“Oh, definitely there will be drooling and ogling and gawking by Luke. Probably all the other men in the bar will pay attention too. You look amazing and so hot.”
I stare critically at myself in the mirror, now feeling unsure about my outfit choice. “Is it too much?”
“God, no. You’re beautiful. Own it. Your outfit is perfect. Wear it with confidence. You’ve got this, honey.”
Jasmine is like a one-person cheer squad, and I’m particularly grateful for her efforts tonight.
She steps forward to give me a reassuring hug. “Come on now, it’s time to go.”
Shit, the nerves have kicked up a notch, and I’m feeling quite sick in my stomach. Maybe I shouldn’t have gulped down the bar of chocolate earlier.
“Jas, I’m scared I won't be able to hold it together in front of him. What if I want him again?”
I finally voice my greatest fear. I don't want the old feelings for Luke to still be there as that just means he could hurt me again.
Determined not to cry as stupid tears will ruin the makeup I’ve recently finished applying, I tell myself it's just nerves which have me so emotional.
“Cass don’t think like that. You can do this, and you know in your heart you need to do this. Not for him but for you,” she encourages.
I know she's right. I know I absolutely need to do this. Maybe I just needed someone else to tell me, instead of the same little voice in my head reciting the mantra. With a deep intake of breath to try to calm my nerves, I take one last glance in the mirror. Then grab my phone and clutch from my bed and follow Jasmine out of my room.
Jas, Lil, and I get an Uber to the bar. Traffic is bad tonight, which stretches my nerves to breaking point, as now I’m a little late to meet Luke. I smooth my skirt down for the tenth time as I stand on the sidewalk outside the bar then take another deep breath in an effort, to calm my nerves. The deep breaths are not working and in fact, are making me a little dizzy. Jasmine and Lily exchange concerned glances, and I’m reminded that I have the best friends ever.
I try to smile reassuringly at them, but I guess my weak attempt is not hiding my trepidation. I feel like I’m already breaking apart. So, I squeeze my eyes closed, and repeat my new mantra,I got this, three times. Finally, I think I’m ready to walk in and face Luke again.
With a quick goodbye to my friends, I step forward and open the door to the bar. Shoulders back, head up, I walk in.
Oh my God! It’s him there at the bar, only a few feet away from me. Even taller, broader and more manly than the teenage boy I remember. He hasn’t seen me yet as he's staring down at his phone.
My heart is racing, and I'm frozen in place, not yet able to move forward. Then Luke glances up and nails me with those same haunting pale bluey-gray eyes. His penetrating gaze seeming to reach out and pull me to him, like a moth to a flame.
And there it is, the answer to my question. I do still want him.
Chapter 10
Luke
Mywatchmusthavestopped I think as I check it again for the third time in the last minute and wonder if Cassie is going to show. It’s ten minutes past the hour, and she's late or not coming.
I’ve been looking forward to this meeting with Cassie all week and now it's here, I don't know how to feel. I'm eager to see her, absolutely, but dreading the conversation we need to have.
I swirl my scotch on the rocks around again in the tumbler. Run my fingers along the collar of my white dress shirt and tie. The collar feels a bit constrictive against my neck. I should have worn an open collar shirt and jacket instead of my more formal black designer suit.
Last night I couldn’t resist doing a bit of social media stalking of Cassie. In the past I deliberately avoided searching Cassie online. It was better I didn’t know what she was doing or who she was doing, which is more the point. All that changed when I knew I was going to see her again.
I found her social media account easily through our old school friend Madison’s account. Madison is one of only a few friends from Daytona I still follow. Cassie had posted a few pics over the last year but nothing in the last few months. The pictures were with friends and family. There doesn’t seem to be a guy on the scene, but I can’t be sure, given her cryptic text yesterday about moving on.
One thing is clear from the photos I did see, she is even more gorgeous than I remember. Her blonde hair is shorter but still long. Now it seems to fall a little under her shoulders rather than the river of gold I remember running down to her waist. She is lean and athletic but with a few sexy curves added in all the right places. There were a few photos of her on the beach with friends last summer in a skimpy red bikini. She has a rocking hot body. One photo alone could fuel my fantasies for a month.
I check my phone again for any messages, as she's now fifteen minutes late. I’ll stay here all night waiting for her if I must. I reposition myself on the barstool at the corner of the bar. It’s a bit darker in this corner, so we will have privacy if she turns up. It also gives me a clear view of the door, so I can see people as they enter.
Looking up from my phone at the bar door, my heart stops. Holy fuck, it’s her.
My heart beat begins again, pounding in my chest as Cassie walks toward me with graceful dignity. She is stunning. By far the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The light above her head is making her blonde hair glow, and the dress hugging every curve of her body is lethal. My cock is instantly at attention in the presence of this goddess.
I stand up from the stool, quickly adjusting myself so my erection is not obvious to Cassie or anyone else in the bar. Grateful I chose this darkened area.
Cassie’s eyes capture me, holding me firmly in their gaze as each step brings her toward me. An instant of panic punches me in the gut as I don’t know how to greet her. Do I touch her like I want to? God, I want to touch her shimmery golden skin. And as she gets closer, I see the same uncertainty in her eyes, so instead, I shove my hands in my pockets and say, “Hi.”
