Forbidden Serenade

Chapter Eight

My hands wrestled in my lap as Elijah drove us to his hotel in the downtown area along the Mississippi River. It was the most upscale one in town. The city had done multiple renovations to the riverfront to accommodate it.

After parking, he walked around and opened my car door for me. Despite his chivalry, he made no attempt to touch me as I followed him into the hotel. I felt like a lost puppy following a stranger home after they showed them affection.

My eyes widened inside, taking in the chandeliers hanging from the recessed ceiling. Everything was beautifully decorated in whites, blacks, and golds. It screamed wealth and upscale living. I'd been here before once to eat with my girlfriends. The rooms, though beautiful, were out of my price range for any kind of fun overnight for my kids.

Elijah strolled in, unfazed by the gorgeous surroundings, and headed straight for the restaurant to the lobby's right. Two women, one older and one younger, stood at a wooden host stand. They smiled warmly as Elijah approached, with me trailing behind. My stomach dropped, wondering if they recognized him. At least the younger girl. She looked closer to Elijah's age of twenty-one. She made no attempt to hide her inspection of him.

My steps halted, wondering if I had gone insane. What was I doing?

Elijah rested his arms on the wooden host stand and leaned toward the young woman with an amused smirk on his face. I hung back as they spoke. Maybe he would forget me and take this younger woman to dinner. Or to his room. That's what rock stars did, right?

I took a step backward, ready to retreat and escape, when Elijah swung around toward me like an alarm had gone off in his head at my possible getaway.

"You alright?"

The two women scurried away into the restaurant, leaving Elijah and I alone. I nervously glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby to witness my sin of being with this younger man. I was in my hometown. This was dangerous. People knew me here. It would only take one person to see us and report their sighting back to James.

Elijah seemed to sense my unease. He didn't step closer, but he offered a verbal reassurance. "They're getting us a private table."

Studying him, I grappled to figure out if he requested that for my benefit or his. Surely, he wanted to avoid recognition or disturbance during dinner. He gave the impression of wanting to be treated normally, like any other person. He wasn't some piece of meat, some eye candy. Elijah had feelings, just like everyone else. He just possessed more money and fame than most.

"Thank you." My voice had no strength, but I hoped the sincerity of my words were audible.

He gave a nod before his phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he glanced at it before silencing it.

"Your table is ready."

Elijah turned toward the young woman, who stood smiling behind him.

He glanced back at me and gestured for me to go first. With trepidation, I put one foot in front of the other. Stepping into the restaurant, it didn't feel right. My heart pounded in my chest, and every instinct screamed to run before this went any further.

We walked through the empty restaurant and were directed to a back corner booth. A couple of large potted indoor plants and a slight curve of the room gave us complete privacy from any curious eyes nearby.

I slid into one side of the booth, expecting Elijah to sit opposite. Surprising me, he slid in next to me. My breath hitched at his proximity. Voices spoke, but I couldn't make sense of the words. His cologne, a mixture of rich woods and spices which screamed masculinity and wealth, engulfed me. It entered my nostrils and spun in my mind, eliciting feelings I knew were wrong. My hands shot down to the slick booth seat, and I scooted a few inches away.