Chapter 3

• OAKLYNN
• Alex and I were sitting comfortably in the booth he’d booked for us. Food was incredible as were the cocktails and service. Soft jazz music played in the background adding to the already intimate atmosphere. The mood screamed romance. We had just polished an expensive but delicious dinner followed by dessert. We were enjoying each other’s company so much that we decided to move the party to the restaurant bar instead. We slid onto the stools as he raised his hand for the bartender. I was beginning to wonder how Alex could afford to take us to a posh place like this, but then I remembered his parents were moneyed.
• “More wine?” he confirmed and I nodded.
• “But this has to be the last glass-we have work tomorrow remember..?” I replied with a naughty grin.
• He threw his head back and groaned. “How could I ever forget??”
• The bartender appeared then, and Alex asked for another round. I finished off my wine, savoring it as it was to be the last glass for the night. I couldn’t afford to be hungover tomorrow morning or Madison would have me for breakfast.
• “I had a really good time tonight...but it doesn’t have to end here you know...?” he said, leaning forward, his eyes glowing with desire.
• “Is that so...?” I sat back, glass in hand, and crossed my legs, exposing the smooth skin of my highs when my dress rode up. Alex’s hand landed on my knee, moving closer and closer to forbidden territory.
• “So...your place or mine?” He flashed me a devilish smile as his smooth hand slowly crawled up my leg. His lips were dangerously close to mine and just when I thought he was going to kiss me-
• “Alex!!!!”
• Alex’s head snapped up and his eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the furious blonde female that was marching towards us, with intent to hurt someone. Preferably him and not me. I was a lover, not a fighter.
• “Katie?!!” The color drained from his face and gone was the flirty guy who was about to lock lips with me a few seconds ago.
• “You’re dead, mister!!!” Her eyes flashed with rage as she glowered at him. Hurtling towards us like a ticking time-bomb that was about to detonate at any given moment.
• Suddenly, Alex jumped off the chair, almost tripping over his own feet in an effort to get away. I blinked and he was gone. Poof! Just like that, he disappeared into thin air. I think the guy was a magician.
• As luck would have it, her pace quickened as she marched right past me and went after the perpetrator; giving me ample opportunity to scramble off the stool, seize my clutch, and hightail it out of there faster than you can say Mississippi. I noticed that my lover-boy left his phone on the counter in his haste to run away, so I grabbed it off the counter and put it in my purse. I would have to give it back to him tomorrow, that’s if he lived to see another day-and by the looks of it his chances weren’t looking very good.
• I was climbing out of the cab when my phone buzzed in my bag. I just hoped it wasn’t Alex because I was going to tell him an earful. After he ditched, I had to foot the bill, which left a huge dent in my bank balance, plus I had to pay for the cab. Jerk.
• I ignored the phone as I let myself into my apartment on West Village, which I shared with my best friend Hailey. She was visiting her parents in Dallas and would be back on Sunday. I found myself wishing she was here, I could really use a friend right now-and I didn’t have a lot of those. Or maybe I do??
• Emerging from the bathroom I padded over to my bed, then crawled under the covers, feeling kind of disappointed.
• As if my love life couldn’t get any worse, something like this happens. What was wrong with me? I couldn’t even keep a guy let alone get another one. Why were men so complicated?
• I reached out for my phone on the nightstand and went through my texts. There was one from Hailey and my mystery guy. I replied to Hailey’s first then to my distraction.
• DISTRACTION: Hey there my feisty sexpot? Hope your not-so-hot date is going as bad as I’m imagining it. Please tell me your date is dead or lying on a hospital bed at least?
• OAKLYNN: For once we’re on the same page, pudding pie.
• DISTRACTION: No freakin’ way?!
• OAKLYNN: It’s official...all men are dogs. Actually, I think dogs are better because they can bark.
• DISTRACTION: Awww is my little princess sad? What can daddy do to make it better?
• OAKLYNN: You can tell me something that can distract me?
• DISTRACTION: Phone sex?? I knew you were a freak, my kinky kitten.
• OAKLYNN: How about we start by getting to know each other first my over-eager perv?
• DISTRACTION: Now that I can work with. What color is your hair?
• OAKLYNN: Guess?
• DISTRACTION: Dark? Long? Eyes are probably a fiery amber?
• OAKLYNN: You’re almost correct but my eyes are green.
• DISTRACTION: I’m instantly turned on now! Can’t wait to see them glazed with passion as they bore into mine.
• OAKLYNN: That’s never gonna happen, buddy.
• DISTRACTION: Never say never sweet cheeks... Bet you have a banging body too? Or bangable body should I say??
• OAKLYNN: Let’s just say I work out on a regular. You?
• DISTRACTION: You can say I work out on a regular too. But I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours?
• OAKLYNN: NOT HAPPENING!
• DISTRACTION: BORING! Can you at least tell me your name?
• I leaned back on my continental pillows and sighed. This was getting too real-should I tell him my name or maybe that was taking it too far? But then again there was no harm in telling him my real name? Was there?
• OAKLYNN: Why do you want to know?
• DISTRACTION: I’m just curious, sweetheart. Besides its common courtesy to ask, no?
• OAKLYNN: I’ll tell you mine if you’ll tell me yours?
• DISTRACTION: Then ladies first babycakes...
• OAKLYNN: Common courtesy?
• DISTRACTION: You’re a fast learner sweetheart. I like that.
• OAKLYNN: You probably have an innuendo hidden there somewhere don’t you?
• DISTRACTION: My point exactly! Fast learner... does that mean you like it fast? Or slow...?
• OAKLYNN: Ahhh there he is...
• DISTRACTION: Hahaha! You are special, kitten. I can’t wait to ruffle your soft fur.
• I doubled over and laughed so hard I had tears running down my cheeks. This guy was beyond crazy. But he made me laugh and I hadn’t done that lately.
• DISTRACTION: I bet you’re staring at your screen and cracking up? WYD?
• OAKLYNN: I’m in bed.
• DISTRACTION: What are you wearing?
• OAKLYNN: Bloom by Gucci
• DISTRACTION: You know I wasn’t talking about your fragrance sweet cheeks. But tell me something about yourself? Something you’ve never told anybody?
• OAKLYNN: Sometimes…I feel like a failure...Like I’m inadequate. I don’t know how to explain it...
• DISTRACTION: Like you stuck and there’s no progress in your life? Like you’re just going through the motions? Like you don’t even know why you are doing what you do? It all seems so pointless sometimes. I think I know how you feel sweetheart.
• OAKLYNN: You hit the nail on the head, Dr. Phil.
• DISTRACTION: Feisty with a sense of humor? Can you be any more perfect princess?
• OAKLYNN: Believe me, I’m far from it.
• DISTRACTION: Can I call you? There’s nothing more than I’d like than to hear your voice right now...
• I checked the clock, it was way past midnight.
• OAKLYNN: It’s kinda late. Maybe another time?
• DISTRACTION: I get it, you’re not ready. No pressure sweetheart. Can we still chat for a bit? I’m enjoying your company. I promise to keep it PG-rated.
• OAKLYNN: Now this, I will pay to see.
• DISTRACTION: What are the stakes if I pull this off?
• OAKLYNN: If- and a big IF- you do manage to carry on a ‘normal’ conversation like a normal human being, then you can call me tomorrow night.
• DISTRACTION: Oh it’s on kinky-sorry I meant, my cute kitten.
• OAKLYNN: Totally called it! hahahaha
• DISTRACTION: I demand a do-over. We hadn’t officially started so that’s invalid.
• OAKLYNN: Right...
• DISTRACTION: So...where were we? Tell me about yourself...