Page 23 of Taking the Pitch
I shake my head. “No, it’s the woman who founded the program. Millie, she–” I can’t help but chuckle. “She’s not really a fan of mine. Although we did have a better interaction in the parking garage today than at our first meeting.”
Kessler gives me a confused look and I decide to explain everything that happened leading up to today’s conversation with her in the garage.
“Oh shit,” Kessler says when I finish telling him everything.
“Yeah, I’m not sure where to go from here, but I do know she’s the first woman to catch my attention in a long while, and I want to explore that. I’m tired of the one-night stands and women who only want me for my status.”
“Aww, is little Juddy growing up?” Kessler asks, reaching over and pinching my cheek.
“Fuck off,” I tell him, slapping his hand away from my face and getting a laugh out of him.
“Don’t ignore that feeling though,” Kessler tells me, turning off the truck and pocketing his keys. “But don’t move too fast either.”
“Says the man who practically told Lucy a week into knowing her you loved her.”
“That wasn’t me, that was Mom,” he says, sounding a smidge defensive. “Anyway, why don’t you talk to Lucy when you come over for poker night? She might be able to give you some insight on how to proceed with this, get her version of things, and why she felt the way she did. I’m not saying that Millie has the same reservations as Lucy did, but she might be able to help you figure out where to go from here.”
I nod. That might not be a bad idea at all. I clap Kessler’s shoulder. “Thanks man, I’ll do that.”
He nods and we get out of the truck and start walking back towards where we left the boys. “Who gave you your advice when you didn’t know how to proceed with Lucy?”
Kessler looks at me, and a huge shit-eating grin breaks out over his face. “Duke fucking Keller.”
Duke? Color me shocked.
CHAPTER SEVEN
amelia
The doorsclose on the image of the sexy pirate I leave standing there smirking at me in the parking garage.
So much for not running into him.
Not even twenty-four hours into finding out we live in the same building and boom, there he is in all his sexy pirate glory. Abs and all.Andhe caught me looking, so I had to deflect the fact that he is the sexiest fucking man I have ever laid my eyes on with what I deflect everything else that makes me uncomfortable in my life, humor.
Ok andmaybethere was a little flirting, but honestly can you blame me? I haven’t had sex inmonths,and the things that man does to my body with just a look. I pinch the front of my sweater and pull it from my body a few times to get the air flowing. He makes me hot and bothered without even touching me.
But I can’t let him know I’m attracted to him.
One, because he iswayout of my league.
Two, he’s now involved with my program for the library, and I wouldneverdo anything to jeopardize that.
Three, because… I’m broken.
I’ve never been able to make a relationship work for longer than eight months. But we’re not going to get into that right now.
The elevator opens on my floor, and I step out, Bruno following happily beside me. I took him for an extra-long walk this afternoon to make up for him having to stay home tonight while I go out with Charlie and Hazel toIgnitefor their annual Halloween party. I don’t usually go out,thank you anxiety, but I feel safe with Charlie and Hazel and the alcohol I will be consuming won’t even give my anxiety a chance to flare its ugly head. Plus, I really need a night to just let loose after months of stress over the library and book tour.
Unlocking my door, I enter my apartment and unclip Bruno’s leash and take off his vest. Tossing my keys on the counter along with my shoulder bag. I look at the clock and see I only have an hour until Charlie and Hazel arrive so we can get ready together. We’re not even leaving for the club until nine, but we’re going to pregame before we go. MostlyI’mgoing to pregame before we go. We figured out if I have a couple drinks in me before we go out, the less likely I am to back out or freak out before we leave.
Is it the healthiest way to cope? Probably not, but my therapist advised me not to drink when I take my ‘emergency panic pills’ as I like to refer to them as, and if I’m going out, I’m drinking. So, this is my compromise to be able to be a somewhat normally functioning twenty-nine-year-old and go out with my friends. Seeing I’m going to be short on time if I don’t get moving, I give Bruno his dinner before I jump in the shower to get ready for a night of drunken festivities.
Showered, shaved, and still in my robe. I hear obnoxious knocks on my door as I finish blow drying my hair. Knowing those knock’s, I head to the door and open it to reveal Charlie and Hazel, both loaded down with their bags and costumes for the night.
“The fun has arrived!” Hazel announces, coming in and setting her arm load down on my couch before collapsing into the empty space next to it.
Charlie shakes her head and laughs as she follows her in with her much smaller yet still impressive arm load of stuff.
