Only Love (The Atonement Series) (12 page)

“Well, when you first decided on what you were going to major in, what did you think would happen? There is a reason why so many people pick something generic like Business for instance. There is a lot you can do with the degree especially if you plan to get your MBA.”

“Rich people maybe because MBAs don’t exactly grow on trees you know and they are very expensive to pursue.” She slipped the cigarette between her lips and dragged on it before she put the butt out in a plastic ashtray. “To be honest, I don’t know what happens after school for me but I guess I will just roll with it. Right now, this job is serving its purpose just fine and that is keeping me occupied and my mind off the boys of summer.”

Colin laughed out loud at that statement. “Yes, because men in college are so much more sophisticated than men in high school. I don’t know how young women do it but then again, it’s been a while since I went through the whole university thing and really, if I was smart, I certainly wouldn’t be flirting with you.”

Cassie pursed her lips before she looked into his eyes. “Why’s that? I’m legal and I know you are older…you’ve got to be late twenties or maybe even thirty…but I’m not jailbait. You sleeping with me isn’t going to get me or you in any kind of trouble.”

He stared at her through clear crystal blue eyes before he smiled. “You know what? You’re right. However, our break time ended ten minutes ago and we should both get back to work.”

She stood before she faced him again and inquired, “You wanna come with me to Prospect Bar & Grill tonight? They always have great food and even when they don’t have live music, they have some kick ass DJs that make the round. It might be fun and maybe it will get you out of this funk you have about your ex?”

“I’m sorry—what funk and which ex would your statement be in reference to exactly?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “You
are
joking, right? Everyone
knows
you and Deirdre used to be an item. It’s obvious she’s moved on to bigger and better things…maybe you should do the same.”

Colin smiled wryly as soon as her back was turned to him. So she wanted to play and she liked a good time. He would definitely enjoy this one and have absolutely no regrets about what happened between the two of them. Deirdre had moved on and he could do the same even if it was only to scratch an itch temporary.

Cassie was just what the doctor ordered and Prospect Bar and Grill was a perfect suggestion. They started off the night with a few mixed drinks—hers was a dirty Martini while he preferred an Adios Motherfucker. Yes, they were caloric as hell but after that, he knew he would stick to imported lagers just so he would be all right to drive home later that night.

He allowed his companion to order what ever she wanted and she took advantage and then some.

“Hungry?” he inquired.

They sat outside in the romantic patio area which was teeming with people. Lots of the beautiful people from San Diego and La Jolla lined the inside and outside of the restaurant. He had to hand it to Cassie because she possessed an extremely well-made fake ID which declared her to be twenty-one and she’d certainly dressed the part in a liquid silver, spaghetti-strapped dress which barely reached mid-thigh and a black pair of Yves Saint Laurent Tribute sandals which must have cost her more than she made in a month.

Her hair was up in a messy chignon with ringlets that made her look just the right amount of innocent and sex-bomb while her makeup was perfect, understated except for the dark red lipstick she wore.

“I know—you’re looking at my shoes. If you must know they were a gift from a rich jock I dated at UC San Diego. It didn’t last long but he did buy me these shoes for my twentieth birthday so it wasn’t all bad,” she explained as she downed her third dirty Martini.

Colin was more than a bit worried about her although it wasn’t altogether altruistic. The way she knocked drinks back, would she even be sober enough that night to fuck let alone would she be any good? She’d yet to eat anything but from the appetizer teaser plate he’d ordered.

“Why don’t you try to get some food in you?” he suggested as he slid the plate closer to her.

“Don’t worry, I’m in college, and I’m used to drinking a
lot
. Besides, I am hardly falling down drunk.” Cassie set her glass down and looked him in the eyes. “I can see your concern though so I’ll stick to what ever you’re drinking or are you going to put me on a San Pellegrino restriction for the rest of the night?”

He smiled slyly. “I wouldn’t dare think of that. How about I order us a round of imported lagers and we can discuss more about college life?”

She shrugged her okay and as soon as their waiter came by, he ordered Heinekens for the both of them.

“Why are you so interested in me all of the sudden? I mean, I don’t know if you noticed but the former owner had this strange complex. She refused to hire people who she thought were ugly and she wouldn’t dare hire anyone overweight. There is tons of talent in that place and you’re lusting after me? I just don’t get the interest unless something about me vaguely reminds you of Deirdre? And it certainly can’t be my sparkling personality,” she explained truthfully as she placed her left elbow on the table and leaned her chin on the palm of her open hand.

“I did notice everyone at Ground Beans was good looking but I have been dealing with a lot of personal crap lately and I assumed everything would be solved by now.” Colin stared out past the people and onto the romantically lit street. “I was never good at this—dating I mean. I always had a girlfriend and I guess you could call me a serial monogamist if you like but sleeping around with a lot of women has never really appealed to me.”

Where the hell did that lie come from? Colin was the player to end all players and he’d had plenty of one night stands. However, he could also read women and since this one would have to last him a while, it was best to tell her what she wanted to hear. Women often claimed they wanted and desired a “bad boy” but deep down inside, they just wanted someone sexy who could fuck and if they were dependable, a man could earn major bonus points.

He already had the look of a bad boy down anyway so him being a gentleman and kind to her could be a plus and their secret.

Cassie shook her head. “You’re not at all like I thought you would be. I just assumed someone as good looking and sexy as you has had plenty of girlfriends.”

Colin cocked his head to the side. “I could say the same about a woman as spell-bindingly beautiful as you. You’re perfect, you know that?”

“Well, when I first got to college, I did go a little wild but I quickly settled down. One night stands became boring and I was sick of having my heart stepped and broken on. I think I had two or three before I swore off them all together. From then on out, it has been nothing but relationships. Neil and I broke up around three months ago but we dated all throughout my sophomore year. I really did think we would last at least until mid junior year but it wasn’t in the cards…”

“Why not?”

“Well, he’s from the San Diego area and his family has nothing but money. His mother didn’t approve of him dating someone ‘working class’. It doesn’t help my roommate, Natasha, is one of the biggest whores at UC San Diego. I caught her giving Neil a blow job at one of our parties just before school ended for the semester. To say that I was disappointed would have been an understatement.

“Then again, I don’t know why Neil was interested in me because when we broke up, he didn’t fight for me. He didn’t call or text. Perhaps he thought it was no big deal. A blow job isn’t sex—the whole ‘Bill Clinton’ school of sexual thought. Who cares? I don’t, not really. I mean, there are plenty of fish in the sea and Neil was a horrible lay anyway. He was awful in bed…to be honest, I never understood why I was with him because I could never marry a man who
couldn’t
perform, you know?”

The beauty of youth had just given way to the ugly truth of youth. After all the intellectual and enlightening conversations Colin had shared with Deirdre, he only wished for Cassie to just shut up. She had absolutely nothing to contribute to any conversation unless it revolved around her and that was getting old very fast.

He clasped his hands around his Heineken as soon as the waiter dropped it off. “So, you said you were pretty lost about what you should do after university ends. Have you ever thought of maybe getting an internship at one of the major newspapers or cable studios? It might not pay much but what you would learn on the job experience and it would be a great way to start building your résumé.”

“Actually, it never occurred to me but that would be a great idea.” Cassie swigged from her lager before she leaned in to show major cleavage for his benefit. “Do you know of any opportunities that might be on the horizon? I could definitely use the help with getting an ‘in’, you know?”

“I will ask around and get back to you,” Colin responded with just the right amount of enthusiasm.

At least the night wouldn’t be a total waste.

Colin and Cassie arrived back to his beach front condo shortly after one in the morning. They kissed one another with hungry passion that could not be denied. He didn’t know how long it had been for her but for him, it had been an interminable month since Deirdre left him and he’d felt every second of every day.

The thought of burying his grief within the warm body of another’s was a satisfying thought but he didn’t want to end up impregnating someone or worse yet, acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.

Cassie stopped kissing him and looked into his eyes. Her own were large and brown with dilated pupils. “I really,
really
want you, Colin, but we both have to be safe. I am on the pill but is it all right if you use a condom too?”

“Of course. I have both lambskin and regular Durex of course but the lambskin ones are better…however, they don’t prevent STDs so if you have something, I need to know now.”

She shook her head. “God no. I haven’t had sex since Neil and although he wasn’t shy about whom he allowed to suck his dick, he was fastidious about his health. He had to be. I still got tested for everything underneath the sun after we broke up and my tests came back clean.”

“Well, I was in a committed relationship and neither my partner nor I used anything. We were…safe. However, after she left, I still went through the battery of tests with my doctor and I was declared to have a clean bill of health. I don’t have anything, not even the clap.”

Cassie’s eyebrows shot up in dismay. “What’s that?”