A Taste of Temptation(26)
“You have to admit that was a cool night.”
“I beg your pardon, it was a HOT night. Seriously, though, I would like to take you out, treat you like a real woman—now that I can do that. I won’t have Derrick Moore breathing fire down my back.”
“I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you. When can I see you?”
“How about tomorrow night? It’s Saturday evening, and we won’t have to be home early.”
“Are you suggesting we really spend some time together?”
“Brandi, I think we should just make it a date, not rush anything.”
She lay back on her pillow. “I think you’re right. You want to pick me up here?”
“Don’t you want to decide where to go first?”
“I don’t care, as long as I’m with you. Dinner would be nice.”
“Great. I know an incredible seafood place. I remember you saying how much you love seafood.”
“You remembered that?”
“I remember everything about you. I remember looking out at my class at Madison and seeing you, wishing I could be right next to you.”
“Now you can. Tomorrow night. I know something else we can do after dinner, but it’s a surprise.”
“I love surprises; your surprises; like the one you gave me the night we met.”
“Really? What was that?”
“You went home with me.”
“What woman in her right mind wouldn’t have?”
“I can’t wait to see you. Is 7:00 okay?”
“It’s perfect, Tim.” They said their good-byes, and she fell asleep that evening hugging her pillow, savoring the thought of finally being in his arms—again.
“Is my hair okay, Mom?”
Mrs. Miles studied Brandi’s image in the mirror. “You look beautiful. He’s a lucky man.”
“What about my make-up and this dress? Do you think…”
“Brandi, one look and he’ll drop to his knees.”
“I sure hope so. It seems as if I’ve waited a lifetime for this night.”
Mrs. Miles adjusted the strap on Brandi’s shoulder. “Tim is very important to you, isn’t he?”
Brandi dabbed at her lipstick. “More than you know. When I first met him, I didn’t know that he was a professor at Madison—my instructor. You remember me mentioning someone that I wanted a relationship with, but couldn’t because he was scared of them?”
“Yes. Is he the same Tim? I thought you were over him in nothing flat!”
“Nope! We just couldn’t be together because of Madison. Now is different. Imagine the look on my face when he strode into lecture.”
“I can’t imagine that. He must really think a lot of you to transfer to another university to be with you.”
“He’s always liked Columbia. I was the push he needed. At least that’s what he told me.”
“Good for you, but do you think he’s really ready now?”
“Mom!”
“Brandi, I just want you to be sure. Your father and I don’t want to see you hurt over an man who has had bad relationships in the past.”
“The only way to get over bad ones is to get into a better one and nourish it, help it grow. I know he can do it.”
“I sure hope so for your sake. Just take things slowly with him. Talk to one another, get to know who each other is before you get too deep into anything.”
“Mom. Come on. I am twenty years old.” She couldn’t find her watch. “Mom, what time is it?”
“Almost 7:00, and again, you’re perfect, so stop fretting.”
“God, I’m so nervous. I can’t believe I actually have a date with the legend. Wait until I tell Tiffany. She’ll freak!”
“The legend? What are you talking about?”
“That’s what he’s called at Madison. The girls will miss him like crazy.”
“He is pretty. Don’t tell your father I said that again.”
She kissed her mother’s cheek. “Your secret’s safe with me. Where’s the jacket to my dress?”
“It’s downstairs. I ironed it for you.”
“Good. I’ll get it. If he comes before I get back, tell him to…”
“I know what to do. My mother did the same things for Theresa and me. Although she did it way more times for Theresa. Besides, it’s good to let him wait for a minute. It builds a man’s anticipation.”
“What about mine?”
“You’re anxious enough! Go and get the rest of that dress.”
Tim rang the doorbell at 7:05. Brandi remembered what her mother said, and waited upstairs in her room. Mrs. Miles let him inside, taking him by the hand. “Dr. Polaris; how nice to see you again. I take it these flowers are not for me.”
He smiled embarrassed. “Sorry, maybe next time.”
“I’m only kidding, but I do love lilies.” She watched as he casually looked around for Brandi.
“I’m probably the last guy you expected to see picking up your daughter. Surely she has talked about me since I last saw you.”
“You’re all she talks about lately.”
“I’m not there anymore.”
“Brandi told me.”
Mr. Miles came in from the den. Seeing Timothy Polaris there to take his daughter out wasn’t sitting well with him, but he said nothing other than calling Brandi down.
At the top of the balcony stood a very nervous, very beautiful young woman going on the date of her lifetime. Nothing else existed but the young man standing next to her mother—the man in the khaki pants, navy shirt and black peacoat. She watched as his honey colored eyes sparkled after seeing her. She carefully descended the staircase toward him. “I hope I’m not over-dressed.”
He could hardly speak. “You look beautiful.”
Mrs. Miles interrupted sounding nervous. “Brandi, he brought flowers.”
She took the bouquet from her mother. “They smell so wonderful. Thank you.”
Mr. Miles eyed them until his wife spoke up. “Jeff, Brandi’s coat is on the chair. Will you hand it to her? I’ll put the flowers in a vase.”
“I’ll get her coat, Mr. Miles.” Tim took the coat from the chair and held it open for Brandi. “Button up; it’s getting cold out there.”
She did what he said, and picked up her bag. “Northern Lakes Seafood, right?”
“Anything you want. This is your night.” He looked at her parents: her mother was smiling broadly; her father was trying not to have a coronary. “Nice seeing you both again. Ready, Brandi?”
More than you know. “See you two later.” She took Tim’s hand and they left.
The minute the door closed, Mr. Miles’s snide comments started. “She’s not supposed to be dating her professor.”
“He left Madison, Jeff. We told you that.”
“It’s still…”
“Jeff, Brandi is insane over him, and there’s nothing you or I can do about it. She’s grown.”
“He’s a criminal. I finally remember where I saw him. He was a little punk who was tossed into my precinct more than a few times when he was a teen.”
“That was then. He apparently got his life together. He’s a sweetheart, now drop it.”
* * *
Before Tim opened the passenger-side door, he took her into his arms. He could barely control himself as he pressed her back against the truck, kissing her as if he had just come from the wild. His arms wrapped her tightly as he pressed his body hard against hers. His mouth gently pulled and sucked hers, barely able to catch his breath. She felt warm against him despite the cold. And she felt utterly fantastic.
Brandi held on to him for dear life, not remembering if ever she had felt that wonderful before. Her kisses were as feverish as his, matching him tempo for tempo. Having him so close to her ignited memories of their first night together. She slowly broke the kiss and stared into his flushed face and listened to his heavy breathing. “I can’t believe I’m in your arms again.”
“I can’t believe I kissed you out here. I couldn’t wait for us to get inside the truck. I hope your parents didn’t see us.”
“Mom understands. Dad seems to have forgotten what passion is, except when it comes to my mother.” Her hand grazed his cheek. “It feels like a lifetime ago since I’ve touched you.”
His hands moved up and down the sleeves of her coat. “Let’s get you inside. I can’t have my lady freezing out here.”
His lady. That was exactly what she had wanted to hear. Tiffany will die when I tell her about this tomorrow. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Thank God this man is finally here with me.
* * *
Sitting across from Tim seemed almost surreal to her. He looked different somehow, different from Tim the professor. His almost perfect features, deep-set hazel eyes took her back to The Entrapment. He was, once again, Jacob Anthony Wells. “I almost don’t know what to say to you?”
“Why is that?”
“It’s as if I start talking to you, my dream will end, and you’ll go back to being my professor at Madison.”
“It won’t happen. I’m at Columbia to stay.”
“I’m just relieved you’re happy there. I can now get off my guilt trip.”
“I’m happy here. I was so nervous turning into your street, that my hands began perspiring. That’s some feat, since its twenty-five-degrees outside.”