7 -Tonight is the night- (2/2)
”OK, Izzy, I'll be waiting. He winked at Izzy, making her blush scarlet.
”Hi, Sarah,” he smiles, his blue eyes twinkling, and I like him immediately. He's obviously nothing like Jace, but then they're best friends, like brothers.
”Hi, Damon,” I smile at him, and I'm aware that I'm biting my lip.
”Damon, we'd better go.” Jace says mildly.
”Sure.” He turns to Izzy and pulls her into his arms and gives her a long lingering kiss.
Jeez… get a room. I stare at my feet, embarrassed. I glance up at Jace , and he's watching me intently. I narrow my eyes at him. Why can't you kiss me like that? Damon
continues to kiss Izzy , sweeping her off her feet and dipping her in a dramatic hold so that her hair touches the ground as he kisses her hard.
”Laters, baby,” he grins.
Izzy just melts. I've never seen her melt before – the words comely and compliant come to mind. Compliant Izzy , boy, Damon must be good.
Jace rolls his eyes and stares down at me, his expression unreadable, although maybe he's mildly amused. He tucks a stray strand of my hair that has worked its way free from my ponytail behind my ear. My breath hitches at the contact, and I lean my head slightly into his fingers. His eyes soften, and he runs his thumb across my lower lip. My blood sears in my veins. And all too quickly, his touch is gone.
”Laters, baby,” he murmurs, and I have to laugh because it's so unlike him. But even though I know he's being irreverent, the endearment tugs at something deep inside me.
”I'll pick you up at seven.” He turns to leave, opening the front door and stepping out on to the porch. Damon follows him to the car but turns and blows Izzy another kiss, and I feel an unwelcome pang of jealousy.
”So, did you?” Izzy asks as we watch them climb into the car and drive off, the burning curiosity evident in her voice.
”No,” I snap irritably, hoping that will halt the questions. We head back into the apartment. ”You obviously did, though.” I can't contain my envy. Izzy always manages to ensnare men. She is irresistible, beautiful, sexy, funny, forward… all the things that I'm not. But her answering grin is infectious.
”And I'm seeing him again this evening.” She claps her hands and jumps up and down like a small child. She cannot contain her excitement and happiness, and I can't help but feel happy for her. A happy Izzy … this is going to be interesting.
”Jace is taking me to San Francisco this evening.”
”Cali?”
”Yes.”
”Maybe you will then?”
”Oh, I hope so.”
”You like him then?”
”Yes.”
”Like him enough to… ?”
”Yes.”
She raises her eyebrows.
”Wow. Sarah Elaine , finally falling for a man, and it's Jace Alicanté your highschool crush – hot, sexy billionaire.”
”Oh yeah – it's all about the money.” I smirk, and we both fall into a fit of giggles.
”Is that a new blouse?” she asks, and I let her have all the unexciting details about my night.
”Has he kissed you yet?” she asks as she makes coffee.
I blush.
”Once.”
”Once!” she scoffs. ”yes once, in my. Day dreaming land” I added.
I nod, rather shame faced.
”He's very reserved.”
She frowns. I hate you Sarah, you and your day dreaming life again. She grasp.
”That's odd.”
”I don't think odd covers it really,” I murmur.
”We need to make sure you're simply irresistible for this evening,” she says with determination.
Oh no… this sounds like it will be time consuming, humiliating, and painful.
”I have to be at work in an hour.”
”I can work with that timeframe. Come on.” Izzy grabs my hand and takes me into her bedroom.
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The day drags at Lindsey's even though we're busy. We've hit the summer season, so I have to spend two hours restocking the shelves once the shop is closed. It's mindless work, and it gives me too much time to think. I've not really had a chance all day.
Under Izzy's tireless and frankly intrusive instruction, my legs and underarms are shaved to perfection, my eyebrows plucked, and I am buffed all over. It has been a most unpleasant experience. But she assures me that this is what men expect these days. What else will he expect? I have to convince Izzy that this is what I want to do. For some strange reason, she doesn't trust him, her own Big time celebrity , maybe because he's so stiff and formal, and no longer the sweet nerdy Jonathan Christopher, but he's now the big boss Jace Alicanté .
She says she can't put her finger on it, but I have promised to text her when I arrive in San Francisco . I haven't told her about the helicopter or should I say private boarding Airplane? , she'd freak.
I also have the Kelvin issue. He's left three messages and seven missed calls on my cell. He's also called home twice. Izzy has been very vague as to where I am. He'll know she's covering for me. Izzy doesn't do vague. But I have decided to let him stew. I'm still too angry with him.
Jace mentioned some kind of written paperwork, and I don't know if he was joking or if I'm going to have to sign something. It's so frustrating trying to guess. And on top of all the angst, I can barely contain my excitement or my nerves. Tonight's the night! After all this time, am I ready for this? My inner goddess glares at me, tapping her small foot impatiently. She's been ready for this for years, and she's ready for anything with Jace Alicanté , but I still don't understand what he sees in me… mousey Sarah Elaine - it makes no sense.
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