CHAPTER 18
HARLEY
Dinner went by like a dream. Blaze chose well, reserving a courtyard table at Il Cielo in Beverly Hills. One of the most romantic restaurants in town, I was impressed he’d been so thoughtful. We sat at a private candlelit table under the stars, feasting on lobster, calamari, and risotto so delicate it melted in our mouths.
By the time we’d polished off a bottle of wine and eaten like royalty, we’d shed any awkward first-date jitters and were laughing and joking with each other like two old friends.
That’s what Blaze felt like to me and friends were a rarity in my life. Outside of a few close girlfriends, I didn’t have much time for new friends. To find one in Blaze that felt like an old connection was special and I knew it.
He didn’t treat me like I was a number. He didn’t grill me on what it was like to be in Hollywood during the golden era. He didn’t ask me what famous people I knew.
He treated me like I was special, but it was the fact that he treated me like I was just any other woman that appealed to me. I was used to be treated like a celebrity. His lack of knowledge of who I was, or who I used to be, was addicting and foreign and completely intoxicating. I found myself opening up to him in ways I usually didn’t with others.
“Tell me about where you grew up,” he asked, after the tiramisu arrived.
“Oh, it was a world away from here,” I said. “I grew up in Savannah, Georgia. It was a tiny town back then, still isn’t much bigger, I’ve heard.”
“You haven’t been back?”
“Oh, not in a very long time.”
“Family?”
“All my family has passed now. When I turned eighteen, I got out of there as fast as I could. Los Angeles became my home and it’s stayed that way.”
“I just moved here a few months ago,” he said. “I grew up in Las Vegas. Danced there for years, until Richie met Tillie and we all came out here to start Tomcats.”
“It’s a remarkable place,” I said. “Richie and Tillie are your partners?”
“Yes, along with a few others. Daine and Fox, too.”
“Looks like it’s doing quite well,” I said. “I was hesitant to go at first, but you made it worth it.”
“I don’t usually do this, you know,” he said.
“Do what?”
“Meet up with clients outside of work,” he said.
I nodded, smiled, pleased I was the one that made him break the rules.
“Right, because it’s against the rules.”
“That’s one reason,” he said. “But I’ve found it’s just as easy to keep things separate.”
“I’m sure there’s no shortage of available women for a man like you, in or out of work.”
“That’s true,” he shrugged. He wasn’t arrogant, he was just confident, and I knew I was last in a long line of women to drink from his well. That didn’t make it taste any less sweet to me. Though I suspected he might think so. “But you…”
“Me?”
“You’re different than the women I usually date.”
“You mean I’m older?”
“No, not at all. Maybe that’s true, but I don’t care about age. What I mean is, Harley — you’re the whole package. I know we just met, hell, this is our first fucking date. But something tells me you have a lot more to offer than anyone I’ve dated before.”
“Let’s make a deal, Blaze. If you don’t compare me to the endless stream of pussy that came before me, I won’t compare you to all the vapid, vacuous, possessive men I’ve been involved with.”
His brows rose in shock and I laughed.
“I hate games. I hate comparing apples and oranges. I know I’m not like most girls in this town, Blaze. I don’t need reminding.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he insisted.
“I know what you meant, and you’re right,” I said, winking across my glass of wine at him as I brought it to my lips, “I am pretty awesome.”
“That’s what I’m trying to say!” He winked and laughed with me, his eyes peering deeply into mine. He was so warm and laid-back and mellow, so self-assured in his sculpted skin that all he needed to do was sit back and let all of life’s pleasure come to him all wrapped up in pretty little bows.
What would he do with a package that wasn’t wrapped up quite so pretty?
“Would you like to get out of here?” he asked.
I nodded. Indeed I did want to get out of there. I was ready to take him to my bed days ago. He paid the bill and whisked me back to his Porsche. I sank into the low seat next to him, my hand lying casually on his knee.
“Nice car, by the way,” I said.
“Thanks,” he replied. “Daine convinced me to buy it when we moved.”
“Sounds like a good friend,” I replied.
“He is,” he said. “In fact, I’d love it if you met him. His birthday is this weekend. We’re having a party tomorrow night. You should come.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah, at Tillie’s place. We all live there. It’ll be a blast. You can meet everyone!”
“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “You don’t think it’s a little too soon?”
“Too soon? Why?”
“We haven’t even slept together yet and you want me to meet your friends?” I asked, playfully.
“You’re right,” he said, growing serious, reaching down and gently caressing my knee, “I’ll ask you again in an hour.”
I laughed and shook my head.
“You’re pretty sure of yourself,” I replied.
He looked over at me, his eyes open and soft, as he shook his head.
“No,” he whispered, his voice a low, soft growl. “I’m just sure of you.”