He was attractive. Scratch that, he was drop dead gorgeous. With a head full of loose, curly, brown hair, a hint of sexy stubble along his jawline, and striking gray eyes set into a heart shaped face; he had to be the man of her dreams.

Dominic Sutter.

Alyssa wasn't a stickler for blind dates but when her best friend, Kirsten, had practically begged her to go through with it earlier that day, she couldn't refuse.

"I've got the perfect guy for you." She'd said excitedly as they sat down in a local Starbucks.

Alyssa scoffed. "There's no such thing as the perfect guy."

Kirsten shook her head, her fire engine red curls swung wildly. "Trust me on this."

"When have I ever doubted you?" Alyssa teased.

"Exactly." Kirsten grinned.

And now, Alyssa thought Kirsten had actually done it. She'd found her the perfect guy. As they walked side by side, Alyssa snuck another glance. He was tall, she guessed about six feet and a couple of inches. His stride was sexy and confident; the walk of a man that just knew he looked good and knew that everyone else knew it too. He wore a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off a pair of slightly hairy and muscular arms. If that wasn't enough to tell her that he had a great body, then it had to be the way his shirt strained against his biceps. He'd paired the shirt with a pair of dark blue slacks and brown shoes. She smiled at his good taste. She loved a man that knew how to dress.

She was starting to think of how the night would end between them. With the way she was feeling, she was sure she'd invite him in once they returned. You didn't just say goodnight to a man like that.

But as they approached his car, a red Camaro, the record in her head came to a screeching halt, the choir stopped singing, and heaven's gates slammed shut on what was supposed to be the "perfect guy".

"Hop in." He said, pulling open the driver's side door for himself and sliding into the black leather seat.

She frowned, bent down to look at him through the passenger window, and tapped on the glass. He rolled the window down and flicked a brow up at her expectantly.

"Aren't you going to open my door?"

"Seriously?" He laughed.

"Seriously." She gave him a deadpanned look.

He searched her face as if to find the joke in her face, but there was none. What in the hell did he think this was? They were on a date, and every man should know to open the door for a woman, or so she thought.

He sighed and leaned over to push the door open for her.

She stepped back with a huff. "I meant, get out and open my door." She folder her arms over her chest.

"You're kidding."

She tilted her head at him and started to tap her foot on the pavement.

He ran a hand through his hair. "And they say chivalry is dead." He shook his head and got out of the car. "Your chariot awaits, princess." He said snidely.

She cut her ocean blue eyes at him. "Excuse me?"

"Can you just get in the car?" His voiced was laced with annoyance and impatience.

She glared. The fucking nerve of him to be upset with her. He was the one being rude, and like every other strong willed woman, she refused to stand for it.

"You know what," She laughed humorlessly. "this isn't going to work."

He closed her door. "I think that's the first time we've agreed on something tonight, princess."

"Don't call me that." She snapped.

"What a surprise, she's bossy too." He remarked.

"I don't know what Kirsten was thinking, setting us up together." Alyssa looked him over, seeing the stance of a man that just didn't give a damn. "We clearly have nothing in common."

"Likewise, Prin—"

"Don't call me that!"

He laughed. "I'd say it was nice meeting you, but I'd be lying."

"Well aren't you the charmer." She said sarcastically.

"Good riddance, darlin'." He drawled. "I've got another date anyway."

Her mouth fell open in shock. "Asshole!" She shouted as he pulled off and sped down the road.

"Uggghhhhh!" She groaned as she stomped up the stairs to the walkway of her house. Once inside, she kicked off her nude heels, took the pins out and let her hair fall down her back in the curls she took so much time making sure were perfect, and whipped out her phone.

"What the hell did you set me up with?" She demanded to know as Kirsten answered her call.

"Was it that bad?"

"Oh, let me tell you…"

She wasted no time telling her best friend about the worst 'almost' date she'd just had.

One thing was for sure; she'd never disliked anybody as much as she did Dominic Sutter.

*One Year Later*

"Alyssa!"

She rushed into the dressing room at Kirsten's tortured shriek. She'd heard the sound so many times during the past few months that she knew something just had to be wrong. As if Kirsten wasn't already over the top, the stress of the wedding was making her even crazier. And as the wedding got closer, she turned into even more of a bridezilla.

"What is it?" Alyssa pulled back the curtain.

"My dress." Kirsten's voice broke. "It's too freakin' tight. It won't even zip up." She sniffled.

"Okay, okay. We can fix this honey. You just have to lose a few—"

Kirsten hit her with a glare and the words died in her throat. "Are you saying I'm fat?"

"Nuh uh." Alyssa shook her head.

"Yes you are."

"Kirsten, don't be ridiculous."

"RIDICULOUS!" She screamed.

"Shhhh. There are other people in here you know."

"I don't care." Kirsten pouted. "My dress is ruined. I should just call of the wedding." She put her face in her hands.

"Don't say that. You and Levi are meant to be together." Alyssa put an arm around Kirsten's shoulders. "You're marrying the man of your dreams. Does the dress really matter all that much?"

Kirsten sighed. "I guess you're right. I'd marry Levi in a towel if I had to."

"Exactly." Alyssa smiled.

Over the past year, Alyssa had admired Kirsten and Levi's relationship. Not only were they an interracial couple, but they handled it with grace and poured out more love than the hate they received. When she looked at them, Alyssa saw the epitome of what a relationship should be, and some part of her was jealous that she hadn't found that for herself.

At 27 years old, she had it all; a promising career as a television show producer, a new house, her dream car, and good looks. But she hadn't found that special someone to share it all with. She'd dated quite a bit but nobody had ever stolen her heart.

"Okay." Kirsten said with newfound calmness. "This is okay. I can just find a new dress."

"Yes." Alyssa nodded.

"That's no big deal." She shrugged.

"Not at all." Alyssa agreed.

"The wedding is just in four weeks…." She trailed off.

"That's more than enough time." Alyssa assured her. She could sense that Kirsten was about to have another meltdown. It had taken her a good two months just to pick out the perfect dress, so to find another one with the wedding so close was going to be a task.

"You're right." Kirsten said none too confidently.

Alyssa gave her a smile and patted her on the back. "How about you get dressed now and I'll take you home. We can come back to this tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

Alyssa left her to get dressed and pulled out her phone to text Levi.

"Bringing the bridezilla home in 20. Be ready."

Her phone vibrated shortly after.

"Bring it on." He replied.

Alyssa laughed just as Kirsten came out of the dressing room.

"What's so funny?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing. You ready?"

Kirsten sighed. "Yeah, I guess."

"Cheer up sweetie." She put her arm around her. "Will cheesecake make it better?"

"You know it." Kirsten smiled. "That's why you're my maid of honor."

They laughed as they exited the bridal boutique. A little while later, Kirsten sat in the passenger seat of her car and forked the last bit of vanilla bean cheesecake into her mouth.

"Mmm." She sighed in content. "This is why I'm fat now."

"Will you stop that?" Alyssa admonished. "You're not fat. And even if you were, you'd still be gorgeous."

Kirsten rolled her eyes. "If you say so."

"I do say so."

Kirsten was beautiful. She had milk chocolate colored skin that was as smooth as a baby's bottom. Her eyes were a honey brown paired with full brows and long thick lashes. Her hair was naturally curly and dyed a golden brown; a change up from her favorite red. And she was curvy in all the right places.

"Just know that plenty of women would kill for your looks." Alyssa added on.

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Just then, Alyssa's phone vibrated from the console and Kirsten grabbed it.

"What's match me?" Kirsten asked.

Alyssa blushed. "Let me see that." She reached for the phone but Kirsten held it out of her reach.

"Let me see it." Alyssa demanded.

"What is it?"

"It's an app." Alyssa said simply.

"Called match me?" Kirsten frowned before it gave way to a knowing smile. "Is it a dating app?"

"No." Alyssa glanced at her out the corner of her eye and was met with a look as if to say 'yeah right'. "Okay, yes." She sighed.

"Oh my god, Alyssa. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it's embarrassing." She frowned.

It was bad enough that her love life was in a drought, and not to mention her sex life too. But she hadn't wanted anybody to know that she'd resorted to online dating apps to find her Mr. Right.

"There's nothing embarrassing about dating apps. I'm just surprised that you're actually using one." Kirsten laughed.

Alyssa groaned inwardly. Dating apps were practically a set up for blind dates. Sure, you saw pictures, read bios, chatted a bit. But in the end, you'd be meeting someone that you didn't really know. And the last time she'd done that, it had ended in disaster. She still cringed when she thought about the date from hell she'd almost gone on with Dominic just the year before. And thanks to his friendship with Levi, the two had seen a lot of each other since then. In fact, he was the best man in the wedding. Alyssa definitely saw the irony in the situation but she couldn't think about that now.

"It says you have a match." Kirsten smiled.

"Who is it?" Alyssa tried, and failed, to hide her excitement.

"His name is Ethan Bates and he's hot."

"Is he?"

"Yes, and he's right here in Dallas."

Alyssa's phone went off with a ping.

"He just messaged you." Kirsten giggled before she began tapping away on the screen.

"What are you doing?"

"Replying for you."

"What? No, you don't have to do that."

"I know. But as your best friend, I thought I'd help you out."

"No offense—"

"That's what people say right before they say something offensive." Kirsten cut her off.

"No offense…" She continued. "…but the last time you helped me out, it didn't exactly go very well."

"That was one time."

"That one time was enough. I can handle my own dates if you don't mind."

"Fine." Kirsten put her phone back in the console. "But you better not spare me any details when you see him tonight."

"You didn't." Alyssa paled.

"Oh, but I did." Kirsten grinned as they pulled into the driveway of her and Levi's ranch style home.

"Kirsten, I could kill you right now." Alyssa fumed. It was pointless trying to be mad at her. All she had to do was hit you with just one of those cheeky grins of hers and you'd forget why you were even mad in the first place.

"But you won't'." She opened the door to get out and closed the door behind her. "Have fun tonight. And don't do anything I wouldn't do."

As she walked away, Alyssa called out and said, "But there isn't much that you wouldn't do."

"Exactly." Kirsten called back.

"Fuck!"

Alyssa fell to the ground as her heel broke. Dirt stained her cream colored dress and the rocks dug into her skin.

"Son of a bitch." She cursed as she kicked off her heels and got back on her feet.

It was nearly ten o'clock at night and she was walking along the side of the road. The reason why had her so pissed that she'd wanted to scream.

She'd gone on her date earlier that night with Ethan, and things had gone great. The first good sign that he was a promising match was that he was a looker, and then he'd proceeded to impress her by opening her door. Finally, he'd taken her to a fancy restaurant where she'd had an extravagant meal.

Later, they'd gone back to his place where they talked and he regaled her with tales of his travels around the world. She had gotten comfortable, and when he moved to kiss her, she reciprocated. But not in the 'I want you now' kind of way, but in the 'I had a nice time tonight' kind of way.

Apparently, he'd thought she meant the former. And when she politely told him that she wasn't prepared to go that far, at least not on the first date, he'd kicked her out.

Her inability to put out had her walking back home and cursing every step of the way.

She fished a hair tie out of her clutch purse and tied her hair up in a ponytail. She checked her phone and shook her head at the dying percentage.

Being out in the middle of nowhere was no place for her phone to be at nine percent of battery life.

Just as she started to despair, a pair of headlights illuminated behind her. She turned around and waved her arms to stop the driver, but they'd ignored her and zoomed right past.

"This is just great." She said to herself. "Go on the date, they said. It'll be fun, they said. Bullshit." She sighed.

She looked up and saw the car that had sped past her start to back up, coming back to her. She didn't know if she should be glad or terrified.

As the car came to a stop and she recognized the red, she decided that she should be neither.

"Princess, is that you?" Dominic peered at her, a smug smile on his face.

"I can't believe this." She muttered to herself.

"What are you doing out here? And why are you walking?"

"It's a long story." She sighed. "Did you come back to give me a ride?"

"Say please."

"Don't be an asshole."

"I don't know any other way to be, princess."

"What did I tell you about calling me that?" She shook her head.

"I didn't hear a please."

She put a hand on her hip and looked around as if someone else was going to come to her rescue.

"Still as stubborn as ever, huh?"

"I'm not stubborn."

Dominic chuckled. "Yeah, okay. Well good luck out here." He put the car in drive.

"Wait!"

"Yes?" He smiled, waiting for her to say the word.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?"

"Just a little bit." He grinned.

With a sigh she said, "Please give me a ride."

"You do mean a ride home right?" He said suggestively.

"Ugh, you pervert." She pulled the door open and settled into the passenger seat. "What are you even doing out here, anyway."

"I think I asked you first."

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"Fine by me." He shrugged. "But just for my entertainment, I'd looove to know."

"Can you not see that I've had a horrible night?"

"Which is why it would be so very entertaining for you to tell me all about it."

"I had a date."

He let out a howling laugh and she rolled her eyes.

"That explains it all." He wiped his eyes.

"I did nothing wrong." She huffed. "The guy was a jerk."

"What did he do? Forget to open your door?" He said mockingly.

"No. Actually he was a perfect gentleman until…" She trailed off.

"Until what?"

"Until he wanted more than what I was prepared to give on a first date."

"What did he want?"

"You know." She said pointedly.

"Shit. Did he force himself on you?"

"No, not really."

"Are you sure?"

Alyssa tilted her head. If she weren't tired and utterly irritated about how her night had gone, she would have sworn that she heard a hint of concern in Dominic's voice.

"I'm sure." She breathed. "He kicked me out as soon as I said no. And now here I am."

Dominic whistled. "Tough night."

"You're telling me. Kirsten practically set it up."

"I thought she stopped playing matchmaker when she set us up?"

"She just couldn't help herself I guess." She shrugged. "So what are you doing out here?" She asked, changing to subject before it could be revealed that she'd met Ethan on a dating app.

"My brother lives out here."

"I didn't know you had a brother."

"The things you don't know about me can fill a book, princess."

"A small one probably."

"Ouch. And to think, I was gonna offer you a drink at my bar."

"After the day I've had, I could use one."

"Pitt stop at Dom's it is then."

"But I look disgusting."

"I agree. You look like hell."

"Hey!" She swatted his arm.

"Relax." He laughed. "The place is closed today. It'll just be us."

Twenty minutes later, they parked outside of Dom's Bar and Grill. Alyssa had never been to Dominic's bar but she'd heard good things about it. And from what she could tell, business was good for him.

A bell above the door chimed as they walked in. The bar was huge, with a vast selection of beers, wines, and liquors. The stool chairs were jet black and cushiony. A couple of pool tables were set in the back and tables scattered throughout the place. Posters and sports memorabilia adorned the walls.

"Nice place." She complimented.

"Thanks." He went to stand behind the bar. "So what'll it be?"

"What would you suggest?" She settled into a stool and put her elbows on the counter.

"After a day like yours? Let's see…"

She watched as he turned his back to her and pulled out a glass. She admired him from behind. Just because things hadn't worked out between them, and they had something of a love/hate relationship didn't mean she wasn't still extremely attracted to him. If he had been more of a gentleman and less of a playboy then he'd have been the perfect man for her.

"Here you go." He set a tulip shaped glass down in front of her. The liquid inside was a cross between an amber and butterscotch color.

"What is it?" She asked as she sniffed it.

"Lagavulin." He smirked.

"I've never had that."

"Good."

"Good?"

"I like turning people on to new things." He said as he grabbed himself a beer.

"Okay, I'll bite." She grabbed the glass and he stopped her, putting his hand on top of hers. The touch singed her skin.

She looked up and met his gaze. In that moment, she couldn't look away and hours seemed to pass before he cleared his throat and they both pulled their hands back.

"Don't hold the glass itself because it'll warm the scotch." He said. "Swirl it around gently in the glass and hold it at an angle." He instructed.

"Okay." She nodded as she did so.

"Now hold the glass straight and watch the liquid run down the inside of the glass."

"You really know your stuff, don't you?"

"Like I said," he grinned. "the things you don't know about me could fill a book."

"It would still be a small book." She teased.

She tipped the glass up to her lips and took a sip, allowing the liquid to run down her throat. The drink was thick and rich. It was a massive mouthful of malt and sherry with good fruity sweetness.

"Damn, that's good." She breathed. "That's really good."

Dominic smiled and when she finished her glass, he refilled it without her asking. Before long, she was drunker then she'd meant to get. The scotch snuck up on her and when she moved to get out of the stool, the room spun.

"You got me drunk." She giggled.

"I didn't know you were such a lightweight, princess." He laughed.

"D-don't call me princessss." She slurred.

"Whatever you say." He held his hands up innocently. "I should get you home."

"You just wanna get me home so you can h-have your way with me." She pointed at him.

"If that's what I wanted, I wouldn't have to take advantage, you'd be wanting me to. And I definitely wouldn't have to get you home for that."

His words were laced with so much promise that even if she'd been sober, they would have made her wet.

"We could do it here?" She breathed as he walked towards her.

"Yes." He said.

"On this table?" She ran her hand along the table top.

"If that's what you wanted." He stopped in front of her, causing her to look up at him. They stood so close, she could feel his breath on her face.

"That's what I want." She whispered as her heart hammered in her chest.

"Princess." It was the first time she'd actually liked hearing the nickname he gave her.

He caressed her face and she leaned into his hand. "Yes?"

He leaned into her and as her eyes drifted shut, anticipating the feel of his lips on hers, he said, "You're drunk."

She opened her eyes and leaned into his chest with a giggle. "I am." She agreed. But the bulge that rubbed against her didn't go unnoticed.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you liked it and will leave a review, favorite, or follow. I'm really excited about this story and I hope you'll all stick around until the end with me! :)