by Katie Ford
So by refusing to see him again, I’m doing the right thing. Protecting myself in the long run. The problem is … why does it hurt so damn much?
Chapter Eight
Dane
How is it possible that I’m obsessing over a girl whom I’ve only met twice?
It doesn’t make any god damn sense.
With a sigh, I pace back and forth across the floor of my master suite. The city is dark and twinkling below and I wonder where Allie is. I wonder what she’s doing.
Is she thinking about me? I know she’s hiding something from me, but I have no idea how I’m supposed to crack her open. She always seems like she’s on the edge of revealing herself to me.
And god, what I wouldn’t give for Allie to open up to me once and for all.
I’m restless tonight. I thought that fucking Allie would clear my mind – that finally sleeping with her would get her out of my system, so to speak. Her virgin pussy was so tight, warm, and willing. She was smoking hot and I love how eager she was to obey.
The idea of her being with another man is enough to make me sick with jealousy.
I should be in bed, but I can’t sleep. I’m still in my tuxedo from the event and suddenly I feel thirsty. I flick the lights off in my bedroom and walk into the foyer of my penthouse where my shoes are in an untidy heap by the door. Rolling my eyes, I grab my loafers and plop down in the living room.
It’s too late to buy a bottle of something, but I bet the bars are still open.
The elevator seems to take forever to reach the street level and by the time the doors ding open, I’m dying for some fresh air. Outside, the sidewalks are crowded with drunk people. They’re all laughing and staggering, some with giant slices of greasy pizza in their hands.
God, it almost looks appetizing. An intrusive thought pops into my head: Allie and me, strolling down the street together after a few late-night drinks. I buy her a slice of pizza and hold it for her as she takes the first bite.
Somehow I have a feeling that she’s the kind of girl who could appreciate something like that.
Christ, what’s wrong with me? I can’t keep this up. I can’t keep dreaming of her. I’m acting like a deluded little kid.
I push my way into a dark restaurant and belly up to the bar. It’s one of those faux-Irish places that has the nerve to call itself a pub, all while serving platters of fish and chips for thirty fucking bucks.
But that doesn’t really matter. Hey, any port in a storm, right?
“What’ll it be?” The bartender is a cute older woman with a gap in her teeth and a huge pair of tits. She flashes a smile at me that seems to say, “Hey, who cares if I’m old enough to be your mother?”
“Rye, neat,” I reply. I take out my Mont Blanc wallet and pass over one of my platinum cards. “Start a tab,” I add. “I’ll be here for a while.”
The woman’s smile flickers but she nods. “Of course,” she says.
As soon as there’s a glass of booze in my hand, I feel better. I close my eyes and swallow half at once, savoring the warm burn as the rye slides down my throat. Alcohol always seems to comfort my stomach.
“Excuse me?”
I turn to the side and see a young blonde woman standing just a touch too close to my stool. She’s wearing a cheap floral perfume that stings my nostrils and a low-cut dress to expose her artificial cleavage.
I raise an eyebrow. “Yes?”
The blonde glances to the end of the bar and I see a redhead wave to her.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” she says in a soft, coquettish voice. “But my friend and I...well we were just wondering. Are you alone?”
I sigh. “I was,” I say. “But I guess I’m not now, am I?”
The blonde flushes. My sarcasm obviously went right over her head.
“Can I buy you a drink?” the blonde asks. “I’m Hailey, by the way. My friend is Laura.”
“I already have a drink,” I inform her.
Hailey giggles. “You did,” she says. “But it’s empty now.”
“So it is,” I say archly. As I look at Hailey, I can smell the desperation coming off her in waves. She’s certainly no Allie.
You’re damn right she’s no Allie, a small voice chimes in from the back of my mind. And that’s a good thing. Allie isn’t going to give you the time of day...why wait around for her?
I can feel my resistance melting by the second – not because I’m actually interested in this bimbo, just because she’s a distraction.
“Okay,” I say finally. “Get your friend over here. First round is on me.”
Hailey smiles widely. “I’ll have a white wine spritzer,” she says. “Thanks!” She viciously bites her bottom lip and I realize that she’s trying to look sexy. “What’s your name?”
“Dane.”
Hailey giggles. She hops onto the stool next to me, letting her arm brush against my thigh. Before I even realize what I’m doing, I flinch and pull away sharply.
“What’s wrong?” Hailey asks in a syrupy voice. “Are you okay?”
Reaching into my wallet, I grab a handful of bills and put them on the counter. Hailey’s eyes get big and wide but she doesn’t speak.
“Buy yourself a drink,” I snap before turning on my heel and stalking out of the restaurant. I can hear the blonde calling after me, but I don’t look back.
I’ve already forgotten her name.
Why can’t more women be like Allie with soft brown eyes and a luscious mouth? Why can’t more women care about anything other than money?
The cool nighttime air is a welcome relief after the stuffy bar. I don’t feel like going home just yet, so I walk down the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding the drunks and piles of vomit.
It seems like the kids get younger and younger. At forty-eight, I’m probably the oldest fuck out on the streets tonight.
That’s when it hits me. I’ve been strolling through the campus of Tate University. No wonder everyone looks so goddamn young.
And Allie goes to Tate University.
Where I just so happen to be on the board of trustees.
My cheeks slowly widen in a big, wolfish grin.
Hold on, baby girl.
I’m coming for you.
Chapter Nine
Allie
“Allie! Come on! That test was hard!” My best friend, Mara, makes a wide-eyed face at me and stops dramatically in the middle of the sidewalk.
“I know,” I say as I wrinkle my nose. “It was, that’s why I studied for—”
“Allie, shut up,” Mara hisses. She grabs my arm, stopping me dead in my tracks.
“What?” I ask. “Why are you being such a weirdo?”
“That guy!” Mara whispers loudly. “He’s staring at us!”
Looking up, I see Dane standing on the steps to the library. My heart lurches to the side and I feel my cheeks flush hotly. As Dane approaches us, I feel myself grow weak in the knees and for a horrible moment I think I’m going to pass out.
God, he looks so good. He’s wearing a stylish pair of dark jeans and a black button-down shirt that hugs his muscular chest perfectly.
I can practically smell his cologne from where I stand.
What is he doing here?
“It’s him,” I whisper in a low voice. “Mara, it’s the guy! Dane!”
“Obviously,” Mara says sarcastically. “He’s really hot! Tell me why you can’t date him again?”
Dane’s lips curve into a smirk – it’s obvious that he heard Mara. “Yes,” he says. “Allie, do tell me.”
“I…” I trail off nervously. “What are you doing here?”
Dane snorts arrogantly. “I could be asking you the same thing,” he replies. “The journalism classes are all on the other side of campus.”
I flush hotly and Dane’s smirk grows a shade deeper. “You remembered.”
“Of course, I did. And I wanted to give you an opportunity that a good journalism student would kill for.”
My heart skips two
beats and I wipe my palms on my thighs.
“Well? Aren’t you curious?”
All I can do is nod.
“You’re going to interview me,” Dane says. “Ask me whatever you want.”
My jaw drops. Is he kidding?
Asking me, the girl who lapped my juices from his lips just one week earlier, to interview him?
Am I dreaming?
“I take it that’s a yes,” Dane says smoothly. “Come with me.”
Mara jabs me in the side. “Go,” she hisses. “Don’t be an idiot, Allie!”
Reluctantly, I nod. Every part of me is aching to be with Dane again, but I know that getting involved with him was dangerous. Still, I feel a strong sense of elation and arousal as Dane escorts me to his Town Car, double parked behind a sad-looking Corolla.
His driver, Hanson, is waiting by the back seat. He nods when he sees me.
“Hello, Miss Allie,” Hanson says. He opens the door for me and I nod to him in appreciation.
I bite my lip nervously as I climb into the backseat. When Dane tumbles in after me, I expect him to grab me and kiss me at once.
But he doesn’t. The tension between us builds as Hanson closes the door behind Dane and takes his place at the wheel.
When we start moving, I glance nervously at Dane. “Where are we going?” A thousand possibilities rush through my head – is he going to whisk me off to his castle and seduce me?
The worst part is, I want him to. I want him to pull me into his arms and kiss me and hold me until I’m panting with desire. Just being around Dane is enough to make my panties wet.
Dane clears his throat. “Tell me, Allie,” he says gravely.
My heart thuds in my chest and I tremble nervously. “Yes?”
Dane grins. It’s almost predatory, the way he looks at me as if I’m some delectable meal laid out in front of him.
“How do you feel about steak?”
All I can do is blink. “Steak?”
Dane smirks. “Yes, Allie,” he says teasingly. “Steak. Sound good to you?”
My stomach rumbles loudly and I flush as Dane snickers at me.
“I didn’t think I was hungry, but that sounds really good,” I say softly. “I’d love that.”
“Good,” Dane says with a grin. “I had a feeling you might be interested.”
The air is charged with a hot, sexual tension flowing between us. Steak suddenly sounds amazing, if only because of how I can think of how it will feel to it in a secluded restaurant with Dane, dining on rare meat like animals in heat.
It might be weird to associate the sensual pleasure of food with sex, but now that I’ve had my awakening, I can’t help it.
When the limo stops, I see that we’ve arrived at a very posh French restaurant. Dane smiles as he steps out and offers me his hand.
“I don’t really think I’m dressed for this,” I say self-consciously.
To my surprise, Dane leans close and kisses me. The dark stubble on his chin brushes against my neck and I shiver with anticipation as I feel Dane’s hot lips trailing over my collarbone.
“Mmn,” I purr softly. For a moment, I forget that I’m standing in the middle of the street. It feels so good that I can hardly think.
Dane grins as he pulls away.
“For the record, you look beautiful,” Dane says. “Besides, I’m fairly casual myself today.”
All I can do is smile so widely that my cheeks hurt. “Thanks,” I say softly.
Dane puts his hand on the small of my back and guides me inside. The restaurant is filled with heavy, dark furniture with soft intimate lighting that makes everything look more beautiful than it really is. As a hostess leads us to our table, I can’t help but notice how her eyes are glued to Dane’s gorgeous frame.
A hot streak of jealousy flashes through me and I have to remind myself, not for the first time, that I have no claim on this beautiful man.
He’s probably just giving me an interview to be nice because he feels bad about the other night.
Yeah, that has to be it.
When we’re seated, Dane orders a bottle of red wine with a name that I can’t pronounce as well as an order of pâté and a hot gruyere dip with onion. The names alone sound so yummy that I can’t resist licking my lips.
“So,” Dane says as he leans back against the wall of the leather booth. “What do you want to know about the great Dane Andersen?”
I flush. “You know, most journalists get a chance to prepare their materials before an interview.”
Dane raises an eyebrow at me and smirks. “Oh? So, you would rather that I waited?”
The waiter arrives and pours a test glass of wine for Dane. As soon as he nods, the waiter fills both of our glasses and slips away silently.
Glad for a distraction, I take my glass of wine and sniff before taking a long sip. It’s delicious – fruity and tart at the same time.
“What are you thinking about?” Dane challenges me when I set the glass down. “Tell me.”
“Oh, nothing,” I lie. Of course, I’m thinking about how perfect Dane is – he’s even good at ordering wine!
Dane chuckles. “I don’t believe you, Allie. You have far too agile a mind to be idle for long.”
I lick my lips. “Well, I’m thinking that I probably should have done more research on Lockdown,” I say. Reaching into my bag, I grab a notebook and my favorite pen.
“Whatever you want to know,” Dane growls. His voice sends a shiver down my spine.
“What made you decide to go into personal security?”
Dane thinks for a moment. He purses his lips and nods his head slowly before responding.
“To be honest, I saw that it would become a lucrative career. But I knew that I wanted to help people – I wanted to provide a service that could make lives easier. I wasn’t cut out to be a doctor, so I figured that this was the next best thing.”
“Wow.” I look up from scribbling down notes to see Dane staring at me with a curious look in his sapphire eyes.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly. “It’s just impressive for...well, for someone who didn’t come from an affluent background. I know you told me that you cobbled together some night school classes.”
Dane nods. “Yes,” he says. He clears his throat. “I just knew I wanted to provide a valuable service and prove myself indispensable.”
“I wish I felt like that about anything,” I reply honestly. “I know it sounds bad, like I’m some spoiled rich kid. But even though I like my journalism classes, I’m not really good at them.”
I trail off, feeling nervous, but Dane reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. He traces a pattern on my palm before squeezing my fingers gently.
“You can talk to me,” Dane says encouragingly. “I like listening to what you have to say, Allie.”
“I’m not really good at anything,” I admit. “I’m pretty sure the only reason I got into Tate was because of a donation that my father made. I’m such a disappointment to him.”
“And what do you want to do with your life?” Dane asks in a low voice.
I blink. No one has ever asked me that before.
“I want to be close to my family,” I say after a long pause. “I know it sounds corny, but we’ve never been that close. And now, things are worse than ever. My dad is doing so well, but he and my mom fight all the time and I always feel like I can never do anything right when he’s around.”
Dane frowns. His forehead creases with worry and he takes a long swallow of wine before replying.
“It seems like you shoulder a lot of your family’s stress,” Dane says slowly. “And furthermore, I think you are far too hard on yourself.”
I shake my head. “No. It’s not like that.” I sigh heavily. “I just feel so stupid that I can’t manage to live up to my father’s expectations. Everything I do disappoints both of my parents. It feels so crappy!”
“Allie,” Dane growls. “Stop it. Stop talking abou
t yourself like that. I won’t have it, do you understand?”
Tears come to my eyes and I lick my lips. “Why do you even care?” I mumble softly. “I don’t even know why you want anything to do with me.”
“Because you’re beautiful and special,” Dane says. His blue eyes are glowing with intensity. “And because I want to know you in my life. I won’t tolerate listening to you put yourself down, Allie. Do you hear me?”
I’m numb with shock as I nod. After a second, the sensation starts to fade and I’m left with a hopeful feeling of disbelief. I can’t believe that he’s being truthful with me – but at the same time, no one has ever spoken to me like that before.
Not even Mara, and she’s supposed to be my best friend.
Before I can reply, the waiter swoops in with our food. I was so nervous before that I don’t even remember Dane ordering, but everything looks fabulous. The gruyere dip looks incredibly indulgent and my steak is perfectly bloody and rare as it sizzles in front of me.
“Do you have any more questions for me?” Dane gives me a smoldering look. “Or would you rather we dine and then retreat to my condo?”
