Chapter Two Annabel #2
If Preston was ever elected president, he would probably outdo Gerald Ford in the clumsy department.
It had been far too early in the party for him to use the excuse of being drunk.
Instead, he could only blame himself for tripping over a chair and collapsing on a table, which knocked off a candle that hit the hem of my long kaftan.
The only reason I hadn’t entirely written him off that day was because of how sincere he was when he apologized and how kind he was by looking after me the rest of the party.
“For goodness sake, don’t mention that tonight. He gets enough teasing from his family about his clumsiness. The last thing he needs is to hear it from a date.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “I wouldn’t dream of it, Mother. You know, I do know how to carry on a meaningful conversation with a man. You do remember sending me to summer finishing school, don’t you?”
“Yes, yes, of course. I just don’t want you saying or doing anything to turn him off. He’s already so accepting of the fact you plan to have a career.”
“I will have a career,” I corrected.
My mother’s exasperated sigh told me she was maxed out with me being “petulant” in her eyes. “Yes, well, just have fun. Okay?”
“Thank you. I’ll try.”
“And let Daddy and I know how it went as soon as you can.”
“Mother, I’m twenty-four, not sixteen.”
“Annabel,” my mother’s voice raised an octave. “Just humor us, okay?”
“Fine, fine,” I muttered, feeling the beginning of the usual headache that accompanied talking to my mother.
“Goodbye then.”
“Goodbye.” I hung up and tossed the phone onto the seat.
After battling traffic across town to my apartment, I rushed inside to get ready.
After a quick, hot shower I stood in front of my closet, trying to decide what to wear.
Normally a first date constituted something sexy, but in this case, I didn’t figure Preston and his overly conservative background would appreciate it.
After deciding on a pair of jeans, a dressy green top, and heels, I’d just managed to finish with my makeup and hair when the doorbell rang.
When I threw open the door, Preston, appearing preppie and polished in a polo shirt and khakis, gave me a beaming smile. “Annabel, it’s so good to see you again.”
Returning his smile, I said, “It’s good seeing you again, too.”
His blue eyes surveyed me apprehensively. “You know after our first disastrous meeting at my parents’, I was afraid you might not want to ever be seen with me again.”
Inwardly, I groaned, but I managed to wave my hand dismissively. I had to wonder how socially inept he was to even bring that up. “That was nothing. I’m glad to have a chance to get to know you better.”
Preston seemed to appreciate my well thought out answer. “Let’s go to dinner then. I was thinking Pacey’s.”
I was a little surprised at his choice, but I didn’t let my expression reflect it. Pacey’s was a college bar and hotspot right off campus. It didn’t exactly scream romance, but I guess it was a safe bet for a first date. “Sounds great.”
Once we got to Pacey’s, a waitress led us to a somewhat secluded booth. Just as I picked up my menu, a prickly sensation ran up my spine that someone was looking at me. When I glanced up at the bar, I locked eyes with a drop-dead good-looking guy.
His jet black hair was cut short, highlighting his chiseled jaw covered in scruff along with a pair of full, highly kissable lips.
Even though he was sitting down, I could tell he was impossibly tall by the way his legs folded on the bar stool.
His chest muscles bulged under the white T-shirt he wore.
Over the shirt was a leather vest of some kind.
I had seen them before on television but never in person.
It was definitely something bikers wore.
Before I could stop myself, I licked my lips.
My reaction caused a sexy grin to stretch across his face.
When he winked at me, I quickly ducked my head and went back to examining my menu.
“What sounds good?” Preston asked. And it was then I had the reality check that I was ogling some strange man not five feet from the man I was out on a date with. I vowed then and there to keep my attention on my date.
But as soon as the appetizer came and conversation between us became stilted, I found my gaze returning to the stranger at the bar. Each time I looked at him, he was looking at me. The more I took in his bad boy appearance, the more I couldn’t help thinking about what it would be like to kiss him.
When it came to men, I’d always played it safe.
I’d dated the good guys—the future husband types.
But deep down, I’d never really been satisfied by those types.
The number of sexual partners I’d had could be counted on one hand--and none of them had ever made me lose my mind in the bedroom.
The one thing I fantasized about what having one uninhibited sexual experience so that in years to come, I could look back on it with a blush on my cheeks and a rush of warmth between my legs.
As dinner progressed on, I realized Preston would never be the one to deliver that mind-altering sexual experience. So I was more than a little relieved when the waitress delivered our check.
“Yo Preston,” a booming voice called behind us.
Preston whirled around before his face broke into a wide grin. “Hey guys.” He rose out of the booth to do the manly hug/backslap thing with the three guys standing there. “Perfect timing. Annabel and I just finished dinner.”
My brows furrowed at his statement. “I’m sorry?”
A slight flush tinged Preston’s cheeks. “Oh, um, you don’t mind hanging out a little longer to watch the game do you? The guys and I kinda have a Monday night tradition.”
Nibbling on my lip, I fought the urge to either laugh manically or burst into tears at the situation I found myself in.
Instead of having an actual date, I had been worked in to accommodate Preston’s schedule.
If I had had any ideas about Preston’s and my romantic future, it would have ended in that moment.
Forcing a smile to my face, I said, “Sure. That will be fine. As long as we’re not out too late. I have an eight o’clock class in the morning.” I held my tongue on the fact that I hated football with a fiery passion.
“Of course,” Preston replied.
“Okay. Sounds good.”
As I rose out of the booth, I once again caught the stranger’s gaze. Cocking his brow at me, it appeared he was giving me some sort of challenge. Cutting my eyes from his, I looked at Preston. “Give me a few minutes. I’m going to run to the bathroom.”
“No problem.” He leaned in and bestowed a chaste kiss on my cheek before turning to follow the guys to the game room. With a sigh, I picked up my purse and started for the bathroom.
Just as I was passing the sexy stranger at the bar, his arm reached out and grabbed mine. “Excuse me?” I demanded, as I slung his arm away.
“Don’t let that uptight prick ruin your evening. Sit down, have a beer with me.”
“But I—”
He shook his head full of dark hair. “You deserve a night with a real man.”
The tug of war between politeness and temptation raged in my mind. “Thank you for the offer, but I don’t think so.”
“You know, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of you all night.”
My brows shot up, and with a teasing smile, I said, “You should work on your pick-up lines because that one is kinda creepy.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Yeah, I guess it is.” His dark eyes twinkled. “You’re a ball buster, aren’t you?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“You know what, ball buster?”
“What?”
“You’ve been checking me out just as much.” A wicked gleam burned in his dark eyes. “Since I’m not a gentleman, I would say you’ve been eye-fucking me all night.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh is that right?”
When he leaned in closer to me, his breath scorched my cheek.
Almost involuntarily, my eyes closed at his proximity, and I hated the feelings he was eliciting in me at the same time as I wanted to savor them and explore them.
“You want to know what it’s like to be with someone like me—a biker.
A good girl like you wants to know if all the rumors are true. ”
“You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
He grinned. “As sure as the wet panties you’re sporting right now.”
My eyes widened and I stared at him. “No one has ever talked to me that way before.”
Secretly, I loved the boldness of his filthy talk. It made me wonder what would come out of his mouth next.
“And you love it.” When I opened my mouth to argue, he shook his head. “Come on and let me buy you a drink, ball buster.”
Nibbling my lip, I stared at the entrance to the game room. Everything within me said this was a bad idea. That I should make my way back to Preston as soon as possible. But I had always taken the safe route, and I was sick of it.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s already so into the game he’s forgotten he had the finest piece of ass he’ll ever have sitting across from him.”
Although I wanted to take his advice, I knew my mother would never let me hear the end of it if I ghosted Preston “I can’t tonight.”
Frustration flickered over face. “Why not?”
“He’s a friend of my family’s, so I’ll catch hell for leaving with another man.”
“Fuck your family,” he teasingly replied.
With a laugh, I replied, “Trust me. I feel the same way.”
“So that’s it? You just leave me and go back to that white-bred douchebag?”
“Just for tonight.”
“What happens after tonight?”
Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I replied, “You pick me up on your bike and take me for a date.”
A triumphant expression came over his handsome face. “I sure as hell can do that.”
I held out my hand. “Give me your phone.”
“Look at you being all assertive.”
After unlocking his screen, he handed me his phone. My thumbs flew over the keys as I entered my number. When I handed it back, he peered down at the screen. “Annabel.”
“That’s me.”
“I’m Johnny.”
With a flirtatious grin, I replied, “I look forward to hearing from you, Johnny.”
“You bet your sweet ass you will, Annabel.”
And with those parting words, I headed back to Preston with a newly found excitement bubbling through me.