Chapter 20
Daniel
My hand clutching the red rose began to shake slightly as I watched Addison walk toward me.
It was like she was moving in slow motion as my eyes drank her in.
Her hair was down, hanging past her shoulders in dark, loose waves that I wanted to run my fingers through.
I noticed she had more makeup on, but not in a caked-on way, but in a way that brought out her brown eyes and her plump lips.
I didn’t want to tear my eyes away from hers, but I had to see the dress.
I had spent an hour in Bloomingdales on my lunch break trying to find the perfect dress for her. The saleswoman was patient with me as I looked through her rack of selections, pushing through them dismissively until I landed on this one. I thought it would be perfect. And it was.
The red satin clung to Addison’s body in the way I hoped. It tugged across her voluminous breasts and hugged her waist until it broke into a carefully placed slit that exposed her upper thigh. As much as I hoped she would feel good in it, I selfishly chose it for me to stare at her in it all night.
As she took one last step toward me, she did a slow spin and I instinctively brought my hand to my chest. I had just had the air knocked out of me. I gathered my wits about me and handed her the rose.
“You look…incredible,” I said softly before leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.
“Thank you,” she replied. “For everything. This dress…”
“Was made for you.”
I wanted so badly to reach out and place my hands on her waist, running my hands up the smooth fabric against her body. Instead, I turned and opened the door.
“Shall we?” I asked, gesturing to the car.
She nodded as she stepped inside the car before I slid in after her. I closed the door gently behind us and the sound of soft jazz music filled the car. Nice touch, Armand. I caught his eye in the rearview mirror and he gave me a wink.
“Where are we going?” asked Addison as the car pulled away from the curb.
“You’ll see,” I answered with a sly smile.
The conversation didn’t flow as easily as it had the past week.
I wondered if she was feeling the same nerves I was as we made our way to Manhattan.
We, instead, settled into a comfortable silence with careful glances and small smiles.
Whenever I got the chance, I let my eyes wander without her knowing in the darkness of the town car.
Even in the dark, I could see the flesh of her breasts illuminated by passing cars.
I would take her right here in this car if she would let me.
But I had plans for us tonight, and I couldn’t be selfish. I wanted to treat her to a night she would never forget. I might have to hide my arousal all damn night, but it would be worth it. Knowing I could do something special for her made her even more intoxicating to me.
The car slowed to a stop outside of Le CouCou. I opened the car door and slid out, then held my hand out for Addison. She placed her hand gently in mine and I helped her out of the car, but didn’t let go. I couldn’t. That charged feeling ran through me and I didn’t want it to end.
The large, arched windows cast their warm glow onto the sidewalk before us.
I led her in the large black doors and into the restaurant.
I watched as Addison looked around at the large chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings, and the brick walls that lined the large bar area surrounded by lush flowers.
I smiled as she did a circle, taking everything in.
“May I help you?” asked the hostess.
“I have a reservation under Jacobs.”
She scanned her computer screen before grabbing two menus.
“Right this way, Mr. Jacobs.”
We followed her to a small corner booth that was tucked away from the rest of the patrons.
I had requested seating that was more intimate, and they had delivered.
Addison scooched into the navy velvet seat of the booth and I took the seat across from her.
The hostess placed our menus on the table before excusing herself.
“This place is beautiful,” said Addison, looking at me.
“Wait until you try the food,” I said.
She smiled and looked down at her menu. I watched as she scanned the words, furrowing her brows slightly.
“I don’t know what any of this means,” she said with a soft laugh.
“Would you like me to order for you?” I offered.
“Yes, please. If I tried to order, I would butcher every word.”
“What don’t you like?” I asked.
“I’m not picky.” She shrugged.
When the waitress came around for our order, I did my best attempt at French and ordered their most popular dishes, along with a few of my favorites. As we handed the menus back to the waiter, Addison looked at me with a smile.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m impressed.” She sat back against the plush seat of the booth and crossed her arms, studying me. I marveled how she pressed her breasts together.
“Me too,” I said with a smirk.
“Oh my God, Daniel,” she said, covering herself self-consciously.
“Well, don’t do that.”
She shook her head and fought back a smile. “I can’t handle you.”
“No, I can’t handle you.”
Her face flushed and she reached for her glass of water, taking a sip.
“So, what did you order? In English, please,” she asked, changing the subject.
“Salad with scallops. Chicken and roasted plum. Lamb and eggplant. And the sweet bread basket.”
“Wow. That sounds amazing.”
“I think you’ll enjoy it.”
And she did. When the food started to come out, I watched as she bit into everything and her eyes either closed or danced with satisfaction.
I could have gone the whole meal without eating and gotten full off of her reaction to every bite.
When we were finished with our main courses, I read the dessert menu to her.
She chose the chocolate mousse to share.
While we waited for the dessert, she looked at me intently.
“I wanted to say thank you for the generous contribution you made to Leading to Learn,” she said.
“Oh, it was no problem at all. I’m happy to contribute.”
“Daniel, you just changed the entire trajectory of our company. I don’t think you realize.”
What I had donated was hardly missing from my bank account, but I knew it was a significant amount for the company. I was happy to do it. I’d like to say it was because I wanted to help the children, which I did. Truly. But I had mostly done it for the beautiful woman who sat across from me.
“I know how much your job means to you. How much helping others means to you. I was happy to do it.”
She looked at me for a moment before speaking so softly I could barely hear her. “You did it for me?”
“Well, yes. And for the kids, too,” I added quickly.
“Why?”
I sat back in my chair and looked at her thoughtfully before speaking.
“I’ve never met anyone as passionate as you about helping anyone other than themselves. It’s entirely new to me. I find it incredibly intriguing.”
I watched as my words landed and the effect they had on her. I hadn’t meant for it to be a line. I was being honest.
“Your chocolate mousse,” said the waiter, as he placed the decadent dessert in front of us before leaving the table.
We both picked up a spoon and took a bite.
The chocolate melted on my tongue as the tanginess of the raspberries bit through the sweetness.
It was the perfect balance. I watched as Addison experienced the same thing, her eyes closing in satisfaction.
I remembered that same look in my bed and felt myself growing hard against my pants.
Calm down, boy.
“Good?” I asked.
“That was the best meal I’ve ever had,” she said. “I’m surprised this dress still fits.”
“Oh, stop. You look incredible.”
I reached in my jacket pocket and checked the time. We had to get going. I pulled out a few hundred-dollar bills, setting them on the table before the waiter had even brought the check. Addison looked at me curiously.
“Are you ready for the next thing?”
“There’s more?” she asked with surprise.
“The night is just getting started,” I said, standing and holding out my hand.
She placed her hand in mind excitedly and followed me from the booth and out of the restaurant where Armand waited with the car.
Inside the car, she closed the distance between us.
Her shoulder was pressed up against mine.
I placed my hand on her exposed thigh, feeling the smoothness of her skin against my fingers.
She stared straight ahead, but I heard her breath quicken just for a moment.
“Where to, sir?” asked Armand.
I wanted to tell him to take us back to my place, as my hand resisted the urge to explore and graze up under Addison’s dress. But I restrained myself.
“West 46 th Street, please,” I said.
“Where are you taking me, Mr. Jacobs?” whispered Addison, looking up at me.
I smiled down at her, her eyes eager to know what came next.
“You’ll see.”
I gave her leg a gentle squeeze and she laid her head on my shoulder.
As we weaved through traffic to get to the Broadway district, I couldn’t remember the last time I had planned a date like this for anyone.
Hell, I hadn’t been on a date in a while.
Unless, you considered bottle service at the club and bringing a woman back to a suite at a hotel a date. For some women, that was enough.
Normally, I would find this type of thing cheesy.
A fancy dinner at a French restaurant and a Broadway show.
It was typical. Most women I slept with had been there, done that.
But Addison hadn’t. I could tell by the way her eyes took in the restaurant.
How her mouth chewed the food slowly, savoring it.
How her eyes excitedly looked at the passing theatres and what shows were playing.
“Are we seeing a show?” she asked, lifting her head from my shoulder and looking at me with wide eyes.
“I hope that’s okay.”
“Oh, wow. I’ve never been to a show.”
“Wait, are you serious?” I asked, genuinely surprised.
“I know, I know. I’ve lived in New York for years, and have never made it down here.” She shrugged, somewhat embarrassed.
“Well, I’m happy to be the one you experience it with.”
The car slowed to a stop in front of the theater. I went to open the door, but she grabbed my arm gently and stopped me. I turned to face her.
“Thank you,” she said, her tone genuine and full of wonder. “For everything.”
I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“It’s my pleasure,” I whispered in her ear before pulling away.
And it was. I enjoyed spoiling her. She was the mother of my child after all, which I had become more comfortable saying to myself over the past week. I was still scared shitless, but doing this with her took a little bit of the fear away.
As we walked to the box office, I slid my hand down her back and settled it against her lower back.
I only had to wait three more hours to see if she would let me touch the places I had been imagining over the past month.
It was going to be torture, but I would do it for her to experience something for the first time.