Guilty Pleasure

17 | Wine and Dine

Elias informs me that he wants me to join him for dinner later on tonight. Of course I'm going to accept - it's free food!

I wonder what kind of weird and exotic food Elias will have his chef prepare for us.

Don't rich people like caviar?

And raw oysters?

On second thought, I think I'm better off just ordering a large pizza for myself. Elias is probably too high and mighty to even know what pizza is.

I assume most women would be swooning at this point and using all their time to get all gussied up for him - fancy dresses, hair extensions, over-the-top heels, gallons of makeup, and overbearing perfume.

I may not know Elias personally but I know him good enough to know that he's not a big fan of extra. It's like what he said about coffee the other day at the cafe, "No matter how good it may look, it's still coffee."

Perhaps he was referring to the way some women always feel the need to cover their face with makeup. I guess Elias likes his women natural - just like his coffee.

Still though, why on Earth does he like me?

I'm nothing special. I'm not famous. I'm not rich. I'm definitely not successful! I'm just an ordinary girl who's trying to make ends meet.

I ponder to myself before a knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts.

"Will you be joining me for dinner, Ms. Freeman?"

I jerk my head in the direction of Elias's voice and stand up from the well made bed. I dust my clothes off with my hands and straighten any creases that may be present.

Wait, am I actually trying to make myself presentable to Elias? Me?

"Just give me a minute!"

I yell at the door as I throw my hands up. I can hear Elias shuffling behind the door and I start to wonder if maybe he's just as nervous as I am.

Uh, I mean he's probably nervous! I'm not nervous, in fact, I'd much rather be asleep right now!

I make my way to the bedroom door and fling the door open with force, immediately being met with Elias's charming gaze on the other side.

"And here I thought we might have to eat a cold dinner."

The corner of his lips curl upwards while a flicker of light illuminates his irises, making them more hypnotic than usual.

He's leaned over on the doorframe with his left arm resting just above my head. His height is immediately noted as I look up to meet his curious eyes. That same distinct smell of his cologne permeates the air around me, whisking me away to a place of forbidden fantasies.

I remove his muscular arm away from the doorframe and click my tongue in frustration.

"Are we going to eat or are you gonna stand there all night gawking at me like some creep?"

I take a few steps down the hall away from him as I knit my brows together and fold my arms. Internal growls start to rumble inside my stomach like a starved animal, making food the main focus of my brain.

"Does admiring one's beauty make me a creep, Ms. Freeman?"

"Yes."

Elias chuckles to himself in light of my blunt response. The growling in my tummy becomes increasingly violent and I'm literally thinking about eating Elias if he doesn't hurry up and lead me to where the food is.