The keys ticked beneath my fingertips as I concluded the article I'd spent the past hour and a half writing. Quickly glancing back over what I'd written, I was proud of myself. Mandy, my boss, would love this! She had been telling me to step up my game lately, due to a new girl she'd hired who seemed to want to compete with me. I didn't mind a little friendly competition with Nicole, but I didn't see the need to really change up my writing style – that is, until her most recent article had been the most talked about in our entire magazine!

Mandy favored me. I knew that because she'd told me a million times. But she loved to see her employees try extra hard, and I knew this was just another one of her tests to see if I was still as good as the day she'd hired me, if not better. Mandy wanted to see how good Nicole and I could outdo each other. I didn't have much choice in the matter since it was my boss's orders, but I'd mostly only agreed to the challenge to try to keep my status of having the most discussed articles and being the most talked about writer. I'd gotten so used to being successful at Satisfaction Magazine that I didn't want to let anyone outdo me. I felt like I'd worked hard enough to earn my position at Satisfaction, and I would feel like I wasn't doing a good enough job if anyone else took the top spot.

Fresh out of Princeton with degrees in journalism, English literature, and foreign affairs, Mandy Cartwright had hired me to write relationship advice and various types of "romance articles" for Satisfaction, one of the most popular magazines in the gossip community. Initially, my plan had been to write about important newsworthy topics that included politics and current events, but there wasn't a spot open for that type of writer at Satisfaction, and fearing that I wouldn't find a better offer for a while, I accepted Mandy's. I'd assumed I'd write about gossip and sex for a little while, just until Mandy realized what an asset I could be in the Current Affairs department, but so far, I'd worked at Satisfaction for nearly two years and nothing had changed in my job description.

I immediately became best friends with Selena, the writer who had a cubical beside mine when I'd first started. Since then, we'd both become so successful in our positions that Mandy had given us our own offices. We didn't get the luxury of having secretaries, but I didn't mind that. Selena wrote about women's sports, health and wellness, and yoga, usually. I'd learned several helpful tips from proofreading her articles before she submitted them for print. She was a very talented writer, even if her writing was eighty percent about yoga pants!

I attached my article to an email to Mandy and Selena, and hesitated a few seconds before sending it. Lately, I'd been a little unsure about my work until I got one or both of their opinions, but I was pretty proud of this one. It was the first piece I'd been really excited about in a few months, and I was anxious to hear what Mandy had to say about it. Very, very slowly, I was attempting to incorporate non-sex subjects into my romance-centered articles, hoping to sway Mandy's opinion on my ability to write about other topics.

I clicked send and closed my laptop, glad that my workday was over. I planned to go home and relax by the fireplace. It was a cold December day in New Jersey, and though I loved seeing the snow and getting to wear cute furry boots and knit scarves, I was more than ready to get out of my work clothes and warm up.

It was a long drive back to my house. Our offices were right on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River and I lived two miles from the Pennsylvania border. To get home, I had to drive the width of northern Jersey in rush hour traffic, which was no one's cup of tea. Nearly three and a half hours of my workday was commuting.

Having stared at my computer screen for so long, I was exhausted and decided I needed coffee if I was going to make it home without dozing off at the wheel. Three miles from the office, I stopped at the coffee shop and ordered my usual, a cinnamon vanilla mocha, but with two extra shots of espresso.

Waiting on my drink, I sat down at a small wooden table by the window and tapped my fingers on my knee, waiting to hear my name called. I stared out the window at the snowflakes slowly falling from a dark sky and fell into a daze, daydreaming about several more successful articles and getting the promotion that Mandy had been teasing me with for three months. Selena said I would get it, no problem, but I wasn't so sure. To ensure that I had the best possible chance, I'd been working my ass off – more so than usual – and my life had begun to revolve wholly around work. I was living on strong coffee and determination. I had to get this promotion if I was going to further my career the way I wanted to.

I was shaken out of my thoughts when I felt the table move as someone sat down across from me. I was surprised when I looked up to see a man probably a few years older than me wearing a leather jacket and a half-unbuttoned white shirt that exposed a small amount of chest hair. He was wearing a Devils Hockey baseball cap over jet black hair that hung in short wisps over his ears. He had a lot of stubble that told me he hadn't shaved in a few days. His face was partially hidden in the shadow of his hat bill, but I could tell he was handsome. Very handsome.

"Hi?" I said awkwardly, breaking the ice.

A nervousness settled in my stomach. How often did attractive strangers just happen to sit down at your table?

"Can I buy you a coffee or tea or something?" the man asked with a seductive smile, adjusting his hat.

Oh, wow. His voice was rich and deep.

I wanted so badly to say yes. I mentally cursed at myself for having already ordered a coffee, and for a split second, I debated pretending I wasn't Kate when the barista called my name.

I gave a sad shrug. "I already ordered. I'm sorry. But thank you."

"Maybe another time then," he said in a smooth voice.

As intriguing as he was, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity. I was considering letting him go ahead and buy me another coffee. I'd just have to take two drinks home.

I watched the way his jeans moved, hugging his thighs tightly as he stood up. I couldn't help but notice the large bulge in his pants and my mouth began to water.

Calm down, Kate, I lectured myself. It had been a while since I'd had any action. I'd been practically married to my job since Mandy had uttered the word promotion. I hadn't had time for men.

This man was sexy in the mysterious, I-don't-give-a-fuck type of way.

"Yeah," I finally answered. "Definitely."

An accomplished smirk played across his full lips. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, then."

Before I could say another word, the man was out the door, sauntering down the sidewalk sexily.

Tomorrow morning? I was surprised. Usually, when people mentioned a raincheck, it didn't happen, but I would make sure I was present tomorrow morning at the coffee shop. I was both nervous and excited to see him again. I hoped he wouldn't wear a hat, though, so I could get a better look at his face, namely those eyes that I just knew had to be gorgeous. Everything else about him was.

"Kate!" called the barista.

I retrieved my drink, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks at the thought of seeing the man again. As I exited the coffee shop, I realized he hadn't said what time. I decided to show up when they opened at seven and wait until he arrived. I could take my laptop and use the coffee shop's Wi-Fi to work while I waited.

I couldn't stop thinking about him the whole drive home, and once I changed into comfy clothes and sprawled out on the couch, I called Selena to tell her what had happened.

"He sounds intriguing," she giggled like a high school girl finding out juicy gossip.

"He's got that mysterious vibe to him and he just seems so sexy. I'm so anxious to see him again."

"You should ask him out!" Selena squealed, causing me to move the phone away from my ear.

"I don't know about that." I shied away from the thought of putting myself out there to possibly get a no from him. "I think I'll wait and see if he makes a move. He might just want to talk, have coffee, and never see each other again. Who knows."

"Sure," she said in a disbelieving voice. "But you want to see him again, right?"

"Well... so far, yeah. But I don't know him yet. We hardly spoke to each other. I might not even like him tomorrow. He might have a shitty personality."

"He might. But if you do still like him tomorrow, ask him to dinner or to get a drink, and I do mean alcohol!" Selena instructed. "It's been way too long since you've had a relationship, or sex, or anything. I think you should go for it."

"Gee, thanks for rubbing it in." I cringed at the mention of my nonexistent sex life.

As much as I hated to admit it, she had a point. I decided Selena was right. If I thought I had a decent shot at romance with this guy, I was going to take a chance and ask him out. It wasn't the way I usually approached potential dates or relationships, but I hadn't seen a man this captivating in quite a while. I'd be crazy to pass up the chance to get to know him – and maybe get to see what was under that shirt...

I spent most of my evening eating Chinese takeout and watching chick flicks, which was my usual if I didn't have anything to work on. Often, Selena or my neighbor, Kacey, would come over and hang out for a few hours. Selena only lived a couple blocks away.

While I sat on the couch watching the end of the movie I'd been heart-eyed over for the past hour and a half, I envied the fictional couple on TV as they passionately made out. It had been so long since I'd had a man in my bed. I missed having a strong, handsome man's hands on my body. I missed spending all night having orgasm after orgasm. I missed being wrapped up in the sheets, naked, with a well-endowed guy who knew how to touch me just right. I shivered at the thought.

After my last boyfriend, Eric, went gallivanting with a tall blonde he met on the Vegas Strip, thinking I wouldn't find out he was cheating on me, I swore off dating. It had been almost a year since I'd had a boyfriend or even gone on a date, and since I didn't usually jump at the chance to hop in bed with someone I barely knew, I hadn't had sex in almost a year either. Although, I didn't count the two times my coworker, Joseph, and I had gone to bed together as a whacky suggestion from Selena to ease the frustration. Joseph was handsome and a really nice guy, but he was just a friend. I'd considered dating him, but I couldn't see us making a good couple. He didn't give me that butterfly feeling in my stomach that I expected the right guy would give me. We were just better as friends and coworkers. Although, he had been good enough in bed to take the edge off.

I fell asleep that night running scenarios through my head of what might happen the next morning at the coffee shop. Was I getting my hopes up for nothing? Would he even show up? Why was I letting myself get so twisted over this guy, whose name I didn't even know?

I awoke to the sound of sleet hitting my window and groaned, pulling the covers over my head. Morning had come too early. I laid there for a few minutes until I finally decided it was time to get up. Even though I was anxious to see the man I'd met at the coffee shop, I still felt like a zombie.

Realizing the time, I hurried to pick out a cute outfit that I hoped would capture his attention, and raced to the bathroom to take a shower. I quickly shaved my legs, knowing I was running late, and finished my shower in record time. I got dressed in tight gray jeans and a black long-sleeved V-neck that showed off my cleavage perfectly. I completed my ensemble with thigh-high leather boots, a white jacket, and a gray knit beanie. I applied minimal makeup, and after checking my appearance in the mirror two or three – or eight – times, I rushed out the door.

The drive from Phillipsburg to Jersey City was longer than usual, thanks to the weather. I arrived at the coffee shop later than I wanted to at seven-forty. I was worried I'd missed him when I walked in, only seeing one other person in the cafe, an elderly woman. I decided to ignore my nerves and sit down, telling the barista I was waiting on someone.

Occupying my favorite spot by the window, I opened my laptop and began reading over an article Selena had emailed me the night before, asking me to give her my opinion before she sent it to Mandy. I started reading it, but I could barely keep my concentration on the words in front of me. My mind was racing with thoughts of the man I was waiting to see.

Selena's article talked about the benefits of different relaxation techniques that women could try after a workout or a stressful day. Usually, I'd be taking notes and trying some of her suggestions myself, but it was becoming clear that, due to my lack of focus, I would have to go back and look at the article again once I got to the office.

"Waiting for me?" a familiar velvety voice asked.

I looked up to see the handsome man I'd met the day before standing next to my table. Just as I'd hoped, he wasn't wearing a ball cap this time, and he was even hotter than I'd thought. My heart began to race as I gestured for him to sit down.

"G-good morning," I said, cringing at my stutter.

His lips curved into an amused smile, knowing he already had an effect on me. He took a seat across from me and draped his jacket over the back of the chair. I almost couldn't look away from the outline of his muscles under his thin cotton shirt.

"Can I interest you in a drink, sweetheart?" he asked smoothly in a voice that made me think of melted chocolate.

I blinked twice, breaking from my trance.

"Please. A white chocolate mocha," I answered, shifting awkwardly in my seat. "Extra white chocolate."

He nodded, making his way to the barista to order. I stared at him as he walked away. His jeans were just as tight as the ones he'd worn the previous day and his ass looked great in them. Something about the way he placed his hand in his back pocket while he waited intrigued me. I wanted him to put his hands in my pockets.

He was tall – about six-foot-five. His shirt clung to his body in a way that showed off all of his muscles. Even his back was sexy. I started to feel a familiar ache between my thighs that hadn't made an appearance in so long, I'd almost forgotten the sensation.

I quickly looked the other direction when he turned around, walking back with our drinks. I didn't want him to know I'd been admiring his features.

He set our coffees on the table and sat down with a sigh, scooting forward and resting an arm on the table.

"Ya know..." He pulled the stirring stick out of his cup. "It's not polite to stare."

Oh, great. He noticed.

I swallowed my nerves and tried to come up with something clever to say.

"Well, I couldn't help it."

Okay, that sounded better in my head.

The tip of his tongue darted out of his mouth, slowly licking over his bottom lip. The pounding pulse between my legs quickened and I felt my breath hitch as I watched his tongue slip back into his mouth.

I wanted him to put his tongue in my mouth.

"Is that so?" He cocked an eyebrow, taking a long sip of his vanilla latte.

I picked up my drink as if I could hide behind it and muttered a quiet "Yes."

He breathed a laugh and I started to feel uncomfortable. What was I supposed to say to him? He was equally as intimidating as he was sexy, and it was driving my hormones up the wall. He was undeniably the most attractive man I'd ever laid eyes on, and despite never being the type to throw myself at a man before, I decided to make an exception for him. Men this sexy don't buy you coffee every day.

"What's your name, beautiful?" he asked, staring at me through long black eyelashes.

I was so wrapped up in daydreaming about his lips on my neck that I almost didn't realize he'd asked me a question.

"Oh. Um..." I shook my head with a giggle, successfully embarrassing myself. "Kathleen. Kate. Everybody calls me Kate. Kate Crawford."

My lack of composure seemed to entertain him.

He probably doesn't think that's attractive at all, I thought to myself.

"Jesse Reese," the man introduced himself confidently. "Why haven't I seen you around here before, Kathleen?"

I cringed at the use of my full first name. No one called me that anymore, except my mother when she was angry with me. Everyone knew I didn't like it. Although, something about the way he said it made it less unappealing. Still, I didn't like it.

"Please... call me Kate."

"Kate," he corrected himself with a cheeky smirk. "Why haven't I met you before now?"

I didn't have an answer for that. I'd gotten coffee at the same place almost every weekday since I'd started at Satisfaction, and I'd never seen him before.

"I don't know," I shrugged. "I guess we just haven't noticed each other 'til now."

Feeling like I hadn't been doing the greatest job at grabbing his attention, I decided this was perfect timing to show off my assets.

I set my coffee down, slowly easing off my jacket in hopes of teasing him. I mimicked his earlier actions, draping it over the back of the chair. Noticing his gaze wandering down to my chest, I leaned forward, clasping my hands and placing my forearms on the table in a way that squeezed my breasts together, accentuating my cleavage. I was proud of my choice in wardrobe for the day. V-necks always did the trick.

I nearly broke into a happy dance when I saw that my plan had worked and Jesse's eyes were fixed on my chest, giving me goosebumps.

"Ya know..." I mocked him in a flirty tone, feeling extra confident. "It's not polite to stare."

Nailed it.

His eyes darted back to mine as he sucked in a deep breath and adjusted his position. I couldn't see it, but I could tell he was adjusting himself in his jeans.

"My apologies, love," he smirked. Holy hormones! "Maybe you'll let me make it up to you tonight."

"Tonight?"

I was surprised. I hadn't expected anything more than a coffee date with this man, but I certainly wasn't going to turn down seeing him again.

He nodded, licking his lip again. "Dinner?"

Hell yeah, I'll go to dinner with you!

Though I was definitely going to accept his offer, I acted as if I was considering it. I didn't want to appear clingy or overly anxious to see him again.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked, sipping my mocha.

"How 'bout Chardonnay?"

My jaw practically dropped. Chardonnay was the most expensive restaurant on the river. They had everything from Italian to Chinese to classic southern dishes, and all the finest wines, champagnes, and everything in between. I'd always wanted to eat there, but it was extremely high priced and I never found the time. Selena and I had been planning to have lunch there sometime since we couldn't afford the dinner menu.

Jesse must have a lot of money if he can afford dinner at Chardonnay, I thought to myself.

I almost felt bad for agreeing to his offer since it was so expensive, but the thought of having a classy dinner with an incredibly sexy man was the most appealing thing I'd heard since Mandy had mentioned the possible promotion.

"I'd love to." I smiled, handing him my phone so he could add his number to my contacts.

"Seven-thirty. Sharp."

He winked and got up, walking out of the coffee shop, and leaving me sitting there in a daze, imagining going home with him after dinner.