Beautiful Fall Day - Part Two

Here is the continuation of last week's story.  Click if you want to read from the beginning.

He surprised her because when she first met him she never guessed how much she would enjoy his company.  He was witty and smart and kept her laughing most of the afternoon.

On the other side, Blake loved her sass and sarcasm.  She was brave, outspoken, optimistic and unrepentant.  Words and thoughts flowed our of her unfiltered, and some of her barbs hit home.  For reasons he didn’t understand, most of the time he was amused but there were one or two remarks where he wanted to curb her tongue.  ‘Too soon to rein her in, all in good time,’ he said to himself.   

He looked at his watch and said he hated to leave, but he had another engagement but asked if she would like to join him for a brunch on Sunday.

“I’ll need your address.”

“Yes, that would be a good idea wouldn’t it.”  She gave him the address, and he told her he’d pick her up at 11:00.  He walked her to the car, and she was closing the door to leave when he told her to wear a dress.  She smiled and nodded. 

When she was pulling out of the lot, it registered what he told her.  ‘How dare he tell me what to wear?  I know how to dress appropriately.  I’ll wear what I damn well want.’   He seemed a little too stiff and formal at times, but she enjoyed his company and was willing to overlook his bossiness as long as it didn't go too far. He had a very authoritative demeanor, but she figured it was a result of always being in charge in the business world.  She recognized the need for that sort of behavior, but he was not going to treat her like one of his employees. She knew just what she would wear for brunch and it sure as hell wouldn’t be a dress.

Amber was ready when Blake arrived. She opened the door dressed in a flowing silk pant outfit.  He wore an expression of disdain and it was very clear her outfit didn’t meet his expectations.

                        

“I thought I told you to wear a dress.”

“Did you, I don’t remember.”

“I did.”

“Sorry, I guess this will have to do.  Do you usually dictate your dates dress code?”

Giving a small laugh, he shook his head no.  “I have to stop by to a baptism ceremony before brunch and I thought you might be more comfortable wearing a dress to the  church.”

“Oh,” was all she could manage to say.  He watched her reaction and knew she heard him ask her to wear a dress and was regretting her decision to be obstinate.  His request probably hadn’t registered right away because he was sure she would have made a sarcastic remark. He didn’t think she had a submissive bone in her body, and he was looking forward to the challenge.  He couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she realized they weren’t going to a baptism after all.

“I’ll go change.”

“There isn’t time.  Let’s go.  Maybe next time,  you’ll mind what I say.” He knew she was embarrassed because she didn’t react to his statement.  He started to smile.

‘Why are you smiling?” 

“You’ll see,” He told her. ‘The moment of truth will be coming soon when I pull up to the restaurant.’

He took a route that took them past several churches.  He would slow the car at every one and each time she would react.   He was enjoying himself.  When he finally pulled up to the restaurant, he watched her manner change from uneasiness to fuming.  He could literally see the steam building up inside and knew the explosion (okay maybe not an explosion but certainly a barrage of expletives) would be arriving any moment.  He continued to look straight ahead because he knew if he chanced a look at her he would start to laugh, and he wanted to get out of the car first. He pulled to the valet station knowing she would maintain until they were out of earshot of others.

“You bastard, you played me.”   He grinned but didn’t dare laugh out loud the way he wanted. 

“Yes, I did.  It was fun.”

“I thought you didn’t play games.”

“Everybody plays games, but I keep my commitments.  Standing someone up is rude, not a game.”

“So, what kind of game was this?”

“It was a sort of test.  You see I like a challenge and I also like being in control.  You didn’t disappoint.  I would have been shocked as hell if you had worn a dress.”

“Then why go through all this?”

“As we get further along, I will periodically test you and if you don’t obey, I get to punish your disobedience.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m a man who likes to have his way.”

“You can go screw yourself, Mr. Blake Carstairs.  I’m not ten years old.  I’m a grown woman, not a child that needs chastisement.”

“Oh, Ms. Wells,  you definitely need to be chastised.  There will come a time that you beg me to put you over my knee.”

“I hope you’re not holding your breath, Mr. Carstairs.”

“We’ll see.  Now are we going to go into brunch or shall I just take you home?” he asked, a grin on his face.  He knew she would choose brunch, he knew her well enough to know she also loved a challenge.  He knew he would win, but he didn’t like winning too easily.

Without answering, she walked into the restaurant.  He kept grinning.

They were seated at a table overlooking the harbor and handed menus.  Amber kept  it close to her face obscuring her face from Blake’s view.  Her mind was going a thousand miles an hour.  She couldn’t possibly let him know how turned on she was by his conversation.  This was going to be more fun than she ever expected.

“Amber, do you want to order off the menu or partake of the breakfast buffet?  It is one of the best in the city, if you’re interested.”

Amber continued to hold the menu in place.

“Amber, I’m speaking to you.”

“Yes, I hear you,” and said nothing more.  The waiter came by to see what they wanted to drink.  Amber held the menu away long enough to look at the waiter to order a bellini before she immediately put it back as if studying the menu.

A few more moments went by when she heard Blake ask her to put down the menu. She didn’t.

“Amber, you are acting extremely rude and childish.  If you don’t put down the menu and speak to me,  I can only assume that you want to be chastised.  I have no compunction about taking you over my knee right here.   You will be more embarrassed than I.  The reality is that most of the men in here right now would applaud my action.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“I think you know the answer to that.  It’s your choice, Ms. Wells.”

Amber put down the menu.  “You really are a bastard, you know.”

“No, I’m not.  I have two parents and a birth certificate to prove I’m not.”  He smiled at her and watched the fire blaze in her eyes.  At that moment he wasn’t sure if it was longing or loathing.

Blake and Amber will be back next monday for another chapter. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO MY CANADIAN FRIENDS. See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.