Unlikely To Fall In Love Read online

  Unlikely To Fall In Love

  Debie Esmeralda

  Copyright © 2013 by Debie Esmeralda

  All rights reserved.

  First Electronic Edition, September 2013

  This book and any portion thereof may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Participation in any aspect of piracy of copyrighted materials, inclusive of the obtainment of this book through non-retail or other unauthorized means, is in actionable violation of author’s rights.

  All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  – For those who believe in love no matter what the circumstances are –

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Acknowledgement

  About the Author

  One

  I leaned towards a sleek sedan with its windows rolled down where inside was a thirty-year-old looking man smirking at me as I gave him a seductive smile. “Hey handsome.”

  “How much?” He asked with a menacing sparkle in his eyes.

  “Sixt―” I started but before I could finish my sentence, a car screeched caught my attention. I looked up and saw a red Porsche had lost its control and was about to hit a lamppost.

  Screeeeecccchhhhh….The screeching was making my ears bleed.

  Bam!

  The Porsche had hit a lamppost. I ran into the accident scene, where a thick crowd had gather already, leaving my potential costumer. I could see a man inside as I approached the car, of all the people gathered around no one was trying to help. I dove in the throng of people, mostly were hookers, obscuring my way. “Excuse me.” I said along the way.

  I stopped at the passenger side when I reached the car. My palms were sweating profusely. I had never witnessed an accident like this before. This looked bad, much frightening that the ones I saw in movies. This one was for real.

  The car’s hood smashed, the windows and the mirrors were shattered, they were pieces of glass scattered on the ground. His head was leaning towards the steering wheel, facing down. I couldn’t see his face and he was unconscious. I ran my hands through my hair, and then I yelled to whoever was closest to me. “Call 911”

  It might take minutes before the medics could arrive, so I opened the passenger door, leaned inside and tapped his shoulder. “Hey sir. Are you okay?” He didn’t answer. I positioned him carefully so that his back was flat, pushing the seat all the way through the back and I got a vision of how badly he looked. His face covered with streaks of blood oozing from his forehead, sliced by the shattered window, his eyes tightly shut.

  I leaned down towards his face and tried to feel his breathing on my cheek as I placed an index finger along with my middle finger over his carotid artery to check for pulsations. He had a weak thready pulse but he wasn’t breathing.

  Oh God, this did not look good.

  I pinched his nose and placed my lips on the top of his, then blew two breaths of air into his mouth. I did that as I watched his diaphragm rising. I was trying my best to remember all the steps on how to do CPR, it was a good thing my brother pushed me to take those basic life support classes, but the man’s soft lips against mine distracted me. I tried to push the thought aside of how of a good kisser he could be. He was in danger and I needed to save him. This was not the time to be thinking about kissing.

  He coughed and I let out a breath myself. Thank God! I felt relieved and relaxed that I forgot my face was still above his, only a few inches away. His breath touched my cheek and it felt as soft as a man’s gentle caress. I moved my head slightly to check his breathing again, and my world suddenly stopped.

  I was a few inches away from him and I could feel his breath touching my face. My head started to feel dizzy and my heart skipping, my chest felt tight as if I was about to have a heart attack. My stomach did a weird somersault and my brain had shut down

  Beneath me was the most beautiful man I have ever seen.

  His eyes were the deepest of the blue, clearest of the diamonds and they have tiny specks of gold in them. His cheeks sculpted to perfection. His nose was tall and straight, perfect proportion with his handsome face. His lips were kissable and I knew that they were soft to touch. His dark brown tousled hair mussed perfectly despite the accident. Overall, he was perfect. Like a Greek god or something like that.

  Because he was Damon Rhodes.

  Well, let me give you a background on who the freaking hell Damon Rhodes was. He was just the hottest guy on the planet, billionaire and a part-time model when he was a teenager. He’s freaking rich, and he also happened to be the most eligible bachelor according to a magazine. And here he was, a few inches from my face staring up at me. And I couldn’t breathe.

  He’s so freaking HOT!

  “Who are you?” His voice was weak but still sexy as hell.

  “Amanda Sparks.” I sounded breathless, and I was used to talking like this after sex not after saving a man.

  “What happened?” He was staring directly into my eyes. Oh God, his eyes were so beautiful.

  “You’ve―” I started but was not able to finished what I was about to say because the paramedic cut me off.

  “Excuse me, ma’am.” I looked up and saw two paramedics ready to take Damon Rhodes away, from me. “We can take it from here.”

  Damn!

  I stood up and stepped aside (reluctantly) to let the professional do their jobs. The crowd had already thinned out and some of my co-workers returned to the spots, so I had better go back too if I wanted to make some money tonight. I looked at Damon Rhodes, while he was strapped into the stretcher, and decided to go back to work later after making sure he was okay. I watched as they brought him inside the ambulance, then go in with him before closing the door. The ambulance took off and the next thing I know, the ambulance was gone.

  I shook my head as I continued to stare at the spot where the ambulance was a few minutes ago. I couldn’t believe it. Did I come face to face with the most beautiful man on the planet?

  Later that night I could not sleep, could not think rationally. After they took Damon Rhodes away, I decided to go home. I would not be able to work efficiently because I kept thinking about him. I thought about his beautiful face, the blueness of his eyes and the feel of his lips against mine. All of those things were clouding my mind. He was obscuring every though, taking up every available space inside my head. Was it possible that someone you just met could make you feel like this? Because he did, Damon Rhodes was messing with my head.

  ~***~

  “Hey Amanda, wake up.” A deep male voice registered into my brain and a hand was gently shaking me awake. I ignored it and tried to go back to sleep. “Amanda.” He shook my shoulder again.

  “Go away.” I shooed him away like an annoying fly. “I want to sleep.”

  “Amanda, you need to wake up. You’re going to be late for work.” He said as he chuckled. “You got drool stains all over your pillow sis.” He teased.

/>   “Whatever.” I mumbled through the pillow. I didn’t care about drool stains, and who did anyway? “What time is it?”

  “Nine thirty.”

  “What?” I stood up as quick as I could. Shit, I am late. “Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”

  “Believe me, I’ve tried. Three times. But you wouldn’t even lift up your head from the pillow. At one point I thought you were in coma.” My brother was laughing at me.

  I pulled my tank top over my head and threw it at him but he quickly dodged, it hit the wall instead. I stared at him and his brows knotted. “Oh, sorry.” Then he moved out of my room giving me privacy.

  I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth, tied my hair in a ponytail and applied some lip-gloss. I put on my uniform as fast as I could and took my backpack with me as I walk out of the room. Yes, I was one of those people who still used a backpack to work at the age of twenty.

  “Going out already?” Aiden asked as I passed him by on my way to the door.

  “Yup. I’m very late.”

  “Aren’t you going to eat breakfast first?”

  “Can’t.”

  “Here.” He tossed a muffin at me and I caught it before it hit the ground or my face. “Eat on your way to work.”

  “Thanks. See yah.” I blew him a kiss before walking out of the door.

  I reached the diner thirty minutes later and my manager, Miss Anderson, was glaring at me. “Miss Sparks, you’re late.”

  “I’m sorry Miss Anderson.”

  “Is it because of your other job?” My co-workers knew that I was a prostitute and one of them work there with me. The only one who did not know about it was my twin brother.

  I shrugged as I pin my nametag. “Kinda.”

  “When are you planning on quitting that? When you get an STD?” Whoa! Why did she suddenly think that she had the right to criticize my life or what I did for a living? I get that she meant well but this was my life, my body and this was the only way I knew to survive.

  “I can’t. I needed the money for my brother’s schooling.” I said as I stashed contents in the pockets of my apron.

  “I’m just concern for your welfare, Amanda.”

  I tried to smile at her. “Thanks.”

  ~***~

  “You look hot, Amanda.” Margaret the friend who was working in the diner with me said.

  “Thanks. You too Mags.” Margaret was one of the hottest girls I knew. Guys liked her petite frame. With her wavy black as ebony like Snow White’s hair and her olive skin that, radiated with health. Her eyes were the color of brandy and her lips kinda looked like Angelina Jolie’s. She loved wearing thigh high black stockings and miniskirts paired with skintight clothes that looked like they were made for children’s since the fit was too tight and was too short.

  “I’m hoping for a rich guy to hire me tonight.” She announced. She was a sucker for rich men, just the stereotype prostitute was.

  Suddenly out of nowhere, a limousine stopped right in front of us. It was white and did not fit well in this part of the city. The windows were tinted black and you would not be able to see who was inside. However, when your work was like ours, it did not matter whether it was a young or an old guy because it was still a costumer. Girls like us screw people for money.

  “Holy cow! My wish is coming true!” Margaret was the first one to exclaim. “Here I come, baby.” She pushed up her boobs to show more cleavage and mussed up her hair as she walked towards the limousine. Margaret looked like a predator that was ready to attack her prey.

  The limo’s window rolled down as she approached, then she leaned inside and talked to whoever was inside that car. After a few minutes, she walked back to where I was.

  “What happened?” I could not help asking because it was unusual for a costumer to reject Margaret.

  “He wants you.” She said.

  “Me?” I lifted a brow at her.

  “Yeah. You.” She pointed a manicured index finger at me.

  “Me.” This time it was not a question but a confused statement. Really? Whoever was inside that limousine was asking for me?

  “Go.” She pushed me forward and I lost my balance, I sort of stumbled. It was a good thing my heels were sturdy enough that I did not fall flat on my face. Couldn’t she see I was wearing a five inches knee-high boots?

  I glared at Margaret and she mouthed “sorry” to me. I could not help but sigh. I regained my composure, pushed my shoulders back, straightened my spine and walked towards the limousine like a beauty queen. My waist length pin straight blonde hair fell softly on my back, swaying a little as I walk.

  When I reached the window of the limousine, I leaned inside and smiled seductively at the man sitting on the other side of the car facing me. I used the smile that I mastered only for this particular job.

  It was dark inside the limousine, the light was off and I wonder why they did not bother to turn it on. How would I be able to see his face? Find out how old was he.

  Then a car passed by splaying light inside the limo enabling me to see the person’s face. The moment I saw him my eyes widened, my throat constricted, my heart skipped a beat and suddenly forgot how to breathe. Butterflies fluttered their gossamer wings inside my stomach.

  Oh. My. God.

  It was Damon Rhodes.

  “Hi.” I was breathless as if all the air in my lungs were suck up. He was so handsome despite of the bandage on his forehead, around his arm and the one on his wrist. He was wearing crisp expensive suit that was tailor made only for him.

  He smirked at me and my breathing hitched. “Hello.” Oh God. I suddenly felt light headed. “Amanda Sparks. It’s nice to see you again.”

  I was tongue-tied. I didn’t know what to say. I was suddenly incoherent, wasn’t able to speak.

  He smiled, the kind of smile that didn’t reach the eyes. “Why don’t you join me here?”

  I just stood there, plastered to my place as I looked at him. When I didn’t say anything, his brows pulled together in the middle. Well, it was not every day you got a chance to face this man. Surely, it would definitely make you act dumb. Just like the way I was acting right now.

  “I’ll pay for your time. Come.” This time it sounded more of a command than a request.

  Still, I was not able to move. Hello, I was still star-strucked. I was still processing all of this, and he was looking at me with those baby blues of his. God, his eyes were so beautiful.

  I was still staring, maybe drooling, when he decided to get out of his limo through the other door. The next thing I knew, he was standing behind, holding my elbows and moving me aside to open the door.

  I was sure that I felt something the moment he touched me. Like electricity tingling my nerves and my skin. He carefully guided me and helped me eased inside his limo, making sure my head would not hit the doorframe. He was such a gentleman. A very handsome gentleman indeed.

  Inside his car, he behaved like a true businessman, distant and formal. He was in a better shape than last night. I did remember his clear blue eyes, soft lips and perfect facial features. He was still handsome just like the last time I saw him, maybe even better without the blood oozing from his forehead. He was too perfectly good looking to be real. I thought those magazine covers were air brushed, but I guess I was wrong.

  “Thank you for helping me Miss Sparks.” He said in a sharp business tone.

  I could not help from blushing. “Oh, that. Don’t mention it.”

  “How can I repay you?” He said, cold and distant as the Antarctica. “Surely, there has to be a sensible amount of money I can pay you.”

  I could not believe it!

  I was the one who helped him out of the kindness of my heart, yet he made it sounded like I was waiting for something in return.

  What a cold hearted billionaire!

  I would have been happy if he just showed up, gave me flowers then said his gratitude, but instead he was pricing a selfless act a stranger gave to him. He pissed me off, BIG TIME.
Did he think everything in this world had a price value?

  He breathed through his noise as if he was in a deep struggle before lifting a brow. “A hundred dollars, is that enough?” He asked like the arrogant bastard that I was suddenly realizing he was.

  What a jerk!

  I felt my hands turning into a fist, felt my freshly manicured nails digging into my palms. The air inside the car got warmer by the minute.

  I gave him a tight smile as I said, “A million dollars.” Just to pissed him off.

  But guess what?

  The bastard smiled at me. “I know you’d say that.”

  I bolted out of the car without letting him fished out whatever he was digging inside his coat’s pocket. I leaned towards the car to face him and he was staring at me in pure astonishment. “Save it for the charity Mister Rhodes. I don’t need your money. I helped you out of the goodness of my heart. I don’t need to be paid for what I did. You thought I was waiting for something in return. Forget it. I am not waiting. You just insulted me.” Then I gave him a coy smile before walking away, leaving him staring at me. And before I could completely reach where Margaret stood, I looked over my shoulder and called out to him. “And by the way Mister Rhodes.” I gave him a sweet smile. “You’re welcome.”

  Two

  “Who was that?” Margaret asked once I returned. “What happened?”

  “Damon Rhodes.” I saw the way her eyes bulged out at the mention of his name through my peripheral visual field. “And he’s a jerk.”

  Margaret grabbed my shoulders and made me face her. “A what?” Her brows pulled together at the middle of her forehead. “You just met the hottest billionaire in NYC and you think that he is a jerk.” She stared at me as if I had grown an extra head. “I cannot believe you just walked away from a walking back account. Are you out of your mind?”

  “Last time I’ve check, I’m still able to think clearly. No paranoid thoughts, no delusions and no hallucinations.” I could not help adding a bit of sarcasm on my tone.

  “He’s a billionaire and clearly, he wanted you to shag him.”