Third Chances (Men Of Manhattan #2) - Ivy Smoak

Prologue

Rob

She was sitting in her usual spot. The sun slanting through the trees made shadows dance all around her. My breathing slowed. Every time I saw her it was like seeing her beauty again for the first time. I stopped and put my hands on my knees, pretending to catch my breath. My eyes stayed fixed on her as the breeze fluttered her hair. God, I wanted my hands in that hair. I wanted to taste her lips. I wanted to feel the softness of her skin.

She closed her book and ran her fingers through her hair. She turned her head toward me, but I couldn't tell if she was actually looking at me. The sunglasses she wore always hid her eyes.

I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket and pretended to change the song. Even though I didn't listen to music when I ran, my earphones were always connected to my phone. I liked that it looked like I was listening to music. That way no one would disturb me. I didn't like to be bothered when I was running.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her pull a notebook out of her backpack. The shadows danced across her face again as she bit the tip of her pen. It was impossible not to stare. She was the opposite of me, transfixed by whatever she was working on. She always seemed completely focused. It was alluring.

I told myself if I ever ran into her at a bar, I'd talk to her. But I couldn't do it here. Not while she was sitting there studying in the grass peacefully. She looked so in tune with herself. I couldn't make myself ruin this perfect moment.

My world was chaos. I wouldn't pull her into that unless I could lock eyes with her. I could tell from just a glance if a girl wanted me. But this girl was always wearing sunglasses. She bit the tip of her pen again. Fuck me. I could feel myself getting hard. That was not going to work in athletic shorts.

My phone lit up in my hands and Penny's name flashed across the screen. It was not weird at all to sit here and people watch while I talked to my future sister in law. It was a perfect excuse to stare at the beautiful woman in the grass. Usually I didn't have a good reason. I pulled my earphones out and swiped my finger across the screen.

"Hey, baby, what's up?"

"Hey to you too. Why are you so out of breath?" She was so desensitized by my teasing that it barely even effected her anymore. I needed to come up with a better term of endearment than "baby." Maybe "sugar tits" would get a rise out of her next time.

I cleared my throat. "I was just exercising."

"Ew."

I laughed. "Ew? Ew what?"

"Did I just interrupt you...you know."

"Jerking off? No. Do you want me to be?" I could picture her rolling her eyes. I loved when she did that.

"No, Rob. I'm calling about James' birthday."

"Having trouble coming up with an idea for the man who has everything?"

She sighed. "I guess you could say that. He always seems happy with the presents I give him, but I want him to really, really like his present this year. He's been working so hard the past few months getting his company off the ground. I want to show him how much I appreciate him."

"Give him head."

She laughed. "You're not helping."

"No, seriously. That's what he wants."

"That's not a special gift, Rob. I want to give him something nice."

"Why, because you give him head all the time?" I could imagine Penny on her knees in front of me. It was easy to picture her full lips around my cock. Fuck, that's making me harder. I looked over at the girl in the grass. She was writing something in her notebook.

"Rob, come on, you know him best."

"I already told you what he wants. It's what every guy wants."

"It's his last birthday in his twenties. I want to make it special."

"So maybe dress up in something sexy too. A naughty school girl outfit would be fitting."

She laughed. "Okay, you're not helping. I'll let you get back to exercising." She drew out the word exercising.

"I was on a run. I swear I wasn't jerking off. But all this talk about head..."

"Bye, Rob."

"Wait. I actually have an idea."

"I'm listening."

"Mets tickets. He loves going to those games with you. Get good seats though this time. Last time