Pregnant with the Bad Boy

33

He sat down on the other side and nodded to Francois who picked up the bottle on the table and opened it to my delight as the red wine fell into the tall glasses in front of us.

“Thank you, Francois.” He was about to wave him off when I looked up at them both uncertainly and said shyly.

“I'm sorry to ask, but I hope there's some dinner involved in this?” They were silent for a few seconds before Grant started laughing loudly and heartily, as if I'd said something to brighten his day and the older man nodded and disappeared, I felt ashamed and picked at my painted nails, I was useless at this.

“I'm sorry... I'm just used to having to eat and I didn't have time before...” his laughter died out and he suddenly looked at me seriously as if I had said something outrageous.

“Of course, you'll have dinner Jennifer, I'm not a savage...” he put his elbows on the table and leaned forward curiously at me as I smiled faintly and looked up.

“Is there any particular reason why you have to eat?” His eyes watched me calmly and I shrugged as casually as I could, this was not how I wanted to start the evening.

“I forget about it otherwise.” I had taken the glass of red wine and looked up at his thoughtful look, I drank some, it tasted good, it probably cost more than my old car.

He didn't answer me but just smiled thoughtfully before taking my hand that was on the table with his own and smiling wider at my uncertain face.

“Of course, we'll make sure you don't miss it, I think Francois will come up with something soon.” He looked into my eyes as he stroked his thumb over the back of my hand and I shuddered, I don't know if it was the evening air or him, but the familiar feeling of electricity had started to flow through me.

I shamefully averted my eyes, I was completely mad feeling attraction already and Dylan and I hadn't been apart for more than a couple of weeks, what was wrong with me?

Grant just smiled at my shyness as I looked up lightly at two plates coming in with Francis' quick steps as he put it in front of me first and I looked longingly down at the colourful plate of vegetables I guessed.

“Ratatouille.” Grant picked up the fork and I followed and took a small bite, it tasted delicious and before I knew it I had taken three more bites while Grant continued to sit with his fork waiting to start eating.

He watched in amusement as I discovered what I had done and embarrassedly put the fork down again as he quickly shook his head to show that he didn't think I was weird at all.

“You'll be popular around here, usually women pick at the food.” He smiled again, making his deep brown eyes glisten, and I nervously picked up my fork again with a tentative smile.

“What can I say, I like to eat...” I took another bite and enjoyed its explosion of flavour in my mouth so much that I almost rolled my eyes in pleasure.

“Almost as good as s*x, right?” I coughed as he laughed low at my surprise and slowly drank from his wine glass.

“Almost.” I drank some too, it tasted really good, everything here was like a dream that I was just waiting to wake up from.

“So how come you're working as a salesman in the mall if you have all this? "I waved my hand around me and he leaned back, a sly smile on his attractive face.

“Maybe I'm not rich at all and I've just bribed Francois for tonight?” I drank more and laughed at his ruse; it would be something.

“I'm glad you chose to bribe him when you were with me.” I smiled as secretly as I could, which wasn't at all as I stared into his fascinated eyes that twinkled again and he had his arms crossed idly behind him and hummed as I said something funny.

“Me too.” He picked up the wine glass again and leaned forward towards me, holding it up to me.

“To bribery.” I raised my voice at his amused smile. We drank, he slowly and I faster before he watched me as I took another bite of the plate in front of me.

I ate it all, I didn't care if it was rude or uncharacteristic for this place, by now Grant had probably figured out that something was wrong with me, and I might as well enjoy the rest of the evening.

“You weren't lying when you said you were hungry.” He raised his eyebrows at my empty speech but smiled afterwards when I picked up the wine glass again, it was almost empty now and it had started to creep into my head, making me braver than I was.

“Try starving yourself for years and you'd be hungry too.” I finished the last of the wine as I put the glass down on the table and looked up at his worried, all laughter was gone and I sighed, damn. I had said too much.

“Was he the one who did that to you? Your ex-boyfriend, I mean?” He looked genuinely interested as I shook my head at his curious questions.

“No, it's been like that for years... but I was in bad shape after him.” I looked away, I'd ruined everything now, that was it. I might as well call mom and ask her to come and get me, wherever I was.

“I understand.” He looked down now and I sighed loudly, buoyed by the courage the wine had given me.

“Yeah listen, I've had a great time, but I can tell this is too much for you, and I don't blame you so you know...” I was about to get up when he stopped my speech with his hand and put it softly on my arm, the burn of his fingertips on my skin as I paused and stared in surprise at his understanding eyes.

“Jennifer, stop.” His voice was soft and deep, pleading, not demanding as Dylan's had been.

I looked at him uncertainly, he could have any girl he wanted and yet here he sat with me, screaming damaged goods from miles away.

“Yeah...” I relaxed again and leaned back in the chair as he poured more wine into my glass and I studied his hands and arms, they were strong but not rough, more refined and well groomed, I was glad I had gotten my own nails done.

“So why do you work in the mall?” I smiled defiantly at his calm face as he leaned back again, holding the glass absently in his hand.

“My family owns the store, one of many, and I'd rather be there than at a boring board meeting where my brothers are bickering about who's in charge.” He smiled dejectedly and I shook my head in disbelief.

“So, you're a secret millionaire?” I laughed even before he answered by shrugging his shoulders.

“That’s one way of seeing things I guess, but I’ve never hidden the fact that I got money.” He drank again and laughed at my obvious horror as it had dawned on me that he might be telling the truth.

“No, you're kidding me, that doesn't happen, like ever.” I shook my head in disbelief as he shrugged again, as if he was letting me think what I wanted.

“Mademoiselle Jennifer, what do you spend your time doing when you don't brighten my day with your presence?” He said my name as Francois had said it so it sounded exotic and I shuddered at his voice as he smiled as he had watched me admire his foreign way of speaking.

“Economics student.” I raised my glass again and he raised his eyebrows in awe as I drank and looked at his surprised face in satisfaction.

“So not only beautiful, smart too.” His eyes twinkled again, and I laughed at his flattery.

“Hardly, no more than anyone else.” I laughed at his admiration, I wasn't nearly as interested as it sounded outwardly, but it would certainly get me a job later.

“So, you're what, twenty? Twenty-one?” His voice sounded worldly as I looked down awkwardly quickly, I looked at the wine in front of me.

“I'll be twenty-one in a few weeks.” I tried to sound as cool as possible as he laughed at my obvious facade.

“I wasn't going to call you out, if that’s what you thought.” he laughed again and I smiled now at his playful manner, it was relaxing to be here with him.

” And you? I don't know how old you are?” I guessed around thirty, maybe younger, he had a rather young face, but his presence and eyes felt older.

“I turned thirty-one a few months ago.” He laughed back my obvious surprise, I thought he had been older by the way he moved and spoke.

“Do I look that old?” he was obviously amused as I quickly shook my head.

“No, you look great, you just seem so... well-behaved.” I tried to find the words as he looked at me meaningfully with his mysterious eyes.

“So, you think I look good?” his smile flashed, and I understood exactly what I had said and looked him straight in the eye with a defiant smile.

“Why do you think I chose you to kiss at the bar?” I swallowed the rest of the wine, I was getting drunk, and I could admit it no matter how pathetic it sounded as he immediately looked more daring what I'd seen him do so far tonight.

“Maybe because you were drunk, or because I was there.” I was leaning forward now and I knew he could see right down my cleavage by now but I didn't care.

“Because you looked friendly, and because you didn't grab my t**s right away.”

I laughed at his surprised look, I was too affected to care about being shy, or to feel it in his presence.

“So, if I asked to kiss you, would that be okay?” He had leaned forward too and I licked my lips, I wanted to be close to him and I wasn't going to hide it.

“It would be okay.” I leaned forward expectantly as he leaned back again and I looked at him disappointedly, was he just playing with me, I felt the anger coming as I saw him standing in front of me and pulled me up against him gently so we were standing next to each other, I leaned hard against his body, it was different from Dylan's, wider and not as hard but still pleasant to drag my hand over his chest and stomach which I hadn't been able to stop myself from doing where he was watching my movements over his body.

“You truly are a beautiful creature, Jennifer.” he caressed my cheek with his thumb, and I closed my eyes and enjoyed his touch, I felt like I had never been touched the way he touched me.

I looked up shyly now as he just smiled tenderly at me and kissed me softly, his tongue sliding into my mouth, and I enjoyed feeling it against my own as he held me safely with his arms around me.

I closed my eyes, it felt like faint jolts going over my body as he touched me.

I pushed myself up on tiptoe to get closer as he leaned me back slightly, so I almost fainted from the excitement that rushed through me.

when he stopped, I looked up almost breathless from his lips still feeling my own.

We didn't say anything but just looked at each other uncertainly and charged when he finally leaned me up again and I felt dizzy about what had just happened.

I was so confused; I knew I still loved Dylan, but Grant stirred something in me that I had never felt before and I unexpectedly clutched my chest which was still heaving rapidly up and down on me.

“Are you okay?” He looked at me worriedly as I must have looked like I was having a heart attack right there still in his arms.

I shook it all off and looked into his troubled eyes that were so warm I could feel it deep in my frozen soul.

“I'm okay...I just...haven't kissed anyone since...him...” I realized how stupid that was to say, why would he want to hear about Dylan? I looked down in shame as he took my hand and pulled me close again and I shuddered at being near him.

“I understand.” He ran his thumb over my cheek, and I enjoyed his touch as he looked understandingly into my eyes and I quickly averted my gaze, I had felt guilty for comparing him to Dylan at one time. he was not Dylan.

“I'm sorry... I shouldn't have come with you...” I sighed as he just smiled at me like he understood what I was talking about.

“But I'm glad you're here, with me” I stopped, and it tumbled in my stomach like it always did when Dylan had talked to me, could it be that Grant was making me feel something too? I smiled faintly at his words, my heart actually went a little faster with him nearby and it was me who had looked right at him, it was all me.

“Me too.” Yes, the words said quietly as he kissed my forehead softly before letting go and I immediately felt frozen, all the way to the marrow from leaving his arms.

I shivered and pulled my arms around me as he took off his jacket and wrapped me in it, I looked gratefully at his gesture to which he responded with a charming smile and I looked out at the night sky, it was really beautiful here.

“I'm messed up, just so you know.” I didn't look at him as he didn't say anything back, if he wanted anything with me in the future I was obliged to tell him the truth.

“Is it a challenge?” His voice was so serious that I could do nothing but laugh as he broke into a smile at me that immediately made me feel better.

“I'm serious, I have problems that a poor man like you wouldn't even want to know half about.” I sighed in amusement as his smile disappeared and he put his big hands on my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes with his hypnotic gaze.

“Are you trying to scare me away, Jennifer?” his voice was deep as I laughed low at him, he was stubborn anyway.

“No, I'm just telling it like it is.” I winked at him, and he nodded, and my heart sank, that was it. back to crying on the bed again over another man who didn't want me.

“If I say I don't care about it, will you believe me?” He had raised his head again as I looked at him in surprise, he was too good to be true.

“Maybe...” I had my arms crossed under my jacket as we still hadn't taken our eyes off each other.

“Come on, I'll take you home.” He put his arm around me, and I willingly went along, maybe that was enough for today, I had done more than I had promised myself anyway.

We walked out of the restaurant in silence, I knew I looked sad, like something had happened between us more than I had said it was, but I was just waiting for him to say it was too much and leave.

He drove me home in silence too and with every minute that passed I became more tense, I felt like I was about to explode if he didn't say something soon.

I saw the yard from a distance, and I looked at him where he sitting, I liked him, that was it, that was the truth and now I was going to have to say goodbye to another man who was going to leave me crushed.

I quickly whipped the tears away before he could notice them and scrambled to keep from crying as he stopped the car.

“Thank you.” I smiled sadly at him as he looked at me strangely where we sat in the middle of the night.

“You're bad at hiding that you're crying so you know.” He reached out and whipped away the last tear that had escaped me, I looked down in shame and he grabbed my chin and turned me back to his gaze.

“I know.” I smiled through the tears that welled up and he just smiled sadly at me and got out of the car and opened my door and helped me out, I was about to leave and walk away when he pulled me back inside and whispered in my ear where we stood in the middle of the night.

“I don't give up that easily...” shivers ran down my spine as he touched the end of my waist and whispered again.

“I should warn you; I'm used to getting what I want...” he looked defiantly into my eyes so I almost couldn't breathe from the emotions that made me freeze where I stood mesmerized by the mysterious man.

He smiled at me with eyes that twinkled as he got into the car and drove off in the middle of the night, leaving me shaking from his words.

Damn, he'd be dangerous. I sweated even though it was cold and pulled his jacket closer that he had left on me as I looked longingly out into the night.