CHAPTER 5
CONNOR STARTED HIS TRUCK. PULLING out of the parking lot, he lost sight of her as she disappeared in the forest.
Weaving down the familiar road, Connor was reminded of something Mrs. Hayes had told him earlier that day. ‘She is drawn to you and she is more than you think.’ But she couldn’t have meant Laren, could she?
He thought about this and all the other questions he didn’t have answers to on his way home. By the time he reached his house, he was no closer to an answer than when he had left. It was about six now. His mother would still be at the shop getting ready to close up.
He parked his truck and walked up the perfectly shaped square cement blocks that led to his house. Opening the screen, he pushed in his key, heard the familiar click, and let himself in. Wasting no time, he hopped in the shower and scrubbed the sweat from his body. It felt amazing. The hot water washed over him and took any sign of his earlier run with it. In minutes he was standing in his room, towel wrapped around his waist, studying his wardrobe.
The restaurant in the hotel where Laren was staying was one of the best in town. He decided on a pair of black slacks, matching black shoes, and a light blue dress shirt. The blue reminded him of Katie—her eyes staring back into his—telling him she still cared for him. But she was the one that had let him go, the one that had made the choice. It was unfair for her to do this now, when she knew he had started seeing someone else.
He buttoned his shirt, then tucked the tails into his pants and headed for the door. His black hair was tussled slightly by the breeze. It was another night of decent weather and a clear sky.
With just a few red lights and stop signs hindering his progress, he reached the hotel restaurant in just under twenty minutes. Parking his truck in the back amongst the Ferraris and Lamborghinis, he made his way around the building .
An attendant greeted him, opened the large glass door, and with a practiced smile said, “Good evening, sir.”
“Oh, hi. Thanks.”
Walking into the lobby, Connor was stunned. He knew where the hotel was but he never had a reason to venture inside before. The floor was made of white marble. Cream-colored pillars made of the same material extended from floor to the vaulted ceiling every few yards, and rich paintings hung on the walls. It was nothing like the Italian restaurant, where it seemed every square inch was covered, but more thought out, the décor more elegantly placed. There were large plants and a few couches scattered deliberately around the lobby. Classical music played in the background.
Not seeing the entrance of the restaurant, he approached the lobby clerk, who sat behind the front counter.
“Excuse me, where is the restaurant entrance?”
The plump, pleasant female receptionist looked Connor up and down. Her blue suit was wrinkle free and perhaps a size too big for her. Her gold-rimmed glasses fit her moon-shaped face just right and her short hair was so curly it reminded Connor of ribbons.
“Just down the lobby and to the left. You’ll see it marked with a sign. It’s called The Den.”
“Thank you.” Connor gave her a smile and a headed toward the area she indicated.
Before he could take three steps in that direction, he saw a figure moving toward him. The man must have been massive to look this big so far away. Connor made his way toward the restaurant, but the man chose a path that would intercept him before he reached his destination. In a few more steps, Connor was able to recognize who the burly man was; it was Lu.
The big man had long brown hair tucked back in a masculine way. His attire didn’t match the hotel’s at all. He was dressed in workout clothes, the cut off shirt he wore showed how muscular his arms were.
Connor wasn’t a violent person by nature, but every once in awhile he wondered to himself who would win in a fight if it came down to it. He would size other guys up, not in a threatening way, but more curious than anything. Most of the time he would bet on himself. With Lu it was a hard choice.
Lu stared at Connor for a second with his penetrating green eyes as the two met in the lobby. “So, this is who my sister has been spending all her time with.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Lu,” Connor said, extending a hand.
Lu ignored his outstretched hand, keeping his gaze even. Where Laren’s eyes were emerald green, warm, and friendly, Lu’s were full of anger and suspicion.
“Listen,” Lu started, “I can appreciate you being interested in my sister, but there’s a lot more here than ‘guy likes girl and girl likes guy.’ My family will not approve of you, so there’s no point in any of it, even if she does like you. Spare yourself some heartache and leave her alone.”
Connor thought this over for a few seconds before he responded. “No.”
“What did you say?”
“I said no. Laren’s old enough to make her own decisions, and if your family is going to dislike me, then I’ll just have to win them over.”
Lu held Connor’s gaze and for a moment—an unstoppable force met an immovable object—green eyes staring into brown.
“You have balls, kid,” Lu put his hand on Connor’s left shoulder and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “But there is no scenario where this ends good for you.” He applied pressure and Connor’s shoulder felt like it would dislocate at any minute.
Forcing the pain out of his mind and refusing to show any sign of discomfort on his face, Connor whispered back, “Lu, you’re really close to me right now. Are you—are you hitting on me?”
Lu released his grasp. “Don’t say you weren’t warned.”
Connor watched him leave, then let an expression of pain show on his face as he rotated his shoulder and massaged the sore spot. He was sure there would be a handprint from Lu after the exchange. What was with these people? They must have been descendants from Hercules to be so strong.
“Work out a little too hard at the gym there, tiger?”
Connor smiled. He knew who the voice belonged to before he saw her. He elected to omit the run in with her brother from the night’s conversation. Turning in the direction of the voice, he wasn’t prepared for what met his eyes.
Laren was wearing a short, shoulder-baring black dress with a green sash tied behind her in a sleek bow. She held a small black purse in her hands that displayed a name brand Connor had never heard of. Her high-heeled shoes were the same color as the sash on her dress. She smiled at him, tilting her head slightly. Her long brown hair fell perfectly down her shoulders and back. “You clean up nice, Mr. Moore.”
“So do you. Have you ever considered giving all this up and running away to be a model? I could always be persuaded to be your photographer.”
Even as Connor said this he knew it was a lame response, but he had nothing else. Laren had literally left him speechless.
She rolled her eyes and motioned to him to follow her. “Come on, smooth talker, dinner’s waiting.”
Arm in arm, they approached the restaurant entrance. Entering the foyer, the two were greeted by a thin, elderly gentleman wearing a black tuxedo. He looked up with a pleasant expression but as soon as he saw Laren, his face changed to an ear-to-ear smile. Showing far too many teeth, he approached the two. “Oh, Miss Abelardus, how good it is to see you again. And so elegant. You don’t look a day older than when I saw you last.” He had a subtle French accent that reminded Connor of the candlestick character in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Walking around the small wooden stand, he approached Laren and gave her a quick kiss on each cheek.
“Hello, Cyril, it’s nice to see you again as well. This is my friend, Connor.”
Cyril tuned his attention to him. “Oh, sir, it is a pleasure to meet you, and in such fine company.” Cyril had a way of making you feel good about yourself. Connor realized it was his job, but still, it was nice. The way he drew out syllables when he talked and was so animated helped make Cyril one of the best at what he did.
Cyril feigned a look of hurt and turned again to Laren. “Miss Abelardus, it has been too long. Why do you not come and see your friend Cyril more often?”
“I know, Cyril, I tried to come sooner, but you know my father. It’s very hard to have personal time with him as a boss.”
Cyril nodded understanding, “Well, you are here now, yes?” Cyril didn’t wait for a response and instead answered his own question. “Yes, and we shall celebrate. I will personally serve you tonight. Come to the best table in the house!” Cyril yelled the last part in excitement and started to march into the interior of the restaurant.
Connor and Laren smiled to each other as they followed Cyril through the maze of tables. It was the nicest place Connor had ever been, period. The lights weren’t bright, but not so dim as to be annoying. Laughter from other tables accompanied the lone violinist, who provided elegant background music.
Their table was located at the back. It was separate from the rest of the restaurant with curtains on either side of its alcove, for diners that wished for a more intimate meal. The table was covered with a spotless white cloth and there were more glasses, china, and silverware on the table than Connor had ever seen.
Cyril motioned them to sit, placed Laren’s napkin on her lap, and began to recite the menu by heart. They both decided on soups and salads. Connor chose the veal on Cyril’s recommendation, cooked medium well, and Laren opted for her favorite, a shank of lamb prepared rare. With orders memorized, Cyril disappeared.
“So, what do you think?”
“I think you’re spoiling me; surprise runs in the forest, dinners fit for a king, what’s next—a trip to Europe? A race around the Autobahn?”
“I just want to show you how much I appreciate you and—how much I like you.”
Connor was a bit taken back with her honesty but he decided to do the same. “Laren, can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“I feel drawn to you. It’s more than just feelings or lust or passion, it’s—it’s like an instinct. I don’t know. Maybe I should have gathered my thoughts before I said anything. Am I making sense at all?”
Laren smiled, her eyes looking into his and showing a wisdom well beyond her years. “It does, Connor, and I feel the same way. I haven’t been able to figure it out, and well, I’ve been too scared to recognize what it might mean.”
“And what’s that?”
She shifted her eyes down and Connor knew exactly what was running through her mind. “It’s your family, isn’t it?”
“It’s that, but so much more.”
Connor reached across the table and held her slender hand. “Laren, it doesn’t matter. I’ll win over your family. They’ll understand.”
Laren gave him a sad smile. “You’re a great guy, Connor. I don’t want to drag you into this.”
“Is it still considered dragging if I jump in feet first?”
Before they could continue the conversation, Cyril appeared with their first course.
To say the food was delicious that night would be doing it an injustice. The food was phenomenal. The salad was crisp, the soup spiced just right, and the main course was to die for. The night’s conversation turned into laughter and soon the two lost themselves in each other’s company.
Later that night, Connor decided to take a chance and see if Laren would be open to talking more about herself and her family. “So, how are negotiations going with Randolph?”
Laren’s eyes flashed surprise but soon her expression turned into a smile. “So you’re not just a pretty face.” Pausing, she once again chose her words carefully. “The deal is going horribly. He won’t budge and is insistent the land should belong to him.”
Connor nodded; from his limited experience with Randolph, this didn’t surprise him. “So if negotiations fail, what’s the next move?”
“Well, I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but my father has given orders not to waiver in our course, so the ball is really in their court. We hold the land, they won’t negotiate, so it’s their move.”
“Does Randolph also work with his family business?”
She nodded.
While Connor continued to piece things together, Cyril appeared once again, this time carrying a decadent piece of chocolate cake. “I hope it is appropriate. I took the liberty of choosing the dessert for tonight. It is a three-layer cake. The first layer is chocolate peanut butter, the second dark chocolate truffle, and the third is a light milk chocolate. In between the three layers are a French fudge and it is covered in the restaurant’s renowned chocolate syrup.”
Laren’s and Connor’s eyes practically popped out of their heads as they stared at the behemoth of a cake.
“I know, I know. It isn’t the most traditional of French desserts, but I thought you would enjoy it. Please, please don’t be shy,” Cyril insisted as he produced two clean forks.
Not requiring any more of an invitation, both Connor and Laren threw calorie counting to the wind and attacked the chocolate mound of goodness.
“Mmmmm,” was all Laren said.
“I think I can die a happy man,” Connor agreed.
“Ahhh, ha, perfect,” Cyril replied. “Please enjoy.”
He left the two with their task at hand. A few minutes of silence passed between the couple and soon the cake was reduced to crumbs. Cyril appeared again just as the two put down their forks, making Connor wonder if he was just sitting somewhere watching them.
“I am glad the cake was agreeable, yes? Again, Miss Abelardus, it is such a pleasure, please come back soon.” Turning to Connor, he continued, “And you, sir, don’t let this woman out of your sight. She is a keeper.”
“I won’t,” Connor said, looking at Laren.
“Cyril, what about the check? You never brought it,” Laren said with alarm, pulling out her purse.
Cyril looked at her, stunned. “Miss Abelardus, please, this is on the house.”
“Cyril, I’m afraid that is much too kind and I must insist.”
“Please, how silly is this? Your family owns this hotel and restaurant and I would charge the owner’s daughter?”
Connor raised his eyebrows until they were almost touching his hairline. He knew Laren’s family was well off, but he had no idea they were this well off. To own a hotel and restaurant of this caliber, they had to be millionaires.
“Cyril, if you don’t give me the check, I’m just going to guess how much it is and have the hotel manager put it into the restaurant bank account. And I’m an extremely high guesser when it comes to these things. What will my father think?”
Cyril’s face went white and then a thin smile spread across his mouth and perfectly groomed goatee. “Oh, Miss Abelardus, you are your father’s daughter. Give me just one moment.” Cyril turned and was out of sight in seconds.
“You didn’t tell me your family owned this place.”
“Does it matter? Don’t forget who won the race.”
Soon Cyril was back with the check. Laren paid with a black credit card she pulled from her wallet and the two walked out with well wishes from Cyril.
“Thank you for dinner.” Connor turned to her as they stood in the vacant hotel lobby.
“A bet’s a bet,” she casually responded. “I do need to ask a favor from you, though.”
“No, I can’t go up to your room. It’s way too soon. I’m just not that type of guy.”
“You are ridiculous, Connor Moore.” She shook her head, clearing the possibility from her mind. “I was going to ask for your number. You have mine. We really haven’t had to use it yet, but just in case.”
He smiled at her as she reached her hand into her purse and produced a slender phone. After punching in his digits, she looked up at him.
“I want to show you something,” she said suddenly, as if she had just decided something. “Come on.” She grabbed his hand and half ran, half walked to the nearest elevator. Pressing the button a few times just to make sure it would come, she turned once again to her date.
“Okay, where are we going? I told you I’m not that kind of guy; four dates. Four dates minimum,” Connor teased.
“Oh, is that all? I didn’t realize I was going out with such a floozy.”
“Floozy? Does anyone even use that word anymore?”
The elevator doors dinged open and she rushed inside, pulling him behind her. Connor had never seen her so excited. She pushed the button to the 52nd floor. The doors slowly closed, and then the elevator began to ascend.
“I’ve been staying at this hotel for a long time, ever since my family bought it. Throughout the years, when I’ve needed somewhere to think or a place to just get away, I come here.”
Connor took stock of his surroundings: it was a normal elevator, glass walls mostly composed the square box; there was an emergency phone placed next to the doors, and of course all the buttons to different floors and options for various elevator functions.
“Laren, if you need a place to go to think, I can probably find you somewhere with more room.”
“Not here. Where it’s taking us. Please,” she said.
They were lucky the elevator didn’t make a stop and soon the doors dinged open and welcomed them to the top floor.
Laren didn’t miss a beat and was out as soon as she could fit though the opening. Connor followed her down the hall and to the stairwell door.
The hall was ornate with bright lights. His feet sank into the richly carpeted floor.
None of this phased Laren, she was on a mission. Pushing the stairwell door open, she entered the cement staircase and climbed the remaining steps to the roof. With no hesitation, she placed her hands on the emergency access door that led to the roof, the same door that had numerous warning signs of alarm if it were to be opened.
“Laren, wait—” but he was too late. Laren pushed the door open and walked onto the roof. To Connor’s surprise, the door was not only unlocked, but no alarm went off.
The roof was a desert of pipes and conditioners, air vents and other odd-shaped cooling agents. Laren was there, high heel straps in her hand, leaning against the questionable-looking railing.
Connor walked over next to her. They stood quiet, staring down below on the city. They were far enough up that Connor could see the street his mother’s shop was on, but too far up to be able to see the shop itself.
Tiny moving lights marked vehicles below, and even tinier dots, moving slower, were what Connor guessed to be people. The wind picked up on the roof and tiny goose bumps prickled Connor’s skin. Placing his right arm around Laren, who he assumed must be cold, he was surprised. She was actually warm to the touch. Despite this, she leaned her head onto his chest.
“Isn’t it great? It’s so quiet here; the lights of the city remind me of a Christmas tree, and if that wasn’t beautiful enough—” She pointed to the sky and Connor looked up.
It was breathtaking; the moon beamed its power across the city and welcomed everyone to partake in its soft, strong light. The stars were doing their best to compete with the moon but all fell short, even the brightest star paling in comparison.
“You’re the first person I’ve shared this with.”
Connor looked down at her, so small against his chest, so perfect. She drew herself away from him and looked into his eyes.
“Why are you so perfect for me?” she asked.
“Because somehow we were… are… drawn to each other.”
Placing his hands on either side of her neck, he drew her closer to him and felt her soft breath. He could feel her pulse quicken against his palms. The moon caught her green eyes just right and radiated off them in a way that made her look both dangerous and beautiful. Their lips found each other and the rest of their surroundings fell away.
There was nothing else, no more questions, no worries, nothing but the two of them. The kiss was enrapturing; it took hold of his heart and refused to let go. It was as if something inside of him was made whole again.
They pulled away breathless, neither one willing to break the perfect silence. Time stood still as they gathered themselves.
“Well, I’m glad you invited me up here.”
“I am, too, but Connor, I don’t know if it’s fair to lead you on with my family and everythi—”
Connor cut her off with another kiss. This time when they separated, her eyes were closed, taking time to enjoy the moment.
“Stop worrying; it’s going to be okay.”