Exquisite

Chapter Six

Friday night came around quicker than Lena expected. Although her days were long she was finding they were flying by and before she knew it Shelly was calling her to meet up at O’Malley’s, a small Irish pub just down the street from the hospital. Picking up her bag she checked her make-up in the small mirror by the door and walked out. The air was nice tonight, not bitingly cold, but cool enough to redden her cheeks. She pulled her black mid-thigh coat on and tied it around the waist tucking her blue scarf in at the neck before she headed down the street. When she got there it was just around 9pm and the pub was jammed with locals. They had a house band playing tonight and it was clear everyone was ready for the weekend. Lena scanned the crowd and found Shelly sitting by the bar laughing with Liam, the owner. She pushed her way through the sea of people to the spot that was vacant for her then hitched herself up onto the stool.

“Well look who’s here. How you doing tonight young Maggie?”

Lena smiled at the older man. “It’s been a long week but I’m happy to be here about to drink one of your fine ale’s.”

“Is that right?”

Smiling Lena nodded, “That’s right. Start me off with the usual please Liam.”

He winked at her and squeezed Shelly’s hand then walked down the end of the bar. Shelly turned to her, all smiles, and asked, “So how are you tonight Maggie?”

Rolling her eyes at her friend she reached out for a potato chip that was in front of her. “Don’t call me that. I only let him do it because he is sweet and old.”

“And Irish!” she heard Liam yell from just down the bar.

Grinning she crunched down on the chip and nodded once, “Yes and Irish.”

Shelly laughed then picked up her martini taking a sip before putting it back down.“Really though, how was your week?”

“Pretty awful. I had the lovely task of telling a lady her child had leukemia.”

Shelly grimaced and sighed. “See that right there is exactly why I couldn’t work with children.”

Lena reached forward for some more chips and was about to crunch down on them when she heard Shelly say softly, “Holy shit.”

Frowning at her friend Lena turned looking behind her and asked, “What?”

That question was answered the minute her eyes landed on the front door of the pub, right where Mason Langley was standing. Lena spun back around on her chair and hissed at Shelly. “What’s he doing here?”

Picking up her drink Shelly took a quick sip. “How am I supposed to know?”

“Don’t play that innocent shit with me, it wont work. How would he know to come here?”

Shelly placed her glass down and admitted softly, “He called me.”

Lena’s mouth fell open and she sat staring at her friend with nothing to say. Then she gathered her wits and asked softly, “What do you mean he called you? For a date?”

Looking appalled Shelly shook her head, “No! He called and asked for your number and when I told him no, he may have asked me to get you to meet him here tonight. I didn’t think he would actually show.” she finished lamely.

Groaning Lena shook her head and took a gulp from the beer Liam had left in front of her. She’d just started to accept the fact that maybe, just maybe, she’d been a little more obnoxious the other night then she had intended and she’d been leaning toward going back and apologizing to him. It had also been a good excuse to see him again, but to be ambushed? Now that was something she was not ready for. Just as she was trying to think of a good excuse to get up and leave, without killing her friend, she felt him stop right behind her.

Mason had known she was going to be mad. When he’d called Dr Shelly Monroe, she’d warned him how mad Lena would be, but even from across the room he could almost see steam coming out her ears. It’d been three days since he’d called and left the message for her and he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head. He didn’t know what that said about him but something about her had crawled under his skin and refused to go away. He pushed through the crowd and stopped behind her. He watched as she physically stiffened and when it was clear she wasn’t about to turn around he leaned over right by her ear.

“It’s so nice to see you again Dr. O’Donnell.” He saw Shelly stifle a giggle and straightened up winking at her,“You too Dr Monroe.”

“Oh call me Shelly.”

He heard Lena sigh so he turned and signaled the bartender down. He took the stool next to her and rested an elbow on the bar top. “So this is a nice surprise.”

Finally she turned to face him and when their knees bumped she quickly shifted back. “It’s hardly a surprise when you’re stalking me.” she stated bluntly.

Instead of acting offended he looked at Liam, “I’ll have a Guinness please.”

When he turned back he noticed she was glaring right at him. Her green eyes were twinkling under the light, and although she was in fact glaring at him, she didn’t seem as pissed off as usual. “It was the only way I knew you’d see me.”

“By ambushing me?”

“By going through your friend.” he countered. “Thanks for that Shelly.”

Shelly took that moment to stand. “Ahh you can leave me out of this, thanks. I’m going to go over,” she waved behind her at nothing, “There for a bit.”

Lena shook her head, “Shelly. I’m revoking your friend card.”

Mason couldn’t help grinning at her when she turned back to him.

“Stop flashing your damn dimples around like a weapon.” Lena grumbled as she picked her beer up and took another gulp. The man looked absolutely mouth watering tonight in all black. He was wearing a button up shirt that was tucked into perfectly fitted slacks showing off his broad shoulders and trim cut waist. Draped around his neck was a burgundy scarf to fight off the cool night air and he had a trench coat, that he’d been wearing, now resting up on the bar. His deep blue eyes sparkled as he grinned at her. In a word he was, gorgeous. It wasn’t fair that he was dressed to impress and she was dressed from 7am this morning.

“A weapon huh? I’ve never heard them described like that.”

“But apparently I suppose there have been poems dedicated to them.” she snapped back then she shut her eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so ugly to you.”

He was silent for a moment then leaned toward her and spoke in a voice so deep and smooth it slid right into her, “Actually there’s not one thing I find ugly about you.”

Lena’s eyes flicked up to meet his brilliant blue ones and she shook her head slowly. “This wont work.”

“Why?” he asked and she felt his breath whisper across her lips.

“Because I don’t want it to.” she stopped when she saw his eyes narrow a little, “With anyone. I’m not ready for it to work with anyone.”

He reached out and pushed a piece of hair back from her face tucking it behind her ear, then sat back picking up his drink and taking a sip. Lena sat frozen on the seat and tried to remind herself this was an extremely bad idea. He was a womanizer, he was almost at celebrity status here in Chicago. She didn’t know the first thing about having a relationship, she knew how to run away.

“Stop thinking so hard Lena O’Donnell and enjoy a beer with me.”

Mason watched her pick up her beer and take another quick sip. He knew she was tense, he could feel the waves rolling off her, he just didn’t understand why. She’d pretty much told him, no. She didn’t want to date. Didn’t want to start anything with anyone, but for some reason the more he was with her the harder he was finding it to stay away. He knew she’d come straight from work and tonight she was in one of those classy little skirts he was coming to like a whole lot. It was snug and curved over her hip and finished just above her knee, which meant that right now perched up on this stool it had ridden up to mid thigh. Oh yeah, he liked those skirts, a lot. Her baby blue blouse was tucked neatly in at the waist and her hair was pulled half up on her head and the rest spilled down to her waist. He wanted to wrap his hand around all that hair and pull her in close to him. He also wouldn’t mind wrapping her hair around other parts of his body, but since she was still actually seated beside him, he figured he should keep that enlightening piece of information to himself. “So how was work?”

She tilted her head to him and smirked. “Really? You’re going to ask me about work?”

He shrugged then tried a different question, “Okay, how do you like the weather tonight?”

The last thing he expected was for her to bust out with a huge peal of laughter. He felt his mouth twitch at her hilarity and took a sip of his beer. “Are you done laughing at me?”

“Oh come on. That was the worst opening line ever.”

“Well it isn’t like this is our first date and I need to impress you.”

She ran her tongue across her top teeth and nodded, “No that’s right. You threw me out of our first date Langley.”

He nodded with a serious look and replied, “Well you were being mean to me.”

She was still smiling at him, which he now knew was a huge accomplishment on his part, so he continued playing with her, “You hurt my feelings.”

“Did I?”

He nodded, “I think you should make it up to me.”

Her left eyebrow arched up in a way that was now becoming familiar. “I’m almost afraid to ask how, but ok you win, how?”

He looked over toward the band then back at her. She followed his gaze then turned to him shaking her head. “No.”

“Yes.” he replied standing and signaling the bartender. When a young blond girl stopped in front of him he gestured to his coat. “Do you stow the coats for us so we can dance?”

As the bartender nodded and took his he heard Lena protesting through gritted teeth.

“No! Mason.”

He reached over past her and grabbed her coat giving it to the bartender as well just as Liam walked by. “Oh stop giving the boy a hard time Maggie and go dance with him.”

Mason stopped and pivoted slowly towards her, “Maggie?” he asked slowly.

Narrowing her eyes at him she stood, “Don’t even think about it Langley.” and with that she stormed off toward the band leaving him to follow.

Great! She thought as she marched toward the dance floor as though it was her execution. Just what she needed, him closer to her. Wasn’t it bad enough he knew she thought he was attractive? Now she had to press up against him for, how long was a song anyway, around three minutes? Fantastic. As she reached the edge of the dance floor she noticed other couples swaying to the slow beat that was now pulsing through the pub. The women with their arms wrapped around the men, their legs tangling as they moved about the floor. It all looked so intimate and it made Lena want to run. She was just about to turn and bolt for the nearest exit when she felt two big hands gently rest on her upper arms. She could feel the warmth of him seep through her blouse and skirt to stroke her skin and all she wanted to do was lean back into him. Instead she stiffened and felt him tighten his grip as he leaned down to her. “Not this time. This time you don’t get to leave until we’re done.”

The threat shivered down her spine and he moved in front of her released one hand while grasping the other and tugging her into the crowd. She moved in close and let him guide her palm to his shoulder. When it was there he looked down at her other hand.

“What do you plan to do with that hand?”

Lena grinned. “Smack you with it?” she watched as a smile tugged the left side of his mouth up.

“Kinky. Maybe later but not in public the first time.”

Rolling her eyes she did the logical thing and lifted her other hand up to rest on his shoulder. She felt him reach down, around her small waist, and tug her forward so she was pressed chest to chest and hip to hip with him. She gasped softly and took a deep breath noticing one other appeal Mason Langley had, he smelled amazing. Whatever cologne he had on made him so damn appealing she almost gave into the urge to run her tongue up his neck. She gripped his shoulders a little tighter trying to keep herself upright incase her knees gave out.

“So why’d the old man call you Maggie?”

She swayed with him as the music throbbed around them then turned her face up to look at him. His eyes twinkled down at her and she was finding it very hard to remember that she did not want to do this with him.

“My full name is Magdalena O’Donnell, the owner of this pub Liam, is one of my dad’s longest and dearest friends.”

“Ah I see. So you’re Irish?”

Losing herself in the joy of the moment she smiled and answered, “I am.”

“So it seems I really didn’t know your name that first night.” he murmured more to himself than to her. The band stopped and Lena went to take a step back when over the speakers came Dave Matthews Band singing “Crash”. Lena looked up at him when he started to sing the lyrics.

“You like Dave Matthews Band?”

Mason nodded. “I’m a big fan. You?”

She dipped her head down hating that he’d zeroed in on something they did have in common. “Yes. I like them very much.”

He moved them back around the floor until the were out from under the bright lights overhead. She watched him closely as he gracefully pulled her around in a slow spin.

“Tell me something Lena. If you’d walked into my restaurant that night and we’d never met, would you have gone out with me?”

She looked up at him and answered honestly. “Not on a date.”

He stopped dancing abruptly then moved them a little to the left effectively cornering her in the shadows with a wall to her back.

“Why’d you stop?” she asked, suddenly realizing he’d lost his easy going sway and was now holding himself tense while his blue eyes burned as they looked down at her.

“You say not on a date. What do you mean by that?”

She looked around to see everyone still swaying and not paying any attention to the man looming over her in a way that was about to get her in all kinds of trouble.

“I didn’t mean anything.” she denied quickly.

He moved a step closer. “Yes you did.” he licked his bottom lip and god help her but Lena wanted to do that for him and maybe bite it to. “What did you mean?”

Sighing knowing she’d never get out of this without confessing she spoke quickly and softly. “I would’ve just gone home with you and then never seen you again.”

It felt like time stopped and she was frozen to the spot, because she certainly didn’t make any kind of move, as she watched Mason raise his palms and rest them on either side of her head. He leaned his body in close and there was no mistaking his intention to crowd her this time. She was glued to the wall and he was glued to her. She was mesmerized as he leaned down close and when he was a whisper away from her mouth she blurted out, “It’s not as though I’m really your type.”

She watched his lips as they pulled into a wicked smile and he rubbed his hips up against her proving how very wrong she was. She was sure she was about to find the fortitude to push him off of her sex starved body when he whispered.

“Shh Lena. This is my favorite part of the song.” and then he proceeded to sing the famously dirty lyrics, “Hike up your skirt a little more and show your world to me.” right before her leaned down and nipped her bottom lip with his teeth.

Mason couldn’t believe he had the prickly doctor up against a wall staring at him like she really would show him the world. When he’d gone into this dance he’d just wanted to get his hands on her, but the more they swayed and the more she talked, her scent of vanilla had gotten under his skin and he wanted to taste. She hadn’t pushed him away yet and he was as close as he could get with his clothes still on. Her eyes had widened, when he’d leaned in and nipped her bottom lip with his teeth, but she hadn’t moved. When he tilted his head back a fraction she licked the spot he’d bitten then floored him with what came out of her mouth.

“Was that a statement or a request?”

He grinned at her audacity, “Which way will get me what I want?”

She looked down at their bodies pressed intimately together then brought her gaze back to him. “And what do you want Langley?”

He thought his answer to that would be quick. He thought he’d be smooth and lean down and kiss her brains out then proceed to hike her skirt up around her hips and make her scream. What he didn’t expect, was to find himself straightening up and taking a step back. He watched her raise that familiar eyebrow at him and then he floored her.

“A second date.”

Lena stormed into her house at 11pm and kicked her shoes off. She flung her purse down on the counter and walked into the kitchen reaching for the wine. She was going to kill him, she decided as she took a gulp. She was going to strangle him with her bare hands. How dare he get her all fired up and then just flip a switch and say, nope I want a second date. Fuming she stormed down the hall into the bathroom. She twisted the taps on her bath and watched as the water started to steam up around the room. She turned, placed the glass on the counter, and unzipped her skirt. As it fell down her hips she reached up and unbuttoned the blouse letting it fall to the ground. She couldn’t push away the imprint of his body as it had pushed into hers all hard and warm as he backed her into the wall and that pissed her off further. Infuriating man, who says no to a sure thing? Since when does he, Mr. I’ve dated thirty three women, say no! Flinging her underwear over into the hamper she tied her hair up in a messy bun grabbed the wine and dipped her big toe in the bubbles, she sighed as the water engulfed her and she leaned back against the porcelain. She was well on her way to fantasy mode, since reality was apparently out of her reach, when her phone shrilled loudly through the air. Figuring it was Shelly for an update she put the wine down and picked it up.

“What? I told you we’re not friends anymore.”

“Now that’s a shame. We’d come so far.”

Gasping Lena sat up, sloshing the water around her, watching as a bit of it went over the tub’s edge.

“Oh shit!” she yelped as she reached for a towel and threw it over the puddle. She looked down at her naked body then realized, hello idiot he’s on the phone he can’t see you, so with that thought she lay back down and pressed the phone to her ear. “What do you want Langley?”

“What was that noise?” he asked instead of answering her. “It sounds like water.”

Sighing Lena spoke over him. “I didn’t give you my number so you could harass me.”

“No. You gave me your number so I’d go away, but now I want answers.” he replied smoothly.

Closing her eyes she asked again, “What do you want?”

Hearing a ruffling noise she asked automatically, “Where are you?” she heard his laugh deep and smooth through the phone and ordered herself to keep her hands visible.

“Now if I answer that you have to answer my question.”

Looking around her bathroom she picked up her glass of wine and took a gulp for courage, what could it hurt? “Fine. Now answer.”

“I’m laying on my bed.”

She’d known that was going to be the answer so she took another gulp and put the glass back on the bathroom counter.

“Lena?” he asked in a sing song voice. “Lena it’s your turn.”

The man even managed to irritate her when he wasn’t in the room. “I forgot your question.”

Tsking her like he didn’t believe her he asked again, “What was that noise earlier?”

Knowing it would irritate him she answered vaguely. “Water.”

“Lena you don’t play by the rules.” he said softly. His voice seemed to reach through the phone and stroke her.

“Oh? I didn’t know there were rules.”

He must have moved again because she heard the rustling of his sheets. “The rules are honesty. Always.” he paused, “Now where are you Dr O’Donnell?”

She reached out and took the glass off the side again and finished it then answered, “In the bath.”

Dead silence. One heart beat, two heart beat, then. “Damn I’m an idiot.” she heard him mutter.

Smiling she answered. “I’m sure I was just thinking that earlier.”

“When I had you pressed up against the wall?”

“Oh no. That was the smartest thing you did.” she paused, “I meant when you let a sure thing walk away.”

“Hmmm. Well maybe I don’t want a sure thing. Maybe I want to work for it.”

Enjoying flirting for the first time in a long while she whispered. “Maybe the offer wont be there next time.”

She waited and almost moaned when his voice dropped down even lower, “It’s nice to know you’re anticipating a next time.” pausing he sighed and it sounded like he was rubbing his hand across his face because it came out muffled. “I don’t know why Lena but you’ve done something to me. I can’t get you out off my mind.”

Lena shook her head slowly, even though he couldn’t see her, and whispered softly, “I’m truly sorry for that. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

So softly, she almost missed it he whispered. “Let me in Magdalena O’Donnell. I want to know all of you.”

Feeling her heart beat rapidly inside her naked chest she’d never felt more vulnerable.

“Lets start with that second date.”