by Helen Cooper
He lets Brittany go and comes over and gives me a hug as well. “I may as well give my favorite girl’s best friend a hug as well.” He says as his puts his strong muscular arms around me. He draws me close to him and I put my arms around him too. As he squeezes me close to him, I am aware of my breasts pressing against his chest. He feels warm and solid. We hold the hug a little longer than polite and then he lets me go. I feel a sense of loneliness as he lets me go.
“How are you Elle?” He looks at me intently as he asks the question.
“I’m pretty good, thanks.” I stare back at Elliott. It was easy to see where Brittany got her good looks. He was gorgeous, about 6 feet with dark hair and blue eyes. He looked as if he hadn’t shaved in a few days and the stubble made him look really sexy. He was 45 and looked every inch of his years. He was mature, intelligent and reminded me of George Clooney.
“Elle’s going to be married soon Dad,” Brittany started babbling excitedly.
“Married? Really?” Elliott looked at me in surprise. “Well congrats. Will I get to meet the lucky man?”
“I’m not really…” I started.
“It’s Peter, Olivia’s son.” Elle interrupted me.
“Peter?” he questioned. “Olivia didn’t tell me he was dating anyone.”
I blushed, “Well that’s because we aren’t actually dating.”
“Ha-ha, okay so I exaggerated a little. They aren’t getting married yet, but I’m pretty sure that once he gets to know her a bit better it’s going to happen.” Brittany grins.
“I see, so you want to get married Elle?”
“Well, not at…” I start again.
“Of course she does dad. We’re not all like you you know.”
“I see.” Elliott looks as though he doesn’t want to be in this conversation.
“And they already had their first kiss,” Elle bursts out. “I tell you it will be marriage soon.”
I went to die of humiliation. I didn’t want Elliott knowing all of my personal business. I didn’t want him to judge me.
“Well good luck to you on your impending nuptials Elle.” Elliott smiled at me but his eyes looked at me curiously. I wish I knew what he was thinking. The fact was that I had had a crush on Elliott for years, in fact from the first time; I’d ever seen him. He’d been the only man who had ever made my heart race just thinking he was nearby. In fact, the first time I had met him, I hadn’t know that he had been Brittany’s dad. It was the single most exciting night of my life and yet it could never happen again.
I smiled at Elliott and wondered if he ever thought of that night as much as I did. I sometimes what would have happened if I hadn’t been Brittany’s roommate. As we walked down to the formal living room to wait for Olivia and Peter, I thought back to that night.
It had been the first couple of weeks of the semester when we had all gone dancing at a club in Manhattan. We’d all worn short mini-skirts and boob tubes. Our midriffs and had showing and our boobs were standing at attention. Brittany had talked me into going braless, she said it was the only way to dance and we had all gotten super drunk, Brittany’s boyfriend at the time had a hookup at the club so we could all get alcohol.
For some reason, I had gotten split up from the group on the dance floor and was dancing with some random people when Jen, another friend of ours had rushed up to me to tell me that Brittany was in big trouble. Supposedly her dad’s chauffeur had told him that a bunch of us had gone out and he wasn’t too happy about it. He had come down to the club and was looking for Brittany. Turns out she didn’t want to get in trouble so she had gone to a diner down the road for a bit and would come back once Jen told her the coast was clear.
I was really glad at that moment that my parents lived in Iowa and I went back to dancing on the dance floor. I was moving with abandon when I felt his eyes on me. I had been singing along to a song and couldn’t stop myself from looking up. I was instantly attracted to him. He exuded confidence, power, and good looks. I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. He walked over to me and I remember he asked me for a dance. All I could do was nod. He danced behind me barely touching me at first but as the dance got more frenzied so did his hands. He ran them up and down my body. He squeezed my ass and ran his fingers over my nipples. I had never felt so excited before and all I wanted to do was take him back to my room. We started to dance as one and I pushed my ass into his groin so I could feel his hardness up against me. It had felt wonderful. We didn’t do anything more than make-out because he told me he didn’t want to take advantage of me. He gave me a card and told me to call him the next day; he wanted to take me to dinner. I wanted to beg him to take me home. I was worried at how he would react when he realized I wasn’t over 21.
I went home that night really excited. I made sure to put his card into my purse carefully; I hadn’t even looked at it. I slept soundly that night and was awoken by Brittany’s screeching “Hello Daddy.” I didn’t want to wake up but I was excited to meet her dad. I walked out into the living area in my pajamas and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw it was he, it was my man from the night before. He was Brittany’s dad. I saw the look of recognition and shock in his eyes when he Brittany introduced us.
We exchanged some pleasantries and then they went to breakfast, I feigned a headache and went back to my room and ripped up his card. I was so embarrassed. I never told Brittany about what had happened and he and I never spoke about it, In fact I think he had deliberately avoided me because I’d only seen him 5 times in 7 years.
The ringing doorbell brought me back to the present. I looked up and saw Elliott’s eyes on me. He looked away as I made eye contact with him.
Mrs. Heath opened the door and announced the arrival of Olivia and Peter. Peter walked in looking confident and happy and gave me a kiss on the cheek, “Elle, you are looking beautiful today.”
“Thanks Peter.” I smiled at him trying not to shirk away.
I look over at Olivia who is standing next to Elliott and giving me a lookover. I can tell I don’t meet muster because she doesn’t smile at me when we make eye contact. In fact, she’s giving me the evil eye.
I can see that Brittany has noticed because she immediately ushers us to go to the dining room so we can all eat.
Chapter 3
Lunch is slightly uncomfortable for me. Okay that is an understatement. It is very uncomfortable for me. Peter won’t stop putting his hands on my legs and whispering in my ear and both Olivia and Elliott are glaring at me from across the table. The only one who seems to be enjoying everything, asides from Peter, is Brittany who is grinning from ear to ear.
“Peter, I think it’s time you concentrated on your food and not Elle’s leg, don’t you dear?” Olivia spoke loudly. I was embarrassed and annoyed at the same time.
“I’m fine mother.”
“Well, I’m sure Elle wants to concentrate on her food. It certainly looks like she enjoys eating.” Olivia smiled at with an evil glint in her eyes. I had an overwhelming urge to call her a bitch. But I was happy that Peter had taken his hands off of me.
“I do enjoy eating, thank you Olivia.” I smile at her sweetly, pretending to misunderstand her diss to my figure. I wasn’t a size 0 or even a size 6 and that didn’t embarrass me. I enjoyed my food and was not going to let her make me feel bad about it.
“I envy your curves Elle, you are soo womanly.” Brittany grins at me. “Men love that.”
“Thanks, Brit.” I grin back at her as I eat.
I notice that Olivia is glaring at Peter who is ignoring the whole conversation and refilling his glass with more champagne.
“Dad always told me that women of every shape and size are beautiful.” Brittany continues to dig at Olivia, “right dad.”
“Yes dear. I think there is a man out there to appreciate every woman’s body. And I think there are many people who would be more than satisfied by Elle’s.”
I blush at his words and gaze into his eyes. He is staring at me as if he were
trying to read into my inner soul.
“Thank you Elliott.”
“Well now, that’s enough talk about that.” Olivia intercepts our look and pats Elliott on the hand. “That’s what I admire about you Elliott, you are always there for the kids. Building up their self-esteem and self-worth. Why I’m sure Elle looks on you as a second father, you’ve been so good to her. Letting her live rent free and all.”
The room is silent for a bit. The tension between Olivia and I is high and I don’t think everyone quite gets how sweetly Olivia had kicked me in the stomach. She had obviously guessed that I had a crush on Elliott and she was going to make sure that nothing would ever come from that.
“So do you have any plans for next weekend Elle?” Peter looked at me and smiled. He wasn’t such a bad guy if you ignored his obnoxiousness.
“Yes, I’m planning on working on my script.”
“Script?” He looks at me, eyebrows raised. “I didn’t know you were a writer.”
“That’s because I’m not really. I’m just trying.” I laugh.
“Don’t be so modest Elle. You’re great. She wrote a book last year on ants and it made me want to go and save every ant in the world.”
“Ants?” Olivia looked at me amused. “Active imagination eh dear?”
I couldn’t help myself from answering her snootily. “I’m a teacher, it was for my kids. To introduce them to the ecosystem.”
“Oh.” Olivia managed to make even an ‘oh’ sound dismissive.
“Elle’s great with kids, really great.” Brittany tells Peter who doesn’t really know how to respond.
“Do you want kids then Elle?” Olivia asks me and she seems very interested.
“Yes, yes, I do.”
“Best to stick to men that want that too eh Elle.” Olivia talks to me in coded words.
“Peter, don’t you want kids?” Brittany looks at him in dismay, seeing her matchmaking plans go up in smoke.
“One day, yes. Got to carry on the name you know.”
“Oh, phew.” Brittany looks at me with a grin and a wink as if to say crisis averted. I smile back at her weakly as I feel my gaze go to Elliott. He is staring at me intently and I blush. I wonder what he’s thinking. I think back to that night when he had caressed my body on the dance floor and my body flushes with heat.
“Sorry what,” I’m broken out of my reverie by Peter tapping me on the shoulder.
“I said would you like to go to Vegas next weekend?”
“Let’s do it Elle.” Brittany jumps on the bandwagon. “Mark will be back by then, we canal go.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I pause, I’m not sure how to tell them that I really don’t have the money to pay for a trip; I don’t want any of them to offer to pay.
“Come on Elle.” Brittany pleads with me as Peter gazes at me almost adoringly.
“Well, I…”
“I know. Why don’t we all go and we can take my private jet.” Elliott speaks up. “I feel like spending some time with my favorite girls.” He grins at Brittany but I feel my body singing at his words. Girls, girls. He had said girls, not girl. He must think something of me.
“Ooh daddy, that would be great. Thank you.” Brittany ran over to him and gave him a hug. I wanted to do the same but resisted the urge. I was scared that I would try and kiss him as well.
“That sounds fantastic, thanks Elliott. It’s been so long since I have been to Vegas.” Olivia talks and my heart sinks. I should have realized she would try and come as well.
“No problem Liv.” Elliott talks to her but smiles at me. I grin back at him and laugh along with Brittany as she tells him that she hopes he doesn’t ruin our partying plans.
“I’ll take care of the rooms though Mr. Rosewood. It’s the least I can do.” Peter speaks up obviously somewhat upset that a romantic trip he was planning for the both of us had turned into some sort of quasi-family vacation.
********
The following week had Brittany and I going over all the items in our closet for the upcoming weekend.
“2 bikini’s, shorts, tank tops and dresses. That’s all we should be packing Elle.” Brittany said as she looked at the jeans and pajamas on my bed.
“I need PJ’s Brit.”
“No way Elle. There is no way you are wearing those ugly unsexy pj’s.”
“What shall I wear then?”
“Sleep naked.” She grins at me.
“Hell no.” I glare at her. There was no way I was sleeping naked with Peter.
“Okay, then sleep in underwear: a thong and a tank top.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Come on Elle, you will be the only one not getting any this weekend. Don’t be a prude.”
“What, what do you mean?” I look at her. “What about your dad?”
“Oh, I’m sure he and that evil Olivia are knocking boots.”
My heart sinks, “Really?”
“Well, I don’t know for sure, but she has been after my dad for years. She has scared off any woman he even looks at.”
“Oh?”
“Well, he hasn’t dated in years and she is the only one who keeps showing up. I’m sure she is scaring them all away.”
“Oh, okay.” I put my pajamas and jeans back in my closet and pack a couple of thongs and tank tops to sleep in. What was the point of saving myself if the man of my dreams was out of bounds? “Would you be upset if they started dating?” I question Brittany.
“Oh, yea. I hate her. I don’t think she can make my dad happy and a selfish part of me likes it being just me and him you know.”
“But what about if you get married?”
“I’ll still be a daddy’s girl. I mean I don’t mind if he dates, I’d just rather nothing serious and certainly no gold-digger trying to marry him and get his money you know.”
“Yeah, I can see why that would be a worry.”
“Let’s finish packing. The limo will be here to take us to the airport soon.”
Chapter 4
Vegas was fantastic. Lots of lights, lots of gambling and lots of food. For some reason our rooms weren’t ready when we got there so we had to store our bags at the front desk until we got back from walking along the strip.
“Okay guys, I have the keys.” Peter walks up to us and grins, He hands one to Brittany and Mark and then one to his mom.
“Aren’t you forgetting something Peter?” Elliott frowns at him.
“What?” Peter looks at him curiously.
“Two more keys? One for me and one for Elle?”
“Huh?” Peter looks confused and annoyed. “I didn’t think you guys needed keys.”
“Well, how will we get into our rooms?”
“Rooms,” Peter repeats still confused.
“Where do you expect us to sleep Peter?” Elliott looks at him as if he were a dumb 1 grader.
“Uh, with Mom and me of course.” Peter doesn’t get it.
“I’m afraid I am not going to allow you to pressure Elle into sharing a room with you Peter. That is not acceptable. Brittany and Mark have been dating for close to a year and I am barely okay with them sharing a room but you and Elle are not even a couple yet.”
“Why don’t we let Elle decide Elliott, she seems like a big girl.” Olivia’s eyes are shooting daggers at me. I decide that I am not going to let her get her way.
“Actually, I’d rather we not share a room Peter. Elliott is right, we barely know each other.” Take that Olivia. Both Peter and Brittany look at me in disappointment. Both of them had been hoping I would be getting laid tonight.
“Well, there are no more rooms left.” Peter looks triumphant.
“Well then, you and your mom will share a room and I will share with Elle.” Elliott grabs the key from Peter’s hand and picks up our bags. “Let’s go check out our rooms folks.”
I follow behind him, secretly excited but agree with Brittany that her dad can be so overprotective sometimes.
“I’m sorry Elle. Try an
d get a good nights sleep and we will work something else out for tomorrow okay.” Brittany gives me a hug and runs off to catch up with Mark who was anxious for them to get to the bedroom.
I see Olivia glaring at me and Peter looking at me miserably and I quickly follow Elliott into the room. “Night guys,” I shout back to them quickly.
“Wait a second Elle,” Peter quickly grabs me. “Come to my room tonight. I’m going to try and get my mom a suite.” I look at him and nod, not wanting to tell him no in fear that he would cause a scene.
“Good night Elle,” Olivia smiles at me sweetly as her son is watching. As soon as he turns away she says, “Don’t even think about trying to sleep with Peter tonight.”