Le Sur was just as beautiful as I thought it would be. The ambiance was breathtaking with its low lighting and romantic feel. The marble floors were exquisite, as were the paintings that hung on the walls, representing Paris. The tables were lined with satin cloths, and the meals were served on delicate china.
“Do you like it here?” Connor asked as he noticed me looking around.
“Yes, it’s a beautiful restaurant.” I smiled.
The waiter brought our meals as Connor was about to ask me a question. “You said you volunteer at the soup kitchen; may I ask why?” The look on his face told me that he was a bit intrigued by it.
I took my fork and knife and cut up my chicken as I proceeded to answer his question.
“I like to help people in need; you should know that by now, Mr. Black.”
He lightly nodded his head. “Yes, I guess it was a dumb question to ask.”
“I had a rough childhood. Let’s just say nobody was there to help me.” His eyes never left mine; he listened closely to every word I said.
“What about your parents? Didn’t they help you?” I looked down and away from him, trying to find the right words.
“My mother died of cancer when I was six, and my father was an alcoholic who passed away right before my eighteenth birthday.”
The look on his face changed; it went from hard to soft in a matter of seconds.
“Is that why you helped me last night? Because you think that I’m an alcoholic?” he asked. I took the last bite of my dinner and set down my fork.
“No, my father choked to death on his vomit during one of his drunken nights. I found him dead in his bed the next morning. I didn’t want that same fate for you. What people don’t realize is how easy it is for something like that to happen. I spent my entire life taking care of my father who absurdly drank himself into oblivion almost every night because he couldn’t get over my mother’s death. So, it’s just second nature for me to help people.”
He didn’t know what to say. I think I shocked him. He held up his glass and motioned me to do the same.
“Well, thank you for your help last night, and as mad as I was this morning to find you standing in my kitchen, I do appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” I smiled.
As we were leaving the restaurant, I noticed several women looking at Connor with what appeared to be sex in their eyes. Some were licking their lips as we walked by, and others were eyeing him up and down. It was rather disgusting, but I could see why they did it. He was undoubtedly something to be admired. We walked outside, and I looked at him.
“Want some ice cream?” I asked.
He looked at me with a puzzling look like I was crazy or something.
“No, I don’t want ice cream. I’m taking you home and then I have somewhere I have to be.” Here came his rudeness again. I was surprised it took this long.
“Oh, come on! It’s my treat. I know this cute little ice cream parlor a couple of blocks away that’s open twenty-four hours.”
“Miss Lane, I don’t want any ice cream. Now get in the car so Denny can take you home.” His tone was adamant.
I started to walk down the street. I wanted ice cream. If he didn’t, that was his problem, but I was getting some with or without him.
I waved my hand as I walked away. “Thanks again for dinner, Mr. Black. I’ll see you around sometime.”
“Miss Lane, get back here!” he yelled down the street. I rolled my eyes and kept walking. Suddenly, he was beside me mumbling, “Miss Lane, I will not tell you again to get in the car.”
I stopped and turned to him, shoving my finger into his chest. “I don’t take orders from anybody, Mr. Black, especially people that I’ve only known less than twenty-four hours. I’m not your responsibility. You thanked me for my help with a nice dinner, and now it’s time for us to part ways. I’m going to get some ice cream, and then I’ll call a cab to drive me home.”
He stood there stunned and unable to speak. I continued walking, and he followed me. I heard him on the phone. “Denny, it looks like we’re getting ice cream. I’ll call you when we’re leaving.” The tone of his voice was angry.
“You don’t need to come with me if you don’t like ice cream,” I said.
“I never said I didn’t like it; I just don’t want any.”
“Then why are you following me, Mr. Black?”
“It’s not safe in this city for a beautiful young woman to be walking alone, especially at night. How many times do I need to explain that to you?”
I caught the “beautiful” part and couldn’t help but smile. My feet were starting to kill me in my four-inch heels, so I stopped abruptly in the middle of the sidewalk and took them off.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked.
“I’m taking off my shoes because my feet are killing me,” I said as I used his arm for balance.
“You’re going to walk barefoot on this dirty sidewalk?”
I laughed. “Yes, I am, Mr. Black.” I could tell he hated the idea. He was so prim and proper. We walked up to the door of the ice cream parlor, and I slipped my shoes back on.
“Hello, how can I help you?” a cheery young girl behind the counter asked. I looked at the different ice creams behind the glass. “I’ll have a single scoop of chocolate chip in a waffle cone, please.”
“And for you, sir?” the cheery girl asked.
Connor looked at me and sighed. “A single scoop of cherry vanilla in a cup.” I smiled at him and bumped my shoulder against his. I went to grab my wallet and pay, but Connor had already handed the girl his money.
“I told you it was my treat.”
“Don’t worry about it, Miss Lane. I can afford to buy you ice cream.” I rolled my eyes and sat down at the wrought-iron table. Connor sat across from me. I watched him eat his ice cream while hiding a small smile. I could tell he was enjoying it.
“How long has it been since you ate ice cream?” I asked.
He looked at me puzzled. “I don’t know; since I was a kid, I guess.”
“Are you kidding me? You haven’t had ice cream since you were a kid?”
“No. Is that a problem?”
“No. I’m just surprised.”
“I think you’d find a lot of things surprising about me,” he said. I twisted my face and glared at him.
“So, where are you going later?” Not that it was any of my business, but he made a point to let me know he needed to be somewhere.
He raised one eyebrow. “Miss Lane, I don’t think you really want to know the answer to that.”
We finished our ice cream as I saw Denny pull the limousine up at the curb. He got out and opened the door for me.
“Thank you, Denny. You are such a gentleman,” I said as I glared at Connor. Thank god I didn’t live too far because it was awkwardly silent the whole way home. The limo pulled up to my apartment, and I could see Connor leaning over, checking it out.
“You have your own outside entrance?” He frowned.
“I don’t live in a fancy apartment building with a doorman and private elevator. This is it, Mr. Black; my little apartment with its own outside entry.” He looked at me in irritation.
“I didn’t mean anything by it; I just think it is unsafe, and anyone can break in.” I looked at him and thanked him for putting that thought in my head. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. I found it odd that he flinched at my touch.
“Thank you for dinner and ice cream. I had a nice time.”
“You’re welcome. Have a nice night, Miss Lane.”
I got out of the limo and leaned forward so that I was facing him, and I winked. “Have a pleasant night, Mr. Black.”
I shut the door and walked into my apartment. I took off my killer shoes and threw them down; god, my feet hurt, but it was worth the pain to eat at Le Sur. My suspicion about Connor and him having to be somewhere was that he was going to pick up some woman for sex. I had the distinct feeling he was that type of guy. He said he didn’t do relationships, but he was a man. Every man had needs, and he was going to make sure his were filled.
I pondered why anyone would want a relationship with him anyway. He was downright rude and arrogant, and not to mention, he seemed a little controlling. Oh hell, I’d never known anyone so controlling, but why did my heart flutter when I was around him? I laughed to myself, thinking about the night, and how, on more than one occasion, I pissed him off, as I climbed into my bed and fell fast asleep.