She nods and I walk her down to the laundromat, carrying her basket with both arms to keep from reaching out to touch her. When we get there, she takes the basket from me at the door.
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow night?” Excited as I am, I need confirmation that she’s not planning on standing me up.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
I smile.
She smiles.
Now, that I’ve tasted her, I can’t walk away without another kiss. This one is softer. We press our lips together. I lick at the seam of her mouth. She shivers as I cup her chin in my hand.
“Excuse me.”
We both jump at the sound. I glance over my shoulder. It’s that damn guy again. Goddamn—does this poor todger live at the laundromat?
“Sorry, man.” I stumble out of the way for him to step inside.
Sadie waves at me through the wide glass of the front window. I’m doing everything in my power to not break out into a Sound of Music hop-skip as I go back up to my apartment.
Chapter Seventeen
Sadie
I spin in a half-circle—this way, then that way—and the skirt of my short floral dress twirls with me.
“I don’t think I’ll survive these shoes.” Heaven knows I’m not a four-inch stiletto kind of gal.
Nat rolls her eyes as she stands back and appraises my look in the floor-length mirror. “How about some lip liner?”
My eyes bug out in surprise before I break into giggles. “Lip liner. Eww!” I may be a ball of vibrating nerves right now but I still have enough wits about me to know that nobody’s gotten away with lip liner since JLo left In Living Color. There’s a thin line between looking nice and looking ‘too much’. I’m really not trying to cross it.
She comes and stands behind me, palms bracing my shoulders like a mother about to send her preteen off to the first school dance. “Sadie, you are absolutely gorgeous. Ravishing, actually. But you need a little, tiny bit more oomph! Tonight is the night you graduate from kissing frogs to seducing a prince…No pressure.”
I guffaw. “Yeah, no pressure.”
Narrowed eyes settle on mine. “I’m serious. This date is huge. This date could change everything.”
I return her glare. “Jeez—are you my best friend right now? Or are you a john trying to pimp me out to pay the rent?”
Her eyeballs go a-spinnin’ in her head before they settle on the meager contents of my makeup bag sitting on the dresser in front of me. “Sit.”
And only because there’s a swarm of butterflies dancing in my belly and my pulse has more base than a set of speakers at an Ibiza nightclub, I do as I’m told. Grinning manically, my friend grabs the mascara wand from the dresser and goes to work.
I have my reservations because the last time I let her do my makeup, I ended up looking like a YouTube makeup tutorial happened all over my face. But maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing this time.
Tonight is sort of special. I’m not typically caught up in fashion ‘do’s and ‘don’t’s. I don’t let those things dictate what I wear and how I feel about myself. But tonight is different. I sort of hate myself for it but I want to look good for Xavier. It’s actually important to me although I probably wouldn’t ever admit it out loud. I’ve wanted this for so long.
After yesterday’s kiss, I’m thinking he might kiss me again. And this time, I’m going to die…I’d like to look nice when I die.
When she’s done working her magic, her eyes glint with approval. “Stand and give me a twirl.”
Again, I give her the satisfaction of following her orders without complaint and she beams as she takes me in. “Look at you with your perfect smoky eye and your sophisticated take on the messy bun. Plus, your tits are top-notch in that sweetheart neckline. Girl, you are slaying tonight.” With the level of motherly pride on her face, you’d think I just got done curing some pandemic threatening to wipe out all of humanity.
I lean into the mirror and pull in deep breaths, trying to get these damn nerves under control.
“So, are you saying I look okay?”
Nat hocks in her throat. “Okay? You look like a knockout, Sadie…When Xavier sees you, he’s gonna get a boner so big he’ll trip over it on his way down the stairs.”
I throw my head back and howl with laughter. “Oh my god. We’ve been hanging out together way too often these days. You’re starting to sound like me.”
With a nonchalant shoulder shrug, Natalie saunters over to the mattress and plops down on the edge. She picks up a magazine and starts flipping through the pages. “You owe me, y’know,” she tells me, totally ignoring my comment.
"I owe you for what exactly?" I wait with a cocked brow and my hands on my hips.
She doesn’t look up from the magazine’s glossy pages. “For saving you from that face tattoo, if nothing else."
Did she seriously bring up the face tattoo? That’s low. “Oh come on. That was six years ago. Am I ever gonna live that one down?"
She slaps the magazine down onto her knee. “Uh, no. Do you think that you'd be going on a date with an actual, real-life prince right now if I'd let you go through with that colossal failure in judgment?"
I toss a beauty sponge at her.
She grins. “In all seriousness, I’m so excited for you, Sadie. You deserve this. A nice guy taking you on a nice date. You deserve someone who’ll be good to you.”
Propping my butt on the edge of the dresser, I look at her with the corner of my lip trapped between my teeth. “And how are you so sure this guy will be good to me? Up until yesterday, all he’s done is jerk me around.” I don’t think I can take any more of the back and forth with him. I want him. Even if I know there’s a timer counting down to his departure, there’s an expiration date on anything that happens between us.
Nat’s beaming face doesn’t reflect any of my worry. “He’s your hot accent guy, silly. The one who’ll give you pretty babies.” She winks. “It’s fate.”
And of course I laugh. “That’s just ridiculous on so many levels.”
Then, her face goes somber. “Seriously though, let yourself have fun tonight. Promise?”
I nod. “Promise.”
Moments later, there’s a knock at the door and before I can get my vertigo under control, Nat has rushed off to answer it.
Peeking out from behind the doorframe, I watch the side of her face as she swings the door open and her jaw literally drops to the floor. “H-hi.” She hugs the side of the door as if to keep her balance.
I hear his husky voice before I see him. “It’s lovely to see you again, Natalie.”
I arch my neck, eager for a glimpse of him. My heart falters in its tracks. I immediately understand what has Nat acting all weird.
A black button-down shirt spreads across his broad chest and dark denim hugs his legs. His hair is brushed back off of his forehead and a big silver watch is clasped around his wrist. He looks mouth-watering.
His gaze flits my way and he catches me peeking like a weirdo. He brushes through the door, his confident, purposeful stride bringing him to me. “Sadie…”
He loses his words as his gaze skims down my figure, taking in every detail. The tendrils of hair tumbling in waves from my messy top knot. The mini-dress clinging to my body. The stilettos emphasizing my toned calves. The glint in his dark eyes tells me he likes the package very much.
“Hi...” I say, hating that I sound coy and breathless. But with the way his gaze feels on my body, I don’t know if my knees will have the strength to carry me out of this room.
He comes closer and his hand finds the small of my back as he presses a slow, soft kiss to my left cheek, then my right. His lips brush the lobe of my ear and he keeps his voice low. “You look bloody sexy, darling.”
Someone sound the alarms. Swooning confirmed! Swooning confirmed! I’m going to need to be airlifted out of here.
“Thank you,” I say. My tongue dashes across my lips as I watch him again, head to foot. “Yo
u look pretty sexy yourself.”
I smile.
He smiles.
And we get lost in this place where the world is in soft-focus and this moment between us is all that exists. The thundering of my heart. The rise and fall of his chest. The sparkle in his—
Natalie clears her throat loudly, reminding us that she’s standing right here. Poor girl. She must be choking on all the pheromones firing through the room.
Xavier grins like a man who knows that the next few hours at the movies is nothing but foreplay. “We should get going, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Turning toward the front door, he twines his fingers with mine and leads the way.
Nat is one step behind me, whispering in a low voice. “Remember—I’ll be over here all night, dying for details so hourly updates from the ladies’ room, okay?”
I toss her a glance over my shoulder. “No way,” I mutter out the side of my mouth.
She begs with her eyes and an exaggerated pout. “I have no love life. You realize that I’m living vicariously through you. Don’t be cruel.”
I laugh and my nerves ease just a bit. “That’s a choice. The minute you let go of your prejudice against Bitcoin, you’ll be getting all the Alvin-lovin’ you can handle.”
She rolls her eyes at the mention of her ex.
We say a quick goodbye and Nat closes the door behind us. And now Xavier and I are alone.
The movie theatre is literally a block away so the plan is to walk over there. He won’t take his eyes off of me as he ushers me down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk. “I hope you don’t mind, I made us dinner reservations. We can catch the later showing of the movie if you’re up to it.”
I don’t think I’ve eaten all day. I was so damn twisted up over this date. At the mere suggestion of food, my stomach rumbles low. “I’d like that.”
We share a grin and I realize that this guy is just as nervous as I am. He’s a prince—an actual prince—and he’s just as nervous as I am. I think that tiny realization helps me relax just a tiny bit as we head off in the direction of Gallo’s Italian Restaurant.
Throughout the walk, he continually sneaks little peeks at me. When the heat of his gaze becomes too much to bear, I look over at him and question him cautiously. “What?”
His lips rub together and his eyes settle on my boobs. His cheeks swell when he smiles. “You have really nice tits.”
I snort out a surprised laugh. “You did not just say that.”
“I wanted to be honest.” He glances at my round, perky girls again. “I mean really nice tits. I would steal sweeties from young, helpless children and deliver them to your doorstep for a look at those tits."
All the tension from earlier is gone. I laugh freely and hysterically. “Your compliments make no sense."
He insists. “I would do it, Sadie. With absolutely zero remorse. In cold blood.”
I laugh harder and slap him playfully on the arm. “Well, thank you for lightening the mood at least.” My voice sobers and I make a confession. “I was really nervous about seeing you tonight.”
His fingertips are soft against my cheek when he reaches over and brushes a lock of hair away from my eyes. “I was nervous, too. I’ve been looking forward to it all day.” He leans down and tenderly brushes his mouth over mine.
My heart takes off racing as we share a smile. So much possibility sparking and crackling between us. We continue the walk in a soft but excited silence. As we’re nearing the restaurant’s main entrance, his gaze flicks to my boobs again. I giggle. It’s all I can do to keep from hooking an arm around his neck and pulling his face down into the valley of them.
He flashes me a wink as he holds open the front door of the restaurant. "In cold blood, Sadie. In cold blood."
I’m gonna fuck this guy’s brains out tonight. Just you wait and see.
Chapter Eighteen
Sadie
My mouth is having an orgasm.
The rest of my body is frozen. My eyes are closed. My fingers grip the edge of table. The toe of my shoe is buried in the low pile of the worn-out oriental rug. But my mouth is having an orgasm.
My taste buds dance at the full, intense flavour of the marinara sauce spreading across my tongue. I groan like a fool and my eyes slowly flutter open.
Xavier’s eyes are hooked on me. There’s a tempting, little curl to his lips. His dark irises twinkle in the restaurant’s dim recessed lighting.
Quickly, I straighten up and run the white linen napkin along the edges of my mouth to wipe up any traces of sauce lingering there. “I’m sorry.” A tiny, embarrassed laugh slips past my lips.
He shakes his head. “No, never mind me. Keep making those noises. I’m enjoying it.” His eyes stay on me as his fork twirls around in his linguine.
I reach for my wine goblet. “I haven’t been here in a while. I forgot how much I love the food.” On my budget, eating out isn’t something I do all that often but that’s definitely no excuse for acting like a pig right now. Still, when that rich pinot noir hits my tongue, I groan again.
This time he laughs.
“If you’d just take a sip, you’d know what all the fuss is about.” With lifted brows, I stretch my glass over to him again. And again, he refuses.
“I’m staying away from the wine. Unless you want to be carrying me out of here tonight.” He jokes but his smile doesn’t light his eyes the way it usually does.
“I’m sure I could manage that.”
“And scuff those sexy fuck-me shoes? That would be a pity.”
I roll my eyes. “I am more than my shoes, Prince Charming.”
“Oh, I know that...” He brings his fork to his lips and chews with a little smile on his mouth. “You’re not what I imagined you’d be, Sadie.”
“What did you imagine?”
“Well, I’ll be honest…” His gaze rolls over me, warmth in his appraisal. “You’re hot as hell. The tattoos and the piercings and the snarky attitude are a part of the sexy, bad girl facade. But you’re so much more than that. Smart. Funny. Vulnerable.”
My insides tighten. Something like fear comes alive beneath my skin. “I don’t know how I feel about being called vulnerable.” I keep my spine rigid and my shoulders back. I don’t know why I bother trying to act tough because it’s clear that he sees right through me.
He sets down his fork. His hands clasped behind his head, elbows sticking out at the sides, a knowing curl dances on his mouth as he leans back in his chair and watches me.
I find myself squirming. Noticeably. “What?”
His smirk deepens. “I’m starting to think that the ‘vulnerable’ is only for me.”
A loud huff bolts past my lips. “Full of yourself much?” This guy is unbelievable sometimes.
He holds out his hands appeasingly. “Let me rephrase that. Maybe I only see it because I’m really, really paying attention.” He leans across the table, his eyes sincere and warm but devoid of any teasing when he says, “I see you, Sadie. I really see you. And I like what I see. Very much.”
And those words crack me right open. I feel them physically. It’s like someone’s finally found the master key to that secret spot where I keep every little secret hidden. I’m not sure if I like that or if it scares me senseless. All I know is that if I’m not careful tonight, by the time morning rolls around, this man will have every piece of me.
My breath quivers and words come out uncontrollably. “I’d given up on ever hearing anyone say that.”
Immediately, I regret saying the words. They make me feel weak. And I hate feeling weak.
Xavier looks at me. The intensity in his eyes conveys how very much he gets it. For the first time, somebody actually gets it. “I know how it feels to need that connection, Sadie. I know how it feels wishing that someone—anyone—would dare to look past the defenses you’ve built.” He cups my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him. “I’m not afraid of your armour, darling. I see the beautiful soul beneath it.”
/>
He’s unraveling my truth like a spool of yarn. After spending so many years knitting together this intricate persona, one tug of the string and this man has me all figured out.
I glance around at our surroundings, looking for something, some distraction that will take the heavy spotlight off of me. But there’s nothing, not even a waiter in sight. The small, linen-draped tables are empty. The stools at the bar sit vacant. There’s no one swaying tipsily on the dance floor. And it’s all Xavier’s fault.
“Y’know—you didn’t have to reserve the entire restaurant just so the two of us could have a meal tonight.” I lift my glass to cover my lips before I throw him a verbal jab. “Unlike you, I don’t mind sharing my dining establishments with mere commoners.”
I know it’s shitty to deflect the conversation after what was just said but I can’t go down that road, not right now. The feelings are too raw.
Xavier’s hearty laugh floats across the table. “I don’t mind sharing my dining establishments, either. It’s you I don’t want to share.”
Aaaannnnddd, more wine for me. I refill my glass and guzzle it down.
With that one comment, he’s thrown me off-kilter and he knows it. He grins proudly as my cheeks flame. If he keeps talking like that, it’s only a matter of time before I find myself on my knees, doing something very dishonourable to him under the table.
He’s still looking at me, the intensity of his gaze searing. Desperate for a distraction, I bring my attention to the people walking by on the street. “Hey, doesn’t that look like Laundromat Guy?” I nod my head in the direction of the shadow peeking in through the restaurant’s wide window.
Xavier just chuckles and with his pointer under my chin, he brings my attention back to him. I squirm. He presses his leg against mine, his hand playfully squeezing my knee under the tablecloth. A hot zing shoots into the damp space between my thighs. My sex coils so tight I nearly have to grind on my chair to ease the tension. “Okay, sorry. I’ll stop putting you on the spot.” He leans back and grins then changes the subject. “So, you plan on going back to school next semester?”
The Blue Collar Bachelors Box Set: The Complete Blue Collar Bachelors Series Page 94