I hadn’t realized it was that obvious
to everyone else. I felt my heart beating out of my
chest.
“
What are you talking
about, Ken? We were just making conversation and being nice.
Nothing more.”
Kennedy looked at me with a grin; she
could always see right through me.
“
Okay, cut the bullshit. I
see his looks, like he is ready to jump in front of a bullet for
you. I know attraction when I see it.” She tensed both her hands
stiffly on the steering wheel and sighed, loudly. “I just don’t
want you to get hurt. I’ve heard stories and I just….you know,
he’s, like a multi-millionaire right? Has he told you
that?”
My mouth fell open, dumbfounded as
gasped in air. He had told me he owned a business, but a
multi-millionaire? He defiantly left that one out.
“
He owns a publishing
company in Dallas, Long Publishing Company. His dad owned it but
died 4 years ago and Stefan was forced to take over the
business.”
“
Holy shit, Kennedy, are
you for real? That’s, like, one of the biggest publishing companies
in the United States! What the hell is he doing here in
Oklahoma?”
I remembered that he told
me about owning a
small
company in Dallas. He said little company though;
I was pretty sure Long Publishing wasn’t a small
company.
“
Jennifer, I just don’t
want to see you get hurt, especially by some millionaire. I care
about you. Just make sure you use your head if things start
developing.”
I softened my gaze at Kennedy and
squeezed her hand; I loved her for this reason right here. She
always cared about me and really proved it during the times I
needed her the most.
“
Thank you for being my
best friend, I love you but I will be fine, I promise.”
She nodded her head as we pulled into
the bar and parked by Stefan’s car. Stefan startled me when he
opened my door. I smiled and held his hand as I stepped out of the
car. He shut the door behind me but didn’t drop my hand. Instead,
he curled his fingers around mine while we walked into the bar. I
felt very comfortable holding his hand and didn’t think about
pulling away.
We sat down at the bar and Stefan
ordered a round of shots and beer for all of us. We took the shot
and quickly chased it away with a beer. Kennedy pulled Ayden over
to the dance floor, leaving Stefan and I alone.
I took another drink from my beer as I
pretended to watch the other people. The silence was building up
between us.
I looked over at Stefan who was
staring at me like he was admiring a gem.
“
Jennifer, it’s been
twenty-four hours since I met you, and I don’t know what it is
about you that I can’t get enough of? I know you must feel the same
way, you’re eyes turn a different shade of green when I touch you,”
he reached out and stroked my cheek.
“
You’re being too cocky
here,” I tried to tear my face away from him, but he was right,
everything floated away when he touched me.
“
I’m just calling it like I
see it.” He pulled his hand from my face and took a drink of his
beer.
I looked at him trying to read his
face. I couldn’t always tell what he was thinking. I hated
that.
“
Well maybe you should
figure that one out.” I shot him a quick smile before taking a
drink of my beer. He sat there and looked at me, puzzled at what I
had just said. I made it my mission to start catching him off
guard. I loved the face he made when he wasn’t sure why I said
that.
Some girl who was obviously
drunk, barged in between Stefan and I, completely disregarding my
presence and trying to get as close to Stefan as she could. I
watched as she whispered in his ear; he shook his head in response
and gave her a warm smile. She frowned and looked at me like she
just noticed me.
Yeah, been here this
whole time and nice to meet you too.
She
flicked her hair over her shoulder and walked away. “What was that
all about?”
“
She wanted to dance, I
turned her down. I don’t think she was too happy with my answer,”
he chuckled, and took a swig of his beer.
Happy dance!
“Probably a good idea, she seemed pretty gone.” I
laughed and turned to watch Kennedy and Ayden on the dance
floor.
Stefan waived at the bartender and
ordered another shot for both of us. Thank God I didn’t have class
in the morning.
6 shots and 3 beers later, my head
felt like it was about to float off. We were on our fourth game of
darts and a small crowd had gathered around us to watch. Ayden and
Kennedy had grown tired of dancing and decided to join us after the
first game. Stefan was very good but so was Ayden. I think it was
more of the trash talking than the actual game that attracted the
crowd.
“
Stefan, you’re about to
eat shit.” Ayden threw the dart and hit the bull’s eye. Stefan
started to laugh, positioning himself perfectly.
Stop the damn talking and
start using your actions instead.” Stefan threw the dart, another
bull’s eye.
No wonder this has been a long
game.
Ayden stepped up with one dart left;
he perfected his stance and calmed his breathing. He threw the dart
and it landed just above the bull’s eye. I held my breath waiting
for Stefan; he threw the dart, bull’s eye again. Most of the crowd
burst into cheers while some of them hung their head. I laughed
noticing how invested everyone was in this game. Stefan laughed
while Ayden groaned. Ayden pulled out a $20 bill and handed it to
Stefan; he accepted it and patted him on the back.
“
Next time, less trash
talking and more winning. Work on that.”
I finished off my beer and started
feeling sick to my stomach. I leaned into Kennedy, “I’m going to go
outside and get some fresh air for a minute.”
“
Do you want me to come
with you?”
“
No, I’ll be okay. I’ll be
right back.”
I turned around and walked out the
front door. I sat down on a nearby. The cool night air felt so good
on my face; I took a couple of deep breaths. Stefan walked outside
with worry on his face looking for me.
“
Everything okay?” He
asked, as he sat down next to me.
“
Yeah, I just needed some
fresh air; it was getting a little crowded in there for me. I’m
feeling better now.”
He smiled at me. “Do you want me to
take you home? I don’t think Kennedy and Ayden are leaving anytime
soon.”
“
No I think I will be…” I
leaned over to a bush and started to throw up. I felt Stefan gently
grab my hair.
I never puked after
drinking
. What was going on? Now, I really
wasn’t feeling too hot. “Get Kennedy…..please!” I tried to speak
before throwing up again.
“
I am
not
leaving you out here by yourself.
I will text Ayden and tell him I’m taking you home.”
I wiped my mouth and leaned up,
slowly. I felt too weak to argue with him; I just wanted to get in
the shower and go to bed. I watched Stefan pull his phone out, type
a few buttons, then put it back in his pocket.
“
Shall we?” He held out his
hand. I grabbed it and we walked to his car. He opened the door and
started to help me into the car but, I quickly leaned into the
bushes instead and got sick again. I wanted to crawl into a hole
and hide forever.
Once again, Stefan gently grabbed my
hair and tried to calm me down. After a few minutes, I felt empty,
like I had nothing left in my stomach. I wiped my mouth and sat
down in his car. Everything was spinning. I leaned my head against
the cool window and shut my eyes. Than I was gone; gone to my own
world where all I could see was Stefan’s face.
Chapter Three
I woke up and clutched my
head with my hands. I slowly opened my eyes, waiting for them to
become accustomed to the sunlight that streamed through my bedroom.
I opened my eyes quickly and jolted upright. Where was I? This was
not my bedroom! I looked down and realized I was naked.
Oh my gosh!
My heart
started racing. I couldn’t have…….
Stay
calm Jennifer, breathe.
I got up and
wrapped the white sheet around my body making sure to cover every
last inch. I opened the door; everything was quiet. I went into the
kitchen area and saw a note on the counter. Next to it was a bagel
with cream cheese, a glass of water and two white pills.
“
Went for a work out,
didn’t want to wake you.
Please take the aspirin
and
eat the bagel, you’ll feel
better.
Be back shortly,
Stefan”
I sat down at the bar and
spread the cream cheese on my bagel. My stomach was very sore from
the night before...
oh no!
That wasn’t a dream. I had really gotten sick in
front of Stefan. How humiliating. I knew Kennedy was going to be
asking questions about that…shit! Kennedy! I quickly jolted up,
almost losing my sheet in the process. I raced back to the bedroom
and started looking for my clothes...no sign of them. What happened
last night? All I could remember was getting in Stefan’s car,
everything else was black. I walked over to the night stand and saw
my phone with yet another note.
“
Here is your phone, but
don’t panic; Kennedy knows
you stayed here last night.
I will explain everything later.
Now get in there and eat
(:
Stefan”
I loved the smiley face he added at
the end. My phone vibrated in my hands and I looked down; Kennedy
was splashed across the screen so I answered it.
“
Hey Kennedy.” I tried to
sound as calm as possible but every fiber in my being was yelling
to ask her what happened?
“
Good morning sunshine. I
think you had a little too much fun last night. Are you okay? How
are you feeling?”
“
Yes I feel better; I was
just about to eat a bagel that Stefan left for me. What happened
last night?” I sat down at the bar and finished preparing my bagel;
my stomach made a loud growling noise that made me realize how
hungry I was.
“
You went outside for some
fresh air. The next thing I know, Stefan sends Ayden a text message
saying you were sick and he was taking you home. Five minutes later
he called and said you had passed out and he’d feel more
comfortable taking you back to his hotel instead. I told Ayden I
was leaving but Stefan objected; he said would take care of you.
You didn’t have class today so I didn’t argue. But I swear, if he
did
anything
to
you, I’m skipping the rest of my classes and coming over there to
kick his ass.”
I started giggling but stopped as soon
as I realized how bad that hurt my core.
“
I think I’m alright. I
can’t remember anything and when I woke up this morning I couldn’t
find my clothes and Stefan wasn’t here. He left me a note saying
he’d be back soon. Hopefully I will find my clothes before then.” I
took a bite of my bagel, it was so delicious and I was so
hungry.
“
Okay babe, I just wanted
to make sure you were okay. Find your clothes before he gets back,
please.” She giggled into the phone
“
Okay, I’ll see you after
class. Bye!”
We hung up. I quickly
finished my bagel and drank my full glass of water. I felt a little
better. I put my glass and plate into the sink and had just
finished washing them when Stefan barged through the door on his
phone. I couldn’t help but stare. He had no shirt on, just a towel
around his neck. He had on basketball shorts that hung very loose
around the V of his lower waist.
Damn,
could his body be anymore cut?
The sweat
made him sparkle with the sunshine beaming on him.
He seemed upset, at times yelling into
the phone. A bulky man dressed in a black suit, followed behind
him.
“
Just get me the damn
contract and I’ll sign it…….doesn’t matter…..just get it to me. You
have 3 hours!”
He quickly hung up and let out a sigh.
He turned and noticed me standing in the kitchen……with only a white
sheet wrapped around me. Shit, I forgot to find my clothes! This
was going to be awkward.
Stefan looked at me,
scanning from my toes up to my head, slowly licking his bottom lip
and smiling a devilish, oh so sexy smile.
Take me now.
“Good morning, I see you
ate your bagel and drank all your water. How are you
feeling?”
Stefan pulled the towel off of his
neck and wiped his face again before sitting it down over one of
the stools at the bar. He grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge
and started chugging it down like he was dying for
water.
“
I’m feeling a lot better,
I was just about to get in the shower, but I can’t seem to find my
clothes. Do you know where they are?”
And
can you explain to me why in the hell this dude is standing here
with me wearing damn near nothing?