Chapter 16

Lorali

The amount of work I get done after the phone call with Ian is minimal at best. I can’t focus on anything because my mind wonders back to Saturday night. My fantasy mind has taken over and manipulated the ending of that little encounter into something much more…satisfying.

By the time I make it back to the apartment for the evening I’m ready for an entire bottle of wine. Entering my apartment, I kick off my shoes by the door and head to the kitchen, silently cursing myself for falling for Ian’s play with the art show, but my curiosity is too strong not to go, if only to see what kind of show it’ll be. Never have I heard of an exposition being so secretive. Most artists want to get their work out there and will use any means for advertising.

My head goes to work wondering if this is some sort of trick, a way for Ian Hale to get me alone and…do what? Hurt me? Seduce me? Punk me by setting me up and humiliating me?

Following that line of thought, my mind takes the opportunity to remind me of the laundromat and all its shady glory and that leaves me quite apprehensive about Ian Hale as a whole. Something’s not right with this whole situation, and I can’t figure it out, which only increases my frustration.

Sighing loudly upon entering the kitchen, I run into the sight of Josie at the kitchen table, a mess surrounding her. She’s up to her elbows in glue and paper mache.

“Why are you sighing so loud?” She inquires, never taking her eyes off of her “project.”

“Ugh,” I start, opening the fridge for the chilled bottle of white. “I don’t even know where to begin.” I pour a glass and take a seat at the end of the table, doing my best to avoid the mess she’s made. “What are you doing?” She’s at the far end of the six seat dining table; newspaper strips and a shallow pan with a white milky substance surround her. Several bottles of craft paint and a few sponge brushes are thrown into the mix as well.

“I’m doing a run through on a paper mâché volcano. The kiddos will be making these next week and I wanted to make sure I could actually make one before attempting to teach them to make their own.” Josie explains, continuing her work.

“That’s awesome. We never got to do anything like that in school, always had to do it at home!” I slouch back in my chair, taking my already half empty glass of wine with me.

“Pinterest, baby!” Josie finally glances up to catch my reaction. She knows I’m obsessed with the website and stalk it regularly, but never really have any time to actively work on projects. I take a quick look around the dining room and try to picture working on some of the projects I have saved for this very room. I know it needs more than just the lame abstract painting of the fruit that currently adorns the wall. I reject the idea immediately. I’m not crafty and I’d turn this room into a hot mess rather than help it.

“Family meeting?” Alexa asks, heading across the kitchen and grabbing a wine glass. She takes a seat one chair closer to Josie’s mess. I slide the bottle of wine across the table, knowing full well this bottle will never see the inside of the fridge again.

“No formal meeting. I was just asking why Lor here is so wound up.” Josie just threw me under the very nosey bus that is Alexa Warner. “She seems aggravated and distracted and won’t tell me what’s going on.” Yep, right under the bus.

“What’s going on? You never get stressed or wound up.” Alexa leans in knowing that whatever I’m upset about is going to be big.

I’m known for being calm and slow to anger or frustrate, and that should be another sign from the gods to stay away from Ian Hale, because he’s all but turned my mind upside down!

“Nothing.” I reply as flat as I can, hoping to avoid what I know is inevitable because Alexa never gives up.

“Bullshit! You’re halfway through your second glass of wine in less than five minutes which completely goes against your ‘one glass on work nights’ rule!”

Busted.

“It’s a long story, and I don’t want to get into it right now.” I look from Josie to Alexa. Nope, not getting out of this one if the looks on their faces are any indication. Josie has even pulled her filthy hands from the bowels of the volcano she’s building, intrigued.

I stay silent for a bit longer. They continue to look at me, waiting for me to proceed.

“Fine! I met a guy.” I only have to wait seconds before they’re both speaking at once.

“Who is he?”

“What’s his name?”

“Is he hot?”

“Where did you meet?”

“Slow down you two!” I settle in to tell them the entire story, well minus a few details, because I know the only way to get them off my back is to put it all out there.

Let the interrogation begin.

“I ran into him, literally, at the laundromat last week and again at the gala I worked at Saturday night.” I don’t know why I just don’t spill it all in one breath, what I’ve given them will not be enough information to pacify them.

“What’s his name?” Alexa asks as she pour another glass of wine.

This is when I should’ve lied and given some random name to them, but before my mind could fabricate a lie “Ian Hale” spills from my mouth.

Alexa nearly loses her grip on her wine glass. I keep my head down, knowing she’s gaping at me with her mouth open. I’m a fool to even think that Alexa wouldn’t know who the Ian Hale is. She runs around in some of the same circles I’m sure.

“Lorali!” My eyes shoot up. Yep. Gaping. How that’s even possible with that big of a grin on her face I’ve no clue. “Ian Hale?”

“Who in the hell is Ian Hale?” Josie asks, apparently school teachers are just as out of the loop as reporters when it comes to hunky, insanely successful business men.

“Who’s Ian Hale? Only the hottest, sexiest man in Denver!” Alexa is shaking her head at me. “You met him over a week ago and we’re only now hearing about him? Are you nuts?”

“First off, I had no clue who he was when we first met, and since I was too busy pouring fabric softener all over him, I didn’t grab his name last week,” I respond incredulously.

I go on to explain how I discovered who he was while doing research for work and that he just happened to be the host at the gala on Saturday. They don’t ask for further explanation or details about our very first encounter at the laundromat, and I don’t expand on the subject either. There’s no way I can explain my questions about his possible less than ethical reasons for being there in the first place.

“So you spilled something on him and then saw him again on Saturday? Why in the world would you be tied in knots because of that? You seriously need to get out more if you’re going all school-girl over seeing this guy twice.” Josie says. She’s apparently lost interest, deeming my situation as just an over exaggeration and has her hands back in the volcano.

“No, no Josie. You don’t understand because if you ran into Ian Hale twice you’d be going gaga also. He’s literally that hot!” Alexa is well aware of my dilemma, and she doesn’t even know half of the story. Alexa grabs her tablet off the counter, types in a few things, and turns it around. A headshot of Ian is on the screen.

Josie gasps at the sight of him, and it seems like hours before she’s able to pull her eyes from his picture; now she gets it.

I hang my head, twirling my glass in my fingers. I can feel the blush starting to come over my cheeks, which makes me smile. Alexa doesn’t fall for it. She knows I’m way too practical to let only a few sightings elicit such a response from me.

“What aren’t you telling us, Lorali?” Alexa is relentless.

There’s no way I’m going to go into the banter that Ian and I shared. I’d never live it down because how I acted around him is not who I am, and I honestly have no clue who that woman was.

“We…” crap there’s no turning back now.

“You…?” Alexa prods.

“We kind of made out in the hallway.” Alexa is off her feet in an instant screeching.

“Made out? Are you fucking kidding me right now!?” Alexa is gawking at me like I’m an alien.

“Yeah, we kissed a bit. He had to go make a speech and I left.” I shrug my shoulders like it was no big deal when everyone knows just how big a deal it is, and not because Ian is who he is, but more because I am who I am.

“You kissed a bit huh? You made out with Ian Fucking Hale, and you sit there and shrug your shoulders like it’s something you or ANYONE for that matter just does on a regular basis!” She’s still screaming, fully exasperated with my words.

We once again have Josie’s attention. “Is he a good kisser?” Josie asks, and I know it’s only so Alexa can take a minute to calm down.

I look up and can’t hide the grin on my face. “The best,” I tell her. His mouth, in the very limited time it was on mine, provided the best kiss of my life. I know that’s not really saying much. I don’t just go around making out with people, so I have limited experience, but he was by far the best and will be next to impossible to fall from the lead for any future men that may come along.

Alexa has finally taken her seat, and she’s just looking at me slowly shaking her head in disbelief.

“Ian Hale.” She says in almost a whisper. “He didn’t want to meet back up after the speech?”

“He mentioned that he wanted to continue later, but no way was I going to stick around and risk getting caught getting dirty with Ian Hale!” Alexa gasps.

“You just walked away! Next time call me, and I’ll stand in for you! I’d love to get a taste of that fine specimen of a man!” She flops back and starts fanning herself like she’s been exposed to a sudden flash of heat.

I giggle at her. Alexa Warner, always one for the dramatics! The thought of her or anyone else, getting a taste of the beautiful Ian Hale besides me, makes my blood run hot and not in a good way.

“I’ve no intentions of getting caught up in whatever game Ian Hale is trying to get me to play the lead role in. That’s why I’m so out of sorts. He called today and somehow convinced me to go to an art opening with him tomorrow. He’s quite persuasive.” Cue more dramatics from Alexa.

“He contacted you and asked you out after you deserted him at the gala?” She’s completely stunned. “You really are clueless aren’t you?”

“Obviously.” I give her a look that tells her to explain.

“First off I’m sure you can tell that Ian Hale is not the type of man who gets turned down like, EVER. Secondly, the talk about him says he’s a one shot kind of guy. Once he’s rebuffed he moves on. He doesn’t chase women. He has no need for it because the line for admission is so long. He has his pick of the litter so to speak.” Alexa still has a grin on her face because she realizes what she’s just told me is not serving the purpose she intended. “He’s contacted you after you denied him.” She explains.

“Well if I’m being honest, had he not had to go deliver that speech there would’ve been no denying him. We would’ve banged it out in the bathroom!” Now it’s Josie’s turn to gasp. I know she’s never heard things like that come out of my mouth; Alexa on the other hand is very open about her escapades and says crazy stuff all the time.

“Wow, Lorali! He seems to have left a mark already!” Josie has given up on the volcano and has slid it to the side, giving her the ability to lean on the table and inch in closer, like she’s afraid she’ll miss a torrid detail.

“Honestly he’s driving me crazy and going out with him tomorrow will only make it worse. I think I’ll cancel.” The slap of Alexa’s hand on the table top startles me and I jerk my eyes towards her.

“You will NOT cancel that date, Lorali Bennett! No way are you backing out of an evening with the sexiest man in the state of Colorado!” She’s now glaring at me like I drank the last of the wine and forgot to refrigerate another bottle, one of the seven deadly sins according to her.

“I can’t control myself around him, Alexa! By night’s end, I’ll probably be sprawled out on the gallery floor!” I shrink back into my seat, annoyed that he has the much control on my actions.

“Then I say you better bring a blanket because Denver floors tend to stay pretty cold!” Alexa throws right back at me. “Plus I think a man who can have anyone he wants has the ability to control himself in public.”

“You don’t even have a clue what that man will do in public!” Oops. I should quit talking while I’m ahead!

“Well then, enlighten us.” She orders with a smirk. Nothing gets past her. I didn’t want to go into this part with them, but since I’m relying on them for advice I figure full disclosure is best.

“He said some of the most inappropriate things to me. He pinned me to the wall and proceeded to kiss me so spectacularly that I thought I was going to collapse. He had no regard for the situation, knowing anyone of the people at that event could’ve rounded the corner to that hallway to use the restroom! Had someone caught us, I could’ve lost my job!” I lean back in my chair completely exasperated.

“Pinned against the wall huh? I thought you just ‘kissed a bit’” She’s using air quotes and grinning from ear to ear. She’s staring at me like this is some coming of age movie and I just got my period for the first time and have finally been declared a woman.

I shrug again only this time I’ve no ability to wipe the smile off my face.

“You say he had no regard for the situation, but how about you? You could’ve easily ended it also.” I know she’s trying to lead me somewhere but I just can’t focus on where. The thought of that kiss sends my mind into a sultry tailspin.

“Ha! He’s Ian Hale remember? No way could anyone stop mid-assault with him.” Josie remains silent but she’s completely wrapped up in this conversation. If she leans any further in she’ll be laying on the table.

“Then it’s the same for him.” Alexa leans back like she’s just solved the final round of Jeopardy.

“What’s the same for him?” I ask.

“He couldn’t control himself either, because I’ve heard women talk about him and he’s not one for public displays of affection. What I hear is that he’s very controlled and private, so he never gets caught with his pants down so to speak.” This is where Alexa was leading me. Trying to convince me that I may have a shot at this man.

Ha! Yeah right!

“Seriously?” How did she do that? A simple statement about grapevine rumors and my heart has started to beat faster.

“Lorali, you’re the one with the investigative reporter degree, what does your research say?” She asks as she pours the very last drop of wine in her glass and sits back in her seat.

Crap. Research. That would’ve answered a few questions. I’ve done no further research other than the picture hunt before the event on Saturday. “I haven’t had time to conduct any research on him.”

“Well I’d start there. I bet you won’t find much about women in his life. He’s quite social but you won’t find many repeats in the woman department.” Alexa explains.

“So I should cancel. I’ve no interest in being another ‘woman’ he might be seen once with.” I can hear her sigh and she shakes her head as if I’m a child, annoyed that she has to explain simple things to me.

“You’re still not getting it! He sought you out after leaving the gala Saturday, that’s something!” I can tell she’s getting frustrated and wanting no part of the whole ‘I don’t want to be pursued by a sex god’ pity party I’m throwing myself.

“Well I won’t cancel, but you’re responsible for the ‘one night with a billionaire’ aftermath once he uses me and moves on.” She’s grinning again, ecstatic that I’m not going to cancel on him.

“I’ll be there. Just don’t sleep with him if you don’t want to be his next victim.” She says like it’s just that simple.

“He’s Ian Hale remember?” She knows I won’t turn him away and that’s why her smile is about to crack her face.

“Well you may need to bring a blanket and condoms! I’m sure it’d be nice to get off without the use of B.O.B for once!” She has no idea just how right she is! “Where are you guys going for your date?”

“Some art show called Orchid by Jody J. I’ve never heard of her, Ian says she’s quite exclusive.” I’m already back in my head allowing our conversation to give Ian’s pursuit some credit. What would I do if this man did want to sleep with me? What would I do if he wanted more than that? How would I survive if he didn’t?

I vow to myself then and there that I’ll go on the date but will not allow myself to be distracted by his never-ending sex appeal, and I most definitely will not be sleeping with him!

“Jody J huh?” Why she’s grinning even bigger than before is beyond me.

“Yeah, ever heard of her?” I question her, hoping to get more detail than Ian would give me.

“Nope.” She gets up to put her glass in the dishwasher. I can see in her profile that she’s still smiling and get an uneasy feeling that she knows more than she’s willing to say.