Chapter 3 – Scott
“Well, I don’t want to take up any more of your time, Scott. I can see that you have a beautiful woman who deserves your attention far more than I do.”
Jesse smiled and looked away. I could tell that Sam’s words made her blush. Everything he said, every compliment, was true, but to hear it said by another person just concreted the fact. She was beautiful, a rare diamond, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. On the other hand, it didn’t exactly make my day to see the looks that other men in the room were giving her. I had to expect it, of course – she was a beautiful woman – but I didn’t have to like it.
Watching one of my old colleagues leave, I had to wonder if he’d been there to say hello to me, or if he’d merely come over because of Jesse. Even when she was in her uniform of a white collared shirt and black pants, she was breathtaking. There was nothing that I could do but look at her and smile.
“Are you okay, Scott? I don’t think you’ve blinked for a while.” She giggled. “I think people are supposed to blink. Maybe it was the food. The pasta was good, but I don’t think I want to even look at another noodle for a while.”
It took me a minute to process her words. At the moment I was just looking at her lips and trying my best not to pull her across the table and into my lap. I wanted to kiss her. I still tasted her on my lips when I closed my eyes and really thought about it. It wasn’t something that I was able to just brush off.
“Sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately. You just look so lovely tonight, Jesse. It’s hard not to stare at you.”
Her face turned a little pink and I loved the way she looked. Jesse didn’t seem to realize how pretty she was. She was one of those women who were hard to find. She was heavenly and didn’t see herself that way, so there was no ego. It was rather frustrating, though, because other women would give me a knowing smile that told me what they wanted, but there were no flirtatious looks to be had Jesse. I was just left to wonder and make conjectures that I hoped were right. It kept me guessing, and it kept my hands off of her, because I was afraid that I was reading it wrong and only seeing what I wanted to see from the situation.
“Come on, Scott, let’s get out of here. It’s clear that the wine has gone to your head.”
I had to agree. I would have agreed to anything, even though there was part of me that wanted to stay. I didn’t want to drop her off and go home alone. I wanted her in my arms, and the more I thought about it, the less of a real possibility it started to seem. Maybe if I just stayed there, if we stayed there, then I would have the time to convince her that I was what she wanted.
“Come on, Scott, seriously. It’s getting late and we both have to get up pretty early in the morning.”
I knew then that she meant business, so instead of arguing with her, I got up. My legs felt a little wobbly and I had to steady myself against the table for a moment, but I’d drunk more in one sitting many times before. At first it had been an attempt to calm my nerves, but I now had no nerves whatsoever. I was limber and ready, sure that I was still somehow going to convince her.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I took the fact that she didn’t brush me off as a good sign. I wanted to see it that way. I wanted her to want me. That was really the only thing I knew.
When I got out my keys to open the driver’s side, Jesse took them from me and offered to drive. I told her that it wasn’t necessary, but she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“I’m not saying you’re drunk, but you certainly are not ready to do any driving. Just tell me where to go and I’ll take you there. I can always get a cab from your house.”
“I want to go home with you.”
Her smile faltered. Even in my intoxicated state, I could tell that she wasn’t ready for that answer. But I didn’t budge. I wasn’t going to give her my address. Then she would drop me off and leave me. If I went home with her, Jesse would have to deal with me once and for all. In my mind, at that time, it seemed like a solid plan that was going to work.
“Scott, you have to tell me where you live so I can take you there. My place isn’t that big, and you’ll end up on the couch if you stay with me.”
That begged the question of her bed, but I knew not to say anything. She was not ready, and even though I was already pushing it, I knew not to push it that far. If she refused again, I was going to tell her where I really lived. But thankfully that didn’t happen, and before I knew it, we were on our way back to the bistro. There was a surge of hope within me.
“I don’t care if you stay the night, but…”
“I know, I know, no funny business.”
She grinned at me and I was left to suffocate with my throat closing up. Did she even know what she did to me, how she made me feel?