Dating Games(64)

“I’d pick up the magazine for that article alone.”

I clear the last remnants of Champagne from my throat. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

“How’s the research going? From what I hear, the guy’s an enigma.”

“You seem to know a lot about him, Sadie,” Christopher teases.

She playfully jabs him in the stomach. “I need to stay educated in case I ever need to use his services.” She winks, then turns her gaze back to mine.

“Somehow, he caught wind that I’d been looking for him and reached out to me. I won’t reveal too much of what he’s told me because I want you to buy the magazine.” Everyone laughs politely. “But based on the little information I’ve gathered so far, I can understand why someone like Sonia Moreno would hire him, especially if she were in the middle of a problematic separation. My boyfriend of twelve years just broke up with me. Ending a long relationship is difficult, even if you’ve fallen out of love. You think no one will ever love you again, that you’re past the age where anyone will find you beautiful. That’s what Julian’s done for me.”

I tilt my head, meeting his eyes. The past twenty-four hours have been a whirlwind, a constant battle of not wanting to get swept up in the fairy tale. Maybe I deserve the fairy tale, regardless of the fact that it’s bound to end. That didn’t stop Cinderella from going to the ball and dancing with her Prince Charming, even though she knew it was over at midnight. Maybe it’s time I take a page out of her book. Stop planning for a future. Live in the moment. Not care about what awaits me a month, a week, a day from now. Right now, I’ve never felt so cherished, even if this man was a stranger mere days ago.

“He’s made me feel beautiful,” I continue. “Even if this is just a fleeting romance, I’ll always have that.”

Staring into his deep pools of blue, everything around us seems to disappear into the background as we share in this moment, this realization that, no matter what happens, I’ll forever be grateful to Julian for the gift he’s given me. His lips curve into a smile, our mouths inching toward each other.

“Ah, young love,” Christopher sighs playfully.

Julian and I snap our heads forward, reminded that we’re not alone. He wraps his arm around my waist, then kisses the top of my head. “That it is.”





Chapter Twenty-Three





Julian and I spend the next few hours dancing and mingling among the upper crust of the Hamptons. He’s unmistakably surprised by the familiarity with which I speak to several of the women, ones who had their noses turned up at me yesterday because I was the new girl. But, just like in high school, people eventually come around.

“And here I was, worried about how you would get on without me,” he jokes after dinner as we all file to the expansive exterior verandah to watch the fireworks display.

“I suppose knowing that I’ll never see these people after this summer relaxed me a bit. Yes, some of them still don’t like me, probably because they secretly wish they were sharing a bed with you instead of their overweight, balding husbands. But the others…” I shrug. “Once they heard our story, they couldn’t get enough. I had them swooning and sighing in the salon. They’re not much different than anyone else. They want the same things all women do.”

“And what’s that?” His blue eyes sparkle as he smiles down at me, everything about him relaxed.

“Love. Happiness. And the occasional mind-blowing orgasm.”

Julian’s throaty laugh fills the air, music to my ears. “Is that all?”

“It’s not too much to ask, is it?”

We come to a stop at the stone ledge and I lean on it. “Of course not. We all deserve love and happiness.”

“Don’t forget mind-blowing orgasms. I’m pretty sure those will inevitably lead to love and happiness. Let’s face it. If I found someone who could give me a mind-blowing orgasm, I’d fall in love with him. Which is probably why I’ve fallen in love with Mr. Winky.”

Julian passes me a bemused look. “Mr. Winky?”

I love how easy conversation is with him. Now that I’ve stopped worrying about a future and am simply living in the moment, I’m no longer on edge. Yes, there are still intense moments between us, but I don’t care whether it’s real. It doesn’t matter. All that does is that I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time, all because of Julian.

“Please don’t tell me you nicknamed Trevor’s dick, because I’ll never be able to look at him the same way again.”

My core clenches when I hear him say dick in his gruff voice. I can only imagine what he’s like in the bedroom. Based on the way he acts around me while we merely pretend we’re madly in love, I presume he’s just as impassioned, if not more so. And I bet he’s one hell of a dirty talker.

“No.” I fight against the heat washing over my face at the idea of Julian’s bedroom voice. “I didn’t nickname his dick. And he certainly never gave me mind-blowing orgasms.” I add the last part as an afterthought.

“So who’s Mr. Winky?” he inquires, and I’m grateful he doesn’t push the Trevor issue. In fact, until Julian brought him up, I haven’t thought of Trevor all night, regardless that he’s also here with Theresa. I’m simply too consumed with Julian and everything he is. The way he dotes on me and takes care of me doesn’t leave any room to worry about Trevor.