Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(18)

As JP, Candace and I were walking back to my cube, JP said, “So how long has that been going on?”

“What?” I asked.

“You and your dream man. The boss. He the reason for the sunny disposition?”

“Oh my God!” Candace squealed. “No! Really, Jessica? Did you patch it up? Ty said Willie was moping around, but I hadn’t heard anything!”

“Would you guys shut up?”

“Yay!” Candace said, grabbing my hands and dancing around.

“I would keep that under wraps, if I were you,” JP warned.

“I was trying to!” I shot back. “I don’t know what he was thinking finding me at lunch!”

“That was obvious—he couldn’t stop looking at you. He lurrrves you!” JP laughed and dodged my punch. “But keep it under wraps. For your own sake.”

“I know. Seriously, I know.”

“What y’all talkin’ about? Her new do? You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!” Juniper snipped as she passed us by.

“What, does she follow you around and talk shit now?” Candace was mystified.

“Candace, don’t you know any other words besides bad ones?” JP asked as he walked away rolling his eyes.

“Well anyway,” Candace said, looking back at me with a big smile. “I want to hear everything! Everything! Ty was always saying y’all would make a good couple. He said Willie always liked you. I’m so glad he finally got out of his own way and acted on it! Yay! You’ll be just as happy as me and Ty! You will! I know it!”

“Go away,” I said with a giggle. I needed to get back in work mode. I also needed to taunt Juniper for a while. I brought in some leaves and planned to give her fake plant more bush. Then watch as she tried to figure out why it was so much harder to spy on me.

Chapter Five

My stomach swam with butterflies. William and I had been together for a little over a month and we were going on our first real date. Technical date. We had been out for drinks and dinner often, but this was formal. He was picking me up and everything!

I felt like I had ants in my stomach!

I didn’t have to worry about small talk and impressing him, nor did I have to worry over much about doing something stupid, like tripping over my own feet—I’d already done that—but I did need to convince him I could fit in his world. I needed to show him that even though I was a normal person, with more than average debt, I could put on airs like I owned a conglomerate.

It should be noted that I have never been great under pressure.

To look the part I got a new, expensive dress, and Gladis, who was basically healed, insisted on taking up her mantle as greeter. I wore Ami’s necklace, which I thought of when I bought the dress.

The doorbell rang. I galloped downstairs like a ten-year-old boy.

“Git back up there!” Gladis yelled, throwing a pillow at me.

“Gladis, how do I look? Is this dress okay? How about the shoes with the dress?”

She appraised me, letting William wait. “Jess, honey, you look a dream. Beautiful. Willie will ask to marry you when he sees how beautiful you are.”

“Yikes. Let’s hope not. Okay.” I raced back upstairs.

I heard her open the door, apologize for taking so long, and invite him in. I looked at my phone. It had taken a minute. Nine more to go.

They had a glass of his favorite wine and talked about small pleasantries. I looked at my phone. Dang it.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I tried on a different pair of shoes. I went back to the first pair. Eight minutes had gone by. Two more to go and Gladis would let me back down.

Why am I so nervous?

Finally it was time.

Head held eye, nervousness tucked away into my ribs, I walked down the stairs with grace and elegance. Mostly.

William was sitting in the armchair, glass of wine in hand, when I came in sight. His eyes flicked up, catching movement, then stared. He stood slowly, his eyes sliding down my body.

My sexy systems started to purr. He looked damn good. Black blazer with white pin stripes over a ribbed, white-button down, toned down with dark jeans and shiny black shoes. The world stopped spinning for a beat as the house fell away. I was staring at him as he stared at me.

A throat cleared. “Would you like some wine, Jessica?”

I blinked slowly, the haze around us clearing. William had a slow smile and soft eyes, just as awestruck as I. It moved something deep within me. A part of me that I didn’t let out to get air. It was a part stirring often of late. Things he would say, ways he would look at me, how he held me, how he made love to me. It was always something more than lust, but now it was more than mutual respect and adoration. Basically, it was starting to be more than like.

It thrilled me, excited me, but also terrified me. It was a part that, once broken, would be extremely hard to heal. I had courage, but I had also yet to win over his mother. It was too soon for feelings this deep. There were still too many barriers. Too much unpredictability.

Which didn’t matter right now. Right now, it was our first date, and I wanted it to be the best date of my life!

“Hello, Jessica. You look beautiful tonight.” Not wanting to tear his eyes away, he reached down to his feet and came back with a large bouquet of flowers. The arrangement was exquisite. And thoughtful. They even already came in a vase—I’d told him I hated cutting flowers and rearranging them in a vase. He’d remembered!