Richer Ground (3 page)

He laughed at her and stroked her face with his finger, then he picked up his cup.

“You're something else Miss Lewis. See you later.”

“Not if I see you first,” she replied as he walked off, back to a very curious Henners.

“What's going on with you two? I can feel the heat,” Cheryl asked the second he was out of earshot.

“A lot of sarcasm and a lot of lust,” she admitted.

“Be careful. He's broken goods.”

“What d'you mean?”

“His girlfriend broke it off six months ago. They were engaged, the wedding was planned for next month, late September. She went off with someone else...” Cheryl picked the tea towel up and started polishing some glasses as she spoke.

“Oh... Really?”

“Yeah. They're a sad family. His mum died two years ago from breast cancer, and his sister's not the ticket, since her car accident. Money doesn't bring you happiness, does it? But it sure helps pay the bills...” Cheryl sighed loudly as she folded up the tea towel neatly. “Right, if you're okay on your own, I'm off for a ciggie break. And don't preach... I know I need to quit, what with the kids, but it's my only pleasure these days...”

She was back in the bar by seven. She was run off her feet as usual. But at least there were three of them on duty tonight. She was collecting glasses from the tables, weaving in and out of the noisy crowd, when she saw him arrive.

She pretended not to notice and carried on glass gathering. He came up behind her and put his hands on her waist.

“Hi... how's my favorite and very beautiful barmaid?”

“Bar person...” she corrected, trying not to get too excited over being called beautiful. Even though she knew she was. “And busy... obviously.”

“Can I help?”

“No...”

“Why not?”

“Because it's my job and you're a customer, duh...”

“I'll see you in a while then...” he said moving off. “Oh, and Ali... don't think about sneaking off without me tonight. I want to ask you something on the way home.”

She caught sight of him a few times during the evening and they had some heated eye exchanges. He was hanging out with Hooray and two girls. One of them was draping her arm around his shoulder and she had to admit to herself, she didn't like it, even though he clearly wasn't interested and the girl wasn't the slightest bit attractive.

He stood at the bar and waited for her as she changed in the staff room. She was more than looking forward to sitting on the back seat of the cab with him, if truth be told.

She came out, after having tarted herself up, subtly, she hoped.

He took her hand as they left the bar and walked down the short corridor beyond.

“It's hardly possible, but you look even prettier,” he complimented her.

“I don't know what you mean,” she said innocently, and he laughed.

“I mean, that's a nice shade of lipstick you're wearing and I appreciate the perfume,” he elaborated. Obviously she hadn't been subtle at all. “And I love your hair, it's all wild and curly.”

“Yeah I noticed, you had a good grope around in it last night.”

They arrived in the foyer and he turned her to face him, taking both her hands in his.

“Your smart mouth is kind of amusing, but you don't have to play witty with me. What's the real Ali like?”

“You're seeing her.”

“I don't think so. But I'd like to.”

He was very intuitive. Her mouthing off was all a cover. She was a touch shy underneath it all. But she'd long ago learned that being shy and quiet got you nowhere. Being noticed, pushy and smart mouthed did. She turned the tables on him for a moment.

“And what about you? What's Mr Richer like when he's at home?”

“I'm just me. Everywhere I go. Wanna come see me in action..?”

“Are you inviting me back for a sleepover party...?” she joked.

“Maybe just a night cap and I'll walk you home.”

“Okay, you're on. We'll see how the nightcap goes, shall we?”

Their cab arrived and they got in the back. He held her hand again. He was very touchy feely. Not that she minded at all. She squeezed his hand tight and he squeezed hers back. They both turned and looked at each other and their eyes locked. Her stomach rolled in anticipation as he pulled her in for a soft kiss. It was a very, very long one. Her toes began to melt. Everything else followed and soon she was a melted mass all over him.

She pulled away, her head spinning and her heart thumping.

“You need to practice a lot more,” she said in a croaky voice, crossing her legs demurely, and turning to gaze out of the window in a blind panic.

“I'm all for that...” He gripped her chin and turned her face back to his.

“Not taking advantage of me, are you?” she asked quietly.

“Yep...” he replied as he began to brush his lips across hers erotically.

“That's okay then.” She'd almost lost her voice at this point.

She kissed him back, her tongue running around his beautiful soft mouth.

The five minute journey went by in a blinding flash of heated hormones. The sleepover was looking like it could well be on. For a few days maybe... She could call in sick at work and stay in bed with him until they were exhausted. She wasn't quite as easy normally. She liked to date a few times before getting her man in the sack. But chances like this didn't come along every day. She'd never had a rich man interested in her before, and she was intrigued about what went on in between the expensive sheets in millionaires’ row.

But not only that, he intrigued her, and more... And that was nothing to do with his money. This diamond grading, unlucky in love, handsome man with the sexy eyes and voice, had turned her flames on.

Richer was so fucking hot...

They arrived, and unravelled themselves from each other, with some difficulty. He paid the cab driver.

She finally took notice of her surroundings as she got out and looked about. This wasn't the part of millionaire row she had in mind for her heated rich encounter. The house was much smaller than she had imagined. And it was untidy. There were weeds everywhere on the forecourt and the planters were overgrown with them, as were the window boxes. Her mum would have a wild fit at the state of his garden. Her eyes widened as they progressed up the driveway, past his Porsche, towards the front door.

It was a catalogue of horrors. Peeling paint on the window frames, an un-mown lawn. Leaves everywhere, from last autumn by the looks of it.  Huge shrubs, well past their dig up and throw date. Cans, rubbish, and pieces of paper mixed in the messy mêlée. She couldn't help but comment.

“What a state! Haven't you got a gardener?”

“No, I don't have time to think of things like that. Or the inclination I'm afraid. I suppose it is a state, but I don't notice usually. It's just somewhere to park my car.”

“It's rather a small house, isn't it?”

“It has four bedrooms... That's big enough for me.”

“A mini mansion then,” she laughed. She hoped the inside was better than the outside.

It wasn't.

She couldn't believe her eyes.

“Richer, honestly. My brother's room is tidier than your house. And that's saying something.”

“Yeah, sorry about the mess. Things have got out of hand here. I'm away on and off, and my cleaners haven't been good choices. In fact I'm in between cleaners at the moment. Two months in between.”

“It shows... Good grief... How the hell do you find anything?”

“I don't know.”

“You need someone to keep you in order Richer... a proper housekeeper.”

“Do you have to keep calling me Richer? I'm not that well off.” he grinned.

“It's your car number plate. It's stuck in my memory. I can't help it.”

“That was a twenty first birthday gift from my very un-witty father. I'm stuck with the damn thing forever now. My car is actually seven years old.”

“So you're not rich at all? Well in that case, there's no point me hanging around...I'll be off...” she joked and turned to leave. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him with a grin.

“Okay, okay... I suppose I am quite wealthy. But the mortgage on this place is a drain on my finances.”

“I imagine so... it's all about location, hmmm?”

“It's an investment for the future. This little dump cost me one and a half mill you know.”

She whistled loudly. “You were well and truly done over, Ricky boy.”

“Surprisingly not. I got it super cheap. Because it was the smallest house in a row of mega huge mansions, and in a poor state of repair. I plan to extend it and make it more imposing, in time.”

Her mind suddenly swam into action.

“I have the perfect housekeeper and gardener for you. Her name is Claudine... and she's my mother. And presently
very
unemployed. She'd love to get her teeth into your assets.”

“You're serious?”

“Absolutely... she can start tomorrow. She'll whip you into shape in a few short days.”

“I'll pay her well... If she does a good job.”

“Oh she will, don't you worry... Now then, give me the grand tour, if it's not too dangerous to walk around such a condemned wreck. Lead on Ricky Robertson... I'm interested to see where you crash land after you've hit Athena's Bar for a heavy session...” She took his hand in hers.

“Call me Rick... Only Henners gets away with Ricky... And that's only because I've known him since I was two.”

As they climbed his stairs, she was starting to like him more and more with every passing minute. The fact he was untidy and incapable in the home strangely added to his appeal. Her nurturing instincts came out in a rush.

“Dare I use your bathroom?” she asked, gazing around at his clothes strewn, massive master bedroom. Her eyes strayed to his dusty, ultra low black leather bed.

“That is one room I manage to keep very clean.” He showed her into his ensuite.

It was spotless.

He obviously knew what clean was then.

She smiled as she did the necessary and washed her hands. She sneaked a look in his bathroom cupboard. Aftershave, plasters, razors, shaving foam, a brush and comb... the usual stuff... no pills or drugs in there anyway. It was all looking good to go. She emerged to find him lying on his bed, waiting for her.

“Warming yourself up for the fuck of the century?” she asked sweetly, standing in front of him.

He sat up and his eyes darkened and held hers. “Don't joke about things like that.”

Her stomach lurched with want at his oddly appealing seriousness.

He stood up quickly, towering over her, by a good six inches.

“Come on, I'll take you home.”

She was confused and reacted in her usual flippant way.

“Oh no! I was hoping to have a nightcap and fight you off,” she sniggered nervously. That was obviously another mistake. He gave her a really dirty look.  She was getting desperate to redeem the situation. Something had gone horribly wrong. “A long kiss goodnight, then?” She was sure she could change his mind during that.

“I'm not in the mood any more.” He said slowly with a very direct look.

“Well I am... In fact, I'm completely dying for it... Wanna feel?” she said, putting her arms around his waist and smiling up at him. That was another huge mistake, because she could feel him tense up straight away.

He pushed her arms away, none too gently.

“You're so common. When you want to make love with me... rather than have me fuck you like an animal. Let me know.”

She went hot and cold all over with shock.

She
was
common, and crude, and brash. And he was so right.

She stifled a sob as it rose in her throat. And then with a last horrified look at him, she turned and fled. Flying down the stairs and out the front door. He caught her up at the end of the driveway and grabbed her arm.

“I shouldn't have said that. I'm really sorry. Forgive me?”

“No... It's okay. You were dead right. I'm such a horrible trollop mouth. My tongue has a way with words that I can't control.”

“Let me walk you back. Please?”

She waited while he collected his keys and shut the door. Then he took her hand and walked her home. She managed to stay silent for ten whole minutes... Just in case she said something completely unsuitable.

“Make sure you bring your mother over tomorrow morning. Say, tennish?” He turned to face her at her door.

“Sure. Night then.” She put her key in the lock with a flood of disappointment running through her,

She'd blown it with him. Still, her mum had a job at least.

He put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her round, into his arms.

Her heart was beating like crazy as she looked into his eyes.

She didn't speak. She couldn't trust herself.