Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Elliot
I’m running out of time here.
I hadn’t realized seeing Harrison working so quickly to get Seraphine back would bother me so much.
After learning his intentions and seeing them walk into my office together, I saw red.
Not a single part of me cared that he is my son.
I don’t want him anywhere near her, and I’m not opposed to playing dirty.
I don’t know what this woman has done to make me so infatuated with her and not a single part of me cares. I enjoy being with her, making her smile, seeing her happy. I will not allow another man, no matter who they are, to take her from me.
She’s mine.
Maybe I gloat a little that she chose to have dinner with me and not my son, even after spending the entire day with me. Sure, Harrison hadn’t asked her to dinner, but I’m sure he planned on asking her somewhere. She ignored his call when her phone rang, and that’s good enough for me.
“This place is really nice. I’ve never been somewhere so fancy,” she comments as she glances around the restaurant.
“Because my son is a fool.”
“He’s not. He’s just…”
“A fool,” I finish for her.
She’ll realize it one day.
She relents, reaching for her water. I’d only just placed an order for a bottle of wine. It should arrive any moment.
Seraphine sets her glass on the table and looks around again. Something in her eyes changes when her attention settles on me again. Something not good.
“What’s wrong?” I ask gently.
The waiter shows up then with two glasses and the bottle of wine I ordered. He pours us each a glass and leaves the bottle, and we put in our food orders while he’s here.
Seraphine takes a sip of the wine, the red liquid leaving a sheen on her lips that she quickly licks away. The way I want to taste her is indecent.
“Tell me what’s wrong, sweetness.”
She blinks at me, all innocent like, holding her breath as if I’ve caught her doing something wrong. Her face softens and she takes another sip of her wine before putting the glass down and folding her hands, tucking them beneath the table.
“I feel out of place.”
“Why?”
“Look at everyone here.”
“What about them?”
“Don’t play dumb. You know what I mean.”
“If you think that everyone here is rich, you’re wrong.
If you think everyone here sits in a class above you, you’re wrong.
People scrimp and save to come here for anniversaries, birthdays, or just a date night with someone they love.
There are plenty of people here who struggle to pay their rent each month.
” She looks as if she wants to argue, but I continue before she can.
“And even if that wasn’t the case, it doesn’t mean you don’t belong.
You’re here with me. You work for the biggest development agency in Seattle.
You mean something, Seraphine. Don’t ever let anyone make you think otherwise. ”
She stares at me for a long moment, and I think she may cry at one point. Her eyes get all watery but then she pulls herself together and smiles at me.
“Somehow, you always make me feel good about myself.”
“You should always feel good about yourself. Have you looked in the mirror?”
Her cheeks go a little pink.
“I don’t mean my looks. That… I’m okay with.”
“You should be more than okay with them. You’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” she says shyly.
I lean forward on the table, catching her attention. “Now please tell me you’ll let me have your pussy for dessert.”
The shade of red her cheeks go, I didn’t think it was humanly possible. Funny how she can tease me all day, wearing short skirts and high heels, but now that the time is here and I’m vocal about what I want, she gets all nervous.
“That isn’t a good idea.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“What about… you know.”
“My fool of a son?”
She frowns, but nods. I sit back, reaching for my wine to take a sip.
“Seraphine, do you plan on getting back together with him?”
“No,” she says adamantly.
“Then why are you so worried about what he thinks?”
“Why aren’t you?”
“Stop deflecting and answer the question.”
The waiter drops off our food, asking if we need anything else. We don’t, so he excuses himself. Seraphine picks up her fork but doesn’t go for her food.
“Even though I don’t want to be with Harrison, I don’t think I’m over what happened.”
“Isn’t that more reason to not care about what he thinks?”
She puts her fork down, glances up to meet my gaze.
“I can’t explain it, Elliot. It’s something internal. Something I feel when he’s around. He makes me nervous.”
“You’re afraid of him?”
“No,” she says quickly. “No, not like that.”
I’d have killed him if that were the case. No son of mine will make any women fear him. That is not something I will ever stand for or turn a blind eye to.
“I guess I’m afraid of how he makes me feel.
He reminds me of who I was. Now that I’m free from that life, I feel like a new person.
Like I have a chance. I don’t want to move backwards.
I just want to go forward, and I’m not sure I know how to tell him that or not fall back into old habits when it’s all I know. ”
I reach across the table, taking her hand and running my thumb along her knuckles.
“We’ll work on that.”
Her eyes go all glossy again. “Why are you so nice to me?”
“Because seeing your smile has become the best part of my day.”
Dinner goes well. We finish the bottle of wine and eat all our food. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a restaurant like that, considering I don’t know the last time I went on a date. Not that it was a date, but close enough.
I’m driving Seraphine home, trying to keep my hands to myself all while hoping she invites me upstairs.
When we get closer to her building, I have to make the decision of where to park.
Do I go through the valet and give him my car so I can go up, go in the garage and park in the spot she leaves empty because she won’t let me buy her a car and hers is still parked at her father’s house, or do I go through the drop off line to drop her off.
“Seraphine,” I say seriously.
“Yeah?”
“Will you be feeding me dessert tonight?” I sneak a glance at her and see her staring out the window, licking her lips.
“I want to…”
“But?” There’s a but there. I can sense it.
“I need more time.”
She answers just in time for me to get into the proper lane, the one in which I can drop her off. When she reaches for the handle, I grab her hand, tugging her to me to get her attention.
“Take all the time you need. I will not rush you but know that I do want this. I’m here when you’re ready.
” I bring her palm to my lips, kissing her gently.
Then I get out of the car and go around it to help her out.
I brush hair away from her face, letting my fingers linger on her skin for a moment too long.
“Good night, Seraphine.”
“Good night, Elliot.”
With a small smile, she moves past me, and I stand there until I see her disappear behind the elevator door.
Then I wait longer, counting the seconds it would take for her to go to her floor, get to her door, and unlock it.
My gaze lingers on her apartment, and when the lights flick on, I get into my car and drive home.
This is turning out to be much worse than I thought it would be.
I’m getting feelings for her.