“Thanks for meeting me for lunch. I feel like a horrible friend,” Jordan says as we finish eating our lunch at a deli not far from my firm. I haven’t seen Jordan since the day Jake showed up over a week ago.

“You’re in love. I think spending all your free time with your boyfriend is to be expected.” I try my hardest to keep a snarky tone out of my voice, but when she starts to frown, I know I must’ve failed.

“I know you don’t like him, but I think things are different this time. At least they feel different. Definitely better.”

I force myself to dampen my concern. “I hope they are.”

“He’s retiring from football, at least he’s not playing anymore, and he moved all the way out here so we could work on a life together.”

I hold my hands up. “Jordan, you shouldn’t have to defend yourself to me. I know I can be a bitch. The truth of the matter is I don’t have to like him as long as you do. And if he’s treating you right, then I’ll keep my opinion to myself.”

I met Jordan close to a year after my world went dark. I was living in hell pretending to be happy when I stumbled across a girl who looked as heartbroken as I felt. Little did Jordan know, I used her pain to get through my own. Helping her put one foot in front of the other happened to remind me to do the same.

“I know, but it would be nice if my best friend got along with my boyfriend. It would especially be awesome if she could be in the same room with him and not purposely push his buttons.”

“So I like to remind him you had a life for ten years that didn’t include him. That’s his fault for being a dumbass.”

She groans again, which makes me feel bad. I tap my finger on the table. “I’m never going to join the Chase Adams’s fan club, but for you, I’ll consider giving the man a break.”

Her face lights up. “I think that’s one of the nicest things you ever said to me.”

With a smirk on my face, I flip her off.

“How’s life with Morgan?”

This time, it’s me who smiles. “She moved out. I have my place all to myself again.”

“She couldn’t have been that bad. You’re just a moody bitch, especially when it comes to your sisters.”

“You don’t see me denying that.”

My phone buzzes with a text. Without thinking, I swipe my phone open.

I quickly put my phone away.

“Is that Caleb? I told you this is why you never should’ve tried to set us up. Now he avoids me at all cost.”

“He’s not avoiding you. He’s in court today.”

“Still, I feel bad for how things ended.”

“He’s moved on, believe me.”

Jordan pulls out enough cash to pay for both of our meals, but I protest. “No way.”

“Stop it. You’ve never let me pay you back for your plane ticket when you flew to Arizona. A few lunches for the rest of my life is the least I can do.”

I roll my eyes, but I cave and give in. “Fine.”

“Look, I need to get back to the office, but call me soon. I really do feel bad for neglecting you.”

“Whatever,” I mumble, knowing that in the last week I haven’t thought much about Jordan, or her current situation with her very own football god.

With a quick smile and nod, Jordan breezes out of the restaurant, leaving me to do the same.

The sun is shining bright today, and while it’s only thirty degrees, it feels warmer than it has in months, so I decide to walk back to my office while thoughts of Jake play in my mind.

Yesterday, I woke up with him next to me, and it actually felt good. So good it bothered me for a while. I keep telling myself I don’t like him, but it’s hard to keep up the charade, least of all to myself.

We spent the rest of the day lounging around my apartment. We had sex more times than I could count, we ate three meals together, and I could tell he was hoping I’d ask him to stay the night again, but I couldn’t. I needed my own space. I had successfully blocked out the day before, but my emotions were slowly getting the best of me. After Jake kissed me goodbye, I laid down in my bed where I was surrounded by his scent, and I allowed myself to finally cry—a big, ugly cry where years of suffering finally worked its way out.

My thoughts, along with my body, slam into something. The air whooshes from my chest seconds before I fall to the ground. “Oh fuck, I’m sorry,” I say when I see a man on the ground next to me. I must’ve walked straight into him. “I didn’t see you. I…” My voice trails off when I notice the same man from the other night staring at me.

“Please, I need your help,” he mumbles as he attempts to right himself in what appears to be the same dirty clothes he was wearing the other day.

Logically, I know I’m safe. We’re surrounded by people on a busy sidewalk, but a crushing fear starts to consume me.

“I just need to take you with me to—”

I scramble to my feet and start racing down the sidewalk to my firm. Once I’m safely inside the building, my heart rate begins to slow.

The last time I saw that man, I was close to my apartment, but this time, I was only a couple of blocks from where I work, and the two are nowhere near each other. That has to mean he’s following me. An uneasy feeling rakes through me at the same time I can hear my dad ranting about how I’m going to get mugged, or worse, walking around New York by myself all the time.

I’ve lived here for eleven years. This city feels like home to me. I’ve never once felt any anxiety living here. I’ve been in some fairly questionable places in my younger years, but nothing compares to the jitters that man has caused.

On the subway home, I found myself scanning everyone around me, looking for the man who’s apparently following me, but I didn’t see him. Instead, I got the heebie-jeebies when a rather bizarre man in tight leather pants sporting a camel toe decided it was acceptable to constantly touch me. His leg bumped into mine. He fingered my hair, but when his lips brushed against my ear, I had enough and snapped. I grabbed his long Bon Jovi hair and threatened to knee him in the balls if he touched me again. Surprisingly, my new admirer—along with everyone around us—gave me some much-needed breathing room afterward.

By the time I reached my stop, my mood was in the gutter, but I forced myself to stay alert on the walk to my building. When I finally made it to my apartment, I almost whine with frustration when I spot Jake.

“What are you doing here?”

His brows bunch. “I told you. I made plans for us.”

Slowly, my eyes wander from his sexy brown eyes down to his collared shirt and tie, to the dress slacks that caress his hips. My mouth starts to water as stylish Jake is unbelievably hot. Normal Jake is sexy as hell, but the polished version reminds me of the men I work with—only with Jake, it sets my body on fire.

“We have tickets to a show; otherwise, I’d be all over those dark, lustful eyes of yours, but we might be late as it is.”

“You have tickets to a show?” I repeat in awe.

“I was told shows in New York are a must see, so I figured I’d take you and see what all the fuss is about.”

“I’ve never been to a show before.”

He smiles. “Then let’s go lose our theater virginity together.”

I glance down at my outfit. I still have dirt on my skirt from when I hit the sidewalk earlier. “Let me change? I’ll be really quick. I promise.”

“Whatever you want.”

I start to roll my eyes at his effort to impress me, but I force myself to stop. I don’t have to be a bitch all the time, and I shouldn’t be one to a man who probably dropped a serious amount of money on last-minute tickets.

I race to my room and grab out my favorite black dress. The neckline is a little too low cut for court, but this dress fits me perfectly. It’s usually my go-to dress when we’re heading to Club Zen on a night I’m looking for more than just a drink. Tonight, it’s going to have to work its magic on Jake, because he looks like a million dollars.

I pull my hair down and run a brush through it before changing my shoes. I reapply my lipstick, grab my coat, then I rush to the living room where I find Jake waiting for me.

“Holy shit,” he mumbles as he takes me in. “You just went from a sexy-as-fuck lawyer to every man’s fantasy in less than five minutes.”

I smirk, but truthfully, I love his comment. I typically feel sexy after I drop money I don’t have on lingerie at Barney’s, but that doesn’t happen often.

“Are you ready?”

“For a night with you?” His eyes gleam. “Absolutely.”

I force myself not to react to the flutters in my stomach. I’m not used to feeling this way, and my first reaction is to call bullshit, but Jake claims he’s trying, and hell…maybe he really is.

“Come on, let’s go.” Jake holds out his arm for me.

I hesitate for a moment before I lace mine through his.

“I wasn’t sure how early you’d get home so I made us reservations for dinner after the show.”

“That sounds perfect. I had a big lunch.”

Jake flags down a cab like a pro and then tells him exactly where we need to go. “You’re starting to get the hang of this. I think I lived in the city for close to three years before I finally knew how to get around.”

“Don’t be too impressed. I did a lot of research online.” He gives me a weak smile, almost as if he’s embarrassed.

“Well, thank you. Outside of lunch with Jordan, I was about to chalk it up as a crappy day, until I saw you.” My throat starts to swell from my confession. I meant the tickets and dinner, not him…but that’s not totally true.

“I do tend to have that effect on a lot of people.” He smirks, and all I can do is fix him with a glare. “But it takes a lot more effort to impress you, so I’m going to take that as a compliment.” He gives me a dazzling smile, one that would have me out of my clothing and ready to mount him if we were back at my place. “None of that. At least not until later, unless sex in public is legal in New York?”

I groan. “No, actually it’s not. I think the city might want to consider posting a sign every few blocks reminding people it’s against the law. If they did, my client list would be a hell of a lot shorter.”

Jake laughs. “Shit, you sound like you work on an episode of Judge Judy.”

“More like an episode of The Walking Dead. I can’t reason with most of my clients. On the very rare occasion, I’ll defend someone who truly made a mistake and just wants to move on, but most of the time, it’s outlandish people who think they’re above the law.”

My eyes dart down to the seat when Jake’s hand slides over mine. “Do any of these people ever get mad and take it out on you?”

All the time, but I know what he’s getting at. It’s the same question my dad regularly asks, and the answer is no. I’ve never had a client come after me because of the outcome of their case.

“No,” I weakly answer, wondering about the guy from earlier as the cab pulls up to the theater and stops.

Jake pays and then grabs my hand again.

“School of Rock?” I’ve overheard a few of my colleagues talking about how awesome this show is.

“I’ll be honest…” Jake sighs. “Getting dressed up and watching people on stage singing and dancing doesn’t hold a lot of appeal to me. I’d rather be drinking a beer and watching Sports Center from the luxury of my own couch, but I thought I’d go out of my comfort zone and try something new.” He cups the side of my face. “With you.”

My stomach starts to turn with flutters as his dark eyes penetrate mine. We both know he was referring to more than just tonight, but my anxiety gets the best of me. “It’s cold, Girard. Maybe we should go inside?” I tilt my head with a grin, avoiding his heavy stare.

Instead of acting annoyed, he gives me a coy smile. “Then let’s get out of the fucking cold.”

Almost thirty minutes pass before we’re finally in our seats. I swear every woman we walked by stopped to stare at Jake, and truthfully, I can’t blame them. He must’ve had a haircut because his sandy-blond hair is shorter on the sides today, but it’s still longer on top. And a few days’ worth of stubble decorates his chin. I can’t figure out if he’s growing a beard or just being lazy, but either way, the scruff is smoldering on him. Add that to his suit, and he looks like he belongs on a movie set, not a football field.

“Maybe you were right?” I mumble.

“I’ve gotta say, I love hearing those words come from that beautiful mouth of yours.” Jake gives me a wolfish smile.

“Don’t get used to hearing that. Your head is already too big. The last thing I’d want is for it to finally explode.”

Jake laughs and squeezes my hand. “Do tell. What am I right about?”

I glance around, feeling people’s eyes on us. “Maybe more people recognize you than I thought.”

Jake’s eyes thin as he glances around. “I don’t think anyone here recognizes me.”

“People were staring at us, believe me.”

“Lacey, if anyone’s looking at the two of us, it’s because they’re wondering how a man like me could have a woman as beautiful and classy as you on my arm.”

“Jake,” I sigh with frustration. “Sometimes you make my ears bleed.”

Instead of getting pissed, the jerk laughs again. “If we go a whole night without a sarcastic comment, I might have to run you to a hospital or check your purse for a gun. You could be plotting my death.”

I force myself not to laugh as the lights dim and the show starts. Jake drapes his arm over my shoulder, reminding me that this is a real date.

I’m not sure how, but in a matter of only days, it feels like my life has changed. I’m not about to fool myself into believing I can keep a man like Jake, but he’s pointed out to me there’s more to life than just working. When he does finally leave, I’m positive I’m going to be smacked with the reality of how lonely my life really is, but maybe…maybe it’s time I finally put one foot in front of the other and start walking toward a life I once upon a time dreamed was possible.