I’m awoken to a firm knock at my door.
“Danielle, are you finding everything alright?”
Shit, I spring up from the bed. What the heck? Oh my, it’s Harrison.
“Yes, Harrison, thank you. I should be out shortly.”
“No rush, take your time.”
I glance at the clock on the bedside table. It’s 7:30 PM. Shit! I jump up and grab my flat iron from my suitcase and slip into my cream-colored snug fitting sheath dress and gold heels. I quickly straighten my hair and create a quick evening look. Smokey eyes and pale peach lips. Perfect.
I walk into the great room and Harrison is on the deck facing Central Park, holding a glass of wine.
“Good Evening,” I say in a soft and rather nervous tone.
“Good Evening, Danielle.” There is a short pause as he looks me up and down.
“In case I forget to tell you this evening, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Harrison.”
“Shall we?” He holds out his arm for me and we make our way to the elevator to the main level and out into the warm summery air of New York City.
“We are going to Calabria which is on the corner. It is one of Upper East Side’s best-kept secrets. You will enjoy this, Danielle.”
As the elevator opens, he places one hand on the small of my back, sending shivers all the way up my spine and in places I had forgotten get so sensitive. He extends his arm while stepping out into the busy street, and I interlock our arms at the elbow.
What a gentleman. I know that I sure need the help walking in these ‘come fuck me’ heels. I noticed when he was eyeing me up and down his gaze paused at my high heels for longer than a second. You could just see the images playing in his head.
“Mr. Towers, buonasera, a pleasure to see you, sir.”
“Marco, come stai?
“Bene. Bene, grazie. Who is your date for the evening?” Marco asks Harrison.
“Ciao Marco, mi chiamo Danielle,” I answer.
“Awww and she speaks Italian very well,” says Marco.
I think that’s amusement on Harrison’s face.
“Come; let me show you to your table.”
“I didn’t know you spoke Italian,” Harrison says quietly.
“I could say the same for you, Mr. Towers.”
I turn to see the big grin on his face and those dimples come alive. The look of a challenge is written all over them. He likes the give and take. I can give it. Let the games begin.
“I don’t meet many women in Oregon who can speak Italian, I am impressed.”
“Harrison, I have to keep on top of my game dealing with clients and vendors from Europe.”
“Aw, I see. Have you ever been?”
“When I was young, yes. I deal mostly with Italian furniture vendors in Florence and Milan over the phone. I really would love to visit again someday.”
“You would love Positano, Danielle. The small intimate design shops, exquisite decor and furniture boutiques. It is truly an enchanting city.”
“It sounds wonderful.”
“So tell me, have you worked up some grand plans for my Portland property?”
“Yes, Harrison, I didn’t bring my storyboards to dinner with me but...”
“Danielle, there is no need for them. I know your taste and I have seen your work. I am sure it is going to be top notch. I would, however, like to see the final sketches when those are complete.”
“Oh yes, I did bring those.” I set my oversize clutch on the table and pull out my iPad.
“I’ve downloaded all of my sketches, here take a look,” I say as I hand him my iPad.
He stands up and moves his chair so it is now sitting directly by my side. I can feel my body starting to heat up, my pulse beating out of control and my hands trembling. He knows exactly what he is doing to me; I can just feel the smirk on his face as he waits for me to pull up my sketches. It’s been a very long time since a man has made my body tighten up and my pulse quicken like this.
“Here they are... Just scroll through room by room.”
“Hmmmm, the water feature in the entry is just the way I had envisioned it. I like how the natural colors are warm but the ice blue is a nice touch, Danielle. Oh, the master. Now the master must have his and her closets,” he says adamantly.
“Yes, of course.” Okay so he is picturing this place with a ‘her’ in there.
“So would you like me to contact your significant other and get her input on storage and design?”
“That won’t be necessary Danielle. There is no one at this time to consult. In the meantime, I can use it for storage.
I let out a long sigh of relief, “Good, storage. That is a great idea.”
Yes! No girlfriend or fiancé. I was secretly hoping for that answer. Of course, why should I care anyway? I quickly remind myself my ‘no men’ rule and especially no mixing business with pleasure.
“Please, just design the closet the way you see fit.”
“Yes, I’ll get right on that, Harrison.”
“Everything looks wonderful so far, I am very impressed, Danielle. Slate floors, high-end cabinetry and accents, I love the crown molding at the ceiling and floors. I must say, I would prefer built ins in the master bath, closets, and all bathrooms. Please also add lots of storage in the pantry and built ins in the office closet. I would like to add some sort of artwork to be placed over my safe. As you deal with Italy on a regular basis, please research that for me as well.”
“Of course,” I say quickly as I jot this down in my smart phone.
“I will have my builder email you the dimensions on that project.”
“Buonasera Signore, Signora. May I bring you some wine and our cheese plate to start out with?”
“Yes, please do. We would like your finest Red Cabernet.”
“Right away, Signore.”
“So, Ms. Austen, no longer Mrs. Pyne. Enough business for the moment, what is your story?” he says with an arch of his brow and that smirk.
I am taken a bit off guard. Why should he want to know my personal life? “My story?
Let’s see, I was born and raised in Cannon Beach on the Coast. I’m the only child. I have two wonderful parents who have been married for 31 years. They’re the artsy types who live and breathe the creative world. They just opened up Canon Breeze Gallery in the city, so that’s keeping them busy. Mainly my mother.”
He sits back in his chair facing me now, and the scent of his body wash is turning me on.
“That is where your design background came from?”
I turn inwards just slightly, uncrossing my legs and crossing them again in towards him. I have great long legs, if he is going to play this way then so am I.
The look on his eyes intensifies as he bites his lower lip. Good lord, that is too hot to look at. He has the most perfect mouth, strong firm lips and a good-looking face to match.
“Kind of,” I say with a warm sensation and obvious sexual tension between us. I take another long sip of my wine to try and relax my sexed up body. “When I was a kid, my parents used to own antique shops. I would go to work with them on the weekends and just play for hours rearranging pieces into different vignettes. I would work every weekend as a child and eventually worked through school and seasonally while in college.”
He sits in a power position with one leg crossed over his knee with his fingertips touching. He then puts one elbow on the table as he leans in and brings his index finger up to his bottom lip with his thumb resting comfortably on his jaw. He gives the impression that he is in deep thought. Jesus! Does he
have to keep doing things with his sensual mouth? That finger placed perfectly on that bottom lip makes me just want to bite it!
“What did you do after college?”
I could see where he was going with this. The no longer Mrs. Pyne comment. Well, better to get this out of the way now.
“I got married right out of college and that's pretty much it. It’s been officially over for about a year now.”
There’s a long silence as I sip down the rest of my wine. God, that tastes divine, the smooth wine has now consumed my body and really loosened me up. I run one hand through my sleek hair as I roll my head around continuing to run it down my neck while lightly touching my arm with a little bit of nervousness. Wine always brings out the sexual side of me.
Harrison begins to lean forward and shift in his seat. I can feel his eyes travel from my legs to my chest and to my arms. Exactly where I’ve been leading him.
“I am guessing this was a good decision, are you happy?”
“Happy? I’m relieved that I’m no longer married to Bradley. We really were far too young when we got married. That and we really had drifted apart and found ourselves in different places in life. And the fact that he had women in every other zip code was ultimately the demise of our marriage. So, yes I’m extremely happy, thank you.”
Oh, shit the damn wine! It always makes me so brutally honest!
“Well then, we must celebrate and I must thank him.”
“Excuse me, for what?
“For one, you have more time to pour into me and my projects, and his loss is my gain. You are a bright young and intriguing woman, Danielle and I am happy you were able to accompany me here.”
We finish possibly one of the most delicious authentic Italian meals I’ve ever tasted. If this is anything to what is in store for me when I go to Italy... Note to self: bring running shoes to work off all this delectable food.
“Marco, what a fine evening. I would love to take desert to go and a bottle of Don, chilled.”
“Of course, Mr. Towers, my pleasure.”
We take a short stroll back to the apartment and I can still feel the aftereffects of all that wine. I have to say that I’m feeling quite good at this moment. Red wine makes me sleepy and relaxed, and I’m feeling it now that it’s about 11:45 PM.
“Please, after you, Danielle,” he says as he stands in front of the elevator door to hold it open for me.
“Harrison, thank you for a wonderful evening at Calabria that was very nice.”
“Ms. Austen, the night is not over yet. We have quite the desert package here.”
“Oh, Harrison, I would love to, but I’d love to just take a long bath and climb into bed. Do you mind if we save it for tomorrow?”
“Yes, of course. I am sorry. It has been a long day for you. Goodnight, Danielle, sleep well,” he says as he kisses me on both cheeks. How very French of him. I feel my whole body tense up and the tightening sensation in my stomach as it continues to head south. I want him, I need his touch, but this is far too early for me to get involved... Or is it?
“Um, um yes goodnight, lovely evening. Sleep well.” I scurry into my room. Harrison Towers is like every woman’s fantasy man and I am sleeping in HIS bed. I know the rules, DO NOT MIX BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE. It always ends badly, and lord knows I really need Harrison’s projects to get my firm top recognition.
I wake in the middle of the night in complete darkness and glance at the clock on the bedside table. It’s 2:35 AM and for some reason my mouth is dry, I’m dying of thirst. Why am I wide-awake at this hour? This whole weekend so far, has kept my senses alive and it’s been such a thrill ride.
I grab the white robe out of the closet and wrap it around myself, cinching the ties at the waist. The apartment is quiet, and the lights from the windows of the city are just glorious this time of night. It is peaceful and serene when the city is quiet from the hustle and bustle of the day.