Page 257 of The First Time
"His shoes don't squeak."
My cheeks flush. "I guess I should get new shoes. Better ones."
"If you'd like." He steps out from behind his desk. His eyes pass over me. They start at my hair, linger over my chest, stop at my cheap boots. "Those suit you."
"Cheap and not as waterproof as advertised?"
"Artsy."
"How do you know I'm artsy?"
"You stop and stare at beautiful things every few minutes."
"Oh." I guess I do.
"I can arrange lessons if you'd like."
That would be awesome. But— "I can handle it."
He motions to the couch. "Would you like a drink?"
"Sure." I drop my bags—my purse and the department store bag packed with four hundred dollars of makeup—in the corner and take a seat on the couch. It's strange, the way Blake offers to take care of everything. I'm tempted to take him up on all his offers.
But then where will I be when this is over?
Will I even exist or will I be some amalgamation of Blake's desires?
He fixes our drinks and brings them to the couch.
The brush of his hands still lights up my body. It's funny. We had crazy, rough, animalistic sex a few nights ago, but I still feel like we're strangers.
He's still treating me like a colleague.
"Thank you." I take a long sip of my gin and tonic. It's just as crisp and clear as last time. "Is everything alright?"
"Not exactly." He takes a long sip of his whiskey. His gaze moves to the window that looks out on the city. The silver moon peeks out from behind a skyscraper. "There's a party on Friday."
"One we're attending together?"
"Yes. A company event. But my family will be there as well."
"You have a family?"
He looks at me like he's not sure if I'm joking. "Of course."
"No, I only meant… you haven't really mentioned them."
His hand brushes the outside of my thigh. "I want to announce our relationship at the party."
"Oh. Okay."
"And to ask you to marry me."
"Already?" It's only been a week. Not even.
He nods. "Things are moving faster than I'd hoped."
"What things?"
