She took on the role of tour guide, showing him billboards and giving him interesting tidbits of information about random buildings as they made their way up Eighth Avenue. He inadvertently impressed her by admitting that he’d always been fascinated with New York City because he was a major league Ghostbusters fan. His confession delighted her with a gleeful laugh, and she challenged him to a quoting match. Joe held out his arm, and she readily took it; they seemed to fit side by side perfectly. Rachel and Joe ended up laughing all the way to Mario’s, a trattoria in Hell’s Kitchen.
Inside of forty-five minutes, Joe was tearing into a plate of chicken parmesan that reminded him of home. Rachel sat before him with a plate of seafood alfredo, and couldn’t stop smiling at him. Joe straightened his back and smiled at her.
“How is it?”
“Amazing,” he replied, taking a Joe-sized sip of soda. “I’ve missed food like this. When I moved out here, I unfortunately couldn’t put my mother in a suitcase so — ”
Rachel laughed. “Italian family, huh?”
Joe nodded. “Sicilian. And if you’re Italian, as I suspect you are, you know I come from a line of eaters.”
“And how do you know I’m Italian?” Rachel asked, tilting her head with a flirtatious smile.
“You ooze it,” he chuckled, challenging her gaze with his own.
Her cheeks reddened, but she held his gaze. “Well, I am. And it just so happens that my grandmother left me all her recipes.”
“So it is fate.”
“It might just be. I know my grandmother would have loved you!”
They shared another chuckle, falling into a conversation about their families. Joe told Rachel that he got his height from his great-grandfather, a traveling wrestler whose height had reached almost seven feet. Joe learned that she was an only child with ten first cousins because, apparently, her grandmother couldn’t stop having children. A bottle of wine later, they were laughing all over again. And by the time they decided to head to the movie, Rachel and Joe were holding hands.
• • •
On the walk to the movie theater, Rachel found it difficult to focus on her steps. All she could feel was Joe’s calloused yet surprisingly soft fingers entwined in her own. A pulsing had started where their hands met, and was slowly making its way up her arm. Tingles shot through her body as she looked up at him, igniting a sensual hunger she hadn’t felt in years. And on cue, Joe looked down at her. His eyes had darkened again, and his hair fell slightly as he allowed his eyes to run down the length of her body. The mood had suddenly changed; Rachel had a strong feeling that it wasn’t going to make a damn bit of difference what movie they chose.
She bit her lower lip, fighting a sigh. Rachel was surprised at herself, even a little disappointed. How could she want a guy this bad after one date? But this was more than just one date. Something had been building between them since their first meeting at the coffeehouse. Rachel watched Joe out of the corner of her eye. He was wearing a salmon colored button down shirt that barely fit around his defined back. And when he bent his arm at the elbow, his bicep would flex and test the limits of the shirt’s fabric. He’s just too much man to be allowed and right now … he’s all mine.
Joe ran a hand through his hair, and Rachel wondered with a pang of desire what it would be like to do it herself. She glanced up at him with a sultry look in her eyes. Sensing her eyes on him, he looked down. Rachel blinked and averted her eyes to the marquee as her cheeks flushed red.
His voice was husky as he grinned. “Which movie?”
She looked up at him and swallowed hard, daring to be honest. “I don’t care.”
Joe chuckled and turned his head back to the marquee. “Amen to that, beautiful.”
Rachel tried to gather her bearings as he bought tickets for a movie that she knew they wouldn’t be watching. All she kept thinking about was his lips pressing against hers, the weight of his body covering hers as his hands kneaded into her. She sighed. Butterflies awakened in her belly, and she felt like a teenager again. She hadn’t crushed on a guy this hard in really long time. She started a little when Joe linked his hand with hers again.
“Hey,” he chuckled, “did I scare you?”
Rachel smiled up at him. “Not at all, I was just thinking.”
Joe grinned and put his head down, his level of distraction matching hers. He may as well have been wearing his high school varsity jacket. What grown man makes out at the movies? Apparently he did. His fingers twitched as they made their way up the escalator. He could barely wait to sit next to her in the darkened theater. The chemistry was there, from front to back — he knew she felt it too. He was thankful that she hadn’t asked him back to her place; Joe had never been one to sleep with anyone on the first date, but he didn’t think he would have said no this time around.
Rachel walked ahead of him as he waved her into the back row. She shuddered, wondering if he’d led her there to ensure their privacy.
He suddenly looked terribly embarrassed. “I … I usually sit back here because, well … I’m too tall.”
Rachel drew in a deep breath. “I don’t think you’re too tall.”
“You don’t?” he asked with a smile as he seated himself next to her.
Her eyes met his. “I don’t.”
Agonizing seconds turned into minutes, and they struggled to pay attention to the coming attractions as the tension between them heightened. Her skin practically sang as he placed his hand next to hers, using a single finger to absently trace a line on the back of her hand. She closed her eyes; his touch was torture. The lights dropped, and she was suddenly very aware that they were in the dark. When she opened her eyes, Joe was looking at her.
“Rach, can I tell you something?”
“Please,” she breathed.
“I’ve been wanting to kiss you all night.”
Rachel sighed. “I’ve been waiting for you to.”
He smiled with a short sigh, and lifted the armrest that separated them. Rachel shifted her body to face him with a silent, albeit nervous smile, not trusting her voice to do its job. He placed his forefinger and thumb under her chin, bringing her face to his as he moved in for a kiss. She nearly lost her breath as his mouth met hers hungrily. The smell of his cologne as she inhaled made her dizzy, and she placed a hand on his leg for support. Her hand practically burned against his pant leg, sending a delicious tingle from the palm of her hand straight to her core.
His tongue darted slowly, teasingly into her mouth, barely allowing her to taste him before he pulled back and gently bit her bottom lip. Joe flattened his hand on her bare shoulder blade, igniting a new round of sensations that traveled through her body and landed right between her legs. He dragged his fingertips upward, curving around her neck and tangling into her hair. In response, Rachel placed her hand on the side of his face, letting his beard tickle the palm of her hand before curving it around the back of his neck and drawing his mouth to hers.
Joe pulled her closer; an involuntary sigh escaped Rachel’s lips. He closed his fingers in her hair and, with a gentle tug, pulled her head back to reveal the soft skin of her neck. Rachel bit her lip and drew in a breath to keep from moaning out loud as she entwined her fingers in his thick, wavy mane. Bringing her hands around to his face, she pulled him back and kissed him again, more urgently this time.
A low growl settled at the back of his throat as Rachel aggressively leaned into the kiss, trying to let him know how much she wanted him. Quite suddenly, he wrapped her in his heated embrace and pulled her onto his lap. Her legs dangled helplessly as she let her hands explore every part of his rock hard body that she could reach.
She allowed her hands to travel down to his chest, undoing a couple of buttons and pushing just enough shirt aside to run her hands along the soft dusting of hair on his chest. Her nails grazed his skin gently
as she ran her fingers upward, over the smooth skin on his shoulders, where she finally linked her arms at the back of his neck.
Her breath hitched as he used a single skilled hand to press against her back, effectively pulling her closer. Whether intentional or not, she felt his rock hard erection against the back of her thigh. She nearly gasped at the size of it, clinging to him hungrily as they continued to kiss like a pair of newlyweds in their honeymoon suite.
Then, to Rachel’s disappointment, he pulled his head back. He took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling, trying to get his bearings. Rachel sighed in protest, breathless from his killer kissing and magic fingers. Then, of course, there was the raging hard-on that was straining against the fabric of his jeans. She attempted to catch her breath, running a hand through her hair.
“Babe,” he breathed, his voice a deep rumble of a whisper, “If we don’t stop, I’m not going to be able to walk out of here.”
She giggled softly, nervously. “I’m sorry.”
He looked to her with a smile. “No, don’t apologize. I can’t help it, either. You’re just … amazing. I thought so from the first time I saw you.”
Rachel’s heart fluttered, and she returned the smile. In a poor attempt to sit back in her seat, she lost her footing and ended up right back on his lap. He chuckled softly and kissed her, lifting Rachel and placing her beside him. That simple show of strength and the way he handled her made Rachel want to jump him all over again.
He put one muscular arm around her shoulders, regarding her with another of his lopsided grins. “Wanna try and catch the rest of the movie?”
She leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his strong, rugged body. “Try would be the operative word, wouldn’t it?”
Joe planted a kiss on the side of her head and chuckled one more time. Rachel giggled and laid her head on his chest, enjoying the delicious feeling coursing through her body.
How the hell am I supposed to watch a movie with this hunk of hotness sitting next to me?
• • •
The following Monday, Rachel was still riding on cloud nine from what had to be the greatest blind date in history. True, she hadn’t heard from him yet, but she was no stranger to the three-day rule. She stared at the manuscript in front of her with a smile, knowing that she’d hear from him soon. Her eyes closed of their own accord as she imagined she could still feel the weight and the heat of his hands upon her. Blinking rapidly, she’d quietly hoped she hadn’t just sighed out loud. You’re a smitten kitten, she told herself with a grin as she began to give the manuscript awaiting her attention a quick glance.
Suddenly, her phone rang. Startled, she picked it up on the first ring. “Hi, this is Rachel.”
“Lucy wants to see us in the front conference room.” Michelle spoke brusquely, hanging up the phone without warning.
Her heartbeat quickened. Did this have something to do with the manuscript she passed to Lucy? Would Lucy really make an issue out of this, when she expressly said she didn’t want to cause any trouble? Taking a deep breath, she shuddered slightly and headed to the front conference room. Michelle was already there, looking sour.
“Do you know anything about this,” she asked, her brow furrowed.
Rachel widened her eyes and shook her head, taking a seat closer to the middle of the table, and out of Michelle’s reach. Lucy joined them a moment later, and in her hand was the AJ Pavon manuscript. Rachel held her breath.
Lucy spoke calmly. “I brought the two of you in here because of a manuscript that I received. Frankly, it blew my mind — I want to get on this immediately. And Michelle, since you’re my top junior editor, I want to give this project to you. You already know you’re in position to run the new office overseas, so I want to work closely with you on this.”
She placed the manuscript in front of Michelle, who took it with a blank expression. She flipped through the first couple of pages, and her eyes widened in shock.
Lucy smiled at her. “Is something wrong, Michelle?”
“No,” she stammered, clearing her throat, “Not at all. Um, where is this from?”
“It’s from an unknown writer that calls himself AJ Pavon,” Lucy replied sweetly, watching Michelle closely, “He contacted me personally, and I told him I’d give it a read.”
Michelle looked up at Lucy. “You really like it?”
“Very much,” Lucy replied. “I’d like you and Rachel to familiarize yourself with it. It has a lot of potential, and I want to get it to the printer as soon as possible. He’ll be coming by at the end of the week to meet with us for the first time. I expect you to be ready.”
Michelle stood, flabbergasted. “Of course, Lucy — I’ll make sure Rachel knows what to expect as well.”
Lucy smiled, triumph flashing in her eyes, “I knew I could count on you. Now if you’ll excuse us, it’s time for me and Rachel to discuss her progress.”
“Sure,” she said absently, staring at the manuscript in dumbfounded amazement as she took her leave of the conference room.
If Michelle was confused as to how Lucy got her hands on the script, it was nothing compared to Rachel’s sheer amazement at how the editor-in-chief had just handled the girl that Cami had once dubbed Michelle from Hell.
“Lucy. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Rachel — for bringing this to my attention. I put a lot of trust in my editorial staff, juniors included. I can’t believe she really would have let this go by. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it’s shaken my faith in her.”
“I really didn’t want to cause any trouble, I promise.”
“I understand, Rachel. But you did the right thing. Frankly, I’m sort of surprised that you knew my taste well enough to bring this to me. You’ve impressed me yet again.”
Rachel grinned. “Thanks again, Lucy.”
Lucy smiled and turned away, effectively ending the conversation as she left the conference room. A wave of relief washed over Rachel; the whole situation turned out better than she expected. With a smile that seemed to stay with her these days, she headed back to her cubicle.
• • •
“Alright, spill.”
Rachel looked her best friend in the eye and shot her a sarcastic grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Camille jumped onto her knees on Rachel’s couch, startling her roommate’s dog.
“Damn it, Rach! Tell me about that blind date? Have you forgotten all about Hottie McCoffeehouse?”
Rachel shook her head. “Cam, you don’t understand. That blind date? It was Hottie McCoffeehouse.”
Cami clamped her hands over her mouth and squealed. Her eyes were wide enough to pop themselves out. Nicky the dog gave her a strange look before hauling off into the kitchen to hide.
“You’re kidding me,” she all but screamed. “My brother set you up with the guy from the coffeehouse?”
Rachel nodded, and Camille continued, “Joe? Hottie McCoffeehouse?”
Again she nodded, and Camille shook her head. She dropped back onto the couch, her eyes stuck in an expression of shock. “Well, that does it. I’m floored.”
“Oh, come on — floored?”
“I can’t believe you don’t see what’s happening here,” Camille said, her smile wide and excited. “I don’t even believe in this sort of thing, and I see it!”
“Aren’t you being a little dramatic?” Rachel asked with an amused giggle.
“Oh, please — Rach, let’s examine the evidence here! You bump into him twice, and both times he’s got you weak at the knees. Of the ninety-nine other girls he could get when calling a phone sex line, he gets you. My brother sets you up on a blind date, and it’s him. You really don’t see it yet?”
Rachel laughed louder. “See what, Cami?”
Camille smiled knowingly. “K
ismet.”
Chapter Five
Four days. Four days had gone by without a word from Hottie McCoffeehouse — four days without a word from Joe. How do you have the best blind date in history and then just not call back? Rachel tried to act like she didn’t care. She kept a cool, calm demeanor on the outside. But on the inside, it was “all aboard” on the Panic Express.
She tried to pinpoint the moment that must’ve turned him off. Did I kiss him wrong? Did I laugh too loud? Did I go too far? She briefly thought about his massive hands roaming her body and momentarily forgot about why she was worried. Maybe he’s just busy. But would she call him? Absolutely not — if Rachel was certain of nothing else, she at least knew she wasn’t a chaser.
It was time for the night job; Kirby stayed just below the surface as Rachel doodled on a notepad next to her monitor. It was a slow shift at Orchid, and she hadn’t gotten many calls. She’d gotten to hear from a couple of her favorites — the spanking aficionado, the granny lover, and the Far Rockaway bar owner that kept inviting her out for a drink. They got her through the first two hours of her shift, but the last two were proving to be difficult to survive. She was tired, anxious, and maybe a little sad. Not even the freakiest of fetishes could distract her from what was bringing her down tonight.
Her phone rang softly, and she put her head set on. Taking a deep breath, she summoned Kirby. Like a prizefighter, she shook her arms loose and stretched her neck. Show time.
“Hi, this is Kirby.”
“Well, well — you’re sounding extra sexy tonight.”
Rachel’s pulse raced. “Who’s this?”
His deep chuckle awoke the butterflies in her stomach. “Okay, I deserved that. Why would you remember me? It’s Joe.”
Rachel giggled. “Hi there, Joe. I remember you now.”
“Do you actually remember me or are you telling me what I want to hear?”
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