The Truth Behind The Lies (2 page)

“If you need to come stay the night with me until morning you can.”

“I will call you and let you know. I should be okay while I’m inside. You know I have those door stoppers my mother bought me.”

“Right, I need to get me some.”

“Did you tell the police about the messages. He sort of threatened you on that voicemail message.”

“Yeah I told them everything.”

“Good.”

“I’m still at the police station so I’ll call you a little later.”

“Okay girl.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

“Nina be careful.”

“Okay bye.” I ended the call and shoved my cell back into my purse. I took a deep breath. I felt a little better now that I filed for a restraining order but it might just make him mad. I hadn’t done anything to deserve a stalker but here it is. I have one. I warned him that I would call the police but he didn’t seem to care or take me seriously. So I had to do what I had to do.

I strolled across the lobby and went through the double automatic doors. I walked down the two steps and before I could hit the sidewalk I saw him, Dimples, Mr. Blonde, the elevator guy.

“Hey, I need a word with you.”

What a strange thing to say. He was blocking my descent to the parking lot. “A word.”

“More than one word.” He grinned and I hated how his dimples caved. Or did I love it. I don’t know.

“What?” Bitch mode because I’m a beast. Eye roll, cause I’m no goofy chick.

“Can I talk to you?”

“About what?”

“I don’t know yet but I can figure something out. There’s a coffee shop across the street. You look like you could use a cup of coffee. I know I could use a cup.”

“I don’t know you. You’re a stranger.”

“True but, the coffee shop is across the street from the police station. I’m sure its crawling with cops. There are video cameras posted all over this building.” He pointed to the police station. “I think you’re the safest you can be given that I’m a stranger. Besides I’m harmless. Look at me.” He smirked mischievously and I knew he was lying. He was dangerous and I had already looked at him repeatedly.

“You’re harmless?”

“Relatively harmless.” He smiled and it forced me to do the same. He took my hand without my permission and started pulling me to the corner. His hands were soft and although I never said yes I was following him. Maybe I was being somewhat forcibly drug. My brain was having a hard time deciphering the difference. He had a gentle manhandle on me.

We walked to the curb and he stood partially in front of me while we waited for the light to turn green. It was a very busy street but no man had ever shielded me from oncoming traffic. But it was clear that’s what he was doing. If some random driver jumped the curb I guess he was going to get hit first.

Once the stoplight turned green he stepped off the curb and his firm grip jilted me forward. His stride was regal and sexy. He was a confident man and I could tell all this just from his strut. I lagged behind him and got a glimpse of his ass in his jeans. SEXY. I felt like a peeping Tom but he started it. He said I smell delicious. I taste delicious too. No No! Stop it Nina!

We made it across the street to the coffee shop. I had never been inside this place before although I drove by too many times to count.

Mr. Blonde was right. This place was wall-to-wall cops. It was an upscale designer coffee shop not some neighborhood joint but it didn’t seen to bother the cops. Dimples led me to the counter and turned back to face me. He let my hand go and I felt a loss that touched my heart. Jesus, how did he do that?

“What would you like?” He asked.

“You can order for me.”

“You don’t have any food allergies?”

“No I don’t.”

He smiled and all his beautiful white teeth lit up the room.

“Okay, now I know something about you.” He revealed.

Oh.

There were only two customers in front of us so I waited for him to place our order. He turned to me when there was only one person in front of us.

“Get us a table.” He ordered but I wasn’t offended by his command. There was no rudeness in his tone but a familiarity instead.

“Okay.” I nodded and walked away. Somehow I knew he was watching me walk away.

I found an empty table at the front of the coffee shop by the window. The busboy was wiping the table off as I stood by and waited. He kept stealing glances at me as he cleaned the table more than was necessary. I must be cute today. I know I’m cute today.

The busboy dried the table and I took a seat. I removed my sunglasses. I hung my purse on the chair. There was no chance anyone would snatch and grab my purse in a coffee shop full of cops.

My mind went wild. What did Dimples want with me? Well he probably wants to fuck me but what else? I know I’m not the most welcoming looking black chick walking around. He probably wants to try a black woman. He obviously has money so he could have done that a long time ago. There is a thing called paid escorts. Maybe I’m thinking to hard about it. One cup of coffee with him is not going to be a big deal. He probably does spontaneous random things like this all the time because he can.

I tried to be cool but Dimples was so fine. I watched him stroll over to the table with two large cups of coffee and two pieces of cheesecake. He placed the tray on the table and he had even remembered to get napkins. Guys always forget the napkins.

Before he took the seat across from me we both heard, “Bash!”

Dimples turned to look at the guy a few feet away then he turned to me.

“Excuse me, this will just be a minute.”

I shook my head. What is Bash? Is that his last name? Or did he say Dash? I realized I don’t even know his name. Blondie walked away and joined the guy that was obviously a plain-clothes cop. They shook hands. I was too far away to eavesdrop. I quickly read the words written on the paper cups. I took one cup of coffee. They were exactly the same.

I was being nosey because I didn’t know this guy. I watched him chat with the other white man. They shared a laugh. They got serious for what seemed like a serious moment. They looked over at me. They shook hands again and Blondie started back towards me. He took the seat facing me and grabbed his coffee.

“Do you eat cheesecake?” He asked.

“Yes I love cheesecake. Thank you very much.”

“Thank you for the company. I never introduced myself. I’m Sebastian Vandervol. People call me Bash.”

“Bash, I’m Nina.”

“Nina.” He smiled widely. “That’s a really nice name.”

“It’s okay.”

I watched Bash’s lips sip the coffee. I don’t understand why I’m so attracted to this particular white man. He was almost too fine, if you can be too fine. I guess so. He was the example of that.

“Nina I’ve been with you just a few minutes. I sat down just now and realized I want to see you again.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I’m not quite sure how to make that happen. I already slipped up and said what I was thinking in the elevator. I’m not sure if you can tell but I’m choosing my words wisely. I am definitely not saying what I’m thinking. I know better than to do that.”

“So what are you thinking about me, is it bad?”

“Yes, it’s downright criminal.”

I giggled. Why am I giggling like a schoolgirl? “Downright criminal, I think you’re harmless.” I was flirting. I couldn’t even stop myself.

“I am. Not.” He smirked as his blue eyes took a cursory glance over my breasts.

“Where’s your wedding ring?” I was bold enough to ask.

“I’m not married. I was once but not anymore.”

“So you’re not going to ask me if I’m married?” I raised an eyebrow.

“There’s no need. It wouldn’t matter to me. I don’t think a marriage certificate or a ring would make me feel any differently about you.”

“Really.” So he would sleep with a married woman. Huh?

“I want to take you to dinner.”

“Is that all you want?”

Oh his dimples. He was blushing. “No I want so much more.”

“What if I don’t want to give you more?”

“Nina, I’m very convincing.”

“Are you?”

“Yes, so we are having dinner tonight?”

I guess he told me. “I could do dinner. I eat sometimes.” I tried to contain my elation. I tried to be cool but my face probably betrayed me.

“You have a beautiful smile.”

I was black girl blushing. “Thank you. You have really nice dimples.”

“These old things. I’ve had them forever. My mother gave them to me.”

I giggled. “Oh yes she did.”

“You are so pretty.”

“You are so handsome and tall.”

“You are so incredibly sexy?”

I smiled so hard I think my face got stuck. We were throwing compliments at each other. What the hell kind of drugs was I on? Nina get a grip.

“Bash, what do you do for a living?”

“Ah, many things. I have companies. I’m in the computer software industry. It’s not glamorous. It’s just work. What do you do?”

“I’m an accountant, an accounts supervisor over at Prudential Life in Hillsdale.”

“So you’re good with numbers.”

“I’m good with numbers and a few other things.”

“I can’t wait to see what those few other things are.”

“Wait you must.”

“I have time. I have no problem waiting.”

“That’s good to know.” I think he was lying to me about waiting. “You seem very confident, like you have it all figured out.”

“Why, because I asked you for coffee and then to dinner?”

“Yeah I guess.” I was running out of things to say to him. I wasn’t really on today. This happened so unexpectedly. I wasn’t ready with my witty or sexy interrogation words. I was a little nervous. This guy was different. His demeanor was so strong it was intimidating and it was rare that I was intimidated by anyone.

I wanted to ask him his age but I feared he would ask me mine.

“Did you get your issues resolved at the police station? If not, I know people. I could talk to someone for you.”

“No no I got everything straightened out it wasn’t a big deal, nothing important.”

“Are you going to have to warm up to me?”

“I think I am warm. You don’t think so?”

“Yeah you are coming around just a little. We have something here, a mutual attraction. I want to see where this goes. You’re not just beautiful. I know there’s more to you. I just want the opportunity to explore it. So we’re going to dinner tonight? Is there a restaurant you would like to try?”

“No, not particularly whatever you pick would be fine with me.”

“Great, there’s this place over in Hillsdale called La Bistro Cabernet. Have you tried that place before? I think it’s near your job. You’re in the Prudential Life building next to McDonald’s Corporation?”

“Yes. I’ve never been to La Bistro but I know where it is.”

“I will make reservations for seven.”

“Okay.”

“I can pick you up at six.”

“I would prefer to meet you there. I know where it is.” Geez I said that already.

“Sure Nina, whatever makes you most comfortable. You know you never told me your last name. I promise, I won’t Google you. I need to make sure you’re not my cousin.”

I broke out in laughter and Bash joined me. When I stopped laughing I couldn’t help the smile plastered on my face. “I definitely don’t think we’re related.”

“I can see a little German in you.” Bash smiled hard and leaned into the table. “Actually I can see a lot of German in you.”

I swallowed hard because there was no question he meant his German penis. “I, I--” I stuttered unable to form real words while gazing at his perfect pink lips. He turned the heat up in my panties on full blast.

“You’re sure you’re not a Vandervol?”

“Very sure.”

“Maybe not today.”

This guy right here was too much. I have to watch myself around him. I have to block out his dimples, his Titanic iceberg eyes, his luscious mauve lips and his clever words. I have to keep my legs clamped together.

“My last name is Norwood, Nina Norwood.”

We spent forty-two minutes in the coffee shop. I knew this because I kept stealing glances at the wall clock behind the counter. It was so hard trying to listen to Bash and look at him all at once. I knew I was missing a lot of the things that he was saying but his dimples were constantly distracting me. I was swimming in his cerulean eyes like I was in a pool.

There were a lot of attractive white men in the area where I worked but Bash was extra sexy. He was stand out in a crowd sexy. I really wanted German in me but I could never let him know that. Why was I having such slutty thoughts? I didn’t even know him. Sure I haven’t had sex in three months. I broke up with David two months ago and stopped sleeping with him a month before that. Three months is no time at all. I’ve gone without sex for two years before and didn’t act like this when I fine man looked my way.