“Umm, well, if it’s close, since driving this will be an issue.” I was jumping up and down on the inside, and I was working hard not to release my inner school girl giddy behavior. I was hoping the god-like man would sweep me off of my feet.
“Right. Yes. There’s a café, Gemelli’s, just down around the corner. We could walk there and I’ll grab you that cup of coffee. My treat. Then we can find a number for a tow truck.” At first, I tried to act skeptical. I narrowed my eyes at him. His beautiful face was still…and had some slight bruising. It wasn’t any of my business so I wasn’t going to ask.
“You wouldn’t be trying to take advantage of me, would you, Mr. Henry Daniels?” I said, even though I would have fallen for the trap in a split second. In my head, I was yelling, Yes! Please take advantage of me, Mr. Henry Daniels! I’m begging you!
“Of course, Ms. Elaina Cooper. Why wouldn’t I want to take advantage of a beautiful woman such as yourself?” Then he winked at me. It was official. I melted. My cold exterior was now in a puddle on the concrete sidewalk.
I decided that a cup of coffee with the seemingly interesting man wouldn’t be a big deal. Without a doubt, I wouldn’t mind getting to spend a little more time with my rescuer.
As we walked to the café, the streetlights began to turn on. He opened the door to the old-school Italian joint, and we grabbed a table by the window. The coffee was tasty, and I really wanted to get a slice of one of those cakes in the case, but I was too embarrassed. They looked amazing and were drool-worthy, much like the man that was sitting across from me.
In all honesty, I could have gone for some chocolate frosting right at that moment. Just a spoon and a bowl of frosting would have made this girl happy; maybe even licking chocolate frosting off of Captain Hotstuff’s abdomen. Now that would have made me really happy.
We chatted for a couple hours. It was an amazing night, ending with a grungy tow truck driver who smelled like a cross between body odor and leftover pizza that’s been lingering in your fridge for a few days. Once my tire was changed and I forked over half of my last check, Henry gave me his number and we said our goodbyes. He gave me a quick embrace and kissed me on the cheek. Goddamn, his lips were so soft that I was jealous. He smelled so damn good, too. I would have jumped him right there if I had any nerve.
I had to find my phone so I could call him. I skipped back to the bookshop the next morning, and the hag owner said some hot guy dropped it off. She said he found it on the street in front of the store. Whatever. I was glad to have it back so I could call him.
-October 2014-
Obviously, things worked out.
Henry was the complete opposite of me. I had a tendency to be loud, obnoxious, had a mouth like a truck driver, and sarcasm was my natural tone. He was proper and quiet.
I owned sarcasm. He always told me that he and I were the perfect pair. I had to agree. He smoothed out my raw edges, and I encouraged him to walk a little bit on the wild side. Or so I thought.
I wasn’t one hundred percent sold on what Henry said his job was. He said he ran the blood bank in town, and I did visit him at work a few times so I know that was his place of employment. Although, I wondered how it was possible for him to be so loaded when he only managed a blood bank.
When I asked him questions about his wealth, he would skirt around the subject or just ignore the question. He always had nice things, and bought me even nicer things. Money was no object and when we shopped, he would pull out that fancy, ‘invite-only’ black credit card and pay for everything with a brilliant smile.
My engagement ring alone must have set him back more than a swanky New York City apartment. It was six carats of pure Tiffany beauty, my favorite jewelry store. I was almost afraid to wear it in public, but he was my very own personal bodyguard.
I remember one night when the protector in him came out. We were at one of our usual boozy hangouts. Henry could drink anyone under the table. Lush doesn’t even describe it. He impressed every one of my friends with his uncanny ability.
I was taking a break from dancing when some creepy guy pinned me up against the wall. He tried to stick his hands in places I would only allow Henry or my gynecologist to touch.
It all happened so fast. Henry was across the bar and in a flash, had the douchebag by the throat against the wall. He lifted him off the floor on to his tip toes, choking the life out of him with one hand. It took me a little time to get him to let go of the pervert.
It was weird. It was like he changed into a totally different person in the snap of a finger. I figured it was the whiskey muscles taking over. That was the first time I saw him lose his cool, and I hoped it would be the last. On a serious level, it scared the shit out of me.