Just One More Date (The Sterling Family #7)

Chapter One

Snowflakes fell on Leo Watson’s wool coat as he stepped out of his car, his cell phone pressed to his ear. “Come on, Ruby. You’ll have a good time. You know I always deliver on that promise,” he said in his most seductive voice.

He usually made those kind of promises to a woman after he called them for an occasional hookup, but he was talking to Ruby for an entirely different reason this time.

“It’s not about whether I’ll have fun at your company Christmas party, Leo. It’s Christmas Eve and I’ll be having dinner with my father that night.”

He groaned as he ran a hand through his hair, his warm breath a visible cloud in the cold December air.

Ruby was the third woman to turn him down for similar reasons.

Apparently, all the women he casually slept with were spending the holiday with their families.

Of course, his family got together too, but if a work obligation came up, they understood.

He usually had no idea how the women that warmed his bed would spend their Christmases.

He rarely got to know them beyond surface-level flirtation and whispered words in the heat of the moment.

He knew nothing about their lives outside of the bedroom.

That might sound cold, but it worked for him.

Until today, when they were all unavailable to attend his company’s party on Christmas Eve.

“I really need a date for this party. I’m so close to getting a promotion, and I know that if I can secure this last big client, it’ll be mine.”

She paused. “And what does a promotion have to do with bringing a date to a Christmas party?”

Since she didn’t understand, he decided to explain.

“There’s an important potential client named Spencer McClain.

He’ll be at the party, and he’s a big fan of family values.

He’s made it clear he likes to work with people who feel the same way.

I can’t show up to the party alone, like some carefree bachelor or he won’t take me seriously. ”

“But isn’t that what you are?” Ruby asked with amusement in her voice.

He rolled his eyes. “That’s beside the point. I need a woman on my arm that I can pretend to be in love with.”

She laughed. “Sounds like you need a fake wife.”

Leo cringed at her comment. “A fake girlfriend will do, as long as I can sell the story that we’re in a serious relationship.”

“It sounds like fun, but I’m afraid I can’t help you. If it was any other night, I’d come, but like I said, I have plans.”

He glanced up at the overcast sky. “Is there anything I can do to talk you out of it?” he asked.

On the other end of the line, Ruby laughed. “Talk me out of attending my family’s Christmas Eve dinner? No, I’m afraid not. But if you want to get together sometime between Christmas and the New Year, I’d be happy to meet up for some holiday fun.” Her voice dropped an octave.

Leo made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat, said he’d get back to her and ended the call. He was too focused on his current predicament to even think about a post-Christmas hookup.

Frustrated, he walked toward the door of Froth and Grind, the independent coffee shop he visited a couple of times a week.

He was already looking forward to enjoying one of their seasonal specialties, the peppermint mocha latte.

Maybe the tingle of peppermint would do something for the mood he was in.

He pulled open the door and was greeted by the sight of red and green Christmas decorations.

Tinsel draped along the front of the counter and star shaped lights hung from the ceiling along with the Edison bulbs that usually illuminated the small shop.

A thin Christmas tree stood in front of one of the exposed brick walls, complete with fake presents underneath.

Froth and Grind had been transformed for the holiday season, along with most of Manhattan. Something Leo could not relate to. With the hours he worked and his focus on a promotion, he had no time for Christmas frivolity or cheer.

The rich scent of roasted coffee beans filled the air, along with the sweeter aromas of vanilla, caramel, and of course, peppermint. It was mid-afternoon, and half the tables were full of customers sipping coffee and eating pastries. Luckily, there was no line at the counter.

The usual barista stood behind the register, her bright smile lighting up her blue eyes. He looked forward to seeing her whenever he came in. She wore a black polo shirt with the coffee shop’s logo on the left breast, and a Santa hat covered her long, blonde hair.

Leo nodded at her seasonal attire. “Are they making you wear the hat or is it your choice?” he asked.

She laughed, the sound light and airy.

Leo had been coming to this coffee shop regularly for a few months, and this woman had been behind the counter from the start. He’d never asked her name, but he always appreciated the sunshine she exuded.

“I admit that it was my idea,” she said, flicking the fluffy white ball hanging off the end. “A little festive cheer never hurt anyone, right?”

He grunted, thinking about his struggle to find a date to the company Christmas party that was one week away.

He’d already gone through his list of potential dates and come up empty.

He wasn’t the type to leave anything to the last minute, but his boss just told him this morning that Mr. McClain would be at the party and he’d insinuated a woman on his arm would be a good look.

Leo couldn’t let this chance to impress the man pass him by.

Still, all the rejection had sucked what little holiday spirit he had right out of him.

“So, I took a chance when I saw you walk in,” the barista said. “I put in an order for a peppermint mocha for you.” She gestured to the other woman behind the espresso machine who was making drinks.

He treated her to an appreciative smile.

There was something comforting about being a regular in a coffee shop when the staff knew him well enough to anticipate his order.

Specifically, this barista. She was here most of the time when he came in, and she’d begun remembering his order right away.

She was also the one who recommended the peppermint mocha, which she said was her favorite.

“Good call,” he said, putting his credit card in the reader. “Do you memorize every customer’s order or am I special?” He couldn’t help but flirt with her.

She tilted her head to the side and there was a flash of something deeper in her eyes, something more than just customer service politeness. It sent a jolt of awareness through him, and he noticed the little wisps of blonde hair falling around her face.

Her beautiful face.

Long, dark eyelashes framed blue eyes that lit up when she smiled.

Her high cheekbones and full lips gave her the kind of classic good looks that one saw on the cover of magazines and huge billboards in Times Square.

He’d noticed she was attractive before, but New York was full of beautiful women, and he didn’t have time to pursue anyone right now.

Which was why he stuck to casual relationships with women in his social circle, women who understood his work came first and sex didn’t equal a relationship.

But there was something about the way that she’d looked at him just now that made him take notice in a way he hadn’t before.

And it occurred to him; he’d never asked her name.

She knew his, of course, because she used to ask for it in order to call out when his drink was ready.

It seemed wrong suddenly, that this woman filled with sunshine and easy smiles knew his name, but he didn’t know hers.

He opened his mouth to find out, but the bell above the door chimed behind him, and her eyes shifted away from him to look over his shoulder and give the new customer her bright grin.

Leo stepped to the side just as the other barista set his drink on the counter.

Once seated at a table near the big window at the front of the shop, he once again contemplated his options.

He’d already called the women he considered his casual sex buddies.

Since none of them were available, who did that leave?

There was his best friend, Charlie. She knew him well enough that it would be easy to convince Mr. McClain that they were a serious couple, and she was a beautiful woman, someone who would fit the role of his girlfriend easily.

But Charlie was married with a newborn baby and twin girls from her previous relationship.

Her custody arrangement with her ex gave her the girls on Christmas Eve so they could be with their father on Christmas Day.

No way Charlie would give up even a second of time with her daughters on Christmas.

Especially not to attend a stuffy office Christmas party because he was in a jam. And Leo didn’t blame her.

The only other female in his life was his sister, Jenny and he cringed at the thought of asking his sibling to pretend to be his girlfriend. He’d do a lot to secure this client, but that was one line he wouldn’t cross. It was too gross to even consider.

Sipping his latte, he wondered if he should just forget the whole thing. Maybe he’d be able to win the client over with small talk and his record as one of the most successful financial analysts in the company’s history. It really shouldn’t matter if he was a family man or not.

The barista’s voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see her talking to a customer, her head thrown back as she laughed. The tinkling sound and the beauty in her expression as she smiled hit him square in the chest, and an idea struck.

She could be his date to the party.

He’d been focused on finding a woman he already knew, thinking that the familiarity between them would help sell the notion of a serious relationship. But maybe sharing chemistry with someone would be enough.

Glancing over his shoulder, he watched as this time, she laughed at something her coworker said. He watched her chest as it expanded with a deep breath. Full breasts pushed out the high cut apron she wore for work.

Oh, yeah. This can work.

He wouldn’t have to pretend to be interested in her and she’d look good on his arm.

He rose from of his seat and made his way to the counter with his drink in hand, aware this was most likely his last shot at securing a fake girlfriend for the party.

Plastering his most charming smile on his face, he silently asked the universe for a Christmas miracle for a man who barely acknowledged the holiday.