The Research Project

Chapter Twenty-Five

For a moment Lainey believed the scenario in front of her, that the reflection she saw in the mirror was that of a super famous socialite with a massive Instagram following who was invited to all the A-list parties and had equally super famous friends and the most gorgeous man on the planet on her arm. It was Tuesday night and she had just donned the glittery red halter neck Prada dress she'd purchased for their night at the Red Bar. She looked ready, but she wasn't. The fantasy of her being the super famous socialite was just that, a fantasy, like so much of her life. Lainey had never put herself out there before. She had no idea what to do, she didn't even know how to dance or how to have a conversation.

Just at that moment she head a soft footfall on the carpet behind her. Byron had entered the room. He was dressed as well. She'd seen him in a suit before, he wore one to work everyday, but seeing him in a tux was transcendent. For a moment the room spun around her as she took in the sight of him. Then he smiled and her stomach flipped. How was she lucky enough to find herself in this gorgeous man's bed? More importantly, how did she keep him? She felt like Cinderella- one night to impress the man of her dreams enough that he wanted to go beyond fantasy to a real life relationship.

"Lainey," he said, his voice soft and rumbly. "You are the stuff my dreams are made of."

He stopped just in front of her and by now she was breathless, hopeful. He ran one fingertip softly against the skin of her arm, over her shoulder blade and down between the dip in her breasts.

"You're missing something," he said running his finger upward again before he turned and retrieved a long box from the drawer in his dresser. He handed it to her. "Open it."

Her gaze met his for a moment and held it. The she lowered her eyes to the box and did as he asked. Inside was a single teardrop shaped ruby hanging from a white gold chain. She was speechless. Byron took the necklace from the box and stepped closer into her, draping the chain around her neck so that the ruby dropped right there, in between her breasts. He fastened the chain and then stepped back to look at her. He didn't speak for a long moment, then he snaked a a hand into the small of her back and pulled her to him, her body coming into full contact with his. He kissed her deeply, breathlessly.

"We should stop," he whispered against her lips a moment later when he'd broken the kiss. "Suzanne will be here any moment with the limo." He stepped back, sighing deeply and smiling at her at the same time. It was so sexy. "I think we're going to enjoy tonight," he said.

Lainey nodded and smiled back to try and hide her apprehension, but Byron of course, noticed. "You're worried," he said.

"I've never been in a night club before. I don't even know how to dance."

He stepped into her body again. "We can practice before Suzanne arrives."

"Okay."

"If you stick with me tonight, just like this," he said, his body pressed to hers as tightly as they could get, "then you should be just fine."

Lainey giggled. "We look like we're having sex standing up. I don't want to offend anyone."

Now it was Byron's turn to laugh. "Trust me, what you see tonight will open your eyes." At that moment the doorbell rang. "Time to go," Byron said.

He slipped his hand into hers and led her into the living room and toward the door, pausing so that she could collect her clutch purse from the kitchen bench top as they walked past. But she tugged on his hand and stopped him before they got any further, a sudden thought occurring to her.

"What if we get seen together tonight?" she asked.

"We'll just make sure we stay away from any cameras. Besides, the paparazzi won't even know who we are, there will be so many other people for them to focus on tonight."