“I’m aware of that. The kind you’re holding is actually my favorite, but it’s a ‘share all my woes with my girlfriend’ kinda night, and that can only be done with wine. You know, since I’m sure there will be some whining at this party.”
Damn, did that sound cheesy? He chuckles, and I wonder if it’s because he found me funny or silly.
“You’ve got a cool sense of humor. I’m Ian,” he says, reaching his hand out to me.
“I’m Brynlee Townsend.” I take his hand, and as I’m about to let go, I feel his finger slide down my palm. Oh damn.
“Can I ask what you do, Brynlee? It appears you work with something white.”
I watch his eyes rake over my body, and I feel as if he wants to devour me. I glance down and see the flour and powdered sugar, but why did I look? It’s not like I don’t know where the white came from.
“I’m a baker, and I just left work.”
“I hope you bake sweets.”
“Why?” I ask as I stare into a sea of green. His smile is nice, too, and so is his build. Dammit, I think I really scanned his body.
“Because I can’t get enough of them, so I’d have an excuse to show up at your work and see you again.”
Oh, he’s good. Really good. Do I want this guy to know where I work? What I do know for sure is that he’s a handsome man who seems into me, and that hasn’t happened in a long time, except for Phillip but he doesn’t count.
“I do bake sweets, and you’re a sweet talker, but maybe I should see you when I’m not covered in flour and sugar.”
“Then how about you join me for dinner tomorrow night?”
“How’s lunch at noon, and I’ll bring you some sweets?”
He gives me a wicked grin. “That sounds like a fair compromise. Did you have a place in mind?”
I turn and look toward the door. “The café across the street. If it’s pleasant, we can sit outside.”
“That sounds great, Brynlee.” He leans over slowly and plants one light kiss on my cheek, right near my ear, his lips lingering for a second.
His warm breath is teasing my skin, and it takes everything for me not to turn my mouth toward his.
“I’ll see you at noon,” he says barely above a whisper before raising up. His eyes meet mine, and I think that’s my own heartbeat I hear. My face warms as he walks away. I’m blushing for sure.
I can hardly remember the ride home, and when I get to the apartment, I still can’t wipe the smile off my face.
“What happened to you? You sounded down earlier, but now you’re wearing this mischievous grin.”
“Andrea, I met a guy at the liquor store.”
“Oh, girl. You have to tell me all about it.”
I frown when a thought crosses my mind.
“Is it bad I met him at the liquor store? Is that any better than a bar?”
“I need to hear about him first.”
“He’s really good-looking and screams sex.”
“Then it’s no biggy you met him there,” she says, with a wave of her hand in the air. She’s funny. Not long after I met Andrea, she mentioned needing a roommate. It was right before I sold Gram’s home, so I jumped at the chance to live with her.
I’d been working at Clark’s for about six months, developing a strong customer base. I needed something cheap, so I could save for a store front bakery of my own. She was very generous, charging me cheap rent.
Andrea’s thirty, six years older than me, so she’s really like a big sister. She’s pretty with her long, auburn hair, and like me, she works too much to meet men.
“He has blonde hair and green eyes like yours. He’s really smooth. He might as well have a blinking sign on his forehead that says ‘sexual master,’ especially with a body like his.”
“Bryn, he’d eat you alive. You don’t have the experience for someone like that. Weren’t you a little scared?”
“Yes, but he was too exciting to turn down?”
“What do you mean turn down? Did he ask you out?” Andrea is really getting into this. My sex life is nonexistent, and hers isn’t much better.
“He asked me to go to dinner, but then he may expect sex, so I said lunch instead. He wants me to bring him sweets from the bakery.”
“That’s exciting, Brynlee.”
“He kissed my cheek, and it wasn’t the friendly kind, Andrea, but more like he was trying to give me a taste of what he could do to me.”
“Oh, girl, it’s smart you’re meeting him somewhere public. Let’s break open that wine and celebrate. Then you need to share whatever else it was you wanted to talk about.”
My mood will go down the toilet if I tell her about Drew, and this is the most exciting thing to happen to me in a long time. “It was nothing. Let’s eat, drink and watch some TV.”
Drew
I stare at the text message from Brynlee. I imagine I hurt her feelings not inviting her over to hang out. She never mentioned seeing the guy she went home with from the bar again, and I don’t believe she’s been on any dates since.
I’ve tried to put some distance between us for a few months now, hoping to get over her, but it’s impossible. The seconds, minutes and hours of my days without Brynlee in them are depressing. I miss being as close as we were.
My doorbell rings, and I notice I’ve been staring at her message for a while.
“Hey, Ian. How are ya, man? Get in here.” My longtime friend comes in with beer in his hand. Ian and I have a lot of catching up to do, so it was another reason I didn’t invite Brynlee over.
“I’m fantastic and glad to be back home. Law school sucked.”
“Yeah, but you’re finally finished. I’m sure that feels awesome. I don’t know how you stood it. When we got our bachelors, I was done with college.”
“It does feel good. Maybe now my damn parents will get off my back. I did what they wanted, so they need to leave me alone. I brought beer.” Ian holds the case up.
“Thanks. I’ll put it in the fridge.”
I grab us a couple first, and we sit in the living room to catch up. He’s been one of my closest friends since we started high school. We were also roommates in college, but then he went to New York to attend Columbia law school like his father.
It’s been hard for us to stay in touch with all the studying he had to do and the fact I was managing the coffee shop. I’ve been looking forward to him moving back.
It’ll help take my mind off of Brynlee. OK, that’s not going to happen, but I’ll at least have something to do when I’m not seeing her.
“So, are you joining your dad’s firm?”
“What do you think?”
I chuckle. “I’m sorry, man. I couldn’t resist.”
“Now that I’ll have Dad relaxing some, I’m sure Mom will be on my case to find a wife.”
“I wondered if you’d met someone at Columbia.”
“Hell, if there’s a chick in New York that will move to Oregon, I sure didn’t find her, but I already have a date tomorrow,” he says, grinning.
“You’ve only been home a few days. I don’t know how you do it.”
“I just met her at the liquor store.”
“I don’t know about that. What if she’s an alcoholic?” I smile at him, but I’m only half joking.
“No, she looked about as innocent as they come, and you know that’s my favorite kind. She was struggling to pick out wine.”
“Some things never change. I see you haven’t.”
“Are you seeing anyone?” he asks.
“No.” I take a long drink of my beer.
“Some things never change,” he says, chuckling. “You have to have some knockouts come through your place every morning. Are you at least going out with some of them? If this one’s a tease, I might have to start hanging out in your coffee shop.”
“No, I don’t date much. I’m still hung up on one woman.” I should’ve never told him that.
“So, what’s the deal with her?”
“We’re just friends.”
“Ouch, man.”
“Well, I’ve never told her I like her.”
“Oh, wait. Is this the woman that’s been working with you for a couple of year now?”
“Longer, actually, and that would be her.”
“Tell me it’s not been over two years since you got laid.”
I rub my hands down my face. “Sadly, yes, and I know it’s pathetic.” Why did I ever bring her up?
“Then we need to find a woman to break that curse. I don’t know how you stand it. Let’s go out next weekend.”
I take a long drink of my beer.
“Alright. I know it’s time, and you can fill me in on your date. I don’t know how you get the nerve to ask women out everywhere you go.”
“Sex. I need sex, man. No, seriously, I think it’s time I start looking for someone permanent. This lifestyle’s getting old.”
“Some things do change. I never thought I’d hear that out of your mouth.”
We both laugh. Ian knows exactly why I said that. I think he slept with damn near every girl on campus, and he probably worked his way through most of them at Columbia. He knows how to lay it on thick, and women seem to fall for it every time.
It’d be nice to see him genuinely care for a woman. It’d be weird but cool. We talk for a couple of hours before he leaves. I start feeling guilty again for not asking Brynlee over, so I decide to text her. We haven’t done anything away from work for a couple of weeks now.
Me: Would you want to relax at the park tomorrow? I heard the weather’s supposed to be nice.
Bryn: Um, I have plans early in the day, but I could go around three.
Me: I’ll pick you up.
Bryn: Cool, I’ll see you then. I’ve missed you.
I wish I could get the nerve to tell Brynlee how much I miss her and want her. I wish I could tell her how I dream about caressing every inch of her. Unlike Ian, I’ve always had trouble approaching women or telling them how I feel. That needs to change.
You’re One Smooth Talker
Brynlee
I stop by the coffee shop to grab some sweets to take to the hottie. I’m really nervous.
“Hi, Debbie,” I say to Mrs. Clark, Drew’s mother.
“Hi, Bryn, what are you doing in here when you have a Saturday off?”
“I need to grab some pastries to give to someone, and I’m going to the park with Drew later, so I thought I’d take him a couple.”
As I start my way to the kitchen, Debbie comes out from behind the counter and takes hold of my hand. She covers it with her other one.
“I’m so glad you’re seeing Drew today. He’s moped ever since you two quit spending as much time together. Don’t breathe a word to him about it, but I wanted to tell you that. You know how much you mean to all of us.”
“Thanks, Debbie. All of you are special to me, too. I’ve missed Drew, so I’m hoping things are turning around.” I give her a smile, and she releases my hand.
I didn’t realize they paid that close attention to Drew’s friendship with me. She’s probably imagining the moping since he’s the one that distanced himself.
I gather some treats and make my way to the café. As soon as I get near it, I see Ian. He’s sitting outside, and I feel the butterflies in my stomach from eyeing him. He’s in jeans and a thin, cream sweater. There doesn’t appear to be a blonde hair out of place, and it’s shining from the sun.
He spots me and grins. It’s going to be hard to resist his charm, but maybe he’ll surprise me, and I won’t want to. He stands when I reach the small, round table. I take a seat across from him and set the bag of goodies between us.
“Hi, Brynlee. You showed.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t stand someone up, especially someone as handsome as you.” I can’t believe I got the nerve to say that.
“Thank you. I’d already decided that I would work my way through every bakery in Portland until I found you if you didn’t. I’d probably gain ten pounds, but it would be worth it.”
“Now you don’t have to, and you may only gain about three pounds with these.” I push the white paper bag closer to him. While he’s taking a peak, the waitress takes my drink order.
“Ahhh, are these chocolate croissants?”
“Yes. There are also cream puffs, cookies and a brownie. I made them yesterday, but they should still be pretty fresh.”
“So, what’s good to eat? This café wasn’t open when I lived here last,” he says.
“Um, any of the sandwiches. Do you live here now?”
“I moved back last week. I recently graduated from Columbia’s law program.”
“Impressive. Isn’t Columbia in New York?”
“Yes. My father and grandfather went there. My parents moved to Portland when I was young, but they were determined I was still attending Columbia so I did. I’m joining my father’s law office, and I’m very glad to be done with college.”
“I bet. I went to culinary school, but four years was enough for me.”
“How old are you?” he asks.
“Twenty-four, and you?”
“Almost twenty-six.”
“Wow, you did bust your butt at school.”
“I was raised to be driven. I go after what I want,” he says, giving me an alluring look. I shift in my chair. This man’s confidence is making me nervous.
“Do you work for a bakery, or do you have your own?”
“I work for myself, but I barter for use of a kitchen at a coffee shop. I’m saving to open my own store front bakery.”
“That sounds exciting.”
He’s exciting. I start giggling. “A lot of physical labor is what that is.”
“Damn, you have an infectious laugh.”
“Thanks.” Embarrassed, I hurry and pick up the menu. “Um, are you a health nut?”
“Nope, and I think the BLT is calling me.”
“I’m going to have that, too. Everything is better with bacon.”
“Everything?” he asks.
“Yes, everything. It’s a code I live by.” I try not to giggle again. “I even make a couple of bacon flavored treats.”
“I can think of some activities where bacon would be forgotten.”
“Oh, really? You’re going to have to enlighten me.”
“Let’s save that conversation for another date.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You already want a second date?”
“Yes. There’s still dinner … then breakfast.”
“You are one smooth talker, Mr. …”
“Williams.”
“Mr. Williams.”
“Thank you. I’m going to assume that’s a compliment since it got you here today.” He gives me that “I want to take you to bed” smile.
I’m getting turned on, so I shift in my seat again. Drew’s the only other man that’s ever had this effect on me. We eat our BLT’s, and he tells me about New York.
He’s handsome, witty and intelligent. I haven’t found one thing wrong with the man other than I’m a little suspicious of his intentions. His sexual innuendoes are thrown out often.
I won’t give it up and be left high and dry again. I don’t have total control over that, but I’ll do my best. He could be a real heartbreaker. He barely gets his lunch finished before he’s digging a croissant out of the bag and taking a bite.
“These croissants could never be forgotten. Mmmm.”
I laugh again. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it but not as much as you giggling. Please have dinner with me this week.”
I study him for a few moments, not wanting to appear too eager. “Yes, that would be nice.”
He grins at me, and his green eyes glisten from the sunlight. He has chocolate on the corner of his mouth, so I can’t resist leaning over and wiping it off with my thumb. He takes hold of my hand and kisses the back of it. We gaze at each other, and oh shit, I’m in trouble with this one.
“I don’t see how
a woman as gorgeous as you, with this kind of baking ability, is not taken already.”
“Besides a few dates here and there, I only saw a couple of guys exclusively in high school and one briefly in college.”
“That’s hard to believe. You’re beautiful and kind, Brynlee.”
I look away. “Thank you. Um, as soon as men realize I’m looking for more than getting drunk and laid, they move on.” It hits me that it’s probably getting late, so I pull my phone out. “I’m sorry, but I have somewhere I need to be soon.”
“Can I walk you to your car?”
“I took the bus.”
He furrows his brow. “Let me take you.”
“I’m going to meet a friend at the park. I take the bus or streetcar every day, so it’s no big deal.”
“Can I drop you off at the park then?”
I don’t know if I should get in this man’s car, but I know he’s from here, and I know of his father’s firm. Hmm. “OK, if you’re sure. I just need to text my friend.”
Ian
I take hold of Brynlee’s hand on the way to the car. It’s a little sweaty. I think I’m making her nervous and that’s a good thing. She’s the sweetest woman I think I’ve ever met.
Most of the women I dated in college were forward and high maintenance since a lot of them came from money. Brynlee seems old fashioned, and I don’t get the vibe she’s high maintenance whatsoever.
I’d say for sure that she’s inexperienced in bed, but there’s this sexy quality about her. I put her number in my phone, and then she shows me where she lives, so I can pick her up for our next date.
I take her to the park and get out with her. She leans back against the passenger door, and I stand close in front of her. “Are you sure you’re OK here alone?”
“Yes. I come here all the time.”
“I think your beauty makes you more of a target. You stand out is what I’m trying to say.” I run my hand through my hair. She’s blushing, and it makes her even prettier. She has rich, brown eyes and is doing a number on me. It’s supposed to be the other way around.
I feel a profound need to kiss her, so stepping forward, I cup the right side of her face. Her back is pressed against my door, and I really want to push her into it and pin her with my body. I lean over and plant one kiss on her rosy lips.
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