Chapter 4

I faced another dilemma I knew nothing about the Southampton's and were the so called hot spots were. I pulled out my lap top and googled what to do in the Southampton's. A long list of state parks, and shopping venues appeared on my computer screen; I decided to go with the most platonic a wildlife reserve that was located on Shelter Island Heights. I figured that searching for beautiful animals would be a huge distraction from Eric and maybe I could keep my sanity. I heard a knock on the door and I opened it to find a man wearing an all black suit.

"Miss. Stackhouse, Mr. Northman asked me to give this to you." He handed me a cream colored envelope with my name scribbled on the top of it.

Sookie,

Please meet me down stairs at two o'clock so we can begin our day together. Sincerely,

Eric Northman

P.S. I would wear something casual, and easy to take off.

I thought I was supposed to be planning the day not the other way around. I needed to calm down this wasn't a date or anything. I was basically acting as his assistant for the day. I gulped as I read the last part again, there would be no taking off anything around him. He might have girls falling all over him, but there would be none of that arrogant bologna with me. I quickly changed into a modest pair of blue jean shorts and a teal t-shirt. For now I had to put my problems with Bill aside, and just get this thing with Eric over with. I took my golden hair out of the tight bun and let it fall loosely down my shoulders, I figured now I was ready for just about anything that we were doing today. I looked down at the clock to see it was almost two o' clock, so I headed down the hallway once again to the foyer to meet Eric. When I got there he was already waiting there for me wearing a pair of white boat shorts and a navy blue v- neck t-shirt that revealing the enchanting muscles that I had left me so fascinated the day before.

"Ah there you are Sookie; you look as beautiful as ever." He said giving me a dashing smile.

"You know this is not a date right?" I said instinctively putting up my wall trying to let him know that I wasn't happy about his little trick.

"Tomato, tomahto Miss. Stackhouse call it whatever you want but you are mine for the day." He said unconcerned of my resolve.

"So I guess that you already have something planned for us?" Wondering what he could be up to.

"I thought that since you love the sea so much maybe we could take my boat out, and go deep sea fishing." He said putting on a black pair of ray bans. I would never let him know, but that actually sounded like a lot of fun. I had always liked the outdoors back home in Indiana, but I had never had the chance to go deep sea fishing. He led me outside where a huge black shiny limo awaited us taking up half of the circle drive. I climbed inside trying to make sure to sit as far away from him as possible. It didn't work though; he managed to almost sit right on top of me. I scooted away from him again, and he seemed to get the message because he stayed where he was at.

"I really do want you to try to have fun today." He said looking at me with concern in his eyes.

"Eric, it's hard for me to have fun when I feel like you're using me against Bill. I mean do you even like me?" I said completely at my breaking point.

"I like you very much, and today has nothing to do with Bill. Yes, at first I wanted to warn you about Bill but there is just something about you that I can't seem to stop thinking about you." I tried to digest everything that he said, and for some reason the thought of him thinking about me gave me butterflies. I just couldn't do this right now. I wasn't completely sure were my relationship with Bill was at right now. He had obviously lied to me last night when he said there was nothing going on with Lorena. I really was getting sick of making excuse for him, but until I knew where we were at I was not going to tell Eric nothing about our problems.

"I am with Bill, whether you like him or not. Maybe you should take me back?"

"No, I am sure that we can just manage to be friends for the day. I mean it's not like you have anything else to do at Sophie Anne's but sit around and wait for Bill." He said pleadingly, and I had to be honest with myself I didn't want to sit in that room all day with all of his stuff waiting for him to come back.

"Ok, but we are just friends for the day….nothing more." I said reluctantly as he nodded giving me a brilliant smile.

"As you wish, Miss. Stackhouse." He said playfully as he leaned back against the black leather seat looking incredibly sexy. If we were going to be friends, I had to stop my mind from drawing conclusions like that. Plus what did I really know about him?

"So tell me about yourself Sookie, because that is defiantly not a New York City accent I hear?" He said almost reading my mind about not knowing anything about me. I thought as he leaned over staring at me with an interested look.

"Well, there isn't a lot to tell. I was born and raised in a small town called Champagne Indiana, by two loving parents. After I graduated I got accepted Indiana state university, where I completed degree marketing and came here to the city of lights. I have always loved New York City from afar from movies and pictures. I feel it's where life happens. It was my dream place to live, and when I got the job with R.I.C everything just came together." I said basically wrapping up my life story in a minute I was probably the least interesting person in New York City.

"You are so fascinating to me Sookie, unlike anyone one I have ever met." He said as he gazed at me as if what I had just said was the most interesting thing he had ever heard.

"How is that? I think I am pretty boring?" I looked at him perplexed, unsure of what he meant.

"You are far from boring." He said almost offended by my comment, then grabbed my hand wrapping his fingers around mine and with a meaningful expression continued. "You are extremely beautiful, kind, intelligent and genuine a very rare mixture of traits in a woman now a days." I couldn't help be affected by his words they were so moving after the day I had with Bill so far. I felt a tear slip from the corner of my eye, and Eric caught it with the tip of his index finger. Suddenly I could not contain the sorrow that I had held in for the last two days, I began to sob uncontrollably. Thoughts of seeing Bill and Lorena flashed before my eyes, and then my mind played wild tricks on me thinking of what they might be doing now. Eric pulled me to him holding me in his lap, wrapping his strong arms around me and rocking me slightly.

"Sookie I don't know what that bastard has done now; but I will kill him?" Eric thundered loudly, for some reason his threats made me feel better. I didn't want him to really hurt Bill, but just the fact that someone had my back helped the hurt a little. He held me for what seemed like forever, until I was finally able to contain my tears as I noticed the limo coming to a slow stop.

"Sookie, we are here if you want we can go somewhere else and talk?" Eric said lifting my face to his. I was so embarrassed that I had just cried all over practically a stranger that I almost couldn't face him.

"No, actually I would like the distraction. I am sorry for crying all over you like that, I have never done that with anyone before." I said softly hoping that I hadn't ruined the day for the both of us with all my melodramatics.

"Sookie, I am honored to share your tears, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I just hate that someone hurt you enough to make you cry like that." He said tucking a lose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I know that you dislike Bill, and to be honest Bill and I are not on the best of terms right now either. I hate to ask this, but could we just not say anything else about him today? There is some issues we need to work out that are personal between me and him, and right now I just want to forget the whole mess." I said just wanting to have a nice relaxing day and worry about the rest later. Eric was obviously a nice guy, that in spite of what Bill said I might call him a friend one day. I mean he couldn't be that bad if he had held me while I cried.

"Trust me Sookie, there is nothing I would like more than for you to forget Bill Compton." Eric said with an underlying tone of sarcasm. I couldn't help but giggle a little it was almost like we had come full circle once again. He was once again back to cocky, sarcastic Eric that I actually found kind of charming in a weird sort of way.

"I am glad I can make you laugh Sookie, especially when I was not trying to be funny at all." He said frowning only making me laugh harder.

"What's so funny? Is there a joke that I am not getting?" He asked his lips now perking up into a half smile.

"Nothing really, sometimes I just find your sarcasm funny that's all. It's almost like there is a double meaning to everything you say." I said finally managing to control my laughter.

"That's because most of the time everything I say has a double meaning." He stared at me for a long moment with an amused expression.

Our conversation was broken by a loud knock on the window of the Limo.

"Sir, the boat is ready for boarding." The same darkly dressed man from earlier said as he held the door for us to exit. I was stunned as I stared at the huge magnificent yacht before me, why had I thought that Eric would bring me to a simple fishing boat? The Yacht was a sparkling white with dark tinted windows, dark mahogany covered the deck.

"This is extremely beautiful Eric." I said astounded by the beauty that I saw all around, everything was so finally crafted. Especially the wood work was marvelous like nothing I have seen before. The cabinets were beautifully molded from what I thought was oak, and then there was a small coffee table that looked even more skillfully made.

"Who did the wood work it is quite extraordinary?" I said unable to take my eyes off it. My dad had dabbled in carpentry for a couple of months before he had found a new project. I had always been fascinated by being able to make something out of nothing.

"I did all the wood work you see, carpentry is somewhat of a hobby of mine." He beamed back at me obviously proud of his work. My thoughts flashed to a shirtless muscular Eric chopping away at a log. The strong muscles of his biceps clinching, and unclenching as he swung a heavy ax. I felt my body grow very hot and I hated my minds constant betrayal of thinking of the different ways that I could touch him.

"Are you hungry, I asked the staff to prepare a small brunch for us?" He asked taking notice of my distant expression. I was hungry for something, but defiantly not food.

"That would be lovely, do you mind if I use your restroom?" I said having to get away from him for a moment.

"The restroom is at the end of the hall on the right." He said pointing down the small hall next to the kitchen. Once inside the tiny bathroom I leaned against the door, trying to gather my thoughts. I had to get my mind out of the gutter, because I was defiantly not that kind of girl that would sleep with someone they just met. I looked in the mirror checking my makeup, and I noticed that I was incredibly flushed. I wetted a small towel dabbing it across my face, trying to cool my skin. Once I had my flushing under control I made my way back out to what I guessed was the main deck.

There in the brief time that I been gone was a small table covered in a white table cloth that was filled with almost every savory breakfast food you could imagine. There were muffins with different kinds of berry fillings, eggs, bacon, sausage, and fresh oranges. Eric pulled my chair out for me, and then scooted me under the table. I would have never guessed that after my encounter with him yesterday that he could be such a gentlemen.

"This all looks so good I don't know where to start?" I said pulling a muffin onto my plate then some eggs and bacon. I caught sight of Eric from the corner of my eye filling his plate of one of everything from the table.

"How are you going to eat all that?" I said amazed at the quantity of food he was taking in. He just rolled his eyes as he dramatically shoved a big bite into his mouth and moaned.

"Did anybody ever tell you that you eat like a Viking?" I said laughing as he comically continued to shove the food inside his mouth.

"I 'am a growing boy Sookie, I need to be healthy to maintain stamina…for the day." He said winking at me once again. I blushed, knowing that this was one of the times when he had used a double meaning.

***This is the first half of Eric and Sookie's day together thought I would go ahead and post it, because I am really excited for everyone to read it. I have a lot planned for these two and some twists along the way that will explain everything later. I hope everyone is enjoying, and thanks for reading.