Chapter 8
“How was your day?” I heard Ian ask as I stood on the shoreline and let the water soak my feet.
“It was fine. How was your day?”
He walked over and stood next to me. I looked down and saw that he didn’t have on any socks or shoes. In fact, he was dressed in khaki shorts and a cotton shirt. I looked him up and down.
“Is there something wrong with me?” he asked.
“No. I’m just not used to seeing you dressed so casually.”
Ian laughed as he pushed my hair behind my ear. “What did you do today?”
His fingers brushed against my ear, which resulted in shivers riveting throughout my body. I was going to have to tell him sooner or later about what I did and what I was doing.
“I went back to the motel Stephen and I were at so I could retrieve something I left behind.”
Ian cocked his head and glared at me. “How did you get there and what did you leave behind?”
“Adalynn was kind enough to take me, and I left an envelope of money taped to the back of the headboard.”
“And it was still there?” he asked, in shock.
“Yeah. Like I told Adalynn, do you really think places like that pull out the bed to clean?”
“Well, I don’t know which motel you were at, so I really couldn’t answer that.”
“Let’s just say it’s like Motel Hell and Adalynn was repulsed.” I smiled softly.
“That was smart to hide your money. Why didn’t you mention it sooner? I would’ve taken you to get it.”
“I was too busy trying to heal, I guess.”
“I’m truly sorry for my father and the things he said. I think maybe the three of us should have dinner together so he can get to know you better.”
“He doesn’t need to get to know me, Ian. You stood there and didn’t say a word to him. You let him treat me like a piece of shit, so you’re just as bad as he is. But like I said earlier, I’m used to it and didn’t expect anything else.”
“Rory, please.”
“No! There’s no ‘please.’ What’s done is done. The sad thing is I thought we were friends,” I said as I started to walk away.
“We are friends,” he said as he lightly grabbed my arm and stopped me.
I turned around and looked at him. “Really? Because the last time I checked, friends stick up for each other. And by the way, I’m moving out,” I said as I turned and walked away.
“What do you mean you’re moving out? Where the hell are you moving to?” he yelled.
I ignored him as I walked to the house and up to my room. It wasn’t too long before he came storming into the bedroom. “Where are you moving to?” he demanded.
“I’m moving to an apartment by Java Hut.”
“You can’t afford any apartments over in that area,” he yelled.
He was angry that I was leaving and I couldn’t understand why. Was he lonely? Or did he like having someone here he could control? “Calm down, Ian. I won’t tell you anything unless you calm down.”
He stared at me for a moment and then ran his hands through his hair. He walked over to the bed and sat down. He buried his face in his hands and, for a moment, my heart started to ache. I walked over, sat down next to him, and put my hand on his leg.
“It’s a small apartment upstairs from a bakery next to Java Hut. Jordyn, the girl that hired me, her father owns it and is letting me stay there for $100 a month. I just need to clean it up a bit.”
Ian sighed and looked at me. "Okay. When are you leaving?” he asked.
“I don’t know yet. I guess whenever I can get the place cleaned up. Is that okay?”
He brought his hand to my face and ran the back of it across my cheek. “You are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you want,” he said.
I closed my eyes at his touch as I took his hand and pressed it firmly against my lips. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” he whispered. “Say you’ll have dinner with me. I’ll grill us some steaks and we can open a bottle of wine, sit on the patio, and have a nice dinner.”
“You can cook?” I smiled.
“Yes. Can you?”
“Yeah. I can cook.”
“Good. Then you can help me.” He smiled as he got up from the bed and held out his hand. “Let’s go kick Charles out of the kitchen.”
I put my hand in his and we walked down to the kitchen. “I’m giving you the rest of the night off, Charles. Rory and I will be cooking dinner.”
“Are you sure, sir?” Charles asked in amazement.
“Yes, I’m sure. Enjoy your night.”
Ian walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a couple of steaks. I followed behind him and took out everything I needed to make a salad. I washed the lettuce while Ian started the grill. He went downstairs and came back up with a bottle of cabernet.
“See this bottle here?”
“Yes.” I smiled.
“This is a vintage cabernet that I had flown in from France. So, I really hope you like it because it was very expensive.”
“And if I don’t like it?”
“Well, just humor me and pretend you do.” He winked.
I couldn’t help but laugh softly as I cut up the tomatoes. It was amazing to me how sweet Ian was being especially after I told him I was moving out. It also made me wonder how many women he did this with. As I was in thought, I felt a sharp pain in my finger.
“SHIT!” I yelled as I held my finger.
Ian came running inside. “What happened? Are you all right?”
“I just cut my finger. I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay. Let me see,” he said as he took my hand. “Rory, in order for me to look at it, you need to let go.”
I was scared. I didn’t want to let go. “Ian, seriously, it’s no big deal.”
“You’re scared; I can tell. It’ll be okay. Just let me see if you need stitches. Please, Rory.”
His pleading eyes forced me to let go and show him my finger. He looked at it and smiled. “I think you’re going to survive, since it’s barely bleeding.”
He walked over to the drawer and pulled out a Band-Aid. As he removed it from the wrapper, he asked me to hold up my finger. I did. He softly kissed it and put the Band-Aid securely around it.
“There, all better.”
“I’m sorry. I overreacted,” I said as I looked down.
“You didn’t overreact and it’s understandable with what you’ve been through,” he said as he pressed his lips against my forehead. “I have to go check on the steaks. Do you need me to finish the salad?”
“No, I can finish it.”
Ian smiled and walked outside. He smiled a lot tonight, and he was making me fall deeper for him. I finished the salad and set it outside on the table. I cut up a fresh loaf of bread that Charles had made earlier in the morning, boiled some redskin potatoes, seasoned them, and set them on the table while Ian set down the plates and silverware. He brought the bottle of wine outside and poured some into my glass. He handed it to me as I sat down.
“Now remember, pretend.” He winked.
I took a sip and smiled. “It’s perfect.”
“No pretending?” he asked as he held up his glass.
“No pretending. I truly like it.” I smiled as I brought my glass to his.
The steak that Ian grilled was prepared to perfection. I cut into it and took a bite. He stared at me as I chewed. “Is something wrong?” I asked.
“I’ve sort of gotten used to having a house guest. It’s going to be weird around here when you move out.”
I looked at him and pursed my lips together, smiling softly as I replied. “You have house guests almost every night, Ian. You won’t miss me.”
“Those women aren’t guests, and I will miss you, Rory. Whether you want to believe it or not, I will miss having you around here.”
“Your dad will be happy when I’m gone.”
“F*ck him,” he snapped.
I could feel an argument coming on and I wasn’t going to let that happen. I wasn’t about to ruin our perfect dinner.
“Adalynn invited me to her birthday party Saturday.” I smiled.
“Ah, yes. That’s this Saturday. I was going to ask you if you wanted to go with me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that she’s your ex-wife?” I blurted out.
He set down his fork, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and stared at me. He picked up his glass and slowly brought it to his lips, staring at me the whole time he drank his wine.
“She told you about that, eh?”
“Yes. And I couldn’t help but wonder why you didn’t tell me when you introduced her to me.”
Ian sighed as he took a bite of his steak. “It was a mistake and it only lasted two days. We were drunk out of our minds. I seriously don’t remember anything about that night. People make mistakes. We did and we took care of it. Adalynn has been a long-time friend and that’s it. I don’t see her as anything but that. I never have and I never will. Trust me when I say that marriage will never be in the cards for me.”
“Never?” I asked.
“Never!”
“Why not?”
“Marriage is overrated. Who wants to be tied down like that for the rest of your life?”
Now I was starting to get some insight on his feelings and, so far, I didn’t like what I was hearing. “Can I ask you something?” I asked.
“Sure, go ahead.”
“How many actual girlfriends have you had? Not ones that you just bang and kick out. I mean, a real girlfriend who you take to dinner, movies, dancing.”
Ian chuckled. “None.”
I gasped as I looked at him and he smiled in amusement. “Seriously, Ian.”
“Seriously, Rory. I don’t do that kind of stuff. I’m not interested in any of that crap. Women, to me, are good for one thing and that’s to f*ck. The flowers, romance, expensive gifts; it’ll just wear you out and drag you down. It’ll lead you down a road that eventually splits and then you’re forced with the decision of which way to go.”
I was taken aback by his words and I didn’t know what to say. I was nothing but stunned and disgusted by what this hot and sexy man sitting across from me had just said. He had no respect for women whatsoever and he had just showed me his true colors.
“Do the women you frequently bed know this?”
“Of course they do, and I like how you’re so polite about the way you refer to them.” He smiled.
“I’m willing to bet your father is the same way,” I said as I sipped my wine.
“Yes, he is the same way. He’s been that way since my mother—”
Ian stopped what he was going to say and threw back the remaining wine that was left in his glass.
“Your mother what?” I asked. “Died?”
His eyes shot up at me and, as he stared into my soul, he calmly said, “Since she left us.”
I had to stop and think for a minute because I distinctly remembered Adalynn telling me that Ian’s mother had died. He got up from the table and grabbed my plate.
“Stay here and I’ll bring out dessert.”
I reached for the bottle of wine and poured some in my glass. Just when I would start to let my guard down and feel somewhat normal, Ian always managed to f*ck things up and instantly my guard would go back up. I guess it was better that I found out now what kind of man he really was. He came back with two blueberry muffins on a plate. I looked at him and he smiled at me. I don’t think he thought he said anything wrong. I believed that he was okay with his disrespect of women. I felt sick to my stomach.
“Is something wrong?” he asked as he sat down.
“Adalynn told me your mother died and you’re telling me she left? Which is it, Ian?”
He leaned back in chair. His defenses were up, I could tell by the way he looked at me.
“Why were you discussing my family with Adalynn?”
“Because you refuse to talk about anything with me. The only thing she said was that she passed away when you were a child.”
“I don’t know you, Aurora, so why would I want to tell you about my family and my past?”
Calm. Stay calm. Breathe. “For someone who doesn’t know me, you sure are hell bent on f*cking me.”
Ian laughed and nodded his head. “Yes. Yes, I am, because I do believe you are deliciously f*ckable.”
Okay, that was it. That was the last straw with this so-called man. I got up from my seat, walked over, and wrapped my arms around his neck as I leaned into him and began dragging my tongue lightly across his smooth skin. His scent was driving me crazy. A clean, fresh scent with a touch of musk.
“God, Rory, what are you doing?” he moaned.
“Your scent drives me insane and I can’t help myself,” I whispered as I continued to explore his neck and run my hands down the front of his shirt.
He grabbed ahold of my arms and pulled me onto his lap. He smiled as he kissed my lips. His erection was underneath me, grinding against my ass as I sat firmly on his lap. His hand found the edge of my shirt and it traveled up until he cupped my breast. Our kiss was passionate and I didn’t want it to stop. He had me in a trance, but I couldn’t lose sight of what I was doing.
“Rory, you have me so hard. I’m almost positive this is the hardest I’ve ever been,” he whispered. “I need to feel your p-ssy. I want to feel how wet you are.”
He moved his hand slowly from my breast to the front of my pants. His hand began its journey down south and, as he reached the lace of my panties, I grabbed his hand and broke our kiss.
“This is where I stop you, because I’m not a woman who’s only good for a f*ck. I’m more than that and I’m not one of your cheap whores who gives in to your every demand. I won’t be used, and this is one vagina you’ll never have!” I yelled as I got up and began to walk away. But I wasn’t finished. I stopped, turned, and looked at him one last time. “For the record, I hate blueberry muffins,” I said as I ran into the house and up to my room.
I went into the bathroom and locked the door. As I started the bath water, I poured some bubbles under the stream of water. I was shaking. I needed to calm down, but I couldn’t. My heart was racing as I undressed and stepped into the bathtub. The water was warm and the scent of jasmine and lavender filled the air. Tears quickly filled my eyes and then fell down my face. I was startled by a light knock on the door. I didn’t respond when Ian called my name. There was a moment of silence and then he started talking.
“My mother left me and my father when I was eight years old. She left me, her only child, for a man who lived in New York. I’ll never forget that day. It was a Friday, and she kept me home from school. She said we were going to have a fun day together and it was just going to be her and me.”
I stepped out of the bathtub and wrapped the towel around me. I walked over to the door and gently placed my hand on it as I sank to the floor and listened to Ian’s story.
“She took me to the carnival that I’d been asking to go to and she went on every ride with me, even though she hated them. We went to the park, had lunch, and then we went for ice cream. She took a lot of pictures that day and, when I asked her why she was taking so many, she wiped a tear from her eye and said because it was such a special day with just the two of us that she always wanted to remember it. When we got home, she had her suitcase sitting in the foyer. I asked her if she was going on a trip. She knelt down in front of me and hugged me tight. She told me that she was going on a trip and, when the time was right, she’d come back to get me and I could go with her. But, she never came back. I waited for years for my mother to walk back through the door and she never did. Maybe even at thirty-three years old, I’m still waiting.”
My heart broke listening to him. I could hear the sadness and anguish in his voice. How could a mother just leave her child like that? As much as I hated him at the moment, he needed me, and I wanted to hold him. I wanted to comfort him like he did me. I got up from the floor and opened the door. I looked around the room and he was gone. I quickly got dressed and walked downstairs, looking throughout the house for him. He wasn’t anywhere to be found. I stepped outside on the patio and looked towards the beach, thinking maybe he’d be there, by the water. He wasn’t. I went back upstairs, grabbed my phone, and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Ian, where are you?”
I waited ten minutes and he didn’t respond. So I sent him another text message.
“Please, Ian, come back so we can talk. I’m sorry.”
I climbed into bed and held my phone to my chest. I waited for a response that never came, and Ian didn’t come home.