Across from the two armchairs was an open leather love seat with one flat cushion and a sectioned back. Jennifer moved to it absently and let the backdrop of the specular budding nighttime skyline steal her interest.
One day, Jennifer hoped to live in New York. As someone with an interest in fashion, it was really the only logical choice. Except at 28, it really didn't seem like her life was going to be headed in that direction any time too soon. She took a deep breath. At her side, the cushion dimpled with James's weight as he joined her on the loveseat. She didn't bother acknowledge his presence.
"Jennifer," James began by calling her name softly. Reluctantly, she turned towards him. "I never asked you to work late, or after hours." The softness in his voice drew Jennifer's eyes to his own.
No, he never asked that of her, but it was something she did of her own free will. She wondered then if James ever knew how she felt about him. Her question back at the Hyatt in Denver was the closest she had gotten to disclosing her feelings, and even then, it didn't even come close to revealing how she had really felt about him for the past three years.
Then again, she thought those feelings were just a fluke. Maybe she was just a delusional assistant in love with the man because he had money. She thought she was over him, but the entire day had done nothing but make her think otherwise.
Jennifer took a deep breath and finally forced herself to meet James's soft blue eyes. She loved those eyes. So beautiful and kind. Swallowing back something hard on the back of her tongue, Jennifer positioned herself squarely in front of James and searched his face intently.
"I always thought I'd work for you for a couple of years and then move on," her voice was but a vanishing whisper on the wind. She wet her lips and hoped the cocktail would give her strength where her own flesh was bound to be weak.
"I didn't realize I would love it as much as I did, though," she smiled weakly, drawing a grin from James. "I loved the traveling, the events," her smile grew wider at the thought. "I really liked the events. The banquets, the awards," she giggled. "I really liked seeing this side of the world I never knew existed until I came to work for you." Her smile fell again.
"The more I learned about you, the programs you started and funded, the more I really came to like who you were and what you stood for," Jennifer took a moment to breathe. "I always thought you were a pretty incredible man," she chuckled, "even now, I still think you're simply amazing. You're heart," she smiled, "it's beautiful."
James searched her face, the smile and tease gone from his lips. Instead, he reached for Jennifer's neck. She tensed, but didn't recoil. He touched her skin with a single stroke of his index finger and she drew in a breath.
"But why did you work so much?"
Jennifer pressed her lips together and held in a breath. After a few seconds, she exhaled deeply. It took her a moment before she could answer.
"I think I wanted you to notice me."
James frowned. His fingers still lingered against the side of Jennifer's creamy neck. He took his thumb and stroked the line of her jaw. His eyes fell to her lips and lingered. His thumbed followed where his gaze had turned and he ran it across her waiting lips.
"I've always noticed you."
Her heart could have shattered. Within a second, James closed the distance between his lips and hers and she finally felt the man who had occupied the majority of her thoughts for the past three years. He tasted wonderfully. Strong and powerful, and yet still gentle with her. Her hand moved and found his, but her next thought wasn't of feeling her tongue against his. It was of Andrew.
Of all the things to remember, she remembered him, helping her along the mountainside. She recalled his gorgeous brown eyes and loose hair she had come to love running her fingers through and stopped.
She pulled away from James and squeezed her eyes shut. What am I doing? A second later and she caught James's eyes again.
"I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice a mush of shock and shame. She pushed her body from his and moved to the edge of the loveseat. She was too busy trying to regain her breath to try and decipher the look on his face when she met his eyes a third time.
Something caught her eye to the left of his body. Dark skin and dark hair. Jennifer leaned to the left, her eyes growing wide as recognition dawned.
"Nicole!" She called, waving her hand high. The woman, a lanky 5'9" black beauty with dark, wavy hair excitedly waved back. She was being escorted by a doorman, but immediately broke away to head straight for Jennifer.
"Oh my goodness, child," Nicole cupped Jennifer's face in her hands, turning it to the left and right, "you look amazing," she drew her into a hug, and then froze. "Who's that?" Nicole whispered, pulling away from Jennifer. "Oh my, Mr. Delicious, are you here with my friend?" James laughed, and struggled to clear his throat.
"Yes, she's my," he coughed.
"He's my boss," Jennifer said in a calm tone. She met James's eyes and held his gaze briefly before turning to Jennifer. "Mr. Delicious?"
Nicole wiggled her fingers at James. "You're beautiful," she said outright. His sexy grin was back in full force.
"Nicole, please, control yourself. What has the city done to you?" Jennifer asked, laughing. She never remembered her friend being so blunt.
"Sorry," Nicole said with a smirk and half-hearted shrug. "The city changes you," she winked at James and wet her lips.
Jennifer buried her face in her hands and James stood. He stretched out a hand to Nicole and grasped it firmly. Nicole stared him down with a widening grin.
"Goodness, you're strong," she commented.
James grinned and glanced towards Jennifer. "You told me it's been awhile so I'm going to let you two catch up," he released Nicole's hand and sought to make eye contact with Jennifer, but she avoided him, and chose to tousle with her suit jacket instead. She finally start to unbutton it and slipped it quickly, revealing the chiffon blouse beneath.
"I'm going to the bar for another drink," James said softly. "I'm really hungry too. Don't wait up to order something for yourselves ladies," he finished the last bit in a rush and excused himself seconds later. Only then did Jennifer lift her head and watch him walk away. She touched her lips, remembering his kiss, and felt a wave of guilt crash over her.
"You should have seen the way he was eyeing you when you took of your jacket, Jenn," Nicole commented quickly. She too stared after James and tilted her head to the side for a better look. "Goodness, he is gorgeous. He works with you?" Nicole turned back to Jennifer and watched her friend take her seat.
Jennifer sighed and closed her eyes. "He's my boss, Nikki. He's the same one I worked for when you were last in Chicago."
"Oh," Nicole nodded her head with understanding and slipped into the loveseat next to Jennifer. She placed a hand on her thigh and squeezed. "You look good, too," she said with a grin.
Opening her eyes, Jennifer smiled weakly. "You look amazing," she sat up then and reached for her friend's hair. "Is this natural?" She asked with curiosity. Nicole was Haitian but was born in America. Her exotic beauty often had many men pining for time alone with her, but she never entertained them, at least in Chicago that was the case. Jennifer had no idea how the city might have changed her friend when it came to love and men.
"You know I don't do chemicals," Nicole giggled. "How are you? Is everything alright?" Her smile faded as she looked over Jennifer, who forced a smile. Jennifer wanted to tell Nicole everything, whatever that happened to be, but seeing as to how she hadn't seen in her friend in over three years, she didn't want to monopolize the time with her troubles.
"I can't honestly believe I'm seeing you right now," Jennifer said softly. She leaned in for another hugged and squeezed tightly. "I've missed you so much."
Nicole giggled, "Hard to tell that when you never returned my calls," her voice was thin, but genuine. Jennifer pulled away and nodded solemnly. "I don't say that to be rude. I'm glad to see you too."
With a nod, Jennifer ran a hand through her hair. "It's okay, Nikki. It's true. I could have called, I probably could have come here a couple of times but I never did."
Taking a deep breath, Nicole crossed her legs. "But you're here now," she said confidently, tapping Jennifer's knee. "Let's not worry about the past. We can't change that."
"Yeah," Jennifer agreed quickly. "Let's enjoy tonight and worry about the future tomorrow," she squinted her eyes at Nicole and the two exchanged a devilish grin.