like this tough, stern businessman, when in reality, you’re just a giant softy who loves to cuddle.”

“And you’re complaining because?” I kiss along her neck.

“Not complaining at all, just making a statement, letting you know I’m onto you, Jack Valentine.”

I take a deep breath. “You should have known the first day we met I wasn’t truly the man I project on the outside, especially when we spent some of the night dancing under the stars while the waves crashed at our feet. I may be ruthless between office walls, but I’m a true romantic at heart.”

“You’re so right.” She turns in my arms and presses her soft hand against my rough jaw. “From the very beginning, I should have known you were NY152. It makes the most sense. The grand gesture, the love for Tom Hanks and using him as a way to reach my heart. Then you were able to make another profile. I guess in the moment I was blind. Scared.”

“But your heart wasn’t.” I kiss her lips.

“It wasn’t even in the slightest bit blind. It was incredible really. Every time you were around, even when I was on dates with the other guys, when I ran into you, my heart started pounding like I’d just finished running a marathon. I don’t think I told you about my date in the themed kitchens. But I was so confused that night. My heart beat loudly for you in your presence, when I ran into you blocks away from the venue. But I now think my mind protected my heart a little when out of range. I hate that we wasted precious time, but I also think it made us work harder to ensure we were certain about us.” This isn’t our first discussion about this. Maybe second or third. But it never gets old knowing from the very beginning, her heart connected with mine. And knowing she doesn’t hate me for stalling us.

“Is it pounding now?” I run my hand between her breasts, loving how soft they feel, and press my hand against her chest, the beat of her heart thrumming into my palm.

“Always when you’re around, Jack.”

I snuggle into her some more, because now? I can. I will never let go.

***

One Month Later . . .

 

“Babe, if you don’t get your pretty little ass out here in the next five minutes, we’re going to be late.”

“Almost done.”

Yeah, that’s what she said ten minutes ago.

Feeling impatient, I take another look at my watch, the second hand ticking away, causing a light sheen of sweat to form on my brow. We can’t be late. What is taking her so long?

“I’m sure you look great, Noely. No need to spend too much time in front of the mirror.”

“Jack, don’t you dare rush me.”

I run my hand over my face, calming my temper. “Well, maybe if you didn’t spend two hours at Dylan’s today you wouldn’t be running late.”

Note to all men out there: don’t take the route I am when trying to usher along your girl so you’re not late. Fuck, that’s not going to go over well. I should have taken my own advice.

“Excuse me?” Noely calls out, anger etched in her voice.

I’m already deep with that comment so might as well keep digging.

“You knew we had this party tonight,” I say casually but with a slight hint of nagging. Yeah, nagging. That’s what I’m resorting to at this point.

“And Dylan had an emergency and needed my help.”

“Don’t you think her husband could have helped her out? Finding a wart on your foot doesn’t necessarily scream best friend emergency to me. That’s more of a run to the store moment for wart removal.”

“Jack.” Oh, that tone. Shit. Noely raises her voice. “It’s a wart, a WART! We soderized that bitch right off her foot.”

“Now when you say we, you make it sound like you two actually did it, when the doctor just lasered it off. You didn’t have to be there.”

“Are you insane?” Noely is still calling out from the bathroom. Time is ticking away. Can’t we argue in the car on the way to the party? “A laser was coming at my friend, a freaking laser. Of course I was going to be there and hold her hand. She’s terrified of lasers.”

“And this party is important to me. You knew that.”

Is this our first fight? It seems like it, unless this qualifies as a disagreement.

There is a slam of the door and Noely’s heels click down the hall to the living room where I’m sitting on the arm of my couch. Hair bouncing with curls and her lithe body tucked into that goddamn green sequined dress, she puts her clutch under her arm and gestures toward the door, anger in her movements. “Well, let’s go before you have a coronary.”

She strides toward the front door, but I stop her by her elbow. Her scent is the first thing that hits me, sweet and seductive, then her hand comes to my chest from the abrupt stop in her movements.

I tilt her chin up so she has to look at me. “Hey, you look beautiful.”

“Nope.” She shakes her head. “Not going to happen, mister. I’m mad at you.”

I move my hands down her back and cup her ass, the green sequins burying into my palms. “You can’t be mad at me when I’m mad at you.”

“What?” She pushes against my chest but I keep my hold on her, not letting her budge. “How on earth are you mad at me? For being a good friend?”

“No, for putting Dylan over me. You knew this was important to me, Noely.” My hands slip further down her dress to the hem and then slowly start to pull the tight fabric up.

“I didn’t put Dylan first. I’m ready, aren’t I? I’m here, ready to go.”

“That’s not what I mean. We had plans for today. We were supposed to watch Catch Me if You Can and have pizza before this party.” I slip the dress up and over her butt and she barely flinches when I grip her bare ass, causing a wave of lust to shoot up my spine. “Instead, I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and watched a rerun of some Hallmark movie on TV by myself.”

The anger that once laced her eyes morphs into understanding as she steps into my embrace even closer. “Are you telling me, you wished we’d hung out today instead of you being alone? Did you wonder if I was going to make it to your party?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. When we get the chance, which is usually on the weekends with our schedules now, I want to spend as much time with you as I can get.”

She stands on her toes and presses a kiss against my chin, not even caring that I’m moving her dress even farther up her body . . . to her ribcage.

“Aw, you were lonely today.”

“I was.” I pout, loving the affection she’s bestowing upon me. I know, a pouting businessman, what’s that about? You’ll see in a second.

I move her dress up even higher until I reach her breasts. “You know, any higher and that dress is going to be off my body. That’s really going to make us late.”

“That’s the point, babe. You know you can’t wear this dress and get away with me not taking it off the minute I see it.” I undo the zipper on the side and peel off the rest of the dress until she’s standing in front of me completely naked. I am such a fucking lucky bastard. Standing back for a second, I run my hand over my jaw and study her. “Well, fuck. What am I supposed to do now?”

Closing the distance between us, she presses her body against mine and says, “I owe you a little loving, don’t I? I don’t like to make you sad.”

She rubs against my body, my cock swelling instantly. See, this is what a simple pout can get you. But don’t overuse it. It’s a powerful tool only to be used when absolutely necessary. Like when you’re late for a party but want to fuck your girl so bad that you fake being sad so it’s okay.

I take in the time on my watch and then smile at her. “Looks like we’re going to be late.”

***

Two Months Later . . .

 

I stand behind the cameras, hand in pocket, watching Noely light up the room and the cameras pointing directly at her. She’s electric, so full of life, funny as hell, and compassionate. Not to mention incredibly beautiful on the inside and out.

When I originally started the Going in Blind restaurant, I never expected to find love. I only put myself in the running so we had a few profiles to test, but the second I saw that I matched with Noely and reading her profile, and then secretly watching her “casting” video, the one only staff are allowed to view, I had to go out on a date with her, even though I wasn’t looking to be matched. I knew at that moment I had to get to know this woman, and hell am I glad I did, because the woman who’s horribly trying to juggle her mimosa glass and a hedgehog has etched her way into my heart.

She’s the one.

Easily.

Hands down, I’m going to marry her one day.

I’m going to marry her so fucking hard.

“Thank you for stopping by today, James. We always enjoy having you on the show,” Noely says. Turning toward the teleprompter, she reads, “Until next week, Malibu, have a beautiful day.”

A ringing sound echoes through the set as Kevin starts wrapping up the crew. I stand off in the back as Noely wraps up and removes her mic, all the while eyeing me from behind the obtusely large cameras. Dylan says something to her I can’t make out, which makes Noely laugh loudly, the sound so beautiful. Her smile lights up my heart, and the way she speaks so kindly to the crew around her, it reminds me of how kind her heart is.

When she finally breaks free from the set, she runs up to me, her heels echoing against the cement floor. She flies into my arms and kisses me hard before pulling away and entwining her fingers behind my neck.

“You’re back.”

“I am.” I link my arms at her lower back, loving the feel of her in my arms again.

“How was Japan?”

“Would have been better if you were there.”

“Did you bring anything back for me?” She presses another kiss against my lips, this one chaste and entirely too short for my liking.

“I did.”

“What is it?”

“A silk kimono just like you asked for, but there is one rule you have to follow when wearing it. You have to be completely naked underneath it,” I whisper in her ear.

Her short intake of breath does something to my insides. God, this girl. Irresistible.

“Is that so you can feel me up anytime you want?”

“Pretty much.” I nod toward the exit. “Come on, I have two more things to give you.”

For a brief second we stop in her dressing room to get her purse and then head to my car where I help her into the passenger side. When I join her, instead of turning the car on, I face her and can barely hold back the grin stretching across my face.

She pokes my cheek. “Why are you so happy?”

“I missed my baby.” I grip the back of her head and bring her lips closer to mine where I nibble on them for a few seconds before pulling away, just as she was starting to deepen the kiss.

“More kisses,” she says, trying to bring me closer to her again.

I hold up my finger. “In a moment. First, I want to give you this.” I reach into the glove compartment and hand her a piece of paper that she unfolds. On the inside, I’ve scribbled down every single Tom Hanks movie and point to the movie title on the bottom.

“What this?”

“We’ve watched every Tom Hanks movie together besides one.”

She scans the list and then shakes her head. “Not possible. We’ve watched that together.”

“We haven’t. I’ve kept track. Ever since our second date, I knew I wanted to watch every movie with you, so that’s when I made this list. And every movie we’ve watched, I’ve checked them off.”

“So you’re telling me, we’ve never seen You’ve Got Mail together?”

I shake my head. “Never.”

“Well, that’s just . . . that’s . . . God, that’s so wrong.”

“Tell me about it.” I chuckle. “Which brings me to your second gift.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a small box.

“What’s this?” she asks, looking stunned.

“Not what you think it is. Believe me, when I ask you that question, it won’t be in my car outside your work.” I nod at the box, “Go ahead. Open it.”

Chewing on the side of her lip, eyeing me, she opens the box and pulls out a key. “What’s this?”

“You know, Japan to LAX is a really long flight and it got me thinking. Why the hell are we splitting our time between two houses when we can just have one?”

Smiling brilliantly, she asks, “Are you asking me to move in with you, Jack?”

“I am. I’m asking you to move in with me and watch You’ve Got Mail. I can’t think of a better way to commemorate moving in, can you?”

She shakes her head. “You’re unreal, Jack.”

“So is that a yes?” I smile, hoping it is.

“There is no way in hell I could possibly say no to you.” And with that, she closes the space between us once again and kisses me. She kisses me so fucking hard that I feel dizzy from lust, lust for this woman, the one who so easily captured my heart and showed me that the saying is true, your mind might be blind, but your heart never is.

From the very beginning, our hearts knew, we were meant for each other. It only took a date with a suit, a rebel, and a jock to figure it out.

BECK

Six months after his date with Noely . . .

 

“Dude, you have to come, it’s going to be the party of the century.” Chris takes a sip from his beer and watches the dance floor, his elbows leaning on the bar behind him.

I bring my water to my lips right before I say, “That’s great and all, but I wasn’t invited.”

“You don’t need an invitation.”

“Chris.” I give him a pointed look. “It’s a wedding. It’s not like a birthday or company party that I can get away with going to, but a wedding has seat arrangements and actual invitations.”

“Semantics. Just hang out at the bar the whole time and pick off people’s plates when they’re not looking. Hell, I even think it’s a buffet, so you can grab a plate and eat it in the bathroom.”

“As much as scarfing down a wedding meal next to a urinal is appealing, I think I’m going to pass.”

The music switches from a fast-paced salsa, to a slow, seductive melody. Couples on the dance floor immediately fall in step with the song, their moves slow and methodic. Hell, what I wouldn’t give right now to be out on that dance floor. As a guy, dancing alone to a sexy song reads a little strange, so I keep myself firmly planted next to my good friend, Chris, who works behind the scenes at Going in Blind. He was the one who set me up with my profile, the one who keeps egging me on to try it again. But after the night I ran into Noely at the restaurant, right before she chased after someone else, it’s been downhill from there. The girl I went on a date with that night was . . . blah. Zero personality, trying to impress me with her cleavage showing ways, which granted, I took advantage of because I am a man.

But there was nothing there, no spark, no urge to take her on my bike, so I said good night and went on my way. I wasn’t ready. Noely had been right. I still had things to sort through. She was so goddamn gorgeous, so my physical attraction to her made complete sense. She’d been warm and funny, and I wish I’d been ready in some respects. But I get it now. I understand what she meant about emotional connection.

Since then, I’ve spent time learning about being single, and even though it’s been good for me, to focus on the things that matter the most, my charities, I’ve felt like I’ve been missing something.

And I think I know what it is.

Can you guess?

Sex.

Fuck, I miss sex. The last time I had anything remotely close to sex was with Noely. I’m pretty sure my balls have turned to dust by now; one wrong move and they’re going to evaporate into the air for good.

Why haven’t I been fucking my way through Malibu you ask? Because no one has snagged my attention. There has been no interest on my end, which is insane since I’m so fucking hard up. I feel like my penis is going to fall off.

“Just think about it, man. You need a vacation. The wedding is in the Florida Keys at the Hemingway House. You can crash the wedding, eat with your urinal, get your dance on, and have some crazy, no-strings-attached sex with one of the bridesmaids. There are at least three that are single.”

No strings-attached sex, huh . . .

“Crash someone’s wedding? You’re serious.”

“Dead serious.” He takes another sip of his drink. “Justine and I booked two rooms just in case we decided to bring the kids, but if you go, we’ll make it a parents only weekend and leave the kids at my mom’s.” Turning toward me, looking sadly desperate, he says, “Please, dude. Please crash this wedding. Please take that extra room so I can have wild island sex with my wife. Do me this favor and grant me this one wish.”

“Can’t you find someone else to take the room?”

“Nope, I tried. And you know Justine. She’s not going to eat the money on the room. So right now, we’re taking the kids.”

I run my hand over my hair, unsure. This is crazy. I’m not Vince Vaughn or Owen Wilson, primed and ready with a fucking bro code on how to crash a wedding. But, a mini vacation does sound good. And honestly, Chris has been there for me through the hard times. He and Justine do actually deserve this time away too.

“When?”

“Dude!” Chris pulls me into a hug and then holds my shoulders as he stares at me. “I can’t even tell you how excited I am.”

“I need the details first.”

With a knowing smile, Chris sips his beer and says, “Oh, you’re fucking coming. It’s a done deal.”

Unfortunately, I think it is. I think the final lure was hearing two words—fucking and coming. Yeah, I got it bad.

Look out, unsuspecting couple. I’m about to crash your wedding.

 

***

 

Beck’s story, TWO WEDDING CRASHERS, the second book in the Dating by Numbers Series is coming this MARCH/APRIL! Followed by Hayden’s story, ONE BABY DADDY. To be the first to find out about release dates and be one of the first to preorder, click . And don’t forget to add the books to your TBR!

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