A Deeper Shade of Bad (2 page)

I
woke up around nine even though I could have slept in. I showered and dressed
in a pretty yellow shirt that didn’t quite cover my belly and a yellow flowing
skirt to match. I went out and Granny left me a note saying she went to church.
The buzzer rang so I answered. “Who is it?’ I asked.

“Your
recently rejected date,” Nicholas said sounding amused.

I
smiled and my heart leapt a little, “I was just leaving I’ll be down in a sec,”
I said. I grabbed my stuff and hurried downstairs.

I
stepped outside and he was standing looking as good as he did the previous
night. “Hi,” I said smiling.

“Hi
yourself,” He said and kissed me gently. He held up a tabloid for me to see.
The headline said
“He’s Out!!”
and it had a picture of him kissing me
then bringing me home.

I
smiled at him, “I didn’t see anyone following us.”

He
laughed, “Ya you usually won’t until the next day your reputation is ruined
like this,” He said indicating the tabloid.

I
smiled, “You’re obviously not that mad or you wouldn’t be here,” I said and
touched his jacket playfully.

He
smiled, I have come to redeem myself,” He said and kissed me again. “You up for
breakfast baby?”

I
nodded, “There is a good place about a block away,” I said and took his arm.

He
nodded and we started walking. “I like your outfit,” He said looking me up and
down.

“Thank
you,” I said smiling.

I
noticed someone across the street taking pictures, “Do they always follow you
like this?”

He
nodded, “There is one or two that hang around looking for front page news.”

“Going
to dinner with a woman is front page to them?” I asked amused.

“Well
when you don’t normally take women out, it is,” He said smiling.

I
looked at him a little shocked; “I thought you had friends,” I said amused.

He
grinned like a devious little boy. “I do, but going to dinner isn’t normally on
the itinerary.”

“Then
why did you even take the extra effort to take me?” I never would have guessed
he didn’t take women out. I thought it was part of his routine.

“Well
I knew I would be rejected for sure if I didn’t and I figured I had a fifty
percent chance if I did,” he said nudging me.

“I
think it was more like ten percent, but I could see how you would be
optimistic,” I said smiling.

He
smiled and pulled me close to him and put his arm around me, “I can’t believe
my chances were that low.”

“Are;
not were, you haven’t impressed me yet.” I said and laughed.

He
looked at me, “Why are you so difficult?”

I
smiled, “Good things are sometimes hard to get,” I said playfully as I wrapped
my arms around him.

“Are
you insinuating you are a good thing?”

I
smiled, “If I wasn’t you wouldn’t have been back this morning.”

He
kissed me gently, “Don’t let it go to your head I can only take so much,” He
whispered.

I
laughed and he held the door for me. It was a small diner that I ate at
frequently. We sat in a booth and I felt a little awkward since it appeared
everyone was watching us. “It is my turn to ask what is good here?” he asked
looking the menu over.

I
smiled, “I like the pancakes and bacon, but everything is good.”

He
smiled and when the waitress came over we ordered coffee and two plates of
pancakes and bacon.

He
unfolded his napkin and watched me. “So what does it take to get to at least a
twenty five percent chance?”

I
smiled, “I don’t know, I don’t think about it like that.”

He
sighed. “I am guessing you don’t do the casual sex thing?”

“No,
I don’t I told you that last night.” He must have thought he could wear me down
eventually.

He
smiled, “Well we have a problem then, I don’t do the girlfriend, boyfriend
thing and you don’t do the friends with benefits thing so what are we going to
do?”

“We
could just be friends,” I said smiling.

He
laughed, “Fine just friends then” He said amused.

The
waitress set the plates of food in front of us then left.

“So,
I have a yacht and as a friend would you like to go sailing with me today?” He
asked grinning.

“I
would love to, I have never been sailing,” I said excitedly.

He
smiled, “Good we will go after breakfast, it is supposed to be a beautiful
day.”

After
breakfast we walked back to his car and he held the door for me. I got in the
soft leather seats and wondered how many girls got to sit in this seat. He drove
to the marina and I was getting more excited. He led me to a beautiful huge
yacht. There was even a crew which surprised me. “Let me give you a tour,” He
said smiling as he offered his hand.

I
took it and he led me down the stairs into the cabin. There was a living room
with a bar, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen.

“This
is beautiful,” I said smiling.

“Not
as beautiful as you,” he said softly and kissed me gently.

I
smiled, “What happened to just friends?”

“I
am trying very hard, it’s just not working as well as I planned,” He said
grinning. He made us drinks then I followed him back upstairs. We laid on a day
bed under a huge umbrella as the yacht set off.

“Do
you have family?” I asked. I was curious about his past. He was successful yet
closed off to relationships.

“Yes,
a mother, father, and an older brother,” He said smiling.

“That
must be nice, I have granny.”

He
smiled. “An only child, that’s dangerous.”

“How
so?” I asked confused.

“They
say only children are spoiled,” he said playfully.

I
laughed, “I’m not I promise.”

It
was beautiful, the wind was blowing and the sky was blue. We were in the open
water and I actually really liked it. He leaned over and kissed me. He tasted
like expensive alcohol. He slid his hand up my thigh, making me giggle as I
stopped his hand.

“You
are cruel, I just want to feel you up,” he moaned.

“Why,
it will only make it harder on you,” I said smiling.

“I
don’t mind it being hard on me,” He whispered and kissed me again. I laughed as
I fought off his hands. I heard a helicopter and he cussed and looked around.
There was a helicopter circling the yacht. “Seriously, this is such bullshit,”
He growled.

“What
is it?” I asked propping myself up on my elbows.

“Paparazzi
and now they have pictures of me being rejected yet again,” He growled.

I
smiled, “Why do you care so much about being rejected, and technically I’m not
rejecting you. I am just delaying your advances.”

He
raised his eyebrows at me, “I always get what I want and you are making that impossible
in this situation,” He said sounding annoyed.

“All
you really want is sex?” I asked a little disappointed.

He
shoved his hand through his hair, “Yes, no, I don’t know,” He growled and
paced.

“Look
Nicholas I really like you but I’m not going to just have sex with you, I
barely know you. I’m especially not going to have sex with you when everyone is
watching our every move. I don’t want to be a tabloid slut that may be how some
people make it but I’m not like that,” I said softly.

He
smiled, “I understand, I just don’t know how to make it work.”

“What
do you mean?” I asked confused.

“I
mean I don’t date girls, I just have sex with them and send them on their way.
I like you but I don’t know how to act.”

“Just
act like yourself,” I said smiling.

He
smiled, “Why don’t we go downstairs where we won’t be pestered by helicopters,”
he said and smiled.

I
took his hand and he led me down the living room area. He poured us both
another drink then sat next to me. “So is your family near here?” I asked.

“Yes,
that is why I don’t live here,” He said smiling.

I
laughed, “They can’t be that bad.”

“Oh
well then you can come to dinner with me tonight and I’ll prove it,” He said
amused.

I
smiled, “That’s a little serious are you sure you can handle me meeting your family?”

“I
think so,” He said and kissed me again. I sat tangled in his arms enjoying his
mouth. It was fun to just sit and make out with him.

We
stayed out on the boat for a couple hours then when it started getting around
lunch he had the crew bring the boat back in so we could make it to his parents
by six.

“I
need to go home and change,” I said as he helped me back in his car.

He
nodded and headed back to my apartment. “I need to make a few calls so you run
in and I’ll wait.”

I
nodded and hurried upstairs. Granny looked up when I came in, “Where have you
been?” she asked.

“Out
with Nicholas, we are going to dinner so I have to change,” I said smiling.

“I
hope you know what you are doing.” She had the same tone she always did when I
was doing something she didn’t like.

I
nodded; “I will be fine.” I went into my room and dressed in a pretty purple
dress appropriate for meeting parents.

I
said goodbye to Granny and went back downstairs. I got in the car and he set
off for his parent’s house. “They have several other guests other than family
so I hope you aren’t uncomfortable.” He said glancing at me.

“I
will be fine” I said smiling. I was excited, I had never gotten this far with a
guy. I knew we didn’t want the same things but I liked that he was still taking
the time to see me.

His
parents weren’t that far from downtown. It was a huge mansion and there were
quite a few cars lining the property and the driveway. He parked and opened my
door for me. I took his arm and he led me up to the house.

A
plump older woman was at the door. She grinned at him and he hugged her, “Mamma
this is Amelia,” He said introducing us.

I
smiled and she hugged me, “I’m Sara, and you are so pretty, I couldn’t believe
I heard right when he said he was bringing a girl,” She said and pulled me into
the house. “This is Bob my husband and Nicky’s father,” She said introducing me
to a nice looking older man.

I
shook his hand and he smiled, “Fine young lady,” He said smiling.

 “My
oldest son just got in,” She said indicating a gorgeous man in front of us. He
was taller than Nicholas and his gaze was piercing. His hair was longer, but it
was the same color as Nicky’s. His overall demeanor was more aggressive. He was
probably around thirty five and he was godly. I blushed when he looked me over.
I had never had the feeling he gave me when he just looked at me. I had
butterflies for the first time in my life. “Alexander this is Amelia, Nicky’s
friend.” His mother said smiling. He didn’t speak immediately. His chocolate
eyes met mine and I wanted to hide. He looked kind of mean but I could see how
he was a successful businessman. “Oh let me go greet Ruby, Alexander show her
around,” She said and hurried off.

I
opened my mouth to say something but she was already pushing through the crowd.
“So you are one of Nicky’s toys?” He asked a little condescendingly.

I
looked at him getting slightly annoyed, “No, I’m not, I am his friend.” I
didn’t know why I felt it necessary to clarify that but I did.

He
scoffed, “That’s what he calls you guys, you’re less blonde then the last,” He
said dryly.

“So
where did you get your demeanor since your nothing like your mother or father,
the family pet?” I asked just to annoy him.

He
smiled, “You’re cute; how old are you fifteen or sixteen?”

“Close,
you look like you could be my father’s age; do you have kids my age?”

He
smiled tightly, “You have a big mouth, I could give you some ideas on what to
do with it,” He growled.

I
wrinkled my nose and looked at him, “Don’t flatter yourself, I may have a big
mouth but I guarantee you don’t have enough to fit in it,” I said smiling.

 “I
can show you, if you want,” he said seductively.

“You
shouldn’t hit on your brother’s friends,” I said and looked around for Nicky.
Alex was making me nervous. I couldn’t focus and my cheeks were on fire.

“You
won’t find him he just snuck upstairs with Lana,” he said and grinned.

I
looked at him annoyed, “Stop being an ass,” I snapped.

“I’m
not, follow me,” he said and walked toward the stairs. I followed him up the
stairs and felt myself getting more amused. He stopped in front of a door and
waited for me. I stood next to him and he turned the knob and let the door
swing open.