Forever Black (5 page)

“You’re
welcome,” I smiled.

As
we were leaving the restaurant, I noticed several women looking at Connor with what
appeared to be sex in their eyes. Some were licking their lips as we walked by,
and others were eyeing him up and down. It was rather disgusting, but I could
see why they did it. He was undoubtedly something to be admired. We walked
outside, and I looked at him.

“Want
some ice cream?” I asked.

He
looked at me with a puzzling look like I was crazy or something.

“No,
I do not want ice cream, I’m taking you home and then I have somewhere to be.”
Here comes his rudeness again, I was surprised it took this long.

“Oh
come on, my treat, I know this cute little ice cream parlor a couple of blocks
away that’s open 24 hours.”

“Miss
Lane, I do not want any ice cream, now get in the car so Denny can take you
home.” His tone was adamant.

I
started to walk down the street. I wanted ice cream. If he didn’t that was his
problem, but I was getting some with or without him.

I
waved my hand as I walked away, “Thanks again Mr. Black for dinner, I’ll see ya
around sometime.”

“Miss
Lane, get back here,” he yelled down the street. I rolled my eyes and kept
walking. Suddenly, he was beside me mumbling, “Miss Lane, I will not tell you
again to get in the car.”

I
stopped and turned to him shoving my finger into his chest, “I do not take
orders from anybody Mr. Black, especially people I’ve only known less than 24
hours. I am not your responsibility. You thanked me for my help with a nice
dinner, and now it is time to part ways. I am going to get some ice cream, and
then I will call a cab to drive me home.”

He
stood there stunned, unable to speak. I continued walking, and he followed me.
I heard him on the phone, “Denny, I guess we’re getting ice cream; I’ll call
you when we’re leaving.” The tone of his voice was angry.

“You
do not need to come with me if you don’t like ice cream,” I said.

“I
never said I did not like it, I just don’t want any.”

“Then
why are you following me Mr. Black?”

“It’s
not safe in this city for a beautiful young woman to be walking alone,
especially at night, how many times do I need to explain that to you?”

I
caught the “beautiful” part and could not help but smile. My feet were starting
to kill me in my 4 inch heels, so I stopped abruptly in the middle of the
sidewalk and took them off.

“What
do you think you’re doing?” he asked.

“I’m
taking off my shoes because my feet are killing me,” I said as I used his arm
for balance.

“You’re
going to walk barefoot on this dirty sidewalk?”

I
laughed, “Yes I am Mr. Black.” I could tell he hated the idea; he was so prim
and proper. We walked up to the door of the ice cream parlor, and I slipped my
shoes back on.

“Hello,
how can I help you?” A cheery young girl behind the counter asked. I looked at
the different ice creams behind the glass, “I will have a single scoop of
chocolate chip on a waffle cone please.”

“And
for you sir?” the cheery girl asked.

Connor
looked at me and sighed, “A single scoop of cherry vanilla in a cup.” I smiled
at him and bumped my shoulder against his. I went to grab my wallet and pay,
but Connor had already handed the girl his money.

“I
told you it was my treat.”

“Don’t
worry about it Miss Lane, I can afford to buy you ice cream.” I rolled my eyes
and sat down at the wrought iron table, Connor sat across from me. I watched
him eat his ice cream while hiding a small smile. I could tell he was enjoying
it.

“How
long has it been since you ate ice cream?” I asked.

 He
looked at me puzzled, “I don’t know. I guess since I was a kid.”

“Are
you kidding me, you haven’t had ice cream since you were a kid?”

“No,
is that a problem?”

“No,
I’m just surprised.”

“I
think you would find a lot of things surprising about me,” he said. I twisted
my face and glared at him.

“So,
where are you going later?” Not that it was any of my business, but he made a
point to let me know he needed to be somewhere.

He
raised one eyebrow, “Miss Lane, I don’t think you really want to know the
answer to that.”

We
finished our ice cream as I saw Denny pull the limousine up at the curb. He got
out and opened the door for me.

“Thank
you Denny, you are such a gentleman,” I said as I glared at Connor. Thank god I
didn’t live too far because it was awkwardly silent the whole way home. The
Limo pulled up to my apartment, and I could see Connor leaning over checking it
out.

“You
have your own outside entrance?” he frowned.

“Yes,
I do not live in a fancy apartment building with a door man and private
elevator. This is it Mr. Black, my little apartment with its own outside
entry.” He looked at me in irritation.

“I
didn’t mean anything by it, I just think it is unsafe; anyone can break in.” I
looked at him and thanked him for putting that thought in my head. I leaned over
and kissed him on the cheek. I found it odd that he flinched at my touch.

“Thank
you for dinner and ice cream, I had a nice time.”

“You’re
welcome; have a nice night Miss Lane.”

I
got out of the Limo and leaned forward so I was facing him and I winked, “Have
a pleasant night Mr. Black.”

I
shut the door and walked into my apartment. I took off my killer shoes and
threw them down; god my feet hurt, but it was worth the pain to eat at Le Sur.
My suspicion about Connor and him having to be somewhere was that he was going
to pick up some woman for sex. I had the distinct feeling he was that type of
guy. He said he did not “do” relationships, but he is a man and every man has
needs, and he was going to make sure his were filled.

I
pondered why anyone would want a relationship with him anyway. He is downright
rude and arrogant, not to mention he seems a little controlling. Oh hell, I’ve
never known anyone so controlling, but why does my heart flutter when I’m
around him? I laughed to myself, thinking about the night, and how on more than
one occasion I pissed him off as I climbed in my bed and fell fast asleep.

I
spent the next few days going to work and volunteering at the soup kitchen.
Saturday came, and it was a beautiful September day. Peyton had called and
asked me to go shopping with her, but I told her I already had plans, of course
she was not happy with my answer, but I was going to Central Park.

Growing
up, I would escape my house and find a quiet place to sit and draw. It was the
only time I did not feel lonely. I liked to draw and paint pictures of places
where I could go and hide. My father used to tell me that I got my artistic
ability from my mother. I thought about her almost every day and how my life
would be different if she hadn’t died, but like I say, nothing lasts forever;
you can either roll with it or let it kill you. I grabbed my drawing pad and
pencils and headed out the door. The walk to Central Park wasn’t long, and I
enjoyed the fresh air; it made me feel alive.

I’ve
spent more time in Central Park since I’ve moved to New York than anywhere
else. The playgrounds were filled with children playing in the warm New York
sun. I made my way to the Conservatory Garden. The magnolia and lilac trees
filled the air that provided a soothing and calming effect. It was easy for me
to escape the world and take in the beauty of the gardens. It was like a
sanctuary for me; a place where I could go and draw just about anything.

I
sat down on the bench and I noticed a bride and groom over to the right of me
getting their picture taken by the fountain. She was beautiful in her white
wedding dress, and he was equally handsome in his black tuxedo. They looked
happy. I smiled; this was the perfect place to get married and that would make
the perfect painting.

I
was half way done drawing them when my phone rang. I looked at the unfamiliar
number and ignored the call. A second later the phone rang again displaying the
same number. I’m sure whoever it was had the wrong number, so I answered it to
tell them to stop calling. I froze as I heard the voice on the other end.

“Hello
Miss Lane, are you enjoying Central Park?” I started to get creeped out as I
looked around from side to side and then behind me; that is when I saw Connor
walking towards the bench I was sitting on.

“I
am Mr. Black and it looks like you are to.” I hung up as he approached me.

I
gasped when I saw him. He had a way of making me do that and I hated it. He was
dressed in a pair of khakis and a button down white cotton shirt with his
sleeves rolled to his elbows. His hair, as usual, was perfectly tousled, and
his sun-kissed skin glowed in the sunlight. I frowned at him as he sat down
next to me.

“What?”
he asked.

“How
did you get my phone number; I do not remember giving it to you?”

“I
have my ways of finding out anything about anybody Miss Lane.”

“So,
you’re a stalker then?”

He
threw his head back and laughed, “No Ellery, I’m not a stalker. I just wanted
your number in case I needed you to help me home some night.” I glared at him
but was secretly smiling underneath.

“How
did you know I was here?”

“Denny
pointed out that he saw you walking down the street, and I asked him to stop.”

“Why?”
I curiously asked. He pursed his lips together as I could tell he was getting
irritated with my questions.

“I
don’t know, I just thought I’d say hi, I guess.”

“Then
you could have just called, since you have my number and all.”

He
heavily sighed, “Miss Lane, enough with the questions please.”

I
laughed silently because I was pissing him off again and I loved it.

“Can
I ask you one more thing?” He looked at me and frowned. God he was sexy when he
did that. It’s a sin to look that good.

“What
is it?”

“Could
you please stop calling me Miss Lane and call me Ellery?”

He
smiled and cocked his head, “It would be my pleasure Ellery.” I liked the way
my name rolled off his tongue.

Connor
glanced over at my pad and saw the scribble of two people on it.

“What
are you drawing?”

“The
bride and groom over there,” I pointed.

“Why?”

“Why
not, they’re a cute couple, and I think it would make a good painting. I’ll
call it
A Wedding in Central Park
.”

“And
what makes you think someone would buy that?”

I
rolled my eyes at his bluntness; I knew it was only a matter of time.

“People
love weddings and any couple that got married here would buy it as a memory of
the beginning of their life together.”

Connor
lifted up his chin, “It’s all a bunch of shit if you ask me.”

“What
is?” I asked as I looked at him in confusion.

“Weddings,
starting a life together, relationships, all of it, you said nothing lasts
forever.”

I
was surprised by his words and his hatred for relationships. I could see the pain
in his beautiful green eyes; he must have been badly hurt. I looked down and
continued drawing.

“Well,
a lot of people believe in the happily ever after and the fairytale
relationships, let’s not take that away from them.”

“Do
you believe in any of that?” he asked.

“I
don’t know; I thought once I did, but I’m not so sure anymore.” I continued
drawing.

He
took his hand and lightly grabbed my wrist, turning it over and softly rubbing
my scar with his thumb. I wanted to pull away, but his touch froze me; he was
so warm and soft and what he was doing sent fire through my body.

“Tell
me about these scars,” he said in a low voice.

My
heart started racing as he let go and let my hand fall back to my pad. I stared
at him, why did he care? I have not known him long enough to share my secrets; hell,
I don’t know him at all.

“I
made a mistake; I was young and stupid; that’s all.”

“Everyone
is young and stupid from time to time, but they do not try to kill themselves,”
he snapped. It was almost as if he was taking this personally. I sighed and
remained calm.

“Connor,
you don’t know me or anything about me. We are not friends remember, so what
happened to me in my past is none of your business.” There I said it. I put him
in his place and politely told him to back off.

“I
apologize,” he said as he looked straight ahead.

I
started to feel a bit of regret for my tone. I got up from the bench. “I’m
starving, would you like a hot dog?”

“No,
I don’t want a hot dog; if you are hungry then I’ll take you to a proper
restaurant for lunch.”