Текст книги "Wild Cards"

Автор книги: R.C. Stephens

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Brent motioned for me to follow him, so I do. The floors were all white marble, the walls pure white with mahogany wood trimmings and planters lined against a wall with a quaint waterfall. The place had a feng shui feel to it.

“Hello,” Brent said smiling to the beautiful blonde secretary. She smiled back to him with the same seductive smile she gave Bryce a few moments before.

“How can I help you, sir?” she asked.

“I’m Brent Barron from accounting, pharmaceuticals branch, my friend, Vicky Molino, has an appointment to interview Mr. Andrews for The Riding Horse magazine,” he said nonchalantly and flashed me a quick wink.

The secretary looked at him a little unsure if she should believe him. I had no idea why he was doing this for me. “Let me check Mr. Andrews’ schedule,” she replied clicking a few buttons on the keyboard. “He has ten minutes right now, that’s all I can offer and he may not want to be interviewed,” she whispered quietly, as if she’d agreed to an illegal act.

“Great, thanks.” Brent winked at her and she batted her incredibly long lashes at him. I didn’t think they were real; they were way too long to be real.

“Good luck, Vicky,” he grinned. “Maybe I’ll be seeing you around.” Then he turned around, briefcase in hand and walked to the elevator.

“Miss, right this way,” the secretary said, standing up from her chair. She must have been five foot ten. Her figure was perfect with large breasts that showed through the cleavage of her white dress, her waist a size zero. She could have passed for a Barbie doll on any given day.

I took off my coat feeling a little warm and draped it over my arm. Then I straightened my skirt a little with my one available hand. My heartbeat became erratic and I think I was close to fainting. I had a plan. I just can’t remember what it was at the moment. We walked into his office, the secretary said, “Vicky Molino, Sir.” And she walked out closing the door behind her. Bryce was standing close to his desk but took a few steps toward me. “We just met in the elevator.” He smiled but his brows furrowed together.

“Yes.” I forced a smile. Shit I’m sweating.

“Vicky, this is my business associate, Luc Lebaum. We were just discussing a few things. I love horses and Mr. Lebaum has had the opportunity to come visit me at my ranch, so I thought he would enjoy this.” It was all sinking in now. Brent had said I was here on behalf of a horse magazine, he must have known that Bryce liked horses, very clever. My cheeks flushed as I extended my hand to the other gentleman. When I leaned in to shake his hand, I did a double take, this couldn’t be happening. It was Luc from last night, only he was dressed in a suit and his hair was a little tousled. Holy shit, this was bad.

Luc extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Molino.” He grinned as his green eyes danced with humor. Fuck, he was enjoying this. Every muscle in my body tensed.

“Ms. Molino, have a seat,” Bryce pointed to one of the two chairs sitting in front of his desk. I smiled shyly and took a seat. Luc sat in the other seat. Fuck, he wasn’t leaving. How was I supposed to say anything with him in the room? This was awkward. The guy watched me fucking around with other people last night at the party. He knows what I look like naked. I’m meeting my father for the first time. How is all this coming together? Oh yeah, IT FUCKING ISN’T, I yelled in my head.

Bryce leaned against his desk and gave me an expectant look. Right, I was here to talk about horses with my long lost father.

“How many horses do you keep in your stable?” I asked, feeling stupid. I really didn’t know much about horses.

“I have twelve horses in total. A few Arabians, one Iberian, a couple sport horses,” he trailed off as his gaze narrowed on me. “I’m sorry Ms. Molino, do I know you from somewhere?” He shook his head for a moment as if he was shaking off an unwanted thought. Shit! I did look like a carbon copy of Mama. Was he remembering her by looking at me? I sometimes felt that way when I looked in the mirror and saw her green eyes staring back at me. It made me sad when it happened. It made me feel lonely. He slowly crossed his arms over his chest and slowly ran his fingers over his mouth. He looked uncomfortable. I still hadn’t pursued the line of questioning I had begun. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Luc eyed me suspiciously. Everything about this situation was not as I had planned, but life had taught me to roll with the kicks and punches. Well, not exactly, but I was trudging along doing the best I could. When I didn’t respond to Bryce’s question he said, “You remind me of someone,” but then he stopped himself, shook his head again as if it couldn’t be possible and began telling us about his beautiful Arabian. I felt Luc’s eyes boring into me. He was making me even more nervous. It was almost as if he knew I had a secret and he wanted in on it.

After a few long minutes I shot Luc a pointed glare, hoping he would take the hint and leave as Bryce continued on his rant about horses. Brent was right on with that one. Finally, Luc conceded and stood up. “Bryce I have to make a phone call, the Japanese are waiting,” he said. He buttoned up his suit jacket and extended a hand to me. I extended my hand back, feeling a familiar electricity shoot through my body from the touch of his hand. “Ms. Molino,” he tilted his head like a gentleman but the sly smile he gave me was not very gentlemanly. Damn him. This was not the time, and it felt awkward in front of my father. Shit! Could I even call him that?

Luc left the office and I knew this was my last chance to say something. “Mr. Andrews, you said I looked familiar, why do you think that?” I asked hesitantly, knowing that my question was odd and may send off warning signals where Bryce was concerned.

“Who are you really, Ms. Molino? I’m gathering you are not much interested in my horses,” he stated matter-of-factly. Shit! Busted!

“You knew my mother,” I stuttered then paused. It felt like the air in here was growing thicker by the second, and I felt the need to unbutton the last button on my white blouse.

“Oh, who is your mother?” he asked.

“Her name was Antonella Maroni,” I sighed as my eyes became wet at the mention of her name.

“Oh, I’m sorry, she has passed away?” he asked with sensitivity in his tone.

“Yes,” I replied, swiping a finger at my eye. It had been two years since she had died. The pain was supposed to have eased with time. Mentioning her name should have been easier. But it wasn’t and my wounds still felt open and raw.

Bryce remained silent a few seconds longer, looking at me intently. Like he was remembering something. He pushed off the desk and walked over to the window staring out at the skyline. He was deep in thought.

“So why are you here?” he asked, continuing to stare out to the horizon. I should have been expecting the question. I should have an answer prepared. But I don’t. My mind is blank, my reasons for coming escaping me at the moment. “Vicky,” he said, calling me by my first name and snapping me out of my daze.

“I’m sorry, I think this was a mistake,” I said, then rose from my chair and strutted toward the door. Bryce lunged forward and made it to the door before I had a chance to open it.

With sympathetic eyes, he said, “Sit.” Tilting his chin to the chair I had just vacated. I looked between him and the chair and took a long cleansing breath. He was probably right, running won’t help and I had come this far to meet him, I may as well learn what he was all about.

I took a seat. “Relax, Vicky, I’m sorry to hear about your mom, she was a beautiful person,” he said with a thick deep voice. Then he rubbed his temples with his forefingers.

“I’m your daughter,” I suddenly blurted out.

I don’t know how I was expecting him to respond, but I wasn’t prepared by his next words. “Look, I can see that you are a spitting image of Antonella. It took me a few minutes but I noticed the similarity, you are about the same age she was when I met her, but honestly it doesn’t mean that you’re my daughter. I’m sorry, but do you know how many times this has happened to me? I’ve been married three times. I have two kids with each wife, on top of it I have people like you finding their way into my office and telling me that I’ve fathered them.”

My jaw dropped as I gaped at him, of all the things I thought he could say that was not on the list. “This was a mistake, my mama was right when she left,” I snapped, standing up again from the chair.

He took me by the arm gently to try and stop me from going. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“My mother came to New York when she was eight months pregnant to tell you about me. She went into labor here and she tried to contact you, only she got ahold of your mother instead. Your mother tried to pay her off and she learned you were engaged to someone else. She went into labor here in New York. Your mother paid the hospital bill, then a month later my mother took me back to Thunder Bay.” Rehashing the contents of the letter wasn’t easy and my tone was filled with anger. “You’re an asshole. I can’t imagine what she saw in you,” I continued, shocking myself as I charged back toward the door with vehemence in my stride.

He caught up with me again and placed his hand on mine to stop me from opening the door. “I am an asshole, you are right. Your mama was pure and too good for a spoiled prick like me. I want you to have a blood test. I need to know if what you are saying is the truth.”

I looked at him incredulously. I wanted to walk away. I hated this man in this very moment. But something deep inside me told me to oblige him. Mama was head over heels for this guy by the sounds of her letter. There must be some good in him somewhere and Mama of course found that goodness. I snapped my eyes back up to his and replied, “Okay.”

“Okay?” he questioned warily.

“Yes, okay. Where do I go for that?” I rolled my eyes at him as I conceded to his ludicrous demand.

“Be here tomorrow morning, I will set something up here in my office,” he said looking flustered. He didn’t look like the type to fluster. He surprised me.

“Fine,” I said yanking the door open. I was pissed off. It was not the welcome I had expected. I was clearly delusional to hope that he would embrace me with open arms. I realized in that moment how much I missed being a part of a family, belonging. As the door whipped open, I left his office and walked briskly toward the elevator. Suddenly I spotted Luc following me out of the corner of my eye. Shit! I did not need this right now. As I pressed the elevator button he paused beside me.

“Are you okay?” He moved in close and asked quietly. I didn’t want to look his way I only wanted to be alone to wallow right now.

“No, I’m not okay Luc Lebaum, what’s it to you?” I snapped at him. As the words left my mouth I knew they were harsh. He had left his own party last night to make sure I got back safely to my motel. I was being a bitch and it was uncalled for. “Sorry, Luc, it’s been a bad day.”

“I can tell. Can I take you to a nice quiet lunch? We don’t even have to talk,” he said with a grin and a raspy accent that got me riled up. I didn’t know how to respond. He was a nice guy that clearly had issues of his own, and he was making me feel things I didn’t want to feel.

“Maybe another time,” I responded with a forced smile. He may be a nice guy that attended sex parties but he was also in business with that asshole on the fortieth floor. I didn’t want a connection with one of Bryce’s business partners either. Luc looked defeated.

The elevator bell dinged and the doors opened. As I stepped inside I assumed this was goodbye but Luc entered the elevator with me. I glared at him, hoping he would understand and leave me alone. “You look like you need a friend,” he said, completely throwing me off. It shouldn’t have thrown me off but it did. I walked away from some long-time friends after Mama died; I didn’t feel like the person I was before and I couldn’t relate to them or their lives anymore. I felt like a distant outsider so I chose to pull away. I know I hurt them but I was hurting too and I was still hurting. I couldn’t find the words to respond to Luc’s comment. Maybe it had been too long and I needed a friend to confide in, but it wouldn’t be him. It couldn’t be him. The elevator made the same dinging sound as it landed in the lobby. I walked off briskly through the front doors of Tyson, relieved that he hadn’t followed me. As the warm wind brushed my cheeks I took a large gasp of air. I needed to calm the hell down. That was worse than I expected. I don’t know why it was, it just was.

Suddenly some young guy comes running past me and knocks in to me. The next thing I know he’s got my purse, only I still have the end of the handle stuck on my finger. The guy looked young and was wearing dirty clothes. He was tall and thin and he began to yank on my purse from the other end.

“Let go of the purse, bitch, before I hurt you,” he warned, pulling hard on the bag. I don’t know if it’s my lack of respect for my life or simply my strong will, but I didn’t let go. I pulled back on the handle even harder, finding myself in a tug of war session on the sidewalk in front of Tyson Towers. I couldn’t relent; my damn passport was in the purse and Mama’s letter. I read that letter every night. It was all I had left of her and when I read it it’s as if I can feel her presence and hear her voice.

The young thief scrunched his face up, probably wondering how someone as petite as me was giving him a run for his money. I dug my high heels into a grove in the sidewalk, hoping it would ground me and give me the strength to pull my purse away. Numerous pedestrians passed us by but no one batted an eye or asked if I needed help. I didn’t get it; this was definitely not a cordial interaction. Suddenly the heel of my stiletto snapped off and I fell backward into strong arms, pulling my purse away from the thief as my body fell backward…

What the…. “Shit, Vicky, didn’t your mom teach you not to fight with a thief?” Luc said, holding on to me with his strong hands while I steadied myself.

As I smoothed out my blouse and skirt, I tried hard not to allow the pain I felt inside at the mention of my mama seep through the expression on my face. It wouldn’t be the first time someone would tell me that I have sad eyes. “I don’t need your help Luc,” I snapped at him.

“I know, you were doing just fine on your own, that is until your shoe gave out on you,” he grinned pointing down to the sidewalk and my apparent heel stuck in it.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Well, thank you for catching me, at least that dumb kid didn’t make off with my purse,” I responded with a choppy angered tone clutching my purse tight to my chest. I should probably have left my passport in a safer place, as well as the letter. Even though the damn motel didn’t look any safer.

“Is lunch sounding like an option now?” he asked with a sardonic smile. Damn him for being so hot and caring.

“Lunch it is,” I relented. I suddenly didn’t want to go back to that grungy motel alone.

Chapter 6

Luc

“Let me call my driver,” I said pulling my phone out of my back pocket. Vicky nodded. She looked a little shaken up from her encounter with the thief, even though I could tell she was trying to hide the fact. I could see right through her strong facade. I did like her feisty personality though. Even though it reminded me of Alexis my ex-wife. She had a feisty strong personality and yet my life, my background, was no match for her strength. The thought scared me and I tried to push it away. I shouldn’t be thinking of this girl in any form other than as an acquaintance.

“No bike today?” She smiled.

“Nah, I usually don’t bring the bike to work. It’s more for the evenings or leisure time.” My driver pulled up to the curb and I opened the door for her to enter the backseat first. I also stole a peek of her fine ass in that tight skirt. Get your shit together, Luc, the voice inside my head reminded me that this was not a date. I got into the backseat beside her.

She nodded while fidgeting with the strap on her purse and then stared blankly out the window.

I asked my driver to take me to my usual spot for lunch. The scent of her shampoo left a trail behind her and naughty thoughts entered my mind.

“Are you okay?” I asked, referring to the fact that she just got mugged.

“I’m fine, Luc, no big deal,” she said shrugging her shoulders. That was a huge deal. I don’t understand her.

“Seriously, weren’t you scared of that kid? Why did you fight him like that? You could have gotten yourself killed. Do you have a death wish or something?” I asked, nodding my head while chiding her. Her response to that mugging was worrisome. That guy could have had a gun on him.

“Maybe I do, Luc,” she paused, turning her head to look me directly in my eyes. I could tell she was either assessing me or trying to scare me away by showing me she had too many issues. Little did she know that my own secrets were enough to scare any woman in her right mind into running in the opposite direction.

“Why?” I asked cautiously.

“It’s a long story, besides this is just lunch right? You aren’t looking to date or something…” she trailed off.

I began to chuckle and she looked insulted. “Yeah, this is just lunch, I get it, Vicky. I’m glad we are both on the same page. It makes things more relaxed. You aren’t looking for a relationship and neither am I, so we are good. Let’s enjoy the restaurant. I hope French food is okay?”

“I don’t have much money for a fancy restaurant and I’m not that hungry anyway. I just wasn’t in the mood to go back to that grungy motel. Shit!” she drawled, looking down to her foot. “I forgot my heel is broken, how can I walk into the restaurant like this?” she murmured under her breath but I heard her.

“First of all, you are my lunch guest so you will order whatever you want. Secondly, let’s stop for shoes.”

She didn’t respond, she continued to look at me with both brows scrunched tightly together, probably wondering what my angle was. The truth was I didn’t know what my angle was either but being around her felt right and for a change I wanted to feel good.

I asked my driver in French to stop at a women’s shoe store and a few minutes later he pulled off to the side of the road. The SUV stopped in front of a Jimmy Choo store. I assumed they have shoes. As we approached the front door, Vicky put her hand on my arm to stop me. “I can’t afford anything in that store. I’ll be fine let’s just head over to the restaurant. I thought there was a Payless not a darn Jimmy Choo store,” she replied looking flushed. I’ve clearly embarrassed her and I didn’t mean to.

“Let me get you a pair of shoes, please. This isn’t a hand out. I like your company,” I found myself pleading. I don’t plead with women.

“How can I pay you back?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She’s stubborn too.

“Umm…” I paused, as nothing came to mind. She looked up to the grey sky exasperated.

“Then no, Luc, let’s go to lunch, I’ll manage.” She turned around and began to wobble back to the car.

I took a few steps to catch up to her and took her by the arm. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?” I chided her and she looked a little taken aback. “I have a lot of money, these shoes won’t even poke a dent in my wallet. How about we find a way for you to pay me back?” The second the words left my mouth I realized it sounded sleazy. Her face contorted with disgust.

I raised both hands in the air releasing her arm. “That is completely not what I meant and you know it, I told you I don’t have intercourse with women.”

“Are you into some kinky shit then?” she asked with the same tough demeanor.

“I am not. I used to like regular foreplay and fucking. I’m just not that guy anymore…” I trailed off. I haven’t been this honest with a woman in I don’t know how long, maybe never, it felt good.

Her face flushed pink at the mention of foreplay and fucking and I would be damned if she didn’t looked turned on. The truth is so am I. “Look, I was going to eat on my own, I’m used to doing that but the truth is I enjoy your company, so let me buy you a pair of shoes and we can enjoy some good conversation, that’s all… besides I am now starving, so you would be doing me a favor by choosing something quickly so we can get to the restaurant.” I said, expressing a reasonable line of logic that I hoped she would accept.

“Okay,” she relented quietly. I finally pulled the door to the Jimmy Choo store open and Vicky walked in front of me. The air was cool and the store was modern and beautiful. “Just pick what you want.” I waved my hand to a vast wall covered in shoes. Her eyes went wide like a little girl at Christmas and a real smile broke on her lips. I couldn’t look away. I was in awe, making her happy felt too good. She walked over to a pair of high heel shoes with laces. A moment later, a salesperson had brought them out in her size and my cock went hard watching her walk back and forth in them, so I remained seated trying to pull myself together.

“Are these good?” I asked with a wicked grin.

“Yeah, they are so comfortable for a pair of four inch heels. What’s with the smile?” she asked and her cheeks flushed.

“Those are seriously hot,” I responded and her cheeks flushed even more.

“But this is too much, Luc… they are five hundred dollars,” she sighed.

“We’ve discussed this and you agreed. You should stick to your word. I will go pay,” I said, standing up from the chair. I handed the saleswoman my Visa and she put the sale through. Minutes later we were leaving the shoe store and I was feeling different. I can’t explain it. I‘ve met lots of hot women in this city that were beautiful, but then they came off as too opportunistic given my position and money or they had the emotional capacity of a baboon. Vicky was different; she really was a wild card.

As we made our way back to the SUV, she walked in front of me swaying her slender hips. Her legs looked even more toned in these shoes and I muttered under my breath. “Those are a serious pair of fuck me shoes right there.” By the time we had entered the SUV, I’d imagined fucking her seven ways from Sunday. Damn this girl was undoing me.

***

Moments later we were seated at a table for two in a quiet corner of La Roche, a fancy French restaurant. After arguing with Vicky about paying for lunch for over ten minutes she conceded and allowed me to order what I thought she would like. She mentioned being Italian, which means she liked meat as much as I do. She was so petite though without an ounce of fat on her. I wondered if she eats anything at all.

“So what brings you to New York?” I asked, hoping to break the ice a bit and find out a little about her.

“I’m on vacation,” she replied not removing her gaze from my eyes. That was definitely a lie.

“Why are you in New York?” she asked in return with a playful tone. With our eyes still locked on one another, I could feel my cock hardening in my pants. Luckily, I was seated at the table with a tablecloth to cover me. I definitely became horny over the past two years but it was nothing I couldn’t relieve with a little rub of my hand, but now sitting here across from her made me think of how deeply I could penetrate her.

“Honestly?” I asked, lifting both of my brows in challenge.

She nodded as if it was obvious. “Don’t give me that look, Vicky, your answer wasn’t honest at all.” My straightforward answer threw her for a loop and her eyes widened.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” she paused unable to find the words.

“It’s okay, I don’t mean to come off too strong. Look, I’m clearly attracted to you. I wasn’t lying the other night when I said I don’t have sex. I really don’t. The reason I am in New York is that my father is a mob boss…” I paused gauging her reaction. She burst into a fit of laughter.

“That’s a good one, I haven’t heard that one before.”

“I’m serious,” I replied solemnly. Her demeanor changed and her eyes went round and soft.

“My father groomed me to take over the family business but I wanted out. My family disowned me and I came to New York to start a new life. So there you have it. Now, how about you come clean and tell me the real reason you look so lonely all the time.” I know I may have pushed her a little too hard and her responses had been anything but predictable, but I needed to know.

“Wow, your family is mafia, eh?” she nodded her head in disbelief, but she didn’t answer my question.

“Yeah.” I raked my fingers through my hair. “They are trouble, its another reason I don’t get involved in relationships, love is weakness,” I replied.

“Yes, love is weakness,” she repeated, throwing me off.

“Tell me more,” I urged her to speak.

“What do you want to know, Luc? My mama died of cancer two years ago and my father became an alcoholic. My brother took off to who knows where, and oh yeah, the week I found out my mother was dying, I also found my boyfriend of four years fucking another girl. The reason I look lonely is because I am.” Initially her words came out bitter and harsh, but by the time she told me about the boyfriend, her tone had lost its bite. I felt guilty that I urged her to divulge because it was clearly painful for her. We clearly shared the feeling of being deceived by a loved one. Despite all the lies I told my ex-wife, she was also less than honest when she didn’t reveal the reason she didn’t do relationships. It was because she gave her heart to a boy when she was only a girl. Betrayal stings, that’s for sure.

“I’m sorry, I should have never forced you to admit that.”

“Why? You were right, I was lying and it wasn’t fair. You have been open and honest with me since the moment we met.”

“I’ve learned that secrets can be dangerous, but I am a dangerous man too, Vicky. I need you to know that. It’s the reason I was being honest with you.”

“Is that what you tell all your dates?” she chuckled with disbelief as she shook her head. I was surprised she was still seated at this table with me. She was a smart woman I could tell.

“No, you are actually the first. I’m not going to lie, I feel something for you and it is scaring the shit out of me right now. The reason I am being honest with you is so we can have lunch and then you can be on your way. I need to scare you off, I am a monster, trust me.”

“Holy shit, what does that mean? You said the same thing last night. You are clearly not a monster if you left your family and started a legitimate life. The pieces don’t fall into place, Luc. What aren’t you telling me?” she asked throwing me off again. I knew this girl was sharp but not this sharp.

I was speechless. The waitress came by with our food and we ate silently for the rest of the meal. When we were done, she looked at me for a few moments but didn’t speak. The air around us remained tense and uncomfortable to say the least.

“You don’t need to worry, Luc, like I said I’m not looking for a relationship at all. I don’t want love. Anyways, even if I did, your story about your family doesn’t scare me,” she looked directly at me challenging me.

“Why doesn’t it scare you? It should,” I paused assessing her. This girl was a walking contradiction. She came across strong but her insides were broken. Her eyes were soft but her body language was sure and confident. “Do you have a death wish or something?” I asked, tilting my head, assessing her. I asked her that question in the car and some weird emotion came across her face, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. This girl was a mystery to me. The minute I asked the question again, my memory of the way she fought off her attacker flood my mind. She was more than confident. She came to a sex party in a new city on her own. She was going to take a bus in the middle of the night dressed like a prostitute. She isn’t scared when I tell her I am a monster or that my family is mafia. The revelation hits me and I blink, my stomach falling out from under me. This girl doesn’t want to live. I’m saddened because there is something so perfect and pure about the broken mess that is Vicky Molino.

My chest constricted but I wasn’t nervous. It’s almost as if my heart had come alive again. I realized that I want to understand her pain. The revelation hit me hard. This contradiction of a woman sitting across from me was making me want, making me hope.

“Hey, what’s up with the staring? You’re freaking me out.” She leaned forward across the table and waved her hand in my face, pulling me out of my daze. I blinked again.

“Are you going to answer my question?” I asked her with a hint of challenge in my tone.

She was quiet for a moment and wrapped her arms around her waist, leaning back on her chair. She wasn’t shying away from the question though she gave me attitude. Like how dare I ask such a question?

“Is that what you are used to, Luc? You tell girls that you are all badass and they go running?” she snapped back. I inwardly chuckled not wanting to offend her, but honestly her feistiness was too cute.

“Not exactly, Vicky. Back home the girls knew who I was. They knew my family was dangerous but very wealthy. Those types of girls used to hang around me and not run because they were the type only interested in money, and trust me when I say, I had a very large following. The thing is, Vicky, my gut tells me that you aren’t some slut trying to score herself a rich guy to take care of her…” I continued. Her lips turned down. Did I hit a soft spot? Maybe. “I think you’re smart, educated, and can take care of yourself, which leaves me wondering why you are putting up this tough facade of 'I don’t give a shit and nothing scares me.'”

I end my assessment and she picked up her purse from the floor and began to get up from her seat. Shit! What’s wrong with me? Yes, I was trying to scare her away, but I invited her to lunch and I was being an asshole. “Vicky, I’m so sorry.” I stood up from my chair and placed my hand softly on her arm. “Please sit down, have a latte. I really am sorry I don’t know why I am coming off so strong. As you can see, I didn’t lie the other night when I said I hadn’t been with a woman in two years. I clearly need to brush up on my manners. You are my lunch guest and I treated you badly. Let me make it up to you. Stay…no more questions,” I said exhaling. My earlier need to protect myself from falling for this girl made me behave badly. I wanted to show her that I’m not that guy, I’m not an asshole.