Donut Be Easy Read online

Starla huffed and scurried away, mumbling, “Damn it. The cute ones are never fucking single.”

  Taking Noah’s seat, the woman took a sip from my drink. “Oh! That’s a good old fashioned. Marty is a wizard bar master. Marty, I’ll have a Manhattan, please and thank you.”

  “Extra cherries coming right up,” Marty responded as I made eye contact with my rescuer.

  I quickly took in her beautiful features: high cheekbones, slender face, piercing blue eyes, jet black hair, plump strawberry-coated lips, subtle hourglass shape, perky boobs that were popping out of her tight white tank top. In short, she was stunning.

  “What was that?” I finally stammered out.

  She giggled a little. “You looked like you needed to be saved from that barfly.”

  “Thanks. I honestly didn’t know what to do.”

  “I’m Kelly.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad I could be of some service.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Kelly. I’m Jack.”

  “That’s fitting—you’re as tall as a beanstalk.” Her laugh was captivating and her smile made my knees weak.

  “Do you rescue guys often?” I asked as she thanked Marty for the drink.

  She shook her head. “You’re the first. Let me guess, newly single?”

  I could feel my cheeks burning. “Is it really that apparent?”

  She pursed her lips as she speared a cherry at the bottom of her Manhattan with the tiny black straw. “A little. Take it from someone who has been perpetually single for-fucking-ever: you’re better off.”

  The cherry went to her lips and I had never been more jealous of fruit in my entire life.

  “Why do you say that?” I naïvely asked.

  “Because a guy like you, with that smile, the salt-and-pepper look you’re rocking, and your innocent demeanor—you’re going to have a field day in this crazy dating world we have found ourselves in.”

  “Why do you think I’m so innocent? You have no idea why I’m newly single.”

  “If you were a scumbag, that drunk chick would be on her knees in the bathroom right now.”

  My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to see Noah’s name.

  “Sorry, I have to check this.”

  She waved me off dismissively. “Do you.”

  Noah: Get it! I’m going to take off so I don’t cramp your style. I want details in the morning.

  I locked my phone without responding. The fact that Noah had left was good and bad. On one hand, he was being a good friend in supporting the fact that I was talking to someone, but I also felt abandoned. I was like a lion who’d been raised in captivity and was trying to integrate into the wild.

  “Apparently my buddy took off.”

  “I got stood up by my friend who was supposed to meet me tonight. To being ditched.” Kelly held her drink in the air and I gently tapped mine to hers.

  “Who needs ’em? To being saved by a beautiful stranger.”

  “So, Jack, what do you do?” she asked with a goofy grin pulling at the corners of her lips.

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to bore you with how lame of a job I have.”

  Her face instantly got serious as she put her hand on my shoulder. “If it’s so lame that you won’t even talk about it, why do you do it at all?”

  I guess I had never thought about that before. I went to school for computer programming during the tech boom, got my job right after graduation, and never considered doing anything else. I had always been of the mindset that you work because you have to pay bills and take care of your family, simple as that.

  “Dunno, really. It affords me the ability to have nice things?” I shrugged theatrically.

  “That’s not living. That’s existing,” she stated before popping another cherry into her mouth.

  “All right, what do you do?”

  “I bake,” she stated with pride.

  “Like, cakes?”

  “Among other things. I am the owner and head chef of a commercial bakery not far from here. I supply the desserts for this place, actually.”

  “You’re the owner of O’Donnell’s Bakery?” I asked in awe. Her company was a local legend and had been around for longer than I could remember.

  Light crimson dusted over her cheeks as she nodded. “My dad started the company when I was a little kid and I took it over when he passed a few years ago.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  Kelly smiled sweetly. “Don’t be. He was a great man and I get to keep his memory alive every time I use one of his recipes.”

  “So, question.” I laughed a little as her name registered in my brain.

  “Shoot.”

  “Has anyone ever used this pickup line on you: it makes sense that your initials are KO because you’re a knockout?”

  Kelly busted out snickering. “I can’t say I have ever heard that one before. That’s a good one.”

  I chuckled. “That’s a real shame. Such a missed opportunity.”

  It wasn’t long until last call. As Marty started to clean up the bar, I threw my card down and Kelly followed suit.

  “Don’t worry, I got you.” I picked up the blue plastic in front of her, trying to be a gentleman.

  “I see chivalry isn’t lost on you, but I kind of insist on paying for myself.” She took the card from me, making sure that Marty took it.

  Marty ran our payments then we scribbled our signatures on the receipts and said our goodbyes to our bartender.

  “Well, this was a very interesting evening.” I helped Kelly off of her barstool.

  “Saving you was fun. Thanks for being such good company tonight.” Kelly giggled as we started to make our way out to the quiet street.

  “So, can I…” Before I could finish my statement, Kelly’s hand was on the back of my neck, pulling my lips down to meet hers. Instinctively, I cupped her soft cheeks in the palms of my hands. I felt like a kid getting kissed for the first time as fireworks erupted in the pit of my stomach.

  “We don’t have to say goodbye just yet,” she whispered as our lips parted.

  Chapter 2

  Kelly

  Walking into Jack’s house, I quickly ran through my normal checklist.

  Single—check.

  Tall—check.

  Handsome—check.

  Nice—check.

  Funny—to be seen, but so far so good.

  Not a serial dater—check.

  Not going to skin-suit me—doesn’t seem like a serial killer.

  I’ve done worse.

  Throwing his keys onto the table next to the front door, Jack awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “Make yourself at home.”

  The house was immaculate, dripping with expensive decorations and lavish furniture.

  I’m really glad I didn’t take him to my place.

  “Wow,” I muttered, slipping out of my heels. The cool marble felt amazing on my aching feet.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Jack cooed in my ear as he came up behind me. His shaking hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me back into his chest as he took in a deep breath.

  I let out a slow gasp as his fingertips rolled down my arms softly. Lacing our fingers together, I slowly dragged his hands across my hips and breasts.

  “You’re breathtaking.” His voice dripped with lust as his compliment filled my ears.

  “Thank you,” I muttered stupidly. Compliments were uncomfortable for me, and I never knew how to actually respond to them.

  Spinning around, I went up on my tiptoes, failing at getting even remotely close to his face. “How tall are you, anyway?” I playfully giggled while looking up into his dark, stormy eyes.

  “Six four-ish,” he whispered, leaning down to get closer to me.

  I ran my thumb over his bottom lip. His eyes shut as his breath hitched.

  Jack’s hands gripped my ass, lifting me into his arms. Before I could even protest—not that I wanted to—I was being carried into his room and thrown onto the bed.
/>   Crawling on top of me, Jack’s head fell onto my shoulder. “Can I admit something?”

  I nodded as he looked over at me.

  “It’s been a while, and I am nervous as fuck.” His face contorted to almost painful as his admission rolled off his tongue.

  I offered a kind, understanding smile. “We don’t have to do this.”

  I started to scoot out from under him, but he hastily stopped me. “I didn’t say I don’t want to. You’re fucking hot as hell and there’s nothing I want more than to have my face between your thighs.” His palmed his face. “Fuck, that came out wrong.”

  I gripped his hair. “Prove it,” I challenged.

  In rapid succession, Jack’s fingers pulled at my jeans and panties. He gripped my hips, yanking me to the edge of the bed. Within seconds, his tongue was gliding over my clit, and I was stunned. To be fair, I didn’t have high expectations of his abilities, but holy fuck—I should have never underestimated his oral skills. They were godlike. I held on to the comforter for dear life as his tongue worked magic over my sensitive skin. Most men did everything in their power to skip foreplay altogether, and in that moment, I couldn’t believe what I had been missing out on all those years.

  My entire body buzzed as his talented mouth did things to my pussy that I hadn’t even known were possible. I couldn’t have explained it if I tried.

  Without warning, my back arched and I cried out as one of the best orgasms of my life crashed through my body. Jack moaned into my pulsing clit as his touch grew gentle and slow.

  “Watching you cum is so damn hot,” he whispered.

  Catching my breath, I shoved up onto one elbow. “You’re downright incredible.”

  I ripped off his shirt as he undid his belt.

  My nails dug into his shoulder, guiding him to lie down on his back.

  “Condom?” I asked.

  He pointed to the nightstand. I pulled open the drawer to find a sealed cardboard box.

  It really must have been a while for him.

  Still reeling from my big O, I didn’t waste time. As I rolled the latex over his erection, I got my second surprise of the night: his dick was huge—not in the ‘it’s bigger than the average penis’ way, but in the ‘this might hurt a bit’ way.

  I leaned down as kissed him while I slowly lowered myself onto him.

  I deeply inhaled.

  “You’re so fucking tight,” he groaned.

  Rocking my hips, I bit down on his shoulder. “Your dick is amazing.”

  It really was.

  Within minutes of me slowly riding him, his eyes slammed shut and his body started to tremble.

  “Cum for me, Jack,” I murmured into his ear.

  “Holy shit.” His fingers scraped down my back as he pushed hard into me.

  Pain shot through me quickly while his cock pounded deep inside.

  As his head fell back, he muttered, “Sorry.”

  I rolled onto my side, panting, “Why?”

  “I couldn’t last very long. You pussy is too fucking good.”

  “Don’t be. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  I curled up into him as he shifted to look at me.

  “Where did you come from?”

  “I’m nothing special,” I responded.

  “Agree to disagree.”

  “Deal.”

  Wrapped in Jack’s arms, I could feel his muscles twitch as he drifted off to sleep. Wide awake, my eyes snapped to the red digits on his alarm clock.

  Shit.

  One of the worst parts of owning a bakery was having to be at work at an ungodly hour most days.

  After waiting a few minutes to be sure he was dead to the world, I shimmied out of Jack’s grasp. In the dark, I hastily got dressed—well, for the most part. My thong was nowhere to be found, and there wasn’t time to keep the search for my undies going. Throwing my bra into my purse, I picked up my heels and ordered an Uber.

  Waiting in the driveway, I did my walk of shame to the gold Camry that pulled up.

  “Kelly?” the middle-aged driver asked as I slid into the back seat.

  “Yes, sir,” I responded as he pulled away from the curb.

  “We’re heading to O’Donnell’s Bakery?”

  “That’s the place.” I checked my phone: no missed calls or texts.

  “They make this key lime cheesecake that is sinful.”

  I smirked. “It really is incredible. I hear they’re coming out with a whole new concept soon.”

  “Oh really? Do you know what it is?”

  “Donuts,” I responded.

  “I’ll have to keep an eye out for those.” The driver shot me a kind smile through the rearview.

  I rushed out of the car and into my massive commercial kitchen. There wasn’t much time before my assistant would be strolling in, and I needed to put myself together before Eddy gave me one of his talks about my promiscuous ways.

  After starting a pot of coffee, I made my way to the back office. Grabbing my emergency makeup bag from my desk drawer, I tiredly stumbled into the employee bathroom.

  Yesterday’s eyeliner is today’s smoky eye.

  I brushed my teeth, used a Q-tip to clean up the smeared mascara under my eyes, and threw my hair up into a bun. Good enough.

  Staring at myself in the mirror, I sighed. “I’m getting too old for this shit.”

  “Getting too old for what?” Eddy’s goofy face was peeking through the cracked door.

  Startled, my hand flew to my chest as I made eye contact with my assistant turned bestie in the mirror.

  “Get your flamboyant ass in here right now,” I barked. “Thanks for standing me up last night.”

  “Henry called, and you know I can’t say no to that hunk of a dancer.”

  “Still, you could have at least canceled on me before running off with your Irish boy-toy.” A stupid grin played on my lips as I tried to act like Eddy hadn’t done me a favor.

  “What’s his name?” Eddy’s hand dramatically flew to his popped-out hip as he sashayed into the tiny bathroom.

  “What ever do you mean?”

  “Spill it!”

  “Jack…”

  “Same clothes as yesterday—again. Girl, what am I supposed to do with you?”

  “Don’t start.” I rolled my eyes before applying much needed concealer on a painful zit that was forming on my chin.

  Eddy’s hands flew into the air. “I wasn’t.”

  Turning to him, I put my hand on his shoulder. “But, you were.”

  “Honey, you do you, boo boo.” He kissed my cheek. “Tell me you at least left your number before sneaking out of his house this morning.”

  I sheepishly bit my lip. “He’s too innocent for me,” I admitted. “I did leave my underwear somewhere in his room though.”

  “Savage.”

  “No, just practical.”

  Chapter 3

  Jack

  Alarm blaring, I groggily smacked the snooze button for the second time. As I rolled over, grabbing my favorite pillow to cuddle up with, I snapped awake. The other side of the bed was empty.

  Kelly.

  The night’s events flashed through my mind as I realized I was alone.

  “When did she sneak out?” I mumbled as I rubbed my tired eyes with the heels of my hands.

  Looking over to my dresser, I half expected to see a number scribbled on a receipt, but there was nothing there. I’d just had my first one-night stand without even realizing it until it was too late.

  As I went through the motions of my morning routine, my brain had a field day with the questions and wondering.

  Should I try to track her down at work?

  Would that be too stalker-ish?

  Was I bad in bed?

  Did I say something wrong?

  Was I just used?

  Is this normal?

  I tossed the pile of clothes from the night before into my hamper. Tying my tie, I felt like a noose was being fastened around my neck.

>   Off to work.

  Just as I got to the end of my street, my phone rang through the speakers in my car.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Good morning,” Noah’s eager voice rang out.

  “How’s it going, man?”

  “Just heading to the job site. How was the rest of your evening?”

  I laughed a little. “It was interesting.”

  “I need more than that. Who was that woman?”

  “She was just saving me from a desperate drunk girl who could barely hold her head up.”

  “And?”

  After taking a sip of coffee from my travel mug, I answered, “And she came home with me. Is it really a thing for a chick to just leave with no goodbye or anything?”

  “Fuck if I know. I’m living vicariously through you. Was the sex good at least?”

  For the few minutes that it lasted. I wanted to smack myself for how fucking lame I had been.

  “Pretty amazing.” That was all the detail I was willing to offer.

  “Nice. Maybe she was just trying to be considerate and let you sleep?”

  “I have no earthly idea. First one-night stand—I don’t know how all this shit works.”

  “Well, I am mentally high-fiving you.”

  Greeted by Tina’s chipper, bouncing self, I trudged into the office that had become the bane of my existence.

  “Good morning, boss man.”

  “Tina? Do you have a second? I need your help with something real quick.” I couldn’t believe I was going to elicit the help of my secretary, but she was the only person I knew who was single that I felt remotely comfortable enough with to talk to about the world of online dating.

  “Sure thing.” She followed me into my office and I shut the door behind us.

  “I need your advice on something.” I put my computer bag down and powered on my Mac.

  “How can I be of service?” I couldn’t help but notice how her tits nearly sprang out of her fitted blouse as she sank into the arm chair on the other side of my large desk.

  I cleared my throat. “Are you on dating apps?”

  She nodded as a strawberry hue coated her face and chest. “Why do you ask?”

  “As you know, I am recently divorced.”