Dirty White Candy, The Beginning, Book 1 (17 page)

“They have some really good microbrews here, but I’ll refrain from spitting peanut shells on the floor,” he teased.

I was thankful that the waitress was quick and before I knew it, I had a cosmopolitan in front of me, and David had a beer I’d never heard of.

“So, a wife, I didn’t see that coming.
 
Did you?”
 
David asked, still fighting a smile.

“Why don’t you just grin and get it over with?”
 
I teased.

His battle was over and he was now wearing a large grin.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
It’s part embarrassment, part happiness that I’m having a drink with a beautiful woman.”

I sipped at my drink and eyed him.
 
“I could not tell she was gay.
 
She is our therapist though, and they’re not known for talking about themselves much.”

He looked around nervously, flushing.
 
He fidgeted with his glass of beer and continued to glance around.

“Are you in witness protection or something?”
 
I sat back in my chair and studied him.
 
I may not have known him long, but I hadn’t witnessed this type of behavior out of him.

“I’m sorry, what?”
 
He stopped glancing around and sat slack jawed, gazing at me.

“You keep looking over your shoulder like someone put a hit out on you or something.”
 

David’s face turned a deeper shade of red.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
I owe you an apology.
 
This bar is one of my ex’s frequent watering holes and she’s turned into quite the drinker.
 
I’ve been sitting here stewing on whether or not she’ll show up and what she’ll do when she does.”

I laughed.
 
“We all have exes, David.
 
I run into some of mine sometimes too.
 
If she shows up and makes a scene, I can handle it.”

His shoulders relaxed.
 
“Thanks.
 
I was glad you decided to join me and I was worried about it getting screwed up.
 
I brought you here so you could smoke, I wasn’t thinking.”

“So this is what you were talking about, the whole problem with dating thing?”

A loud, high pitched shriek came from my left, causing David and I to jump.

“Daaaavid!”
 
A tall blonde came running over to the table, nearly spilling her cocktail.
 
She threw her arm around his shoulder, pushing her DDD sized surgically enhanced boobs in his face.

“Hi Destiny.”
 
David looked like he’d pass out at any moment.
 
“Let me introduce you to my friend, Candy.”

“Candy and Destiny?
 
We should find a pole,”
 
I joked.
 

The dumbstruck look on Destiny’s face told me she had no idea what I meant.

“Nice to meet you Candy,” she said holding out her hand.

I shook it, “pleasure is all mine.
 
Do I get a booby smothering too, or are those saved for David?”

“Uh,” she looked at David, confused.
 
“How did you two meet?”

David and I glanced at each other.
 
Should we tell this crazy drunk lady that we’re in sex therapy together?

“David’s my booty call.
 
A girlfriend of mine slept with him a few months back and raved about his skills in bed.
 
I couldn’t pass it up.”
 
I put my hand on David’s.
 
“I’m happy to report, he hasn’t let me down yet.”

He started guzzling his beer.

“Really?” she squealed.
 
“I don’t remember your skills being quite so tuned up.”

“Well, it’s not always the size of the boat, sometimes it’s the size of the canyon.”
 
The digs were coming in like a tidal wave.
 
Why did I have such a need to help David?
 
I liked him sure, but he was a big boy and I was nearly abusing this woman.

Destiny looked like she wanted to punch me in the face.
 
She was smiling, but her jaw was clenched and her hand was now fisted in a ball around the stem of her martini glass.

“It’s been nice seeing you, David.”
 
She stormed off.

David started clapping.
 
“Well done!”

I bowed my head.
 
“Thanks!
 
Damn, what an annoying creature.
 
You dodged a bullet there.”

He nodded as he finished his beer.

“Okay, since that whole scene took up one drink, let’s have a second, then you can walk me to the bus stop.”
 
I waved at our waitress.

“No, I will drive you home.
 
You’re not taking the bus this time of night when I have a perfectly good car sitting outside.
 
I can drink two beers and still blow clean.”

“Blow clean?”

“You know, pass a breathalyzer test.”
 
He snickered.

“Oh,” I shook my head.
 
“Not sure what I was thinking.”

Being the gentleman he was, David settled the bill when our drinks arrived.

“So, where were we before Boobs McGee came in like a tidal wave?”
 
The bar was starting to fill up with people, increasing the noise.
 

David stared at his beer glass, avoiding eye contact.
 
“Linda’s class.”

“Ah, yes.
 
Completely not what I expected when my friend referred her.
 
I thought we’d talk about sex, not actually be doing stuff.
 
I get so nervous each time I feel like I’m going to get sick or pass out or something.”
 
The second cosmopolitan was going down way too easy, though I had the relief knowing David had paid the bill already.

“Then I get paired up with a beautiful woman.
 
I’m not sure if that’s a good stroke of luck, or a bad one,” he teased.

“I don’t know if I want to continue with the class.
 
I really don’t like being put in those awkward positions, being forced to do things.
 
It seems sort of wrong.”

His brow furrowed.
 
“Isn’t that the point?
 
I mean, isn’t it the point to get outside our comfort zones and do things we would have never done before, or maybe didn’t know how to do?”

I knew he was being serious, but I couldn’t help but laugh.
 
“I know, but I’m beginning to wonder whether or not she’s actually certified for this.
 
I’ve never heard of such a thing before and here I am, getting on board, performing sexual acts among strangers.”

“She’s certified, board certified.
 
I saw it hanging on the wall in her office.
 
So you can rest easy on that fact.
 
If you have issues with therapy, you should talk to Linda.
 
That’s what Tuesdays are for.”

“Tuesdays?”

David laughed.
 
“A smart woman like you did not read through the contract?
 
There is a standing Tuesday appointment for you to discuss what we do in group.”

I felt incredibly stupid.
 
I read and reread through that document and I don’t remember seeing anything about an appointment.
 

“It’s the line directly above the signature, so that you see it.”
 
David laughed.
 
“I bet you studied every other line,” he teased.

“Yeah, I guess.”
 
I finished off my drink, wishing I would have sipped at it.

David gave me a ride home, walked me to the door of my building, and then kissed me on the cheek.
 
Clearly, he wasn’t going to make a move on me.
 
While it should have disappointed me, I did have a very busy day in the morning.

Back in my apartment, I stripped down and climbed into bed.
 
It didn’t take long for me to pass out.

I rushed to the office the next morning, arriving at eight.
 
Olivia had obviously been there early, messages collected and coffee waiting.

“How’d it go last night?” she asked so nonchalantly, I wanted to smack her.

“Uh, weird as usual,” I dismissed, “Are you ready for our meeting with Trina this morning?”
 
I thumbed through my messages.

“I am.
 
I can see why you’re excited to take on this project.”
 
She shuffled the folders.
 
“I really love your idea, and I think she will too.”

“Let me know when she’s here.
 
I want to see her in the small conference room and I want you there.
 
Do you have time to set it up with coffee and rolls?”
 

Olivia grinned at me.
 
Enthusiasm oozed from her.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing.
 
I had a great night.
 
I can’t stop smiling.
 
I’m sorry.
 
I will try to tone it down.”
 
She covered her smile with her hand.

A grin invaded my confused face.
 
“I see.
 
You don’t have to contain your happiness.”
 
I sat down, opening my laptop.
 
“Do you have time to set the room?”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Olivia fled to avoid any more awkwardness.
 

I was half way through my emails when I noticed I only had fifteen minutes before my nine o’clock meeting with Trina.
 
I grabbed my boards and headed to the conference room.
 
I covered them with blank boards to reveal them individually and waited for Trina.

I was thrown when Olivia walked in with Trina and six other people.
 
Expecting to give a presentation to one person, it took a second for me to regroup for an entire group.

“I’m afraid we’ll have to relocate.
 
I was expecting a one-on-one meeting, not a group presentation.
 
Olivia, would you please see if we have a larger conference room available?”

“Sure, uh, I’ll be right back.”

“Nonsense,” an older man in a suit said.
 
“We’ll stand.”

“I’ll grab some more coffee and cups,” Olivia said in an attempt to please.
 
“I’ll be right back.”

Trina looked apologetic.
 
“I’m so sorry.
 
These are my investors.
 
I was so enthusiastic after our meeting the other day, it seemed to be contagious.”

I smiled and nodded.
 
My years in this business taught me to maintain my professionalism at all costs.
 
“It’s not a problem, Trina.
 
As soon as Olivia returns, we’ll get started.”

Gone for longer than was comfortable, Olivia returned with two assistants, a cart full of coffee and several chairs.
 
She was determined to make everyone comfortable.
 
I waited and gathered my thoughts as everyone got situated.