Chapter 8 #2
“I would go to Central Park because it would be the most perfect sunny day.”
“Of course it would.” I smile.
“And I would lie on a picnic blanket with the girls and we would make shapes out of clouds and watch the sun go down one last time.”
I smile softly as I picture it.
“And then we would pick you up and you would come over.”
I hear my heartbeat in my ears as I watch him.
“And we would have dinner and tell funny stories and when the girls finally fell asleep…you would rock me to sleep.”
Oh….
I’m in his last day….
My nostrils flare, there’s nothing special or extraordinary about his last day, but somehow the way he tells it makes it sound so meaningful.
“That sounds….” I widen my eyes. “Really…. Fucking depressing actually.”
He chuckles. “Your parents….”
“Are gone.” I cut him off. “They died and I’m an only child.”
His eyes search mine as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, “You must miss them.”
My father was a workaholic with a penchant for other women, and my mother was a raging alcoholic. I have no idea whose affliction came first and caused the other to be the way they were. I was raised by nannies…but they never stayed long.
“Yes,” I lie. “I miss my parents terribly.”
Liar… whisper the heavens.
“Well.” He reaches out and pulls me over to him. “The good news is that tomorrow isn’t our last day and you get to rock me to sleep tonight.” He nudges his knee between my legs, forcing them open, and rolls over the top of me.
“Oh I do, do I?” I smile up at him.
“Yeah.” He bends down and kisses me and I feel the arousal run between us, flowing like a river, building like the sea.
What is it about this guy?
“Well…I’m going to sledgehammer you to sleep right now,” I tell him. “It’s going to be so rough that you might actually die tonight for real.” I roll over the top of his body to straddle him while holding his hands up above his head.
He bursts out laughing as he looks up at me. “Excellent plan.”
Bzz bzz…. Bzz, bzz….
A faint vibration echoes from the side table and I hear Andrew switch it off, I’m on my side facing away from him but I feel his hand slide over my hip before he kisses the back of my shoulder. “I have to go, babe,” he whispers.
“Hmm.” My eyes are closed as I battle to wake, it’s barely light but enough to see. “Why so early?” I frown.
“I want to be home before the girls wake.” He gets up.
“Oh.” I think for a moment. “Okay.”
“Do you want to come away with me on the weekend?” he asks.
“Huh?” I roll onto my back to face him; he’s now sitting beside me on the edge of the bed. “What?”
“I have to go away for the weekend,” he replies.
“Where to?”
“A country town about two hours away, I’ve got a little log cabin booked. Just the two of us, alone in the woods.”
I stare at him as my brain tries to process his words. “You’re working there?”
“Not for long, an hour tops, you can stay at the cabin and wait for me…n front of the open fire.”
“There’s a fire?” I frown, my interest piqued.
“Uh-huh, we can drag the mattress out and sleep in front of it if you want.” He smiles, knowing how wonderful that sounds. “We could even go out for dinner…like on a proper date.”
My heart sinks. “Andrew….” I lean up onto my elbow. “This…this can’t go on.”
“What do you mean, this?”
I gesture to the air between us. “Us…whatever this is.”
“Why not?”
“You’re too young for me and I’m too old for you.”
He rolls his eyes. “Says who?”
“Says everybody.”
“I don’t give a fuck about everybody. What do you want?”
I roll my eyes and flop onto my back.
I want to stop being so infatuated with you, that’s what I want.
“It’s one weekend, you’re overthinking it.” He sighs before standing. “If you don’t want to come, it’s fine.” He walks around collecting his clothes as I watch on.
“When are you going?” I eventually ask.
“Friday.”
“When are you coming back?”
“Sunday afternoon.”
I nod.
“If you want to come let me know.” He bends and kisses my lips. “I can’t get away without the girls much, this is going to be the only chance for a long time.”
My eyes search his as my mind races with possibilities, both pros and cons flash before me at lightning speed.
He widens his eyes. “It’s just the weekend…. Not a fucking marriage proposal.”
I smile, feeling stupid. “Okay.”
“Okay what?”
“Okay.” I widen my eyes back. “I’ll come away to your stupid log cabin where I’ll probably get eaten by a stupid bear.”
He flicks the blanket back and drops his head between my legs. “Not if I eat you first.”
8 A.M.
I ride the elevator to the ground floor with a spring in my step. The doors open and I walk through the grand foyer. “Good morning, Miss Rothchild.” The concierge nods.
“Good morning.” I head out the double front doors to see the car waiting, Dante is standing beside the open back door. “Good morning, Miss Rothchild.” He nods.
“Good morning, Dante.” I slide into the back seat and he closes the door behind me before getting behind the wheel. “Lovely day, isn’t it?” I smile as I look around.
I want to wake up to the sun making rainbows on my wall.
Hold the phone…. Has there ever been a more romantic notion? Shakespeare should be worried; he has competition.
I’m giddy.
Drunk on a man that I shouldn’t even know…. Let alone want.
We pull out and drive through the traffic for a while as I scroll through my phone.
“Digby mentioned you had company last night,” Dante says.
My eyes rise to meet his in the rearview mirror. “Did he?” I go back to my phone.
“Your new masseur, Andrew Watson.”
I bristle and my eyes meet his again. “Who visits me is none of your concern.”
“It’s my only concern.” He turns the corner. “My job is to protect you from predators.”
“You don’t need to worry about him,” I scoff. “He’s not a predator.”
“You don’t think it’s strange….” He shrugs as his voice trails off.
“What do you mean, strange?” I snap.
“Young and strapping. Could have anyone his own age but then comes to your multimillion-dollar penthouse, realizes you’re single, and suddenly he wants to do private house calls.”
“Because nobody could ever be interested in me for my sweet and kind personality, could they?” I raise an eyebrow in a silent dare.
He drags his eyes back to the road.
“Stay out of my business, Dante,” I snap. “Because I will fuck whoever I want. Whenever I want.”
His jaw clenches as he grips the wheel.
“If you bring this up again, you can find yourself a new job.”
“I’m just trying to protect you, Miss Rothchild,” he murmurs almost to himself.
“How long have you known me, Dante?” I bark.
“Seven years.”
“And in that seven years have you ever known anyone to put it over me? Have you ever known anyone to have the upper hand or take advantage of me?”
“No.”
“Just because I’m female, doesn’t mean I’m weak or stupid.”
He nods as he grips the wheel with white-knuckle force.
“In fact if I were a man you would be driving my conquests all over town. They could be barely legal, wearing next to nothing, and still, nobody would bat an eyelid. You would look the other way and there is no way in hell you would dare question me.”
His jaw clenches again but his eyes stay fixed on the road.
“So don’t you dare sit in that fucking front seat and judge me for what I do in my private time.” I glare at the back of his head. “Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?”
He stays silent.
“Answer the fucking question,” I snap.
“Yes, Miss Rothchild.” He nods.
I pick up my phone and open it. “Don’t ever question me again.”