Choosing first road bike?

I'm looking for a unisex comfortable bike that I can also go fast in. Preferably something tiagra or 105. But I'm new to biking. I only have had a mountain bike and I am looking for a road bike that's comfortable for commuting but also if I want to go for longer rides. I'm not looking to race. I did some research and found the diamondback century 1 105 disc bike which I may try to test out when I get a chance but I was looking for some input from you guys what your recommendations might be. Ideally I'm looking for something at or under $1000.

Since I'm not into racing, I assume I should steer away from more aggressive geometry like Specialized Alez sport which was one of the first bikes I researched. I test drive another bike (some trek bike I can't remember!) but the guy said it had a more relaxed geometry compared to the Allez and after riding the test bike, I felt if I had to bend over more it would be less comfortable.

I'm mainly looking to go on paved roads, but road conditions would not necessarily be perfect.

Thanks for any help in advance!