Chapter 2
Mr. Cornwell surprised me by choosing a bar and grill for our lunch date. He told me he had a thing for American sports so we sat close to a bar with several flat screens. When I saw the menu sporting such items as caviar, truffle French fries and burgers that started at fifty dollars, I knew this wasn’t your average pub food, and understood why most of the clientele sported suits.
We ordered and our food arrived quickly. It smelled heavenly and I happily dug in. I sat across from Maximus as Cornwell Senior and I made meaningless chit chat, mostly talking about our favorite books from the collection. At one point, he excused himself and left Maximus and me to our own devices.
“You young people talk. I’ll be back.” He said moving to another table to greet a colleague.
Without much to say, I concentrated my attention on pushing what little was left of my food around on my plate.
“Do I make you uncomfortable, Liza?”
I didn’t bother to answer him and reached for my glass. I was still trying to become comfortable with his blunt manner of speaking. I took a sip of water, taking my time. He wasn’t going to rush me into this conversation.
“What makes you think you make me uncomfortable?” I said at last.
“You’ve barely said a word directly to me throughout our meal.”
“I have things on my mind.”
“Like what? A boyfriend?”
“No.”
“So you’re not seeing anyone?”
“That’s none of your business.”
He placed his hands on the table and I realized then how large they were and he looked at me intently and said, “You’re right. It’s none of my business, but I would like to make it my business. I would like to make you my business.”
I felt my cheeks turn red and I avoided his meaningful gaze.
“Maybe I do have someone.”
“Wouldn’t matter if you do or not. It wouldn’t be much of a deterrent as far as I’m concerned.”
I looked at him and said, “A deterrent from what?”
He smiled at me and said, “Pursuing you.”
“What makes you think I want to be pursued by you?”
He leaned back and his face was impassive as he said the next words, “The way your pupils dilate when I get close to you or the way you emanate heat just being in my presence. The way you’re unable to take your eyes off my hands as if you wonder what they would feel like on your body, touching you, caressing you. It could be the way you can’t take your eyes off my lips and you know you would like to feel them on you…” His voice grew deeper as he said, “Everywhere.”
I didn’t know what to say. Was I that easy to read? He was so bold, so cocky and I wanted to tell him that he was wrong, that he didn’t excite me, but that would be a lie.
“Am I wrong?” he said as if bored and he leaned back away from me, breaking the increasingly sexually heated moment. He then smiled in the direction of his father who suddenly appeared at the table.
“Thank you for joining us for lunch, Liza. Hopefully my son wasn’t too insufferable.”
I smiled at Mr. Cornwell shakily, “No, thank you for inviting me. And I have to say, your son was actually very insufferable so thank you for coming to my rescue.”
Mr. Cornwell chuckled, assuming that I was joking and said, “Isn’t she a funny girl?”
“Hilarious,” Maximus said lightly, but his tone was distracted as he looked towards a large flat screen television hanging over the restaurant’s bar. I looked up at the television, thinking he was distracted by something related to sports and realized that it was actually the news. There was something about a tiger sighting in the suburbs and Maximus frowned deeply. Mr. Cornwell also seemed engrossed by the sensationalism.
I said, “It must have been someone’s pet. That’s a wealthy area of town. Many celebrities live there. Don’t you live in that area Mr. Cornwell? You know how certain celebrities own wild animals. I bet someone’s pet got loose and was terrifying the neighbors. Be careful when you go home tonight.”
Mr. Cornwell glanced briefly in my direction and said with a gracious smile, “You’re probably right my dear; there are so many eccentric people in my neck of the woods, but I think we’ll be safe.” He and Maximus then exchanged a look I didn’t understand.
I didn’t dwell on it and quickly forgot about it as Mr. Cornwell promptly paid the check and we walked back in the direction of the library. I had a meeting later that afternoon and didn’t want to waste too much time. I hadn’t been able to prep for it the night before, so I was looking forward to doing the prep now.
As we neared the building, I said, “Mr. Cornwell, I will catch up with you later.” I then turned to Maximus and nodded an acknowledgment of him, “It was a pleasure meeting you Maximus.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” He said softly and the tone of his voice sounded actually genuine as if he regretted that our time together was cut short.
I tried not to read too much into it as I turned and walked quickly up the stairs, but part of me wanted to get one last look at him, so I glanced over my shoulder and saw him standing there not really listening to his father who was talking animatedly.
Maximus had his eyes trained on me as I climbed the stairs and I held his gaze briefly. My heartbeat quickened and I found myself growing warm before shaking my head at the power this stranger seemed to hold over me before I broke eye contact and walked purposefully away.
* * *
I listened to my boss drone on and on about budgets and the fiscal year, but I wasn’t really listening. My mind was on my encounter with Maximus earlier. I had to get him out of my head, I thought to myself as the meeting finally ended and I was able to escape without making too much idle chitchat with my coworkers. I loved my job, but I hated the meetings.
I promptly headed to my car and as I approached my little sedan, I saw Maximus standing there, leaning casually against it.
“What do you want, Maximus?” I pretending he didn’t excite my body just being near.
“You don’t sound too happy to see me.”
“Are you a stalker?”
“I try not to be.” He continued leaning against my car, making no sign of being ready to move.
Before I could order him to go away, he said, “I would like to get to know you better, Liza. Outside of work. Would you like that?”
He moved away from the car then and came to stand in front of me. He reached up and trailed a hand down my cheek. The soft movement seemed almost intimate and I wanted to rub my face against his hand.
“It’s ridiculous how attractive I find you when your manner is borderline offensive and fully obnoxious.” I said instead. He was too shocked to say anything back and I liked for once that I had startled him into not being able to speak. I nudged him out of the way and unlocked my car while he just stood there a pleased little smile on his face. I then got in behind the wheel and he squatted down next to the door, looking at me through the window.
I rolled it down and said, “I might consider seeing you again. Maybe. What did you have in mind?”
He gave me a slow broad smile and I was reminded of how sexy he was again, “You’re so sassy. I think I might actually like it. How about we get together sometime this weekend?”
I pretended to think about it before answering in the affirmative.
“Your father has my personal number, I’m sure. Give me a call. We’ll make plans.” Not waiting for him to move, I backed the car up and he jumped lithely out of the way.
I smiled evilly to myself, honked the horn twice in good-bye, and drove away. I couldn’t resist the urge to look behind me and I smiled to myself at the imposing perfection that was Maximus as I completely disappeared from view.