by Gillian Joy
Ash felt the pressure from his fingers all the way to her core. She wanted to say no, she really did, but with his fingers gently caressing her arm all she could think about was where else she wanted to feel his fingers caressing her.
"Just one date?" She asked, sliding slightly closer to Connor.
"Just one date." He confirmed, stepping closer in reply. "Just dinner, next Friday." Stepping closer again.
"Just dinner." Ash echoed, closing any gap between them at all.
She looked up at his mouth and he brought his head down to place his lips over hers. Her lips parted on a silent sigh and he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue softly across hers.
Connor was the one who eventually pulled back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that."
"I'm not." She replied, reaching up to kiss him again.
He held her close with a hand on the small of her back as she ran her fingers through his hair and slid her tongue slowly across his bottom lip. Pulling back and looking at him, she smiled.
"I think I'll be late to my meeting tonight." He said, smiling back.
"No. I don't want to make you late." She said, pulling back. "We'll have Friday; I'll get Mark's parents to look after the girls for the night."
"There's no way I'm leaving now. Wait. What do you mean Mark's parents? You're still in touch with your ex's parents?" Connor was confused.
"Well yeah, they're the girls’ grandparents, and the only grandparents they've got. They're actually really nice people."
"Do they still see him? Can't they get maintenance from him for you?"
"Leave it Connor, please. They do what they can;” I have no idea if they still see him. I don't ask, they don't tell. He was always as big an arse to them as he was to me. But if you would prefer me not to get them to have the girls for a sleepover on Friday night...." Ash let the sentence peter out.
"Argh...! As if. I mean, not that I expect to spend the night with you, but it would be nice to have the option available if we were that way inclined."
****
Chapter 14
Connor helped the band pack up their instruments, and put them away in their cases. They were already making good time on the recordings so he would really be able to relax and enjoy his date on Friday night. Date. He still couldn't believe he had actually managed to score a date with Ash. To say he was excited would be the understatement of the year. Hell, it'd be the understatement of the century. He felt like a kid waiting for Christmas. He was so glad he was ridiculously busy this week, otherwise he was positive Friday would never arrive.
"So I didn't get a chance to ask," Ariane said as she helped Hector pack up the last of his drum kit so it could be loaded into the van. "How did it go at the party on the weekend? Did Hayden have a good time?"
"Yeah I think so, despite all his bitching. He was seriously hung over on Sunday. I don't think he even got out of bed until two in the afternoon, so he must have had a half decent time."
"And the plan?" Ariane queried. "I am assuming, based on your permanent smile, and perpetual good mood this week that there was some positive progress on that front."
"Well," Connor smiled, "we're going out on Friday night, she agreed to a date."
"Really? Awesome. I thought she was against dating though?"
"I don't care what she was. I only care that she is."
"Well it's awesome. Really. I hope you have a great time." She said, closing the case to Hectors drum kit just as he picked it up to carry it out to the van. "Where are you taking her?"
"I have no idea. Any suggestions?" Connor asked. "I don't usually bother about trying to impress, usually I'm happy to grab a counter meal at the local pub. But I really want to impress Ash. I want to take her somewhere nice." Connor helped Hector load some of the cases into the back of the van.
"What about Fishell's?" Andrew suggested, as he helped load the cases into the van. Andrew was the bass guitarist with the band but Connor had never really gotten along with him very well. He thought he was a bit of a ladies' man and although Connor had certainly been with his fair share of groupies, even in the early days, he didn't like the way Andrew treated them with utter disdain the very next time he saw them. At least Connor was always cordial when we saw a woman again.
"Fishell's? Really? We're not in the eighties anymore Andrew, I'm sure there's better options out there." Ariane said with disdain. "Google it Connor, I'm sure you'll find somewhere nice on Google."
"Google? Seriously Ariane, you think I should use Google?"
"Sure, why not?"
Connor laughed at her as he pulled the door of the van closed.
"Do you want a lift home Ariane?" He asked.
"Nah I'm good. I'm heading out for a few drinks. Want to join us?"
"No. Apparently, I'm heading back home to utilise Google."
"Have fun." Ariane said as she walked off chuckling.
Connor shook his head as he said goodnight to the rest of the band and headed back to his car on the other side of the parking garage. He was sure he'd be able to come up with somewhere nice to take Ash on Friday night.
****
Ash dropped the girls off at their grandparents’ place after school on Friday afternoon and then hurried straight home to get ready. If she was being honest with herself, she would admit that she was excited about the upcoming date with Connor. She couldn't believe she was actually going on a date with a rock star; she felt like a school girl, going out on her first date. The memory of her mum brushing her hair, then doing it up in a braid brought tears to her eyes. She was fifteen at the time, and if she had realised then that she would only have her mother for another two years, she would have appreciated it so much more than she had back then. Not that she hadn't appreciated it, her mum had made her look beautiful that day. Doing her makeup, but only a minimal amount and fixing her hair. She was going to the movies with a boy she knew from school and she was so nervous, just as she was feeling now.
She had no idea where Connor was taking her, so she hoped she hadn't over dressed, she went with a strapless summer floral dress that flared out just above the knee. Another designer number that Mark had bought her, luckily the quality lasted and it looked amazing. Strappy sandals and a matching clutch made the outfit something, she hoped, that would be appropriate for wherever they ended up. She had left her hair down but taken time to straighten it out, so it was a look Connor hadn't seen yet and she wore natural makeup; she didn't think she looked too bad as she checked out her reflection in the full length mirror.
She was ready to go, and still had about fifteen minutes to kill before Connor was due to pick her up, so she had nothing to do now except wait and try to ignore the butterflies that were flying around in her stomach.
****
Connor was parked down the road. He wasn't supposed to pick her up until seven and it was only quarter to. He didn't want to seem too eager and show up early, but he couldn't risk being late. If he was late and she told him where to go when he got there because it something her ex would have done, he wouldn't be able to cope. He'd never felt like this about a woman, ever, and he wasn't sure what he was doing. He planned to knock on her door at five minutes to. Early enough that she would know he cared about not being late, but not so early as to come off as over enthusiastic. At five minutes to, he knocked on her door.
****
Ash took a deep breath before answering. She was standing right beside the door when she heard the knock. She had looked out the window for the third time in the last five minutes and had seen him walking up the path, but she didn't want to open the door and seem over eager. She imagined herself standing up from the couch, and walking to the front door before she would let herself open it.
Despite having watched him walk up the front path through the window, she still wasn't prepared for the sight of him when she opened the door. He looked stunning, in grey pants and a pale blue patterned long sleeved shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. She loved the muscles in hi
s forearms and they were fully on display as he held his hand out to her.
"Hi." He said. "Are you ready?"
Ash nodded and reached towards him.
"Oh wait. I need to grab my bag. Do you want to come in?" She asked.
Connor nodded and followed her into the house as she retreated down the hall. He stood inside the front door waiting for her to come back.
Ash was only gone a moment before she returned and held her bag up to show him.
"Ready now." She said, gesturing outside.
Connor stepped back through the front door, holding the screen door open for her. Ash pulled the front door closed behind her and locked the deadlock before closing the screen door and following Connor to the car. He held the passenger door open for her and closed it behind her as she climbed in.
"You look absolutely stunning." He said, glancing at her as he started the car and backed out of the driveway.
"Thank you," Ash replied, "you don't look too bad yourself."
Connor smiled in reply.
"Where are we going tonight?" She asked.
"Out."
"I gathered that. Out where?"
"Out to dinner."
Ash gave an exasperated sigh. "Really, it's going to be like that tonight?"
Connor glanced at her and smiled again. "It's not too far, I promise."
"Am I at least dressed appropriately?" Ash definitely wasn't feeling overly confident and needed confirmation.
Connor glanced at her again. "Hmmm, appropriately? What you’re wearing is fine for what I planned for dinner. But later...?"
"Are you flirting with me Connor Maise?"
"I'm trying Ash Cross. Is it working?"
"Maybe."
"Well perhaps I should keep trying. Then maybe by the time we finish dinner…?"
Ash knew he wasn't really after an answer to that question so she redirected the conversation to something safer while they drove. Somewhere that didn't have her desperate for him to pull off the road.
****
Ash was impressed with the restaurant. It was small but it had a pleasant atmosphere. Private and subdued. Not pricey, like the places Mark had always taken her when he was trying to impress his clients, she couldn't recall the last time he had taken her out, just the two of them. But it wasn't a cheap pub type meal either.
"How did you find this place?" She asked curiously, looking over the menu, trying to decide whether or not she wanted, or needed an entree. Well she didn't need one, but she might want one.
Connor laughed. "Long story."
"But not one you want to share. Does it involve a bevies of other women?" Ash asked, suddenly seething with jealousy. "You've eaten here a lot. So I take it the foods’ good?"
Connor was slightly taken aback by the sudden hostility in her voice. "I'm happy to share actually, and no I've never eaten here before." He noticed her relax slightly before he continued. "It's actually not that long a story. It felt like it at the time though. Mum recommended it. She says it's 'stunningly romantic’, without the try-hard aspect. She and dad come here whenever they come down the peninsula, and she said the food is simply amazing."
He liked the way Ash smiled as she relaxed further.
"Ariane suggested Google, and I did give it a try, but seriously, how can you know if something's any good based on the internet?"
Ash laughed.
“And Hector, a guy from the band suggested Fishell's, but I thought it was a bit, passé, I guess."
He noticed Ash's smile falter.
"Ash?"
"What? No it's okay. I'm just glad you didn't go with Fishell's."
"I've never actually eaten there to be honest. Have you?"
Connor wasn't sure he if he should avoid, or push the topic, but he wanted to know more about her and it wasn't going to happen if he backed off every time, he thought the conversation was a bit tense.
"Mark used to take me there when we were first dating. He thought it was posh."
"Feeling mighty thankful I paid no attention to Hector about now then, I tell you."
Ash smiled again and Connor picked up the menu with relief as the waitress interrupted.
"Can I take your drink orders?" She asked, smiling politely at Ash before staring at Connor.
"Beer?" He asked.
"I think fine dining deserves a nice wine doesn't it?" She replied.
"Umm yeah, sure." Connor replied fumbling with the drinks menu, trying to remember what wines went with what meals, but then he didn’t know what they were even eating. It wasn't that he didn't like wine. He just had no idea how to order a good one.
"What about a nice red?" Ash suggested. "They pretty much go with anything."
"Sure." Connor replied in relief. "Do you have any recommendations?" He asked the waitress, who named two options from local vineyards that she had sampled and were, in her words, exquisite and went with almost everything on the menu. They chose a bottle of Shiraz, based on Ash's dislike of anything too dry and proceeded to peruse the dinner menu again.
"So... Entree?" Connor asked.
"I don't know, I've noticed the size of some of the dishes coming out and I think I might struggle if I get an entree as well, but I haven't had a nice bruschetta in like, well, forever."
"Share one?" Connor asked, without lifting his eyes from the menu.
"Perfect." Ash replied.
"Main?"
"The risotto looks alright?"
"I was thinking the scotch fillet steak myself, with the garlic prawn sauce. But maybe I should avoid the garlic." He smiled.
"Or I could have a taste."
"Hmmmm. Or we could get the garlic herb bread as well."
"Absolutely perfect." Ash purred in reply.
Dinner proceeded smoothly and the conversation flowed nicely. Connor deliberately avoided the topic of Ash's ex’s parents, even though he desperately wanted to find out what the situation was there, and Ash avoided the topic of where Connor envisioned their relationship heading, even though she was starting to feel she needed some clarification. She was fine when she was trying to convince herself she wanted nothing more to do with him, but now that they were here, and the waitress kept eyeing him, she was struggling with her insecurities. In theory, she knew she was an attractive woman with a nice figure, but after years of Mark telling her how useless she was, how fat she was, how flabby she was, and how pathetic she was, and, and, and, she was feeling very insecure sitting opposite such an attractive specimen of a man with a much younger, pretty woman eyeing him.
"Are you okay Ash?" Connor asked, as she watched the waitress walk away after dropping off their mains.
"What? Yeah... I... She either recognises you or has the hots for you."
"What?" He asked, shaking his head in confusion.
"The waitress, she likes you."
"So?"
Ash sighed.
"Look Connor, this is awesome, you’re hot, sexy and charming, and damned good in bed. But let's be honest. I don't compare to what you have on offer every damned night of the week. I do like you, okay. And at your property for the weekend with no other distractions and only family available to you, I get it. I really do. But out here in the real world... I told you I didn't want to do this. I don't want to do this okay?"
"Ash..." Connor said, reaching across the table and taking her hand. "Have I even so much as expressed a passing interest in the waitress?"
Ash frowned at him.
"She's far too young for me for starters."
"See, you have noticed her."
Connor glared at Ash across the table as she tried to pull her hand back but he held tight. She lowered her eyes to look at their hands.
"Please don't do this Ash. I've seen everything you've got to offer and I want more. Desperately..." He said, with his voice a mere whisper. "I don't know where this is going okay? But at this point in time, I promise you, I'm not interested in anyone else, only you. I'm not good at relationships, hell I've never had a rela
tionship if I'm honest. But… You… I want to be with you. I want to talk to you. I want to touch you."
Ash looked up into his eyes.
"Connor, I'm damaged goods okay? You don't need this. You're hitting your stride and I don't want to hold you back."
"Baby there is no way you could ever hold me back, okay? You have already inspired me in ways you will never realise. Your ex was a lying, cheating scumbag, and if I ever see him I'm going to punch him square in the face for even remotely making you think you might be anything less than you are. You are beautiful and smart and sexy and... I can't even describe everything you are. And if I have to tell you that a hundred times a day for the next fifty years to make you believe it, I will. Please don't judge me based on his actions. I'm not perfect, and I'll probably mess up if you are even willing to see me again after tonight, but I will never make you feel less than I think you are. And that is absolutely perfect."
Tears brimmed in Ash's eyes as she tried to smile at Connor.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
She nodded and sniffled. "Where did you come from?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" He asked, frowning in confusion.
"That is the most beautiful, most romantic, most.... I don't know... Where did you come from?"
"Doesn't matter, does it? So long as I'm not going anywhere?" He smiled such a brilliant smile, Ash was sure her heart was melting. She smiled in reply.
"At this point in time, I'm going to go with no." she said.
"So can I ask about Mark?" Connor asked as they finished up their dinners.
"Do you really want to?"
"I want to know all about you, and he's a part of you I guess. How did you meet?"
"At university."
"Really? What were you studying at uni?"
"Architecture."
"What? You're an Architect?"
"No. I never finished. Mark was in his last year of law when we met and when we got married, he convinced me to quit. I never finished."
"Do you ever think about going back?"
"Not really. I still had two years to go, full time, plus a year working for a firm before I could even sit for the board exam; it wouldn't work with the girls. I thought about doing a drafting course, but when he left I needed work. Target had jobs open, so here I am."