Sophisticated for the Night

by C. J. Fallowfield

  ‘Plans changed at the last minute. He’s just a friend.’

  ‘That’s no friend, not the way he’s looking at you,’ Dad scoffed. I rolled my eyes, but was secretly pleased that they’d picked up on Logan’s attraction to me. Maybe it was for real after all.

  ‘He’s just a friend,’ I repeated.

  ‘Whatever. I’m just glad you’re not spending the evening with that wanker Daron at your side.’

  ‘Dad!’

  ‘Well he is. I’m a great judge of character and let me tell you, he’s shady.’

  ‘Give me a minute will you? I’ll come in your car to the party, to make sure you go, as I have a feeling you’ll try and sneak off home,’ I advised. I headed back to where Logan was standing.

  ‘Your parents?’ he enquired, as he stood with his hands in his trouser pockets. Damn him, looking so hot and sexy. It was hard to focus on anything but how badly I wanted him.

  ‘Yes, how did you guess?’

  ‘You have your mum’s looks. Are you ready to leave?’

  ‘Yes, but if you don’t mind I’d like to travel with my parents, I think they’ll try and get out of the party if I don’t accompany them.’

  ‘You’re going to the party?’ He frowned as he looked down at me.

  ‘Yes, of course I am. Where did you think I was going?’

  ‘I thought you’d be coming back to spend the night with me, I’d reserved a suite at The Dalton,’ he replied. I gasped as I slapped his bicep, then winced and shook my hand. He was solid, and totally insensitive. He really thought I’d want to spend the night with him at his go to fuck hotel? Did he make a habit of screwing the ones he was attracted to out of business hours? Did he do this when he was having a quiet week sexually? Was that all this was? That made my mind up. No way was I spending the night with Logan bloody Steele. ‘What?’ he exclaimed, without flinching.

  ‘First of all, it’s the biggest night of my career, of course I’m going to the party, it’s required. Secondly, thank you for my beautiful flowers and this gorgeous dress and for accompanying me tonight, but my answer is no. I won’t spend the night with you.’ I could hear my voice wavering, as I tried to be firm and watched as his face fell.

  ‘Are you serious?’ he gasped.

  ‘Yes. I’m so sorry that you’ve gone to all this unnecessary expense, send me a bill. As soon as I’ve earned enough money I’ll pay you back, so you’re not out of pocket.’

  ‘I don’t care about the money, Summer. Why have you changed your mind?’ he demanded with a look of fury in his eyes.

  ‘I haven’t changed my mind, I never said I’d spend the night with you. I’m sorry but I really need to go.’ I could feel tears building up in my eyes, he’d never have any idea how much I liked him, how much it hurt to run from him, but I didn’t know him. Not the real man. That was who I wanted to spend the night with, not Logan Steele, escort for hire to anyone who could afford him. I turned to walk away and he grabbed my arm and pulled me back, heat radiating from where his long fingers curled around my forearm.

  ‘Talk to me, what did I do wrong?’ he uttered, looking at me hurt and confused.

  ‘Nothing. You didn’t do anything wrong, I doubt you ever do anything wrong when it comes to dealing with women. It’s just … I’m not the sort of girl who wants to be one in a long line of women you fuck for fun. I know myself too well and you’ll just end up hurting me.’

  ‘It’s not like that.’

  ‘Then what’s it like, Logan? What do you want from me? You show up here, you don’t give me any real explanation as to why, other than saying we have chemistry, yet you expect me to just spend the night with you? Despite what you might think, because I booked you that time, that was a one off, I was desperate and scared and needed a professional.’

  ‘You tried to book me again and you kissed me in the limo on the way here,’ he reminded me.

  ‘And it was a mistake. This was a mistake. You spun my head with your … your good looks and charm and you kissed me,’ I uttered, as I tugged at my arm. I needed to get away from him, before I flung my arms around his neck and launched myself at him. What hold did this man have over me that all common sense went out of the window? He fucked women for a living. I needed to keep reminding myself of that. He wasn’t the sort of man I wanted to get attached to.

  ‘You kissed me back,’ he snapped.

  ‘You’re a good kisser and you took me by surprise. Please let me go,’ I begged. He didn’t, he just tugged me against his lean, hard body, making me tremble as he lifted my chin with his free hand.

  ‘No. Tell me why you’re running from me?’

  ‘You’re an escort, not my boyfriend. I don’t have to explain anything. Let. Me. Go,’ I bit angrily.

  ‘Tell me that you feel nothing for me and I will, but you can’t can you?’ he whispered, as he gazed down at me. I blinked, fighting the tears that I suddenly wanted to shed. Of course I had feelings for him. Wasn’t it obvious to him? I doubted any woman he slept with was immune to his charms.

  ‘You’re just a good looking man that I paid, so I could lose my virginity. It was just sex, Mr. Steele, nothing more,’ I uttered. ‘I told you, you’re just an escort and I was just your client. That’s all it was.’

  ‘You’re lying,’ he hissed.

  ‘You asked me for my answer and I gave it to you. Please respect that and let me go,’ I ordered more firmly. If I stayed this close to him for much longer I’d cave and I’d just end up even more hurt in the morning.

  ‘If you walk away I won’t come for you again, Summer,’ he retorted, anger flashing in his grey stormy eyes. ‘I’m used to getting what I want and I don’t take kindly to being rejected.’

  ‘I don’t know why you came for me in the first place, Mr. Steele,’ I replied, searching his face, hoping for some sort of proper explanation. He stared at me for a moment and then released me and stepped back.

  ‘No, neither do I,’ he replied. I watched as he sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. ‘It was obviously a mistake. I’m sorry, Miss Beresford, I won’t trouble you again. Goodbye.’ He spun on his heels and quickly strode away, as I hugged myself and felt a tear escaping from the corner of my eye. What the hell was his deal? All the excitement and happiness of an amazing evening left with him and I suddenly felt like a balloon six days after a party, deflated and a shadow of my former self. I jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder.

  ‘Summer?’ came Mum’s voice as I quickly wiped my eyes. ‘Is everything ok?’

  ‘Everything’s fine,’ I replied as I turned around and faked a smile.

  ‘You may fool other people, but not me. What’s wrong?’

  ‘I’m just emotional. It’s a big night,’ I replied with a nod.

  ‘It is. Where’s your friend gone?’

  ‘He had other plans for the evening that didn’t include me,’ I shrugged.

  ‘That’s such a shame. He’s very good looking,’ she prodded.

  ‘So I’m told. Shall we go? We don’t have to stay all night, but I really need to put in an appearance. Maybe we can go home together in a few hours?’ I suggested.

  ‘I thought you were staying in a suite at the hotel?’

  ‘Yes, but all of a sudden I’d rather be at home in my own bed. We can swing by the hotel to pick up my things first,’ I confirmed, as I walked her back over to Dad and suggested we make a move.

  Logan

  I headed for the men’s toilets in the theatre. The cleaning crew had already moved in, everyone was either outside or leaving for the party. I swung the door open, checked I was alone and then punched one of the stall doors in anger. She was lying about not having feelings for me. That kiss in the limo told me that. She’d kissed me back, she’d wanted me. What the hell had changed in the time we watched that film? I gripped the corners of the sink and took some deep breaths. I was bloody furious. I splashed my face with cold water and ran my hands through my hair and looked at myself in the mirror. What the hell was wrong
with me? Running after some bloody girl? I’d never had to chase anyone before, if I wanted someone I got them, first time. If she had some bloody hang ups because of her past, that was her problem not mine, I was better off just walking away. I didn’t need any damn complications, my life was just perfect the way it was. I tugged on my shirt sleeves and blew out a deep breath. I needed sex. I needed someone to fuck, to get my inappropriate feelings for this damn girl out of my system. I’d not picked up anyone since Lucy, nearly five years ago, but tonight I needed it. I strode out of the theatre to find even the TV crews were packing up and the crowds were dispersing. James was waiting patiently with the limo door open at the end of the red carpet, which they were starting to roll up.

  ‘You’re on your own, Sir?’ he asked, a look of astonishment on his face.

  ‘Yes,’ I responded curtly, as I jumped into the back.

  ‘Am I taking you to the party or home?’

  ‘Neither,’ I replied, as I undid my bowtie and the top button of my shirt and ran my finger around my collar. ‘Take me to Mayfair, to the Anaya club,’ I ordered.

  ‘Certainly, Sir,’ he replied, as he shut the door. I stared out of the window, trying to get the ball of anger in the pit of my stomach to dissipate. ‘May I ask why the change of plans?’ James asked, as he secured his seat belt and started the engine.

  ‘I have no idea, it was going really well, then suddenly she changed her mind,’ I shrugged.

  ‘In my experience, a lady doesn’t “just” change her mind. There’s normally good reason.’

  ‘Then she just sees me for what I am, James. A guy who’s paid to fuck women for a living. Why the hell would she want me?’ I laughed.

  ‘Maybe that’s all you let her see. That’s only a small part of who you are, Sir. If you want her to see you as something else, maybe you should show her the real man, let her get to know you for you, not just as Logan Steele. Keep up the façade of the escort and that’s all she’ll ever see you as. You’re obviously excellent at your job, but no woman in her right mind would want to date you while you do it.’

  ‘Who said anything about dating?’

  ‘Have you ever approached another client after a booking, asking to see them?’

  ‘No,’ I replied with a frown.

  ‘So you’re possessive and jealous, you don’t want her to see any other men and you arranged to see her out of your working environment tonight, which is a first. What else would you call it? What did you tell her this evening was?’

  ‘I … I didn’t exactly,’ I sighed. ‘I’m not sure even I know what this was. It was all going fine, until I suggested we head back to The Dalton and she went all cold on me.’

  ‘O dear,’ uttered James. I looked up to see him shaking his head.

  ‘O dear what?’ I demanded.

  ‘I really am amazed that a man as intelligent as you can be so clueless, Sir,’ he sighed. ‘You’re trying to woo a woman who already has reservations about your job, which any rational woman would, then you suggest spending the night in the hotel where you take your clients? Possibly in the same suite?’

  ‘I haven’t used that particular one since her,’ I objected.

  ‘Does she know that?’

  ‘No,’ I replied with a groan, as I covered my eyes. Damn it. How could I be so bloody stupid? I lurched to the side as James suddenly did a handbrake turn, flinging me against the door as he turned the car around. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ I snapped.

  ‘Taking you back to that party, where you’ll go and apologise to her and ask her out, or I’ll have to put up with you in this shitty mood for another ten or more months.’

  ‘And what if I’m not ready to ask her out?’ I bit back. ‘I’m not exactly in a “dating” place at the moment.’

  ‘Then you can watch from the side-lines and complain as she dates someone else. She won’t be lacking for offers for long.’

  ‘Say if I do, and I’m not saying I will, what the hell would I say to convince her?’

  ‘Do I look like some sort of Romeo?’ James shot back, with an incredulous look at me in the mirror. ‘If I was an expert in affairs of the heart I’d be running a dating agency, not driving you around the city at all hours of the night. You’re the one with all the charm and the moves. I just suggest that you be yourself. If she’s going to want to date you, it will be for you, not for Logan Steele.’

  ‘God damn it,’ I muttered, as he put his foot down. What the hell was I going to say to her? More to the point, was I ready for this? A normal life again?

  The Party

  Summer

  I walked around the enormous function room with my parents, introducing them to all the directors and film crew, blushing at all the praise that was heaped on me. I didn’t feel deserving, but it did make me smile to see how much my dad’s chest swelled with pride. It took my mind off how badly things had ended with Logan. Why couldn’t I be honest with him? Just tell him that I liked him, really liked him, but couldn’t be one of many? I nodded and tucked my hair behind my ear, as I half listened to someone droning on about minimum box office takings required for the second film to be viable. I felt like I had a big hole in my chest, I hurt, badly. Why the hell would I admit that I’d fallen for him though? I bet every client of his did. I bet it made his head and ego even bigger to know that he was so irresistible, he probably got off on it. I was better off steering well clear of him. Except part of me, a very large part of me, didn’t want to.

  ‘So, this friend of yours tonight. Is he the same friend you went out on a date with months ago and spent the night with?’ Mum whispered in my ear.

  ‘Mum,’ I moaned.

  ‘I thought we didn’t have secrets?’ she asked, as she looked at me and raised her eyebrows. We never had until that night with Logan and I’d hated keeping the best night of my life from her, but she’d sensed a change in me the minute I’d got home that day.

  ‘Yes,’ I replied as I rolled my eyes. ‘It’s him.’

  ‘The same one you cried about and you’ve mooned over for months?’

  ‘I haven’t “mooned,”’ I protested.

  ‘Hmmm, we’ll agree to disagree on that. Did he treat you respectfully that night? Like a lady?’

  ‘Yes, he was the perfect gentlemen, Mum.’

  ‘Why won’t you just admit that you like him? Really like him?’

  ‘Fine, I really like him, ok? But it’s not like that for him, he doesn’t feel the same about me, however much I’d love him to,’ I sighed, as I knocked back another free Kir Royale, feeling more than a little squiffy by now.

  ‘Are you sure about that? Because it seems he ditched his “other plans” to come back for you,’ she replied, as she nodded behind me.

  ‘What?’ I exclaimed, as I looked around. I gulped as my heart started beating wildly in my chest. Logan was standing by the entrance, with his hands on his hips, scanning the room. His bowtie was hanging around his neck, the sexy hollow of his throat showing where he’d undone some buttons of his smart white shirt and his sexy dark hair was all ruffled, as if he’d run his hands through it a number of times. He slowly turned his head and our eyes met across the crowds separating us. I felt my chest rising and falling rapidly as the temperature in this vast room rose. He flicked his head, indicating for me to come to him. I considered ignoring his request, but when faced with the prospect of him coming over and having to formally introduce him to my parents, combined with the fact that I really wanted to know why he’d come back, I didn’t really have a choice.

  ‘Go. Enjoy yourself, just send me a message if you’re not coming home tomorrow night too,’ Mum ordered, as she took my glass out of my hand.

  ‘Are you sure?’ I replied, as I tore my eyes off Logan and looked back at her.

  ‘Sweetheart, tonight has been the first time I’ve seen some sparkle back in your eyes. Just don’t let yourself get hurt, promise me?’

  ‘I promise,’ I nodded. Nothing was going to happen with him anyway,
not until he explained himself to my satisfaction. Why did I have a feeling that Logan might make me forget that statement? ‘You promise you’ll stay and have fun? The driver will wait for you until you’re ready.’

  ‘I promise, go. Your father’s in deep discussion about the best film of all time. He won’t have it that it’s not Star Wars, so we could be here all weekend,’ she replied with a smile and shake of her head. ‘I’ll make some excuse for you.’

  ‘Love you,’ I replied, as I kissed her on the cheek.

  ‘Love you too, we’re so proud of you.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I grinned and quickly started to weave my way through the crowd. I passed Mark, the organiser of the event and put my hand on his shoulder. ‘Sorry to interrupt, thanks so much for sending the car for my parents, it was totally unexpected.’

  ‘What car?’ he asked, looking at me puzzled.

  ‘Mr. and Mrs. Beresford? The limo you sent,’ I reminded him.

  ‘Summer I’m sorry, but it wasn’t us. The budget didn’t cover family.’

  ‘Then who would …’ I stopped as I looked over at the doors, where Logan stood leaning up against the wall watching me. Logan. It had to be. This man was so confusing. I walked towards him and he grabbed my elbow, steering me out of the door before I had a chance to say anything. He marched me into the stairwell, locked the door behind him and spun around to face me, with his hands on his hips. I caught my breath as he looked at me, fire burning in his eyes as his chest heaved. I took a step back as he moved forwards, before I knew it I was pinned against the wall, his hands either side of my shoulders. ‘What are you doing here? You said you wouldn’t come back, Mr. Steele.’

  ‘Enough with the “Mr. bloody Steele.” Enough with playing games, Summer. I came for you. You drive me fucking crazy. When I said you’re all I can think about, I meant it. Every bloody day, constantly, you fill my damn head. Every time I get a bloody erection it’s you that’s on my mind. I need to know if you feel the same, tell me that I’m not imagining it?’ he demanded, as he lowered his forehead to mine, the heat of his breath mingling with my own.