Cupid’s Uncanny Match

JACK

Jack Adams pushed off his swivel chair and walked around his spacious office. He had always loved space, not only because he needed enough room to move his long legs but also because he had a grave hatred for clutter. What was on his mind today wasn’t different from what had been plaguing him for weeks now. It was a woman! Or better still, a girl. 

Gosh, no one would believe he was this stricken over a girl. In fact, it just won’t do well for his bad boy image.  But dammit Grace Paul was just one adorable sweet lady he couldn’t stop thinking about no matter how hard he tried. It was a Monday afternoon but he couldn’t concentrate on his work. He had so  much to do but his mind kept wandering to Grace’s svelte body encased in the gorgeous swim wear he saw her wear two days before when he ran into her at his club. He had been trying to avoid her, so always hung out only at his club where it was unlikely to run into her. 

For some reason she chose to come to The Cider Exclusive club that Saturday afternoon. As it so happened, her father had just registered into the club the week before and she was using his card. Of course when she sighted him at the pool side she glided over with that sultry body of hers, to greet him. Didn’t she know what seeing her like that does to him? Or was she just trying to drive him mad? Jack almost fell flat on his ass as he tried to escape her presence before he embarrassed himself.

While Jack stared blankly out the window behind his desk, his phone beeped distracting him from his day dream. As if by some telepathic pull, it was a text from Grace, she had been in his neighborhood having lunch with a friend who works in his office complex and she had gotten some lunch for him and was on her way up to his office suite drop it for him.

Shit! He was trapped, he couldn’t see her now, not when he was just having un-holy thoughts about her. But there was no way he could bring himself to not see her. Maybe it was just as well, he could just tell her he couldn’t see her anymore. He was struggling with the fact that he is almost 20 years older than Grace and definitely more world weary. He was turning 37 in three months time and she was just 20 years old! Fresh out of college.

Before he even had time to comport himself, his 35 year old ever nosy secretary Margret softly knocked, opened the door and announced Grace’s arrival. “Jack, Miss Paul here to see you” she said, and then she opened the door wider for Grace to step through. Damn, that girl is fast and certainly ever so jovial. It was obvious Maggie already took a fondness for her which really wasn’t good. Maggie has been on the prowl to get Jack a suitable wife for as long as he could remember. 

Grace shut the door behind her and bounded in “hey darling…how is work going?”. “I am fine. You look lovely” Jack quipped. And she certainly did. She made his mouth water, dressed in a dark slim pencil skirt, cream silk blouse and high studded stiletto heels. Grace went on to say “Didn’t know if you would be in or out at a meeting, just wanted to drop you some lunch. Hope you like seafood?” she dropped the food on a side table and while Jack made to come around his desk to welcome her, she hurried to his side and plunked her entire body in his lap and smacked a kiss on his lips. His hands came up of their own volition and he wrapped her up in a tight hug and deepened the kiss. After what seemed like an eternity, they broke apart with their breaths coming a bit short. 

“Grace” Jack said, “You know we can’t go on seeing each other. Honestly, the thoughts I am having for you aren’t exactly pure and I’m sure your parents and friends won’t be able to see nor understand why you are with me. In fact, I myself don’t understand why you want to be with me”. That angered Grace and she gave him a sharp rebuff. “Look Jack, I love you alright, and I know you love me too though you are being too headstrong to accept it. I aint going anywhere, and the sooner you accept that we will make each other very happy, the better for us”

Grace left soon after and he almost thought he had imagined her being there, but the aroma emanating from the plastic bag she has brought with her wafted into his nose and he knew for a certainty he wasn’t imagining. He finally got around to eating his lunch and it was amazing, from his favorite lunch place. How she managed to know that puzzled him and made him even more suspicious of Maggie.

GRACE

For some reason Grace knew Jack saw her as a soft delicate flower and she just couldn’t understand why. She may be much younger than he was but she knew in her heart that she wanted him. She knew a lot even though most of her claimed experiences came from her reading of so many books. And from the one boy she had dated in the University who had only made her miserable. He had slept with half the girls in her class, making her the constant joke of her classmates. She had sworn off guys for 3 years, but when she was introduced to Jack 3months ago at a party her friend had invited her to she liked him instantly. 

Jack himself had told her she acted way more mature than her age. So why was he having a problem with being with her? It’s not like he was married or anything! 

As fragile as she seems, she could see Jack for who he truly is and knows his heart is just as lonely as hers. Grace had a lot of maturity and a deep insight into the human character so she really gets Jack. He could go on trying to convince himself that he was no good for her, but even when he's trying to break her heart, she gets him. Though Grace also knew her father may pose a bit of a challenge to her relationship with Jack, she was sure if he did meet Jack he would like him.

Jack was so smart, classy, a successful Engineer, drop dead handsome and a perfect gentleman. Who wouldn’t want such a man for his daughter?

So she came up with a plan to make Jack come to terms with his feelings for her and to do something about it.

 Grace was very close to her father, and it had been just the two of them since her mother up and left when Grace was Barely six years old. Her dad was all she had and he had trained her well. He taught her to be forthright and follow her heart. So when she told him about Jack, she was overjoyed when he told her he was pleased because she had found someone who makes her happy. But she also told him of Jack’s apparent insecurities about the age difference, and together, they both decided to invite Jack to dinner to finagle a commitment from him.  

She had to bend Jack’s hands backwards to get him to come for dinner. But Grace was happy he did. And everything went so well, better than she had planned. At the end of the cross examination which her dad doled on Jack, he gave them both his blessings, with a big threat that if Jack ever hurt Grace, he would have his head. Grace walked Jack to his waiting car and while they kissed goodnight and Jack said to her “I love you Gracie and I want to spend my every waking morning with you in my arms. Please tell me you want the same thing” he added uncertainly, and after a heartbeat Grace said “of course silly, I love you so much. In fact, I’d wrap myself around you so tight nothing will ever make me let go”. 

Nothing could compare to the joy they both felt at that time and they knew in their hearts it could only get better from here on.

Grace knew she had made the best decision. Jack is the passionate type of man that has her envisioning steamy nights and cherished days.