He pulls me to the side away from the crowd. “Okay. I confess. I really said, ‘You’re very beautiful.’ You are, but I love it that you don’t realize it.”
I’m ready to melt into a puddle on the ground, and it’s not from the heat in the city.
I approach my apartment door with Gerry trailing behind me. He insisted on walking me to my apartment.
I prop my back against the door. He leans against the wall opposite me. We gaze at each other. Every new minute I spend with him, the more gorgeous he becomes.
“Thanks for coming with me—I really had fun. A bit too much. I love being around you. I don’t want to leave yet.”
I purse my lips while I mentally battle between what’s right and wrong. In the end there are more pros than cons…but I have to do what’s right.
“I’d ask you to come inside, but I think it’d be safer to call it a night.”
I feel the door give way as I fall backward, but I catch myself on the doorframe. Gerry leaps to catch me at the same time.
“Hey there!” Alexa exclaims.
“What the hell, Alexa?” She did that on purpose. I give her a dirty look.
“Whatcha doing? Working late?” she says with her never-ending peppiness.
I smooth out my shirt and stand tall. “Gerry had an extra ticket to The Lion King. He asked me if I wanted to go.”
She nods her head with a mischievous grin.
“How convenient. It’s pretty dark in the theater. Did you actually watch the show?” She stifles a laugh.
I’m going to kick her ass.
I yank on her arm. “Can you please give me a minute with Gerry? Alone.”
“Sure. Bye, Gerry. I look forward to seeing you at the wedding, or maybe some time sooner.” She winks at him.
I shove her away and close the door.
“I’m sorry about that. I guess there’s no way of keeping this from her.”
He moves closer to me. We’re only inches apart. I look up to his enticing face and then at his lips. They look so kissable. All I want is one taste of him right now. Or maybe two. But then it’d lead to three…damn.
“Just in case Alexa’s listening, I’ll whisper. This was the best just friends date I’ve ever had. Especially while keeping you warm in the theater.”
He inches even closer, and I can feel the heat from his lips. I inhale deeply through my nose to smell his enticing musky scent.
“This friends thing is going to be harder than I thought.”
“I know,” I whisper.
He pulls back slowly while his gaze caresses my face. “Sweet dreams, Tina. Talk to you soon.”
He walks away and doesn’t look back. What a tease. I need to defuse my body. I wilt against the door and try to focus. My hand finds the knob and turns it. Alexa’s by my side in seconds, with a huge grin, no less.
“What have we here?” she says. “A date with a client. I thought that was taboo. I want to hear every juicy detail.” She waves me over to the couch. “Do we need alcohol for this?”
“I wouldn’t mind a glass, even though I’ll probably get drunk from one.” I drop my handbag on the floor and take off my black espadrilles.
She comes out of the kitchen and opens a bottle of white wine. “Only a little bit for me,” I say.
She pours us some and places the bottle on one of the coasters on the coffee table. We get comfy on the couch.
“I like him. A lot. He’s so interesting and has a great sense of humor. But we agreed to be friends while we work together.” I explain how he surprised me with The Lion King tickets.
“We had such a great time tonight and couldn’t stop laughing. It was impossible to keep my hands off him because I was freezing. He offered to warm me up, and I couldn’t refuse with the freaking AC right over our heads.”
“Excuses, excuses.”
“Seriously, it was freezing. Just like in here right now. I’m surprised it’s not snowing.” I get a chill.
“Oh, please. Don’t try to convince me it was all innocent. I bet you were still all snuggled up even when you weren’t cold anymore.”
I fight the smile that’s close to breaking through…and lose. “I tried to move away to play by the rules, but he kept a firm grip on me the entire time. I gave in because he’s so warm and cuddly. Do you have an extra calendar I can use to cross off the days until this project’s over?”
She giggles. “I know a month or so sounds like a long time, but it’ll go fast. You know the saying—all good things come to those who wait.” She pats my leg. “It also gives you time to get to know each other without sex getting in the way.”
I angle myself so I’m facing Alexa and cover my legs with a blanket. “Why would he ever want someone like me though? He speaks several languages, comes from Europe, famous chef, blah, blah, blah. I’m so boring compared to him. How am I at all interesting? The closest I’ve come to leaving this country is losing myself in travel magazines.”
“Just because you haven’t traveled out of the country doesn’t make you boring. I’ve never done it. Do you think I’m boring?”
I huff. “Absolutely not.”
“Exactly. You said it yourself. You feel your life’s starting now. Maybe he’s the one you’re meant to explore the world with.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” I massage my sore feet out of frustration.
“Why do you say that?”
Because I don’t deserve him.
“He brings the excitement into your life you’ve been craving. Have fun for the next few weeks. Maybe he’ll surprise you again with a little outing. Once the time’s up, you’ll both know what you want.”
“I’m being realistic and don’t want to get my hopes up.”
Her phone vibrates on her lap. She reads it and rolls her eyes, then tosses it next to her on the couch.
I eye her. “Was that Tony the Tiger? Or another one of your admirers?”
She groans. “I told Tony I’m not interested, even after he sent me those stupid roses. He thinks I’m playing with him. Why the hell would he send me roses after that god-awful date?” She places her wine on the table and reaches for her phone. “He can kiss my ass. I’m blocking his number as we speak.” She taps her phone with speed, then places it on the coffee table. “Done.”
She snuggles into the couch. “It is too cold in here. I’ll turn the AC down tomorrow.”
I give her a desperate look.
“You know I like it cold when I sleep.” She pulls part of the blanket from me and lays it on her legs. “So back to Gerry. Does he want to meet up again?”
“We didn’t make any plans.” I sip my wine, but I’m really not in the mood for it anymore.
“As I said, maybe he’ll surprise you with something else.”
“Should I initiate something?” Nervousness kicks in. I’ve never asked a guy to do something. But it wouldn’t be a date. Keep lying to yourself.
“I don’t know. You said you want to take more chances, but I don’t want to see you regret it. Don’t jump the gun. Wait until after the weekend. See how you feel then. Why don’t we go shopping in the city on Saturday to distract you? Buy some new clothes for the fall. What do you say?”
“Sounds good to me,” I try to say in the middle of yawning. “I could use a few nice new things to brighten my wardrobe. Let’s avoid Fifth Avenue this time though. I make good money, but not enough for shopping there. Window shopping is about all I can do. Remember what I always say?”
Alexa huffs. “Yes, I know. Bargains are your friends.”
We stand at the same time and drink the last drops of our wine.
“I’ve got to take my contacts out. I’m dead tired,” I say.
“I’m sure you are, with those raging hormones zipping through your body. Get some sleep, because I’ve a feeling you won’t be getting much during the next few weeks.”
Beauty sleep versus Gerry? Not a hard decision. Definitely Gerry.
Chapter 14
Tina
Century 21 on Lincoln Square is massive, with a buzzing crowd already at 10:00 a.m. “You wanted to come here and promised me some good sales. Where do you want to start?” I ask Alexa while scanning the store directory. It has everything from discounted clothing to home furnishings. I love bargains, but this store is packed. There better not be any cat fights over something on sale.
She points to Bridal and Formal Wear. “I saw a red dress on the store’s website. It’s on sale, so I want to see if I can find it. I printed out some coupons for us.”
I pull my head back. “But you already have a dress for the wedding.”
“Who cares? If I find it, I’ll try it on. If it doesn’t scream take me home, then I won’t buy it.”
“Whatever you say. Just don’t steal the limelight from Kayla. Your day will come.” I smirk.
“No sign of marriage in the near future. I’d never do such a thing to Kayla, unless she hated me, of course.” She spins around and points. “It’s on the second floor. The escalator’s over there to the right. Let’s go, chica.” She drags me by the arm.
“What’s the rush? Let’s take it slow. It takes time to find a good deal.”
We arrive at the second floor and make our way to the department. I notice a woman wearing a beautiful wedding dress in the distance. Her smile reflects in the giant three-piece mirror. We watch as she twirls around. “You look stunning in that dress,” I say to her as we approach her.
She sees me in the mirror and turns around. “I know. Thank you!” She giggles in delight. A saleswoman spreads the train on the floor.
“What do you think, Mom?” she says to an older woman sitting in a chair near her.
Her mom dabs a tissue under her eye and sniffs. “You look simply gorgeous. Out of all the dresses you’ve tried on, this is the one.” She stands up and gives her a motherly squeeze.
My heart clenches. My mom will never see me in a wedding dress, and it’s my fault. I ruined everything. Tears well up in my eyes, and I squeeze the pendant until my hand hurts.
Alexa grabs my elbow. “Hey, are you okay? You have tears in your eyes.”
I pull my arm away as I search in my bag for a tissue. “I’m fine. That woman has too much perfume on. I need to sneeze, and it won’t come out. My eyes always water when that happens.” I pull one out and wipe my nose.
“Funny. I don’t smell any perfume. Your nose is so sensitive.”
Seeing the woman with her mom guts me. I’ll never do that with Mom. I have my stepmom, Beth, but it’s not the same. It’ll never be the same.
I follow Alexa to the formal-dress section but glance back at the bride one more time. She has no idea how lucky she is to be there with her mom.
Alexa rummages through the racks full of red dresses. She squeals. “Ha! I found it. It’s even more beautiful than on the website, and it’s in my size. It’s a sign. I have to try it on.” She holds the dress in front of her.
“Let’s have some fun and find some dresses for you. Where are the purple ones?” She scans the racks.
“You know I already have a dress for the wedding.”
“So what. It’s fun to play dress up!”
I need to shake this shitty mood. This is supposed to be fun, and I’ve paid for what I did. Time to put on the mask of happiness. “Sounds great. There are some purple ones over there.”
“Let’s see. This is a fall wedding. Darker purple would be better than pastel.” She flicks the hangers across the rods like a pro and lifts a dress off. “Look at this one. What a cool color, a little lighter than plum.”
“It’s called Mardi Gras purple,” says a saleswoman, who appears out of nowhere. “Who’s this dress for?”
I raise my hand.
“This color matches your skin color beautifully.”
Sure it does. It could be the color of vomit and she’d say the same thing just to make a sale.
Alexa looks at the tag. “It’s your size.” She grabs my hand. “Try it on. It’s so pretty, and fifty percent off, and I have those coupons.”
It’s not possible to be in a bad mood when she’s so excited and the dress is so cheap.
I take the dress from her. “Where’s the dressing room?”
We exit the store with two new dresses and matching shoes for the wedding. “Let’s go this way,” Alexa says as she points to the right.
There was no question about it once I tried on the dress. I’ve never owned one so extravagant. It has spaghetti straps with a triangle bodice and sexy V-neck. I’m thankful I have the boobs to fill it. The chiffon layers flow to the knee, then dip to midcalf at the back.
“This wasn’t the type of bargain I was looking for today, but I’m ecstatic. It’s so gorgeous.” Retail therapy cheers me up every time. “I’m not sure what I’ll do with the other dress I bought for the wedding.”
“I’m sure you’ll find somewhere to wear it. It isn’t as fancy, so you could wear it to a nice restaurant or business dinner,” she comments. “Mr. Clean will fall over when he sees you in this. The only food he’ll want to eat is you.”
I tap her on the butt with my bag. “Speaking of eating, I’m starving and thirsty. Do you know a good restaurant or café nearby?”
She stops and looks down both streets. “Let me get my bearings.” After a few seconds, she snaps her fingers. “You know what? I think Matt’s bakery isn’t too far from here. Let me look it up on my phone. I’ve always wanted to check it out, but I’ve never had the time.” She types away. “We’re in luck. According to Google Maps, it’s only two or three blocks from here. Let’s go and surprise him. I don’t mind eating fattening pastries for a late lunch.”
“You don’t have to convince me. Lead the way.”
Chapter 15
Gerry
Do I need to take a number or something? Matt’s bakery has a line to the door. I squeeze my way through the crowd and walk behind the front counter. I look in the far back and see Kayla fighting with a bag of flour.
“Kayla?” I call.
She turns her flour-covered face in my direction. “Gerry. Come on back.” She wipes her forehead with the back of her hand.
“It’s a madhouse out front. Business seems to be running well.”
“Almost too well. We’re exhausted, and my back’s killing me from standing over this counter all morning. I can’t wait for the honeymoon.”
“Where’s Matt? Can I help with something?”
“He’s on the phone taking an order. It sounds complicated.” She points with her elbow at a tray full of fresh éclairs. “Can you check the case in front if we need to put more out, and which flavors? One employee called in sick, so it’s more hectic today than usual.”
“Sure.” I walk over and check out the case. On the other side of the glass case, a pair of familiar cinnamon eyes is looking at the éclairs. Tina’s eyes pop open when she sees me.
She peeks over the counter. “Gerry? Wow. What a nice surprise.” She grins ear to ear.
“It definitely is.”
“Mr. Clean?” Alexa asks and follows Tina’s eyes. Her face turns bright red. “Sorry. I meant Gerry.”
Before I can ask why Alexa calls me Mr. Clean, Kayla comes up from behind me. “Gerry, do we need more éclairs or not?” she says impatiently.
“Your bakery is quite popular today. Look who’s paying a visit.”
Her face brightens. “Hey, girls. What a nice surprise. I’d give you both a hug, but I’m full of flour and icing. Take a look around. If you want anything, Gerry can help you out. We’re swamped today. Since it’s your first time here, take whatever you want. It’s on the house.” She walks over to the worker at the front counter and whispers something in her ear. They both look over to Tina and Alexa, and she nods. Kayla walks to the back, but she turns around again. “Tina, I’m glad those currants didn’t do any permanent damage. I would’ve killed my cousin!”
We laugh in unison as she disappears into the back.
I rest my e
lbows on the case. “So what are you two beauties doing here? No good bakeries in Hoboken?”
“We went shopping nearby. I suggested we come here to check it out,” Alexa replies.
“Hungry?” I glimpse at Tina.
Her eyes twinkle with mischief. “More than you can imagine.”
“What can I get for you both? I saw you eyeing the éclairs. Matt’s are the best. He has some crazy flavors. Why don’t you try one?”
“Do you see something you want, Alexa?” Tina asks.
“I sure do. That fat chocolate mousse one all the way in the back has my name on it.”
I open the case and point to one. “This fatty right here?”
She giggles and nods while looking at the other ones.
“Anything else?”
“How about one of the mini salted caramel ones?”
I put them on a plate and hand it to her. “Good choices.”
“There’s one small empty table in the corner by the window. I’ll go and save it for us. Can you get me a bottle of water please?” she says to Tina.
“Sure. No problemo.” Alexa takes her bag from her and walks away.
“Nice seeing you here. Makes my day off even better.”
“Wow. You actually took a day off. What did your boss say about that?” her voice plays with me as she moves closer to the case.
“He told me it was about time I took an entire day off. Not just a couple of hours.”
“An entire day? What will you do with your time? Buy more blindfolds?” she jokes.
I flinch in response. If she only knew how horrible I feel when she brings up anything remotely related to our long-ago kiss.
“Gerry, please move.” Kayla elbows me. “I need to fill someone’s order. You’re in the way. Please get Tina what she wants and go sit with them. Matt will be out in a minute.”
I look at Tina. “Let me pick two éclairs for you to try. If you don’t like them, I’ll eat them.”
Dreams Collide: Collide Series Book 2 Page 11
