Page 61 of Lessons in Love
“You’re welcome. Now go get the girl.” Her hands go up in a silent cheer just like she did when I was ten and won the regionalspelling bee. I might be shaking my head, but my mom is the best.
My dad adds, “And try kissing first. That tends to win a lady’s heart. Save the illegal stuff for the bedroom.” He gives me that buddy-buddy wink. “But if you do get yourself in a spot of trouble, call me and I’ll bail you out.”
“You know I didn’t really mean I would do something to her that would get me arrested, right?” Unless she wants me to, and then who am I to deny her needs and wants. But to be on the safe side, I should probably look into where “fucking one’s mouth” falls legally in the state of New York. If it is illegal, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve committed the crime with her, but it’s hard to say no when—What the fuck tangent have I gone off on?
After saying goodbye to them, I turn and see the guys still standing around watching me turn into a full on unstoppable train wreck. “Get back to work and never, I mean never, mention any of this again.”
Clive is too busy laughing. Leo is suddenly super busy scrubbing a spot on the bar top, but I see that damn mocking grin. Eddie salutes me, and says, “You got it, boss.” He sets his box on a table, and adds, “But just so you know, the guys and I have discussed the matter and we approve.”
“Approve of what?”
“Virginia. She meets all the magical unicorn criteria: sexy as all get out, intelligent, and she’s really nice.”
I want to hide from the teasing I’ve endured, but he’s right. She is sexy and smart, but it’s that last part that matters most. “She is nice.”
“Really,” starts Clive, “she’s too good for you, so if she’s giving you a shot, you should take it.”
“Fuck you very much, Clive.”
“No problem. We’re here to keep your ego in check.”
“You’re doing a solid job.”
“That’s why we’re paid the big bucks,” Eddie jokes.
“You’re paid the big bucks for your pretty boy faces that bring in the pretty bills.”
We laugh. It’s good to joke with the guys. We’re more than co-workers. We’re friends. I can count on any of them if I was ever in a bind, and they know they can count on me. Walking in from the back, Romeo tugs his beanie off and asks, “What’d I miss?” “Our fearless leader is in love,” Leo asserts.
Romeo nods, another annoying grin is on his face as if he stole the other fella’s. “It was only a matter of time before he realized it. Now that you have, Hardy, time to lock that girl down. And if you don’t, I’m sure one of us will be more than happy to.”
“She’d never go for one of you jackoffs. Like Eddie said, she’s smart.” I head for the office. “The show’s over. My life is back off limits. Get to work and let’s kick tonight’s ass.”
Chapter Twenty
My dick has become hard like a dead log in winter. I just hope it won’t break. By the pain in my pants, I’m not so sure it won’t. I haven’t gone this long without having actual sex since I was in high school. Fine, college. I like to aggrandize my memories from back then. Like Virginia, I went through an awkward stage. Okay, not as awkward as her, but now I look at her photo from high school and I see the beautiful woman she’s turned into. I don’t even have to stretch the imagination. That much. She’s there under those braces, glasses, and stringy hair. If I had known her then, I would have hit on her.
Seriously, I would have. She’s the same person.
I don’t want to pummel V our first time together. Finding balance means one too many hand jobs in the meantime. We’ve barely texted, both of us more busy with work than we’d like as the year starts coming to a close. She’s been working late most nights and I’m working every night this week so I can get Saturday off. It’s been a good distraction.
You know what’s not?
Isabella Collins.
And here I thought it would be just another Thursday night. I sense her the second she and the storm that swarms around her enter The Hideaway. Checking my watch. 9:37 p.m. There’s something about her being here at this hour on a school night that tells me trouble just walked in.
Her eyes are on me the moment she walks in, which sucks because she catches my eyes on her. I look down quickly, pretending to wash glasses. She knows me better than I’d like to admit, though tomycredit, she only really knows the old me—asshole investment advisor, modern loft with massive parties, and two thousand dollar suits. Well the suits haven’t changed. I still like a nice suit and my watch collection, but I don’t have to wear them every day. Only when I want. Wonder if I should wear my charcoal Vittori on our date. Date is used loosely since Virginia friend-zoned me last weekend. After Saturday, I’m going to be dancing in her end zone.Wait, what?
“Hello, Hardy.”
Looking up, I see Isabella. I’d almost forgotten about her.Almost.“Slumming, Isabella?”
“You’re always raving about Brooklyn, so I thought I’d come visit.”
I rest my palms on the bar, and ask, “Are you visiting the borough or me?”
“Can’t I be doing both?”
