by Haley Travis
My feet were beginning to scream in pain as Jared led me to the backstage area, while the student designers all ran out to take a bow.
“Thank you,” Jessie said to me as she rushed by. “That was amazing.”
Jared didn’t release me, leading me to a chair in the corner. “I could feel you limping,” he said, his deep voice soft with concern. “Let’s get you out of those shoes.”
Lifting my skirt up to my mid calves, he gently slipped off my shoes, setting them aside, and I let out an appreciative groan.
His strong thumbs running up the arch of my soles made me gasp. It was a bit strange having him caress me so sweetly since we’d known each other less than half an hour, but then again, we’d already kissed. Even though that was obviously just for the show, maybe we’d bonded a little. I certainly wanted more. I wondered if he did, too.
“There are many kinds of torture in this world,” he said quietly. “Tight shoes are surprisingly high on the list.”
“Thank you,” I said, sighing with relief. “Those were really starting to hurt.”
“Where are your own shoes?”
“It’s all right,” I said standing up. “I have to go change anyway. I can’t let this dress wrinkle.”
Jared stood, looking around the staging area that had now turned into the after-party. There was already a lineup for the minuscule washroom in the far corner, and nowhere else for me to change.
I knew that professional models were used to being semi-naked in public when the situation demanded it, but the thought of it made my flesh crawl.
Jared’s midnight blue eyes darted around as if he were scanning the space. “Grab your clothes and meet me backstage,” he said, giving my hand a squeeze as he left.
Slowly making my way through the crowd, I found my clothing and purse where I had stashed them in a cubby, along with the special padded hanger and bag for the wedding dress.
By the time I made it backstage, the area had been deserted by everyone else. Jared ushered me into an alcove that he had created by somehow clipping the curtains up and together into a little tent.
“Wow, thank you,” I said.
As I set my things down on the chair he had found, I remembered that I couldn’t escape this dress on my own. “I’m sorry to have to ask…” I said, turning to look back at Jared over my shoulder.
He examined the row of tiny buttons down my back, stepping closer. “Of course.”
Jared followed me into the alcove, as I swept the skirt out of the way so he could stand directly behind me. My entire body tingled again from being so close to him, but then his fingertips skimmed between my shoulder blades. Heat rushed through me as my stomach tightened from his touch. Having his attention directed on me was an unnerving thrill.
“Sorry if I’m slow,” he said, his breath warming the back of my neck. “My chunky fingers are going to need a minute.”
“That’s okay, thank you,” I whispered.
Jared worked carefully, unfastening the row of buttons straight down my spine to the curve of my lower back. Because of the neckline, I wasn’t wearing a bra. It was strange, feeling so naked with my entire back bare for this man I scarcely knew.
When he finished, I felt his fingertips sweep the tendrils of hair away from the bottom of my loose bun, then his lips came to rest at the back of my ear.
“Tara, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You were incredibly brave to let me kiss you for the cameras. Would I be a terrible man if I asked for one more kiss just for me?”
Turning slowly, my breath caught as his fingertips trailed lightly down my back. Before I even realized I was doing it, my hands stretched up around the back of his neck, pulling his lips down to mine.
Such a soft, delicate caress. He was so gentle, as if I were a work of art that he was afraid to break. The pressure of both of his palms running along my back made me moan.
“The softest skin I’ve ever touched,” he murmured, breaking off our kiss but keeping our foreheads pressed together. “Tara, I think we need to get to know each other much better.”
“I think you’re right,” I said softly.
His lips lightly brushed mine again, making my knees unsteady. Then he reached into his pocket, pulling out a phone that was covered in some super high tech protective case.
He unlocked the phone and made a new contact, taking down my number, then stepped back. “Do you need any more help undressing?” he asked. One thick eyebrow raised as his nose crinkled naughtily.
“Thanks, but, um, I think I should hurry.”
“I’ll hover out here in case you need me,” he said, closing the curtain flaps so that I was well concealed.
Slipping the dress off carefully, I pulled on a t-shirt so that at least I was half dressed before arranging the huge gown in its garment bag. Once I pulled on my jeans, sweater and shoes, I threw open the curtain to see Laura.
“Hey,” she grinned, “I see you’ve made a friend.”
I must have looked blank, and she began laughing. “Jared said sorry he had to run, but there was some meeting or something he was called in for. You should have seen the fancy car and driver that picked him up. Holy crap.”
She took the dress from me so that I could grab my purse, and we went back to the chaos of the after-party.
Jessie came bouncing over, grabbing my shoulders and spinning me around. “Oh my god, you were incredible!” she screamed. “Everyone is gushing about that romantic kiss, and the crazy bouquet toss!” She twirled away again, as Laura hung the dress on one of the long hangers. Clearly everyone was going for broke with the champagne.
“Congrats on the show,” I said. “I guess everything went well?”
“Thanks to you,” she said, reaching out to give me a quick hug. “I saw you freeze up. I’m so sorry. But it turned out great.”
“Thank goodness for that Jared guy,” I said. “As soon as he was beside me, I managed to hold it together.”
“You looked incredible with him,” she said, her eyes rolling to the ceiling as she clutched her heart. “Seriously. It was ridiculous. And that kiss!”
“I don’t even know his last name,” I whispered.
She laughed. “That’s Jared Ralston. Jessie’s big brother. He’s always helping her out.”
Someone across the room hollered her name. “Are you staying for the party?” Laura asked.
“No, I’m going to go home and recover from that weird bout of stage fright.”
“You mean recover from that kiss,” Laura laughed. “Take care.”
Jared Ralston. As I slipped out the side door and walked to the nearest bus stop, I held the name in my mind like a charm.
Even the name sounded classy. They must be a rich family, which would explain why Jessie had the money for wedding dress fabric, unlike the other students who were making do with denim and second hand store finds.
It was unbelievably sweet that he helped me out on the catwalk, but it was likely more for his sister’s show than for me personally. An impressive man like that would want a lot more than a twenty-one-year-old nobody like me.
I loved that he was such a take charge kind of guy. It made sense – a rich man would be commanding in all aspects of his life, wouldn’t he? He could have whatever he wanted. Whoever he wanted.
Even though that second kiss had felt like electricity running straight through my soul, I wasn’t the sort of girl that incredible men actually called.
4
_____
Jared
Even though being called back into work at the last minute ruined my plan to ask Tara out for a drink, it may have been for the best.
The guys all mocked the hell out of me for showing up at our new project’s safety meeting while wearing a suit. I was used to getting grief from them, since the five crane operators of Vincent Frostwell Construction were a tightly-knit group. It was kind of like having four brothers who loved to stick their noses in my business and give me grief at every oppor
tunity.
In some ways, it was convenient, that we quite often kept a close eye on each other. We all needed lightning fast reflexes and perfect concentration to do our jobs safely, and checking in with each other constantly kept us on our toes.
It was a relief to get home and finally strip out of Jessie’s fancy suit. I wasn’t sure whether I liked the feeling of wearing it or not.
Not just the physical sensation of wearing something fancy that I was afraid to get dirty. People treated me differently. I honestly hadn’t been expecting that. The only time I ever wore a suit was for weddings, and the occasional fancy work celebration.
Once I was comfortable and feeling more like myself in old jeans and a t-shirt, I stretched out on the worn blue couch with my phone in my hand.
Should I call her?
Tara was unbelievably beautiful. Sure, she was around ten years younger, but that didn’t bother me. She had the kind of beauty that lit her up from within, giving me a thrill every time I glanced in her direction. Her sweet shyness made me desire her even more.
Setting my phone down on the wooden coffee table, I had to think carefully before I acted. The guys always said to wait at least three days before calling a girl.
Somehow, that felt shifty. Playing games with someone’s emotions was just not cool.
Leaning back to gaze up at the stucco ceiling, the image of Tara’s expressive blue eyes danced in front of me. She had looked so terrified out there on the runway. Yet she had been so brave when I asked to kiss her for the photographers.
I still couldn’t quite believe that she let me kiss her again afterward.
I’d only had a couple of girlfriends, and never for more than a month or two. Maybe I was a bit behind, but I was still figuring out how women worked.
When I had been running deliveries for the Welsh brothers, tearing around on a motorcycle and partying my head off, I never thought about the future. Now that I was straightened out with a respectable job and a comfortable if not lavish home, I was ready for a good woman in my life.
Normally, when I liked a girl, I would ask around and get a bit of information about her, so I had a few things to talk about. There were too many feelings racing through me to do that this time, and I didn’t even know who I would ask anyway.
All the dating articles swore that women wanted assertive men. I didn’t want to make a shy girl more nervous, but Tara had certainly needed me to take charge and help her today. Should I do that again?
Nodding to myself, I grabbed my phone and sent her a text.
Me: Hi, Tara, this is Jared. Just wanted to be sure that you got home safe.
I sent the message before checking the time, but luckily it was only 7 o’clock.
When her reply came in two minutes later, I grabbed the phone so fast it crashed to the floor. Thankfully, I always used an industrial strength case, since at work my phone fell onto bare concrete quite often. .
Tara: Hi. Yes, I went straight home, actually.
Me: No champagne and partying?
Tara: No, I didn’t really know anyone there.
Me: Some people enjoy parties for meeting new people.
Tara: It’s not really my thing.
I thought hard and typed and erased a few times before sending the next message.
Me: I’m certainly glad I got talked into modeling today. Meeting you was worth all of those flashes in the face.
Tara: Thanks again for saving me. I don’t know what made me think that I’d be able to do such a crazy thing.
Me: Have you ever had stage fright before?
Tara: I’ve never been on stage before.
Me: For what it’s worth, I’m incredibly proud of you.
Tara: Thanks. Jessie seemed really happy with our little stunt.
Me: I certainly was. It might shock you to know that I’ve never kissed a total stranger before.
Tara: Me neither, obviously.
Me: Just because we’re doing things backwards doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do things properly. I’d love to get to know you. Coffee around lunch tomorrow?
Those little dots hovered for a full two minutes while I practically held my breath.
Tara: Sure.
Me: I’ll text you as soon as I know when I can sneak away. See you tomorrow, gorgeous.
Tara: Good night.
Dropping my phone on the couch, I jumped up to grab my laptop from the dining room table. Even though I had to be up for work at five am, I needed to do some quick studying.
What was the best sort of conversation for a slightly shy girl? How could we get to know each other quickly? What would show her that I’m a tough guy, with a sensitive side?
There were a lot of questions to be answered before I could let myself sleep.
5
_____
Tara
It had been a long time since I had to drink my special relaxing herbal tea to be able to sleep, and even then I’d tossed and turned. The second I woke up, I bathed my eyes in a cooling gel, hoping to get rid of the excess baggage under them.
I’d never been so excited for a date in my life.
I took a year of college to learn the basics of business communications, and thought I might meet some interesting students in my course. Instead, my classes were filled with people I just didn’t click with.
I met Laura in my communications course when we walked in the door at the same time. She was studying event planning, but luckily there were a few overlapping classes.
Through tagging along with her, I met a few new people. I went on one date with a future set designer, and a handful of dates with Brad, who had said he wanted to be a composer for movie scores.
It turned out the only thing he was interested in scoring was university students, but at least my first semi-relationship had been brief, and not too emotionally messy. Now that I had a stable job, there was room for a real relationship in my life, if things felt right.
I spent my morning at work cleaning the store, serving customers, and getting ahead of things so that I could take a break whenever Jared called. He was likely busy juggling clients and meetings all day. Whatever he did, it must have been pretty high security to warrant that crazy phone case.
Somehow, I was already more emotionally invested in Jared that I’d been with Brad, who I dated for nearly a month. Something about the way Jared had taken hold of me so firmly but tenderly opened something deep inside me that had been locked away.
It was always hard for me to trust men, because quite frankly, they frightened me a bit. Especially large, hulking men. It was sexy to feel small and delicate, but only if I wasn’t nervous.
When Jared took hold of me, leaning me back for that dramatic kiss that made my toes ache and my hips squirm, I knew it couldn’t go any farther, because we were in public. It was safe. There was absolutely no reason to be nervous.
Even when I was changing backstage alone, he was so gentle, and concerned that I was comfortable. Rich people always seemed to have perfect manners. Maybe it was in his nature.
My boss Lynne was the same way. Elegant, and clearly from old family money. Effortlessly polite and confident at all times. She seemed to enjoy the little changes and updates I made as the assistant manager of the boutique children’s clothing and supply store.
She oversaw seven of these stores, but I never felt micromanaged. A quick cruise by once a week was enough for her. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about the business, and study how to improve things.
I’d always believed that a solid hour of research could help you wrap your mind around almost anything. Sure, you wouldn’t be an expert by any stretch. Yet you’d understand what you knew, what you don’t know, and how much more there still was to learn.
After clearing all of my paperwork and getting a head start on next week’s ordering lists, I heard the tiny ping of my phone. Sneaking a look around to make sure no one was watching, I pulled it out.
Jared: I’m so sorry, today has been a
bit of a struggle to get everything straight. I have a window of time at three o’clock. Could I meet you for a quick coffee? Anywhere that’s convenient for you.
I knew it probably seemed too eager that I answered immediately, but I couldn’t help it.
Me: Sure. How about Gordman’s coffee on Rothman Street? That’s only a block away from me.
Jared: Perfect. See you then.
