Chapter Nine
"Mommy, are we there yet?" Bethany whined to me with her head on my shoulder. Her blonde hairs were sprawled against my old, silk top, causing it to become staticy.
"Bethany, stop it." I shrugged her off of me and began to comb my fingers through her, now, messy hair. "We'll be there shortly, Sweetie. Just calm down."
"Okay." She huffed out and continued to pet her teddy bear. I was a little less than thrilled when she wasn't excited as I thought she would be to spend time with the one Mr. Connor Foster tonight. After my visit with Henry that one night, I started to clean myself up. He helped me get that job at his office and I have been working there since mid November. It is now two weeks into December and things have been going great. I'm not getting my hopes up though; I did that with Barnaby's and look where that got me.
Once I settled into my new job and built up the confidence, I called Connor up and we set up a date. "How about I take you and Bethany out to dinner one night next week?" I instantly felt my heart rate pick up.
"Yeah, that sounds great." For a moment, all I heard was flipping of pages and the sound of his heavy breathing. "You still there, Connor? Or are you reconsidering your insane offer?" I teased at him.
"No, I'm still here. You can't get rid of me that easily, Maddie." His dark chuckle rang through the landline. Everything I heard him doing was intriging me; everything from the creak of his desk chair to the way he cleared his throat in the middle of his sentences. "I'm just checking my schedule to see when I can get the night off of work. And it looks like I'm free Friday. How's that for you guys?"
"Perfect." My words slid off my tongue smoothly. I sounded like a teenager drowing in high school love; it was somewhat pathetic, I must admit. "I'll meet you there."
"Great. I should probably get back to work," I could hear the buzz of yet another office phone ringing in the background. "Have a goodnight, Maddie." And before I could say the same, he hung up. I sat there listening to the dead phone line and twisting the cord around my fingers, lost in a daydream. I had become dangerously infatuated with Connor: the man I knew nothing about.
The cab had dropped us off in front of the restaurant and Bethany's mood instantly brightened up when she saw Connor. He was pacing with one hand in his pocket and the other adorning his hair. I watched him pace for just a moment more while I paid our driver. He was wearing a navy blue polo that was tucked into his tan dress pants which were both tightly fitting to his toned body. I couldn't help but stare at him.
His face was draped in anxioty and, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was tinted green. But his mood changed quickly once he laid eyes on the beautiful five year old, he had only met once, that was running towards him. I saw his eyes momentarily flick up to notice me, and then direct back to Bethany. "Well hello there, Gorgeous." His words were inviting like those of a trusting friend.
"Hello Mr. Connor," I was a proud mother; I wore a smirk that said, 'Hey I have a polite child and you should jealous.' "It is lovely to see you again."
"It's lovely to see you too, Bethany. Look," He knelt down to be face to face with her. I stood a few feet away from the two of them, just hating the fact that I wished he was her father. Connor fished into his pocket and pulled out a small box with a little pink ribbon tied around it. "I got you a little something."
"Wow, thanks!" She took it in her hands and tried to open the gift. I was so busy watching Bethany try unwrapping her blue box, that I hadn't realized Connor was walking towards me.
"Hi there." His hands slid onto my hips and I felt my jaw drop with pleasure.
"Hey stranger." My arms spiraled around his neck and pulled him in for a generous hug. His thumbs rubbed against my dress and warmed me a little more.
