“Gross, no way man, this is heaven,” I took a large bite and watched him stare at me as I chewed.
“You do realize how bad that is for you, right?”
I put my finger up, “You only live once, make the best of it.”
He tried to hold back a smile, but I saw it and it made me smile back. I shoved my hot dog at him.
“Here take a bite.”
“No, get that thing out of my face,” he frowned.
“Not until you take a bite Connor, then you can judge if it’s gross.”
I kept moving the hot dog closer to his mouth as he rolled his eyes and finally took a bite. He chewed it, and I laughed at the glob of ketchup he had in the corner of his mouth. I took a napkin and wiped it. Instantly, he put his hand on mine like he wanted to jerk it away, but he didn’t and he stared at me with fear in his eyes. I took the napkin away and smiled as if I didn’t notice his reaction.
“You had ketchup right there, and I didn’t want it to get on your shirt.”
He nodded his head, “Thanks.”
Chapter 9
The afternoon in Central Park was beautiful. The sun was shining down keeping a bit of warmth in the air. The tips of the leaves were starting to change letting everyone know that fall is approaching. The birds were chirping, and the squirrels were running around gathering up supplies to make their nests for the winter.
“I want to ask you something,” Connor said as he looked at me. I took the last bite of my hot dog and wiped my mouth.
“Go ahead.”
“I gave some thought to our recent outing, and I was wondering if you would be interested in being?” he stopped.
“Being?” I motioned for him to proceed.
He cleared his throat and took in a sharp breath, “Would you be interested in being a companion?”
I narrowed my eyes, “What? I don’t get it.” He heavily sighed at the fact that I did not get what he was trying to say.
“Would you be interested in being a person who would accompany me to certain functions, no strings attached, and I would pay you of course?” I was in the middle of drinking my water when I spit it out.
“What? You mean like an escort or call girl,” I yelled.
“NO, NO, that is not what I meant Ellery,” he tried to explain. “I mean like a friend.” I lightly smiled at him because that was so hard for him to say.
“You mean go out as friends, like me and Peyton?” He ran his hands through his luxurious hair. I lightly touched his arm.
“Connor, if you want to be friends then all you had to do was ask. Actually, I already considered us friends, and there will be no money involved either.” He pursed his lips and a small smile escaped them.
“There’s a benefit I need to attend tomorrow night. It is a charity function, and I need to be there to represent my company, would you like to go?”
I bit my lip as I sweetly smiled at him, “I would love to go.” He smiled back as we got up from the table and started making our way out of Central Park.
“I will pick you up at 6pm sharp,” he said looking straight ahead. I silently smiled because I felt different when I was with him. I liked the feeling, but then I hated it to because nothing can happen between us, and I needed to be extremely careful that nothing did.
Just as we were leaving I heard someone call my name, “Elle?” I looked to the side and time stopped as I saw Kyle walking towards me. Connor stopped walking when I did and looked at me; he knew something was wrong.
“Elle, how are you?” Kyle asked in a confused tone. I took in a deep breath.
“I’m great Kyle how are you?” I managed to smile.
A few feet behind him stood a woman with jet black hair and boobs so fake, I bet they would pop if I poked them with my finger. I looked over at her as she was eye fucking Connor.
“I’m fine, who is this?” he asked, pointing to Connor.
“Oh, I’m sorry; this is my friend Connor Black.” Connor extended his hand, and the two of them shook. My stomach was in knots and so desperately wanted to throw up.
“Elle, you look good,” he smiled as he looked me up and down.
I faked a smile as Kyle’s little plastic bimbo came walking up and introduced herself.
“Hi, I’m Angela; you must be Kyle’s ex?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yep that’s me; Kyle’s ex.”
She would not stop looking at Connor and seducing him with her eyes. It was making me uncomfortable. She was practically salivating. I pulled Kyle over to the side.
“Tame your dog Kyle; she is embarrassing you.”
He glared at me, “Angela, let’s go.”
I looked over at Connor who was steadily smiling at me.
“What?”
“Nothing, you are just…”
“Just what Connor?” I asked.
“You’re just full of life, let’s put it that way,” he laughed. I shook my head as we left Central Park.
Denny had the Limo parked and was waiting for Connor. “Are you getting in?” Connor asked as he pointed to the car.
“No, I’m walking,” I said as I started down the street.
“Elle, get in the car,” he demanded. I smiled because for the first time he called me Elle, which was his way of letting me know we were friends. My back was turned as I walked away and waved.
“Bye Connor, see ya tomorrow.”
I heard him sigh, and the car door shut. I walked a majority of the way with Connor’s Limo following me. I finally turned the corner and stopped. He rolled down the window.
“Are you ready to get in now?” he smiled.
I rolled my eyes and opened the door. I smacked him on the arm and told him to move over. Denny was watching me through the rear view mirror and he was lightly laughing. We reached my apartment, and as I was getting out of the Limo, Connor surprised me by lightly grabbing my hand.
“Thank you for going tomorrow.”
I crinkled my nose and smiled, “That’s what friends are for.”
I walked in the door and leaned up against it sliding down till I was on the floor. I cupped my face in my hands and thought about the fire that ignited in my body when he touched me. I was headed for trouble, and I already knew it.
Chapter 10
I awoke the next morning to a text message from Peyton saying she was on her way over with coffee and bagels. I rolled out of bed just as Peyton was ready to break down the door.
“Some friend you are,” she spouted as she flew past me to set the coffee and bag on the table.
“What did I do?” I yawned.
“I waited all night for you to call me and tell me about your day with Connor and you never did,” she pouted. Peyton loved to pout, and she was such a natural at it. She once told me that she could make a guy do anything just by pouting.
“How did you know about yesterday?”
She looked down and took a sip of her coffee. “Kyle told me,” she said as if it was no big deal.
“WHAT?” I scowled. Peyton pulled a bagel out of the bag and handed it to me.
“He called me and said he saw the two of you in Central Park and wanted to know how long you have been seeing each other; I could tell he was jealous.”
“Who the hell does Kyle think he is? Did he forget he is the one who left me and he is the one moving on by dating a plastic bitch?”
She leaned over table, “I told him Connor was your fuck buddy and to get over it.”
I lightly grabbed her arm, “You did not.”
Peyton held up two fingers; I swear to God I did.”
I rolled my eyes as I held my coffee cup in my hands. “Who does he think he is?”
She looked at me as she got up to get a knife from the drawer. “He’s a douchebag Elle, nothing more.”
I laughed and was startled by a knock at the door. I strangely looked over at Peyton and got up to see who it was. I looked out the peep-hole and saw a tall attractive woman standing there. I opened the door as I was still in my pajama pants and tank top.
“Miss Ellery Lane?” The woman asked.
“Yes, I’m Ellery Lane.” She pushed her way through the door.
“Very good,” she said as she waved her hand and 3 other women with garment bags followed behind her.
“Umm, what’s going on?” I looked over at Peyton as she sat at the table with her mouth open.
“Miss Lane, I’m Camille, and we’re from Saks Fifth Avenue. Mr. Black sent us to have you pick a dress for tonight’s event. He described you, so we chose which dresses we felt would suit you.”
“Holy shit Elle,” Peyton said.
I stood there as the women unpacked the garment bags pulling out the most beautiful and expensive dresses I’ve ever seen. I tried on each one feeling like Cinderella. Peyton was giving me thumbs up at the dresses she liked. The tall woman applauded as I tried on each dress. The last dress I put on was a Badgley Mischka black strapless lace gown. I gasped when I looked in the mirror because I had never worn anything more beautiful. Peyton had a tear in her eye as she took my hands in hers and looked me over.
“You look absolutely stunning Elle.”
“It’s too much, I can’t accept this or let Connor do this for me.”
Camille walked over and handed me a pair of Jimmy Choo strappy heels. “Put these on dear and let the man buy you a new dress; trust me, if he did not think you were worth it, he would not have done this.” I looked at Peyton and took the shoes from Camille.
“Connors not a douchebag let him buy you a dress and definitely those shoes,” Peyton smiled.
I rolled my eyes as I stood in a designer dress and Jimmy Choos. I felt incredible. I grabbed my phone and sent Connor a quick text.
“Hi it’s me Ellery, thank you for the beautiful dress, but it is too much and I do not feel right accepting it.” Seconds later he replied.
“You’re welcome and it is not too much, see you at 6pm sharp.”
I smiled at Camille, “I like this one,” I said as I ran my hands down my body. She snapped her fingers signaling the other women to pack up the other dresses.
“Mr. Black will be immensely pleased you chose his favorite,” Camille smiled as she walked out the door. I stood in the middle of the room trying to figure out what Camille meant by his favorite dress. Did he go to the store himself and pick a bunch out for her to bring to me? Then I wondered if this was a habit of his for all his women.
“You’re overthinking Elle,” Peyton said as she unzipped the back of my dress. “Go put your other clothes back on; you do not want to ruin this before tonight. I’m going to call Roger and see if he’s available to do your hair and makeup, he owes me a big favor.”
I went to the bedroom and put on a pair of jeans and a tank top with a sick feeling in my stomach. My phone rang, and that familiar number was calling again, I ignored it and sent them to voicemail.
Peyton and I took a cab to Color Me Beautiful, a hair salon our friend Roger owns. We walked through the doors of the luxury salon as Roger spotted us instantly. He walked over and embraced me tightly.
“Oh girl, I heard about you and Kyle and I think he’s an asshole.”
“Thanks Roger I think he is to,” I lightly smiled. He turned to Peyton and gave her a warm hug.
“Now, tell me where you are going tonight and with whom.”
Peyton jumped in, “She’s going to a charity event with Connor Black.”
“The Connor Black? Hot and gorgeous millionaire Connor Black?”
I rolled my eyes, “Yes Roger, that’s the one.” He looked at me seriously.
“Elle, you do know about his reputation right?” I looked blank because I didn’t know anything about Connor except his one rule about sleepovers and that he didn’t like relationships.
“We are friends, nothing more.”
Roger waved his hand in front of his face. “Girl, Connor Black doesn’t have female friends; he has sex slaves, not friends.” I gulped and didn’t want to hear anymore. Peyton could tell I was feeling uncomfortable.
“I don’t care what he has; I’m going to this benefit tonight as his friend and nothing more.”
“Come on Roger, work your magic and fix up our girl so every guy at the event will be begging her to take them home.” I smacked Peyton’s arm as we followed Roger to his station.
I met Roger through Peyton. He used to work at the art gallery part-time while he was trying to launch his salon. He was a handsome man with brown spiked hair and just the right amount of facial hair outlining his oval face. He cut hair and did makeup like nobody’s business. He once worked as a hair stylist for Miranda Lambert, but gave that up to stay in one place and build a life with his partner George. I sat in the chair while Roger worked his magic on my hair and face. I never felt more beautiful as I did that day.
I stepped into my designer dress and Jimmy Choos and looked in the mirror at my lightly made up face and elegant curly up-do. For the first time, in a terribly long time, I forgot about all the bad in my life. I glanced at the clock, and it read 6:00 pm. I rolled my eyes as there was a knock. As promised, he arrived at 6:00 sharp. I opened the door as Connor stood there staring at me and taking in a sharp breath. The butterflies in my stomach started to flutter, and my heart started racing as I looked at him in his black tuxedo.
“Were you afraid I’d get mugged between my door and your car?” I smirked.
“Very funny Ellery,” he said.
I was surprised that he came to the door himself instead of sending Denny. I bumped my shoulder against his, and he managed a small smile. We got into the back of the Limo and Connor poured us a glass of champagne.
“You look beautiful Ellery; nice dress.” I looked at him, stomach still fluttering and heart racing.
“Thank you Connor I was hoping you would like this one,” I winked as he smirked and we held our glasses up to one another.