Rewriting the Rules (17 page)

Feeling bad for ditching Reed after everything he’s done for me since the accident I decide to meet him for a drink and see where we’re headed.

When I get to Dragonfly, I notice Reed at the bar and he smiles when he sees me.

“Hi, sweetpea.”

“Hey.” I look at the bartender. “Dirty martini, please.”

“Sure thing.”

I look around the lounge, it’s nice in here. Might be my new favorite place depending on how they make the drink. There are people scattered all over, and there are three TVs, one in each corner, playing whatever game is on, and people are enjoying themselves. It’s not a dance kind of bar, but more of the relaxation and mingle type.

“Here’s your drink.” I turn around and smile at Reed. “How was your day?”

“Good.” I talk about my day at the spa and how thoughtful I thought the gift was. He smiled as I talked and it’s nice to have someone listen. Maybe Jessica and Aubree are right and I have to give this another chance.

“You sound like you have everything all lined up. I like seeing a strong woman in charge,” he leans in and whispers, “in all things she does.”

As sexy as that sounds, it doesn’t cause any aches or needs. I don’t want to pounce him in the bar and ravage his body. In all honesty I want to cringe and say bye.

I sigh. “I’m sorry, this isn’t working.”

He sighs too. “Oh, thank God. I think the same”

We both burst out laughing and when we finally come to, I see him smiling. “Really?”

He nods and takes my hand. “You remind me of my sister. I call her sweetpea and she makes the same face as you do.” This makes me laugh again. “I’d love to be your friend, though. I have fun with you.”

“I’d like that.” I clink my glass with his beer and we take our drinks to the corner and sit down on the sofa. “I’m so relieved that we both feel the same way.”

“I know. I felt bad. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re so hot, but it wasn’t there.”

“I totally agree. When you kissed me I thought, wow this kiss is amazing, but there was no spark.”

“Agreed. But, damn I sure wish there was something because I think we’d be pretty good together.”

Slapping him on the wrist causes Reed to laugh and for some reason it makes me smile too.

After leaving Dragonfly I head home and crash on my bed. Staying out until two in the morning isn’t what I needed to do tonight. Not ready to go to bed yet, I head back downstairs to grab a bottle of wine. It’s too nice outside to not be relaxing or in the hot tub. Rushing back up to my room, I change into my bikini, and then head outside with a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other.

Stepping into the hot tub, I pour myself a very full glass of wine and indulge in the semi-dry taste of Pinot Grigio. The taste is smooth and intoxicating. I love drinking wine and savoring each sip. Unlike a shot, which is fast, wine is delicate and takes time to slowly drink.

My phone buzzes and I smile when I see Jessica’s name.

Jessica:
Update!

Me:
Relax! We’re going to be friends and I’m okay with it . . . He’s sweet, but not for me.

Jessica:
Whoa that’s crazy. You’re both hot, though.

Me:
And?

Jessica:
I guess as long as you’re okay. Talk to me, what’s going on in that head of yours?

Me:
I think I want a boyfriend or someone who’ll really take my mind off Troy. That’s all I want . . . It’s hard to be rejected so many times. A girl can only take so much, ya know? So maybe I’m doing things drastically by signing up for an online dating account, but I’m new to town and I’m single so it makes sense.

Jessica:
Just be careful . . . I hear you I really do. I love you, girl keep your head up . . . K?

Me:
K. Go to bed, we’ll talk tomorrow!

Jessica:
Love you X

Me:
Love you O

I take comfort knowing I have my best friend to lean on if things truly hit rock bottom. I’m holding onto that and hope I don’t have to endure anymore pain.

The next week goes by quick and I’m back to work. The cops found the asshole that hurt me and is being charged along with attempted murder of his daughter. Special guy. Luckily, I don’t have to testify or face him. He was caught in my car, buying food with my card. Will got me a new car and all of my credit cards have been reissued to me. I can move on from that night and focus on work and myself again.

Since that night, Will gave me a spray bottle of mace and I’m working on boxing moves to protect myself. I’ll never allow someone to hurt me like that and touch me or my property ever again. If I sit around and dwell about it, asking myself if I did something different, I’ll drive myself crazy and live in fear.

Leaving work a few minutes early, I get in my car and feel my phone buzz. Groaning, I pray it’s not work.

Troy:
Come over.

Me:
Why?

Troy:
I’d like to see you. See how you’re doing.

Me:
I’m fine.

Troy:
Come over.

Rolling my eyes, I put my phone away and head to his house. Parking my car, I walk inside to find him outside drinking a beer.

“See? I’m fine.” I twirl around until I’m facing him again. Instead of sitting down with a beer bottle, he’s in my face, his hands on my wrists. His intense eyes are looking into mine, making my knees weak and body shiver.

Oh my.

“Let’s go for a swim. We need to relax.”

Troy

Getting outside, she strips out of her clothes and jumps in. Not caring and not being able to control myself, I jump in following her. She moves around in my arms and wraps her legs around my waist. Her naked skin connects with mine. It’s soft and smooth, warm to the touch, and driving my dick crazy. Her tits are rubbing on my chest as we float above the water. Our faces are close and I can see the tremble on her lips. Warm sensations run through me and it’s something I haven’t felt in years. The feeling of Charlotte comes back.

Her intoxicating eyes linger on me and I can feel her heartbeat against my chest. This moment with no one else around and her in my arms puts me back to when we were younger. At this very moment I understand love and second chances. She’s back for a reason and I have to admit how happy that makes me. Pushing her away to protect myself isn’t doing anything good for me. Letting her in, the way she should be, is what I want. The situation with Will can be handled.

I hold her close and she hangs onto me. When I reach the shallow end of the pool, she’s still holding on and not letting go. I tighten my hold around her waist, she is observing everything I’m doing and seems lost in her mind.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Thinking about things,” she tells me with a nod. “Thinking about how we were in the past and realizing how much I’ve missed you.”

“Yeah.”

She takes in a breath and leans in closer to my face. Her lips gently touch my cheek. “I don’t know what’s going on and part of me doesn’t care.”

She still doesn’t pull away and the feel of her skin against mine is creating a bit of an issue with my greedy cock. Her center rubs against me and I know she feels how hard I am and how badly I want her. The desire I have shoots through me and not caring about the consequences, I lean in and hungrily take her lips to mine.

She doesn’t pull away.

Pushing her up against the pool wall, her legs tighten their grip around my waist and little moans escape her lips. Our lips move in a seductive motion. I’m rock hard for her. Keeping my hands on her waist, I deepen the kiss as my tongue begs for more.

“Troy,” she moans. When she says my name, the unexplored sexual chemistry between us gets stronger.

After this kiss, I know I can’t let go.

Chapter 22

Charlotte

I’m kissing Troy. Troy’s kissing me. He’s hard as a rock and my pussy is so wet and throbbing. Oh this kiss is more than I want. I’ve fantasized about this moment for years and it’s finally here. The kiss feels right and perfect. I don’t care if we’re in the water and we’ll both end up with blue balls. The friction of heat grows and he holds me tight against his body. I’m melting into him.

When he pulls away I want to scream
no
and kiss him more. I want more. He smiles and gently kisses my lips again before putting me down.

“I’d love more than anything to take you to my bed tonight.”

“So do it,” I blurt out and cover my mouth.

“Not tonight, sweetheart.” He kisses my forehead and looks at me. “Why don’t I take you out to dinner?”

“Okay,” I gush. I feel his eyes on me when I climb out of the pool. He follows behind me and hands me a towel. Wrapping it around my body, I relax back into his arms and feel complete.

“Go shower,” he tells me.

“Okay.” I head inside and realize I don’t have anything else to wear. “Shit,” I mutter and head to the kitchen to find Troy on his phone. I clear my throat to get his attention.

“What’s up? Why aren’t you in the shower?”

“I need to go back home and change. So is it okay if I meet you there?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” he answers. “I wanted us to drive together.”

“Why don’t you get me?”

“And deal with Will?”

“Oh come on, it won’t be bad. Just get me in an hour.” I walk over to him, kiss his cheek, and grab my clothes. “It’ll be okay.”

“Okay.”

I rush home and jump in the shower to get ready for our first date tonight. Will’s not home and I’m thankful not to face him. I have no idea how I’m going to handle it with him.

As I stand in my bathroom putting on my makeup, I realize it’s going to be difficult hiding this from him. He’s not going to approve of this relationship. I don’t even want to know what he saw when they lived together. Will always said to stay away from his friends. He has to know that Troy will treat me better than the other women and that we love each other.

For now, we’ll have to keep it a secret and hopefully tell Will soon. I don’t like keeping secrets from him. Forcing myself to get over that because it’s either be happy with Troy or be miserable.

I choose happy.

I finish getting ready and am walking down the stairs when the doorbell rings. Heading over to the door, I open it and an instant smile forms on my face. Outside, Troy’s standing with a bouquet of flowers.

“This is our first date so I wanted to make it special.”

“Aw, wow.” Throwing myself into his arms, I take pleasure in feeling him again. I lean back, breathing deep to take in his sexy scent, and then lean up to kiss him. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks. You’re pretty handsome yourself. So Will’s not here, but I don’t want to be here when he comes home so can we head to your house now?”

“Sure, sweetheart.”

Troy opens the car door for me and we head back to his house. I’m a little nervous and can’t help but wonder what else is going to happen tonight. Looking over at him, I let out an internal sigh. This is finally happening. I’m getting what I’ve always wanted.

When we get back to Troy’s, he leads me outside to his backyard and covers my eyes. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Okay.” He kisses my cheek and lifts his hands, uncovering my eyes, and when I look around, I stop walking.

“Troy?” I look around and see lights around the pool with floating candles and soft music playing. There’s a handwritten sign and it makes me smile. “Charlotte’s prom.” I turn to face Troy and he’s holding out his hand to me.

“May I have this dance?”

“Yes.”

The song changes to
Should’ve Ran After You
by Cole Swindell. Swaying to the music in his arms, I listen to the lyrics and close my eyes.

“I should’ve ran after you,” Troy tells me. “Instead I was a coward and my pride took over. When you came back I treated you like shit. You didn’t deserve that and I wish to God I can turn back time. I don’t want to be without you, Charlotte.”

I hold him tighter and relax in his arms. Tonight is what I want and I couldn’t ask for more. “I’m here now. I get it, Troy,” I whisper and place my lips to the crook of his neck.

“Good.”

After dancing, Troy leads me inside to another surprise! There are candles and rose petals on the table with two glasses of wine and I smell Troy’s famous mac n’ cheese.

“Really?”

“Sit,” he tells me. “Remember all the times I’d make it for you?” I nod. “You love my mac n’ cheese so I thought since I took you to prom, I’d make you dinner with your favorite meal.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve had this. Thank you so much.”

“You don’t have to thank me at all.”

The best part about this night is spending time with Troy. From dancing with me as if we were at prom to this. My heart melts and I love every moment.