Escaping to Ireland

Liam

Even for being tipsy, she was an excellent dancer.

I looked around and could see multiple males looking at her, watching us dance, and I did not appreciate it. I kept thinking that it was our last dance, but the thought of her stepping away affected me more than it should have. And from the look on Vinessa's face, she didn't want it to stop either. The spark was there; I had not imagined it; I could feel it; it was pulsing between the both of us. I wanted to kick everyone out and have the top floor by ourselves.

And then her friend left with my soon-to-be newest client, and all I could think about was all the predators that could be perched in this bar. I was disappointed that Vinessa would let herself get so far gone without knowing it.   

She could not remember where her friend lived, or so she said after I sat her down in the passenger seat of my car. "Really, it was my first time there tonight. She drove me there. She was supposed to drive me home after work tomorrow," and then she started giggling. "Just take me to a hotel room, I'll pay for it; I don't want Wanda giving me that judgemental look...."

At that point, I knew I would be taking Vinessa home; this was not how I expected my night to go. We were stopped at a red light on our way out of the city when I looked over at her. She had a slight smile on her face as she turned up my radio; she had started messing with it as soon as she got in. I could not imagine the airplane Vinessa to be like this at all. Vinessa surprised me as soon as she started singing; her accent came out and betrayed her; if I had any reservations of her being Irish, that was all wiped away.

"Vinessa?" she looked over at me, that sappy smile still on her face as she bobbed back and forth; she had missed half of the words before while she had been singing.

"Yes?" She asked. I knew I could get any answer that I wanted from her right now, but I declined, letting my curiosity fall to the side. Instead, I turned the music up and let her enjoy the moment because I knew by the morning she would be regretting this night altogether. I would deposit her to my guest bedroom, but that task was more difficult than I thought it would be.

Vinessa was lying in bed with her dress on, but before I could shut the door, she looked up at me. "I need some clothes to sleep in... These are not my clothes."

"Whose clothes are they?" I asked her, trying not to laugh.

"Jennifer's... I would never own something like this," she said, picking at the material on the bed. She stood up and walked out to the hallway. "Which room is yours?"

I pointed to the room two doors down.

"Why do you have a house this big?" She asked as she stumbled toward mine.

"Because I can."

"Yes, obviously you can, but why do you?" I cocked my head at her as she found my walk-in closet and started going through my items.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... I get it you obviously have money," she said, throwing her hands and arms out as in I had a lot. "But I mean, why live in this house? It has to be lonely; wouldn't a smaller one be better?" Even drunk, she asked questions most women never would. Most women would be blown away with my mansion of a house instead of questioning why I would spend this much on the house.

"It's a family house," I said, which was kind of true. My parents had me pick it out when I was eighteen... She had grabbed a pair of my running shorts that barely stayed on her, so she tied them and a white undershirt. I turned around as she started taking her dress off.

"Could you?" She asked, and I turned to her, her dress barely unzipped. I swallowed as my hands found the zipper and unzipped it, trying not to touch her skin as I did this.

"Thanks," She said as I turned around, and she threw her shirt on over her head.

I thought this would be where our night would end, but instead of going back to the guest bedroom, she climbed into my bed. I dressed in the closet; she was curled into a ball on my bed when I stepped out.  I grabbed my laptop from my side table; there was no way I was going to sleep with her in my house.

As I got to the door, she called my name out.

"Liam..." she said, patting the spot next to her. "Don't leave me." She looked so comfortable, and I didn't want to tell her no.

I climbed into bed next to her, she threw her arm around me, and before she drifted off to sleep, I could hear her mumble, "This is better than dreaming...."

I woke the next morning to the smell of strawberries in my bed. Ireland was still wrapped around me as if I was her life jacket, and she was drowning. I dropped my hand to her head and let my hand combed through her straight hair; I missed her curls. She stirred a little, her eyes finally opening. She sat up immediately, her head hitting the back of my headboard.

"Liam?" She asked, and I could see the confusion in her eyes.

"Yes.."

"Where are we?"

"My house," I said, not sure how much she had to drink last night.

"Did I call you?" She asked; her eyes were still wide.

"I don't believe you have my number," I breathed out, not liking the idea she didn't like remembering last night with me.

"Oh," she said, looking lost even though minutes ago she looked so at peace. "Um... Did we?"

"No," I said, finally sitting up. "You were almost to the point of wasted when I ran into you and your friend. Your friend ditched you, and you did not want Wanda to see you like...." She had her hand cover her face, and I could see how embarrassed she was.

"I don't remember last night very well... It is just kind of a blur, to be honest." She said, looking around my room. "Did we have to sleep in the same bed? You have to have a guest bedroom?"

"Six rooms actually, I deposited you to one of them, and you came and crawled into my bed."

Her cheeks flushed red. "And you couldn't sleep in one of your other rooms for one night?" she asked.

"I tried... But you patted the bed next to you and said, "Liam, don't leave me." I didn't tell her that I thought she might cry if I left her by herself. I didn't know if she turned into a sad drunk or if she was just a silly one.

"I am so sorry."

"Don't be. Let's say it was a very entertaining evening."

"Yeah, at my expense," she said, getting out of my bed finally, her bare feet hitting my marble floor. "I really should go.."

"What's the rush?" I asked her. She looked back at me. "It is Saturday; you could at least have breakfast with me before you take off without a simple goodbye again."

She laughed. "I believe last time it was you that left without a goodbye."

"Fair enough," I said, hoping she would still stay.

"French toast?" She asked, turning back to me. "And do you have any sweat pants? I'm freezing."

"Vinessa. I don't think any of my clothes will fit you."