Consumed by a Stranger (Craved Series #4) (4 page)

"So
he told you what happened?" I asked, leaning against my kitchen counter.
"With his Dad and everything?"

"Yeah,"
Megan said. 

I
knew how much I went out of my way to keep my Dad from coming up in
conversation so the fact that he opened up about it meant a lot.

"Do
you think it's too weird?" I asked. "That both of our Dads have
drinking problems."

"I
don't think it's a reason you shouldn't go out if that's what you're
asking," she said. "If anything, I was thinking it might be a relief
for you to know he would never judge you for that."

"Maybe."

"Look,
Audrey. You might as well give him a chance. He came all this way just to see
you, and I think he would've found you whether I helped him or not." 

"You
do?"

"He
said as much anyway."

"What?"

"He
said if I didn't help him, he wasn't going to stop looking for you and that he
already had a PI in mind if I refused."

"A
PI?! What the hell?"

"I
know. So if anything, he owes me a big thank you for the money I saved him and
you owe me a thank you for keeping you out of a professional stalking
situation."

"Christ."

"But
I have been dying to tell you I heard from him. You know how much I suck at
keeping secrets."

"Yeah."

"When
I realized he was essentially hunting you down, I was pretty jealous. I don't
think any guy's ever gone to that much trouble for me."

"Max
did get you that cookie cake when you graduated."

"Fuck
off."

I
smiled. 

"What
are you going to wear tonight?"

"I
don't know. Something plunging maybe. Then again, he said he’s picking me up on
his bike."

"Oh.
That does limit your options."

"I
know," I said. "Any suggestions?"

"You
always look gorgeous in blue," she said. "Cause your eyes."

I
sighed. 

"Not
sure if that helps."

"No.
It's something," I lied. 

"Have
you wondered what the heck you're going to do if this works out?"

"Of
course not. We haven't even been on a date in real life yet."

"Until
tonight."

"Right,"
I said. "But your whole ‘no feelings just fun’ strategy seems pretty
useless right now."

"Oh
yeah, you can forget about that. That strategy no longer applies. Though let's
be honest, you weren't really following it anyway from day one."

"True."

"But
don't beat yourself up about it."

"Thanks."

"Jack
is by far the most eligible guy you've liked since you got your braces off."

I
rolled my eyes, but I didn't dare think about how true her statement was. 

"I'm
sure he'll show you a good time."

"He's
pretty much batting a thousand at this point anyway," I said, remembering how
it felt to have him inside me.

"Be
sure to ask if he has any other sexy doctor friends."

"What
about Matteo?"

"What
about him?" she asked. 

"Has
he been in touch or anything?"

"No,"
she said. "But I'm cool with that. I knew from the second I laid eyes on
him that he was just a fling."

"Uh-huh."

"But
he did get me all fired up about how good sex with new people could be after an
embarrassingly long dry spell."

"Yeah."

"And
I'm not really interested in revisiting that type of desolation so I need to
find a new man pronto."

"I'll
keep my eye out."

"Thanks."

"Well,
I better go. Ever since I swore at you Sandra's been giving me that look like
she knows I'm on a personal call."

"Fuck
Sandra."

"And
her little dog, too. I couldn't agree more. Still, I better go."

"Alright.
I'll let you know how tonight goes."

"Yeah
you will."

I
hung up and looked at the flowers again where they were leaning against the
cabinets in my popcorn bowl. The last time a guy got me flowers they were the
kind you slip on your wrist before a high school dance. 

And
these were even more special because I was pretty sure Jack's Mom didn't pick
them out for him. Speaking of his Mom, he hadn't told me much about her except
for the fact that she would definitely take the credit for his good
looks. 

I
assumed his parents were divorced since he only mentioned that his Dad lived in
Thailand, but I wondered if she knew he was stateside again. 

And
whether she knew it was all because of me. 

I
walked around the corner to my room, careful not to let the blanket I was still
wearing drag on the ground.

Even
though I really didn't want to spend the rest of the day obsessing about what I
was going to wear tonight, the fact that I was currently working at home meant
there was nothing to keep me from doing that.

Still,
I promised myself I would try to decide quickly because I did have some job
posts to follow up on and a book cover I had to deliver before the end of the
week. 

But
forty five minutes later, my bed was piled high with half the contents of my
closet and I still had no idea what I was going to wear. Everything either looked
too conservative or like I was trying too hard.

As
I hung up another item in the definitely not right for tonight category, my
phone rang on the bed. It was my Mom. I wasn't really in the mood to talk to
her, nor did I have the time. 

However,
it was fun to imagine for a moment what it would feel like to tell her I was
going out to dinner with a rich, handsome doctor. She would probably die of
happiness, but there was no reason to get her hopes up. 

Or
mine. 

Not
that I had any longer term plans for Jack and me. I knew it was too early for
that. All I wanted at this point was to avoid shattering whatever flattering
perception of me he'd built up in his mind. 

I
would hate for him to come all the way out here and be disappointed by who I
was when I wasn't smiling into the Thai sunshine with a belly full of spicy
shrimp. 

At
the same time, I needed to remember that I wasn't the only one on trial here.
After all, just because he was wealthy and gorgeous and funny and smart didn't
mean I had to make it easy for him…

Even
if he was totally out of my league.

Nevertheless,
I didn't want to act that way. I wanted to carry myself like I deserved a man
like him. That way, neither of us would be encouraged to question what the hell
we were doing with each other. 

As
I turned to hang up another rejected outfit, I caught a glimpse of my body in
the mirror. It was the same body I always begrudgingly made eye contact with,
but it was different somehow. 

I
knew I should put the idea out of my head, but I had this crazy feeling that
being with Jack had made it glow or something, like it was a little less flawed
than it once was.

Or
maybe I was just carrying myself differently. 

It’s
not like I was a different shape or anything. Yet suddenly the parts of me that
caused me the most stress- the softness of my stomach and the width of my hips
for example- looked less offensive. 

Like
they were assets instead of problem areas. 

In
other words, Jack's visit had clearly gone to my head. 

And
since I couldn't think straight anyway, I got dressed, grabbed my purse, and
went shopping for some new underwear.

Thank
god she was waiting downstairs in her lobby when I arrived.

If
she had opened her door looking as good as she did, I would’ve had no choice
but to cancel our reservations and have her for dinner instead. 

She
was in figure hugging black pants and a black knit top that fell off one
shoulder. Best of all, she was wearing the necklace I got her with the
little white shell on it. 

"You
look stunning," I said, leaning in to press my cheek to hers.

"Thanks."

"Though
I prefer you in the blanket you were wearing earlier."

She
smiled and I felt a momentary swell in my pants. 

"To
be honest, so do I,” she said. “But I didn't know where we were going and I
didn't want to be underdressed."

"There's
always later."

"So
am I appropriately dressed for now?"

"You
are," I said. "And you’re right. The blanket would have been a little
too casual for where we're going."

"Which
is?"

"A
surprise."

She
shook her head. "Of course it is. I should've known. You're all about the
element of surprise."

"It
got me this date, didn't it?"

She
shrugged, her eyes forming little crescents. "I suppose it did."

"C’mon
then," I said, taking her arm. "I don't know about you, but I'm
starved."

"Is
your body clock still a bit wonky?"

"Big
time."

"Were
you at least able to take a nap?"

"It
wasn't my best, but I drifted off eventually."

"I
imagine the beds are pretty comfy at The Drake?"

"A
bit cold without you, but otherwise no complaints."

She
shook her head and stepped ahead of me into her lobby’s revolving door. 

"Ugh,"
she groaned when she saw my bike beside the curb. "I forgot about the
helmet," she said, smoothing her hair down."

"It'll
be fine," I said, handing her the one hanging on the closer handlebar.
"We don't have far to go."

"Where
did you even get a second one?"

"I
bought it."

"You
bought it?" she asked. "When?"

"Earlier
today after you accepted my invitation to dinner."

"You
didn't have to do that," she said. "We could've taken a cab or
something."

"You're
acting like no one's ever bought you a helmet before."

"No
one ever has."

"Maybe
you've never met someone who's so keen to take you for a ride," I said,
letting my blatant innuendo hang in the air. 

One
corner of her mouth curled up as she inspected the shiny black helmet inside
and out. "It's nice."

"It's
the best helmet money can buy for the only thing money can't buy."

"Which
is?"

"You,
of course."

She
squinted at me. "Are you saying you would buy me if you could?"

I
pulled my helmet off the opposite handle and unclipped it. "I'm saying I
think you're priceless."

She
glanced down at the ground, her eyelashes looking long against her
cheeks. 

"And
that I'm prepared to woo you with my wit and charm alone."

"And
your body," she said. "Don't forget your body."

"I
do have a lot going for me, don't I?"

"Mostly
just your body," she said. "But I look forward to seeing your attempt
at charm."

I
raised my eyebrows and my mouth fell open. How dare she say she hadn't
recognized my charm up to this point?! I knew she was joking, but I wasn't
planning on her being so spirited out of the gates.

I
set my helmet on my head and reached for hers.

She
handed it to me without complaint. 

I
unhooked the strap. "To be honest, I bought it because I'm hoping you'll
go for a lot more rides with me." 

"I
guess that depends on how dinner goes."

“No
pressure,” I said, extending the helmet over her head. 

She
reached up and rested her fingers over mine as I lowered it down.

Then
I leaned forward, clipping the clasp beneath her chin. 

"Well?"
she asked. "Do I look like a member of Daft Punk?"

“Almost.”
I slid her visor down so her face was covered by the shiny black screen. "Now
you look like a member of Daft Punk."

Her
laugh echoed in her helmet, and she flipped the visor back open. "Up all
night to get lucky," she said. "That's me."

I
fixed my eyes on her bright face. "I can help with that, too."

She
rolled her eyes.

I
walked around to the other side of the bike and hopped on.

"I
think the closest 7/11 is on Trent and Washington in case you’re wondering,"
she said. "The fastest way is to go left at the third light."

"Very
funny," I said. "Unfortunately, we won't be having toasted cheese
sandwiches tonight."

She
made a pouty face. 

"Now
hop on gorgeous."

"Yes,
sir," she said, swinging her leg over the bike and scooching up behind
me. 

I
waited while she wrapped her arms around my chest. Then I pulled my visor down and
smiled to myself. I was already having more fun with her than I even
thought possible. 

"Ready,"
she said behind me. 

I
revved the engine and took off. I knew better than to think biking through the
city could ever be as much fun as the open road in Thailand, but I enjoyed
having her behind me as I cruised to dinner, taking the scenic route since I
hadn't had much time to get my bearings in the city yet. 

Plus,
it's not like I was going to have trouble finding the place so I was happy to
get a bit lost in the process. 

Twenty
minutes later, I pulled up along the curb under the Space Needle and set my
feet back on the ground. "This is where we get off," I said over
my shoulder. 

Audrey
dismounted gracefully as I turned off the ignition. Then I removed my helmet
and lifted my head towards one of the young valets on duty. 

"You
know how to drive this thing?" I asked. 

"I
do," he said, eyeing the bike. 

"Great,"
I said, handing him the keys. Then I reached in my pocket for some folded notes
and slipped them to him. "And find a safe place for our helmets so we
don't have to carry them around, yeah?"

He
nodded eagerly, almost too eagerly to the point that I was worried he was going
to go all Ferris Bueller with my rental, but I was too distracted by Audrey
flipping her head over and shaking her fingers through her hair to care.

When
she realized I was watching her, she put her hand on her cocked hip and
smiled. 

I
pursed my lips and looked at her spontaneous bed head, craving her with ever
bone in my body as I reached for her helmet. 

She
handed it to me and I grabbed the strap, handing both helmets to the valet and
thanking him. 

"The
Space Needle, huh?" she said. 

"I've
never been," I said. 

"Me
neither."

"What?!"

She
shrugged. "I know, but you know how it is when you live somewhere. You
always think you'll have time and then you just keep putting it off."

"Looks
like I'm not the only one who's full of surprises."

She
slid her hand in my hooked arm as I led her inside. 

"I've
heard good things about the restaurant," I said. 

"Apparently
it spins, too."

"Hopefully
not enough to spill our drinks." 

"Why?
Are you trying to get me drunk?" she asked, pressing the elevator button. 

I
shrugged. "I’m willing to try anything that might make you find me more
witty and charming."

She
smiled and batted her eyelashes, twisting the shell on her necklace in her
fingers.

I
tried to put the fact that I wouldn't be able to put my hands on her for
several hours out of my mind, reminding myself that there was plenty of time
for that. 

After
all, I didn't come this far just to sleep with her.