Checking Every Box

***

The potential boyfriend list:

– He must be gainfully employed, have a reasonably decent home, and basically have his life in order.

– He must really listen to me, and not simply be waiting for his turn to speak.

– There must be a physical spark, like butterflies in the stomach when he touches me.

– He must have a variety of different tastes regarding restaurants, movies, music, etc. This implies that he is open-minded and willing to try new things.

– He must be okay with the fact that I work, and have my own life. He shouldn’t be disappointed or whiny if I have plans that don’t involve him.

– He must enjoy fancy official dates, and hanging out on the couch. Elaborate events and just swinging by the local pub to catch a band because we happen to be walking by. Open to everything.

– He must make me laugh, and be comfortable to be around.

– He must make me feel special, and treasured.

– He must be okay with going slow physically. I might change my mind in the heat of the moment, but I must always feel that I have that option.

***

I tried to stifle my giggling. Steve was checking almost every box so far. I didn’t know where he stood on casual dates and hangouts, but the rest already seemed to be in place. He was also gorgeous, confident, and took control of every situation. But he was not aggressive in the slightest. I appreciated that he didn’t seem irritated at all that I had plans tonight. That was definitely encouraging.

The strange warm feeling that I’d had since I first laid eyes on him now had a focus. He was obviously interested in me. Even though the timeline was a little off, on paper he was the perfect guy for me. I could certainly start dating a few weeks early, as long as my work still came first.

Just thinking about those ridiculously sensual kisses had my heart racing.

There was one thing that I didn’t dare put on the list, for fear it would somehow jinx it. I wanted to feel comfortable and safe for my first time. Some people made a huge deal out of the first person they slept with, and I wasn’t sure how important it was to me, but I wanted it to be... Nice. Enjoyable. I needed to feel that it was special. I knew that Steve would make me feel like a princess, and listen to everything I asked.

Giving my head a shake, I realized the decision was already made. Steve was going to become my boyfriend, and we’d find out what happened next. There would certainly be some adjustments as he moved and got settled in. But I was sure that we could figure it out.

Joel came out of his office after he finished a call and stood in front of my desk giving me a very stern look. “Did I hear you thank Steve for lunch?”

“Yes. We sat down and went over the pros and cons of both properties. When he inadvertently referred to the second one as his new home, I pointed out that he already made the decision,” I grinned.

Joel nodded. “That’s great. But you should have put the lunch on your credit card, and I would have paid you back.”

“I tried, but he insisted. I told him that it was a business expense, but he wouldn’t let me.”

He shook his head. “I always sort of wondered whether you were outgoing enough to work here.”

“Hey now,” I said, trying to sound a bit louder, “He wanted to thank me for helping him. It was a sweet gesture. I think I did a great job of helping to sell a condo this morning. Don’t get fussy because I wasn’t willing to cause a fuss and wrestle him for the lun

ch bill.” I’d never spoken to him so sharply in my life and was nervous about his reaction.

Joel cocked his head, looking at me carefully. “You have a crush on him,” he said flatly. I instantly felt my cheeks flush. “I shouldn’t have to tell you that a relationship with a client is absolutely forbidden,” he said, looking very serious.

“He’s a one time client, not one of our regular partners,” I said weakly. “You’ll never see him again.”

His eyes flew wide. “Holy shit, you really do have a thing for him.” He shook his head again. “Absolutely not. He’s too old for you. Plus, super-rich guys are sure to be players. There’s no way in hell I’m letting my little sister get involved with a guy like that.”

Trying desperately to keep my voice calm, I said, “It’s none of your business, actually. I can date whoever I like.”

“I’m doing this for your own protection,” he said, his voice growing a bit tense. “I’m older than you are, I have more experience, and you’re going to have to trust my judgment. He is absolutely not the guy for you.”

Although my list said differently, I couldn’t very well explain that to him. “Joel, it’s really none of your business. So why don’t I take your advice and be careful, but go out to dinner with him just to see if we click?” It wasn’t quite a lie that I already knew we clicked quite well, but I didn’t want to anger him further.