CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

HAYDEN

We were seated at a table in the middle of Bocconcino an exclusive Italian restaurant.

We stared at each other over our expensive glasses of red wine.

“Hayden, are we doing any site seeing this weekend?”

“Yes, we are?”

“Hayden, we need to talk about the other night when I left your condo and the heightened security. You were upset about something that happened that night.”

“Lydia, this isn’t the place. We will talk about it another day in private.”

“…Ok.”

“When you looked me up did you check the police database to make sure I wasn’t a rapist or pedophile. I get it, you know I’m Hayden Gaster, but I could have gone to jail. You should always look into a man you are dating no matter who they are. I want you to always look out for you.”

“Like you did to me. Ok one moment. I might not be as good as Sebastian, but I can hack a little too.”

Sitting across the table from me, she scrolled through her phone, researching me.

Taking another sip of her wine, she smiled. “Looks like you are who you say you are, which we already established. No arrest record, which means nothing because you are rich, you could have gotten it expunged. You are not in pedophile system either. And I am constantly reminded you are worth a shit load of...” she leaned in closer. “…Money.”

The society page of the Atlanta Journal Constitution last year said you are a playboy. Internet search said you have never had a girlfriend. One woman said you have commitment issues.”

“Who said that?”

“Kimberly Stanton.”

I chuckled. “She was controlling and another spoiled little rich girl.”

“Sounds like you don’t like rich girls. Maybe you like women with a little street cred. Do you? Or women who are from the hood.”

“Lydia, again you are not from the hood.”

“Damsel in distress. A woman you can save. So, you can appear as Superman.” No smile upon her face just a crass stare.

“Hayden, I don’t need you nor do I want your help. I have never asked you to do anything for me. I want to make myself clear. I’m not your fucking pet project!”

Patrons in the restaurant glared at us.

Before I could say one word she continued talking.

“You think because you bought me all these fancy clothes, flew me outside the country, and paid my salary for the weekend, oh I’m just going to quit my job and let you take care of me.” She pointed her finger toward me.

“Hell no!”

She paused. “I don’t know why I agreed to this.” She stood tossing her napkin on her half-eaten plate of food, storming toward the door, coat, and bag in tow.

Snapping my fingers, I waved the waiter over. I never gave him a chance to speak. “I need to pay the bill, now!”

I was pissed. What is wrong with this woman? Charity case? Why does she think I see her that way? Almost two weeks in, any rational man would cut his losses, but no not me. I will get Lydia to see reason. I paid the bill then ran out of the restaurant. My eyes darted down the street both ways. “Pete. Which way did she go?”

“To the left. She made a left at the corner Mr. Gaster.”

Quickly, I made my way to the corner. I began gawking in windows. Finally, I found her sitting at the bar in a local pub. I blew out a breath of frustration. Out of all the pubs she could enter she chose this one. I strolled inside standing at the end of the bar. The bar smelled like burgers, cigars, and cigarette smoke.

Tamara remembered me. She approached. “What can I get for you Hayden?”

“A Guinness.”

Natalie and her brother Ed own Night Owl pub. They inherited the place from their father. The bar has been around for years. There is always a packed house.

Tamara is Natalie’s best friend and the bar maid. She hates my guts. I wish Lydia wouldn’t have walked into this pub. I glanced down the bar. Lydia sat in the center of the bar nursing a drink.

“Here is your fucking Guinness Hayden. Why are you here? Natalie told you to never show your face in here again!”

I loosened my tie. “I’m here to get my girlfriend.” My eyes pointed to the middle of the bar.

She laughed. Then laughed harder. She rang the drinking bell. “Can I have everyone’s attention! The great Hayden Gaster has graced our presence again. Natalie get out here. You will never believe this.”

Lydia glanced down the bar at me. Her sad eyes fell back on her drink.

I looked away, drinking down half my beer. I needed another drink.

“What the fuck are you doing in my bar?”

“I’m leaving the moment I can talk to my woman.”

Her red head cocked to the side. “You said you liked me a lot, but you said you didn’t believe in girlfriends. We hung out together when you came here on business. The sex was good, I thought you would come around.”

Lydia didn’t look up this time.

Slowly, I walked away. I stood before Lydia. I wasn’t sure what I would say and how I could get out of this. Right now, my track record showed Lydia she couldn’t trust me. Natalie’s brother appeared from the back room. “Ed, please ring the bell.” Ed knew his sister was emotional and blew our fling out of proportion.

I raised my hands. “May I have everyone’s attention. This beautiful woman is upset with me. She’s been told I will have sex with her and run.”

Guys chuckled in the background.

I placed my hands in the air. “But wait.

She also doesn’t need me to take care of her. I’m still trying to process that one.” I glanced at Natalie.

“I’m sorry if I led you on.”

I turned my attention back to Lydia, placing her hands in mine. “I told you I have done some fucked up shit I’m not proud of. I am trying to start over with you. You are the woman who brightens my day. The woman I love holding in my arms. Lydia, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Baby, you make me a better man.” Lydia’s head fell against my chest. Finally, I felt relief.

I raised my hand. “Drinks are on me!” The crowd went wild.

I held Lydia’s face in my hands as my eyes roamed her beautiful face. I took her lips with a hungry need. A need that’s been waiting to escape. I don’t want to hold back anymore. Lydia tugged at my suit jacket lapels.

“I’m falling in love with you Hayden.”

I was stunned. I couldn’t believe she admitted it. Lydia runs from me because I desecrated her. She doesn’t know how to let us be free together. To love each other.

“I never thought I would see the day, Hayden Gaster in love,” Natalie stated.

Tamara shook her head in agreeance.

I barely looked up from Lydia. “Baby, let’s get out of here.”

I gave Tamara my credit card to pay the bill.

“Honey, you look like you’ve been given a death sentence.”

Lydia’s head rested against my shoulder, her fingers ran up and down my wrist. She didn’t answer Tamara.

“Way to go Hayden, looks like you’ve messed with her head pretty good,” she smirked.

“You don’t know shit about her Tamara. Keep your opinions to yourself,” I snapped.

I signed the receipt then stormed out with my woman at my side.

Pete was double parked. He held the door open, Lydia and I slid inside. The moment we were in the car we were all over each other.

“Mr. Gaster where to next?”

I came up for air long enough to tell Pete where we were headed.

“Café De Paris.” I rolled up the partition.

I pulled Lydia onto my lap, my fingers pushed up her dress massaging her ass. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Hayden, you aren’t going to like it.”

“I’m listening.”

“You can’t ask me to stop stripping right now. I need to pay off my father’s debt myself. I also need to make enough money to put away for him. That is why I planned to strip for two more years.”

“Lydia!”

“I understand we are together now, I will have to stop sooner than later. There is no way you will make it the two years. Give me until the end of the summer.”

“Fuck, Lydia! You are really trying to fucking kill me.” Do you have any idea where I go in my head...”? I pointed at my head. “…When I watch you strip. Do you know what I have done to the men who take it too far?”

“Damn it, Hayden! You should have never come back into the club.”