Rough. Chapter one of Book II

CHAPTER 1




No, it couldn’t be. Is that who I think it is? I thought to myself as I caught him glancing in my direction for the third time tonight.
He was leaning on the back of a barstool, across a smoke hazed room talking to a couple actors I also recognized from the production we had just come from seeing.
He visibly stood out from the rest, and had a familiarity I couldn’t place. His face was very pronounced, chiseled perfectly around his cheekbones and jaw line, with the perfect amount of five o’clock shadow to accent them. He had full pouty lips, the kind that look like they are always in a slight irresistible pucker. His hair was chin length, medium brown and wavy, finger slicked back and tucked behind his ears, enhancing his intense deep set cerulean eyes. He was quite possibly the most attractive man I thought I had ever seen.
He glanced in my direction again causing a faint tingling sensation under my skin.
I glanced sideways at him, smiled with my eyes, lingering for a half second and then casually turned to the glass I held close to my lips.
He was wearing a fitted white button down shirt, with long sleeves cuffed once at the end and pushed up his forearms. He left the top two buttons open just enough to see the beginnings of a very well sculpted torso. Together with black leather pants and silver tipped cowboy boots. A little flashy, I thought, but much the norm for this side of the world.
He gazed in my direction again, and I felt the tickle of excitement begin to sweep its way up the back of my neck.
Maybe it was just my imagination, or coincidence, or a man of his magnitude could just be scanning the room for prospects. I had certainly considered all the possibilities but more than likely it was that I looked extraordinarily good tonight! I beamed with an arrogant grin.
The dress that caught my eye for this extra special evening was a black Chantilly lace, backless cocktail number that clung needlessly to my every curve. Paired with black patent leather ankle wrap stilettos.
My hair was down, volumized somewhat by my natural curl. I threw in some strategically placed curls, back combed a little here and there, and then shook it upside down for my desired affect. It’s wild and untamed. I like the idea of being able to toss my mane shamelessly when the occasion calls for it, and I must admit, I do have the perfect coiffure for the job.
I was the epitome of everything I thought I wanted to be. Alluring, mysterious, sultry, attractive… And I had no problem flaunting it. It wasn’t the first time and I’m sure it wouldn’t be the last. He is no different than the numerous other guys I had unwittingly beguiled.
I casually, but purposely, strolled past his group to sit with my friends at a circular booth just beyond his ear shot. I wanted to see if I was truly the focus of his attention.
He seemed to notice.
Another minute went by as I chatted with my friends at the table, while my awareness of his proximity was not deterred. I could see from my peripherals that he was facing my direction again and I decided to let him get an eyeful before I looked back. I slowly ran my fingers through my hair under the back by my neck, nonchalantly shifting it so that it hung over my left shoulder. I then proceeded to twirl a ringlet that hung just behind my diamond dotted right earlobe taking full advantage of the fact that it was directly over an erogenous zone on my neck.
I could feel his gaze now heavily on me, as I slowly turned to meet it. His eyes instinctively fluttered, looked away, and then did a double take noticing that I hadn’t shifted from my stare. Yes. That’s the look I was waiting for.
I lingered, smiling flirtatiously with my eyes again, and then bit my lower lip as I turned to re-engage myself in the conversation at the table. I re-crossed my legs at the knees, slowly letting my left ankle rest over top of my right, and then ran my fingers up the back of my calf just for added measure.
From the corner of my eye, I could see that he still hadn’t veered from his preferred fixation. The fixation, of course, being me. He was now curious and wanted to play along with my little game.
My stomach began to flutter and my face flushed slightly.
From my peripherals, I could see him sporting a semi-seductive yet still bashful smile.
The corners of my mouth involuntarily curled in response.
He then, quite confidently, left his group and came to a stop at the foot of our table.
“Hello, my name is Shayne DeLuca,” he announced to everyone, purposely stealing a glance or in my direction.
Everyone replied politely, at awe as one of the lead performers stood in front of them.
“Did you all just come from the show?” He asked in a velvety smooth utterance.
Nods all around.
He then casually asked, “Could I persuade you to let me join your table?”
Everyone seemed to reply in an approving manor of some sort.
He then turned to grab a chair and set it at the end of our table. With one spin of his wrist, he swung it swiftly into place, and then sat on it next to me, all in the same motion. His eyes never left mine while doing so.
I smiled playfully, impressed with his pageantry.
“You played Joseph, didn’t you?” Stacey asked.
“Yes…” he admitted bashfully. “I did,” he sighed.
“Wow. You have a beautiful voice,” she admitted.
“Thank you,” he answered, “It helps when you have backup singers,” he winked, flashing a coy little grin back in my direction.
The group continued to ask questions and give flattery where ever possible, but after a short while they became more comfortable and conversations began to disperse in different directions. Some, hopeful of hearing tips to getting into the biz, and some deciding they wanted to dance.
“C’mon Andi, this is our song,” Stacey suggested excitedly, gesturing toward the dance floor as the DJ began the next mix.
It was a song that, in our dance class back home, the teacher would give us 10 minutes at the end for freestyle dance. Which meant we played popular music, and made up little choreographs for it. We frequently came up with combinations we liked and then used them when that particular song was playing while we were out dancing at a school event or club.
“Excuse me,” I spoke quietly to the group, but it was directed mainly toward Shayne.
“Mm hmm,” he answered as he stood, still smiling his sultry grin.
I followed Stacey looking back over my shoulder once, out of curiosity. He was still sitting at the table with the few that were left, seemingly still engaged in conversation, but watching me intently.
Dance is the one activity where I can completely lose myself. I hear the beat and in my mind I see a steady stream of movement, and my body just seems to willingly comply.
I entered the dance floor and immediately my hips began to sway. I let my hands move freely, instinctively tousling my hair as I exaggerated my steps, slowly pulsating from side to side to my desired spot on the floor.
Stacey and I flowed into count facing each other. It had been a little while, but we both knew the bit well and we always feel inclined to step it up, improvising as much as necessary in order to out do each other. Our typical routine for an evening like this, and I was fully engrossed into it.
The song ended and a slower one began. It too had a steady beat, which I couldn’t resist. We stayed on the dance floor and continued to flow effortlessly into our normal freestyle type mode.
I let my hips move in time with the music and my body habitually glided into several slow body waves. Every once in a while I would throw in a double-time head roll, tossing my hair for effect. I began a spin, snapping my head to let my hair fly, but stopped abruptly when I found myself face to face against a solid frame of a man. His hand was already on the small of my back and my long hair, because of momentum, continued its course landing perfectly on his left shoulder. He didn’t flinch.
“Would you like to dance?” Shayne’s smoky deep voice beckoned.
“Me?” I asked, surprised.
Up until now we had only exchanged flirtatious glances. Now he was actually addressing me personally, and it threw me off kilter a little.
He simply gave me his seemingly patented grin and began to move me with him to the rhythm. The way he swayed almost seemed a little to advanced for me, and I nearly stumbled more than once but he held me effortlessly in place guiding my feet as they moved.
“I’m not sure I can keep up,” I stated like a damsel in distress.
His grin turned sinister, as he spun me around twirling me away and then pulling me quickly back into a low dip.
I blinked several times trying to refocus on his intense eyes.
“I think you’ll do just fine,” He half whispered only centimeters from my face letting his seductive little grin re-appear, and then he brought me back up straight.
He moved so smoothly that I barely had to think about what I was doing. Our bodies coursed seamlessly together. He matched my every move and non-verbally challenged me to try new ones with him. I added flourishes when I could think to throw them in. He seemed to respond approvingly.
“You dance very well,” he commented in my ear as he was holding me close.
“Hmm… not as well as you,” I argued.
He chuckled, and then added, “I get by.”
“I might have to disagree with that.”
He chuckled again.
“You are in a Broadway production. Not just anyone gets a leading role in something like that. Especially as young as you are.” I defended.
He then tilted his head to look me in the eyes, seemingly confused. “How do you know my age?”
“I’m a good guesser,” I said grinning confidently, although I knew that I had looked up the actors before seeing the play, and had memorized some of the information on the ones I thought were attractive. But my confidence quickly faded at seeing his dark smoldering eyes boring directly into mine. I blinked and turned slightly toward his shoulder hoping he would think it was part of my allure. My pulse quickened at feeling his breath on my skin. He then threw me into another quick spin and snapped me back crushing our bodies together again. I had to catch my breath. I felt helpless in his hands. It was almost frightening but at the same time more exhilarating than I had ever felt.
“Impressive,” he admitted. “Usually out clubbing, my partners end up stepping on my toes several times, but you… you haven’t lost your footing once,” He affirmed.
“So far,” I added.
He chuckled.
“You’re a strong lead,” I affirmed, throwing the credit back onto him.
“You don’t seem intimidated.”
“On the contrary… you intimidate me plenty.”
He chuckled again. “But still… You have to be pretty graceful not to have stepped on my toes at least once. I’m sorry, I’m not very good at this but believe it or not I’m actually trying to give you a complement,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Oh… really,” I flirted. “You know flattery will get you…..” I paused. “Well….. I guess we’ll see,” I whispered teasingly close to his ear.
He flushed a little, and I was surprised to see it.
“Well… there is quite a bit more that I could say, but I thought I’d save it for later.”
“Assuming, of course, that I let you see me later?” I teased, pulling slightly away and then twirling, purposely suggesting that it would be a privilege if he were allowed to see me at all.
He gracefully continued guiding my spin and then spun me again faster catching both of my hands above our heads and then dropping them, still clutched, behind my back pinning me to his chest.
“Ok. At the risk of being completely embarrassed, I’ll try to give you another one right now.”
I tilted my head and smiled in anticipation.
He cleared his throat and began, “You… are definitely, the most attractive girl in this club,” he stated letting go of my hands and turning me with him slowly swaying.
“Hmm…”
“No good?” He added nonchalantly.
“Diplomatic… Not the worst I’ve heard, but given your demeanor and general appearance, not to mention your chosen profession..… I would have thought that you possessed much more thoroughly contrived flattery in reserve for such an occasion.” I sighed in jest.
“Ooooh. A challenge,” He breathed. “You know it might take me a heavy moment to surmise a sentiment worthy of someone with such exquisiteness and elegance; incandescent and delicate, with the body and face coveted by goddesses, who would find themselves inferior to a being such as yourself,” He blathered. “How was that?” He whispered, with a very boastful tone in his voice.
“Um…smooth….” I grinned and then laughed a breathy laugh in the direction of his ear. “Ya, I don’t even know what to say to that. But it does seem more your… type?” I giggled, blushing. I hoped he wouldn’t notice the sudden temperature change on my skin.
“I’ve been categorized!” He stated pretending to be shocked. “Darn! I’ll have to work on my originality.”
I laughed a trilling peal.
The song ended and we stood for a moment while the next one began.
“Would you mind if we sat somewhere?”
“Like, me and you… together?” I gestured between the two of us.
“Ya, if you want to. If you would rather be with your friends, that’s ok. I was just hoping I would get to know you a little better.”
I looked at him half smiling, while biting the side of my bottom lip. I then scanned the room and spotted a booth in the corner that was a little more secluded than the rest. He waited for my response.
“What about over there?” I pointed daintily with my newly manicured index finger.
“Perfect,” He agreed. “Let me just say goodbye to my friends really quick.”
“Ok, I’ll meet you there.”
I decided to take the opportunity to grab my clutch purse and use the ladies room to freshen my hair and makeup.
I looked in the mirror. Moisture had faded my face a bit so I quickly re-applied, taking extra care around my eyes. Smokey, I delighted as I admired myself again. I shook out my hair to re-volumize, and then spritzed my citrus based cologne in the air walking through it as I headed back out the door.
I, doing my best to keep up my aloof composure, walked in the direction of the table we chose. He was already sprawled on the seat but as I approached, he jumped up to let me in.
“You had me worried for a minute,” he stated as he smiled his seductive little grin. “I thought maybe you made a run for it.”
“Have girls ever run from you before?” I asked doubtfully.
“Um… No, not really,” he mock-shamefully, but proudly admitted.
“The question is… should they have?” I asked giving him a sly look of my own, while taking the inside seat.
“Wow… You’re… not gonna to make this easy on me are you?”
I chuckled, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“No… totally ok,” he held a hand up gesturing to stop me. “You should get to know someone before you can trust them.”
I smiled bashfully, looking down at the table.
Just then the waitress came over and stood in front of us.
“Hey Shayne-ie, what’s goin on?” She asked while setting two napkins and two coasters on the table.
“Good Jen, how’ve you been?”
“Better now that you’re here,” she winked at me and then asked, “What can I get you two?”
“The usual.”
“Cherry/vanilla coke for you, and what would you like sweetie?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“All right, I’ll be right back.”
“You aren’t drinking?” I asked after the waitress left.
“No… a hangover seriously hinders my performance.”
“Oh… ya. How many more performances do you have?”
“The show runs through the rest of this week,” he explained, and then returned to our previous conversation. “So what category do I fit into?”
“What?” I asked having completely forgotten.
“You said my ‘type’, I’m assuming that’s not good.”
“Oh…” I chuckled. “I’m sorry; I guess that did sound a little opinionated.”
“Please,” he waved me off. “You couldn’t begin to touch the critiques I’ve had to stomach lately.”
“Oh…” I half laughed a breathy gust. Ashamed. “I’m sorry. Now I feel really bad.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he chuckled again. “But I’m still curious.”
“About what?” I asked, still blushing.
“About how you see me. Do you see me as… bad?”
I thought about it for a moment. A few years ago, I would have known the answer to that question, having the sense and the added impressions given to me by an unknown source. But now… I had to rely purely on instinct and previous experience. It makes me feel guarded, like I can’t trust anyone.
“I’m not sure yet,” I say, giving myself some cushion.
“Ok first impression. What was it?”
“Oh geez… You’re not going to make this easy on me are you?”
“I’m sorry,” he chuckled. “You don’t have to answer, but I’ll just assume the worst if I’m left to fend for myself.”
“Ugh…” I huffed, and then began. “Okay. At first glance…” My eyes flickered to his causing me to blush, and then I gazed toward the chair where he had first been leaning. “I knew who you were because of seeing you perform. And I saw your photo online when I bought the tickets.”
“Ok… aside from that.” He dismissed as if he didn’t want the acknowledgement although I saw his face light up a bit when I said it.
“Aside from that. Okay. Well… Number one; Your hair,” I automatically reached for a strand and then catching myself, dropped my hand into my lap, stuttering, “is perfect… suggesting that you prefer to be very much in control of all the aspects of your life, even when you want it to be a little untamed. Number two; Even though you wear makeup caked on every night, your skin is flawless, which leads me to believe that you take great care to keep it that way. This, along with your…” I gulped and breathed out, “well cared for…physique… could mean high maintenance. And number three; your clothes… well there are two different things at play here. The outfit it’s self suggests that you are confident and don’t have a problem being the center of attention, which also suggests that you probably get a lot of it. Attention that is. And that’s usually a red flag. But the way you carry yourself and your body language added into the mix, kinda makes you….. irresistible, yet dangerous. So I guess my first impression of you was just that; Irresistibly-Dangerous.”
He sat frozen for a moment and then shook his head. “Are you a fortune teller or something?”
“No,” I laughed breathily. Blushing.
“Well I hope you stick around long enough that I can change your mind about some of those things.”
I chuckled again, bashful.
“Ok my turn.” He squinted as he stared into my eyes. “Your hair…” He began, imitating me I’d guessed. He ran his fingers through the side of it and it made me a little ashamed that I had chickened out of touching his when he was so comfortable touching mine. He brushed the back of his hand following my hair cascading past my shoulder to my elbow. “Is long and lush. Silky and beautiful, but wild. And your face,” he then ran a finger gingerly across my jaw line, causing my skin to ignite where he touched. “Is also flawless. Even under the surface.” His eyes followed the curves of my face and then settled, meeting my stare.
My eyelids fluttered at the action. “You’re mysterious,” he continued, “you like to leave the world behind you. Be uninhibited as evident by your appearance. You don’t like complications, but yet they seem to find you. You’re very guarded.”
I stared at him astonished. My brows creased together slightly.
“How am I doing so far?”
“Wait a minute…”
He continued while half chuckling, cutting me off mid-thought.
“You have talents that you usually keep hidden, but every so often you break out of your shell and show them off doing karaoke and impromptu competitive freestyle dance.”
I gasped. “How did you know that?” I stated.
“I was there, like nine months ago.” He chuckled.
“That only happened one time… on a dare….. and you… Oh my gosh!” I abashed. “How could you have possibly recognized me from that?”
“I saw a stunningly beautiful girl whose angelic voice mesmerized the crowd. What was the song you sang?”
“Halo, by Beyonce,” I mumbled, trying to hide my totally flushed face.
“Yes!” he agreed animatedly. “Anyway, that girl did an unforgettable body wave head roll combination that you just reproduced perfectly here on the floor. I actually wanted to meet you then but when I tried to approach you, you were already surrounded by swarms of guys dying to get a piece of you, so I chickened out.”
“You chickened out?” I asked skeptically.
“Something like that.”
“I can’t believe you were there.” I continued to blush.
“Why not? I’m human aren’t I?” He boasted. “Your name is….. Angie, right?”
“It’s Andi. Andi Young.”
“Yes! I’m sorry, it was extremely loud there.”
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. I barely remembered what happened nine weeks ago let alone nine months. I was in a self induced state of detachment for most of the past year and had all but blocked anything new from entering.
I loved to sing though, but hadn’t since high school. Dance was my chosen outlet, it just seemed like a good thing to do at the time I guess.
“You’re embarrassed!” he chuckled, looking at me with adoring eyes.
“No,” I claimed, still semi-hiding my face.
“Yes you are,” he pulled my hands away. “I’m sorry… I liked it though,” he sympathized.
“My move?” I asked grimacing.
“The move… you singing… and embarrassing you,” he inched closer bringing his hand up and cupping the side of my face. “And you,” he whispered as he moved in for a kiss.
His lips were full and warm. The way he moved them was almost rhythmic. Hypnotic. Slow and gentle, and tasting faintly of mint.
I only became aware of other people in the room when the waitress cleared her throat.
We separated and I tried to regain composure as he thanked her for the drinks.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t… usually do things like that.”
“It’s ok.”
“Your eyes drew me in… I was helpless,” he defended.
“Oh,” I chuckled suspiciously, “Good thing you informed me. I might have gotten the impression that it was not the first time.” I stated sarcastically.
“Hmm…” He snickered slightly embarrassed. “Ok I’ll be completely honest… it may have happened… before,” he admitted like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“I see… Well, I had fun dancing with you, but I should probably get back to my friends…” I declared as I began to stand.
“Wait…” He pleaded. “Please…Stay,” he pleaded. “I was only kidding; I swear this is really not my typical behavior.”
I remained standing.
“I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression of me,” he admitted, pleading. “I really am just a nice guy from a small town in Maine.”
I slowly sat back down next to him. “Well… I didn’t hate it,” I half whispered. “And I can’t let you take all the blame. I was… kindof… sending signs,” I winced, bashfully.
He chuckled as if he knew what I was doing all along. “I honestly do want to talk more though,” he confessed. “I mean… we can do what ever you want but I do want to get to know you better,” he stared into my eyes with his wide and begging for a response.
I pretended to think about it for a moment. “Ok… when you say it with the big puppy-dog eyes… Geez,” I sighed as I crossed my legs, accidentally brushing across his in the process. I froze.
Once again he didn’t flinch. He reached down between us and slid his hand under mine, clasping as he reached his destination. He kissed my fingers slowly and then traced them softly with his lips.
My skin began to warm as I watched.
“So where are you from? Anywhere interesting?”
“Nope,” I lied, sighing as I watched his lips moving around my dainty digits. It was impossible to stay focused.
“Nope?” he kidded, raising his eyebrows once, and then grinning seductively again. “I can’t say as I’ve ever been there.”
“Flagstaff…..” I blurted, shaking myself from my trance. “It’s in Arizona.”
“Really. Wow that’s a long way.” He said between kisses on my fingers.
“Actually,” he straightened himself a little, seeming more intent on the conversation, “My dance group was traveling through the western states about a year and a half ago and we stayed in flagstaff one night,” he began. “I only remember because there was a guy who was shot at a restaurant where we had eaten that morning. We saw it on the news that night. Apparently there were some high school kids there at the time it happened.”
“Ya…..” I felt the blood suddenly rushing out of my face, and my smile became weighted to the point of non-existence. “It was a while ago,” I agreed, as I was sent spinning into a vivid memory I thought I had buried in my subconscious.
“It was kinda weird because we had just eaten there the same day it happened. Did you know anything about it?”
“Ya…” I nodded slowly. “Ya I did.”