Grayson

After only a little over a week, Alistair decided to offer a settlement. The woman's attorney is beautiful, cunning, and one if the best damn attorneys I've ever had to face.

I reached out my hand, and when she shook it, a wave of electric pulse penetrated through my body.

Suddenly, the siren who just manipulated a very handsome settlement out of one of the most ruthless businessmen in New York, seemed nervous. I had to smirk at those big brown eyes.

"I...I'm very happy to have done business with you." She ducked out of the conference room so fast, I had to chuckle out loud.

To break up my lonely nights in New York, I stopped at a local bar for a few drinks. Alistair's penthouse is nice, but my boredom only brings Mary Ellen into mind. I've finally accepted that she doesn't want the same as me.

I sat at the bar and peeled at the label on my beer, when I heard a familiar voice.

"I'll have a rum and coke please." I look over, and two seats down I saw a beautiful woman take a seat. A woman I met just a week ago.

"Celebrating your victory?" I asked.

She smiled as she took a drink. "That was just one small battle in a war."

"You really impressed me this week, you're good at your job." I complimented.

"I thought the same about you." She batted those beautiful eyes and looked down at her drink.

We talked for a few hours before she got up and reached into her purse but I stopped her. "It's on me." I gave the bartender my credit card.

"That's very kind of you." She said. "Maybe I'll see you on another case sometime." She walked away, but I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye.

I hopped up. "Can I walk you home?"

"It's a free world I guess."

We walked down the sidewalk side by side, both with quite a few drinks in us. I'm actually walking in the opposite direction of my temporary home.

We laughed as we talked, and I told her about my son, and some of the things he's done at school. She said the stories remind her of her own brother. She told me a story or two, then came to a stop in front of her building.

She stood before me with both hands holding the strap of her purse in front of her. I'm not sure what came over me, but my lips graced her's gently and she moaned just a little.

Her breath hitched, and I knew right then it was going to be a great night. She unlocked her door and we kissed as we walked in. I had to have this woman, the only woman beside Mary Ellen, that I craved in only one special way.

I walked her backward until the wall stopped us. Her hands push off my suit jacket, as I unzip the back of her skirt.

Our lips never separated, as she slowly guided me to her bed leaving a trail of clothes behind us.

I felt goosebumps on her skin as my fingers trailed down her thigh, taking her panties and stockings with them.

She reached down and rolled a condom on me, just before I slowly entered her.

That's the first night I made love to Danielle. It's the first night of many, that followed me home to Indiana.

"We've only got a week. When are you coming back to New York?" She pouted.

"Not for another month, I have to be in L.A. in a few weeks to see Jacob, so I'll just come straight to New York."

I've only known Danielle for two weeks now, and the first time in a very long time I actually feel free. She's an amazing woman, and has reached into the depths of hell and pulled me out.

I've spoken with Jacob, and I have respected his mother's need for space. I don't feel like space would normally take six weeks.

I was so hurt by Mary Ellen, that I now avoid her. I've realized finally after a decade, that she isn't good for me. I lost myself in her, and it stole a decade of my life. Then we slept together, which I feel like just strung me along.

She will always be the love of my life and the only woman I could ever love so deeply, but I have to move on with someone that makes me feel genuinely happy. Jacob needs a dad with a good outlook on life. Danielle makes me strong enough to do that for him.