by Christina OW
“You said that already.” Ellie stared at him, fascinated and amused at the man’s arrogance. As much as she didn’t practice it, she wouldn’t mind a one-night stand with him. He seemed like the type to blow his horn and live up to it, but this was now a game to him, a game she had every intention of winning.
Two plates of fries and sandwiches were placed in front of them, “Enjoy.” The bartender said, with a courtesy smile.
Ellie shook her head, “Sorry, but we didn’t order anything.”
Then he settled his gaze on Carson, as he slid the ketchup, salt and pepper on the counter to them.
“I did.” Carson offered, picking a fry and tossing it in his mouth.
“I didn’t know they served simple food here.”
Carson looked over to the dining area. He’d forgotten to do a complete sweep after the distraction her legs had presented. She was right. The low-jazz music playing in the background went well with the dim lights. The waiters in penguin suits quietly moving around the tables like a well organised troop. And, of course, the fine dinners in designer labels.
“How did you get in here dressed like that?” Ellie laughed.
He smiled when her brows furrowed, “I paid extra.”
“I didn’t pay...” she stopped. Her eyebrows lifted and her lips spread in a smile, “You seduced the hostess, didn’t you?”
Silently, he picked up the ketchup and doused her fries.
“Were you...”
He slid fries into her mouth to silence her, “Now I see why you need your sister to set you up on blind dates. Are you going to bring up your ex-boyfriends next?”
Ellie narrowed her eyes at him. She soaked a fry in ketchup then, after wiping it on his lips and cheeks slid it into his open mouth.
She laughed, leaning back and almost falling off the stool. Carson held her waist to steady her, “You are lucky you are so cute.”
She picked up a napkin and wiped the mess off, “No, you are lucky you are so damn cute.”
He rested his hand back on her knee, “Another beer?”
Ellie nodded, glancing at his hand. “Thank you for the fries.”
He squeezed her knee, making her giggle. His smile deepened at the sweet melody of her voice, “You can thank me on our third date.” He didn’t mean it as a joke, but it set her off and he had to hold on to her waist again.
She bit her lips together to muffle the laughs when she noted the eyes set on them. He didn’t seem to notice- his eyes didn’t move away from her. “Eat,” she ordered, feeding him another fry.
Chapter Three
Ellie fixed herself up in front of the mirror, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She was dressed like herself this time, but she wondered if he’d like her laid back style. He hadn’t told her where they were going, so dressing, especially without her best friend Kris to help, was sort of a nightmare. She’d spent an hour curling back her hair and doing her makeup- very light and natural. That was the only part she was sure about, but the clothes were a whole other disaster. She’d spent two hours trying on everything she had. She’d moved from a hot cocktail dress to jeans and a leather jacket.
“He wants to meet the real me, so this is it,” she spoke to herself.
Ellsa walked into the room, “It definitely isn’t,” she as always, was dressed like she was about to walk down the red carpet. Her makeup was just right, accentuating her sharp features. She had a figure hugging, knee length, red bandage dress. Her shoes were always the fashion statement, a black Jimmy Chu with the red bottom and a black Gucci purse to match. Her hair style of the month was a side combed shoulder high cut with very subtle waves in it. And her jewellery was top notch.
Ellie slumped, wishing she’d left the apartment before Cleopatra arrived, “What are you doing here Ellsa?”
She dropped her purse on the bed and moved to the closet, “Saving your date.” She pulled a few dresses and placed them on the bed, “Take that off, you are not going to a biker bar.”
Ellie turned to her, “And how would you know?”
“Does he have a motorcycle?”
“Yes.”
“Tattoos?”
“A few.”
Ellsa’s eyes widened in shock, “I’m almost afraid to ask if he has a mullet! This is what happens when you pick your own dates! Why didn’t you go out with the guy I got you?”
Ellie undressed, “I did and I am. I have to admit, I’m happy you picked this one for me. This time you did a great job.”
Ellsa looked at her a little perplexed, “Dale has tattoos, and a bike?”
“That’s what he says. I saw the tattoos and his mother isn’t on his belly. Her maiden name is on his wrist.”
Ellsa put on a sarcastic smile, “That’s so much better! Did she call to check on how her baby’s date was going, or is she buried in his living room under the sofa?”
Ellie’s brows furrowed with annoyance, “How about you just help me and keep your comments to yourself?”
She picked up a black number, “Fine, but this doesn’t sound like the Dale Carson, Scarlet described to me.”
Ellie shook her head in disapproval, “Pick something that looks like me and not you. Last time he said I looked like I was dressed by someone else.”
Ellsa dropped the dress on the bed, “Well then you are set to go looking like a manly lesbian.”
“Ellsa!”
“Where is he taking you?”
“I don’t know yet. It’s a surprise.”
“Should I track your phone just in case he turns out to be a rapist, serial killer?”
Ellie fidgeted impatiently on her heels, “Ellsa I’m meeting him in an hour, could we please hurry this up?”
Ellsa huffed handing her a sky blue sweetheart cut dress, “He doesn’t even have a car.” She walked to her shoe rack and picked gold strapped heels.
“Ellsa he’s hot! Whether or not he has a car is at the bottom of my list. And he had to work late that’s why we are meeting.”
“Where, McDonald’s? Put these shoes on and carry the gold clutch bag,” she said, settling on the bed.
Ellie did as instructed, “Weren’t you on your way somewhere not here?”
Ellsa smiled, “Yes I am. I have a promising date with a man who drives a phantom,” she stood up, picking up her purse. “If he offers to take you to his mommy’s house on his tricycle say no. Your standards may be low, but not pig sty low. See you sis!” She waved as she strolled out of the room.
Ellie chuckled, looking at her reflection in the mirror, “She might be stuck up, but she has great taste.”
***
Ellie parked her car at the address Dale gave her. It was to a burger joint.
She groaned. “At least it’s not McDonald’s.” She hated it when Ellsa was right. She stepped out of her car and walked to the entrance, “Our first date was great. So what if the second one is at a burger place, I like burgers.”
“You are in luck, ‘cause this is the best place in town,” Carson spoke behind her. He’d been watching her for a while as she talked to herself. He found it cute. He especially loved how she looked in that dress. “Ellie Jabari, you look stunning!”
Ellie turned to him. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw his smile. It stirred her up, sending butterflies to her stomach. “Dale Carson, you don’t look too bad yourself.” She responded, wishing she had stuck to her jeans and jacket. He was dressed very casual; black jeans and a long sleeve tee shirt that hugged his arms just the right way.
She then turned to the burger place, “I think I’m a little overdressed for The Hot Spot.”
He shook his head, “You are dressed just right. Are you very hungry?”
“Nope. Why?”
He took her hand and pulled her across the street, “Good because we are going dancing.”
Ellie laughed, “Dancing? You can dance?”
“Hey! I’ve got moves!”
“Sure you do!”
They walked into the club,
cutting the long line. He greeted the bouncers at the door and introduced her to them. He held her in front of him as they walked into the crowded club filled with Spanish music.
He spoke in her ear, “Do you know how to salsa?”
Ellie nodded, “Dancing is my second love.”
He guided them to a roped off area, “What’s your first, that is before I replace it?”
She laughed, “Painting. And I highly doubt you can replace that.”
Once they’d sat down in the oddly less noisy section he waved to the waiter, “Why not?”
“I paint when I’m happy and when I’m sad. I paint when I need to think, painting is in every part of my life.” She shrugged her shoulder, “It’s the feeling I get when my paint brush introduces the canvas to my imagination and emotions. Everything just seems to make sense when I paint. And the world just stands still for that moment...”
Carson watched as the emotions danced on her face, echoing her love for painting. For that moment she looked so.... perfect, “I love your passion.”
Ellie turned to look at him. She felt very shy under his sweet gaze, “Passion is very necessary for life.”
The corner of his lips rose seductively, “Because it leads to ecstasy and complete satisfaction.”
Ellie cocked an eyebrow at him, “Dale, is sex all you think about?”
“I also have some artistic background.”
“Of course you do!”
“I’ll have you know I was essential in all the art classes.”
Ellie noticed the defensive tone in his voice. She decided to show a little interest, “Were you a tutor? And which class did you like most, sculpture or painting?”
“Both.” He moved closer to her, placing his hand behind her and leaning forward leaving an inch between their faces, “I was the subject.”
Ellie held her breath, captivated by his eyes. It was like getting tempted with one kilogram box of chocolate. You know you shouldn’t have too much of it, but the sweet arousing temptation is just too good to pass up.
The spell was broken when the waiter came with drinks, “Carson! It’s been a while.” He turned and looked at her and nodded with approval, “She’s sizzling.”
Carson handed him his gold card, “Find your own date, Teddy.”
Walking away, “I can try, but she won’t be as appetizing. She’s a perfect ten Carson!”
“Nice friend,” Ellie whispered, biting the inside of her cheek to hide her annoyance. She wondered if this was a routine for Dale. Did he bring all his dates to his spot or only the ones that proved hard to bed on the first date?
He handed her the martini, “He’s too nosy for his own good.”
“Why? Because he rates every girl, you bring here?” She pointed to the bar, her livid gaze set on him, “When is he going to hold up my scorecard, I’d like to know if I’m top five?”
Carson heard the anger in her voice and he knew the date was about to go up in flames. He took her drink and placed it on the table. Grabbing her hands, he pulled her off the couch and dragged her to the dance floor, “Before the possibility of a third date is ruined, let’s go dance.”
“Dale...” she started, reluctantly.
“No talking, just dance,” he spun her around and brought her to an abrupt stop against him. He dipped her low and then slowly bringing her up, whispered in her ear, “You are the only girl I’ve brought here,” he chuckled, “I met the others here.” He held her close to him.
Unbelievable, arrogant ass! “Of course you’d think that makes everything better. I should feel extra special!” She said, with a sarcastic smile.
“Ellie-” he started, but she cut him off.
“You brought the new sheep to join the rest of the flock in the shaving barn.” He looked away, sucking in his lips to hide his smile. That only angered Ellie more. She looked around, “Any of your one night stands here? I’m not going to risk getting beat up over a man, especially not you.”
Carson laughed, swaying to the beat, forcing her to move with him, “They understand. They love dancing and salsa has a way of provoking desire.... and passion.”
Ellie saw the desire in his eyes as his hand settled on her back, right above her ass. She leaned closer to his ear, “It’s going to take a lot more than dancing before I let you get your passion anywhere near mine.”
Carson laughed, spinning her around again. He stopped her back against his chest, “You are evil, a complete temptation that drives me crazy. I like it.”
It only took a minute before the music took over her, “I’m not like your type of girl, and I’m determined to teach you that before whatever this is goes any further, or ends.”
“I’m going to enjoy the lesson,” he ran his fingers lightly down her arm. He smiled at the goose bumps his touch gave her. She gasped and placed her hand over his when he trailed his fingertips up her thigh, pulling her dress up with his thumb. As much as she fought it, she wanted him. He brushed his nose along her neck and then planted a track of kisses when she turned her head onto his shoulder.
He whispered in her ear, “And don’t worry, it’s going to be an exclusive lesson.”
She placed her hand on the back of his thick neck, “You, going off sex for days, weeks and maybe even months? Are you sure you can handle that?”
He turned her to face him. He brushed his lips over hers, “I don’t think we’ll make it to months. And besides, when we finally indulge in the passion, it’s going to be explosive. I’m not going to risk tainting that.” He bent her over and placed a trail of kisses down her neck to the sweetheart top of her dress.
She gasped, sinking into the pleasure his lips gave her, “We are never going salsa dancing again.” She whispered.
Chapter Four
Audrey placed the case folders on the table in the case room. She was glad they didn’t have to work a case that past weekend, but she also wished there wasn’t a case waiting for them that bright early morning. She sat down as the rest of the team trickled into the room, all with their own weekend story to tell before they turned on a huge screen and their good moods destroyed for the duration of the case. Carson was the last to walk in. Unlike him, he sat down quietly, his attention completely commanded by his blackberry.
“Aren’t you going to tell us how your weekend was?” Paloma was curious about the change. Although secretive, he was usually the loud one every morning before the case, soaking up the joy before finding out what the case was about.
After a few seconds of punching in letters on his phone he looked up at the team with a smile on his face, “Did someone say something?”
“Are you texting?” Audrey shrieked, “Can anyone else see him texting or have I finally lost my mind?”
“He is texting,” Richard shook his head laughing, “I thought that wasn’t your style Carson?”
Before he could answer, his phone beeped. He looked down to read his message and laughed before he typed up a response.
Doran’s brows shot up, “Did he just giggle?”
Gwen’s interest got spiked, “Who are you texting?” When he didn’t answer nor raise his head to acknowledge she’d spoken, she reached out to grab the phone. He pulled away, holding the phone securely away from her.
“What’s up?”
“You don’t text, and you don’t give anyone’s messages that much attention, not even your own mother’s.” Gwen answered with an insincere smile on her face.
Audrey was excited, half jumping on her chair, “You met a girl didn’t you?”
“We met at a bar I was trying out for the first time...”
Kevin laughed, “What, you were running away from all your old girlfriends?”
“Very funny. We spent the weekend together.” When his friends got the look on their faces like they’d heard that story before, he was glad to shock them, “In public. We haven’t slept together yet.”
“You should take her to that salsa bar,” Audrey suggested.
Carson smiled
at the memory of that night, “I did, on Saturday.”
“And you are telling us you didn’t sleep with her?” Gwen asked.
“Nope.”
Audrey’s face dropped even more, “So how long is this game going to last?” She knew it was only a matter of time before he’d grow bored chasing her.
“I’ll let you know once she tells me.” For the first time ever, he wasn’t taking the lead. He liked that, probably because it was Ellie.
Gwen tapped him on his forearm, “Does this have the potential of being serious?” She asked more for her sake than his.
“Yes, no, maybe, I don’t know. But the status quo hasn’t changed,” he said more to her, than the rest of the group.
“I hope it does,” then she turned on the screen. The second she did, all their good moods were destroyed. “Three girls, all seventeen years old, of Orange County were abducted from their homes in the middle of the night while they were asleep. They were found a week later still clothed in their pajamas, but all presented signs of sexual assault, with deep lacerations over their bodies and facial disfigurement.”
“Were the killings all done in the same way?” Carson looked carefully at each picture, his demeanour hard and cold. It was like holding his breath under water as he struggled to distance himself emotionally from the victims.
He hated it when the victims were just kids.
“Yes,” Audrey answered drily, keeping her gaze away from the screen. She found reading the case details more bearable than looking at the pictures.
“They all seem to be from different racial backgrounds,” Doran added.
“Preppy schools, applications and admissions to some of the top, not to mention, expensive universities,” Paloma offered.
“Any of them have scholarships?” Kevin asked.
“No, all funded by their parents.”
“Look at the way the unknown subject disfigured their faces. He or she knew these girls. There was nothing random about this.” Richard added.
“They all use to go to the same high school before two of them transferred in the senior year,” There was an audible crack in Audrey’s voice. Seven years on the job and she still couldn’t get use to it.