Only the Beginning

By Daphne Dubois

After a heartbreaking betrayal, Melissa Legacy shuns romance. So when her best friend joins the Lovers Oasis website and fears her fiancé will find out, Melissa agrees to meet the anonymous Romeo, prepared to explain her friend’s change of heart—then she sees him. Failing restaurant entrepreneur, Craig Wheaton hasn’t been home since his mother’s tragic death. Now he’s back to confront his demons and stand beside his brother as best man. Dreading the reunion, he agrees to meet his avatar lover, but at the last moment he reconsiders the arrangement—until he lays eyes on her. When Craig assumes Melissa is his online consort, she impulsively plays along, resulting in an afternoon of unexpected intimacy. But with Melissa using her friend’s identity and Craig dealing with a family fallout, is a future together impossible, or will they discover that love at first sight is Only the Beginning?

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Apr 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781509220359

Book preview

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Chapter One

Brooke arrived at Melissa’s apartment with mascara running down her porcelain perfect complexion.

Please, please, please, Brooke said, her blue eyes growing wider with each plea. You’re my only hope of getting out of this mess. I’m so afraid Dex will find out.

Melissa stood in her ripped sweatpants, holding a steaming bowl of Mr. Noodles, unable to fathom what her best friend had just confessed. Why would you start something so…? she asked.

Stupid?

Sleazy, Melissa thought.

Brooke sniffed and produced a tissue from the pocket of her camel hair coat—the latest present from Dex. The stress got to me. I guess I started to freak out about the wedding. And Dex’s mother is obsessed with every little detail of the ceremony. It’s driving me crazy. She daintily blew her nose. The massive engagement ring caught the overhead kitchen light, temporarily distracting Melissa. The familiar mix of hurt and envy worked its way into her chest.

Brooke noticed. Don’t give me your ‘holier than thou’ look, Mels. The website is perfectly harmless. It’s not like I was really cheating. It’s fun and flirty. Then she smiled and laughed, embarrassed. Besides, Dex reaped the benefits.

Melissa put down the noodles and pulled out the inhaler from her sweatpants pocket. The image of Brook and Dex together in bed was like a claw reaching through Melissa’s chest and squeezing her heart.

Sorry, Brooke said, patting Melissa’s back. I didn’t mean to upset you.

I’m fine. Melissa wheezed, feeling her constricted lungs ease open. It was quiet in her little kitchen for a few breaths. The only sound was the ticking of her cat wall clock, its eyes and tail moving in sync with the second hand.

Brooke spoke first. I don’t have any right to ask for your help, she said. It’s just that you’re the one person I trust the most. Then she dipped her head. I’ve been a rotten friend at times, but we’ve always made it through our fights. That’s something, right? And I promise to get you to see Mr. Donaghy.

Melissa snorted at this. You’ve been promising that for months.

I’m filling in for his personal assistant! Just started this week! She smiled, suddenly energetic. I have access to his calendar. I can simply book you in, then you can razzle dazzle him with your advertising talent and ideas and stuff.

And stuff? Melissa suspected Brooke’s looks and ability to charm anyone was more of an asset than any amount of college degrees. Still, a chance to do an account with Donaghy Inc. would be huge for Melissa, even life changing.

Please. I wouldn’t ask you to do this if it wasn’t dependent on my future, Brooke said. She took Melissa by the shoulders, looking her straight in the eye. You’re my maid of honor, my best friend…my cohort in mischievous schemes. Please, you’ve never let me down.

Melissa knew she would agree. It was impossible to say no to Brooke, plus the thought of walking into Mr. Donaghy’s office made her giddy, unexpectedly ready for any challenge.

At once the details spilled out from Brooke; she’d joined Lovers’ Oasis, an online fantasy game, and started a virtual relationship. Perfectly discreet and perfectly harmless, she’d defended. But now the guy was flying in to meet her and even if Brooke met him to say no thanks, she was terrified Dex would find out. Plus, she added, in a superior tone. I’m not looking to have an affair.

After she left, Melissa ate the cooled noodles, which by this time were slimy and unsatisfying. She spent the rest of the night lying in bed staring at the ceiling. She was partly in awe of Brooke’s audacious request, but mostly her own spineless agreement to participate. How did it come to this? she thought.

The next day Melissa arrived at the designated meeting spot, exhausted and full of doubt. She stood in the opulent lobby of the Chestershire Hotel, partially hidden behind a monstrous bouquet of white flowers and curly willow, her knees shaking just below the hem line of her black pencil skirt. She rummaged through her purse for her inhaler, sizing up the distance to the Admiral’s Pub, the hotel bar to her left.

After two quick intakes from the inhaler, she slipped out from behind the flowers and made her way toward her target. The bar was lined with dark wood and brass, reminding her of a ship captain’s quarters. It was lunch hour and most of the tables were filled with hotel patrons with their city guide books flattened open on their laps. A few middle-aged men in suits had one particularly loud corner—business lunch, Melissa thought begrudgingly. The kind she should be having instead of doing Brooke’s dirty work.

Armed with the knowledge that Brooke’s online lover would be wearing a black leather jacket and had brown hair and a medium build, Melissa walked through the Admiral’s Pub, looking for a guy sitting alone. It was her job to tell him Brooke wasn’t interested, but thanks for all the lovely fun times.

Melissa cringed when Brooke expected her to say those actual words. In truth, Melissa had no idea what she was going to say to this poor shmuck, but she knew how it felt to have your heart ripped out by someone you trusted. She was determined to come up with something more empathetic for the stranger.

She rounded the last corner of the bar and saw him. A flood of sympathy and a bit of repulsion ran through her. One look at the heavy set middle aged man with a full face of beard and shaved head told her this guy probably depended on sites like Lovers’ Oasis to hook up with women. The black leather jacket was more like an extra-large leather coat; the first two buttons were missing. He was looking at his phone with a sneer on his face, a toothpick stuck out of his mouth.

Unexpected panic rippled through Melissa. Before her brain acknowledged what her body was doing, she turned abruptly and left. She slipped behind the monstrous bouquet, just in case he’d seen her. Her heart was racing. What if this guy got upset when she told him? What if he yelled at her in front of everyone in the pub? What if he didn’t believe she wasn’t Brooke and tried to follow her home?

What had seemed like a gentle attempt to ease a broken heart had quickly warped into a precarious situation she felt bordered on dangerous. Her phone dinged in her purse. There was a text from Brooke.

—Did you do it yet?—

No, I’m perfectly fine, Melissa muttered to her phone. Thanks for asking.

Then another text.

—Forgot to mention, he’s expecting me to be holding a white rose—

Melissa rolled her eyes at the ludicrous nature of the whole moment. Black leather jacket? White rose? This is real life not Lovers’ Oasis. Christ, what dummies!

She stood beside the flowers and stewed at Brooke’s casual disregard of her feelings, or the feelings of Mr. Black Leather Jacket for that matter. And Melissa knew she couldn’t run away from this situation—that was Brooke’s trademark, not hers.

He deserves an explanation. With a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, she reached into the bouquet and pulled out a white tulip.

A rose by any other name…

Good enough, she whispered, tucking it close to her blouse.

Before she lost her nerve, Melissa ran up the steps, back into the Admiral’s Pub. Ouf! A force knocked her off balance. She staggered back a few steps as the contents of her purse spilled over the carpet. Zeroing in on her inhaler, Melissa crouched down, grabbing it.

I’m sorry. A man’s voice sounded close to her ear. I didn’t see you. He was down on one knee, holding her purse out.

No, it’s fine, she said, reaching for the purse. It was my fa— Melissa paused as she looked into the stranger’s face. Two days’ stubble, a cleft in his chin, and deep blue eyes she could drown in. My fault. She stammered, feeling her cheeks fill with color. It was my fault. I was rushing to meet someone.

Lucky them, he said. There was a half-smile just under the surface. Then his expression became concerned. Are you sure you’re all right? You seem rather flushed.

She shook her head, reaching for her phone. Just a little embarrassed at my clumsiness. Melissa was painfully aware of how bland she must appear. Skinny with brown hair and a white blouse and black skirt, she practically screamed ‘mediocre.’ Then again, she was prepared to let down Brooke’s sleazy online affair, not bump into a hot guy who she’d never have a chance with.

Let me take some of the responsibility, he said, cupping her elbow with his hand. He slowly stood, helping her up as well. I was in a hurry to leave and not being careful.

Melissa noted the tone of regret to his voice. Oh? She clutched her purse and its contents to her chest as she regarded him. He was a few inches taller than her and his fitted oxford shirt and slim jeans hinted at regular workouts.

He didn’t answer Melissa, but simply stared back at her with those blue eyes, pinning her in place. It was like her feet were stuck to the floor. The din of the pub’s patrons faded into the background. The blush that had started to calm fired up, spreading all the way to her toes.

It’s you, he finally said. Then he pointed to the tulip in Melissa’s grasp, now partially crushed. Then the smile overtook his face completely. Melissa thought she would melt on the spot. Although, he said, I thought you’d be carrying a rose.

I…uh. All the things she was prepared to say slipped away. The pounding of her heart was impossible to ignore. This gorgeous man was the real person behind Brooke’s virtual lover. A pretend lover so consumed with passion he flew in especially to meet her in person so they could…

Brooke, right? he asked. I’m Craig.

Hmm-mm. Melissa pressed her lips together, still paralyzed. She had no idea they’d actually exchanged names. Obviously, he had no idea what Brooke looked like, though.

He let out a light chuckle. It seems I was wrong, then…about a few things.

His comment made her shrink inside a bit. He must have been expecting a sexy bombshell. Melissa felt like she oozed ordinariness at that moment. A gruff sound emerged as the bald man with the beard shambled past them, leaving a cloud of beer and cheese in the air.

The reality of the situation caught Melissa off guard, filling her with a prickly remorse. This man, who knew nothing about her, was going to reject her. Brooke had done it again; she’d gotten the best guy and Melissa had gotten nothing. You’ve changed your mind? she asked, not bothering to keep the edge out of her voice.

His eyes widened with surprise. Quite the opposite, actually, he said. I’m fully committed to whatever you want to happen.

Whatever I want to happen? the breath left her chest.

Let me be perfectly clear. He leaned closer as if he was going to kiss her, then he whispered, I will do anything you want.

Chapter Two

Craig took a slow sip of dark ale, watching her over the rim of his glass. She was nothing like he was expecting. Of course, all he had to go on was their shared exploits online. Hooking up with an avatar to make out on a make-believe beach wasn’t exactly like filling out a Proust questionnaire.

The demure outfit and slight build coupled with the heart shaped face reminded him of a nostalgic innocence. It was hard to believe the woman sitting in the booth across from him was the reason he stayed up until four in the morning, sitting in front of his keyboard like some kind of…pervert.

A mix of heat and embarrassment crept up his neck. He hadn’t thought out the ramifications of this meeting. It was a knee jerk reaction to his brother’s phone call last week, a plea for him to return home, if only for a few days.

It would mean a lot to Dad, Lance said.

We both know that’s not true. Craig had the phone cradled between his shoulder and cheek as he did the final wipe down of the kitchen stove. A terrific knot had been building between his shoulder blades all night, and now that the restaurant had closed all he wanted was to go home to a hot shower…and check in with Lovers’ Oasis. Sometimes his girl was on, but there was a time zone discrepancy and if he didn’t get home by three in the morning, he would miss her.

There was a long, frustrated sigh from Lance’s end. It’s been too long. Don’t you miss the ocean?

What’s the point of going home when everyone comes out here to see me?

Because we’d never see you if we didn’t. Lance yawned. It’s only a weekend. Someone else can cover the restaurant—

Impossible. The word came out sharper than he’d intended. Craig had taken out several loans and was beginning to think the place was cursed. No matter what he did to the menu or if he brought in new staff, the results were the same—no profits. No one ever stayed long enough to be properly trained to take his place.

He worked, lived, and breathed that restaurant. The last time he’d taken time off was a few years ago when he’d had walking pneumonia and couldn’t even stand.

But giving up on the restaurant wasn’t an option for Craig. That would mean failure—and having to listen to his father’s pious speech about ‘knowing how it was a foolish waste of money from the very beginning.’ Even though not one penny came from his father.

Lance tried once more. It’s not just about Dad, he’d said carefully. Sue Yin and I finally picked a date. It’s going to be small, just immediate family. If you come home, I’d like you to be best man.

The cloth dropped from Craig’s hand. He became a statue in the empty kitchen.

Sue Yin.

The name brought images of the glamourous girlfriend his brother met on a ski vacation in Banff last year while he was visiting. Craig noticed her first. She’d breezed into the chalet in her jeans and parka looking like she’d come off a runway in Paris and simply made everyone disappear into the background. Craig was building up the confidence to approach her when Lance simply walked over and started talking to her.

It was always like that, Craig carefully planning, and Lance diving in head first, but never hitting the bottom. The efficacious son who was part of the illustrious law firm in Halifax was now getting married. Lance, in their father’s eyes, was officially two things—successful and established. Two things Craig wasn’t.

Of course, he agreed to come home. How could he miss his brother’s wedding?

That night he returned to his small apartment and went straight to the computer—his only vice. Relief and gratitude rushed through him when he saw she was online. Even though their conversations never included anything about the real world, he told her about having to go to Halifax on the weekend, feeling the need to tell someone close, or at least with the illusion of being a confidant.

And the next line could have knocked him off the chair. She lived in Halifax. He quickly typed a suggestion that maybe they could meet. After he hit send, a notable pull of foreboding anchored him to the chair. But before he could change his mind, she agreed.

And now, here he was, sitting across from the woman who had become his nightly, okay and maybe the occasional afternoon, routine of release. It amazed him how reading a few sentences at just the right time—the right amount of buildup and anticipation—could satisfy him.

You’re staring, she said.

He blinked a few times, clearing his head, then he nodded to her plate. I’ve never seen someone eat a ribeye steak so elegantly. She was meticulous in cutting away each part of meat, placing it on the back of her fork, then bringing it to her mouth. He forced his gaze to the table. Just one kiss, he thought, that’s all I want.

She used her napkin then picked up her glass. You said you’d do whatever I wanted. I wanted steak.

You’re not what I was expecting, Brooke.

She winced slightly, then took a long sip of wine.

Craig pushed away his bowl of half eaten fish chowder. The combination of jetlag, nerves, and the cook’s overuse of salt, made it unpalatable. Her expression seemed to fall somewhat, making her look less confident. He realized he’d insulted her. Sorry, he added quickly. I meant that I’ve never pictured us doing something so routine.

"Not a lot of restaurants in Lovers’ Oasis? she asked deadpan. He was surprised by the hint of sarcasm. Then she stammered a few lines into her glass of wine, her cheeks glowing. I guess I’m trying to be funny."

He smiled at her sudden shyness. Should he ask her up to his hotel room? A small pulse started in his stomach and moved downward.

She put down her empty glass and started to slowly twirl it by the base. It’s not like we know much about each other. Then she glanced at him questioningly.

Lifting a shoulder Craig leaned back into the booth, easing the strain of his awaking erection. This real-life version was quickly replacing the avatar fantasy. What do you want to know?

She tapped her bottom lip with her finger and again Craig had to drag his stare away from her mouth. I’ll admit, it’s poor planning on my part, isn’t it? she said, her tone laced with impishness. I should have brought a Proust questionnaire for you to fill out.

Jesus. He felt his mouth drop open.

At once her purse buzzed. She glanced at the bag then looked back at him. I should have turned it off.

You’re not going to check? He never ignored his cell phone. Owning the restaurant kept him on call twenty-four hours a day. As she continued to ignore the phone he felt his own panic begin to increase. What if it’s an emergency?

It’s just a text. If it’s important, they’ll call. And to be honest…um, sorry what’s your name again?

Craig, he said. Her aloofness was a bit insulting. When they’d agreed to meet each other, they exchanged first names only as a way to simplify the awkward introduction. Since then he’d filed all his feelings for her (and the associated physical effects) under, Brooke. So that just hearing the name set his pulse to quicken.

To be honest Craig, she continued, "I’ve never had an emergency in my life. And to be quite frank, today is already breaking