4.2-Meetings

Justine

The restaurant is busy as usual, I love eating here daily, but most often, it’s via to-go order. I make it a point to support my investments by popping in occasionally. Tobias is a great friend and has the best homestyle specials downtown.

Sitting at a new table, I’m distracted and paying no attention to the staff. Until a lovely waitress stands over me, I can’t form words. Her piercing green eyes draw me in, and I’m captivated by her natural beauty.

She has flawless ivory skin, and a gorgeous frame, making her uniform extra appealing. Her sweet smile makes her face glow, my gaze landing on those plump lips, igniting a powerful need to kiss and bite them.

Getting lost in her voice, I remind myself to stop staring and make myself busy typing away on my phone to no one. Ordering a coffee, I absentmindedly mentioned I was waiting for a date. But she doesn’t care who I’m waiting for. I internally scold myself.

“No problem, I’m Lola. Just ask for me,” she says, with a smile that breaks me.

I thank her with a wink making her cheeks flush. No way am I forgetting her or that name anytime soon. I catch myself watching as Lola flits about the restaurant. She’s attentive to her duties, only getting distracted by some scruffy-looking guy. I assume her boyfriend, who has no shame in making her uncomfortable.

His behavior repulses me. I shake my head at the demeaning gestures Lola has to put up with. He should respect her more, reminding me of my disgusting ex.

I have to ignore this situation to get anything done. I open the silly dating app, texting my potential love interest to see where she is. Tapping my nails on the table, I get a response immediately.

Dramatic.Girl - Sorry, I forgot, and I’m on a diet. Want to take a spin class with me instead?

Me - First, who sticks to a diet, and second, what’s the point of a spin class? I prefer swimming. It’s a better workout.

I type all that out but erase it, realizing I’m being too snarky. Instead, I thump a more diplomatic response.

Me - Sorry, I have a board meeting after this, so I can’t go to the gym. I was hoping to meet you today for a quick bite.

Dramatic.Girl - Again, sorry. I have an audition tomorrow and can’t break my fasting rule. Another time? I’m free this weekend.

This girl can’t break her diet; she can’t be serious. Who doesn’t enjoy eating? Food equals love, and you can’t live without it. I’m appalled by this no-eating thing, replying quickly.

Me - I have a business trip out of town and won’t be back till next week. We can try some other time, have a great audition.

I wish the girl luck, it’s not a lie, but I know this won’t work out. She forgets about our meeting yet remembers not to eat. Who the fuck does that? Damn, I’m being a bitch again, biting my lip, lost in my thoughts.

But Lola saves me from my sulking. Her smile cheers me up, making me melt inside. I go with my favorite comfort food, a chicken salad sandwich, and a tortilla soup to-go for Damien. She takes my order, like the attentive server she is.

However, my lunch view isn’t getting any easier to tolerate with the lewd displays of Lola’s boyfriend. His companion is no better, eyeing every female around him, making me uncomfortable when his vile gawking lands on me.

Lola appears again with my meal and a chocolate chip cookie. She’s using the dessert as an apology for me getting stood up. Her kindness takes me aback, and I can’t help but stare. She just stole my heart without even realizing it.

I get lost in her green eyes, but my vision spies on her suitor, waving us down. I again thank her for being the lovely person she is while also trying to ignore their rude comments.

“Crappy waitresses get no tips,” The friend says obnoxiously to her boyfriend while a blonde server laughs nearby.

Lola leaves back to her duties happily, unaware of the comment. Fed up with everything, I set out money for the food and a nice cash tip to refute the statement. I only have seventy-five dollars today; I will try to bring more in the future.

Servers come and go, and I don’t remember most of them, as I often eat out. But Lola is different and deserves respect. I find the owner Tobias, to complain for her sake, not the diners.

He’s always at his desk, if not on the floor. I step into the office, and his dark curly head pops up. His face shows only delight making his hazel eyes shine when he sees me.

Tobias stands and makes his way around the room. Dressed in a checkered bowling shirt and jeans, he is handsome for being so casual.

“Good to see you again, Justine,” giving me a big hug. “How was lunch,” Tobias asks.

“Lovely as ever, the food was delicious, and Lola cheered me up today. But sadly, her groping boyfriend’s unsavory behavior made my lunch unpleasant,” I say with a turned-up brow.

Tobias looks less than pleased and unsure how to respond. He pivots on his feet, looking out at the diner. We scowl, noticing Lola’s boyfriend slap her ass while leaving.

“Please understand. I don’t blame Lola at all, but his behavior in public is problematic,” I mutter absentmindedly, knowing where it leads.

“I’ll keep an eye out, but for a second there. I thought you were going to complain about Brandy stealing her tips. I’ll fire her if it happens again. Don’t worry,” Tobias says, pointing to a tall blonde girl, making me frown.

She’s the same one that flirted with Lola’s boyfriend, but I don’t say that, as it’s none of his business. I can only hope he doesn’t mention it was me who complained. I stay a moment to watch Lola grab her tip, and I leave, letting Tobias deal with everything else.

In the car, my mind wanders back to Lola. Everything about her screams the sexy girl next door. She’s such a sweet flirt with her kind gesture; it made my day. And boy, am I ever savoring this cookie, the memory of her plump lips flashes through my mind as I take the first bite.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?” Damien’s voice breaks the silence.

“Eyes front, soldier, and wipe that smile off your face,” I retort, not knowing what else to say.

“What, I can’t smile at you? Besides, it’s you who’s grinning ear to ear eating a cookie,” he’s smirking back at me like he knows something.

“What? It’s a good cookie, chocolate chip. Want a bite?” I offer the temptation to deflect him.

“Do you even have to ask?” he says with a smirk.

Reaching over the front seat, I wiggle the cookie before his mouth, and he takes a bite and moans with a cheeky grin at the sweetness, making me laugh. I do love to watch him eat so hungrily.

“You don’t care for chocolate. What’s so special about this cookie?” Damien asks, having another bite.

“Not the cookie, more the circumstance,” taking a nibble myself before it’s all gone.

Damien grins even more and drops his questioning. He knows me and knows I won’t give up any information until I’m ready. Today’s not the day, my first meeting with Lola was a fluke, but our next won’t be. I feel my cheeks heating, mortified Damien might see I quickly find a distraction.

“That reminds me, I got you a tortilla soup. You can feed it to me later if you don’t want it,” I tempt Damien again.

I’m desperately trying to change the subject and wave the container at him in the mirror. He rumbles back, yum. Again, something I love about him. He’s open to anything, and that thought makes my cheeks flush again, and this time, I make sure he sees. His eyes stare hungrily back at me through the mirror, making me ravenous for one of our discussions.

Back at the office, I slump down on the couch, staring at my phone. My work is always ongoing, with constant calls and meetings. I kick my shoes off, stretch out to relax, and gather my thoughts.

Damien comes in with my favorite strawberry tea. I take it happily as he sits beside me, putting my legs on his lap. With a grin, Damien’s warm hands apply the perfect pressure to my sore feet. His eyes watch me intently as gasps of pleasure escape my lips. He knows how to spoil me, and this is blissful.

“Keep moaning like that, and I’m locking the door,” Damien slips his hands up my leg, causing my skin to tingle.

“As much as I want you,” I say, taking his hand in mine, “I have a board meeting in ten minutes.”

Damien smirks, and I know that look. He takes my face, running a thump over my lips. Leaning in, Damien gives me a deep toe-curling kiss. No doubt I’ll have to reapply my lipstick when he pulls away.

“How I want to pleasure you will take longer than we have,” he whispers, “so later it is.”

Damien puts my shoes back on my feet, kissing each ankle. My body aches most deliciously as I watch his sexy frame leave my office. I groan, irritated we couldn’t finish what his magic hands had started. Between him and Lola,

I’m sexually frustrated and need a release soon. Hopefully, after dinner, I can get Damien to do something about this pent-up aggression. I know I need it.