As I focus back on the figures on the computer screen, I allow my mind to take me back to that awful moment when I walked in on Tom and Carley fucking, in mine and Tom’s bed. The sight of my friend laid on her back with Tom on top of her will forever be ingrained in my mind. Tom’s ass bobbing up and down. Carley’s face showing just how much she was enjoying his dick up inside of her.
I squeeze my eyes shut, begging the image to fuck off out of my head. I don’t need to keep reliving it. I don’t need to stay in the goddamn past.
Carley, a friend for six years, who turned out to be an enemy.
Tom, my boyfriend for two years, who turned out to be a complete asshole.
My desk phone rings, breaking me from the unwelcome images flooding my mind. I shake my head and pick up the phone, putting on a polite voice as I speak.
I feel a tingle creep its way up my spine, and my eyes dart up to see the handsome man across the room staring at me. I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling, and I lower my head to hide the fact that I am blushing.
I don’t need another man in my life.
All they do is cause trouble, and I’ve had more than enough of that to last me a lifetime.
Chapter Two
The first interaction
I turn off my computer and gather my belongings together as I get ready to leave the office.
“Hey, Lucy,” I hear a voice say, making me jump.
I was so busy putting my things into my handbag that I failed to see Michael walking over to my desk. The very handsome Michael who just so happens to have caught me looking at him more than once today.
Michael Chandler. Office sex God. Brown eyes that are the colour of dark chocolate. Light brown hair that has been styled to give that casual, sweeping look. Tall, with a fairly firm body from what I can see with his tight-fitting shirt on.
“Oh, hi,” I say, shyness creeping into my tone and taking over. I feel myself blush as his heated gaze is fixed firmly on me.
Christ alive, Lucy, stop blushing.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump,” he says, flashing me his gorgeous smile. His eyes sparkle, much like they did earlier when he was staring at me from across the room. “Listen,” he continues. “I hope that you don’t think that I am being too forward, but I was wondering if you would like to go for a drink sometime?”
“Me?” I squeak, my eyes widening in surprise. He chuckles, and the noise alone makes my stomach flutter.
“Yes, you.”
“Me and you?” I want the ground to swallow me up from my ridiculous response.
Stop acting like a bloody idiot, Lucy. A gorgeous man is asking you out, and you’re asking daft questions.
“She would love to go,” I hear Kim say from beside me. I turn my head to look at her, utterly shocked that she has just answered for me.
“She would?” I manage to say to her.
“Yes,” she replies with a stern look.
Michael clears his throat, reminding me that he is still stood there. Dear God, please let the ground swallow me whole, now.
“How about Friday night after work?” he suggests. He’s looking at me, but once again Kim answers his question.
“Perfect,” she says with a smirk on her face. If she wasn’t such a good friend to me then I might have been more than a little tempted to reach across and slap her.
“Great. Will I actually be able to talk directly to her when we go for a drink?” Michael asks Kim. I have no idea what shade of red I have gone, but my money is on a deep crimson.
“Of course,” Kim replies, completely unfazed by my flustered state.
“I am still here you know,” I say, managing to get my voice to work.
Kim has the decency to shut her mouth at this point.
“I look forward to it,” Michael says as he starts to walk away from my desk.
“Okay,” I answer feebly as I watch his retreating back leave through the office doors.
Once he is out of sight, I turn to Kim. She is smiling at me, mischief twinkling in her eyes.
“Kimberley Jenkins, how dare you,” I scold her.
“What?” she replies, feigning ignorance.
“You know damn well what. Why did you just agree for me to go on a date with Michael?”
“Because he’s hot, he’s single, you’re hot and you’re also single. You like him, and he likes you. Why wouldn’t you want to go out with him?” She makes a good point, but I’m still not over what Tom did to me.
“Kim,” I say on a sigh.
“Look, you’re only going out for a drink. This isn’t a commitment of marriage or anything. It’s just one drink, Luce.”
“But what if it makes things awkward?”
“Awkward how?”
“I work with the guy. How awkward would it be if the drink didn’t go well?” Nerves start to bubble up within me.
“If that happens then you just suck it up and get on with it,” Kim says with a shrug of her shoulders.
“Oh, jeez, thanks for the advice,” I say as I pick up my handbag and stand up. Kim links her arm through mine and we start to walk out of the office.
“Just have a little faith, Luce.”
“Hmmm,” I mumble.
I have been severely lacking in the faith department for months now.
Maybe Michael will be the one to bring it back for me?
Chapter Three
The first date
The last couple of days have dragged by as I have become more and more nervous about my date with Michael. It is now Friday and the clock reads five thirty. Clocking off time, which means that Michael is about to pack his stuff up and walk over here, to take me on our date.
I make myself look busy, tidying my desk, faffing with my handbag, feeling more than a little flustered at the prospect of spending the evening with a man that isn’t Tom. A man that totally knocks spots off of most others in the room. A man that I know will conquer my heart if I let him in. A man that is making his way over to my desk right this very second.
We haven’t spoken much since he asked me out two days ago, but then I have been busy attending meetings and dealing with client complaints. Sometimes I wonder why I ever chose a job in marketing. All day long I deal with other people’s problems. God forbid they actually listen to me, I mean, what the fuck do I know, what with my marketing degree and my general experience of all things advertising.
“Hey, Lucy, you ready to get out of here?” Michael asks as he comes to a stop in front of my desk.
“Uh… Sure.” Great start, Luce. I’m sure he didn’t sign up for a date with a mumbling wreck.
I pick my handbag up and make my legs push me off of my chair and into a standing position. I struggle to stop my hands from shaking, so I fold my arms across my chest.
“Have fun you two,” Kim says, smiling away to herself.
“Thanks,” I respond as I continue to move my legs forward.
Michael comes to the side of me and his arm brushes against mine. I feel a tingle run through me. Keep it together, Lucy. You have to see this guy at work, don’t make a fool of yourself.
“I thought that we could go to Alan’s?” Michael says referring to the local ‘up-market’ bistro that is just around the corner from our office.