No.
It would be too much of a shame to waste this beautiful gown. Especially because it must have been extremely expensive and Jake would probably ask it back to return to the store that he purchased it from.
Or at least, that’s what I would have done.
Sighing, as another knock at the door pounded out, I gathered my purse and walked begrudgingly to my door.
I stared at the old wood, biting my lip, until I took a deep breath and pulled open the door.
Jake Roma, in the middle of another heavy knock on the door, stumbled forward towards me, his hands barely brushing my hips as he caught himself.
With a clear of his throat, he stepped back, my own heart pounding away in my chest.
“Ah. Good evening.” He mumbled, eyes shifting away from my own.
Had I imagined how closely his lips had come to my own? Had I imagined that electric second of sizzling air between us.
My skin still tingled from his soft glancing touch.
“Good evening.” I murmured back shyly.
“Oh, uh, thank you for the dress, it’s so beautiful. I didn’t even know what to think-” I rambled on, gesturing towards the soft fabric.
His bright green eyes slid down my body, widening just slightly as he shook his head once more, “My receptionist deserves all the thanks.” He shrugged, “I just provided the credit card.”
“Of course.” I replied, though the magic of the gown seemed to falter out.
“Is Mr. Davie in tonight?” He asked, gaze sweeping around, “I don’t want to be rude.”
It hadn’t been selected just for mw. I was foolish to even begin to think that.
“No.” I said swiftly, throat going dry, “So, where are we headed tonight?” I asked, with a newly clear head.
This was all business. Strictly business, and not funny business – that was to be sure of.
He gestured me out into the hallway, watching as I locked my door. We walked together towards the stairs, one of his hands just barely pressed to my back as I held up the edge of the long chiffon gown in one of my other hands.
“We’re going to a musical recital.” He said, “I needed someone with a musical ear to woo a potential client.”
My heart instantly dropped down to my chest.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t go and listen to music. I couldn’t feel the thrums of guitars or the song of a violin. I definitely couldn’t hear the strokes of a piano playing.
My breath caught in my chest, my head going light.
“Are you alright, Caroline?” The billionaire asked worriedly, slowing me down as I desperately sought to catch my breath, “Are you feeling okay?”
I shook my head, pressing my hand to my forehead.
When I finally opened my eyes again, Jake’s face was only a few inches away, worry creasing his tawny brow.
He sat us down right there on the stairwell, not even noticing how the dust would cling to his fine, expensive suit.
“What’s going on?” He asked, voice gruff but surprisingly gentle.
“I just…I can’t go to a music recital.” I whispered, voice clawing desperately out of my throat, “I can’t.”
“And why not?” he pressed, frowning.
I wasn’t even sure if he noticed the way his hand rubbed up and down my back. I sank into his touch, head falling against his shoulder.
We sat together in silence, only the hum of the central air conditioning unit to break the anxious silence between us.
“The reason I moved here.” I whispered finally, “Was to escape all of that.”
For a few minutes, Jake Roma continued not to speak. His rough fingers continued to trace up and down my spine as he pondered my words.
“I know a thing or two about escape, Caroline.” He sighed, tilting his face to look down at me, “If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.”
Unable to resist turning back to his gaze, I slowly tilted my head up to him.
“There is no Mr. Davie, is there?” he said quietly, “For how long?”
Tears instantly prickled my eyes as I squeezed my eyes shut once more, “Six months.” I gasped, “But it still feels like yesterday.”
When I turned back to him, Jake was smiling.
A sad smile, a sullen twitch of his lips as his eyes prodded through my own.
“It’s been ten years for myself.” He said softly, “Ten years since I lost my parents and this business was thrust onto me. I feel that pain every day.”
“So it never gets better?” I whispered back, heart aching all the more.
I was to feel this way forever? I was to suffer the loss of the love of my life every day?
“There are certain moments.” Jake began.
Was I imagining that his face was growing closer, was I so desperate for joy that I made up the feel of his lips only an inch from my own?