I’ll just tell him there will be no strings attached. It’s only a fun lunch date. I keep lying to myself. Deep down, though, I know that Tammy is right. I just don’t want to admit it. I want more with Andrew.
I want everything that the other couples have, but with Andrew. I turn on the light in the shop and Tammy and I walk in. We both stop in shock. The entire store has been decorated and filled with the most expensive bouquets and gifts. I’m speechless.
“Andrew must have done this,” Tammy says, with a little smile on her face.
I turn to look at her but a movement in the corner gets our attention. It’s Andrew. He’s hiding behind the largest bouquets.
“You can come out now,” I say, trying to sound irritated.
Tammy giggles and sips her coffee. Andrew stands and looks at me with that sheepish smile of his that I love.
“I don’t appreciate being bought like this. I am my own independent woman,” I snap at him.
“I think you appreciate it more than you are letting on,” Tammy whispers to me. “I can see you making googly eyes at him.”
She laughs.
Her comments are not helping. They are just making me more confused. I know what my heart wants but I’m starting to feel like my values are conflicting with that.
Also, I’m insanely attracted to him.
I set my coffee and purse down.
“Would you mind giving us some privacy?” I ask Tammy quietly.
“Sure, I’ll give you two lovebirds a little one on one time,” she jokes.
She gives Andrew a little wave goodbye before walking out of the store with her coffee.
“She’s funny,” Andrew remarks.
“Yeah, she’s a good friend,” I reply.
I look up at him, curious as to what he wants.
“I wanted to apologize for not answering your calls or calling you back. I thought about getting you flowers but I figured that since you own the shop already, it was better to fill it with flowers for you to sell….”
I cut off his rambling speech by saying, “Look, you know I’m not looking for commitment, but if you want sex, I can do that.”
Andrew blinks and then says, “Ok, I can handle that.”
I melt into his arms as he grabs me for a kiss. This feels even hotter than the hotel. Maybe because we’re at work.
He lays me down on the tile floor. I’m so glad I wore a dress today. The sign still reads closed so no one will walk in. We make quick gentle love, just like that night at the hotel. The way he feels is even better than I remember. I’m surprised by how much I missed him.
We cum together and are both breathing hard when we are finished. We fix our clothes and I grab a mirror from my purse to fix my hair. I’m back to business as I get ready to open the store.
“Just out of curiosity, how did you get in?” I ask Andrew.
After he zips up his pants, he looks at me.
“The security company you called let me in. They do work for my company as well and called to ask me if you were a trustworthy client. I asked them if they would do me this favor,” he explains.
I look at him in shock. Now I’m mad again.
“That is so wrong of them to do that and even more upsetting that you would ask them to,” I snap in anger.
Andrew reaches out to hold me, but I move away.
“Why does nobody take me or my business seriously?” I complain.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Andrew apologizes.
I’m too mad to even hear it.
“I’m sorry but I think you should leave,” I tell him.
Andrew nods sadly and turns to walk away.
But then he pauses and turns back to me and asks, “Can I still take you on that casual date? We can go to the happy hour that my friends and I go to?”
I decline his request by saying, “I’m sorry, but no.”
Before he leaves, he says, “I really am sorry. I just wanted to help. I know you have been growing the business with the money I paid, but my systems and I can help you even more,” he tries to say.
“Look, the sex was hot, I’ll admit that, but you need to leave now,” I say coldly as I turn away from him.
I have never felt so patronized. How dare he use my business to get to me like that?
Chapter 19
Andrew
It’s a month later. I’m at happy hour with Brian and James. They are laughing and joking. But I’m staring into my drink.
I still can’t believe things didn’t work out between Sheila and me. I know it’s been over a month, but I still can’t get over her. If only I had gotten her to say yes, I know we could have been something special.