Jenny found herself sitting in the same booth that had been the source of her earlier agitation. The waiter came to take their order. Richard paused long enough to ask if steak was okay with her, and then just ordered for them both. That was fine with her. She didn't think she could cope with a menu or even the smallest of decisions right now.
She looked around the bar while he was talking to the waiter. They were discussing business at the club and an order that had been placed for the weekend. She tuned them out and really studied the room. Now that she wasn't in immediate danger of having her clothes removed from her body, she could breathe easier and notice things.
Her distrust heightened. There were definitely several men scattered around the room that were either bouncers or bodyguards. She couldn't tell which. There was an unobtrusive, black door to the left of the bar. A bouncer stood near it. She watched as an older man walked through. Other than that, nobody left or went through the door again that she could tell.
She looked down at the table. The leather portfolio was closed and pushed to his side. The two phones sat on top.
A half glass of wine was on the table in front of her. She thought she remembered taking a few sips.
The waiter left and he turned his attention back to her. She watched from across the table as he took one of her hands in his. He played with her fingers. "So, Jennifer Babin, how's the wine? "
Trepidation coursed through her.
"I didn't tell you my name is Jennifer Babin. How do you know that? " He continued playing with her hand. He rubbed her palm with his middle finger and stared straight into her eyes.
"I have your debit card, Jennifer. " Jenny sat stunned and panicky as she remembered handing over her card to the bartender to start her tab. She suddenly felt very vulnerable. He smiled diabolically. "And I also have your purse in my office. Don't make the mistake of giving me some kind of moral credit that I don't deserve. I promise you, sweetheart, I am not above holding your things hostage. "
"Well, my name is Jenny. Are you deliberately trying to scare me? Because, to be perfectly honest, it's working. "
He looked dismayed. "I'm not trying to scare you. That would be counter-productive, don't you think? "
"Why do you have two cell phones? " That slipped out. She hadn't meant to ask that.
"What does that have to do with anything? "
"It just seems odd. I don't know anyone with two phones. " She looked away from his penetrating stare and tried to act casual.
"One's personal. One's business. " His tone was harsh. She could tell he hadn't liked the question. "How does two phones scare you, Jenny? "
"It's not just that. Why would you say that? About holding my stuff hostage? "
"I'm just teasing you, sweetheart. Calm down. You're perfectly safe. " He paused. Stroked her hand. "You're as safe as you want to be. "
She took a deep breath. His words and manner enticed her to relax her guard. "Well, you're bound to know you're intimidating. " She looked from her hand captured in his, up to his eyes. "You're so handsome, but those scars- " She felt him jerk. Like she had hurt him. "Don't misunderstand me, please. The scars are handsome, sexy even. But they are scary. They make you look dangerous. And I'm not really good with danger. "
Need pulsed through him. He had to calm her before she bolted. "Nothing's going to hurt you, babe. I haven't been trying to mislead you with anything. You know exactly what my intentions are. I know I'm bigger and stronger than you. But I'll be careful. You're going to like it. "
Pleasure flowed through her at his words. She felt hypnotized, enticed by his pursuit. She tried to break the spell he had on her, and lighten the atmosphere. "Well, since you have my debit-card, does this mean that I am buying you dinner, Richard? " She deliberately used his name to try to get on an even playing field. It didn't seem to work.
He laughed.
"Not in this lifetime, Angel-face. " He paused. He continued to loo
k at her. "You know, you really do look like an angel. I've been so busy trying to get in your pants that I hadn't really noticed. "
"That's really it then? You're just trying to screw me tonight? " She could feel a blush crawl up her face as she asked him that question. "Just like the rest of the people in this place tonight? Trying to find someone to go home with? "
Richard sat stunned as he watched her face turn red. Jesus Christ! She was blushing. He felt something in his chest constrict and he blew out a deep breath. "I don't want to just screw you tonight, sweetheart. I'm going to need to screw you tomorrow night, and the night after that at the very least. "
Jenny felt the excitement and adrenalin rush through her veins at his dirty words. She had absolutely, never in her entire life met anyone like him. She listened as he kept talking. "So, just so we're on the same page here, you need to cancel any plans you might have tomorrow night, because you'll be spending it with me. " He looked up from cutting his steak the waiter had delivered. "Got that, angel? "She couldn't believe it when she found herself nodding her head in the affirmative.
He studied her for a moment. "How old are you, Jenny? "
"I'm forty-three. How old are you? " She felt like a teenager asking that question, but damn, he asked first.
"I'm fifty. Shit. That sounds old when I say it out loud. "
"You don't look old. You look-- "Jenny stopped. She looked down at the plate she had been picking at.