Thorne kept one eye on Jeannie while he spoke to a chatty Theo and silent Sarah. Robert and Jeannie seemed to become friendlier with every passing minute. With their heads bent, they talked and laughed as they ate their cake.
Thorne forced his hands not to clench in frustration at the way the tables had turned. Robert seemingly had a foothold in Jeannie's affections. He needed to break them up before they got too close.
"Hey, Jeannie. Do you have more coffee?" Thorne didn't care much for coffee. He only drank it to fit in, but he needed to create a distraction.
Jeannie stood. "Sure I do. Who would like a refill?"
Everyone raised a hand.
Robert stood to help. Thorne beat him to the punch by quickly circling the couch. "Let me help you, Jeannie."
Robert gnashed his teeth at Thorne who smirked at him over Jeannie's head.
"Thanks, Hawthorne," Jeannie said, oblivious to the tension between the two men.
In the kitchen, Jeannie filled the pot with water as Thorne removed the old filter and opened the can, taking out the yellow scoop to measure the coffee. Robert and Theo's muffled voices drifted into the kitchen along with Sarah's low mummers.
Now is the time to ask.
Thorne's pulse sped up as if he were demanding a raise from The Source rather than asking a mark for a fake date.
"Hey, Jeannie? Um, would you like to, um, go to the party on campus tonight?" He knew he sounded like a nervous newbie instead of a trained veteran. He straightened his spine and vowed to do better.
Jeannie nodded and placed a new filter in the container. "Sure I'll go. Robert asked me earlier as well. I also want to ask Theo and Sarah. Maybe we can all ride together?"
Having the whole gang tag along wasn't the plan, but Thorne could make it work. He scooped coffee into the maker as Jeannie dumped the water from a pitcher into the reservoir. Forcing enthusiasm into his voice, he said, "Um, yeah. That sounds like fun."
Jeannie set the pitcher down and eyed him coolly. "Would you like something else besides coffee?"
"Now, why would you ask that, Jeannie?" Thorne paused with putting the last scoop of grounds into the filter to stare at his neighbor.
Jeannie shrugged, taking a wet towel and wiping up a few of the spilled grains. "I can tell you don't like coffee because your lips twitch before each sip."
She's very observant, he thought. Too observant.
"Well, I wouldn't mind some water if you have it."
"Sure, I do." Jeannie smiled. "I have San Pellegrino or filtered water, which do you prefer?"
San Pellegrino is my favorite brand of water. How could she know?
The hair on the back of Thorne's neck stood up. A sure sign all was not as it seemed.
"I picked up a few on sale yesterday." Jeannie bent down to retrieve a bottle from the cupboard underneath the coffee maker. Thorne let go of his suspicion to stare at the curve of her behind. The round globe bobbed, tantalizing him. Her juicy flesh was so close to his hand. All he had to do was reach out...and touch it.
Jeannie stood upright, smiling at him with a bottle of discounted water in her hands. Thorne gave her a weak grin and stepped back, out of temptation's way.
"I've always wanted to try this brand." Jeannie waggled the bottle playfully. "So, do you want some?"
Thorne relaxed, coming down from high alert. Jeannie picking out his favorite water was just a coincidence. Why was he worried? He reached for the bottle, covering her hand with his. "Pellegrino should be served chilled."
The air stilled as their eyes locked. Without breaking their gaze, Thorne took the bottle from her hand and placed it on the counter. Jeannie's lips parted as he moved closer...
The door swung open, causing the couple to jump back.
Robert poked his head through, his gaze flitting from Jeannie to Thorne. "Is the coffee ready yet?"
Thorne wanted to make sure he dressed to impress. After discarding several outfits, he finally settled on a white button-down shirt with blue pinstripes, a brown belt, and dark blue jeans.
Because of his clothing debate, Thorne had overshot the time of Robert's arrival. He'd just walked out of his door as his rival greeted Jeannie.
"Jeannie, you're like a beautiful flower growing amidst the thorns." Robert turned, throwing a stink-eye at the big blond to make his meaning clear.
Thorne didn't find the pun even remotely funny. He glowered at the dark-haired man to let him know his humor wasn't appreciated.
This clown is going down, Thorne thought.
"Thank you, Robert. That's very sweet of you." Jeannie smiled prettily at Robert, causing Thorne to ball his fists.
"Let's go already," Thorne growled. He'd wanted to be the only one to pay Jeannie compliments, yet Robert beat him to it. Thorne would have to step up his game if he ever wanted to become Jeannie's...friend.
Thorne mentally shook his head in disgust. Four weeks into his assignment and Jeannie and he were acquaintances at best.
Tonight, I'll change all that, Thorne thought. What better way to start than with a compliment?
"You look nice, Jeannie."
He meant what he said. Her outfit suited her curvaceous figure. Jeannie wore a salmon-colored cotton sweater draped over a gray mini skirt, black stockings, and black ankle boots. Her makeup was minimal and her hair was loose. Jeannie rounded off her look with large silver hoops.
Jeannie nodded. Her expressive eyes meeting his. "Thank you, Hawthorne."
Robert took Jeannie's hand, making a show of tucking it under his arm. "Your chariot awaits, my lady."
Jeannie giggled, the sound warming Thorne's heart. Robert threw Thorne a smug look, dashing his happy feeling.
Robert led Jeannie from the warmth of the apartment building into the crisp autumn air. A flash of orange swayed from a maple tree. Jeannie made to grab the leaf, but it danced away from her outstretched hands.
Thorne deftly caught it between his long fingers, bumping Robert out of the way. Thorne lifted Jeannie's hand and placed the leaf in her palm, giving her a sweet smile.
"Thanks, Hawthorne." Jeannie lifted the orange leaf so it covered half her face, leaving her big brown eyes showing. Thorne stood still, admiring the sight. Robert glowered at Thorne's apparent fascination.
"I just love fall, don't you?" Jeannie said, demurely lowering her lashes.
Thorne sucked in a breath at the beautiful picture Jeannie made. "Um, yeah, Jeannie I do."
Thorne did love fall. He was at his happiest when the heat of the summer had waned, and Nature was at her bestâshowing off her autumn fire in yellows, oranges, and dark reds. Noting Jeannie and he had a lot in common, a warm glow of happiness, not caused by the season, filled his chest.
A look Robert failed to understand passed between the Jeannie and Thorne. Robert didn't like her attention diverted from him, so he began to speak about the seasons where he was from. He went on talking about himself until they reached his car, a shiny silver BMW.
Robert clicked the key. The alarm lights, flickering in the darkness, illuminated his scowl at Jeannie's lack of deference for his ride.
"Since you have long legs, Hawthorne," Jeannie said, grabbing the rear door handle, "you two sit up front."
Robert began to protest, but Jeannie silenced him by sliding into the back. There was nothing the men could do but follow her direction.
During the drive to the party, Robert tried to exclude Thorne from the conversation as much as Jeannie dragged him into it.
"I like to cook," Jeannie said when the topic turned to food on campus vs. eating at home. "I'm pretty good if I do say so myself."
"I'm a good cook too" Robert bragged, not to be outdone. The truth was, he'd never set foot in his family's kitchen except to steal cookies when he was four.
"What about you, Hawthorne?" Jeannie asked.
Robert sighed and rolled his eyes. This evening wasn't going to plan at all. Robert hoped that when they reached the venue, the big blond would go one way while he and Jeannie went the other.
Thorne plucked a piece of lint off his pants and flicked it onto the floorboard. His lips twitched into a smile when Robert's jaw clenched.
"Jeannie, I can whip up something when necessary, but I would sure like you to teach me how to bake that applesauce cake. It was awesome."
"Sure," Jeannie said, meeting Thorne's eyes in the mirror. "Anytime, neighbor."
When they arrived at the frat house, two valets rushed to assist. One helped Jeannie alight from the back while the other took the keys from Robert. The playboy's threats of no damage or it's your ass, reached Jeannie's ears, making her frown.
"What?" Robert asked when he saw her look, "It's not as if they matter."
Jeannie tsk-ed between her teeth, shaking her head in disappointment.
At the entrance, a liveried butler greeted them. "Good evening, sirs, madam." With a slight bow of his head, he continued. "The main party is in the ballroom to your left. Refreshments and libations are in the next room beyond."
With their chests puffed out like colorful birds, Robert and Thorne geared up to put their plans for Jeannie into action.
She fooled them both when she turned and said, "I see Sarah and Theo, guys. Perhaps we'll catch up later?"
With that, she walked away, leaving both men with a look of disbelief on their faces.