Loving the White Liar (5 page)

Later that night, I lay in bed with TV Land on and a lap full of electronics when my phone buzzed.

2 a.m.

Are you awake?

I stared at my phone, certain the message was from Jayden. I was in fact awake but thought it odd that he’d text me so late.

Me: Yes, Jay?

Yep. I just wanted to say I was sorry again.

Me: I’m beginning to believe you. Can’t sleep? Sunburn keeping you awake?

I quickly programmed his number.

Jay: Yes and no.

Me: Ah, well, that answers it.

Jay: I was asleep and my roommate came home with a screamer.

I laughed at that.

Me: So you decided that I didn’t deserve any sleep, either.

Jay: You’re right. I’m sorry it’s late. I’ll text tomorrow.

Me: It’s cool. I was just browsing the web for a job.

Jay: Unemployed?

Me: Soon. I’m working my notice and need a replacement.

Jay: I have a few friends who own businesses. What are you looking for?

Me: Honestly, anything at this point.

Jay: I’ll make some calls in the morning just to see if any of them have something.

Me: I can’t ask you to do that.

Jay: It’s not a problem.

Me: That’s kind of you. Thanks.

Jay: So Saturday, I’ll come by and scoop you up and take you out.

Me: Okay, I’m in apartment 4J.

Jay: Seven?

Me: Seven.

Jay: Goodnight, fishnipple.

I burst out laughing as I typed.

Me: What...in...the hell?

Jay: I’ll explain later?

Me: Is that a question?

Jay: I’m really fucking this up, aren’t I?

Me: You are entertaining so far.

Jay: Back at ya. See you Sat.

Me: It’s a date.

Jay: :)

What a strange man. I chuckled as I rid my lap of my PC, sank into bed, and let a small amount of excitement seep back in.

Jayden showed up at exactly seven on Saturday.

I had a shift but had it covered by none other than the girl who owed me two months’ rent. Gerri had gone on her date with Mike last night and had come home dancing on the moon.

He’d kissed her and promised another date. She’d spent most of the night explaining his kissing technique and the way he was particular about his food. I found it adorable as I watched her face light up when she recalled different things she’d decided she loved about him. The girl was in deep.

As I prepared for my date, I’d decided on some skinny jeans, a tight fitting, off the shoulder, black silk shirt and my sister’s stolen heels. I’d styled my dark red hair in soft waves and polished myself from head to toe, feeling confident as I answered the door.

Jay sucked the breath out of me as he was already smiling when I opened it. I worked hard to hide the instant perk of all my nerve endings at the sight of him.

He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black button down and black boots. He was much taller than me and the expanse of his chest made him seem a giant compared to my height of 5’5’’. His hair was slightly gelled and styled perfectly. It was when he took a step forward that the smell of him hit me, filling my senses with soap and fresh woods.

He took another step forward, crossing my threshold without me inviting him so we were almost touching. He made quick work and clasped his fingers around the back of my neck to lean in and kiss my cheek.

“You look beautiful.” I scrambled, trying to quiet the ramblings in my head.

Sex. Now. Please, Jayden. Look into my eyes. See. It’s there. Permission. Right here, in the kitchen, in the hallway. Let’s have sex.

Instead, I said a quick “thank you” as he pulled away. We stood there awkwardly for a few seconds as I stared at him up close. It was all there: the need, the butterflies, the hope that was making its presence known, bursting through every pore of my body.

He looked at me slightly puzzled as I stood watching him. “Ready?”

“Yeah!” Okay, that was a little too enthusiastic. Clearing my throat, I tried again. “Yes, just a second.”

He smiled again as I turned from him then dashed to the bathroom to pack my purse. I turned off the lights and locked the door. He immediately grabbed my hand, leading me out to his truck. I took one look at the huge man toy he led me to and smiled. He helped me in, shutting my door then rounding the front before jumping in beside me.

“Do you like Italian?” he asked, absently choosing a playlist on his iPod.

“Sure.”

He pulled away, glancing at me as I settled in and looked around. “This truck is immaculate.”

“Yeah, I have a thing about cleanliness.”

“Yeah? You must think Gerri and I are slobs, then.”

“You could use a run through.” He winked and then became alarmed. “Who is Gerri?”

“My roommate,” I answered.

“You have a guy roommate?”

“Are you getting jealous already?” I toyed as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel to the music.

“Maybe,” he answered. “But only because I have a feeling you’re the type to be jealous over.”

“Ohhhhh, good line,” I piped, happily settling in.

“I’m full of them.”

“Yeah, give me more,” I said, taking in his profile as he drove.

“Doesn’t work like that. I have to play off of what you say.”

“So basically you are telling me within five minutes of our first date that you are full of bullshit lines?”

Chuckling, he looked over at me. “Something tells me you can distinguish the difference.” We drove for a few minutes, making small talk until he pulled to a stop and put the truck in park. He unbuckled his seat belt and then mine, pulling me next to him. I looked up at him in surprise as we stared at each other.

“Are you going to kiss me before you buy me dinner?” He stayed quiet as both hands came up, cradling my head and stroking my cheeks.

Oh, Jesus.

His lips came down soft at first and the minute they connected I felt the surprise in us both. Our reaction was identical and instantaneous. We wanted more.

His lips tasted mine, sipping, drawing my lips into his mouth, and sucking gently before his tongue asked permission. Once I gave it, his slid along mine perfectly and then it became hungrier. I reached up and braced my hands on his biceps as he tilted my head, going in deeper. And he touched me deep...so deep I felt his kiss in every fiber of my being.

Every single moan of appreciation for his touch was taken without apology as I was given the best kiss of my life. All too soon it ended as he pulled away and stared down at my parted lips. I felt the sting of pure emotion as we connected without words. It was beyond anything I had ever experienced and it was just a kiss–a kiss that had a gavel attached to it. I had thrown down a sentence that my lips were Jayden’s to kiss again and again for as long as he wanted my mouth.

Both of our breaths were labored as we lingered in the truck and Dave Mathews sang softly about satellites.

Jayden spoke first with a “Yes.”

“Sorry?” I asked, completely confused.

“Yes, I’m going to kiss you before I buy you dinner.”

“I think ...” My voice squeaked, our eyes still connected. “I think you already answered that question. And Gerri’s a girl.”

He smiled and kissed me again briefly before he opened his door, pulling me out of it with him. This time when he held my hand to the restaurant, he slid his fingers between mine. More warmth spread through me as I stared down at our linked hands and then looked up at him as he pulled the door open for me. I was still dazed from our kiss and could barely manage the walk.

“Thank you,” I said, more relaxed than I thought possible on a first date, as the hostess led us to a small candlelit table. I’d been to the the restaurant during lunch a time or two with Gerri. They had fantastic, hot meatball subs but the atmosphere changed drastically by night. Sinatra was playing softly in the background and it was simply...romantic. Large baskets of ivy draped from the ceiling and soft globes of light throughout the space illuminated what the candles did not. There were lattice partitions throughout the room that were lit with thousands of tiny white lights. It all felt very old school and intimate.

“I won’t need another good line tonight with you taking me to this place,” I noted, leaving out the part where if he could kiss like that he could be mute.

“You’ve been?”

“Yes, but only during the day for lunch. It’s different in here now.”

He smiled as if he knew my words were meant for consolation.

“Good, different is good.” The waitress took our drink orders and I gave Jayden an odd look when he ordered hot coffee and told her to keep it coming.

“Afraid you’ll fall asleep on me again?” I said with humor. He gave me a stern eye.

“No, actually it’s an addiction of mine.”

“Might be why you crashed and burned,” I said, pun intended.

“Very funny. I have no hair on my nipples.”

I was suddenly all too interested in assessing that situation. “I could check those out for you. I mean, fair is fair.”

“Mine aren’t as pretty as yours.”

“Are we discussing nipples at dinner?” I asked, amused as he poured a ridiculous amount of sugar and cream in his coffee.

“You started it.” His eyes met mine as he stirred and it hit me like a thud to the chest. It was definitely an attraction I couldn’t mask and he seemed to feel the same as he continue to stir his coffee, checking me out without apology.

“So, Jayden, what do you do?”

“Woodwork with my Uncle Stephen. I’ve worked for him since I was around fifteen. We make custom cabinets, stuff like that, some furniture.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised.

“Not impressed?” he mused as our waitress approached.

“No, just not what I expected.” The waitress took our order and I dug right back in.

“So, you are in woodwork. I’m guessing you’re from here?

“Born and raised,” he said quickly.

“An hour outside of Columbia. I relocated here for school.”

“Do you like it here?”

“It’s okay, not where I want to be forever. But I love the long drives in the countryside and getting lost in the mountains.”

“We should do that sometime,” he remarked before sipping his coffee.

And to that I smiled as we dug into the freshly delivered bread. He tore a piece off and dipped it into the seasoned olive oil. “Try this,” he whispered as he moved it close enough to my mouth for me either to accept or refuse. I accepted with a moan.

“Damn,” I said appreciatively as I chewed.

“Your mouth is perfect,” he whispered as I licked my bottom lip.

“Is that another line?” I teased as I tore off another piece of bread. Looking up, I found his eyes hot on my mouth. He didn’t answer me, and I could only sit there, the bread halfway between the table and my mouth as he continued his silent assault on my newly licked lips. I got his message loud and clear. He wanted more of my mouth and I wanted to give it to him. Our food arrived during our wordless communication then Jayden finally broke our ocular contest as we dug in.

“You have two options,” Jay said as we began inhaling our pasta. The food was ridiculous and neither of us bothered to mask the fact that we were enjoying it immensely.

“Oh,” I said, twirling my fork to capture the noodles in the perfect creamy white sauce.

“Travel agent or personal assistant for an architect.” I dropped my fork.

“Seriously?”

“Yes, my buddy Owen is an architect and needs someone fulltime. You can start with him Monday if you want. He trusts me and I’ve never let him down. As long as you pass a background check, the job’s yours. Same thing with my friend Adam. He owns Leisure Travel agency downtown. He has a lady going on maternity leave in a few days when she delivers her fifth child.”

“And they will just hire me?” I said completely baffled.

“Yes. I mean, they want to interview you, or at least do a meet and greet, but yeah.”

As I stared at him, I felt the emotion choke me a second time. In all of my searching in the last week and a half, I hadn’t found anything remotely as interesting as a travel agent or working side by side with an architect. Those two options, though neither sounding like a permanent gig, seemed reasonable enough to live with, if not enjoy.

Enjoying a job, I didn’t think that existed.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Your pasta is getting cold,” he pointed out as I wringed my hands in my lap.

“Jayden, this is great. I mean
really
great. You don’t even know me.”

“I want to.”

“I’m pretty sure I want that, too.” Agreeing with him seemed pretty natural.

“I’ll give you both numbers and you can make your own decision.”

“Thank you. Like, thank you so much. Which would you take?”

“Do what makes you happy, Hilary.” I nodded. He’d made it so simple. Just by narrowing it down to two choices, he’d simplified my life and took a huge burden off me.

“What makes you happy?” I asked as the waitress refilled his coffee.