Dirty White Candy, The Beginning, Book 1 (19 page)

Cheyenne leaned in, “Olivia tells us you landed a huge account today.”
 
She lifted her glass, “Let’s celebrate!”

“Sounds good to me!”

I liked these people, but worried about invading Olivia’s life.
 
I went inside the bar to grab another drink.

While at the bar, the guy standing next to me became red faced when I caught him looking at me.

“Hi,” I said smiling.
 

“Uh, sorry,” he mumbled.

“It’s okay.
 
A girl doesn’t spend this much time getting ready, only to get upset when a good looking guy is checking her out.”
 
I stuck out my hand.
 
“Candy,” I offered.

“John,” he said as he shook my hand, avoiding eye contact.

John had great hair.
 
It was dark blond and thick.
 
His arms were stretching through his t-shirt, though from the looks of his stomach, he liked beer a little too much.

“So what do you do, John?”
 
He was obviously bashful.
 
If we were going to have a conversation, I was going to have to pursue it.

“You mean for work?”
 
His eyes widened as he looked at me, but his brow furrowed.
 

Great, he thinks I’m after money.

“Or hobbies, or whatever.
 
How about I start?
 
I’m an advertising executive, book worm when I have time, coffee snob and I’m new to the dating scene.
 
Your turn.”
 
I smiled, then sipped my drink.

“Uh, I’m an entrepreneur; I like to shoot pool and fish.
 
I haven’t read a book since my sophomore year in college when I dropped out.
 
I’m not too picky about my coffee though, as long as it isn’t burnt.”
 
He cleared his throat.
 
“Uh, how did I do?”

Holding back a laugh, I struggled.
 
“Fine, just fine.
 
What does entrepreneur mean, for you?
 
That’s very vague.
 
We need to come up with a better answer for you.”

“What?
 
Why?”

“Look, John.
 
I’m coming out of my bashful shell and I’ve learned a lot.
 
Entrepreneur makes it sound like you’re unemployed doing side work for spending money.
 
So, tell me what you do and I’ll help you come up with a better, more accurate and attractive answer.”

“You want to help me pick up chicks?”
 
He shook his head.
 
“Are you gay or something?”
 
He shook his head.
 
“Figures, the first beautiful woman I talk to is a lesbian.
 
My gay-dar is so broken.”

I nearly spit my drink.
 
“You’re funny John.
 
That’s a good quality.
 
No, I’m not gay.
 
But I just met you.
 
Why not be nice and help a shy guy out?”

John looked at the door.
 
The guy was thinking about running away.
 
Was I really intimidating him that much?

He took a deep breath, “I find old buildings downtown, the ones that are empty and ugly.
 
I renovate the upper floors for nice living quarters.
 
The main level is cleaned up for a store front.
 
My main focus is turning the roofs into green roofs.
 
There are solar panels to help with energy, and rooftop gardens for flowers, or vegetables or whatever.”

Impressive.
 
John looked like he was starting to relax.
 
He liked what he did, and was proud of it.

“That’s fantastic.
 
So a better answer for you is that you convert broken down buildings into eco-friendly living and business
 
space.
 
You’re smart and environmentally conscious.
 
Chicks dig that sort of thing.”
 
I held up my glass, “Nice to meet you John.”

He snickered and shook his head.
 
“You’re weird.”

“Strike one, never call a girl weird.
 
We don’t handle rejection well.”
 
I stepped in closer toward him.
 
I started to feel like a predator.

“Unusual?” he asked, hopeful look washing over his face.

“Strike two, think positive, John.”

“Unique?”

“Bingo!”
 
I laughed.
 
“What makes me unique?”

He shook his head and laughed.
 
“I’m not touching that with a ten foot pole.
 
I don’t need a third strike!”

I bit my lip.
 
“Are you here alone?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, my assistant just introduced me to an entire table of her friends, would you like to join us outside?”

He stood there for a moment, holding his breath.
 
“Sure,” he said exhaling.

He followed me outside.
 
The look on Olivia’s face was priceless.
 
“Guys, meet my new friend, John.”

They all introduced themselves.

Olivia winked at me.

Over the next few hours, we loosened up and I was happy.
 
I started the night alone, and now I was sitting at a table full of new friends and I had snagged a hot guy.

John warmed up once his nerves settled.
 
He was funny, despite the fact that he said inappropriate things at the oddest moments.
 

Every time he ran his fingers through his thick hair, I bit my lip, a point Olivia felt the need to text me every time I did it.

The drinks started to take their effect and I felt the need to go home.

“Thanks guys, I’ve had a ton of fun, but the bar will be closing soon and I have a hot date with my pillow.”
 
I stood, and John stood with me.

“Yeah, I’ve had enough beer for three of me.
 
I need to get going too.
 
It’s been nice meeting you all.”

Olivia shot me a knowing glance.

“See you Monday,” she called out as I was leaving.
 

When I turned to reply, John’s back was still to her, so she shot me two thumbs up.

I blushed.
 
“Monday,” I uttered.

Outside waiting to catch a cab, John stood next to me.
 
“Maybe we should split a cab,” he suggested.
 

“What if we don’t live in the same area?” I teased.
 
“It’s going to be more expensive if he has to drive you to the West side and me to the East side.”

John chuckled.
 
“You really don’t recognize me at all, do you?”

My heart jumped.
 
“Excuse me?”

“We’ve lived in the same building for over a year.
 
I helped you carry a few boxes into your apartment when you moved in.”

“Oh geeze, John.
 
I’m so sorry.
 
I had just gotten divorced and I was a mess.
 
I don’t remember much about the whole moving process.”
 
My heart sank.
 
His odd behavior was because he’d helped me and I didn’t even recognize his face.

He smiled, “The big puffy eyes really told the story, Candy.
 
I figured it was a breakup or divorce or something.
 
So, do you want to split a cab?”

I had to hide my humiliation.
 
“Sure.”

Quite suddenly, John’s arm was around my shoulder and he turned me toward him, planting a firm kiss.
 
My heart started racing as my hands made their way up his arms to his large shoulders.
 
The kiss was fantastic.
 
He ended by biting lightly on my lip.
 
My breath hitched when he let go.

“Wow,” I said breathlessly.
 

“Exactly.”
 
He grinned.
 
“I’ve wanted to do that for a few hours.”

I saw a cab coming and stepped out holding my hand up.
 
Thankfully, the cab stopped.
 
I gave him the address as John and I climbed in the car.

The ride only took fifteen minutes, but it felt like hours.
 
What should I do?
 
Do I invite him to my place?
 
Do I look like a whore if I have sex with him so soon?
 
Do I let him take the lead?
 
He certainly did great making the first move.

When we reached the apartment building, we each paid the driver our half and he drove away.
 

“If I’m not being too forward, how about we go to your place and you can show me what a real cup of coffee is all about?”
 
He ran his fingers through his hair.
 

I wished he’d stop doing that.
 
It seemed to have an effect on my lady bits.

“Sure, come on up.”
 
My stomach tightened.
 
This was up to me.
 
It was up to me how far this went, I had the choice.
 
I wanted to fuck him until I couldn’t take it any longer, but we lived in the same building and I wasn’t ready for a relationship.
 
Would he act crazy if I brought someone else home?

I brewed the coffee and put out the flavored creamers on the counter.
 
“Just make your cup how you’d like,” I offered.

“I’ll have what you’re having.”
 
He stepped in behind me.
 
I could smell his cologne and feel his body heat through my shirt.

I prepared his coffee just like mine and stepped back so he could grab his mug.
 

“Holy shit, this is good!”
 
He took a big sip.
 
“I can see why you call yourself a coffee snob.
 
Sort of hard to go back to gas station brew after this.”

I laughed.
 
“Yeah, really hard.
 
Let’s go sit in the living room.”

He followed me to the couch.
 
We sipped at our coffee, an awkward air of silence hovering in the room.
 
Fueled by my sex drive and the courage the alcohol of the night provided I decided to try approaching the elephant in the room.

“John, can I be honest?”

He set his cup down on the coffee table.
 
He looked like he was bracing himself for bad news.

“Honesty, that would be a refreshing change from my past dating experiences.”
 
He put his hands on both knees, looking as if he may be sick.

“First, you should know, that prior to my divorce, I had only been with my husband, and the sex was boring at best.
 
Recently, and I mean very recently, I’ve been attending sex therapy sessions to discover and explore my sexuality.
 
I’m just starting to scratch the surface.
 
So I am interested in sex, in dating and in friends.
 
I’m not ready to, you know, settle or go steady or whatever adults call it.
 
But every time you run your fingers through your hair, I want to rip your clothes off.”
 
I finally took a breath.