Exploring Ari by Cindy Spencer Pape

Author:Cindy Spencer Pape
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2013-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

By Sunday evening I was a nervous wreck. I paced in front of my living room window, wondering what he had planned. I was wearing the dress I’d discussed with Dani and Jess—a full-skirted, sedate frock in black wool jersey with long sleeves and a modest sweetheart neckline. It was suited for an office or a funeral more than an evening on the town, but I didn’t own much in the way of evening wear. My black leather boots had moderate heels and came to just below my knee, meaning the dress fell below the boots. Boldly, I decided to wear a garter belt and thigh-high stockings instead of pantyhose, and a matching black demi-cup bra. It was the only sexy underwear I owned, a gift one year from Dani, who was always trying to liven me up. Feeling even naughtier, I stuffed the matching thong back in the drawer. I wore the pearls I’d bought myself with one of my first big checks—a double strand and a pair of really nice drop earrings. My hair was caught in a messy knot at the nape of my neck and I’d bought a brand-new, bright red lipstick at the all-night drug store. I was as ready as I was ever going to be.

Jack’s pickup pulled into the driveway of my townhouse almost exactly at dusk. Shamelessly, I watched through the window as he approached the house. He wore a charcoal gray suit with a pale blue shirt and a striped tie, but his shoulder-length hair and shiny black biker boots hinted at the wildness I knew lurked within the upscale packaging. He carried a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers in one arm as he loped up my front steps two at a time. I was at the door, pulling it open, even while his hand was reaching for the doorbell. He paused, hand extended, and smiled at me.

“Hello, beautiful.” His expression was pure, bottled sex appeal. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” I couldn’t believe I’d just stood there, frozen, staring at him. I stepped aside to let him in the door.

“Our reservations aren’t until nine so I thought we could have a drink first.” He held up the bottle of wine.

Since it was barely seven, I nodded and led him back through the living room to the kitchen. He looked around at my pale yellow walls, comfy furniture and eclectic blend of antique and modern art pieces and grinned his approval. “Nice mix. Feminine without being cloyingly girly.”

“Thanks. I was lucky enough to have invested most of my early earnings so this time I could do what I wanted.” The kitchen was the same sunny yellow with cherry wood cupboards that matched the floors and speckled granite countertops. I ducked around the island counter that separated the kitchen from the dining area and handed him a corkscrew while I got down a couple of glasses, checking surreptitiously for dust. I didn’t use my stemware very often—maybe with my girlfriends last Christmas.

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