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The hotel was luxurious, and it had every amenity going just as we’d anticipated. It was pure perfection, but it wasn’t enough to stop me itching to explore my old stomping ground, not now that I knew Everleigh was here. I wanted, no, I needed to see her, but I knew I had to let this happen at her speed, I couldn’t rush this. So, I turned to an old friend I found in the bottom of a bottle. I’d thought it would help me get the answers I searched for, but as usual I was wrong. It just left me more confused than ever. The alcohol had merely numbed the sensations for a few hours. But I could commend Tye’s choices of beverages for being to the highest caliber for hitting the right spot. I'm sure they will be to our clientele's taste as well.
All I wanted to do was to pick up the phone and talk to Tye after my drinking binge. I wanted to let every thought rambling through my head out, and knowing Tye, he could’ve talked enough to sober up an event full of wedding guests with access to a free bar. He was right in thinking I was a dumb prick at times, but he had always had my back, so when he questioned how Everleigh reacted and not how I was handling things, it had set alarm bells firing off in my head. I needed to think and my previous fogginess, I had hoped to drown myself in, had now become picture clear due to the fucker.
What were the risks of being seen? Would the sperm donor have his minions watching? Did he even know I was here?
An hour, that's all I needed. Time for me to think while enjoying my favorite place. The place where I met, Everleigh.
I had debated donning back on the prized suit, but why? Stone’s first expectation would be I'd be dressed to impress, especially if he had tabs on me. Nope, back to the basics added to my cause.
I just didn’t expect her beautiful voice to echo my name. At first, I thought the hallucinations had returned, but in the midst of the beauty of the surroundings of Gapstow Bridge sat her. My heart ached as she called out my name and didn’t dismiss my presence. It would’ve killed me, but I would’ve walked silently by respecting her wishes. Maybe now I could lay out the truth and see where we stood after all the pain and anguish was finally before our feet.
Tear drops clung to my cheeks as I forced the words out. I prepared immediately for the line of rejection I was so used to, but I hoped somehow, I’d reach the inner depths of Everleigh’s heart. “Dinner? Please…” I pleaded shamelessly. “Little Italy or maybe Giavano’s…”
“We can talk. How about tomorrow night? Giavano’s...” she interrupted as my mouth dropped wide.
“Really...? Ok great, tomorrow night?” I was speechless. I never thought she would agree to my suggestion of Giavano’s, where we had our first date, where our old friends Alonzo and Arianna still ran the place – our trusted friends. Maybe it was a sign that we could really talk.
“Well, tomorrow is Friday. Is that a problem?” she asked as she twisted her hair around her finger.
“No, I’ll sort it. Seven? I can pick you up...” I said bashfully, unable to fully look her in the eyes. My hands nervously wanted to play with the loose hair strands she was captivated with.
“Make it eight, please.” She nodded as she stood up, smoothing her fitted A-line coat and red woolen scarf down. I wished I could see what lay underneath it, as all I could glimpse was the sheer fabric of her black tights. “Dawson…”
“Yep…” I smoothly let the word flow as I popped the ‘p’, a favorite past time of hers, as a smirk appeared on her face.
“Night, Dawson… remember it’s to talk. I will meet you there,” she said as she started walking over Gapstow Bridge. Her brown locks flowed down her back and sexy as sin curves appeared to float through the air.
“Damn,” I growled into the air, causing heads to spin around halfway across the bridge. “I know. I know…” She smirked as I gave her a wave. Taking deep breaths, I tried to calm my shaken hands and nerves.
That's the problem… talk. Truth. She had my heart already.
Damn fucking loungewear couldn’t hide a thing. Sexy, minx had grown more into her body and confidence for sure and my cock certainly appreciated that fact. Damn it; the old faithful tonight was making an appearance. This woman was under my skin and a barrier I didn't want to shed away. I just had to prepare my balls for her knowing all. Whether they would remain intact after my revelation remained to be seen; but it was worth the risk, for her.
* * *
I had called Candy and asked her to reschedule my Friday night shareholder’s meeting with the New York based shareholders. I’d booked Giavano’s personally. I needed to prioritize this night, it was going to be life changing, one way or another. Fuck what the shareholders thought or anyone else, I was the boss and made the decisions at the end of the day. I never needed to show justifications over my actions before. My mind pondered the questions that would no doubt fly my way from Tye later, when he realized what I had done. That fucker wasn't in my good books at the minute anyway, so he had no room to talk. Unless he wanted to have it out, of course. I was keeping one eye firmly fixed on him now.
If anyone asked what I had done today, I wouldn't have been able to tell them. I could've signed the whole business portfolio away and compromised everything due to my obsession with Everleigh, and she wasn't even in this building until Monday morning. Fuck me.
If everything went to shit, then come next week, I would become a pubescent teenager again pining over a girl who hated the sight of me. This pressure was worse than signing a million-dollar fucking deal on the dotted line. The moment the clock struck five p.m., I was a man on a mission, fucking out of there.
* * *
Giavano’s was a quaint Italian restaurant easily missed by the naked eye. It was nestled into the backstreets, just off the front of the theatre district, better known as Broadway. It was the opposite to what you'd expected in this up-and-coming area but that's what gave it its charm; it didn't follow the flash, high end opalescence associated with the area. Instead, it gave a relaxed home vibe. A fine antique placed within an array of everyday options; you would never have known its value unless you knew what you were looking for. Everleigh and I did. This place was our home. Our little piece of normality and sanity but where our love bloomed. Hence the shock of her agreeing to meet me here. Was it a hint?
Enough lingering thoughts. I knew tonight's plan as I put on my dark fitted jeans, black slim fitted shirt, and loafers with paler pinstripe detailing from out of the protective covers and box I stored them in. I quickly rubbed some wax into the ends of my hair and finished off with my aftershave. I hoped Everleigh would remember the scent she always loved on me. I waited for her outside the restaurant, my hands sweating. I debated wiping them along my coat just as the sound of heels hitting the pavement jolted my attention to look upwards.
“Everleigh…” I whispered as my eyes roamed up her long legs and shapely hips, reaching her bust and finally her face. She was a vision. A real beauty. A navy-blue figure-hugging dress clung to her like a glove, ending on her upper thigh with a small side split gracing down the side. I prayed I wasn't dribbling like a dog in heat, she was fucking gorgeous, with her pins in fishnets and a sexy toe heel sandal. I was lost.
“You ready to stop gawking?” She chuckled, taking a step closer as her eyes hooded and turned a deeper shade of brown.
“Sure… are you?” I laughed as I cocked my head to the side before putting my hand on the base of her back. I didn’t miss her body sink backwards into my hold, mesmerized by the jolt that shot up my arm. It's still there, for both of us it seemed, as she flipped her head to look over her shoulder at me, quickly unable to hide her response.
I pushed open the door, and whispered into her ear, “You look stunning.” I watched the blush travel up her body, unable to hide her thoughts as Alonzo, the owner’s eyes widened, and he shouted for Arianna his wife to come quickly.
“Dawson, Everleigh…” Alonzo kissed both of Everleigh’s cheeks before pulling me into a hug. “You're both here. Arianna…”
We chuckled together; my hand still placed in the small of her back, as Arianna could be heard mumbling words of frustration coming out of the kitchen. Her backside hit the door as it swung open. Her tight brown curls were wrapped up in her well-known red head scarf as flour flew in the air when she clapped her hands, wiping the remains on her frilly apron.
