Holy shit, what is happening to my Jade?
I cough pointedly. “Have the two of you officially met yet?” I ask. “Vicky, this is my best friend, Jade. Jade, this is Vicky.”
Jade holds out her hand to shake. “Charmed.”
“Likewise,” Vicky answers, ignoring the hand and pulling Jade into a hug instead. I guess that’s her signature greeting. Jade looks like she might be short-circuiting, her eyes too wide.
Mid-hug, her phone chimes, and she pulls away. “Oh crap,” Jade murmurs, checking it. “That’s Alec’s driver. He’s taking me to the shop today, and he’s already downstairs.” She stuffs another piece of bacon in her mouth as she gathers up her things. “You want me to take custody of our child for the day?” she asks me, pointing at Bea.
“No, that’s okay. I’ve got her.” Bea has become a minor celebrity, according to the plethora of comments flooding our bookstapix account. Apparently, having a bookstore cat is all the rage, even if she does spend half her time hiding from people, and the other half actively tormenting them. “I think I could use the company today.”
“Looks like you’re living large today, you little menace,” Jade tells Bea, booping her on the nose. Then she points at me. “You! Text me. And send me a photo of that dress before your date, okay? And you!” She faces Vicky, flustered but smiling. “It was a genuine pleasure.”
“Don’t be a stranger,” Vicky purrs.
The dress fits perfectly,almost like it was tailored to my exact measurements.
Are designers really that good? Or does Alec know me so well, all my curves and swells, that he could tell them my exact measurement, down to the centimeter?
Somehow, I wouldn’t put it past him.
I spend most of the day waiting for my date, and by the time it rolls around, I’m nervous. Anxious to see him, to know what he has planned to show me. I leave my hotel room a little early, giving Bea a kiss on her fuzzy little forehead and reminding her that she’s not allowed to scratch the furniture. She ignores me, of course.
Even though I’m early, Alec is already waiting outside the hotel. I spot him immediately, leaning against the door to his town car, staring down at his phone.
His eyes come up the moment I step outside, drawn straight to me. It’s like he could feel it, could sense I was near.
It’s magnetic, this pull between the two of us.
Those dark eyes flare when he sees me, his gaze heating. But he doesn’t move. He slides his phone into his pocket and waits for me to come to him. Patiently.
Like he’s waited for me this whole time. His whole life.
I’m still apprehensive as I take a step towards him. But it’s hard to hold onto my anger when he’s in front of me like this. His perfect chiseled jaw, his deep brown eyes beckoning me.
He’s dangerous. In so many ways.
I take another step.
His lips curve into a smile. I’m wearing the dress—the perfect, beautiful dress he had made for me—but he doesn’t even look at it. His eyes are locked on mine, and I feel like we’re the only two people in the world.
I take another step, and he finally moves forward to meet me, pulling me into a kiss that steals away every coherent thought in my head.
It’s everything, whatever this is that exists between us. And I hate that it’s so delicate right now, that I’m still not sure if I can trust him.
When he breaks our kiss, he pulls back just enough to meet my eyes.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he tells me in a deep voice. His finger strokes my cheek, gliding across my face to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear.
I can’t say it back. But I know he can see it, in my eyes.
“Come,” he says, opening the car door and gesturing me inside. His hand rests on the small of my back, warm and steady as I climb inside. “I have a surprise for you tonight.”
He settles into his seat, and I let myself relax against him. We fit so perfectly together, me tucked under his arm, his hand on my leg.
“Thank you for the dress,” I say softly, running my fingers over the hem. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He gives my leg a light squeeze. “It suits you.”
