Land Deal Surprise (Closed for ms_tiff)

[Rocket1010]

always enjoyed the view from his upscale condo but this morning it was stunning. The skyline of downtown still had lights twinkling from the darkness of night but the eastern sky was filled with billowy white clouds. The rising sun, still hidden below the horizon, illuminated the clouds making them appear to be huge mountains.

Jack stood at the window like he did every morning looking out at the landscape, letting his thoughts take shape for the busy day ahead. At 32 he was on top of his game, owning a real estate and development company. Adams Real Estate dealt with the everyday business of buying and selling of houses, condos and apartments. JEA Properties, Inc., his development company, dealt with buying properties to build a variety of buildings from multi-family housing units to commercial endeavors. Most people didn't make the connection between the two companies and that was fine with him. One reason he used his initials for the development company was because, sometimes it was beneficial especially dealing with people who complained against his proposed developments at planning commission meetings.

He thought of the land deal he finalized yesterday involving the purchase of a two hundred acre site on the outskirts of the city. He and a group of investors planned to develop a planned housing community of single and multi-family structures. Jack smiled as his part of the deal was done, closing on the land and getting the contractors ready to bulldoze part of the woods. The township planning department was adamant they not take all the trees out and after lengthy negotiations, they agreed to save as many trees as they could. But Jack knew the contractors would not be so gentle and accidents do happen.

Today he was turning his attention to a land deal in the city. He was approached by some investors to buy a run-down park in the city that was an eyesore to the community, The investors want to develop the dilapidated park into upscale housing for affluent young professionals along with small shops. The meeting, scheduled for 9:00 o'clock, was the kick off discussions with the group of investors. The investors were silent partners who put up the capital and Jack was the man who they relied on to make it all happen. Once he and the investors developed their ideas and budgets, a meeting with the city's planning commission would be scheduled to run their ideas past them.

Jack was well aware of the potential resistance they would probably face. There was always some individuals or groups who oppose any changes to the landscape and he was sure this would be the case with the inner city property. It was his job to convince the planning commission and in some past cases, he had to resort to some handsome payoffs. Over the years he had been called everything in the book and at one meeting he was called the devil because he wanted to buy an old church and turn it into a restaurant and micro-brewery.

After dressing in his expensive suit, he drove his BMW downtown, parking in his usual parking garage with his own assigned parking spot. He paid a hefty monthly fee for the privilege but it was worth it. It was a short walk to his office building but the weather was absolutely gorgeous and he decided to stop at the small coffee shop down the street from his office. "A Little Slice of Heaven" was a quaint coffee shop offering breakfast and specialty coffees. The owner, Janice Whitmore, leased the space and through her hard work built a steady stream of loyal clientele. Jack usually stopped in to buy his coffee and take it to his office but today he decided to take the time to have a cup of coffee and look over the notes for his upcoming meeting.

After getting his black coffee and a Danish roll, he walked to the outdoor seating area, surprised to find all the tables taken by Janice's loyal patrons. One of Janice's wait-staff greeted him, telling him there were no empty tables. Jack looked over the small crowd and started to turn, thinking he would go to his office when he spotted a table occupied by a strikingly good looking woman. Walking to the table, he put on his best ..... Hey I'm a good guy smile ..... He noticed she was reading and didn't seem to notice him.

"Excuse me ma'am. I hate to intrude but would you mind if I have a seat here. I promise not to bother you. It's such a beautiful day and I would like to have my coffee and Danish outside before I go to dark recesses of my office." He smiled at her, thinking of his office on the 35th floor with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the downtown skyscrapers. It wasn't the dungeon he made it out to be but the weather was just too nice to spend it inside. When she looked up at him, he wondered if she would turn him down or would she allow him to share a table with her.

 

[ms_tiff]

Zoe Sharpe had been up since 4:30 that morning, just as she had been for every morning since her days as an undergrad. The early wake up time allowed her to check off as much as she could on the never ending list of To Dos that constantly swirled through her mind (not to mention the barrage of post-it notes that cluttered her desk). While many would bemoan the early hours, Zoe found she did her best work before dawn. Already she had gone for a run, finished a grant proposal, and responded to a number of e-mails. And it was barely eight o'clock.

Watching the hectic life of the city move around her as she sat at her favorite table at A Little Slice of Heaven, Zoe sipped quietly on the latte, which had been delivered to her before she barely even sat down. She'd been coming to the coffee shop every morning since she'd helped the owner, Janice Whitmore, and her aging mother with a lawsuit a few years back and the waitstaff knew her order by heart. Though she'd long since left her life as a lawyer behind, there was no way she would ever stop coming to the quaint shop.

After years of law school and serving as a junior partner at a prestigious firm, Zoe had grown jaded and had lost sight of why she'd started practicing law in the first place. Then Janice had walked through her door and Zoe found a chance at redemption. It hadn't been an easy transition to make, leaving a corner office and a five figure salary rarely is, but it had been well worth the sacrifices. At thirty, Zoe ran her own non-profit, SafeHaven and spent her days helping to bring joy back to the lives of children by rebuilding parks and rec centers throughout the city. The work, though not nearly as lucrative, was far more rewarding than anything Zoe had done before.

An open file spread across the table in front of her, a row of highlighters perched on the papers. Already the pages were lined with varying colors according to information. An errant strand of auburn hair kept falling into her eyes and, every time Zoe attempted to push it behind her ear, her fingers would dislodge the pen already in residence there.

"Thought you might need this," Courtney, the waitress assigned to the outdoor seating area, said as she swung past Zoe with a full tray of empty cups and placed a fresh latte on the table.

"You are a godsend." Zoe looked up from her reading just long enough to flash Courtney a grateful smile.

"Don't mention it. What's on the agenda today?" Courtney had volunteered a number of times for SafeHaven projects over the years.

"We're cutting the ribbon on the Green Leaf Park this afternoon." Zoe flipped through her phone's calendar. "Then I'm meeting with some of the guys from the Planning Commission to see if I can get a crew into that old park down by the community center."

"Busy day, then." Courtney gestured to an impatient customer, letting them know she'd be there momentarily.

"You're the one who's busy." Zoe cast a glance around the steadily filling area. "I don't think there's a single seat left around here."

"Yea, no rest for the weary." Courtney grinned and rolled her eyes before heading off to deal with the impatient customer, leaving Zoe to return to her file.

"Excuse me ma'am. I hate to intrude but would you mind if I have a seat here. I promise not to bother you. It's such a beautiful day and I would like to have my coffee and Danish outside before I go to dark recesses of my office."

Zoe looked up at the deep voice, ready to tell the man that she needed the whole table herself. But one look into those dark eyes staring back at her and she found herself nodding.

"Oh, of course. Here let me clear some space. I'm Zoe, by the way."

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack smiled at the woman seated at the table, extending a hand when she introduced herself. "Hello Zoe, I'm Jack. Nice to meet you and thanks for sharing your table."

Sitting down he noticed Zoe went back to reading some papers after she had picked up some of the papers she had laid out on the table. Jack noticed she had markers and some of the papers had highlighted sections that she obviously thought were important.

Picking up his envelope, he pulled the papers out detailing some of the thoughts his investors had in mind for the city park. Glancing over at Zoe, he saw her push a strand of Auburn hair out of one eye and push it behind her ear. She seemed to be engrossed in the papers she was reading and Jack decided not to interfere with her work. Instead he scanned his papers, sipping his coffee and small bites from the Danish roll and occasionally glancing over to check her out.

The small coffee shop was doing a good business and after a few minutes a waitress came up to their table. Jack read her name tag and when she asked him if there was anything else she could get him, he smiled. "Courtney I'm fine for now but thanks for asking." When she turned to walk away, he saw her nod to Zoe and smile. When Jack turned to look at his tablemate, her head was down, writing something on one of her tablets.

He was a bit surprised when the waitress didn't ask Zoe if she wanted anything but he could see she still had a full cup of what appeared to be a latte. He also noticed Zoe was not wearing any type of ring on the third finger of her left hand. 'Not married or engaged,' he thought as he turned his attention back to his papers.

Soon some of her papers were edging onto his side of the table and he saw the words SafeHaven and some sentences highlighted. "Excuse me Zoe but I couldn't help but see the words SafeHaven on one of your papers. Is that a half-way house?"

 

[ms_tiff]

After the initial novelty of an attractive man asking to sit at her table had worn off, Zoe dove back into her research with abandon. She was certainly aware of Jack sitting there, his suit perfectly tailored to show off the obviously masculine physique, but she had a job to do and could not allow him to distract her. The meeting with the planning commission was vital to securing the latest park project and Zoe had to double and triple check all of her numbers to make sure that she had the funding in place to start right away.

"Excuse me Zoe but I couldn't help but see the words SafeHaven on one of your papers. Is that a half-way house?"

His voice startled her, the pink highlighter slipping from her grip and flying onto the table beside them, much to the chagrin of that table's occupant.

"Sorry." Zoe muttered, sheepishly swiping the highlighter from the table as the customer glared at her. Turning to Jack she could feel the blush creeping up the back of her neck.

"No, actually, it's a non-profit that I run. We create safe spaces for inner-city kids to play."

The breeze was picking up and Zoe struggled to keep the hair out of her face. She twirled the errant strands into a messy bun, securing it with one of the extra highlighters.

"It takes up all my time, but I wouldn't have it any other way." She grinned, thinking of the ribbon cutting that would be happening in a few short hours. She could not wait to see the smiles on the children's faces as they flooded into their new playground.

Noticing the pages he held in his own hands, Zoe nodded her head towards them.

"And what is it that you do, Jack?"

 

[Rocket1010]

He was surprised too when the highlighter flew out of her hand and onto the next table. The man seemed annoyed to see something unexpectantly almost land in his coffee. But Jack was impressed how quickly Zoe handled the situation. Some people he knew would quickly take offense to the man's menacing

Jack listened to her tell him that SafeHaven was a non-profit she ran for inner-city kids to play. He felt a little foolish, thinking it was a halfway house for drug and alcohol rehabilitation but he smiled when she fixed her blowing hair with a highlighter.

He could tell from the sound of her voice that she really enjoyed her work. Seeing her glance at his papers, he gave her a soft smile when asked what he did. He thought of telling her about his development company but decided not to.

"I'm in real estate selling homes, commercial properties, and condos. My office is just up the street and I usually stop here on my way to the office and grab some coffee to take up to my office. I never seem to have enough time to just sit and relax before a busy day. But I'm glad I took the time today," he said with a slight inflection in his voice, wanting to see if there was any interest in his last sentence.

"Do you want to buy a house? I can make you a real great deal," he joked as another gust of wind came up threatening to scatter their papers around the outdoor seating area. Grabbing the sheets, he held them down and then gathered them together before handing them back to her.

After gathering the papers and getting them straight, Jack took a sip of coffee and glancing around at the other patrons. Courtney approached the table and Jack smiled at the waitress when she asked if he wanted a refill. "Yes that would be great Courtney."

He decided to spend more time at the coffee house than he was planning but then with a beautiful table mate why would he want to rush off.

 

[ms_tiff]

"Oh, I see, you asked to sit with me in order to make a sale." Zoe teased, her fingers dancing over the rim of her latte mug. "Well you'll have to try harder than that because your charm won't work on me, Sir."

She cocked her head, studying Jack. He was handsome, she'd give him that, but there was something else about him that drew her in. Usually "business tycoon" wasn't her type, but Zoe was willing to give him a chance. If he could prove he deserved one.

"You know, I'm here every morning, but I don't think I've seen you around before." Zoe sat back in her seat, getting comfortable. The millions of things on her To Do list falling to the back of her mind. "And I think I would have noticed someone like you."

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack chuckled at her comment about trying to get her to buy a house and then adding that he would have to try harder because his charm won't work on her. Her comment brought to mind a few women in the past who he was able to charm with a little wit. Looking at Zoe, staring at him, he wondered what it would take to get to know her better.

He was about to respond to remark when she told she was at the coffee shop every morning but she didn't see him before. He saw the twinkle in her eye as she added that she would have noticed him.

"Ohhh I see. You check out all the eligible bachelors that come here," he laughed as Courtney approached the table. She gave him a smile while setting down the coffee in front of him. He waited until she left to attend to other customers before turning back to Zoe.

"I usually come here earlier than I did today. I get my coffee to go and take it back to my office. But I'm glad I took the time today to enjoy the beautiful morning and I also got to meet you." There was something about her that struck a chord inside him. She seemed so different than the other women he dated. He could tell she was well educated and from her talk about the inner city kids, she seemed like a very passionate woman.

"I know if I had seen you sitting all alone when I came here, I would have tried to meet you before now. Besides you don't know what kind of great deal I could make for you on a beautiful house." Jack smiled as she looked at him and before she could say a word, he added, "I have a busy day with meetings and other things. How would you like to have dinner with me tonight and I can try to sell you a big beautiful house." He had no idea where she lived but he hoped she would accept his offer so he could get to know her better.

 

[ms_tiff]

Zoe prided herself on her ability to see through people's bullshit. Growing up in the life that she had, she'd had to learn at an early age to cut through the flattery and charm that people laid on when she was around. Though Jack reminded her of the men she'd met in the past, there was something different about him. Something that didn't have her BS Alarm blaring in her head.

Head cocked to the side, Zoe studied him. Taking in the way that he moved, his effortless smile, the gracious nod he gave to Courtney. Yes, there was something different about him. Something that intrigued her.

"How would you like to have dinner with me tonight and I can try to sell you a big beautiful house."

"You are persistent, I'll give you that." She chuckled. A moment passed, Zoe bit her lip as she reached for a pen and one of the clean napkins tucked under her latte mug. "I don't normally do this," she scribbled on the napkin and quickly, before she could rethink it, handed it to Jack, "but here. Call me and I'll see if I can schedule you in." With a wink she packed up her papers and, giving Jack a backward wave, walked away. Zoe had always loved the dramatic exit.






"I want to thank everyone who has helped in this endeavor. Whether it was through donating funds or supplies, volunteering your labor or bringing water and food for the workers, you have all had a hand in building this park." Zoe looked out over the crowd that had gathered at Green Leaf Park. Three months ago the land they stood on had been nothing more than a dumping ground, an area littered with the remains of beer bottles and drug paraphernalia. Now, here they stood on a beautifully green lawn with brand new benches and flower gardens, and a state of the art jungle gym and swing set.

"We honestly could not have done this without you." She continued, pride swelling within her as she saw the kids, the anticipation making them antsy as their mother's tried to keep them calm. "So, without further ado." She held up the giant scissors and snipped the ribbon. "Enjoy!"

As the children ran past her in a wave of energy and excitement, Zoe stepped back, watching them with a grin. This was why she did what she did. Moments just like this.

"Another rousing speech boss lady." Mike, her right hand man, stepped up beside her. "Here," he tossed Zoe's cell phone to her. Never wanting it to distract her from an opening, Zoe always entrusted the device to Mike during events. "Some dude's left you like ten messages since we got here."

"Ten? Dude, it says two missed calls." Zoe shook her head. "Why must men always exaggerate." She rolled her eyes good-naturedly before stepping to the side to check her voicemail. Her grin growing, inexplicably, as she heard Jack's deep voice coming through.

"Hey, Mike, I'll be right back. I need to return this call."

He waved her away with a knowing smile.

Zoe waited until she was safely tucked inside her car, away from prying ears, before calling Jack.

"Hi, stranger," she said, "took you long enough to call."

 

[Rocket1010]

When Zoe told him he was persistent and then chuckled, he gave her a warm smile and nodded. He was known to his colleagues to be persistent, usually getting what he wanted from the land deal he negotiated. He wondered what would happen next, seeing her bite her lip in thought. A smile crossed his face when she picked up a pen and wrote something on a napkin, telling him she normally didn't do this kind of thing.

Taking the napkin from her small hand, he looked at her phone number, memorizing it as she winked, telling him to call her and she would she could schedule him in. He laughed at her comical comment knowing that she was interested in him or she wouldn't have given him her phone number sitting with him for a short time.

While she quickly packed her papers into a brief case, he said, "I'll call you if I have a spare minute." They both knew he would be calling her later in the day, asking her again for a dinner date. He waved at her as he turned and walked away, not bother in to look back.

Jack looked at his watch, seeing that his meeting was due to start shortly. Janice, the coffee shop owner came out just as he was rising from his chair. "Hi Jack, I see you met Zoe," she said with a bright smile.

"Yes I did and I enjoyed briefly talking to her. I asked her out for dinner but she said she would have to check her schedule to see if she could work me in."

Janice looked at him and then let out a loud cheerful laugh. "I would say you need to make sure you call her. She'd be a good catch," she said as she wiped off a table.

"I'll remember that," he laughed walking out to the busy street, joining the rest of the people making their way to their places of employment.

*************************************************************

John Jameson, Chuck Medfield, and Horace Williams were waiting for Jack as he walked out of the elevators into his front office. Gayle, his trusted receptionist, was telling the men she would show them to the conference room and asked if they would like coffee and water. Jack told them to get situated and he would join them in a minute. Going to his office, he picked up the rest of the files and headed to meet the men.

The meeting was lasting longer than Jack expected as the men outlined the proposal for turning the city park into an upscale neighborhood. Looking at the wall clock, he saw it was almost lunch time. "Why don't we break for lunch," he suggested. The men agreed and they walked down to a quiet restaurant near the office building.

On the way Jack called the number Zoe had written down but she didn't answer. Listening to her soft sensual voice, he smiled. "Hello Zoe this Jack from this morning. I hope you are having a great day. Just checking to see if you found time in your schedule to have dinner with me tonight."

The men had a leisurely lunch, discussing the pros and cons of the project. John Jameson had made his millions on Wall Street and when the subject of the Planning Commission came up, he shrugged his shoulders. "Don't worry about the Commission members. Some of them owe me favors for ..... let's say lucrative stock tips. I don't think they want to bite the hand that feeds them."

Chuck Medfield and Horace Williams looked at John with smug smiles on their faces. Chuck had made his money in the clothing industry rubbed his hands together. "I know what you mean John. Some of them come into my stores and I give them some special rates on new suits

Horace, who made his money in the construction industry smiled. "I can't say I have anything on the Commission members but I'm sure I can convince them building in the dilapidated park will put some money into their coffers."

Jack listened to the men as they started bragging about their prowess of persuasion with different projects. His mind strayed, thinking of the young woman with auburn hair. He wondered what she was doing and excused himself from the group to use the restroom.

Afterwards, he looked at his phone seeing that she had not returned his call. Punching in her number again, he heard the constant ringing and then her voice again telling whoever to leave a message. "Hey this is Jack the insistent one calling to see if you have a crack in your busy schedule. I'll try later," he said wondering if he was getting the cold shoulder from her.

Back at the office, the meeting with the investors dragged on for about an hour as they looked at artist's renderings of the buildings showing shops and apartments. Jack smiled at the renderings which to him, looked glorious but in reality they never took on the color shown by the artist.

When the men were gone, Jack sat in his large leather chair staring out over the skyline of the downtown area. Somewhere out there was a woman who seemed to have captivated his thoughts. He tried to remember if he had seen her sitting at the outdoor coffee shop but he couldn't recall ever seeing her before today. Picking up his phone he promised that this would be his last call if she didn't answer or return his call.

On the sixth ring, he was resigned to the fact that he was not going to talk to Zoe. 'Maybe she was just leading him on and had no intention of answering his call when he heard a woman's voice."

"Hi, stranger. Took you long enough to call."

Jack chuckled. "Yea they say the third time is a charm," he said making sure she knew he had called her before and she had not answered. Hearing her laugh on the other end of the receiver and before she had a chance to say anything, he added, "listen I know of a nice quiet restaurant for dinner. What do you say I pick you up about 7 tonight and you can tell me about your day and I can try to sell you a house you don't need but would love?"

 

[ms_tiff]

Zoe slammed her messenger bag down on the desk with an angry huff before throwing herself into the chair. Like a toddler throwing a tantrum she crossed her arms and scowled at the files that slid out of the bag.

"Let me guess, the planning commission is tripping all over themselves to give us that land." Mike, used to Zoe's tempers, quipped from his seat at the desk across from hers.

Was it too unprofessional to stick one's tongue out at a co-worker? Zoe considered it briefly before optiong to throw one of the many stress-balls that lined her desk at his head. Mike ducked it easily.

How had her day turned so horrible so quickly? Zoe lay her head on the desk, defeated. Things had been going so wonderfully for her, she should have known better than to walk into that meeting thinking that the planning commission would just hand over that land. Those greedy bastards met with her as a formality only; that was clear from the moment she walked into the room. No, they were all but salivating over the monetary benefits of handing the land off to another interested party.

"I don't want to talk about it," her voice was muffled as she refused to look up as she heard Mike's chair squeak against the floor.

"Alright, get up you big baby, we're going to re-strategize and come at this from another angle." She could feel him pulling on her shoulder, trying to force her to sit up.

Pouting, Zoe allowed him to prop her up. If she had to rework her strategy, fine, but she wasn't going to be happy about it.




Though the rest of her afternoon completely sucked, at least Zoe had a date that night to look forward to. She'd gotten back to her condo a little before six and with just over an hour to get ready had decided not to put too much effort into her appearance. If Jack didn't like that, while then he wasn't a guy she needed to waste her time on.

So, seven o'clock on the dot, Zoe stood in the reception area of her building dressed in black skinny jeans that hugged the feminine curve of her waist, a ruby red peplum top with wide black belt, and black knee-high stiletto boots. Her hair was loose, hanging over her shoulders in messy waves.

"Long time no see," she said, her lips turning up into a teasing smile as Jack walked through the door.

 

[Rocket1010]

The soft sound of her voice was still ringing in his head after he hung up from talking to Zoe. He was elated that she would go with him and he was looking forward to seeing her again. Looking at his watch, he noted that he had a few hours to kill before he was to pick her up at 7:00 o'clock.

Busying himself with mundane office work, he was about to leave when Janice, his secretary, buzzed him, saying he had an important call from John Jameson. He knew it had to be important and wondered if something changed from their earlier meeting.

"Hey John, what can I do for you?" he said with a smile.

"Listen Jack. I just got off the phone with the President of the Planning Commission about our project. Seems we are not the only ones interested in the land."

"Who could be interested in the land John? Are we competing with another developer?"

"I don't know the facts and he wouldn't tell me who the other interested party was but I got the feeling he was getting some pressure."

Jack's face scrunched up in thought as to who could possibly want the dilapidated land in the middle of a busy downtown. The land was well suited to be developed for the up and coming younger generation. "John we need to find out who the other interested party is so we can figure out how to attack this issue."

"I don't know if we will have the time. The President said he is going to get with the rest of his Board and have a special meeting."

"When will that be?" he asked thinking of his busy schedule and wondering what he would have to re-schedule in order to meet with the Planning Commission.

"He said something about next week or the week after. He wants to have both parties present their information to the Board at the meeting." Jack could hear the silence on the other end of the line, knowing John was waiting for some kind of answer.

"Ok. We need to make some changes to the drawings we discussed at the meeting today and let's plan to meet in a couple of days to strategize. And in the meantime, see what you can find out about our competition."

"Will do Jack. I'll let you know when we can all meet."

Jack heard silence on the other end of the line and his mind was racing, wondering who could want the dilapidated land. He thought of several competing developers who may have an interest. Jack had been through this in the past and he was confident he could make a compelling argument to the Planning Commission to let his group of investors develop the land.

Finishing up some other loose ends, he smiled as he almost always did when he left the office, satisfied with how the day went. Only the smile was broader with the thought in his head of seeing Zoe in a couple of hours.

At home he took off his three piece suit and decided he would be more casual tonight. At first, he planned to take her to swanky restaurant and impress her but somehow that didn't seem to fit with how they met. Putting on a new baby blue shirt with a few buttons left open and brown trousers, he looked in the mirror and after a few adjustments was ready to meet Zoe for the second time.

The address she gave him was near the downtown and in an upscale neighborhood with houses and condos. He was familiar with the area, having sold a few of the high end houses. Locating the condo, he wondered if he was undressed. He admonished himself for not telling her he was taking her to a small Italian restaurant.

When he pulled up, he saw a woman standing in the lobby area watching as he approached. At first he didn't think it was Zoe. This woman was dressed very casually, wearing skin-tight black jeans, a ruby red peplum top, and black knee-high stiletto boots. There was no mistaking that infectious smile he remembered from this morning. She looked so different than this morning, her loose, hanging over her shoulders in messy waves. She looked so sexy in that outfit. He smiled at her when he opened the door to her say teasingly "Long time no see,"

"Yes it has been a long time," he laughed giving her a hug. The smell of her perfume met his nostrils and he remembered the same fragrance from this mornings meeting. "Your carriage awaits," he laughed pointing to his BMW parked at the curb.

Jack noticed her scanning the vehicle as they walked the short distance from the building. When they were in the car, he noticed how the seat belt pressed between her breasts as he started the engine. "I was thinking Italian tonight. I know this great little restaurant along the river with great food and views. Afterwards I thought we could hit one of the dance clubs along the river. If that is alright with you ........ unless you have a curfew."

He chuckled softly after he said it and wondered if she was up for a night on the town.

 

[ms_tiff]

Jack didn't so much walk as he did saunter into the building. The man's confidence was palpable and filled the air around him. Taking in his casual appearance - so different from the perfectly tailored suit and tie that morning, but no less expensively cut - Zoe had to admit that the man oozed confidence and raw sexuality. If she were the girly-girl type she would have swooned at the sight of him. Her gaze gravitated to the buttons left undone on Jack's shirt, the collar pulled to tease Zoe with just a hint of masculine skin.

He greeted her with a hug; the embrace engulfing her in the manly scent of soap and musk. Too often men over did it on the cologne, but Jack's scent was purely natural, making it all that more intoxicating. Stifling the urge to bury her nose in his neck - since when did she ever have that desire? - Zoe stepped back and bit back a giggle - a giggle? really? Zoe did not, on principle, giggle - as Jack gestured to his car.

Zoe was keenly aware of Jack's hand hovering just over the small of her back as he led her out to the curb. Her gaze swept over the BMW, appreciating the fine lines of the car as Jack held the passenger door open for her.

"No curfew." She replied with a teasing smile, noticing his eyes resting briefly on the swell of her breasts. "I won't turn into a pumpkin any time soon. Though I have to warn you, I have two left feet. So you may have to take the lead." She tapped her heels together playfully as her lips quirked into a suggestive smirk. Just because her day had turned to crap didn't mean it had to end that way.

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack let out a soft chuckle when she told him she didn't have a curfew. "Well I'm glad you won't have to run out on me at the stroke of midnight. But if you did I won't have to search the entire kingdom to find the lovely woman wearing black knee-high stiletto boots. It would be hard to have one of those fall off your feet if you run away," he teased.

there was something about Zoe that was so different than other women he dated. She didn't seem to be overly impressed with herself like some of his past dates. No, he sensed she was more of a down to earth type of woman and he wanted to know more about her.

Arriving at Antonio's Fine Italian Restaurant, he noticed the smile on the face of the young man when he opened the door for her at the valet station. There was no doubt to anyone that he was drinking in Zoe's outfit, savoring the curves of her body. Jack coughed and the boy gave him a guilty look, as he came around to the driver's side. When the boy sheepishly got behind the wheel, Jack held out his arm for Zoe to take. He looked over at his date. 'That boy had a right to stare at her. She exudes sensuality," he thought as they walked into the restaurant.

Antonio greeted Jack with a wave and smile. "You have been gone too long," the older man said in broken English. He looked at Zoe, hugging her and then kissing her on the cheek. "Ahhh such a beautiful woman," he said taking her hands into his as he stepped back and looked into her eyes. "Jack you have hit the jackpot," he added with a boisterous laugh. "You come. I have your special table," he added guiding them through the restaurant to an outdoor section overlooking the river.

When they were seated, Antonio waved, signaling a waiter. "You take special care of my guests."

Jack saw the look on Zoe's face and he knew the question was coming. "I helped him start the restaurant and he thinks he owes me something every time I come in." Jack chuckled thinking about how he helped him change the zoning and how he helped him develop the property.

The waiter brought a bottle of wine and after pouring two glasses, Jack raised his glass to Zoe. "Here's to a wonderful night with a beautiful woman," he toasted clinking his glass against hers.

 

[ms_tiff]

Zoe sipped the wine in her glass, her eyes closing and a soft moan of delight on her lips as she tasted one of the best reds she'd ever had.

"Wow, that is delicious." She smiled at Jack, her gaze meeting his. "Nothing beats a good bottle of wine. Well...good sex maybe, but it's a close tie."

Okay, maybe she was being too forward, but it had been two months - or was it three? Could even have been four, but Zoe was too busy to keep track - since she'd been on a date let alone had sex. Even if the date ended up sucking, Zoe wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to see if Jack lived up to the fantasies that had been running through her mind since they'd met.

"So tell me, Jack, aside from your side job as a good Samaritan, any other secrets I should know about you?" Zoe asked, leaning forward and propping her chin in her hand. Her fingers toying with the rim of her wine glass as she studied the man across from her.

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack was pleased when Zoe told him the wine was delicious. But he didn't expect her to tell how nothing beats a good bottle of wine except maybe sex. He looked at her over the rim of his wine glass seeing a twinkle in her eyes as she took another sip. He wondered if she was joking with him about the wine and sex and was about to give her his answer when she asked about any other secrets she should know about.

He smiled, watching her lean forward, her chin in her hand and the fingers of her other hand toying with the rim of her wine glass. The way her eyes were gazing at him, he knew she was interested in him.

He too leaned on table with one arm on the table and the other one tracing the outline of his wine glass. Leaning a little more toward her as if they were telling secrets no one else should hear, he gave her a mischievous smile.

"First of all Zoe, I have always thought sex was better than wine." He paused for a moment to let his words sink in. "With the right woman, sex can be absolutely fantastic." Pulling back just a bit he knew he had her attention.

He thought about some secrets he kept from some of his associates, wondering if he should tell her about some of his fantasies and kinks. But how do you tell a woman you just met that you have certain fetishes that some women find interesting and others find repulsive. Should he tell her about his desire to tie her up and have sensual sex with her, making her squirm as he teased her until she is begging him to let her orgasm. Or should he tell her about his association with a group of individuals who like exhibitionism and voyeurism, who get together on a regular basis and enjoy various sexual acts which sometimes lead to orgies. He thought about the get-together this weekend and wondered if they hit it off, if he should inviter her.

He had a feeling she would fit in well with his group but this was a first date and if it turned out horrible he didn't want to let the cat out of the bag, so to speak. No it was not best to give ones secrets away all at once. If they hit it off socially and sexually, he would introduce her to some of his other fetishes.

Giving her a sly smile, he said. "If I tell you all my secrets then there is nothing more for you to know or learn about me. It is always good to have some secrets so when you find them you are surprised and interested. But you did ask and I'll tell you one."

Jack picked up the glass of wine and stared at his date over the rim of the glass as he took a sip. Putting down the glass, he again leaned forward, wondering how she would take what he was about to tell her, knowing it was a risk. But with it he would know where he stood with her and if she was put off by what he was about to say.

"Ever since this morning when our lives crossed, I have thought about you all day, even during some of my meetings. I have certain interest and one of them would be to hold you in my arms and kiss you." He wanted to tell her he would love to see her model some sexy lingerie but for now on a first date, he settled for the kiss. If things progressed like he thought, he would ask her to model for him.

"So I have told you one of mine. What about you Zoe? What delicious secrets do you have to share?"

 

[ms_tiff]

"Only kiss?" Zoe's eyebrow quirked in question and a teasing smile tipped the corners of her mouth. Though she wasn't usually one to be so forward, Zoe thought Jack might appreciate if she were to lay everything out on the table and 'shoot straight' as the business lingo went.

"My secret," she leaned in close, her voice taking on a seductive lilt as they sat, nearly nose to nose, "is that I haven't been able to stop thinking about you either. And I've been dreaming about more than just a kiss." The toe of her boot brazenly toyed with hem of Jack's pant leg, making it clear exactly what Zoe had been thinking. "Tell me, Jack, are you a man who takes control or do you like a woman to make the first move."

Zoe leaned in closer, her words a soft teasing breath on his lips. Her gaze slid down to his lips, his masculine kissable lips. The tip of her tongue grazed her upper lip as she debated if she should close the gap or hope that he was as smart as he seemed and take the hint. The seconds stretched between them, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

Oh fuck it, Zoe thought as she closed the minuscule gap and brushed her lips against Jack's. His scruff tickled her chin as she tilted her head, parting her lips, hoping he'd take the bait.

 

[Rocket1010]

A smile creased his face when she teasingly told him that only a kiss was his secret. He watched as she leaned closer, their noses so close as she told him she was dreaming of more than just a kiss. As she told him, he felt the toe of her boot, brushing suggestively against his ankle. There was no doubt in his mind where this was leading.

Listening to her ask if he was a man who takes control or have the woman make the first move. When her head moved closer, he saw her eyes glance down toward his lips, it seemed as if time stood still. He thought of her words about taking control but with her, the her words a soft teasing breath on his lips. Her gaze slid down to his lips, his masculine seductive teasing was over.

When her lips brushed softly against his, he said, "I am a man who takes control." Then his lips pressed firmer against her soft lips, his tongue slipping out to run suggestively between her lips, not diving in but giving her a small taste. He let out a soft moan when he felt her tongue slip out to meet his and then he sucked on its tip as if he were sucking her clit.

Jack thought to pull away but the taste of lips ignited a fire inside him. The table was the only obstacle between them. If they were in his house, he would have pulled over the top of the table, but they were in a restaurant.

Breaking the kiss, he felt that his breathing had quickened from the sensual kiss. Taking her hands in his and staring into her sparkling eyes, he smiled. "I know of a delicious dessert for you Zoe," he smiled leaving no doubt what he had in mind. What he didn't tell her was where he planned to give it to her.

 

[ms_tiff]

Zoe whimpered as Jack took control of the kiss, sucking on her tongue in a way that made her mind go to dirty places and shocks of pleasure to settle between her legs. Her body was overwhelmed by him; by his smell, his touch, his mouth. If it weren't for that damned table between them Zoe would have wrapped her body around his and never let go.

Then, all too soon, it was over and Zoe fell back into her seat weak-kneed. It had been too long since a man had taken control and kissed her like that. Jack was just what she needed at the moment. And if he fucked as well as he kissed then Zoe knew she was in for a treat.

"I know of a delicious dessert for you Zoe," his strong hands wrapped around hers as he held her gaze. His tone left no question in her mind what he meant.

"Dessert just happens to be my favorite part of the meal." Zoe grinned, her fingers toying with his.

 

[Rocket1010]

The kiss ignited a firestorm of lust in him. He felt the first wave of sensations in his balls as their hands intertwined, their eyes studying each other's face. He wished they were not at a restaurant but somewhere else when the waitress came with their meals, Jack reluctantly let go of her hands. When he looked at the waitress, seeing a knowing smile on her face. She evidently had seen the kiss and from his perspective, she approved.

When the waitress left them alone again, Jack looked around the outdoor patio seeing some of the patrons looking in their direction. He didn't care what they thought about the kiss. His mind was still dwelling on her words that dessert happened to be the favorite part the meal. There was no mistaking the meaning and his appetite for food was gone, replaced with a hunger to have Zoe.

While he picked at his lasagna and taking an occasional sip of wine, his leg slipped forward under the table. 'Two can play this game,' he thought running the toe of his shoe up and down the inside of her calf.

He thought of the place he planned to take her as he took another sip of wine. It was not far from the restaurant and near the river. "I like to take my time with my dessert making sure that I savor every last morsel. In fact after I taste my dessert for the first time, I like taste it over and over and I like my dessert to last into the early morning hours."

He put his fork down on the half eaten plate of lasagna and smiled at his beautiful date. "Tell me Zoe what kind of dessert do you like," he asked with a sweet innocent smile knowing she knew what he was meaning.

 

[ms_tiff]

It seemed that neither of them could focus on dinner. Not when the temptation of desert hung between them. Zoe sipped her wine, savoring the taste as she felt Jack's foot brush against her calf. This was a man who knew what he wanted, a trait that Zoe admired. She wondered if he was this demanding in the bedroom.

"I like to take my time with my dessert making sure that I savor every last morsel. In fact after I taste my dessert for the first time, I like taste it over and over and I like my dessert to last into the early morning hours."

His voice was low, a sensual growl meant only for her ears. Zoe watched Jack's lips as he spoke, each word sending shivers down her spine. Her stomach knotted pleasantly, a sensation that settled between her thighs and had her squirming in her seat. If only they weren't in public Zoe would have Jack take her right then and there.

"Tell me Zoe what kind of dessert do you like," he asked with a sweet innocent smile.

That smile nearly did her in. Innocently cunning and enough to make her toes curl inside her boots. This man knew exactly what he was doing to her. Zoe could feel herself getting wet as he stared her down.

"Hmm, now that's a tough question, Jack." Zoe smiled at him, taking a sip of her wine. She played with her fork, picking at the manicotti that she'd barely touched. "I'd have to say I like a dessert that's filling. I have a big appetite for sweets and I need something that can keep me satisfied." Her eyes locked with Jack's, Zoe slowly licked the sauce off her fork. "I like a treat that melts on my tongue. Do you have something like that for me?"

 

[Rocket1010]

Jack had watched her eyes survey his face as he told her about what he liked for dessert, seeing that his words were having an affect on her just as her sexual innuendoes were having on him. The sexual tension was building as he gave her an innocent sensual smile, waiting for her answer to his question.

When she told him if was a tough question, he wondered how she was in bed. Was she the sweet quiet type or was she a wildcat? He had a feeling she was both depending on the man and the situation.

He watched as she moved her food around with her fork. It was evident she was like him, not hungry for food but hungry for something more sexual. After listening to her tell him, "I'd have to say I like a dessert that's filling. I have a big appetite for sweets and I need something that can keep me satisfied."he took a sip of wine, digesting her words.

The way she licked her fork was intentional. She was silently conveying what she wanted and then she told him she liked a treat that melts on her tongue, asking suggestively if he had something like that for her.

Slipping a shoe off his right foot, he gave her another sensual smile as he pushed his stocking foot higher between her thighs. "Yes Zoe I do have something for you that will satisfy you," he said wiggling his toes against the triangle between her thighs. He was going to give her what she wanted and more, thinking of the night ahead.

The feeling of his cock thickening in his trousers, made him shift a little, trying to get more comfortable. In a low sensual voice he added, "I have something that will stay hard for as long as you want to satisfy yourself. It won't melt in your mouth right away like some desserts, but rather stay hard for a long time. It is filled with a sweet filling that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth."

Jack saw the waitress approach the table, asking if everything was alright since they didn't eat their food. "Please put these in a bag for us. Tell Antonio we are going to take a walk and will be back to get them later."

When the waitress left with their plates, Jack looked into Zoe's eyes. "Are you ready for that dessert you desire Zoe?"

 

[ms_tiff]

God she wanted him more than she'd ever wanted any man. Jack made her squirm with the slightest quirk of his lips, the arch of a brow. The pressure of his foot between her thighs made her wet. Biting her lip to keep back a moan, Zoe met his gaze head on, letting Jack see the fire that burned there. His words teased her, made her crave more. If only they weren't surrounded by people Zoe would have him take her right there on the table.

The waitress's presence barely registered in Zoe's mind as the plates disappeared from their table. All she could focus on was the feel of Jack's foot pressing against her and the thought of how it would feel to have something else pressed between her thighs.

"Are you ready for that dessert you desire Zoe?"

His words alone were enough to make her wet. A slow, sensuous smile tugged at her lips.

"Lead the way." She replied. "I cannot wait for dessert. I've been craving it since we sat down to dinner."

 

[Rocket1010]

Pulling his foot from between her thighs, he thought he felt some damp on the bottom of his toes when he slipped his shoe back onto his foot. He had enjoyed teasing her with his foot, feeling her squirm a little in her seat as he wiggled his toes against her sex. He wanted something more than his toes poking at what was for sure a hot cave.

Jack saw the sensuous smile on her lips as they got up from the table. "I'm glad you're still hungry after that big meal and I'm especially happy you saved room for dessert," he laughed, thinking of how little each of them ate.

When they got to the front door, Antonio met them asking if something was wrong with the meal. Jack explained that the meal was indeed delicious but they both found they didn't have a big appetite today. He added that he wanted to show Zoe the boardwalk down by the river. Antonio seemed satisfied with Jack's answer and promised to have their food bags ready when they came back.

While Antonio's place overlooked the river, a boardwalk, constructed by the city for pedestrians ran along the river bank . Jack noticed a number of people on the boardwalk as they walked toward it. Some were walking while others sat on benches taking in the sight of the river and the downtown landscape.

Jack put his arm around Zoe as they walked toward the boardwalk, explaining that he knew of an area to get under the boardwalk that was used by city inspectors to inspect the wood structure for any deterioration. As they walked he wondered how far their desires would take them. He thought of how he could shed her of the black skinny jeans and black knee-high stiletto boots. The ruby red peplum top would not be a problem with the black belt used to hold it against her.

When they arrived at the boardwalk, they walked past people until he pulled her to the side and into a small structure with steps leading under the boardwalk. Under the boardwalk was a system of beams and columns holding up the boardwalk. Walking a short distance under the boardwalk, he turned to Zoe, pushing her against a large circular post.

"I too have been wanting this since we met," he said, taking her into his arms and pressing her against the wooden post. The sound of people milling about above them made it all the more dangerous of being caught. Leaning forward he pressed his lips against hers feeling her body meld against his.

 

[ms_tiff]

Honestly Zoe hadn't heard a word that Jack said as he led her down to the boardwalk, his arm wrapped casually around her waist. Her body burned beneath her clothing, coming alive at the slightest touch. She didn't care where they were headed. She only hoped that it was somewhere secluded where they could relieve a little of the...tension building between them.

When he led her beneath the boardwalk, the water lapping at the shoreline beneath them, Zoe felt her heart beat faster in anticipation. Her body melted into his as he pulled her close, her fingers tangling in his hair in an effort to pull him closer. The wooden beam was rough against her back, scraping through the light fabric of her top like a lover's fingernails. Her body screamed for more - more of Jack's body pressed against her, more of his kiss, more of that tongue that swept over her lips eliciting a soft moan.

The sound of night revelers drifted into the background as Zoe's body sang with pleasure from Jack's touch. Parting her lips she brushed her tongue against his as she pressed herself against his hardness.

"I want you." She panted as they parted, briefly, for air. Her lips wrapped around Jack's earlobe, suckling, her teeth nipping at the sensitive flesh. "I want you so badly it hurts."

 

[Rocket1010]

The kiss was full of passion and expectations of erotic things to come as their lips danced together. Jack's tongue met hers with equal zeal, touching, feeling, and flicking against hers. As their bodies moved together as one, the craving grew inside him, wanting her.

When Jack heard the soft moan escape from Zoe's mouth into his, he moaned in return. Pressing his body against hers, he felt her breasts sliding against his as his thigh slid between hers, rubbing against her covered sex, his hardness evident with each movement against her. Though they had met only this morning, it seemed to Jack an erotic magnetism formed between them.

He looked at her when the kiss broke momentarily as she panted, telling him she wanted him and then nicked at his earlobe. Her nibbling and words that she wanted him and it hurt so bad sent a shuddering wave through his body. His manhood twitched inside his trousers.

Breathing heavier, he pulled away, his lips resting against hers as his eyes stared in her hypnotic eyes. "And have me you shall," he whispered pressing his lips against hers for a long fervent kiss while his hands moved up and down her sides, moving from the softness of her top to the roughness of her jeans.

His tongue danced with hers, sliding in and out seductively, sucking on hers when she ventured into his mouth. And when the kiss ended, his lips found her cheek, kissing to her ear. "Your dessert is just about ready for you," he moaned as his right hand found her long strands of hair. Pulling her head back, his lips trailed down to her shoulder, kissing and sucking on the soft skin.

Jack heard laughter from above cascading over the rails of the boardwalk. He was hungry for her and he wanted her. This was not a place to dawdle, rather it was a place to satisfy a deep lusting for each other. Later, he hoped, he would take his time to devour her body at his leisure.

His left hand, resting on her ass cheek, moved to unbuckle the belt holding her top tightly to her body, letting it fall to the ground. Sliding up under the soft material, Jack's fingers found the button and zipper of her jeans, making quick work to undo them. As his hand slid inside in search of her womanhood, he moaned into her ear, "I can't wait to serve you your dessert."