Page 58 of That First Flight

Something I’ve neverwantedthis much with another woman before.

The women I’ve been with before were always a one-and-done type of thing. I’m not ashamed to admit that—it was my past. We never kept in contact and I rarely exchanged numbers with any of them. For the most part, I met them on my travels anyway.

Since Macey walked into my life, I’ve had no desire to look at another woman. Having her in my thoughts with my hand around my cock has worked. For now.

And to think… I haven’t even slept with Macey.

She moves freely around the kitchen. She’s dressed casual today in a pair of black leggings with an oversized, charcoal-colored sweater that covers almost all of her legs because of her petite frame.

Unfortunately for me, it hides the curves of her body that I would give anything to have my hands on again. But there’s something about the way she wears dark colors that brings out the bright green color in her eyes.

I bring my gaze to Macey’s face and her hair falls down her back in loose, shiny curls.

What I would give to have that hair wrapped around my fist.

I finally break myself out of the hypnotic trance she has me in, adjusting the brim of my glasses. I didn’t bother with contacts this morning since I’ve been editing pictures all morning.

“Let me ask you something,” I start as I enter the kitchen. Macey jumps slightly at my lack of introduction. “Have you had a bagel in the city yet?”

“I’ve had bagels before.”

“But have you had aNew York Citybagel,” I emphasize.

“No?” Her eyebrows pinch together.

I swipe my wallet off the island and stuff it in my back pocket. “Grab your jacket. Let’s go.”

“What? I just had a coffee. I don’t need a bagel. Really, I’m fine,” Macey continues to protest.

I grab my camera bag next because I rarely leave the house without it. “Would you just trust me?”

Her eyes slightly widen just for a heartbeat before they soften. A smile creeps up her cheeks and watching her relax for me has my pulse skyrocketing.

“Okay,” she agrees, grabbing her jacket from the back of the chair at the counter and triple checking to make sure she has her phone on her.

I knew the exact place I wanted to take her for her first city bagel and it was about a ten-minute walk from my apartment. Strangely, we walked in silence which is sort of new for me. When did I start getting nervous around a woman and had nothing to say?

Macey makes me worry for the first time that something I say might mess everything up or scare her away.

She grabs us a small booth in the corner of the deli while I grab us the bagels. Once we sit down, she dives into her bagel like it’s the first meal she’s had in days, devouring it like her life depends on it.

And fuck, a woman who loves food the way I love food is one after my own heart.

“This is without a doubt the best bagel I’ve ever had,” she says through a mouthful of cream cheese goodness.

I hit her with a wink and smile before taking another bite of mine.

“I’m sorry. I probably look like such a slob.”

“Impossible.”

She blushes, but her phone vibrates and she jumps to grab it and see if it’s a phone call. But the look of disappointment takes over when she realizes that it’s just a text message.

I lean in, resting my elbows on the table to get close to her. “Relax, Macey. You have to know you’re going to get the job.”

She sighs. “You don’t know that. The interview went really well. I answered all the questions that Frank asked me honestly. I met the staff and even saw the kitchen. And how cute that it’s named after Frank's wife, Mollie. My god, Oliver…” She beams through her ramble. “You should have seen this kitchen. You were right about how fancy it is. I’ve never wanted something as bad as I want this. I’m absolutely terrified that I’m going to screw this up the way I always screw everything up.”

She can’t mean that.

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