I nodded. It was strange that I had never really looked into this yet. Why was I so hesitant?
“Hmm. I love researching things, but moving up in the company might not be that easy.”
He slipped his coffee and shrugged. “It might be. It might not be. Either way, you’ll have more data, and will be taking steps toward your goal.”
“That might be easier for you,” I smiled. “I assume you do a lot of moving and shaking downtown.”
His hand slipped up to graze his fingertips along the edge of my chin. “Moving, yes. Never shaking. We try to avoid that.”
I started to laugh, and was interrupted by Jared’s mouth settling over mine.
Before I knew it was happening, his arms were around me as he pulled us tightly together, his kiss so hot and deep that I moaned against his lips. If we hadn’t been in public, I would have started to pull off his clothes. My hands clutched at his chest, and the sexy, solid wall of muscle.
His eyes flicked to the window as he pulled away. “I’m sorry, my driver is here early,” he said, lifting my hand to kiss the back of it. “May we continue this conversation over dinner tomorrow night?”
“Yes,” I breathed.
“Text me your address. I’ll be there at seven. Sorry I have to run, gorgeous.” He drank the last of his coffee, gave me another swift kiss, then hurried out the door.
My head swiveled just in time to see the back of him in those perfect jeans, sending a deep shudder straight through me. He was far too hot. Even the barista had been staring at him.
Then I looked out the window to see him jumping into a silver car that looked like it must have rolled off the production line seconds ago. It wasn’t just elegant, it was unearthly how sleek and modern it was.
I couldn’t help worrying that maybe our worlds wouldn’t mesh together. What would he want with such a timid, plain girl like me? How could I hold the interest of such an incredible man?
6
_____
Jared
As I shopped for groceries Friday right after work, I had a good feeling about our date tonight. I even wore my best comfortable blazer that was from some fancy designer that I found in a second hand shop last year.
Yesterday I really didn’t have the time to meet with Tara for coffee, but I had to get another quick meeting in before we sat down to a proper dinner.
Both of the online dating experts whose blogs I skimmed said that the more quickly you could get several meetings together, even short ones, the closer a couple would feel.
As I headed to Tara’s apartment, this would be our third meeting. Even though the first two times weren’t really dates, the experts said by now she should be ready to open up to me. I hoped the experts were right.
She seemed a bit shy, and had every reason to be wary of a man who was a total stranger. So I wanted to do everything in my power to put her at ease.
I arrived at her small apartment building in a quiet rundown neighborhood, climbing up to the third floor. Tara opened the door before I had even knocked, looking positively stunning in a dark blue dress that lightened her hair and brought out her eyes.
She stepped back, smiling and even giving me a twirl as I blatantly checked her out. “Wow,” I said, setting my bags down on her kitchen counter to pull her into my arms. “I missed you, gorgeous,” I murmured against her ear.
“I have one dress that’s a little fancier, depending on where we’re going,” she said softly, her little white teeth nervously sinking into her bottom lip. She looked at the bags I’d brought. “What’s that?”
“May I make you dinner right here?” I asked.
“Really? Sure.”
“I figured it would be nicer to get to know each other in private,” I said.
Looking around her space, it was a one room studio apartment. The kitchen was miniscule, and the washroom must have been behind the purple-gray door.
“It’s not much,” she said quickly. “Just your average student apartment. You’re probably used to much nicer places.”
I pulled off my jacket, glad that she took a good look. “The nicest place is whichever one has you in it,” I said, slipping an arm around her waist.