Chapter One 

Nate stood transfixed to the spot seeing the se*y girl who stood up there , her blonde hair cascading down her back, wearing a denim shorts and a black top. His eyes trailed down her hot body to her exposed legs. They looked smooth, never-ending and seemed to attract him like a magnet. 

“Will you just stand and stare at me? Can’t you kill that horrid mouse?” Yelled a petrified voice, making Nate glance up. His eyes met hers and he was lost. His heart started beating louder and louder and his mind chanted loudly in his head. “Mine, mine, mine!” 

“What the f*ck!” Nate swore to shut that stupid chant in his head.

“Excuse me? There’s a dangerous mouse lurking about and all you can think about Is a f*ck?” scolded the girl. Nate looked amused and watched her with interest, lifting an eyebrow at her. 

“Of course, I’m a normal guy looking for a good lay,” he told her making her eyes go round with horror. ‘What a man wh*re!’ She thought. 

“Shut up and kill that mouse already,” she said in a bored tone. Nate looked around his feet. He couldn’t find any mouse anywhere. 

“Where’s the poor mouse? I can’t see any. Even if there is one, you have a huge apartment, you can easily share with a little mouse!” he told her. The girl glared at him with disgust and anger while Nate smirked and strode away.

“Hey! Kill it before you go,” she yelled after him. 

“I prefer kissing to killing!” yelled back Nate, as he strode into the elevator with a wide grin on his face. His decision was made. He would now surely buy this apartment. He drove back to his apartment after taking the owner’s phone number from the security guard. 

Aries had gone to the library and Andy had some extra classes. So with no one around, Nate relaxed and fixed himself a crude little sandwich. He hated cooking out of all the things in the world. At home his mom or his extended family always came to the rescue. He didn’t need to think at all about his stomach but now maybe he would have to learn to prepare a dish or two to survive! Soon his mind went back to that hot girl in top of a chair and his face broke into a grin. What she might be now doing battling with an innocent mouse! He wished he had stayed back to be her super hero! Then he might have received a hot kiss or maybe more in return!

‘Absolutely not, Nate,’ his mind intervened. ‘She looked the mean, serious types who would never kiss you until she was married to you!’ reasoned his mind. 

“Ugh! These are the most dangerous types. Stay away, Nate, “ he scolded himself. But the heart and mind were strange and always revolted against each other. So while his heart urged him to make a call to the landlord his mind warmed him against it. “What the f*ck! I like the apartment. Why shouldn’t I buy it? I’m not buying it because of her!” he gagged melodramatically and picked up his phone. He searched for the owner’s number and called him up. The owner, Derek Giles, lived in Canada and had no plans of ever returning to New York. He was eager to sell off the apartment. The deal was made and Mr. Giles referred Nate to his lawyer for the formalities. 

Next he spoke to his parents and informed them about the deal. He would send them the details and legal documents for verification after talking to the lawyer. His dad and Stuart would visit him to deal with the formalities later. Relieved Nate had just picked up a can of beer from Aries’s refrigerator when his phone buzzed with an incoming call from his best friend, Xavier. 

“Hey, bro, missing me?” asked Xavier with a chuckle.

“Well, no actually!” laughed Nate. 

“How? Are you drunk or what?” asked Xavier with surprise. He knew how upset Nate had been after Veronica’s betrayal and rudeness. He had taken to drinking when Drake left for Austin. 

“Do I sound drunk?” laughed Nate. 

“Strangely you don’t. So what are you up to?” asked Xavier.

“Nothing much! I’ve got to join work tomorrow. Aries has a girl as his roommate and I’m feeling like a third wheel here in his apartment. So I’m buying an apartment here. Dad and Stu are coming over to help with the formalities,” said Nate. 

“Wow, man. So you’re finally settling down in New York. Right?” asked a hurt Xavier.

“It seems that way right now. So what about you? Have you patched up with your girlfriend?” asked Nate. 

“No she married some rich guy and left Houston,” said Xavier.

“Oh, I’m sorry dude. I had no idea. Why don’t you come over to New York too? I could help you look for a job,” said Nate. 

“Right now I’m doing my Master Degree. Maybe I’ll come down afterwards, “ said Xavier. Nate didn’t pressurize him knowing how dedicated Xavier was about his career. He was pursuing a master degree in Chemical Engineering instead of grieving his girlfriend’s betrayal. It was a good sign indeed. 

“Great then. Keep in touch,” said Nate. 

The next day Nate joined his new office. He loved the work ambience, he was introduced to his colleagues and the whole day he spent understanding his scope of work. His immediate boss, Grant Brunswick was a great man who had all the patience in the world. He knew now to perfectly balance professionalism with a little humor and it made people want to work extra hard to please him. Nate immediately clicked with his colleague, Tom Dougherty who worked with him on the same project. He was a year older and had joined Cognizant a month ago. To some extent Tom reminded him of Xavier with his manner of talking and at the end of the day, Nate warmed up to his company. 

He learned that Tom too had recently just been ditched by his girlfriend and was actually heartbroken. “We’re in the same boat dude! So let’s celebrate our friendship with a good drink. What do you say?” asked Nate. 

“Sure, I know just the place. I go there regularly and they give good discounts too,” said Tom. So after work, the two friends drove to the place Tom had mentioned. They pulled up and parked at the parking area of The Central Pub which was an upscale and decent pub located on a busy street. Tom seemed to know everyone at the place and greeted everyone warmly. They chose a window seat overlooking the busy street and ordered. They talked about work and Tom's family, his upcoming sister’s wedding. Tom had just drowned two pegs when he received a call from his mom. 

“I’ve got to go Nate. We’ll meet tomorrow,” he said, paying for his drink and walking away. Nate looked out of the window and waved as he drove away. Then his glance fell on the pavement opposite to the pub. He saw a cute little bakery shop with it’s classic board flashing the name, “Sweet Temptations”. He smiled at the name and watched the non-stop crowd go to and from the shop. ‘What goodies do they sell to draw such a crowd?’ he wondered. 

Then he saw her! The bombshell neighbor who was harassed by a poor mouse! She accompanied a few people out of the shop and stood talking to them at the doorway. Excitement coursed through his body seeing her. She looked so happy as she animated talked to the people. Nate sat there and stared at her mesmerized by her beauty. She almost glowed under the lights in a dazzling white sundress, making her look ethereal and beautiful. The people walked away and then her eyes fell upon his brooding face, sitting opposite with a peg of whiskey in his hand! 

She blinked five times, then rubbed her eyes five times and then stared at him with disbelief. Nate smirked and downed his drink in one gulp. The girl scowled and stomped inside the shop. Did she work there? Nate’s interest was piqued and he sat there waiting for her to emerge again. 

Twenty minutes later, Nate stood at the entrance of the pub, ready to go home when the girl emerged from her shop. She seemed to be locking the shop up. Excited to talk to her, Nate crossed the street and stood behind her, his heart thumping with excitement.

“Hi! Done for the day?” he asked in his husky tone. The girl jumped and whirled around, clutching at her heart. Her glance fell upon Nate and she scowled at him.

“Are you stalking me?” She demanded angrily. 

“Why would I?” shrugged Nate. 

“Then what are you doing here right in front of my bakery shop?” asked the girl.

“You own this place?” he asked with disbelief. 

“Yes, so?” she prompted. 

“I just came for a drink, that’s all,” Nate shrugged. 

“Are you an alcoholic?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow at him.

“Sort of,” said Nate. 

“It’s not good for you. You should quit it immediately,” said the girl, locking her shop up and placing the keys in her handbag. 

“Yes, mom,” said Nate with a smirk. The girl rolled her eyes at him and walked away towards her car. 

“Hey, what’s your name?” asked Nate. 

“Go home,” she yelled as she started her car and drove away, leaving Nate gaping after her.