Ember
Carter texted me he was outside. I nearly tripped down the steps trying to get down so fast. Why was my heart beating so fast? Why was I so nervous? I sported a casual v-cut blue t-shirt that clung to my body but in a modest way. The shirt matched the blue in my eyes exactly, so I knew it was flattering. I let my hair hang around my shoulders, tucking one side behind my ear. My white pants complimented the outfit along with my blue and white sandals with the gems. Thankfully, I had my feet done, and painted my usual white color. I sprayed a bit of sex on the beach perfume on me. Just a touch. I didn’t care to be bathed in perfume. That was unflattering. I didn’t put it on for him. I just enjoyed the sweet smell of it myself.
Carter was waiting by his car and my eyes sure displayed surprise as I walked towards him. Then again, why would I be shocked? He was one of the two most important bachelors in Miami. His car was a black Lamborghini. He smiled his award-winning smile as I approached. He seemed to be taking a sniff at the air. No doubt he smelled my perfume. Did I mistakenly spray too much? If I did, he wouldn’t let it be noticed, because he kept his smile on his face. His eyes seemed to take in my appearance, and I could tell he was satisfied at how I looked. I was doing the exact same thing.
He looked amazing in his golden Armani button shirt with white lining. He was wearing light jeans and complimented the outfit with his white shoes, golden chain, and his blue watch with a golden rim. I knew right away the watch was a Cartier watch. Ryder loved that brand as well. His blue eyes were hypnotizing, and I wanted to drink him in. It was amazing all the little details you notice when walking towards a person. I paused in front of him. A part of me wanted to hug him. Would he even let me?
“Ember”, he said to me with a small nod, smiling. Smiling looked so good on him.
” Hi Carter”, I said, slightly blushing. Hearing my name in his mouth sent tingles to a place I was doing my best to ignore. He opened the door to my side of the Lambo and I climbed inside.
“Whoa”, I said to myself, taking in the car’s features. This was definitely a luxury car at its finest. Inside, it smelled heavily of citrus. I wondered if he used cologne or just naturally smelled like that. Either way, what bliss. He climbed inside.
” Ready for our date?”, he asked. I narrowed my eyes on him. This was not a date. Just lunch between friends. He laughed, sensing my upcoming hostile nature.
” Relax, Ember. Lunch between friends.”, he said, correcting himself.
” Exactly”, I told him, smiling, though hearing him call me a friend was not sitting well with me either. What the fuck was the matter with me?
” Do you have a place in mind, or can I take you to one of my favorite spots?’, he asked me. I pondered on his question and decided to let him take me to his spot. I didn’t know the area well enough to know what was good and what was not. I trusted his judgment.
” Your pick, please sir”, I told him. He seemed to freeze at the nickname but played it off with a smile before starting the car and nearly speeding off.
” Carter, you’re going eighty in a freaking forty lane. Slow down before you get pulled over”, I said.
” The police here are on my payroll. I hardly doubt they would pull me over”, he said. A glint in his eye.
” It does not matter. You are still a citizen like the rest of us. Slow down before you get both of us killed”, I said to him. I was secretly enjoying this, however, and I knew he knew it too, but a part of me was not trying to die today. He slowed down to normal speed, though I can see it annoyed him.
” I would never let anything bad happen to you, Ember “, he said to me, taking his eye off the road to tell me that before focusing again. My cheeks heated. I knew he meant every word of it. The rest of the car ride was silent, and I was thankful for it. My mind was a mess already just from being in his presence. I was fighting myself, torn between giving into how I was feeling, and keeping it professional.
We arrived shortly after at a restaurant named Hell’s Kitchen, and I widened my eyes in shock. Gordon just opened this restaurant a few months ago and all I heard were good reviews about it. He is filming his latest season here in the next few months. I squealed slightly, but Carter heard it.
” I figured you would be happy, coming here. I own the business that helped to build this restaurant”, he said, parking the lamb.
” How many freaking businesses do you guys own?’, I asked, as he got out and opened my car door. He held out his hand and I took it, stepping out of the car. Damn those electric tingles again. If he felt them, he didn’t let it show, as he let go of my hand the second, I was out. We started walking inside.
” Way too many”, he said to me, as we walked together. The inside of the place was so beautiful. It had a touch of Moonlight with the colors, but everything was blue and silver instead. The greeter came to us, looked at Carter, and I saw her eyes nearly bursting through her sockets. She was so shocked.
” Mr Moonstone. What an honor it is to have you back. We haven’t seen you since the building plans were being created for the building” she said to him, flipping her jet black hair black. She was wearing way too much makeup. Definitely not someone I could see working in a place like this.
” Nice to see you again, Emma. Table for two”, he said, looking at her. She looked over at me, obviously jealous. I raised an eyebrow. Mind your manners, Emma, I was saying in my head. Carter seemed to have made a sound and she quickly turned around so we could follow her. Well, that was weird. We ended up in a private section of the restaurant. It was sectioned off by drapes that blocked the view of everyone else. Candles lit the whole area of the big room. It was a very romantic setting, but maybe I was reading too much into it. I still appreciated its beauty as we sat down.
” What can I get you to start off, Mr. Moonstone?”, she asked, handing him the menus. She completely avoided me. Carter, oblivious, handed me the other menu, and I surveyed the options. Even the menu itself was expensive looking.
” Let me get the Chateau Latour”, he said. I smirked. A man that knew his way around a good bottle of wine, I see.
” And for the lady?”, Emma said, still looking at Carter.
” I will have the same thing”, I said, before Carter could speak. He looked at me in surprise. I didn’t like to be ordered for. It was something Ryder had done, and I always expressed my disappointment about it. She looked my way, obviously annoyed because she was not talking to me.
” Bring the bottle, Emma”, Carter said, looking at the menu.
“Would you like me to key in any appetizers while you decide, Mr. Moonstone?’, she asked. He looked at me, waiting. I could tell he took the hint earlier. I shook my head.
” No, just the bottle. Thank you”, Carter said to her, going back to the menu.
” Of course, Mr. Moonstone”, she said, before glaring at me and leaving. He spoke to me when she was out of earshot.
” If you glare at her any harder, I do believe you will cut her just from looking”, Carter joked, focused on me now. Oh boy.