Mailroom Delight Page 9

  We did.

  We had something different and beautiful.

  That rush of emotion and intense attraction that pulled us together just propelled us to move forward.

  It was great I got to do so with a truly amazing man who helped me to find myself.

  I could be the me I used to be, and the me that had evolved from all that had happened to me. My readers loved it and my advice column had grown in significance over the last few months.

  Tonight, was date night.

  We sat in the VIP suite of the JLM club. I was in Jason’s lap kissing him.

  It was our last night here in San Francisco.

  Tomorrow, I’d be accompanying him to Hong Kong where we’d stay for the next two years.

  We would be heading back to San Francisco though next fall for our wedding.

  Jason proposed to me a month ago, at the same time that he asked me to go with him. He’d said there was no point waiting to do something he knew he was already going to do for the sake of time.

  He also pointed out I could do my job from anywhere in the world.

  I agreed and here I was, sitting on his lap once again indulging on him.

  “We should go home, Sweet Thing.” He smiled up at me with those gorgeous eyes I knew I would be lost in forever. “How about I make love to you all night. We have a long flight tomorrow.” Mischief flickered in his gaze.

  “Okay Mr. Dempsey. You making love to me all night sounds like a real treat.”

  “Let’s go then.”

  I giggled as he took hold of my hand and lifted it to his lips. He kissed over the beautiful engagement ring he’d given me, then took a moment to look at it, then up to me. Love and appreciation filled his eyes.

  “I love you, Paige. Thank you for being mine.”

  “I love you, too, Jason.” I replied. Words straight from my heart which this amazing man had managed to revive and fill with all that it needed. All that I needed. “Thank you for being my everything.”

  I said everything because he was.

  He’d had the ability to do something no one else could have. He rescued me, saving me from losing myself and showed me I could live again after experiencing the worst thing that could ever happen to me.

  I glanced at the ring.

  It was beautiful indeed, as beautiful as the one Paul gave me. I’d never forget that ring, and I wouldn’t forget this ring either, and all they signified.

  Promises of love which would be sealed to my soul.

  Jason brought out the best in me and gave me what I never expected to find ever again.

  True love.

  The End

  Thank you for reading Mailroom Delight.

  I hope you enjoyed Jason and Paige’s story.

  If you’re looking for something sexy and hot please check out my other books:

  The Rules of Attraction

  Falling For Him

  Never and Always

  I Love You again

  One Wild Night

  Shape of My Heart

  Hearts Entwined

  Complete Me

  I Only Have Eyes For You

  The Objection to Affection

  Vandervilles Series

  Book 1- When Beauty Met the Beast

  Book 2- Secrets and Lies

  Book 3- Into the Rabbit Hole

  To check out these titles please visit

  https://www.amazon.com/author/khardinegraynovels

  Sign up to my newsletter to find out when I have new books. I always spoil my readers rotten.

  Rules of Attraction Taster

  Chapter 1

  Summer

  ***

  What the hell kind of day was this?

  I thought I’d managed to escape the shit, but no, it followed me all the way to Chicago.

  Tom was marrying Becca.

  My stomach plummeted again just at the thought, and I felt sick.

  Tom.

  The man I’d spent eleven years of my life with was marrying my best friend.

  My hands were still shaking, had been for the last few hours.

  It was the immediate reaction on finding the satin-textured, cream-colored envelope sitting on the floor of my flea-bag apartment when I got back in from grocery shopping.

  The envelope contained their wedding invitation inviting me to attend the glorious union of Tom Underhill and Rebecca Kennedy at 2:00 PM on Saturday the fourteenth of September.

  I’d dropped the envelope, ran to the toilet as bile rose right up into my throat and threw up everything I’d had since fourth grade.

  Then I must have lost my mind as I left the said flea-bag apartment and went walking, and somehow ended up here at The Hideaway, a night club.

  It was eight o’clock.

  I should have been at home prepping to start my new job the next day, not here.

  I wasn’t even dressed up. The blue summer dress I wore was more fitting for a quick trip to the supermarket or a walk in the park. Definitely not for mingling with the Tuesday night partygoers at a sassy club.

  And my stomach still felt queasy.

  It was so stupid. This reaction. I shouldn’t have felt like this.

  Tom hadn’t been mine for a long time, but what gripped me was the hurt I felt. The hurt and despair from the rejection.

  Four months ago, when Tom and Becca told me they were together, and had been for a while, I dealt with it.

  At that time, Tom and I had been on a break for eight months and I’d just buried my father.

  I thought the break was Tom’s way of helping me while I needed to care for my father during the time he needed me most. I thought we’d simply get back together at some point because we’d been together for so long.

  But he had no intention to do that.

  He’d acted like he’d done me a favor.

  Doing me a favor would have been to end things properly with me and not crush me with news of being with Becca.

  Back then I didn’t have the strength to accept the truth for what it was. That they’d been seeing each other behind my back for God knew how long. Or, that while I was at my lowest going through all manner of shit, the man I loved was screwing my best friend.

  For the last four months I’d gone through the motions of trying to pick up the pieces of my life and bereave my father.

  Like a shell, I felt hollow inside and the person who used to be me was lost in the void somewhere.

  Today though… the bubble popped. It snapped like someone stuck it with a sharp pin and landed me on my ass that was already at rock bottom.

  Today was when I actually woke up, and reality slapped me with all the emotions I’d suppressed.

  The loss of my father had displaced time around me and I had no grasp of anything until today when I held the wedding invite and life as it was stared me in the face.

  Tom was getting married to Becca, my father was dead, I was broke, in debt and in Chicago waiting to start a new job that was several downgrades from the career I worked my ass off for.

  That was my life summed up in a nutshell and it sucked.

  I hated it.

  Worse yet, I hated that I couldn’t have seen Tom for who he was. Becca too.

  I hated that I allowed them to get to me now, and that I’d allowed them to damage the little strength I had.

  All I should have had on my mind was healing my broken heart from the loss of my dear father and getting back into the career I loved.

  Just those two things, nothing else.

  I didn’t need confirmation of how much Tom loved Becca.

  “Would you like some more water?” the bartender asked.

  I turned my attention to him and blinked.

  Water.

  My brain was in a state of tumult.

  I was going to need something a lot stronger than that.

  What I needed was an escape from the torment that had filled my mind. I needed an escape from life.

  My attention was drawn to a pretty blond
e woman in a bubblegum pink dress who laughed out loud. She sat on the opposite side of the bar with a man who seemed to be dazzling her with sauciness. They’d been there since before I came in, which was well over an hour now.

  The woman looked happy and carefree.

  I didn’t know when I would feel happy again, but maybe I could do carefree.

  “Can I have what she’s having?” I asked, motioning towards her with my chin.

  The bartender chuckled and nodded, allowing one of his dreadlocks to fall over his eye. I’d seen him take a pink-colored cocktail over to her in one of those tall glasses with lemon on the side and blue syrup drizzled around the rim. It looked cool.

  “That’s a real strong drink, sweetheart. Do you think you can handle it?”

  “Yes,” I said firmly. Maybe a little too firm, but damn it to hell yes I wanted a strong drink and yes, I could handle it.

  The smile on his face grew. “Okay I’ll mix one up for you.”

  Minutes later I had my drink before me. It was called Angels on Sex.

  No wonder the woman ordered it.

  “Go easy on it. Sipping is best to start,” he advised.

  “Thanks, I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I picked up the glass and instead of the sip I was advised to take, I took a huge gulp.

  Immediately, I grimaced at the sharp, searing taste of vodka contrasted with sugar syrup strawberries.

  It sent a hot shiver through my whole body as it hit the back of my throat, making my skin burn and tingle.

  Damn the stuff was seriously strong. Maybe I should have sipped and taken it easy as advised, especially since I normally kept drinking to a minimum.

  But screw it. I needed this.

  Once the tingling and burning feeling left, a sense of calm spread over my brain, having an effect similar to taking a painkiller and feeling it starting to work.

  I practically downed the rest of the drink, and Jesus, it felt like I’d overdosed on pure happy.

  I had to close my eyes, squeezing them shut at the sensational intensity. When I opened them again I saw the bartender standing before me with a glass of water.

  “Drink this—it will help balance things out.” He smirked.

  “Thank you.” I took the glass from him and sipped on the water.

  The balance he spoke of came along with the buzz I was going for.

  “Better?” He asked.

  “Yes, could I have another one of those drinks.”

  “Sure, but make sure you drink the water.” He winked at me as he sauntered away.

  I loosened my ponytail, allowing my platinum blonde locks to tumble down my shoulders and spill down to the center of my back.

  I could see my reflection from the mirror behind the drink rack that I looked better and more fitting to the setting.

  When the bartender came back, I noticed he gave me that once over look most guys did when I let my hair down. It was a look I’d grown accustomed to ignoring because I was with Tom.

  I didn’t have to do that anymore.

  “Enjoy.” He smiled with another wink and left me.

  I started on it straightaway. Thankfully since I was used to the taste I went straight to the enjoyment and lapped up the buzz that filled me. Another one of these and I’d be drunk.

  I knew my limit and didn’t want to start my new job tomorrow with a hangover.

  This mellowness was good.

  It numbed that part of my brain that ached from all I’d been through, putting it on pause so I could calm down.

  Calm down enough to entice that carefree vibe I needed right now to escape.

  As the alcohol worked its way into my bloodstream I allowed my thoughts to drift.

  I closed my eyes again, tuning the music out and the people around me.

  Focusing, breathing, focusing, steadying my breath.

  Good… it was working.

  I’d come to Chicago for a fresh start.

  I had more important things to deal with than Tom and Becca. Bigger fish to fry.

  I couldn’t allow them to get to me.

  They were both as bad as each other and bad for me. Tom had been a terrible boyfriend with all his negativity and criticism, and Becca had always kept me in her shadow. I’d known her practically since birth, and it was always the same. I was second best.

  When they came to tell me, they were together –two days after my father’s funeral –that fucking bitch had the audacity to act like I should be happy for them.

  Fuck them.

  Fuck them both, and life too for taking my father.

  Defiance filled me as the buzz danced through my veins.

  I was checking out of reality, just for tonight.

  Tomorrow I’d start again with this job.

  Just for tonight I’d be someone else.

  Not Summer Daniels. The high-achieving Miss Goody Two Shoes.

  The music changed to a song I recognized, and I opened my eyes. It was Touch Me, one of those songs that could bring out the sexy in me no matter how I felt.

  Up by the bar, the volume had been kept to a low beat so people could enjoy the music and still hold a conversation.

  Just like the cocktail, the chilled beat did something to me, lulling me towards it.

  I was on the second level. I looked down to the main dance floor and saw all the fun everyone was having there and at the three other bars that circled it.

  I wanted that too. Fun. Carefree fun.

  How long had it been since I danced?

  My body moved even before my brain could register that I was moving, and straight down the steps I went, allowing the music to envelope me.

  Swirling lights spiraled over me as I took my descent, immersing myself into the vibes.

  The beat pumped through every single fiber of my body.

  I found a good spot where I could move freely. Then I got sucked into the music and allowed it to move me in whatever way it chose.

  Sexy, that’s what I felt like as I ran my hands over my head, down my chest and onwards to my waist. Soon, like everyone I was completely lost in the sounds of smooth sexiness.

  It had been too long since I’d allowed myself a moment to relax, or just to stop and indulge in nothingness. Like now, dancing to the music with no thought other than to enjoy the beat and enjoy the calmness that had settled over my mind.

  I would have indulged in the temptation to become truly lost if I didn’t suddenly feel the distinct impression of eyes focused on me.

  The club was packed, heaving with people and there were a lot of guys looking at me as I danced, but the magnetism and intensity of the stare was so strong that I had to see where it was coming from.

  When I twirled around I stopped mid-sway, locking my gaze with a man standing by the column near the doors that led out to the rooftop terrace. The raised platform he stood on allowed him to tower over the people that danced around him.

  It was him…

  He was the one looking at me.

  That was where the heated, penetrated blaze I felt came from, and he was still focusing on me.

  This man was what I would have called deadly handsome and had the kind of gorgeousness you’d see on the Hollywood heartthrobs women swooned over. The flashing club lights bounced off his blonde spiky hair and made his light eyes look brighter.

  He was tall, standing over six feet and displayed a body that was all muscle with a mile-wide chest that looked toned even from where I stood.

  He oozed style with his black blazer and white button-up shirt. The top buttons lay open, allowing me to see corded muscle and just make out hints of a tattoo in the flickering lights.

  I didn’t know what impressed me more. The confident, cocky manner in which he stood, or the masterpiece he was.

  And… he was still looking at me, giving me his complete undivided attention, doing something to me that I couldn’t quite describe and hadn’t felt before.

  It was like he paralyzed my mind and spoke to my inner desire. Then as if
he knew what he was doing to me, a slow satisfied smile crept up the corners of his sensual mouth, making him look sexier.

  Feeling embarrassed for staring the way I was, I turned away and changed my movements to a light sway.

  The song was still going, it was in its height of the beat. A guy shuffled closer

  to me and started dancing.

  He was cute. Not as gorgeous as Mr. Perfect over by the column but cute and seemed to be a little goofy too.

  More what I would class as my type. He got me back into my flow and I would have continued dancing with him if I didn’t catch sight of Mr. Perfect now standing amongst the crowd, eyes locked on me.

  The lights flickered on him. Blue, red, gold, green, but didn’t mask the sexiness that radiated from him or the fact that he was fixated on me.

  I slowed my movements again, unable to look away like I had before.

  I was the last person to stare at anyone because I thought it was rude, but this man made me want to stare.

  Someone bumped into me from behind, breaking the connection. It was only then that I turned away.

  I’d lost Mr. Goofy in that little shuffle and was now surrounded by a bunch of guys who looked at me like I was fresh meat. One started dancing with me. He was gorgeous with his shoulder length locks and that laid-back style.

  Again, though, not like Mr. Perfect who I’d seemed to lose.

  Maybe this was a little too much carefree for me. I wasn’t here to pick up guys.

  I should go. Go back to the apartment. I’d had the drink and danced myself silly if only for a few minutes, but me dancing with all these guys was probably a bad idea.

  I shuffled away from them and headed back up to the stairs where the beat was chilled.

  I was about to turn the corner for the exit when the warmth of a strong, large hand grabbed mine, stopping me.

  Twisting to look, I found myself gazing up at Mr. Perfect, who towered me with his height and that fascinating masculine presence.

  “You couldn’t possibly be leaving yet,” he said in a deep, alluring voice that immediately captured me.

  His eyes roamed over my body and I allowed myself to look at him too.