AMAZE ME
Page 1
Amaze
Me
© Angel Mystique
Copyright
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without written permission from Angel Mystique.
This e-book is licensed for personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold nor can it be given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share this book with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
© Angel Mystique, 2017
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Catch you soon.
Keep flying high,
Angel Mystique.
Acknowledgements
Firstly, I owe this book and every other book I will write… to my Heavenly Father. He blessed me with this gift; I’m very grateful to be walking in my calling.
Secondly, to my mother. For always telling me to pursue my dreams. I love you more than you will ever know!
Thirdly, to my brilliant boyfriend Cedric Floyd. All the times I talked about these two, thank you for listening and for giving me feedback. I love you.
Lastly, to you, dear reader. May you, somehow, find yourself in this book.
ALSO BY ANGEL MYSTIQUE:
Sleep Sweetly: A F’d Up Fairy Tale
Dedication
We all need that someone sent to amaze us.
This is for the ones who make us stop and say “wow.”
Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgements
ALSO BY ANGEL MYSTIQUE:
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One: May I Have Extra Cream with That?
Chapter Two: How Did You Know?
Chapter Three: This Feels Right
Chapter Four: Don’t Be Afraid
Chapter Five: Let Him Go
Chapter Six: Family?
Chapter Seven: I’m Here
Epilogue
About the Author:
A Sneak Peak of TRUST ME (Blake and Samantha)
Prologue
-Vienna-
She hated reading the words, but she couldn’t help it. Hell, she had them memorized. If she hadn’t thrown the letter away, she would have still been holding on.
Holding onto him, onto them and what would never be, and, onto all her hopes and dreams that were wrapped into her ex.
One man. The man she lost herself in…. almost three years ago and never swore to let herself to there again. He was the man that got close… got so deep she allowed her every thought, feeling, and even her way of living... be dictated by him.
She scoffed at that realization- looking back over the course of her relationship with Thaddeus Graham. She had lost herself. Given her entire soul to that man. And she hated herself for that., she hadn’t gone on like some mad woman and tried to find that letter by digging through the trash can. Now that would have been crazy.
Seven parts lunatic for sure.
She was many things but going all ape crazy, becoming a lunatic? Never her style. If being with Thaddeus had taught her anything, it was that people change- sometimes in the worst ways.
And when Thaddeus changed for the worst, she left., She had taken all she could take after finding in him his dorm room, screwing his best friend Brian. That was why she locked herself away in an emotional tower stories high- and miles away from every man since Thaddeus.
Try as she might, she found that breaking away was impossible. The walls were too high. Too deep. Too impenetrable.
So why now had she found herself, after all those years of being free from him, still building walls?
-Jude-
The lone cup of coffee that sat on the island in his kitchen taunted him. The mauve-soaked stain had faded into the pearl mug like a second skin. That one cup served as a reminder to him. A deep, tragic reminder that his current flavor of the month, the one he sort of was feeling, had left, and she wasn’t coming back.
He had texted her a thousand times, it seemed, waiting on her to respond, but had ended up with nothing.
An empty house- save for his Dalmatian puppy Rex and a full fridge. All the material things were there; he was still alive and breathing. Yet… the one thing… the one person he needed to feel satisfied… wasn’t there.
He ran his left hand through his thick, curly, sandy hair, sighing.
He had to have been foolish to think a woman like Monica- talented, carefree and reckless- would choose him.
Jude Dixon. A guy who spent his days shooting hoops, making music, and following his passions. A successful guy who most people had no clue about. They didn’t know the beating (and sometimes) bleeding heart that sat within his chest. Most would never know. That didn’t matter to him.
People didn’t matter to Jude. Sure, his family did, yeah. The thousands of people who “looked up to him”? He could take em or leave em.
All he wanted… all he needed… was one. One woman to break him out of his shell and have him experiencing life with her.
And dammit, he would find her.
Chapter One: May I Have Extra Cream with That?
Jude cleared his throat; nervousness spiked through his veins. The woman standing before him… waiting for him to place an order… was beyond gorgeous. So, gorgeous it made him feel uncomfortable. He ran a hand through his curly locks, licked his lips and cleared his throat once more.
She had the most amazing, smooth-looking skin and the color of it… a light, creamy cappuccino or a deep, sandy brown. With freckles! Freckles aligned her cheeks and nose. So many freckles, too. Her hair was a deep ebony shade, cut short. It suited her. Brought out the glow of her alluring, light brown eyes.
“Sir…” her voice pulled him out from the admiration he had been giving her.
He looked like an idiot. Heck, right now he felt like one, gawking at her like that.
“Uh… Sorry. You’re just…” he stopped speaking for a moment, his eyes fixated on her full lips.
Jesus, you are one gorgeous woman! Do you even know?
He shook his head, biting his bottom lip.
“Damn.” He hissed underneath his breath. “You must think I’m an idiot, huh?”
“Well, you staring at me like I’m some ethereal being or somethin’.”
Her voice held a Southern twang. A slight twinge to it he found adorable.
He smiled.
“Ethereal huh? I like that. Name’s Jude.”
“Vienna.”
He nodded, glancing up at the menu above both of their heads.
“Cool, Vienna. Nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll be different and call you ‘V’ or something. If you give me the pleasure that is.”
“You’re blushing. Did I say something that made you? -”
“Feel somethin’? Yeah,” she responded.
His right eyebrow arched upward while a smile tugged at both corners of his mouth.
Damn.
A minute in this girl’s presence and she had already shocked the hell out of him. Had moved something inside him he didn’t know could.
“I’ll take a chocolate chip muffin and some warm milk, Vienna.”
He slid his card across the counter, trying to keep the frog in his throat at bay. Maybe it was the way she looked in her cute green, army fatigue-colored uniform with the hat missing. Or maybe it was the way her eyes seemed to hold something like fun and mischief; something he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Comin’ right up, Jude,” she smiled at him, handing him back his card, as she walked away from the register, stepping to the right in front of the large pastry case.
He didn’t take his eyes off her, as she opened the sliding door to the case of delicious, fresh pastries. With a gloved hand, she pulled out one of the largest muffins–with tons of chocolate chips.
Seconds later, the warm muffin and hot, steaming cup of milk were both placed in front of him.
“I-” he paused again, running his hand over his growing stubble, more peach fuzz than anything. “Can I get extra cream with that?”
Jude winced, as Vienna glanced around the full café.
“I won’t tell my boss if you don’t,” she responded, winking, before turning her back to him as she took a step to retrieve a tiny, plastic cup from the many cabinets above her head.
“Not a chance,” Jude muttered back, chuckling to himself.
“Here you go, Jude. Hope you enjoy everything,” she said, meeting his gaze, pressing the small cup into his rounded, open left palm.
“Sure thing. Thanks, Vienna.”
He winked at her before sliding to the left of where she stood behind the counter. Jude chose a small table near the window to enjoy his breakfast. He poured the cream into his milk a took a cautious sip.
He eyes grew large, and he found that she was, in fact, staring at him from across the room.
How in the world had she known he liked whipped cream?
***
“Someone’s got an admirer.”
Vienna smiled. She knew her voice all too well. Her favorite co-worker, Mia.
“Hey, Mi. What in the world are you talkin’ about?”
“More like ‘who’, right?”
Mia winked, her bright, baby blue eyes twinkling.
“I’m talking about Mr. Tall, good-looking, and can’t-keep-his-eyes-off-of-you over there. The guy by the window.”
“Mia. That dude…”
“Is into you, and don’t you dare try and talk yourself out of it!” Mia hissed, her voice dropping to a low whisper.
Vienna rolled her eyes, blushing. She glanced over to where Jude was sitting, slowly munching away on his muffin. The flow of his lips…
A shiver ran down her spine.
Who was she kidding?
The guy was... kind of cute; a little too aggressive for her tastes. Not that was she looking because she wasn’t.
Her focus was enjoying her job, keeping her attention on finishing her undergraduate degree in Creative Writing.
No men allowed.
Even cute, mysterious ones who knew how to make her feel something.
Chapter Two: How Did You Know?
“You look lovely tonight,” Jude said, as the front door of Vienna’s home opened.
He couldn’t believe his luck. In a matter of just a few days, he had already gained her cell phone number, plus a few casual conversations. One of which led him to be standing on the front porch of her home, awaiting their first date.
Jude bit his bottom lip as he smiled down at Vienna. She looked stunning, dressed in a single black and white halter dress that came down, just past her shapely thighs, and some matching, black sandals. Her hair was back; she barely wore any makeup- that he could tell.
Good. Nothing like a natural woman.
“Thank you, Jude,” Vienna whispered, smiling up at him.
Heels low, she felt so tiny underneath his six-foot, four-inch frame- even though she was almost five feet, eight inches herself. He had matched her style by accident.
Or maybe it was pure coincidence.
Whatever the case, he looked good. Simple but good. A crisp, white, linen button down, with a pair of black jeans and white sneakers. His hair was curly- wild yet neat.
Her fingers twitched as the corners of her lips turned upward into a smile.
Suddenly, her hands were filled with the most beautifully smelling bouquet of white and red roses Vienna ever had the pleasure of being gifted.
“Thank you, Jude. These smell amazing. I’ll just be a minute. Let me put these in some water, and we can get goin’.”
Jude nodded, shifting his weight from his right foot to his left, keeping his eyes on her.
“I’ll be right here,” he promised.
Vienna offered him another smile before closing the door behind her. In a matter of minutes, she was out on her front porch, locking her front door, while trying to remember to breathe properly.
But he smells so good!
Dropping her keys into her black clutch, she turned to her left and glanced up at him.
“Forgive me, but you smell so good. What do you have on?”
A light chuckle escaped his lips.
“Black by Sean John.”
Now it was her turn to laugh, her head falling slightly backward, as her hand touched her belly. The faint scent of Unforgivable Woman careened into his nostrils.
“Who knew we would be so in sync?” Jude winked, stepping off the small, brick step leading away from her home and around the dimly lit pathway towards the driveway where his navy, blue SUV sat.
She eyed him once more, nodding in agreement.
“Yeah. Who knew?”
***
Where on Earth had, she come from? And why had his path crossed with hers?
And so damn easily?
Jude glanced over toward Vienna as they made their way toward downtown Atlanta. Never the guy to go all out to impress a woman, he had something up his sleeve tonight.
Something that he hoped would let Vienna know how serious he was about her. He smiled, turning down the radio’s volume ever so.
The light turned red, just as he maneuvered his car over to exit the highway. Perfect timing for him to ask the question that was on his mind; had been on his mind for the past week.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you… What’s a gorgeous woman like yourself doing single?”
Vienna chuckled, playfully rolling her eyes.
“I… I guess I should have expected this question…” she sighed, turning to face Jude before locking her eyes onto his.
The light changed from red to green, as Jude’s foot pressed the gas pedal.
“I’m listening to you,” he spoke, his eyes on the road, and the sea of cars weaving in and out of lanes, before them.
“Why am I still single, or why am I on a date with you?”
Jude shook his head, chuckling, casting his eyes on her for a second.
She always did that. Got to the root of what he was trying to ask her.
And Jude always found rendered speechless. Impressed as hell, yet speechless, too.
“Why don’t you answer both for me,” he flirted, his voice growing deeper.
A few moments later, Jude parked his SUV near a place that was all too familiar to Vienna. Not too far from where they parked was one of her favorite restaurants- a nice, little jazz lounge hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of Atlanta’s busy club crowd.
Jude killed the engine, turning to face the gorgeous woman occupying the passenger seat.
“Why am I single? I believe was your first question?”
&nb
sp; “You’d be correct.”
A small smile appeared on her lips.
“I’m single because I haven’t met a man. A man who is who he says he is. Most guys look at me, and they only see the outside. They see my skin. They don’t see my heart. Or they don’t want to take the time out to know Vienna, you know? They want to screw. Cow and milk, you know? I don’t get down like that. I have morals and I’m the woman you take home to your parents. I’m not the girl you take to the bedroom."
“I knew the moment we met, you know.”
She sat back, letting the feel of the leather touch her soft skin.
“Oh?” she smiled, maybe even blushed, as her head turned toward the window to her right.
“That’s why I like you, V. I mean… you’re right.You’re not a simple, easy chick. You’re not, and I love that.”
“And the reason I’m here with you tonight is,” she whispered, her voice velvet soft, “because I see somethin’ in you. Somethin’ that makes me want to learn everything about you. Somethin’ that… excites me.”
Vienna exhaled, releasing a breath, turning to look him in the eye.
He chuckled, reaching for her hand, pressing a kiss inside her open palm, as he lifted it to his lips.
“There you go again.”
“There I go again what, Jay?”
Jay. A nickname he could get used to.
“There you go again… making it so damn easy for me to fall for you.”
Vienna smiled, watching the color of his irises, as they changed from hazel to gold. Maybe it was due to the tiny flecks of green around the rim of his pupil.
Or maybe…
It was all her.
Several glasses of Plum wine later, Vienna floated freely.
Or rather she was tipsy- super relaxed.
“Where are we goin’ now?” she laughed, gripping Jude’s right arm tightly, as they made their way out of the lounge.