Seasoned with Grace by Nigeria Lockley

Author:Nigeria Lockley [Lockley, Nigeria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-06-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Showing up early wasn’t typical behavior for Grace, but she wanted to make a great impression on Horace. Grace asked the hostess to seat her while she waited for Horace to arrive. After slathering on a dollop of matte fuchsia lipstick, Grace used the camera on her iPhone to check her face. She dabbed some stray mascara away with her finger and covered the spot with a pinch of concealer. She tousled the front of her spiked-up hair a bit. Her face was beat, her hair was laid, and thanks to the courtesy waist trainer she’d received in the mail, her body was looking snatched in the formfitting orange body-con dress she was wearing.

She adjusted the neckline a bit to obscure some of her cleavage, which was popping out. Grace bit her lip and stared at her image on the camera screen for a moment as worry set in. Maybe this is a bit much for an evening with Horace, she thought. After all, he is a church boy and he hasn’t said this is a date. On the other hand, it is Saturday. According to Grace’s fashion philosophy, stepping out on a Saturday evening was a prescription for wearing anything that fit like a glove. She ran her finger along the rim of her teeth to remove a stray lipstick mark.

“Leave the lipstick there. That’ll level the playing field for the average women in here,” Horace whispered into her ear, leaning over her shoulder.

Grace turned around and stood up to greet him. She was going to ask for a drink, but his clear cognac skin quenched her thirst. Breathing deeply, she inhaled the scent of sandalwood about him and was ready to collapse as he drew her close to him for an embrace.

“I thought you were angry with me,” she whispered.

Horace held Grace by her waist and stepped back, taking in her whole frame. His eyes softened, and his lips curled into a smile.

Body-con does it every time, Grace thought. Returning the flirtatious smile, she placed her hand on his chest.

“Offended, yes, but angry? How could I be angry with you, Grace King?” he said, releasing her waist to pull out her chair. He walked around the table and took a seat directly across from her. “Have you thought about what you want to order?” Horace opened his menu and began to scan it.

She cleared her throat, thinking about the most diplomatic way to broach the topic of the cost of the food at Chocolat. It wasn’t for the ultrarich, but the menu certainly wasn’t for someone who ate meals at the church pantry. Grace considered herself to be a modern woman. She didn’t mind paying for a meal or two, as long as that was established before the date, but since she still didn’t know if they were on a date or not, Grace had no idea what to say.

“Ummm . . . I was thinking I’d order two appetizers instead of an entrée. What do you think?”

“I think I need more light to make a decision.

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