Chapter 190: Chapter Twenty-Eight

Priscilla

Smith was late.

Which meant I was pacing in the condo, wearing clothes I wasn't totally sure looked good.

Fashion hadn't always been my thing. I mean, I dressed fine, but Alyssa's style was a bit louder than mine.

With a huff, I pulled out my phone and clicked on the conversation that had been going on between me and Jamie all day.

Me

Can you tell me if I look okay?

I attached a selfie and waited.

Jamie Hudson

Go change.

Me

That bad?

Jamie Hudson

No. That good. I don't want him ripping your clothes off like some bad sex scene in a movie. Don't you own a sweater?

Me

They aren't my clothes. They're my cousin Alyssa's. She has a different style than I do.

Jamie Hudson

Hmm, put us on video chat.

I panicked. I mean, we'd never chatted before. I wasn't sure it was such a good idea.

Jamie Hudson

Stop over analyzing, I want you to take me into your closet.

Me

This feels weird.

Jamie Hudson

Video chat. Now.

I turned on the video chat but couldn't really see him; the room was dark, he was wearing a baseball cap, a hoodie, and nerdy glasses that made him look like a teenager.

“Okay,” I said out loud, feeling like an idiot. “Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.” He chuckled, his voice was smooth, really clear, almost too perfect, like he was taking special care with each word.

“So here's the closet.”

“Does she own a mall?” He laughed. “Okay, take me to the right.”

Giggling, I faced the phone to the right where her sweaters were located. “I vote the loose-necked striped hoodie with leggings, boots, warm socks, and a hat.”

“So you want me to be completely covered from head to toe?”

“That's the idea,” he said. “What? Did you want my help or not?”

“Yes,” I grumbled, reaching for the clothes.

“Okay.” He drew out the ay. “Now set me down, go change and show me again.”

Rolling my eyes, I set the phone down. “Give me a few minutes.”

I ran into the bathroom, quickly changed, and rolled my eyes knowing that he was right about the outfit. The one I'd had on earlier was a low-cut tank top with skinny jeans.

Picking up the phone, I faced it toward me and did a one-up of my outfit. “This better?”

“Hmm, I don't know, I may have to look again.”

Laughing, I pointed at the phone. “No more! It would be improper.”

“Bummer.” He sighed. “You look hot, but not too hot.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“I believe so.” He sounded surprised. “At any rate, if he touches you, I'm flying up there and cutting off his hand.”

“We're kind of dating, isn't that the point?”

“No.” I could see his head shake. “Not the point. The point is to get to know someone without sticking your tongue down their throat.”

“That would suffocate me.”

“My point exactly.” He pointed at the phone. “Don't let him suffocate you!”

The doorbell rang.

“Oops! That's him, gotta go!”

“Let me know when you get home!”

“Okay! Night!”

“Night, love.”

I hesitated over the End button, then pressed it. Every time he called me love, my stomach flipped over like a pancake.

Grabbing my purse, I ran to the door and opened it.

Smith was leaning against the frame, his muscular body putting off so much heat I could feel him even though I wasn't touching him.

“You look perfect.” He eyed me up and down. “Ready to roast?”

“Always.”

He offered his arm as we walked to the car. I looked back at the condo, then at Jaymeson's house. A figure stood silhouetted in the window.

“You getting in the truck?” Smith asked.

“Oh, sorry.” I lifted myself into the truck and buckled my seatbelt. By the time I looked back at Jaymeson's house, the figure was gone, and I was left to wonder if it was all my imagination.

Why would he care? Why should he?

“I brought blankets,” Smith said as he started the truck. “Just in case it gets cold. That way we can cuddle under the stars.”

“Awesome.” My answer sounded forced.

“I, for one, am hoping for snow.”

“Why's that?”

“Because then I can trap you under that damn blanket all night long.”

I shivered.

But not because my body was responding to him. Because my mind immediately went to Jaymeson and lying with him in bed.

“Me too.” I reached across the console and grabbed his hand. “Thanks for taking me out.”

“I'd take you anywhere,” Smith whispered.