One Night In Amsterdam (20 page)

A normal life... It felt unreal and unreachable. I forgot what was considered normal. I had been immersed in this crazy routine for so long that I forgot what it meant to have breakfast in the morning, dinner in the evening or eight hours of sleep at night. My meals either came out of a vending machine or I skipped the meal totally, settling for a granola bar when my stomach started churning.  I missed having long, girly talks with Sydney, indulging in Sunday breakfasts at Aunt Helen’s house, morning jogs in the park, watching silly chick-flicks with Amy at her dorm room… all distant memories.  However, of all the things I missed, there was one that affected me more than anything else. Dylan.  Since I had avoided having a relationship for years, this feeling, needing to have that certain person in your life, was all new to me. I couldn’t explain the void in me when I wasn’t with him.  It felt like I needed Dylan more than I needed food.

I spent every bit of my free time with him: fifteen minute coffee breaks, half hour dinners, but it wasn’t enough. I missed being in his arms, kissing him, savoring the taste of his lips. I wanted to be with him all the time, I just didn’t know how. It wasn’t easy to fit Dylan into my hectic life.

I was thinking about him again, wondering if I could see him today as Amy and I headed to the lavatory to clean up.  I was about to leave the lab when my phone vibrated. Dylan’s handsome face with a short, puzzling message blinked on the screen: “I made a great plan for us today and you are not allowed to say no.”

Under Amy’s curious eyes, I picked up my phone and called him. “Hi Dylan, what’s up? What is this great plan of yours that I can’t say no to?”

“Why don’t you meet me outside and I’ll tell you all about it?”

“What? You are here? I thought you had a board meeting today.”

“I have better and far more important things to do than sit in meetings all day. I asked Max to attend on my behalf. It’s time he moved his lazy ass and did something for the company.”

“And you trust him…”

“No, not really, but Rose Donnelly will be in the meeting too. She won’t let him screw up too much.”

“Okay.” I chuckled. “I’ll be out in a minute. You can tell me all about these better and important things that you’ve planned for the day.”

I got out of the old brick building and suddenly my eyes were dazzled by bright sun light. It was a beautiful sunny day in New York in the middle of a cold, chilly winter. After ten straight days of rain, it felt great to feel the warm and caressing rays of sun on my face. I saw Dylan waiting for me by the stairs, swirling an unlit cigarette between his thumb and index finger. He had this most charming smile on his face that made my heart skip a beat.

“I thought you quit smoking.” I said as I approached him slowly, carrying my backpack on my shoulder. “Please tell me you are not going to light that.”

“No, I won’t.” He replied, taking my backpack from my shoulder as he always did whenever he met me at the campus. “But, holding it in my hand and having the absolute willpower not to light it makes me feel stronger.”

I shook my head and grinned. “Okay Mr. Strong Willpower, what do you have in mind that I am not allowed to say no to?” I wrapped my arm around his neck and looked deeply into his intense, mesmerizing eyes.

“Well, Dr. Collins. I know for a fact that you don’t have any other lab or clinic today. You have already written four chapters of your dissertation and you have been working in the lab for three straight days, even on Valentine’s Day…”

“Good detective work, but you know how sorry I was for not being with you on Valentine’s Day…”

“You preferred a date with cadaver rather than with me …” He scowled.

“Dylan! Please… you know I had to be in the lab that day.”

“I know, I know.” He raised his hand and smiled.  “That’s why I am calling today your ‘off day’, and kidnapping you.”

“Kidnapping…” I chuckled and put a chaste kiss on his lips. “Don’t you think it is a bit too much?”

“No, it is not, and this…” He peered down and pointed to my phone in the front pocket of my backpack. “Needs to be off all day. In case of emergency, your close friends and family have my phone number. They know how to reach you.”

“Oh, God. You really thought this through and planned everything, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.” He replied resolutely, and then swiftly powered off my phone and put it in my back pack.

“Alright! I see...” I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes. “Now, can you at least tell me what we are going to do the rest of the day?”

“That… my darling. I won’t tell you.” He clasped my fingers and started walking. “You gotta wait and see it for yourself. Now… let’s go!” He demanded and pulled me to the sidewalk where I saw his black limo. Jeff was waiting by the door in his well-tailored black suit.

“Take us to our next spot, Jeff!” He told him without telling where we were going, but obviously Jeff knew. He nodded courteously and started driving.

“You are serious!” I uttered. “You’re not going to tell.”

He lifted his brows and shook his head. “Nope…” He replied. He smiled mischievously as he slid his fingers up and down my arm softly.

Ten minutes later, Jeff stopped at the corner of 59th Street and 6th Avenue, at the south entrance of Central Park where all horse and carriage rides were waiting.

“We’re here.” He said and helped me get out of the car.  “Our carriage is the red and white one. We can hop on it anytime…”

“You are kidding right. We live in New York, Dylan. Horse and carriage rides are for tourists.”

“Have you ever been on one?” He asked as a matter-of-factly.

“No. But…”

“Me neither.” He replied, furrowing his brows. Not allowing me to object any further, he tugged my hand gently to cross the street. “I’ve been living in this city for thirty years and I’ve seen people on carriage rides every day, but I’ve never wanted to do it until…” He faltered and I sensed a bit hesitation in his voice.

“Until?”

“Until you. You came into my life and I want to do it all…all the silly, cliché romantic stuff, starting with a carriage ride. Now, shall we?” He said and added a wink.

I nodded, smiling widely and noticed the big black tote on his other arm. A bottle of wine and two wine glasses were visible. “Alright. Let’s do it.” I finally acceded.

We got in the carriage and Dylan told our well-dressed, young driver to move. With Dylan’s command, he pulled the reigns and our horse started to trot.

Like many other New Yorkers, I loved Central Park. It was our heaven amidst the crazy city. I always enjoyed the picturesque views and the serene atmosphere it provided during any season, however, wandering through Central Park in a carriage as I sat next to Dylan, cuddled under a soft blanket and sipping a delicious red wine was something else. It was an utterly rapturous experience. Each time Dylan turned towards me and smiled warmly, my heart throbbed like crazy.  His hand wrapped over mine, his eyes lingered on my lips, but he didn’t pull me to himself to kiss. Instead he wetted his lips with his tongue slowly and waited. The wonderful taste of his lips was so close but also so far at the same time. He was building the tension between us on purpose. It felt like a game of willpower to show who was more stubborn and strong. Who was going to break first and kiss the other?

And of course, I was the loser. I couldn’t hold myself back any longer when he was touching me softly and gazing deeply into my eyes. I leaned in and kissed him fiercely. It was a kiss that showed how much I missed him.  A kiss to show …how I wanted him, how I was empty without him, and how much I loved him.

I broke away when our carriage stopped. “Well, this was nice.” I admitted shyly.

“I knew you’d like it.” He replied in a bit priggish tone.

“So what is next? “ I asked impatiently.

He tucked his hands into his pocket and grinned. Once we were back in the limo, he pulled out two ice skates from the bag stashed under the seat. “We are going to the Rink at Rockefeller Center.” He said smugly.

“Oh, no…I can’t Dylan.” I immediately rejected. “I don’t know how to skate and I don’t want to fall and break a bone.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall.” He assured. “I’ll teach you how to skate and I bet you’ll start skating without my help before we leave the ring today.”

In less than ten minutes, we were by the Rink and Dylan was on his knees tying up my laces. “Now, let’s hit the ice.” He exclaimed happily. He held my hand and helped me get into the ring.

“Don’t let me go.” I begged him, hugging the wall almost instantly.

“Don’t worry. I promise you will have fun! Now let’s start with feeling your blades. Hold on to the wall and slide one leg back and forth.” He said.

“Okay.” I uttered and did as he told.

“Now, turn around and feel the opposite leg. See… You are doing great. Next thing you need to learn is to swizzle.”

“Swizzle? What do you mean ‘swizzle’?”

“Feel the edge of your blade. Using your inner thighs, push your skates apart and glide back together in. Like this.”

I tried to copy him, however not a moment too soon, my butt was on the ice. “It is easy to tell, not so easy to do.” I scolded him.

“Come on. Don’t be discouraged. Falling is part of learning. Even the professional skaters fall down.” He cheered me up without any teasing. “You just need to learn how to get up. Put one knee up front and transfer your weight over while you bring the other.” He explained and did it himself first, then waited for me to copy him. “You did it Emma. You are a natural. I also want to show you how you stop and after that, let’s start going around the ring.” He said excitedly.

Surprisingly, I stayed on the ring for close to an hour with him. My first fifteen minutes on ice were horrible. I fell so many times and also made Dylan fall with me, but he didn’t complain. Instead, each time I fell down, he encouraged me to get up and try some more. Slowly, I started to pick up the basics and soon started to skate without holding his hand. I even managed to stay on the ice without falling for twenty minutes. Just like he thought, I was having fun. I wished I was good enough to go fast and chase him around the ring.

My feet and legs got extremely tired at the end of the hour. Dylan, sensing my exhaustion, helped me get off the ice. Once I found a bench overlooking the ring and sat down, I asked him to skate a bit more without me and show me some of his moves. Lucky me… he did.

Dylan looked gorgeous no matter what he did but on ice, skating fast, turning the corners as if he was a hockey player, he was more charming and attractive than ever.

“How did you learn to skate like this?” I asked when he came out and changed into his shoes.

“My uncle, my mother’s younger brother Dean, was a hockey player. He taught me how to skate when I was little.”

“I am glad he did. It is so much fun to watch you on ice. Why didn’t you skate professionally and become a hockey player like your uncle?”

He glared at me with his you-know-the-reason look.

“Your father didn’t let you...” I mumbled, but Dylan only shrugged.

“I am hungry.” He commented and skillfully changed the subject. “Let’s go, eat something. I know a great place a few blocks away.”

“I am so tired Dylan. I don’t think I have any more energy to walk or dine outside.”

“I’ve got a better idea then.” He grinned and pulled his phone out of his jacket. “Pick us up in front of the plaza in fifteen minutes.”  He ordered. I assumed it was Jeff on the phone. He turned towards me and held my waist. “Jeff is just a block away, he should be here soon,” he explained quickly. Together we walked to the sidewalk. He clasped my hands and rubbed them to make them warmer. We were waiting for Jeff to arrive when Dylan pointed to a street vendor across to street, selling chestnuts.

“Do you want some?” He asked. His eyes were sparkling like a child offered a candy.

“Sure!” I nodded.

He rushed across the street and came back with two brown bags filled with roasted chestnuts. “My favorite street food.” He declared, then opened one chestnut up, peeled the shell deftly with his fingers and placed it between my lips.

“Mine too. I agreed, savoring the sweet taste of warm chestnut melting in my mouth. We sat on a bench on the busy side walk, watched New Yorkers passing by and almost ate both bags as we waited for Jeff.

When Jeff pulled up to the sidewalk, “Will you please tell me where we are going this time?” I asked with beseeching eyes.

“Alright!” He agreed, surprisingly without arguing. “Dinner and a movie at my place. We can order Chinese, Thai, Lebanese… or good old pizza. You get to pick.” He said, gazing into my eyes, waiting nervously for my response.

“Sounds good.” I replied, curious to see where he lived, and what his place looked like. He had impeccable taste for everything and I wondered if his apartment was as elegant and tasteful as his office was.

We arrived at the luxurious building on 5th and 77th in less than five minutes. The apartment doorman rushed to our limo to open our door immediately. With one hand on his back, the other extended to help me get out of the limo, he welcomed us courteously. Then, he asked if we needed his help with anything while we waited for the elevator. “Thanks Russell, nothing for now.” Dylan declined him curtly. “I am going to order some take-out. Bring it upstairs when it arrives.” He ordered in a solemn voice.

“Of course, sir.” He replied. His voice cracked a bit. “I will bring it right up.”

I knew Dylan was influential and powerful but it still surprised me to see how people seemed to be always on the edge around him; scared to say or do something wrong. Dylan with me and Dylan around other people were completely different and I was very much perplexed about a lot of things concerning him. He was kind and amiable but I had seen his brutal and rough side more than a few times. I couldn’t ignore his infamous reputation either. It followed me everywhere. I got constant warnings about my relationship with Dylan, from Amy, the head nurse and Rosie, at the hospital. They all told me to be careful. However, I didn’t know how to be careful with him. He was the most instantaneous, adventurous person I’d ever met. He was talented… he could draw a picture of me in less than thirty minutes. Sophisticated…he talked about art, literature or opera as if it was an everyday subject. Smart…he was a successful CEO but also a romantic… His charming smile was enough to befuddle me, I was dazed and felt at a loss in the depth of his blue eyes. I loved him but at the same time, this feeling burned me from the inside, it scared the hell out of me.