Chapter 13
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
OLIVE
Last night was… phenomenal. Harrison was amazingly sweet and attentive.
In the moment, I wanted nothing more than for him to take my virginity, but today I can appreciate the fact that he held back.
It’s not that I’m not ready… more that things are already moving extremely fast with us, and taking it that one step farther is just going to get me in deeper than I already am.
I like Harrison.
I mean, I really, really like the man. Yeah, he’s arrogant and obviously likes things his way. Sure, he can be sort of cold and distant at times, but he’s also sweet and funny and just about everything I would pick in a man if I could.
That thought is sobering because I’m unsure how I should feel about that.
I have horrible taste in men. That’s why I went to Rita for professional help.
Yes, she seemed to be encouraging me to see what happens with Harrison, but at the same time, she gave my letter to the man she matched me up with. What do I do with that?
Speaking of… the letter from him sits on my coffee table mocking me. Making me feel both guilty and curious. After several hours of debating, I open the letter and take a deep breath before reading.
Dear Olive,
I read the letter twice and can’t help but compare my match to Harrison even though that’s not fair.
But how can I not when this man has so much in common with Harrison?
They both own their own businesses and like to be in charge.
They both like blue—something I found out last night during dinner—they both like old movies…
it’s uncanny how alike the two are. It makes me wonder if maybe Harrison and I have a real shot.
I suck at finding men, but if Rita found me someone who is just like the man I’m starting to seriously fall for… do I even need a match?
Ugh. Why do I have to be so confused about this situation? I should just write my match back and tell him I can’t do this that I’ve found someone else.
It only takes me another minute of thought to decide that that’s the right course of action. It’s not fair to anyone to drag this whole thing out. It really isn’t.
Dear Thomas
I am sorry to do this, but…
I start, then my pen stops on the page, unable to go on. What if Harrison breaks things off? He’s made it clear that I deserve better—especially last night—what if that’s a warning sign? What if I write my match a goodbye letter only to be dumped?
I crumple up the paper and start again.
Dear Thomas,
I also enjoy old movies. I also like the old Universal monster ones best. I bet that surprises you.
Most women like the old love stories, but those are rather tedious for me.
Give me a horror movie any day of the week over romance.
Which is funny if you think about it because I write romance books for a living—I don’t think I told you that before.
Anyway, you would think someone who spends their days living and breathing fictional romance that I would gravitate towards that in film, but it’s just the opposite for me.
What is it that you do for a living? I know you said you own your own business, but what kind? Also, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with wanting things your way. Sometimes you just have to be the grump who gets things done.
I guess I should wrap this up. I have a self-imposed deadline to meet on my current book, and my cat—the asshole—is circling around his half-empty bowl, yowling at me like he’s about to starve to death. You don’t want to know what he does in retaliation if I don’t listen to his demands.
Hopeful,
Olive
I try not to think too much of it, but I shove the letter in an envelope and grab my purse. The faster I get this to Rita, the better; otherwise, I’m likely to change my mind a dozen times.
“Hi, I need to drop a letter with Rita,” I say to Rita’s assistant, who still looks at me like she can’t be bothered to do much of anything other than scowl at her computer screen.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Um, no, I just need to drop this off.” I wave the envelope in front of me. “I can just leave it with you.”
Just then, Rita opens her office door and smiles when she sees me. “Olive, dear! It’s so good to see you. To what do I owe this visit?”
“Oh… I just… I replied to the letter and didn’t have an address to send it to.”
Lies, I could have easily mailed it to Rita Matches. I realize now I wanted to hand-deliver it to see if I could speak to Rita again about Harrison and my match.
“How wonderful, come on in.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” I say, completely changing my mind about why I actually came. “I don’t want to interrupt your work.”
“Don’t be silly. Come in and tell me how things are going.”
I enter the office, wondering how much I should disclose to Rita.
She is Harrison’s aunt and the woman who makes it her business to match people with their soulmates—the very reason she knows me at all.
We both settle into the little seating nook she has set up to one side of her office, giving the room a homey feel.
“Tea?” Rita offers.
“No thanks, I’m fine.”
“So, last we talked, you were having a bit of a conundrum, and with how Harrison took off after you the other day, I have to wonder if things might’ve worked themselves out.”
My cheeks flush pink. “I’m honestly not sure…”
“Did Harrison ask you out?” she asks boldly. “I can’t imagine he wouldn’t ask a beauty like you out, especially after he ran after you like he did.”
“I… well…” I let out a sigh, gathering my courage. “Yes, we went out… twice.”
Rita’s brow rises. “Well then, that’s amazing news. How did the dates go?”
I blush even darker and barely hold back the goofy grin that wants to spread across my face. “They were good.”
“Just good?” she asks knowingly.
“The dates were great,” I admit. “Our chemistry is off the charts. It’s just…”
“Just what, dear?”
“I get the feeling he’s not interested in a relationship. At least not a long-term one. I’m not opposed to casual, but”—I wave the letter I’m holding—“I’m in a different place. I’m looking for more.”
She gives me a knowing look. Of course, she knows Harrison better than I do. Maybe I’ve read him wrong. He was a gentleman about the whole virginity thing… well… mostly.
“I wouldn’t discount Harrison just yet.”
“I don’t know what to do. I feel guilty for dating one man while writing letters to another…”
“I understand that, my dear, but do you want to risk not following through? Not seeing where things might go with Harrison? He’s a great man.”
“I know he is… but what about the man you matched me with? This isn’t fair to him, is it?”
Rita tsks. “You let me worry about that.”
I’m not sure that I feel any better after my talk with Rita. The one thing I do know she’s right about is that Harrison is worth it. Even if it ends with me broken-hearted. No risk, no gain.
Right?
I look up from my computer when there’s a quick knock at my door. I don’t bother getting up because a few seconds later, Zoe lets herself in.
“Hey, babe!” she says, making herself at home by pouring herself a glass of wine.
“Hey yourself.”
“How’s it going?” she asks, indicating the open laptop in front of me.
“Really good. The words are flowing again.”
“Awesome! So glad you’re out of that slump. I was worried you were going to turn into a sad sack on me.”
I shove her arm at her teasing. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“You were. But enough about that… tell me does Mr. Hottie have anything to do with your newfound inspiration?”
I give her a hard look, not wanting to admit to anything, but of course, she’s my best friend and knows me better than I know myself more often than not.
“It is because of Harrison. Tell me everything,” she demands.
Part of me balks at the idea of telling anyone about our relationship—if that’s what it even is. It feels too new and unstable. Maybe I’d feel better if I knew exactly where we stood, but that’s not the case, and I’m not sure it ever will be with a man like him.
“We went out to dinner, and then last night he cooked for me,” I tell her, starting with the easy stuff.
“You were at his house?” she asks, shocked.
“Yes. He lives in an absolutely amazing penthouse. You should see it.”
“Fuck the penthouse. I want to know what happened in the penthouse.”
I shake my head, rolling my eyes. I debate on how much I want to tell her, then decide to go for broke. Maybe she’ll have some insight into things. She’s way more experienced with men than I am.
“Well, after dinner, we watched a movie… at least part of a movie. We sort of made out…” I giggle, embarrassed. “That led to… more.”
Zoe’s eyes widen, and she grins like a mad woman. “Did you have sex?!”
I shake my head, reaching for my glass of wine and taking a fortifying gulp. “No, but there were definitely orgasms involved.”
“But no sex? Why not?”
I shrug. “I was ready to… we were going to, but then I told him I’m a virgin, and he changed his mind. He said I deserve better…”
Zoe winces. “Oh girl…”
“What?”
“Either he doesn’t want to take your virginity because he’s noble or because he doesn’t want to risk you getting attached. I can only take a guess that any man who doles out orgasms on a second date is anything less than noble.”
I don’t correct her that last night wasn’t the first night he gave me an orgasm… that, in fact, he gave me one in a very public elevator before we even exchanged more than a few words between us. That definitely doesn’t scream nobility. Not at all.
So, is it just that he doesn’t want me attached to him?
Can’t a girl just lose her virginity to a hot guy and not be attached?
I’m not sure if I can, but I can for sure pretend.
The last thing I want right now is to scare Harrison off.
Rita is right that I want to see where this thing might be going.
“I don’t think he’s the noble type either,” I say honestly.