1 Chapter 1

Chapter 1:

"Olivia it's not like we have class tomorrow. Cmon let's go out!" Alexis stood in their bathroom shouting through the wall trying to persuade Olivia to get off the couch and come out to a bar with her.

"Some of us actually care what our grades are going to be when we graduate. I have to get into a good grad school. Sorry Lexi but I have to study. And for the record you need to focus more on your studies and less on going out and partying. If you don't you won't graduate...and I'm not writing your final papers for you like last semester."

Alexis walked into the living room wearing a sexy red cocktail dress and some tall black strappy heels. Her strawberry blonde hair fell wavy a little below her shoulders and her makeup was done to perfection.

Olivia smiled and shook her head. "Well on second thought, you probably won't need to graduate looking like that. Just go out and find a rich husband to gold dig and you'll be all set."

Alexis spun around showing off her outfit, ignoring her comment. "But if you don't come with me Liv then you'll never find a husband. Seriously you're going to end up marrying one of your science books. Liv please? No one has seen you in a while. Jessie made a remark about if you're even still alive..." She stared at Olivia waiting for a response. Olivia just rolled her eyes.

"Not everything in life is about men. Lexi save me some of your fun for next Friday night. I promise I will go out then."

Alexis gave up trying and decided to go meet up with her friends. Running late as usual, she called her crew on the way to let them know, "Jessie...Krista....where are you guys? I'm almost to the club and I look hot as hell!"

"Lexi we can't make it tonight after all. My car broke down. I'm so sorry girl."

"It's ok Jessie we can do it another night. I'm just going to go have one drink and see if I can find anyone I know. I'm looking good and I don't want to waste this outfit. I will talk to you guys later. Good luck with your car! Bye."

"Bye Lexi....PS Krista says don't do anything slutty tonight!"

They laughed and hung up. Alexis breathed in deep. She hated going out by herself, but she liked this club and she was right, her outfit was a 10+. Also she couldn't bear to think of going home to hear Olivia tell her how she should have just stayed home in the first place. One drink couldn't hurt anything anyways.

One drink turned into a few Long Island Ice Tea's and finding no one she knew to converse with except for skeezy gentlemen hitting on her in the grossest ways, she decided to give up and head back to her apartment.

Outside felt cool compared to the heat that practically steamed off the club. She walked for a minute then paused at the stoplight, happy to have the pole that says don't walk to keep her from losing her balance. She pondered why she always decided to wear heels even though every night she would rip them off to run home. Maybe it's because her grandmother always said, "if you want to look your best you wear heels. Flat shoes are for quitters!" So every night before she went out, Alexis always took care to put them on.

While waiting for the sign to turn to walk--the light on the corner of the club always took forever it felt like--she heard the rumbling of a car pull up. She turned to see if it happened to be someone she knew. To her surprise, driving a sexy black Grand National with the windows rolled down sat probably the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He looked over at her locking eyes. The breath left Alexis in a low but short gasp. If she did not have her left hand on the pole she probably would have embarrassed herself by losing her balance. They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity when he leaned his head out the window.

"Now how on Earth is a beautiful girl like you walking down the street without a man to make sure you're okay? What if some white knight like myself were to come and sweep you off your feet?" His voice rolled off his tongue smooth and deep. It gave Alexis butterflies in her stomach just knowing he directed it towards her.

She blushed, then realizing her mouth was gaping open at his words, she responded, "That would be a shame for that to happen to me. But unfortunately I don't need a man to walk me home."

Ignoring her, the sexy man continued, "Well it must be my lucky day. I would love to be your white knight and take you to dinner. All you have to do is get in the car with me."

"Who said dinner? I thought we were discussing a walk home?"

"You look hungry. Cmon, get in." He pressed a button on his car and the doors made an unlock sound.

Alexis thought to herself what a horrible idea this was. She doesn't even know this man and what would Olivia say. And that's when she realized: Olivia is on the couch being boring. Alexis could choose to go be boring with her or she could choose to be spontaneous and have an adventure.

She flirted. "I don't get into cars with strangers" She smiled, biting her lower lip.

"Honey everyone's a stranger until you meet them." He flashed his pearly white teeth in a sexy smile.

"Yeah they can run that quote on Dateline when they find my body turned up murdered in a ditch somewhere." She laughed, only half joking- this situation had murder written all over it. She knew getting into a car with someone she didn't know could turn out to be the dumbest thing she's ever done in her life, and that list was already pretty long.

"Text my license plate number and a picture of my driver's license to anyone you want if it makes you feel better."

Alexis stood there for a split second contemplating the implications of her actions. The light turned green.

"Last chance for dinner" He yelled out the window.

The cars behind him began to honk and he looked to be about to drive off when Alexis took a chance. "WAIT!" He slammed on his breaks as a smile came across his beautiful face.

Alexis ran over to the passenger door and got in. Oh no she thought. What has she done? He could be a serial killer. Or worse. He could be amazing!

By now they had driven for a couple of minutes in silence. Her heart was pounding but she couldn't turn back now. A slow song played on the radio as he finally looked over at her smiling. "So where would you like to go to dinner. Seeing as you're dressed the most sexy, you get to choose. Anywhere in Colorado is at your disposal."

She glanced at his outfit. Jeans and a white t-shirt. His dark tan arms were the perfect contrast to the white t-shirt and it calmed Alexis down a little to notice how attractive he was. Alexis had a hard time keeping eye contact with him. This is partially because she was nervous and partially because he was so attractive.

"Swear you're not going to murder me?"

He laughed, glancing between the road, her legs, and her lips. "I'm not the murderous type. Plus you're the one killing me right now. How'd you escape a club wearing that and not have every guy trying to walk you home?"

A smile crept across her face. Alexis managed to tell him about a modest burger joint right outside of Denver and he instantly knew the place.

Coming to a stop at a red light he noticed Alexis fidgeting with her fingers. In an effort to make her feel more comfortable no doubt, he asked her about herself. "Since I get the lovely opportunity of taking you to dinner can I at least know your name?"

"Ummm" For some reason Alexis was more nervous than she thought. She wondered if she should even tell him her name, What if he did try something creepy with her?

The sexy stranger seemed to understand what she was thinking and started to talk instead. "Ok. Well I'll start off. My name is Preston Murphy III" The sound of his name relieved some of her nerves. She giggled a little bit. He glanced at her with a confused look across his face.

"Sorry. You just don't look like you would have such a proper name.... Preston...." She said it giggling as the drinks she had earlier were giving her courage. "If you don't mind I will just call you Murphy. Trust me though Murphy is a way sexier name then Preston."

This made him laugh. She was becoming more comfortable by the second. Was it the wonderful smell in his car which she could only assume was coming from Murphy? He responded, "You didn't expect such a proper name coming from me? Here I'll tell you something else you wouldn't expect either. I like country music. Basically the only thing I listen to."

If he was trying to relax her, it was working. She giggled again, "Well funny because all the stations on my car radio are either today's hits or r&b."

"Society would cringe to know a gorgeous white girl like you didn't sing at the top of her lungs to a downhome country song while driving in the car....especially in country as hell Colorado."

She giggled again, "So what's your excuse for your country music obsession? And by the way not everyone in Colorado or every white girl likes country music. That's a bad stereotype"

"Country music reminds me of summertime and being at a county fair, eating corn dogs and funnel cake, not a care in the world."

"There's sad country songs. Geez that's why I don't like country music. Too many crying songs about heartbreak." Alexis cringed, "not that I'm all insensitive about that stuff. I just don't like it in my music."

He slowed to a stop at a red light. There were hardly any other cars in sight. "Well I guess this is where you get out." He motioned his arm towards her door.

Alexis gawked, "Are you serious? I didn't mean to insult you. Can you at least take me back to the bar?"

A grin crept across his face, "Say you like country music and you can stay." He teased.

"So I guess I'll be enjoying my miles of walking." She smiled adjusting her purse as if she was getting out of the car.

He laughed as the light turned green and he hit the gas, "nah there's no way I'm letting you leave without dinner with me."

"So I've been kidnapped?" She giggled, "well at least my kidnapper is sexy." Oh shit she felt awkward as soon as she said it.

"You think so eh?" He nudged her chin with his hand, "Speaking of that. You know by the way you really can leave whenever you want. You aren't forced to be in the car with me. Or dinner with me. Or anything. I want you to know that."

"I know. And thank you." She reeled it back in. "So Murphy. My name is Alexis Sophia Fitzgerald. Not as classy as your name, but I think I will give you a run for your money."

"Alexis Sophia Fitzgerald....I like it. Very fitting to have such a beautiful name for such a beautiful girl. " Not knowing how to respond to his very upfront compliment she stared forward trying not to let him see her emotions that were written all over her face. She glanced up, glad to see they were pulling into the burger joint and she let out the breath she didn't even know she held the entire car ride.

Before getting out of the car Murphy leaned in to kiss Alexis, but unlike her usual self who would have jumped in the driver's seat and made out with him, she pulled away. Shocked by her own modesty she recovered, "I'm pretty hungry. We better go eat before they close." She winced as she got out of the car. She was sure she ruined her chances with him.

She shut the door to his beautiful car and stopped in her tracks as she saw him in his full for the first time. He was tall and his dark hair looked beautiful. She was happy he was walking away from her because she got a perfect view of the way his jeans hugged his butt making him look even more gorgeous. Very nice black shoes offset his plain white shirt and his tone upper body made tipsy Alexis want to run up and rip his shirt off right there in the parking lot.

It must have been the drinks she'd had coupled with the way his jeans made his butt look because before she knew it she was grabbing him and turning him around, instantly locking her mouth on his. They stood in the parking lot, his one hand gently grabbing her cheek, while the other pulled at her dress. They slowly moved from the parking lot back to his car. Instead of opening the door, Preston pushed Alexis up against it, his lips still tangled up in hers.

Alexis' hands fumbled to grab his shirt, chest, cheeks, whatever she could find. All she knew is she wanted him, right there.

He pulled away from her, staring in her eyes and breathing heavily. "My place or yours?" He said this looking around at the multitude of cars as if he was uncomfortable with the thought of being so public. Alexis realized this as well, glad he stopped because before she knew it she could have been naked, leaning up against his car giving numerous people a great view of their adventure.

Without hesitating Alexis responded, "Yours. Definitely yours." She thought of Olivia sitting on the couch in her pajamas ruining everything if she brought Murphy to the apartment. The comments Olivia would make flashed through her head. No not tonight she vowed.

He opened her door and gently helped her in. He was so sweet she thought. Getting in and closing the door, he grabbed the back of her head with his hand and pushed her face towards his kissing her ever so gently. Alexis had never been treated like this before. Murphy was such a gentleman….that is for a man who was taking her home. This gave her goosebumps that ran up and down her entire body.

"I live about 40 minutes away. Are you sure you want to do this? I can take you back to your place if you want. It's not a big deal." He grabbed her hand squeezing it gently. "Trust me I will make sure we will have other opportunities."

Alexis smiled and squeezed his hand back. For some reason modesty and nerves had taken over her. She tried to pull the old Alexis out of what was happening-the Alexis that would say neither of our places and would have done him right there in the car. Having never felt this way before she wondered if she really should back off, at least for the night. Alexis was thinking she needed to be more sober in order to handle this tall drink of water. Begrudgingly she spoke, "Well I am kind of tired. How about I just give you my number so we can have more of those opportunities you speak of."

He grinned at her. She thought he secretly might enjoy waiting. Alexis thought it would make it more worthwhile. She didn't know a single thing about him aside from his name, but already she really wanted Murphy and her to have something and she always told her girl friends that sex on the first date ruined 90% of their chances of having a second date. Seems only fair she would take her own advice.

Murphy drove her home and kissed her goodnight like a gentleman. "Alexis Sophia Fitzgerald, it was truly a pleasure to have met you tonight. To be honest I wasn't even supposed to be out, but something told me to go and grab some food. It must have been fate. Except we never did grab that food…..next time." He winked and Alexis' stomach turned with a million butterflies as she could barely keep her cheeks from exploding, her smile was so wide. Grabbing her hand he kissed it and said goodbye. Alexis stood on her porch watching him drive away, hoping what had just happened was real and she would wake up tomorrow having not been a dream. And as Alexis lay in her bed that night, all she could think of is how perfect they were together. Never being the type for childish crushes and falling in love at first sight, she truly couldn't wait to see him again next time she vowed she would end up in his bed, leaving him very satisfied.