Mid Life Love (Mid Life Love #1)(6)

Within three months of moving, I’d had numerous job interviews, but very few call-backs. After realizing that my options were limited in the recession, I reluctantly took a mid-level marketing job at Statham Industries, a huge downgrade and pay-cut from my previous position.

I told myself that less money wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, it was a new thing and I needed to do more new things in order to truly move on.

Since I’d never been a fan of running, I woke up early every morning and forced myself to run—half a mile at first, then a full mile, and then eventually three miles a day.

I had my hair chopped even shorter—from shoulder length to bob-length. I started treating myself to a day at the salon twice a month, something I’d always dreamed of doing but never found the time to do. I even shopped for a whole new wardrobe—trading in my trademark all-black outfits for colorful silk blouses, pencil skirts, flattering dresses, and well-fitted suits.

One day while I was out shopping, I met a woman named Sandra Reed. She was one of those people with a mild-mannered yet upbeat personality, someone I felt like I could instantly trust—like I could tell anything to; I was pretty sure her career as a psychiatrist had something to do with that.

When I opened up months later and told her the real reason why I’d fled to San Francisco, she insisted that I start going to therapy. Out of respect for our budding friendship, she recommended me to one of her firm’s renowned associates and wrote off my sessions for free.

She always encouraged me to go out, to try finding men at singles’ mixers, and to actually attempt dating again. Yet, after four years of being in San Francisco, I still couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I didn’t believe too many men would be interested in a middle aged divorcée, and doubted that any man would be able to heal the wounds inflicted by Ryan and Amanda.

Chapter 2

Jonathan

Jesus, she’s sexy...

I was at a business dinner with some associates when I spotted a gorgeous redhead looking out over the deck of Pacific Bay Lounge.

She was absolutely stunning. The short black lace dress she was wearing hugged her curvy body in all the right places and I was straining to see what was underneath that plunging neckline.

Her glossy hair was swept to the side in loose curls that barely touched her shoulder and her eyes—soft green eyes, were glimmering against the twinkling lights that hung above her head.

“Mr. Statham?” My executive lawyer interrupted my thoughts. “When do you want to go over that proposal?”

“Tuesday morning. I have a feeling it’s going to take a long time to sort through everything. I can’t believe they don’t want a merger. They’re going to lose a lot of money with a buyout.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t believe it either, but it might be a power play to test your commitment. I’ll see you Tuesday.”

“Me too.” “Have a good New Year’s.” “See you at corporate.” The rest of the associates shook my hand and walked away.

I turned back around to get another look at the red haired goddess, but I didn’t see her anymore.

Was I dreaming? How much did I drink tonight?

I scanned the pier again and—there she was. She’d moved several feet down.

I watched her sip her beer and sigh, wondering if she was attending that party alone.

“I think that went pretty well.” My trust advisor Vanessa smiled. “You’re a great conversationalist. It’s a win-win for Statham Industries either way.”

“Don’t thank me yet. We still have to get them to close on it.” I stood up. “Thank you for coming tonight. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You’re leaving? Don’t you want to stay and have a few drinks with me? It is New Year’s Eve and I don’t have anybody to kiss after the countdown...”

“Vanessa, we’ve been through this. You know I don’t date employees.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a regular employee. I’m a chair on the board.”

Even worse...

“Yeah well, mixing business with pleasure? It’s more than a cliché. Besides, I don’t want things getting complicated between us.”

“They won’t get complicated.” She reached up and touched my face. “You and I would be perfect together and you know it...”

I sighed. Vanessa and I did have good chemistry and we’d come close to kissing in my office several times over the past year, but I always broke away. Even though she was extremely beautiful—curly coffee-brown hair, ocean blue eyes, and an amazing body—there was something missing, and I wasn’t quite sure what that was.

Maybe it’s nothing...Maybe I should give us a chance after all...We are really compatible and—

Out the corner of my eye, I saw the redhead moving down the pier again.

“I’ll see you at the next meeting, Vanessa.” I pushed my way past the café tables and looked back over my shoulder every few seconds, making sure the redhead was still there.

I rushed over to the front doors of Pacific Bay Lounge and made my way inside. I looked around the room and stopped.

There was a banner with the word “Jiggy” on it. There were little napkins on the tables that read “Cheers to the first middle-aged mixer of 2013!”