***
“Hello, Charlotte, I’m Mrs. Jennings. Thank you for your interest in our receptionist opening.” Mrs. Jennings leans over the desk, shaking my hand firmly. Her manicured nails grab my attention along with the strong smell of her perfume. Her scrubs with little cartoons fit her toned body snugly, and the way she eyes me with a perfectly waxed, arched brow makes me shift self-consciously. I look down at what I’m wearing: my shirt is damp with sweat, and distressed. The paint on my nails is chipped, the ends jagged from chewing on them. I swallow my insecurities and lift my chin high.
“Thank you, I am very happy to—”
“Look, the truth is I need someone to fill the spot quickly, and you’re the third girl in here today to fill out an application. Get back here at seven in the morning and the job is yours,” she interrupts, using a pen to scratch her head. Her black hair, placed perfectly into a bun, frays from the snag of the pen.
“Really! Thank you so—”
“Not a minute before, and not a minute after. Seven,” she interrupts again, tossing my papers into a drawer. I raise an eyebrow, annoyed with her interrupting me. Working with her should be peachy with her nose that high in the air.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll be here,” I reply, nodding and trying my hardest not to come off like a bitch. But in reality, my hands flex with the urge to grab her perfect hair and slam her head into the desk.
“I hope you’re right. See you in the morning.” She stands, quickly leaving the office.
She’s a bitch, but I can learn to deal with her. I just got a job!
I all but skip out of the dentist’s office, my emotions and mind on cloud fucking nine! Finally, something is working in mine and Jayden’s favor.
Walking up to the café, I see Chasen and a bunch of his football buddies just entering the little restaurant, all hooting and hollering. My eyes catch a guy in a black suit, standing out like a sore thumb amongst the college kids, sitting at a table along the back of the patio. Oh, my God, it’s the sexy guy I bumped into yesterday. My stomach clenches at the recognition. He gives Chasen and his buddies an irritated look and stands to leave.
“Did you get the job?” My eyes tear away from Sexy Suit and find Chasen leaning over a table, his forehead covered in sweat as he stares at me intently.
“I did. I start first thing in the morning. Thank you. I owe you one,” I inform him, smiling big.
“Hmm, I might take you up on that offer.” He winks, making my belly flutter with butterflies.
I tuck some stray hair behind my ear and bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing like a bimbo.
“Chasen, what do you want to drink?” one of his football buddies yell behind him.
“See you around, Charlie.”
“Yeah, see ya,” I offer.
Walking around the patio towards my street, Sexy Suit charges out of the café, nearly running into me.
“This is becoming a nasty habit of yours,” he states, his deep voice coming out like silk as he runs his hand through his dark hair. Little strands defy staying in place and fall just below his ear. His hair is longer than I thought, and it looks fucking sexy messy.
“I—” I’ve lost my words, I can’t speak. There’s something about this man that has me dumbfounded yet completely aroused. The feeling I get around him is so foreign. The bimbo state I seem to fall in around cute guys like Chasen could never compare to the surreal feeling I get around this guy.
“What’s your name?” he questions, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“Charlie,” I reply meekly.
“Charlie,” he repeats. My name slipping from his perfect lips makes my knees tremble it sounds so erotic. “Charlie, I’m Landon. I’d watch yourself around those dumb fucks.” Like someone snapped their fingers, my lusty haze vanishes, the cool demeanor of Landon fading with his sudden use of profanity.
“Excuse me?” I question, startled by his outburst.
“Just make sure you’re all in when you’re around them.” He leans in, tucking a strand of hair sticking to my sweaty face behind my ear. His touch causes that glaze of desire to resurface instantly. I close my eyes and blow out a steady breath, trying to gain some self-control.
“All in? What is that, like a gambling term?” I question with a half-laugh.
Landon smirks, his eyes squinted as he looks me over.
“It means you’re in it one-hundred percent. You bet everything you have on it. There’s no going back, no regrets. You’re all in.”
I bite my inner cheek, ‘cause when I think of Chasen, I don’t get the feeling of being ‘all in’. It feels more like… having fun.
“Just be careful, yeah?” he rasps, drawing me out of my thinking spot.
“Yeah,” I reply softly. “I can take care of myself.”
His lips curve to the side and he nods. “See you around, Charlie.”
FOUR
CHARLIE