Moment of Weakness - The Esquire Girls Series - Hailey (Book 1) by Cassie-Ann L. Miller

Chapter 1
     
    New York! New York!
     
    Concrete jungle where starry-eyed girls and optimistic guys come to make their wildest dreams come true.
     
    It’s been months since I moved here from a little town outside of Austin. I’ve seen spring turn to summer turn to fall. And, even now as winter threatens its approach with the first lazy snowflakes fluttering in the sky, I still find myself in awe of the city’s vibrancy and dynamism and intensity. Every morning as I make the short walk from Union Square station to the offices of Cartwright Moretti Stevenson where I intern, I fall in love with the city all over again.
     
    Stepping out of the subway and onto the busy sidewalk, I’m greeted by the frenzied energy of Manhattan at the morning rush hour. Loud car horns, blaring sirens and herds of pedestrians who could bowl you over without even noticing it. Despite the chaos, I love New York and there’s no other place I’d rather be. This city makes me feel alive. Invincible. Like I can take on the world. And I have every intention of doing just that.
     
    I love New York.
     
    From the street performers beating their drums and playing music…To the hawkers who continue to hustle late into the night…To the men.
     
    My god, the men .
     
    I have a particular weakness for the tall, lean business-man types with their carefully tussled hair and not a hint of stubble adorning their chiseled chins, exuding success, confidence and raw sex with their every movement.
     
    I could say that I moved here to finish my law degree at NYU or to take advantage of the internship opportunity I was offered at one of the country’s top corporate/commercial law firms. But the truth is, I could have finished my degree at the University of Texas where I started it and I had more than a few top internships to choose from in various cities around the country. The truth is, I came to New York City to find a big city love with a big city man .
     
    I came for the romance.
     
    For the walks through Central Park hand in hand with the love of my life. To ring in the New Year at Time Square, locking lips with the man of my dreams. To hold his hand at the top of the Empire State Building. Just like you see in the movies.
     
    But so far, Mr. Right hasn’t shown up yet. I’ve had men hit on me. I’ve gone on my fair share of low-profile dates. I even hooked a few guys who I thought were way out of my league. But Mr. Right is nowhere to be found. I have to admit that I’m growing impatient waiting for him to waltz into my life.
     
    But for now, I still have my love affair with New York to keep me dizzy.
     
    I glance down at my wristwatch and notice that I have enough time to take a leisurely stroll to the office.
     
    As I make my way through the sea of fast-moving New Yorkers all professionally dressed and talking on their smartphones, my eyes lock with those of a broad-shouldered, dark-haired Adonis. Polished, suave, clean-shaven. Business suit perfectly-tailored to his lean physique. Not one hair out of place. Just the way I like ‘em.
     
    He takes me in from head to toe and back again. His gorgeous honey-brown eyes twinkle at me and he smiles.
     
    I feel the breath leave my lungs and nervous energy tickles at my stomach. I coyly push a lock of blonde hair behind my ear as I feel heat rush to my cheeks.
     
    Our gazes lock as we glide by each other, bodies mere inches apart. And it’s like time stands still. The fast-moving world around me has melted away as he flashes his blindingly-white smile.
     
    And then, I feel my beloved Philip Lim leather handbag slide off of my shoulder.
     
    I fall to the ground as the strap breaks and the bag is jerked off of my body. The gorgeous man clutches my bag tightly under his arm as he dashes through the crowd.
     
    “Nnnnooo! Nnnnooo!” I yelp from the sidewalk where I lay in shock, trying to process what just happened.
     
    I few passersby stop to help me up. They surround me trying to understand