Excitement was bubbling through me. It was nearly time for Scott to arrive for our lunch date. I’d been so surprised that he wanted to go on a date, and had to go home to get changed and do my makeup and hair. I couldn’t go on a date without making sure I looked my best. It was a warm day so I’d chosen a pair of denim shorts and a white sleeveless, scoop neck top that I’d paired with some turquoise cowgirl boots and a bunch of silver and turquoise necklaces. I’d blow dried my hair and left my natural waves rather than straightening it like I usually did. My makeup was simple and fairly natural; I wasn’t a fan of over the top makeup.
He arrived just before twelve thirty; I liked a man who ran on time so that put him in my good books. Heck, who was I kidding? Scott was so far into those good books now it wasn’t funny.
His eyes sought mine the minute he entered the café, and he hit me with a dazzling smile. My legs almost turned to jelly and my heart rate picked up. “You ready to go or have you got things still to do here?”
“I’m ready. I’ll just grab my bag,” I replied and quickly went and got my bag from the back office. I figured we were on a time schedule here and I didn’t want to miss a minute of it.
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My mother was chatting with him by the time I made it back out to the front. I watched their interaction; I’d learnt that my mother’s intuition when it came to men was pretty spot on. I’d be hanging out to hear what she thought when I returned from the date.
Scott turned to me when he realised I was back. I caught his gaze dropping to my chest and then back up to my face. The sensations this caused in me were something I could get used to; Scott made me feel all woman.
“I was just thanking Scott for his cake order. It’s our largest standing order for businesses,” my mother said, giving him one of her smiles that she only reserved for people she liked. Holy shit, this was good news. I couldn’t recall a boyfriend of mine that she’d ever really liked. “Enjoy your lunch and don’t rush back,” she said.
Scott directed me to his car. It was the black Charger he’d driven me home in twice now; I’d decided it was probably a 1970’s model. I knew this because my father had a Charger when I was younger and I used to help him when he worked on it. Dad’s was a 70’s model and very similar to this one. Scott’s was in amazing condition.
As he opened my door for me, he leant close to my ear and said, “You look gorgeous, babe. It’s a good thing I brought my car; couldn’t put you on the back of my bike wearing that.”
His words, combined with his breath on my neck and his musky smell shot heat through me and I wobbled a little on my heels as I got in his car. I took a deep breath and tried to get myself under control while he walked around to his side. It had been many years since I’d been on a first date and I’d never felt this level of anticipation and excitement before. There was also a small amount of apprehension; I might have wanted to have sex with Scott but I knew deep down that this probably wasn’t going to go anywhere and I needed to guard my heart from breaking when it all ended. He’d already told me that he didn’t take women home and I knew from Madison that he didn’t get close to them so I wasn’t going to fool myself into thinking that I would be any different.
“Do you like fish and chips?” he asked as he started the car.
“Not fish, but I love prawns and calamari. Where are we going?” His arms were distracting me as they steered the car and changed gears. And that musk smell of his cologne; it was doing things to me that made it hard to concentrate.
“Thought we’d go down to Wynnum. That okay with you?”
“I love Wynnum. Do you go there much?”
“Not as much as I’d like. But the salt air and water helps me process shit in my mind and I need that right about now.”
“You know, you keep surprising me.”
Glancing at me briefly with a serious look on his face, he said, “Yeah? Well, you do the same to me.”
“Can I ask you something about your club?”
“Harlow, you can ask me anything. Can’t guarantee I’ll answer it though.”
“Did you always want to join Storm or did you just do it because your Dad was the President?”
He was quiet for a moment and I figured this was going to be one of those questions he wouldn’t answer but then he replied, “I grew up knowing I’d join. It’s in my blood. But when I finished high school there was awhile there where I questioned it. I did well in school because my Mum pushed me. I look back now and wonder if she wanted me to have options other than the club. She even made me apply to university and I got accepted into an engineering course. Dad wanted me in the club though and I couldn’t fight what was in me.”
“Do you regret that choice?”
This time he was quick to answer. “Never. I love my club; they’re my family.”
I settled back in my seat, enjoying his openness. “So, how does it all work?”
“How does what work?”
“Well, you work for the club right? Do you just earn money from Indigo?”
“We don’t run illegal operations if that’s what you’re asking. Our money comes from businesses that we own.”
“What kinds of businesses?”
He raised his eyebrows as he flicked a quick glance at me. “What? You don’t believe me?”