Page 1 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 2

1

Radcliffe “Rad” Wellington

“Such an odd achievement for a guy who breaks up marriages.” Tealey holds the crystal award in her hands.Myaward. One of the threeBig Apple’s Most Eligible Bachelorhonors I’ve received. I keep the others at home because I don’t want to boast too much.

“I don’t break up marriages.” I temper my defensiveness, noticing she couldn’t care less about the Klein & Sable award right next to it. I’m pretty proud of winning my law firm’s top honor this last year.

Trying to act casual by leaning back in my leather chair, I kick my feet up on my desk, and say, “They’re already broken when a client walks through that door.”

Relationships are complicated. I’ve traveled that road before—three times total. They lasted anywhere from two weeks to two months max. The frivolous notion of love never factored into those relationships, so no hearts were broken.Particularly not mine.

For me, dating is about companionship, something I rarely crave. And since sex satisfies my physical needs, it’s easy to separate the two. I have a contacts list in my phone that goes for miles, and the one thing they don’t need is dinner and small talk. Their needs, just like mine, are met in the bedroom. No intimacy required. No dates scheduled. No food is involved unless they’re into that kind of thing.*winks*

No hassles.

No strings.

No heartache.

Yet the golden-haired beauty in front of me, the only person I’d consider changing my current dating lifestyle for, can only—will only—ever remain my friend.

I may have been an innocent bystander when Tealey Bell ran right into me, but I don’t believe in accidents. We may not be meant to be, but we were meant to meet. Her cheeks flamed as red as the strawberries that were squashed between us. She said something about being sorry while I momentarily got lost in her blue eyes. That is, until her gaze lowered to the mess on my shirt, and she said, “Bam, and here we are.”

Bam is an understatement.

Tealey holds the trophy in the air. “It’s heavy, like it holds the weight of bachelorhood inside.” Her laughter is light, almost as if for herself.

I anchor my feet back on the floor. “I don’t know about the weight of bachelorhood, but it definitely holds my reputation.”

“Serial dater?” She lifts a brow. “Commitment-phobe?”

I could be offended, but she’s right on the money. “That’s fair.”

She smiles, her eyes darting from the award and then back to me. “What do they base this on?” she asks. “Really.”

“I don’t know. Reputation probably plays a part. Financials. Looks, maybe?”

She’d make the worst attorney in the world. She’s unable to hide her emotions since she wears her heart on her sleeve. Her displeasure causes her to purse her lips and narrow her eyes as if the award in her hands personally offended her. “You’re more than connections and financials, Rad.”

I quirk a smile. “Didn’t know you cared, Bell.”

She rolls her eyes but quirks a smile as she sets the award back on the shelf. It’s slightly askew, similar to how she leaves me feeling. “Of course, I do. We’re friends.”

I sit back and take her in. She’s as beautiful as she was the day she fell on top of me seven years ago. Her sweetheart face is a bit fuller, her hair a little lighter. It’s long again after cutting it to make our friend Cammie feel better about a bad haircut.

But that’s Tealey—the woman who came back into my life five days after our fateful encounter when my friend Cade started dating her friend Cammie, and our two groups merged into one.

Any hopes of dating Tealey Bell were squashed back then, just like those strawberries between us.

“I still don’t get why that stuff is important.”

“It’s not. The title is utter nonsense, but the perks are nice,” I say, trying not to let myself focus too much on her.

Our eyes stay locked for a few seconds before she averts hers again. “By perks, I assume that means having your choice of date every night of the week?”

This time, I sigh, tilt back in my chair, and fold my arms behind my head. “I wouldn’t sayeverynight, but it’s good to have options.”

“Options.Okay . . .”

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