Ainsley had another date, but first she needed to get through her day. She and Henry were meeting to create a plan. If she thought she could get away with it, she'd take a shot. Since she didn't want to be fired, she would practice meditation which she didn't know how to do. Breathe deeply and find her Zen. She didn't have a Zen. Lilli had her ocean or was it orgasms from Zach? It was probably both at the same time.

Could eating chocolate be Zen? Unlike shots, chocolate was approved for the workplace. Luckily, she had a bag of Hershey's Kisses in her drawer. They were her emergency stash usually meant for PMS. She faced a genuine emergency.

Ainsley arrived in the conference room first. Her laptop was charged and connected to the network. Check. Check. While she waited for Henry who wasn't back from his hour lunch, she peeled the silver wrapper and popped a chocolate in her mouth. Meanwhile, she tried to figure out where he went every day. Not the cafeteria, she looked. Maybe he was one of those guys who sat on the toilet forever. Ainsley would never do that at work.

Guys did. With Rhys as a best friend, she knew a lot about men including their bathroom habits at work. Men were disgusting with their belching, farting, and scratching their balls. Ainsley would never live with a guy unless he was fantastic at giving orgasms to make up for all the gross stuff. Maybe Rhys and Terry were the perfect couple because they cancelled themselves out. When they lived together, Rhys complained about the bathroom trash. Girls could be gross too, but at least they never left the seat up. Rhys would never replace the toilet paper roll either. Living alone had its perks.

"Hey. Candy, sweet!" Henry appeared with papers in his hand.

"It's mine, get your own." She took another Kiss from the bag. "So what's your plan?"

He handed her a piece of paper. She read through the standard list of social media and book reviews. She turned the paper over and expected more. When she looked up at him, he looked proud.

"Did you miss the memo? They want this to be a bestseller like her breakout novel. Your list is what we did for Matthew Clark's romance."

"He doesn't write romance. I should know I promoted his last release."

"Exactly my point. We hardly promoted it. I think it's available online for $1.99. By the way, big deal you had his book. I've been to his house."

"Right. You've been to England. You are a pathological liar."

She unwrapped two and shoved them both in her mouth. "He has a house in the U.S., but don't believe me." She picked up her phone and scrolled. "Oh no, I can only find a picture of me with his dog and his wife."

"Whatever. What do you have?"

She smiled. "I'll..."

Catrina stepped in. "How's it going, you two? Oh, chocolate!"

Ainsley smiled. "Help yourself."

Henry smiled. "We're done. Here."

Catrina read his sheet and turned it over. She looked up at Ainsley with a frown.

"That's what he did. I was about ready to share my proposal."

She tapped present on her PowerPoint. Every suggestion had a data to support it. Catrina smiled and if possible steam came out of Henry's ears.

"Nice work. I expect you both to put this plan into action."

He banged his fist on the table, and Ainsley held out the bag of chocolate. "Need one." He shook his head, and she smirked and unwrapped another silver piece of calm. "Your loss."

Ainsley left the conference room feeling triumphant. She still had to work with him, but at least Catrina knew she had been the thoughtful, methodical one. She would work overtime to promote Nancy's book. After all it was her job, but her efforts would benefit Lilli's paycheck.

At five-fifteen, she left right after Catrina wished her a good night and the teacher's pet followed at the boss' heels. The odd thing was she knew very little about him except he wasn't a team player. Rhys had stopped by her desk earlier. The nosey Henry didn't bother to hide he was listening. Rhys knew too because as he left he kissed her lips with a smack and raised his voice. "Love you." He also waved to Catrina on the way out.

His purpose was to remind her to text him when she left the bar and when she got home safe from her blind date. Meeting a bunch of losers wasn't the worst part. She watched too many crime dramas, so she approached each with the apprehension they might be a murderer. Why didn't dating apps have a review section like Amazon? It would be nice to read what other women thought of potential dates. She could write a few, nice guy, but thought it was the 1970s. Maybe she would find one stating not interested in getting serious but good in bed. That's exactly what she was looking for. The only problem with her theory was the guys could review her. She could only imagine. Bitch with nice jugs.

Ainsley walked down the street to the Public House. Anytime she picked the meeting place, she chose the restaurant she and her friends met at often. Even the bartenders knew her.

As she slid onto a stool at the polished bar, Katie smiled. "Meeting your friends."

She rolled her eyes. "I wish."

The bartender laughed and poured her a glass of red wine. "Maybe this one will be a prince."

"I'm not looking for a prince, but don't want a frog."

"This world is full of slimy men."

"We should make tee shirts." Ainsley laughed, but stopped abruptly as she watch a tall man enter from her peripheral vision. At least he matched his photo, but he was taller than she expected, like Zach tall. She swiveled and waved. His face lit up with a smile.

Katie murmured. "Doesn't look like a frog."

"Shall we get a table?" His deep voice sounded pleasant.

She nodded, although she felt more comfortable at the bar. It wasn't crowded, and he chose a table in the middle. Secluded corners were never a good sign. They were meant for people like Lilli and Zach who should save it for home but didn't.

"So Alexander?"

He chuckled. "My mother calls me Xander, with an X."

"Xander not with a Z. Got it." Seriously, she sounded stupid.

"Do you have a nickname?"

"Not really. My best friend calls me Ainse."

"Saves one syllable."

"Right." They were in a hole, so she had better start digging.

Katie saved them by coming for his drink order. He ordered a beer which could be a good sign. If he asked for water, it would be a bad sign. If he drank beer like water it would mean something, but he didn't appear to be a 'drink every night' guy.

"So what do you do?" She asked.

"Finance. I like it but most find it boring."

He wore a suit which she liked. "My father loves that stuff but couldn't pass it on to his daughters."

He smiled. "My mother doesn't understand it. You have a sister? I'm an only. It's just me and Mom."

Ainsley chuckled. "At least you never lost a handful of hair fighting over a doll."

"Seriously?" He looked stricken.

"No, it was not a handful." She rubbed her head. "It hurt."

"My mother thinks families should be close."

"So you're close with your mother?"

He looked like she spoke another language. "She's my mother."

Ainsley loved her parents, but they weren't close. Close was talking every day and sharing minute details. She didn't want to know about the charity board meeting of the day or the dust bunny left under the bed in the guestroom by the housekeeper.

Katie brought over his beer and a second wine for her. He didn't react to her second wine. She had paid for her first one, in case he paid for their drinks.

She sipped and placed her glass down. "So pastimes. What do you enjoy?"

He shrugged. "Video games, sports, but not an obsession or anything. You?"

Finally. Although she didn't have the best answers. "I like to read. I enjoy hanging with my friends and quiet time at home."

"Do you cook?"

Not another 1950s relic. "Do you?"

He shrugged. "My mom's a great cook. I keep her company, so I know my way around the kitchen."

"I cook but don't enjoy cooking for one."

"Maybe you could cook for two."

"Maybe." She smiled. Definitely not a frog.

The conversation flowed into the news which was a subject she avoided, but they appeared to be on the same page.

"My mother is the queen of reuse and recycling. She even has compost pickup."

"I'm not sure my mother knows how to recycle."

"What do you mean? How can you not know?"

"It was a joke. There's a recycling bin in her kitchen." It was built-in next to the trash in the huge custom kitchen. Caroline Douglas might not know which plastics recycled and which did not.

He looked at her. "You don't live with her?"

She laughed. "I haven't lived at home since college breaks. Once I moved out of the dorms, I stayed in my apartment in the summer. I've had three different places in the city." She stopped short of mentioning she lived alone, although she felt safe with Xander who loved his mother.

"My mother would hate for me to waste money on rent."

"So you have never lived with a girlfriend. I've never either, but most people have. All my friends do."

"No. My mother wouldn't like that."

She felt a prickle on the back of her neck. "You have dated."

He nodded but pulled his phone out of his pocket. "I have to answer."

She listened as he spoke to his mother. She took a gulp as he lied. "I'm working late." He ended the call. "Soon. I love you, too."

"Your mother doesn't know you're on a date?"

He shook his head. "She doesn't need to know, unless it becomes serious."

"I don't think any girl would want to get serious with a thirty-two-year-old guy who panders to his mother."

"Pander is a strong word for love."

"Sorry. Forget I said it. I think you're a nice guy. Nicer than the last ten guys I've met."

"Ten?" He gulped.

She nodded. More like twenty. "There are a lot of frogs out there. If I kissed you, I might find a prince, but not if the queen is in charge."

"Queen?"

"If you are looking for a fling, I might be your girl, but I'm not interested in dating or competing with your mother."

"What? What do you mean my mother?"

"If I needed you to, um, I don't know, help move boxes. And your mother said she needed you, what would you do?"

He stared at her for an eternity. "You could move boxes later."

"Perhaps. You should go home. Your mother needs you."

He didn't argue as he put cash on the table for the drinks.

"So do you want to go out again?"

"That depends." She reached her hand up and put it on his shoulder and tilted her face up to him.

At least, he could take a hint and pressed his lips into hers with a dry, uninspired kiss. She imagined bland sex. He started at a two and stayed a two, kissable but one kiss was enough.

"Go home. Your mother misses you."

He waved and walked off. She wondered if his manners would disappoint his mother. He should have offered to walk her to the station. She texted Rhys that she was heading home and felt a little sad his mother got in the way.

Mama's boy 😒 Press⭐️