"This week will be hard. You're at that stage where you have to push through the yucky stuff and choose to put your skills into place. It will be challenging, but it doesn't mean you can't get through this. Remind yourself of all the things you're capable of and how you've managed before. You got this."
"Thank you. I think I just needed to hear I wasn't losing my mind and that someone believed in me."
"Absolutely. I think that's what we all want to hear." I smiled. "I have you scheduled for next week on Tuesday. I'll see you then and I look forward to hearing how you conquered this," I affirmed.
Walking my client out, I was ready for my lunch break. Today was going well, I was just in a weird mood, and I didn't know why. I'd woken up feeling all out of sorts and was dreading the training class tonight. Mr. Surly had canceled on Tuesday, so I hadn't faced him since a week ago when I'd kissed him. I wasn't sure how to deal with it.
Sighing, I turned to go back to my office when I caught sight of a grinning Doris beckoning me over. She was talking to Daphne and Jewel as they both refilled their coffee mugs. Hmm, maybe coffee was what I needed. Deciding I'd grab some next door, I walked over to see what had them grinning so big first.
"Hey. What's going on over here?"
"Doris had an interesting visitor," Jewel teased.
"Oh, did you now? Spill."
"Well, he was actually here to see you," she interjected.
"Oh? A ‘he' you say?" I asked, pondering who she could mean. I was confused when she handed me the box from the bakery downstairs. Glancing down, I saw it had something written on the top.
"Beautiful, you're a hard woman to track down. I want to take you to lunch. Your gatekeeper wouldn't let me pass go, so if you're up for this idea, meet me at City Bistro. Nicco."
A warm blush spread across my cheeks. He'd found me. Peeking up, the three women were watching me closely and smiled back at me.
"He's a hottie, Loren, seems nice too. And all those tattoos?" Her whole body shivered. "Whew wee! Gave this old woman a hot flash," chuckled Doris, waving her hand in front of her face.
"You didn't say anything about tattoos, Doris! You've been holding out on me," joked Jewel, smacking her on the arm.
Looking at my watch, I realized I would need to leave now to enjoy my time with him. When I looked back up, Doris reached for the box, pulling it from me.
"Go. You're 2 pm rescheduled, so you've got time."
Beaming, I nodded and headed back to my office to grab my coat and purse. Giddiness filled me as I rushed through New Horizons and out into the cold. The wind didn't feel as hard today, but maybe that was due to the redness in my cheeks. Nicco. I'd thought he didn't want to see me again, but this… Smiling, I rushed up the street to the little hole in the wall restaurant.
Stopping for a second, I checked my hair in the window before heading in. A hostess was leaning against the counter on her phone as I entered. At the sound of the bell, she didn't even glance up but pointed to the left. Assuming she meant for me to go in that direction, I cautiously walked there. I wanted to be offended by her behavior, but nerves filled me more. I was anxious as I thought about what seeing him again would be like.
Should I kiss him? Hug him? What would we talk about now? Maybe this was a bad idea. It had been a great night and a good memory. Perhaps it should stay that way. Before I could bolt in the other direction, I spotted him in the empty room. He'd been staring at the opening to the room and stood as I walked in.
Stopping in my tracks, we stared at one another assessing the situation. He looked as amazing as I'd remembered. Maybe even more so now that I knew what was under his clothes, his dark hair was rumpled in that deliberate look, brushed over his eyes. Nicco's grey-blue eyes zeroed in on me as I cataloged the rest of him. He was dressed simply this time, in a black t-shirt and jeans, motorcycle boots, and there was a leather jacket that was tossed over the back of a chair.
When I looked back up, he instantly moved forward, but I stayed stopped in my tracks as I waited. Our magnetism was just as strong as I remembered, and there was only one course of action—collision.
"Hey," he purred, his sexiness slamming into me with force, and my body reacted instantly. Nicco's smirk told me he'd noticed as well.
"Hey."
It was all I could get out as I stared at him inches from me. My hands were itching to reach out and touch him. When he broke the space by grabbing my waist, it was like a tidal wave of feelings crashing into me.
"I'm so glad you came," he stated, his hands flexing as he did. "I kept hoping you would call me. I've been going out of my mind, actually, and I decided to take another shot. I'm-I'm." He cleared his throat, a nervous chuckle leaving him. "I'm glad I did."
Nicco smiled, and my heart took off. Confused, though, I quirked my brow at him. "I don't understand. Call you? But how?"
His laugh wasn't the answer I expected, and I felt it all the way through my toes.
"I deserve that." He grinned, lighting up his whole face. Shaking his head, he continued, "and here I thought I was clever and mysterious, but instead," that nervous chuckle returned, "I'd left us both miserable thinking the other wasn't interested. At least, I hope you're interested. Here, let's sit down."
He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the table. Nicco pulled out my chair and helped me out of my coat, placing it with his. Instead of sitting back where he had been, he scooted close to me, our chairs practically touching. Turning, he put his arm on the back of my chair, effectively enclosing me in his presence as his smell, and everything Nicco, surrounded me.
"I'm glad you're here. I've missed you." His thumb brushed my shoulder as he talked, his eyes intent on me. "I don't care if that's not cool to say. I just want you to know how much I've been thinking about you."