Intriguing Darkness

Le Sur was just as beautiful as I thought it would be. The atmosphere was impressive with its low lighting and romantic atmosphere. The marble floors were exquisite as were the paintings that hung on the walls representing Paris. The tables were covered with satin tablecloths and the meals were served on delicate china.

"Do you like it here?" Jack asked when he noticed him looking around.

“Yes, it is a beautiful restaurant”, I answered smiling.

The waiter brought our food as Jack was about to ask me a question. "You say you're a volunteer at the soup kitchen, may I ask why?" The look on his face told me that he was a little intrigued by it.

I took my knife and fork and cut into my chicken as he proceeded to answer his question.

“I like to help people who need it; you should know that by now, Mr. Frost.

He shook his head, "Yeah, was that a dumb question?"

"I had a difficult childhood and let's just say no one was there to help me." His eyes never left mine; he listened carefully to every word I said.

"What about your parents? They didn't help you?" I looked down and away from him, trying to find the right words.

"My mother died of cancer when I was six years old and my father was an alcoholic who passed away just before my eighteenth birthday."

The expression on his face changed; He went from hard to soft in a matter of seconds.

"Is that why you helped me last night because you think I'm an alcoholic?" he asked him. I took the last bite of my dinner and put down my fork.

“No, my father choked on his vomit during one of his drunken nights. I found him dead in his bed the next morning. I didn't want the same fate for you. What people don't realize is how easy it is for something like this to happen. I spent my entire life taking care of my father, who was absurdly drunk almost every night because he couldn't get over my mother's death, so helping people is second nature to me.”

I did not know what to say; I think I surprised him. He raised his glass and motioned for me to do the same.

"Well thanks for your help last night, as angry as I was this morning to find you standing in my kitchen, I appreciate it."

"You're welcome," I smiled.

As we were leaving the restaurant, I noticed several women looking at Jack with what appeared to be lust and desire in his eyes. Some were licking their lips as we passed, and others were looking him up and down. It was pretty disgusting, but I could see why they did it. It was certainly something to admire. We got out and I looked at him.

"Do you want some ice cream?" Asked.

He looked at me with a puzzled look like I was crazy or something.

"No, I don't want ice cream, I'll take you home and then I have to be somewhere." Here comes his rudeness again, he surprised me it took so long.

"Oh come on, accept my invite, I know this cute little ice cream shop a couple of blocks away that's open 24 hours."

"Miss White, I don't want any ice cream, now get in the car so Denson can drive you home." His tone was adamant.

I started walking down the street. I wanted ice cream. If he didn't, that was his problem, but he was getting going to try them with or without him.

I waved my hand as he pulled me away, "Thanks again Mr. Frost for dinner, see you sometime."

"Miss White, come back here," he yelled down the street. I rolled my eyes and kept walking. Suddenly, he was next to me muttering, "Miss White, I'm not telling you to get in the car again."

I stopped and turned to him, poking my finger into his chest, “I don't take orders from anyone, Mr. Frost, especially people I've known less than 24 hours. I am not your responsibility. You thanked me for my help with a nice dinner, and now it's time to part ways. I'm going to buy ice cream and then I'm going to call a taxi to take me home."

He stood there in a daze, unable to speak. I kept walking, and he followed me. I heard him on the phone, “Denson, I think we're going to get ice cream; I'll call you when we leave. The tone of his voice was angry.

“You don't have to come with me if you don't like ice cream,” I said.

"I never said I didn't like it, I just don't want ice cream right now."

"Then why are you following me, Mr. Frost?"

"It's not safe in this city for a beautiful young lady to walk alone, especially at night, how many times do I need to explain it to you?"

I caught the "beautiful" part and couldn't help but smile. My feet were starting to kill me in my 4-inch heels, so I abruptly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and kicked them off.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked him.

“I'm taking my shoes off because my feet are killing me,” I said as he used his arm for balance.

"Are you going to walk barefoot on this dirty sidewalk?"

I laughed, "Yes I will Mr. Frost." I could tell he hated the idea; he was so prim and proper. We walked to the door of the ice cream parlor and I put my shoes back on.

"Hi, how I can help you?" asked a cheerful young woman behind the counter. I looked at the different sundaes behind the glass, "I'd like a single scoop of chocolate chips in a waffle cone please."

"And for you sir?" asked the cheerful girl.

Jack looked at me and sighed, "A single scoop of cherry and vanilla in a mug." I smiled at him and bumped my shoulder against his. I grabbed my wallet and tried to pay, but Jack had already given the girl his money.

"I told you it was my gift."

"Don't worry about it Miss White, I can afford to buy you an ice cream." I rolled my eyes and sat down at the wrought iron table, Jack sat across from me. I watched him eat his ice cream while he hid a small smile. I could tell he was enjoying it.

"How long has it been since you had ice cream?" I asked.

He looked at me puzzled: “I don't know. I guess since I was a child.

"Are you kidding, you haven't had ice cream since you were a kid?"

"No, is that a problem for you?"

"No, I'm just surprised."

“I think you would find a lot of amazing things about me,” he said. I twisted my face and looked at him.

"So where will you go later?" Not that it was any of my business, but he made sure to let me know that he needed to be somewhere.

He raised an eyebrow, "Miss White, I don't think he really wants to know the answer to that."

We finished our ice cream when I saw Denson pull the limo to the curb. He came out and opened the door for me.

"Thank you Denson, you're a gentleman," I said as I looked at Jack. Thank goodness I don't live too far away because it was uncomfortably quiet the whole way home. The limo pulled up to my apartment and I could see Jack leaning over to check.

"Do you have your own outside entrance?" he frowned.

“Yeah, I don't live in a fancy apartment building with a doorman and a private elevator. This is, Mr. Frost, my little apartment with its own outside entrance. He looked at me irritably.

“I didn't mean anything by that, I just think it's unsafe; anyone can come in.” I looked at him and thanked him for putting that thought in my head. I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. I found it odd that he flinched at my touch.

"Thanks for dinner and ice cream, I had a great time."

"You're welcome; have a good evening, Miss White.

I got out of the limo and leaned forward to face him and winked, "Have a nice evening Mr. Frost."

I closed the door and went into my apartment. I took off the shoes that were killing me and threw them away; God my feet hurt but it was worth eating at Le Sur. My suspicion that he and Jack had to be somewhere was that he was going to pick up a woman for sex. I had the distinct feeling that he was that kind of person. He said he didn't "do" relationships, but he's a man and every man has needs, and he would make sure his were met.

I wondered why anyone would want a relationship with him anyway. He is downright rude and arrogant, not to mention he seems a bit controlling. Oh hell, I've never met anyone so controlling, but why does my heart race when I'm around him? I laughed to myself, thinking about the night, and how on more than one occasion I made him angry while he climbed me into my bed and put me into a deep sleep.