A second chance...At first love (Second Love Series Book 1) (7 page)

Izzie

She had been practicing really hard all week; the open rehearsal was helpful for her because she got to experience what it would be like to perform in front of a live audience.  Her nerves were getting the best of her.  Teddy promised to make it to the performance tonight.  Unfortunately her parents and Mrs. DeSantis couldn't make tonight, they all wanted to come together and were hoping to make it to a performance at the end of the month. She was waiting to get word from Teddy that she and Charlie had found their seats, so she assumed it was her when her phone chimed.  It was a text from Mrs. DeSantis wishing her luck again.
"Timmy would be so proud of you Izzie, you know that right
?
If he was still here, he would be in the front row cheering you on. Break a leg tonight. Love you! ~xoxo Momma DeSantis."
She had been calling herself that for years now, Izzie, however, still called her Mrs. DeSantis because without Timothy around it just felt wrong.  Mrs. DeSantis said she knows if Timothy was still alive, they would be married so technically she is her mama too.  Izzie loved that she loved her that much and the feeling was and always would be mutual.  Mrs. DeSantis loved that Izzie still loved her son but she had been encouraging her over the past few years to try to meet someone.  She told her she was too young and beautiful to be alone.  Izzie didn't know if she really meant it or was saying it because she thought she should, but either way she hadn’t found anyone yet. She sent a quick reply,
"Thank you Mrs. DeSantis.  I can't wait until you guys can come up here. I'll tell you all about the show on Sunday. Please be safe, tell Mr. D hi.  Love and kisses. ~xoxo Izzie.
"  She looked at her watch; it was almost time for the show. Time to get ready.

Ellington

His car arrived at Fiona's at 6:20, he was early, and so he planned to sit in the car and relax, while he waited.  This was the first chance he'd had to relax all week, he poured himself a glass of water, put his head back on the seat let out a long tired breath.  He had almost changed his mind and stayed home tonight.  Before he realized it, Fiona she was knocking on the window.  He got out and helped her in.  She looked as good as he remembered.  Red hair pinned up with red ringlets curled around her face, low cut emerald green evening gown and gold heels that he would make sure she kept on later.  She was definitely worth a third and fourth run.  She had on a scent that made Ellington want to crawl inside her right then; they might not make it to the Philharmonic after all.  Once the car was moving she leaned into him.

"I'm not wearing anything underneath, figured it would save us time later."  He felt his groin stir. 

"Shit! How much time do we have until we get there?" he laughed. 
"Screw it, maybe I should just tell him to turn around right now,"
   he thought.

Just as he was about to, he felt the car stop. They had arrived around. 

"Dammit!" He muttered.  Fiona looked at him questioningly.

"It’s nothing."  His mood was going to be a foul one now, because at this moment, he would rather be up in Fiona, than here listening to music. 

"Screw it, I'm here now, I'll deal with it,"
he thought.  He just hoped someone didn't rub him the wrong way tonight or they would see a side of Ellington Scott they did not want to.  He helped Fiona out of the car and they walked inside.  They still had a little bit of time before they needed to find their seats, so he got Fiona a glass of wine and got himself a soda.  He rarely missed drinking, but times like this he thought that a glass of scotch would be nice.  When he felt that way, he would roll up his sleeve and look at his tattoo and remember why he chose to stop drinking. Fiona finished her first glass of wine really quickly and pouted for a second. 

"Ok that's a no, I hate that pouty shit,"
he thought.  He was of the mindset if you want something just ask for it, only children pout. Why did women think that was cute?  He never understood that.  He went and got her a second glass and leaned back against the bar and watched her as she mingled.  The women seemed to give her dirty looks and the men all seemed to stare.  He enjoyed the attention she was getting because her attention was a reflection on him.  She finished her second glass just as it was time for the performance to begin.  They walked inside and grabbed their seats and his phone vibrated in his pocket.  He looked down to see it was an email he was expecting from work and missed the very beginning of the performance, so he didn't immediately see her, but she saw him.  It took everything she had to concentrate, especially after that dream she had the other night, and the similar ones she'd had since.  When he finally looked up, she was the first thing to catch his eye.  "

"Well, well, well, today must be my lucky day after all. My search is over before it started,
he thought.  Even from a distance you could see her beauty.  She was gorgeous; almond brown skin, long auburn hair; he was going to enjoy that, when he got his hands on her.  He smiled. Yep his mood had definitely shifted.  He sat back and enjoyed the performance, with thoughts of Isabella Bunton on his mind.  When it was time for the intermission, he excused himself briefly from Fiona, called a florist that he had an open account with and ordered an immediate delivery for the New York Philharmonic, ATTN: Isabella Bunton.
Let the games begin!
He mumbled to himself. 

After the show, he made his way backstage to find Isabella, with Fiona trailing behind.  He found her and saw she had received the flowers. 

"Great performance Isabella, I almost didn't come tonight.  A client dropped off tickets for me.  I'm glad I did, imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw you."  She blushed.

"Tonight was my first show.  When we met the other day, this is what I was celebrating with my friend Teddy."

"That is quite a reason to celebrate.  I'm sorry again if I ruined that for you."

"Oh you didn't and thank you so much for paying for our meal. You really didn't have to do that.  You should let me repay you sometime."  Izzie had promised Teddy that the next time she saw him, she would talk to him and she was a woman of her word.  Just when she thought things might be going her way, a tipsy redhead appeared.

"Scotty, baby are we going to get out of here soon? I'm bored and I thought we had other plans," she said with a giggle and winked at him.

"In a moment Fiona, I'll be there in a moment! Now Isabella, what were you saying?"

"Oh...umm...it was nothing, Just thank you again and I hope you enjoyed the show."

Shit, ok another check against damn Fiona, too needy!
He thought. 

"Isabella it was a pleasure to see you again. I do hope to run into you again another time and the performance tonight was wonderful," he said without the slightest change in his demeanor.  She thanked him again and then the woman he recognized as Teddy came screaming in the room.

"Izzie!" He took his cue to leave, this was not over!  He escorted Fiona back to the car, pissed at her little clingy antics.  He was going to have to cut her off; dammit he really liked her too.  Oh well might as well get one last good lay out of her before he was done.  The car pulled up to her house and he walked her to the door. 

"Don't you want to come in?"

"I don't know Fiona, it’s late."

"Please baby.  I miss you Scotty."

"I have to get up early and get some stuff done at the office."

"Scotty, please, just for a few minutes."  He smiled because he liked it when she begged.

"Hmm...are you going to make it worth it for me?"

"You know I will baby, just come inside."

"Well then what are you waiting for, open the door."

She opened the door and started to take her heels off, he stopped her.

"Leave them on for me tonight."

"Okay Scotty."

"Take off the dress," he said as he walked to the other side of her house, to her sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony.  He walked out on the balcony and sat in a chair.  She hesitated.

"Now, come here!"  She walked to him. Now take it off."

"But Scotty, we are outside, my neighbors could see."

"You know what, that's ok.  I better go.  I have to get up early anyway."

"No don't go!" She pleaded with him as she unzipped her dress and unsnapped her bra, her breasts spilling out.  The bra fell to the ground. 

"Now the hair!" She took out the pins in her hair and red hair spilled down to her shoulders.  She stood stark naked in front of him, feeling his gaze. His look was different tonight, more animalistic, it frightened her slightly. 

"Come here," he told her. She did as he told her.  He made her sit directly in front of him on the patio table. 

"Put your feet up here on the arms of the chair and touch yourself."

"What do you mean Scotty?"

"I want you to make me want you.  Touch yourself.  Pretend it’s me. Touch your breasts, pull the nipples, and lick them. Put your hands in all of the places you want me to touch."

She didn't argue, she started to do what he told her as he sat back and watched.  She was on full display for him and he was enjoying the show. She leaned back and he watched her more intently, feeling himself grow.  She looked at him and he said nothing, so she continued.  She heard metal hitting the ground and when she looked again he was standing between her legs, pants around his ankles.  He pushed himself in deep and hard. He grabbed her waist and slammed into her repeatedly.  He was pissed that she had interrupted him and now she was going to feel it. He slammed into her again and again, harder and harder. He felt her begin to shake, he didn't stop. He wasn't ready to stop yet.  He slammed harder, she screamed and all he could picture in his head was Isabella.  What was it about her?  Fiona was screaming louder and he pushed deeper and harder.  When he looked down again she was Isabella and that sight instantly made his knees weak, just as he was about to explode pulled out in time to release on her stomach.  He pulled his pants back up and smiled a cocky grin at Fiona.

"Thanks for a great evening!" he said.  He turned and walked out of her place, leaving her a shuddering mess on the table. 

Yea I know I'm a dick,"
he thought. 
A guy can only change so much.
He got in his car and on the way home he began to formulate his plan to get Isabella.  When he got home he stepped into the shower, thoughts of Isabella still consuming him.  He began to imagine she was with him.  As the water ran down his body, he could see and feel Isabella in front of him.  Her brown skin an amazing contrast to his olive tone.  He had her up against the glass shower door.  Face pressed against the glass, ass out at just the right angle, one hand massaging her breasts as he stroked deep inside her.  He came to from his fantasy to see his essence washing down the drain.  "Isabella Bunton, I will have you. I have to have you!" 

He climbed out of the shower and got in the bed and drifted off to sleep peacefully for the first time in a long time, thoughts of Isabella filling his dreams instead of the nightmares he had grown accustomed to. 

Ellington

It had been almost a week since he last saw Isabella.  She had found her way into his dreams almost every night.  What was it about this woman?  She was beautiful, obviously, but he'd been with lots of beautiful women, so why couldn't he shake her?  He knew nothing about her, except what his quick search had turned up.  She lived in alone in Washington Heights in an apartment she'd been in for years.  Her friend Teddy used to live with her and they were obviously very close.  Of course he found out last Friday that she played with the Philharmonic, but none of that made her remarkable. So why was she invading his dreams and thoughts?  He was never one to linger too long on one woman, too much drama and he did not like drama.  Growing up with the family he had, drama was the last thing he wanted or needed.  Isabella seemed a little quiet, and shy.  Even better for him, he liked the shy ones; they were fun to break out of their shell.  He figured he thought about her all of the time, because he hadn't had her yet, and he would have last week if Fiona hadn't interrupted.  In typical Ellington fashion, he thought,
I just need to get screw her once or twice, to get her out of my system.
It was Thursday night and he was headed out of the office, he planned to stop and grab some Chinese before he went home.  As he walked to his car, he changed his mind.  He knew that the Philharmonic was performing again tonight.  He decided to stop and check out the show, on the way he stopped at the florist and picked up some flowers.  This time he would be able to sit back and watch Isabella without the constant annoyance of Fiona next to him.  She was hot but she got on his nerves.  After last week, he remembered why he had stopped calling her; she annoyed the shit out of him, great ass but not worth the trouble.  He walked in after the performance had already started but he knew where to look for her.  They were all in black and she looked absolutely breathtaking.  She was seated with her cello in front of her, but he could see the top of her dress and it dipped just enough to be enticing.  It had some type of small straps, spaghetti maybe, he wasn't good with that kind of stuff, but he was enjoying the view. She had smooth skin; her arms were toned and sexy. He figured carrying that big instrument did her body pretty good.  He wanted to see more, what was underneath that dress.  When the performance ended, he again found his way backstage to find Isabella.  When he saw her, he started clapping.

"Brava, Ms. Bunton.  Wonderful performance."  She looked shocked to see him again. He handed her the flowers and took her other hand and kissed it. 

"Thank you."

"You sure know you're way around a cello."

"Well thank you again," Izzie said with a chuckle.  "Let me guess, more free tickets from clients?" she shot him a sly grin. 

"Isabella, what must you think of me? I actually paid for my own ticket this evening." He played hurt.

"Just one?" she said looking around for his red headed companion.

"Yes, it’s just me this evening."

"Was the little mermaid busy?" Izzie couldn't believe she had said that, she sounded like a jealous woman. What was wrong with her?  He seemed amused.

"No, Fiona was not invited this evening.  Is that ok?"

"Mr. Scott you are allowed to bring whoever you want, where ever you want."

"So that means you'll let me take you out for a drink tonight?"

"You know I would love to but I have to be back here early in the morning."

"Ms. Bunton, I have to be at the office early in the morning, but we are both grownups and it’s just one drink."  She seemed to think about it.

"Mr. Scott..."

"Please, call me Scotty," he interrupted.

"Ok, Scotty.  I will have to take a rain check.  I have a lot to do when I get home and again I really do have to be here early tomorrow.  Maybe next time?" 

"It’s one drink, I promise to get you home before you turn into a pumpkin." He couldn't believe he had to ask more than once.

"I'm really flattered but I can't. Thank you Mr. Sc... I mean Scotty."

He was a little taken aback.  Did she just turn him down?  Women didn't turn him down.  What the fuck was happening here?  Was he losing it? He knew she wanted him, he could see it every time she looked at him.  That look that was a cross between a love struck teen and someone that wanted to tear his clothes off, so what was the problem?  He knew she lived alone, so it couldn't be a husband.  Was there a boyfriend that he missed?  Even still, plenty of women had gladly cheated with him in the past.  He actually preferred the ones with someone else; they had more to lose, so they bothered him less. 

"Ok rain check then. I do plan to hold you to that, Isabella."  She smiled and thanked him again for coming, then started talking to other guests that had begun to gather backstage and other performers.  He turned and started to walk away and felt her eyes on him.  He glanced back and she was still watching him, he smiled and walked off.  He knew she watched him until he was out of sight.  Oh yea, she wanted him, so what was holding her back? He was going to figure it out.  Challenge issued, challenge accepted.  In the meantime, seeing her had stirred up an ache in his groin that he needed to take care of before he went home.  He scrolled through his phone and stopped on Lorraine (busty blonde), placed a quick call and was headed off.

Izzie

After her first performance Izzie was pleasantly surprised that there were flowers waiting for her.  She assumed they were from her parents or Mrs. DeSantis, never did she expect the true sender.  She had spotted him in the crowd, he is hard to miss, but she didn't think he would even give her a second thought.  Since her dinner with Teddy and the ensuing run in with Ellington, she thought about him constantly, but like she told Teddy, he was way out of her league.  She figured after that day, he'd never think about her again.  So she was extremely surprised that he not only sent her flowers but also came back to see her after her performance.  She felt a little giddy and stepped outside of her comfort zone and asked him out, she was feeling good until she saw the tall, gorgeous red head that he had brought with him.  She deflated; she knew better, he was out of her league. He was just being nice.  She couldn't believe she thought that he would actually be interested in her.  Oh well, at least he hadn't heard her invitation, so she hadn't made a complete fool of herself.  She would be happy with her dreams, and what dreams they were!  She'd never in her life had dreams so vivid.  When he showed up at the performance tonight, again gifting her with flowers, she didn't know what to think.  Was he just a nice guy? Was he interested?  He had asked her out for a drink but maybe he just didn't like to drink alone.  He could have been lonely because his red headed amazon wasn't with him.  Ugh, was she jealous? Yes, a little bit.  Why, she knew nothing about this man.  She couldn't compare him to the man in her dreams, because there he was everything she wanted.  There was no telling what he was like in real life.  She packed up her cello and headed home.  She would have to call Teddy tonight to tell her what happened.  After the last time Teddy said not to worry about the ginger chick.  

"You can't get upset that he brought a date, it’s not like he was planning to see you and brought her.  Just be flattered that he sent you flowers and came back to see you.  He's obviously interested if he went through the trouble,” she said.  She agreed with Teddy that she couldn't really hold it against him.  They had nothing between them, just what had been in her dreams.  When she got back to her apartment, she placed a quick call to Teddy to tell her what had happened.  Teddy told her she was crazy for turning him down. 

"What is wrong with you?  That Greek god wanted to take you for a drink and you turned him down? You really do want to die alone don't you?"  Izzie laughed.

"It's not like we would get married after one drink Teddy."

"Maybe not, but he might have been able to help you in other ways."

"I'm fine Teddy and on that note, good night!"

"Good night Iz, love you.  Best friends forever and always?"

"For always and forever. Love you too."

Izzie went to bed that night with thoughts of Ellington Scott running through her head.  This had become a nightly tradition.