“Actually, Hayley sent me the details of another agency date tonight.”
“You’re going out again?” She sounds understandably shocked. In my head it sounded like the best excuse to say but now I’m not so sure. What if Luci sees right through me and she goes mad? I was never cut out to be a liar! I definitely won’t be able to keep this up for very long. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, I figured that I’m on the dating horse now, so why not keep going?”
“Yeah, that’s good… I’m just a shocked, that’s all. I didn’t think you would take to dating like you have.”
“Well, like you said to me, I need to work out what I like and stuff. I’m good to keep going.”
“I miss you.” I can almost see her pouting out her bottom lip. “I want to know the mystery.”
“There is no mystery really, he’s just rich, that’s all,” I improvise. “That’s why he has to keep his identity all hidden, I guess he doesn’t want women going for him just because he has money.”
“Ooh, rich? Now I’m even more interested! You have to meet me tomorrow then.”
“I will, I will. And I’ll tell you all about this date as well.” I hope I’ll actually be able to tell her the truth. I’ll see how tonight goes first and work it out from there. “See you soon, Luci.”
I feel awful as we say our goodbyes, like I’ve really messed up. She is going to kill me when she learns the truth, and I don’t know if I can take it. I just wish that everything could be a lot easier. I wish that I could explain it to Luci in the way that Jace did to me and make her see why this is a good plan. To me, it feels like the best thing in the world, even through the slight hangover I’m glowing, content. It’s as if I didn’t move forward because I wasn’t ever supposed to. I was always destined to go backwards. To him.
There’s a knocking at my office door, shaking me back into the real world. I do need to focus as much as I can on work if I’m going to make it out on time. And I really want a bit of time to make myself look nice for Jace. I even have the perfect sultry red dress that I found in the back of my wardrobe. One that I haven’t worn for a very long time because I haven’t ever had a reason to. Not like I do now…
It’s going to be one hell of a night. I get a shiver just thinking about it. Where it might lead, what could happen? Will we have as much fun? Will we kiss again? Will anything else happen…?
“Come in!” I call out, immediately seeing that it’s Sandra. My intern who’s turning out to be an excellent journalist, all because I gave her a chance to shine. “Ah, hello. How can I help you, Sandra?”
“I just wanted to talk you about this story if you don’t mind. I have some suggestions.”
“Of course. Take a seat, I want to hear what you have to say.”
T his dress was a good idea. I was a little nervous back at home as I looked at it in the mirror. I wasn’t sure that it was right and I didn’t have Luci to give me her opinion, but now with the lustful look that Jace is giving me I feel like a princess, or a seductress, I don’t know but it feels amazing.
I’m not longer in work mode, and that’s where I’ve been for the last few years, so I feel amazing.
“So, you’ve been really busy today then, by the sound of it?”
Jace leans in real close across the table, his eyes devouring me as he does. I shudder, feeling a delicious thrill as I look into his wonderful brown eyes, a place where I could lose myself forever.
“It has been a busy day, yes, but then it always is. Luckily, I love it.”
“I can just imagine you being incredible too. Do you have to boss people around?”
I laugh, but the sound is thick through the sizzling chemistry between us. “Something like that.”
“Ooh, that’s awesome. That’s something I would love to see.”
I glance around the diner, feeling much more comfortable than I did at The Trattoria. I might be a bit too over dressed for this place but Jace doesn’t care which helps me to feel the same way. What does it matter how I look? I’m on a date, I’m having the best night of my life. I don’t want it to ever end.
“Do you remember when we used to come here for milkshakes after class?”
“Of course I do!” Jace nods enthusiastically. “That’s why I picked here. For the memories. The good ones.”
I wonder if that’s what this is, just a moment of memory, a blast from the past that will soon become just another glimmer in time. I so want to trust everything that comes out of his mouth but I guess the fear will always be around until we’ve had some kind of discussion. Until then I need to try and not get too sucked in. To just have a good time. Thank goodness that’s so easy with Jace. Especially since we’re only focused on the positive stuff tonight. We did all the heavy stuff before, that can be laid to rest for the time being.
“Like when I had that assignment deadline and I was about to lose my mind.”
“I recall,” Jace replies kindly. “You were so stressed. I’ve never seen you like that. You did not want to come out for a milkshake, I had to really force you, but it calmed you down a bit, didn’t it?”
I smile fondly and nod. “You always seemed to know what was best for me.”