Page 38 of OneTime Lovers
Luke throws back his head laughing. “Yep, as you can imagine a dinner party was not my choice, but don’t tell Cassie I said that.”
Slapping Luke on the back, I say, “Look at you all domesticated and married. It suits you. I’m really happy for you, mate.”
Luke looks away uncomfortable with my comment. “Thanks, man, I’m happier than I could have imagined.” He slaps me on the back as he directs me toward the living room. “C’mon, Blake and Bec are here already.”
The hall opens to a large living area. Blake is standing in front of a set of windows that run almost the full length of the far wall and the girls are in the kitchen area of the modern open plan space. Walking first toward Cassie and Bec, I say hello and give them a hug before making my way over to Blake, who gets the usual bro slap on the back and shake of the hand.
We’ve only just started catching up when I hear Cassie talking to the doorman about more arrivals. Then confirming my suspicion, she excitedly tells us that the other girls have arrived.
I stare unseeing out the window, bracing for the arrival of Jasmine. I can’t stop worrying about what she’ll say when she sees me here in Manhattan. Hopefully, Cassie has already given her a heads-up.
Cassie races off down the hallway to the door of the apartment, and soon I can hear the voices of the girls and the sound of their heels clicking along the wooden floor as they get closer. With one deep composing breath, I turn to face the room and my eyes lock immediately onto Jasmine. There she is standing in the same room again, looking as gorgeous as I remember. My memories have not exaggerated her beauty.
Moving slowly over to the girls, I kiss the cheeks of Lily and Trudy, then lean into Jasmine, the intoxicating scent of her perfume teases my senses. My lips touch her cheek softly, lingering when I hear her sharp intake of breath.
Our eyes meet as I draw back, my blue locking with her green ones. “It’s good to see you again, Jasmine,” I say quietly for her ears only. Then reluctantly I turn back to the room and looking up notice all our friends staring at us. Seriously, Jasmine and I are the worst kept secret.
Cassie saves us from further embarrassment by encouraging us all to move further into the living room. Luke offers a round of drinks while I continue to stand awkward and mute beside Jasmine. Thankfully, the others are soon distracted giving Luke their drink order and it gives me a moment to lean down and ask, “Are you doing okay?”
“Oh, good thanks, although that then was a uniquely awkward moment.” Her hand flutters about in space.
I smile down at her, loving her honesty and happy to no longer be feeling nervous or awkward around her.
“I think it’s safe to say that all of our friends know what we did in the Bahamas. I’m okay about that, are you?”
She shrugs her shoulders as she says, “Doesn’t bother me either.” It sounds like she has no regrets about us, which is great, and I find it impossible to hide the broad grin spreading across my face.
Before we can say anymore, Cassie is leading us all over to the large dining table to take our seats. Thankfully I’m sitting next to Jasmine, although I suspect it would be poor etiquette if I made a move on her under the table. It may even earn me a slap.
Luke pops the cork on the first bottle of champagne, then begins filling everyone’s glasses as Cassie deposits a plate in front of each of us, telling us it is a salmon terrine. Nice, maybe I could get into this dinner party thing. Good food, good friends, and a gorgeous woman who I want back in my bed, sitting to my right.
As the meal progresses from our salmon starters to a beef wellington with roasted vegetables, it becomes apparent that Cassie is a great cook and Jasmine is determined to keep me on a friend-only level. Each time I lean into her and hint at something more, I’m quickly smacked down, figuratively speaking.
While in the Bahamas, she was fully on board with trading sexually laced banter back and forth, tonight she is having none of it. I guess it was stupid of me to think she’d be happy to pick up where we left off a month ago. I’m going to have to work a lot harder to win her over, and probably even harder to convince her back into my bed.
With the eating part of the evening finished, we leave the table, and all move into the living area, giving me another chance to speak privately with Jasmine. I need to speak to her about looking for an apartment for me before the night is over. It’s my only guaranteed chance of seeing her again over the next week. It’s not like I even have her number to call her.
I stroll across the room to where Jasmine is currently talking to Blake and ask, “Jas, can I have a private word.” Blake looks confused, but takes the hint and disappears, leaving us alone. She frowns at me so hard two little creases have formed between her eyebrows.
“A private word with me, really? Are you forgetting we had a deal? What happened in the Bahamas stays in the Bahamas. I’m not jumping back into your bed again. We’re now just friends of friends,” she hisses. Wow, she couldn’t have been any clearer.
Masking my disappointment at her words, I pretend indifference, saying, “That’s not the private word I planned to have with you. I wanted to ask you about the New York property market.” I notice a flush creep across her cheeks as I continue, “I’m wanting to invest in a two-bedroom apartment and thought you might be able to help me find something.”
I’m impressed with how quickly she recovers her composure as she clears her throat and launches into a professional summary about prices, and availability of real estate. I only half-listen to the words as I’m too distracted by the pretty mouth the words are flowing from. I’m able to concentrate enough to answer the questions she fires at me about what I’m looking for. Luckily, I thought of some things in the elevator earlier or she’d have seen straight through my sudden decision to buy an apartment.
When she’s finished asking her questions, she tells me she should be able to send some options through to me next week.
Smiling, I say, “I think you’ve misunderstood, I wanted to start looking at properties tomorrow, while I’m here. I had hoped you would be able to fit me in for viewings, given I’m a friend of a friend.” I emphasize the last part, taunting her with the same words she just used on me.
Her open-mouthed, wide-eyed stare tells me I’ve hit the mark and thrown her off-balance.
“That’s impossible,” she stutters, shaking her head as she continues, “I don’t have anyone available this week.”
“Jas, I want you to deal with me personally. I’m a cashed-up buyer and I want to move quickly on this.”
She physically stiffens her stance as she says, “Well then, I guess that’s how it will be. But I’ll still need twenty-four hours to pull together some options and have them ready for you to view the day after tomorrow.”
The fire flashing in her green eyes is almost scorching me. That’s my girl, tough, strong-willed, and always up for a challenge.
