“You didn’t overreact and it’s understandable with what you’ve been through,” he said as he pressed his lips against my forehead. “I have to go check on the steaks. Do you need me to finish the salad?”
“No, I can finish it.”
Ian smiled and walked outside. He smiled a lot tonight, and he was making me fall deeper for him. I finished the salad and set it outside on the table. I cut up a fresh loaf of bread that Charles had made earlier in the morning, boiled some redskin potatoes, seasoned them, and set them on the table while Ian set down the plates and silverware. He brought the bottle of wine outside and poured some into my glass. He handed it to me as I sat down.
“Now remember, pretend.” He winked.
I took a sip and smiled. “It’s perfect.”
“No pretending?” he asked as he held up his glass.
“No pretending. I truly like it.” I smiled as I brought my glass to his.
The steak that Ian grilled was prepared to perfection. I cut into it and took a bite. He stared at me as I chewed. “Is something wrong?” I asked.
“I’ve sort of gotten used to having a house guest. It’s going to be weird around here when you move out.”
I looked at him and pursed my lips together, smiling softly as I replied. “You have house guests almost every night, Ian. You won’t miss me.”
“Those women aren’t guests, and I will miss you, Rory. Whether you want to believe it or not, I will miss having you around here.”
“Your dad will be happy when I’m gone.”
“Fuck him,” he snapped.
I could feel an argument coming on and I wasn’t going to let that happen. I wasn’t about to ruin our perfect dinner.
“Adalynn invited me to her birthday party Saturday.” I smiled.
“Ah, yes. That’s this Saturday. I was going to ask you if you wanted to go with me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that she’s your ex-wife?” I blurted out.
He set down his fork, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and stared at me. He picked up his glass and slowly brought it to his lips, staring at me the whole time he drank his wine.
“She told you about that, eh?”
“Yes. And I couldn’t help but wonder why you didn’t tell me when you introduced her to me.”
Ian sighed as he took a bite of his steak. “It was a mistake and it only lasted two days. We were drunk out of our minds. I seriously don’t remember anything about that night. People make mistakes. We did and we took care of it. Adalynn has been a long-time friend and that’s it. I don’t see her as anything but that. I never have and I never will. Trust me when I say that marriage will never be in the cards for me.”
“Never?” I asked.
“Never!”
“Why not?”
“Marriage is overrated. Who wants to be tied down like that for the rest of your life?”
Now I was starting to get some insight on his feelings and, so far, I didn’t like what I was hearing. “Can I ask you something?” I asked.
“Sure, go ahead.”
“How many actual girlfriends have you had? Not ones that you just bang and kick out. I mean, a real girlfriend who you take to dinner, movies, dancing.”
Ian chuckled. “None.”
I gasped as I looked at him and he smiled in amusement. “Seriously, Ian.”
“Seriously, Rory. I don’t do that kind of stuff. I’m not interested in any of that crap. Women, to me, are good for one thing and that’s to f**k. The flowers, romance, expensive gifts; it’ll just wear you out and drag you down. It’ll lead you down a road that eventually splits and then you’re forced with the decision of which way to go.”
I was taken aback by his words and I didn’t know what to say. I was nothing but stunned and disgusted by what this hot and sexy man sitting across from me had just said. He had no respect for women whatsoever and he had just showed me his true colors.
“Do the women you frequently bed know this?”
“Of course they do, and I like how you’re so polite about the way you refer to them.” He smiled.
“I’m willing to bet your father is the same way,” I said as I sipped my wine.
“Yes, he is the same way. He’s been that way since my mother—”
Ian stopped what he was going to say and threw back the remaining wine that was left in his glass.
“Your mother what?” I asked. “Died?”
His eyes shot up at me and, as he stared into my soul, he calmly said, “Since she left us.”
I had to stop and think for a minute because I distinctly remembered Adalynn telling me that Ian’s mother had died. He got up from the table and grabbed my plate.
“Stay here and I’ll bring out dessert.”
I reached for the bottle of wine and poured some in my glass. Just when I would start to let my guard down and feel somewhat normal, Ian always managed to f**k things up and instantly my guard would go back up. I guess it was better that I found out now what kind of man he really was. He came back with two blueberry muffins on a plate. I looked at him and he smiled at me. I don’t think he thought he said anything wrong. I believed that he was okay with his disrespect of women. I felt sick to my stomach.
“Is something wrong?” he asked as he sat down.
“Adalynn told me your mother died and you’re telling me she left? Which is it, Ian?”
He leaned back in chair. His defenses were up, I could tell by the way he looked at me.
“Why were you discussing my family with Adalynn?”
“Because you refuse to talk about anything with me. The only thing she said was that she passed away when you were a child.”
“I don’t know you, Aurora, so why would I want to tell you about my family and my past?”
Calm. Stay calm. Breathe. “For someone who doesn’t know me, you sure are hell bent on f**king me.”
Ian laughed and nodded his head. “Yes. Yes, I am, because I do believe you are deliciously f**kable.”
Okay, that was it. That was the last straw with this so-called man. I got up from my seat, walked over, and wrapped my arms around his neck as I leaned into him and began dragging my tongue lightly across his smooth skin. His scent was driving me crazy. A clean, fresh scent with a touch of musk.
“God, Rory, what are you doing?” he moaned.
“Your scent drives me insane and I can’t help myself,” I whispered as I continued to explore his neck and run my hands down the front of his shirt.