Under His Skin (7 page)

I threw my hair up in an intentionally messy bun, then grabbed my extra makeup bag from under the sink and applied a little eye shadow, liner and mascara.  I finished off with a light pink lip gloss that tasted like cherries.  I had always loved cherry lip gloss.

I looked at the clock and it said seven-fifteen.  All I had left to do was throw on my dress and shoes. 
Oh shit, I forgot shoes
, I thought.  I paged Chelsea to the back.

“Chels, I need shoes.”

“Oh crap Ad!  Oh no wait, remember those adorable black peep toe booties with the cut outs all over them that we just got in?  Those would go perfect!”

“Oh yes! That’s right.  Will you grab them for me?”

“Sure thing, be right back.”

As Chelsea went to the front of the store I looked at the clock again, seven-twenty five. 
Oh crap, he’ll be here any minute.
  I heard a knock at the door.

“It’s me Chels, I’ve got the shoes.  You better hurry up and put them on before Monica steals your man,” she laughed.

“He’s here.  Yep, he was here when I went back out there. I don’t know exactly how long he’s been here.  Monica has been keeping him entertained.”

“Oh lord, let me hurry before I end up dateless and closing,” I teased.

I loved Chelsea and Monica and they had been with me since the store opened, but we all knew that Monica was man crazy.  Not that she would ever really try to steal anyone’s guy, she was in a long term, but “boring” as she called it, relationship but she would flirt shamelessly and enjoy every second of it.

“Okay Chels, be honest.  How does it look?”

“Addison you’re a knockout!”

“Let’s go see if you’re right.”

She followed me out of the back room and up front.  I spotted him as soon as I stepped into the doorway.  He looked even better than he had the previous night.  His hair freshly washed and slicked back, a day’s worth of stubble on his chin.  He was truly remarkable.  If I had been in Monica’s shoes I would have been flirting my ass away as well.  Chelsea stepped into the showroom and called to Monica.

“Would you leave that man alone, he is not here for you.”

“I was just keeping him company until Addison was ready.”

At the mention of my name he turned and looked at the doorway where I stood and for just a split second it looked like his mouth dropped.  I hoped I was seeing things correctly.  He nodded toward Monica and excused himself.  I watched him walk toward me with a strong confident stride.  He had on dark beige chinos, darker than the ones from yesterday, a navy plaid shirt with a navy sweater over it and dark brown loafers.  He literally looked like he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.  He came over and hugged me.  He smelled extraordinary, not that I should have expected anything else. I wanted to just bury my nose in his neck, it was intoxicating.

“Good evening Addison, you look incredible.  Absolutely stunning.”  I felt my cheeks get warm.

“Thank you, you look quite dapper yourself.”

“I’ll take that compliment beautiful, thank you.  Are you ready to go?”

“Let me just check with Monica and Chelsea and then I’ll be ready to go.”

“Okay, I’ll be by the door when you’re ready.”

As he turned to walk away, I couldn’t resist looking at his backside.  The one that I had observed yesterday, and it still looked just as amazing as I remembered.  I turned to walk toward Chelsea and Monica and saw that they were enjoying the view as well.

“Like the merchandise ladies?”  They both snapped their heads towards me.

“Sorry Ad,” Chelsea said.

“It was right there and so perfect we couldn’t help but peek,” Monica added.

“It is quite delicious, isn’t it?” I said, almost giggling.  “Okay ladies, eight o’clock sharp you shut it down.”  We stayed open until eight on Saturdays so that the workweek crowd had a chance to shop.

“You got it boss!” Monica saluted and laughed.

“Have fun we can’t wait to hear all about it,” Chelsea said leaning close and whispering.

“See you later ladies.”  I said I walked toward the door. 

“Okay. I’m ready.”

“Great!  I’m starving.  I hope you are too.”  He used his left hand to hold the door open for me and put his right hand on the small of my back.  My body warmed instantly.  I glanced back over my shoulder and they were both giving me the thumbs up. Quickly I glanced at his hand on the door, I’m a sucker for big manly hands and his were no disappointment.  He was well manicured but you could tell he was used to hard work.  I thought of his hand on my back and wondered what they would feel like traveling the length of my body, caressing my curves.
Stop it Addison!

He walked me to his car, a sparkling steel gray Mercedes Benz and held open the passenger side door for me.  He waited until I was safely inside before closing the door. 
Wow, he’s such a gentleman.  I was happy if Travis remembered to hit the unlock button twice before I got in, especially when it was raining. 
He walked around behind the car and I played with my hair nervously. 

When he got in I watched the way his body moved, it was like he owned the word confidence.  He seemed sure of every move he made.  He started the car and put it in reverse.  It was a manual, which for some reason made him even sexier.  I watched him shift gears muscles tensing and flexing in his forearm and my body warmed again, because my thoughts were no longer on his driving skills.  My personal theory is that men that drive manual transmission cars make better lovers because they are used to being in control and making the car move for them and not the other way around.  They know the right amount of pressure to apply when shifting gears and how to handle it so as not to aggravate the clutch.  They are used to multi-tasking with their hands.  It was a theory that I desperately wanted to prove.

Chapter 13

Stephen

“How was your day?” She shook her head like she was shaking off distant thoughts. 

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked how your day was.”

“Oh… uh…” She stammered.  “It was great.  Very busy, no complaints here.”

“Busy is good for business.”

“It is indeed.  How was your day?  Did you work today?”

“No, I have a classic car that I’m restoring.  I spent most of the day working on that.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting.” She grinned like she was laughing at her own inside joke.

“What kind of car is it?”

“It’s a Black 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible, two door, eight cylinder, hundred a sixty-four horse power.”  I glanced over to see her smiling politely with a look like I was speaking another language. 

“Sorry, I get excited when talking about it.  It’s a Mustang.”  She smiled a genuine smile.

“It’s okay, honest. I just don’t know much about cars.”

“I’d love to show you sometime.”

“That’s sounds like a lot of fun.”

We arrived at the restaurant just about ten minutes early.  I drove through the parking lot and saw that the closest spot was a good walk away.

“Ristorante Lombardo, I’ve always wanted to try this place.”

“Looks like I’m off to a great start,” I chuckled.  “If you don’t mind, I’m going to drop you off so you don’t have to walk so far.”  She looked shocked.

“Oh wow, okay that’s fine.”

I pulled up to the front door, parked, walked around and opened the door for her.  Again she looked surprised. 
What kind of douchebags has she been dealing with that, this is new to her?
I thought.  I parked the car and walked toward the restaurant.  As I approached the front door, I could see her standing with her back to the door, she looked so good.  I stood there for a moment to admire her, uninterrupted.  I felt my groin stir.  I was still amazed that she had that power over me twenty years later.  Was it that or could it be that I found this new woman just as fascinating, if not more so?  I was going to find out. She turned as she heard the door open.  I could see the relief wash over her face.

“Did you miss me beautiful?”  She grinned at my question.

“You did leave me all alone and vulnerable,” she teased.

“I will try not to leave you so long next time.  I would hate for another knight in shining armor to sweep you off of your feet.”

“We wouldn’t want that now would we?” She batted her eyelashes.

“No, we wouldn’t. Not at all.  Let me check and see if our table is ready, I promise not to be gone long,” I winked at her.

I walked up to the hostess table, gave her my name and she stated that our table was ready.  I motioned for Addison.

“Our table is ready,” I informed her.

“Wonderful, I’m starving.”

“Me too,” I said. 

We followed the hostess to our booth.  We took our seats and she handed us our menus.  She told us that our server would be with us momentarily. 

“Have you been here before?” She asked me.

“Yes, I’ve brought my mom here a couple of times, she absolutely loves it.”

“What do you recommend?”

“Everything that I’ve had has been excellent.  I don’t know if you can make a bad choice.”

We spent a few minutes chatting and looking over the menu.  She closed her menu and I felt her intently watching me over.  I glanced up to see her biting her bottom lip.

“Would you like some wine?”

“I would love some wine.”

“Do you have a preference?”

“I will defer to you since you’ve been here before.”

The server came to our table and introduced herself and told us if she needed more time she would be more than happy to come back in a few minutes.  I ordered one glass of Meritage ‘Magnificat Melbac and one glass of Moscato ‘Secco Italian Bubbles.  She left to grab our wine.

“I think I know what I would like, what about you?” I asked.

“Yes, I think I’d like to try the eggplant al forno.”

“Oh yum that sounds good.  Are you up for an appetizer?”

“Sure, but only if you share it with me.”

“It would be my pleasure.  The fried cauliflower is really good, maybe not the healthiest, but delicious.”

“I can’t wait to try it.  What else are you going to have?”

“I’m a fan of the Veal Marsala.  It’s one of the best I’ve had.”

Our server Cindy returned with our wine and take our order.  I let her know that we were ready to place our order.  I ordered a Caesar salad for two, an appetizer and our entrees.  Our server commended our choices, told us that she would put them in and be back to check on us shortly.

“How do you like your wine?”

“It’s so good.  Wow!  I’m really impressed.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I really do.” She smiled at me over her glass, biting her lip again.

Chapter 14

Addison

Dinner was amazing.  We spent most of dinner just chit chatting. I asked more about his car fascination, he asked about the boutique.  He wanted to know why I started it, did I enjoy it, was it business steady, had I considered opening another location, etc. He seemed really interested.  By the time dinner was over, I was stuffed.  I felt like I was going to burst through my dress, and then he ordered dessert.  I had no idea where I was going to put it.  It was a delectable concoction.  It was called Frou Frou cake; it was a white Genoese cake with white chocolate mousse and shavings of white chocolate.  I think I literally moaned as I took a bite.  Cindy came as we were wrapping up and asked us if we needed anything else.  Stephen looked at me and I shook my head no.

“No, I think we are done for the evening,” Stephen told her and handed her his American Express card.  She took it and told him that she’d be right back.

“Was everything enjoyable, gorgeous?”

“It was so much better than I expected, Stephen.  Thank you so much for dinner.”

If he had planned on taking me home that night I was all for it.  All throughout dinner, I just kept staring at him.  I couldn’t believe that I was sitting here with this gorgeous creature.  Adonis didn’t seem to do him justice.  He was a perfect physical specimen in every way that I could see and it got me to thinking about the places I couldn’t see. 

I was in the middle of a naughty thought when Cindy came back with his card and the receipt.  I snuck a quick glance while he was signing the check.  My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw the total, one hundred sixty-seven dollars and eleven cents plus he added a fifty dollar tip.  Two hundred and seventeen dollars and he signed the check like it was two dollars.  I was impressed once again.  Not just that he was able to pay the bill, but doing so with such confidence.  He didn’t even allow me the opportunity to attempt to pay.  It was something I wasn’t used to.  His parents had raised him well.  It was quite the turn on.  It may have been the wine talking, but I wanted to take him home.

Cindy came by the table one last time to pick up the check and told us to take our time and not rush leaving, “I  know our meals can be heavy, take your time,” she laughed.  I was more than ready to leave and drag him home.  I had pulled out all my best flirting moves; batting eyelashes, laughing, touching his arm across the table and I even twirled a tendril of hair that had fallen out of my bun.  It was time to see if it had paid off.  Travis and I had broken up months ago and I had been in a dry spell since.  One that I was hoping would be broken tonight.

“Well, it’s getting late.  I’d better get you home.  I would hate for you to think that I’m out to take advantage of you,” he said.  I deflated like a balloon.

“Oh yeah, I need to be getting home.  Chandi will probably wake up looking for me,” I lied.  She was with her father for the weekend.

“I would hate to keep her mother from her.”

I smiled even though I felt like crying.  Maybe I didn’t flirt as well as I thought I had.  He held my hand and helped me out of the booth, placing his hand on my lower back as we walked to the front of the restaurant.

“Okay beautiful, wait right here and I’ll go grab the car.”

“You know I don’t mind walking with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I quite enjoy your company and I guess I’m milking it.”  He smiled radiantly.  His smile could be a spotlight, it was so bright and beautiful.

“I’m not one to turn down the company of such a beautiful woman.”

Like the gentleman he was proving to be, he held out his arm so that I could hold on while we walked. 

“Those are great shoes by the way,” he said.

“Are you a shoe man?”

“Only when they complement the beauty of an incredibly beautiful woman, such as yourself.”  I instantly felt my skin flush.

“Thank you Stephen, you are too kind.”

“My mother raised me to speak the truth.”

“She sounds like a remarkable woman.  You seem to brighten when you talk about her.”

“She’s been one of the few constants in my life.  Plus you only get one mom, right?”

“Yes, that’s true.  My mom has been wonderful to me.  If it hadn’t been for her help with Chandi, I don’t think I would have been able to keep my shop open.  I tried to send her on a vacation last year but she refused to go,” I chuckled at the memory. 

“She said to me, ‘Oh no, because the minute I leave something will go wrong.  I’m staying put’.  She’s quite the character.”  He laughed.

“She sounds like it,” he said as we reached his car.  He opened the door for me and helped me in.  I watched him in the side view mirror as he walked around to the back of the car.  As soon as he was out of sight, I turned slightly so I could watch him get in.  His stride was confident and sexy. 
I want him so bad,
I thought.

As we drove, he asked what types of things I liked to do when I was able to have time for myself. 

“Reading is a big thing I love.  Wine tastings, live music events, shopping,” I smirked, and he laughed.

“Well, I know an amazing winery that’s open from noon until six tomorrow if you can spare an hour or two.”  I was free all day, but I had just lied about Chandi being home.

“I’ll be free after about twelve-thirty, Chandi is supposed to spend the afternoon with her father.”

“Great, I’ll pick you up around one?  Is that ok?”

“Sounds delightful.”

We pulled into the boutique parking lot and I expected him to just pull up to the door and drop me off.  He surprised me, and I’m not quite sure why, since he’s been a true gentleman all night.  He pulled into the back parking lot, helped me out of his car.  He walked me to my car and hugged me.
God, he smells so good,
I thought.  He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and entered my information.  He promised to call in the morning just to double check our plans. 

My heartbeat sped up. 
Is he going to kiss me,
I thought. 
God, I hope so.  Those lips look so tasty. 
I was staring at his lips, lost in thought when he leaned in, placed one hand on my waist and the other on my cheek, slowly wrapping his finger in the back of my hair and then he kissed me.  It was the most tender, passionate kiss I had experienced in years.  The last time someone had kissed me like that was in high school.  My thoughts briefly flashed to Nicky and that one night at Jeff’s party. It was a night that I eventually denied.  A night that ended up causing Nicky torment and ridicule.  I was plagued with guilt about it over the years.  My mind didn’t get to stay distracted for long. I was brought back to the present with a mind shattering kiss from Stephen.

“Wow,” I whispered before I could stop myself.  He smirked.