Ian grabbed the keys from the valet and glanced at Tara, motioning her to get in his car. When they were both seated, Ian looked at her again, he couldn't believe she was sitting in his car. Stranger things were known to happen in life, but this twist of events seemed more like a cruel joke of fate. He checked his rearview mirror and pressed the button to turn on ignition. The car started up in complete silence and Ian began driving to Jake's apartment.
The quiet was bothering Ian. He wanted to say something to Tara but her leg was too much of a distraction--Tara's bold dress slit ran all the way up to her thigh, exposing her shapely, tanned leg and it made Ian want to touch her. He would think of saying something to her and her tempting flesh would take his thoughts in a whole other direction. Tara in red could be his undoing, he realized miserably.
"Do you know when he'd return?"
Ian heard Tara ask him a question but he was so enwrapped in thoughts of her inviting body that he couldn't decipher what her pretty mouth had exactly said to him, "Pardon?"
"I wanted to know if you knew when Jake was going to come back from his mom's?"
"He said it might take him an hour or two." Ian saw the worry in her eyes and decided to be helpful, "You can call him and ask, Tara."
She still looked flustered to him, "Yes, I could. But he didn't let me know when he left suddenly...he chose to inform you instead. I don't know if he wants to hear from me right now."
Ian looked at her adorable face, her seductive dress, her sensual red lip and her scintillating body; he couldn't believe that she thought a man wouldn't want to hear from her. "You can call him, he'd answer."
"Maybe I should...!" Saying so she dialed his number.
Ian observed that after a ring or two Jake cancelled her call and sent her a message instead. Ian couldn't believe how much of an ass Jake was being. He had left the hotel without informing her and now he wasn't even picking up her call. He felt offended on Tara's behalf.
"He's saying he can't talk right now and will call later."
Ian saw her utterly forlorn and wished he could comfort her in some way. "There must have been some trouble...his sister, Brooke, she can be difficult at times."
"Difficult how? Jake hasn't told me much about his sister."
"Tara, he will let you know." He told her reassuringly.
They both went silent again and it disconcerted Ian completely. He realized that he might be making Tara uncomfortable by being uncomfortable around her. He decided to turn on some music. Andrea Bocelli's soulful classic "Can't Help Falling in Love" began to play and Ian saw Tara shift in her seat.
"Should I change the track?"
"No, it is beautiful. A voice like that...not everyone can have it. It touches the very soul of you."
"Yes." Ian affirmed and saw Tara relax a little.
Tara closed her eyes and listened to Bocelli's voice. Ian could see her breathing evenly as her breasts heaved with every inhale.
"What kind of music do you listen to Ian?"
He had to think about it a little, "Jazz mostly...Frank Sinatra, Loius Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald..."
Tara smiled as she opened her eyes to look at Ian, "You are such an old soul!"
"Is that a bad thing?"
She laughed a little, "Not particularly, you are a serious man, Ian."
"Now, is that a bad thing?"
She laughed more, "Not at all!"
Tara's musical laugh eased Ian a little. Her nearness was still very much on his mind.
"Do you perhaps listen to Jazz?"
"I have heard Jazz music, yes. I listen to Adele quite a lot."
"She has a beautiful voice." Ian said to her. And then he decided to make a conversation, "Jake told me you are an event planner?"
She smiled, "Yes, I own a flower shop in Flushing called Blossoms and we also organize events."
Ian didn't want her to stop talking, "What kind of events do you guys do?"
"Weddings, mostly. Occasionally we also do intimate affairs like a proposal on a certain location or a special dinner date."
Ian found listening to her to be a fascinating experience. The way she discussed her work made him realize how passionate she was about it. "Did you always want to do this?"
"I don't know about that, what I do know is that I am dedicated to my work now and I find it fulfilling."
"Whatever gives you joy is what you are meant to do."
"I like the sound of that."
She smiled at him and they both went silent yet again.
"I want us to be friends, Ian." Tara said suddenly.
That statement was totally unexpected for Ian. He hadn't ever anticipated any form of relationship with the woman he was obsessing over. He wanted them to have their distance for Jake's sake...also for the sake of his own sanity. "Really?"
"You are my boyfriend's best friend. I think you know more about him than most people. I mean, you guys seem more like brothers!"
"Point taken!"
"Ian, I want things to be friendly between us. If Jake and I were to move forward in our relationship, it'll be good for the two of us to be cordial."
Ian hadn't expected any of this from Tara but since she wanted it, and also for very understandable reasons, he had no choice but to give this to her. "You can consider us friends from this point on, Tara."
"Thank you, Ian."
They arrived outside Jake's apartment building minutes later and Tara got out of Ian's car.
"Thank you, Ian, for the ride and for listening!"
"You're welcome. Don't worry much about Jake. He'll be home soon. Alright?"
"Ok. I might listen to Sinatra till he gets back!"
He laughed at that, "Am I rubbing off on you?"
"It would seem like it."