Fatal Jealousy (Black Widow Book 1) (2 page)

“You have an expensive dress on, with equally expensive and high taste in shoes and jewelry. Your hairdo must have cost as much as my rent and your make-up is like most rich celebrities. God forbid they have a bad picture taken by the
annoying
paparazzi.”

Ellie laughed as she turned to look at the man who was boldly taking her facade apart, “Wait, what?” She was gobsmacked by the man’s smile. She bit her lip to hide her relief as she looked him over. His face and body did match his voice. Ellie sucked in a breath. He was a tequila fire bomb!

“Don’t get me wrong, you are easy on the eyes in that getup, but it doesn’t look anything like you,” Carson signaled the bartender for a shot.

She turned to look at him, one leg crossed over the other. She didn’t mind that the dress rode up a few more inches. She prayed her blind date didn’t turnup! “Considering you’ve just met me, how would you know what I’m like?” She asked with a smile, lifting her knee more over the other and
accidentally
grazing his leg.

Carson swallowed hard and smiled. “Well, no one with such expensive taste would be hitting back a beer and shots.”

Ellie laughed, taking another swig of her beer, “She’d probably sip on wine and nurse the glass for an hour. She would not want to be perceived as one who loves her liquor,” describing her sister’s drinking manner.

“Let me guess, your friend dressed you up for a blind date with someone more her type?”

“My sister and yes, I think she did. The only problem is I don’t think he’s going to turn up. I hate blind dates.”

“Well,” Carson raised his bottle to hers, “his loss, and my gain. I’m Carson, by the way, Dale Carson.” extending his hand to her.

Taking his hand, “Ellie Jabari.” They had lingered quietly with their hands in warm contact before she broke the silence, “Wait. Did you say Dale Carson?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “it doesn’t sound like a black guy’s name huh?”

Feeling a little embarrassed, “Well, not exactly...”

“I can explain that. My dad is Scottish and my mom is black, she’s from Boston.”

“Good to know, but that wasn’t what I meant. My blind date’s name is Dale Carson,” she laughed, more at the awkward situation that was bound to follow after her confession than at herself.

She shook her head looking him over again “You are the guy my sister set me up with... which doesn’t make any sense.”

Carson looked at her with a mix of confusion and intrigue. He knew a lot of women and none of them would set him up on a blind date, let alone with their own sister. “What’s her name?”

“Ellsa. You don’t look like the type she’d hang out with. Well, you do, just not for the right reasons.” Her eyes shrunk in confusion. She could see her sister sleeping with this guy. Who wouldn’t? But she couldn’t believe her sister actually wanted her to date her leftovers.
Weren’t we trying to avoid these kinds of situations
, she thought to herself. But she and her sister looked alike, the way she was dressed, he could have mistaken her for Ellsa easily, but he didn’t. “How do you know my sister?”

“I don’t, how does your sister know me?”

“My sister and I don’t exactly move in the same circles. Maybe someone told her about you... or you might be lying to me?”

“Trust me, I don’t know your sister, I don’t date the stiff type.” He answered with a charming smile.

Ellie laughed, “She’s not exactly that stiff, just set in her ways. Either way, I’m glad I met you, you’ve made my pitiful boring night very interesting.”

He signaled to the bartender to get them more drinks. “The night isn’t over yet, it could get even more interesting,” reaching down under her legs to get to the frame of the stool, he pulled it and her towards him, trapping her crossed legs between his. There was no way she could move from that position without falling flat on her back.

Ellie felt a little sweaty, the sound of her racing heartbeat loud in her ears. She felt claustrophobic, and she could feel her throat dry out under Carson’s penetrating gaze. Even if she wanted to move, she couldn’t. She wasn’t going to risk embarrassing herself in front of this guy, not if she could help it.

Carson smiled, he felt like a predator taunting his prey. He had her bagged. It was a good thing it was the weekend because tonight was going to be a very exhausting night. He put his hand on her knee and slowly began tracing his fingers up her leg to her thigh.

She caught his hand once it reached the edge of her dress at her thigh, “It’s not going to get that interesting,” shifting his hand onto his own knee. She was very attracted to him, but she also knew he was the type to hit and run. She wasn’t going to make it that easy for him; he’d have to work hard for it. “How about we crawl before we start running?”

He shifted his hand back to her knee, intrigued and amused by the game she’d presented. Chasing only made things even more interesting for him, “Okay. We’ll call this date number one then.”

Ellie laughed at the tip-off, “Dale Carson, I’m not your ordinary kind of girl. I live by my own rules.”

“I have a feeling this is going to be very interesting,” with a smile, tucking his fingers in the crook of her knee as he drew circles lightly with his thumb on her knee.

“You said that already.” Ellie stared at him, fascinated and amused at the man’s arrogance. As much as she didn’t practice it, she wouldn’t mind a one-night stand with him. He seemed like the type to blow his horn and live up to it, but this was now a game to him, a game she had every intention of winning.

Two plates of fries and sandwiches were placed in front of them, “Enjoy.” The bartender said, with a courtesy smile.

Ellie shook her head, “Sorry, but we didn’t order anything.”

Then he settled his gaze on Carson, as he slid the ketchup, salt and pepper on the counter to them.

“I did.” Carson offered, picking a fry and tossing it in his mouth.

“I didn’t know they served simple food here.”

Carson looked over to the dining area. He’d forgotten to do a complete sweep after the distraction her legs had presented. She was right. The low-jazz music playing in the background went well with the dim lights. The waiters in penguin suits quietly moving around the tables like a well organised troop. And, of course, the fine dinners in designer labels.

“How did you get in here dressed like that?” Ellie laughed.

He smiled when her brows furrowed, “I paid extra.”

“I didn’t pay...” she stopped. Her eyebrows lifted and her lips spread in a smile, “You seduced the hostess, didn’t you?”

Silently, he picked up the ketchup and doused her fries.

“Were you...”

He slid fries into her mouth to silence her, “Now I see why you need your sister to set you up on blind dates. Are you going to bring up your ex-boyfriends next?”

Ellie narrowed her eyes at him. She soaked a fry in ketchup then, after wiping it on his lips and cheeks slid it into his open mouth.

She laughed, leaning back and almost falling off the stool. Carson held her waist to steady her, “You are lucky you are so cute.”

She picked up a napkin and wiped the mess off, “No, you are lucky you are so damn cute.”

He rested his hand back on her knee, “Another beer?”

Ellie nodded, glancing at his hand. “Thank you for the fries.”

He squeezed her knee, making her giggle. His smile deepened at the sweet melody of her voice, “You can thank me on our third date.” He didn’t mean it as a joke, but it set her off and he had to hold on to her waist again.

She bit her lips together to muffle the laughs when she noted the eyes set on them. He didn’t seem to notice- his eyes didn’t move away from her. “Eat,” she ordered, feeding him another fry.

Chapter Three

Ellie fixed herself up in front of the mirror, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She was dressed like herself this time, but she wondered if he’d like her laid back style. He hadn’t told her where they were going, so dressing, especially without her best friend Kris to help, was sort of a nightmare. She’d spent an hour curling back her hair and doing her makeup- very light and natural. That was the only part she was sure about, but the clothes were a whole other disaster. She’d spent two hours trying on everything she had. She’d moved from a hot cocktail dress to jeans and a leather jacket.

“He wants to meet the real me, so this is it,” she spoke to herself.

Ellsa walked into the room, “It definitely isn’t,” she as always, was dressed like she was about to walk down the red carpet. Her makeup was just right, accentuating her sharp features. She had a figure hugging, knee length, red bandage dress. Her shoes were always the fashion statement, a black
Jimmy Chu
with the red bottom and a black
Gucci
purse to match. Her hair style of the month was a side combed shoulder high cut with very subtle waves in it. And her jewellery was top notch.

Ellie slumped, wishing she’d left the apartment before
Cleopatra
arrived, “What are you doing here Ellsa?”

She dropped her purse on the bed and moved to the closet, “Saving your date.” She pulled a few dresses and placed them on the bed, “Take that off, you are not going to a biker bar.”

Ellie turned to her, “And how would you know?”

“Does he have a motorcycle?”

“Yes.”

“Tattoos?”

“A few.”

Ellsa’s eyes widened in shock, “I’m almost afraid to ask if he has a mullet! This is what happens when you pick your own dates! Why didn’t you go out with the guy I got you?”

Ellie undressed, “I did and I am. I have to admit, I’m happy you picked this one for me. This time you did a great job.”

Ellsa looked at her a little perplexed, “Dale has tattoos, and a bike?”

“That’s what he says. I saw the tattoos and his mother isn’t on his belly. Her maiden name is on his wrist.”

Ellsa put on a sarcastic smile, “That’s so much better! Did she call to check on how her baby’s date was going, or is she buried in his living room under the sofa?”

Ellie’s brows furrowed with annoyance, “How about you just help me and keep your comments to yourself?”

She picked up a black number, “Fine, but this doesn’t sound like the Dale Carson, Scarlet described to me.”

Ellie shook her head in disapproval, “Pick something that looks like me and not you. Last time he said I looked like I was dressed by someone else.”

Ellsa dropped the dress on the bed, “Well then you are set to go looking like a manly lesbian.”

“Ellsa!”

“Where is he taking you?”

“I don’t know yet. It’s a surprise.”

“Should I track your phone just in case he turns out to be a rapist, serial killer?”

Ellie fidgeted impatiently on her heels, “Ellsa I’m meeting him in an hour, could we please hurry this up?”

Ellsa huffed handing her a sky blue sweetheart cut dress, “He doesn’t even have a car.” She walked to her shoe rack and picked gold strapped heels.

“Ellsa he’s hot! Whether or not he has a car is at the bottom of my list. And he had to work late that’s why we are meeting.”

“Where, McDonald’s? Put these shoes on and carry the gold clutch bag,” she said, settling on the bed.

Ellie did as instructed, “Weren’t you on your way somewhere not here?”

Ellsa smiled, “Yes I am. I have a promising date with a man who drives a phantom,” she stood up, picking up her purse. “If he offers to take you to his mommy’s house on his tricycle say no. Your standards may be low, but not pig sty low. See you sis!” She waved as she strolled out of the room.

Ellie chuckled, looking at her reflection in the mirror, “She might be stuck up, but she has great taste.”

***

Ellie parked her car at the address Dale gave her. It was to a burger joint.

She groaned. “At least it’s not McDonald’s.” She hated it when Ellsa was right. She stepped out of her car and walked to the entrance, “Our first date was great. So what if the second one is at a burger place, I like burgers.”

“You are in luck, ‘cause this is the best place in town,” Carson spoke behind her. He’d been watching her for a while as she talked to herself. He found it cute. He especially loved how she looked in that dress. “Ellie Jabari, you look stunning!”

Ellie turned to him. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw his smile. It stirred her up, sending butterflies to her stomach. “Dale Carson, you don’t look too bad yourself.” She responded, wishing she had stuck to her jeans and jacket. He was dressed very casual; black jeans and a long sleeve tee shirt that hugged his arms just the right way.

She then turned to the burger place, “I think I’m a little overdressed for
The Hot Spot.
”

He shook his head, “You are dressed just right. Are you very hungry?”

“Nope. Why?”

He took her hand and pulled her across the street, “Good because we are going dancing.”

Ellie laughed, “Dancing? You can dance?”

“Hey! I’ve got moves!”

“Sure you do!”

They walked into the club, cutting the long line. He greeted the bouncers at the door and introduced her to them. He held her in front of him as they walked into the crowded club filled with Spanish music.

He spoke in her ear, “Do you know how to salsa?”

Ellie nodded, “Dancing is my second love.”

He guided them to a roped off area, “What’s your first, that is before I replace it?”

She laughed, “Painting. And I highly doubt you can replace that.”

Once they’d sat down in the oddly less noisy section he waved to the waiter, “Why not?”

“I paint when I’m happy and when I’m sad. I paint when I need to think, painting is in every part of my life.” She shrugged her shoulder, “It’s the feeling I get when my paint brush introduces the canvas to my imagination and emotions. Everything just seems to make sense when I paint. And the world just stands still for that moment...”

Carson watched as the emotions danced on her face, echoing her love for painting. For that moment she looked so.... perfect, “I love your passion.”