by Haley Weir
Her eyes widened when he slid the chair back in place effortlessly. She was a big girl, not model material at all, so she knew it would have been difficult for anyone else to handle her with such grace. Dorian definitely held her attention as he took his seat across from her. He reached down and pulled out a black box and a single rose.
Jenny felt herself smile before she could stop it. “You didn’t have to.”
“A woman as lovely as you deserves lovely things.”
“Smooth,” she retorted. “But you don’t know me.”
“Yet,” Dorian countered. “And after a performance like that…I can’t stop looking at you. Actually, I couldn’t stop looking at you from the moment I stepped into the lounge. My name is Dorian Chandler, by the way.”
“Jenny Owens. What do you do for a living, Dorian?”
“I am a paramedic at the local fire station.”
Jenny nodded her head with interest. She always admired practical professions. “As you can see, I am a singer.”
“Oh, I think you’re far more than a singer.”
“How so?” she asked.
“Your voice is like something from another world, like the wavelengths are...otherworldly, almost. It’s beguiling.”
“And what if I were to tell you that I have no intentions of starting a relationship at the moment? That this was just an experiment I agreed to in order to shut my friends up?” Jenny questioned. “Would you think less of me?”
“I would be disappointed, but not discouraged. Whether you’re interested in a relationship or not at the moment, I think there is something…organic between us. It’s something that made me feel like I was opening my eyes for the first time in my life. And I fully intend to court you, Miss Owens.”
***
Dorian could tell his response shocked Jenny, but it was only fair seeing as her face had been tormenting his dreams. He knew it from the instant he saw her hair...and then those eyes. Her performance had started with her back to the audience, giving him a nice glimpse of her figure, before she turned around and stole his heart. It was as if she reached inside and snatched it out of his chest without warning. Her green eyes and the exposed column of her neck made him want to jump on stage and ravish her.
But he kept his composure and treated her like a gentleman. “I’m sorry if I come off as arrogant or too forward, but I’ve been called worse in my life, so I guess I’m alright with that.”
Jenny seemed to find his quip somewhat charming, because the corner of her mouth twitched in a small smile that he took as a victory. “To be honest, I’m glad your not interested in small talk.”
“But, really, what is your favorite color?”
She gave a little laugh and shook her head. “Guess.”
“Red?”
“Yes, but what shade?”
“Blue.” The answer was offbeat, but he suspected that she liked that. Dorian beamed his brilliant grin at her as she began to laugh at his silly jokes. “What? Was that wrong? Fine. How about animals?”
“What about them?”
“Do you like animals?” Dorian asked.
“I do, but not in the way my friend likes cats. I’m not sure that much love is healthy for any living creature.”
“Do you have a favorite?”
“Bears.”
Dorian coughed and sputtered as he struggled to swallow the sip of bourbon he attempted to drink. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin and readied himself for what came next. “Can I ask why?”
“Why I like bears? I just find them powerful, protective…and bears are prideful. I think they’re beautiful in an almost regal way.”
He blushed profusely and ducked his head to hide the burning on his cheeks as he slid the black box across the table. Jenny pushed it back toward him and he glared at her, which seemed to make her laugh harder. “Please, accept the gift. It took a long time to find something I deemed appropriate. Now that I know just a little bit more about you, I think you’ll love it.”
She gave him a skeptical expression before straightening in her chair and lifting the lid. Jenny looked at him from beneath her long eyelashes. “How did you know I liked bears before I told you?”
“I didn’t. I chose it because I identify with bears and I wanted you to have something to remember me, by even if the date didn’t go well,” he admitted. “Is it going well so far?”
“It is.” Jenny removed the velvet lace bracelet with a bear paw charm at its center. She clasped it around her wrist and stared down at it for a moment, looking sincerely pleased with his gift. “So, let’s address the elephant in the room. I’m aware that my appearance isn’t usually ideal for men like you.”
“Men like me?”
“Pretty boys with movie star looks,” she clarified.
“I’m tired of being called a pretty boy. I’m so much more than my appearance. I’ve got a mind of my own and a heart as well. I would appreciate if you didn’t make assumptions about me on our first date,” he stated firmly in response. “I actually prefer women I can hold on to without feeling like I might break them. As you can see, I’m a large man. And women like you–no, you specifically, set my blood on fire.”
“Maybe we have more in common than I thought. I’m often called the ‘Ice Queen’ in my circle of friends and I just tolerate it because there are more important things in life than my aversion to shallow nicknames. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Why don’t you make it up to me by agreeing to a second date?”
“So early in the night and you’re already thinking about the future?” Jenny quipped in return. “That is very forward of you.”
“I’ve been thinking about my future with you since the moment I saw you. I must admit that I wasn’t expecting anything out of my own experience with the agency, but I…had to try one last time before I gave up on love completely.”
“Love is something I stopped believing in a long time ago.”
“If not love, then what do you believe in?” Dorian asked.
“Well, I believe in partnership and companionship. I believe in friendship and strong relationships. But I don’t believe in the sort of love they try to sell us on Valentines Day. Romance is one thing, a connection is one thing, and chemistry is one thing, but I’ve never experienced the great whirlwind love affair that swept me off my feet.” Jenny shrugged softly.
“Maybe you haven’t found the right man to help you experience all that.”
“There have been a lot of men claiming to be the ‘right man’ for me, but none of them last. I want something permanent whether it involves romance or not. What about you?”
“All I see is you at the moment. I know it’s strange to say on a first date, but I feel like my future and the possibility of happiness in that future all depend on you,” Dorian answered honestly, hoping Jenny would appreciate his authenticity. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. My intentions were to take my time and keep things slow between us, but I’ve gotten caught up in…well, you.”
Dorian watched her look around the lounge for a few seconds. Jenny stroked the velvet of her bracelet as they talked. By the time the date ended, the entire lounge had cleared out without either of them noticing. He stood up and offered his hand, helping her to her feet. “Would you like to go for a walk with me?” he asked. “It’s a beautiful night, and I’d really like to see what your eyes look like beneath all those stars.”
CHAPTER FIVE
That delicious flush returned and he silently wished she hadn’t worn any makeup. Fantasies of Jenny wrapped in sheets with her hair fanning all over the pillows and her face clear of makeup flashed in his mind. Dorian licked his lips again and she followed the movement with her eyes. Jenny tilted her head up and smiled. “I think I would like a walk.”
Even the sound of her high heels against the concrete made him shiver. His mind drifted into thoughts of wanting to tie her up, blindfold her with silk ties, and watch her squirm. Dorian stopped for a moment. He didn’
t know where his thoughts had come from. Brock was the dominant one of their group, but there was something about Jenny that made him want to possess her in a way she would never forget.
She reached up and unpinned the curls in her hair, letting them fall loosely around her face. It took all of his strength not to moan out loud, but he did run his fingers through the silken strands of her hair. It smelled fruity and felt like heaven slipping past his knuckles. He moved to stand closer. Instead of pushing him away as he suspected, Jenny tilted her head back and closed her eyes with the most blissful expression on her face.
“I love having my hair played with,” she sighed.
Dorian was grateful that after a few hours of talking, she was already comfortable enough to let him come so near. “I like playing with your hair.” His hands moved to massage the nape of her neck and were rewarded by another of those breathy groans. The sound of it shot right through him like a bolt of lightning bolt of lust. But then he realized she rocked on her heels, trying to lean against him in support. “What’s the matter, Jenny?”
“My feet hurt. I’ve been in heels all day, but…I don’t want you to stop.”
Dorian smiled as she opened her eyes. “May I?” He could tell she was confused, but she nodded anyway out of curiosity. She let out an indignant squeak when he crouched down and then lifted her up into a bridal hold. Her eyes glared at him, but he continued to walk down the street.
“Put me down. I’m too heavy.”
“You’re perfect. Look,” he ordered. “I’m not even sweating. And I’ve been looking for an excuse all night to get my arms around you somehow.”
“Seriously, put me down. I don’t want people to stare.”
“For a woman who must turn heads just by walking through the door, you don’t seem very confident. You’re a beautiful woman, Jenny.” Dorian held her until she insisted that her feet felt better. There was something distant in her eyes now that hadn’t been there before. He tilted her head back and searched her gaze. “What is it? I might not have known you for very long, but I can sense something is bothering you.”
“You keep saying these amazing things and I know you’re just caught up in the moment,” she insisted. “I just want you to know that I don’t trust pretty words. I trust actions. And if you truly wish to pursue something with me, then—”
“I do want to pursue something with you. And I completely respect that you don’t trust flattery, but I’m just speaking my mind. I’ll let my actions show for themselves, but I am not going to stop complimenting you.” Dorian kissed her forehead and stepped away. He walked Jenny to her car and watched her drive down the street. Once she was out of sight, Dorian retrieved his cell phone.
A text message popped up in his notifications.
DORIAN, if you would like to invite JENNY on a second date, please reply ‘YES’ to this message. If not, we will match you with a new partner based on your compatibility results.
There was no hesitation: he wanted another date with Jenny, he wanted the chance to prove to her that he believed every word he said when he complimented her. It was surprising to hear that a woman as stunning as she was so insecure. Dorian wasn’t ignorant, he knew a scorned woman when he saw one, but he hoped the mistakes of the last man didn’t ruin his chances with an amazing woman.
DORIAN, your match has agreed to a second date. This one is yours to plan. Reply to this message with the required details. Congratulations! You unlocked the ability to see your match’s survey answers.
He dropped his phone in excitement and did a little celebratory dance in the parking lot at the Blue Velvet Room. Dorian picked his phone up and called Michael. It was late, but he knew his friend would never allow his cell phone to ring unanswered. Michael was the sort to have a Bluetooth in even while he slept, which was confirmed by the gruff, “What?” that came through the phone.
“You wouldn’t believe who I just met.”
“Umm…your date?”
“Yes, but guess who my date is,” Dorian teased.
“This is already tedious. Fine, who was it?”
“My dream girl.”
“That’s sort of the point of the service, Dorian,” Michael huffed.
“No, I mean my actual dream girl. Jenny Owens is the girl I’ve been seeing in my dreams. I’m excited, but at the same time...courting her won’t be easy, man. She’s been hurt. She hasn’t said anything, but I can tell.”
Michael was so quiet that Dorian feared he had fallen asleep, but then he broke the silence. “Be careful. There’s more fear in your voice than what I’ve heard in a long time, Dorian. For both of your sakes, be careful.”
“You think I’ll get hurt?”
“I think there’s more to the story than what you’re telling me, but if you haven’t, then clearly it isn’t my business. But I’m happy you met your dream girl.” Michael said supportively, but passive aggressively.
“I want to tell you, actually. I want to tell all of you.”
“If that’s what you want, then I’ll host a meeting at my loft.”
***
Jenny hurried into the bookshop to avoid the rain. Destiny leaned against the counter staring off into space and hadn’t even noticed the doorbell. Jenny waved her hand in front of her friend’s face, startling her out of a daydream. “Are you alright, sweetie?” Jenny asked.
“There’s a new book that I want to read for the group. I found it online.”
“Nothing else?” Jenny was always skeptical on what could possibly be going on in Destiny’s book-cluttered mind, but she let it go for now.
“Nope. How was the date?”
She felt herself blush before Destiny announced it to the entire shop. “Oh, my gosh! You’re blushing. I’ve never seen you blush before. Tell me everything!” The volume of Destiny’s voice carried to the back and Sapphire’s head popped out of one of the doors.
“Did you just say that Jenny Owens is blushing?” she yelled. Sapphire and Destiny hurried the customers out of the shop and locked the door while Jenny hid her face in the palms of her hands. Sapphire hopped up on the counter and pulled one of the cake pops from the display and started munching on it, eager to hear about the date. Destiny began brewing some tea and Jenny tried to calm the flush on her face in the midst of their gawking.
“Alright, settle down,” she pleaded. “My date went well. I was performing when he came in, which was what I wanted. I wanted to show him my best and let him see if it was worth dealing with the rest.”
“Did he like it?”
“Honestly, I was so into him that I didn’t really care,” Jenny admitted, sending her friends into a fit of giggles. “He was absolutely gorgeous and not just in terms of looks.”
“His energies!” Sapphire shrieked. “You were attracted to his energies.”
“That…actually makes sense. Yes. I was completely spellbound by him before I even saw his face completely and that’s new for me. I hear Saph go on and on about souls and energies, but I never really believed any of it before.” Jenny looked down at her hands and saw that they were shaking. “It was magnetic. He said all the right things that’s what freaked me out a bit.”
“Oh, no!” Destiny gasped. “What happened?”
“I let him know that pretty words don’t mean as much to me as actions. He respected that and we’re going on a second date. But there was a moment when things got intimate. Like, my heart fluttered more than once.”
“The Ice Queen has a heart?”
Destiny smacked Sapphire on the arm and gestured for Jenny to continue.
“It’s alright, I didn’t think I had one left either. But he made me feel things that I didn’t feel even after so many years with Zach.”
“What’s his name?”
“Dorian.”
“Dorian Chandler?” Sapphire asked. “You can’t have him.”
Destiny jabbed Sapphire with her elbow. “Why can’t she?”
“Dorian works with Brock and the rest of the guy
s I know at the fire station. He doesn’t date…like, ever. Brock told me that he’s been head over heels for some redhead long before we ever came to town.”
Jenny looked down at her hands that were clenched in her lap. She felt like a fool. It wasn’t as if she had believed any of his pretty words, but it would have been nice to know that he was interested in someone else. “So, I guess he has a type then. God, I feel like such an idiot.”
“Don’t be like that,” Destiny said. “You know how Sapphire is. It could all be a misunderstanding. Go on the second date and ask him about it. Don’t let rumors ruin something that could be really special.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re a romantic.”
“And you’re only saying that because you’re cynical,” Destiny retorted. “Give him a chance to explain himself. Please.”
Sapphire looked at the cakepop in her hands and pouted. “I didn’t mean to make you feel so bad about it, Jen. He really is a great guy. I’m sure if he really liked that girl, they would be together. Dorian wouldn’t hurt anyone like that.”
Jenny told herself that it was nothing more than first date excitement that made her so attracted to Dorian Chandler. She didn’t think he would have the same pull toward her on the second date. Jenny tapped the screen on her phone with a manicured nail and turned it to face her friends.
JENNY, your match has chosen to go on a second date! Prepare for a night of dancing and a dinner by candlelight. Congratulations! You have unlocked the ability to see your match’s survey questions.
“Cool,” Destiny said. “I can’t wait to start my process.”
“Ew, what if I end up on a date with Brock?” Sapphire groused. Her face looked a bit green at the prospect. “He’s like my brother.”
“I’m sure you both would just have a laugh.”