“Mr. Connolly… Ronan. I’m not going to let you fuck me tonight. What I am going to do is give you the image of me walking right out that door wearing nothing but a pair of lace panties.”
I lifted the dress, the simply gorgeous dress that matched his eyes, over my head and flung it over the sofa as I sauntered to the door. I walked a little slower than normal, giving him a lasting impression of my body. I saw Dean standing at the door. He was visibly shocked and turned around quickly as to not peek at my gorgeous but somewhat scarred physique.
“No need to be embarrassed Dean, might as well take a peek of the goods,” I said sharply. “I would like to go back to my room if you don’t mind.”
I grabbed my clutch off the credenza in the foyer and folded my arms over my breasts as Dean opened the door for me. Ronan said nothing. He just stared at me blankly, running his hand through his beautiful luscious curls. I walked out the door and straight into the elevator, which thank God was empty. Dean took off his leather jacket and wrapped it around me. I nodded and smiled.
As we rode the elevator again in silence I couldn’t help but smirk. Biting my lower lip, I thought about how that simple act had made me feel empowered, unafraid and in control. That was, without question, the most in control of a situation I’d felt in a long time, and I needed that. As much as I desired to fuck Ronan Connolly, and believe me I’d imagined it many times, I’d be damned if I was going to let him make me just another nameless notch on his bed.
Dean walked me to my room, and I went inside to grab my robe. I quickly returned to the door, saying thank you and goodnight, while handing Dean back his heavy jacket. He turned to walk away but stopped, and then he said, “Miss Prescott, if it means anything to you, Mr. Connolly is a good man. He doesn’t do much dating because of the girls. I’ve never seen him invite a woman to dinner while he’s with his children. I just thought you should know. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Fuck. Well now I felt a little bad, maybe really bad. I’d just blown off the hottest man I’d ever met. Could I have been wrong? No, I was sure Dean was paid to say that stuff to get women to go back to Ronan once he’d insulted them. It was probably all just a Hollywood game.
I woke up to the sound of someone knocking at my door. Lifting my head, I spied through squinting eyes that my bed was torn apart. Sitting up I noticed my pussy was aching. The back of my hair was soaking wet and so were my arms. What the fuck happened? There were a few more raps on my door. Glancing at the clock, I noticed it was nearly eight in the morning.
“Just a moment, please. I’ll be right there.”
It was way too early for someone to be bothering me on a Sunday. I opened the door to find a man in his mid-twenties with shoulder length blonde hair holding a large vase filled with red and white roses.
“Holliday Prescott?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“These are for you,” he said, shoving the glass into my hands.
“Thank you,” I said and shut the door. I already knew who they were from. I didn’t bother to read the card attached.
Fucking typical.
Setting the vase down on the glass table I looked outside. Central Park was covered in a pristine white blanket, but the streets were pretty clear. The salt trucks had been busy. Still, there were very few cars out and hardly anyone walking around, but then again it was early. Maybe everyone just wanted to be cozy in bed this cold winter morning. I flipped on the news, which was reporting three inches of snow in some areas of the city. More snow was on its way tonight. Nice. I love snow.
My mind began to wander, images of Ronan and I together flashed through my thoughts. I smiled, recalling our dinner together last night— I loved the way he looked at me. His masculine clean scent was invigorating. Most of all, I loved the way he touched me. All of the muscles in my pussy just clenched, and I had a familiar hum in the lower part of my belly. Crossing my arms against my bare skin, I realized I was burning up. My mind raced. I imagined Ronan and I fucking everywhere in his penthouse. Oh the filthy things we were doing to one another. The memories from the dream were so clear— my hands twisting in his hair while his hands gripped my shoulders as he licked and sucked my breasts. I envisioned my mouth on his perfect lips, only coming apart for seconds to breathe the hot air that filled the space between us. I looked at the bed dazed; shock flooded through me. Out damn thoughts— GET OUT OF MY HEAD! Holy fuck, I’d had a goddamn sex dream about Ronan, and it had felt so real.
Staring out the window I tried to calm my scandalous thoughts. Anything to pull my mind from thinking about him. I thought about spending a quiet Sunday alone reading a book or perhaps hitting the spa to relax. I didn’t have to be back at Charlotte’s until after work on Monday.
The roses were pissing me off, looking so beautiful with their long stems taunting me. They were staring at me, begging me to open the card. Even though I was positive I already knew what it would say: I’M SORRY. Since I was already up and the roses caused my pumped up energy to return, I went for a quick workout in the gym. Thirty minutes on the treadmill and some circuit training would be just the thing I needed to ease my annoyed state of mind.
Revitalized after my workout, I stopped off at the café on my way back and grabbed some oatmeal and a black coffee. I was ready for a shower; I could tell my muscles were going to hurt tomorrow. Peering through the window I witnessed the streets of New York were once again filled with hustle and bustle. Not even snow and frigid temperatures could keep New Yorkers indoors.
“Holliday! Holliday!”
I glanced to find Leah and Jade running towards me. Jade clutched my right arm tightly and Leah hugged my other arm.
“Hi girls,” I replied cheerfully. “What are you doing up so early?”
“Daddy is taking us to breakfast,” Leah said while Jade giggled and pushed on my chair.
Just then I felt a shadow of a man standing over me. I glanced up through my long lashes and saw Ronan looking completely irresistible. Only a Hollywood movie star could look this camera ready on a Sunday morning. He was dressed in a charcoal grey Henley, which perfectly showcased his flat stomach and glorious muscles. It was paired with dark denim jeans that hugged the shape of his strong thighs and tight ass. I wanted to rip his clothes from his body and roam every inch of him with my hands. Oh the things I’d do to this man. Fuck him for being so damn hot.
“Oh that’s lovely. What are you going to order?”
“I’m getting hot cakes and Leah’s going to have a cinnamon roll,” Jade said as she twirled my ponytail with her fingers. Leah climbed into the chair beside me, making herself quite comfortable.
“That sounds delicious.” Smiling I took a final sip of my coffee. “Well you have fun at breakfast.”
“Holliday you should have breakfast with us. Please, please, please,” Leah said loudly while shaking my arm.
Jade rocked back and forth on her heels, holding on to the armrest of my chair and saying, “Yeah! Holliday, come to breakfast with us.”
Ronan gave me a sweet half-smile. His eyes were bluer today, looking somber and not nearly as bright as they had last night. He seemed pretty tired.
“Girls, I can’t. I’m sorry. I just ate my breakfast. See,” I said as I pointed to my coffee and empty bowl.
Jade huffed and folded her arms in displeasure while Leah slumped down in the chair. They both looked at me sadly. I felt like I had broken their little hearts. I quickly changed the subject in hopes to brighten their spirits.
“What plans do you girls have today?” I asked excitedly with a big smile.
Leah shot right up and said, “We’re going to see the big Christmas tree and the ice skating rink.”
Of course. I remembered that was Ronan’s reason for bringing them to the city— Rockefeller Plaza.
“Can you come see the tree with us, Holliday? Please oh please say you can,” Leah asked so sweetly.
Crap. I already turned them down for breakfast. How could I say
no to this request? I glanced at Ronan who I caught grinning and then raising an eyebrow, waiting for my response.
“Okay. I will be happy to go with you to see the big Christmas tree,” I said, smiling outwardly but with reluctance on the inside. I looked at Ronan and asked firmly, “When are you leaving?”
“Does eleven o’clock work for you?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” I felt my heart begin to beat rapidly. “I’ll meet you over there by the fireplace.”
“Dress warmly, Holliday. It’s cold outside.” His posture shifted to a more relaxed state, and I noticed his eyes were a bit brighter. Was I actually having some kind of effect on Ronan?
The waitress at the café came over and asked if they were ready for their table, and Ronan said yes. He asked if she could take the girls to the table, saying he would be right there. I started to walk away when he gently touched my arm. Again, electricity twirled up my spine and back down. I was standing so close to him that I could feel the heat radiating off his skin.
“Holliday a moment, please?”
I nodded, speaking tightly, “What can I do for you Mr. Connolly?”
It felt like minutes before he spoke. He stood there looking at me, gripping my arm as if he was unable to formulate the words. I needed anything to ease this obvious fiery tension between us. I considered pressing my body against his and letting him know it was okay for him to kiss me and all would be forgiven.
“Ronan, please,” he said and then cleared his throat. “Did you get the flowers I sent?”
“Oh, those were from you?”
He pulled back slightly, letting go of the grip he had on my arm. “I asked them to attach a card.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
“I know. I didn’t read it.”
Ronan took a step closer to me, whispering in my ear, “Read the card, Holliday.” When he leaned into me, I closed my eyes and felt my heart leap into my throat. I felt his warm minty breath on my ear. Ronan walked away, and I let out a deep sigh. I watched him all the way until he took a seat with his daughters. They looked so happy. Maybe he was a good guy after all. It was quite clear he was a terrific dad.
The card Ronan sent with the flowers didn’t say what I’d expected. It simply said: SOME PEOPLE COME IN YOUR LIFE AS BLESSINGS, AND OTHERS COME IN YOUR LIFE AS LESSONS.
An Irish proverb I assumed.
I flipped it over to find he had written: YOU ARE BOTH FOR ME.
Just when I thought I had Ronan Connolly all figured out, he managed to surprise me.
I walked across the lobby, double checking my outfit in the mirror as I waited for Ronan and the girls. I’d layered up with a navy blue sweater and a long sleeve cotton t-shirt paired with red denim jeans. I was wearing my favorite grey All Saints cashmere beanie, which I pulled down slightly over my bangs, and then I fluffed my loose curls that wrapped around my shoulders. I was ready to brace an afternoon outside in the frosty air.
I saw the girls running towards me, and I smiled. Ruth and Dean were both following Ronan.
“The car should be around any moment Mr. Connolly,” Dean announced.
Ruth helped the girls with their jackets, and Ronan officially introduced the two of us. She was pleasant enough and looked much better than she had yesterday. A large silver Infiniti SUV pulled up to the curb and Ronan led us out the door.
We travelled through the somewhat snowy streets with ease. Dean was an excellent navigator of Manhattan traffic. The girls could hardly wait to get out once the tree came into view. I hadn’t been to Rockefeller Center since I first moved to the city two years ago. I usually avoided the typical tourist places in the city, preferring the cozy coffee shops and posh eateries of my neighborhood.
Ronan bought all of us hot chocolate and we watched the ice skaters pass by, some learning how to skate for the first time, others trying to impress by doing tricks and skating around the rink at high rates of speed.
Ruth took the girls to get a closer look at the skaters. I started to walk with them, but Ronan gripped my arm holding me back. Dean was in eyesight of all of us, carefully scanning the crowd from behind his black Ray-Bans. No one seemed to have recognized Ronan yet, but he was bundled up wearing a knit hat and dark Aviator sunglasses. Clever disguise.
“Did you read the card?”
“Yes. It was quite lovely.”
“Holliday, I wasn’t trying to offend you last night. It’s just… I just… romance is hard. I usually don’t have to work so hard to get women to sleep with me.”
I shot him a serious look. “I’m sure a handsome movie star such as you has no problem coming in contact with ready and willing women, all of whom are eager to flop on their backs with their legs spread open.”
His mouth dropped open. “That’s only partly true,” he chuckled. “What I mean is that I’m out of practice when it comes to romance and courting a woman. I’m insanely attracted to you. There’s something about you, Holliday Prescott. I guess I just lost my head and my manners.”
“Are you saying that I should take pity on you because you live in Hollyweird and it’s not really conducive to the real world?”
“Maybe a little,” he smirked. “At least give me a second chance to prove to you that I’m not just looking for a piece of ass. I am quite fond of yours, though.”
“I’ll consider it,” I said, nudging his arm playfully. “I’m not looking for someone to court me Ronan. I’m all for casual sex, but I refuse to be one night stand— I don’t do one night stands.”
“Well, that’s a start, because I don’t date.” The words poured smoothly from his lips. I studied those lips. God I want to seal my mouth around his delicious lips.
I had to admit it was refreshing to have a man be direct with me. Ronan didn’t make a contrived excuse. At least he admitted he acted poorly but still made it clear he was attracted to me. I was feeling a deep attraction to him as we continued our conversation. Ronan charmed me, and we both laughed a lot over the course of the afternoon. Across the way I noticed some photographers taking photos of the people on the ice. I worried it was only a matter of time before someone recognized Ronan and swarmed us. I felt my cell phone vibrating, and as I pulled it from my pocket, I noticed my sister was calling.
“Hey Charlotte. What’s up?”
“Hey. You doing okay? How are things at the hotel?”
My sister was especially chipper today. I heard my niece and nephew in the background singing a garbled version of “Jingle Bells” at the top of their lungs.
“Things at the hotel are fine… just like they are every other time I stay at The York,” I replied. “What are you doing today?”
“Well the twins and I are making cookies and Lucan is doing some work in the study. Later we’re taking them to see a movie.”
“Oh, that sounds nice,” I said while looking back at Ronan, who was talking with one of the other onlookers. I gathered this person had no idea he was talking to a movie star, then again maybe he did. I was snapped out of my admiring gaze on Ronan when my sister asked me, “So are you going to tell me why there’s a photo of you and Ronan Connolly on Tinsel And HollyWood dot com?”
Tinsel And HollyWood dot com was run by two women who called themselves Tinsel and Holly, but really their real names were Nina Whitehall and Taryn Dennison. Taryn, a former magazine editor, and Nina, a publicist, founded the website about seven years ago. It’s easily the most popular celebrity gossip site. I had actually found some things on it the other day during my search for information on Ronan.
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s a picture of you chatting with Ronan Connolly in the lobby of The York Hotel. It’s been up since late last night.”
I walked farther away from Ronan. “It’s no big deal. I was… I was just giving him directions,” I said quickly, trying to avoid a lengthy conversation with Charlotte.
“Oh yeah? Then why wasn’t he wearing a coat?”
Dammit! I should have know
n better than to try and pull one over on Charlotte. My sister had a keen eye for details, but then again she more than likely had studied the pictures at length, making note of everything. Charlotte probably could even determine the time of day it was taken among other things, just another one of her many talents. Charlotte could have been a spy or something in another life, but in this one she was a former fashion model turned designer.
“Charlotte, he stopped me and asked which way to the… oh never mind. It was a brief conversation. He complimented my sweater. I was wearing one of your designs.”
That should divert her attention and give her something to think about rather than asking me a ton of questions.
“Yes, I noticed that, and flattery won’t get you out of this conversation, sis.”
Damn! I was hoping she’d drop the inquisition about Ronan.
“So, is he nice? Is he as dreamy in person as he is on screen?”
“Charlotte, I… I have to go… I’m going to work out.”
“Wait, Holl.”
I ended the call and quickly pulled up the website on my phone. I gawked at the photos of Ronan and me. The headline read: RONAN’S RANDOM RUN IN WITH MYSTERY GIRL. There were tons of comments saying things like:
WHAT A LUCKY GIRL.
WHY HER? SHE’S UGLY, PICK ME INSTEAD.
RONAN CONNOLLY IS DREAMY.
“Everything okay Holliday?” Ronan asked.
I shoved my phone in the pocket of my coat quickly, replying, “Yeah, that was my sister. She was just checking in.”
The girls came running towards us and Jade jumped into Ronan’s arms. She went on and on about the lights and the skaters on the ice. Leah grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the ice rink. I debated on whether or not to say anything to Ronan about the pictures. I would bet a million dollars that he already knows. I’m sure his PR team informed him. I suddenly became fascinated by the inner workings of the world of Hollyweird.
Unscripted Page 3
