~ Chapter 18 ~
1516 Words
She blinked a couple of times as she stared at him, honestly thinking that was the last thing she would ever hear.
“Bobby…”
“I know you think I’m crazy.” She laughed as she shook her head.
“Well, I would like to say that, but the funny thing, I can’t deny whatever this is between us.”
“Exactly. I won’t lie to you and say I’m some innocent thing; I’m not. I have had my fair share of women. But not one of them brought forth the feelings I’m feeling with you.” He smiled and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not saying we need to start dating either. I’m merely suggesting that maybe you and I shouldn’t be so quick to write it off and say no.” She leaned back against the arm of the couch, her brows raised.
“How many girlfriends have you had?”
“Two. My last was in high school, we dated for two years. Her dad was in the military and she left in our junior year. We stayed connected but nothing more ever happened.”
“Um, that was a few years ago, what was your first relationship?” He smirked, laced his fingers behind his head and looked at her.
“Abigail, she was seven and I was six. She was the girl next door.” Jackie couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her.
“For real?”
“Yes. She had this pale blonde hair and big brown eyes. She was my first kiss you know.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“When and who was your first kiss?” Jackie licked her lips and tapped her fingers on her leg. That was a question that her ex husband had never asked.
“Joey, behind the school bleachers in middle school. I was in eighth grade and he was in seventh.”
“Going for those younger guys huh?” They both laughed at that.
“What can I say? He was way too cute for his own good and he knew it, even back then.”
“Do you know what happened to him?” She slowly nodded.
“I remained friends with some of his best friends and found he went somewhere over seas after high school and found some woman and got married.”
“Wow, but nothing ever happened with you two after?”
“Nope. I had heard he kissed a lot more girls after me.” She smiled and then crossed her arms. “If we are talking about that, when was your first time having s*x?”
“Oh, f**k, bring out those guns, huh?” He made a face and tilted his head. “I was 15 actually. The chick had some party and she and I ended up alone in one of the rooms, and it was over pretty fast. But I did enjoy it and noticed I was going to do that a lot more.” She laughed again and shook her head. “What about you?”
“Yeah, um, I was 16 and he was 17. Thought he was the love of my life. We had been dating for six months and I was ready. He actually never pressured me, if you could believe that. We just had a really great date, went back to his place, and one thing lead to another. We dated for another three more months after that, then summer break rolled around and we broke up; he found a new summer fling.”
“And how many between him and your ex husband?” She had kicked off her shoes and curled her legs under her, resting her elbow on the couch and placed her head on her hand.
“There were four more guys before my husband came into the picture.”
“And how many bad experiences?”
“Oh, Lord, that number is a lot higher and one I’d rather not get into. What about you?”
“I try not to be a jerk, even if it is a one night stand. Given that, though, if the ladies aren’t enjoying themselves, or are too drunk a little later on, that is not my fault.” He chuckled and she watched, fascinated by the way that cute dimple came out and how his eyes crinkled at the corners.
“What’s so funny?”
“I try very hard not to deal with drunken women, they are crazy and I can never say if they are truly agreeing with it. Anyway, I had this one chick I thought was totally fine, like she hadn’t had a lot to drink and she was very coherent. As we are in the middle of the act, she straight up throws up. Like I’m above her, kissing over her chest and there she goes. She was a very bad light weight and she was wasted.” She wanted to be nice but there was no way she could hold back the laugh.
“s**t, talk about a mood killer.”
“Oh, it was. I helped her clean up and then left.”
“Left? This wasn’t at your place?”
“Nope. One of my golden rules, I never allow a woman into my place. Or try very hard not to let them. That’s my space and I could probably count on one hand how many women have ever been in any of my places.”
“Good rule, but I gather you have others?”
“One, no female gets my cell number.” He leaned forward and looked her in the eye. “You are the first female that I have had any interest in that has my cell number.” Jackie swallowed hard. “And it wasn’t just because you are my boss that you have it, trust me.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.” He lifted a shoulder, his gaze still locked with hers and still just as intense and she knew she wouldn’t ever be able to look away.
“There’s nothing to say. I know it’s odd, but I rather like that you have it. And honestly, Jackie, I want you to use it. If you ever had to talk, or if you need anything, call me.” She licked her lips and his eyes followed the movement and she felt the shiver rock down her spine.
“I promise I will get a hold of you.”
“Good. So,” he shifted, bringing his leg up and resting his arm over his knee, “how many men have there been since Greg?”
“Oh, um,” she started, her gaze dropping to her hands, “that…” She trailed off, not quite knowing what to say. She wasn’t blind, she could that Bobby wanted her, she just couldn’t figure out why that was; it was always going on repeat in the back of her mind. And he wasn’t the first one to show any sort of interest in her. He was, however, the only one that she had really showed any interest back.
“You can’t expect me to believe that you haven’t slept around?”
“No, not at all.” She took a deep breath and looked up at him. “One.”
“One what?” He watched her and then his eyes opened wide. “You have only slept with one man since your ex? Why?”
“Look at me! I am not God’s gift to any man. I got love handles and extra curves, I got wrinkles coming in and started to spot some gray’s and I’m just not that sexy. In fact that one time only happened because he was drunker then he should have been.” Bobby shook his head and quickly moved across the couch, her cheeks in his hand.
“You have got to stop Jackie. Do you really not see the men who look your way? Because, trust me, I am not the only one who stares.”
“But Greg keeps saying how much I have gained…” Bobby shook his head as he pressed his thumb against her lips, cutting her off.
“Your ex is the biggest f*****g, God damn stupidest man on this Earth. You look amazing and you need to stop listening to him.” She stared deep into those eyes, finding herself getting lost in them and she knew that she needed to leave or she would be doing something she shouldn’t; or at least not quite yet.
- Writer
