Ritz-Carlton residence where his luxury apartment had a spectacular view of the Philadelphia skyline.
Melanie grabbed a bus to the great little deli she and Jessica had discovered a month ago.
When Melanie stepped into the restaurant, she saw Jessica at a table by the window, a drink in front of her.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Melanie asked as she tossed her purse on a chair, then sat down across from Jessica. But she didn’t need to ask because the glow in Jessica’s face said it all. Now there was a woman in love!
“We picked out the flowers today,” Jessica said. “It was so funny being in a florist shop with Dane. The two women who worked there stared at him in awe, and they seemed intimidated by him, even though he was as charming as could be.”
“Well, he does have a very commanding presence. You know that.” She leaned in close. “I’m not surprised he brings that quality into the bedroom,” she said with a grin.
“Does he ever.” Jessica laughed, not at all embarrassed. That’s one of the things Melanie loved about her friend. Jessica was willing to jump into an exciting situation and run with it.
Jessica had also told her about the exciting Dominance/submission relationship she had going with Mr. Ranier, which made Melanie weak in the knees just thinking about.
“You’re really lucky, you know that?” She smiled. “You found the right guy and now you’re getting married.”
Jessica nodded. “I know it. But as you recall, it wasn’t easy.”
“Nothing ever is.”
Jessica reached out and placed her hand over Melanie’s. “You know, there’s no reason you and Rafe—”
“Jessica, forget it. It’ll never happen.”
“It could.”
“No. It didn’t happen after two years of working together. Most of that time was before he met you. But he was attracted to you right off.” She shook her head sadly. “I have to face it. The guy just isn’t into me.”
“It’s all in the context. You were his secretary—”
“And you were Mr. Ranier’s personal assistant.”
Jessica squeezed Melanie’s hand. “If you gave Rafe a chance to get to know you outside the office, I’m sure everything would change.”
“Look, can we just change the subject?” Melanie had been intending to tell Jessica about Rafe coming into the store today, but not now. Jessica meant well, but Melanie just didn’t want to think about what might have been. More like, what couldn’t be. “Are you going to tell me what the surprise is you told me about?”
Jessica smiled broadly. “Okay. Well, I know that your birthday isn’t until next week, but I want to give you your gift now.”
She handed Melanie a lilac envelope with her name written in Jessica’s lovely script on the front. Melanie opened it and inside found a gift certificate for a tattoo studio. She’d once told Jessica that she’d always wanted a tattoo, but they were expensive and she couldn’t justify it on her budget.
Melanie stared at the certificate. “This is so generous of you. I really shouldn’t accept.”
“It’s from Dane, too, and he insisted. We all miss you at Ranier Industries and we hope your tattoo gives you a little reminder every day of how much we care about you.”
“Okay, I’m not going to argue. You two are …” Her voice quavered a little, so she just nodded while she drew in a deep breath. She shrugged. “… terrific.”
She’d never had a friend as sweet and considerate as Jessica. The two women had taken to each other instantly—it was like they’d known each other for years. Melanie believed this could be a lifetime friendship.
“So how did you pick the place?” Melanie had been asking around for recommendations. If she was going to have something inked onto her body she wanted to ensure that the place was reputable, high quality, and that the artist was talented.
“I asked a friend who is very discerning. The artist you’ll be seeing is Charlie. He came highly recommended and the
Melanie grabbed a bus to the great little deli she and Jessica had discovered a month ago.
When Melanie stepped into the restaurant, she saw Jessica at a table by the window, a drink in front of her.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Melanie asked as she tossed her purse on a chair, then sat down across from Jessica. But she didn’t need to ask because the glow in Jessica’s face said it all. Now there was a woman in love!
“We picked out the flowers today,” Jessica said. “It was so funny being in a florist shop with Dane. The two women who worked there stared at him in awe, and they seemed intimidated by him, even though he was as charming as could be.”
“Well, he does have a very commanding presence. You know that.” She leaned in close. “I’m not surprised he brings that quality into the bedroom,” she said with a grin.
“Does he ever.” Jessica laughed, not at all embarrassed. That’s one of the things Melanie loved about her friend. Jessica was willing to jump into an exciting situation and run with it.
Jessica had also told her about the exciting Dominance/submission relationship she had going with Mr. Ranier, which made Melanie weak in the knees just thinking about.
“You’re really lucky, you know that?” She smiled. “You found the right guy and now you’re getting married.”
Jessica nodded. “I know it. But as you recall, it wasn’t easy.”
“Nothing ever is.”
Jessica reached out and placed her hand over Melanie’s. “You know, there’s no reason you and Rafe—”
“Jessica, forget it. It’ll never happen.”
“It could.”
“No. It didn’t happen after two years of working together. Most of that time was before he met you. But he was attracted to you right off.” She shook her head sadly. “I have to face it. The guy just isn’t into me.”
“It’s all in the context. You were his secretary—”
“And you were Mr. Ranier’s personal assistant.”
Jessica squeezed Melanie’s hand. “If you gave Rafe a chance to get to know you outside the office, I’m sure everything would change.”
“Look, can we just change the subject?” Melanie had been intending to tell Jessica about Rafe coming into the store today, but not now. Jessica meant well, but Melanie just didn’t want to think about what might have been. More like, what couldn’t be. “Are you going to tell me what the surprise is you told me about?”
Jessica smiled broadly. “Okay. Well, I know that your birthday isn’t until next week, but I want to give you your gift now.”
She handed Melanie a lilac envelope with her name written in Jessica’s lovely script on the front. Melanie opened it and inside found a gift certificate for a tattoo studio. She’d once told Jessica that she’d always wanted a tattoo, but they were expensive and she couldn’t justify it on her budget.
Melanie stared at the certificate. “This is so generous of you. I really shouldn’t accept.”
“It’s from Dane, too, and he insisted. We all miss you at Ranier Industries and we hope your tattoo gives you a little reminder every day of how much we care about you.”
“Okay, I’m not going to argue. You two are …” Her voice quavered a little, so she just nodded while she drew in a deep breath. She shrugged. “… terrific.”
She’d never had a friend as sweet and considerate as Jessica. The two women had taken to each other instantly—it was like they’d known each other for years. Melanie believed this could be a lifetime friendship.
“So how did you pick the place?” Melanie had been asking around for recommendations. If she was going to have something inked onto her body she wanted to ensure that the place was reputable, high quality, and that the artist was talented.
“I asked a friend who is very discerning. The artist you’ll be seeing is Charlie. He came highly recommended and the
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