I Wanted It to be Us

I’ve never been into older men. And I definitely haven’t had any experience with older men—or any men, really—who are as intense as Jack O’Sullivan. What am I even doing? When I accepted the gig to take marketing photos for O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was convinced it was a quick, in-and-out job, something to broaden my portfolio and open my business up to new ventures. What I didn’t expect was to feel a sudden and intense attraction to the bar’s owner, a man twelve years my senior with infinite more life experience and a need to maintain control in every situation. And I never once considered he might feel that same attraction to me—a curvy, inexperienced twenty-something with no flirting skills and a shaky self-image. But he does want me. That much is obvious, even to someone as clueless as me. I just don’t know what to do with it. Should I dive headfirst into uncharted waters? Or run as fast as I can in the opposite direction? Whatever I decide, I know my life will be utterly unrecognizable after Jack.

I’ve never been into older men. And I definitely haven’t had any experience with older men—or any men, really—who are as intense as Jack O’Sullivan. What am I even doing? When I accepted the gig to take marketing photos for O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was convinced it was a quick, in-and-out job, something to broaden my portfolio and open my business up to new ventures. What I didn’t expect was to feel a sudden and intense attraction to the bar’s owner, a man twelve years my senior with infinite more life experience and a need to maintain control in every situation. And I never once considered he might feel that same attraction to me—a curvy, inexperienced twenty-something with no flirting skills and a shaky self-image. But he does want me. That much is obvious, even to someone as clueless as me. I just don’t know what to do with it. Should I dive headfirst into uncharted waters? Or run as fast as I can in the opposite direction? Whatever I decide, I know my life will be utterly unrecognizable after Jack.