Your Dad will do

"You've got to be kidding me, Jared!" The disbelief and hurt dripped from my words as I stood frozen in the doorway of his apartment. There was my boyfriend - my supposed life partner - completely naked and tangled with some blonde bimbo on our bed. Jared's head whipped around, his eyes going comically wide. "R-Ruby! This isn't what it looks like, I swear!" My hands balled into fists as the blonde scrambled to cover herself, throwing me a guilty look. Like she had any right. "Don't insult me further by lying," I spat out. "You arrogant, lying bastard!" Shoving off the couch, Jared held up his hands in a placating gesture as he stumbled towards me, still humiliatingly nude. "Baby, please, just let me explain-" "Explain what? That you're a cheating, disloyal piece of s**t?" My voice dripped with venom. Moving on autopilot, I ripped the diamond ring from my finger and whipped it straight at his head. Jared barely managed to dodge as it ricocheted off the wall. "Ruby, come on! Don't do anything rash!" His panicked eyes went round as saucers. "We can work through this, I promise!" A hollow, humorless laugh rent from my chest as tears stung my eyes. "Work through this? Are you delusional?" Grabbing the nearest object - a pottery vase from the hall table - I hurled it towards the pair with every ounce of strength I possessed. It shattered against the wall as they cowered, ceramic shrapnel raining down. "We're done, Jared! Over!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "If you think for one second I'd stay with a worthless, faithless asshole like you, you're even dumber than you look!" Wheeling around, I stormed towards the door, hurling one final venomous phrase over my shoulder. "I want nothing to do with you ever again. Not you, not your slimy family, not a single goddamn thing! We're through!" The door slammed shut behind me with a resonant, definitive bang. My life as I knew it was over - but I didn't shed a single tear. Not yet. *** Taking a shuddering breath, I drained the last drops of my whiskey sour and waved for another refill. The bartender shot me a concerned look but wisely kept his mouth shut as he poured another double. Tears blurred my vision as the memories of walking in on Jared's betrayal battered my mind like a demented movie reel on repeat. How could he do that to me after five years together? Five years of loving him, supporting his dreams, postponing my own ambitions - all for that cheating bastard to throw it back in my face. Self-loathing churned in my gut as I wondered what I had done wrong. Where had I failed so miserably that he sought intimacy elsewhere? Or was I simply too blind, too naïve to see the cracks splintering our relationship until it finally shattered? The night dissolved into a blur of alcohol and anguish after that. At some point, sobs wracked my body as I curled over the bar, drawing concerned looks from the other patrons. I was vaguely aware of muffled voices, footsteps approaching, but I couldn't summon the energy to care. That was, until a low, gruff voice penetrated my drunken haze. "Whoa there, you've had quite enough for one night, I'd say." The stranger's warm timbre raised goosebumps along my arms as I blearily lifted my head. Even through my blurred vision, I could tell he was older - probably mid-thirties - with a kind but chiseled face framed by slightly graying hair. But it was those soulful eyes, shining with evident concern for me - a total stranger - that made my breath catch. "Go'way," I slurred, throwing my head back down as a fresh wave of tears spilled free. "Less you wan'na drink wit' a sad sack loser whose dumbass boyfriend cheated on 'er..." The deep baritone sound of his soft chuckle, laced with gentle humor, nudged something inside me. "Well, we can't have that, can we? Why don't you let me buy you a glass of water and I'll keep you company for a bit?" Something about his calming presence instilled a kernel of hope that maybe, just maybe, there were still a few good, decent men left in this cold, cruel world. I risked another glance up at the kind stranger, my defenses lowering despite my inebriated state. "Water does sound okay, I guess..." I squinted blearily up at the kind stranger through my drunken haze as he slid a tall glass of water across the bar. Even in my wasted state, something about his warm presence soothed the ragged edges of my hurt. "Thanks," I mumbled, wrapping trembling hands around the condensation-dappled glass and taking a hesitant sip. The cool liquid did help clear my head a bit, if only marginally. The man settled onto the barstool beside me, an amused half-smile tugging at his ruggedly handsome features. "You know, drowning your sorrows is all well and good. But making sure you live to drink another day is important too." I squinted up at the man, trying to place his vaguely familiar face and voice through the alcoholic fog clouding my mind. "Have...have we met before? You seem kinda familiar..." He chuckled, the deep rumble of laughter putting me slightly more at ease. "I'm not surprised you don't fully recognize me. We've only met briefly, and it was quite some time ago when you were dating my son, Jared." The name hit me like a bucket of ice water, causing me to sober slightly as realization dawned. This kind, warmly amused stranger was Alexander Greywood - father of the cheating bastard who had just shattered my world into pieces. Suddenly, his handsomely rugged features and penetrating gaze clicked into place from my one and only tense meeting with Jared's imposing father years before. Back then, Alexander had been all harsh lines and intimidating presence, fixing me with a look that had me wanting to squirm beneath his intense stare. Jared had warned me his dad was an extremely powerful man who didn't suffer fools - definitely not the gentle, concerned soul beside me now. "Oh...oh god, you're Alexander Greywood," I stammered, feeling mortification creep up my cheeks. Here I was, an utter mess drowning myself in booze after catching his son's infidelity. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea...this must be so awkward..." Alexander's eyes crinkled at the corners as he gave an easy shrug. "Not at all, my dear. I may be Jared's father, but I'm still my own man with my own perspectives. Which currently include not letting a lovely young woman drink herself into a whiskey-soaked oblivion alone at a bar." Despite my embarrassment, I couldn't stop the startled laugh that bubbled up at his dryly teasing words. Who was this laidback, charming stranger and what had he done with the terrifying Alexander Greywood I remembered? "I, uh, I appreciate you keeping me company, Mr. Greywood," I managed an awkward smile, still stunned at this surprisingly softer side of Jared's father. "Even if the reason for it is...well, mortifying." Alexander tsked softly, shaking his head. "Please, just Alexander is fine. And there's nothing to be mortified about - we've all been through heartbreak before." His expression turned serious, full of soft understanding. "I had a feeling Jared's immaturity would lead to this kind of selfish stupidity eventually. You deserve far better treatment than that, my dear." "Thank you," I murmured thickly. "That...that really means a lot." Alexander's warm gaze held mine for a lingering moment before he cleared his throat. "In any case, you're in no state to be making your way home alone tonight." His brow furrowed slightly. "Unless...you don't have anywhere else to go besides Jared's place?" I flinched at the reminder, giving a miserable nod as humiliation burned my cheeks. "Y-yeah, that was...that was our apartment. I don't really have another place lined up yet." The corner of Alexander's mouth ticked up wryly. "Well, we can't have you sleeping on the street. Why don't you come back to my place for the night?" He raised a placating hand at my scandalized look. "Just to get you a door with a good lock between you and the world for now. I've got plenty of spare rooms." I opened and closed my mouth, utterly taken aback by the generous offer. From the little I knew of Alexander Greywood, he certainly didn't seem the type to charitably take in his cheating son's jilted girlfriend. Yet here he was, extending a kind gesture when I had nowhere else to go. "I...are you sure?" I asked hesitantly. "I don't want to impose-" "Nonsense, it's no imposition at all," he assured me, that lopsided smile putting me quietly at ease. "Consider it an apology for my son's appalling behavior, if you like. No strings attached, I promise." My muddled thoughts warred briefly before I finally gave a small nod of acquiescence. Anywhere had to be better than the streets tonight, and Alexander seemed refreshingly sincere despite my earlier misgivings. "Okay, yes, please...thank you," I said gratefully. I moved to slide off the barstool, only for my foot to catch on the railing as the room spun dizzily. Strong arms caught me before I could crumple to the floor, Alexander's firm chest solid against my side as he kept me upright. I squeaked in surprise, instantly regretting having that one last whiskey as heat flooded my cheeks at the innocent accident. "Careful there," Alexander's gentle rebuke was laced with barely-contained amusement, his warm breath fanning across my skin and sending a shiver down my spine. For one insane, sober-shattering moment, I could have sworn his gaze drifted to my lips, holding there with a sudden heated intensity. But then the moment was gone, and he simply patted my shoulder lightly as he steadied me upright again. "Alright, easy does it. Let's get you somewhere you can sleep this off, hmm?" I swear, it was like my body was being possessed by some drunk, randy poltergeist! One minute I was mortified out of my mind at practically falling into Alexander Greywood's arms. The next, I was overwhelmed by an utterly insane urge to snog his gorgeous face off! Maybe it was the alcohol dissolving what was left of my inhibition filters. Maybe it was a desperate grasp at feeling wanted after Jared's epic betrayal. Or maybe I'd just finally gone completely mental. Whatever the reason, before my stunned brain could engage, I found myself lurching forward to slam my lips against Alexander's in a sloppy, whiskey-tinged kiss. At first, he froze like a startled rabbit - which was completely understandable seeing as his son's ex had just accoster-snogged him in a dimly lit bar. I braced myself for the obvious shove backwards as he realized what a crazy person I was. But then...the strangest thing happened. Rather than recoiling in abject horror, Alexander's sculpted lips started moving sinuously against mine! His big hands slid around my waist to tug me flush against that gloriously firm, expen-suit chest. Eventually, oxygen became an issue and we broke apart - both slightly flushed and looking equal parts stunned and ravenous. Any second, I expected the icy scowl of Alexander Greywood Sr. to re-emerge as he realized what he'd done. Instead, he quirked one sculpted eyebrow in a way that had me accidentally gushing like Niagara Falls internally. "Well, that was...unexpected," he rumbled in that low, sinfully attractive timbre that made me want to throw panties at him. "Though I can't say I'm complaining, Miss Miller." "I...um..." I gibbered uselessly, my brain melting into an puddle of whiskey-battered goo. "Let's take this somewhere more private, shall we?" he murmured, casually dropping a wad of bills on the bar before steering me towards the exit with a hand on the small of my back.