by Reana Malori
Shifting his sleek body, he turned to observe the other patrons of the rooftop bar and noticed that there was more than one woman watching him as well. Before tonight, before seeing the woman who had caused an instant wave of desire to course through his body, he may have been tempted by one of the women staring at him like a juicy filet mignon steak. But not anymore. There was only one woman he had in his sights tonight and he would do whatever he needed to do to claim her. Watching from across the room, the noise began to fade as he started walking in her direction. The crowd seemed to part like the Red Sea as he made his way across the crowded floor. Everyone seemed to sense that he was in no mood to be halted from his final destination.
Within a few feet of her, she turned and saw him. He watched as she stilled, as if frozen in place. Good. He had caught her off guard by approaching and this would serve him well. Once he was inches from her, he stopped. Raising his glass, he pounced first, not willing to give her the chance to walk away.
“Gabriel Turner. And you are?” Taking another sip of his scotch, he watched the deer in the headlights look come over the woman’s face. Damn, she was something to look at. Not in the traditional sense, he conceded, but her beauty could not be denied. Her smooth brown skin made him want to run his fingers along her cheek, her full lips begged to be kissed, her womanly curves called out to his base instincts and he resisted the urge to take control.
“Um, Penelope. Penelope Lucas.”
Her eyes became wider as he simply stood there watching her. Having a strong, take charge personality was always something that benefited him. In this instance, it helped to set the stage for the rest of the night. “Your hand is empty. Would you like a drink?”
Penelope glanced down at her hands, as if trying to understand the words he had just spoken. Almost as if he had spoken a different language. He hid his smile at how flustered she had become. Oh, she was just absolutely perfect. She looked back up at him and her eyes captured his. If eyes were the windows to the soul, then hers were begging him for something more. Although, if he asked her to describe it, he was positive she would not have the words to explain it to him.
“Yes. I’ll have a dirty martini with blue cheese olives.” The request seemed to roll off her lips, so he knew that this was her drink of choice.
“A woman after my own heart.” Taking more control of the situation, Gabriel grabbed her smaller hand into his. There was a slight hesitation in her hand, but it wasn’t enough for him to let go and break the connection. He wanted her willing and engaged, but not scared. A healthy dose of uncertainty could be very good.
Catching sight of a few tables, he walked over to one that was situated in a corner, closest to the railing looking toward the Washington Monument. Tables at this bar were not for everyone. Although you wouldn’t know it initially, this was one of those places that catered to the elite. There were a few others as well, but they were located closer to the U.S. Capitol building. This one was made for those who wanted a little added fun with their mingling, and who wanted to stay away from the politicians. Those who would willingly pay for “table-service”, as it was commonly referred to, were able to relax comfortably and have the illusion of privacy. Not because they wanted to be seen, but simply because they had no desire to stand and would have no problem paying for the option to sit down. Arriving at his table of choice, he turned back to Penelope, “Sit with me.”
He felt another tug as she pulled back slightly, looking back over her shoulder. Tilting his head, he noticed the women she had come with gesturing and motioning at her with thumbs up signals and motions to sit. It seemed that she relaxed some after that. Knowing that her friends were watching and knew where she was must have given her some relief. Good. He was okay with that. But now he needed her full attention on him. Pulling out her seat, he waited until she was situated before grabbing his own chair and motioning for the waitress to come take their drink order. “I’ll have another one of these,” he lifted his glass as he made the statement, and the waitress made a note, “and my guest will have a dirty martini with blue cheese olives.”
“Yes, sir. Any specific type of vodka?” Although the question was for Penelope, the waitress never took her eyes off of Gabriel.
“Belvedere.” Looking at Penelope, he could tell that she was annoyed that she had essentially been taken out of the conversation, even though it was her drink being discussed. Her eyes had taken a little glint of fire, and damn it was sexy. Tonight was turning out to be much better than he could have expected.
Chapter Three
The nerve of this man. This fine, sexy, mouth-watering man. What the hell had just happened and why in the world was she allowing it? Penelope was not happy with Mr. Gabriel Turner. But for the life of her, she could not bring herself to move from her seat. No, moving away wasn’t an option right now. He was cocky and brash and too damn confident, but she needed to see where this would go. After making the impromptu decision to walk over to him and say hello, her brain must have short-circuited. This was not her normal behavior and there was no reason that she would be acting like a love-struck girl. She was thirty years old, dammit. Okay, thirty-two, but still. Close enough.
When he had initially appeared in front of her with that wicked smile on his face, she was struck dumb. Tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, she had seemingly lost her ability to form a coherent sentence. His golden colored eyes had captured hers and she had been immediately sucked in. His voice was like warm molasses and when he spoke it was as if she were stuck in place, unable to resist standing there and listening to his every word.
When she got home tonight, she would give herself a stern talking to about her behavior. This was clearly not the way to handle an interaction with a man, sexy though he may be. Clearly, she has been out of the market too long to behave in such a way. After all, he was still just a man.
When he grabbed her hand and walked over to the table near the balcony railing, she had been tempted to pull free and walk back to her friends. This was insane. Why was she so willing to follow this man? Her brain was telling her that he was clearly out of her league. He was too handsome, too pushy, too demanding...just too much. But something else, a much lower part of her physical anatomy, was screaming “Yes!”
Feeling his calloused hand touching her softer one had sent shivers coursing through her body. The butterflies that took flight in her stomach yelled at her that she should beware of the instant physical attraction that had sprung up. And yes, while all of that was true, the only thing she listened to, the only thing she heard, was his voice. She only felt the touch of his hand. Her eyes only saw his large, powerful frame walking in front of her, leading her where he wanted them to go.
Bringing her attention back to Mr. High and Mighty, she tried to sound stern as she expressed annoyance with his ordering of her drink, “You know, I can order my own drink.”
There was that smile again, “Yes, I know. But it makes me feel useful when I can order it for you.”
“I don’t even know you.” Her voice had a tinge of haughtiness as she broke her gaze from his and looked out over the balcony at the night sky surrounding them.
“We can change that.” That deep, gravelly voice seemed to get under her skin, sending thousands of pinpricks into her nerve endings.
Dragging her gaze back to his, she gave him an assessing glance. “How do you propose we do that?” Remembering his calloused palms, it seemed to belie the polished air surrounding him. Watching him a bit longer, she noticed that his hands seemed strong, with just a little bit of hair on the back. She wondered if his entire body was covered in smooth dark hair and almost lost herself in the fantasy of what he looked like underneath all of those clothes.
“How about this? Just give me tonight. Let’s spend time getting to know each other. You and me. Just two adults talking and enjoying this wonderful evening.”
Although the words were harmless enough, she knew there had to be something more. There was a hidden meaning
that she could not identify right then and there. “If that’s what you want. Tell me a little more about you. Do you live in Washington, DC?”
At that moment, the waitress came back with her drink and sat it in front of her. Although she was all smiles as she placed the glass on the table, her gaze immediately went to Gabriel. “Will that be all, sir?”
Gabriel looked at Penelope across the table and she gritted her teeth, willing herself to stay quiet. Regardless of whether she and Gabriel had known each other for five minutes, or five years, there was no excuse for the woman’s behavior. Plastering a fake smile on her face, she shook her head no in response to his unspoken question.
“No, thank you. We’re fine,” his polite, cultured words were more than Penelope could have managed at the moment.
“Well, sir, if you need anything else, please let me know. I’ll come right away.”
Oh my goodness, Penelope thought as she rolled her eyes. Could this woman be any more blatant with her interest? Penelope pursed her lips and shook her head at the antics of some women. And no, she was not going to dissect her own behavior, thank you very much. Taking a few minutes to gain her bearings, she lifted her drink for a sip of the briny liquid.
“Thank you, but I have everything I need right here.” With a pointed look at Penelope, Gabriel effectively dismissed the waitress and sent her on her way. Childish yes, but Penelope couldn’t help but be pleased at what he had just done.
Then again, she was also annoyed. But not with him. It was the general premise that the woman thought she could openly flirt with a man sitting with another woman.
Gabriel turned his gaze back to her and that devastating smile almost made her melt into a puddle on the floor. No man deserved to be this devastatingly handsome. It just wasn’t fair to the rest of the male population.
“So, you asked me a question.” He seemed to settle into his seat a bit further, as if readying himself for a relaxing night of conversation with a long lost friend. “I’m just a guy here on business for a while. My office is in New York, but I’m here in Washington, DC for a few days on some business related items. Nothing exciting.”
She was positive there was more to him than that, but she could play this game as well. “Are you married?”
A look similar to amusement came over his face before he answered the question, “No wife. No kids. You?”
“The same. No wife. No kids.” Cheeky, yes, but she was in that type of mood tonight.
He laughed out loud and she couldn’t keep herself from laughing along with him. Smiling at him, she gave a follow-up answer. “No husband or boyfriend either.”
“Good. I would hate to come between a woman and her life at home.”
Glancing at him sideways, she challenged his assumption, “Who says you would have that power, even if I did? As you said before, we’re just two people having a drink.” Waving her hand as if brushing away the thought, “After tonight, we will probably never see each again.” Oh yes, she was truly being brave. All this gumption was coming from somewhere and she loved it. This outgoing, flirty personality of hers was something new to her, but it felt good. She liked it.
“Oh, I can guarantee you we’ll see each other after tonight. I can tell, you are someone that I very much want to see again.” His hand brushed on the leg of his pants, as if removing a speck of dust. “Even if only to spend more time in your company.”
“I’m sure you say that to all the girls you meet on a rooftop bar in the heart of Washington, DC on a Saturday night.” Glancing over at him, she watched his mouth tilt up in a slight smile.
Shaking his head at her, Gabriel winked as he adjusted one of his coat sleeves. “Oh no, darling, I can promise you that no one has ever captured my attention the way you have tonight.” He gave her an intense look, “There is something about you that I cannot put my finger on. But you, my dear, are one of a kind.”
Those pesky butterflies were back and they seemed to be dancing a jig in her belly. How could one man make her feel so special after only a few minutes in his company? As she began to talk, the music pumping through the speakers became louder, “It’s kind of difficult to talk in here,” she yelled across the table at him.
“Let’s get out of here!” she saw the words form on his lips rather than hearing his voice.
Should she go with him? Looking at her watch, they had only been sitting with each other for a few minutes. Sure, she had been looking to let loose tonight, but maybe this was the extent of her bravery. Sitting with a strange man, no matter how sexy he was, was something she never did. Biting at her bottom lip, she thought about what would happen if she said no and walked away.
Her mind played out the entire scenario and it wasn’t very exciting. She would hang out with Rosalind and Crystal for a bit longer and go back to her boring apartment after a few more drinks. Tomorrow, when she woke up, she would relive this night over and over again and think about the “what if’s”. What if she had went with him? What if she hadn’t gotten caught up in her own issues of morality and right and wrong? What if she had just allowed the night to go where it was meant to go? What if she finally started living life?
Mind made up, she turned to him and smiled as she responded to his question “Sure, where do you want to go?”
“How about you go tell your friends you’re leaving. I’ll be right here waiting. I know the perfect place.”
Looking over her shoulder, she caught sight of her friends. They were trying not to stare, but were doing a horrible job of being subtle. Gaining some liquid courage, she finished off her martini and ate one of the olives that had been soaking in the liquid. Before she could change her mind and chicken-out, she quickly stood and began walking over to them. Pushing her way through the throng of people talking too loudly and trying to get close to the person of their choosing, she finally arrived to her friends who were standing by the bar, sipping on their own drinks. Rosalind spoke first.
“Spill it. Who is he? Does he have a brother?”
Crystal chimed in next, “Yeah, you’ve been monopolized by him for a minute. What’s the deal? Are you ready to go?”
The moment of truth, “No. Well, yes.” At the looks of confusion on their faces, Penelope knew she looked like a blathering fool. “Okay, yes, I’m ready to go, but Gabriel and I are going to go somewhere. The noise is too loud and he says he wants to talk with me in a quiet space.”
“What the hell, Penelope? Are you serious?” Rosalind practically screamed at her, causing several heads to turn their way.
“Yes, I’m serious.” Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Come on Rosalind, don’t be like that. Don’t forget last year when you and that Latino hottie went off together when we were in Miami. This is my time to have some fun.” Taking risks and going off with strange men was not her usual style, but why not? She was a grown ass woman and she had never taken a chance. On anything. Ever.
Always the responsible one, she could count on one hand the number of times when she had been the one her friends had needed to talk off the ledge. And what had that gotten her? Not a damn thing. She was a single woman over thirty and had no one to call her own. Sure, her job was nice and she was independent and able to do things on her own, without the help of anyone. But sometimes, the regrets plagued her.
There was that time she backed out on going on that weeklong trip to Cancun with her friends after graduation from high school. Oh yeah, and the Caribbean cruise she had declined to go on for no other reason than feeling that she had not wanted to be seen as a party girl. The handsome lawyer that had asked her out at the coffee shop a few years ago, and she refused because he had the gall to ask her out in a coffee shop.
Long story short, she was tired of acting like a prude. And it was about time she shed that moniker. Penelope was done being the boring friend who never took risks. Turning slightly to look at the table where Gabriel lounged, she allowed her gaze to linger on his face for a few seconds. She took a few deeper, fortifying breat
hs. Maybe her sanity would return any moment and she would walk the hell away from this man who made her want to do things so outside of her nature. Why him? Why now? Was it just his looks, his voice, his undeniable confidence and swagger? Whatever it was, she wanted more of it.
“This is it ladies. I’m going to do something just for me tonight.”
“Girl, he could be a damn serial killer.” Rosalind was trying to look out for her, she knew that, but this was something she needed to do. Just for her. Glancing over at her friend Crystal for help, she continued to listen to Rosalind as she gave her all the warnings she had already given herself. “I know this place is known for its politicians and businessmen, but this is crazy!” Rosalind was clearly agitated, but there was no changing her mind.
Turning back to Crystal, Penelope knew that if anyone would understand, it would be her. “Crystal, you get this right? I need to see where this night goes. Hell, it may turn out to be nothing and this was all for naught, but I want to take that leap and see what happens.”
Shaking her head, Crystal pulled her close, giving her a hug, “Have fun girl. What did you say his name was again?”
“Gabriel Turner. He’s in town for business and doesn’t live here.”
Wrinkling her brow, Crystal glanced at Gabriel and gave him a thoughtful look, “That name sounds familiar. Hmmm. Okay, hon, go have fun. But we stick to the rules of engagement.”
