Free Forever You by Sandi Lynn

away. We sat down
    and had dinner. I took the liberty of ordering Ellery the Filet since she needed to put some meat on her
    bones. I’m not sure if she appreciated that, but she did impress me by eating the whole piece. After
    dinner was over and we listened to a few speeches, Ellery excused herself to the restroom.
    I got up and headed to the bar to get Ellery another glass of wine and another scotch for myself. I
    walked back to the table and was surprised when she wasn’t back yet. I set the drinks on the table and
    walked to the restrooms. I leaned up against the wall opposite the ladies restroom and folded my
    arms. I was tempted to open the door and make sure she was in there. The thought of her being in
    trouble or just leaving because she was bored entered my mind. Suddenly, the door opened and Ellery
    looked startled when she saw me standing there.
    “Uh, hi? Why are you standing there like that?”
    “Because you’ve been gone for quite a while, and I was checking to make sure you’re ok. I was
    giving you five more seconds before I was opening the door and coming in after you.”
    “Wow, stalker much?” she said as she walked away.
    “For the last time, I’m not a stalker; I was concerned for your safety,” I sighed.
    I saw her lightly smile. Damn that smile. I have no idea what the hell is going on with me. I want to
    touch her, and I want to feel her bare skin against mine. Shit, this is not good. Maybe I made a mistake
    by bringing her here. Am I leading her on? We’re just friends, and I hope she understands that. I
    wanted to beat my head against a wall and knock some sense into it. I took in a deep breath. Ellery sat
    down and sipped her wine. I needed to speak with a friend of mine, so I told her I’d be right back. I
    walked a few feet away and talked to Paul about the company I was trying to acquire. My eyes kept
    wandering to her as she sat there and looked so beautiful. I watched her lips wrap around the edge of
    the wine glass with each sip she took as they left an imprint of her lipstick. Paul noticed me staring at
    Ellery.
    “Connor, you seem distracted,” he said as he turned around and looked Ellery’s way.
    “Sorry, Paul, I’m listening, please continue.”
    “I would be pleasantly distracted if I had that beautiful woman in my sights,” he smiled.
    “You know what, Paul? Let’s just continue this tomorrow. I have a meeting at 10 o’clock, but
    please call Valerie and have her set something up,” I said.
    He patted me on the back and walked away. I saw Ashlyn from across the room, eyeing Ellery. It
    was time that I got her out of here. I walked over to the table and lightly put my hand on her shoulder.
    “Are you ready to leave?” I asked.
    “I am if you are,” she replied.
    What I didn’t tell her was that I wasn’t coming with her to take her home. I needed to stay back and
    have a talk with Ashlyn. I also had to rethink this situation with Ellery. My head has been fucked up
    ever since I saw her, and I need to put an end to it. She deserves better than me as I’m not the man she
    thinks I am. I will hurt her eventually or she’ll hurt me, and that’s something I’m not in the market for.
    We walked out to where Denny was waiting for us, and I opened the door for Ellery.
    “I’m going to have Denny take you home; I have something that I need to wrap up here,” I said as I
    took her hand and lightly kissed it. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I hope you had a good
    time.”
    She looked at me with her ice blue eyes, and I could see the disappointment in them. “I had a
    wonderful time, Connor. Thank you for inviting me.”
    She was hurt that I didn’t accompany her, and for the first time, my heart ached putting her in that
    limo by herself. I hated this feeling, and I’m stopping it. I have no choice. It needs to be done. I
    walked back into the hotel to find Ashlyn and talk to her, but she was nowhere to be found. I sat at the
    bar in the hotel