Sasha: The Awakening (The Wallflower Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

can’t handle that, he feels emasculated. Carter falls within that range of man.”
    “What are you saying about me?” Sasha’s eyebrows quirked in interest at Lola’s remark. “I’m not a doormat if that is what you are suggesting.”
    Her friend roughly shook her head. “I’m not calling you a doormat, Sasha. But you do give off the vibe of submission when it comes to men. Am I not right, Justin?”
    Justin’s cheeks flushed at being caught between the two of them. He sputtered for a minute, trying to think of the right thing to say to no avail. And so he merely settled on the truth. “If I am being honest, yes Sasha. One of your appeals is your quiet nature which can be quite enticing to men who…” he closed his eyes, hating the words he was about to say, “want to feel dominant and self-assured of their masculinity.” He turned to Lola. “Lola, on the other hand, is almost the exact opposite. But in the sense that she presents a challenge.”
    There was a tense silence amongst them. “So I don’t present enough of a challenge?”
    Seeing her train of thought, Lola interrupted. “Yes you do. But in a different way. I think both of us could use the other’s strengths when it comes to dating. I’m too standoffish and independent and you- you’re too open. And I think that is why you are constantly rejecting all your dates, if you date at all. You stop whatever could possibly happen before it does because you know how much you would give to the relationship and you are afraid of it not being reciprocated. You are afraid of getting hurt, Sasha. But, you shouldn’t be.”
    Hearing Lola’s concern for her, Sasha did not take offense. Both Lola and Justin knew her better than she had at first thought despite them not knowing about her past. She knew everything they were speaking the truth.
    “I think you should give Carter another chance. You two seem like you would hit it off.” Lola paused. “What exactly was it that you disliked about him?”
    But, Sasha couldn’t find an answer. Carter James III was a strong, attractive, and successful man.  A combination of all three was hard to come by these days and being without any other prospects, Sasha decided then and there to listen to Lola and Justin’s advice. She would give him another chance and maybe, something more could come out of it. Maybe she could finally be in a relationship again.
    “Alright. I’ll do it.”
    A wide smile spread across Lola’s face in triumph. Immediately, she reached over the desk for Sasha’s office phone. Picking up the receiver, she shoved it into her friend’s grasp and with a piercing glare, commanded, “Call him now. It’s been two days since you two went out.”
    Sighing in defeat, she dialed the number and anxiously waited for him to pick up. Justin and Lola watched in anticipation.
    “Hello?”
    The sound of his deep voice sent quivers down her spine. She was a sucker for a man with a baritone.
    “H-hi, Carter. This is Sasha Harmon. From the other night?”
    There was a small pause before he spoke with humor in his tone. “I actually didn’t expect to hear from you. But, I’m happy you called. How have you been? I hope you enjoyed yourself the other night.”
    “Yes, I did. That’s actually the reason I’m calling you.” She quickly glanced over at her friends who simultaneously gave her nods of encouragement. “I was wondering if you would like to go out again sometime this week whenever you are available. I know our schedules do seem to clash but I would really like to see you again.”
    “That sounds great. What about tomorrow night? There is a venue I’ve been invited to and it just so happens, I’m without a companion to share it with.”
    She smiled at his flirtatious tone and agreed to the date. As soon as they said their good-byes and she hung up, Lola jumped up and down in excitement. “See! Was that so hard?”
    Sasha could only give a slight shrug. She couldn’t exactly say she was