Chapter 6
Oliver had sent me a dozen roses. They were gorgeous in colors of peach, orange, red, yellow, pink and white. He wasn’t making it easy to say no and I called him after I placed them in a vase to say thank you.
“Will you go to dinner with me?” he asked.
I twirled a lock of hair around my finger. “You’re making it very hard to say no.”
“Then don’t. Have dinner with me tonight. I want to see you.”
“I thought you said tomorrow,” I said.
My stomach already had butterflies in it from our ride home, but now, with the prospect of seeing him, they turned to bats.
“Do you have plans?”
“I’m not in the mood to dress up.”
“I could take you to a fast-food place.”
I chuckled. “You really want to start with that impression?”
“You don’t need to dress up. We can get something casual like pizza or pasta. I can have Vlad pick you up.”
“Who’s Vlad?”
“My chauffeur and bodyguard. You met him earlier.”
I tapped my bare foot on the floor as my anxiety ramped up. “You mean that big wall that was driving us home?”
He laughed. “Yes, that’s Vlad. He can be there in fifteen minutes.”
“I’m not sure. This is moving so fast,” I whined.
“If you say no, you’ve sentenced me to a sleepless night.”
“How so?”
“I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“Oliver…,” I cautioned.
“Just dinner. I’ll have Vlad take you home right after.”
I felt obligated, but I didn’t want to be in this position.
“You want me to come to your place?”
“I live on Central Park West. You said your brother did, too.”
“He does.”
“You can’t see me but I’m on my knees begging.”
I giggled. “I doubt you’ve begged anyone in your entire life.”
“If you believe that’s true, then you’re the first.”
“You convinced me. Send Vlad. What should I wear?”
“Whatever you have on now. I’ll speak to you soon. Thank you.”
I hung up the phone and looked up to see Sadie watching me.
She smirked. “You’re having dinner with him tonight?”
“Just pizza at his apartment.”
“What are you wearing?”
“He said to come casual. I guess this is fine,” I said, gesturing to my outfit.
“The fuck it is. Change your underwear.”
“Sadie, I’m not having sex with him. He won’t see my underwear.”
“Don’t be silly. Change it and change your shorts too.”
“What’s wrong with my shorts?”
“Just change them into something sexier.”
I looked down at my white shorts. They were okay as far as I was concerned but before I could say anything, Sadie was digging through my drawer to find a pair of light blue frayed jean shorts. The pockets hung out the bottom of the thighs because they were cut so high.
I rolled my eyes. “Those scream trashy.”
“They scream sexy.”
She dug around in my underwear drawer and came out with a pale-yellow lace bra and panty set.
“Put this on.”
I sighed. “Are you done playing dress up? I should change into a t-shirt.”
“What’s wrong with the tank?”
“I don’t feel comfortable.”
She left the room as I changed, coming back with her makeup bag.
“No. You are not making me up like I’m going to a club.”
“Why not?” she protested.
“Oliver has already seen me with my usual makeup.”
“Put on lip gloss at least.”
She handed me her strawberry lip gloss and started to leave the room as I applied it.
“Where are you going? Take this,” I said.
Sadie waved her hand. “Keep it. You might need to reapply it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You do the math.”
I wanted to argue with her, but the lobby called and said Vlad was waiting in front of the building. I grabbed my purse and phone, called out a goodbye to Sadie and headed downstairs.
The car was waiting out front, and Vlad opened the back door for me. I thanked him and he nodded. He didn’t speak to me as we navigated to the Upper West Side. I was probably crazy for going to Oliver’s apartment when I barely knew him, but I must admit, I was intrigued.
We arrived at a large modern building and Vlad double parked to let me out. The lobby was more opulent than Matthew’s place. The walls were covered in rich dark wood and contrasting light marble floors. A man at the front desk asked my name then directed me up to the penthouse.
My stomach churned as I rode the elevator to the top floor. I was surprised it opened into a wide hallway decorated much the same as the lobby. I expected the doors to open right into Oliver’s home. I guess I’d seen too many movies. Oliver was waiting for me when I arrived at his door. His smile lit up his entire face. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a form fitting black t-shirt that showed every cut and ridge of his torso.
He pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’m so glad you came. You look lovely.”
“Thank you, but these shorts are old and so is the t-shirt.”
“Anything you wear is lovely. Come in.”
He took my hand and I again felt tingles at his touch. Once again, he was turning me on. I was in awe of his apartment, it was huge. As I walked through his marble foyer, I couldn’t stop looking at the artwork on the walls. I was sure the Picasso and Van Gogh was real. Oliver must have been reading my mind.
“They are real.”
“They’re beautiful.”
“What would you like to eat? Let me order before we talk.”
I was like a small child, looking at everything in Oliver’s apartment. The massive kitchen, the park through the thick tinted windows, the modern furniture and the dining table with seating for twelve.
“Ryleigh?”
“I’m sorry. This place is just so… gorgeous. My brother Matthew has a large apartment, but this is at least three times the size. How can you stand living alone?”
“I just do. I’m not here that often. I work many hours and travel a lot.”
I realized he was holding my hand still and when I tried to pull away, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed the back. His lips lingered on my skin before he let me go. I’m more than aroused now. I could feel my nipples tighten and my core flood. Oliver was so hot, and he wanted me. Why me?
“What would you like to eat?” he repeated.
“Anything really. It’s your home, you decide.”
He licked his lips. “If I had what I really want, you wouldn’t be upright.”
I raised my eyebrows and my heart started to pound. I knew he was referring to sex. I might want the same thing, but I barely knew this man. I wouldn’t sleep with him this soon.
“Pizza is fine.”
“Any toppings?”
I smirked and he cocked his head at me. “What’s so funny?”
“This is so ordinary.”
“Sweet Ryleigh, I’m an ordinary man. You mistake my level of sophistication. I enjoy drinking beer and downing nachos while watching baseball.”
“I can’t see it.”
“Trust me.”
He picked up his phone and ordered dinner. My eyes are all over this place as I gobbled up the beauty. He touched my arm as I looked out the window.
“Can I get you a drink? Some wine?”
Wine would dull my senses. I decided on sparkling water. Oliver seemed quite at home in the kitchen as he took out glasses and opened a large bottle of Pellegrino. He sat down next to me at the massive white granite counter and stroked my hand with his fingers. I want to pull away, but I like the feel of his flesh on mine.
“You have such soft skin.”
“Thank you. Why do you want me?”
He let out a frustrated breath. “You just keep pressing the issue.”
I smirked. “I have to, I’m naturally inquisitive. Remember?”
“I do. I’m very attracted to you.”
“I’m practically a child compared to you.”
He scowled. “Are you trying to talk me out of pursuing you?”
“I just want to know your motives.”
“I have no motives. You make it sound so sordid, but today, can’t I just want to get to know you better?” he asked.
“I guess. Haven’t there been other women in your life you wanted to get to know better? Frankly, no. Those that run in my circles are jaded and spoiled.”
“So you want an ordinary, boring girl?”
“Is that what you think you are?”
I turned to him and he ran the pad of his thumb down my jawline before he propped my chin with two of his fingers and leaned in for a kiss. And what a kiss it was. I thought I would burst into flame right where I sat. He didn’t move his mouth, only applied soft pressure to mine. When he pulled away, he licked his lips and smiled.
“Strawberry.”
I reached up to swipe my fingers over his lips to remove the gloss and he sucked one into his mouth, gently biting the pad. A look of desire crossed his face and I’m sure it was a match for the one I was giving him. He let my finger go as the blood rushed in my ears.
“You taste delicious,” he said seductively.
“So do you,” I squeaked.
“Come, dinner will be here soon, and I want to show you the rest of my home.”
He took my hand and led me down a long hallway, showing me his bedroom, three other guest rooms, a full library, his office, a workout room and the patio that was accessed from his bedroom as well as the hallway.
“You could get lost in this place.”
“I guess you could.”
He pushed open the slider and led me out to the patio. It was a large space with several small gardens in decorative planter boxes. Furniture was dotted around the large space in several different groupings. You could see the park and hear the traffic from below.
Oliver pulled me into his arms and kissed me again, harder and more insistent this time. He hugged me against his hard body and I melted into him. I was falling fast for this man, which was dangerous since I barely knew him. I came to my senses and gently pushed against him with my hands. He immediately let me go but I could see it on his face that he did it with reluctance.
His voice was husky. “Ryleigh, you’re making me break all the rules.”
“What rules?”
“My rules.”
I heard his phone buzz in his pocket, and he took it out then offered his arm to lead me back inside.
“Dinner is here.”
I softly moaned as Oliver latches onto my neck. Dinner had been over for more than an hour and we hadn’t been able to keep our lips off each other. After finishing a wonderful dinner of coal fired pizza and Caesar salad, he’d led me to his couch. We talked for a little while, but our attraction got the best of us and we were soon lip locked.
“Oliver, I have to go,” I choked out.
“You can’t. I need you here,” he insisted.
I leaned back so he would stop kissing me. “And where will that lead? Into your bed? I don’t sleep with men so soon after meeting them.”
“I don’t sleep with women so soon either. I have morals and standards.”
I put my hand on his muscular chest. “I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t. I’m just saying that if I stay here, we will end up in bed together.”
He caught my gaze. “Would that be such a horrible thing?”
“We don’t know each other.”
“What would you like to know that you haven’t already read about me?”
“You never told me about your family.”
He sat back against the couch and rubbed the back of his neck. “My parents died when I was nineteen. It was a plane crash. We had no relatives, so I was given guardianship of my brother, Jonah. I was in college at the time, and that took a toll on my duties as a parent. Jonah got into quite a bit of trouble. He was arrested several times and I finally washed my hands of him when I was twenty two and he was nineteen.
“Do you still see him?”
“Yes, but it’s limited. I don’t want Jonah to taint my business.”
“I’m sorry. You have no one else?” I asked.
“No. I started my company after I graduated from Yale. We were both given an inheritance in the will. It wasn’t big, but it was enough for me to start my own business. I got my real estate license and went from there.”
This beautiful man sounded like he had some rough bumps in life. My heart hurt for him that he lost his parents at a young age, but he persevered. I told him about myself.
“We have a lot of family and my brothers, Matthew and Finley live in the city. Matthew is a trader and Finley has a software start up. He just scored some big money from some investors.”
“I could’ve helped. I’ve invested in several startups, a few in the city.”
“Finley’s a computer nerd but he’s very smart. He’s twenty-seven and Matthew is twenty-five.”
“You’re the baby of the family?”
“Yes, and they treat me like it too. My parents wanted me to move back home after I graduated.”
We talked some more about our lives until the attraction was too much and we ended up lip locked again. Oliver moved on top of me and broke from my mouth to kiss my neck, moving down to my chest and gently biting my peaked nipples. It sent shockwaves to my core. I could just imagine how wet I was. I knew it was having an effect on him since his erection was pressed against my thigh. He groaned before he sat up and adjusted his jeans.
“I hate to say this, but you should go home.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “You want me to leave?”
“If you don’t, I’ll want to take you to bed. That’s not a gentlemanly thing to do. You said so yourself.”
“Suppose I want to forget the rules? I’ve never slept with someone so soon.”
“Go home, Ryleigh,” he growled.
I sat up and smoothed out my wrinkled t-shirt, rising from the couch. I knew he wasn’t trying to be mean. He was trying to be rational. Oliver didn’t want me to have any regrets, but oh, how I wanted this man.
“I’ll have Vlad take you home. Would you like me to accompany you?” he asked.
“Would you?”
He nodded. “Of course. Just say the word.”
“I want you to.”
“I will then. Let me call Vlad.”
It happened again on the way home. Our lips locked together, and hands roamed the other’s body. At one point, I felt bold enough to stroke Oliver through his jeans, but he stopped me.
“If I allowed that then you wouldn’t be going home,” he whispered.
I pretended to pout but I knew he was right. We needed to wait. He walked me inside my building and gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
“What about tomorrow?” I asked.
“What about it?”
“I thought we would see each other.”
“I have some business to attend to at the office. I’ll call you if I have a chance.”
I frowned as I watched him walk out the door and slip into the car. I was confused by his behavior since his demeanor became frosty before he departed. Sadie was asleep on the couch with the television on when I walked in the door. It was only 11:30 and I went over to wake her up.
“I thought you would stay over,” she said as she let out a loud yawn.
“No. I told you I wouldn’t sleep with Oliver so soon.”
“So, how was dinner?”
“It was nice,” I said as I frowned.
Her eyebrows slammed together. “What’s the matter?”
“Oliver was icy after he dropped me off. I asked him about getting together again, and he said he had work to do.”
Her face clouded. “What the fuck? He tells you he wants you and then acts like you don’t matter?”
I plopped down on the couch, feeling worn out. Oliver had ever-changing moods, and he was making me dizzy. “I don’t get it.”
“Did you do anything with him?”
I put my head on the back of the sofa and closed my eyes. “We kissed. He is such a good kisser.”
“Maybe he wanted more, and he figured if you didn’t put out, then he would move on.”
I opened my eyes and looked at her. “No, that’s not it. He said the same thing about waiting.”
“Men are fucking weird.”
I didn’t want to talk about Oliver because if I did, it would stir up two emotions, anger and sadness. He couldn’t trail after me like a salivating dog and then go cold. I changed the subject.
“Did you talk to Dan tonight?”
She smiled. “He was here for a little while.”
“Just a little while?”
I was afraid she was getting into the same pattern she followed in college where she would latch onto a guy she thought could take care of her.
“We’re seeing each other tomorrow. I might not be home. Will you be all right by yourself?”
“Seriously? I’m not a child.”
“I was just asking.” She yawned again and stood up, shutting off the television. “I’m heading to bed.”
“This is early for you.”
“I’m tired and I might not get much sleep tomorrow night.”
“I think I’ll go to bed too. Talk to you in the morning.”
“Goodnight.”
I went into my room and took off my clothes. My panties were damp, and I removed them before I slipped under the covers naked. My nightmares were replaced with one of the dirtiest dreams I ever had with Oliver as the star.
I woke up the next morning aroused enough to take an almost freezing cold shower, and when it didn’t help, the shower head between my legs did. Oliver Fox was under my skin, and I wasn’t sure how to push him out. I was still very much perplexed by his behavior just before we parted.
I didn’t hear from Oliver all day Saturday, so I moped around our apartment in the morning while Sadie chattered on about her date with Dan. I was pretty sure I would be alone overnight. The weekends were usually our cleaning days, so I pulled on a pair of old shorts and a threadbare T-shirt to work on the bathroom.
Sadie vacuumed and dusted while I scrubbed the kitchen. By noon, we were finished and she went to take a shower. She was meeting Dan at 2 p.m. for some shopping.
I called Finley because I hadn’t spoken to him in almost three weeks. Our communication was always limited after he started his company, but I wasn’t offended because I knew how busy he was. We usually had brief exchanges through text, so I was surprised when he answered.
“Hey Ry, what’s up?”
I heard him typing on his keyboard and figured he was working on a project.
“I just wanted to hear your voice. It’s been a while.”
His tone was apologetic. “I’m sorry. That’s my fault. Work is crazy now that I have plenty of seed money. We have several projects going at once.”
I sat down and yanked at a string on the hem of my shirt. “I’m glad to hear things are going well.”
“What’s the matter?” he asked with concern.
“Nothing. I miss you.”
“Bullshit. Tell your big brother what’s wrong.”
I took a deep breath before I revealed my problem with Oliver, though I didn’t plan on saying his name.
“It’s about a guy.”
“You’re dating someone?”
“I don’t think you can even say it’s at the dating stage. Maybe we’re just seeing each other.”
“So it’s not serious. What’s the problem?”
I exhaled loudly. “I thought we had something, but then he went cold on me.”
“That’s the way young guys are. You should know that.”
“You’re young. Do you do that?”
“I don’t have time for a relationship. I play the field when I can.”
It wasn’t a surprise. Finley was handsome and brilliant, I’ll admit. The fact that there was a possibility that he would eventually be wildly rich and successful didn’t hurt either.
I swallowed hard. “He’s older.”
I was waiting for my brother to go into protective mode. When we were younger, and he was home, he would interrogate my dates, sometimes scaring them away. I decided to only reveal enough so he could help me with my problem but not enough to reveal who it was with.
“Older? How much older?”
I bit my lip. “Older.”
“Older than me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think that’s wise?”
Here it came; he was in full protective mode and would try to draw every detail out of me until he got the true story.
“Why? Do you think I can’t handle an older man?” I asked with annoyance.
He coughed. “I didn’t say that. Older men are in a different frame of life. They’re thinking about marriage and kids.”
A headache was starting to thud behind my eyes and I rubbed them as I put my head on one of the pillows.
“I doubt this man is. He’s married to his business.”
“Do I know him?”
“Maybe, but I don’t want to say his name.”
“Why?”
I could hear the suspicion in his voice. Finley might have been a little fish in a big city, but he knew all the big players.
“I just don’t. I know you. You’ll start doing research on him.”
“Don’t fault me because I want to protect you. Mom and Anders made us swear we would take care of you.”
I ground my teeth. “So, the big city doesn’t swallow me whole? You forget that I lived here for four years.”
He hesitated while he spoke to someone in the background. “That was for school and not permanent.”
“What should I do about this guy?”
“Don’t get strapped down. You’re young, beautiful and intelligent. You’re a catch. I’m sure plenty of guys would want to date you.”
“I like Oliver. He’s different than anyone I’ve dated before.”
Dammit. I didn’t want to reveal my connection to Oliver this soon, and now I would have to explain.
“Oliver? Who is it, Ryleigh?”
I sighed. “It’s Oliver Fox.”
Finley whistled into the phone. “Shit, he’s like thirty-five and a high-profile businessman.”
“He’s thirty-six.”
“Where did you meet him?”
“He has offices in the building where I work. I met him in the elevator and the lobby. He was also the guest speaker at my graduation. You would know that if you attended,” I chided.
“You know why I couldn’t. I was there even if I wasn’t.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Oliver Fox dates a lot of women. He’ll break your heart.”
He already has.
“What should I do?”
“Date other people. Play the field and enjoy yourself. You’ve only lived in the city full-time for a month.” I heard Finley talking to someone in the background again. “I have to go. Take my advice, and let’s have lunch sometime soon.”
“Can you tear yourself away?”
“I can for you. Text me with some dates. Love you, Ry.”
He hung up before I could reply, and I sagged against the back of the couch as the line went silent. All answers were pointing toward staying away from Oliver. He wasn’t for me, especially if he turned on and off like a faucet. I hated it when guys were so mercurial.
I picked up one of Sadie’s magazines from the coffee table and paged through it. They did a spread on BattleAxe. The guitarist was hot as hell, and the article said he was twenty-nine. He would be a better choice than Oliver.
“How do I look?”
I glanced up and saw Sadie in a cute little sleeveless light blue dress. She had painted her toe and fingernails the same color.
I brightened for her sake even though I was miserable. “Very pretty. Dan will love it.”
“I heard you talking to Finley. What does he say?”
“He said Oliver is too old for me. I guess it wasn’t to be. Finley said I should play the field.”
She smoothed the skirt of her dress. “Dan has some friends.”
I looked down at my clothes. I was not in the mood to get changed, dress up, and put on a smile while I fended off some guy wanting to get lucky.
“No. I want to sit here and do nothing for the rest of the day. I hoped Finley could have dinner with me tonight, but he’s usually busy.”
“Where’s Matthew?”
I yawned. “He went to Long Island with some friends for the weekend.”
She went to the foyer mirror and removed some lip gloss from her purse. “He left Blackie alone?”
“He took him with him. That dog is so spoiled.”
“Will you be all right tonight?”
“You’re really spending the night with Dan?” I asked.
She shrugged. “We have chemistry. He might be the one.”
I rolled my eyes because Sadie said that about half a dozen guys in college.
“Only time will tell.”
She went to the foyer closet and pulled out a pair of white sandals, sitting on one of the kitchen chairs to slip them on. I watched her and wondered what I would do for the rest of the day and evening.