Chapter 3 I need to see her again

RICHARD'S POV

I'm so glad I didn't chicken out when I set the date. If I had, I'd have missed meeting Jane-one of the most breathtaking women I've ever seen. Her smile is magnetic, her voice soft and warm, and those blue eyes... Man, I could lose myself in them forever.

Thinking back, I owe it all to my annoying but lovable sister, Vivian. She's the one who signed me up on that blind date app. If she hadn't forced me out of my comfort zone, I never would've met Jane.

It all started three days ago when Vivian stormed into my office, her usual confident smile lighting up the room.

"Hey, big bro!" she said, casually tossing her bag onto my desk. "How's life treating you?"

"I'm fine, Viv," I replied without looking up, my fingers flying over the keyboard.

She leaned against my desk and dropped an invitation card on top of my papers. "Good, because I expect to see you at my branch launch party. No excuses."

"I'm busy," I muttered, still focused on my screen.

That's when she did the unthinkable-she shut my laptop with a loud snap.

"What the hell, Viv?!" I barked, my face heating up as I glared at her.

"Exactly! What the hell, Richard?" she shot back, crossing her arms. "All you ever do is work, work, work. It's not healthy." Then her tone softened, and she reached for my hand, holding it gently. "Please, Richie. It's been five years. You've got to stop burying yourself in work and move on."

I sighed, rubbing my face with one hand. "Not this again, Viv. Please don't."

She didn't back down. "Listen to me. Do you think Eva would want to see you like this? Miserable, stuck in the past? She'd hate it. You've turned your life into this endless loop of work, and that's not living."

My chest tightened, anger and grief bubbling to the surface. "How can you ask me to move on when I'm the reason it happened?" My voice cracked, and my eyes stung with unshed tears.

Vivian walked over and wrapped her arms around me, her voice soft and steady. "I know it hurts, Richard. I know how hard it is. But you've got to step out of this darkness-you owe it to yourself, to all of us." She pulled back, her eyes locked on mine. "And if you won't do it for anyone else, do it for Amber. Your little girl needs her dad."

I let out a long, defeated sigh. I hated it when she made sense. "Alright," I mumbled. "I'll try."

Vivian shook her head. "Nope. Trying isn't good enough." Her face lit up with that mischievous spark I knew too well. "I've got an idea."

I narrowed my eyes. "What now?"

"There's this dating app," she said, grinning. "I'm signing you up."

"No way, Viv. Not happening," I said, shaking my head. "I'm not about to start meeting random strangers from an app."

But before I could protest further, she grabbed my phone and started typing.

"Done," she announced triumphantly.

I groaned. "You're such a pain in the ass."

"And you're welcome!" she teased, leaning in to peck my cheek. Grabbing her bag, she headed for the door. Before leaving, she turned back, her voice softer. "Don't let me down, Richard. You've got this."

And right now, sitting in my car, I know I made the right decision.

***********

I drop my bag as I step into the mansion, the silence wrapping around me like a familiar, heavy blanket. This house used to feel alive, but now it's just a shell. I take a deep breath, heading toward my bedroom, ready to peel off my clothes and let the day fade away.

But then there's a knock at the door.

I pause, frowning. Who the hell is knocking this late?

I sigh and head down the stairs, my polished Italian shoes clicking against the hardwood, echoing in the quiet. I glance through the peephole. It's Stacy, my childhood friend and business associate.

She's standing there, looking just as she always does, bold and confident. She's in a black dress, so short it barely covers anything, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. I open the door, punching in the security code.

"Hey, Stacy, I say, already wondering what she wants this time.

She walks in without waiting for an invitation, her heels clicking against the floor. Her perfume hits me immediately, sharp and overwhelming.

"Hello, handsome," she says, pulling me into a tight hug and planting a kiss on my cheek. I don't flinch. I'm used to this. Ever since Eva, my wife, passed away, Stacy has made it her mission to be here for me. But we both know she wants more than just friendship.

"It's late," I say, glancing at the vintage clock on the wall.

"I know", She flashes a smile, but it falters, her face shifting into something sadder. "I'm sorry, Richard. My car broke down just outside your estate. Do you mind if I stay the night? Just until the mechanic comes in the morning?

I hesitate, studying her face. I don't believe her for a second, but I nod anyway. "Alright. You can use the guest room upstairs".

She steps closer, her movements deliberate. "Why the guest room, Richard? she asks softly, tugging at my jacket. Her fingers trail lightly along my face, her touch warm. "Why not your room?

I stare at her, my patience wearing thin. What the hell is she playing at tonight?

She smiles, undoing the first button on my shirt with practised ease. "Don't you like what you see? she whispers, her voice dripping with seduction. Her finger trails down my chest, slow and deliberate.

I grab her hand, stopping her. "No, Stacy, I say firmly, my voice steady. "I can't".

Her expression twists in frustration, her eyes narrowing. "Why not? Eva is gone". Her voice cracks slightly as she cups my face with both hands. "You need someone to love you, to keep you warm. That someone is me, Richard. It has always been me".

I hold her gaze, the weight of her words sinking in. I've known Stacy had feelings for me since high school. She never hid it. She was devastated when I married Eva, and now, since Eva's death, she's been trying to prove she's the one for me. But I can't see her that way. I never have.

Her hand drifts lower, fingers brushing the zipper of my trousers. My body betrays me, heat pooling in my stomach as my dick hardens under her touch.

"Stop", I mutter, my voice low and tense.

She doesn't move, leaning in close. "Don't you miss it? She whispers, her lips inches from mine. "The touch of a woman?

She's right. I do miss it. The warmth, the intimacy, the connection. But not with her.

The image of someone else flashes in my mind _a redhead with piercing blue eyes. Jane. Her face is so vivid in my mind that it almost feels real. Her laugh, her smile, the way her curves fit perfectly in her red dress.

I step back, breaking Stacy's touch. "Go to bed, Stacy", I say, my voice sharper now.

Her face falls, disappointment flooding her expression. She doesn't say anything else, and I don't wait for her to. I turn and head upstairs, my body is still tense and hard, but my mind is somewhere else entirely.

I shut the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a long breath. Stripping off my clothes, I head into the bathroom, the cool tiles grounding me. I step into the shower, letting the water beat down on me, washing away the tension.

But even as the water hits my skin, I can't stop thinking about Jane. Her smile, her fiery hair, the way her blue eyes seem to see right through me. Her full lips make me want to suck on them so badly.

My fists clench as the image of her fills my mind, vivid and consuming.

"Damn! I curse under my breath.

I need to see her again.