Voyeur Extraordinaire(26)

I'll pick you up.

I nodded my head again, not able to stop smiling. Stop acting like an idiot, I told myself. I tried a more confident, sexier smile, and hoped it didn’t look like a grimace.

Sleep well.

My sleep would definitely be filled with tantalizing dreams…

I gave him a shy smile and grabbed the curtains, pulling them shut slowly. I stumbled over to my bed and plopped down on it, letting out a small giggle. Who knew that Adrian could be charming like that? I tilted my head to the side and caught Bruno staring at me like I'd lost my mind. I reached out and patted his head.

I couldn't wait to tell Amy about what had just happened. This was better than I could have ever imagined it. I jumped up from my bed and rushed through my apartment toward the entrance door. I ripped it open and hurried toward Amy's apartment before knocking. Soft steps came closer and after a moment the door swung open. Amy, dressed in another one of Jared’s boxershorts and a flimsy pink camisole, stood in the doorway, a steaming cup in her hands. She beamed at me. “Nora,” she said with a smile, then her expression turned into a frown. “Why are you grinning like a maniac?” The smell of freshly roasted coffee beans flooded my nose.

“That smells delicious,” I said, suddenly wanting to put off telling her about what just happened.

“Want a cup? I ground too many beans anyway,” Amy said, stepping back so I had room to enter. I slipped past her, feeling like I was going to burst any moment. I followed Amy into her cozy retro kitchen corner but didn’t sit down. I was too fidgety. Amy handed me a cup of coffee, then leaned against the counter, her skinny ankles crossed and expectant look on her face. “Now spill.”

I took a sip from my coffee, then the words bubbled out of me, “I'm going out with Adrian tomorrow.” My face flushed and I quickly drank the rest of the coffee to have something to blame it on.

“You what?” Amy's eyes widened and she didn't look nearly as excited as I felt. Slowly she uncrossed her ankles and set down her cup with a noisy clank. “Nora, didn't you listen to a word I said yesterday?” She rested her hands on her hips, looking at me reproachfully.

I rolled my eyes at her and told her about Adrian's written messages. “It was really cute. I didn’t think he’d do something like that. Nobody has ever done something sweet for me,” I concluded my story. “I honestly want to give this thing between Adrian and me a try.”

While I’d been talking, Amy's face had changed from a look of disapproval to surprise. Well, there was still a flicker of disapproval and worry in her eyes but I chose to ignore it. “He can be quite the charmer if he tries. I guess that's how he's getting all the women.”

I scowled, not wanting to think about his other women. I wanted to be the only woman for him. I knew it was ridiculous of me to even play with that thought, but if I didn’t, I’d never be able to enjoy my evening with Adrian, and I desperately wanted to. So much was going wrong in my life right now, I needed something that went right and I wanted Adrian to be that thing. “I really want tomorrow to be perfect, Amy. I know it’s a risk to go out with Adrian, but it’s my decision.”

Amy walked up to me and put her arms around me from behind, resting her chin on shoulder. “Sorry. I know you can make your own decisions. But I care about you and don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all.”

“Don’t worry, Amy. I won’t get hurt. As you said, it’s just lust.” We both knew that wasn’t entirely true. Amy nodded against my shoulder, then straightened.

“We need to go shopping tomorrow and I'll help you get ready. You need to look absolutely hot,” she said resolutely.

I peered over my shoulder at her. “Shopping?”

“Yes. I don't need to work tomorrow, and you?”

I shook my head no. I’d been working pretty much every day for two weeks straight. I finally had a day off.

Amy clapped her hands happily, an excited glimmer in her eyes. I was glad to see the worry gone. It was starting to rub off on me. “Wonderful. It'll take us most of the day to get everything you need and to prepare you.”

I just nodded my head. It was useless to argue with Amy about shopping, and I was actually grateful for her willingness to help me. I wasn't experienced when it came to dating and needed every bit of help I could get. I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of Adrian. A wave of excitement washed over. I was really going out with Adrian. Would I be in his bed tomorrow night?





Chapter Ten





At point six, a sharp knock rang through my apartment and tore me from my peaceful sleep. I sat up, rubbing my eyes. I'd thought I could sleep in today, since I didn't have to work, but obviously Amy had other plans. There wasn't a single doubt in my mind that she was the crazed person almost taking my door down to make me wake up. Bruno was peeking at me with half-closed eyes from the end of my bed, lying on his back, his feet sticking out toward the ceiling. I untangled myself from my blankets, slipped out of bed, shuffled through my apartment and toward the entrance door in slow motion. Another yawn parted my lips as I opened it.