Chapter 49
She was running a bit late, but it was okay since I knew she would be heading out anytime soon. I wanted to call her just to hear her voice, but I didn”t want to put unnecessary pressure on her, so I waited. I was soon rewarded because barely thirty seconds later, she was bounding down the stairs. She had a pair of heels on, but they weren’t too high, so I guess this was how she could head over so speedily. She slowed down, though, when she finally noticed me and then began to walk normally. I was almost amused. I would have been, but I couldn”t account for how breathtaking she looked.
I was standing, waiting for her at the base of the stairs, conversing with Scott. There had been no reason for me to wait but I did. In a way, tonight seemed like our first date. Even though it was going to be Aurora’s wedding, but as I perused my outfit – a gleaming white shirt and polished shoes. I wasn’t going to let this magical evening go to waste.
She had on a silk waistcoat along with matching shirt, and then a string of pearls draped around her slim neck. Her hair was pulled back and ordered accordingly, and although her makeup was light, her lips were so red and gorgeous that I nearly swore to myself. Kissing them was the first thing I”d do after she came within reach. But because there were people passing all about and coming to say hello, I kept my hands to myself and controlled my impulse. She arrived, and I gave her a look before giving attention to the man who had just approached me. He was a guest staying in the mansion, but there was a little catering out back that they were hoping the main family could come join soon.
Aurora still hadn”t left, but in a few minutes, and according to David, he would be able to get her to leave. As soon as I got the text message from him, I turned to Scott to give him the signal. He headed back to the car he had driven over with and retrieved her dress. One of the housekeepers showed him to her room where he would hand it over to David.
“I”ll be back soon,” I told the man after confirming that I had been absent because there had been urgent business matters in the city to attend to. I turned around then and, without thinking, extended my hand. I realized at that moment what I had just done, but before I could retract it, a warm, slender hand took hold of it and brought herself along to my side. My heart pitter-pattered in my chest, but I managed to keep myself calm. I stared briefly at her and together we walked out of the house. While Scott drove, we sat together in the back quietly. She had a huge camera bag with her, and midway through, she started to bring out her equipment, checking it, changing memory cards, cleaning the screen.
I watched her work, and although there was nothing inherently fascinating about cameras to me, watching her be so technical about it drew me to her even closer in a way that I couldn”t explain.
”Maybe you could take some of us later on,” I leaned forward to say before I could stop myself.
“What do you mean?” she asked softly as she looked up at me.
“I”d love to have one of you sprawled out on my sheets.”
She gawked at me just as I knew she would, wide-eyed and blushing so hard it was almost comical. And then she returned her attention to her devices and eventually put them away.
A few minutes afterward, however, she leaned over and whispered to me.
“Maybe, but my services aren’t free. We can discuss payment afterward.”
I laughed aloud then, and it startled Scott. However, I ignored him, and I leaned over to kiss her.