by Ashlee Price
Chapter 4 – Scott
I shouldn’t have told her that about my past. I don’t know what I was thinking, but she gave me this look of pity that I never wanted to see again. I know that she didn’t mean to, Jesse wasn’t condescending in that way, but that was how it felt. I never wanted her to feel sorry for me. I hated the sentiment from anyone, but from Jesse it was unbearable.
She didn’t bring it up again, instead talking about how much better she felt now that everything was paid for. It was good that her debt was all in one spot and the payment was going to be a lot lower. I didn’t want to talk about finances, but she was nervous, and I’d said enough about myself for one day. She now knew more about me than most people ever would.
“So what are you going to do now? Take some time off and close the place up on a regular basis?”
Jesse shrugged like she hadn’t even thought that far. “I don’t know, I guess. Melissa is going to want to start getting a day off every week or so. With the coffee sales going crazy, we are still looking to hire a couple more people. Sorry… I can’t stop thinking about work.”
“I know the feeling. Sometimes I don’t think I would have a life at all if it wasn’t for going to the office every day. That’s all I do now, and I can’t say that I know how to change that. I miss the days when I worked when I wanted. I still worked as much, but it was when I wanted to and not when someone told me to. There is a difference.”
“But I thought you were the CEO? Doesn’t that make you the boss?”
“Yeah, but there is a board that my father is on. All big decisions have to be approved by the board, so I’m really just a glorified figurehead.”
“Well, I’m sure that it isn’t so bad with what you get paid.”
I wondered how she knew how much I got paid. There was a magazine that had done a cover on me a few months back, but I didn’t know if she’d read it. I liked the idea of her checking me out, but there were other stories out there that were not so flattering to me. I hoped she hadn’t seen those.
“You can’t always believe everything that you read about me, Jesse. The media like to sensationalize everything. That’s why I stay far away from them now.”
By the look on her face, she had read something unsavory about me. I was glad that she wasn’t going to judge me for it. It was most likely true, but I didn’t like to think about what she would think of me if she knew the whole truth. Maybe it was good enough that she knew I had a dark past. She didn’t necessarily have to know how black it was at some points. No one needed to know, but Jesse was a person I never wanted to see me that way.
“Don’t worry. It wasn’t that bad, but it did make you out to be a playboy. That part of it I think I’m inclined to believe. You have a way about you that tells me that you haven’t heard the word ‘no’ that much.”
I chuckled. I felt like she knew more about me than I’d intended. Why did she look right through me?
“I guess you could say that I haven’t, although you’ve said it many times since I’ve met you. Why are you so hard on me, Jesse?”
She was plating the food and stopped to look at me. “I’m not hard on you. I don’t think I am. I just – well, the first time we met, I was not very happy with you.”
The smile on her face was contagious. I was enjoying myself too much. I shouldn’t be having this much fun with my clothes on. “No, you weren’t were you?”
“Well, it was the way you were walking around like you owned everything. I’ve known men like you before, and it never ends well.”
“Men like me?”
“Yeah, you know, rich, handsome and aggressive.”
“I haven’t been aggressive. I’ve been more patient than I’ve ever been in my whole life. I’ve waited for you for so long that I’m sure I’m going to explode soon.”
She giggled at me and told me to come to the table. The table was set beautifully, and the first thing I noticed was the wine. I needed something to drink, something to slow down the mind that was only thinking about her underneath me.
“I haven’t known you but a couple of weeks and we’re already going out on a date. To me, that’s pretty fast.”
“If you were any other woman, you would already be in my bed.”
I regretted saying it as soon as I saw her reaction. She blanched and looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had, but there was a bigger part of me that didn’t think I’d gone far enough. I wouldn’t have gone far enough until she was in my arms and in my bed.
“Yeah, I made that kind of mistake once before. But I learn from my mistakes. That’s why I almost didn’t agree to this date. Men like you are dangerous, Scott, and I don’t need any danger in my life.”
The smile had faded, and I was really hearing what she said. I had to wonder who it was who’d broken her heart and ruined my chances of being with her. Who was it that she thought was a man like me?
“I don’t think that you’ve ever met a man like me, Jesse. I don’t think that I’ve ever met a woman like you, Jesse, nowhere close. Maybe that’s a sign.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I do wonder why you’re still hanging around. You could have anyone, Scott. Why are you worried about me?”
“Because you’re different. You don’t dress to impress anyone, just yourself. You don’t spend all day in front of a mirror to make yourself something you’re not. I think you may be the realest women that I’ve ever met, and I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to you. How could I not be, Jesse?”
I moved towards her and pulled her to her feet. I wanted her to know what she meant to me. She meant more than I was willing to admit to myself. I cared for her more than I should have. I didn’t really understand it, but there was something between us. Something inside of me was never going to be fulfilled until I had her.
“Scott, this is just supposed to be a date.”
“I want to kiss you. That’s all. Just one kiss.”
I moved to touch my lips to hers before she could give me an answer I didn’t want to hear. I was too afraid that it was going to be no. I couldn’t take another one from her, not again. Not when I was so close to what I wanted.
She mewled when our lips finally met and made the sweetest sounds when I pulled her into my arms. It was where she was supposed to be, and the touch was the very last assurance that I needed. Pushing my tongue in between her lips, I tasted her sweetness and a surge of need ran through me. I pulled away from her before I wouldn’t be able to stop myself. I wouldn’t have her tonight. Tonight was just a date.
To be continued in Part 5…
Served Part 5: Heat
By: Ashlee Price
Prologue
After Jesse’s date with Scott, she starts to look at him differently. While she tries to tell herself that she only went out with him because she had to, Jesse enjoyed herself far too much for that to be true. The truth is that she had a great time, and like always, Scott was full of surprises. Not only was he more forward with his flirting, he shared parts of his past that left him vulnerable. Scott wasn’t at all what Jesse had first thought him to be.
When Scott comes to her rescue yet again, Jesse wants to repay him for his kindness. All Scott wants from her is another date, but this one is different. This time it’s Jesse who takes things to the next level, and after that, she knows that it will never be the same again. Scott has changed her, and there is nothing she can do about it. Jesse can’t refuse him anymore. The heat is too much and she’s scorching with need.
Chapter 1 – Scott
I was still smiling. My face was actually hurting from smiling so much after getting back from my date with Jesse. It had been everything that I’d hoped it would be, and maybe a little more. I was enchanted with her, and after the small taste that I got of her lips, I was even more convinced of how much I needed her in my life.
Now I just had to figure out how to convince her of the same. She was so sure that I was the wrong kind of guy that I was just going to have to sh
ow her that I was the right one. I didn’t know how to do that or what that was going to look like, but the only time frame that I had was my own needs, and they were pushing me to do more and more. I hadn’t even secured another date with her before I left. I was too into what was going on and hadn’t even thought about it. What if she wouldn’t see me again? It wasn’t like me to worry about that kind of thing, but I hadn’t ever had the same confidence with Jesse as I’d had with other women. I was on eggshells with Jesse, because I actually cared.
The next morning I was still grinning from ear to ear. Caroline noticed the difference right off the bat.
“You’re looking well today, Scott. What’s new with you?”
She was being nosy, something that she always did, and the worst part was that she was going to run and tell my father, but I just didn’t care. I didn’t care because even my father couldn’t ruin my good mood, so his lackey surely couldn’t. What could ruin my day was all in Jesse’s hands: her willingness to go on another date. I was prepared to take it slow, as long as I was continuing in a forward direction.
“Not much, Caroline. I’ve just been taking a little more time off, and I can’t tell you how much better I’m feeling.”
“Well, you look good Scott, so something is working.”
I waited for her to say more. I was in a good mood, but not a good enough mood that I was going sit there and spar with her all day. I still appreciated her for getting the gist of it out as quickly as possible.
“I have some paperwork that I was going to drop off. Your father wants you to look over it and sign it, and then I’ll send it all to the lawyers to finalize.”
“What is it about?”
“You know that I don’t get into all of the details. I’m just the messenger.”
I suspected that she was one choosing to be just the messenger. It meant that I wasn’t going to like the papers. I looked at them as if she were handing me a bomb.
“It’s not that bad, Scott, really.”
“I thought you said you didn’t know what they were about?”
“Well, I know that nothing is as bad as how you look right now. You look like something is going to come out and suck your blood.”
It was an odd thing for an older woman like her to say, but I’d never understood her humor. Now I was starting to think that I never would. What was I supposed to say to that? All I could do was take the paperwork that she thrust into my hands and go from there.
After Caroline had left, I studied the papers as long as I could without actually looking at them. I guessed how many pages there were by the thickness of the stack, and then I tried to guess what it was all about. I knew that it was going to be something I didn’t like. My father never really had any good news to tell me, and from the way Caroline was acting about it, I knew that this wasn’t going to be the first time.
So instead of letting it ruin my day and the good mood I was in, I didn’t even open it. There would be the next day to look it over and argue with my father about whatever it was, but today I just wanted to relax and think about my next move with Jesse. I had to sweep her off her feet, or at least get her to take me seriously. I didn’t want to be just some rich guy that she got some money or help from. I wanted to be the man she fell for. What would happen after I’d gotten her there was not even on my radar. All I could think about was what it would be like to have her in my arms.
Caroline came back in a couple of times, her eyes darting to the unopened file folder. I wasn’t going to say anything to her. I was waiting for her to bring it up, but she would leave without saying a word, I think in order to keep the peace. It became clear after a few hours that I was expected to sign right away. I doubted that they even wanted to give me time to read it. I was sure that my father thought that I should sign just because he said so. But I wasn’t ready to obey him that blindly. I knew better, because I knew him better.
The fourth time she came into my office, I was done seeing her. I told her I was taking the rest of the day off. Caroline was not happy about that, reminding me of how much work I still had to do, but I just waved her off. “It always gets done, Caroline. You shouldn’t worry so much.”
From the way she was sending me looks that could have been daggers, it was quite obvious how little humor she found in what I said. I didn’t wait to hear any more. I ran out of there like it wasn’t even my office. It was becoming a habit, me ducking out around two thirty, and I knew exactly where I was going to go. It used to be the time of day I would be looking for a drink, but now I was looking for a pretty smile and a coffee. A lot had changed since I met Jesse, and I was sure that she was good for me. I didn’t know where it was going to lead, but it was the first time that I wasn’t ready to run immediately.
Before going to the bistro, I stopped and picked up some flowers. I didn’t want to go empty-handed, and if any women deserved flowers, it was Jesse. She’d changed my whole outlook on things. I was still nervous about what I was going to find when I got there, but I had to know. Jesse had to feel the same way that I did. She had to.
Chapter 2 – Jesse
I didn’t see him for a time. He was almost up to the front of the line when I saw him with flowers, and I was so busy that I hardly had time to say hello. Melissa was gone for the day, something that I’d insisted on, and I was struggling to get through the line by myself. I wasn’t going to be able to close on time if I didn’t, though.
“You look busy.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Where’s your help?”
“On a date.”
He raised an eyebrow and then smiled at me so sweetly that my heart melted in my chest.
“You could always grab an apron and make some coffees.”
“Okay.”
I was just joking. The thought of him doing menial labor was hard to fathom, and I never thought he would go along with my suggestion. He was, after all, worth billions. I was sure that the last thing Scott wanted to do was take money and pour coffee.
When he got behind the counter, it took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to use him. I finally stuck him at the register. The man knew money, not food. The line went down a little faster than before, and it was only about twenty minutes after closing time that I was able to shut the doors.
“That was intense.”
“Yeah, I haven’t worked like that since I was a fry cook twenty years ago.”
I giggled and told him that he wasn’t old enough for that.
“Unfortunately, I am.”
“Well, you don’t look it.”
“Good. What do you want me to do next?”
I looked around the messy front of the shop and thought of a million things he could do, but he’d already done enough and I would have felt bad to add any more to it. I already felt guilty that I’d let him help me as much as he had. I didn’t want to push it. Scott had done so much for me already.
“Nothing, Scott. Thank you for your help. I think I got it from here.”
“I want to help. You shouldn’t have to do all of this yourself.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I started to pick up the coffee cups and dishes on the counter closest to me. Why did he have to be so damn perfect? It was already hard to be around him, but when he was so nice like this, I had to wonder if he was just perfect on purpose. Did he know how I felt about him and the kiss that we shared the night before? It took everything in me not to touch his lips then and remember what they felt like brushed against mine.
“It’s fine, Scott. I’ve kept you long enough. I’m sure you have important things to do.”
Scott told me that he didn’t and insisted again that he help me. It was becoming clear that he wasn’t going to drop it, so instead of arguing, I asked him to help sweep and pick up the front with me. To my surprise, Scott was quick to help and it didn’t take much time at all to get the place cleaned up. He was right about two pairs of hands being better than one.
***
“So come
have dinner with me. You kind of owe me.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled up at the handsome man. “How did I know that it was going to turn into that?”
“What? I’m just trying to be nice, that’s all.”
“You’ve been nice enough. After all of the help you’ve given me, don’t let me ruin anymore of your day.”
“You’ve made my day, so please don’t let me eat alone.”
“You really have no shame, do you?”
He acted like he was thinking about it for a moment and then he shook his head that he in fact didn’t have any shame. Not when it came to me and what he wanted, apparently. I don’t know how I felt about him wanting me in such a way, and there really wasn’t anything I could say. He had a point about how he’d helped me clean up. I guess I didn’t have a choice but to do what he asked of me. It was just a date, right, just another date?
“Yeah, I guess I can go.”
“Where to? What are you in the mood for?”
“Anywhere is fine. Just anything that isn’t coffee and breakfast. I think I’ve seen enough of it today. I’m feeling completely burned out.”
“Well then I know just the place.”
I expected a fancy restaurant that he was going to use to try and impress me and show off all of his wealth. When he pulled up to a residential place that I knew wasn’t where he lived, I was confused again.
“Where are we?”
“We’re where we’re going to have dinner.”
“Here? Do you know these people?”
It seemed like a legitimate question, even though we were right out front of the house. It didn’t seem like the sort of neighborhood that Scott would find himself in by accident. He was always so full of surprises.
“I don’t really know them that well. I try to find them and come out here a couple of times a month, but I have to say that it has been quite some time since I was last here. It’s one of those pop-up restaurants that you hear about. This one is pretty good. I got a text last night with the new location. They’ll be here for about another couple of days and then they’ll be gone by Friday. I don’t know why I like it so much, but the cook is phenomenal and it’s a good place to go to impress a woman.”