Broken Dreams (28 page)

She cocked her head to the side. “And how do you know what I want?” She raised a brow and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“I’m an asshole. I’ve fucked my way around this city, I drink like a fish, and I am just plain old fucking dangerous.” He figured that would throw her off his scent.

“Maybe this girl isn’t so lucky then.” That comment pissed him off.

“Actually, I like this girl so I will be on my best behavior. This is new for me, and I don’t want to fuck it up.” The elevator door opened and they both stepped in.

“Well, good luck to her then.” Henry glared at his neighbor, as she turned and faced the door. As soon as it slid open, he rushed out, leaving his neighbor in his wake.

He jumped in his truck, grabbed a couple breath mints to cover up his discussion with Mr. Walker, and sped off toward Elaina’s apartment.

After the twenty minute drive, he parked in front of her building. He checked his hair in the mirror on the visor. It looked exactly the way he liked it. He looked at his watch and saw it was five twenty-eight. He jumped out of the truck and jogged into her building.

There was a group of people milling around the elevators, like a bunch of goats waiting for a meal. He looked for the stairway doors, and decided it would be quicker to run up to the third floor than to wait.

Henry dashed up the stairs to the third floor without breaking a sweat, thanks to all of the hours that he spent at the gym. He blew through the door, and looked for three-ten. Then he questioned himself if she said three-ten, or was it four-ten, or even two-ten? He stood in front of the door for a second, straightened his jacket and collar, and decided to knock. He looked at his watch: five-thirty on the dot.

The door opened seconds later, and there was the ginger mother hen. Maybe they roomed together? He played it cool. “I’m sorry. I think I may have the wrong place…” He looked at the number on the door.

“Are you looking for Elaina Cooper?”

“Yes.”

“You have the right place, then. I’m her friend, Claire. I swung by for a quick visit. I didn’t realize she had a date.”

“Right.” He smirked. He knew she was here to check out the situation. “I’m Henry Daniels. Pleased to meet you, Claire.” He held out his hand with a smile and Claire took it. She gasped a little from his chill. “Sorry. I have circulation issues.” He jammed his hands in his pockets. Then she noticed his eyes. She caught herself staring at him. He half smirked.

“Oh, umm…that’s fine. Come on in.” She smiled. “She should be ready. I’ll go get her.” Before she turned away from him, her eyes danced around his face. He knew she was looking at his bruises.

Henry stepped in the door, and took a quick glance around the tiny apartment. The furniture was a bit on the shabby chic side, and Elaina’s organizational skills weren’t the best. He would have to fix that. There was no way that he would be able to tolerate it.

Claire looked back over her shoulder and took another look at him, up and down. As he was looking around, he ran his hand through his hair. He sported a five o’clock shadow, and she noticed that it looked far better on him than anyone else she had ever seen with one.

He touched his face, feeling more self-conscious about everything above his neck. Claire rushed off to what he presumed was Elaina’s bedroom. He leaned up against the door, and did a quick zipper check. Thankfully, he was together…physically.

***

“Oh, my god, Elaina!” Claire’s whisper was intense. “He is smoking, but what’s with the bruising on his face?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t asked yet. I’m so nervous. I hope I don’t fuck it up.” I started to chew on my thumbnail again, and Claire slapped my hand out of my mouth. “Ow! You bitch!”

“Shhh! You’ll do fine! Now, go out there and get that gorgeous man!” She practically pushed me out of the bedroom. I walked out, and he was leaning against the door jamb with his hands in his pants pockets, looking rather sinfully delicious. I couldn’t remember if I had put deodorant on. I didn’t want to pull a Mary Katherine Gallagher right in front of the Adonis that was in my living room.

Henry looked stellar in his suit. It had to be custom tailored because it fit his body perfectly. His hair was messy, but it still looked done to perfection. He had this swagger about him that made him even more attractive to me. And those eyes? They were amazing. I could stare into them for hours.

His eyebrows raised and his lips parted when he saw me. When he realized he was gawking, he stood up straight and finally said something. “Wow. You look absolutely stunning.” He licked his lips like he was dying to taste me. If it was up to me, I would have skipped the drinks and dinner, and would have offered him to come have a look-see in my bedroom. Good thing Claire was there to keep me from doing that.

“Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.” I blushed as I walked up to him. I felt like a school girl getting a complement from the hottest guy in class. He smelled good, looked even better, and I was dying to feel his scarred pink lips on mine. I wanted that tongue in more places than one.

“So…the girl who doesn’t wear dresses wears one for me?” His eyes sparkled.

“You should feel special,” I said softly, while looking up at him through my eyelashes.

“Oh, I do. Believe me. I do. You have no idea.” His deep raspy voice rumbled in his well-defined chest, which could easily be seen through his suit jacket. He reached out and brushed his thumb across my cheek, then kissed it. His cool breath sent chills down my spine. My knees almost gave out at that moment. “Ready?”

“Yes.” My voice hitched a little. “Definitely.”

“I’ll lock up for you.” I was startled when I heard Claire’s voice. I forgot she was even there. “Have fun!” Claire sounded a little over-zealous. I hoped she wouldn’t be there waiting up for me when I came home…if I came home. I had a feeling it was going to be one hell of a first date. He offered me his arm and we left.

Henry walked me out to his truck, which was sitting at the curb. It was a completely blacked out Tahoe. When I say completely blacked out, I mean it was all black and looked stealthy. The windows were tinted so dark that it had to be illegal. The wheels were black, and the police-style push bar was black, as well. All the trim pieces, and even the emblems, were blacked out. It was obviously a custom job, which had to cost thousands of dollars. I was getting the feeling that he was loaded.

He looked proud to be walking with me, which I didn’t quite understand. He was on a much higher level of sexy than I was. When he opened the door for me, his delicious spicy scent hit me hard, and I loved it. I wanted it wrapped around my body. He held my hand while I climbed into the seat. The seats were leather, and the truck looked to have every option in it. It was so much different than what I was used to.

“All set?” he asked.

“I’m good, thanks.” I blushed again. I had no idea what the hell was wrong with me. He closed the truck door, and I watched him walk around the front and get in. He was so fucking stellar. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I still had no idea why he wanted a date with me.

He turned the key, and looked over at me. “You know, you’re taking your life into your hands riding with me,” Henry said with an impish grin. I laughed, then buckled my seat belt. Maybe I should have started praying. I watched him drive, and I could see that he was nervous. He was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, and bouncing his free leg at the stoplights. He repeatedly shoved his hands through his hair. I looked at the bruising and was curious, but it was none of my business so I didn’t ask.

We didn’t talk about much, just the usual nervous first date talk: the weather, the traffic, the night before with my car and the coffee. I thanked him again for his kindness.

We pulled up to this swanky bar, and the valet seemed to recognize him. Henry handed him the keys to his truck and slipped the valet some cash. They nodded at each other. When we walked in, the host also recognized Henry.

“Ahhh, Mr. Daniels.” He smiled and held out his hand. “Miss.” Then he took my hand and kissed it. I was a little taken aback by his gesture because this kind of place was so not me. I needed to be in a bar with peanut shells on the floor, where they served only non-microbrew domestic beers, and there was a bouncer named Bubba milling around at the front door.

“How’s it going, Philip?” Apparently, it was a bar that Henry frequented. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

“Very well, sir. Thank you for asking. Your usual table, sir?” Henry looked at me. I looked up at him, thinking I was just going to be the next notch on his bedpost. Just great. I felt like such a fucking idiot! I knew he couldn’t be interested in me as a whole…just a small portion of me. I looked at the décor, trying to distract myself. I felt a little humiliated that I fell for his antics.

“You know what? Let’s change it up a bit.” I was wondering if that was a code of some sort, meaning don’t take me where I sit with my usual Barbie whores who give me blow jobs in the back room.

“Alright, sir, miss, follow me. I have the perfect spot available.” Henry took my hand and I jumped, as the iciness of it took me by surprise once again. We walked until we came to a small red couch. “Is this to your liking, sir?” Henry looked at me, and I shrugged. I didn’t care. I was going to try to find an out pretty soon. At the very least, I was going to get one drink out of the epic disaster.

I felt like such a fucking moron. There I was swooning over this oversexed, obviously far too up on the social ladder douchebag, only to be looked at as his next notch.

“Yes. Thank you, Philip.” Henry casually pulled his other hand out of his pocket and slipped Philip a tip. I wondered how much the tip was. In such a swanky place, I suspected it was at least a hundred.

I looked around a little more, as he chatted it up with Philip. The lighting was dimmed with a purpose. The floors were dark, along with the walls, but the couches were blood red leather. The tables were all glass, and there were fresh white orchids at each table. The music was low, but sexy. It was not the usual “get up and dance” kind of bar. As I looked around at all the fancied out couples, I wondered if it was some sort of swingers club. I was
not
doing that!

“Thank you, sir. Miss.” Philip nodded at me. “I will notify Mr. Williams that you are here.” Then Philip walked away. Henry waited to sit until I sat down. Such a gentleman. I could hardly contain my eye roll.

“Bring all your dates here?” I said in my full blown “I can’t believe I fell for your tricks” attitude.

“No, not really. I have a couple times. This is usually a third or fourth date kind of place for me.” He smiled. Good god, his smile was stunning.

“So should I feel special I made it here on the first date?” I hoped, with every fiber of my being, that he was being truthful.

“I do think you should feel that way.”

A middle-aged man with a small potbelly in a fancy suit approached us. “Mr. Daniels, pleasure seeing you here this evening. It’s been a while.” He chuckled. Henry smirked. Great. He was probably there the previous evening with some floozy whore making out, and then fucking her unwalkable in the back room. We stood up to greet Mr. Fancy Pants.

“What’s going on, Cam?” They did the quick man fist, grip shoulder, hug thing.

“On a date?” Henry nodded. Mr. Cam Fancy Pants glanced over at me and gave me the old up and down. “Lucky man to walk in here with such a fox.” I blushed and looked down. He held out his hand to me. “Cam Williams.” Henry looked at me and smiled.

“Elaina Cooper.” I took his hand, and he gently squeezed mine. I tried to be confident and powerful.

“I do feel lucky,” Henry said with pride in his voice. I still didn’t understand.

“You take care of my boy here.” Then he winked. What the fuck did that mean? “Listen, I got that whiskey in this morning that you wanted. I’m keeping it for my private stock in the back since, technically, I can’t sell it. Do you want that tonight? Drinks are on the house.”

“Yeah, that would be great. Thanks.”

“And for the pretty little lady?” Cam looked at me with a devious smile.

“I will have a glass of red wine, please.”

“Anything in particular?”

“Do you have a Cabernet Franc?”

“Of course. I have an ‘09 that is fantastic. I will send Wesley over with your order.” He walked away. Good Lord, it had to be the most insanely over-the-top, ritzy place that I had ever been to. Henry motioned for us to sit back down.

“Who was that?”

“The owner. Nice guy. He takes care of me when I need it and, in turn, I take care of his staff with a nice tip or two.” He smiled.

“Friend of yours?”

“Ahh…I suppose. We don’t hang out, per se. Let’s just say I’m a very good customer.” I wasn’t sure what to think of that statement. “Anyway, I thought we could have a drink and chat for a few before dinner.” He checked his fancy watch. I’m sure it was worth more than my car. “I made reservations at Christiano’s for six forty-five.” My eyes popped out of my head. Christiano’s was so far out of my budget, I couldn’t afford to even be on the
wait staff
there.

“You don’t have to take me to such nice places.” I was embarrassed. He looked at me, then laughed. “What’s so funny?” I growled.

“You. Most women want to be taken to stuffy places like this, but I sense that you would be happy at a regular bar or a diner, wouldn’t you?”

“I’m on a PBR budget, not an outrageously-priced whiskey budget. I’m not sure if you are trying to impress me or woo me.” Wesley brought over our drinks and set them on the table. Henry thanked him and passed him a tip. At that point, I was certain that he was loaded. It was the third bill he handed out, and we had just gotten our drinks. I couldn’t imagine what he would tip at dinner.