As I enter the restaurant, I take in the sleek, modern décor. It’s definitely fancy, trendy. I’m not surprised. From my texts with Austin, I have pegged him as a professional man in a suit who likes to eat good food. My guess is right, because most of the men are wearing suits and the ladies too.
I roam the entrance, searching for the dark-haired handsome man from the photo last night. I spot him speaking with the hostess, and I’m relieved to see his Internet pic wasn’t a phony because you hear all kinds of crazy stories about old photographs or people putting up pics of someone else. I blow out a puff of air.
Okay.
I can do this.
I stride toward him, taking in his features. He’s tall, solid, just like Oli only not as buff; he has more of a slim runner’s physique. I can work with that.
Geez! Why am I comparing them?
Austin turns his head, spotting me. His lips slowly spread and turn up.
“Hey.” I smile, coming up to him and feeling my cheeks flush. This is a blind date, and I’ve never been on one before. I’ve always somehow met the men I’ve dated prior.
“Sade,” he says my fake name. For a second, I’d forgotten I made up an alias. He leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek. He smells like expensive cologne.
Check.
“Austin, nice to meet you.”
His lips purse together. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to make a reservation this morning, and there’s about a ten-minute wait for a table. I hope that’s okay?” He winces.
I am hungry, but I play it off. “That’s fine.”
He places a hand at the small of my back. It feels nice. Internally, I cheer. Yes, maybe he will be the one. We head over to a bar in the center of the restaurant. It’s a little early for me to have a drink, so I order a sparkling water. Austin does the same.
“Sade.” He grins, and I feel like my reaction is delayed. Shit! Will he know I made up the name?
My attention is pulled from Austin when out of the corner of my eye, I spot Oli by the entrance, walking up to the hostess. She smiles widely to him, and then throws her head back laughing. Geez! His effect on women is universal. A moment later, she’s holding a menu and walking him to a table. He spots me at the bar and winks as he passes me by. I can’t help the scowl that forms on my face.
“Everything okay?” Austin asks, looking a little perplexed.
“Oh!” I flinch. “Yeah, great.” I wave him off, and take a sip of my water through a straw. Austin turns to follow my line of focus. His gaze lands on Oli.
His eyes turn wide, and he points. “That’s Oliver Russell.”
I groan and swallow a cough as I mumble, “You don’t say.”
“Are you a hockey fan?” Austin asks, but before I have a chance to answer, he’s going on about Oli. “That guy killed it in last night’s game.”
I smile and nod. That’s not the only thing Oli killed. He just killed this date too.
“Nice. I’m sure he did,” I respond, not sharing Austin’s enthusiasm over the smoking-hot-NHL player. I place my hand on Austin’s arm, hoping to draw his attention away from Oli. He smiles as he looks down to my hand on his arm. Mission accomplished. “Austin, tell me what you do in your spare time?” I ask, because my dating skills are rusty to say the least.
“I don’t have much spare time, but I like to play tennis and I like to fuck pretty girls.” His dark eyes glint with mischief.
His words cause me to flinch and pull my arm away. What the hell was that comment? It sounded scary, eerie. I take a large gulp of my sparkling water, trying to hide the fact that I’m taken aback.
I try to convince myself that this guy is simply upfront. We’re both adults, and that’s totally acceptable.
I let out a slow breath. The me from before the trip to Canada, the one who had never seen Oli naked and the one who wasn’t rejected by the biggest crush of her life, would have gone running in the other direction, but the me of today wants to try something different. I don’t want to give up so easily. As fucked up as my thinking is right now, there is no harm in staying a while longer, eating a good meal, and maybe seeing where this takes us. Maybe Austin is nervous and talking shit. I tend to do that when I’m nervous sometimes.
A waitress walks over to us and says our table is ready. I grab my sparkling water, hoping my shaky hand doesn’t betray me, and we head to our table which, just my luck, is three tables away from Oli. Out of the corner of my eye I watch as he works on his appetizer, bruschetta. He seems to be enjoying it a little too much, the way his eyes are shutting as his mouth hits the bread and cheese. It also makes my stomach grumble.
Austin takes a seat beside me instead of across from me. That’s freaking weird. What’s wrong with him? How can we converse this way?
I force a smile. It’s so fake I’m scared of cracking a tooth.
Austin draws a sip from his water. “I hope I haven’t scared you off. I think you’re beautiful, and with work, I don’t have a chance to get out much. I would love a chance to take you to bed. Show you what I can bring . . .” His husky voice trails off, I’m not only cringing but fighting back the urge not to spray the remaining water in my mouth out onto his face. Great I found one of the trolls Sierra was telling me about. I glance out of the corner of my eye again. I can’t help myself, knowing Oli is sitting so close that he’s possibly in earshot.
His chair jerks back and his hands lay flat on the table in fists. Holy shit! He heard.
I let out a breath. “That sounds nice, Austin.” I smile nervously, my stomach turning. I know I’m playing a dangerous game, but I can’t help myself because something about making Oli jealous spikes the excitement in my veins. “I work late nights though, so my schedule can get hectic, not leaving much time for sexy times.” I raise and lower my brows while batting my eyelashes. With the angry giant sitting only a few feet away, I feel safe. I don’t feel bad about leading Austin on because Forever and Always is a relationship site and someone who wants a relationship wouldn’t talk like him. Flynn and I always had a running argument that chivalry is dead. This guy probably doesn’t even know the definition of the word. Dickwad.
“You experiencing a drought too?” Austin asks, jutting out his lower lip. The impression I got of him online last night was completely different than the one I’m getting now. In a way, I’m glad Oli barged in on our date, because a part of me feels like I’m in way over my head.
“You could say that.” I grin and take another sidelong look at Oli. He’s shaking his head while placing something that looks delicious in his mouth. Chicken marsala, I think.
The waitress comes over to take our order. I contemplate to taking my lunch to go but then I look over to Oli. He looks flushed and on edge, and, dare I say, jealous.
“I’ll have the chicken marsala, please.” I smile to the waitress. “I’m starved. Would you mind putting a rush in for me?” I smile.
Austin shifts in his seat. He gives the waitress his order. I don’t pay attention to Austin and instead I think how I could never be in a relationship or give up my V-card to a guy like him.
Wait a second . . .
Austin is essentially no different from Oli. Oli fucks casually all the time. It’s who he is. Austin is basically proposing the same thing.
No, no that can’t be right. I have feelings for Oli, and I know he has feelings for me even if he isn’t willing to admit it. Me wanting Oli in a sexual way is completely different because we’ve known each other a long time, and there has always been a spark.
Austin picks my hand up and places a kiss on it. It’s on the tip of my tongue to teach this guy a few lessons on romancing a woman, because maybe then he wouldn’t be having a dry spell, but I hold my tongue as the waitress lays my food in front of me, and the delicious aroma of the chicken marsala wafts up my nose.
The food is the perfect distraction as I place the first bite in my mouth. I moan. “This is so good.” I smile to Austin because food makes me happy, especially good
food when I’m super hungry.
He eats his salmon quietly, which is fine by me, because at this point I know we aren’t compatible.
I continue to eat my food. I moan.
“Seriously, this is delicious,” I say, cutting into the silence at our table. Austin nods, and he almost looks irritated. From the corner of my eye, I notice Oli sitting with a hand over his mouth, laughing. As soon as I see the look on his face, I know. I’m making sexy sounds while eating a meal. Austin doesn’t like it, but Oli looks pleased as hell. I clap a hand over my mouth. Austin’s eyes flick up to me.
“Am I missing something?” he asks.
“I’m sorry. I must have been irritating you with the sounds I was making,” I say, biting back my own laugh.
He nods. “That was kind of odd, I have to admit.”
I bite my lower lip a little too hard, and glare at Oli. I quickly place another bite of chicken in my mouth. This time, I roll my eyes over as the sexy moans leave my lips, and I lick the fork for extra effect because Austin is too much of a boring straight-ass for me, and no one tells me that the way I eat is odd. Screw him.
“Would you mind?” Austin’s dark gaze lands on me. His tone is condescending.
My eyes widen. “I’m sorry?” My heart drops a little.
Oli stands up from his table, wipes his mouth with his napkin, and stalks toward us. His golden gaze is full of fire, and it’s all directed at the man sitting beside me.
“That is no way to speak to a lady,” Oli bites out.
Austin’s chair jerks back. “Holy shit. I’m a huge fan,” he replies, as if he didn’t hear Oli berate him. He extends a hand to shake Oli’s, only Oli doesn’t return the gesture. Instead, his hazel eyes darken and turn to narrow slits.
Oli shakes his head at Austin, pursing his lips together before turning his attention on me. When he does, those hazel eyes smolder as the gold inside them turns to flames. His nostrils flare, and without a word, he leans forward and lifts me in his arms. I’m in the air, and he’s cradling my legs in his strong arms while holding me close to his chest. He looks back to Austin and mutters, “She needs a man who will treat her right and that ain’t you.” Then he stalks out of the restaurant.
I’m pretty sure I see a camera or two flash as we exit the main doors. I’m not even sure how I feel as the whole scene goes down. Maybe like I’ve died and gone to hockey player heaven.
A warm breeze brushes across my face, and I still feel like I’ve entered some fairytale land with my giant prince saving me from the villain. Only the tale running through my mind comes to an abrupt stop when Oli places me on my feet. The heels of my boots connect with concrete.
“I didn’t get a chance to finish my chicken. You know?” I scold Oli in a playful way.
Oli passes the valet his ticket. He doesn’t respond to me, and his jaw is taut and ticking. He clearly isn’t as amused by all this as I am. I mean, that was a full-out alpha-male scene.
Despite the windy breeze, the air around us feels stagnant. The valet pulls up to the curb with Oli’s SUV, and Oli goes around to the driver’s side with an abrupt, “Get in the car, Sloane.” He sounds all-business, so I don’t argue. Plus, I think he just saved me from myself, since that wasn’t one of my brightest ideas.
We head into traffic, the air in the car thick and angry.
I turn to him. “Why aren’t you speaking?”
His jaw pulses as he looks out to the road with a vacant stare. “I don’t know what happened back there . . .” He pauses and sighs heavily. “And I’m usually polite to fans, no matter what . . . and I don’t know what’s happening between me and you, but it’s fucking confusing the shit out of me.” He runs a rough hand over the stubble on his chin. I know exactly what that stubble feels like as I remember him eating my pussy back in Ann Arbor.
I clench my thighs together, still at a loss for words. He seems really worked up. I’m not sure what to say. Does he have feelings for me? Is that what he’s saying? Why does my brain have to turn to mush around him?
His deep voice cuts the silence like a blade. “Where the hell did you find that guy?”
“On Forever and Always.” I answer immediately.
“What the hell is that?” His face scrunches up.
“An online dating site for people looking for a relationship,” I explain.
A string of mumbled profanities leaves his mouth.
“That guy was not looking for a relationship,” he spits.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “My friend from the network warned me there may be some trolls on the site who think they will be able to score if they pretend to want a relationship.” My luck I found a troll. Maybe my vagina is hostile and cursed.
It looks like a time bomb is going to go off inside Oli at any moment. Why is he so angry? Is this Oli being protective? Showing he cares? My mind is a confused mess.
“A girl like you needs to stay away from online dating sites,” he says.
“What is that supposed to mean? A girl like me,” I retort, a little irritated myself. I may be a virgin, but I’m not completely innocent.
He gives me a quick sideways glance as he makes a right turn. “You know exactly what it means. Why wait this fucking long to give it up to a chump like that?” he asks, and his voice has now turned soft and low, caring. He completely has me undone.
“I’m looking for a relationship and I didn’t offer that guy anything. Besides I offered my V-card to you back in Ann Arbor. You rejected me.” I snap.
Oli chews his lip. Traffic has come to a standstill. Great. I need to get home and rest a little before work tonight or else I will feel and look like a zombie.
I want him to say something about why he rejected me but he doesn’t.
“That guy was just like you, Oliver. He wanted no strings attached sex.” I hope to get a reaction out of him.
Oli lets out a loud hiss. “Jesus! That guy was not fucking like me. I’ve never in my life spoken to a woman the way he did to you. I’m sorry, but that was some messed up shit. I may get around, Sloane, but it isn’t me who does the chasing. They come to me to get what they want. I don’t use a string of slimy words to get those women in bed. Besides, none of them are virgins or as innocent as you,” he says, and I don’t know why, but his words sting right through my heart.
“I’m not as innocent as you make me out to be,” I shoot back.
He cocks his brow and glares at me. “I know. It’s just that you’re a hearts-and-flowers girl. What the hell did you think that guy back there could offer you?” he asks.
“Sex,” I snap wanting to cause a rise out of Oli. I don’t know why I say sex because I want commitment too, but right now my body buzzes with too much energy and the word leaves my lips with challenge.
Oli’s eyes widen. “You wanted to sleep with him?” He sounds disgusted, and to me, like a complete hypocrite.
“Yes, no,” I sigh. “Maybe I’m not a hearts-and-flowers girl after all,” I lie, because I’m pissed off, and now that I can see he wants me, I’m goading him. I want him to take the bait and fuck me, fall in love with me and make me his. Wishful fucking thinking.
I slide down my seat. I can’t even look at him now that I’ve admitted that. I stare out the window as the silence in the car drags on.
He pulls up in front of my building. “I know you need to get ready for work. So do I. Depending on tonight’s game, I’ll probably be leaving for a series of away games. This conversation isn’t over,” he says, and it doesn’t pass me by that it sounds more like a command, like when he said get in the car. There is definitely something dominating and sexy about that. It also doesn’t fly past me that he didn’t take the bait or respond to what I’ve said.
“Fine.” I mutter. Then I turn to look at him. The tornado brewing inside his hazel eyes makes me feel off-balance. I take a steadying breath. “Thanks for getting me away from Austin and looking out for me.”
“Yeah,” he exhales, keeping his hands on the steering wheel
in a vise grip. His knuckles whiten.
“What time you off work?” he asks, looking out to the road in front of him.
“Around midnight,” I answer, a little confused as to why he asked.
“I’ll be seeing you later then.”
He’ll be seeing me later? My stomach flips. Why?
With one last glance, I leave the car. “Later.”
I head into the building. A new nervous buzz washes over me. I wish it were midnight already. Why do I wish that?
I’ve been holding on to my V-card for so long. Holding on to the idea of Parker for too long. I realize that the very unattainable hockey player just became attainable, and I don’t know if I should beg him to fuck me or run away. I realize I’ve been running for too long. My heart no longer belongs to Parker. As much as the thought scares me, it also liberates me.
Twenty-Three
Oli
Fuck, fuck, double fuck. Shit! Fuck. I smack my steering wheel as I try to get my head on straight. What the fuck is happening to me? I’m acting like a fucking jealous boyfriend. I’m following her on dates and saving her ass. I’m basically vagina-blocking her, and it’s all too fucking crazy. I want Sloane Carmichael like I’ve never wanted another girl before. I don’t know why I told her I’d be seeing her later. That was fucked up. I should stay away from her completely, but I know that won’t happen.
I had it in my head we’d just be friends, hence my bright idea to meet up with her and hang out for the day. I had no clue it would lead to the adventure it did, yet every time we’re together feels exciting.
What the hell am I going to do at her place later on, besides take her virginity because I feel like I own it? I know the mere thought is messed up. As I drive through traffic, I internally berate myself. I should not have told her I’d be seeing her later. I should text her and cancel. I should go out with the guys after the game.
I head home and prep my things for the big game tonight. I need to stay far away from Sloane tonight since I always seem to get a little pumped up after a game. If we win, I’ll be gone for a set of games . . . as long as we win. Yup! That’s the plan.
Butt Ending: A Big Stick Novel 2 (Standalone) Page 16
