And Then It Happened: An Unexpected Romance Read online

  “I promise you, he doesn’t.”

  “He does.”

  My eyes snapped up and I shook my head. “He doesn’t even know my name. So he doesn’t.”

  This seemed to appease her because she started to ring up my two items in silence. I exhaled in relief. I didn’t know how much longer I could have stood there averting my eyes. Valerie was like an Irish voodoo princess muttering spells under her breath. If my hair started falling out, I knew whom to blame.

  Adrian really did have the worst taste in women.

  ***

  Later that evening, I stepped out of the bathtub and pulled on my robe. Luckily my hair was still in tact and I hadn’t broken out in boils. But my parents, as expected, had forgotten it was my birthday. Not that I was really hurt by this. Ever since they had divorced, neither remembered the daughter they’d created together. My dad was too busy having children with his thirty-year-old wife and my mother was off traveling South America with her new boyfriend.

  So as usual, I planned an evening alone where I pampered myself and drank an expensive bottle of wine. It was my happy place, a time to collect my thoughts and watch Netflix in peace.

  I made it through half a bottle of wine and an episode of Downtown Abbey when my doorbell rang.

  Padding downstairs in my bare feet, I expected a solicitor, but was surprised to find Adrian on my front porch.

  “Happy birthday,” he said, holding up a container of ice cream.

  My eyes narrowed at his gesture, my hand ready to slam the door on his face.

  Don’t do that. Secretly you love that he’s here.

  “Come on. Let me in, Janice.”

  “Why are you really here?” I asked, not believing it was because it was my birthday. Perhaps this was some kind of prank. Maybe I’d see myself on TV tomorrow.

  “I’m here to celebrate your birthday with you because you’re obviously such a loser that you don’t have any plans,” he said with a crooked smile.

  I hated that despite his rude comment he seemed so charming. I began to push the door closed when he stepped into the doorway.

  “I also came bearing gifts,” he added, holding up a bright purple bag that I knew all too well.

  He bought you something. Maybe this isn’t a prank.

  Reluctantly, I opened the door and Adrian strode inside. He waltzed into my kitchen, setting my gift on the table as he did, and placed the ice cream in the freezer.

  I couldn’t help my wandering fingers as I parted the tissue paper and tried to peek inside. I couldn’t quite make out what was in there because a hand suddenly slapped mine away.

  “You only get this if you try it on for me,” Adrian explained, leaning against my kitchen table, his arms folded across his chest and his legs crossed at the ankles.

  I couldn’t help the small thrill that ran through me at his request. “So your gift to me is conditional?”

  “Of course. Why else would I be here spending your birthday with you if there wasn’t something in it for me?”

  “God, you’re seriously the worst.”

  He raised his eyebrows at me and began to reach for my present when I grabbed it from him.

  “Fine. Fine. I’ll go…I’ll go try it on,” I said quickly.

  “Good, but before you take it upstairs, open it up. I want to see your face when you pull it out.”

  My eyebrows furrowed as I removed the paper from its resting place.

  “Why are you being so nice to me?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  “I feel sorry for you,” he replied with a crooked smile. “I mean how old are you now? Thirty? And you’re spending your big day all alone?”

  “I’m twenty six, you jackass.”

  His eyes scanned my face. “Right. Keep telling people that.”

  I shoved at his shoulder as I pulled out the bright red gift and I couldn’t help but feel elated.

  “You didn’t?” I said, nearly breathless as I held the bright red lingerie outfit I had discarded on the floor earlier that day. All previous anger and annoyance toward him dissipated in a flash. I was that easy.

  “I did. Now get upstairs and try it on.”

  “But this was expensive…”

  “And I can afford it.”

  He gently pushed on my lower back, guiding me toward the stairs.

  As I took them two at a time, I turned around and asked, “What do you do that makes you so rich? Make porn in your living room?”

  “Nailed it,” he chuckled and I couldn’t help but smile back at him.

  “I met Valerie today. And to say she was nice would be a lie,” I said as I opened my bedroom door.

  “Valerie is a little possessive, which was why I ended it with her a few days ago.”

  “Oh. Oooooh. No wonder she was so rude to me. She probably thought you were dumping her for me.”

  The thought was so ridiculous that I began to giggle.

  “Why’s that so funny?”

  “Because it just is. I’d never go out with you.”

  He folded his arms as gestured toward my gift. “Are you going to try it on or keep insulting me all night?”

  I shot him a look. “How does it feel to be on the receiving end?”

  “Like a bad blowjob, now try it on.”

  “You want me to try this on with you in here waiting?”

  He flopped down on my bed, his hands behind his head. “Yes.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because I want to get the full bedroom effect.”

  When I merely glared at him, he nodded toward my bathroom. “Unless you want to change in front of me.”

  “If you didn’t just buy this for me, I’d tell you to suck it.”

  He chuckled lightly. “And I’d tell you I wouldn’t mind.”

  His comment had me growing hot all over as I quickly disappeared behind the bathroom door. With shaking hands I pulled out the lingerie and admired it in the mirror. Slowly I put it on, relishing how the fabric felt against my skin and flushing deeply at Adrian’s thoughtfulness. I pulled on my robe, not wanting to reveal myself too quickly. Not wanting to be shut down. I didn’t know why I was doing this, but something about Adrian made me assertive and forthright. I would have never spoken that way with Craig. I had been too shy around him, too easily walked over, but with Adrian I was able to speak my mind. I liked that I didn’t have to hide what I felt and that my words never really seemed to wound him. It was an interesting place to be. Safe, but thrilling at the same time.

  I met my wide-eyed gaze in the mirror and inhaled deeply.

  You can do this. Now hurry up.

  I slowly came out of the bathroom eager to know what Adrian thought, but for some reason I couldn’t quite meet his eyes. He must have seen a hundred beautiful women sashaying across his line of sight with their tall, willowy figures. I was the opposite of all of them and I wondered how I measured up. Insecurity pulsed through me and for a second I lost my breath. The horrific thought that he had bought this gift so he could make fun of me flitted through my mind. My eyes snapped up and met his.

  He was smiling at me. “You going to hide behind that ugly robe or are you going to show me what’s underneath?”

  My eyes narrowed as I counted to ten before boldly letting my shield slide from my shoulders.

  Holy crap. Holy crap.

  He regarded me for a minute before sitting up in my bed.

  “Very nice,” he said, clearing his throat, his eyes roaming my body.

  “Thank you,” I replied, hating how shy I sounded.

  “I’ve never been with someone as short as you and I wasn’t sure how it was going to look, but…”

  I tilted my head and shot him a glare. “But what?”

  “But it’s very nice. I’m having incredibly inappropriate thoughts right now.”

  I felt my cheeks flame and I pressed my cool hands against them.

  “Come here,” he said lowly and despite my better judgment, I made my way tentatively towar
d him.

  Suddenly, I was between his legs and I felt myself clench in nervousness.

  “Just a little adjusting,” he said before roughly pulling my corset down.

  “What are you doing?” I nearly squealed as he grabbed my thankfully still covered breasts, pushing them upward.

  “You’re boobs are already small, Janet. Don’t hide them.”

  “I wasn’t,” I said even though that was exactly what I’d done.

  He suddenly stood up and turned me around, his fingers brushing against my waist as I glanced in my full-length mirror.

  “Now look,” he said. I glanced up and saw myself through new eyes. My breasts nearly spilled out of the cups in the corset and I looked flushed and tangled. And the way he was staring at me had me nearly moaning out loud. I now knew why he had so many women walking through his door. He was dangerously sensual when he wanted to be.

  “Now will you humor me?” he asked lowly, his fingers clenching and unclenching around my waist.

  “Only if you tell me what you want me to do first,” I said, my voice coming out huskily.

  “Bend over that desk chair and say my name like I’ve just given you the best fuck of you life.”

  I pushed away from him with an irritated sigh and swept my robe off the floor. “Yeah, not happening.”

  “It was worth a try,” he said with a shrug, the mood broken.

  I made a sound of disgust as he watched me slam the door of the bathroom shut. He was absolutely the worst person I knew and I hated that I wanted him.

  Amend that. Craig is the worst person you’ve ever met. At least Adrian always tells you what he thinks. Craig just lied and lied to you for years.

  Just thinking about Craig and his betrayal made my heart thump awkwardly in my chest. I didn’t know why I was still hung up on him when he’d done nothing but hurt me in the end.

  Maybe you need a short fling with Adrian to help you move on.

  “Not happening,” I muttered as I exited my room dressed in yoga pants and a t-shirt. Much to my surprise Adrian was waiting for me in the hallway with two bowls of ice cream in his hand. In the middle of one bowl was a lit candle, flickering shadows on the wall.

  It was hard to stay mad at him when he was so sweet. This was what I meant when I said hope was detrimental.

  “Make a wish,” he said, handing me my bowl of ice cream and I stared at him momentarily before blowing out the candle.

  As the smoke wafted up between us in willowy wisps, I asked, “Why are you here, really? Why aren’t you writing between some girls legs next door?”

  “First of all, I don’t writhe. I thrust,” he said with a smirk. “And secondly, I didn’t have plans tonight. Contrary to your belief, I don’t fuck girls every night. That would just be way too exhausting.”

  “Really? Exhausting?” Now I was intrigued.

  “Yeah,” he said glancing at the closed door of my second room. “Exhausting. It takes a lot of energy to make girls come, you know that? Sometimes I’d rather just jack off. It’s easier. I know what I want and it doesn’t last an hour. I can usually finish within a couple of minutes.”

  My cheeks flushed at his honesty and I was thankful that the dark hallway hid my embarrassment.

  “What’s in that room?” he asked, like he hadn’t just told me that he liked masturbating instead of sex.

  “Nothing,” I said quickly…too quickly which only seemed to peak his interest.

  “Nothing? You’re a terrible liar, Janette.”

  He stalked toward the door and pushed it open, revealing my art studio. Canvases of landscapes and some of interesting faces lined the wall while two unfinished pieces sat on easels. Paint supplies were in Tupperware containers and strewn across a battered desk. And in the middle of the room was the large Victorian chair he’d carried in for me when I first moved in.

  He stood still for a moment taking it all in before shoving a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.

  “Holy shit,” he said, turning on the light, illuminating the dark room. “You’re an artist?”

  I shrugged like it was no big thing. “Yeah.”

  “I would have never guessed. I assumed you were a fast food worker…”

  “Thanks,” I replied with a scowl.

  He chuckled as he walked toward the canvases lining the wall and began to look through them. Most of them were pieces I hadn’t shown anyone, not even my best friend. His eyes were the first to see them and there was a weird little thrill that coursed through me at knowing this. As he moved around the room, he didn’t say anything for a few minutes, his eyes soaking up my work. After a long silence, he turned toward me.

  “You’re fucking good. I never knew.”

  “It’s not something I go around telling people.”

  “Well, you should. Shit. If I had your talent I would be showing off like crazy.”

  I blushed at his compliment. “Thanks, but I’m not like that.”

  “Well, that’s a shame. Everyone should be like me.”

  His eyes slipped to a blank canvas on the third easel and he shot me a questioning look. “What are you planning on painting there?”

  I shrugged, not wanting to tell him my idea.

  Yes, you do. You want to ask him to pose for it. Admit it.

  His eyebrows rose in suspicion. “Why don’t you want to tell me?”

  “Because it’s none of our business,” I replied, feeling suddenly annoyed that he was in my personal space and desperately wanting to paint him at the same time.

  I bit my lip and he narrowed his eyes at me.

  “Let me guess,” he began and I shook my head at his persistence.

  “You’re going to paint dicks. Huge, throbbing dicks…”

  I held up my hands, causing him to cease his ridiculousness.

  “Why does your mind always turn to the obscene?”

  “Because I’m a guy and guys always think about sex.”

  I shook my head lightly before sighing, “Fine. Fine. I’m going to paint nudes…a series of them.”

  “A series? Of men or women?”

  “Of a man…one man…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish my thought.

  “And what is this man doing?” He was clearly intrigued.

  I pressed my hands to my cheeks and shook my head. “Nothing,” I whispered. “Just posing.”

  “Who’s your model?”

  “I don’t have one yet.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know anyone who’d want to do that for me.”

  “I’d do it,” Adrian offered. “I’m not ashamed. It’s completely natural and I’m totally comfortable in my skin.”

  I shook my head so adamantly that I grew dizzy. “You’re not going to do it.”

  He stared at me. “Why not?”

  I seemed to have offended him by my refusal and I didn’t know why.

  “Because…” I couldn’t admit that being with him in a room while he was naked would be too much for me so I said, “…Because you’re not what I’m looking for.”

  “How so?” he asked around another spoonful of ice cream.

  I hated how many questions he was asking because I was starting to crumble under his scrutiny.

  “You’re just not…You’re just not…well…”

  He stared at me and I stared to stutter, so I clamped my mouth shut.

  “So that’s your reasoning? I bet you were in debate club in high school. You know what? Here let me show you,” he said, suddenly pulling his shirt over his head, his bowl of ice cream discarded on the floor.

  “What are you…now…what?”

  “Again with the illuminating argument,” he said with a smile as he began to unbutton his pants. I diverted my eyes, wanting to call a halt to this whole thing, but utterly intrigued at the same time. I thoroughly studied the floor until I gathered enough courage to peek up at him through my lashes.

  “I’m perfect for this. I’ve never posed for an art piece before,” he said
shoving his underwear down his hips, exposing himself to me.

  I nearly expired on the spot. He was gorgeous, absolutely stunning. It’s a good thing we didn’t have models like this in art school or nothing would have gotten done.

  “See,” he said, completely comfortable with his nudity as I squirmed. “What do you think?”

  “Oh my god, put your clothes back on,” I managed to utter, unable to keep my gaze on him because doing so was just making me red all over.

  “Come on. Take a good look,” he said and I could hear the smile in his voice.

  Despite his teasing, I couldn’t do what he asked.

  “Here let me get hard…” he added with a chuckle and I inhaled and exhaled loudly a few times to get my bearings straight. This was too much. This was way too much.

  Thankfully my phone rang, piercing the tension building with in me and I immediately deflated. I answered it without even looking at who was calling.

  “Hello?” I said breathlessly, turning to gaze at the wall.

  “Um, Jane?”

  It was Craig making his weekly contact. Normally I looked forward to hearing from him despite what he’d done to me. He had been my best friend for over eight years, but he couldn’t have called at a worse time. I didn’t want him hearing Adrian in the background and then asking questions I didn’t want to answer.

  “You okay?” He sounded concerned and I inhaled deeply three times, finally able to control my breathing.

  “Oh, I’m fine, Craig” I managed to say as Adrian strode completely naked over to me. My breathing once more accelerated.

  “Who is it?” Adrian asked and I waved him away, not wanting to explain myself to either of them. But it was too late.

  “Who’s that?” Craig asked, concern lining his voice. “Do you have someone there?”

  Tell him it’s some guy you’re screwing. Tell him.

  “Oh it’s just a friend,” I said and Adrian’s eyebrows rose.

  “We’re friends?” Adrian asked, causing Craig to cough uncomfortably.

  “Just…put your clothes on,” I hissed which only made matters worse. Adrian chuckled as Craig muttered something on the other end of the line.

  “Craig…I’m…” I began, but he cut me off.

  “Look, I just called to say happy birthday and to make sure you’re okay, but it seems like you already have plans…”