Chapter 38

Lorali

I’m like a kid on Christmas morning, too anxious to sleep. So I’m out of bed shortly after the sun comes up. I have a lot to do but don’t need a full twelve hours in which to do it. I decide that an early morning run will suit me best and maybe tire me enough that I can grab a mid-afternoon nap so that I can be rested for this evening. I know Ian has “plans” for me after the gala.

By midmorning, I’m in the process of getting my manicure and pedicure and will then follow-up with a wax and buff. I do have to admit that I’m going all out for this date, and I’m extremely nervous about being in public with Ian Hale. He has so many women who find him attractive that I’m terrified I’ll be criticized to the point that he’ll do away with me and replace me with someone the public would deem more fitting.

I frown as I think about caring about what other people think. I’m normally a ‘who gives a shit’ type girl. I have a ‘don’t like me? That’s your problem not mine’ type of personality, but now I feel like I have something to lose. I’m not the only one who has a say so in the situation, and that terrifies me. Ian literally has control over my happiness or lack thereof for that matter.

These racing thoughts have me reconsidering this whole date. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he’s invested himself in me. I feel it when we talk, text, and hold each other. I guess I feel like it’s a fairy tale and I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop because honestly, I don’t believe in fairy tales.

I had my hair washed and dried at the salon, but Alexa is the one who actually styles it for me. I wanted to make sure I could get my nap this afternoon and not have to worry about messing my hair up. I did lie down but couldn’t sleep. I’ll pay for that later this evening I’m sure.

Alexa has swept the sides of my hair up but has left it in long waves down my back, and my makeup has been done in a natural elegance. My lips are fire engine red and match the dress I have on loan from her perfectly.

As much as I praised myself for having plenty of time to get ready my overly long soak in the tub this afternoon actually has me running behind.

“He’s going to be mad Alexa; please hurry!” She still isn’t done with my face, and I’m still am not dressed.

“He won’t be mad when he sees you. He’ll know it was worth the wait. Be still or I’ll smudge you!” Alexa is applying the twenty-third layer of mascara to my overly long lashes.

“He’s here!” Josie has popped her head in my bathroom. “That man looks damn fine in a tux!”

“I know, right!” I grin, the anticipation of seeing him swirling in my stomach like a million butterflies. “Please tell him I won’t be much longer and I apologize for the wait.”

Alexa and Josie both leave so I can dress. The red beaded dress is low cut in the front and held up by the thinnest spaghetti straps you could imagine. One tug and the gala will become a whole other way to raise money! The back is so low underwear isn’t even an option. The thought of nothing covering my center makes me smile wondering how Ian will react once he realizes this fact.

I’m in the room another full fifteen minutes before I’m ready to meet Ian. Some of that time was spent trying to calm my nerves, which I can say didn’t really happen.

Ian and Josie are chatting back and forth when I make my grand entrance into the room. Conversation stops. Ian turns towards me and the look of awe and adoration on his face make me melt. My body’s response to him is immediate, and I fight the urge to run to him and jump in his arms. Has it only been four days since I last saw him?

He’s wondrously stunning in his jet black designer tuxedo. His red bow tie, most would think gaudy, makes the entire ensemble, coordinating perfectly with my dress and his pocket square. I stop in my tracks and give my eyes a minute to drink him in, and I can tell he’s doing the same to me.

“Lor...” He clears his throat. “Lorali, you look stunning.”

I think I blush. “Thank you, Mr. Hale. You’re doing fine things for that tuxedo as well.”

He smiles big, those beautiful dimples on both sides of his face make an appearance as I walk towards him. I love them. I love him, I realize. My steps falter. I quickly try to talk myself out of it, but I can’t, I know right then and there that I love this man. Sadly I know I’ll be destroyed when it’s over.

My smile falls when the thought of all that I’ll lose when he decides to end this slams into my head. My grandmother always told us that life was a series of heartbreaks, and I decide then and there that I’ll enjoy tonight and I’ll enjoy Ian as long as it lasts because in the end I’ll have made wonderful memories.

“You okay, baby?” He’s noticed the internal war I’m having as I’m sure it’s playing out on my face. I was never very good at hiding my emotions.

“I’m great.” I smile up at him. “Nervous about tonight a bit, though.”

“You’ve nothing to worry about; you’re with me tonight!” He smiles really big and walks behind me to help me with my coat.

I hear him groan as he glides my coat on my shoulders. His mouth is by my ear, his warm breath ghosting across my cheek from behind. “It appears I need to be the one nervous tonight. It seems the back of your dress is missing, and I’ll have to keep myself from going to jail when all the men at the gala come sniffing around you.”

“Don’t be jealous, Ian. I’m almost positive I’ll be leaving with you.” I wink at him and grab my clutch.

“Damn straight,” he answers with a huff.

We say our goodbyes to Josie and Alexa and make our way out to the waiting limo. The traffic is horrible, and it’ll take longer than anticipated to get there.

“Sorry you had to wait so long for me; we’ll be late.” I glance over at him to check for signs of frustration.

“Fashionably late is always right on time, Lorali.” He grins down at me and takes my hand, his fingers stroking the palm.

It feels so sensual and my eyes close involuntarily, a light hum escaping my lips.

“It’ll be a while before we get there. You should take off your coat. I wouldn’t want you overheated.” He smirks down at me and I can tell overheating isn’t the only thing on his mind, and I’m sure whatever he has in mind will heat me up more than the coat.

He helps me shimmy out of my coat and tosses it on the bench seat across from us. He removes his jacket as well; his defined muscles still very evident even hidden under his clothes.

He tugs at me, and I lean my shoulder against his body, half of my back against his chest.

“I’ve missed you.” He trails his fingers ever so lightly down my neck and across my shoulder. My skin, covered in chill bumps and on fire all at the same time, comes alive under his touch. “Have you missed me?”

“Mmm hmm.” I’m unable to think when his hands are on me, especially after I’ve suffered their deprivation for so long.

I hear him chuckle; he’s well aware of the effect he has on me. His lips brush across my shoulder, and I turn my head away giving him more room to play. I feel his fingers gently reach up and pull the strap of my dress down my shoulder, allowing it to give way and expose my breast. He hums appreciatively as his fingers slowly graze down the outer curve.

“Lorali.” The husky sound of my name causes me to turn my head, and his lips capture mine in a slow, sensual kiss. My body unbidden turns towards him, his fingers finding my heavy, swollen breast. He massages it lovingly before pinching my nipple. His mouth captures my pleasurable cry before it can escape into our surroundings.

I’m quickly losing all control of my body, and I can tell Ian is teetering on the edge as well. The kiss has morphed from seductive and leisurely to something more fevered and urgent. Going days without him seems to have been detrimental to our self-control.

Before I realize it, I’m all but turned in the seat and facing him. His fingers are toying with the lines of my dress in the back, sweeping under the edge of the garment at the bottom.

He pulls away from our kiss, “You really are killing me with this dress. You may have to wear your coat all night.”

“I don’t want to do that because then I won’t be able to feel your hands on my bare skin when we dance.” I kiss him gently on his lips and look him the eye, wishing he could see how much I care for him. How much he means to me. How much tonight means to me.

“Well if that’s case, then you can’t leave my side all night.” He kisses me back.

“I think I can handle being wrapped in your arms all night. It will, however, give everyone there something to talk about.” I lean in to kiss him, but he pulls his head back avoiding the kiss.

“What’s there to talk about, Lorali?” I can’t help but frown. I don’t want to have this conversation now. I’m in direct opposition of anything putting a damper on tonight, serious conversation included.

“People will wonder who I am. I’m not a socialite, Ian. People will have questions. Questions that we may not have answers to.” He shakes his head and smirks at me like I haven’t got a clue what’s going on like I’m confused about how people in his circle acts towards outsiders. I’ve heard stories. Well, I’ve read books and seen shows on the Hallmark channel, and it’s always the outsider that gets the trash talk.

“Five minutes, sir” I hear a voice over the speaker in the car. Saved by the bell.

We busy ourselves getting our coats back on. Ian helps me as best he can in the enclosed space. I’m thankful that Alexa insisted on twelve-hour stay lipstick because had she not; Ian would be covered in Diva Red. I grin as I think about marking him, so the whole world knew he was mine.

Ian notices my hands are trembling, and he gives them a light squeeze. “Don’t be nervous, Lorali. You’re stunning, and I’m so glad you’re here with me tonight.”

I smile up at him, and I feel the car slow down. Outside the windows of the limo are hordes of people, waiting rather impatiently to see who’s going to exit the car. You’d think this is the Academy Awards or something rather than a charity gala, but I guess the more prestige, the higher the donations. Rich people sure do love to outdo one another.

The driver has exited the car and has made his way around to open our door. Ian steps out first and holds his hand down to me. Well here goes nothing!

I clasp his hand and step out of the car begging myself not to stumble in my heels if only to leave them unscuffed. These red-soled bad boys were borrowed from Alexa, and as much as she loves me I believe her when she said she’d kill me if they were returned in any form of diminished capacity from which they left the apartment.

The walk down the red carpet, yes there’s an actual red carpet, goes by in a hail of flashes and shouts. My head is spinning, and I’m anxious to get out of the line of fire, desperately begging for some celebrity to pull up next and take the attention from us. We stand for pictures on the press line, and all I can hear are shouts about who we each are wearing and demands my name and who I am to Ian. It’s all rather embarrassing.

One extremely loud reported yells “Who are you with tonight, Ian?” He’s almost too loud to ignore, but I turn towards Ian ready to move on. He pulls me closer to him, smiling down at him and addresses the overly eager man.

“This is Lorali Bennett, my girlfriend.” A collective gasp from the crowd. They know the significance of this declaration. They know it’s one never spoken from his lips in public before.

My entire world stops. Holy shit. Did he just say my name and girlfriend in the same sentence?