Jack went out to the backyard, found the fire pit, and got that going, pulling a few chairs near it, then went back inside. He went to the bar area and poured himself a small Laphroaig and poured prosecco from one of the small bottles Bella kept stocked.
Returning to the living room, Bella tossed a black shirt to Jack, “Here you go”, she said.
“Rush? A Rush shirt?”
“I LOVE Rush,” she replied.
“I would never have taken you for a Prog girl, Bella.”
“I’m full of surprises, Captain.”
Bella watched as he unbuttoned his shirt.
Wow. He may wear Dad shoes but that is definitely not a Dad bod, she thought.
Pulling the t-shirt over his head, he reached for their glasses on the bar, handed Bella her glass, and said “Shall we?,” gesturing towards the back yard.
They moved to the fire pit, sitting in their chairs, listening to the crackling wood, and looked up - the sky was clear and crisp with thousands of stars visible.
“Do you know the constellations, Captain? I would guess you do. I love Greek mythology - one of my favorite reads growing up.”
Jack started to name the constellations in the sky, pointing them out, while Bella recounted the myths around them. “Isit true the stars don’t twinkle in space? I think I read that somewhere?” she asked.
“It’s true - there is no atmosphere to distort them. But they're extraordinary — so bright it's almost like you could reach out and touch them. Space is hauntingly beautiful.”
“It sounds amazing. I can’t believe you are going to the moon - something I’m sure the ancient Greeks could never even fathom.”
After a little while, and having finished their drinks, Jack glanced at the time and knew he should go. He set his glass down, the last amber remnants of the scotch catching the glow of the dying embers. Before the chill of the night could creep back in, he stood and reached for her hand, pulling her firmly into his arms. He cupped her jaw, his fingers warm against her skin. When he leaned down to kiss her it was slow and completely deliberate. His lips were soft and firm, tasting faintly of smoky scotch, and the heady scent of his cologne mingling with the woodsmoke in the air, lifting the kiss into something neither of them had quite expected. She leaned into him completely, returning it with everything she had.
Neither of them wanted to stop — but Jack knew it was too soon to take things to the next level - he knew exactly where this could go - and he wanted to take things slowly, and he wanted her to know he wasn't expecting anything — not tonight.
Going inside, he called for a ride to his hotel, and while he waited Bella let Primrose out for her last potty break of the night, then locked the back door and waited in the entryway for Jack’s car.
“I had a lovely time tonight, Jack, truly. Thank you so much for driving up.”
“It cost me a pair of shoes, but it was totally worth it Bella, really. I'm sorry it'll be a while before we can do this again in person. If you are okay with it, I’d love to FaceTime with you though.”
“I’d like that too.”
“Good. Well, my ride is here. I’ll speak to you tomorrow Ms. Genovese,” he said leaning in for one more kiss.
“Sleep tight, Captain,” she said. After he left, she set the alarm system, called for Primrose, and headed into bed.I better get my Rush shirt back, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 14
The night of the Discovery Dinner and Dance was finally here. The last month had been crazy busy for both Bella and Jack, and this was the first time in weeks they’d be together. There was something to be said about how the texts and FaceTime calls were allowing their relationship to build, even with the distance and not being able to spend as much time in person together as they would have liked. It gave them a chance to actually talk, and focus on the person, instead of the physical aspect, although they were both looking forward to that happening when the time was right.
The event was to be held at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, one of Houston’s most luxurious hotels, and Bella had booked rooms for herself, Carrie, and Jerome, for convenience and a splurge. They’d finally had the word thatAstra Setahad been approved and would officially be going to space on the Diana IV mission to the moon.
Bella carefully lifted the dress from its hanger, stepping into it and pulling it up over her legs and waist. Fitted but not so tight as to not allow her to sit comfortably or eat, it was a gorgeous Dolce and Gabbana dress in the deepest shade of amethyst. She opted to wear her hair down, styled with loose curls that framed her face. A nude eye with a classic cat’s eye liner in blackcombined with the color of the dress to make her blue eyes pop. She went with a luscious berry lip color from Chanel to complete the look. But the shoes. The shoes will be the star tonight. She had only worn this particular pair twice; they were almost too precious to wear. The Gucci Corset shoes, from the 2004 Spring-Summer collection, the last collection Tom Ford did for Gucci before departing to launch his own eponymous label. In gold snakeskin.Let’s see what Jack thinks of these.
Bella, Carrie, and Jerome walked into the ballroom and marveled at how beautifully it had been decorated. Tables had been arranged around a dance floor, and there was both a live band and a DJ, who would play records while the band took breaks. Waiters moved from group to group, offering flutes of champagne and canapes. It looked to be a memorable night.
Because Bella Pelle was a new, smaller vendor for NASA, they’d be sharing a table with another smaller company, and introductions were made as they looked for their name plates so they could take their seats. A slight frown on her face appeared when Bella realized Jack wouldn’t be sitting at their table. NASA liked to make sure each table had an astronaut sitting with the companies that supplied parts and equipment for their missions. Being the commander of the mission, Jack was most likely sitting with one of the more important partners, which Bella completely understood. And they’d have plenty of time to spend together tomorrow - she was staying over for the rest of the weekend.
“Bella, Carrie, Jerome - it’s fantastic to see you again!” Looking up, Bella saw Lt. Commander Mike Rendit take a seat next to Carrie. Quickly hiding a grin - she wondered if he had somehow had a hand in the seating arrangements, she greeted Mike with a smile, then stood to walk around the room, looking at the various decorations set up around the room.
Bella noticed Jack entering the room and stopped where she stood. In his service dress blues, with a ribbon rack over his left breast, Jack removed his cover and Bella’s breath momentarily left her.He’s so handsome.At that moment, Jack spotted Bella across the room. He paused to appreciate her dress, her hair, her everything really, and then he saw the shoes. A vision of Bella wearing nothing but those shoes, legs wrapped around his back popped into his head.I don’t know how much more of this I can take, he thought.
