you,” said Craig. “Have them cleanup and you may leave us for the evening.”
“Sir,” the man said.
I cut into the meat and took a bite. Yum! I chewed, savouring it.
“‘You r steak?” he said
“Oh, perfect. The lobster too. Wow, this is really nice. Can’t thank you enough.”
“Just having your company is enough for me.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” I said. “You didn’t want to discuss work did you? I mean, all this ? What is going on here? Please, tell the truth. This looks like a date.”
He chewed a bit of food and cleared his throat. “No, you’re right Lauren. I wanted to get to know you better. I thought this would be the best way to do it.”
“I’m flattered. I mean, me? You been drinking?”
“Why not you?”
“Well. I’m not exactly a model here am I?”
“So what?”
“Well, for starters you’re rich beyond my wildest dreams. I mean look at this place, it’s amazing! Dear lord, I bet you have smoking hot women falling all over you.”
“You’re right, I do. I could in about thirty minutes have any woman I wanted up here. Black, Asian, big breasted, Latino, tight little ass, anything really. They would worship me and suck my cock dry.”
Oh, brother. Don’t brag or anything. Geez!
“Then why don’t you?”
“It’s boring.”
“Boring? You mean to tell me that all those hot women bore you? Oh God, give me a break!”
“No, it’s true. Oh, when I was younger, sure. I have had my adventures but now, it’s just not worth it.”
“So what am I then?”
“Someone I want to know more about.”
“ You see, these other girls are all just ice cream flavours. Sure, some are sweet but there’s so many flavours. You just get bored of it all.”
“So now we are just desserts to you?”
“No, no. It’s a metaphor.”
“Ice cream is great but we all have one flavour we like. There’s one we would crawl across the floor for. There’s one we love. One we would do anything for.”
“I think I follow you now.”
“That’s what I want. I can keep sampling, keep playing, but I don’t want to anymore. It’s no longer exciting. I’m no longer that kid in a candy store, I’m close to 40.” He dug back into his steak. “Well, enough about me. What about you?”
“Not much to tell. I go to work, I go home. I exist.”
“Any relationships?”
“You know I’m single.”
“Yes, but what about the past?”
“ I was in one for 5 years but he cheated on me. Caught them in bed together.”
“ Oh, damn. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’ve moved on. Can’t say I blame him . Me, the plain Jane.”
“You’re not plain. I think you’ re beautiful.”
“ What? Shit, are you sure you’re not tossing back the sauce there?”
“ No, serious. Let me tell you a story.”
“Sure.”
“I was in the park and there was this old couple. They were hand in hand, smiling together. They were giving bread to the birds. It was so lovely. There they were, still in love. The looks long gone but it was still there.”
“Your point?”
“The point is we all grow old, our looks fade but what we are inside doesn’t. If you care for someone, it doesn’t die. I guess it’s the beauty is skin deep thing.”
“I guess.”
“So you’re beautiful. I see it in you. You’re a strong woman.”
“Thanks.”
“Plus, you have a wonderful smile. It lights up this room.”
“You’re a different man,” Mr. Sinclair.
“I suppose I am.”
“ So what do we do after we finish eating here?”
“Only one thing to do. We dance.”
Chapter 3
Craig took my hand and we went out the twin doors to the outside of his amazing penthouse. There was a step up Jacuzzi, lounge chairs, a big barbecue, and a small pool. There was even a larger area for dancing. Craig took a remote out of his pocket and pushed a button, the dance floor lit up and lights shone on the floor. Soft, sensual music began to play.
I stood here looking over the containment glass
Tom Robbins
Gayle Callen
Savannah May
Peter Spiegelman
Andrew Vachss
R. C. Graham
Debra Dixon
Dede Crane
Connie Willis
Jenna Sutton