by Becca Taylor
Finally, she talks. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Dee. Just talk to me.”
She climbs off my lap and sits next to me. When she takes my hand in hers, a chill runs through me. It’s not good.
“You know I love you. You’ve become my best friend.”
“I love you too.” I squeeze her hand, encouraging her to go on.
“Something happened while I was in California.” She looks at me, and her eyes are so sad. I brush my hand to her cheek. Leaning into my touch, she grips my wrist.
“What happened?”
“I ran into some old friends from college. We went out for some drinks and bumped into another group of people we went to school with.” She stops for a moment. I see her throat move as she swallows deeply. “My old boyfriend was there. I don’t know how it happened, but we just started talking. We talked all night.”
It’s not what I thought she was going to tell me. My head was thinking that maybe they were transferring her for her job. I was going to tell her we’d make it work, but this … This isn’t what I was fucking expecting. The words boyfriend, talking, and all night are ringing in my ear. I push her hand away from my face. I have a feeling I’m not going to like the rest of it.
“Did you sleep with him?” I ask. More yell. I never understood when people say that they saw red. Right now, I’m seeing it. There’s a sick feeling in my gut. I almost don’t want to hear her answer.
She shakes her head. I almost feel a little relieved. It only lasts for a second. “He’s moving here. And I think I want to give it another try with him.”
The need to punch something is strong. I search the room for something to hit, but it’s not my house. Instead, I reach inside my pocket. I pull out the ring and place it on her coffee table. I don’t say anything as I walk out her front door. I hear her loud and clear as she calls to me.
“Oh, God.”
“Jeremy, wait.”
“Don’t leave like this.”
I get in my truck. The fuck I’m sticking around. Once home, I throw the suit in the trash, vowing to never wear one again. I throw on a pair of shorts and head straight to my punching bag. I hit it over and over, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. The knot in my chest is too tight, and I need something to numb the pain. From the liquor cabinet, I grab the bottle of Jack and the biggest glass I can find. I can’t tell you how long I drank for, but I woke up to an empty bottle, feeling worse than I did the day before. Fuck my life.
Excerpt …………
If the Shoe Fits by Jody Lynn Daniels
Chapter One
“SO HAVE YOU picked the lucky candidate for an evening of the Nicholas experience?”
I looked at my friend William, who was as full of shit as he was rich. And he was fucking loaded. We’d been great friends since college, we’d pledged and were accepted to the same frat and had been thick as thieves since then. We’d both come from fairly well off families, had never wanted for anything and led privileged lives. But it never went to either of our heads, we always tried to be down to earth guys and honest especially to each other. Some days it worked.
“No, not yet. I’m scouting the room for something different Will.”
“Like what a virgin?” we both had a good chuckle and looked at the room of hopeful women and smiled.
“There’s not much chance of that here now is there. But it would be nice to find someone who isn't here to land a husband, or just a sugar daddy to buy them shiny things.”
“Well good luck Nick, I see a lot of the same faces we see on a regular basis. After a couple more glasses of Dom you’ll change your mind.”
“I don’t know Will; I don’t see very many women worth talking to.”
“What do you mean; there are several doable women here tonight. You’re getting too picky.”
“Pretty and doable are easy to find, but it would be nice to find one who could hold a conversation William. Maybe one who's interested in the world around them, and a little more than reality television and what the Kardashians are doing.”
“Well good luck with that, maybe you’ll get lucky. You aren’t exactly prince Charming yourself.”
I watched Will walk away and smiled, then turned my attention back to the sea of fake smiles, breasts and more bling than Liberace. They all worked the room like a pack of sharks circling a wounded swimmer, searching for an opening or a weakness. Granted it was a fundraiser for the local museum, but the funds they were interested in were not what was being raised.
I turned my attention to the bartender again and nodded, smiling when George poured me double bourbon without asking. I’d been scouting the room from his position at the bar, making idol chit chat as he kept my glass full and the information on the ladies flowing. I took a small sip glancing in the mirror behind the bar, a blonde I hadn't noticed before was walking towards the bar frowning. She was tall, of course that was partly due to the killer heels she was wearing. Her clingy black dress, pearl necklace and swept up hair making her neck look amazing, like it needed to be kissed.
She didn't give me a second glance as she walked to the bar, her head down as she was upset over something.
I wonder what dumbass said no to her?
She stopped beside me and smiled, she motioned to the seat next to me asking if it was taken. I shook my head no and smiled, I watched as she sat on the stool next to me as she crossed her incredibly long legs.
Damn nice legs, lean strong and firm. Yoga instructor or maybe a dancer. Either way they were amazing.
“Champagne please.”
I smiled my most charming smile, held my glass of bourbon up and took the leap.
“Let me guess...Holly?”
“Excuse me...” She looked at me like I was a drunk fool, but I wasn't; at least not yet.
“You’re dress, the black little dress. The pearls and swept up hair, I just assumed your name was Holly Go-lightly.”
“Breakfast at Tiffany's, I love that movie. My name is Isabella, but you can’t go wrong with the classics.”
I looked her up and down, and stopped on the expensive shoes with a sharks tooth design and trademark red sole.
“Well the classics looks great on you, although I don't remember Audrey Hepburn wear Louboutin heels?”
She smiled, looked at the flashy shoes and laughed.
“Lou who? Well these aren't my usual. But I wanted to make a good impression on someone so I borrowed them.
“Well that was really thoughtful of someone to loan you three thousand dollar shoes.”
“Three thousand dollars, yeah right. You have got to be kidding me, you’re lying right?” She stopped and looked at the flashy shoes, and swallowed hard. She almost dropped her glass, sitting it down quickly as what I said sunk in.
I watched all the color drain from her face, her hands started to shake as it sunk in. She started to hyperventilate; she was having a panic attack. I looked at George as his hand was on the phone, ready to call 911 if needed. She looked at me, giggled a little and grabbed my glass. She breathed deep and downed my bourbon in one shot, sitting the glass down as she looked at me.
“Three thousand dollars are you serious?” she coughed at the bourbon, and shoved that glass at George asking for a refill.
“Give or take, Louboutin doesn't make cheap shoes. Most women who wear them know exactly how much they cost. Why don't you?” I thanked George as he gave Holly and me both a double, and looked back at her.
“Like I said I borrowed them from someone, she doesn't know. Good lord she’s going to kill me if I scuff them.”
“I'm sure she won’t kill you, there just shoes. But they are very impressive.”
“Yes they are painfully exquisite. Just like that expensive Armani suit of yours, meant to impress.”
“Of course, and you noticed so it must be working.” I gave her my most honest smile, and she stared for a second and then laughed sexily as she drank more bourbon, making short work of her second
double.
“I’d be careful if I were you, thats strong stuff.”
“I think I can handle it Armani.” She pounded the empty glass on the bar and pushed it at George and smiled.
I smiled and nodded for him to refill her drink, and asked for him to signal for some finger food to be brought to help soak up the alcohol.
“Okay so shoe panic aside, why are you trying to pickle yourself Holly?”
“Holly, that’s funny. I'm drinking because I have failed miserably tonight; my mission was a complete and total failure.” Her face lit up as a plate of assorted nibbly things was placed in front of her, and one in front of me.
“Didn't find the man of your dreams?” I said placing a bacon wrapped fig in my mouth and watched intently as she did the same thing, making yummy noises as she ate.
“No I didn’t. My goodness these appetizers are amazing, I love these figs.” She plopped another in her mouth and smiled at me, then reached over to plop one in my mouth as well. She blushed a little when my lips caught her fingers before she could pull them back; she giggled as I chomped on the fig and smiled.
“And to think that I thought you came here to find me, I'm disappointed.” She laughed a very sexy laugh and held up a coconut shrimp, I followed her lead and we toasted with food and more bourbon.
“Don’t be disappointed Armani, after all I did find you.”
We took turns feeding each other from our plates, coconut shrimp, more figs, exquisite pate, and more. We chased it all with more bourbon, laughing and enjoying the hell out of each other’s company. Later George brought one desert plate and two forks, winking at me as he sat that and two cups of coffee in front of us.
“Ooh desert.” I said as I looked at the plate, it had chocolate éclairs, small tea cakes, and a thin slice of cheesecake. I was ready for desert, especially with her. But she looked at the plate with disappointment and what could only be described as contempt.
“What’s wrong Holly, you don’t like desert?”
“No, I love desert. This just isn’t good.” She looked at the plate with the sort of contempt a food critic would have after finding a hair in their food.
“How’s that?”
“It’s not homemade; it’s all pre-made frozen crap.”
She took a fork and took a small bite of cheesecake, frowned and then fed me a bite. I took the bite and it tasted somewhat like cheesecake, but bland. She did the same with the rest of the plate, and it was all edible but not great.
“Okay so it’s not good desert is it? And what’s with that weird taste to the cheesecake?”
“Generic Cheesecake often tastes like that. It’s nowhere near good Armani, they shouldn’t serve this.”
“I agree, they need better deserts.”
“I know, I can bake circles around this.”
I smiled and looked at her upset face, then smiled as she took a sip of the black coffee and frowned.
“Let me guess, you make better coffee?”
“Damn straight!” I laughed as she smiled and asked George for some Kahlua and cream for her coffee, and then added the same to mine. We both smiled at the better tasting coffee, and ate the cheesecake anyway.
I looked at the beauty before me as she continued to put away the desert, not really sure if she liked talking to me or if it was the bourbon. But I didn’t care I was having a great time, and I wanted to see where the bourbon lead to tonight.
Maybe it was the bourbon; maybe it was his sexy grin, full lips, neatly trimmed beard or deep brown eyes. Hell it could have been altitude sickness from the tall-ass heels I'm not used to but I was feeling all warm and tingly for this man. Hell my body was dying to be rubbed up against his in a way that would make me scream, pull hair and blush when I was totally sober. It was as if I was having an out of body experience, watching myself flirt shamelessly with the sexy man before me. I kept checking myself out in the mirror behind the bar to make sure it was me, and that the pod people hadn't shown up and made a new me.
Damn I look good in this dress; the girls were standing up nicely. I need to dress up more often.
I caught Armani looking at the girls too; hell he was looking at everything I had. And he looked hungry. True this wasn't the reason I was here tonight, actually I can’t remember much after my third bourbon. But I can’t let this opportunity pass me by; I’d regret not seeing where this went for the rest of my life. I had no clue who he was, or what he did but I had checked out the ring finger. No ring or circle where he’d hidden his married status.
“You look like you could walk into several dreams right now Armani.” His classic good looks could land him on the cover of GQ easily; as I looked at him I pictured him under the covers more. I blushed and fanned at the warmth spreading across my face, smiling as his grin got bigger.
“Picturing one of those dreams now Holly?”
“Yes.” I ran my finger around the rim of my glass, and then slowly sucked the bourbon from my fingertip, getting a low groan from Armani in the process. Seconds later he’d left the bartender a large tip, and had called for his car. I stood on wobbly feet as he placed an arm around my waist and lead me to the door; I smiled at all the jealous women shooting me daggers as I left with the hottest man there.
I smiled and slid into the back seat of the limo that he’d called, scooting over the supple leather seat to let him sit next to me. He smelled wonderful, an intoxicating combination of expensive cologne, bourbon and raw sexuality. I have a feeling that Armani got his way regularly, and I can see why.
He’s going to get it tonight.
The more I looked at him the more nervous I got, I wanted this man to touch me so bad but now I was having second thoughts. He must have sensed my hesitation, he winked and grabbed a bottle of chilled champagne and smiled as he poured and handed me a glass and took a glass for himself.
“To you Holly, and an unforgettable evening.”
“I’ll second that.” After a clink of the crystal and a large sip of the champagne I felt the butterflies settle, my new found sexual independence returning.
“Don’t you love the bubbles; they tickle as you drink them.” I smiled and took another sip, emptying my glass and handing it to Armani.
“You’re tickling me right now Holly.”
We’d traveled a couple blocks, then after a call to the driver we stopped in front of a four star restaurant. He had the driver run inside for a surprise, a moment later he handed Armani a pastry box. He opened the box, and then grabbed the fork inside. He showed me what was hidden in the box and smiled; it was a large and decadent looking piece of cheesecake covered with large slices of strawberries covered in strawberry sauce.
“Oh my…” My mouth watered at the decadent desert before me, I sighed and laughed. “Now that’s cheesecake.” I said as he scooped up a forkful and fed it to me. The creamy cheesecake tasted incredible and silky smooth, the sweet strawberries a perfect topping. I made yummy noises as I licked my lips, and waited for the next bite. He laughed and gave me another large bite, and then took one for himself.
“Okay, I see the difference. This is very good cheesecake.” He licked his lips and smiled, he enjoyed watching me eat. Or he just liked to watch my mouth, either way worked.
“See, just listen to Holly. I know best.” He laughed, and I smiled at the incredible dimples he had.
I took the fork and fed him a very large bite of the gooey confection, getting strawberry sauce on his lips.
“Oops, messy me.” He smiled, as I wiped the sauce off with my fingers then licked them. He smiled and took the fork, and made the same mess with my bite except he got mine on my cheek. He smiled placed his hand on my thigh and leaned over, licking the sauce from my cheek but stopped short of my lips.
“Delicious.” He said low and sexy, his voice so sensual I felt it down to my toes.
I went to give him another bite but we’d eaten all of it, we both looked into the box and laughed.
“I guess we’ll just have to hav
e champagne then.” He said as I swiped a finger in the box, smiling as I pulled out a strawberry covered finger. He looked at me and grinned as I wiped it on his forehead, then from under his eye to his mouth. I leaned over and licked it from his forehead, making yummy noises as I licked from his eye and slowly down his face until I’d licked him clean. He looked at me and sighed, his grin wide and wicked as he grabbed the champagne glasses.
Damn he tastes good too.
When he turned to fill my glass I pulled the clip from my hair, letting it fall from its tight up-do and fall around my shoulders. It must have worked because when he looked back at me his eyes went from a deep chestnut to near black; I smiled and moved closer to him my hand resting on his leg as I kissed him softly.
“Are you sure you want this Holly, you’ve had a lot to drink?”
I kissed him again, slipping my tongue in his mouth as he dropped the champagne and wrapped his arms around me. My body came alive when he touched me, his hand sliding up my side and resting on my lower back. He pulled me close to his chest, His kiss sending shivers up my spine and directly to my breasts. I put my hand on his neck, I could feel his steady pulse increase when he slid his hand up my leg and found my garters. He moaned as he slid a finger under the lace top of my stocking, his pulse on overdrive as he pulled back to look at me.
“Garters too, you’re killing me Holly.” I smiled as he ran his hand through his hair; he looked breathless as his dark eyes looked into mine.
I gasped when he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me up to straddle his lap. I felt the seam on my dress rip slightly but I didn't care, I just kissed him harder as my hands pulled his jacket off and threw it behind me in the limo.
He tasted of Bourbon and sex, his lips so full and soft as they kissed down my throat. I’d never felt this turned on in my life; his beard tickled as he kissed my neck. Wherever he kissed the tingles were like small electric charges on my skin, and I fucking loved it.