Mistaken Identity (7 page)

The guy is still harassing Jess when I arrive back at the bar. Operation “Help Jess Escape” happens now.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I wrap my arms around her neck kissing her cheek, “what are you doing over here?”

“Hey, baby,” she follows my lead, “I’m just talking to this nice young man.”

I give the man a confident-this-is-mine smile, “I’m stealing my girlfriend back from you. I have things I want to do to her at home,” I wiggle my brows trying my hardest not to laugh. It doesn’t help that the man’s eyes are bulging out of his head. He turns very slow and walks back into the crowd. Just when he gets far enough away, there’s no more control and we double over laughing.

“I’m ready to get out of here,” I yell over the music at Jess.

She nods and we start toward the exit. My skin starts to prickle, the hair on my neck stands up. I smile knowing damn good and well, Tanner is watching me leave.

Chapter 11

I pull my phone out of my purse happy to see no missed texts or calls. Logan has texted me too many times in the past few days, begging me to talk to him, apologizing, and accusing me of leaving him for another man. I’ve told him to leave me alone, that I was done. For now my phone has remained silent.

The elevator chimes announcing its arrival, and for the third day in a row, I’m disappointed at the emptiness it exposes. I should have known he was just talking out his ass, but a girl can dream, right?

The sun warms my face when I push out of the front doors beginning my stroll home. This morning the weather was perfect, not cold, not hot, so I decided to walk and enjoy it. It can be torture being stuck inside the office on days like this, only being able to see the glorious rays of sun through a window. So I like to soak it up as much as possible.

Someone calls my name behind me, and I nervously turn, scared to see Logan. To my surprise, I have a very beautiful sight jogging toward me, his brown hair bouncing to his long strides, his suit pushing against his solid build.

Freaking hell.

“Hey,” Tanner says barely breathless, “I tried to catch you before you left, but your boss held me up.”

“He can do that sometimes.” Adam has a tendency to start talking and not stop. He can hold you up for hours if you’re not careful.

He looks down the sidewalk at the direction I’m was walking, “Are you walking home?”

“Yes.”

“May I walk with you?” Oh. My. Yes!

“It’s several blocks down, but you’re more than welcome to.”

Walking home on Tanner’s arm felt inconceivable. Well over six feet, he’s taller than me, but we fit comfortably together. The world around us gradually faded and only Tanner and I existed in the moment. We joked about Adam’s chatterbox tendencies, then about doubled over picking on Shadow Tanner being a giant over Shadow Sam. The usual long walk has flown by too fast, and as my apartment grows closer, I can feel my spirits dropping. I don’t want this to end.

“This is me.” I point at the grey stone stairs of the entrance.

He slides his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels. It’s refreshing as hell to see such a confident man unsure of his actions.

“I hope I’m not stepping out of line, but can I take you to dinner this weekend?”

Ever had your insides start doing that annoying jumping up and down screaming girl thing? That is exactly what is happening at this very moment. I bite my lip trying to contain the grin, the excitement bubbling out of control inside of me has made it to my eyes. “I would like that.”

“Is Friday after work good for you? Say, six?”

OhmyGod, ohmyGod, ohmyGod.
“Yeah that sounds good,” I say level-headed.

We exchange a pleasant stare that only furthers the clenching in my chest. There’s something I can’t put my finger on with him, but whatever it is, I want to keep feeling it.

“Good night, Samantha.” My full name crossing his lips is devastating pleasure. I’m sure my eyes just rolled back while I had an inward orgasm.

“Good night, Tanner,” I reply, breathless.

I enter the apartment to find Jess standing by the window, hands clenched at her side. Not in a mad way, but in an overly-excited-I’m-trying-to-contain-this way.

“He asked me on a date!” I squeal. Now, remember those annoying girls jumping around and screaming? Now it’s real life and those girls are me and Jess. I can’t contain it anymore. I have to let it out, and damn it feels good. I’ve not felt like this in years. My phone chirps breaking the jump party and I fumble pulling it out of my purse with excited shaking hands, body, and mind.

Logan: Is that why u called it off? Who the fuck is the guy?

I gasp at the sight of it.

“Sam, don’t overthink that,” she says over my shoulder reading the text. “Tanner walked you home. You walked down a main street in Charlotte. I’m sure he saw you.”

“He texted me the other night when we got home from the club. He saw me that night too.”

“Sam, I’m sure he has friends in the town and
they
saw you. It’s a coincidence. Quit overthinking it.”

She’s right, and as strange as it is, it’s got to be a coincidence. I didn’t meet many of Logan’s friends, but who knows who has seen me. Today I wouldn’t have even recognized Jess. My world around Tanner disappeared and I got lost in his velvet voice, his divine laugh. Just his presence alone sends reality exiting.

_________________________

Friday

Tonight could not have come fast enough. Nervous excitement has my stomach in knots, and it doesn’t help that I haven’t seen Tanner all week, giving me no idea where he’s taking me. I purposely chose a black dress that falls off my shoulders, accentuating my curves, and stops right above my knees. I want him panting when he leaves me because I’m quite sure I will be doing the same and it’s only fair.

Addison’s is the definition of luxury dining. The walls are lined with grey ledge stone. White curtains hang between each of the sections to the floor creating a white flowing river against the walls. The table is secluded from the rest of the diners, dimly lit with a small pale rosy light hanging down above us. I know restaurants do this on purpose to set the mood, to make it romantic, but nothing is replacing the out of place feeling I have, not even the Merlot. This place is fancy and so is Tanner. He’s dressed to impress in a charcoal grey suit, with a white button up, and a blue tie that almost matches his eyes. I feel like a fish out of water.

“You okay?” he asks, breaking the silence we’ve shared for the past five minutes.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

His eyebrows jump up pulling the corners of his lips with them. His amused smile is a clear indication he knows the international code for a woman’s ‘I’m fine.’ “You sure?”

Might as well spill the beans. “Yeah, just a little nervous. I’m not used to all the fancy stuff.”

“Would you rather have dinner in the elevator?” When he teases, his azure eyes have this fascinating sparkle that grabs me by my ears and holds my face hostage so I can’t look away.

“No,” I titter, “although I do enjoy meeting there. Kind of makes the day worthwhile.” I shrug. “Oh, speaking of, where were you Monday?”

He leans forward placing his hands together on the table, “You surprised me by leaving so quickly the other night that I forgot I had the wedding to attend. I came back Wednesday evening to get a few things done when I saw you leaving, and you know the rest.” He pauses for a moment, the wheels in his head spinning, “So you went?”

Hell yes I went. Does he really think I’d miss an opportunity to lose myself in him? “Well, I do get off work at four.” He laughs at my playful reply. In reality, I was disappointed by his absence—the letdown was torture. “So what do you do at Weston?”

Instantly, I wish I hadn’t asked the question. The sparkle in his eyes and the dimples in his cheek dissipate as his face visually tenses. “Samantha, I don’t like to talk about work outside of it.”

That was completely unexpected and it set me back some. I don’t know how to respond. I guess he hates his job. Thankfully, the waiter brings our food and replenishes our wine over the hushed table. Dinner is quiet too. Surely, I didn’t just screw this date up asking a simple question like that. Quiet as it may have been this chicken pasta tastes delicious. Tanner has already finished his meal and is sitting back quietly watching me eat. Weirdo. Who does that? Even being self-conscience of the eating stalker, I’ve managed to eat most of it.

He glances down at the slight ring of his phone, “Samantha, I’m sorry, I need to take this call.” He quickly hurries away before answering it, disappearing somewhere toward the front.

I take advantage of his absence and check my phone that has been buzzing in my clutch on my lap the entire time. Surely, Jess can wait until I get home to hear the details. My heart halts when I see the buzzing is from Logan.

Logan: Him again? You left me for that?

Logan: The things I could do to you in that skimpy black dress.

The color drains from my face. My eyes dart from person to person, table to table, to every dark corner fully expecting to see Logan peering back at me. He’s nowhere in sight. I scan once more just to make sure I didn’t miss him. I push my phone back into my clutch realizing he’s not here and finish my wine off, trying to calm my anxiety. How does he know this shit?

I catch a glimpse of Tanner before he arrives at the table. He’s confident, shoulders back, chin held high. Our eyes meet and his lips quirk up, flashing a dangerously alluring smile.

“I’m sorry, Samantha. I’m sure that wasn’t the best impression,” he says, never breaking eye contact, sitting back in his chair.

Beneath the table I squeeze the webby skin between my thumbs and fingers to help rid me of the panic I feel from Logan’s absurd texts and the lust between my legs that Tanner just gave me. “It’s okay. Sometimes it’s unavoidable.”

“Do you like surprises, Samantha?” The mischief in his voice almost seduces me right there in my chair.

“Depends.” I flirt.

He stands up and holds his hand out for mine with excitement in his eyes, “Come on. I have one for you.”

_________________________

Amber shine from the street lights above reflect off the shiny black American Quarter Horse that is waiting for us outside the restaurant. He’s breathtaking. Majestic. He’s absolutely beautiful standing patiently with an open top white carriage behind him.

“Tanner, this is beautiful,” I gasp turning to him.

“It gets better,” he beams. He motions to the carriage, “After you.”

He holds my hand helping me up into it then slides in right beside me. My skin buzzes at the raging current passing between us when his leg touches mine. I smile nervously trying desperately not to show him the torment he causes my body.

He tells Mack, the driver, to just stroll around the city, and with a soft push we’re being carried down the streets of Charlotte. Echoes of heavy hooves bounce off the buildings around us, steady and solid. We pass by the Bank of America Tower shining its bright white lights into the night sky, illuminating the low lying clouds. We continue on, passing the beautiful Hearst building, the hooves echoing, completely hypnotizing. The street lamps glow down on us as we pass, the people on the streets stop and stare, and the people in the cars break their necks to see who we are hoping for a glimpse of a celebrity. I am a celebrity starring in my very own movie produced by Tanner. I’m in awe. I’ve never experienced anything like this.

He rubs my shoulders. “Are you cold?” His simple touch ignites the pull in my chest and causes me to shudder.

My heart skips a beat at the affection his eyes show, glinting with the passing street lights. “Not at all. It’s a beautiful night.”

“I figured you might like this,” he says proudly.

The Duke Energy building comes into perfect view standing tall against the black night sky lighting itself up with Carolina blue dripping down the side. I love how this building changes its colors for different events. Football games, parades, and holidays, but the Carolina blue show is the best, pulling pride out from anyone who can see it.

“Mack, to my car please,” he commands the driver. My heart aches a little, not wanting this little fairy tale to end.

The ride home is quiet.
He’s out of my league
, I think to myself. Tanner enjoys the finer things in life, and I’m happy with simplicity. Polar opposites. I sigh privately for feeling this way. I feel Tanner’s eyes raking across me, but I keep my view out the window of his BMW. I don’t need to see what he’s thinking, I’m sure he’s confused that I’ve shut down.

We arrive at my apartment and just like the perfect gentlemen he’s been, he walks me to the door. “I had a good time tonight, Samantha.” He says, his voice soft.

“So did I,” I say slowly, discouraged by having a drop dead gorgeous man flower me with extravagance but hating the fancy that comes with it.

He grabs my hands brushing his thumbs across my knuckles. “What’s wrong?”

I cringe inside. Here it goes. “I had a great time tonight, but this isn’t me. You made me feel like I was in a fairy tale, something I’ve never experienced before. Something I’ve only hoped for, but…I think you’re out of my league. I don’t have, nor do I want, any of the fanciness.” That sucked the air right out of my lungs.