In the Dark (3 page)

I slip into my dress and scrutinize my reflection in the mirror. The fitted, scoop neck, mini dress with cap sleeves fits like a glove. It was an impulse purchase but now I’m glad I bought it. Every woman needs a few little, black dresses, don’t they? The shoulders are adorned with tarnished gold sequins, which is one of the main reasons it ended up in my closet. The sales girl at Guess had raved about how they match my eyes. I keep my makeup to a minimum as I usually do, because my eyes already draw enough attention to my face. Letting my hair down, I watch it cascade down my back, and to my waist. I finish the outfit with gold stud earrings, a gold bracelet, and black stilettos. After a bit of my favorite perfume, I grab my clutch and coat, and then I’m out the door.

I can barely contain my excitement as I drive to the restaurant. How many girls get to go on a date with their dream man? Not that I expect anything to come of it, but still. I have a date with Rick McAllister! I do my little happy dance in my seat.

When I pull into the parking lot, excitement turns to anxiety. The clock on the dashboard says it’s eight-fifty. Good. I’m not late. I check my reflection in the visor mirror one last time, take several calming breaths, and exit the car. Before I can reach the entrance, a man calls out to me.

“Miss Black?”

I stop dead in my tracks and slowly turn toward the voice. The strange man approaches me carefully, with a questioning look on his face.

“Yes?” I answer nervously, looking around. Thankfully, the parking lot is busy.

He smiles. “I’m Charles. Mr. M asked me to escort you inside, ma’am.”

“Mr. M?” I’m pretty certain that stands for ‘McAllister’, but I have to be sure.

“Mr. McAllister. He’s waiting for you inside.”

He offers me his arm, and I glance around again before slipping my hand around the crook of his elbow.

“Thank you, Charles.”

I study him out of the corner of my eye. He’s probably mid-forties, tall, skinny, and bald. That’s all I can make out, but he throws me a kind smile, and I begin to relax.

“You’ll be entering through a private entrance, so don’t be alarmed.”

He leads me to the side of the building and knocks on a metal door. It swings open, and the man on the other side allows us to enter. We then walk through a dark corridor until we’re standing in front of another door labeled ‘Private’. Charles knocks, opens it, and ushers me inside. In the corner of the room, there’s a solitary booth. Rick, sexy as ever, is seated in that booth, watching me. It seems he came straight from the office because he’s still in his suit from earlier. He’d removed his jacket and tie, and the top buttons of his shirt are undone. Taking a deep breath, I walk toward him.

**Rick**

I let out a sigh of relief. She came. I wasn’t sure she would, but she’s here. Sliding out of the booth, I meet her in the middle of the room.

“Thank you, Charles.” The man bows and retreats, closing the door behind him. I turn my attention back to the beautiful woman next to me. “Hello, Kelly.”

“Hello, sir...I mean, Rick,” she answers timidly.

“May I take your coat?”

Stepping behind her, I help her out of the garment. As it slides off her body, I take in her delicious curves.
Damn!
What I wouldn’t give to have her under me right now. When she turns around, my eyes slide up to her face, and I think I may just have a heart attack.

“You are gorgeous, Miss Black.”

She blushes and looks away in embarrassment. “Thank you.”

“Shall we?” I motion to the booth.

When we’re both seated, I fill our glasses with my favorite champagne – Krug Clos d’Ambonnay. I notice she’s staring at the wall like she did before.

“Kelly, look at me.” She slowly turns her head in my direction, and her teeth are worrying her bottom lip. “There’s no need to be nervous. Stop chewing your lip.”

“Sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I must seem like some naïve schoolgirl.”

“It’s a little refreshing,” I admit with a smile. “The women I usually encounter can be too abrasive for my tastes.”

She gives me a weak smile, and then takes a sip of her champagne.

“I hope you don’t mind. I already ordered.”

“No, not at all.” She shakes her head.

“I’ve been asking myself why,
how
I’ve never seen you before.”

She shrugs. “It’s a big company.”

“I suppose. Still, an entire
year
…” I shake my head in disbelief. She was right under my nose this entire time and I had no idea.

“You’re a busy man.”

“Well I need to slow down then. I’ve been missing one hell of a scenery,” I reply, doing nothing to mask my approval as I stare at her.

She blushes again and drops her gaze. My eyes travel over her body, and I lose the fight in resisting her. Her lips are begging to be kissed. Moving closer, I stroke her cheek with the backs of my fingers.

“Kelly…”

**Kelly**

Don’t hyperventilate!
As Rick moves closer, I get a whiff of his scent. It’s spicy and woodsy and heavenly and…it’s driving me crazy! His hand on my cheek is creating total chaos with my body and mind. I can see his lips moving but I don’t hear a word he’s saying.
Focus!

“Kelly?”

“Yes?” I blink up at him.

“Would you object if I kissed you?”

Holy Mary, mother of God!
His voice is making love to my ears.
This is what I’ve been dreaming about. If I do it, there’s no turning back.
I can’t speak so I nod instead.

“You would?” He smirks, knowing that’s not what I meant.

I swallow, trying to find my voice. “I mean no…I wouldn’t object.”

“I can’t do it if you’re chewing your lip.”

I didn’t even realize I was doing it, but I let it slip from between my teeth. As he leans in, I close my eyes. The butterflies in my stomach flutter away.
Dear
,
God, please don’t let my heart give out.
It’s also possible I will spontaneously combust and kill us both. Fuck.

The moment his lips touch mine, I turn to liquid against him. I bury my fingers in his hair and moan. The hand on my cheek slips around my neck and massages my nape, while his other hand slides up my thigh. Slowly, his lips move over mine, kissing each in turn. He lingers on my bottom lip, gently sucking, and nipping it with his teeth. When he moves to my top lip, I suck on his bottom one. He squeezes my thigh and deepens the kiss, his tongue seeking entry. I gladly allow it in. A shiver darts up my spine as our tongues touch. The butterflies in in my stomach promptly turn into eagles, spreading their majestic wings. I lean into him, and at the same time, pull him closer. My fingers swim through his hair as I taste him. It’s a taste I know I could never get enough of.

Fuck! Where’s a bed when you need one?
I’ve always known it would be like this if we came together – explosive, earth shattering passion. There is
no
way this isn’t meant to be.

**Rick**

I never engage in public displays of affection, but what the hell? She already has me breaking one of my rules, why not another? Then again, there’s no one else around so technically, we aren’t in public. I couldn’t help myself. As my tongue delves into her sweet mouth, I don’t regret my decision. The little whimpering sounds she makes only fuel my desire. Everything about her seduces me, even her scent. Whatever it is, I would buy a million bottles so I can smell it on her. Her thigh is firm yet supple beneath my fingers, and I wish they were wrapped around me right now. The thought drives my movements, and I ravage her lips with a hunger I haven’t felt in a long time. Leaving her lips, I move to her neck. Her head falls back with a moan, serving up her delectable skin.

“Rick…”

When she whispers my name, something inside me burns to life. My hands move of their own accord, sliding over her curves toward her breast. Before they reach their destination, I remember where we are. I don’t want to, but I know I have to pull back. I break the kiss and look down at her through desire-laden eyes. Hers slowly flutter open, and the golden pools greet me.

“Your eyes are magnificent,” I tell her.

“So are yours. They’re like…the deepest part of the ocean.”

“I must say, I’ve never heard that comparison before.”

I put some distance between us to avoid ravishing her in the back room of The Blue Marlin. A knock on the door interrupts us, and a waiter enters with our appetizer.

“Oysters?” She raises brow when he sets it on the table.

“Oysters Rockefeller. They’re my favorite. I always have it when I come here.”

“I’ve never had them.”

I watch in amusement as she gingerly picks one up and tries it. Damn, she even
eats
sexy.

“It’s delicious!” she raves with wide eyes.

“I’m glad you like it. We will be coming here regularly.”

Her smile fades, and she folds her napkin, placing it on the table.

**Kelly**

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“I haven’t made a decision yet.”

“But I thought…how much time do you need?”

“What do
you
need, Rick?”

“What do you mean?”

“What are you looking for?”

He sighs and leans back on the leather seat. “We’re both adults here. Do I need to spell it out for you?”

“If it’s just a quick roll in the sheets…”
my heart won’t stand it
. “I’m not that kind of girl.”

“I see.”

“I don’t think you do. If I get involved with you, I’ll either be seen as a gold digger or a slut trying to sleep my way up the corporate ladder.”

“And you care that much what people think?”

“When it potentially affects my career? Yes.”

He smiles, attempting to lighten the mood. “I think we’re both getting a little ahead of ourselves here. For now, we’re just having dinner. You don’t have a problem with that do you?”

“I think we just did a lot more than that.”

“Don’t make this difficult. It really isn’t,” he says, sighing in annoyance.

“Very well, Mr. McAllister. I’ll make this
very
easy for you.” I stand, pick up my coat and clutch, and head for the door.

“Kelly, wait.”

As tears well in my eyes, I step through the door and leave the way I came in. Walking away from him is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in all my twenty-four years on this earth. What did I think was going to happen? He would fall madly in love with me and we would elope and live happily ever after? Maybe not, but I didn’t expect to be a glorified booty call either. I drive home, mentally kicking myself for hoping this would play out like one of my fantasies. Why did I let him kiss me? How the hell am I supposed to live with that memory?

Stupid, Kelly. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

**Rick**

I watch as she walks out the door. I want to go after her but what would I say? How had I lost control of the situation? This night started out so well, how did it go down the drain so quickly? I leave the private room and sit at the bar, reminding myself this is the reason I don’t date employees.

“A shot of your best whiskey,” I tell the bartender. “Make it a double.”

After a few drinks, I’ll go home and forget this night ever happened. I need a diversion.
After scrolling through my entire contact list, I come up with no one. There’s only one diversion I need, and she just walked out the door.

“Kelly, honey.”

“Yes, Walter?”

“Be a darlin’ and run this up to McAllister for me, will you?”

No! Anyone but him.
Just my luck. A year I’ve been here and he’s never sent me to Rick’s office. Shit. I stand, trying to hide my reluctance as I take the file from his fingers. I’ll just give it to Martha.

“I want you to put this in his hands directly, not Martha’s.”

Fuck!
“Yes, sir.”

I have a major lip chewing session on my way upstairs. I haven’t seen him since
that
night, two weeks ago. He hasn’t tried to contact me and I definitely stayed out of his way. Taking a deep breath, I step out of the elevator on the top floor.

“Hi, Martha.”

“Kelly!” She gives me a bright smile. “Walter said you’d be coming up. You can go on in.”

I take another calming breath and knock on Rick’s door.

“Come in,” his voice booms from inside.

Pushing the door, I square my shoulders and step in.
Just hand it to him and leave.

“Close the door,” he orders in a brusque voice.

Fuck! I can’t catch a break today.
“Good morning, sir. Walter –”

“Sit down, Kelly.”

Double fuck
.

I hand him the file, and take a seat.