Элла Франк - Exquisite

“Thanks! Charlie hates it but is that my fault? No and like I told him it's only hair and if he doesn’t quit calling me Barney I’m going to shave my head and he can start calling me Sinead instead.”

Lena glanced up at him like she was scared. He couldn’t blame her, Rachel was a handful and a whirlwind. Usually when someone first met her they spent the whole time trying to decide if she was always so hyper. The short answer was yes.

“Stop flapping your mouth for a second Rachel and let me introduce you properly. Dr Lena O’Donnell this is my baby sister and head Pastry Chef Rachel.”

Lena nodded, “That’s why you seem so familiar. I saw you that first night when,” she trailed off and was going leave it at that but no such luck, Rachel was right their to bury him.

“When he kicked you out after like, what was it Mase, 15 mins? If that?”

He heard his mother gasp and looked down and saw the questions in her eyes. Just when he thought Lena would fly off the handle and storm out in a fit of rage she did the complete opposite. She burst into laughter. Loud laughter and he saw that she was nodding at Rachel, who too was laughing like they’d shared the best joke in the world.

“Oh,” Lena said clutching her side, “That was a horrible night. He was so mad at me.”  Then she started laughing again, “He didn’t have a clue what my name was.”

Rachel chuckled then nodded her head, “I remember him telling me that and he also told me you Googled him. I knew right then I’d like you.”

Lena looked at him with pure joy in her eyes and all of a sudden he didn’t mind that her hilarity was at his expense. He grinned and she mouthed at him silently, she likes me.

Leaning over he kissed her by her ear and whispered, “So do I.” he felt her shiver a little and then his mother asked.

“You’re on Google Mason?”

And with that they all burst out laughing.

A few days later Mason called asking if she’d be free anytime this week. Lena had told him she was off on Friday and Monday this week so he invited her down to the restaurant on Thursday night. She wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea. After all, the restaurant was the place where things tended to go downhill for them. Every time she set foot in that place she seemed to end up leaving in shame. However, things felt different between them now. When she’d left to go and finish her work, after visiting with his mother and sister, he’d leaned over and kissed her gently telling her that he’d see her after work. At first she’d been about to tell him she couldn’t because she had work the next day but then he reminded her, the flower shop. So for the last few evenings she’d gone down to Precious Petals and closed shop with him then driven over to see Carly. It was amazing how every day it got a little bit easier. Still, she didn’t think she could do it on her own yet. Just knowing he was in the car or sometimes he came up with her, gave her the courage she needed to go over and just, be. So she’d called him back this morning and agreed to come down.

“So what time did you want me there?”

“As soon as you can be here. I’m manning the bar tonight so I wouldn’t mind you sitting in one corner for me to look at.”

“That’s a little bit of a sexist comment don’t you think?”

She heard him laugh softly. “How is it sexiest? I’m not saying you can’t sit there and look at me all night as well.”

Sighing she answered with much more feigned annoyance than she actually felt. “Oh alright then. I’ll try to be there by seven.”

So here she was.

Mason noticed her the minute she stepped through the door. She had a different feel to her tonight than she had before. She seemed calm. He watched as she scanned the dining room, looking for him no doubt, when her eyes finally moved over to the bar and locked with his. Raising a small hand she waved in his direction. Feeling a smile slide onto his face he beckoned for her to come over with a raised hand. He watched as she made her way toward him. Tonight she was in a bright siren red dress. It was cut straight and high across her collarbone and had sleeves that came down three quarters of her arm. The dress hugged her breasts and nipped in at the waist before falling gently off the hip to land mid thigh. As she walked the dress swished around her legs and gently brushed by her thighs drawing his eyes down to her legs. Her hair, he noticed was pulled back at the nape of her neck and seemed to be twisted some way to remain contained in a loose bun. Altogether the end result was sophisticated and sexy as hell. Finally she stopped at the end of the bar and smiled slowly at him.

“Evening Lena.”

Her lips, that were slicked with the same shade of red, pulled up a notch in a smile that almost took his breath away. “Evening Langley.”

“You look amazing.”

She looked him over quickly then her pretty green eyes came back to land on his. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” she paused then asked softly, “Where should I sit?”

Mason looked down the bar and noticed no one was needing his immediate help then turned back to face her. He walked over to the very end of the counter and stopped leaning his hip into the curve of it.

“I reserved this seat just for you.” he said with a grin. She followed him over and around the very end to the stool that would have her facing down the bar.

“Thank you.”

“Hmm, you’re welcome.” he replied as she hitched herself up onto the chair flashing him a glimpse of a smooth naked thigh. “You’re going to distract me tonight in that dress.”

Placing her small black clutch on the counter she rested her arms on the bar. “Am I?”

“You know you are. That dress is a killer Lena.”

She laughed at him softly with such carefree joy in her voice it gently stroked over every inch of him, including his cock. Taking a deep breath and telling himself to calm the hell down he asked her. “So what can I get you to drink?”

“I’d like a White Russian please.”

Nodding he moved away to get what he needed and mixed it, all the while extremely aware of the woman in red.

Lena was looking at his ass. So what? She couldn’t help it, it was right there. He’d turned away to make her drink and that had put his very tight, very nice ass on display. He was dressed in the usual tonight. Tight black fitted slacks and a black button down shirt tucked in at the waist. On the shirt by the pocket was the word Exquisite. Lena felt the side of her mouth pull up at that. How appropriate that he should be wearing a shirt that declared to the world how sinfully attractive he was. Like a fine wine he was, simply exquisite. He finally turned back and walked over to her. She let her gaze follow him, enjoying the moment to flirt and relax. His hair was pushed back and his eyes seemed to almost sparkle under the soft lights and when he stopped in front of her she was trying to remember how on earth she’d managed to end up dating such a gorgeous man.

“One White Russian.”

She reached across and took the glass from him then lifted it to take a sip. When the liquid hit her tongue she didn’t even realize the sweet creamy mixture had made her moan softly. He leaned down toward her and said softly. “Ok you can’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Moan.” he almost hissed at her. “You can’t sit there in that dress, drinking drinks from a straw and moan if you expect me to work.”

Biting her lip she showed her teeth in a wicked grin.

“I mean it.” he demanded.

“Ok, ok.” she agreed reluctantly, putting the drink back on the bar. “I guess I can contain myself.”

He laughed, “Well that’s nice to know doctor.”

Smiling she sat back and looked around the place. “This is the quietest I’ve ever seen it here.”

“Yeah. Thursdays are usually steady but not anything like Fridays and Saturdays. How was your day?”

She turned back to face him and wondered when they’d become so comfortable they were asking the everyday questions, she found she liked it.

“It was good. I finally got to see a young patient go home today. He isn’t out of the woods yet but little Robbie was good enough to at least go home for a while.”

“Well that’s great news.” he paused then said softly, “I’m sorry I couldn’t get down to the flower shop today.”

Looking at him across the bar, standing under the soft glow of the lights, she smiled and shook her head. “Don’t apologize. You have a business to run. I probably needed a day off anyway. I appreciate you sending someone over there for me.”

“You’re welcome. Anytime Lena. If there’s anything I can do don’t ever hesitate to ask me.”

She nodded then lifted her drink again being careful not to let out any pleasurable noises.

“I will. So Langley, now that you have me here, what would you like to do with me?”

His grin could only be described as mischievous and she found herself returning it.

“Well. I was thinking we could play twenty questions.”

Arching a brow at him she looked down the quiet bar then back.

“Ok. I’m game.” she paused then asked, “Who gets to start?” After all she had liquid courage to get her through.

“You can.” he said easily leaning a hip against the bar and watching the dining room for a moment.

“Are there any rules?”

“Well you can’t ask me something you already know. But other than that. Nope.”

Sitting up tall she nodded once then asked, “When did you decide you wanted to be a chef?”

He looked as though he was trying to remember then he gave her a huge smile.