First Coffee (Coffee Beans & Love #3)

Chapter 1

ONE

Noah

The dim lighting of the room made this appear more romantic than I intended. I had been waiting for my date for about ten minutes. She was running late but at least she texted me to let me know she was.

I had met Veronica, or Ronny for short, on a dating app. Or that was what I thought it was when I first signed up for it. But I learned quickly that it was more for people who wanted to hook up.

Ronny didn’t want anything serious, but she also didn’t want to jump into bed with the first guy she met either. She wanted a first date to test the waters and maybe, if I was lucky, she would come home with me. I appreciated her honesty.

I had been seeing someone on and off for the past several years. Though, it actually felt like a lifetime.

No matter how much I tried hinting for more, Nikolai Serrano wanted none of it.

He was career driven, which I appreciated, but my heart could only take so much.

Hence the reason for this date. But I knew I would end up paying for this.

Nikolai or Nicky for short, was due to arrive in town either today or tomorrow.

He would contact me and ask me to meet up.

I always said yes but this time, I wouldn’t.

Not right away like I usually did anyway.

I knew before the conversation even happened that he would be pissed.

But it wasn’t like we were committed to each other.

He told me time and time again that he couldn’t have a relationship at the moment.

We were both in different spots in our lives.

I didn’t blame him. It wasn’t like he ever led me on.

But I was done being used. My thoughts traveled back to my last conversation with him and how it didn’t go as well as I had hoped.

“Where are you going?” I asked Nicky, rolling over in bed and watching him get dressed.

“I’m heading back to my hotel.” He didn’t meet my gaze and continued pulling on his suit. It was one thing that attracted me to him. I loved how well-dressed he always was but one day, I would love to see him in ripped jeans. That thought alone made my cock twitch.

Kneeling on the bed, I shuffled over to the edge. “So soon? You never leave right after we fuck.”

“Well, this time I have to.” But he still wouldn’t meet my gaze.

“Nicky.” I grabbed his hands, stopping them from doing up his shirt. I pulled him closer, rising to my knees until I knelt in front of him.

“Noah, I have to go.”

“No, you don’t.” Running my hands over his bare chest, I pushed the fabric of his shirt off his shoulders. “I think you should come back to bed.”

“I think you should listen to me for once and let me go.” He grabbed my hands, stopping me from stripping him like I had intended.

“What gives?” I slumped back onto the bed, not wanting to fight with him but at the same time not wanting to back down either.

“I have shit to do.”

After Nicky left that night, we hadn’t met up since.

He had been in town, but he visited his family.

So, I never got him alone. Now I was tempted to cancel this date and call him up.

But I fought myself in that. Nikolai was bad for me.

My heart was already invested even though he told me not to get attached.

I couldn’t help it. I was best friends with his brother, and we had known each other for years. Nicky was my addiction.

“Noah?”

I glanced up finding a woman standing a few feet away.

I stood, holding out my hand. “Veronica.”

She smiled. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she said, returning my handshake. “I can’t say I usually do this, but dating is hard.”

I grunted, rolling my eyes. “I agree.”

She laughed, the sound making me grin.

We sat at the table, ordered a round of drinks and remained silent for a few minutes. She was beautiful with her pale skin and long chestnut brown hair that fell just below her full chest. She wore a red dress that hugged her slender frame.

I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe she could help me forget Nicky. Even if it was just for a night.

“Tell me something, Noah. What made you sign up for that app?”

“The guy I’m sleeping with doesn’t want to commit to anything more than that. So, I thought maybe going on a date with someone else would help me forget him for a bit.”

Veronica nodded, taking a sip of her martini. “That’s fair. My ex-husband cheated on me with his secretary.”

My chest tightened at that. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. He did me a favor.” She winked. “He’s a good father but he fucking sucks at being a husband.”

“How many kids do you have?” I found that she was easy to talk to. It was a nice feeling because, for the most part, all Nicky wanted to do was fuck.

“Two. A five-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. They are my life and at first, I felt guilty that I couldn’t stay with their dad, but it was making it hard on them. I knew I had to do something to get myself out of the situation.”

“You have to be happy.”

“Exactly. I understand that now.” She leaned forward. “So, tell me about this guy.”

I chuckled. “What do you want to know?”

“You said he doesn’t want to commit.”

“He doesn’t. He’s my best friend’s brother and I’ve known him for years. He doesn’t live here but every time he visits, we meet up.”

“And have a good time even if it’s short-lived,” she added, popping an olive into her mouth.

She licked her bottom lip, the action stirring something within me.

I hadn’t been attracted to a woman in a while.

I was pansexual and didn’t care what was between a person’s legs.

I was attracted to personality but with Nicky. ..

I coughed. “Basically.”

“I get that. I’m always down for a good time. I haven’t been in a relationship since divorcing my husband a year ago. And I’m fine with that. I’m just wanting a night of passion.” She giggled, shaking her head. “God that sounds corny.”

“I get it.”

We sat in a comfortable silence but kept looking at each other often. Was I attracted to her? I didn’t know. Sure, she stirred something inside me but it wasn’t the same as it was with Nicky. She was a warm body and one I could find myself sinking into if things went my way.

When we were on our third round of drinks, Veronica hiccupped. “I think these martinis are getting to me.”

I chuckled. “Did you want some water?”

“That might be a good idea.” She signaled the waitress over and ordered us both water. When we were alone, she sat forward, the movement pushing her tits against the edge of the table. “Tell me something, Noah. Have you ever had a threesome?”

That question made my dick lengthen. “No. Have you?”

“No.” She sighed. “I tried getting my ex to consider it. I thought maybe if we explored more when it came to sex, it could save our marriage. But really, he just wanted to fuck someone younger than me.”

That didn’t make sense to me. Veronica told me when we first started chatting on the app a few weeks ago that she was turning thirty-five this year but felt old.

Her ex-husband liked them young, which she knew in the beginning but thought his mind would change as they grew older together.

He was fine with getting older but apparently, didn’t like that his wife was.

“His loss,” was all I said.

“Maybe.” Veronica’s eyes dropped to my mouth. “Has the guy you’ve been fucking ever had a threesome?”

A sudden image of the three of us spending the night together came to mind. Nicky was dominant in bed. It was one thing I loved about him. But him controlling both Veronica and me? Geezus fuck, that idea made me almost come in my pants.

“He has,” I told her, my voice husky.

Her grin grew. “But never with you?”

I shook my head. “We haven’t had the chance.” It was just something that never came up.

“I’d like to meet him.” Veronica sat back in her seat. “When is he due to come back to town?”

“This coming weekend as long as his plans don’t change. Could be sooner though. I never know with him.” My heart began racing. She hadn’t said the words yet, but I could practically see the idea bouncing around in her head.

“Introduce me to him.” It wasn’t a question, but I nodded anyway.

My phone suddenly vibrated. Usually, I wouldn’t check it during dinner, especially not while on a date, but something told me to look.

“Excuse me for a moment.” My parents raised me to be polite and with the smile and small nod Veronica gave me, I knew she appreciated it.

Checking my phone, I saw that a text had come in from the very reason for this date.

Nicky: I’m in town early. You free?

“He’s in town,” I blurted, my eyes snapping to Veronica’s.

“Maybe it’s the alcohol in me but invite him to join us.”

“Now?” My eyes widened.

“Yes.” She shrugged. “What can it hurt?”

Something told me this night was not going to go as planned.

Me: I’m on a date but was told to invite you to join us.

Nicky: Why the fuck are you on a date?

I rolled my eyes. “He’s pissed that I’m here with you.”

A cheeky grin spread on Veronica’s face. “Good. That’ll make things even more interesting.”

“You’re a sucker for punishment, aren’t you?” I chuckled.

“Noah, sweetheart.” She laughed. “You have no idea.”