Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
VERA
Cara only lived twenty minutes from me, but it still felt like the longest car ride of my life.
I didn’t know why I was so nervous. Maybe because it was my first time seeing her in a private setting.
Besides my hotel room, we’ve only spent time around other people.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep my hands to myself.
I really wanted to impress her, so I’d spoken with her assistant to find out her favorite dessert and I’d spent all night trying to perfect the recipe. I hoped she liked it. I made sure to do a taste test so I didn’t kill her.
I felt like our game yesterday was a win for me on all accounts. Her friends got to see us interact together and I felt like we all had a great time. Her almost kiss made it look believable, but it shocked the hell out of me.
If I was a betting woman I would’ve bet against her initiating anything and would’ve gone home broke. I hadn’t expected it at all, and it took every ounce of strength I had not to grab her and finish what she’d started.
I knew it was just for show, but I couldn’t help but hope, if only a little, that it wasn’t completely.
If I was delusional, I would’ve thought that the way she looked at me meant something.
That the way she lingered wasn’t only for her friends, but for her, too.
But I wasn’t delusional, and it was just for show.
Thankfully, I arrived at Cara’s before my thoughts could keep going down that dangerous path. If I let myself think about things that weren’t there, it wouldn’t end well.
I couldn’t think of a more fitting house for Cara than what I’d driven up to. It was a single-story modern house with a brown exterior that meshed well together with the surrounding trees and shrubbery.
There were a few stairs leading up to the front door, and I admired how unique they were. They were at least ten feet long, and I’d never seen anything like it.
Okay, so maybe I had it bad if I was falling in love with her front steps. I was a simple woman. It didn’t take much to get me.
I rang the doorbell and a few seconds later, Cara came into view. I blew out a breath. I’d never get used to how beautiful she was. Even in loungewear, she was just so perfect I couldn’t stand it.
“Vera, hi. Thank you for coming. What’s this?” she asked, pointing to the glass container I held in my hands.
I was raised never to go to someone’s house without bringing something.
I smiled as I watched her stare at the dessert with hopeful eyes.
“Just something small I whipped up. Cranberry white chocolate chip cookies.” I shrugged as if it were no big deal.
The fact that I’d stayed up until almost one in the morning to make those cookies perfect was irrelevant.
It looked as if her eyes were glossing over, but that didn’t sound right. No one cried over a simple gesture like making cookies.
My pulse jumped when she reached over and placed her hand on my arm. That was the second time she’d initiated any sort of contact and I wasn’t sure how my brain hadn’t short-circuited yet.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“Of course, princesa. I have to confess. I may have asked Eloise what your favorite dessert was. I didn’t want to come here empty-handed, but I didn’t know what you’d like.”
She looked at me without a word, pure softness filling her gaze. After a few seconds she cleared her throat and opened her door farther to let me in. “Let me show you where to put those.”
If someone would’ve blindfolded me and dropped me off into this house, I could’ve told them who it belonged to without a second thought.
The entire house had Cara written all over it.
The outside was modern with a touch of rustic, but the inside was all modern.
The art on the walls were all bookish or queer-themed.
The kitchen wasn’t any different. White marble counter tops. A large matching island in the middle with white and gold appliances to match. It was so Cara. Cute and polished.
“You can just set the cookies on the island, and I’ll get them put away after we’re done. Are you thirsty or anything? I just made some fresh lemonade before you got here. It’s been chilling in the fridge.”
I smiled. Of course she made lemonade. ?Mierda! She was fucking adorable! “That sounds perfect.”
She went into the refrigerator and pulled out a full glass pitcher. “Is that strawberry lemonade?” I asked, noticing the discoloration.
She nodded. “Yes, it’s my favorite. Is that okay? You’re not allergic to strawberries, are you?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. That’s my favorite kind, too.” She sent me a look that questioned that statement. “It’s true! You can ask my abuela.”
She smiled and got two glasses out of a cabinet before filling them with the lemonade. “I believe you. So, let me give you a quick tour and then I can show you the office?”
I took a sip of the lemonade, humming in appreciation. It was so damn good, but I hadn’t expected it to be anything else.
She let me finish my lemonade before taking me around the house. She showed me the bathrooms and her bedroom, which I noticed was closed, before leading me into the office.
“This the office. It’s nothing fancy, but I love it.”
I looked around, taking in the minimalistic office. There was a simple couch against one wall with a modern white coffee table. There were white bookshelves lining the wall behind her desk, which were simple.
She pointed to the coffee table, and I noticed a set of unique coasters sitting there. They were varying shades of green, ranging from very light to very dark, and shaped like a flower.
“One of my favorite pieces in the office are these coasters. Daisy’s friend, Cora, owns a cute little handmade shop in Fairview, and one of the items she sells is coasters.”
“They are amazing. I like the office. It’s definitely not what I expected.”
She frowned. “No? What did you expect?”
“I don’t mean that in a negative way, I just… you keep surprising me, princesa. That’s all. I expected more high end art and expensive furniture pieces. I didn’t mean to offend you, I’m sorry.”
“I’m not offended. And you really do think I’m a princess, don’t you. I’m not, Vera. Just because I know what I want and might like nice things, doesn’t mean I’m high maintenance.”
“I know, Cara. Like I said, you keep surprising me. So, what is the gameplan you have for this office?”
I was grateful she seemed to want to put an end to that line of conversation, sighing and looking toward the wall. “I’m wanting some shelves installed and the carpet taken out. I can send you an email with the specifics. I have the shelves and the flooring being delivered sometime next week.”
“That works for me.”
She smiled. “Perfect. Here, let me take your glass. Would you like a refill?”
I handed her the empty lemonade cup and smiled, following behind her as she headed back to the kitchen. “That sounds good, but just one more. After that, I’ll probably end up drinking your whole pitcher.”
“I can always make more. When do you think you can get started?” she asked me as I sat on one of the stools at the island.
I loved watching her float around her space, looking like an angel. She wore a cream-colored sweatshirt with jeans, and she looked put together and comfortable at the same time. It didn’t hurt that her jeans were tight and hugged her ass so perfectly.
I smiled when she brought a filled cup over to me and I purposefully made sure our fingers brushed together when I took it. I loved seeing her reactions, like she was trying, and failing, to hide how her body reacted to me. She couldn’t, but it was cute to see her try.
She gripped her own cup tightly in her hands and took a sip. She licked the juice off her lips, and of course my eyes went straight to the motion. I couldn’t help it. I was obsessed with her lips. They were so soft and delicious looking. I was desperate to feel them again.
But since that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon, I cleared my throat, trying to hold myself together and focus my mind on something that wasn’t Cara’s body.
“We should be finished with the sidewalk stuff in a few weeks, so I can start in about two weeks and I’ll have it done before the wedding. Should we talk about that, by the way? It’s in Bali right? Can you send me the information when I get home so I can get my flight handled?”
She nodded with a bright smile. “That’s perfect. Yeah. I’m so excited. I’ve never been. I definitely plan to use that week to my full advantage when I’m not busy with wedding stuff. Thanks again for agreeing to do this. Just send me the bill when it’s done, and I’ll take care of it.”
I rolled my eyes, not wanting to talk about money.
She didn’t know it yet, but she wasn’t paying me a penny.
I didn’t want her money, I just wanted to see her smile.
“Of course, Cara. I’m here to help. I’ve never been to Bali either, I’ll have to see what there is to do, while you’re doing wedding stuff.
Speaking of, I’m going shopping for a new tux next weekend.
Do you have any recommendations of a good place to go? ”
She nodded, setting her cup down. “I do, actually. There’s a place just outside of Seattle in… Fairview, funny enough.” She paused, seemingly having a debate with herself about what to say next? “I could go with you. You know, if you needed help, or just wanted some company.”
I smiled as if I had just been told I was going to Disneyland as a child. She actually wanted to spend time with me? Outside of wedding obligations? I must’ve been dreaming.
I mean, yeah, it was technically wedding related, but her friends wouldn’t be there. We didn’t have to put on an act for anyone.
Instead of questioning it, I used my brain and nodded. It might’ve been a fluke and I wasn’t going to turn her down. “I’d love some help, princesa.”