A Fare to Remember

by Opal Carew

  She smiled as she locked the cab and walked to the door of the restaurant. As soon as she stepped into the trendy bistro with its colorful plants and light, airy artwork on the walls, she saw Jon waving to her from a table by the window. His hand rested on Derrick’s sleeve, the two of them sitting side by side, Derrick probably cringing from the public show of affection.

  The two men were quite a contrast. Jon in his royal-blue shirt and well-fitting jeans, tumultuous blond waves tumbling over his forehead, his smile bright and his green eyes glittering. Derrick in his impeccable charcoal suit, burgundy shirt, and a patterned tie sporting both colors. His hair was short, dark brown, and immaculately styled, unlike Jon’s carefree hairstyle. His brown eyes and smile were more reserved than Jon’s, but every bit as warm and welcoming.

  “So, I want to hear all about this new guy you’ve been seeing,” Jon said as soon as she sat down.

  She knew Jon would ask about Reid, and she thought she’d been prepared, but thoughts of Reid telling her he loved her … of knowing she’d have to walk away, even though her heart longed for him … made it much harder than she thought it would be.

  “Give her a minute to breathe,” Derrick said.

  She loved these two men. They were her best friends. Any advice she wanted, she knew they would give her a considered opinion, keeping her well-being at the forefront. And not by assuming they knew what was best for her, like her family always had.

  But she wouldn’t ask their counsel about Reid. She’d already made up her mind.

  The waitress came by to take their order. Stevie took a quick look through the menu while the men ordered, then she chose one of the specials. A fancy wrap with chicken and avocado, and a salad.

  “So where have you been staying since you broke up with Hank?” Derrick asked.

  Her breakup with Hank seemed a lifetime ago. In the short time since that had happened, she’d come to realize that Hank had never really loved her … that she’d never really loved him … that the same was true with her ex-fiancé Sean … and that what she felt for Reid really was love, but she still wasn’t sure how to handle it.

  She grabbed a celery stalk from the glass serving plate that had already been on the table when she arrived and dropped the tip into the white dip, trying to forget about that for now.

  “I’ve been staying at a place just off Claremont Avenue.”

  “What’s the address?” Derrick was a real estate agent, specializing in high-end properties.

  “It’s 724 Lalonde Boulevard.”

  “That’s Lalonde Terrace,” Derrick remarked.

  “That’s one of the most exclusive buildings in the city.” Jon’s smile lit up like a sun gone nova. “So your new guy is rich. Tell us about him.”

  Of course, Jon would assume she was staying with Reid. And she really couldn’t deny it.

  “Stevie, you’ve been staying with a man you just met?” Derrick’s cautious tone, filled with concern, warmed her. “That’s a bit dangerous.”

  She grinned. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t tell you about having sex with him in a dark alleyway two blocks from Hotel Maison the day we met.”

  She knew she shouldn’t tease Derrick like this—he was only expressing his concern for her.

  “OMG, you are so bad,” Jon said, his face beaming. “Where did you meet him?”

  “He conveniently stepped into my cab just as you were telling me to screw my next fare.” She shrugged. “So I did.”

  The look of shock on Jon’s face was comical. He covered his mouth. “You’re kidding. I didn’t think you’d actually do it.” He leaned forward. “So tell me all about him. Is he sexy?”

  She laughed. “Sexy doesn’t even begin to describe him. Just a glance at Reid Jacobs is enough to fill your mind with steamy, toe-curling sexual fantasies.”

  Her heart clenched, even though she kept a smile on her face. How could she possibly give up what she had with Reid? And Dylan? She’d never experienced anything so erotically intense and satisfying in her life.

  “Reid Jacobs?” Derrick asked, tapping into his phone.

  Jon stared at Derrick’s phone display, then his eyes widened. “Wow! I’d definitely do him.”

  Derrick raised an eyebrow, but nodded.

  The waitress stopped beside the table and set a plate in front of Stevie, then Derrick and Jon. She continued on her way.

  Stevie gazed at the green wrap on her plate, with dashes of red tomato in the filling offering a nice contrast of color. She picked it up and took a bite. After she took a sip of water, she turned to Derrick, knowing she had to get on with her request.

  “Derrick, I was hoping you could help me with something.”

  “Of course. What can I do?”

  “I’ve started looking for an apartment, but even once I find a place, it’ll be a few weeks before I can move in, so I was hoping you might know of somewhere I can stay until then.”

  Because she couldn’t keep staying with Reid and Dylan. She had to start putting some distance between them to get some perspective.

  “You can stay with us,” Derrick said.

  “Thank you, but I wouldn’t want to do that for more than a few days.” She patted his hand. “I value our friendship too much to put that kind of strain on it.”

  “What about Reid?” Jon said. “Aren’t you happy staying with him?”

  She frowned. “Sure, it’s been fun. But I need to put a little space between us to get my feelings sorted out. This relationship has dredged up major issues for me and it hasn’t been easy.”

  “Good relationships never are,” Derrick said.

  She took another bite of her sandwich.

  “What happened?” Jon asked.

  “He’s been extremely serious from the start and I’m not sure I’m ready for how quickly everything is moving.”

  “I know you’ve been burned before, sweetie. I understand why falling for him might scare the hell out of you. But don’t let your past mess up your future.”

  Jon took Derrick’s hands, and in that moment, Stevie hoped she could one day have the deep bond they shared.

  “I think it would be crazy to let this guy go,” Jon said. “A sexy, rich guy who’s not afraid of commitment? God, that’s a dream come true.”

  * * *

  Stevie dropped off her passenger at the trendy nightclub in the Village. It had started raining about two hours ago, so the number of fares had picked up. Ordinarily, she’d knock off in about a half hour, but with the extra business, she might work longer.

  Except that Reid had texted earlier asking her to eat light because he and Dylan had planned a nice dinner for the three of them that evening. She’d decided instead of having a snack when she usually ate her meal at about six, that she’d skip it and wait for dinner with them. But that meant she was hungry now … and she didn’t want to make them wait too long for her.

  Too bad because she could use the extra cash.

  Her phone bleeped so she pulled it from her pocket.

  When are you done with your shift? I’m at a meeting and could use a ride home.

  It was from Dylan.

  A man got into the cab and gave her an address.

  One more fare. About 20 min. Let me know where and I’ll text when ready.

  A few minutes later she heard her phone. When she dropped her passenger off, she pulled it from her pocket and checked the address, then texted Dylan she was on her way.

  She drove to the office tower, then pulled up in front. Dylan strode out the door and over to her cab.

  “Hey, thanks for picking me up,” Dylan said with a smile as he got in the back of the cab.

  She gazed at him in the rearview mirror and smiled. “It’s what I do.”

  He laughed. “Yes, well, I appreciate it. It’s murder getting a cab on a wet night like this.” He pulled off his damp suit jacket and lay it down beside him.

  “So where to, sir?” she asked with a grin.

  “Well, I have this gre
at penthouse. How about you take me there and we both go up and I’ll show you the fabulous view?”

  She caught his gaze in the mirror. “I might be persuaded.”

  He opened his briefcase and pulled out a shopping bag from a designer store. “Would it help if I gave you a gift?”

  She grinned. “I don’t know. Depends on what it is.”

  She pulled off the main road and down a quiet street, then pulled over. She turned and took the bag he offered and peeked inside. She pulled out the tissue and found a lovely white shirred dress. It was very elegant, but at the same time, sexy, since the slinky fabric would cling to her every curve.

  She gazed at him questioningly.

  “We thought we’d dress for dinner.”

  “Should I be insulted?” she teased. “My plaid flannel shirt isn’t good enough for you fancy penthouse dwellers?”

  He chuckled. “Personally, I love your plaid flannel. It’s so”—he grinned—“soft to the touch. Especially with you inside it.”

  The thought of him touching her shirt … stroking over the fabric … cupping her breast … sent her hormones spinning.

  “The fact that you gave this to me now rather than when we reach the apartment … I assume that means you want me to put it on now?”

  He nodded. “That way from the time you park the cab and we start upstairs, it’s like we’ve started a date.”

  She smiled. “A date with two men. I could go for that.” She pulled away from the curb. “I’ll take us somewhere I can change.”

  * * *

  Dylan was looking forward to this evening. He and Reid had put their heads together to plan the perfect evening to convince Stevie that what Reid could offer her surpassed anything she could get from being with her ex-fiancé, in case she was having second thoughts. Reid felt his biggest weapon was Dylan—a second man to ramp up the excitement.

  Dylan was thrilled to be a part of it.

  Stevie turned down a quiet street, then into a dark alley. She pulled over and stopped the cab.

  “What are we doing here?” he asked, glancing around.

  She tossed the shopping bag into his lap, then she got out of the car and opened the back door and climbed into the backseat beside him. Then she started unbuttoning her shirt.

  “You’re changing here?” he asked, his eyes widening as she slipped off her shirt, then tugged her navy tank top over her head, revealing her black lace bra.

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “I … uh … guess.”

  She’d kicked off her shoes and was already slipping off her jeans, pushing them to the floor of the car. At the sight of her in her tiny bra and panties, his groin tightened. She held up the dress.

  “Hmm. It’s off the shoulder, and I definitely don’t want a black bra underneath.”

  She dropped the dress and reached behind her. His cock swelled as she peeled away her bra and dropped it on the seat. She grinned at him, clearly aware of the effect her perfect, round, naked breasts were having on him.

  She pulled the dress over her head and let the slinky garment glide down her body. She pulled it into place, smoothing it down. It lovingly hugged every curve. And he couldn’t help noticing that her hard nipples were clearly visible through the thin fabric.

  She pushed herself up on her knees. “Do you like it?” she asked, swiveling a little to give him different views.

  “Oh, yeah.” His gravelly voice made it clear how much.

  She smiled. “Can you see my black undies through the white fabric? Because I wouldn’t want that.”

  His gaze jerked to her groin.

  “I … uh…” Just say yes, a little voice shouted in his head.

  “Better not to take any chances.” She tugged the hem up a little and slid her hands under the dress, then began to wiggle.

  “What are you doing?” But he knew damned well exactly what she was doing.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Dylan almost salivated as Stevie sat down again, then glided her panties down her shapely calves and slipped them off her feet.

  “Any shoes?” she asked. “My sneakers will just ruin the look.”

  “Uh … yeah. In the bag.”

  God, she was totally naked under that dress. His cock swelled some more.

  She pulled out the shoes—white satin stilettos with rhinestone trim—and slipped them on.

  “Nice.” She smiled at him and pushed herself onto her knees again, but this time she pulled up the hem of the dress enough to straddle his legs.

  Her fingertips moved down his chest and he realized she was unfastening the buttons of his shirt. She pushed it open and smiled as she stroked his naked flesh.

  “Thank you for the pretty gift.”

  “It was from Reid, too,” he said absently, mesmerized by the glitter in her eyes.

  She rested her hand so her palm cupped his nipple, keeping it warm, then she teased his other nipple with her fingertips.

  “I’ll thank him later.”

  He drew in a breath as she stroked over his hard cock, then she quickly unzipped him and wrapped her warm fingers around it.

  “We should probably get going.” Fuck, that’s the last thing he wanted to do, but he was supposed to be helping Reid win her, not fucking her in the back of her cab.

  But she took his hand and pulled it under her dress. Then he felt the slickness between her folds as she pressed his fingers to her opening.

  “This’ll only take a minute,” she murmured against his ear. “I promise.”

  Then she lowered herself down, pressing his cock to her, and slid onto him.

  He sucked in a breath as his hard cock glided deep into her body. She held him close, her lips nuzzling his temple.

  “You feel so good inside me.” Her voice was thick with desire.

  Then she began to move.

  Fuck, he couldn’t believe he was sitting in a dark alley with a beautiful cabdriver fucking him in the backseat of her cab.

  “Ohhh,” she moaned softly, her head falling back.

  Her long, blonde waves streamed down her back, gliding over his hands as he guided her up and down. His cock ached, his groin tightening with each thrust as she drove him into her body again and again.

  “Oh, fuck, Stevie, I’m going to come any minute.”

  “Good, because I’m so close, I … ah…”

  He pivoted up to meet her, then pressed his hand to her stomach and found her clit with his thumb. He stroked over it, again and again. She sucked in a breath, then started riding him faster, her hot, velvety passage squeezing tightly around him.

  His body vibrated with intense need as he held back, waiting for her to come. He tweaked her clit and stroked over it faster.

  She gasped, then moaned, her fingers clutching his shoulders as her face blossomed in orgasm.

  Fuck, it was such a beautiful sight. The potent need coiled tightly in his groin released in a wash of intense pleasure. He erupted inside her, his whole body in spasm as he rode the wave of ecstasy.

  She collapsed against him, her head resting on his shoulder. Then he realized she was giggling.

  She lifted her head, her glowing, rosy-cheeked face smiling and a twinkle dancing in her eyes. “Well, that was fun.”

  “Yes, it was,” he said, a little shaken by her potent effect on him.

  * * *

  Stevie held Dylan’s hand as they went up the elevator. She knew he was intensely aware of the fact she still wore no panties under her dress. Or bra. Even though they’d just had sex, she could see that his cock was hardening again already.

  The doors opened and she and Dylan stepped into the entryway of the penthouse. Reid walked toward them, taking in the sight of her, his admiring gaze gliding from her head to her toes.

  “You look beautiful, Stevie.”

  She smiled. “I’ve already thanked Dylan for the dress and shoes.” She sent him a dazzling smile as she released Dylan’s hand and stepped toward Reid. “Now it’s time to thank you.”
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br />   She rested her hand on his cheek and tipped her face up. He closed the distance, finding her lips and kissing her with a sweet passion. She leaned in closer, pressing her breasts tightly to his body. She grasped his hand and pressed it to her breast and squeezed it around her. Heat flooded her senses.

  He tipped his head back and smiled. “You’re not wearing a bra.”

  “That’s not the only thing she’s not wearing,” Dylan said.

  A slow smile spread across Reid’s lips.

  “Oh, yeah?” His eyes glittered.

  She just smiled, then stepped back. “I’m starving. You promised me dinner.”

  “Yes, of course.” Reid took her hand and led her to the dining room, then pulled out the chair for her.

  The table was set with fine china and delicate crystal stemware. Tall slender candles, flames softly flickering, stood in glass holders alongside an arrangement of flowers adorning the center of the table, and soft music filled the room.

  “Hmm. It seems you gentlemen may be trying to seduce me.”

  “Don’t worry, we wouldn’t seduce a beautiful woman without feeding her first,” Reid said.

  At that comment, she glanced at Dylan, who was sitting down in the chair next to her, and giggled.

  Reid gazed from one to the other. “What’s going on?”

  “Well, your partner was really quite … excited by my lack of lingerie.”

  “You’re saying Dylan already seduced you?”

  “To be fair, it was really me who did the seducing.”

  “Really?” Reid smiled broadly.

  “I told you, I thanked him for the dress and shoes. And I haven’t really given you as thorough a thank-you. I am hungry, but if you’d like me to do that before dinner”—she smiled—“I can wait.”

  “Oh, no. Please.” He gestured to the salad that had already been served on her plate. Fresh greens with bright red cherry tomatoes and pine nuts, tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.

  Reid filled her stemmed glass with white wine, then filled the other two.

  Stevie picked up her salad fork and spiked it through some of the greens, then put them into her mouth. The tangy flavor was delightful. Next, she stabbed a cherry tomato and popped it into her mouth, then bit into it. It was juicy and a bit dribbled from her lips. When she swallowed, she swirled out her tongue to lap up the liquid dripping from her mouth.