I have never been a fan of golf, but my company Morgan Stanley is a sponsor of the The Players Tournament. So as an executive for the company, I am expected to be there hobnobbing with people at the various events. Ugh! Despite the fact that the tournament is in Florida, I am not looking forward to this trip. I dread having to do the social butterfly bit with work colleagues. They all bring their wives, and then there’s me by myself. It’s frustrating.

I wish I could have a boyfriend just when I needed one. Work hasn’t allowed me to have much of a social life. I don’t even have a Mr. Right Now, let alone Mr. Right. Maybe I could find someone to companion me to the activities for the tournament. I’m completely unfamiliar with the Jacksonville area where the tournament is held. I have been tempted to hire a male companion before for company events. I think it is about time I follow through on that thought and actually do it.

I Google male companions for Florida. As I look over the search results, there’s one company that catches my eye – Cowboys 4 Angels. Catchy name. I went to their website, and to be honest, I was genuinely impressed. These men are gorgeous, but more than just good looks, they’re also educated, well-traveled, and some even have their own businesses. I also checked out their Facebook page, and the company looks totally legit. I called the number listed on the website and the CEO himself answered the phone. That totally caught me by surprise! We talked through my situation and the men available, and he helped me decided who would be the best match for me and the event.

In looking at the available men, I chose Tommy. He is tall, athletic, handsome, and is from the South. He is located in Florida already, and will travel up from Miami. I’m a sucker for shaved heads, so with his amazing physique, he is perfect for me.

I flew into Jacksonville on Wednesday afternoon. Our company activities start on Thursday, the same day the tournament starts. As I head to my hotel, I wonder if I will sleep tonight. I am nervous about meeting Tommy tomorrow, after all, I have no idea what to expect. Will he be just like his bio on the website? What will my co-workers think of my “date”? At the same time, I’m excited about the encounter, too. It will be nice to not have to navigate the corporate events alone.

I get up early Thursday morning to go for a run. It’s part of my routine and helps keep me in my happy place, something I will need on this trip. I grab a yogurt parfait for a quick breakfast and then hit the shower to get ready. Tommy will be picking me up at 10 so we can head to the pre-tournament mixer before the key players tee off.

As I finish touching up my hair, I hear the knock on the door. My heart races, and I can hardly breathe. The moment of truth is here! When I open the door, I see a sight better than I could have ever imagined. Tommy looks just like his photos, only better in real life. He is stunning in his khaki pants and golf shirt! Leaning against the doorway, he greets me with a smile and sparkling eyes.

‘Well, hello gorgeous. Ready for some golf?” he asks.

I smile back and reply, “Fore.”

We headed to Sawgrass for the festivities. On the way, I filled Tommy in about some of my co-workers before he had to mingle with the group. He absorbed the information and made mental notes on everyone. We parked in the sponsor area and headed to the tent. Sawgrass was already crowded with spectators vying for the premium locations for watching the golfers at each hole. Tommy kept a protective arm around my waist as we navigated the crowds that were already drinking as part of the activities.

As we strolled up to the Morgan Stanley tent, I felt the eyes of my colleagues on us. Tommy held me even tighter. I introduced him around as we mingled with our staff and the investors. Tommy had no trouble fitting in. He remembered the things I had told him about everyone in the car and used bits and pieces of that information as we came across people I had mentioned. A few of my female colleagues pulled me off to the side at one point. Eyeing Tommy, they asked where I had been hiding him. I smiled and just said that I like to keep him to myself most of the time and left it at that. Watching Tommy, I couldn’t believe how easily he was conversing with everyone, as if he had known them for a while rather than just meeting them today.

We made our rounds to the different events, and at each one, Tommy gracefully blended in. It was amazing to watch! He was attentive, easygoing and kept the Bloody Mary’s flowing. We stopped in the tent Morgan Stanley had set up for military personnel attending the tournament, thanking them for their service and visiting with some of the working service dogs in attendance.

Before I knew it, we had hit all of my required events and it was late afternoon. We headed out to the 17^th Hole to watch a little bit of the action. It was a sunny, clear day and about 86 degrees. When we found a good spot to watch, Tommy helped to apply sunscreen so I would be protected from the rays. As I felt him rubbing the cream into my shoulders, I closed my eyes and just relaxed back against him.

He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Like putty in my hands.” I blushed at his words.

I barely remember watching any of the golf.  I simply remember some of the players struggled to hit the famed hole surrounded by water. We decided to hit the Aqua Grill for a bite to eat because we were feeling famished. We shared a starter of Deviled Eggs as we talked about the day. I chose the Seared Mahi Mahi Rizzo for dinner, while Tommy chose the Beef Shortribs. To finish the meal, we shared a slice of Key Lime Pie.

Tommy and I headed to Ponte Vedra Beach for a walk along the water. The sun had just finished setting as we walked. I snuggled into Tommy’s side with his arm around my shoulders. The air was hot, thick and wet. The heat between us was even hotter. The feel of his fingers on my skin sent chills down my spine. I shuddered, and he pulled me in closer. As he lifted me to him, the steam in the air mixed with the steam off our skin to surround and envelop us. Hearts pounding, waves pounding, heat rising and wetness flooding as the rest of the world faded into oblivion.