Playing in Secret(28)

"I didn't. I'm jealous, yes, but I loved seeing you out there dancing.  And I had fun during the lesson, even though I failed horribly."

"With some practice, you might be okay."

"I'd kind of like to keep trying. It was fun."

"There's a few studios that have dance nights, too."

"Will you go with me?"

"If you're sure you want to do this. I don't want you doing it just for me."

"I'm sure."

"Okay, I'd love to take dance lessons with you."

"It's a date."

"I'm glad we get a second one."

"We're going to have thousands of dates together. Don't ever doubt that."

"I won't."

"Let's go home so I can show you moves I'm more proud of."

"On our first date? What kind of girl do you think I am?"

"The kind who wants multiple orgasms tonight."

"You know me so well."

"I'm working on it."



Blake

I made a fool out of myself last night, and went to bed with the woman  of my dreams. Today, I get to pick the date, and I'm hoping Audrey likes  what I have planned. I told her to pack an overnight bag with some warm  clothes. I have rehearsal this morning, but we're leaving right after,  and we don't have to be back until Sunday night.

Isa and Jake offered to keep an eye on Jeanne tonight. I'd feel bad  about leaving her with strangers, but she loves it. She's in her element  here, surrounded by these amazing women-and men. The attitude that had  made an appearance back home is gone, and she's more relaxed than I've  ever seen her. She's behaving so well that I might give her permission  to use her electronics again soon. Maybe.

I'm getting impatient today as we wait for the pizza to arrive. I always  feed the kids after rehearsal. They work hard, and I know some of them  don't have much at home. I've pretended not to notice when they take the  leftovers with them, and I've been talking to the school counselors  about how I can help.

"Shouldn't the pizza be here already?" I ask Dale, the college kid who's working as my Assistant Director.

"Um, yeah. Let me check on it."

He takes a few steps, and then the theater doors open. Instead of pizza,  Audrey and her friends walk in with their arms full of food. Platters,  casserole dishes, crock pots, and several pans of what look like  desserts. My mouth falls open, as the kids all rush to help them. Jeanne  and Dale smile at each other and high five.

"Surprise," Audrey tells me, kissing my cheek as she walks past me to the tables we use for food.

"What? How?"

"Audrey said the kids might like something more than pizza, so Gavin and  I rounded everyone up and put them to work," Faith tells me.

"Oh my God, Zack Taylor cooked for us?" one of the kids asks.

"He did," Faith says with a laugh. "He's getting pretty good at it."

I pull Audrey away from everyone as they descend on the food. "Thank you. When I told you about the kids, I didn't expect this."

"You're welcome. There should be enough for them all to take some home.  We're going to do this every week. Sometimes Faith may be on a mission,  or Gavin might have something going on with his cooking school, but the  rest of us will manage."

"If you keep amazing me every day, I might start feeling more unworthy than I already do."

"I plan on amazing you every day for the rest of your life, Hollywood, so you had better get used to it."

I laugh with her, but think about what she didn't say. She didn't  respond to the part where I said I was unworthy. I know I still have a  lot to make up for, but if everything goes according to plan, I'll be  able to show her how much she's always meant to me. I'm still waiting  for one last phone call, telling me I have the go ahead for what I want,  but I have high hopes that with what I offered in return, I'll get my  approval. Until then, I need to wow her on my dates.

"Where are we going today?"

"Not a chance. You didn't tell me, and I'm not telling you."

"I didn't take you somewhere overnight."

"You kept me overnight."

"You were a very willing prisoner in my bed."         

     



 

"Getting a boner in a room full of high school students is frowned upon,  so stop talking about last night," I say, pulling her in front of me to  hide said boner.

"What do you want me to talk about then?" she asks, leaning in to me.

"Chemistry. Talk Chemistry. Throw out elements and formulas. All those things I don't understand."

"Oh, you want to hear the things I yell out when you make me come?"

"Audrey."

"Blake."

"You are a wicked woman."

"I am."

She walks away, leaving me and my situation to myself. I turn my back,  and take a few deep breaths, thinking about grandmas, and puppies until  my dick behaves, and then I grab some food. It's amazing, and I thank  everyone again once we're all done and the kids have packed up the  leftovers.

"You ready to go, Dree?"

"Yep. I just need to grab my bag from Darcy's car."

"No you don't. We're dropping you guys off at the airport."

"Airport?"

"I asked you to pack a bag. Did you really think we were staying in town?"

"Yes?"

"Staycations rock," Ainsley says as Zack wraps his arms around her, and nods.

"They might, but we're not staying."

"Just a little hint."

"It's cold."

"It's cold here right now."

"I'll keep you warm. Come on, we have a plane to catch."

They take us to the smaller executive airport where I have a plane  waiting for us. I wish I could make this part of things a little less  ostentatious, but the drive is a little too long, and on a commercial  flight, I might get noticed. I'll probably get noticed on our date, so I  want a little time just for us. I also want Audrey to be comfortable,  and a private plane will help me achieve that goal as well.

"Matt would've let you borrow a Corrigan jet, you know."

"I'm not borrowing a jet for our date. I don't even like how it looks  for me to rent one for a date, but since Vegas is lacking what I need, I  had no choice."

"It's fine," she tells me, placing her hand on my arm once we're seated.

"Fine? Dammit, I should've just bought us commercial tickets. This is too much. I knew it!"

"Blake, I don't even remember the last time I flew commercial. I don't  care how we get to our date. I just care that we're on a date. Stop  worrying. I'm going to love whatever you have planned."

"Sorry. I just want things to be perfect for you."

"I know. I felt the same way last night."

"I had a great time."

"Me too, but I think I need to convince you to give me some details about today. How long is the flight?"





Chapter 21


Audrey

An SUV meets us on the tarmac, and Blake apologizes again. I know he's  embarrassed that he can't just take me around like a normal person, but  it's okay. I know he's a movie star, and I wasn't lying about not flying  commercial. I use Corrigan planes for all of my travel, and our incomes  are actually pretty close. His money means nothing to me, and I know  it's just a way to provide well for Jeanne as far as he's concerned. Are  we more comfortable than the average American? Yes, but neither one of  us thinks that makes us better than anyone else. That's what is  important to me.

I know we've landed in Salt Lake City, but I'm not exactly sure why  we're here. When the car pulls up to a miniature golf course, I turn to  Blake with a look of surprise. "Here?"

"I love mini golf, and Vegas only has indoor ones, which I don't  consider to be the real experience. You have to be outside, with a  windmill, and snake or some other animal at the end to sink your ball  into."

"I'm going to ignore the remarks I could make about that last statement,  and focus on the fact that we're playing mini golf. I love mini golf,  and you're right, indoor is not the same. Do you think they have bumper  boats, too? Or maybe even laser tag?"

"Probably yes on the boats, but are you sure it's safe?"

"I'm pregnant, Blake, not incapacitated. I can get a little bumped around."

"Okay. I'm not even going to try and beat you at laser tag. I'm surprised you don't have one at your apartments."

"Nah. That would be too much like work for some of us. I love it,  though. Please play with me. I promise to let you hit me a few times."

"Now who's using the sexual innuendos?"

"I really wasn't that time, but if it helps to sway your decision, we can go with it."         

     



 

"I can't say no to you, so lead the way. We'll start with whatever you want."

"Golf first, I think."

"Golf, it is."

The golf course has American monuments, and no windmill, but we still  have fun. We're evenly matched, and Blake ends up winning by only one  stroke. We try to do bumper boats next, but they tell us it's too cold  out. It is cold, but that's what coats are for. Blake promises to make  it up to me as we get ready for laser tag. He's better at it than he let  on, but I still win this one. Blake says we can stay longer, or head to  our next destination.