CHAPTER 6: MIKE, PLEASE PLAY NICE

If I had a weak heart, I would be dead. I could die of fright and no one would know why, except for the tall, built, handsome, oh so sexy man standing in front of me.

While on our date, I didn't get the chance to appreciate how good-looking he truly was.

He wore a Navy-blue T-shirt that hugged his strong, toned torso, his charcoal-coloured jeans pants covered his long-toned legs that could run a hundred marathons without buckling and caving in underneath him. His outfit was completed with sneakers that matched the colour of his jeans.

I could see the ink that covered his right arm. It was from his wrist leading up to the length of his arm and disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt.

I could make out some of the images. I saw a rose with a name scribbled on the stem, Jesus Christ with his hands clasped, and some teardrops flowing from his eyes. I never thought about tattoos being sexy, but looking at his, I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

My eyes lingered on his arms, appreciating how muscular and toned they looked. His hands looked as if they could crush you if they wanted to. He was fit, and it showed. I then turned my attention to his face. He had a little stubble along his firm jaws, his lips were plump and pink. Those cobalt blue eyes raked up my body then stared into my soul, jolting me to realize what I was wearing.

“Whoa, is everything alright Dionnah?” Jonathan asked while looking at the broken glass on the floor.

“Yes, yes. It just slipped because my hand was wet,” I said while reaching for a paper towel to dry my hands, which were now feeling a little clammy. I stepped forward, trying to ignore the awkwardness, and held my hand out. “Hi, I'm Dionnah. It's nice to finally meet you,” I declared, feeling nervous.

“Nice to meet you too, Dionnah, and please call me Mike,” he smirked while shaking my hand. There it goes again, that feeling that jolted my body and shook my core. It felt like I was being hit with a small lightning bolt in the most exquisite way. My heart rate increased, and I became hot. What the hell is this? I thought as I withdrew my hand from his. I hope he kept our first encounter to himself. I didn't want to explain anything to anyone, especially Dani. “So, what's the plan for this evening?” Michael asked, breaking my thoughts.

“Well, nothing really," answered Dani.

“We thought you would be tired, so we expected you to stay home and relax.”

“That's considerate of you Danielle, but I got enough rest for the past couple of days.”Michael's teeth were glistening pearls when he smiled.

“Oh, right,” spoke Jon. “I forgot about the whole decompression thing.”

“What's that?” I inquired.

“Whenever we come back from a long mission, they place us in isolation before coming back to the civilian population. It may be for a month, week, or a couple of days. I did it for a week,” Answered Mike while looking at me.

There was just something about his eyes on me that made me uneasy. “Oh, OK. Well, I'm going to clean up this broken glass, then go wash up and get ready for dinner,” I stated.

“We'll go and show Mike his room,” said Dani.

After cleaning up the broken glass, I ran upstairs to change into something more comfortable. I donned a simple red top and black shorts. After getting dressed, I headed downstairs to get some food because my stomach was now growling.

Everyone was already down and seated at the table. The food smelled wonderful. It was mashed potatoes, fried and barbecue chicken, corn, and all the other fixings. I took the seat beside my sister, while Jon sat beside Mike. I took a plate and started scooping some mashed potatoes on it.

I didn't fancy barbecue, so I chose the fried chicken instead. The food was delicious. I realized Mike picked the barbecue chicken instead of fried.

I didn't even realize we were facing each other until I felt his eyes on me.

I cleared my throat nervously.

“So, Michael, how was your ride here?” I asked, trying to avoid his eyes.

“It was quite nice. I appreciated the scenery. This place has some fascinating buildings.”

“Yeah, it does, ah.” I smiled.

“I can't wait to start working with Jonathan here,” he let out, patting Jon on his back.

“So you do architect work too?” I asked.

“He does more than that, Dee. He owns the company.” Jon answered before Mike could.

“Really? Dani told me you worked for a billion dollar company," I explained. I mean, Michael wore expensive clothes but not that expensive.

“Yes. My big brother here is worth a little over ten billion dollars," Jon smiled, squeezing Mike now on the shoulders. “But he doesn't like to brag about it. Most people in our company knows my face, whenever Mike goes at any of the branches, he works along with the regular workers, without letting them know he is the boss."

Michael seemed to be embarrassed as he kept his eyes on his plate while he chewed away at the food. “Is that so? That's quite the tale. I wonder what else there is to know about your brother Mike," I stated, biting into my food. Mike and my eyes met.

“There's plenty to know," he smirked, while we did a little stare off.

“Like what?" I pressed and my pussy trembled as I saw him effectively licking his fork.

“Like how my brother is an all-rounder." Jon's words saved me from drooling. “When he was in college, he did business management and building designs. He started the company from the ground up his first year in college with money he borrowed from the bank. He worked day and night for a year from our garage. By the 2nd year the company was worth 10 million, so Mike decided he wanted expand Mulroney's Constructions, so he opened another in Wistcoston. But I was shocked when he enlisted in the Navy days after graduating from college,” Jon finished.

“Jon, I told you it was something I had to do,” Mike countered.

“I know, I know,” Jon gave out. “I'm just glad you did and figured out what you wanted.”

“Yeah,” Mike smiled.

“I'm just glad we finally met, and you get to take part in our wedding,” Dani beamed, causing me to smile. My sister was truly happy, and that made me happy.

“I'm thrilled to be home,” Mike added.

“So we can start getting everything done because two months after the wedding, we have a huge fashion show,” Dani mentioned.

“Yea, and we need to go pick out a Tux,” said Jon.

Since Mike was the best man, that meant we both would walk together since I was the maid of honour. My mind strayed and started to imagine Mike in a Tux. He would look so suave and debonair. I smiled at the imaginary sight.

“What's so funny?” Mike asked, while looking at me.

“Nothing,” I answered, feeling flushed. Mike looked at me with a puzzled glare.

“Dee, remember we have auditions for the models on Monday,” Dani reminded me.

“I think it's about twenty girls and seven guys, but we'll only need fifteen girls and five guys for the show.”

“Yes, Amelia will assist us, so I'll be fun,” I stated, looking at Mike to see how he would react to the mention of Amelia's name. He didn't react at all.

In fact, he kept eating his chicken without a care in the world.

As he took a bite out of his chicken, a little sauce dripped from the side of his lip. I swallowed hard at how mesmerizing the sight was.

I stuck my tongue out as if the sauce were on my lip. What was I doing?

Dani noticed. “Mike, you have a little sauce on here,” Dani said, indicating to his lip.

I thought he would use a napkin to wipe the sauce away, but he shocked the hell out of me when he stuck his tongue out and licked his lip clean, all the while staring through my soul. My body jolted as the act sent another small volt of electricity through my core that settled in my stomach… Why am I feeling butterflies? I thought.

The rest of the dinner was casual. We chit-chatted about details of the wedding and the fashion show. Jonathan question Mike about his experience as a Navy SEAL and if he was going to miss it. Mike said he was going to miss some aspects of it, but not all. He didn't explain further, and Jon didn't push him.

After dinner was over, I volunteered to clean up. “I'll tidy up guys. You can go and shower.”

“I'll help you,” Michael insisted.

“No, no need, I'll be fine and besides, you are our guest,” I said with a smile.

“I'm not a guest. I practically will be living here until I settle the deal on a property nearby. Might as well get used to it,” he smirked.

“What?" I looked to Dani.

“We were gonna tell you, but there was never a right time," Dani sighed. “Mike will be here for maybe 3 months until he close the deal on the mansion over by Derby Lane."

That was the most expensive neighbourhood in town. I was in love with a house that sat on an enormous property. There was a stable and a small guest house in the back yard with purple shutters that would be great for a studio, if I had a hundred million dollars, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Then there was an old vineyard in the far back of the land. It was just a beautiful property. “Really, which property is that?"

“It's the one with the old vineyard in the back," Mike declared and I almost blew a fuse. Our eyes connected again. “I am a wine collector, one of my many hobbies. But I figured I would want to try my hand at a winery before I die," he chuckled.

“How ambitious," I said dryly. “It's a beautiful property."

“Dee loves that place, she would stop by now and again and fantasize about living in the house with lots of kids playing in the yard while her husband work in the vineyard and she works on her fashion designs in the guest house." Dani blew my secret. “Plus it's right across from our house, so you can stop by and admire it anytime. I'm sure Mike won't mind showing you around there sometime."

I love my sister, but sometimes she blurts things out without thinking. I couldn't wait for their house to finish building so they can leave mine and I can have my place to myself for once. Dani and I bought this place a few years ago, so now I'm paying her for her half so I will be the sole owner and she can go live with her husband in their place. “Dani, hush it," I warned.

“What? I'm sorry, I'm just trying to – you know what just let Mike help you," She rolled her eyes.

“OK, fine. Grab a rubbish bag from that drawer,” I said to Mike, while I pointed to the cabinet.

“Dee, we'll be upstairs. I'm in dire need of a shower,” declared Dani.

“OK, and Dani, I might go out in an hour with Amelia. She invited me to a club,” I told Dani.

“Really? Maybe you should take Mike with you and show him a good time.”

“I'm sure Mike would rather stay home and watch a movie or something,” I rolled my eyes.

“On the contrary, the club sounds fun. I'd love to go, unless your boyfriend would have a problem with you going to the club with another guy,” he remarked. Real smooth, I scoffed.

“Dee doesn't have a boyfriend,” Dani said before exiting.

“Really, I did not know that," he kept his eyes on me.

“Mike, please play nice," Jon smirked at his brother before he went upstairs as well.

I remained quiet as Mike and I continued cleaning. I loaded the dishwasher, standing beside it with my innards trembling at the close proximity of me and this man. He was just staring at me with his intense blue eyes, mischief dancing behind them.

I sucked in a breath, my eyes trailed down from his face to his crotch. I almost fainted when I saw the bulge in his pants, so I said an internal prayer, Lord please protect me from temptation, and give me the strength and power to resist this sinful man that I was now picturing eating me out on the table that we just dined.

Amen!