Exquisite

Chapter Four

Lena found herself once again sitting in her car at Exquisite. This time however, she knew Shelly wasn't inside to be her buffer. She ran through different scenarios she could use to leave early. Excuses. Her pager could go off, except she wasn't on call. Or maybe her dog got out, except she didn't own a dog. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she opened the door and stepped out into the cool air. It wasn't even the fact that it was him she was going to meet. It was the whole situation she couldn't stand. The false conversation they would have over dinner, the awkward silences, the fake interest he’d show. So she could be what? Lucky number thirty-four? Please, she thought looking around, can't something give me a plausible means of escape? When nothing immediately presented itself Lena trudged inside repeating the phrase, the sooner I arrive the sooner I can leave.

Mason was still in his office when Wendy came to the open doorway grinning. “Guess who just walked in?”

Mason dropped the pen and leaned back stretching his long arms over his head, “I'm going to go out on a limb and guess my date.”

“Yep.” Wendy said popping the P. “And she looks miserable.”

“Now why do you say that like you're enjoying it?” Mason asked as he stood straightening the desk a little. Wendy leaned her shoulder against the frame and crossed a leg in front of the other. “Because I’ve never seen a date of yours turn up in a pants suit ensemble looking as though she just swallowed a lemon.” Whistling low between her lips she tacked on. “Boy she really doesn't want to go on a date with you huh?”

Mason came around the desk and walked right up to her. “I'll have you know,” he paused watching her tilt her head, then he grinned full blown, “You’re exactly right. She's probably out there looking for the fire escape.”

Wendy laughed and rolled her eyes, “Then why’d you ask her out?”

Walking past her to the entrance he answered, “I have no idea.”

Lena saw him the minute he stepped out from behind the huge frosted glass doors at the far end of the restaurant. She remained at the front by the hostess stand, glued to the wall,

as he started to make his way toward her. Tonight he was dressed in the same black slacks, however he had a white buttoned down shirt over them. The sleeves were rolled up mid arm and his watch glimmered as he walked under the lights. His long legs seemed to eat up the distance and before she knew it he was sanding in front of her.

“Ah the lovely Lena.” he said as he moved around the hostess stand. Lena watched as two of the women who’d been sitting in the waiting area looked up at him and stopped their conversations. She couldn't believe she was standing there preparing to voluntarily eat dinner with him. What on earth had possessed her to do this again? Then he smiled down at her and his damn dimples appeared. Sneaky, she thought knowing he had just answered her question for her. Oh well, no need to be anything other than what she’d been from the start and with that self reminder Lena grimaced a little.

“Save the charm Romeo. I don't want it and I certainly don't need it.”

“Lena I think you're wrong there.” he paused, “If anyone could benefit from some charm it’d be you.”

Lena watched him as he turned to the hostess, trying to decide if the smug bastard had just complimented her or insulted her. She decided it had to be a veiled insult because that’d been their weapon of choice from the very beginning. After conversing with the woman behind the stand he turned back to her and inclined his head a little.

“Well come on through Lena and I’ll show you our table.”

Lena heard one of the ladies behind her sigh and she rolled her eyes at the absurdity of their simpering. Mason caught her look and raised his eyebrows as if to ask, what? As if he didn't know what the two sighing idiots behind her were thinking. She brushed past him muttering, “Oh I bet you're loving this.” She heard him chuckle as he followed her. He led them through the main dining room, over to the frosted double doors then when she stopped he moved around her pushing one of the doors open to the kitchen. He kept it like that with his hip as she raised an eyebrow at him.

“We're eating in the kitchen?”

“No.” he stated and she walked through cautiously watching the bustling activity going on back there. Just remember she told herself, the sooner I arrive the sooner I can leave.

There were waiters running in and out a door at the far end. Three men behind a stainless steel pass, where a series of grills lined the back wall, were tossing food in fry pans and yelling at each other all the while smiling and going about their business like a well oiled machine. Over in another corner Lena spotted a short lady in a bright purple chef smock and a hot pink bandana. Just then the lady glanced right at them grinned then winked at Mason. Great. Another groupie in our midst, Lena thought looking back up at Mason.

“So if not here, where?”

He walked down the aisle directly in front of him then made a left turn. Lena followed until they finally came to a standstill in a narrow hall. He leaned against the wall facing her as she came to a standstill on the opposite side. She looked at the closed door then back at him. “So we're eating in there?”

He nodded then grinned, “Yep.”

Trying not to look at him as though he was the most idiotic man on the planet she asked. “Let me get this straight. I left my office to come down here and eat dinner in your office?”

Lena stepped back as he pushed himself off the wall and moved toward her. Two steps forward and he was close enough that his shirt brushed the front of hers. She sucked in a quick breath and was now standing with her back pushed up against the wall. Not one to be intimidated she tilted her head up to face him and watched as the left side of his mouth pulled up in a smirk. “Do you ever have anything nice to say?” he asked, his voice dipping down low enough to make Lena’s pulse pick up. She swallowed once trying not to notice the way his tone was slowly melting her resistance.

“What can I say?” she paused, licked her bottom lip, then continued, “You bring out the best in me.”

Leaning down closer to her he moved to the side at the last moment and grabbed the door handle pushing it open. Slowly taking a step back he ushered her inside. When she managed to catch her breath she moved past him and heard him say. “Now why do I doubt that?”

Mason watched as she marched into his office still stiff as a board. For a moment there he’d noticed her eyes widen and her breath catch when he’d moved in a little closer than necessary. He wondered whether it was because she couldn’t stand the thought of him touching her or if it was because she wanted him too touch her. Somehow, he thought looking at her as she stopped in front of his desk then looked back at him with an expression of, well? He concluded it was the former. Just to irritate her further he smiled wide and walked in shutting the door with a definite click as the lock sounded. He noticed her eyes narrow on his hand then she turned back around and took a seat in the chair opposite his. Walking around his desk he sat down as she took inventory of his office. Sure this wasn’t what he’d originally planned. He had only come here to grab his jacket at first. However, when she’d turned on the snotty attitude he’d changed his mind and thought, let the games begin.

“So do you conduct all your first dates in such a formal manner Mason?” she asked bringing her gaze back to rest on him. “Or in here would you prefer it if I call you Mr. Langley?”

Rocking back on his chair Mason laughed and watched her as she put her purse down on the floor. “Oh so you do have a sense of humor hiding somewhere under that suit of armor?”

“I was actually being serious but I think I’ll stick with Langley. Mr implies you’re a gentleman,” she paused, “Suit of armor?”

He looked her over from head to toe. “You know? That outfit designed to deter me from seeing you as a woman. Buttoned up from waist to neck and pants covering any skin available.” he paused then sat forward, “I hate to be the one to break it to you Lena but it does the exact opposite. It just makes me want to know what’s under there and how I can get to it.”

Lena had made a promise to herself that there was no way she would ever sleep with Mason Langley. However, as she sat there with her legs crossed and a desk between them she felt an ache start to form deep down inside. His words, spoken in that deep honeyed tone, slid right under her skin and kept playing on repeat as she stared at him, speechless. As the silence seemed to echo through the small space she realized he was waiting for her to say something. Finally pulling herself together she swallowed trying to moisten her dry throat and instead of acknowledging his seductive comment she blurted out. “I Googled you.”

He sat back bringing his left foot up to rest his ankle on his right knee. “Did you? Well I guess you have me at a disadvantage. I don't even know your last name.”

For a moment Lena stared at him in shock then she felt her face morph to disbelief that he didn't know her last name and that she’d never told him! Here she was sitting in a tiny room, make that a tiny locked room! On a date, with a man who hadn't even asked her last name. The sooner I arrive the sooner I can leave, she repeated to herself.

“Is that really a requirement for you? Obviously it wasn't that important since you still don't know it.”

Expecting some kind of apology Lena was shocked when he shrugged, “No. I don't care either way.” Before she could come back with an equally degrading reply he went on. “So what did you learn from Google, Lena?” Sitting back in the chair again he watched her with laughter in his eyes.

“I figured out that there are at least thirty-three very unintelligent women roaming the streets of Chicago.” she finally grinned at him and he stopped rocking the chair abruptly. He sat up straight and rested his long forearms on the desk. She couldn't help but glance at them, then she looked back up to meet his steady gaze. He smiled slowly and his dimples appeared.

“I don't know what you mean by that but from the unholy grin on your face, it had to be a great insult. I'm just sorry I don't understand.”

Standing up he came around the desk and stepped in front of it then leaned back resting against it.

“Maybe you should Google it?”

Suddenly he leaned down and grabbed the sides of the chair she was sitting in bringing them almost nose to nose. “Maybe you should tell me your last name.”

Losing the grin Lena stared right back at him. “Why?”

“Don't you think I deserve to know who insults me?”

Lena held his stare and narrowed her eyes, “I've been insulting you since we met, and my last name was on the flowers you delivered and yet you still don't know. Maybe I was right all along and you really can't read?”

She felt his hands grip the chair tighter and watched his jaw clench then he stood and spun away from her running a hand through his hair.

“You’re so infuriating!” he turned back to face her and drew his hands up palms facing forward, “I surrender, you win. You're much better at this than I am.”

“Better at what?” she asked feeling her chest tighten. She’d been trying to get away from him all night and now that she knew that mission was accomplished she didn't feel as victorious as she thought she would.

“This ice you have.” pausing he shook his head, “This mean you spit out without even blinking. This isn’t me. It’d probably be best if you leave.”

Standing up Lena took her purse and walked to him. Stopping in front of him she felt her heart squeeze, then grimaced slightly.

“That's not a bad thing, Langley.” With that she turned and walked out the door thinking, the bitch had arrived and now she could leave.

Throwing her purse onto the couch Lena made her way to her wine cabinet. She pulled out a bottle of Merlot and sat down pouring herself a glass. Kicking her heels off she closed her eyes for a moment. Maybe you should tell me your last name. His voice kept repeating itself over and over the whole way home. She couldn't begin to understand why she cared he’d kicked her out, but she did. She took a sip of the wine and sighed. She was beyond tired, her head was throbbing and all she wanted was a hot shower. Standing she walked down the hall, wine in hand and flicked on the bathroom light. Placing the half empty glass on the counter she started to get undressed. Pulling the clip from her hair she watched as it tumbled down in waves to the curve of her back. Looking in the mirror she grimaced at her reflection. She really did look like she was wearing a suit of armor. Her blouse was a high neck collar that buttoned all the way up. It just makes me want to know what’s under there and how I can get to it. Sighing Lena reached out and grabbed the glass and downed the rest of the wine. The man was so annoying! Even when he wasn't here he was in her head being totally offensive. Oh but he was so totally appealing in every other way. She placed the glass back down and undressed. Turning the water on in the shower, she stepped in and let the spray slide over her flesh. Taking the sponge she lathered it up and started to run it up her arms and found herself thinking about Mason's long arms when he’d placed them on his desk, she imagined how good they’d feel wrapped around her from behind and she knew they would be long enough to let that big hand slide down her tummy to between her. No! She refused to allow Langley to be her fantasy. Oh he'd just love that smug bastard, she thought and finished washing herself with quick efficiency.

Mason got home at around 2am and walked straight to his room flopping down onto his bed. He watched his fan spin above him and tried to work out what the hell had happened tonight. He’d known from the start that the date was not going to be the usual. He’d not however, expected it to turn into a colossal fuck up. It’d gone from them launching insults at one another, to her unexpected show of humor, to him losing his temper and kicking her out. He raised his arm up and rested it across his forehead and thought back to their conversation. She was such a prickly woman he didn’t even really understand how he’d managed to piss her off so badly. Oh well, he thought and closed his eyes, it wasn’t like he went into the evening thinking it would go well. What was bothering him though, was that moment right before she left, when her guard came down and she softened for just a moment and he saw the woman he knew was somewhere inside her. It was a pity it’d taken him telling her to go away for her to finally show up.