Why do friends like Kelly keep asking me how long it's been since I had a date or more intimately since I've had sex.
Kelly knows how long it's been. She was the first one I hysterically called after I walked in on my almost-fiance Todd doing a bedroom down and dirty rumble on my couch.
It was a day I went home early from work because Kelly convinced me Todd was going to pop the question that night at dinner, and I wanted to look my best. She had seen him in a jewelry store earlier that week. Turns out it was the sales gal from the store he was with when I walked in on them going at it.
It was a day I went home early from work because Kelly convinced me Todd was going to pop the question that night at dinner, and I wanted to look my best. She had seen him in a jewelry store earlier that week. Turns out it was the sales gal from the store he was with when I walked in on them going at it.
Craig, even my best male friend, nudges me every now and then about getting back into the dating world. “You weren't born to be a nun,” he chided me. “You know, none in the morning, and none at night.” I nearly dropped him as a great friend, but he is a fantastic cook, and he tantalizes me with his latest culinary delights. I am his gourmet guinea pig.
I don't need reminders of no romance in my life. I have them all around me. I create book covers for a publisher, most often for their hot and steamy romance line. I either have to read the book or at least the tease for it, so I can create hot, bodice-ripping, half-naked muscular guy covers. Most of the covers require me to look through male photos, frequently very raunchy male photos.
Yeah, I admit, sometimes it gets me longing for a little erotica in my life, but I vowed no sex just to have sex. It is not always easy to stick with the vow, especially when Craig cooks a romantic dinner but brings a romantic movie we watch sipping wine.
I've come close to throwing myself at him, but I could spoil a good friendship. He's been my best bud since college. We've been through each other's failed romances several times and know enough intimate details to stop ourselves from groping each other.
It's too easy to imagine him doing it with Shelly or Cadence or any of the other romances he's had in ten years of our friendship.
I've come close to throwing myself at him, but I could spoil a good friendship. He's been my best bud since college. We've been through each other's failed romances several times and know enough intimate details to stop ourselves from groping each other.
It's too easy to imagine him doing it with Shelly or Cadence or any of the other romances he's had in ten years of our friendship.
I was thinking all this driving home after Kelly and I had dinner tonight. Yes, she asked me again, then told me about a new guy at her office I might find interesting. I didn't give her an argument, just told her maybe. That's when she brought up my male, sexless life. That's when I said I am tired and need to go home. Fortunately, we had finished the chocolate dessert we shared.
I wasn't tired and decided to stop for a nightcap at a local bar and grill in my neighborhood. Selene and Toby, the owners, are good friends and always nice company if they aren't too busy.
Toby was behind the bar. I guessed Selene was closing the kitchen. A few regular couples were sitting at tables watching a late-night talk show on the giant TV screen behind the bar. I slipped up on an empty barstool and asked Toby for my usual Scotch-rocks nightcap.
Setting my knock-off Gucci purse on a stool between a guy sipping a beer and me, I looked in the bar mirror and nearly gasped, almost falling off the stool. Looking back at me with a bit of a grin was one of those drop-dead handsome muscular sexy guys from the cover photos. Seriously, the real thing, not a look-alike.
"Hey Gail, been a while since you've been in for a nightcap." Toby placed the drink on a coaster. "Selene's in the back. You want a sandwich or something?"
I shook my head. Fumbling, I picked up the glass, forcing myself not to look at those, umm yes, yes his eyes, not the broad shoulders or obviously rippling muscles, or were they visions in my mind from his half-naked photos.
"Gail!" It was Toby again, this time nodding at Mr. sexy as hell, handsome book cover model photo of the year. "Do you know Grant?"
Do I know him flashed through my mind? I shook my head, giving a weak smile in the mirror, noticing the cocoa brown eyes and the broad smile.
"Grant Jeffers." He reached out his hand.
Okay, I know you expect me to write that my whole body tingled as our hands touched. Well, it did, like lightning soaring in every molecule from my hair to the tips of my toes. Fortunately, I stifled a gasp and a shudder. At least I think I did.
Toby interacted. "Grant, this is Gail Clarke. We've been neighbors here since Selene, and I opened 3 years ago." Looking at me, he added. "Grant just moved in last week."
"Welcome." A loss for words rarely happened to me.
"Thanks. I got reassigned here from Chicago. Seems like a nice place."
"A bit smaller than Chicago, but we have lots to offer," I was getting more at ease. Not sure if it was the Scotch, a double if I knew Toby, or that Grant seemed less intimidating looking at him without the half-naked photo image.
"Tell me more." He raised the empty beer bottle towards Toby, pointed at my glass. I nodded, wanting to prolong the conversation, and I am glad I did.
Grant seemed interested in my verbal city tour, asking direct questions about some historical sites, something our town is known for, and bringing tourists, the main income source.
"How about the best place to take a date for dinner?"
Looking into his amber eyes over the rim of my drink, I flubbed a response as the bare chest photo image flashed in my mind. Sputtering for a second, I quickly recovered, looked up at the ceiling as if thinking, and mentioned a few of my favorite places, hoping it led him to invite me to one of them.
Instead, he offered to walk me home. "It's getting late, and I know this is a nice area, but I'd feel better making sure you get home safely."
"Thanks, I have my car." Darn.
"You okay to drive?" Toby asked, obviously listening to our chatter.
"I'm good, thanks, Toby." He hadn't doubled my second drink.
Grant stood as I picked up my purse. He was tall, I mean tall. Well, I'm only 5'2", so anyone around 6 feet is tall to me. Tall, nicely built, sexy, and easy to talk to. What more could I want, except for him to ask for my phone number? He didn't, but he did whisper, "I'll see you soon," as he walked me to my car, kissed me lightly on the cheek, sending those rippling crazy sensations down to my toes.
"Maybe I'll see you here another time, and we can make plans for you to give me a city tour?" He winked.
"I would be happy to." Starting the engine, I smiled, thinking I might include a tour of my bedroom.
What happened to that vow I made, no sex just to have sex?
Grant seemed interested in my verbal city tour, asking direct questions about some historical sites, something our town is known for, and bringing tourists, the main income source.
"How about the best place to take a date for dinner?"
Looking into his amber eyes over the rim of my drink, I flubbed a response as the bare chest photo image flashed in my mind. Sputtering for a second, I quickly recovered, looked up at the ceiling as if thinking, and mentioned a few of my favorite places, hoping it led him to invite me to one of them.
Instead, he offered to walk me home. "It's getting late, and I know this is a nice area, but I'd feel better making sure you get home safely."
"Thanks, I have my car." Darn.
"You okay to drive?" Toby asked, obviously listening to our chatter.
"I'm good, thanks, Toby." He hadn't doubled my second drink.
Grant stood as I picked up my purse. He was tall, I mean tall. Well, I'm only 5'2", so anyone around 6 feet is tall to me. Tall, nicely built, sexy, and easy to talk to. What more could I want, except for him to ask for my phone number? He didn't, but he did whisper, "I'll see you soon," as he walked me to my car, kissed me lightly on the cheek, sending those rippling crazy sensations down to my toes.
"Maybe I'll see you here another time, and we can make plans for you to give me a city tour?" He winked.
"I would be happy to." Starting the engine, I smiled, thinking I might include a tour of my bedroom.
What happened to that vow I made, no sex just to have sex?
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Reviews and suggestions are welcome.
Reviews and suggestions are welcome.
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