Consumed (9 page)

I grab my pink fluffy robe from the back of the door and secure it around my body before making my way back across the hall to my bedroom. The music has quit playing but I don't look to see if Sam and Kristina are still at it. Based on how quiet everything seems in the living room, I would say that the party has moved to her bedroom.

I collapse on my bed still dressed in my robe, my hair tied up in a towel. I am so exhausted I don't even have the energy to put my pajamas on. I hear my cell phone signal a message and scramble to my feet to find my phone that I left on my dresser. I unlock the screen and see four new messages, all from Liam.

So are you telling me no then?

I must warn you, I always get what I want.

Friday, seven. See you then.

Goodnight Addison.

I can't help but smile like a love sick school girl. He really is good at this game and I am playing right into his hands. Problem is, I want to play into his hands and many other parts of him as well. I know that I can't but that doesn't mean that I can't dream about what it would be like for once to just lose myself in the arms of a man that consumes me; body, mind, and soul.

I plug my cell into the charger and plop back down on my bed. Memories of Saturday night come flooding back. I have never felt the way I did when Liam's lips met mine. I also know that it is a feeling I will never forget. In one kiss he showed me that I had never known passion, I had never known lust, I had never known what it was like to be truly kissed by a man. Problem is it only left me wanting more and I am going to have to fight like hell to resist that urge. No matter how good he makes me feel in the moment, I know how this ends and it's not happily ever after, at least not for me.

––––––––

T
he week flies by with no word from Liam. By Friday I have all but concluded that he took my no response as a no and has no intention of following through on our so called dinner plans. Probably for the best considering I have since decided it is a bad idea and that even if he shows I am not going.

Even with that being said I still wasn't able to keep myself from dressing like my plans were to go out with him. No matter how hard I try to resist, I fear that in the end I won't be able to say no to him and in that event I want to look my best.

I took an extra hour getting ready this morning and honestly I feel really good. My knee length black sleeveless dress hugs what little curves I have, partnered with four inch black heels and a damn good hair day, I feel ready to take on the world. I try to convince myself that none of this is for Liam but I know better.

An hour into the day I do my best to push all thoughts of him from my mind and focus on my work. I don't have the luxury of being able to be distracted. This project demands one hundred percent dedication and I am determined to give it just that.

The first half of my day flies by as I have three meetings back to back. Dana brings me a turkey sandwich on rye from Jen's cafe for lunch and she joins me in the break room for a fifteen minute catch up.

I have had so little time to talk to her recently she has no clue about my predicament with Liam. While I have purposely avoided the conversation with Kristina, Dana is someone I feel like I can talk to with no judgments. She's more like family in the sense that I know no matter what I say she will support me in the end.

“So are you going to go?” She asks me after I give her a quick five minute briefing on my situation and my impending dinner with Liam.

“I don't know. I mean I really want to but at the same time I know I shouldn't. What if this ends badly? Where would I be then?”

“The 'what if' will always be there girl. You know that as well as I. But do you really want to spend your whole life alone always wondering what if? It may turn out bad, true. But then again it could be the best thing to ever happen to you. You won't know unless you go.” She says, reminding me a lot of my mother in this moment.

Dana always knows the way to word things to make me feel better about them. Even still, she hasn’t convinced me that this is a good choice and by the end of our conversation I have talked myself into and out of going about a hundred times.

As we exit the break room she drapes her arm across my shoulders and gives me a little squeeze. “Have fun tonight. You deserve it.” She says giving me a reassuring smile before leaving me to get back to work.

I spend the rest of the day submerged in paperwork. The details of the fundraiser for Bella Vita are coming along nicely and now it's just a lot of little bases to cover. It's six thirty before I realize it and the panic I felt earlier about seeing Liam returns full force. Without really thinking, I shut down my computer and grab my purse, making my way towards the exit.

I take the stairs instead of the elevator, my mind set on getting out of here before Liam arrives. I can tell him no as long as I don't have to face him. One look into those beautiful hazel eyes and everything seems to melt away, including my ability to think clearly. I enter the lobby in a nervous fog and head straight for the door. As soon as the evening air hits me I feel instantly better.

That is until I spot Liam, looking rather amused, leaning against a black town car just to the left of Strike Tower. My eyes lock with his immediately and I can't help but smile even though every fiber of my being is telling me to run like hell. He looks so irresistible in his dark jeans and black button up shirt, I have to physically wipe my mouth to make sure I am not drooling.

He walks towards me, his long legs allowing him to reach me in the matter of seconds. “Why do I get the feeling you were trying to make a run for it?” He asks, smiling widely at me.

“Because I was.” I admit apologetic.

“Fair enough. But since we are both here, shall we?” He asks holding out his arm. I hesitate but only for a moment before linking my arm through his and letting him lead me down the sidewalk. I expected us to walk to the car so I am a little caught off guard when he steers me in the opposite direction.

“We're walking?” I ask a little confused.

“We're walking.” He replies catching my eyes for a brief moment and giving me a playful smile. “Las Vegas is an amazing city. I thought you might like to see what you're missing being holed up in an office all day.”

“How do you know I haven't already explored the city?” I ask.

“A man must never reveal his secrets.” He says with a small laugh. The sound lightens my heart and makes me want more. More laughter, more time, more everything with this man. “Am I wrong?”

“Maybe.” I lie, knowing full well that I have not been many places in the few short months since arriving here.

We walk about three blocks in silence. A cool breeze whips around us, chilling me instantly and making me wish I had brought a sweater. It's never truly cold, at least not from what I can tell, but it can get a little chilly at night. Not really thinking about it I snuggle into Liam's arm for warmth. Realizing what I'm doing, I straighten myself instantly and try to right myself. Clearly I am getting too comfortable and letting my guard down now would be a monumental mistake.

Liam takes no notice of my internal breakdown and continues forward another block before coming to a stop in front of a little restaurant called
Litos
. He lets go of my arm to hold the door open for me and I don't miss the slight touch to the small of my back as he ushers me through the door. The smallest touch and yet I can feel it all the way to my toes.

A pretty blonde hostess greets us instantly and by her acknowledgment of Liam, I am positive that she knows him, which only makes me even more uneasy about all of this. Liam screams lady killer and he no doubt has had his fair share of women. Is she one of his quests? I try to shake the thought and the jealousy that it fuels as we follow the pretty blonde to our table in the far right corner of the beautiful little room.

The restaurant is small, but eloquently decorated with round tables covered in white linen. A flower vase with a single rose in a colored liquid sits in the middle of each table. The ceiling is at least twelve feet high, a night sky painted across it. The walls are dark and draped in light and dark fabric that gives the area a very mystical feel.

The hostess leaves us immediately and before I even open the menu, our waitress approaches to take our drink order. “Water.” I reply when she asks me what I would like. Liam orders a bottle of something I have never heard of before. The waitress nods and then walks away to get our drinks. I can't help but notice how much effort she seems to be putting forward with her strut and have no doubt it is purely for Liam's benefit.

I roll my eyes and turn back to my menu. “What?” Liam asks. I look up to find him studying me intently.

“Huh?” I say confused.

“You rolled your eyes at our waitress. I was just curious.” He says with a little laugh.

“Isn't it obvious? No one walks with that much sway in their hips. She clearly was hoping you would notice.”

“But I didn't.” He says still not losing his grin.

“One point for you.” I say sarcastically, turning my attention once again back to my menu.

He doesn't say anymore and within a couple of minutes we have placed our orders and received our drinks. Liam pours a glass of what I now see is wine and places it in front of me before pouring himself a glass.

“Oh no, I'm good.” I say gesturing towards the drink.

“One glass of wine is not going to hurt you. Try it. I promise you won't regret it.” He says. I can't help but feel like he's not just referring to the wine but hoping to distract myself from my thoughts, I pick up the glass and take a small sip. The liquid is cold but has a warming effect and tastes divine.

“Wow this is really good, what is it?” I ask, pleasantly surprised that I like it, having never been much of a wine drinker.

“Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache.” He rambles out leaving me even more confused but I don't ask anymore. Clearly he knows his wines, which makes since given his profession. Not knowing a thing about wines I take another sip and keep quiet.

We make small talk over our salads but nothing of any real importance. Mostly we talked about my work and what made me want to do this line of work. By the time our entrees arrive my appetite is pretty much non existent. Food is near repulsive to me when I am nervous and right now I am a ball of nerves.

Despite my lack of appetite, I pick up my knife and fork and cut into my glazed chicken breast. When it reaches my mouth I involuntarily moan from the taste. It's absolutely delicious. I glance at Liam who is watching me, a deep line across his forehead.

“Sorry.” I giggle. He shakes his head and clears his throat.

“Keep moaning like that and I make no promises about being able to control myself later.” He's says completely seriously.

I giggle again, more because I don't know what else to do. “Control won't be an issue if the chance is never given to you.” I say just as serious but I can see he sees my playfulness in the statement.

I turn my attention back to my food and manage to stomach about half of it before pushing it to the side. Deciding it's about time I learned more about this man, I decide to take a chance.

“Ever played twenty questions?” I ask just as Liam is finishing his steak.

“Pretty sure everyone over the age of ten has played twenty questions at one point in their life.” He jokes, wiping his mouth with his napkin and placing it on the plate in front of him.

“First question, how old are you?” I ask guessing he's mid-twenties but needing confirmation.

“Twenty-nine.” He answers, pushing himself back in his chair and taking a long sip of his wine. “How old are you?”

“That's not how this works.” I joke. “I ask you answer, not the other way around.”

“Well if I am going to answer your questions then I think it's only fair that you answer mine. Wouldn’t you agree?” He asks with a smirk.

I shake my head but can't contain the smile that is blazing across my face. I like him, I mean really like him, and this is so not good. “Twenty-three.” I finally answer deciding to play along. “Where did you grow up?”

“I was born in New York. Most of my childhood was spent in Italy with my grandparents. My parents weren't much for kids.” He says the frown line on his forehead returning.

“I'm sorry to hear that.” I say leaning forward. I reach across the table to take his hand, realizing too late what I'm doing and failing miserably at trying to cover it up. I smile sweetly and pull my hand back.

He pays no attention to yet another internal melt down and presses on. “What about you?”

“Vermont, born and raised. Do you have any siblings?”

“No, you?” He asks.

“Nope, just me.” I shrug. “As much as I wanted a sister, I loved having my mom and dad to myself growing up.” I think about my next question deciding to ask him about his job, “So did you always want to be a bartender?”

He chokes on his drink of wine, and smiles at me as if I am clueless. “What?” I ask completely confused.

“No I didn't always want to be a bartender. But I love the business and more than that I love this city.” He says. “My uncle lived here and some of my fondest memories happened here and my time with him.”

We finish off the bottle of wine after question six and as we exit the restaurant I don't know much more about him then I did going in but I feel lighter and more at ease. No doubt in large part due to the wine.

I link arms with him as we step into the night air. Hyper aware of everything going on around me, I can't help but feel honored to be the girl on his arm. Several women and even a couple men turn to take a double take when they see us pass by. It's clear that I am not the only one that sees how gorgeous he is. He is nearly impossible to look away from.

We walk a while in silence. I am enjoying the time with him even though I know it can't last. We round the corner and I realize instantly that we are on the main strip of the Vegas night life. “Where are we going?” I ask breaking the silence.

“You'll see.” He replies smiling down to me. He seems excited and that makes me excited and more than a little nervous. I continue on and within minutes it's clear where he is taking me.