Chapter 3
Chapter Three
ALLEY
THEN
OCTOBER
You only come to Whiskey’s for a special occasion, or when you’ve got money to blow.
It’s swanky—the kind of bar that says, I’ve made it in life.
Brick walls, backlit shelves lined with overpriced bottles, and music just loud enough to make you lean closer.
The lighting’s dim, and all the chairs and barstools are leather.
Before tonight, I would’ve thought bringing a first date here was a flex.
But so far, Jensen doesn’t seem like that kind of guy.
We’re at the bar top, chairs close, knees touching, angled toward each other. He’s grinning, dimples deep, blue eyes locked on mine.
“And that’s my family in a nutshell. Things get pretty wild when we’re all together, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Tell me about your family,” he says.
Damn—his eyes. They’re stupid pretty. The kind that make you forget what you were saying.
I thought he was cute at the hospital, and really cute at the coffee shop… But I don’t remember him being this hot.
“Well, I can’t really top that. My family isn’t nearly as interesting. It’s just me and my brother, Michael. He’s five years older than me.” I take a sip of my Guinness. “He lives in Chicago. That’s where I’m from. I only see him once or twice a year, but we’re close.”
“What about your mom and dad?”
There it is—the dreaded question.
I skip over it, flashing a flirty smile. “Do you think people can tell we’re on a first date?”
He chuckles. “What’s giving it away? The classic tell me about your family questions? Or the fact that you’re not anywhere near close enough to me?”
He raises an eyebrow, a sly grin curving as he slides his stool a few inches closer, my legs now tucked between his. A warmth sweeps through me and settles in my chest, my pulse picking up speed.
“I mean, look around. You can spot every first date in this place.” He nods to my right, and I follow his gaze. “See that couple? First date for sure. She’s closed off, her arms are folded, and there’s way too much space between them.”
I turn back to Jensen. “Maybe she just doesn’t like him.”
He gestures toward the couple again. “Case in point. You wouldn’t go on a second date with someone you weren’t into. That girl can’t wait to get home.”
I roll my bottom lip between my teeth, but it doesn’t stop my smile from breaking through. “Okay. Let me find one.” I scan the bar, eyes landing on a couple in the corner, sitting close, but not too close. She laughs, touching his arm. “What about them?”
He watches for a beat before letting out a laugh. “Oh, that’s a first date for sure. And she is hoping to get laaaaid.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t know that.”
“Sure I do.”
“Oh, you can just always tell when a woman wants to get laid?”
He cocks a brow. “Is it that hard?”
“Well, we’re sitting pretty close, Jensen. What do you think people are saying when they look at us? Do we look like a first date ready to jump ship—or jump into bed?”
His grin widens. He picks up his glass and takes a slow sip, eyes never leaving mine. “I think people look at us and think, that guy is really into that girl… and he definitely wants to take her home.”
His hand drops to my leg, fingers brushing slowly over the fabric.
Holy shit. The contact is subtle, but my body reacts like he’s touching bare skin. Heat pools low in my core, a slow throb settling in as his fingers linger. I don’t move. My heart races, and my next breath is shaky.
“And she likes him too,” he adds, voice dipping low. “But she’s the kind of woman who makes a man work for it. And I’m not mad about that. Not one bit.”
He lifts his hand from my leg and reaches for his glass.
“Well then.” I drain the last sip of my beer, setting it down with a clink. “Guess you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
Jensen pushes the door open, and a rush of crisp night air greets us as we leave the bar, stepping onto a busy Chelsea sidewalk.
“You said you live in the same building as your best friend? What was his name again?”
“Yeah, Matt. He’s a very successful real estate investor. He owns the building, actually. His parents have been buying up real estate all over the city for the past three decades.” Jensen gestures ahead. “Want to walk over to Hudson River Park?”
“Yeah, that sounds great. Are you good to walk that far?” My eyes flick to his knee, remembering how he was still on crutches last weekend.
“I should be fine for a bit. It’s not that far.”
We head toward the river, and I slow my pace so he doesn’t feel like he’s holding me back. It’s been an abnormally warm day for this time of year, but now, even with my heavy jacket, a chill lingers. I glance up at him with a teasing smile. “Does your friend give you free rent?”
He belts out a laugh. “No, but he gives me a discount. Even then, it’s still pretty steep. Matt lives in the penthouse. It’s total luxury. I guess I get to enjoy it by association.”
“Damn. I need to get myself a rich best friend. What’s he like?”
Jensen sighs, gripping the back of his neck as we walk toward the Hudson. “I don’t know… he’s Matt.” He chuckles softly. “If I had to sum him up, I’d say he’s fun, confident, loyal, and… kind of a slut.”
I can’t help but laugh. “A slut? A man slut? Is that even a thing? Sounds more like something he’d win a trophy for.”
“Oh, it’s definitely a thing. Matt’s a player, no doubt. He’s had his fair share of girlfriends, but he doesn’t stay interested for long. He doesn’t like feeling tied down. He loves his freedom, and honestly, he just gets bored easily.” He shrugs. “He’s always been that way.”
“Sounds kind of like my best friend.”
Jensen glances over, a smirk tugging at his mouth. “Growing a real estate empire or slutty too?”
A smile tugs at my lips. I appreciate his realness.
I’ve never dated anyone like him. Someone who just says it like it is.
He’s funny, and I find myself drifting closer to him as we walk.
“Well, my best friend at work is Zach. But my ride or die is Scarlett. She’s not flipping penthouses, but she’s definitely got the freedom-loving, non-committal thing down.
I wouldn’t call her a slut, but… she loves a good one-night stand.
” Our arms brush together, and it feels like the most natural thing in the world, being this close to him.
“Okay. Let’s agree to never let them meet.”
I laugh again, then hesitate before asking, “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you have one-night stands often?” I ask, keeping my tone casual.
I know it’s a personal question, and I’m not naive. Most single guys in New York aren’t exactly monks. I just want to get a sense of where he stands.
He chuckles, his pace slowing. “Whoa. Putting me on the spot here. No judgment?”
I raise my hands in mock innocence. “Never.”
“I mean, I’m a thirty-year-old guy, so yeah, I’ve had my fair share. But it’s not my go-to. If I’m into someone, I’d rather see where it goes. What about you?”
My cheeks heat. “Um… nope. I’ve never had a one-night stand.”
“Seriously?” He stops walking and turns to face me. “Not even one tiny drunken night in college?”
I shake my head, pressing my lips into a thin line. “Nope. Never.”
“Wow.” His eyes dance with amusement. “I’m completely shocked right now. I don’t know many women in this city who could say that.”
“I know… It’s just not my cup of tea, you know? I like my cup with a side of get-to-know-you first. Scarlett? She likes hers with a side of danger and a possible STD.”
He chuckles as he leans his back against the rail, and I follow suit. “You’re funny, Alley. And, in my defense, I’m not exactly Matt. So when a woman wants to sleep with me, and it’s been a minute… or months, I’m not turning it down.”
His smile deepens, his dimples popping, and I catch his eyes on mine. My heart stutters. Dammit. I like him—a lot. I haven’t had these butterfly feels in so long.
“What do you mean you’re not Matt? You’re a catch. And you have an incredible personality.”
“Ah… personality. The thing that gets me through life.”
I nudge him playfully. “Shut up. You know what I mean. You’re not just personality, you’re hot.
Like, stupid hot. But honestly? I’d take a great personality over good looks any day.
A hot guy with a bad personality? Hard pass.
And by the way, all the nurses are still talking about the blue-eyed hottie who woke up with a boner and hit on me.
” I smack my lips together, trying not to laugh.
“Oh, we’re back to talking about my boner now?”
I shrug, meeting his gaze, a smile playing on my lips. “Seems like it’s a recurring theme.”
He chuckles, the sound deep and low, sending a shiver through me. “Careful, Alley, or I might end up with another one.”
I blink, startled, but try to stay cool because the idea of turning him on stirs something in me. “Yeah? What would you do about that?”
He shifts, stepping closer, his hands gripping the rail on either side of me. I’m caged in, his face inches from mine. “You wanna find out?” he murmurs, his voice teasing.
Yes. Hell yes. I meet his gaze. “Maybe,” I say softly.
His eyes flick to my lips, and I suck in a shaky breath as he leans in—slow, deliberate. It’s almost torture. When his mouth finally meets mine, I melt. The kiss is everything. Warm. Soft. Sexy.
I feel him smile against my lips before leaning in for more, deepening the kiss. I meet him with equal intensity, his tongue brushing softly against mine, like he’s asking for permission.
I give it.
My arms loop around his neck as his hands slide around my waist, pulling me flush against him.
We kiss for seconds, or maybe minutes. I lose all sense of time.
All I know is I don’t want it to end. My stomach flutters with excitement, heat pulsing through me.
I’m turned on. In the middle of a public park.