The Dating List (9 page)

Colin went through the food line, heaping his plate
high. Alice chattered away at him. When he dropped the bomb about
being a high school gym teacher, she began to look around the room.
Before he'd finished half the food on his plate, she had moved on
to another unattached man.

The evening wore on and each eligible young woman
ambled his way only to leave again when they realized he wasn't,
and probably wouldn't ever be, a millionaire. Even more
embarrassing, he noticed Leah glancing over occasionally with a
frown on her face.
The woman of my dreams watches me get dumped
by all the women at this party. Not great!
At ten o'clock, the
guests had divided up in the room. Some of the older men sought
younger women. They stood in small groups near the front door. Leah
sauntered over to where Colin stood talking to Lena, the only woman
who showed any interest in what he had to say.

Leah came up behind Colin and put her hands on his
waist. His hands covered hers immediately. She peeked around his
left side, grinning, then ducked her head under his arm. He hugged
her to him. Leah fastened her hands on his lapels and tugged his
head down toward hers. Their lips met. Colin encircled her waist,
pulling her in for a devastating kiss. All conversation around them
stopped. He could feel everyone staring but ignored them. Leah
melted against him, her arms around his neck. He lifted her off the
ground and continued the kiss for a few more seconds before
releasing her. The silence continued as they stared into each
other's eyes.

"Wow," Lena muttered.

"Seems as if these ladies have freed you up to be my
escort this evening."

"My lucky day."

Leah slipped her arm through his, easing him away
from the crowd. They escaped into the guest bedroom where the coats
lay scattered on the bed.

"What happened?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"With all those women. I've been watching you and
they all seemed interested…then something happened."

"Yeah, I told them I'm a high school gym teacher and
coach. They're looking for wealthy men, Leah. Not me."

"Fools, all of them."

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course."

He pulled her into his arms for another kiss when the
door opened.

"Ah, there you are…robbing the cradle, Leah?"

A blond man, wearing a dark gray suit lounged against
the door frame, an amused look on his face.

"Rod. Come in," Leah smoothed her skirt down. "This
is Colin. Colin, Rod McMahon."

Colin, still bristling from the man's nasty crack,
nodded. Rod's blue eyes glittered.

"Leah, give him a lollipop and come back to the
party."

Colin's hands fisted at his sides.

"Rod, no need to be insulting."

"Can't he talk yet?"

"Yes, I can talk. Thought I'd save the lady the
embarrassment of having one of her guests taken down."

"Lady? Leah, you mean?" He laughed. "She's more like
a friend…with benefits, than a lady."

Leah's face colored.

"Take that back, asswipe." Colin took a menacing step
toward the man.

"Oh? And who's gonna make me?"

"Rod, you've had too much to drink. Maybe you'd
better go home," Leah moved toward him until Colin's arm blocked
her way.

"Me? Don't think so. Gotta be here at midnight for my
Happy New Year hump with you."

Colin grabbed Rod by the lapels of his jacket. Rod
tried to break the younger man's hold but was unsuccessful.

"Apologize," Colin spit out.

Rod shook his head. Colin grabbed him in a headlock
and took the man down. He easily held him down on the ground.

"Apologize or go home with a broken arm."

Colin twisted Rod's wrist then shoved it halfway up
his back. Rod yelped in pain. Leah tried to break it up until Colin
threw a stern look at her.

"Apologize…now!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Leah. I didn't mean it. You're
every inch a lady."

Colin let go and stood up. Rod rubbed his wrist then
his arm while staring daggers at Colin. Grey entered the
bedroom.

"I've been looking for you, buddy…" he said.

"This is your buddy? Better be careful. He bites,"
Rod said.

"What's going on?" Grey stood back.

"This asswipe made disparaging remarks about Leah. He
was damned insulting."

"Hey, I apologized didn't I? Leah, get this
Neanderthal back in his corner, would ya?"

"Are you calling my brother a Neanderthal? I think
you need to leave."

Grey grabbed one arm while Colin took the other. Leah
quickly found Rod's overcoat and trailed behind while the two men
escorted Rod to the front door. Leah opened the door so the men
could shove Rod into the hall. Colin took the overcoat from Leah
and tossed it on Rod who was lying in a heap on the hall floor.

"Don't come back again, Rod," Leah said before
shutting the door. She marched to the buzzer and buzzed Lance.

"Lance, I've got a drunk on the hall floor. Could you
please put him in a taxi? Thanks so much."

Colin pulled Leah aside, guiding her into the
kitchen.

"Is that the type of guy you're hooking up with?" He
whispered to keep his comments from the ears of servers rushing in
and out.

Her face colored. "Rod? Not in a long time. He was…a
mistake…"

"Honey, you're too good for guys like that." He put
his hand on her waist, drawing her closer to keep their
conversation private.

"Guys like Rod don't want any commitment. Neither do
I. He's not the ideal…I've dated others who are nicer…who also
don't want a commitment." She turned her gaze to the floor.

"What's your problem with commitment?" He raised her
chin to look her in the eye.

"This isn't the time or place for this
discussion…can't we please get back to the party?"

"No more guys like that, Leah. You're better than
that."

"Thanks for getting rid of him." She patted his arm
and smiled.

"He's lucky I didn't mess him up."

Grey stuck his head in the kitchen.

"Everyone okay in here?"

Colin and Leah nodded.

"It's almost midnight, little bro, Leah," Grey
said.

They rejoined the others for the midnight toast.
Colin stuck by Leah's side and they kissed at midnight. He held her
close for a little longer, dipping his head to smell the sweet
scent of her freshly-washed hair mixed with her delicate perfume.
His hands caressed her shoulders and back.
I'd like to rip those
tiny straps right off your dress, carry you away and make love to
you all night.
When Leah stepped back, he saw a slight flush on
her chest. Her gaze met his, there was fire in her eyes. Her palms
lingered on his chest a moment longer than necessary, lighting a
fire inside him.
Wait. My time will come.
He smiled at her
as he let her go, calling out, "Happy New Year!" to all he could
see.

****

Grey and Carrie left right after midnight, leaving
Colin to make his own way back to the townhouse. Jean Luc's staff
stayed to clean up after the guests went home. They were very
efficient because they were all anxious to leave. Colin slung his
coat on.

"Wait, I'll walk you to the corner…make sure you find
a taxi." Leah gave tip money to Jean Luc before retrieving her
coat.

"I'm not a baby, Leah. I can hail a cab on my own."
He shrugged his broad shoulders into his coat.

"I know but on New Year's Eve…it may be harder and a
woman might have a better chance."

Colin held her ermine coat for her and they went down
the elevator together in silence. When they hit the street, Colin
spoke up.

"You're not going to see that guy Rod again, are
you?"

"Of course not." Leah gazed at the sidewalk.

"How many other
friends with benefits
do you
have?" His eyes locked on her face.

Heat rose to her cheeks. "I haven't had any for a
long time."

"Living the celibate life?" He raised his
eyebrows.

The frigid wind on Central Park West barely relieved
the growing warmth in her face.

"I've spent a lot of time alone lately." She folded
her arms across her chest.

"I'm not judging you, Leah. Just looking for
information." His gloved hand turned her chin toward him.

"Why?" Light from the streetlamps made her light
brown eyes appear liquid.

"Because I care about you."

"You've got your life in Pine Grove. I'm moving to
Paris…why do you want to start something between us?" Leah stopped.
Her heart was beating wildly in her chest.

"You and I have something…call it chemistry…whatever.
I've never been as attracted to a woman as I am to you."

"That's just sex, right? Like
friends with
benefits
?"

"It's more…more than that. You're like a beautiful
onion…"

"An onion?" She rested her hands on her hips, a frown
on her lips.

"Each layer that peels back reveals something
beautiful, interesting, fascinating, exciting about you. Something
I didn't know before. You're creative, smart and…funny." His hands
held her shoulders.

Her gaze perused his face. Sincerity shone through
his eyes. Words of denial caught in her throat.
He believes
every word.
She reached up to cup his cheek. Their lips
met.

"Get a room." A lone man on the street said as he
walked by.

Leah moved back, away from Colin. She took his hand
as they continued on.

"You don't have to take me to the corner like a
nursemaid."

"It's just…"

"Stop! I'll find a cab. It's freezing. Go back
inside, I'll be fine."

He turned her around and gave her a gentle shove
toward Central Park West.

"You're sure? You'll call me when you get home?"

"Leah!"

"Please?"

"All right, all right. Anything if you'll scoot…get
out of the cold."

She smiled at him and headed down 77
^th
Street toward Columbus Avenue. Leah was confused.
He's so
sweet…but I'm leaving in a few months. Maybe I won't come back.
Ugh! Timing stinks!

Lost in her own thoughts, she wasn't paying
attention. Suddenly an arm snapped around her waist from behind,
gripping her hard.

"Give me your purse and your coat," a hoarse voice
whispered.

Leah struggled to get away but his arm held her in a
vise-like grip.

"Colin! Colin!" She screamed with all her
strength.

"Shut up!" he spat at her with putrid breath.

The man tightened his grip while he slapped his other
hand over her mouth. Fighting for breath she tried to move his
fingers which seemed glued over her lips and nose.

"Gimme your coat!" He demanded, his hoarse voice
louder than before.

Leah shook her head, pushing against his hand to no
avail. Her pulse beat wildly in her neck. Fear wrapped an icy hand
around her spine.
He's going to kill me. Give him the
coat!

She began to nod vigorously but the man wouldn't let
go. He lifted her up so that her feet dangled off the ground. She
tried to kick him but flailed her legs back and forth to no effect.
Hope was running out as she began to feel lightheaded from lack of
air.

She heard running feet.
Oh, shit, he has an
accomplice.
Just as suddenly as he'd grabbed her, he let go.
His hands tugged on the lapels of her ermine coat from behind as
she gulped air into her lungs. Leah kicked back at him but he
dodged her foot. He spun her around, pulling at her coat. She
threatened him with her small fist. He raised his hand and slapped
her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground with a cry.
Searing pain rocketed through her brain, paralyzing her for a
moment. Her hand flew to her mouth. Something warm and wet dribbled
down her chin. She tasted blood. Tears clouded her eyes but she
brushed them away, raising her hand in a defensive move.

He lifted his hand in the air, poised to strike her
again, when a man's hand locked onto his wrist. The man behind him
twisted her assailant's arm until he cried out. Then the newcomer
yanked the man's arm back and shoved it up his back, causing him to
scream in pain. His other arm closed around the man's neck,
subduing him with a choke hold.

"Leah, call 911," Colin said as he held the assailant
still.

Her hands shook as she took out her cell phone.
Between the cold and her fear, Leah couldn't command her fingers to
dial. She started to cry in frustration.

"Leah! Pull yourself together…just for a moment,
sweetheart." Colin's voice was calm and steady. The man who'd
attacked her gasped then whimpered.

She took a big breath, feeling a shudder roll through
her body before a moment of calm set in. She dialed the number,
reported the assault giving the exact location. They waited at
least five minutes in silence before they heard the sound of
distant sirens drawing closer. Her body trembled out of control,
whether from fear or the cold she couldn't tell. Maybe both. A
sense of relief washed through her as the black-and-whites pulled
up, lights flashing. They drew their guns on Colin.

"Let him go, sir." The shorter, darker officer
said.

Colin let go of the man and raised his hands. The man
started swearing and attempted to take a swing with his good arm,
aiming at Colin who easily dodged him. The smaller police officer
subdued the man then locked him in handcuffs. Colin rushed to Leah,
and helped her up.

"What happened, Ma'am?" The taller officer asked
Leah.

Resting against Colin's arm around her shoulders she
took another deep breath and paused before recounting the assault
while the man screamed "liar" at her. With trembling hands, she
retrieved her driver's license from her small bag lying on the
sidewalk and gave the policeman her contact information. When she
was finished, Colin folded her into his arms. She let go, allowing
the pent up fear to surface as she sobbed against his chest. The
officer gently pried her away from Colin to snap several pictures
of her face while his partner put the hollering man in the back of
the squad car.