by Arlo Arrow
“Gabe, what the fuck,” she said, breathless. Then, she glared at me, filled with so much anger I had to dig my fingers into my thighs so I wouldn’t flinch. “Seriously, what the fuck? I don’t need your charity, you know. I always planned to follow my dreams, but do so on my terms.”
I sighed and shook my head at her stubbornness. “How about I put it this way, then. To get another secretarial position, especially after you got arrested for the FBI, not to mention working for my father, who was also arrested by the FBI, you’ll need a good reference from me.”
Her eyes widened as she sat up. “You wouldn’t, Gabe.”
“You’re right; I wouldn’t. I don’t have the obligation, or intention, to; and I don’t see why I would give you reference for another job like this. Why would you even want it? Besides, I’ve already called you a terrible secretary. You won’t be able to get another job like it elsewhere.”
Her hands were curled into fists on her thighs. The expression on her face was strange, like she couldn’t help wanting to be angry and happy at the same time. There was a part of her that wanted this, that would take it, because it was, after all, her dream.
“Come on, Jasmine,” I coaxed. “It’s everything you want, isn’t it? And it’s all very legal, trust me. With what you’ve dealt with, you should be earning way more, even. So please, just take it.”
I watched her intently, looking for some sign. When, after a few moments of silence and stillness, she slumped her shoulders and relaxed, my body did the same because I knew she’d made her choice, one that we would both abide by
By the happiness growing in her eyes as her lips twitched up into a delighted smile, I knew it was the right choice.
Chapter 19
Jasmine
I was humming to myself when I left my apartment, dressed for an evening out as I went to meet my friends at a popular bar and grill.
When was the last time I was this happy? I couldn’t remember. Fuck, if I wasn’t in hills, I could have been skipping down the street.
I was out of a job I didn’t like. The woman that had been responsible for a lot of shit happening at the company, and for getting me arrested, was put away behind bars. I got paid my more than a comfy severance package, and I had more than enough money when added to what I already had in savings, to start up the bakery I’d always wanted. It wasn’t an immediate process, but just knowing it was underway had me on cloud nine.
The bar and grill wasn’t to far from my place. It was still around twenty minutes of walking, but I made it, and I went in to find my friends. When they caught sight of me, Emma squealed, and even in the noisy atmosphere, I heard her. She came running, and I was braced for her to jump me, laughing with her as she attacked me with a hug.
“Jasmine! It’s been so long.”
“Yeah. It’s good to see you, too, Emma.”
She pulled away, then tugged me behind her to where Olivia waited. They were standing around a high, circular table. It was usually up to the patrons whether they wanted to pick up some high bar stools to go with the table or just stand around.
My friends, obviously, decided to stand.
“Hey there,” Olivia said warmly as we got to the table. She came closer to pull me in a hug, before going back to leaning against the table. “It’s good to see you happy for once, Jasmine.”
I mock frowned at her. “Excuse you. I’m happy plenty of times.”
But she shook her head, a small smile on her face even as her eyes remained serious. You haven’t been this happy in a while, and …” she shrugged. “It’s just nice to see.”
I smiled back at her, once again feeling so fucking grateful for my best friends. Before the atmosphere could grow too serious, Emma was there, throwing an arm around both our necks.
“Come on, you guys,” she said, loudly and with enthusiasm. “We’re here to celebrate! You can keep all the touchy feely stuff for later.”
Olivia’s eyes met mine, and we both laughed.
“All right!” I shouted. “Let the partying begin then.”
“And it’s never a party without the alcohol,” Olivia added, pointing behind me. “We ordered already.”
It was a waiter, bringing over our bottles of beer. We each took a deep gulp, and the evening of fun began.
I had forgotten just how fun it was, finding time to get out and let loose with my friends. It was another thing, my parents, then my job, held me back from, and I was glad to get it back. We got to chat about inconsequential things, and it turned out both Emma and Olivia had their eyes on new crushes. Emma talked to hers, while Olivia played cautiously and watched from afar.
“You really should just try talking to him,” Emma encouraged with a nudge to Olivia’s side.
I nodded in agreement. “Definitely. You don’t always have to wait for the guy to notice you first, you know. You can just as easily make the first move.”
Her expression was a little sour, but I knew that was just her being unsure of herself. She and I didn’t have quite as much luck in relationships as, say, Emma did. Emma was quick to bounce back from things if the conditions were right. Things were harder on Olivia and me.
Emma was saying something when Olivia looked up. And suddenly, she had this sudden wicked look on her face, and I narrowed my eyes at her when she turned her suspicious gaze on me.
“Are you ready to take your advice?” she said, arching an eyebrow.
I frowned. “What?”
She just inclined her head. “We’ll stick around,” she said, then took hold of Emma’s arm, and moved towards the dance floor.
“Hey, there.”
The voice, spoken straight into my ear from behind had my body going still, then warming up. I turned around, not surprised to see Gabe there because only his voice could get to me that way.
I hadn't seen him since I packed up my things and left my job for the last time, and he looked good. He was dressed semi casual, probably for the first time since I’d met him. He had on a dark blue shirt with the top buttons opened to bare some chest, and dark jeans that hugged his legs perfectly, and casual shoes.
“Gabe,” I said, stuck between pleasantly surprised and anxious. With everything we managed to talk about, he and I never got to talk about where we stood. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Don’t tell me you just happened to be around.”
He shrugged, moving to lean against the table just beside me. My body froze, and I fought the urge to move closer, or further away, I wasn’t sure.
“It’s pure coincidence. And it’s not the first time we randomly came across each other; I just came to you this time.”
I hummed, taking a sip of my beer. “Only, you’re alone this time, and I still have the same company as before,” I said coldly. Well, my friends were around, anyway. When he grimaced, I let out a pleased grin. “Maybe I should find some other guy here and have him put an arm around me.”
I pretended to look around, and I heard a growl come from Gabe as he stepped closer to me. Just enough that I could feel his body heat, but we weren’t touching anywhere. A smile still played on my lips as I refused to meet his gaze. When he sighed, I looked up.
“Come on, Jasmine,” he said, tone pleading, ducking his head so he could look up at me from under his lashes. The coy look worked on him; not to mention, it did wonders for his eyes, and I could feel my breath hitch. There was a smirk on his face for a second before it fell away. “I already said I was sorry about the last time,” he went on. “How many times would you like for me to apologize?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You do realize it’s not about how many times you apologize?”
He nodded slowly. “Of course, Jasmine. Just so you know, now that you don’t work for me anymore, I’d like to call you my girlfriend the next time I introduce you to someone.”
He smiled that soft smile of his that always had my resolve melting. It worked then like it always had, and I sighed. I tipped back my beer bottle to drink the last sip and hande
d the drink over to him.
“I will go out with you, if you buy me another drink,” I said, a smile growing on my face to mirror the one on his. “And get some for yourself, would you?”
He rolled his eyes as he turned away and went to the bar. I waited, tapping my fingers on the table top, and he returned a few minutes later with two bottles of beer.
“Here’s your drink,” he said as he grandly handed me a bottle as if he was handing me gold. Then he smirked down at me. “Is the lady satisfied?”
“Quite,” I said snottily, tossing my hair. Then ruined the impression with a giggle.
Gabe then popped off the cap on his own and leaned against the table as he took a sip.
“Fucking bossy,” he muttered against the lip of the bottle, though we were close enough for me to hear him.
I arched an eyebrow his way. “Excuse me?” I said, voice heavy with disbelief. “What did you just call me?”
He eyed me sideways as he smirked. “You heard me just fine, Jasmine.”
I continued to give him a look of disbelief, then barked out a short laugh. The idea of him calling me bossy was fucking laughable. But I went along with his playful attitude. We were starting over, after all, and hopefully, this time dating for real.
I held my bottle up in a mock toast.
“Well, when you put it that way. I learned it from the best, you know? It probably carried from my old boss’s nature. He was a hard ass, and fucking bossy, too.”
Epilogue
Jasmine
After weeks of planning and preparation, I stood in my bakery on opening night as my friends and guests entered for the first time. Just getting to greet the first customer through the door meant I’d realized my dream, and plenty more of them followed.
I’d pushed all the tables and seats to the one side of the room. On the other side were tables piled high with pastries and appetizers. I’d had some help with advertising, so every person that walked inside had bought a ticket to attend at a low price, and they could eat as much as they wanted.
Watching so many people eat my pastries, and stand around just to talk about how good they were, had me giddy enough I could have broken down into the urge to skip around the room.
“Jasmine!”
I laughed. That squeal could only come from one person, and sure enough, a moment later I was enveloped in a warm hug.
“Hey, Emma.” I pulled back to give her a wide smile. “It’s so good to see you here.”
She let out a peal of laughter. “Like I could miss your opening night! You’ve been using me as a tester for your desserts for some time; it’s only fair.”
True. “Well, you didn’t get to try my pastries yet, but you can today. Tell me your opinion after, all right?”
“Of course,” she said brightly. “Though, I don’t know why I would have to. I know it’s going to taste amazing.” Then her eyes widened as her mouth formed into an o of surprise. “Just look at me chatting over here. I have someone I want to introduce you to.”
I arched an eyebrow but didn’t say a thing as she turned us both to the man that stood behind her. He stood a couple of inches taller than me and seemed to compliment Emma when she moved to stand beside him.
“Jasmine, this is my boyfriend, Mark. Mark, this is my best friend that I’ve been telling you about.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Jasmine,” he said with a genuine smile, holding his hand out for a shake.
“Likewise,” I said, smiling back as I shook his hand.
Then Emma hummed, eyes looking around the room. “Olivia should be here too… Oh! She’s over there by the food. Let’s go over there!”
I watched as Emma’s boyfriend did as she wanted, with an indulgent look on his face, taking her excessive energy in stride. I smiled, feeling happy for Emma.
“Hey, Olivia,” I called when we were a few feet away.
I didn’t realize I’d interrupted something until I noticed there was a man standing there with her, and the two had been talking, laughing, and eating together. They both turned to me as I said her name.
“Jasmine! I’ve been looking all over for you.”
She came towards me, one hand holding a plate already piled with pastries and appetizers. I let her hug me, even as I snorted.
“You can tell the truth; you were more interested in the food.”
Her face flushed a little, but she was unashamed as she scowled at me. “Of course I was interested in the food, Jasmine. It’s the whole reason we’re here, isn’t it?”
I chuckled because, simplistically, it was. After all, you’d only go to a bakery to get something to eat.
“Oh, by the way,” she said with excitement, glancing at the man beside her. “This is Bryan. He, um.” She had a sheepish look. “He works with me.”
Ah. I remembered the time she’d told me off for being with Gabe because he was my boss. I wondered if he worked in a higher position than she did, but then decided it didn’t matter.
“It’s nice meeting you, Jasmine,” Bryan said, offering me his hand, the other holding a plate of food like Olivia’s, though almost empty. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Olivia, and I am totally glad I came today.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying the food,” I said, accepting his handshake.
He glanced down at Olivia. “I’ll leave you girls to talk, and get some more food while I’m at it.”
“Sure, honey,” Olivia said and pressed a kiss to his cheek before he went off.
“I think I’ll do that, too,” Mark said, pulling his arm from around Emma’s shoulder. “The food does look delicious.”
He walked away, and then it was just us three.
“You have a great turnout for your first day,” Emma said, glancing around. “It’s a good sign, right?”
I sighed. “You know, it’s not the perfect basis for the future because anything could happen. But I am so fucking content right now that I couldn’t even care.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you!” Emma jumped me with another hug.
Olivia picked something from her plate and popped it in her mouth. She moaned, the sound something indecent, meant more for the bedroom.
“Jasmine, I thought you only made pastries! Who the fuck made these? They’re amazing.” Her eyes practically shined as she chewed and picked up another piece.
I giggled at Olivia’s high praise. “Guess.”
Her eyebrows shot up, her quick mind putting together the puzzle pieces quickly. “No way.”
I nodded. “Gabe made them. He is a great cook, probably good enough to be a chef at some upscale restaurant, if only he’d take a few classes.”
He’d refused, though. He had been insistent, that me getting to follow my dream was good enough. Even with the FBI investigation over, the company still needed someone.
Olivia groaned, pouting, even as she took another bite. “Now, that’s just not fair. He can cook and you can bake; why don’t the two of you share some of that talent over here, huh?”
I laughed. “I’d love to share, but I’m afraid I love it way too much.”
“Jasmine? I’m going to need some help here.”
I turned around immediately at the sound of Gabe’s voice. He was coming in from the back with a couple of trays filled with both appetizers and more pastries balanced on his arms. We’d had a field day making everything. We started the cooking yesterday and finished preparations in the early hours of the morning.
We both should have been exhausted after all the work we’d had to do, but I rushed ahead, leaving my friends for the moment to go and help Gabe.
“You could have called me to help carry them all the way from the kitchen,” I chided as we took the trays to the combination of bakery and appetizer bar, at least for the opening day.
Once everyone left to go home, we’d have more work to do to clear the place up if we would be opening on the second day.
I set my tray down, then Gabe set his down, and we watched as people swar
med the food. I grinned so hard my cheeks hurt. Gabe chuckled, then wrapped his arms around me from behind, placing a kiss on my temple.
“Someone looks happy,” he teased, nuzzling my hair.
I hummed, leaning back into him. “What’s not to be happy about? My dream is finally happening. It’s right here.” I sighed a little as I glanced through the slowly growing crowd. “I do wish my parents could have come, though…”
I’d told them about the bakery, and the opening. I even offered to pay cab fare so they could make it. But neither of them was particularly interested, and a small part of me resented them for that. They were the only sore spot in an otherwise perfect day. I could even see people from the company hanging around. I hadn't exactly had friends in the company, so how nice they all were once I was cleared of criminal charges was a bit overwhelming, and confusing. But I accepted it.
Even Lily was there, her husband by her side as they sat down with a full plate to share between them.
“They’ll come around,” Gabe said, distracting me from my souring mood. “And if they don’t, then that’s their loss.”
He pulled his arms from around me, only to turn me around and catch me in his arms again. He smiled down at me, eyes shining with his happiness.
“I love you, Jasmine,” he said, the words strong.
I grinned up at him, because it had taken me weeks just to get him to admit it, and I cherished the words every time he said them to me.
“I love you, too, Gabe,” I answered, my voice filled with equal conviction.
He leaned down, and I leaned up, and our lips met in a kiss at the middle, chaste, but one of many in our future together.
About Arlo Arrow
Arlo Arrow writes contemporary steamy, taboo romances for your pleasure. Some of these include older man, younger woman romances. He recently graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in creative writing and loves hanging out with his dog, Rocket.
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