First legit date

I went to her house and asked her out. Meredith couldn’t believe I was at her doorstep. Nothing fancy, just straight to the point. I even saw her brother who was playing video games. And she was in her comfy clothes. Shirt and shorts but she's driving me insane. I contemplated about this move and here I am.

“Hey, why…how…?” She stammered.

“How I found your house?”

“Yes.”

I stare at her with a very pretentious pout. I only get a smile in response, and she brushes a single strand of her hair back off her face and I cannot control the lust that ignites the usual goosebumps and tingles, and I curse my wretched traitorous body. This woman knows how to draw me in.

“I know what I want, and I don’t like wasting time when it falls into place, Meredith. Go to dinner with me.”

“What about what I want?” She looks away from me, while I am caught up in that set of alluring emerald eyes that draw you in and hold you captive, aware my heart is stammering again. She easily affects me. Of that, I am sure.

“Trust me. If I didn’t care about what you want, this would go a whole different way. Just a date. I’m not talking about anything else. No sex, unless you want to.” I smile to ease the tension as her eyes grew wide at the mention of the word. I realize it’s her brother eavesdropping. “Just dinner, anywhere you choose. I want you to give me a chance, that’s all.”

She’s obviously torn in two about agreeing. “What if I say no?”

“You know if you refuse, I’ll follow you around.” I add with a devilish smile. She should know what she’s getting if she does that to me. “Not to mention my mother, she will be broken hearted.”

“What makes you think I care? I can ignore you.” Meredith teased, that little lip bite is killing me.

“Can you? I can be really invasive and persuasive.” Smirking like a smug deviant, but I’m not caving that easily, even if she is right. Meredith can ignore me all she wants. “You care about me, even if you can’t admit it.

Meredith’s POV:

This is it.

Conrad caving in!

He came up with the most unromantic of propositions. But what do I expect? It’s him, after all. It’s not like I could not snap back at him. I used one of Wynona’s foolproof flirting way----fanning the lashes while looking down and parting my lips as if I am confused but feisty.

“Is this how you get all the ladies? Newsflash, this isn’t how you get a date, Mister Knight. No flowers, no chocolates. You’ve lost your touch or you are just used to getting what you want that easy?”

He chuckles, damn, he is sexy. “I’m giving you the option. Date or stalker … it’s that simple.” He grins at his deviousness.

“Really, ha. Do I get the whole day to decide?” All I can do is exhale heavily, glance heavenwards for strength and accept the inevitable.

“You want me to kneel?”

Dixon turned to see what’s going on and why I am refusing to let the man in. I am not ready for that. I have a strict policy. Whoever gets to meet Dixon formally as my boyfriend will definitely be the last. Definitely not Conrad Knight. Over my dead body. I pulled him up while containing my laughter and inner triumph. The man will do what he says he would.

“Okay! You’re not funny, you know, even if you think you are.” I snap it at him, frustrated that he knows how to corner me and harass me into shit when I still feel all messy brained. I’m useless.

“Well…that’s a matter of opinion.”

“Let’s go over your prior statement. My choice of restaurant?”

“Yes!”

“Okay than. I have some place in mind. Not a restaurant or anywhere where you have fucked the manager or the owner.” I raise a brow at him sarcastically, looking for a little bad mood to wound that cocky attitude and this time, it pulls a heavy exhale from him. He’s not amused with the dig, but it’s not sparking a fight either. He looks slightly irritated.

“Understood.”

That surprises me a little, but I don’t dwell on it. I should remember how he is just a job and any feeling I harbor will mean nothing to me. Better have pre-emptive plans than nothing.

“I want to chill a little tonight and get my head back together, so make plans on those details.” If he expects me to cuddle up all smiles and charm and act like an amorous date, he has another thing coming.

If he wants to pursue me; then he can deal with whatever mood comes with him pushing me into it. I will also not be putting on a face, heels or a dress, and he can deal with a casually attired woman. I need simplicity tonight.

“So, where to?”

“I don’t know. I have never actually been on a real date in my life. Maybe something normal, like ordinary people do, and not flights to exotic places to hang out in billionaire nightclubs and boats.”

“Not once?”

“I am busy with him. So, no.” It was too late to take that statement back.

“So, no luxury, no sex buddies, flashing the cash and extravagant venues? Leave it with me. I need to go. I will pick you up at seven?” He leans in surprisingly fast and plants a chaste kiss on my cheek that startles me. I hate that he ignored all my veiled attempts at getting a rise out of him and threw them off with humor and nonchalance. No rising to my bait and showing his mean side.

He doesn’t wait around, though, and he’s off. Rushing out the door like a man on a mission, and I am left wondering how the hell he coerced me into spending time with him on a date, even while telling myself I needed time out.

Dixon didn’t say anything at all when I expected his smart mouth to do so. Hmm, first time.

6 PM came.

I’m not prettying myself up, wearing something sexy or doing anything to make him think he has earned anything from me. I want food, time out of my pretentious life, and then come home, ditch him and sleep. If he thinks anything beyond that is happening, he can find someone else to fuck. I won’t care.

Okay, that’s a lie. I will care.

I’m not playing stupid this time and gambling with my heart. I won’t allow myself to get to that point of desperation where I feel I have no other choice than to put his gun to my head. Figuratively.

“You okay?” Dixon’s voice startles me from behind, and I turn to meet his curious face.

“Just fine. Looking for clothes to wear.” I sigh.

“You sure you can trust him?” He asks me like he’s the older sibling.

I asked him to leave so I can dress in peace. I throw my third option on the bed and slump down in a deflated heap, annoyed with myself that I’m doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t do. Prettying myself up for him and stressing over how to dress and what to wear like some sad little teenage idiot on a first date. I can’t believe myself sometimes.

He texted me and told me to be ready for seven and dress casually. Ironic, really, as that was my original plan, to show a lack of effort, and now, here I am with a bed full of dresses, and he is the one telling me to dress down. Whatever that means.

I don’t know if he means casual, pretty for somewhere like his Italian restaurant, or jeans and sweater casual. I’m not asking him because he will think I’m keen for tonight and definitely not.

I need to be sure I’m not being played, once and for all. Tonight, will tell me that, it will make the decision a lot easier.

I pull on another figure-hugging dress and glance at my clock, cursing myself that it’s almost seven and he will show up at any minute. Picking a shirt and denim jeans, I re-brush my hair back into its sleek ponytail and turn it into a messy bun to look like I made zero effort. I’m going for the ‘I threw this on and forgot we had plans’ kind of look, finished with a dainty diamond earrings and matching necklace.

Not my regular ensemble on any given day, but this is not any typical day. And I won’t admit I have been fussing with my appearance for almost an hour, driving myself insane with nerves and indecision. I touch up my neutral makeup and apply a lip gloss to tie the look.

Dixon came in and told me that I look young, pretty girl, almost college student. Not sure I like the look, but it’s not screaming seduction of any sort, and I think at the back of my mind, that’s what I was aiming for in reality. I don’t look like I usually do, and part of me wants to see if it makes a difference to him.

“Your date is on time and funny, he is dressed as casual as you.” My brother teased.

“Shut up.”

I walk out of my room, adjusting my watch as he comes strolling in, right on time, looking unusually happy and bright and smiling my way. Dixon was right he has gone full-on casual, and I’m bitterly disappointed that he won’t blink twice at my attire.

“You look cute.” He smiles at me. "Are you ready?"

"Beats me, are you ready?"

"I am ready, Meredith. I was hoping you are." He teases me.

We will see. At the end of this very night, Conrad Knight will want to see more of me. I swear that I will use every ammunition that Wyn gave me. I will make her proud! Dixon saw us off, my little brother was grinning at me and I am sure he will never make me forget about this night.