CHAPTER FIVE

HAYDEN

Sitting at my usual table, strippers flocked to me. Puffing on my cigar, I threw money into the air. I let the women dance for me, but I didn’t allow them to sit on my lap.

Lydia walked up the stairs, glanced at me then stepped in the opposite direction. I wasn’t going to chase after her tonight. I sat back and watched her like I did every night.

The following night, I sat in the corner working from my phone. Dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, baseball cap, and loafers, I tried keeping to myself. A couple of strippers danced for me, again I wouldn’t let them sit on my lap. I worked on my speech for tomorrow’s board meeting.

“Cherry and Brianna, I’ll take over from here.”

I glanced up at Lydia, then returned my attention to my work. She grabbed my cell, then my hand. “Come with me.”

She led me into one of the private rooms. “Have a seat.”

She placed my cell back into my hand. “I’ll order you a glass of vodka on the rocks.”

“No thank you. I’m driving tonight. Club soda will be fine.”

Lydia smiled.

I admit I was perplexed. I didn’t understand what was going on.

She returned to the room placing the drink on the table next to me.

Lydia leaned over me. “What do you want from me?”

Staring deep into her eyes. “I told you a date.”

“Fine, but the date will be tonight when I get off work. After the date, you’ll promise not to come in here again.”

“I’m not agreeing to those terms. And where are we going at 3 in the morning.”

“The Waffle House silly, of course.”

I glanced back down at my cell. “Ok.”

“You got here later than usual tonight.”

“What can I say? My sleep pattern is a little fucked up.”

She smiled.

“You’ve tricked off enough money this week. You don’t have to pay to sit in here. I get off early. I have an early class. I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”

“Ok.”

Women can be so hard to read. You’re telling me, all I had to do was have most of the stripper’s dance for me then she’d come around. I shook my head.

She returned a short time later. “Hayden, I’m ready. You can follow me.”

“I will follow you home to drop off your car, then I will drive us to the restaurant.”

“No.”

“Yes, we do it my way or I’ll return the next night you work.”

“Shoot, fine.”

Ten minutes later, we pulled in front of the beautiful white apartment building in midtown. The same building, I followed her to last night.

I can’t believe she doesn’t live that far from my office building. She stepped out of the front door of her building. I hopped out of the car, running around opening the passenger door for her. She smiled, sliding into the Ferrari. Closing the door behind her, I dove back into the driver seat.

“Which Waffle House are we driving too?” I asked.

“The location on Piedmont. I will tell you how to get there.”

“Which one are you referring to on Piedmont?”

“It’s across from Wild Willy’s.”

“Oh, I know where it is.”

I pulled out of the parking space onto the empty street.

“You don’t live far from my office building.”

“Which one?”

“It’s two blocks over. The Gaster building.”

“Oh, so not only are you a pretty boy, you are super rich,” she smirked.

“Unbelievable!”

My eyes narrowed. “What’s the problem?”

“You want to date me, a stripper. What the fuck for? You can date any woman you want.”

“Why did you agree to go out with me?”

Her eyes dropped on me. “I told you why. You wouldn’t leave me alone Hayden. Rich boys think they can have whatever they want.”

Her leg fidgeted as she rubbed her ear.

I drove into a spot in the Waffle House parking lot.

Removing my baseball cap, I tossed it in the back seat, running my fingers through my hair. Leaning over, I pulled her close. I could see the fear in her eyes.

“I don’t want to hurt you. I’m asking you to let me in a little bit.”

My lips grazed hers then our heads moved from side to side as I deepened our kiss. She moaned. Her moan was felt deep within. This woman has me good. I don’t give a fuck about dating any other woman, just her. Not sure why she won’t give me a chance, really. I don’t want to hear the bullshit about the money.

She was trying to fight us. Her fingers dug into my chest.

“Lydia, will you please be open minded?”

“God, you smell good.”

I chuckled. “Lydia, seriously. Will you?”

She pressed her lips against mine. “Yes, now come on. I’m hungry.”

~

We strolled into the well-lit Waffle House. There was a hand full of tables filled. Lydia and I sat at a table in the middle of the restaurant.

“The girls had a bet going to see just how many nights you were going to keep coming into the club.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“I figured you could have kept it going for another two nights before you were done. You look tired.”

I smirked. “You felt sorry for me?”

“Just a little.”

Her blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She wore a pink and white sweat shirt that read Sassy Southern Girl across the front, tight jeans, and Ugg boots. Her large gold hoop earrings brushed against her shoulders. My eyes were glued to her hot pink matte lips. I wanted to suck on them for the rest of the night.

A waitress approached our table.

“Scrumptious, how are you doing tonight?”

“I’m doing well Betty,” she smiled brightly.

“I’d like you to meet Hayden Gaster.”

I shook her hand.

She looked me up and down. “Nice to meet you handsome.”

“Scrumptious, why are you out here with a man at 3:30 in the morning?”

“It’s ok. Take a picture of his license plate, that way if something happens to me you’ll know who killed me. It’s the red Ferrari.”

My jaw clenched. “There is nothing to worry about. Yeah, take a picture of my license plate Betty. I want Lydia to feel safe with me,” I stated staring into Lydia’s eyes.

She blushed.