18 - Samantha
“Two nights in a row!” Jess exclaims with a smile. “I’d swear you’re trying to get away from me.”
“Just zip me up,” I answer with a laugh. I’m holding the clasp of my dress closed at the back of my neck as Jess zips up the back. It’s the nicest thing I brought with me, a simple black cocktail dress. My heart is thumping in my chest and I smooth my hands down the front of the dress. I turn around and Jess nods in approval.
“You look hot,” she says. She sighs and shakes her head. “I wish I was being whisked around to all the nicest spots in New York.”
I laugh. “You had your time,” I say. “It’s not like Owen hasn’t spoiled you.”
“I know, I know. It’s just hard with twins.”
“I’ll babysit one night,” I say as I slip some earrings into my ears. “Just let me know. You guys deserve a night off.”
Jess smiles at me. “Thanks Sam, that sounds great, actually. What time is Clifford - I mean Dean picking you up?”
“Should be any minute now, I think.”
“Is he bringing that car again? Would it be weird if I asked him to take me for a drive around the block in it?”
“Yes, that would be weird,” I reply with a laugh. Jess just shrugs and grins at me. The doorbell rings and we look at each other. Jess’s eyebrows shoot up to her hairline and my heart starts doing backflips in my chest. Suddenly, thousands of butterflies are crashing around my stomach and I feel like I’ve forgotten how to speak English.
“You look great,” Jess says. “Come on.”
Owen has already opened the door when we walk towards the front of the house. He’s shaking hands with Dean. My jaw almost drops when I see him. He’s wearing a simple black suit with a white shirt. He’s still wearing his sling, and the end of his cast is sticking out of his shirt sleeve. The top button is undone and I can see a glimpse of his muscular chest. A shiver runs down my spine as my thoughts flick back to the hospital parking lot. His hair is perfectly tousled and his beard is trimmed. He looks incredible, and the heat between my legs instantly flares.
“So sorry again about yesterday,” I hear Owen say. “I don’t know what got into Matt, he’s never hit anyone like that before.”
“Don’t mention it,” Dean says with a laugh. “It’ll just be another story to tell. It’s not as bad as the time one kid threw her dirty diaper at me.”
Owen chuckles and gestures to invite him in. Dean takes a step in and lifts his eyes up to me. His eyes brighten the tiniest bit and his lips part ever so slightly. I take the last few steps towards him and reach up to kiss his cheek.
“Hey,” I say simply.
“Hey,” he responds. “You look beautiful.” His eyes are shining as he looks me up and down one more time. The most delicious tingle travels with his eyes as he takes in every inch of my body. My cheeks start to blush and I turn to Jess and Owen.
“See you guys later,” I say a little too loudly. Jess nods and smiles before giving me a hug with one arm. Dean and I walk out the door. As soon as the door closes I turn to Dean. “Is it just me or did it feel like we were teenagers going to prom? Jess and Owen were standing there like proud parents.”
Dean laughs and a shiver travels up my spine again. “Yeah, I got that sense as well. I didn’t mind though, it brought me back to my youth. Makes me feel like I’m being naughty or something.”
I laugh as he takes my hand and helps me down the steps. He opens the passenger’s side door for me and I slide into his gleaming black Bentley once again. I watch him walk over to the driver’s side and get in. He turns to me and smiles before leaning over and reaching his hand to my cheek. He kisses me gently, pressing his lips to mine and groaning.
“Had to do that,” he says with a grin.
“I’m not complaining,” I reply as I try to control the beating of my heart. He smiles a bit wider and turns on the car.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask.
Dean smiles as he pulls out onto the street. “It’s a surprise. You’ll love it.”
My heart hasn’t slowed down a bit as we drive a bit further. I slide my hand onto his thigh and he tenses it slightly and then relaxes. For just a second he takes his hand off the steering wheel and brushes the tips of my fingers with his. He goes back to driving and I wonder if he’d hold my hand if both his arms were functional. We drive a bit further until we get to a huge well-lit building.
Dean pulls up in front of the portico and a valet in a fancy uniform opens the door for me. I step out and he nods before closing the door and going around to the other side. I watch as Dean hands him the keys smoothly and then comes to join me. I try to keep the awe off my face when I see how normal this is for him. He hooks my arm into his and walks me towards the door.
Before we can touch the front doors, they swing open and another man nods to me. I smile at him and glide through the doors. We’re guided towards the elevators and let up to the top floor. Dean squeezes my arm in his and looks over at me. He winks.
“What do you think so far?” he asks.
“It’s a far cry from Lexington, Virginia,” I say with a laugh. “I’m used to opening my own doors.”
“Not tonight,” he says with a smile.
The elevator doors open to a magnificent restaurant. Every table is beautifully set with rich tablecloths and gleaming silverware. There are candles flickering on each table. On every single wall there are floor-to-ceiling windows showing off New York’s sparkling skyline. We’re led by yet another smartly-dressed employee to our table. It’s beside the window and I gasp as we get closer. I can see everything from up here - all the lights and cars and movement below us. The table itself has a vase with a single long-stem rose in it, and a few rose petals strewn across the table. The waiter appears immediately with sparkling water and a list of wines.
Dean hands it to me and I glance at the long wine menu. It hardly even looks like English to me. I look up at him and shrug as I laugh.
“You choose,” I say.
Dean nods and glances at the menu for no longer than a couple seconds before asking for one of the wines. The waiter disappears and I shake my head.
“I love how you thought I’d be able to choose the wine,” I say with a laugh. “Have you forgotten where I’m from?”
Dean laughs. “Maybe I have,” he replies. “You seem at home over here.”
“You make me feel comfortable,” I reply.
Dean smiles and adjusts his sling, sighing.
“I wish this thing was more comfortable,” he says. “Would you mind helping me take this jacket off?”
“Not this again,” I say with a laugh. “It worked once, it’s not going to work again. We’re in public, Dean, get a grip!”
Dean laughs and shakes his head. “I promise to stay fully clothed.”
I make an exaggerated sigh and laugh as I get up. I help him unclasp the sling and slide his jacket off, hanging it up behind his chair. He puts the sling back on and I tie it off, helping him sit down again. I make my way back to my chair and sit down across from him.
“There. And that’s as much undressing of you that I’ll be doing tonight,” I say in a serious tone as I hold up my finger in front of me.
Dean flicks his eyes at me and the corner of his mouth curls upwards. “That’s disappointing,” he growls. Before I can reply, the waiter reappears with a bottle of wine. He presents it to Dean with a flourish and I watch as he tastes the wine and nods. The waiter turns to me and fills my glass and then Dean's. My heart is still thumping and the heat between my legs is growing hotter by the second. Earlier I swore I’d take things slow, but that resolve is weakening with every minute that goes by.