Chapter Four:
Lanie
Awkward didn't begin to express how I felt, sitting across the table from Ian Gregory. Borrowed dress, borrowed shoes, no makeup--I looked around at the people seated at nearby tables and noticed all of these women seemed put together and in their zone. I, however, was so out of my comfort zone I might as well be swimming with sharks--which was something I'd never do, even as a scientist.
But Ian was sweet and charming. He even asked about my science, which most people never did. Not even my own mother asked how my research was going. As a general rule, people didn't take interest in the actual science behind saving ecosystems. They liked the surface-level updates, but when I spoke about the fine details, they shut off. Not Ian. He seemed glued to everything I said. It made me feel like he was actually interested.
Dinner went well. We talked about my project mostly, but I did ask a few questions about Ian's work too. I had to admit I wasn't as interested in what he did as he seemed to be in what I did, but his job was important. How else would the groundbreaking science I was working on get delivered to the world at large? I had to respect that men like Ian were behind the scenes developing code and websites that would make communicating with the masses that much easier.
"I must admit to you, you're very different than I thought you'd be." Ian sipped the final few drops of wine from his third drink and sat back in his seat. The waiter had cleared the dinner plates and I still had a few bites left of my dessert--a lovely New York cheesecake drizzled in chocolate sauce.
"How so?" I asked him, but I thought I knew his answer. He, like every other man who had ever dated me, expected me to be white and nerdy, consumed with science and stuck on saving the planet. While those things were mostly true, I did know how to behave around other people and engage in normal conversation.
"Honestly, I expected you to be..." His words hung in the air and when I raised my eyebrows at him he finished with: "Bitchy."
I laughed so hard I snorted and that drew attention from people around me again. I'd never heard that remark on a first date, and while maybe I should have been offended by that comment, I appreciated that Ian was honest and had nothing to hide. He smiled at me as I got control of myself and apologized, but I shook my head.
"I've been told that by coworkers but never on a date. You have nothing to apologize for. You were being honest. I know I have a bad case of RBF." I took the napkin from my lap and wiped my mouth, then laid it over the almost-empty plate.
"RBF?" he asked, and he looked confused.
"Resting bitch face. You know, when you walk around looking upset all the time but you're really a great person with a great personality." As I said it I realized how immodest that sounded and winced at my own words.
"I think you nailed that one on the head. You have an incredible personality." Ian leaned in and I swore he was going to ask me out again, but a man approached us. I recognized him instantly as the driver who brought me here. He smiled, but only at me, and looked down at me as if checking me out. It unnerved me a little, though he, too, was a very good-looking man.
"Brought your keys, Ian." A key fob dangled from his fingers as he stretched out his arm toward my date and Ian sighed.
"Thanks, Grayson. You could have just left them at the host stand as we discussed." Ian looked annoyed, as if he disliked the interruption. I didn't mind so much, except the two of them seemed to be more like friends than boss and employee.
"How is the lovely lady enjoying her evening?" Grayson asked me and I felt my cheeks burning due to the attention. I glanced at Ian whose expression was definite annoyance. Another man was hitting on his date right in front of him.
While I didn't mind the attention, and honestly I was flattered, I did respect that I was out with another man. "Ian is treating me very well. Thank you," I told Grayson, whose name I'd only just learned. I wanted him to understand my ethics and he picked up on it.
Grayson looked at Ian and then back to me. "I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening. Hopefully we will meet again one day." The insinuation that had Ian not been around Grayson would have "enjoyed" this conversation much more did not get past me.
"Thank you, Mr. Thorpe," Ian grumbled, suddenly shifting to a more proper address for him. Grayson also picked up on that. I watched storm clouds gather in his eyes as his brow furrowed and he bowed at the shoulders.
"Good evening," he said, then he backed away and headed toward the door.
In all my years, I'd never had a billionaire ask me on a date, nor had I ever had a second one--yes I googled him while he was driving--flirt with me while out on a date with the first one. What the actual fuck was going on in my life? Had Richter set me up to schmooze these guys in hopes that my good looks would win us more funding? Was I being set up?
"I'm sorry about that. Gray and I go way back--old friends. He's just got no sense at times." Ian's polite apology shifted my attention away from the obvious discomfort his friend had caused and back to him. I'd had a great night, and we still had the car ride home.
When I accepted the date and told myself it was something I could do to push for financial support, I had no clue what to expect. But Ian charmed me and I decided I could gladly do this again with him. Money or no money--for research of course--Ian was a decent man, not bad looking, and had a good personality. I just had to take time to get to know him.
He paid for our meal, which was a good thing because even though I brought my debit card tucked into the bust of my dress, the bill topped what I could logically afford. I wasn't poor by any means, but this place was a bit fancy for my budget. Then he pulled the car up and I climbed in. This time I sat in the front seat next to Ian, and he drove it himself.
"I really enjoyed dinner with you, Lanie." Ian had been nothing but a perfect gentleman to me. I didn't know why that sort of disappointed me. I'd heard rumors about him--and men like him in general. While the idea of sex on the first date didn't appeal to me, I had fully expected him to be... different.
"I enjoyed it too..." My nerves got the better of me and I blurted out, "You can probably just take me back to the lab. I need to... I mean... My car is there." I bit my lower lip suddenly feeling a bit more self-conscious as the reality that we were completely alone settled in. I didn't fear him being too forward, but I did underestimate my ability to continue to be socially adept in such a confined space with such a handsome man.
"Sure, that's no problem," he said, and I thought I detected a hint of disappointment, as if maybe he did expect me to invite him in when I got home. I didn't let on that I might have heard it, but I did feel a little disappointed myself. I didn't want the evening to end, but I couldn't exactly invite him to the lab.
"We could do it again sometime?" I told him, and even as I did I hoped this time his friend Grayson wouldn't be interrupting. Ian didn't act any different afterward, but I'd seen the jealousy flash in his eyes. Most women would probably dislike that, but I'd never had a man be jealous over me. I kinda liked that.
"I would actually love that..." he said, thoughtfully. "Come to think of it, I'd really love to drop the pretense of this whole act." He chuckled and I was confused. This was an act to him? What part? For how long?
"What do you mean?"
"Well I mean, this stuffy suit and tie really aren't me. I play the part because that's what people expect, but I'm honestly more comfortable in some cargo shorts and a polo, deck shoes, or even hiking boots. I love to be outside. So maybe we could go for a hike or something?" He glanced at me as he turned down the street the lab was on, the address still programmed into the car's GPS.
My face couldn't contain the stupid smile. If he weren't already such a great guy this would have come as a shock. Ian was an outdoorsy type too? What planet had he been hiding on where I had never known this? And why had we never bumped into each other in the great outdoors where sparks could fly?
"Is that okay?" he asked, and now he sounded nervous. As if unveiling his true self would deter me somehow. He knew so little about me.
"Honestly that sounds so perfect." My hand rested on my knee, hoping maybe he would take it and lace his fingers through mine but his hand stayed firmly on the steering wheel. "I guess you figured I'm not the typical sort to chase a billionaire."
Ian smiled at me and I laughed again. Though, this time I controlled the laugh so I didn't snort. I felt so comfortable in his presence.
"Well here we are," he mewled as he turned into the parking lot. He pulled up next to the only car left here so late in the evening. It was dark, and the lights overhead barely illuminated the lot. I nervously turned to him and held my breath. God I wanted him to kiss me, but he was such a gentleman. "Should I walk you to your car?"
My heart fluttered. "Yes, please." My hand rested on the door handle, but I didn't open it. There was one parking space between my car and his. He didn't need to walk me to my car, but he wanted to, which told me he probably wanted exactly what I wanted. I watched as he rounded the front of the car and walked to my door to open it.
