by Nina Levine
She rolls her eyes and releases a sigh. “Why do people, especially men, think I ruin them? It’s a small procedure, twenty minutes, max thirty, and you’re on your way.”
Guilt floods me. “Sorry. Look… I’ll go and be back just before five.” Reaching for the door handle, I pull it open, and Dylan follows closely behind. When we step into reception, the assistant glances between us.
“There’s nothing on the computer for me to charge…” She looks to Dylan for what she should do.
Dylan picks up a notebook and slides it across the countertop toward me. “Write down your friend’s name and address.”
With a smirk on my face, I scribble Deacon’s name down on the paper in front of me.
She then hands it to her assistant. “Charge this person, please. Since he thought it would be fun to waste my time.”
“Oh, okay.”
Dylan steps around the counter, stopping in front of me. “I’ll see you soon. This is going to be fun.” A wicked smile twists on her lips.
“You do realize you’re acting a little creepy.”
“I don’t care. People—men, in particular—already think I’m crazy. Because, apparently, I castrate them.” She shrugs.
My balls act as though they’ve hit freezing water and quickly go into hiding as I zip my jacket. “I’ll catch you later, Dylan.” As fast as I can, I hightail it out of there. Once outside, the tightness in my jeans relaxes.
Don’t worry, buddy. There’s no way she’s getting anywhere near you with a scalpel.
4
Dylan
What the hell did I just do?
I face Charlie, slamming my hands on the counter. “I have a date with that man tonight.” The words pour out of my mouth like a broken tap. “Why did I do that? I must look like a desperate fool.” I smack my palm to my forehead because I didn’t get his number to cancel.
“What?” Charlie’s eyes go wide.
“His friend booked him an appointment as a joke. Told him he had to get a urine test done. So as payback, I told him he has to come to dinner at my mom’s…tonight.”
She rises from her chair. “Wow. You need to go buy something new. I’m not letting you wear your office clothes. Not that they’re not stunning, but you need something else, something less doctor and more woman. You’ll take the dark knight’s breath away with some tight jeans and a closely fitted top. Flaunt what you’ve got, girl. You have all the curves, and they’re in all the right places.”
My eyes flutter down, and I stare at my clothes, the black pencil skirt and a loose, button-up red top tucked in don’t do much in the flattery department, but I retort, perhaps a bit snappier than I intend, “There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing.” Nerves flutter around my stomach as though they are performing a dance in a life-and-death situation. I’m not a person who gets nervous, but Cole has me all twisted in knots. It’s then that I blurt out, “Sorry,” knowing Charlie is only trying to help.
“Of course there’s nothing wrong with what you’re wearing, but think about it. What was the first thought when you saw him? Mine was, holy hunk-a-licious.” She giggles.
“Mine was, Damn! Scarlett has brought my dream man to life simply by speaking my possible dream man out loud. Oh, hold up, he told me I should probably Google him after he left.”
Charlie falls back into her chair and speed types. “Oh. My. Goodness.”
“What?” I race around and stare at the familiar face on the screen. Videos and even a Wikipedia bio has popped up.
“He’s, like, a big-time supercross legend. You hooked yourself a bad boy, Dylan. Oh, yeah!” she cheers.
I’m speechless, not knowing what to say but saying the first thing that pops into my mind. “Perhaps I should cancel tonight.”
“No, you’re not allowed,” Charlie yells. “You’re going to head out and purchase a new outfit and then come back here to get ready. Chop, chop. Oh, and your cell has constantly been ringing.”
“That’s got to be Scarlett.” I hightail it back to my office and scoop my cell off my desk.
Four missed calls and a heap of messages.
Scarlett: Tell me more!
Scarlett: I know you’re in an appointment, but ring me asap.
Scarlett: I NEED details! NOW!
I hit her name, and it starts calling immediately.
“Give me all the details.” The words hit my ears before I can even sense she has answered the phone. Quickly, I fill her in on the entire conversation and how he’s now coming with me to my mother’s house for dinner.
“Charlie’s told me to go buy some new clothes.” Glancing at my watch, it’s another hour and a half before Cole’s supposed to return. “Shouldn’t what I’m wearing be okay? I mean, it’s only one date, which I basically forced him into.”
“Go buy something. Get going right now and send me pictures. Oh, and I want a phone call or text message letting me know how things are going or how they went. I’m living vicariously through you right now. I’m a homebody these days.” She ends the call, and I’m left staring at the screen when a message comes through.
Unknown: Hey, it’s Cole. I suggest you change out of that sexy little skirt because I’m bringing my bike.
What.
The.
Hell.
I’ve never been on the back of a bike.
What if I fall off?
Or die, even.
Staring down at my cell, I start the walk back to Charlie. “Well, looks like I’ve got to at least buy some jeans and a jacket because, apparently, I’m going on the back of a motorbike.”
Charlie squeals. “Let’s go now. When we come back, I’ll finish up the end-of-day paperwork.” She reaches under her desk and produces a handbag.
I don’t move.
“What the hell are you waiting for? Go. Get your bag. Hurry up.”
Her hands touch my back, pushing me along. Meanwhile, my insides feel like there is an electrical storm coursing through my very being.
“I’m not sure, Charlie. I’ve got his number now, so I can easily cancel.”
“No!” she shouts. Then, clearing her throat, she says, “Do you want your mother on your back for the rest of your life? Take him to maybe one or two dinners, and then tell her it ended. At least then she’ll know you’re trying to date.”
“I have been dating, but none of them have been worth my time or effort to take back and meet my mother. She would eat them for breakfast. Or they would run screaming before she gets through her first round of twenty questions,” I joke.
Though, knowing my mother, she’s going to peel back every layer of this man.
What he likes.
What he hates.
She’ll, of course, want to know about his ex-girlfriends.
If I am being honest, I’m a little scared for him.
5
Cole
On the street, I pull my cell from my pocket and call Deacon. He answers, laughing. “Dude, that wasn’t cool,” I say.
“I wish I could have seen your face when she asked you to get your pants off.” He chokes on his words.
“Luckily, we didn’t get that far. But because of you, I now have to go on a date with this woman. Oh, and you’ll be getting the bill.”
Deacon becomes silent. Yeah, not so happy now, sucker.
“How did that happen?” he finally asks as I head back to my bike.
“Oh, she classified it as payback. It was an ultimatum, which meant we both got billed for wasting her time, and I didn’t want to pay for something I had nothing to do with. How hard could going to a single dinner be anyway? Oh, and by the way, she’s hot.”
“I had heard that. One of my friends went on a date with her about a month ago and nearly died when he heard what she did for a living. I thought it was a good payback for that girl you told I was secretly in love with her…because that didn’t end well.”
I chuckle. “At least she took it like a grown-up. I have to come back here and tak
e this woman to dinner at her mother’s place. Did you hear that? Her mother’s. I think she also mentioned sisters, but I can’t wrap my damn head around the mother issue. I’m not a take-home-and-meet-your-mother kind of guy. How am I supposed to get out of this?” I must sound like a desperate man, because Deacon’s response floors me.
“Just go and enjoy one night of food and fun with a gorgeous woman. You’ve had plenty of one-nighters. What makes tonight different? You’ll miss the awesome party I’m throwing.”
He’s right. What do I have to worry about?
“You’re right. Nothing makes tonight different. I’ve told her that I’m bringing my bike back with me, so it’ll be interesting to see if she actually gets on the back. Don’t worry, I’ll be at the party later. You know me, I never miss the ones you put together. Maybe I’ll bring Dylan, and she can chew you another hole to breathe through.” I stop at my Indian FTR 1200 motorbike and lean against it as I take notice of a couple walking past me, hand in hand. They appear to be complete opposites; she’s prim and proper, and he’s rough-looking with his pierced eyebrow and tattoo art up one of his arms. As they say, looks can be very deceiving. For all I know, they could be perfect for each other. How does the saying go again? That’s right, opposites attract.
The brown-haired beauty back in the building is, by far, the complete opposite of what I’d generally go for—not that I’m looking for anything or anyone.
Deacon’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “So, is she as hot as my buddy told me?”
Her piercing brown eyes flash behind my eyelids as I shut them for a moment. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I say, a sudden urge to keep her away from him grows inside me as quick as weeds in an uncontrolled garden.
“Come on. Give me some details,” he begs.
“Nope. If you want to play stupid games and waste people’s time, then you come over here and pay your bill, and maybe you’ll get a chance to meet her.”
“You’re no fun,” he sulks. A clinking of glass from his end catches my attention.
“What are you doing?”
“Setting up the bar for tonight. Maybe you should bring the little lady back tonight after your meal.”
“Nah, this is a one-time thing. Doubt I’ll be seeing her again after tonight.”
“That’s always the better way. When you get yourself locked into relationships, it messes with your head while on the track, and neither of us needs that drama in our lives.” By the tone of his voice, he’s serious.
“This…coming from the man who gets locked down with every woman he sleeps with.” I chuckle.
“Exactly. Don’t do what I do. But I don’t need to tell you…you’re the Lone Ranger. You remember Brittany, the bitch you dated?”
At the mention of my ex, pure red rage pulses through me. “Don’t talk about her. At least she did one thing right, and that makes me fully aware of keeping away from other women on a permanent basis. She left a bad taste in my mouth for every other woman who has come after her.”
“And that, my friend, is for the best. You’re not being locked down. Enjoy life. You only get one, so make the most of it.”
“Yes, Master Yoda. I don’t know why I’m even listening to you. You’re the worst on relationship advice. I’d never come to you, even if I found someone serious. I don’t think you even know what it means to be serious with someone.” Deacon’s the one person I can rely on to pull me out of the dark hole I put myself in when I lose a race. But I’m not about to pump up his pride. Always keep a man humble.
“Because I’ve been burned. Don’t ever want to reach that low point in my life again. Thankfully, I have my career, and that gets me all I need.
“Damn right. I’ll take a bike between my legs any day. Women are great, but at least my bike doesn’t walk away.”
“Agreed. Bachelors forever. I’ll even drink to that.”
“I better go. Should I bring flowers? I don’t know how to handle this situation. I feel like a fish flailing out of water here.”
Deacon laughs so much I think he’s going to choke before he states, “Dude, taking flowers would be stupid. Just get some chocolates or something small. Don’t go overdoing it. That just puts you on her radar as a nice guy. Flowers are for real couples.”
“Yeah, right, okay. I’ll see you later.”
“Catch ya.”
We end the call, and I’m left more confused than when I left Dylan’s building. I don’t want to come across as a douchebag. But what I can’t believe is that I’m actually going to dinner with a strange woman and meeting her family.
This is all Deacon’s fault.
Damn him!
I throw my leg over the bike and pull on my helmet, set to go get some chocolates or something to take with me tonight.
I will NOT fall for this woman, I say to myself.
But if I’m already trying to protect her from Deacon, then I know I’m in trouble.
6
Dylan
“That looks a hundred times better than your work outfit.”
I stare down at my new, rushed outfit and glide my hands over the tight-fitting, light-blue jeans that hug me perfectly. I decided to keep the red top I was originally wearing.
“And now for the final touch.” Charlie hands me the black jacket I bought. It’s not a leather one—like the Dark Knight, as Charlie has dubbed him—but it is simple, black, and will apparently protect me if I fall off the bike—not that I’m planning to do anything of the sort.
Slipping my arms through, I adjust my top underneath. “Well, I think this is as good as it’s going to get. I should have canceled.”
Charlie, who’s rummaging through the bags, turns to give me a hard stare. “You need to stop that. You’re happy to go on dates with random men any other time. What makes this one so different? You’ve only just met him, and now you’re taking him to meet your mother and sisters. He’s going to deserve a massive thank you on the lips or in bed, if you pick up what I’m putting down.”
“Oh, I’m picking up what you’re saying, and it’s not going to happen. I’m slowly getting used to the idea that I’m going to be married to my job and that men aren’t man enough to handle me and my achievements. They’re all intimidated little nobodies. Me, I’m the queen of the vasectomy, and if they can’t handle me, then it’s their loss, not mine.”
“Woo hoo!” Charlie throws her hands in the air. “Have fun tonight. That’s all that matters, and if nothing more comes from this, then at least you knew it wasn’t going anywhere anyway.”
I open my mouth to answer when my cell alerts me to a message. Picking it up, my heart skips a beat when I see it’s from Cole.
Cole: I’m downstairs.
I read the message to Charlie, and her face screws up. “What a loser. He can’t even come up and greet you. Like I said, have fun and rub it in your mom’s and sisters’ faces. He’s gorgeous. Perhaps too gorgeous for your own good. Remember, he’s only there to get your mom off your back. But…” Her word hangs in the air.
“But what?” I push.
“What are you going to tell your mom when he doesn’t show up again?”
I shrug. “I’ll tell her it didn’t last, or that he’s away too much and I wasn’t happy about that fact. That part is going to be the easiest of all. Getting through tonight is going to be the challenge. You know my mother.”
“Yep, and I know exactly what’s in store for you both tonight. You better shape up your acting skills, because your mother will sniff out the scandal even before you walk through her door tonight.”
“You’re not wrong. Come on, I better go, or he’ll take off without me.”
“Have you told your mom you’re bringing someone?” Charlie asks as she shoves things back into a shopping bag.
“No. Last I spoke to her was just before I went into Cole’s appointment. She’ll get a nice surprise, considering I was single when I spoke to her.”
“Just tell her you were waiting for the
right time, and you wanted to wait to see if things stuck before you brought him home.” The lie slips from her tongue so easily that I’m jealous.
“Can’t you come, and when I stall, you can fill in the blanks for me?” I laugh and grab my bag, heading to the front door of the office.
She follows. “No. You’ve got this. Let me know how it goes.”
“Will do.” I tug my cell from my pocket and shoot a quick message to Scarlett.
Dylan: Well, here goes nothing. I can’t believe I’m taking a stranger to my mother’s house. Not just any stranger—he’s a supercross superstar. Google Cole Carter.
I hit send and tug my bag higher on my shoulder. “Wish me luck,” I say to Charlie.
“Have fun,” she calls as the door behind me closes.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I mutter to myself.
“Neither can I.”
My entire body jumps, and I clutch at my erratically beating heart. Turning toward the deep voice, Cole is leaning on the wall with his booted foot pushed up against the brickwork. He pushes off and steps closer. He’s changed his clothes and is wearing a white shirt, which stretches nicely over his broad chest. I bite my lip to make sure my mouth is shut and not hanging open, drooling over his bad-boy appearance.
“Oh my goodness, you scared the hell out of me.” My eyes rake over him again—Dark Knight, for sure. Good nickname, Charlie.
He drops his head, but I don’t miss the grin that pulls on his kissable lips. Get that idea out of your head, Dylan.
Cole starts walking, and I step in beside him. He’s tall, about a foot taller than me, and I can’t help myself as I take a sideways glance in his direction. “You know you can cancel if you really want to. I haven’t told them I’m bringing anyone.”