by Dale Cadeau
Laura was trying to squeeze past two men, when a large hand came up beside her and nudged the men out of the way. She knew by his unique smell that it was Clay at her back. She could feel his warmth behind her. Putting her head back to make sure, it landed on his muscular chest and she had to look way up. He had to have been at least a foot taller than she was. He seemed to tower over all the men standing around her friends.
Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, “Wouldn’t want you to get lost in this crowd. On second thought, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll join your group.”
Laura shivered at the feel of his breath on her ear. Looking around at her friends happily talking to the various men surrounding them, she shyly replied back, “I think I would like that.”
As they joined her friends, the women introduced Laura to the men they had just met. Clay went ahead and introduced himself to everyone. She knew that her friends saw the way he looked at her. Although they were properly polite, she knew they must have questions that they were dying to ask her.
“Shall we get a seat?” Clay now had his hand on her back and Laura oddly felt safe, even surrounded by a bar full of strangers. Could she really trust Clay that much already?
Laura piped up over the various conversations that her friends were involved in and told them she was finding a seat.
They all told her to go ahead they would find her later.
Clay couldn’t believe his luck when Laura’s other friends stayed talking around the bar. Leading Laura to an unclaimed booth, he sat beside her, purposefully crowding her a little to the back of the booth.
“Don’t you think you should sit on the other side? There’s not a lot of room here.” Laura didn’t like the feelings that he was arousing with his nearness. She hadn’t had wet panties in a long time and she had forgotten how uncomfortable they were.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Clay wasn’t going to sit across from her. He wanted her to be very aware of him. He was glad that they were finally sitting down as his body was starting to show how much he wanted to know her. “When the others come, I’d just have to move to speak to you. This way, they can take the other bench,” he answered logically.
She really couldn’t contradict his logic. He was right. He would have to move when her friends came over if they were to continue their conversation over the music. If she made too much of a fuss over it, he might think she wasn’t interested. And if she was truthful with herself, she really liked having him this close even though it made her body react inappropriately to someone she had just met. She wanted to get to know this man.
Laura looked up into Clay’s intense glaze. “Let me ask you a question. I know it sounds like a line but, do you come here often?”
“No, I’m only here because a friend of mine asked me to check out the place.” Clay didn’t give any details and turned the conversation back to her. “What do you do in your other life, Laura Branch?”
Laura went on alert. Did he know something? “What do you mean my other life?”
Clay watched her stiffen and tried to defuse the situation that he could see was developing. He didn’t have a clue what it was, but he didn’t want her afraid of him. “I mean, what do you do in the daytime? What kind of job do you do? That’s all.”
Laura took a deep breath and released it. She knew she was overreacting. People talked about their jobs all the time, when getting to know one another. “I work for one of the big firms downtown. I bet your job is more exciting than mine. What do you do?”
Clay didn’t want to make her more nervous, so he allowed her to change the topic back to him. “I’m partners in a security firm based downtown. One of my partners just got married, and the office is quiet right now. Nothing much is going on and, having some free time right now, I came here as a favour to a friend that runs this place.” Clay found Laura easy on the eyes and easy talk to now that the ice was broken. She seemed to be really interested in his words, as she turned and listen with interest.
“That sounds like it could be a very dangerous job. What’s the name of the firm? I might have heard of it.” Laura reached for her drink and took a sip, trying to cool herself down. His warmth surrounded her and with her body heating up by his nearness, she was scared she would overheat.
Picking up his drink Clay took a sip also. It gave him time to think. He didn’t know how much to say to Laura. For once he wanted to be judged on the man he was, not on the fortune five hundred company that he was a partner in. Most women, as soon as they knew, made out like he was the best thing that had ever happened to them. He was tired of the phony facade that they showed him.
Clay opened up. “Braden Security. My partners and I started the company around ten years ago.” He might as well tell her and find out now what sort of lady she really was. He hoped his radar hadn’t been off.
“I think I’ve heard of them, but nothing much. I don’t watch the news. So if your company is famous, forgive me, but I wouldn’t have a clue,” Laura replied, hoping she didn’t sound stupid. Clay was the first man in a long while that had noticed her, but she couldn’t stretch the truth. She was leading a very sheltered life through necessity.
Although she couldn’t help but feel that Clay was a little too good to be true. What did he see in her? Looking up at the gorgeous man beside her, she wondered when he would make an excuse and leave. When she had followed the others into the bar, she noticed the number of young attractive woman milling around. Clay could have his choice of any of them.
Putting her drink down, a now-depressed Laura looked around for her friends. Should she make an excuse and go back to them before things got awkward? She shouldn’t be spending this much time alone with a man anyway. She had to remember that she always had to be careful and watch her back. Was it was still too early to think she was free. Maybe she shouldn’t have come here at all.
Or maybe she just needed to relax.
Clay noticed the change in Laura and wondered what she was thinking now. Her eyes had lost their sparkle and had started darting around the bar. He had to think of something to say to get her talking about herself again and her mind off their jobs. He wasn’t going to give this lady any excuse to leave him.
Clay, trying to calm her, asked, “Well, what are we going to do on our second date? I can think of a few things.”
Startled by his words, Laura stopped looking around and stared up into the gray eyes looking intently at her. “What do you mean a second date? We haven’t had a first one yet.” Laura was thrilled that Clay still seemed to be interested and that his attention hadn’t wavered.
“Well, to my way of thinking, this is our first date. We are all alone in a booth having a drink and getting to know one another.” Clay’s eyes now had a twinkle in them as he looked down at her.
Just then Laura’s friends arrived at the table, each holding onto a guy’s hand. Jane piped up. “We’re going to a party that the guys know about. Want to come? Your friend can come, too,” Jane said loudly over the music.
Clay could see Laura recoil at the suggestion. She looked no more a partier than he was.
“I think I’ll have to take a rain check. If Laura wants to go that’s OK. Otherwise I’ll escort her home.” Clay wanted to give Laura an out.
Laura felt concerned for her friends. She didn’t want them going off with strange men. She knew they probably all had a few too many, with the way they were putting them back in the limo on the ride here. She didn’t know how many they had had since they arrived here. “Where are you going? Do you know any of these guys?”
Cathy spoke up, patting the arm of the guy she was holding onto. “This is Jeffery. We work together in IT and I have known him for years. We are going to his sister’s place. We’ll be fine.”
“What about you? We don’t want to desert you on your birthday. Come with us,” Cathy said.
Laura had never been a partier, even ten years ago, before she had to stay in the shadows. While she wished her friends well, she could
not see taking another chance and going to a party. She had pushed her luck enough just coming to this bar. “You all go ahead. I will find my way home. I had a great time, but I think I’ll call it a night.”
Jeffery, Cathy’s friend spoke up. “Cathy said that you had all taken a limo here. Why don’t you take it home? The girls will be coming with us and we’ll bring them home later.”
“That a great idea,” Laura said in what she hoped was an uplifting tone of voice. She hated getting dumped by her friends. After all, it was their idea to come here in the first place. Laura picked up her glass and took another sip for her dry throat. She was starting to feel nervous being left alone at a place on the outskirts of town that she knew nothing about.
Jane seemed to tune in on Laura’s feelings. “Hey, guys, we just can’t leave Laura. I’ll stay with her.” Jane flopped down on the bench across from them.
Clay was glad that one of her friends didn’t want to desert her. But he also wanted Laura to himself. Clay didn’t like using the leverage of his firm’s name, but reasoned that maybe this was the only way he was going to get Laura alone.
Clay stood up and pulled out more business cards from his pocket and handed them to her friends. “My name is Clay Taylor. I’m a partner in Braden Security. Maybe you heard of us. I will see that Laura gets home safely. You don’t have to worry.” Clay sat back down and took Laura’s hand in his.
Jane, Cathy, and Sela looked at Clay’s card. “I’ve heard of your firm. Don’t you do a lot of security for a lot of big names?”
“Yes, we do.” Clay was glad that they recognized his firm. With Laura’s friends giving him the OK, she might not feel too nervous about being left with him.
Jane jumped up from her seat. “Laura, you’re safe with Clay. He’s probably better company than we would be, and he looks like he could handle anyone that would bother you. So are we good?”
Laura looked at her friends. What could she say? Laura pasted a smile on her face. “Sure,” she said, glancing at Clay. “I’m fine. Have a great time tonight and call me tomorrow with the details.”
Clay watched Laura closely and could tell the moment that the smile left her face as her friends turned and left. Laura was not OK with being left.
Laura was looking down at her drink, not saying anything. Clay felt so sorry for her. Wanting to cheer her up, he touched her cheek then gently gripped her chin and turned her face up to his.
“Is it so bad being left alone with me? I’m glad it’s just the two of us. Why don’t we get out of here and let me buy you a coffee?”
“You don’t have to do that. The limo is just outside. I think I’ll just go home.” Laura moved her chin out of his hand and started to gather her purse to leave.
“Laura, can I be blunt with you?” At her nod, Clay continued. “I really don’t want the evening to end. I’m very attracted to you and would like to spend some more time with you.” Clay knew he was putting himself out there and was ready for rejection. Laura seemed like the no-nonsense type, so charming her, he knew, wouldn’t work.
Laura had a hard time believing Clay’s words. But then she remembered her musing back at the house before she came out with her friends. How it had been ten years already, with five of those years safety living in Detroit. She hoped the worse was over. She knew if she wanted more out of life, she had to take a chance and start letting people in.
Clay seemed the perfect man to take a chance with. She reasoned that if she ever felt safe enough to tell him her past, he would probably understand, being in the line of work he was in. She only had herself to blame if she let this man escape.
Putting a smile, a sincere one this time, on her face, she shyly looked back at Clay. “OK.”
Clay, who had been watching her make up her mind, let out a sigh. Getting up from the table, he reached back for her hand and helped her to her feet.
Chapter Two
Walking out of the bar together, they made their way to the limo parked at the front of the parking lot.
“How would you like to do this? I have my truck here. Should I follow you to a coffee shop?” Clay wanted her to feel safe. He wanted her to have options, praying she wouldn’t back out.
Laura turned and looked up at Clay’s. He really was a great guy. They didn’t come along all very often. He had treated her like a lady and had kept his attention solely on her. She knew she had to take the leap.
“I’ll take the limo home. Why don’t you follow and I’ll make you coffee at home. Coffee only, that’s what I’m offering.” Laura looked shyly up at Clay. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea about her.
Clay couldn’t believe his good luck. “That would be great and I understand that it’s just coffee. Why don’t you give me your address, in case I lose the limo in traffic?”
Laura rattled off her address then got in the limo, giving Clay another shy glance back. Clay made sure she was buckled up and closed her door. He gave the driver a glare and told him to drive safely.
Clay sped to his truck in the parking lot. He would follow the limo partway. Then he was taking a detour. He had to be fast. He didn’t want Laura to be alone too long and have time to rethink her offer of coffee.
Stopping at a twenty-four-hour grocery store, Clay strode in and bought a birthday cake and some flowers. They weren’t the quality that he wanted, but at such short notice they would have to do.
Clay arrived at Laura’s place just in time to see the limo leaving her driveway and Laura at the front door opening it. She looked up when his truck changed places with the limo.
Clay hopped out of his truck and joined her on her porch. Laura took in the flowers and box in Clay’s hand and raised her eyebrow at him. “What did you do?”
Clay looked a little embarrassed but handed Laura the flowers. “I overhead your friends say that it was your birthday, and I wanted to get you something. Just some flowers and a cake that we can have with the coffee.”
Laura was flabbergasted. She had just met this man and he was already buying her flowers. Looking at Clay as he held out the flowers to her, she really looked him up and down. What a thoughtful man. Turning, she opened her door and led him into the living room of her home. Taking the flowers from Clay, she told him to have a seat and she went into the kitchen to make coffee. This also gave her time to pull herself together. She had a man in her house, a great big beautiful man.
Clay looked around her small living room. It was as neat as a pin, with nothing out of place. The colours were muted grays and browns. A few pictures were scattered on top of the mantelpiece.
Clay strode over to look at the pictures, trying to get a fix on the lovely lady in the kitchen. He could tell that she led a very orderly life and loved her friends as he took in the faces smiling back at him from the frames. He would give them the benefit of a doubt as he really didn’t know them at all, but he didn’t like them leaving her alone at the bar. It was to his benefit, but it was also a dangerous thing for them to do.
Getting antsy at all the time Laura was staying in the kitchen, Clay sat down on the sofa. Was she having second thoughts about letting him in her house? He hoped not. Everything he knew about her so far just whetted his appetite.
Laura gathered the coffee cups and carafe on a tray and wiped her sweaty hands down her skirt. She couldn’t hide in the kitchen any longer. Taking her courage in hand, she walked out to join Clay and put the tray on the coffee table in front of the sofa.
Taking a chair across from Clay, Laura just sat down then jumped up again. “I forgot the cake. Be back in a minute.” Laura rushed into the kitchen with a red face. Opening the cabinet, she gathered plates and silverware. Laura could feel the heat in cheeks. He would think she was some scatterbrained idiot. She was acting like a sixteen-year-old with a first date.
Laura shrieked and jumped as she felt hands creep around her waist. She hadn’t heard Clay come into the kitchen behind her.
Clay held Laura tightly around the waist as she jump
ed and almost dropped the plates on the floor.
Clay felt like a fool. He’d thought Laura had heard him. In an even voice, Clay said, “It’s just me. I came in to help. Sorry for startling you.”
Laura put the plates down on the counter before her and turned in Clay’s arms. After her initial fright, she now felt her senses come alive. Laura could feel his body surrounding her with warmth and it made her feel safe, if a little uneasy. She hadn’t had this much bodily contact in a long time. She had forgotten how good it felt just to be held.
Putting her hands up, she clasped Clay around his neck and looked up at him. “It’s OK. I just don’t like people creeping up behind me,” she said in an almost inaudible tone.
Clay heard and let her go. She’d sounded timid, like a little mouse Clay knew there was probably a story behind that remark, but tonight was not the night to question her.
Pretending nothing was wrong, Laura picked the plates and silverware up again and walked into the living room.
Clay stood for a minute watching her disappear back into the living room. Spotting the cake on the table that Laura forgot again, he picked it up and followed her.
Clay found a flushed Laura sitting in her chair and just about to get up again. “I forgot the cake. Be right back.”
“I’ve got it. Why don’t you pour the coffee and I’ll take care of the cake?” God, she’s jumpy. He had to find a way to put her at ease. Otherwise he knew he would shortly be on the other side of the front door. Clay was not going to let that happen. Not when it had been so long that a woman had held any more than a passing interest for him.
Clay sat down on the sofa and opened the cake box and cut a piece for each of them. Laura didn’t look at him as she poured the coffee.
Taking the coffee from Laura, he tried to get her attention, which was now on her hands in her lap holding her coffee cup.
