Laid Out
Page 29
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When Enzo walked into the community center art class at six in the afternoon, he’d expected there to be a few retirees in a small classroom. He did not expect an auditorium-style room with more than twenty easels and canvases lined up. He did not expect that among the older men and women there would be young women. And he certainly did not expect Jamie Lynn to come waltzing in late, creating an uproar in her wake. But if there was one single thing he didn’t expect, not just today, but ever, was to see JL blush. To see her nervous. To see her hide. He knew at that moment that she’d felt what he had. And he knew that he had to keep asking, and she’d eventually say yes.
One date, that’s all he wanted. One date and she’d see that she had him pegged all wrong. One date would lead to another one and then another one, and eventually they’d sleep together, and finally—finally!—he’d get her to see that there could possibly be more between them. That was the plan for now, the rest he’d figure out when the time came. Plus, he was happy that she was at an art class and not on date, like he’d assumed.
When the hour was up, the elderly rail-thin man that taught the class walked to the middle of the room and announced that the class was over as he handed Enzo a ridiculously small pink robe and his glasses. He asked everyone to give him a round of applause as Enzo slipped the robe on. The teacher then went strolling about the room critiquing and praising the students’ work. The guys quickly made their excuses and hightailed it to the front of the class before the teacher had a chance to say much to them. Canvasses in hand, they poked fun at Enzo on their way out of the room.
“So you got a good look at my junk. That’s what you guys wanted?” Enzo teased.
“No, I wanted to see Ms. Turnberry’s face when you walked in and stripped. And her husband,” Travis bent over at the waist laughing. “He drew you in a very interesting light. Can’t wait for you to see it.”
“Shit, man, you were red. You looked like you were going to throw up,” said Slade.
“I’d have owned that shit,” Tony said, cockily.
“You try standing in front of all those people naked,” Enzo said to Tony, who was laughing his ass off.
Cain just shrugged.
“Did you know your sister would be here?” Enzo looked over his shoulder to see Jamie Lynn deep in conversation with her teacher.
“Are you crazy? If I had known, I wouldn’t have let her anywhere remotely close,” Travis said, now more serious. “Come on, let’s head out.”
“No. You guys go. I’m going to wait for Jamie Lynn.”
“Nah, it’s cool,” Travis said. “We’ll wait for her too.”
“Dude, you’re such a cock blocker,” Slade said to Travis.
“Damn straight! I am abso-fucking-lutely blocking any and all cocks that approach my sister.”
“Your sister is a grown-ass woman,” Tony said. “Besides, what could he possibly do wearing a pink robe?”
“I’m not going to touch her, Tex. Just want to talk.” He held two fingers by his heart. “Scout’s honor.”
Travis guffawed. “You’re no fucking Boy Scout, asshole. Fine, I’ll leave.” He turned to go and so did the rest of the group, but then he turned back and leaned close to Enzo. “I like you. We’re friends. But you make her even a little sad, and I swear to all that is holy that I will cut off your balls and feed them to you. She’s my twin sister and she’s been through a lot. So keep that in mind.” He gave Enzo one last look and walked away. That was probably the most Enzo had ever heard Travis say—and the most serious—and it completely sobered him up.
What had Jamie Lynn been through that caused Travis to be so protective? He was her brother, but there was more to it than familial protectiveness. He looked out to where she stood, and their eyes met briefly as she packed up her canvas. She darted her gaze away. Suddenly the thought of her ever having been hurt made him to want to kick the ass of anyone who’d hurt such a strong yet tiny woman.
With her big handbag on one shoulder and her canvas zipped into her portfolio case, Jamie Lynn hesitantly walked down to where Enzo stood. “Nice legs,” she said, looking down at all that wasn’t covered by the petite garment.
“I know. The robe really shows them off,” he teased.
“Did you just crack a joke?”
“I suppose that standing naked in front of strangers brings out the comedian in me,” he said while she stood in front of him, clenching the portfolio case against her chest.
“So—”
“You—”
Both of them spoke at once. “You first,” he said.
“I was just going to ask if you wanted to maybe go to dinner or something tomorrow,” Jamie Lynn asked.
“Are you asking me out on a date?” Enzo mocked as his hands covered his opened mouth and his eyes widened. She playfully shoved his shoulder. “Well, we’ve already kissed and now you’ve seen me naked. You really are overdue for a date with me, wouldn’t you agree?” he commented with joking humor.
“I said dinner. Not a date.”
“I knew you’d eventually break.”
“I didn’t break. I guess ‘Sometimes affection is a shy flower that takes time to blossom.’ ”
“That’s from some obscure movie, isn’t it?”
“Not that obscure. Seeing Jane.”
“Never seen it.”
“Not surprised,” she retorted quickly.
“You know you’re like a fortune cookie.”
She chuckled at the strange comment. “Fortune cookie?” She crinkled her face in confusion and he added, “You’re always saying these things that are either full of wisdom, funny nothings, or completely absurd. You make me think of fortune cookies every time.”
“Aw….you think about me.”
He pinched his nose. “Damn. I totally killed the mystery, didn’t I?” he teased. “So, date then?”
“So that’s a yes, then?”
“Of course it’s a yes,” he replied.
She stepped back and eyed him up and down with a sassy smile. “You going to go home wearing that robe?”
He winced when he looked down at himself. “I’ll just run in and change and then I’ll walk you to your car.” He jogged to the corner to grab his bag and she snorted. He looked over his shoulder to see her doubled over in laughter.
“You might want to be careful bending over.” Jamie Lynn turned to the elderly lady who was adjusting her glasses with a big smile. “Isn’t that right, Mrs. Davis?”
Enzo felt his face heat as he stood and held down the back of the robe as he walked to the bathroom.
Dressed in his gym shorts, a T-shirt, and sneakers, he walked out of the bathroom to find Jamie Lynn leaning against the wall. “Ready,” he said. She pushed off the wall and followed him down the hall and to the parking lot.
“What made you change your mind about going out with me? Not that I’m complaining, but you’ve been saying no for almost a year.”
“Truth?”
“Always.”
“This is the first time I was curious. You always seem so predictable, but you doing this…” She shook her head. “I guess it made me see you in a different light.”
He held her car door open for her as she tucked the portfolio in and then got in the car. “I’m glad it took me completely humiliating myself to get you to go out with me. Maybe I won’t kill your brother for this ridiculous bet, after all,” he said. “I’ll make reservations at the Tackle Box and pick you up at eight tomorrow?”She looked at him for a moment too long. “You don’t like the Tackle Box?” he asked.
“Do you work tomorrow?” she asked as she got back out of the car.
“Yes.”
“That was a dumb question. You’re always working. Let me rephrase the question. Can you take the day off tomorrow?”
Enzo quickly thought about all the teleconferences he had scheduled and all the reports he had to do. “I can.”
“Okay, so I’ll pick you up at eight.”
&n
bsp; “Uh…I don’t und—”
“Eight in the morning,” she clarified when he looked confused. “I asked you out. I pick. That’s the deal, okay? It’s my treat. I pick where we go and what we do.”
“I don’t think—”
“You hate giving up control, don’t you?” she asked, wryly, already knowing the answer. “Don’t worry so much. Just be ready. It’ll be fun—spontaneous. You’ll like it, I promise.”
He let out a breath. “Fun and spontaneous isn’t something I’m very comfortable with,” he admitted, but decided what the hell? He’d already survived taking the biggest leap of faith of his life by moving from Brazil to Florida, something that was so completely out of character that his parents thought he was still mourning the end of his marriage. So, going on a date with a beautiful woman and letting her take the lead…what could possibly go wrong?
“Okay, fine. I’ll text you my address,” he said as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. She folded herself into her crappy fifteen-year-old Honda Civic, which was mostly red, except for some patches of chipped-off paint. The bumper was held together with a hot pink bungee cord, and there were bumper stickers plastered everywhere. For some reason he couldn’t picture her with any other car but this one, it somehow suited her perfectly. But she was absolutely out of her mind if she thought he’d be going anywhere with her in that clunker tomorrow.
Love stories you’ll never forget
By authors you’ll always remember
eOriginal Romance from Random House
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