Page 13 of Heartbeats Amidst Chaos: Part 2
Rissa frowned, concern writhing to life within her. Why so soon? Had something happened?
When and where?
Twenty minutes. Ally behind the diner.
We can go somewhere more comfortable from there.
Somewhere more comfortable, huh?Rissa’s concern made room for butterflies as her mind raced with what that could mean.
She sent a thumbs-up just as Reagan replied.
7:30 p.m., The Olive Branch.
Rissa glanced at the clock. It was just after five p.m. now. She would have plenty of time to meet up with Elio and then head to the restaurant, even using all the evasion tactics she had so recently grown familiar with.
She thumbs-upped that message too and then scheduled an Uber. So much for all her moaning about not having any plans. Excitement bubbled within her at the thought of seeing Elio again.
Girl, you have got it bad,she told herself.You don’t even know for sure that he’s a good guy.
Pushing that worry aside, she went to her closet. The intimacy of their last encounter had changed something within her. She didn’t want to look too deeply into what it was. She was suddenly aware of the fact that Elio had only ever seen her in scrubs or jeans and a t-shirt.
Oh, and once in a silk robe and then naked for a couple of minutes.Her face heated at the thought.
She wanted to wear something different tonight, something to impress him.Something to seduce him,she realized. But not too much. Too much might make her late for dinner with Reagan.
Her stomach somersaulted as the full import of where her mind was going sank in. But still, she rifled through the contents of her closet, eventually pulling out a pacific blue dress. It was a soft, silky cotton blend, sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline and a gently flared skirt that came to about midthigh. Not too much for a back ally meeting and just right for dinner at a nice restaurant.
Rissa quickly undressed. After a moment of hesitation, she swapped out her everyday underwear for a black plunge bra and matching thong. Slipping into the dress, she pushed her closet door closed to view herself in the mirror.
For the first time, she looked at herself through Elio’s eyes. She imagined the way they would slide over her body, and heat pooled in her belly. Rissa pressed her thighs together, taking a deep, calming breath as she continued to eye her reflection.
The bodice of the dress zipped up snuggly, hugging her breasts and waist like a second skin. The skirt seemed a lot shorter than it had the last time she had worn it. Not quite mid-thigh after all. Her bare bottom felt extremely vulnerable under the brief flounce, without even a proper panty to cover it.
Just one gust of wind, Rissa warned herself.How do other women do this so casually?
She couldn’t clearly remember the last time she’d dressed with a man’s gaze in mind. She definitely hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it. No man had awakened her body as Elio had in the short time she had known him. It sent tingles through her whole being to imagine how deeply he would awaken her if she let him go further than they had.
Are you sure about this?she asked her reflection in the mirror, staring hard into her own blue eyes. But she knew even as she asked the question that she had gone too far to backtrack now. Spinning away from the mirror, she moved to the bathroom where she spritzed herself with sandalwood and patchouli perfume, scrubbed her teeth, and ran a brush through her hair until it was smooth and shiny. Dabbing on some tinted lip balm and mascara, then slipping on a pair of khaki sandals, she headed for the door.
She had the Uber driver drop her at a gift shop in town that she had earlier pegged as having two entrances. The cop following her was obvious. She hadn’t noticed any other tails, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there.
Slipping out the other door a few minutes later with a cluster of other shoppers, Rissa took a few quick turns and ducked in and out of a few more shops before she headed for the diner.
As she neared it, she forced herself to slow down and compose her emotions. No matter how she hoped this meeting might go, she didn’t want to arrivelooking flushed and ready.
Circling to the back of the restaurant, Rissa paused and glanced around. Elio didn’t appear to have arrived yet. She leaned against the warm brick wall, torn between relief and impatience. She smoothed her tiny skirt, thankful that there was no wind this evening after all.
A sudden screech caused her to spin around. Elio was stepping out of the back door of the diner. He winced at the creaky door.
“Sorry,” he said. “That wasn’t meant to be so dramatic.”
Rissa smiled, and he did a doubletake. She blushed.
“Wow,” he said, “You look. . . amazing.”
“Oh, thanks,” Rissa said, trying to sound offhand despite her flush. “I’m meeting a friend for dinner after this.”
“How long after?” Elio asked coming closer. He looked good too, she thought. He wore a white shirt, crisp and glowing against his tan skin, and black chinos. His hazel eyes were eating her up, just as she had known they would, but it felt even better than she had imagined. He looked awestruck.
