I glance up and see a waitress from behind the bar staring at us with a slight pout on her lips, her eyes focused on his face. The receptionist was watching him so closely when I came out of the elevator, too. It’s obvious why. He’s so handsome, people tend to just stare at him.
“You want to get a drink?” Oz asks. “A coffee, or something? To say welcome to London properly.”
My heart starts racing in response to his question. Me, get a drink with Oswald Patterson? Um, hell yes. Even if it’s super innocent, I can always pretend in my head that it’s more. That it’s a date. And I can look back on this moment later on if I need something to get me through a dark day – or a cold night…
“Yes, that would be lovely,” I say, hoping my smile is as innocent as I’m aiming for it to be.
Chapter Four
Oz
I can’t believe it.
I think I might be about to go into cardiac arrest.
Something has happened here, and I’m not sure what. Somehow, the sweet and innocent gangly sixteen year old I knew, with braces, acne, and awkward clumsiness, has been transformed. It must have been some kind of spell. A witch or something got hold of her, or maybe the devil.
Yes, definitely the devil. Because only he could make curves this sweet.
Somehow, sweet little Gabriella has been transformed into the goddess I saw walking down the street earlier, and I just do not in any way understand how.
It’s as much as I can do to get through the first few minutes of our conversation. I even lead her over to the bar I was sitting in before just to give myself a moment to turn away from her and think. This is all so confusing. The woman I saw from behind – the one who had the strange power to instantly turn my thoughts dirty and make me want to grab her by the hips and take her – how can that be Gabriella?
I offer her a drink because I need one. Something. Anything to serve as a distraction.
And also because this is no longer strictly something I need to do out of courtesy to my best friend.
Now I’m infinitely curious – and I need to know what it is about her that has this effect on me.
Because, even as I’m getting up to go to the bar and order us both a couple more coffees – though I probably don’t need any more caffeine at this point – my mind is racing. Alright, not just my mind. My blood keeps threatening to rush in one particular direction, and I’m not talking about my brain.
No, my body has other ideas.
She’s grown up so much in the last couple of years. Now she’s like a model, gorgeous straight white teeth set in an open smile, full lips, wide blue eyes I could drink up… she’s blossomed into herself completely. I know it’s wrong to have these thoughts about her – about Dean’s daughter – but… I don’t think I can stop myself.
When I turn back around, she’s leaning towards the window, craning her neck to get a better view. She’s lifted herself up off the booth seat slightly to look, giving me a pretty good view of that perfect ass encased in white. It’s as much as I can do not to trip over myself as I walk back to the table with two cups and saucers in hand, trying hard not to spill anything.
What has come over me today?
“Thanks for this,” Gabriella says, as I clatter the cups down onto the table. I slide back into my seat, flashing her a smile.
“No problem,” I tell her. “So, what are your plans this week? Are you really visiting colleges, or is that just an excuse to get a vacation all on your own?”
She laughs, her eyes lighting up as she does. Her nose does this adorable little crinkle, dimples appearing on her cheeks. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and I can’t look away. “No, I really am looking at colleges,” she says. “Actually, didn’t you study here? Maybe I’m looking at your alma mater.”
I nod, taking a sip of my coffee in a foolish attempt to study myself. “I was at Imperial,” I say. “It’s actually where I met your father. He was there for a year to study.”
She brightens up again. “That’s where I’m going tomorrow.”
“Oh, really?” I say, laughing a little. I remember, so many years ago, when I took that tour myself. God, it feels like a lifetime ago. But at the same time, I don’t know that it feels like it was much more than a handful of years back. It’s funny how time changes the older you get. “Well, it’s a good university. You’ll enjoy it there.”