Page 29 of The Last Resort
She was as horny as hell tonight. If that kiss was a prelude to something more, Rachel was glad she’d gone with the matching lace bra and panty set. Tonight was not a night for sensible underwear. It was a night for taking chances. In her purse lay the packet of condoms she’d picked up earlier in the day in ajust in casemoment at the drug store. A lack of protection would be the ultimate buzz kill.
On the short drive to the restaurant, Matthew drove with all sensible caution. She bit down on her bottom lip, doing her best to stifle a giggle. He drove exactly like an accountant would, sedately. She had an inkling he was saving his passion for between the sheets.
I hope that’s what he’s doing. I’m like a bitch on heat tonight.
A short while later Matthew pulled into the underground parking garage of a high end hotel in central Aspen. After getting out the car, he came around to Rachel’s side and opened the door. A perfect gentleman.
An old memory of stepping out of her now ex-fiancé Anthony’s latest model Mercedes Benz at a social gala in Atlanta flashed through her mind. He’d been all manner of southern gentleman, right up until the time he’d dumped her. Apparently, his family had been keen to distance themselves from her father and his very public fall from grace. Her ruined future and broken engagement had merely been collateral damage.
Matthew offered her his hand, and Rachel stared at it for a moment before blinking back to the now. This was Matthew, her date.
Forget about Anthony, and his fault-finding mother.
“Are you alright?” he asked, once she was clear of the car.
Her brows knitted in confusion. “Yes. Why?”
He didn’t need to know about her past love life.
“You just seemed a little preoccupied a minute ago. Are you worried about this evening? If so, I want to reassure you that tonight is about you and me spending time together. Hopefully we will enjoy some good food and a couple of drinks. Maybe share a few laughs, but with no set expectations.”
Where had this man been all her life? Matthew was being upfront about tonight, and what he wanted from her. And what he was offering. That was comforting, and rather nice.
But I’m not looking for nice tonight. I want Matthew to show me how much of a bad boy he can be in bed. I need to get laid.
Taking the elevator up to the third floor, they stepped out into the reception area for the restaurant. From the look of the elegant salmon and cream colored décor and the snootystaff at the front door, Rachel guessed this was the sort of place where the bottles of wine started at five hundred dollars and then went up in price. How could Matthew afford to take her here? The guy was just an accountant.
I have money now, so when the check arrives, I’ll insist on paying my half.
She was a modern career woman and could pay her own way. But in the hope that they did make it to a second date, she’d been scoping out the more mid-priced restaurants and bars in town. These days her bank balance was much more in tune with the sort of places that had fries and house wine on the menu.
Old life versus new life. Money versus budgeting.
After checking their coats and winter shoes, Matthew engaged in small talk with the front of house greeter while Rachel slipped into her high heels. She caught his approving smile as he snuck a peek at her black and silver Dior sandals.
“Shall we?” he said, offering her his hand.
Rachel was doing her best to calm her racing pulse as she and Matthew followed the maître d’ through the restaurant. They passed empty tables but kept going.
“I thought we might like some privacy for our first date,” said Matthew, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Their table was tucked in an out of the way corner. Rachel glanced back over her shoulder at the other diners. It was midweek, and there was only a handful of other guests in the restaurant.
A sudden horrible memory of the night Anthony had dumped her flashed through her mind. He’d done the same thing, put her in the corner, then torn her life to pieces. Tossed aside like she meant nothing to him.
Matthew’s hold on her hand squeezed a little tighter. “You still seem nervous. We can sit somewhere else if it makes you more comfortable.”
She wanted desperately to say something to lighten her mood, something about ‘no one puts baby in the corner’ but couldn’t find the right words. Rachel forced a tight smile to her lips. “No, it’s fine. It’s just been awhile since I went out to a fancy restaurant.”
The last time was with an asshole whose momma had convinced him I was a liability.
That had been a life altering shock. To discover that Anthony’s family no longer considered her suitable to be his wife. She wasn’t even good enough to be his starter wife. Atlanta high society could be a cruel place when you found yourself on the wrong side of it.
At the table Matthew handled the menu and drinks orders like a man who was comfortable in these sorts of places. Expensive restaurants and high-end bottles of wine didn’t faze him.
“Do you drink wine, and if so, what kind do you prefer? Or would you rather we order something nonalcoholic, I’m open to anything,” he said.
“I like wine. Prosecco or a light red blend works for me. But let’s also get some sparkling water.”
