“You’re kidding me, right?”
“What?” Charlie groans. “No good?”
“How about we talk about cheese for an hour?”
“Why?”
“Exactly!”
“I’m so sorry. Gustave seemed like a great guy. When he told me he was a food critic, I thought perfect! You like food, right?”
“I do like food, but what I don’t like is being forced to smell cheese and pretend it’s just great when really it smells like an asshole.”
“How do you even know what an asshole smells like?”
“No more. I can’t do this blind date thing anymore. In fact, dating itself is over. I’m happy to be celibate. The end.”
“Just calm down, okay?” Charlie sighs. “No one needs to be celibate. It sounds like you’ve had too much to drink or too much cheese.”
I’m about to defend my choice of being celibate when my phone vibrates. Removing the phone from my ear, I quickly glance at the text.
My heart begins to beat fast, excitement running through my veins. Every inch of my body reacts with a desperate thirst, heightened by the currents awakening every part of me. Charlie’s voice is lost in the background, and with desperation, I hurry to get her off the phone.
“Charlie, I have to go. I need to be in the office early.”
“I’m sorry, Kate.”
“It’s fine,” I rush. “Kiss the girls for me. Bye.”
I press ‘end call’ and re-read the text.
Dominic: I’ll be in Paris next Friday. Shall I book our usual?
I fall onto the sofa, re-reading his text again before my fingers type on their own accord.
Me: Our usual will be perfect. See you then.
Within mere moments, my idea of being celibate has sailed into the night.
Dominic Kennedy is back.
And my body suddenly craves everything I know he’ll give me.
Raw, animalistic sex.
No attachments.
No expectations.
The best kind.
KATE
Four Years Ago
The business card sat between my fingers while I stared at it for the hundredth time that day.
After we left Vivian’s birthday party a few nights ago, I made no mention to Eric about my encounter with Dominic. Even if I had said something, I highly doubt he’d have heard since all he could talk about was Thiago. With a gentle reminder, I mentioned Tristan’s name to bring him back to reality. Eric tended to focus on the wrong thing at times, especially when he’s trying to avoid heartbreak.