Page 28 of Safer Alone
I figured the truth with a lack of details would work. “Well, since you’re insistent on knowing, a friend was in town, and since they were heading off today, I scored the leftovers. Its good food, hey?” I hoped that he wouldn’t press any further.
“A friend, hey? Someone from your past maybe?” I just look at him, enjoying my pizza. I’m not going to answer this. If I stay quiet for long enough, he will continue. He raises his eyebrows and continues. “It sure is good food. Where is it from?”.
“Vinnie’s Italian. Do you know it?”
Taking a bite of his pizza, he stays quiet for a moment, concentrating on swallowing his pizza. “Yeah I know it, I took a girl there a couple of months back.” I raise my eyebrows, he sees it and continues. “I had to take someone, since you keep ducking my invitations. The food was great. I didn’t order any of these items, though, so it’s good that I’m trying them now. I’ll definitely be going there again.” He takes a swallow from his water bottle.
“And how did the date go, then?”.
“Are you jealous? The conversation was terrible. I haven’t contacted her since”.
Jealous, me jealous? Of James going on a date? Certainly not, I’m glad that he has finally gotten the hint, well I think he has; he is looking at me expectantly, he wants an answer. “Of course I’m not jealous, James. I’m glad you went on a date. I’m surprised you haven’t been snapped up by now. I’m telling you, it’s only a matter of time.”
He looks at me, smiling. “I could have told you that. What is it Jenny said to me the other day, all of the good ones are either gay or taken. I’m not either.” He continues to eat. I want to get away from where this conversation is heading. I can feel the mood shifting. Time to get onto safer waters.
We continue to eat in silence for the next few minutes. When we are finished, I stand up to grab the cleaning cloth from the sink. When I return, James clears his throat. I look at him expectantly. Please don’t ask me out again I think to myself. “So, I heard you’re leaving early tomorrow. Big plans for the weekend?”
I wipe down the table with the damp dishcloth, picking up the empty containers with my other hand. “Yeah, heading out of town for a couple of days. How about you?” Tapping his fingers on the table in front of him, he looks up at me.
“Cool, I haven’t gone out of town for a while. Enjoy yourself. Nothing much here. Got an open house on Saturday, then I might go for a hike or something on Sunday if the weather is good. Thanks for letting me share your lunch, Ange.” And with that, he walks out the door. It’s one of the things I love about James. He never digs too deep. He lets me keep my own secrets.
Returning to my desk, I check my phone. I’m surprised that I haven’t heard from Elliot all day. He had mentioned that he was going to contact me sometime today. I was secretly hoping he might want to see me, too. However, so far nothing. My mind floats to him, what he must be doing. He must be keeping busy with his new project, meeting contractors possibly? No text messages or missed calls. I am a little sad that he hadn’t messaged me this morning, or called me at lunch. Then again, why would he?
He had been a constant companion to my thoughts today. Remembering last night’s dinner and the kiss we shared, that mind blowing kiss. The heat that filled me when his lips touched mine, the burning sensation left on my lips; he has the ability to light me on fire, a fire that I don’t think I have the ability to put out if it gets out of control.
Deep down I know that I shouldn’t get attached. After this weekend, I wouldn’t see him again for quite some time, and even then, it would only be for a day here, or two days there, to discuss the renovation of Belle Meade Homestead. That will be the only reason for him to contact me. He would be busy in New York running his company and living his life, while I will he doing the same here in Nashville, hundreds of miles away.
I feel a lump form in my stomach, why am I giving so much thought to this? I know immediately why: I’m falling for him. Somehow, he has gotten under my skin, and I don’t know if I can get him out. That kiss took things to a different level. He isn’t just someone who is handsome, athletic, confident, successful. No, he is also the man who kissed me, who makes me burn for him.
Hearing Valerie’s voice saying goodbye to someone drifting in from outside my office, helps me to shake my head, clearing the foggy thoughts of Elliot. Looking at my simple gold watch on my wrist. I understand why. Most of the agents headed off around 3:00 pm due to the office being so quiet. I could also head off, if I wanted to. I stand up from my desk and see Jenny. “Which of us are still here?”
She turns to look at me. “Just you and James.”
I nod “Okay, I’ll stay.” I wander back into the office and pull up the latest email from Sandra. Once complete, I read another, and another. This afternoon is going to go so slowly.
It’s quiet for the remainder of the afternoon. I start shutting down my computer for the evening. As I bend down to open my bottom drawer I hear the office door bell ring, indicating someone had entered. I groan inwardly to myself. Really? This time of night? I close the drawer and sit in my seat, just in case it’s a seller needing to speak to an agent. Jenny knocks on my office door twice. A moment later I see her head poke in through the door she just opened. Her cheeks are pink. This should be interesting. “Ah, Angie. I have a Mr. Sands in reception asking if you’re still here. What would you like me to tell him?”
My mind quickly goes blank. Why was he here? Since I hadn’t heard from him all day, I figured he would want to either call or meet me back at my place, or possibly at the restaurant at The Hermitage. The butterflies start to flap their wings in my chest. He is here, to see me. A small smile forms on my lips. “Did he say what he wanted. Jenny?”
Shaking her head, she continues, “Not exactly.” She takes her bottom lip in between her teeth.
“Well?” I ask.
“He told me that you would be expecting him today.” She lifts her eyebrows. It is so obvious she wants me to tell her what’s going on.
“Give me two minutes and then show him in.”
She nods “Sure thing. Oh, and Ange. He is pretty good looking, isn’t he?” I shrug my shoulders, pretending I hadn’t noticed. As if that was even remotely possible. I mean literally, it was impossible to look at him and not see how breathtakingly handsome he was. “Come on, surely even you, Miss Angela White, think he is hot?”.
I smiled and looked up at her. “I’m not completely immune to good looking men, you know, Jen. I may not date, but I look. So yes, I noticed.”
Smiling at my response, she turns and walks back out of my office door. As soon as the door closes, I bend down and pull my handbag out. I quickly locate my lip gloss and apply a thin coat to my lips, rubbing them together. Next I pull out my perfume from the bottom of my handbag and spray just once onto my wrist, then to my neck, throwing it back in my bag. I then run my fingers through my hair hurriedly, then shaking it to give it volume. Once complete, I position myself in my seat, behind my desk, picking up a random contract from my desk and opening it to a random page, then taking a pen in my hand. This could work. To anyone else, it would look like I’m busy.
I look up when I hear two quick knocks on my office door. “Come on in Jenny.” As the door opens, I inhale a shallow breathe. It wasn’t Jenny standing in the doorway. No it was most certainly not Jenny.
“Nope, it’s just me. Jenny said I could come in.” His voice is rich, his smile warm and friendly, his eyes wide open and looking directly at me.
I wave him over. “Indeed, you’re not Jenny. Come in Mr. Sands. Take a seat.”
