Table for Two Read online

  *****

  "Leo, I'm sure that you handled everything properly, but I do need to know what was said out there." Isabella sat down in her chair behind her desk and gestured for Leo to sit in the chair on the other side.

  "I did what you told me. I offered them the table by the fireplace as it was nice and cozy, and more romantic. The woman looked very appreciative, but the man took great offense to it. He asked if I knew who he was, and to be quite honest, he looked kind of familiar, but I really don't know who he was." He paused. "I hope I didn't ruin anything."

  "No, you handled it well from the sounds of it. Some people just have anger issues." She turned on her computer. "What did he say his name was again? Parker Davis?"

  "Parker Davidson." Leo corrected her.

  Isabella pulled up her Google search and entered the name. She hit enter and was amazed at how many results turned up. "Oh my!" She said as she clicked on some of the links. "Looks like Mr. Davidson is a famous singer." She looked over to Leo. "Oh, hey, I know this song. I just never knew who sang it." She started to hum the melody of the song.

  "If I'd known he was that famous, I would have just let you handle it. Maybe you wouldn't have screwed it up as bad as I did." Leo said with regret.

  "No Leo, you did just fine. We'll get through this, don't worry." Isabella reassured him, though she secretly hoped that Parker Davidson didn't make good on his threats, just when business was finally booming.

  Chapter 2

  "Tate, can you get me a Cosmo please?" Isabella asked the bartender as she took a seat on one of the stools. The dinner crowd had thinned out, and there were only a few tables left, so she took leave of the kitchen. She was rubbing her temples with her head down when she sensed someone sit next to her.

  "Tough night, huh?" Dylan commented.

  "One of the worst. I am so ready for it to be over." She groaned. Her Cosmo was set in front of her, and she took a long drink of it. "The man may have an attitude, but he sure makes a mean drink." She sighed as she told Dylan after Tate walked away.

  "Hey bitches!" A tall, dark haired, flamboyant man walked into the bar area.

  "Hey Jase! What are you doing here?" Isabella asked one of her best friends as she reached up to give him a hug.

  "Hey Mary. I was hoping to convince you to come out with me this fine evening." He gave her his puppy dog eyes.

  "I will never understand…why do you call her Mary?" Dylan asked.

  "Because he's a Mary himself." Isabella joked.

  "Ah, Dylly, are you jealous that I have a nickname for her and not you? I'd be happy to come up with a pet name for you too." Jason wagged his eyebrows seductively.

  "Uh, no! Thanks anyways." Dylan said, visibly cringing.

  "Hmm, your loss." He teased. "So Mary, what's the verdict? Are you coming out with me tonight?"

  "Honey, you came out a long time ago." Isabella laughed.

  "Yeah, yeah. You know what I meant." Jason rolled his eyes.

  "Jase, you know it's Thursday, and on Thursdays I always go to the all night laundromat after work to do my laundry." She said, reminding him of her routine.

  "Oh, you're so boring. My routine this, my schedule that." He teased. "Come on. Are you completely out of black shirts or black pants?"

  "Well, no." She answered honestly.

  "What about black socks? Bras? Those cute little thong underwear?" He prodded.

  "No, no, and no." She replied, knowing that her excuse of needing to do laundry was failing. "But if I don't do it tonight, it's going to throw off my whole schedule."

  "Good lord woman, forget the damn schedule for once and let loose." Jason begged.

  "You know, I think we could all use a night out after the stuff we went through tonight." Dylan tried. "I'll go if you go."

  Isabella looked at her two friends and their pitiful faces. "Ugh! Fine, I'll just go do my laundry when I get home, so I am not staying out too late."

  "Sure…" Jason pacified.

  *****

  Parker scrolled through his phone book built into his cell phone. He highlighted the number for his buddy Matt and hit send. After a few quick rings, the man answered.

  "Dude, I am in serious need of a drink and a quick lay, not necessarily in that order. You up for a night out?" Parker asked Matt.

  "You know it, man. Count me in." Matt told him. They made arrangements to meet at a popular bar half an hour later.

  Parker hurried to change his clothes, picking out a long sleeved dark grey t-shirt and a vintage Rolling Stones t-shirt to put over it. He grabbed his favorite faded jeans, then his black Doc Martens. In just a few minutes, he was ready to roll. A quick stop in the bathroom to check his hair and brush his teeth and he was out the door.

  Matt found Parker sitting at the bar, nursing his second beer. "Started without me, I see."

  "Dude, I told you I was seriously in need. My mother set me up on the worst blind date of my life." He said with a shake of his head.

  "Man, you let your mother set you up on a blind date?" Matt laughed.

  "Dude, I had no choice! You know how my mother is. It was one of her friend's nieces that just moved to town, so I was elected to take her out." Parker protested. "She completely humiliated me in a restaurant full of people. I just want to forget the whole night ever happened."

  "Oh man, someone humiliated you? Did she know who you were?" Matt tried to hold back a laugh.

  "Yeah, she knew, but she didn't do it on purpose. But anyways, like I said, I just want to forget about it. I don't want to talk about it, I don't want to think about it." Parker told him. He signaled to the bartender and two more beers were brought over. "Come on, let's get to the VIP area before someone recognizes me."

  *****

  Jason went with Isabella to her apartment for her to shower and change. While she was cleaning her night of work off her body, Jason went to her closet to pick out her outfit. There were only a few things in there that weren't black.

  'Honey needs to stop working so much and get a life.' Jason thought to himself as he rifled through the hangers. 'Finally', he thought when he saw the black leather pants. 'They're black, but they're hot.' Next to the pants, he found a red halter that would look great on her. 'Perfect!'

  Isabella dried her hair before coming out of the bathroom, choosing to leave it in its naturally wavy state, cascading down her back. She put on just enough makeup to bring out the green in her eyes, along with a touch of lipstick. She readied herself to enter the bedroom and find out what Jason had picked for her to wear. No doubt, she would be uncomfortable in whatever he chose.

  "Girl, you better hurry your skinny ass up! Dylan will be here any minute!" Jason yelled into her.

  "I'm hurrying. I just need to get dressed." She said, walking to the bed where the clothes lay. "Ah, Jase, isn't there anything else I could wear?"

  "Bitch you better put that on and shut up." He mock threatened.

  "Fine, but just so you know, it is completely against my better judgment." She yelled back, going to her dresser to get out some underwear. She picked her typical black thong, and decided against the strapless bra.

  A few short minutes later, she was all dressed and ready to go. Dylan arrived and they all headed to the bar, with Isabella complaining the whole time.

  "Ok, now I met this really cute guy this morning and he promised to get us into the VIP lounge. He said he'd leave my name at the door." Jason informed them.

  "Oh, so dragging us out tonight was all about some guy you met? I should have known." Isabella smirked.

  "Hey, just because you're not getting any, doesn't mean that the rest of us shouldn't." Jason told her with attitude.

  "A boyfriend just doesn't fit into my schedule right now." Isabella shook her head.

  "Who's talking about a boyfriend? You just need to get laid. One night stand…no attachment, just pure, raw, sexual satisfaction." Jason spelled out for her.

  Dylan laughed. "Yeah right. You know how long I have been trying to get her to do that? She seems to think that sex is only for relationships. I mean, shit, I've been trying to hit that since freshman year in college."

  Isabella smacked his arm. "Oh shush. You have not! You'd never do anything to ruin our friendship."

  "Whatever you say, gorgeous." Dylan winked at her.

  Jason stood by and watched, wondering if Dylan truly did have feelings for Isabella. It was very clear that she only thought of him as a friend, so he felt bad for Dylan if his feelings went deeper.

  The group of three walked up to the bouncer and Jason gave the large man his name. Sure enough, he was on the list, and they were quickly escorted to the VIP section.

  "So, who is this guy, and how did he get you on the VIP list?" Isabella asked as they sidled up to the bar to order drinks.

  "All I know is that his name is Paul, and that he is so fine!" Jason told her. "You know I'm not one for details."

  Isabella smiled and nodded her head. She took the shot in front of her and touched it to the shot glasses in her friends' hands before downing it like a pro. The smooth liquid slid down her throat, warming her inch by inch as it went. Swirling her finger in the air, she motioned for the bartender to give them another round.

  After the next shot, Isabella felt herself starting to relax. On a typical night, she'd have maybe one or two drinks, but that was it. It was very rare for her to have more than that, so once she passed that threshold, the alcohol started to affect her much quicker.

  The group did one more shot before leaving the bar, with beer (for Dylan) and cosmos (for Bella and Jason) in hand. Isabella felt great as she started to move to the beat of the music. "I think you guys were right, I did need this tonight." She shouted to her friends over the music.

  "Well, drink up. I plan on getting you thoroughly wasted tonight." Jason laughed as he looked around the room, trying to spot Paul.

  "Not too bad…I still have to do laundry tonight." Isabella reminded him, unaware of the effect that the shots would soon have on her.

  "Sure sweetie." Jason pacified her as he ordered another round of drinks from the cocktail waitress.

  Dylan excused himself from the group when he saw a group of models partying on the other side of the room. He had been eye flirting with one of the girls, and thought it was a perfect time to make his move.

  After their next round of drinks, Isabella was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. By the drink after that, she was completely trashed. She wandered out onto the dance floor, feeling as though the beat was calling her name. She was immediately immersed in the crowd of dancers, until Jason couldn't see her anymore.

  When he turned around, he came face to face with the man he had been searching for all night.

  *****

  By 1:30, Parker was thoroughly trashed, just as he'd hoped. The problems of the day were long forgotten as he moved his body on the dance floor. This was exactly what he needed, the consequences of the night be damned.

  He looked at the woman in front of him, grinding her body into his. Man, she was sure hot, and she reminded him of someone, but he couldn't quite put his finger on who it was.

  All that mattered was that she looked good and was ready and willing. He ran his hands down her leather clad hips and pulled her body closer to his, until the only thing separating them was two thin layers of clothing.

  They moved together to the beat of the music as it pulsed through their bodies. The heat was becoming unbearable as he moved her hair to the side and ran his lips along her neck. His lips met her ear and whispered into it, sending a shiver through her body.

  "How about you tell me your name so we can get out of here." He whispered.

  "Bella. And you?" She asked.

  "Parker." He told her. "Your place or mine?"

  "Who lives closer?" She asked and told him where she lived.

  "You do. Your place." He told her and grabbed her hand and a bottle of champagne, then dragged her out of the club.

  Jason looked up from the secluded spot where he was sitting with Paul, just in time to see Isabella leaving with some man. Satisfied that she was finally going to get laid, he smiled. "Hey Paul, do you know who that guy is that my friend is leaving with?"

  "That's Parker Davidson. He's a nice guy, a little full of himself, but wouldn't hurt anyone." Paul replied, knowing that Jason was just trying to make sure that his friend was safe.

  'Thanks. Now, where were we?" He asked as they moved back together.

  *****

  As soon as they got out of the cab, Parker popped the cork on the bottle of champagne and took a long drink from the bottle. He backed Isabella up to the wall of her building and kissed her long and hard, before pouring a little bit of the champagne in her mouth and kissing her again.

  "I think we better get up to your apartment before we get arrested for indecent exposure." He told her, playing with the zipper on her pants.

  She grabbed his hand, and this time, she dragged him. They went up to her apartment, and as soon as the door closed, their clothes went flying. Between their hot and steamy kisses, champagne flowed in their mouths, keeping them well intoxicated.

  When the bottle was empty, she tossed it to the side, nearly shattering it. She guided Parker to the bedroom, where he pushed her onto the bed. Both of them naked, he wasted no time in mounting her.

  As he slid his length into her, they both sighed with satisfaction. It was just the stress relief that both of them needed, but had they been sober, it most likely wouldn't have happened.

  He moved inside of her, stroking long and hard, building the tension between them. Before he knew what was happening, Isabella had wiggled out from under him and was pushing him onto his back. She then straddled him and continued their coupling, enjoying taking the reins.

  Parker was surprised by this move, but very pleased. He loved it when a woman took over and really showed him what she wanted and needed. As she pounded her body into his, she felt her release take over. He followed not far behind her, then both of them passed out after she rolled off his body. Consumed with satisfaction, and the effects of the alcohol, neither would be waking up any time soon.

  Chapter 3

  'Oh no, I'm going to be sick!' Was the first coherent thought that ran through Isabella's head the next morning. She threw back the covers and made a mad dash for the bathroom.

  After emptying her stomach and feeling a little more stable, she grabbed the robe that was hanging on the back of her bathroom door and slowly walked back to her bedroom. It was all she could do to get her robe on properly and tie it shut, since it required a bit of concentration and her hangover made that nearly impossible.

  Re-entering her bedroom, the scene that lay before her shocked her to her core. 'I am never drinking again!' Her head screamed as her eyes roamed the back of a man lying in her bed. The sheet covered his lower body, and his head was partially covered by one of her pillows. The only thing clearly visible was his well-defined, muscular back.

  'Oh good lord, what do I do? This is exactly why I have never had a one night stand before; to avoid situations like this.' She thought in her hammering head. '…Well, among other reasons.'

  Hesitantly, she crossed the room to the bed, and lightly tapped the man on his shoulder. When he didn't move, she shook his shoulder harder. "Um, excuse me?" She could feel her face redden, no clue what the proper etiquette was for the morning after.

  The man slowly rolled over, inch by inch revealing the characteristics of his face. Isabella gasped and jumped back, feeling as though she had been burned. 'No! It can't be! I didn't! We didn't! No, no, no!' She berated herself.

  Parker opened his eyes slowly, and blinked a few times trying to adjust to the light, and clear the sleep from his eyes. Once they were finally open, he looked at the woman standing over him and his face startled into recognition. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes, hoping to see something different when his eyes re-opened.

  Seeing the same woman standing before him, Parker jumped out of bed, in all his naked glory, not bothering to cover up and sensitive areas. "Ah, shit! You're that restaurant chick." He groaned. His hand immediately grasped his pounding head.

  Isabella's face reddened further as she looked appreciatively at his naked body. 'Get a grip!' She slapped herself mentally and shielded her eyes from his pure form. "Do you think you could put that thing away?" She asked bitterly, pointing towards his morning wood.

  "That wasn't what you were asking last night, sweetheart." He taunted as he walked out of the bedroom to find his clothes. He rushed around the living room and foyer, collecting his clothes and hastily putting them on.

  Isabella followed him out to her living room and sat down on the couch with a thud. She grasped her head in her hands, trying to make sense of the situation, though no logical thought could ever explain what happened the previous night. 'And I didn't even get my damn laundry done.' She thought scornfully.

  Parker murmured to himself while he got dressed. Isabella couldn't make out much of what he was saying, and she wasn't quite sure that she wanted to. It was clearly obvious that their night of hot sex was a mistake for both of them, something they both instantly regretted in the light of day.

  "I can't believe I slept with you, of all the people at the club last night." Parker bit, more at himself than at Isabella.

  She looked up at him through the hands that covered her face. "You think I'm happy about this? I think I'm more devastated than you are. I mean, seriously. My first one night stand, and I ruin it by sleeping with some guy who threatened me earlier in the night."

  "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure you'll figure out a way to use this to your advantage. You'll probably run straight to the tabloids, just to get some publicity for your shitty little restaurant." He said with disgust as he finished tying his shoes.

  "Yeah, right. Like I want people to know that I lowered my standards by sleeping with you." She groaned. This conversation was making her feel worse. She could feel the bile rising in her throat again. "Whatever…just get the hell out." She told him, her head cradled in her hands once again, with no strength or energy to look up and glare at him like she wanted to.