London Falling (Falling #2)(12)
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
You want to date me? Based on our last encounter, I expected a booty call. ;-)
Bloody Yanks and their funny symbols and acronyms. My fingers raced over the keys.
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
You want me to ring your bum?
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
LOL That’s an interesting idea. Dinner it is. I can meet you. Where?
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
A gentleman picks up the lady he is courting at her residence.
Chivalry is not dead. I’ll be damned if it dies with me. My mum would kill me if she’d heard I met a date and didn’t properly knock on her door. Growing up, my mum was everything you’d ever want out of a mum. She was kind, gentle and always smelled like cookies. Baking was her hobby. I thought about the first time I caught London’s scent. She smelled of cinnamon. Familiar, yet sexy. My suit smelled of her for days after her body had pressed against it street side. I’d stashed it in my closet waiting to send it to the cleaners so that the scent would waft over me again in the morning when I started my day. The smell had just started receding. I needed a fix and I’d have it tonight.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
You surprise me…and confuse me. I’ll see you at 7.
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
May I have your address?
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
I’m sure you’ll find me. <swak>
“Oh bloody hell!” The bird was a piece of work. She seemed to enjoy toying with me. Even still, I couldn’t shake the smile that spread across my face as I strutted into work, a full spring in my step. My secretary stood and followed me into my office.
“Here are your messages, Mr. Stone. I rearranged your afternoon meetings as you requested. Was there anything else you needed before I take my lunch?”
“Yes, actually. I need you to make dinner reservations for seven thirty at a nice place downtown.”
She took down the note. “For how many? And who will be in attendance.”
“Just two. I’m entertaining a beautiful woman named London Kelley this evening.” I smiled. Her eyes met mine and widened. It wasn’t often that I surprised her. She took the new information in stride. A consummate professional.
“Business or pleasure?” She bit her lip and focused on the notepad in front of her. I enjoyed riling her.
“Oh, pleasure my dear, Jane. And I want to impress, so pick a romantic location.”
My secretary was tall and thin with no body to think of. I wouldn’t call her a great beauty, but was extremely competent with lips that stayed shut. She was not one to gossip and I appreciated her honesty and work ethic.
“Thank you. That will be all.” She turned to leave the office. “Actually, Jane?”
“Yes, Mr. Stone?” Her pale hand held the door handle like a lifeline.
“When an American ends a communication with the letters S.W.A.K, what does that mean?”
Her cheeks pinked and her lips lifted in a hint of a smile. “Sealed with a kiss.”
***
“What are you doing?” Tripp asked accusingly as I shoved my phone back into my purse.
“Nothing. Just texting with Collier. I have a date.” Already, I was imagining the ways in which I’d defile that beautiful man. My hands itched to be all over him.
“You’re kidding? You have a date? A bonafide sit down and eat, go to a show, dancing kind of date?” He cringed. “With a man?” His expression clearly shocked. He leaned forward and gauged my reaction.
“Who has a date?” said a voice I knew as well as my own from behind me. Aspen sauntered in, her long blond hair blowing in the wind as if she just came out of a shampoo commercial, which actually could have happened. She does have a huge modeling agency as part of her empire.
“Bridge!” Tripp hollered with delight. My best friend was a riot. A true funny man. Not!
My sister stopped dead in her tracks and pretended to almost faint. “No way!” I rolled my eyes.
Tripp pulled out her chair and kissed her cheek. “You look gorgeous as usual, Pen. Love suits you.”
She offered Tripp the biggest smile I’d ever seen. I loved Aspen’s boyfriend, Hank more and more for making her so happy. She deserved it even if the odds were against their relationship. With her being a top performing billionaire work-a-holic, and he a laid-back cowboy construction worker, a love match was not in their favor. However, it just proved that no matter the odds, love always prevailed. Except for me. Love was a bitter, cold bitch that I stayed far away from.
“So tell me more about you going on a date. An official date? The kind one has when they’ve first met someone they may be interested in getting to know, in case you don’t remember what that is,” she added.
“Ha ha. Real funny. Yes, I’m going on a date. Not a big deal. Just dinner.”
Tripp and Aspen looked at one another and rolled their eyes.
“Bridge, when was the last time you were on an actual date?”
“I go on dates all the time with my clients. What are you talking about?” I knew what they were talking about but they didn’t need to make it something it wasn’t.