The next day I cleaned my apartment, went shopping at the grocery store and took a nap to get ready for the extra hours. When I got to the restaurant, it was packed as usual. As I mentioned before, I usually work the private parties or greet people as they come in. Tonight, I was the hostess as well as anything they needed me to be. My boss, Mr. Red, or Mr. Creepy, which is what we call him behind his back, really worked the heck out of me.
Mr. Red was just that; I swear every time you saw him, his face and hands were red. He was a short man with a slight belly on him and a smile that was plastered on his face for every customer that walked in. He had beady eyes that were dark, creepy brown with short straight brown hair.
All the women that work here and under him thought he was a creep. He made it no secret when he looked you up and down, practically drooling before he spoke to you. He seemed to always be sweating and always had this look in his eyes that made you wonder what he was thinking when he looked at you. I tell you something, it can’t be good. I could feel it.
When my night was finally over, it was going on 1 a.m., and I was exhausted. Just thinking about working at Sara’s in the morning was making me feel even more tired and sleepy. The money I made on tips made up for me being tired, but I still wished I was in the bed right about then.
I didn’t feel like waiting for the bus, so when I cashed out for the night, I called a cab to take me home and waited outside until it got there.
I sighed deeply as I looked out at this beautiful city and its lights. I couldn’t believe I was here. My life was awful growing up, but for some idiotic reason I never made the moves to leave. I don’t know why, but once I became of age, I stayed around the Spawn, my father, most times just hoping he would start to love me. I may be book smart, but now I can admit that back then common sense was as foreign to me as unconditional love.
But I made it… And I couldn’t believe that I was still here. My life finally felt like it belonged to me. I’m finally living for myself instead of for someone else. I won’t forget the reason why I’m running and why I won’t go home, but for the first time in forever, I could breathe.
My mind suddenly switched to the male perfection that I met a week ago. He’s come into Sara’s ever since that day at the track, and every day he comes right up to me and talks to me. I mean, I try to act normal when he does this, but the back of my mind keeps wondering why a guy like him wanted to talk to me. There were plenty of hot girls around. Hell, they all seemed to be at Sara’s waiting for him, but he didn’t pay them any mind. His eyes were completely focused on me, and at first it was flattering, but then it became unnerving.
He was starting to bring these feelings out of me that I never thought existed. I’ve always wanted to know what it felt like to be turned on by someone, to desire and want someone. I thought Wayne, my so called ex–best friend, did that for me when we were in college. I thought that time that I threw myself at him meant that he was turning me on, but that clearly wasn’t what I was feeling.
No, the moment Josh touched me, the moment our eyes met for the first time, and every time after, continues to take my breath away. As soon as he would walk into the café, my heart would start beating a mile a millisecond it seemed, goose bumps flooded my body and heat torched my soul and my panties became drenched. That, I think is what happens when you’re turned on. It was that moment I knew I wanted him.
God, it’s the way he smiled at me. It’s the way he said my name that had me in a trance. And my God; the way his eyes looked right through me. He was so intense and scary… and so freaking HOT.
I sighed again and closed my eyes. I was so afraid. I was afraid of the feelings that I was starting to have for him without even knowing him. And I was afraid of what that would mean if I ever got the opportunity to know him.
But I knew that wasn’t possible. There was no way I would ever get the opportunity to know him.
It’s crazy how just thinking about him could bring his cologne to mind… I inhaled deeply again then said softly, “Josh…”
“Summer,” a deep voice replied behind me.
My eyes shot open, Ho–lee Crap!
I turned my head slowly to find the man who visited me in my dreams at night and was in my thoughts during the day, standing right in front of me.
God, tell me he didn’t just hear me say his name.
The smile that slowly crept on his handsome face, however, told me he had.
“How did you know it was me behind you?” he asked me.
Yeah, he would ask me that. Think, Summer.
“Um, I remembered your smell.” I cringed the moment those words came out of my mouth.
Josh frowned. “I smell bad or something?”
Someone please help me.
I shook my head, “No sorry… um… I mean your cologne. I remember your cologne.”
“Ah, so my cologne smells bad then…”
“Oh God.” I closed my eyes and shook my head.
I heard a chuckle coming from him, which made my eyes shoot open and see the smirk evident on his face.
“I have to say I’m rather impressed you remembered what my cologne smells like. Have you been thinking about me?”
Shit!
My eyes grew big and I shook my head quickly. “Oh no I haven’t…”
“No?” he asked me.
“I mean yes!”
His eyebrows rose. “Really!”
God, this is a disaster…
I felt the heat creep up, and I knew I was bright red. I closed my eyes again and shook my head. Once again, I’m tripping over myself by just being around him.
“I’m so embarrassed. Please excuse me as I jump to my death now!”
He laughed. “No, please don’t do that.”
I leaned back against the rail that separated the street and sidewalk from the huge plunge down the side of Mt. Washington. Josh walked closer to me and leaned over the same rail next to me.
“It’s beautiful up here.”
Thankful for the change of topic I turned around to face the city, too.
“Yeah, it is. I sometimes come out here at night as a place to clear my head. Well, not exactly right here, mainly over by the main lookout area.”
Josh looked over at me. “There is a lookout area? Where?”
“It’s further down the street. There are two round protruding decks that you can walk out onto and really see the city unrestricted,” I told him.
“Is that where you’re going now?” he asked me.
“No, actually I just got off work, and I’m heading home.”
I looked him over as he stared out onto the city. He was in a black suit with a grey shirt and black tie. The suit fit so beautifully on him, I knew it was tailored. I also knew it was a Brioni suit as well, and it wasn’t something you bought off the rack. Seeing him dressed like this was a complete turn on for me, and knowing and feeling what was encased underneath his clothes, I knew his body would make me lose my mind. I didn’t have much experience with men that I could actually use in this instance, but I thought if I was able to touch him, skin to skin, I would probably fall apart.
Josh, probably feeling my eyes on him, turned to face me.
Still leaning on the rail, he asked, “Do you have someone at home waiting for you? Like maybe a boyfriend, husband, fiancé, or significant other?”
I couldn’t help the smile that tiptoed on my face.
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend, husband, fiancé, or significant other waiting for me at home.”
“Is that right?” He smiled, showing those beautiful dimples. “Well, is it possible that maybe you have someone waiting for you to call them once you get home, like maybe a…” he paused, then added, “…boyfriend, husband, fiancé, or significant other?”
I looked down at the ground, hiding my blush when I noticed the expensive Italian shoes he wore. My gaze drifted to my own Kmart brand work shoes, and I sighed. There are so many glaring reasons I should just tell him I have a boyfriend to end this torture. He was giving me an out here, and I should have taken it. I could just say, “Yes, I have a boyfriend,” but why is my mouth not working right now?
Just then I heard a horn, and I looked up to find my cab waiting at the curb for me. Saved by the bell, or horn rather.
I smiled at him and headed to my ride without answering his question.
“Wait!” he called out to me. I turned around and kept moving away from him. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night or lunch during the day, whichever you prefer.”
I smiled. “Can’t, I have to work.”
“All day?” He looked skeptical.
I said without thinking, “Yes, Mr. Italian suit, I have three jobs.”
He started walking to me, and it seemed I couldn’t make it fast enough to the cab.
“What about breakfast? Can you meet me for breakfast tomorrow? I can come to you if you want. If you’re working at Sara’s tomorrow, that is.”
I finally made it to the cab and opened the back door.
I looked at him. “Don’t you have a girlfriend, fiancée, wife or significant other to take to breakfast, lunch and dinner?”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t have anyone in my life to try and impress with my Italian suits. I’m new in town, and well, I was hoping that maybe I could find a way to impress you.”