inside me. Arching my back, eyes closing in pleasure, my body screaming for more...
My erotic thoughts had me sweating in the chilled house, and the memory had me seconds away from
going back to the bar. There wouldn’t be any searching for the right person; my eyes would only hunt
for Corey. Once his blue eyes found mine, I would pull my shirt over my head letting him know exactly
what I was there for. With one fluid motion he’d swing his long legs over the bar, his muscular arms
tensing to hold his weight. Stalking towards me as though I was his prey, I’d be ready for whatever he
wanted to give me. His hungry hands capturing the back of my head, as he pulled my mouth greedily to
his. It wouldn’t matter who saw because in that wonderful moment—we’d be lost in each other. I
wouldn’t even have to tell him what to do; he’d know instinctively as before what I craved.
I felt my body shudder at the thought. This was insane. Sure, I’ve had fantasies about guys before but usually about my boyfriends and nothing quite so bold. So, why was Corey suddenly taking over my thoughts and making my body crave his touch?
I wanted to use the excuse, that I just moved back and hadn’t made contact with my old friends; which was the reason I was simply lonely for company in general. Not only did I know that to be a lie but, truth was, I didn’t really have any old friends here—at least none I cared for. Prior to me leaving after graduation, I realized just how foolish I was in trusting the people I had. Having everyone I cared for turn their backs on me, then use every single detail of my life against me—was a pain that lingered long after.
Then there was Oliver. I always saw him as my childhood best friend and buried deep in my heart was the wish that someday we would be together. It had been my intention to tell him the way I felt, but my best friend, Jayme told him first. That wouldn’t have been so bad, if she’d done it to help me. Instead, she manipulated the situation and stole him right from under my nose.
Even if Jayme had done what she did with someone I had a little crush on, I still would have been upset. Except nothing about it was just a crush—I had been in love with Ollie. He was the first to have my heart and I thought he would be my last. Then, I ran into him yesterday and everything I once felt came rushing back. How could I take care of my family’s business, when in my heart I was still too terrified to face what I’d run from?
When I finally went to sleep, I spent the entire night tossing and turning. My mind wrapped around Oliver, Jayme, the Inn and everything else I had loaded onto my plate. The demons of my past whirled through my dream, holding me hostage; drowning me, pulling me into the chaos I thought I had successfully escaped seven years prior.
* * * *
“You look great, Danielle!” Bailey said, as I entered Hamilton Inn at precisely nine a.m. the next morning.
She wore a navy blue suit with an ocean blue long sleeved shirt underneath—I really needed to ask her
if her clothes came with built in air conditioners. It wouldn’t have been such a bad combination if the
outfit showed off her body; instead it hung loose hiding the figure she seemed to want to ignore. Then I
looked down at my outfit, which I put way more time into than was necessary. After going through
about a dozen different choices I ended up with a black pencil skirt that stopped just above the knees,
my brown leather boots and a baby pink V-neck blouse; my long hair curled at the ends.
“Thank you Bailey.” She held out a coffee cup to me; I paused mid-step and she followed suit.
“What is this?” My eyes darted from the coffee cup to her confused expression.
“Coffee,” Bailey answered, as if it was a trick question.
“For me?” Her head slowly moved up and down. I reached for the cup and took a sip; amazed to find the coffee was loaded with cream and sugar—just the way I liked.
“How did you know this was what I liked?” Bailey opened her mouth to answer but I held up my hand to stop her. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. This is great,