by Beth Michele
“Did it work?” he asks, and I laugh.
“Not really. So anyway, are we set for tomorrow night?”
“Yeah. I’ll be there around five. Hang on,” he says, and I duck into a small pastry shop to grab a croissant. “Okay, so yeah, what time will you be there?”
“I’ll be there at four. Hold on a sec, Ryder.” I step up to the counter, taking a quick look at the sandwich menu. “Can I have tuna salad on a croissant please, to go?” I hold the phone back up to my ear. “Okay, so I’ll be there and Matilda will be there to help me around the same time.”
“The cute little redhead is coming to the event? Since when does she attend these things?” Ryder asks, but there’s more than just curiosity in his voice.
“Since my boss is considering her for a promotion,” I reply, paying for my food and striding out the door.
“Oh, okay.”
“Hmph. And by the way. The cute redhead is single,” I hint, waiting to see how he’ll respond.
“Good to know. Thanks, darlin’. All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yup. See you then.” I end the call but proceed to scroll through my text messages, just to make sure I didn’t miss any new ones from Rex.
I didn’t.
His voice is in my head, though. I hear him calling me Blondie, feel his smile tickling my skin, the deep rumble of his chuckle. If I were an artist, I could paint it on a canvas. Beautiful, bright yellows and oranges with streaks of red. He makes me feel alive.
Maybe I should take an art class. Or maybe I should just pick up the damn phone.
A million things need to be done before we leave for the event, and what am I doing? Glancing over at my phone for the hundredth time today. I haven’t heard from Rex since his text yesterday and I don’t know why I’m surprised. For an entire week he apologized, asked me out, then apologized again. Still, I turned him down. All because of fear.
Fear is a powerful thing. It can motivate you to achieve greatness, yet it can also cripple your existence, threatening to hold you back from the very things that could actually enrich your life.
I want to take that step forward, really I do. Yet each time I lift my foot it feels unsure, shaky, worried about taking too big of a leap. Mostly, though, I don’t want to trip and fall, get a gash that’s too deep to ever heal. I’m already working through the ones I was privileged enough to receive earlier on in my life. I don’t need any more.
“Okay. The boxes are all set to go,” Tillie announces, walking into my office with a confident strut. Her hair is a waterfall of red with a dress and shoes to match.
“Wow, Tillie, you look great! That’s a lot of red.”
“Too much?” She looks down at herself, running her hands along the seam of her dress.
“Absolutely not. It suits you. You look stunning,” I compliment, watching her cheeks add more red to the ensemble as I gather up the last of my paperwork and deposit it in my briefcase.
“All right.” I scan the paper quickly. “Let me just go through this list one more time before we head out, just to be sure we have everything.” I check off the last of the items with black pen. “Okay, looks good. Let’s go.”
“I’m so excited I can hardly contain myself!” Tillie exclaims in the company car on the way over. “I still can’t believe that I’m going to get the opportunity to move up from answering the phones.”
“Why not, Tillie?” I take out the small mirror from my bag to check my lipstick. “You work hard, and you don’t just answer phones, either. You basically organize the department.” I close the compact and stow it in my purse, then turn to her. “You deserve this.”
“Thanks, Vanessa. That means a lot,” she replies, a grateful smile turning up her lips.
“Okay, so when we get there, I’m going to need you to set up the welcome table with the name cards and organize the promotion packs in the larger hall. And if you could go around and be sure we have enough chairs at all the tables that would be fantastic.”
“Absolutely.”
The car pulls up to the Clark building and we gather our things, sliding off the leather upholstery and into the late day sun. George, who heads up logistics for all the events, greets us at the door.
“Hey, Vanessa.” He rolls a cart onto the sidewalk. “A good portion of your boxes arrived this afternoon. Is this everything else?”
“Yes, it sure is. How’s the room looking?” I ask, as we accompany him through the double glass doors to the lobby.
“It looks good. It’s everything you requested, and the tables and chairs have been set up accordingly.” He motions with a hand toward the boxes on the cart. “Where do you want all this?”
“In the main ballroom would be great, thanks.”
“Okay. I’ll get to that and check in with you later. Let me know if you need anything else,” he says with a nod, taking off for the main hall.
Someone pinches me from behind and I turn around to find Ryder, complete with an enthusiastic grin. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, yourself. You ready for this?” His gaze drifts over to Tillie as he blatantly checks her out. She plays right into it, fanning her hair over her shoulder, shooting him a flirty smile.
“I am. You remember Matilda, don’t you, Ryder?” I smirk, waving my hand as if she’s on display.
“Please, call me Tillie.” She extends her hand to him and I almost keel over laughing when he brings it to his lips for a kiss. Her cheeks continue to darken, so obviously enthralled by Ryder’s charm.
“Okay!” I clap my hands together. “I’m going to make sure everything is ready.” My eyes dart from Tillie to Ryder. “Care to join me?” I ask, and feel a pang in my belly when I catch the familiar scent of sandalwood from someone passing by, instantly reminding me of Rex. That prompts me to hunt for my cell phone and check for any new texts or voicemails, exhaling a winded sigh when I discover there are none. It’s been a whole day now and I’ve heard nothing from him.
Desperately needing a distraction, I push through the doors to the main ballroom, a smile giving way when I notice it looks perfect. Round tables with white linen tablecloths and simple arrangements of exotic flowers are scattered about the room, buffet tables along the perimeter, the bar taking up the length of the far wall. There are two violinists seated toward the back that will play classical pieces during the event, something Jonathan felt adamant about and I didn’t argue.
Ryder goes to chat with the bartenders, while Tillie takes care of getting the welcome table ready for the arrival of our guests. I glance at my watch, noticing it’s only five fifteen and we’re forty-five minutes ahead of schedule.
I grab the numbered place cards from one of the boxes and begin setting them out on the tables, when someone clearing their throat garners my attention. I swivel around to find Ryder nodding his head toward the entryway, smiling.
A strange awareness prickles my skin, and as my head turns to find out the source of his amusement, I nearly lose my footing. Reclined against the doorframe in a black leather jacket, white t-shirt hanging loosely over a pair of blue jeans, and a mess of dark hair, is Rex.
It feels like it’s been raining for days, but the moment I see him, the gray morphs into a panorama of color. I want to clutch at my chest, the sheer sight of him filling the hollow space inside of me.
I will my shaky legs to move without giving out but keep my poker face on, not wanting him to know he’s getting to me. As I inch closer, I notice his hair, slightly longer in the front, making me want to reach out and smooth it to the side. It suddenly feels like an eternity since I last saw him. The smile he’s wearing soothes the ache that’s been growing since we’ve been apart.
“Hiya, Blondie,” he says in that cocky as hell way of his, eyes dancing, my heart doing a pitter-patter of its own.
“Rex. What are you doing here?” I try to keep my voice quiet, not wanting to draw any attention. “I’m working.”
“I kind of got that,” he says, “but you weren�
�t really responding to my messages so you left me no choice.”
“Come on.” I gesture with my head toward the hall and he follows. His scent alone makes my knees wobbly and I find myself closing my eyes briefly and inhaling him.
I walk up to the welcome table that Tillie conveniently disappears from and open the guest book. I’m fiddling with the pages when I feel Rex pressing up against me from behind, his lips in my hair. His hands remain at his sides, yet I feel him everywhere as if they were touching me, his nearness a cocoon around my body. My cheeks warm, goose bumps flare up all over my skin.
“I couldn’t let another day go by without seeing you. I miss you,” he whispers and I suck in a breath. “Tell me you don’t miss me and I’ll walk away. I swear I’ll leave you alone. You won’t ever have to see me again.”
Every ounce of my being wants to scream that I don’t, but my hearts wins out, the truth flowing endlessly like a river. “I can’t.”
“Go out with me,” he whispers again, his breath making me hot, his voice caressing the deepest part of me. The cold, dark place only he’s been able to reach.
I blow out a breath, my walls tumbling down around me, shield cracking under his persistence. Turning around, I let my eyes wander over his face; the endless brown in his eyes, the smooth edge of his brow, those full, sculptured lips, that strong jaw coated with a dusting of stubble. The face that keeps me awake at night, haunting me, daring me to live, to take a chance.
And I want to so desperately.
“What do you want, Rex?” I exhale, slumping against the table, my strength disintegrating before his eyes.
“It’s simple. I want you.”
“You’re still relentless,” I breathe out with what little breath he hasn’t stolen from me.
“Is that a yes?” He edges closer, his voice deep, our knees practically touching now.
“Okay.” I choke out the word, squeezing it past the ball of nerves in my throat.
“Okay?” he repeats, his eyes telling me he doesn’t believe what he heard.
“Yes,” I confirm, and the answering grin I’m gifted with is blinding.
“Great.” He runs a hand through his hair, staring at the ground before returning his deep brown gaze back to me. “Okay, so… I’ll be in touch.”
“You’ll be in touch?” I laugh, and his face grows serious, eyes piercing mine.
“I missed that sound.” He closes the gap between us, and my eyelashes flutter when his lips, warm and soft, find my cheek. “I’ll be in touch.”
And then he walks away, leaving me mesmerized by his ability to do what no other could before him—somehow chisel his way into my heart, carving out a spot all his own.
Once he’s gone, I sag back against the table, attempting to catch my breath, but finding it impossible to hide the runaway smile on my face or the relentless pounding inside my chest.
The rest of the event goes off without a hitch—a whirlwind of conversation, captivating speakers, laughter, and drink. I couldn’t care less though. I’m sitting on a cloud in a crystal blue sky, floating. The only thing I can think about.
I’ve got a date with Rex Grayson.
My feet are on fire by the time I stumble to the elevator of my apartment building at midnight. The event was a huge success and every part of my body is feeling it. A relaxing breath leaves my mouth as I slide off my shoes, looking forward to soaking my tired muscles in a warm bath.
With heavy eyelids and a smile that hasn’t left my face since Rex paid me a visit, I slink onto my floor, hauling my briefcase that suddenly feels like it weighs a ton over my shoulder. A glint of silver in front of the door catches my eye, and moving closer, I discover a giant tin. There’s a note on top, so I drop my bags to the ground and unfold it, grinning when I see Rex’s handwriting inside.
I press my lips together to suppress the squeak that wants to escape at his thoughtfulness. I’ve never looked forward to death and destruction so much in my entire life.
Why the hell do I have to work on Saturdays? I should’ve taken the day off today. I’ve done four tattoos and if you asked me what the hell they were, I couldn’t even tell you. There’s only one thing on my mind and that’s seeing Vanessa tonight.
I hope she liked my present. I’m not really a flowers type of a guy, but maybe the popcorn let her know I was thinking of her. If she knew how much, it would probably scare her off. I know it terrifies me. But I’m trying to push past the fear and focus on what Dr. Billings implied in our session. Pay attention to the people that add value to your life. And Vanessa definitely adds value to mine.
The image of her from yesterday is stamped on my brain. Those sky blue eyes with a sparkle that draws me in like no one else before her, lips that when they smile make me forget my own name. And her heart. She’s got so much heart. I don’t even think she realizes it.
“All right, Zeek, I’m heading out,” I call out, my feet so anxious I can barely keep up with them.
“Early tonight, huh? You got a hot date?” He chuckles, rubbing hand sanitizer between his fingers.
“Something like that.” I keep walking, trying to stifle the grin threatening to expose me.
“I figured as much.” He props his elbows on the counter. “You didn’t act like a dick today.”
“I try my best, asshole,” I joke, and he straightens, stretching his arms above his head.
“See ya, man.”
“Later.” I wave my hand in the air as I plod out the door.
The air is crisp, serving as a wake-up call to the strange shit happening in my life. I’m fucking excited about seeing a girl. It’s certainly not something that I ever expected but I’m finally acknowledging it, accepting that I want to see where this goes. For the first time in, well, since I can remember, I feel hopeful. Emotions are unfamiliar territory for me so I know I need to tread lightly. Otherwise, fear will pull me under and I’ll end up drowning. I’ve already let that happen once. I refuse to let it happen again.
The theater is packed when I arrive and there’s no sign of Vanessa. Doubt festers in my head and I run a jerky hand through my hair, worrying that maybe she changed her mind. I quickly shrug off the thought and zigzag through the crowd to the concession stand. I want to get her that buttery popcorn she’s so fond of.
A high school student with blue hair and a nose ring helps me out, and I make sure to have him put extra butter and salt on it. I don’t know how she can eat this shit, but I love seeing the smile on her face when she does.
I find an empty corner and wait, trying to avoid checking my watch every few minutes. I’m sure she’ll be here. She’s probably just running late.
Not more than ten minutes later, she walks through the doors. I stand back and watch her as she scans the lobby for me. Her big, blue eyes are wide, blonde waves bouncing over her shoulders as she peers over heads and around bodies until she finally spots me. And that’s when I see it.
The smile that makes me forget to breathe.
We walk toward one another until we meet in the middle, both of us talking at once.
“Hi.”
And then we laugh.
“You showed,” I say, and her brows dip low in confusion.
“Of course. I never pass up an opportunity for death and destruction.” She plucks a kernel from the tub of popcorn and pops it in her mouth, crunching down on it. “Oh, and popcorn.”
“And to think,” I shrug, “I thought maybe it was my sparkling personality that brought you out.”
“You’re an added perk,” she teases, elbowing me as we search for theater four. “By the way, was this the biggest popcorn they had?” she asks as I hold the door open for her. “Because I like the extra large.”
“Somehow I already knew that.” I grin and she elbows me again, harder this time. “So where do you want to sit?”
“I’m flexible. I just can’t sit too close to the screen.”
“Okay, how about here?” I point to a row in the middle of the room. �
�Good?”
“Yup,” she replies, and I follow behind her until we take our seats. “Hey.” She flicks her gaze to mine. “Thank you for that tin of popcorn. That was really thoughtful.” Her lips meet my cheek in an appreciative kiss that makes me grin.
I did something right.
“So what are we seeing anyway?” She continues to munch loudly on the popcorn and I can’t control my laughter from spilling out. “What’s so funny?” Her blue eyes narrow as she arms her hands with bunches of popcorn, ready to strike.
“It’s just that you’re too darn cute. That’s all.”
Her eyes soften and the popcorn lands in her mouth instead of on me. “Okay. In that case, you’ve been spared.”
“Shhh… quiet. The movie’s starting,” I warn, and she shakes her head, giggling.
I honestly couldn’t give two shits about the movie. The fact I’m so close to her again that I can hear her laugh, smell her raspberry shampoo, feel her knee brushing against mine. That’s the only thing I’m focusing on—everything else is static.
In the back of my mind, I know she probably still doesn’t trust me. But I’m going to prove to her that she can, that she matters to me. I know I’ll probably fuck up. If I’m lucky, though, maybe she’ll be there to catch me.
The beginning credits roll and she gasps from beside me. “Oh my God,” she says in a hushed voice. “It’s A Good Day to Die Hard. You remembered.”
Of course I did. There’s not a single thing I don’t remember about her since we met. And as soon as I heard they were having a Bruce Willis marathon, I was all over it.
I’m not even paying attention to the damn movie. Instead, I’m stealing glances at her, watching the way her cheeks puff up every time she takes a handful of popcorn, her eyes focused on the screen. It’s still crazy to me that she loves these movies. Although, if I had to sit through a chick flick with her, I would. I just wouldn’t tell her that.
Halfway through the movie, I lean over, my breath barely a whisper above her ear. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I say, and she shivers when my lips graze her skin.