Since Last Time: A Bad Boy Second Chance Romance

by Sienna Ciles

  * * * * *

  I arrived at Benny’s Bar and Grill at 9:45 p.m. I had told Joana to be there early so that we could hopefully catch Holly coming inside and surprise her. Joana was waiting at a table in the far-right corner when I got there.

  Benny’s actually wasn’t a bad-looking place. It was a little bit smaller than most bars I was used to hanging out at, but it was far from just some ragged little hole-in-the-wall. The main bar was in the middle of the restaurant and there were booths and tables lined up on either side of it. It was somewhat crowded, but not so much so that you had to step on people’s feet in order to make your way to the bar.

  “Hey, Alex,” Joana called out, waving her arm in the air. “Over here!”

  I went over to where she was and joined her in the booth.

  “So, what do you think of our humble little abode?” she asked with a grin.

  “Not bad, actually. Not bad at all,” I replied, looking around.

  “Holly’s gonna be here any minute,” she stated, glancing down at the time. “So, how do you wanna do this?”

  Chapter 18

  Holly

  I was feeling just a little bit nervous when I walked into Benny’s Bar and Grill and saw my bestie sitting at the main bar. It had been a long drive back up to New York and I was actually ready to have a few drinks by the time I got there.

  I entered through the front door and Jo started waving her arm. She was dressed in a black and red short set that really brought out her hair color, and a pair of black high-heeled boots—basically the perfect ensemble for a night out at the club.

  Her fervent, exuberant-looking smile made me want to grin right along with her as I made my way over to where she was seated. She already had a drink in her hand and I was almost certain that she’d ordered me one or two, as well.

  “Hey, girl!” I said with a grin as I hugged her tightly.

  “I missed you, bitch!” Jo replied, hugging me back. “Don’t ever run off like that again without telling me!” She gave me playful swat on the ass as she spoke.

  She handed me a shot, just as I’d suspected she would.

  “You’re gonna need this,” she said with a grin.

  “Why?” I asked, immediately suspicious.

  “Just drink it,” she commanded, and we downed our shots together.

  We did another round of shots before she finally said, “Don’t be mad, but there’s a reason I called you out here tonight. Turn around.”

  With a puzzled look on my face, I turned around to see Alex standing directly behind me. My smile quickly faded and was immediately replaced with a frown.

  “Just hear him out, Holly, seriously! You know I’ve heard every excuse in the book from men, but you need to at least let him talk before you make a decision you might regret.”

  I folded my arms across my chest and looked at him with an annoyed expression. “Fine,” I snapped.

  Alex sighed before he started to speak. He pulled a small box out of his suit jacket pocket and held it out to me.

  “Holly, I’m sorry about what happened at my penthouse that night but it honestly was not anything like what it seemed. If you give me a chance, I can explain everything.”

  He opened the box and the most exquisite diamond necklace I had ever seen was lying inside of it. I felt my eyes brighten in spite of myself.

  “Joana picked it out for you,” he explained.

  I allowed him to take it out and put it around my neck.

  “Now, please, Holly, can we go somewhere and talk?” he asked with a look of sincerity in his eyes.

  “Okay,” I agreed.

  * * * * *

  “Look, Holly, I know that situation at my condo with my assistant Alicia looked bad, but please, you need to realize that it really was just a misunderstanding,” he said, looking deep into my eyes. We were in his penthouse condo. “I had been so excited about my date with you that I had completely forgotten that she was supposed to be stopping by to drop of a file for my father.”

  I listened in silence as I watched him explain the situation to me. He looked convincing and his tone sounded very authentic as he spoke.

  “Okay,” I replied, allowing him to continue.

  “Well, she mistakenly assumed that the romantic night I had set up for you was for her. I guess I hadn’t been as clear about you and I as I should have been with her, and I was unexpectedly thrown into a situation that I was unprepared to properly handle—especially since it all happened so fast.”

  I had to admit that he was right about one thing, at least—everything had happened pretty quickly. I mean, I had immediately run out of his condo and hadn’t exactly given him the time or the opportunity to even try and explain what had actually gone down that night.

  After hearing his detailed explanation about what had actually played out that night, even though it sounded like one of the craziest stories I’d ever heard, the authenticity in his tone and in his demeanor eventually won me over. And when he said those three words I never thought I’d ever hear from him, I just about lost my fucking mind. Before I’d even realized it, I had thrown myself into his arms and started kissing him fervently, passionately.

  “I love you, Holly,” he said breathily.

  “I love you, too,” I confessed as tears of joy threatened to spill over my eyelids and slide down my face.

  “Oh, Holly, I’ve missed you so much,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me, eagerly pulling me into him.

  The intoxicating scent of his expensive cologne filled my nostrils and something about being in his arms and feeling his lips against mine set my body on fire. I wanted him. I wanted him like I had never wanted him before. Perhaps it was a combination of relief that he really hadn’t betrayed me and withdrawal from not having been around him in an entire week but whatever it was, it made me lose all control of my senses and lose myself in his touch.

  I pushed him backward onto the sofa and climbed on top of him, kissing him with fervor, as a feeling of overwhelming urgency to feel him inside me took over.

  I pulled his suit jacket open and forced it off his arms as I slid my tongue into his sweet, delicious mouth.

  “Mmm, I’ve missed you too, Alex,” I said between kisses.

  I nearly ripped his button-down shirt off his chest and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. His hands found the zipper on the back of my dress and he pulled it down around my shoulders. I began to kiss my way down his chest and his abs until my mouth found the sensitive spot below his waist.

  “Holly,” he said in a breathy whisper as I unbuttoned his pants and yanked his zipper down, freeing his already-erect manhood.

  I slid my hand down his belly until it reached his erection, and I wrapped it around his shaft. He moaned as I began to stroke him, running my fingertips around the tip as I started to move my body downward. I knelt between his legs and took him into my mouth, like I hadn’t tasted him in months. He groaned with delight as I sucked eagerly, attempting to make a statement with my actions.

  I ran the tip of my tongue around the head of his manhood and moaned softly as I slid my tongue around his girth, causing him to jerk upward and suck in his breath with a hiss of pleasure. I felt his hands in my hair as his fingers massaged my thick strands, gripping onto my locks. I glanced upward, watching his appreciative expression as he looked down at me and watched his length disappear between my lips.

  “Oh, Holly, I want you,” he suddenly groaned in a raspy voice, reaching down to pull me up off my knees.

  I climbed on top of his lap as he tore my dress from my body and yanked my panties down my legs. I stepped out of them and straddled him, positioning my body on top of him, feeling his erection pressing against the slick, warm slit of my opening. I was hot, wet, and ready for him, moaning as I guided him inside of me, sliding down onto him, slowly.

  He sighed long and deep, raising his hips up off the couch as he penetrated me, sliding deeper into me, inch by inch, until I couldn’t take it anymore. I put my
arms around his neck and pressed my breasts against his chest, letting out a cry of pleasure as I came down on his length, driving him even deeper inside me.

  Our bodies writhed and rocked as he lifted his hips, thrusting into me over and over again, harder and faster, causing moans and cries of passion to escape my lips again and again. Gripping my waist and cupping my buttocks, he brought me down onto him, grunting and groaning as he plunged into me ardently. I let out a loud, long cry as I reached my orgasm, shaking and trembling in his arms as the feeling completely took over, sending me into an orgasmic frenzy of earth-shattering pleasure.

  He was right behind me, squeezing my breasts in his hands as he reached his own powerful climax. His body tensed up and shook and I felt the warm sensation of his essence as it filled me. Completely surrendering to the moment, we both panted in each other’s ears, wrapped tightly in one another’s arms, lost in the afterglow of our lovemaking.

  Later that same night, as I lay in Alex’s strong, muscular arms, I placed my head against his chest and kissed him softly. I always felt so safe and comfortable whenever I with him, but tonight was different. Tonight, I had felt that all too familiar feeling—the one I’d been so scared of feeling, the one I’d feared I’d never feel again after Danny and I had parted ways.

  Being loved by a man like Alex was like a dream come true. Yes, it was a little bit scary not knowing if our love was actually going to last forever but, at the same time, it was an amazing feeling and an experience that I knew I didn’t want to chance missing out on.

  He leaned down and kissed my forehead, running his hand along the small of my back. His fingers toyed with the chain of the exquisite diamond necklace he’d given me.

  “This looks incredible on you,” he said softly.

  I smiled up at him sweetly and kissed his cheek.

  “What are you thinking about?” I asked him, peering up at his face curiously.

  “About how much I want you to stay,” he replied lovingly.

  My smile disappeared for a moment as I pondered the gravity of his statement. What would I do, though? I had already quit my job and my position had already been filled by someone else. When I explained this Alex, he didn’t even flinch. He just kissed me again and told me not to worry about any of it.

  “You are no longer on your own, Holly. You don’t have to worry about any of that. Now, relax and get some rest. I have another surprise for you tomorrow.”

  Goddamn, this man was full of surprises! I could only imagine what he was going to surprise me with next as I closed my eyes and drifted off into a satisfying, restful slumber.

  Chapter 19

  Alex

  I walked into the office the next day with a huge smile on my face. I had to pick up some files on a new prospective client. I practically felt like a new man. I was making my way down the hall toward my private corner office when Alicia suddenly came out of my father’s office and stopped me in the hallway.

  “Alex, hey,” she said, pausing in front of me and looking up into my face. “Um, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  Without really waiting for an actual answer from me, she grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into one of the small copy rooms, shutting the door quickly behind us.

  “What’s up?” I asked. I was uncomfortable being alone with her again—uncomfortable with what she was feeling, and worried about how this might look to anyone who happened into the copy room.

  “Well, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about what happened on Friday night, that’s all,” Alicia replied. The expression on her own face appeared to be one of uneasiness but the tone of her voice had deep sincerity in it.

  “Okay,” I said. “What about it?”

  “I don’t know, I guess I just wanted to apologize, you know? I mean, I really did think that back when you were talking about wanting more romance in your life and you know, we drank those shots together and everything… I just wanted you to know that I really did misunderstand the situation. I walked into your condo and I saw everything all set up and I knew that you knew I was coming over to drop that file off for your dad and I just…” Her eyes started to tear up a little bit.

  “It’s okay, Alicia, really...” I started to say but she interrupted me to continue her statement.

  “Just let me finish, please. I just really need to say this—get this off my chest. Because, you know, we’re going to be working here together pretty much every day and I just don’t want there to be any weirdness between or anything,” she explained. “I actually feel a little bit embarrassed about this whole thing. I mean, I’m still kicking myself and wondering how I possibly misconstrued the situation so absurdly. It’s just, I’m just really sorry, that’s all.”

  She looked up at me with solemnity in her baby blue eyes. She really was a stunning woman. She just wasn’t the woman for me. She wasn’t Holly Shaw.

  “Apology accepted,” I said sincerely. “And I, too, want to offer my own apology for unintentionally misleading you. I just want you to know that I didn’t mean to give you any mixed signals or anything—just so you know.”

  “Sure, no, I totally get it—apology accepted,” she said just a little bit shyly.

  “Also, uh, I finally talked to Holly and we were able to smooth things over, so…” I explained.

  “Oh, that—that’s great. I’m really glad that you guys were able to work things out and everything. Good, good,” she said with a nervous smile.

  “Well, I’m glad we had this little talk, then,” I told her, reaching out to offer her my hand.

  “Oh, sure, me, too,” she said, grabbing my hand and shaking it firmly.

  Even though the conversation had taken place in a somewhat awkward manner, a wave of relief washed over me after it happened. I think I took the longest, deepest breath I’d ever taken in my life after she’d turned around and went on her way.

  * * * * *

  Work couldn’t have ended soon enough that day. I had a huge surprise and I was damned near about to burst with excitement from wanting to reveal it to Holly. I had already told Joana about it, and the only thing left was to tell her.

  Last night, I’d had to fight with all my might not to spoil the surprise while Holly lay in my arms, right where she was supposed to be.

  After my final meeting of the day, I called her up and told her I wanted to pick her up after her school day was over. She agreed, and I went to pick her up from the school right around four p.m.

  “Hey,” she said with a wide grin as I pulled up in front of the main entrance.

  “Hello, beautiful. How was your day?” I asked as she climbed into the passenger seat.

  “It was nice, actually. With the end of the school year almost here, the kids are getting a little bit antsy,” she explained.

  “Well, I have something very special that I want to show you,” I said, barely able to contain my excitement.

  “You are always so full of surprises,” she teased, as the smile on her face widened.

  “Oh, honey, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” I replied with a wink.

  A few moments later, we pulled up in front a large building—the empty, brown brick building that used to read Sanello’s Sweetery. But now, as of today, a temporary banner hanging over the sign read: Holly Shaw’s Bakery.

  When she looked up and saw the sign, she almost fell out of the passenger seat of my car. Her eyes widened and her jaw nearly hit the ground.

  I helped her out of the car and the two of us stood in front of the building, gazing up at the new sign.

  “Wh-what is this?” she asked, glancing over at me in confusion.

  “It’s your new bakery, Holly,” I explained, looking deep into her beautiful brown eyes. “And, it’s also my way of asking you to stay here in New York—with me. Now that you have your own business, you really don’t have any reason to leave anymore, right?”

  Just then, Joana came out of the front door of the bakery, holding a bottle of champagne.

  �
�Surprise!” she exclaimed.

  Holly placed her hands on her cheeks and tears filled her eyes.

  “Oh, my God! You were in on this? You sneaky bitch,” she said to Joana, laughing.

  “Well, kind of. He told me about it a couple of days ago,” Joana explained.

  “Oh, my God,” Holly said again. “Alex, this is…this is just…” She couldn’t even complete her sentence before the tears of happiness filled her beautiful eyes and began to flow.

  I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in close. I held her as she shook, feeling a wave of happiness wash over me, waiting patiently for her to regain her composure. Joana came over and joined us in a little group hug, as she wrapped an arm around her best friend and flashed a huge smile of approval.

  Finally, Holly backed away. “You guys, this is—this is the most wonderful, amazing, most incredible thing anyone has ever done for me. I love you both so much!” she exclaimed.

  “Well, Alex is the one who bought the place. I just helped him set it up,” Joana replied, nodding her head toward me.

  Holly opened her up her purse and pulled out a small handkerchief. Using it to wipe her face, she smiled through her sniffles as she gazed up at the sign.

  “Well, what are we all waiting for? Let’s go inside and get this party started!” she finally exclaimed with a wide, excited grin. “I can’t wait to see the inside!”

  Holly opened the front door of the building and Joana and I followed her inside. Joana flashed me a wink and mouthed the words, “Good job!” to me as she walked in ahead of me. Inside, we had a table set up with three fancy wine glasses and three chairs. I clicked on the celebratory music and we all sat down at the table. Joana popped the top off the bottle of champagne and proceeded to fill the glasses.

  “This is, by far, one of the happiest days of my life and I couldn’t think of two other people I’d rather be spending it with,” Holly said as we all raised our glasses and cheered to a brand-new start.

  Epilogue