Might as well practice now, just in case.
I pointed, half wondering if I’d wake up to Mr. Tom’s face and a cup of coffee.
“Excellent choice, miss. I nearly didn’t bring that one. It almost seemed too flashy for your attire, but I think you can pull it off. We’ll need to shop for some simple pieces. Everything else is much too formal for a light affair such as this.”
“Where…” I gulped as he gingerly lifted the necklace and unhooked the clasp, walking around me. I carefully swept my hair out of the way. “Where did you get these?”
“I keep a selection of jewelry in my closet. Most pieces are old and were kept with the house. I updated their boxes or containers.” He fastened the necklace and stepped around to look at it, nodding. “Keeping them in my room stops that insufferable Irishwoman from playing dress-up and heading to the bar. She used to hope someone would try to mug her. Well, someone eventually did, and it created an awful problem with the local Dick law enforcement. She broke five of the mugger’s bones and was in the process of trying to crack his neck—she was clearly out of practice—when the Dick policeman showed up to help. Only, the policeman didn’t know who to help at that point. There was a lot of explaining to do. Old Jane women do not usually assault their attackers in that way. She broke the necklace, and we had to get it mended.” He tsked and shook his head, handing me an earring and waiting for me to fasten it before he handed over the next. “I keep them hidden around my room now. She can’t get in.”
Checking the additions in the full-length mirror, I couldn’t believe how much they elevated my simple black dress. I looked like some cartoon princess, ready to go to her less-than-formal ball.
“If nothing else, I look the part,” I murmured.
“You always did, miss.” He checked his watch. “He’ll be early. Too anxious, I think.”
Mr. Tom was right—Austin was nearly here, although a couple minutes didn’t really count as early.
A flutter of nervousness rolled through my belly, and I frowned when I realized it wasn’t mine. Looking myself over in the mirror, mostly just staring at the necklace, I felt Austin walking toward the door. Ivy House didn’t open it this time, waiting for Mr. Tom to launch into his formal butler shtick.
“Grab some condoms,” Ivy House said.
This surge of nervousness was all my own, my stomach flipping and then dropping, like I was in a free fall. I stood, frozen, feeling the front door open and knowing Mr. Tom was inviting Austin in, offering him a place in the sitting room and a beverage while he waited.
I would’ve usually ignored Ivy House. Rolled my eyes, even.
Tingles covered my body, my limbs shaking, and this time…
This time…
Hastening into the bathroom, I did just as she’d said, grabbing a couple, just in case, then stuffed them into my clutch and snapped it shut. He was a friend. He didn’t want to get involved. He wanted to keep his distance.
We’d made mistakes before…
Dabbing the sudden sheen of sweat from my forehead, I slipped the tissue into my clutch as well and slowly walked out of the room, composing myself. Mr. Tom was just leaving the front sitting room when I reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Would you like a drink here before you go?” he asked me. “Mr. Steele said it was your choice.”
“No, thanks.” I passed him, my back a little too stiff, and paused awkwardly at the door.
Nathanial, the new gargoyle, whose warm brown eyes were undermined by his near-permanent scowl, sat in the far corner, his ankle crossed over his knee and fingers clasped in his lap. He stared at Austin while Austin leafed through a furniture magazine, not bothered.
Austin looked up, eyes appreciative. He put the magazine aside and stood, his movements rippling with lethal grace. A black dress shirt with blue pinstripes hugged his muscular torso, showing off his girth and outlining his pecs. His biceps strained his sleeves and a black belt cinched around his trim hips. Dark blue jeans hugged his thighs, and his black shoes shone in the light. His rich cobalt eyes accented his rugged, incredibly handsome face.
“You look beautiful, Jacinta,” he said, his move toward me more of a swagger.
“Thanks,” I said, both hands on my clutch, held in front of me like a shield. “You do too.”
“Ready?”
“Yes. Yup.” I stepped toward the door and turned to the side, ready for him to lead the way.
Instead, he stopped right beside me, standing close, almost predatory in his intensity. A shiver ran over me, my body suddenly tight and loose all at the same time.
“I didn’t bring flowers this time,” he said, and I glanced at the blue orchid still standing proudly next to the front door, the gift he’d given me before our friend date.