Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Ethan
I was happy that she agreed to let me take her out. She said one time, and that was fine with me. One time with her was all I needed. If it were that easy to convince her to go out with me, getting her into my bed would be just as easy. She was different from the other women I fucked, and different was what I wanted. I was getting bored.
“Great. How about I take you to dinner tonight?”
“How about lunch?” she smirked.
“Or lunch.” I laughed. “What are you reading?”
“Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.”
“I see it’s in braille.” I leaned closer to have a better look.
“Yes. It’s the only way I can read.” She smiled.
God, she was so beautiful, and I just wanted to reach out and touch her. I wanted to feel the softness of her long blonde hair through my fingers.
“How would you like to take a walk through the garden?” I blurted out with no control. What the fuck just happened?
A small smile crossed her lips. “That would be nice.”
“Then let’s go.” I stood up and held out my hand to her like an idiot. She couldn’t see it, and I pulled back. This was going to take some getting used to.
Putting her book in her bag, she grabbed her cane and stood up.
“How about you use my arm instead of that cane?”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” She smiled.
She folded her cane, placed it in her bag, and lightly placed her hand above my elbow.
“You need to walk half a step ahead of me so I can follow your direction. And you’ll also need to tell me when we approach a curb or stairs. I’m trusting you, Mr. Klein.”
“You’re safe with me, Miss Callahan,” I smirked.
“Why don’t you ask me what you’re dying to know?” she spoke as we began walking.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“It’s always the first question people ask when they meet me.” She stared straight ahead.
“Have you always been blind?”
“No. It happened when I was eight years old after a horrible car crash I was in with my parents. They were killed, and I lost my eyesight,” she replied in a soft-spoken voice.
I felt a twinge of something in my heart. Pain perhaps? Pain for her because she lost her parents, or pain because she lost her sight. I was concerned because I didn’t feel things like that.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. That was a long time ago.”
“Who raised you?” I asked as we walked along the flower-lined path.
“My Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Lee. She was my mother’s sister. They moved me here right after I got out of the hospital.”
“You’re not from New York?” I asked.
“No. I was born in California.”
Suddenly, my phone started to ring. Pulling it from my pocket, I noticed it was Jarod calling.
“I have to take this. Excuse me for a moment.” I stopped, and she stopped beside me.
“Go ahead.”
“You better have some news for me,” I answered.
“We might. We went to your office and saw you hadn’t been in. Are you coming in today?”
“I could if you had something good.”
“I think we do, Mr. Klein.”
“I’m on my way.” I ended the call and placed my phone in my pocket. “I’m sorry, Aubrey, but that was work. I have to go into the office.”
“It’s fine.” She smiled.
“Can we resume this later on tonight?” I asked.
“Sure. Why don’t you come over for dinner? I’ll cook you a nice meal.”
“You cook?” I asked in confusion.
“Yes.” She laughed. “Hard to believe. Isn’t it?”
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”
“No worries, Mr. Klein. I get it all the time. It’s hard for people who have sight to understand.”
“Let me take you home. My driver is already here.”
“You have your own driver?”
“Yes. His name is Harry. That way, I’ll know where you live when I come over later.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
We walked out of Shakespeare Garden, and Harry was waiting for us with the limo door open.
“Harry, I would like you to meet Aubrey Callahan.”
“Hello, Aubrey.” He smiled as he held his hand out to her.
Looking at him, I mouthed and pointed to my eye. “She’s blind.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Harry.” She placed her hand in his and then slid into the backseat.
Harry shot me a look and then shut the door after I climbed in.
“We’re taking Miss Callahan home first, and then I need to go to the office.”
“Your address, Miss Callahan?” Harry asked.
“200 East 82nd Street.”
“You’re an Upper East sider, eh?”
“Yes, I am. Where do you live?” she asked.
“In a townhome on West 88th Street.”
“Ah. So you’re an Upper West sider.” She grinned.
“Do you live by yourself?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Yes. But my Aunt Charlotte lives across the hall. She owns the building. She inherited it after my uncle passed away.”
“How long have you lived there?”
“About seven years. He passed away when I was eighteen.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
Harry pulled up to the curb, climbed out, and opened the door for Aubrey, taking hold of her hand and helping her out.
“Thank you, Harry.” She smiled.
“Which apartment are you?” I asked.
“Apartment 2B. I’ll let Kale, the doorman, know you’ll arrive around seven o’clock. Is that okay?’
“Seven is fine. I’ll see you then.”
Harry shut the door, and I watched out the window as Aubrey walked into her building. I couldn’t believe she was cooking dinner for me. I would have instead gone out, but she seemed excited about it. Maybe it would be better if we stayed at her place tonight. I would probably have a better chance at fucking her there.
“Really, Ethan?” Harry turned and shot me a look.
“Really what?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“A blind girl? What the hell is the matter with you? I knew something was up when you told me to drop you off at Shakespeare Garden.”
“I happen to find her very attractive, and she’s a nice girl.”
“You, my friend, have just crossed the line as far as assholes go.”
“Shut up and just drive.” I scowled.