Page 41 of OneTime Lovers
Shaking her head, Jas looks back down at her menu and changing the subject tells me she’s going to have the mushroom risotto. Okay––I’ll play along with the change in topic.
Once we’ve placed our order, I take a closer look around the restaurant. It has a rustic casual décor, tables with red and white check tablecloths, and a small bar with glass shelves filled with colorful jars of pickled vegetables, dried pasta spirals, and bottles of red wine in wicker baskets. A chalkboard at one end has the specials for today on it, and at the top in big, bold writing is says,Benvenuti Amici, welcome friends.
Overall, the place does feel friendly, and an appropriate choice for lunch, when friendship is all Jas seems to want from me. If things are to change then I’ll need to earn her trust. I get why she’s skittish. I don’t exactly come to her with a stellar reputation, and she told me about what happened with her asshole ex.
I need to prove to her I’m not just here for the sex. I want to date her, get to know more about her and her life in the city. There is something special between us that is worth exploring and my job is to show her we can be more than just friends.
It’s a solid plan, the problem is when I’m with her I just want to drag her into my arms and relive the nights we spent in my bungalow. Today has been a constant battle fighting temptation, like now when I want to reach out and run my fingers through her glossy hair, touch her smooth, flawless cheek, and kiss her pink lips.
The waiter pours us each a glass of red wine from one of the wicker bottles, and we settle back into our chairs. Our conversation feels comfortable and fun like it was on the island. I try to cut down on the sexual innuendos, but I still slip a few in and each one earns me one of her cute eye rolls.
An hour later, we walk out into the afternoon sunshine, and I’m feeling pretty damn good.
The town car pulls up to the curb, and I hold the door open for Jas to slide in. The drive to the last apartment in the Village is short, past residential buildings, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Jasmine points out a park up ahead and as we pass by a tall ornate stone archway, I can see it’s a popular place for families to walk and play. Yep, I like the look of this area as we stop in front of a building which according to a placard above the entrance was built in 1928.
I’ve been to Manhattan so many times I’ve lost count, but in all those visits I’ve never been to this area, so it’s a complete surprise. I hope the apartment lives up to my initial good impressions as I follow Jas out of the town car. She leans in through the car window, to talk to the driver and I have to drag my eyes away as her black skirt stretches tight over her curvaceous butt. I don’t want to be caught checking her out, not when we’ve made so much progress today.
Turning my head left then right, I try to concentrate on my surroundings, till Jas steps up to stand beside me, and the town car drives off. “What are your thoughts so far?” she asks cautiously.
I expect she’s hoping that this will be the one as it’s the last property to see. Slowly I turn in a complete three-sixty, then say, “I like it. This area has a cool vibe.” She nods, for once not running through the list of local features and amenities.
“Come on then, let’s see if the apartment can live up to your …cool vibe.” Her tone is snappy, and I turn my head sharply to look at her, but she’s already striding ahead. I follow her through the modern lobby toward the elevators as she again waves ahelloto the friendly doorman. She seems to know them all, based on what I’ve seen today.
On the twelfth floor, the doors of the small square box open and we walk along a short hallway to an apartment door. Jas rattles the keys as she tries to insert, first one key, then another in the lock, jiggling each one unsuccessfully to make it fit. Finally, her shaky hand selects the right key, and it slips in easily, unlocking the door.
I’m not sure what happened between us leaving the restaurant and our arriving at the apartment, but something is bothering her.
“You might need to get the locks replaced,” she mumbles behind a curtain of auburn hair. I raise my hand to brush it back, but thinking better of it, drop it back down to my side.
Slowly Jas places her hand on the door, then eases the door open. As the gap expands light floods the space. Afternoon sun filters through from the living room into the wide hallway, bouncing off the warm wood of the parquet flooring and reaching to what I expect are the doorways of bedrooms at the other end.
Jas turns toward the living room, and I follow, walking directly over to the expansive windows and door which lead outside. “Wow, I never imagined I could find a place with an outdoor terrace within my budget.”
“Your budget was very generous, but you’re right outdoor terraces are very hard to come by. This only came on the market yesterday and you’re the first to see it. I expect it will be snapped up pretty quickly.”
I open the glass door and step outside, walking the perimeter of the area then looking down over the railing, in the distance is the local park we drove past earlier. Already I can imagine my friends and I grilling on this terrace in the summer. This place is exactly what I wanted.
Turning back to look at the apartment, I can see Jas still standing in the middle of the empty living room, she doesn’t look happy. I step back inside to join her.
Not even looking at me, she says, “Do you want to wander around and check out the rest of the apartment? The bedrooms are large, and the bathroom has a separate bath and large shower.”
“Jas, this place is great.” I throw over my shoulder as I eagerly walk down the hallway to check out the rest of the apartment’s rooms.
Chapter 21
Jasmine
Knewit!Scottlovesthe apartment and he’s going to end up living in the same square mile as me.
I glance around the living room again, it’s a great apartment. From the tall ceilings and painted stark white walls which make it feel spacious, to the fireplace built into the far end exposed brick wall which adds warmth. This room will be amazing when it’s furnished, with a large plump sectional and plush rug.
I can hear Scott moving between the rooms down the hallway, opening and closing the built-in closet doors. He’s certainly checking this apartment out more thoroughly than the others.
Walking over to the large windows to look out onto the empty terrace, I can already imagine us all gathered there in the summer. Scott, Blake, and Luke grilling while us girls sit in casual outdoor chairs sipping cocktails. I shake my head to clear the image.
“Scott is just another client,” I mumble to myself. Now, if only I could erase the memory of what we did on the island. I’m finding it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay detached the more time I spend in his presence.
Personal boundaries are not something he abides by. I’ve tried to keep a safe distance between us, which was impossible in some of the smaller rooms. Then after the first apartment I stopped going with him to view bedrooms and bathrooms as it only conjured up memories of us in bed together or sharing a steamy shower.
