Friends with Benefits

By Michelle Grotewohl

Aaron and Gina are single people who love the single life. But their mothers want them settled down yesterday. So they hatch a plan to set the two up, knowing they'd be perfect for each other. And though the two fight their mothers' plan, they couple soon realize that they're right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Grotewohl
• Release date: May 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301407897

Michelle Grotewohl

I currently reside in Colorado with my husband and three children. I would love to hear from my readers, as writing has always been a dream of mine, and I am thrilled to finally be published! Thank you so much to everyone who has downloaded or purchased a book for supporting my lifelong dream!

Book preview

Friends With Benefits

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Michelle Grotewohl

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Prologue

Dolores Davison and Cynthia Westlake sat at a small white wrought-iron glass-top table on the outdoor patio at Petit Fours, a premier ladies’ club and restaurant in Plymouth, Michigan. The two had met several months beforehand at a Mahjongg players’ tournament hosted by the Wayne and Oakland counties’ Mahjongg Players’ Groups. They’d instantly hit it off, despite the fifteen years between them.

Dolores, the older of the two, had cloud grey hair that she kept short for ease and time-efficiency. Her eyes were dark brown and shrewd, constantly alert and missed nothing. At 63, she was still a force to be reckoned with, and had only just retired from her career as an elementary school secretary six months previous, hence the Mahjongg, since her late husband had been gone just long enough to miss her retirement.

Cynthia, on the other hand, had light blonde hair that she never lied about the bottled color of, kept at about mid-length, and cobalt blue eyes that sparkled when she laughed, which was often. At 48 years old, she considered herself too young to be a widowed housewife with nothing to do with her time besides play Mahjongg at the library on Sunday afternoons.

Since meeting nearly four months ago in May, the two had made weekly trips to meet at Petit Fours- Dolores from Canton, Cynthia from Farmington Hills. They had plenty in common: they were both recent widows, both had enough money to live comfortably off of for the remainder of their lives thanks to frugal and clever husbands, and because of the fact that Cynthia had started a family young and Dolores a little older than normal, both had a child of similar age that consistently stabbed thorns in their sides when it came to settling down.

I don’t know what Aaron’s problem is, Dolores said, speaking of her youngest, and only son. Anne- her oldest and only daughter- was married by 26, and has three beautiful children to show for it. Aaron’s 30! What on Earth is he waiting for?

Cynthia nodded sympathetically. At least you have grandchildren. Gina is 28 and single, with no kids whatsoever and no apparent inclination to have them any time soon. You know what the problem is, don’t you?

Dolores nodded. I do.

At the same time, both women said, Sex, and nodded again, as if this explained everything.

Aaron acts as if getting married would be a personal slight against God because then he couldn’t sow his oats.

Gina, too. It’s like she feels she has to be as cavalier about sex as a teenage boy just to get along in her life.

Dolores hummed an agreement, taking a sip of her Earl Grey tea and a bite of the raspberry torte Petit Fours was famous for. What he needs is a woman just as cold about sex as he is, to teach him a lesson.

It’s the exact opposite for Gina. She needs a man to fall for her before she gives him the boot to show her men have feelings, too.

Both women lifted their eyes at the same time, their startled gazes meeting across the table. Cynthia spoke first. They’d be perfect for each other.

They would. Too bad they’ve never met.

Yes, but couldn’t we set something up so they could meet? If they did, they’re bound to be attracted to each other, with very little work on our parts.

Dolores looked as if she were considering it. Then she shook her head slightly. There’s no plausible reason, though. It’s almost September. No holidays or birthdays coming up. If I just threw something together, Aaron would smell set-up before I called him to tell him to come.

Cynthia’s shoulders fell. Gina, too. Damn. Well, Christmas isn’t that far off. Maybe then.

Conversation turned to likelier things then, and both women completely forgot about their hope-filled plan that had been doomed before it’s birth.

Chapter One

Aaron Davison looked up at the two story building that had recently become his new home. He’d signed the rental papers just a few days ago on the western upstairs apartment, one of four apartments in the building, and couldn’t wait to move in. He’d started his new job as a salesman at Forester Lighting- the up-and-coming home interior lighting company that specialized in economic, ecologic lighting- only months ago, and had been looking for a place nearby ever since.

When this place had announced they had a unit available, he’d snatched it up quick, certain it wouldn’t be available long. It was perfect: big enough for comfort, small enough to be cost-efficient, and only a couple miles- walking distance, if need be- from Forester.

Aaron had enlisted the help of his best