Remembering how Kai was eating his meals on his bed, or probably standing in the kitchen next to his sink, made Jessie smile. She recalled mentioning to him that he should get a table for his place. He’d made a joke at her comment, but he hadn’t seemed opposed to it. It had been more like he’d felt Jessie was doing too much for him. That wasn’t true, though. Really, besides buying him some more nutritious food, all she’d done was given him a bunch of odds and ends that she hadn’t needed.
Her mind made up, Jessie headed out back through a slider in the living room. The patio set was pretty light, and Jessie got in through the house and into her truck with relative ease. She even wiped off the stray spider webs. As she closed the end of her truck, she realized that she now had a legitimate reason to knock on Kai’s door again. She couldn’t stop the grin that exploded onto her face, or the nervous butterflies that flew through her stomach at just the thought of seeing those ocean eyes again. Oh boy, she really needed to stop that reaction.
Moments later, Jessie was walking into the warm, cheery office where she worked. As she smiled hello to the receptionist, she took in the large space that was her current home away from home. Soft music was coming through the speakers inlaid in the ceiling, and every wall was painted a pleasing, butter-cream color. The accents were all done in various shades of green, resulting in a waiting room that was peaceful and relaxing. A dozen or so padded chairs lined the walls with several round tables sprinkled throughout, each holding several different types of magazines. One or two clients were already there, flipping through the pages, waiting to get their chemical peel or facial scrub from the esthetician, or maybe even waiting for a body rub from Jessie.
Getting ready for the day, Jessie tucked her purse into a drawer in her desk and hung her jacket on an awaiting coat rack in the corner. Her room was designed for ambiance with her massage table taking center stage. The plush, padded slab had a circle cut out of the top so a person could rest their head straight down, keeping their spine perfectly aligned for Jessie to work all the kinks out of overworked muscles.
The walls were a beautiful mauve color, showcasing an assortment of dewdrop photos. If you looked really closely, you could see images and reflections in each drop. They were astounding, but most people that came in here never really got to see them, as the room was kept pretty dark. Jessie switched on a softly glowing lamp, highlighting the various oils and creams she used without over-lighting the room. Then she lit a half-dozen scentless candles placed in clumps throughout the space. As she’d quickly discovered when she’d started working here, some of her clients couldn’t handle heavy scents; it hadn’t taken Jessie long to switch to odorless mood lighting.
Once the room was flickering with a peaceful glow, she turned her stereo on low, a stream of calming music quietly spilling out. Opening a bottle of lavender oil, she poured a small amount into a potpourri dish. The light scent filled the room with subtle tranquility.
Sitting on the edge of her table, she looked over at the clock on the wall. Her first client should be here soon. As the peace of her office flowed into her, Jessie warmed her hands for a day of action. Her thoughts drifted to Kai as she did. She pictured him spread out on the table she was sitting on, imagined his broad back, his lean body, his bare legs, and only a plush towel resting over his hips as her hands glided over his body. Then she imagined her hands slipping under that towel…
“Jessica, can you believe it’s Friday again already? Where does the time go?”
Jessie was startled out of her inappropriate thoughts, and her heart was pounding as she glanced at the door. The older gentleman that she saw every Friday morning was standing there, smiling at her. Hopping off the table, Jessie calmed her heart and returned his smile. “Good morning, Mr. Tinley.” Giving him a playful grin as she patted the table, Jessie prayed that she wasn’t bright red. At least the dim lighting would hide it if she were. “The week may have gone by fast for you, but the time until I got to see you again, dragged on and on for me.”
He laughed as he sat on the table and began undoing his shoes. “Careful now, Jessica. Flirt with me anymore, and I may just think I’ve got a shot with you.”
Jessie laughed at the man old enough to be her grandpa. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, Mr. Tinley.”
He nodded and Jessie stepped out of the room to give him time to undress and lay on the table. Heading to a bathroom, Jessie quickly stepped inside and exhaled a long breath. Her brief fantasy of Kai had gotten her a little worked up. Even now, knowing Mr. Tinley was in there changing, she was picturing her cousin slinking off his clothes. And if Kai were here, she wouldn’t have left the room.