Over an hour later, I barely recognize myself. My hair is pulled back in a neat French braid, the stray hairs have been plucked from my eyebrows, giving them a shape that creates the illusion that my eyes are huge. Deciding to heed Tyler’s advice, I even dug under the bathroom sink for my makeup bag. I’m sure most of it is expired, but it’ll have to do for now. Between working and then everything that’s been going on this summer, personal grooming has taken a bit of a back seat. My only saving grace is that it’s hot and humid during the summer, otherwise my legs would likely resemble those of Sasquatch.
I step out of my bedroom, wearing a cute dress that I picked up on a whim last year without knowing if I would ever take off the tags. The simple cream, spaghetti strap top and floral print, flouncy skirt are more whimsical than most items in my closet, but now that I’m wearing it, this was probably one of my best purchases ever. When I look up and see Xavier almost salivating as his eyes travel the length of my long legs, I know I’ve made the right decision.
“Wow,” he says breathlessly as he crosses the room. His arms circle around my waist, pulling me close to his body. We stand in the center of my living room, neither of us saying a word, but saying so much with only our eyes. When it’s just the two of us and I’m not thinking about everything that could go wrong, I have faith that he is my soul mate and there’s a reason we were brought back together the way we were. “You look amazing! Almost too good for me to take out in public.”
“Thanks, I think,” I laugh, playfully drawing my lip between my teeth. His sapphire irises darken as he watches my mouth and there’s no denying that I’m affecting him, based on the growing erection I feel pressing against my body. Xavier’s hands trace the lines of the thin cotton top of the dress, heightening my need for him. “We need to get going. You promised me a night out and I fully intend to see if you can deliver on everything I’m looking forward to.”
I purse my lips, dangerously close to telling him exactly how I’d like to see tonight end. He may have awakened a part of me I thought was nearly dead long ago, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to beg him to make love to me. That decision has to be his.
Chapter 22
It’s been so long since I’ve planned a date with anyone, I’m nervous that Melanie won’t like what I have planned for the evening. I want tonight to be a time for us to block out everything we’ve allowed to become a priority in our lives so we can work on us. Braydon was right this morning, I need to make Mel understand that she’s the woman consuming my mind. And more importantly, she deserves to be the woman I go out of my way to make happy every single day.
There’s a gentle breeze blowing off the lake as we sit outside one of my favorite grills on the Square. I’m hoping she’ll appreciate the combination of casual simplicity and elegance provided by the setting. Brightly colored tables line the sidewalk and the Capitol sits directly across the street from us. I reach for Melanie’s hand as she stares into the distance, unable to make eye contact with me.
“Are you okay, babe?” I ask, my thumb tracing small circles across the back of her hand. She turns her head to me, flashing a smile that would make me go weak in the knees if I were standing. As it is, it’s definitely having an effect on parts of my body below the waist.
“I’m good. I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m a bit nervous. I just realized that this is our first date,” she laughs. “How screwed up are we? Four years of history, we’ve been back together for two months and this is the first time you’ve ever taken me on an actual date.”
I sit back, thinking about what she’s saying, certain this can’t be a first for us. I may have been a self-centered bastard, but I always thought of myself as being a bit of a charmer when I was younger. Wining and dining was the key to making women putty in my hands. I had wooing women down to a science; a few nice dinners where I could learn what they liked and what they didn’t, followed by a night planned to make me seem like their Prince Charming. By the end of the fourth date, they were willing to do anything I asked of them. It’s not right, but it worked for a long time.