16 #2
It was a huge area scattered with white leather sofas and low glass tables set in intimate U-shapes, ensuring privacy.
There were outside heaters periodically placed, which helped warm up the veranda.
The edge was secured with high glass walls allowing the view to be unobstructed and the area was sheltered by a canopy.
Dani looked closer at the canopy and realised it was probably retracted in the summer.
There were roughly twenty people puffing hard on their cigarettes, though the area could comfortably accommodate five times that.
Dani chuckled to herself as she watched a party of two couples stub out their cigarettes and re-join the clubbers inside, glad she’d managed to ditch that habit.
She’d cooled down considerably now, her halter top providing very little protection from the cold breeze that blew around the veranda.
Her curiosity piqued, now that she was out there, she decided to walk towards the edge but then stopped a few feet away, not quite feeling brave enough to go right up to the balcony edge.
“It’s a bit daunting at first.” Jerome’s raspy voice startled her, causing her to let out a small yelp.
She spun to her left where he stood, his expression amused as he steadied her, placing his hand on her waist. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.
” He’d followed her out, pretending to himself that his real reason for being out on the veranda was for a cigarette.
Dani’s cheeks flushed, embarrassed that she’d overreacted to his voice, but her ears were buzzing from the loud club music and out on the soundless veranda, unexpectedly hearing Jerome’s alluring voice had startled her.
“That’s okay, I just didn’t hear you come out.
Sorry, what did you say?” Dani had turned a little so she could look at his face, forcing Jerome to drop his hand from her waist. Dani drank him in, from his slightly unruly dark hair, down to his black boots he wore under a midnight blue slim fitting three piece suit. Gorgeous…
“I said that it’s a little bit daunting at first.” His eyes almost glittered in the subdued lighting. Dani frowned, not understanding what he meant. “The height.” He looked over to the glass balcony in explanation.
“Oh, yes. Well, I was thinking about going and looking down but…” Dani screwed up her face and she saw Jerome frown for a second. He shrugged himself out of his jacket and gently placed it over her shoulders.
“You must be freezing.”
Dani was about to protest because in his presence, she’d forgotten it was cold. Once the warmth of Jerome’s jacket touched her frozen skin, engulfing her in his scent, she stopped.
“That’s better. Can’t have you getting ill now, can we? So are you going to go and look?” he cocked his head and flashed a crooked smile at her. “Isn’t that why you came out here? Unless you’ve fallen off the wagon.” His smile widened.
“Er… no. I just wanted to cool down a bit.”
Jerome nodded and then stepped closer to Dani.
Her eyes opened, wondering why he was suddenly invading her space and she held her breath as his hand reached out.
Oh my, what was he doing? Jerome’s hand then slipped into his jacket’s pocket and retrieved his cigarettes and lighter.
Dani felt herself blush again. He was just getting his cigarettes – calm the hell down, she chastised herself as she let out the breath she was holding and smiled tightly, embarrassed at her erratic thoughts.
“You don’t mind, do you?” he held up the packet and twisted them a little.
Dani recovered enough to shake her head slightly.
He pulled out a cigarette and then shielded it from the slight wind so he could light it.
Dani stared at him, mesmerized by the simple action, watching his chiselled cheek bones accentuate when he sucked.
He dragged on the cigarette and then blew out a steady stream of smoke, his face betraying complete satisfaction.
“Come on. I’ll stand next to you if you like. It really is something, being fourteen floors up.”
Dani twisted her mouth, unsure if she really needed to go up to the edge. Jerome fixed her with his eyes, and Dani knew she’d have to suck it up. “Okay.”
Jerome shot her a smile and gently guided her by placing his hand on the small of her back and they both stepped towards the glass.
Dani stopped a foot away, nervousness gripping her.
Jeez, it was really high. Jerome stepped right up to the glass and took another drag from his cigarette and regarded her.
He then looked out over the city of Leeds and pointed.
“La Casa is over there. If you go up to the apartments at the top of La Casa, you can actually see Sky.” He turned a little to the left.
“Over there is the way back to Harewood.” He grinned and Dani shuffled a little closer to the edge.
“On a clear day you can see for miles out past the city centre.”
Dani was now up to the glass, taking in the view, but refusing to look down.
“In the summer it’s really something up here.” He smiled softly down at Dani as she looked up at him.
“I can imagine,” Dani answered quietly. They stood for a moment, looking out over the glittering city in the eerie quiet, with the cold air breezing over them.
It was surprisingly peaceful and Dani wanted this moment to last forever.
Jerome stood only inches away from her but his presence had totally enveloped her.
She started to feel a little giddy and her face was flushing from a sudden surge of acute emotions.
She wasn’t entirely sure if it was the height, Jerome’s proximity, or the warmth from a nearby heater, but all of a sudden she felt increasingly warm.
Their quiet was interrupted by a voice. “Um, Boss?”
Both Jerome and Dani turned around sharply to find Paul, the head of security, standing a couple of feet away. The two men looked at each other and an unsaid communication passed between them.
“I’ll be right in, Paul,” answered Jerome, suddenly becoming tense. Paul nodded curtly and allowed his eyes to flit over Dani, then he abruptly turned and headed back in to Sky.
“Well, that’s my cigarette break over with,” sighed Jerome, returning his attention to Dani.
Dani chuckled. Jerome took a final drag from his cigarette, then reached over to stub it out into a nearby ashtray. “Thanks for the tour.” She motioned to the view, then shrugged out of his jacket. “And thanks for the jacket. Here.” She held it out for him to take.
“Keep it on if you’re staying out.”
“No. Thank you. I think I’ve had enough of a head rush for one evening. I’m going back in.” Dani’s warm skin instantly cooled once she’d removed the jacket.
Jerome lifted an eyebrow in amusement as Dani stepped away from the edge. “Head rush?”
Dani smirked. “Yeah, head rush. I’m not too good with heights.” That wasn’t entirely true – it was the hefty dose of Jerome’s close proximity that had her head spinning, but she couldn’t admit to that. No wonder I’m giddy, thought Dani.
“You’ll get used to it. It can get quite addictive, the rush.”
Dani narrowed her eyes at Jerome. “Maybe I’ll need to ease myself into it.”